If you’re a parent of a high-performing teen, or even just someone who wants to redefine success in your own life, this conversation is packed with insights. This week, Steph sits down with Steve Galley, Certified High-Performance Coach, co-host of the Stop Parenting and Start Coaching podcast, co-founder of Create. Transform. Become., seasoned speaker, author, and Ironman triathlete.

Steve shares why parents often treat their teens the same way they did at age 9 (and why that backfires), how to avoid being the “drill sergeant,” and how creating your own scoreboard can lower stress and improve performance.

Connect with Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-galley/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stop-parenting-start-coaching/id1696708860

In this solo episode, Steph shares the story behind her ambitious goal of recording 100 days of podcasting. She opens up about juggling podcast creation with other commitments, including posting on social media and staying consistent even when motivation dips.

Steph talks candidly about the pure joy and energy she feels when creating content, regardless of how many people see it. She reflects on the power of creating publicly for accountability and the little bursts of encouragement that keep her going, like hearing from a friend who enjoys her day-in-the-life series.

This episode blends personal reflection, motivation, and a call to action for women to step up and share their stories and perspectives through podcasting.

• Why Steph committed to 100 days of podcasting

• Balancing podcasting with life, work, and other creative pursuits

• The excitement and energy that comes from creating

• The gap between men and women following through on podcasting goals

• What it truly means to amplify your voice

• Podcasting as a tool for building a personal legacy

“People often don’t think about podcasting as legacy. When in time have we had this? We’re so accessible for you to share thoughts and wisdom and one day, your posterity, your friends, your family can listen to it.”

Weekly Challenge

Think about one thing you could commit to doing for 100 days to challenge yourself, grow your skills, or fuel your creativity.

What’s something you’ve always wanted to start or finally finish?

Once you’ve chosen your challenge, ask yourself: Who can you share this goal with to help keep you accountable?

Follow Steph's Journey on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/stephshoell

What if the only thing holding you back wasn’t your ability but the belief that you weren’t ready?

This week on the 52 Weeks Podcast, we sit down with Janine Wittwer a PhD mathematician, professor at Westminster College, and women’s confidence coach who has helped countless women realize they’re far more capable than they think.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why women often believe they need every qualification before applying for a job

• The difference in how men and women talk about their accomplishments

• How to handle being talked over or overlooked in meetings

• What to say and do to start owning your voice professionally

• Why self-compassion, not willpower is key to lasting confidence and growth

Weekly Challenge:
Pay attention this week to every time you berate yourself. No need to fix it just notice it. That awareness is the first step toward changing it.

Connect with Janine Wittwer:
Website: www.innerharmonycoaching.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/innerharmonycoaching
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/janinewittwer

Ever feel like life’s throwing all the curveballs. Career changes, heartbreaks, personal losses and you’re just trying to keep your head above water. But what if you could find a steady anchor to hold onto through it all? In this episode, Avanlee Jessop shares her story of going from nutrition coach to life coach, showing us how tiny habits can keep us grounded when everything feels shaky. We talk about how what you eat actually affects your mental health, how to finally stop believing those limiting stories we tell ourselves, and why it’s so important to let yourself grieve when life gets messy. Oh, and gratitude? Total game-changer. Takeaways

• Avanlee helps women rediscover the
• selves after life changes.
• Nutrition plays a crucial role in mental health.
• Life transitions often require a grieving process.
• Maintaining certainty is vital during uncertain times.
• Anchors can be both external and internal.
• Mind-body connection is essential for overall health.
• Limiting beliefs can hinder personal growth.
• Consistency in habits can rewire the brain.
• Gratitude can shift perspectives and improve mental health.
• Every life transition involves some form of grieving.

Connect with Avanlee:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avanleejane/

Website: https://theavapproach.com/about

Welcome back to the 52 Weeks Podcast. This week, Steph is joined again by Rachael Curfew, an experienced anxiety and relationship coach. In her previous episode, Rachael shared ways to calm anxiety alarms. In this follow-up conversation, the focus shifts to how anxiety often stems from relationship dynamics and what we can do about it.

In this episode, we cover:

• How unresolved relationships from childhood often shape adult anxiety

• What a relationship "blueprint" is and how to update yours

• What to do when someone is stonewalling you in a conversation

• Why some women struggle to share their opinions and how to reclaim your voice

• How to stop people-pleasing and start setting healthy boundaries

• Navigating hard conversations with adult children, in-laws, or a spouse

• How to love someone even when they make choices that go against your values

Listener Challenge:
Make a list of things you know to be true about yourself. Then choose one of those things to confidently share with someone this week. It’s a small but powerful way to strengthen your voice and self-awareness.

Key takeaway from Rachael:
Every person needs someone who sees them, supports them, and truly listens. Knowing who you are is the first step to building those kinds of relationships.

Connect with Rachael Curfew:
Website: https://www.rachaelcurfew.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fearlesslivemorecoaching
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachaelcurfew

Catch her previous episode on anxiety patterns and calming strategies here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3li0bIfCvJmmSw9XmJqp21

Ever feel like you’re following a career path that looks great on paper… but secretly feels like someone else wrote the script?

You’ve followed the roadmap-school, job, promotions. On paper, it all looks great. But inside? Something feels off. Then this episode is your permission slip to rewrite it.

In a recent episode of the 52 Weeks Podcast, I sat down with Andrea Yacub Macek, a career wellness coach and founder of AYM Consulting, to talk about what happens when success doesn’t feel like success—and how to build a career that actually aligns with who you are.

Andrea brings a wealth of knowledge to her work, holding a Master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and over a decade of corporate experience in higher education and healthcare. But more importantly, she brings lived experience.

During our conversation, Andrea shared her insights on:

• The reality of burnout and how it can look different at every stage of your career

• Toxic management styles and the toll they take on our mental health

• Morning routines vs. habits, and how the small things we do can have a big impact

• The importance of regulating your energy—and how to stop starting your day in someone else’s

• Working with women in mid-to-senior level careers who are seeking more meaning, growth, or change

• How to habit-stack your way into clarity and momentum

The Weekly Challenge

Andrea offered a powerful yet simple challenge for listeners that I believe applies to anyone—especially those navigating change:

1. Ask yourself how you want to feel each morning.
   Before you open your phone, your laptop, or your to-do list—pause. Choose a word: Calm? Empowered? Energized?

2. Choose one habit to support that feeling.
   This could be journaling for five minutes, stretching, making a quiet cup of coffee, or taking a short walk. It doesn’t need to be long—just intentional.

This daily act of presence can reset your nervous system, put you back in control of your energy, and remind you that you’re allowed to take up space in your own life.

Why This Conversation Matters

We often think career change is about titles, resumes, or networking. But Andrea reminds us that lasting change comes from within. When we build self-trust, align with our values, and create routines that reflect who we really are—we stop chasing success, and start living it.

Whether you're navigating burnout, considering a pivot, or just feeling “off,” this episode will give you clarity, calm, and a few practical steps to move forward.

Want to Learn More?

You can connect with Andrea or book her as your coach here:

• Website + Coaching: aymconsulting.io

• LinkedIn: Andrea Yacub Macek

• Instagram: @andreayacubmacek

Welcome back to the 52 Weeks Podcast! This is Part Two of our deep-dive into Crucial Conversations with the ever-wise and relatable Lyndsey V. In this episode, we explore something that doesn’t get enough love in the communication world: how to actually listen—like, really listen. Not just nodding and thinking about what snack you’re going to eat next.

Steph and Lyndsey unpack why psychological safety is the secret to better conversations—at work, at home, and with friends—and how to build that safety using tools like paraphrasing, validation, and a surprisingly powerful technique called “I Don’t and I Do.” This episode is full of real-life stories, including one where Steph unintentionally offended a friend and another where gossip nearly derailed a friendship group. If you've ever wished you could go back and say something differently—this episode is for you.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• A quick review of CPR and FSA (from Part One) and how to use them

• The three signs you’re in a Crucial Conversation: High Stakes, Strong Emotion, Opposing Viewpoints

• How to handle gossip with grace—and protect your own peace in friend groups

• Why listening is emotionally exhausting (and why it’s totally worth it)

• What the “I Don’t and I Do” strategy is—and how it can diffuse defensiveness instantly

• Why validation does not equal agreement—and how that helps in tense conversations

  
  

Quote of the Episode:
"When you stop fighting to be heard and start listening with curiosity, that’s when real connection happens." — Lyndsey V

Challenge of the Week:
Practice just one of these listening or safety-building tools this week:

• Paraphrasing (“What I hear you saying is…”)

• Validating (“That totally makes sense why you’d feel that way.”)

• “I Don’t and I Do” (Example: “I don’t want to criticize you—I do want us to be on the same page.”)

  
  

Connect with Lyndsey V:Website: http://lyndseyv.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lyndseyv_
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063502151086
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndseyv

Welcome back to the 52 Weeks Podcast! This week, Steph is joined again by the incredible Lyndsey V—speaker, and certified Crucial Conversations trainer—for the first episode in a mini-series all about communicating better at work, at home, and in your relationships.

Steph and Lyndsey kick things off by talking about their shared birthday challenge: 40 Days of LinkedIn, and how even small consistent actions on LinkedIn (like commenting) can lead to major connection wins. From there, they dive into Crucial Conversations—Lyndsey's new passion and certification. You’ll learn what makes a conversation crucial, why we often avoid them, and how to use frameworks like CPR (Content, Pattern, Relationship) and FSA (Fact, Story, Ask) to have more effective and emotionally intelligent conversations.

Whether you’re managing a team, raising teens, or dealing with an overzealous candy-giving grandma—this episode gives you the tools to finally speak up and strengthen your relationships without the drama.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why LinkedIn still works for organic reach—and how small actions can lead to strong professional relationships

• The three types of conversations (CPR) and how to identify which one you're in

• Real-life examples from Lyndsey’s business and family using these frameworks

• A shocking medical story that highlights the life-saving importance of speaking up

• How to approach emotionally charged topics like dating, in-laws, and accountability

• What to do before a tough conversation to avoid regret and defensiveness

  
  

This Week’s Challenge:Have one conversation you've been putting off. Pause. Reflect. Use a little strategy. Then go for it. It doesn’t have to be perfect—just start.

Connect with Lyndsey V:
Website: http://lyndseyv.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lyndseyv_
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063502151086
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndseyv