Successful(ish)

Are you a people pleaser? Trina Stutzman, author of 12 Steps to Overcome People Pleasing, is sharing her experience and expertise in how to identify people pleasing habits and stop shoulding ourselves once and for all. 

Calling all dog-lovers! Dog People Trainer Pat Buttita is sharing all the tips and tricks on how to have better relationships with our furry friends, and why it's more about training people than pets. 

Are you afraid of success? Whether it's a fear of failing, or a fear of succeeding, there's a lot of anxieties that can prevent us from pursuing success. We can self-sabotage our own efforts. On this episode, Sarah shares her top 5 success fears, and some ways to face it 'till we make it. 

Everything you wanted to know about Season 8 is recapped right here. 

Ballet Instructor and Play Ambassador Ramona Schmid is sharing how she turned her passion for ballet into her full time profession. She also shares the importance of play, and the difference between having a hobby and having a life passion. You won't leave this conversation the same. 

When is the best time to go for a new goal? NOW! Miss Tammy shares how she began training in martial arts in her 50s and has since received multiple black belts and accolades in Karate and JiuJitsu. There are no age parameters when it comes to success. 

Remember those lofty New Year's goals? On this episode, Sarah is sharing how to break those goals into an attainable and successful quarterly plan. 

Let's talk contracting! Owner of Pottery Quality, Collin Potter is sharing all the questions one should ask before hiring a contractor, how to spot the good from the bad, when a DIY needs some extra help, and why quality is everything. 

"I don't have time".... Each episode, our guests share what they have failed at. Almost always, it is some variation of time management. Why is it so hard for us to have time for the things we need time for? On this episode, Sarah shares why she hates the phrase "I don't have time" and how to think about time management as priority management. If you struggle with managing your time, with taking on more than you can do, or with having to say no to things you want to do... this one is for you. 

Have you ever said "I hates sales" or "I suck at sales"... we have some sad news for you. Everyone is in sales. Salesforce pros John Patton and Billy Draper are sharing their sales expertise- everything you need to know to step up your sales game. They are sharing their best practices, their best stories, and their opinions on whether cold-calling actually works. Check it out, then sell some stuff. 

Wallets are a little tight these days. While it may feel right to avoid that pesky b-word, budgets are actually for the wealthy. On this episode, Sarah shares how she manages her budget, and how she managed to pay off school loans on an entry level salary within 2 years of graduating, how she successfully lived (and thrived) on a 20k salary, and how she prioritizes her spending and saving to live her best life. If you struggle with knowing where to start when it comes to your bank accounts, this episode is for you.  

What is an NFT? What could the metaverse look like? Is a digital Utopia even plausible? Ralph Kupper shares his expertise and answers all the questions.

In our third self-defense chat, Renshi Tim talks about how to successfully finish the fight and why it matters. Sarah shares what Krav Maga is and how becoming a fighter has fueled her success.

Dana Pharant shares about life as a dominatrix and how we can harness our sexual energy to win in business and life. (hint - it has nothing to do with sex)

Wondering where to start and what you've missed? Sarah is recapping all of season 7.

Have you ever wondered what's involved in publishing a book? Or perhaps whether you should self-publish or pitch a publisher? Book editor and bibliophile Bella Sophia is sharing all the trade secrets.

What does it take to be a successful writer? Writer and owner of Hustle Pretty Co. and Ghost Girl, Christi Pratte is sharing all of her tips on how to find inspiration for your writing, how to effectively pitch your writing, and how to generally live a life worth writing about. 

There are a lot of different needs for photography- branding, family, pets, lifestyle, boudoir... on this episode, photography dream team Kristen Kidd and David Weir are sharing all their insights on what makes a good photo, and what to consider before hiring a photographer.

Video genius Torrey Tayenaka shares his expertise about what makes great video, why video is important, and what to ask before hiring a videographer.

What do we need for good design? Is design subjective, or are there objective qualifications? How has the more recent push for things like diversity and transparency and mission-minded cultures changed the way we approach visual branding? Award winning designer Dave Matli shares his thoughts and expertise on design.

Life can get pretty heavy. It's only natural to have the occasional pity party. On this episode, Sarah shares her tips on how to feel your feels without getting stuck.

What do family and politics have in common? The family unit is the first place we learn to coexist as a society. Government Affairs Director, Realtor, Author, Wife, Mom, Grandma, and oldest child of six, Liz Recchia shares her expertise about getting things done at the local level, and how family prepared her for the world.

Judy V shares how we can become empowered. She shares her story of being locked up as a slave for the first 20 years of her life, and how that experience shaped her understanding of freedom, forgiveness, and abundance. Today she is an international best selling author, award winning entrepreneur, speaker, co founder of Tribe of Traders and creator of Trilogy of Transformation and the Attune to Prosperity brand. Over the past 20+ years she has built and sold numerous multi million dollar businesses in many categories including starting the first ever online coaching business in 2000 . She has studied and researched human potential for over 20 years - it's been her understanding of human behaviour and potential that has not only allowed her to create massively successful pioneering businesses but overcome the most extraordinary challenge - of being locked up throughout her childhood until she escaped in her early 20's. https://www.facebook.com/groups/attunetowealth

What's the best way to get from point A to point B? Is it about the arrival or the journey? We're talking to Joshua Amarelo, Parkour and Free Running expert, about creatively and efficiently reaching our goals.

What is the difference between ambition and drive? Host Sarah Michelle is sharing her thoughts on why these two things are critical for success.

In this April Fools episode, we're talking to Lori Kelley about building a successful career in the male dominated field of engineering.

After finding herself with an unexpected jail sentence, Janine Gates went on to finish obtaining her college degrees, built a successful career in the government sector, and now has her own business helping people break generational cycles. Janine shares what the prison experience was like, and why she is passionate about seeing people live their best future in spite of their past.

Is success constrained to an age range? Nah. We're talking to Dennis Selke who after marrying the love of his life, building a successful career, and retiring, went back to school 30 years after starting so that he can land his dream role as an architect. And Laura DiBenedetto about her early success as a TEDx Speaker, #1 Bestselling author of The Six Habits and Life Mastery Coach. Laura teaches how to create the life of our dreams without sacrificing what we love. As Founder and CEO of Vision Advertising, a company that she built aged 19, she has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs build and grow profitable enterprises entirely on their terms. You can grab her book here: https://www.thesixhabits.com/

On this double episode, we are addressing two foolish beliefs- that you have to have a formal education, or formal prior experience to be successful. Chrysta Bairre discusses overcoming poverty and limited education to climb the ladder and build her own entrepreneurial success, and John Stryker shares how he followed his love of books into the world of editing and publishing after a career path in HR.

"I can't be successful because I don't have a formal education." "I can't be successful because I don't have any formal experience." "I can't be successful because I am too young- no one will take me seriously." "I can't be successful because I am too old- it's too late." "I can't be successful because I have a past." "I can't be successful as a female in a male dominated industry." April Fools! We're spending the month of April talking to successperts who have proved all these statements untrue. In this kick-off episode, Sarah is sharing her experiences proving these things wrong and her thoughts on finding success... unexpectedly.

Sarah Michelle is sharing 33 success tips she's picked up in 33 years of life. Pop some corn and get comfy... it's an extra long one this week.

So many failures become successes. Sarah is sharing some of her personal failures in all areas of life, and how these failures have made her rethink success.

Sharing all the thoughts on season 6

How do you make a resolution stick? Are you really making that resolution for you, or for someone else? Let's make some goals stick this year.

Personal branding has become a big buzzword. But what does that actually mean? Do we really need to think about this if we don't want to be famous? Can we build a public reputation without losing all privacy? The reality is that every single one of us has a personal brand. But you get to be in the driver's seat.

It's all about the money, honey. But what if you aren't in a position to enjoy any of that money? Money expert Krisstina Wise is stopping by to talk about the balance between being wealthy and well-thy. Krisstina is a real estate mogul, millionaire coach, best-selling author, and creator of several multi-million dollar businesses. Krisstina now teaches high-income entrepreneurs how to convert business income into personal net worth and passive income. She is the host of the Wealthy Wellthy Podcast, Author of Falling For Money, and Owner of Wealthy Wellthy and Sovereignty Academy. wealthywellthy.life @krisstinawise FB WealthyWellthy

What happens if you find all the success you ever wanted... but then want to change your mind? This week Sarah Michelle is talking to Josh Harris about what it was like to change his mind about his best selling books and to unpublish them.

You can save a life. Really. Suicide Prevention expert Stan Collins is sharing how to recognize the signs of suicide, how to have the conversation, and how to address this important conversation. 

Want to sound good? Our audio producer Zach LeWinter is sharing all the tips on how to produce quality sound from your home studio. 

Do diets even work? Nutritionist Ryan Drozd has tried them all and he's dropping some truth. We're talking all things nutrition. 

Do you struggle with negotiation? Who doesn't?! This week, host Sarah Michelle's dad is stopping by to talk about how to negotiate. From contracts to raises to salaries to parent-child bartering, we've got you covered. If you have ever struggled to ask for the raise or get the salary, you don't want to miss this episode. 

Want to start a business? We've got you covered. Attorney Lisa Sigman is sharing everything you need to know to get started. What's an LLC? What's a sole proprietor? Do you really need a legal entity? What is and isn't protected in your business? How do you get started? If you've got questions, she's got answers. 

Roadtrip! Host Sarah Michelle shares her experience of traveling across the country by herself. What to pack, how to prep, best and worst bathrooms... she's sharing all the tips. 

Can we talk about race? S.P.A.R.K. founders Rachel & Lia Rosen are sharing how we can begin to have these uncomfortable conversations about race, unconscious bias, and equity. Rachel and Lia create a safe space to address awkward questions and educate ourselves on how to address these important topics. White privilege, Bias, Racism, white supremacy.... we're tackling all of it. Rachel and Lia are the creators of S.P.A.R.K and S.P.A.R.K. 4 Community. Check them out online https://spark4community.com/

Recapping an amazing season 5! Talking about rest with host Sarah Michelle, getting sh*t done with Rachel Kelly, CEO of Make Lemonade, talking about school with Sara Torpey, brought back our old friend Mark Male to talk pest control, wandering aimfully with Hip Maps founder Rachel LeRoy, Makeup with Christen Gundersen, Bitcoin with Shawn Cagle, and our first ever Encore! series with Angela Nummy dropping some bookkeeping wisdom, messy marketing with Scott Miller, Real Estate with Shalmai Rivera, fitness with Coach Matt Persell, and how to have 'the talk' with Dr. Tina Schermer Sellers. Also intro-ing season 6. 

HOST EPISODE! Host Sarah Michelle is talking about one of her favorite activities: REST. What does it mean to rest? Howcome when we 'rest', we still don't feel rested? Why are we tired all the time? How can we rest? What do we do about rest-guilt? It's time to rest the hustle muscle, and chill with this fun episode. 

Do you need to get some shit done? Rachel Kelly, founder of the Get Sh*t Done Club is sharing her experience of entrepreneurship, swapping stories with Sarah, and we're talking about how to hunker down and get sh*t done, and how to make lemonade when life throws us a giant lemon. Make Lemonade started in 2017 when founder Rachel Kelly was feeling extra lonely freelancing and had zero coworkers to connect with. So, she opened a Toronto coworking office and before she knew it, a community was born. Then, 2020 happened. The team pivoted quickly and took the IRL community virtual; opening up the Get Sh*t Done Club to anyone around the world. @makelemonadeco

Is getting a big red F really a bad thing? How do we retrain ourselves to think of this as something worth celebrating? Teacher and Business Coach Sara Torpey is in the studio taking us back to school, and challenging some of the ways we have previously viewed academic success. Sara Torpey is a business coach and teacher with 20 years of experience working with both business owners and educators. At Torpey Coaching, she works 1:1 with business owners to create thriving, profitable businesses through simplicity, smart systems, and leveraging everything that is already working to create even more growth. Sara is a multiple business owner, a teacher, a mom, and a wife. She knows what it’s like to wear all the hats AND build an amazing business you LOVE at the same time. Sara is fueled by learning, sunshine, teaching, ice cream, and helping clients to create their DREAMS.

With the changing of seasons can come an influx of unwanted house guests. And we don't just mean your relatives. Our former host Mark Male is stopping by to share all his tips and tricks on successful pest control. {Spoiler Alert: Sarah finally got rid of her mouse family} Mark has owned and operated Barefoot Pest Control for several years and is an expert in the space of pest removal in both residential and industrial environments. 

Numbers genius Angela Nummy is back in the studio talking all things bookkeeping. This is the 101 you don't want to miss.

Do you ever hear a conversation that is so good, you have to hear more? We got you babe. In our first Encore series, 5 fan favorite guests are coming back. In this episode, Scott Miller is back to talk about the biggest mistakes and misconceptions we make when it comes to marketing, and what it means to have a healthy brand.  Capping a 25-year career where he served as a chief marketing officer and executive vice president of business development, Scott Jeffrey Miller currently serves as FranklinCovey’s senior advisor on thought leadership, leading the strategy and development of the firm’s speaker’s bureau, as well as the publication of podcasts, webcasts, and bestselling books. Catch him online @scottmillerj1

Do you ever hear a conversation that is so good, you have to hear more? We got you babe. In our first Encore series, 5 fan favorite guests are coming back. On this episode, realtor Shalmai Rivera is back to talk about the craziness that Covid has brought to the housing market, and how home ownership can impact our perception of success.  Shalmai is a Realtor with Keller Williams Merrimack Valley licensed in MA and NH. She works with both buyers and sellers and really enjoys helping her clients throughout the home purchasing/selling process. She sees herself as both a professional and also as a friend, guiding and teaching as we go.

Do you ever hear a conversation that is so good, you have to hear more? We got you babe. In our first Encore series, 5 fan favorite guests are coming back. In this episode, Matt Persell is back to talk about how to make fitness more fun, and how to love ourselves in the process. Matt Persell is an elementary PE teacher as well as an adult fitness coach who is passionate about making fitness fun.

Do you ever hear a conversation that is so good, you have to hear more? We got you babe. In our first Encore series, 5 fan favorite guests are coming back. On today's chat, Dr. Tina Schermer Sellers is back to talk about how we can talk to our kids (or even re-parent ourselves) to enjoy shame free sex. We discuss where shame comes from, how it can look differently in both purity and hookup culture, how to talk to our kids about sex in age appropriate ways, and why other countries have more positive sexual relationships. Dr. Tina Schermer Sellers is a sex and gender feminist psychotherapist, professor emerita, and author of the acclaimed book, Sex, God and the Conservative Church – Erasing Shame from Sexual Intimacy. She is a preeminent voice on the impact of sexual shame on sexual health and attachment. In her latest book, Shameless Parenting – Everything You Need to Raise Shame-free, Confident Kids, and Heal Your Shame Too!, Dr. Sellers highlights the trickiest parts of each stage of parenting (birth to 18) that tend to trigger shame-based reactivity. It is the hardest part of parenting. It is from our own places of shame that we over-react, repeating patterns from our parent’s that we might otherwise have resisted.This is the 21st century book parents have been waiting for. Dr. Tina is also the founder and medical director of the Northwest Institute on Intimacy which provides training and supervision for therapists, medical providers and clergy in sexual health and confronting sexual bias. Dr. Tina is frequently featured on podcasts, TV, documentaries, articles and radio. Pre-COVID Tina travelled across the country as a keynote speaker for organizations, parents and professionals helping them become competent teaching shame-free relational and sexual health. As the world begins to open back up, hopefully she will get to travel and speak again soon! In the meantime,she has enjoyed shifting these conversations online and connects with people across the world through instagram/facebook/youtube lives, Clubhouse conversations & will be launching a new online community for parents along with her new book release! Stay tuned:)

Can you wander without being 'lost'? Hip Maps founder Rachel LeRoy shares how she created her innovative company, and why wandering aimfully is so critical to our success. Rachel LeRoy, founder of HipMaps, is a custom map designer who uses a fresh approach to bring joy through personalized maps for any occasion. Rachel specializes in maps where hosts share their favorite places to eat, drink, and play and Rachel creates their personal map in their style. Hosts share their custom map with guests via HipMaps’ free smartphone app, where guests see their location right on the custom map. These personal and informative maps are great for weddings, reunions, vacation rental homes, business events, & more. Rachel is based in Sonoma, California and makes maps all over the world. Fun visuals can be found at HipMaps.com

What's the deal with makeup? Why is it that when we follow a YouTube tutorial exactly, we don't look like the model? CG herself from Makeup by CG joins to talk about things like how to do makeup, how and when to clean our makeup, why looking natural is always better but sometimes harder, why dudes may need to wear some coverup, and more. Christen developed a love for makeup and an obsession for wearing purple eyeliner in high school. She tried many different career options, retail, insurance, admin assistant, salon coordinator, nanny and even sandwich artist (in high school) but she finally found her niche and became a professional makeup artist. She moved to Southeastern, CT 10 years ago where the Navy brought her family. She specializes in Photography makeup but can accommodate all makeup needs such as styled shoots, proms, formals, headshots, commercial, advertising, film, lessons, and even underwater. In her free time, she loves to spend time with my family, shop and come up with creative set ideas. Oh yeah and she's a lover of Halloween, comfy clothes, and 80’s music!

Wondering what exactly BitCoin is, and how to get started? Shawn Cagle is stopping by to drop some deets on how we can introduce cryptocurrency into our portfolios. Shawn made his first bitcoin purchase in 2015 when the price was below $300 and had traded on Coinbase less than 300 days. After dabbling in trading and exploring the macroeconomic landscape for years he now shares his industry expertise. He is motivated to share how the bitcoin network fits into the broader economy. Bitcoin has the power to connect people across the globe into a more efficient economic society. He focuses on teaching the fundamental use cases for why bitcoin is a revolutionary invention and how to participate in the global shift. Of course massive financial returns aren't so bad either.

We are wrapping up FOUR seasons of Successful(ish). Are you having as much fun as we are? On this episode, Sarah recaps all of our season 4 conversations, including: Color and Closets with Shirley Zaccheo; Insurance with Tanya Ballestrini; Entrepreneurship and the American Dream with Ralph Küpper; Difficult Conversations vs Difficult People with Debra Woog; The Art of Relationships with Dr. Kelly Campbell; Real Estate Investing with Veronica Lutzen; The Top 5 Excuses We Make That Keep Us From Being Successful {Host Episode}; How To Give Gifts To Someone Grieving With Heidi and Michael Jakoby; How To Preserve and Digitize Photos with Caren Osborne; What Is The Enneagram with Kelly Tibbits; and Self Defense Parts 1&2 {Avoiding the Fight, Winning the Fight} with Cynthia Jolicoeur Rood and Renshi Rob Warner. She also introduces our season 5 line-up.

What would you do if you were attacked? In this part 2 conversation about self defense, Renshi Rob Warner shares what we need to do to successfully win a fight.

Did you know that most attacks come from people the victim knew? We all need to learn self-defense, but what if we don't have time or money to pursue martial arts? Cynthia. Jolicoeur Rood teaches self defense through using what we already have available to us. On this episode, we talk about how to avoid ever having a fight to begin with. What signs should we look for? How can we trust our gut? How can we become more comfortable being 'the bad guy'? 

What exactly is the Enneagram? Enneagram student and coach Kelly Tibbitts stops by to share what exactly the Enneagram is and how each number works.

Do you have boxes of photos stashed away somewhere? These precious memories could be getting damaged- or worse, could be lost on future generations. Caren Osborne is a professional photo organizer and she's sharing all the tips and tricks.

How can you comfort a friend who is grieving? Is there a right time to send a gift? Heidi and Michael Jakoby are the owners of Healing Baskets, a custom gift basket company specialized in grief gifts. Join this beautiful conversation about love and gifts.

Do you make excuses? What's the difference between an excuse and a real obstacle? Sarah shares her top 5 excuses that have kept her from being successful, and how she discerns real obstacles from cop-out excuses.

What if you could find someone else to pay your mortgage? Real Estate Investor, Veronica Lutzen shares how investing in real estate can be easier than we think, and a game changer for you and your family. Veronica has been a real estate investor since age 21 but didn't know it when she started. Buying a duplex was the only way she could afford a house for her family in the town she wanted to be in. Years later, she read the book " Rich Dad, Poor Dad " and realized she was already playing the game and that real estate investing was her retirement plan. Find her on Facebook, @VeronicaLutzen

What makes a relationship successful? Can a failed relationship actually be a successful relationship? Dr. Kelly Campbell stops by to talk about the art of a healthy relationship. Dr. Kelly Campbell is a Professor of Psychology at California State University, San Bernardino. Her research examines couple relationships and friendships including deceptive online romance (known as catfishing), infidelity, instant connections (e.g., chemistry), and love. She has conducted studies in the U.S., Canada, England, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and South Africa. She teaches courses on intimate relationships, gender, families, parenting, positive psychology, personality, and race and racism. Dr. Campbell directs the Psychology Honors program, serves as the Associate Director for the Institute for Child Development and Family Relations, co-directs a South Africa study abroad program, blogs for Psychology Today, and hosts a radio show called “Let’s Talk Relationships.” Dr. Campbell’s research has been featured on NBC television, CBS radio, NPR, TMZ, Sirius XM Radio, and in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Men's Health, Women's Health, Cosmopolitan, SELF, and The Huffington Post. Dr. Campbell has secured awards for her work including the Outstanding Teaching Award from the International Association for Relationship Research. Hangout with her at www.KellyCampbell.com

Do you avoid difficult conversations? Confrontation is very uncomfortable. But it doesn't have to be. Today on the podcast, we're talking about how to win-win difficult conversations, and how to know when a difficult conversation is just a difficult person, and not worth having. Debra A. Woog (pronounced like “Vogue” magazine) is a Crisis Navigation Partner™ with 30+ years of experience as a leadership researcher, executive and advisor. Her career path has included conducting research at Harvard Business School, advising tech start-ups on People Strategy, and directing admissions and career development for the MIT dual-degree MBA program Leaders for Global Operations. She earned a B.A. in Psychology and American Studies from Wellesley College and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management. She is a trained mediator and ombudsman. Hangout with her on Facebook, Instagram, Clubhouse, Twitter, and LinkedIn @ConnectTwo

Ralph and Sarah talk about entrepreneurship, cross-cultural differences, and the American Dream. Then the really meaty stuff comes up like why women are stuck choosing between kids and career, why most people fail or never even start, and what entrepreneurial advantages we may not realize we have in the US. Ralph has been a life-long entrepreneur, starting his first company at the age of 14. His interest in technology combined with a passion for business have exposed him to many successful(ish) opportunities. Apart from business he is the father of 2 children and married to Elizabeth.

We have to have insurance. But do we have to spend so much? Insurance Genius Tanya Ballestrini shares how we can save some time and money and be more successful in insuring what we need to protect.

Do you ever stare into a closet full of clothes, and sigh because you have nothing to wear? Shirley Zaccheo has you covered. And colored. Shirley Zaccheo, is CEO of You & Improved. She is a certified Image Consultant and Colorholic Closet Expert. Her mission is to help bring the world of color into your life and curate the best closet for your best self because she believe everyone has value and potential exactly where they are at. Shirley works with clients to audit their closets and shop for new pieces so that they can feel confident in presenting their best self. Everything starts with color analysis, your existing wardrobe, and then we kick it up a notch so that you are still You & Improved!  Hangout with her online at  https://www.you-n-improved.com/ @letsgetYouandImproved

Is your head still spinning from all of the amazing conversations we've had this season? Ours too. Let's look back and recap. Plus, sneak peek of season 4!

Before we can learn to be successful, we have to un-learn what has kept us from being successful. Jo Luehman is an expert in deconstruction and decolonization. On this episode, Jo shares what these phrases mean, and how our past trauma and current cultural systems may be making success harder than it needs to be. 

Are you supposed to have hair? Even down there? When did we start yanking hair out of our bodies? Is there a difference between waxing or shaving or plucking? Do we have to go to a professional or can we DIY? Nicole Giansanti shares tips, tricks, and expertise on successful body hair removal. All the questions you never knew you wanted to ask- answered here. 

What do you actually need to know to successfully file taxes? We're defining words and sharing the deets so that you can file with peace and confidence.

How can we successfully buy a home? What are the differences in looking for a first home vs. a forever home? What key players need to be invited into our team? Realtor Shalmai Rivera answers all the questions we may have never even known to ask about home ownership. 

What happens to your stuff after you die? Where would your kids live? How should your adult kids handle your affairs? Do these questions make you uncomfortable? Every day you are creating a legacy- not only through the wealth and assets that you accumulate, but in the life that you are building. And your legacy should be protected. Estate Lawyer, Carmen Rosas, shares how and where we can get started in creating and legalizing our legacy. From the specifics of what documentation we need to have in place, to the open-ended thought process of what legacy we're leaving behind, Carmen is passionate about making sure every successful(ish) story lives on. 

Sometimes it feels like everyone has an opinion on how we should engage in relationships. Much of how we engage with others physically, roots back to what we were taught about sex in our formative years. And if you were raised in the abstinence era, you weren't taught much. Or at least much that is accurate.  On this episode, Dr. Tina Schermer Sellers shares what led her to research abstinence and sexuality, how misinformation has fueled shame and fear in sexuality, and what we can do to begin to repair our own sexuality, and pass forward sex positivity so that our kids won't face this same fear and shame.  Sarah shares her personal experience in navigating purity culture and hookup culture, and we jump into questions like 'is there a right time to have sex?' 'Is it better to have one or multiple partners?' 'What is the truth about waiting?' 'What does the Bible really say about sex?' 'How has Christianity impacted our secular education system and sexual understanding?' 'How can we enjoy shame-free sex?'  Dr. Tina is a vibrant thought leader around issues of sexuality, intimacy, and spirituality. Her life’s work is centered around rooting out the causes of sexual shame and providing tools that disarm and demystify all the negative messages that we receive in American culture and so often in religious circles. She regularly speaks at events, conferences, intimacy retreats, churches, and universities around the country. Dr. Tina is a sex therapist, former professor of Marriage and Family Therapy at Seattle Pacific University, founder of the Northwest Institute on Intimacy, AASECT-certified supervisor, mother, wife, and author. She is currently doing work on her next book, which is intended to help parents raise their children free of sexual shame and appropriately teach them about healthy sexuality over each stage of their development. Learn more at http://www.tinaschermersellers.com/

This one's for the girls. And the really smart dudes who want better sex with their ladies. Raylene Taskoski, host of Stand Up Comedy Sex-Ed shares how we can have better sex, more orgasms, and why the answer to everything is 'more lube.'

Our very own Sarah Michelle shares her experiences in relationships and dating and embracing the single(ish) life. Why is dating so hard? Is there a balance between hookup culture and celibacy? Why is online dating the actual worst? Can we want a relationship but not need one? Why is everyone obsessed with the relationship timeline? What if we can rock being single without being alone? Sarah shares her thoughts and challenges as well as some tips that have helped her rock single.

What comes to mind when you think about 'relationships'? Do you immediately think of others? A romantic partner? Family? Friends? How many relationships do you think about before thinking about the relationship you have with yourself? Relationship Coach and LMFT Hana Dunham shares insights on what it means to have a relationship with ourself, how we can move from loss into love, and how to enjoy more vibrant, healthy relationships all around. 

Yum

Stuff and Things

Do you really know yourself? Does your mess make you a good leader? Or just a mess? Scott Miller shares his tips on being a more successful manager, leader, and human being. Scott Miller is a leadership expert who authors, coaches and speaks to the subject and has been with Franklin Covey Co. for over two decades, and currently serves as the Special Advisor of Thought Leadership. Whew. If that wasn't enough, he is the host of the FranklinCovey sponsored On Leadership With Scott Miller, a weekly leadership webcast, podcast, and newsletter that features interviews with renowned business titans, authors, and thought leaders. And, Miller writes a weekly leadership column for Inc. magazine and is the bestselling author of two books,  'Management Mess to Leadership Success' and 'Everyone Deserves a Great Manager'. Plus a couple dozen other things because his super power is saying 'Yes.' When he's not interviewing amazing success stories like Rachel Hollis, Marie Forleo, Ed Mylett, Brendan Burchard, Matthew McConaughey, Stephen M.R. Covey, Donald Miller, and our very own Sarah Michelle (to name a few), he enjoys interviewing kitchen appliances and hanging out with his wife and three boys. Follow him on social media @scottmillerj1 or online at https://managementmess.com/

Looking for the sparknotes/cheatsheet episode? You found it. We recap our chats with all season 2 guests, sharing what we loved, what we hated, and what we are still thinking about. Season 2 included chats with: Joyce Rojas about money, sex, and the success connection between the two Mark Sorbara talked to us about how to make hobbies work for you, how to 'figure it out', and find success on your own terms Tayo Rockson shared his experience of cross-cultural living, how culture can shape identity, and what it means to live a nuanced life in a binary world Caryl Mix taught us how to implement boundaries so we can take care of ourselves even when life is a dumpster fire (hello 2020) Joey Vitale taught us what a trademark is and how to own an idea Matt Persell shared the differences and similarities between grownups and kindergartners and how to successfully meet our fitness goals And we talk about IMPOSTER SYNDROME and share our tips on enjoying a successful(ish) holiday season. Whew. You don't want to miss this. 

Do you remember the good ol' days of PE in school? Why did that seem more fun than working out as a grown up? Matt Persell is an elementary PE teacher and an Orangetheory Fitness Coach with a decade of experience and education in the health and fitness industry. On this episode, he shares the difference between coaching kiddos and grownups, and how we can be more successful in taking care of our physical health. Hangout with him on Facebook, Matt Persell, or Instagram @MattyP217 

What even is a trademark? Can you own an idea? How do trademarks work? Why is it important to protect your brand? Is brand protection worth it at the expense of PR/decent human reputation? Joey C. Vitale is a lawyer, speaker, and business coach for online entrepreneurs and thought leaders. With his law firm and his courses, Joey helps online business owners call legal dibs on their brand name and signature methods so they never have to worry about losing their brand overnight. He hosts the Owning It podcast and educates nationally on trademarks and brand protection. You can hangout with him online at https://indielaw.com/ , https://www.joeycvitale.com/podcast,  or Instagram @JoeyCVitale

Happy Holidays! Or... maybe a little bah-humbug holidays? Did you know that 45% of Americans would rather bypass the holidays? Is it possible to take some and leave some? Have the holidays been overtaken by consumerism and expectation? Sarah and Mark chat about their most and least successful holidays. In-laws trying to merge traditions, kids riding new bikes through living room walls, Black Friday panic, and celebrating Christmas in sweatpants at a Waffle House.... good times. Get a glimpse into how Sarah and Mark celebrate (or avoid celebrating), and tips on how to make the holidays a little more successful. 

Are you an imposter? Do men experience imposter syndrome? What if you really aren't good enough to sit at the table? Join us as we dig into why our brain doesn't seem willing to accept our successes, what how imposter syndrome can manifest and interfere with success. 

It's fine. I'm fine. This is fine. What do you do when your world is a giant dumpster fire, and you have to get your shit together? Coach Caryl Mix talks about how to pull through a life crisis, why boundaries are important, and keeps it real with some stories and tips about how to handle life when it is legitimately too much to handle.  Caryl Mix is a coach and business strategist who specializes in helping successful people figure out how to take care of themselves so that they can better take care of the people they are leading. Hangout with her online at https://carylmix.com/ 

Special guest Tayo Rockson tells us of his travels across the world and how living with different groups shaped his perspective.  TAYO ROCKSON is a cross-cultural communications expert and published author of 'Use Your Difference to Make a Difference.' He is the the CEO of UYD Management--a strategic leadership and consulting firm that helps corporations improve their bottom line by incorporating diversity, inclusion and social justice strategies.-- and an authority on cross-cultural competencies and international branding strategy. Hangout with him online at https://tayorockson.com/ or @tayorockson on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Can you find success outside the college-white collar mold? Mark Sorbara tells us about how he ditched the traditional success plan to create a life that revolves around his passions.

Is it hot in here, or is it just Sarah and Joyce getting riled up about saving themselves and getting shit done?  Join the conversation about creating success in bed, body, and bankroll. Meet Joyce Joyce Rojas has over 19 years of banking and investment experience. She's worked for Fortune 500 companies as a financial advisor and in various leadership roles. She is now a public speaker and Money Mindset Mentor helping people clean up their finances, dramatically grow their business and career, and tap into their true potential. She intuitively taps into what’s holding you back, gives you the knowledge, concrete process of habits, and the mindset shift you need to help you succeed faster and further than what you thought possible. Keep an eye out for her first book, coming to a bookshelf near you!  Hangout with Joyce www.joycerojas.com https://www.youtube.com/c/joycerojas https://www.facebook.com/TheJoyceRojas https://www.instagram.com/thejoycerojas/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyce-rojas-speaks/

How does the dictionary define success? Can we define success for ourselves? Where is the line between objective and subjective? Join the conversation about defining and redefining success. 

Season One Recap with some reflection and looking forward. You could say we're definitely excited about it. 

Does success need to be fun? If we're having fun, is it automatically a success? Is it ok to live for fun? When does a hobby become work? Talking about success and fun and where the two intersect. 

Is money the primary metric for success? Can you have a lot of money but still be failing? What is money mindset? Are the sayings true? Chatting all about success and money and whether it can buy happiness or grow on trees. 

The one that started it all. Why do we so often equate our success to what we do professionally? What if we are really good at what we do but we hate it? What if we are really terrible at what we do but we love it? How does work impact our success? 

How do relationships impact our success? Do we become like the people we spend the most time with? Can a successful relationship involve terminating the relationship? What about the relationship we have with ourselves? 

What does it mean to be healthy? Why do we need to look at health physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually? Does our healthy impact our success? 

What exactly is culture? How does our environment (our family, religion, geography, etc) impact our ability to succeed? Does culture pre-determine success? What if we are successful in one environment, but then move over to another?

How do we answer the question 'Who are you?' If we fail at what we do, do we fail at who we are? How does success impact our identity, or vice versa? Do successes and failures make us who we are? 

Get to know Mark

Let's get to know Sarah and a little bit about the origins of Successfulish.

Just a quick hello from Successfulish

Watch this space! Successfulish is coming soon!