Sometimes, the system isn’t broken—it’s just bottlenecked. In this episode, we’re continuing our series on translating business strategies into personal growth tools by looking at bottlenecks: those hidden chokepoints where progress stalls and good intentions quietly fall apart. You’ll learn how to spot these sneaky sources of friction, and explore simple ways to loosen them—so your habits feel easier, not harder, to follow through on. Key Takeaways Bottlenecks aren’t failures—they’re leverage p...
Jul 08, 2025•25 min•Ep. 168
When the economy gets rocky, smart businesses don’t panic—they prepare. They focus on what really matters, streamline what they can, and make sure they’re flexible enough to weather the storm. In this episode, we’re borrowing that same mindset and translating it into the way we think about our own self-care routines and health habits. Because whether it’s travel, stress, a challenging diagnosis, or just a really busy season, life will test your systems. We’ll explore six ways businesses recessio...
Jun 19, 2025•22 min•Ep. 167
Will you succeed in reaching your next big goal? Only time will tell. Because success (or failure) generally comes at the end of the process. Except that every success or failure is actually made up of countless smaller successes or failures that happened along the way. And paying more attention to those can save us a lot of frustration and disappointment. In this episode, I’m borrowing a powerful concept from the world of business that can help you notch more wins, build confidence, and feel mo...
Jun 05, 2025•23 min•Ep. 166
If you feel like your progress (or your motivation) has stalled, you have options. You can redouble your efforts. You can take an entirely different approach. Or, you might even decide to walk away. In this episode, we’ll talk about figuring out which route serves you best. Key Takeaways 1. Taking a break can help protect the quality of our work, create space for creative insights, and ensure that we’re using our time and energy in the most meaningful way. 2. The urge to step away can sometimes ...
Mar 13, 2025•18 min•Ep. 165
Are you guilty of holding yourself (or others) to impossibly high standards? In this episode, we're exploring the concept of Ought implies can —the notion that we can only be obligated to do what we’re actually capable of. But how do we know where the limits of ability really are? Are we being too hard on ourselves (or others)? Or are we making excuses? Learning how to tell the difference can help you set fair, realistic, and empowering expectations—for yourself and everyone around you. Key Take...
Feb 20, 2025•17 min•Ep. 164
Feeling stuck in the daily grind? Quitting isn’t the only way out. In this episode, Dr. Jessica Grossmeier shares how to find meaning, connection, and even transcendence in the job you have now. We explore: - How small shifts in perspective can reignite purpose and satisfaction - The power of workplace connections and why they matter more than you think - Simple, science-backed practices to reset, refocus, and thrive at work - Why transcendence is a job skill—and how to cultivate it Whether you ...
Feb 06, 2025•32 min•Ep. 163
Ever wondered why some changes seem impossible to sustain while others just click? It’s not magic—it’s science. In this episode, we’re talking about a 3-part recipe for behavior change that was first developed 30 years ago and is still making waves today. If you’ve struggled with change or are trying to help others make positive changes, you need to leverage all three of these key factors–in the right proportions. Key Takeaways 1. Information, motivation, and behavioral skills all play important...
Jan 23, 2025•15 min•Ep. 162
Whenever we make plans or set goals, it's important anticipate the inevitable bumps in the road, and be ready to adapt and course-correct. But sometimes, life doesn't just serve up a bump in the road. It delivers an earthquake that shakes us to the core and opens up a chasm into which our entire life--and all of our fancy plans--are thrown. In an instant, the goals, projects and ambitions that have been driving our thoughts, activities, and even our identities become irrelevant. Today, psycholog...
Jan 09, 2025•31 min•Ep. 161
These final few days of the year are a great time to reflect on the year that’s past and think about what we’d like to focus on or accomplish in the New Year. And in this episode, I’m sharing a three-part process that might just become your new end-of-year ritual. Instead of your New year’s Resolutions being a well-intentioned flash in the pan, we’re going to kindle a flame that will burn brightly all year. Key Takeaways - Reflecting on our past successes, however modest, helps build the self-ef...
Dec 27, 2024•21 min•Ep. 160
Wrestling with a tough choice? Trying to weigh the pros and cons but going in circles? In this episode, I've got a systematic approach to decision-making that can bring some welcome clarity to complex choices. Whether you're standing at a personal or professional crossroads, or debating different solutions to a problem, this framework will help you understand both the rational and emotional elements of your decision-making process--helping you move forward with more clarity and confidence. Key T...
Dec 16, 2024•23 min•Ep. 159
Struggling with hard-to-quit habits? Whether it's the nightly glass of wine, mindless snacking, or endless social media scrolling, in this episode we're talking about why these habits are so sticky - and more importantly, how to finally change them. You'll learn how your brain's reward system actually works (it's not what most people think!) and practical strategies for making lasting changes without giving up pleasure altogether. You'll learn specific techniques for navigating cravings, resetti...
Dec 05, 2024•22 min•Ep. 158
Our thoughts powerfully impact our lives—but we don't always pay enough attention to what we're telling ourselves. In this episode, we’ll take a look at four distinct categories of thoughts: those that are both true and helpful, those that might not be proven but serve us well, those that are true but get in our way, and those that are neither true nor helpful. I even made you a cool decision tree worksheet to help you apply these concepts to your own thoughts and move forward with more clarity ...
Nov 25, 2024•16 min•Ep. 157
In this first episode of a three-part series, we are digging in to why we so often resist making positive changes in our lives. Resistance isn't simply stubbornness or laziness; it can be your brain’s way of keeping you safe. The key is to recognize what our resistance is trying to tell us, so that it doesn’t hold us back. Key Takeaways: - Remember that resistance is often a self-protection mechanism, not laziness or stubbornness - Be alert to the four ways that resistance might show up: emotion...
Nov 14, 2024•19 min•Ep. 156
As the end of the year looms into view, you may feel some regret or disappointment about unmet goals or unrealized ambitions. Add in the chaos of holiday schedules, and it's tempting to shelve all personal objectives until January. This episode challenges that mindset, showing you how to turn these final months into a period of meaningful progress. Join me to reassess your goals without self-judgment, adapt your habits for the holiday season, and create a focused approach that will allow you to ...
Nov 04, 2024•14 min•Ep. 155
Craving a break from your routines? Discover why that might actually be sabotaging your happiness…as well as your progress. Molly Watts returns to the Change Academy to help me unravel the counterintuitive link between structure and relaxation. Learn how to craft routines that boost mental and physical well-being, make your time off more enjoyable, and ease the transition back into your normal schedule. Key Takeaways - It's important to challenge our assumptions about what "freedom" really means...
Oct 24, 2024•33 min•Ep. 154
Discover why viewing change as a lifelong journey is not just realistic, but liberating and exciting. Learn how to reframe personal growth as evolution rather than 'fixing' yourself, and explore the powerful concept of change as a form of self-expression. Whether you're working on health, finances, relationships, or any other area of life, this episode will equip you with a new perspective on sustainable personal development. Key Takeaways: Develop your 'change muscles': The ability to change is...
Oct 15, 2024•20 min•Ep. 153
In a world obsessed with success, embracing failure seems a bit counter-cultural. But if it’s good enough for the some of history’s smartest and most successful figures, there’s probably something the rest of us can learn. In fact, an outsized fear of failure could hold us back from our greatest achievements. Whether you're a perfectionist paralyzed by the fear of making mistakes, or a risk-taker looking to fail smarter, let’s rewrite the script on what it means to fail -- and succeed -- in both...
Oct 04, 2024•22 min•Ep. 152
In this episode, we explore the role of practice in habit formation and how a thoughtful approach can accelerate your progress more than just mindless repetition. We also talk about the mental aspect of practice and how practicing better thoughts can drive better behaviors. Practice doesn't make perfect; it makes permanent - choose wisely what you reinforce. Key Takeaways: - What we repeat, we reinforce. Be sure you are reinforcing the thoughts and actions that you want to strengthen - Beware th...
Sep 20, 2024•18 min•Ep. 151
Dr. Bethy Campbell joins Monica to explore the delicate dance of offering constructive criticism while maintaining positive relationships. Learn practical strategies for delivering feedback that empowers growth, builds trust, and respects autonomy. Whether you're offering feedback as a manager, colleague, spouse, or friend, this episode provides pro-level strategies that will transform your communication and foster meaningful change in others. Key Takeaways We earn the right to be able to offer ...
Sep 06, 2024•28 min•Ep. 150
Change is challenging, for all kinds of different reasons. But one thing that can make it more challenging than it actually needs to be is when we insist on going it alone. Whether you're aiming to improve your health, boost your productivity, or cultivate a new skill, having a solid support strategy can be the difference between frustration and success. But getting the people around you to support you in ways that you find supportive can be challenging. Here are some ways to set yourself up for...
Aug 26, 2024•17 min•Ep. 149
Dr. Michelle Segar is an NIH-funded researcher at the University of Michigan. She’s also a best-selling author and health coach. She’s spent close to thirty years studying how to create sustainable changes and healthy behaviors that can survive the complexity and unpredictability of the real world. In this episode, Monica talks with Dr. Segar about her newest book, The Joy Choice, as well as her 3-step process for staying on track even when life goes off the rails. Highlights Why it is hard to f...
Aug 16, 2024•32 min•Ep. 148
Goals come in different flavors--and they don’t all work same way. By understanding the differences, we can uncover ways in which our goals may be a bit fuzzy, lacking support, in conflict with one another, or even just out of balance. That insight can help us fine-tune our efforts, helping us create lives that are healthier, happier, more productive, and more meaningful! Key Takeaways: Make sure that your emotional and outcome goals are supported by specific behavioral goals. There’s an importa...
Aug 06, 2024•18 min•Ep. 147
The Default Mode Network, or DMN, is the part of your brain that drives your habitual actions and thoughts. When we feel “stuck” in unwanted behaviors or thought patterns, the DMN is running the show. You might think that the solution would be to somehow ratchet down DMN activity. Unfortunately, this is almost impossible to do. But it turns out that there’s a surprisingly simple way to do an end run around that pesky DMN, and open up possibilities that have eluded us before. Key Takeaways Recogn...
Jul 26, 2024•22 min•Ep. 146
There's definitely an art to planning. And we'll get into that in this episode. But here’s the thing everyone forgets to tell you about planning: The real trick is actually not in making the plan. The real trick is in sticking to the plan you’ve made. We'll talk about why that is so darned hard--and how to get better at following through on your plans. Key Takeaways Planning provides structure, focus, and accountability. Without a plan, it's too easy for your goals and intentions to get lost in ...
Jul 17, 2024•23 min•Ep. 145
Being curious about our experiences (both internal and external) really is key to unlocking our progress and potential. But to be honest, it’s a tricky one. Certain mental reactions often masquerade as genuine curiosity. In this episode, you'll learn to recognize these imposters and pivot instead to the kind of inquiry that actually moves you forward instead of leaving you stuck in the same old repeating patterns. Key Takeaways The goal of curiosity is less about explaining what happened and mor...
Jul 08, 2024•20 min•Ep. 144
I'm betting you aspire to a future life that is at least a little bit better than it is now—perhaps you'll be a bit healthier, less stressed, more content. You're working towards a future in which you have achieved certain goals or milestones. What we don't always realize (or fully acknowledge) is that the choices we make today, the actions we do or do not take, are actually creating that future. For better or worse. Let’s make sure that Future You doesn’t look back at today’s choices with regre...
Jun 27, 2024•16 min•Ep. 143
Over the past 9 or so months, Karen has lost about 25% of her weight. Which is a big deal. But it’s really not the headline of her story. Her story is really about shedding her lifelong identity as the one who could do everything for everyone. Instead, she realized that focusing on her own physical and emotional health was not only the most caring thing she could do for herself but was also the most caring thing she could do for all the people she cared about. Karen is one of the most inspiring ...
Jun 17, 2024•27 min•Ep. 142
Do you know what separates the people who achieve lasting change from those who stay stuck? I’ve worked with hundreds of clients over the years and some clear patterns have definitely emerged. In this episode, I share the attitudes and behaviors that my most successful clients all embody - insights that can help propel your own progress, whether you're working with a coach privately, or in a group, or going it alone. You'll learn practical strategies for taking ownership, staying motivated, and ...
Jun 05, 2024•25 min•Ep. 141
Dr. Bethy Campbell joins Monica to discuss the rewards and potential pitfalls of seeking feedback–in both your professional and personal relationships. Concrete strategies and real-world examples show you how to elicit the most constructive feedback and then how to process and act on it for maximum benefit. Whether you're looking to improve your communication, enhance your work performance, or strengthen your personal relationships, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone committed to cont...
May 28, 2024•33 min•Ep. 140
In this episode, we’re exploring an aspect of change that can be really tricky: figuring out why making this change is important to you. It doesn’t sound like it would be that hard. But often it takes a little digging to get at the true heart of our WHY, our compelling reason. Whether your goals have to do with your health, finances, career, relationships, or anything else, uncovering your compelling reason is crucial. Because it not only increases your chances of success; it also bolsters your ...
May 16, 2024•19 min•Ep. 139
