Ready to rewire how you think about competition, confidence, and community? We sit down with jiu-jitsu competitor and water plant operator Aylissa St. John for a candid, energizing conversation about going first—on the mat and in life—and why you should never leave your story to a referee’s perception. From teen wrestling to modern tournaments, Aylissa breaks down how shifting from reactive to proactive changed her results and her mindset. She details a favorite sweep that needs refining, the sting of stalling calls, and the simple rule that keeps her grounded: set the pace, don’t surrender it.

The conversation widens beyond sport into identity, resilience, and belonging. As a Black woman in a male-dominated space, Aylissa names bias without letting it define her ceiling. Cross-training in women-led rooms revived her skill and joy, proving that the right environment can be a growth accelerator. She shares practical ways to build trust in new gyms, manage emotions to avoid injury, and read a room—habits shaped by a disciplined military upbringing and sharpened through real competition.

Aylissa also opens up about choosing divorce in her twenties, the shower epiphany that nudged her toward self-preservation, and the power of boundaries, accountability, and forgiveness without apologies. Then she flips the script on rest and creativity by revealing how crochet—yes, crochet—became a flow-state counterpart to grappling. Her brand, Naughtylicious, turns hats and custom sets into wearable wins, and her approach to customer feedback mirrors her approach to matches: take action, learn fast, keep building.

If you’re chasing better—on the mats, at work, or in your own head—you’ll find tactical insights and real warmth here: lead the exchange, pick your rooms, and choose yourself with intention. Follow Aylissa on Instagram at Aylissa for training and life, and at naughtylicious for custom crochet. If this resonated, tap follow, share it with a friend who needs a push to go first, and leave a quick review so more curious listeners can find us.

Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff

What happens when a ballerina-turned-cinematographer trades film sets for flower beds—and discovers her legacy in petals, patience, and parenting? We sit down with Cait to explore how a creative life survives strikes, pandemics, bunnies with big appetites, and the beautiful chaos of raising two boys while growing a business from the backyard.

Cait brings hard-won wisdom from the gig economy: money swings, momentum matters, and progress is built in inches. She opens up about choosing stay-at-home seasons for the early years, teaching kids through a vegetable patch and muddy windows, and why “earning the bath” is a sign of a good day. On the craft side, she unpacks the art of solving for impossible blues in wedding palettes, bending stems without fear, and turning bridal bouquets into pressed keepsakes that outlast the day. Expect practical takeaways on risk-taking in design, running on late-night creativity, and transforming mistakes into better methods.

Threaded through the conversation is a clear call to connection: cultivate friends who cheer, learn to ask for help, and listen twice as much as you speak. Cait shares how gardening rekindled family bonds, why workshops unlock hidden voices, and how small acts—like fixing the cart corral—can be a quiet form of impact. If you’re navigating a pivot, juggling motherhood with making, or craving permission to break the frame, this story offers grounded inspiration you can use today.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a nudge to start, and leave a quick review—your support helps more curious people find conversations that matter.

Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff

What if the most powerful thing you do today is move toward someone in pain—gently, on purpose, and with tools that actually work? That’s the heartbeat of our conversation with Monica Brown, a coach, crisis‑line veteran, ER patient care specialist, and mother of five who rebuilt her life around “forwarding support” instead of frantic fixing.

We explore how soul care differs from self‑care, and why the former changes your baseline. Monica walks us through trauma‑informed yoga, nose‑only breathing to trigger the parasympathetic system, and a simple eight‑domain check‑in she uses when overwhelmed. She shares hard‑won lessons from childhood trauma, the limits of control even for vigilant parents, and a practical way to spot safe people: they repair. From redefining “my people” to include the whole community, to reframing self‑talk as a daily choice rather than a cheesy mantra, Monica shows how compassion, boundaries, and clear language can transform relationships at home, at work, and in crisis.

We also talk about strengths‑based coaching, clarifying needs versus wants, and detaching self‑worth from a to‑do list. Monica explains why multi‑generational support is a resilience superpower, how to balance ambition with contentment, and why doubt is a signal to repair—not to hide. She opens up about bringing coaching tools into the ER, the stigma that still shadows mental health, and her next step into marriage and family therapy to better serve clients looping around unresolved trauma.

If you’ve been craving grounded mental health tools, relationship repair that sticks, and a kinder story in your own head, this conversation offers both insight and practice. Listen, take a breath, and pick one tool to try today. If this episode helps, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a quick review so others can find it too.

Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff