🎙️ Episode 37: Life Update + The Podcast is Back!

Hey y’all — I’m back! It’s been over a year since I last dropped an episode of Whatever with Heather, and honestly, I didn’t know I was going to press pause when I did. In this episode, I catch you up on everything that’s happened since May 2024: the highs, the hard stuff, and all the moments in between that helped me get clear on what I truly value.

This isn’t just a life update — it’s about navigating change, facing burnout, choosing alignment, and stepping back into what feels right for me and my family.

✨ In This Episode, I Talk About:

• Why the podcast went silent for 13 months
• What it was like teaching in public school for the first time
• What led to full-blown burnout and my decision not to renew my teaching contract
• How my husband and I started rebuilding our Taekwondo business
• The values that surfaced through all of this: integrity, alignment, peace, and freedom
• What we’re building now — and why it feels so right

💭 What I’ve Learned:

• I’m not meant to work in environments that drain me, even if I can handle them
• Integrity isn’t just important — it’s a non-negotiable
• I need work that feels aligned, creative, and rooted in purpose
• Stepping into the unknown is scary... but also where the magic happens

🛠️ Looking Ahead:

Now that I’ve got more space and clarity, the podcast is back! Here’s what to expect going forward:

• New episodes on mindset, parenting, marriage, and life’s messy ups and downs
• Honest reflections on what I learned through teaching and burnout
• Guest conversations and chats with my husband (we have thoughts)
• Updates as we build our new business — and continue this wild adventure
• Oh, and… I’m finally finishing my book! 🎉

💬 A Little Note from Me:

If you’ve been listening from the beginning — thank you. And if you’re new here, welcome. I hope this episode helps you feel less alone in whatever season you’re walking through. I’m so grateful to be back, to be sharing again, and to have you along for the ride.

In this episode I share the concept I created this year of 'creative discipline.'

Download My Free Habit Tracker: "Focused 50/Focused 14"

I describe my process of choosing this year's 'word of the year' and how it turned into putting 2 words together. Life is a dance of sorts, one where every step counts, bringing us closer to a life that's as disciplined as it is delightfully unpredictable.

Let's talk about turning the tedious into the terrific. This episode is about connecting the dots between our drives and our dreams, and finding that sweet spot where discipline fuels our creativity, not stifles it.

In this episode we talk about the role that failure plays in personal growth and success.

We'll also talk about re-framing our journeys in a way that helps us move forward with the ability to navigate obstacles and failures.

0:00
0:36 Why we fear/avoid failure...
1:29 Academic "failing" and life
2:39 Failing is part of the journey
3:18 Low/No Obstacles
3:45 Obstacles & failure with hard things
4:33 Climbing Everest
5:31 Failure/Obstacles are a feature
6:31 Making the journey less scary
6:40 Fear of the upward climb
6:55 #1 Fear of being "above" others
7:20 #2 Failure is dangerous
7:54 Forward vs. upward
9:37 Life as a forward journey
9:43 Not a climb
10:10 Crash and burn
10:37 Navigation, re-routing, re-evaluating
11:05 No more leveling up
11:30 "Going on a Bear Hunt"
11:54 Navigate the obstacles
12:35 Thank you!

In this episode I share the 4 tools that were pivotal (and continue to be pivotal) in navigating the hard times of life.

2 mindset shifts and 2 actionable tools to help you move forward in your life.

0:00
0:10 Intro
2:14 Figuring it Out
2:45 The 4 Tools
3:03 #1 Re-framing Happiness
6:40 #1 Recap
8:08 2nd Tool
8:41 The Words We Use
12:29 3rd Tool
12:43 #3 Create a Shift
14:56 Ask Yourself...
19:27 4th Tool
19:42 #4 Make it Tangible
24:37 4 Tools - Summary
29:54 You are Not Alone

In this episode, I share my journey with depression and anxiety and how my lowest brought me to where I am today.

0:00
0:22 Introduction
1:17 The Lowest Low
1:58 Background
3:49 First Marriage
4:47 Single Mom Life
5:41 Current Marriage
6:24 Depression Full Force
7:07 "I just want to be happy."
7:37 Tipping Point
9:50 Couldn't Understand...
10:16 Turning Inward
10:38 Depression Staying
11:02 Search for Happiness
11:21 The 3 Options
12:42 Figuring it Out
13:26 Unknown Destination
13:41 Why is the Lowest Necessary?
14:26 Major Discomfort
15:13 Figuring it Out
15:43 To Heal
15:58 Water and Air
16:29 Undercurrent
17:59 Final Thoughts

Join me as I share this journey, and hopefully give to those who might see reflections of their own journey in mine.

Learn how to teach your children to navigate trust... how to build it, and why it's really hard when you break it.

Learn:

• How trust is different.
• What happens when trust is broken.
• How our love for our children is the same, but our trust may be different.
• How to teach trust to your children.
  • Trust levels are different for different things.
  • If they want trust, then they have to BUILD trust.
  • Trust is built by CONSISTENT actions that show you are trustworthy.
  • If you don’t build trust, or destroy trust in one area, you will have to work to re-build that trust. And it will be harder to re-build each time (like bricks for a house, the first time they come in a nice stack, but re-building if the house is knocked over is more work).
  • If one child builds trust... And one doesn’t. There will be different privileges given to different children.
• Teaching Your Children: We don’t expect you to be perfect. But we do expect you to be honest.
  • You will make mistakes. Own it (teaching ownership while young).
  • If you lie or are dishonest about something, remember that you are choosing to destroy trust. Trust that you will have to re-build.

Feeling drained by the daily grind? Let's redefine your daily routine to bring back that spark of joy and fulfillment. Discover the trifecta of daily goals that promise to shift your life from mundane to vibrant, as we focus on nurturing habits, clearing out the mental and physical junk, and infusing a dose of delight into your daily hustle.

This isn't just about long-term life overhauls; it's about transforming the here and now. I'm here to guide you through making each day count. So, plug in, tune out the noise, and prepare to transform your daily habits into a celebration of the present.

Today, we examine how the seemingly mundane tasks, from filling the dishwasher to taking a leisurely stroll, can morph into daunting obstacles.

Listen in for 3 powerful strategies to use to make the SIMPLE tasks feel EASIER.