Inspired by the arrival of a new family member, Mel Selcho reflects on how expectations shape our relationships with others and ourselves. Drawing from her experiences as an auntie, a mother, an entrepreneur, and a cancer survivor, she discusses the liberation found in letting go of expectations. Mel challenges listeners to love their lives unconditionally, even when things don't go according to plan, and offers practical advice on how to cultivate this mindset.

In this heartfelt episode, Mel Selcho invites listeners to reflect on the power of presence and connection, especially during uncertain times. While there are things in life we cannot control—like medical scans or tests—there’s something powerful in simply being present with each other.

Mel explores the metaphor of sitting on a bench in the garden of emotions, offering a space where we can share our feelings together.

While we may not control life’s big moments (looking at you, PET scans!), we can share the bench and enjoy those cosmic winks that remind us of the beauty in just being present. It’s like the universe giving a little nudge and saying, “Hey, I see you!”

Radical acceptance isn’t just for our bodies, our habits, or our frenemies—it’s for our finances too. Loving the dollars that come our way in cash and in kind is important to embracing the impact of the work we do in the world. Listen in to learn how to stop judging ourselves and our wages and step up as the stewards of just commerce.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why loving the money you earn is not selling out to toxic capitalism
• How our society teaches us to judge the dollars we make (and why that needs to stop)
• How our pay is connected and not connected to the value of our work
• The three big roadblocks to loving the dollars that flow our way
• Radical acceptance in action: How to shift from judging money to welcoming what it does for you

Mel Selcho gets real about her personal experiences with spending, debt, and high healthcare costs. From understanding historical messaging advising women to cut spending with eerie similarities to diet culture, she puts into context why money scarcity is an easy place to be. She shares how her journey 5 years ago to eliminate debt gave her the unexpected gift of a generous spirit that aided her journey through cancer years later. She identifies tips on how to reframe spending to make the same budget dollars go further in love.

00:00 The High Cost of Healthcare

01:21 Delight in Air Conditioning

02:08 Loving Every Dollar Spent

03:44 Facing Financial Realities

03:58 Money and Capitalism

05:33 Gender and Financial Messaging

07:15 Paying off Thousands in Debt

10:07 Healthcare Bills and Generosity

15:57 The Tip Economy

20:25 The Value of Paid Services

23:24 Challenge: Love Your Spending

23:57 Podcast Review Giveaway

In this episode, Mel Selcho delves into the challenges and triumphs of pursuing our dreams, sharing personal stories of frustration and inspiration. From a sequined tiger dress that sparked introspection to the realization that dreams come with both delight and discomfort, Mel invites listeners to embrace the full spectrum of the journey.

Key Topics Covered:

1. The Nature of Work and Dreams: How our dreams call to us in their success form, often hiding the frustrations and hard work required to realize them. And they are the excellence our soul wants to contribute to the world.
2. Project Mel's Journey: The origin story of Project Mel, born from a dream nagging at Mel for years and the regret felt upon her cancer diagnosis. The growth Mel experienced looking to her past for clues to success and returning to her roots of delight instead of conventional wisdom.
3. Super Dave's Story: A powerful lesson from a mobile mechanic who saved the day and taught how frustration requires taking a new look.

In this powerful episode, Mel Selcho takes you on a journey of transformation as she prepares for a life-changing surgery. With humor and honesty, she reflects on how cancer reshaped her relationship with her body, turning past insecurities into a celebration of strength and survival. From embracing her "perfect" stomach to rewriting the story of her lymph nodes, Mel invites you to rethink how you see your own body. Don't miss her reading of a heartfelt letter to her body, written at 40, and get ready to be inspired to see your own body like never before!

Explore the essence of living a good life by defining its opposite. Drawing wisdom from Ash Ambirge's book, 'The Middle Finger Project,' Mel Selcho discusses the importance of doing meaningful work and making bold decisions to achieve success. Discover the power of creativity in any work, the need for persistent boldness, overcoming impostor syndrome, and the significance of having dedicated cheerleaders in our lives. Personal anecdotes and actionable lessons make this a thought-provoking and inspiring listen.

00:00 Introduction: Defining a Good Life

00:36 Celebrating the Middle Finger Project

01:27 Don’t Stop Taking Things for Granted

03:47 Deep Dive: My Favorite Book

06:16 Lesson 1: Creativity in Any Job

08:16 Lesson 2: The 100 Bold Decisions Requirement

12:00 Lesson 3: What DO You Know?

13:38 Lesson 4: How to Make the Right Decision

15:26 Lesson 5: Imposter Syndrome Never Rests

18:08 Lesson 6: You Were Built to Be Effervescent

Was it fun before it hurt? This episode is all about life's turbulence and adventure go hand in hand. Mel Selcho challenges flatline living with insightful reflections on how a feeling like falling can also be flying. From stories of waterskiing like Wonder Woman to the inspiring wisdom she draws from her extraordinary grandmothers, Mel explains how she got over her debilitating fear of flying in an airplane. Hear captivating ideas that demonstrate how to transform fear into a catalyst for fun.

00:00 The Selcho Mantra

01:22 Water Skiing Vibes

03:07 The Both And of Falling

03:58 Buckling up with Grandma

05:55 The Difference Between Feeling Safe and Being Safe

08:56 Planes, Boats and Emergency Landings

13:20 Quitting the Dream Job

16:17 The Power of Am I Safe Right Now?

18:35 Get Your Exhileration On