In this solo episode, I’m diving into a question so many of us avoid asking: Am I settling? Whether it’s in your relationships, your career, or the way you show up for yourself, settling can feel safe — but it often means we’re living out of alignment with what we truly want.

I’ll walk you through three powerful questions to help you spot where you might be accepting less than you deserve, and how to shift back into alignment with your worth. We’ll explore why we settle in the first place, how to know if fear is driving your choices, and what it looks like to create space for the life you actually want.

If you’ve been feeling that quiet nudge that there’s more for you, this episode is your reminder. Your body always knows when you’re settling and it’s safe to want more.

Connect with me:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamshanettamcdonald/
• Newsletter sign-up: https://shanetta.substack.com/
• Resources: https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/free

What happens when the body asks us to slow down — and we finally listen?

In this episode, I sit down with Arielle Díaz, a Peabody and GLAAD-nominated television writer and producer whose career has spanned Netflix, Prime Video, FOX, and Disney+. She’s also an angel investor, former Googler, and passionate advocate for inclusive wellness.

After stepping away from the grind of a high-performing career to heal from chronic illness, Arielle found herself on a deeper journey—through plant medicine, family constellation therapy, nervous system repair, and reconnecting with her roots in Mexico.

Together we talk about what it really means to pivot from achievement to alignment, the courage it takes to untangle old narratives of worth, and the radical clarity that comes from allowing the body to lead. Arielle’s story is an invitation to honor our rhythms, trust the pauses, and remember that healing is its own form of success.

Connect with Arielle:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/she.is.that/?hl=en

Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamshanettamcdonald/
Newsletter sign-up: https://shanetta.substack.com/

Crystal Jones is a licensed therapist, Internal Family Systems (IFS) Trainer, and the founder of Life Source Counseling Center in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Her work creates sacred spaces where BIPOC women can feel truly seen, valued, and supported on their healing journeys.

As an IFS trainer and consultant, Crystal has mentored therapists and practitioners worldwide, guiding them toward deeper self-awareness and inner harmony. She is also a clinical supervisor, Master Reiki Practitioner, and advocate for holistic healing—integrating tools like prayer, sacred movement, and meditation into her practice.

In our conversation, Crystal and I explore what it means to listen to the parts of ourselves we often silence, the unique power of IFS in BIPOC healing spaces, and how honoring every part of who we are—even the ones we’ve judged or pushed away—can be a revolutionary act of self-love.

Connect with Crystal:
Website: https://lifesourcecounselingcenter.com/staff/about-crystal-jones/

Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamshanettamcdonald/
Newsletter sign-up: https://shanetta.substack.com/

Therapy resources:

• Loveland Foundation: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/
• Clinicians of Color: https://www.cliniciansofcolor.org/
• Therapy For Black Girls: https://providers.therapyforblackgirls.com/
• Manhattan Alternative: https://www.manhattanalternative.com/