Ever feel like you're following a script you didn’t write? In this episode, Andrew and Catherine crack open the idea that many of the “rules” we live by—college, career, homeownership, timelines for success—are completely made up. Some rules serve a purpose (looking at you, traffic lights), but others just keep us stuck, stressed, or chasing lives that don’t fit who we are.

They talk candidly about the internal rules we adopt as children, the external expectations of adulthood, and how to start rewriting your story based on what you want—not what you were told you should want.

What You’ll Learn:

• What “The Rules Are Fake” really means
• Why the traditional path of school → job → house → retire may not be for everyone
• How to question whether a rule is helping you or holding you back
• Why homeownership and college aren't the only paths to stability or success
• How internal rules (like "I should have it all figured out by 40") create anxiety
• The power of rewriting your personal playbook and defining success on your own terms

Key Takeaways:

• Some rules are helpful; others are just habits. Pause and ask: Is this true for me?
• College and buying a house can be amazing—but they’re not mandatory.
• “Should” is often a red flag. If you hear yourself say “I should…”, dig deeper.
• Happiness doesn’t come after you follow the rules—it comes when you live from the inside out.
• It’s okay to walk a different path. In fact, it might be the best decision you ever make.

Your Glimmers of the Week:

Catherine finds joy in morning rainbows from crystal sun-catchers, and Andrew reflects on a meaningful trip to see Ben Platt live—with a reminder that you deserve beautiful experiences too.

🧭 Want to start living life by your own rules?

Visit FiveYearYou.com to book a mentoring call and begin your path to intentional living.

Making friends as a grown-up isn’t as easy as it used to be. In this vulnerable and practical episode, Andrew and Catherine talk candidly about their own struggles with adult friendship—and why it's harder than it looks. From mom-friend pickup lines at the park to feeling ghosted after a good conversation, they explore what makes friendships work, how to initiate without overthinking it, and why proximity and personality play such a big role.

If you’ve ever wondered “Is it just me?”—this one’s for you.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why making friends as an adult is harder than it was in school
• How introverts and extroverts experience friendship differently
• Why proximity, shared interests, and vulnerability matter
• Two practical ways to connect with new people
• How to handle ghosting, rejection, or just plain busy lives
• Why it’s okay (and smart) to have different friends for different parts of your life
• How to initiate friendship without feeling awkward
• The “3 friend types” to surround yourself with for connection and growth

Practical Tips From the Episode:

• Ask for numbers (even if it feels like dating)
• Reach out to old friends—just be honest
• Be vulnerable or be curious (ideally both!)
• Don’t expect one person to meet every need
• Embrace diversity in age, interests, and energy levels
• Let go of perfection and initiate anyway

Your Glimmers of the Week:

Catherine discovers the joy (and simplicity) of homemade key lime pie, and Andrew shares his excitement for summer travel plans and adventures to come.

💬 Feeling isolated or struggling to find your people?

You’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out solo. Visit FiveYearYou.com to explore mentorship or join the community.

We all get angry—but what do you do with it? In this candid episode, Andrew and Catherine explore the role of anger in our lives, especially when we’ve been taught to suppress it or feel shame for having it. They share deeply personal stories from childhood and parenting, unpack how anger manifests in the body, and offer practical tools for managing big emotions in healthy, non-destructive ways.

From recognizing your triggers to learning how to release built-up energy before it explodes, this conversation is full of useful takeaways for anyone who wants to handle anger with more awareness and grace.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why anger is a normal (and even necessary) emotion
• How unprocessed anger can show up physically and emotionally
• Strategies for defusing tension in the moment (even if you’re at a 10!)
• The importance of self-awareness and communicating your emotional state
• Safe and effective ways to release anger—without harming relationships
• How to identify when anger has turned into something more dangerous

Resources & Mentions:

• Box breathing technique
• Rebounding for emotional release
• The power of 30 minutes alone (Catherine’s go-to reset strategy)
• Creating a calm home when you’re a sensory-sensitive parent
• The “Instant Pot” analogy for pressure and emotional release
• Domestic violence resources (linked in show notes)

Disclaimer:

Anger is human. Violence is not. If someone in your life is harming you physically, emotionally, or verbally, please seek help. Your safety matters. We’ve included crisis resources in the episode description.

Your Glimmer of the Week:

Andrew and Catherine share a light-hearted recap of their recent in-person visit, Canadian winter survival tips, and how creating new traditions can feel just as meaningful as honoring old ones.

🔗 Need help managing big emotions or want to work on your emotional health?

Visit FiveYearYou.com to book a free coaching call.

In this episode of the Five Year You podcast, we dive into the framework we created called The Layers of Life. This model helps you understand the difference between living a life on autopilot and living a life on purpose—from your soul outward.

We’ll walk you through the five layers:

1. Soul – your essence and spiritual center
2. Self – your emotional, mental, and physical well-being
3. Social – your relationships and sense of community
4. Substance – how you spend your time, career, and lifestyle
5. Significance – your environment, achievements, and influence

If you've ever felt like something’s missing—like you’re living from the outside in—this episode will help you re-center and start living from the inside out. We share personal stories, examples, and tiny actions to help you reconnect with your authentic self.

✨ FREE RESOURCE

Download our Layers of Life visual guide:

https://fiveyearu.com/layers-of-life

💌 Stay connected

Email us anytime at: hello@fiveyearyou.com

We’d love to hear what pizza crust you like… or what part of your soul you’re ready to rediscover.

🔗 Other Links

Website: https://fiveyearyou.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/fiveyearyou

Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5YearYou

Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/five-year-you

Feeling burnt out or constantly critical of yourself? In this episode, we explore how becoming your own best friend can radically transform your life, mindset, and self-worth. Learn how to talk to yourself with more compassion, set better boundaries, and build a life rooted in inner support—not just external validation.

⏱️ Episode Timestamps

00:00 - Intro: A message to the burnt-out overachiever

02:14 - What does it mean to be your own best friend?

04:51 - The difference between self-care and self-respect

07:36 - Why high-achievers often struggle with self-compassion

12:05 - “If you wouldn’t say it to a friend, don’t say it to yourself”

14:22 - Steps to stop being your own worst critic

17:47 - Internal validation vs. external chasing

21:30 - The surprising power of treating yourself kindly

📚 Resources & Mentions:

→ Listen to all episodes of the podcast: https://fiveyearyou.com/podcast

→ Free tool: Create your Five Year You plan: https://fiveyearyou.com/free

→ Our favorite book on inner dialogue: What to Say When You Talk to Yourself by Shad Helmstetter

→ Need a reset? Try the Life Reboot Intensive: https://fiveyearyou.com/reboot

📝 Want to Work With Us?

We help high-achieving, purpose-driven people redesign their lives from the inside out.

Book your complimentary mentoring call: https://fiveyearyou.com/call

📩 Let’s Connect

Have a question or want to share a glimmer? Email us: hello@fiveyearyou.com

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/fiveyearyou

We’ve all faced money stress — but what if solving financial problems could actually feel… empowering? In this episode, Andrew and Catherine share a simple 3-step framework to help you approach money issues without shame, panic, or overwhelm. Whether you're dealing with debt, budgeting challenges, or cash flow confusion, this episode will help you feel calm, clear, and ready to take action.

• Why shame keeps us stuck in money problems
• A simple 3-step framework: Define the problem, Zoom out, Take the next right step
• How to stay grounded when emotions flare up
• Why solving money problems is rarely about “just making more”
• How your nervous system affects your financial clarity
• The importance of basic needs, especially when money is tight

📌 Feelings Wheel – To name and process emotions related to money

🔗 https://feelingswheel.com

📌 The Wealthy Barber – A storytelling-based book on financial basics

🔗 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0761513116?tag=5yy-20

📌 Open Path Collective – Affordable therapy when you’re feeling stuck

🔗 https://openpathcollective.org

📌 Five Year You Coaching – Find purpose, peace, and financial clarity

🔗 https://fiveyearyou.com

📬 Email us → hello@fiveyearyou.com

🌐 Website → https://fiveyearyou.com

▶️ YouTube → https://youtube.com/@FiveYearYou

📸 Instagram → https://instagram.com/fiveyearyou

🎧 Podcast Feed → https://fiveyearyou.com/podcast

Affiliate Disclaimer:

Some links in this description may be affiliate links. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases using store ID amp09-20 and tracking ID 5yy-20. This helps support the podcast at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

In this episode of Five Year You, Andrew and Catherine unpack the five most important ingredients for real, lasting wealth. Spoiler: it's not just about money. From redefining what wealth truly means to managing cash flow and building meaningful relationships, this conversation blends personal growth with financial wisdom.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

– The difference between being rich and being truly wealthy

– Why contentment is the foundation of wealth

– How to define your version of success and stop chasing “more”

– The importance of managing your cash flow and creating margin

– A simple way to start investing (even if you’re overwhelmed)

– Why connection and health are underrated wealth indicators

🛠️ Tools + Resources Mentioned:

📌 The Wealthy Barber – A beginner-friendly money book told in story form

🔗 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0761513116

📌 Index Fund Investing Basics – Learn how to invest without needing to be an expert

🔗 https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing/investing-basics

✨ Want more support?

Let’s build your version of wealth together.

📬 hello@fiveyearyou.com

🌐 https://fiveyearyou.com

🎙 Subscribe for more real conversations:

▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@FiveYearYou

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/fiveyearyou

🎧 Podcast: https://fiveyearyou.com/podcast/

Feeling stuck financially? In this episode, Andrew and Catherine share a simple but powerful framework to help you get unstuck and solve your most pressing money problems. Whether you're facing debt, income challenges, or budgeting issues, this conversation will give you clarity, direction, and hope.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

– Why most money stress comes from overwhelm, not just income

– A 3-step framework to break down financial problems

– How to shift from panic to action

– Real-life stories and examples from people who’ve turned their finances around

– Practical mindset shifts that will help you feel more in control

🛠️ Tools + Resources Mentioned:

📌 Feelings Wheel – Helps you name the emotions behind money stress

🔗 https://feelingswheel.com

📌 The Wealthy Barber – A beginner-friendly book about money told as a story

🔗 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0761513116

📌 Open Path Collective – Affordable therapy to support your emotional well-being

🔗 https://openpathcollective.org

📌 Five Minute Budget System – Our simple approach to tracking spending and creating margin

🔗 https://fiveyearyou.com/free-budget

✨ Need personalized support?

We help people break free from money stress and find clarity and peace.

📬 Email us: hello@fiveyearyou.com

🌐 Explore our resources: https://fiveyearyou.com

🎙 Subscribe for real, relatable conversations every week:

▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@FiveYearYou

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/fiveyearyou

🎧 Podcast: https://fiveyearyou.com/podcast