#83: This one’s got range, y’all. 😅

In this solo episode, I’m breaking down everything from my new dirty martini obsession (move over, Manhattans) to the raw spiral I had when my son broke his arm when I wasn’t there. We’re talking full-blown panic attack on the freeway, mom guilt that sucker-punched me, and how I navigated it all while driving to speak at a business conference.

I also share what eight months of jiu-jitsu have taught me (besides how to choke someone out in public for lying about their belt color). From ego checks and cauliflower ear to rediscovering resilience I didn’t know I had… this episode is a deep dive into being a beginner, building confidence, and owning your identity outside of motherhood.

This one’s funny, unfiltered, and full of life lessons you didn’t know you needed.

FIND WHAT YOU NEED FROM THIS EPISODE:

00:00 — The new office era (and the martini obsession no one saw coming)

02:30 — Galveston Dirty martinis, Texas beaches, and main character energy

04:40 — When mom guilt hits hard: the day my son broke his arm

07:00 — Balancing work travel, parenting, and the invisible load of motherhood

09:20 — The alternative school that changed everything for our family

11:30 — Teachers who go above and beyond — and why community matters so damn much

13:30 — Mom guilt, discipline guilt, and the emotional hangover of doing your best

15:50 — Anxiety, panic attacks, and how old trauma still sneaks up sometimes

18:00 — The “what if” spiral and learning to come back to truth

20:20 — Ambition vs. motherhood: the dual identity we don’t talk about enough

22:30 — Teaching your kids what it looks like to love yourself and them

24:40 — Turning 30, Halloween plans, and the chaos of my “Summoning Taylor’s 30th” invite typo

27:10 — Looking back on my twenties — the mess, the lessons, and the becoming

29:15 — What 30 feels like: peace, power, and a little bit of witch energy

29:45 — Eight months into jiu-jitsu: lessons from getting choked out on purpose

31:30 — Why being a beginner (again) is the healthiest thing you can do

35:45 — Checking your ego and learning to love losing

38:10 — The power of being humbled weekly — and why it’s addicting

40:30 — How community sneaks back into your life when you least expect it

42:50 — The beauty of “getting your ass kicked” and why you sometimes need it

45:10 — Learning real toughness (physically and mentally) after 30

47:30 — From panic to power: training to be confident in chaos

49:50 — Handguns, self-defense, and becoming the “don’t mess with me” mom

52:10 — How confidence is taught, practiced, and contagious

54:20 — What jiu-jitsu (and life) have in common: show up, learn, and survive

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