Pocketful of Mojo

Let's play a little game of "WHAT IF?"

What if your nervous system isn’t scared of compliments because you’re ungrateful, but because it learned that safety lives in overgiving? In this episode we get real about why receiving feels awkward for people pleasers and breaks down how to flip the script with warmth, humour, and brain-savvy tools you can use today.

Cuz why wait for good things to happen? We want it NOW! 

We start by untangling worthiness from performance. If childhood taught you that value equals usefulness, praise and support can f...

Ever felt like you’re standing in a hallway between who you were and who you’re becoming? That’s the messy middle—and it’s where real change happens. We get honest about why transformation feels scary, why your brain clings to familiar patterns, and how to move from people pleasing and performance to alignment, peace, and personal power.

We start by decoding the science: the brain rewards predictability, not happiness. That’s why boundaries feel threatening and old roles feel safer than they are. Then we go soul-deep with a candid story about the “People Pleaser” ident...

We unpack why waiting to be chosen keeps us small and how choosing ourselves rewires beliefs, focuses the brain, and attracts aligned opportunities. Steph shares a personal story of grief, self-promotion, and practical tools to define, claim, and live your worth.

• approval loops and how beliefs form
• dangers of outsourcing power and validation
• letting go of apologies, fear and old stories
• defining clear desires and non-negotiables
• identity-led action and aligned standards
• RAS, self-talk and attention shaping outcomes
• client case study from desperation to magnetism
• weekly reflection prompts and mantra practice

“If thi...

We trace how tiny moments of self-abandonment scatter your spark, then map a science-backed path to call it home. Quiet power replaces people pleasing through five practical steps, somatic anchors, and small choices that rebuild trust in yourself.

• micro moments that teach the brain to shrink
• rejection and shame as felt threats not facts
• survival mode turning into self-abandonment
• the kitchen floor clarity and choosing yourself
• manager codes and neural pathways for change
• the puzzle piece metaphor for gradual return
• five-step practice to reclaim power
• protecting reclaimed energy with alignment
• somatic an...

Ever order the sushi to keep the peace when all you wanted was the burger? That tiny moment says everything about approval addiction—how our brains chase praise like a survival resource and how that chase slowly shrinks our lives. We unpack why the dopamine loop makes people-pleasing feel like oxygen, then show how to break it with simple, believable steps that rebuild confidence from the inside out.

We start with clear, relatable stories that highlight the hidden costs of the “easy yes”—exhaustion, quiet resentment, and an identity built on applause. From there, we translate neuroscience into act...

A simple question can shake an entire life: 

What do I really want? 

Not what looks impressive, not what keeps the peace—what actually lights you up. We dive into why that question triggers the body’s alarm bells, how self‑silencing gets wired in, and what it takes to reclaim autonomy without blowing everything up. 

From the lens of neuroscience and self‑determination theory, we unpack why familiar patterns feel safe, why uncertainty reads as danger, and how to retrain your system to choose alignment over approval.

I share two vivid journ...

What happens when the name tags come off? 

We dive straight into the sticky truth: roles like “busy mom,” “rock star employee,” or “supportive spouse” can earn praise and belonging, but they can also erase the person underneath. 

With humour, candour, and a little sass, we unpack how people-pleasing and external validation rent your worth—and how to take it back without burning your past to the ground.

We explore why labels feel safe (and why safety isn’t satisfaction), how communities push back when you change the script, and what to do when life transiti...

Stop chasing the polished reveal and step into the part no one posts: the messy middle. We go straight at the awkward, foggy, sometimes tear-streaked stretch between “before” and “after,” and show why it’s the most creative, honest stage of becoming. Steph shares a raw closet moment—when a wardrobe full of other people’s expectations sparked a rebellion in the form of a bright orange top—and connects it to a bigger truth: those uncomfortable realizations are data, not drama. From playlists stuck in the past to calendars nobody remembers choosing, we uncover the breadcrumb trail that leads back to yo...

Imagine waking up each morning with $1,000 worth of energy to spend. By noon, you're broke—and somehow, none of it went toward what truly matters to you. Sound familiar?

In this eye-opening episode, we dive deep into the concept of your "energy budget" and how recovering people pleasers unconsciously bankrupt themselves by saying yes to everyone else's priorities. I'll show you exactly how hustle culture has conditioned us to measure our worth by productivity, leaving us exhausted, resentful, and disconnected from our own desires.

The game-changer? The 3-2-1 Formula for energy management. This simple bu...

When did "busy" become your brand? That exhausted, overwhelmed state we wear like a badge of honor isn't the flex we think it is. In this eye-opening episode, we unpack the uncomfortable truth about our addiction to busyness and why it might be the cheapest status symbol you're carrying.

Busy isn't who you are—it's just what you're doing. As people-pleasers, we've mistaken productivity for self-worth, convincing ourselves that if we're not constantly available and helpful, we're somehow less valuable. But this episode reveals the real cost of that thinking: a backpack full of other people's rocks th...

That queasy feeling after setting a boundary isn't your conscience—it's your breakthrough. For recovering people-pleasers, the "guilt hangover" arrives like clockwork after we finally stand up for ourselves, bringing with it anxiety, second-guessing, and that unmistakable pit in our stomach.

But what if this discomfort isn't a warning sign at all? What if it's actually evidence that you're finally breaking free from patterns that have kept you small? Throughout this episode, we dive deep into why setting boundaries triggers such intense emotional reactions, especially for those of us who've been wired to believe our worth comes fr...

Ever caught yourself holding back—not because you didn't want to do something, but because it felt too awkward? That gut-wrenching sensation isn't actually warning you of danger—it's signaling growth.

Awkwardness is the toll we pay to step into our next chapter. For recovering people-pleasers especially, that discomfort feels catastrophic because it represents the death of our familiar, safe selves. But what if that cringe-worthy feeling is actually the doorway to the authentic life you've been craving?

This episode dives deep into recognizing when you're ready for change (hint: if you're exhausted from carrying othe...

Ever felt that strange disorientation that comes with personal growth? That moment when you've done the work, made the changes, but suddenly feel like you're wearing someone else's skin? Don't worry—you haven't taken a wrong turn. That wobbly feeling is actually confirmation you're exactly where you need to be.

Breaking up with your old identity is a profound journey that few people talk about. After years of performing roles that kept you safe but small—the people-pleaser, the overachiever, the one who puts everyone else first—stepping into authenticity can feel simultaneously liberating and terrifying. This episod...

Keeping promises to others comes naturally to most of us—but what about the commitments we make to ourselves? That daily meditation practice, the exercise routine, the boundaries we swear we'll enforce... somehow these often become negotiable when life gets hectic.

The truth? Every time you break a promise to yourself, you're quietly eroding your self-trust. Just as reliability builds trust in relationships with others, showing up for yourself consistently creates the foundation for unshakable self-confidence. When we fail to honor our commitments to ourselves, we're sending a subliminal message that our needs don't really matter—and that...

Ever wonder why the most exhilarating moments of your life happened outside your comfort zone? That's no coincidence.

Your comfort zone is like that friend who only wants to hang out in sweatpants watching reruns – cozy, yes, but hardly where life's magic unfolds. We're diving deep into the neuroscience behind why our brains crave predictability (hello, amygdala) and how that evolutionary advantage can become a modern-day limitation when we let it shrink our world without even realizing it.

But this isn't about trashing comfort zones entirely. These safe spaces serve crucial purposes – they're where we heal...

Ever find yourself saying yes when every cell in your body is screaming no? That moment—when your gut says one thing but your mouth betrays you—is exactly where your power leaks away. As recovering people-pleasers, we've mastered the art of negotiating our non-negotiables to keep everyone happy, everyone except ourselves.

What if your exhaustion, resentment, and that fantasy about escaping to a remote island with some goats isn't actually random? It's the direct result of repeatedly compromising on the boundaries that protect your energy, values, and wellbeing. These aren't just preferences or nice-to-haves—they're the founda...

Have you ever caught yourself shrinking to keep the peace? Bite your tongue when your gut is screaming otherwise? Maybe you've been told to tone down your shine or smooth out your edges. That stops now.

This episode is your permission slip to blow the walls out of that tiny box you were never meant to fit in. I'm sharing my own turning point – standing in my kitchen, paralyzed with anxiety over cleaning a tea infuser, when my higher self essentially said, "Oh hell no, we did not come here for this." That moment sparked my transformation fr...

Ready to break free from the people-pleasing habit that's draining your energy and peace? Let's tackle the compulsion to justify every decision, boundary, and "no" in your life.

Have you ever declined an invitation only to immediately launch into a detailed explanation worthy of a PowerPoint presentation? That's not politeness—it's people-pleasing in a power suit. Through personal stories and practical insights, we unpack the invisible contract many of us signed promising to justify our existence at all times. The truth? This contract made sense when survival meant staying small, but now it's time to tear it up...

Tired of feeling wonky? Or like everyday is a spinning wheel and you start the day wondering where your feelings are going to take you? 

In this week's episode, we explore why emotional stability is the ultimate flex in a world obsessed with drama and intensity. That? Sounds exhausting. 

This episode offers practical tools to stay calm, grounded, and in your power even when life throws curveballs. Cuz you KNOW life be curveballin' sometimes...

Other Highlights: 
• Understanding emotional dysregulation and what it feels like when your brain goes into fight-flight-freeze mode...

Ever scroll through an Instagram feed and hit "unfollow" without thinking twice? Why is it so much harder to do the same in real life? This episode tackles the radical art of real-life unfollowing – giving you permission to outgrow relationships, jobs, expectations, and even versions of yourself that no longer serve you.

With characteristic candor and compassion, I share my personal journey of outgrowing a friendship built on Olympic-level complaining and the grief that came with recognizing when something once treasured no longer fits. You'll discover practical signs that it might be time to unfollow someone or so...

Have you ever silenced your own voice? 

Perhaps you've written down a brilliant idea, underlined it twice, but kept quiet because "they've probably already thought of this" or "I don't want to seem pushy"? 

That sinking feeling afterward isn't just disappointment—it's the awareness that you've abandoned yourself again.

True confidence isn't about power suits or perfect Instagram feeds. It's about refusing to silence the truth you already know. 

For recovering people-pleasers, confidence got buried under layers of approval-seeking behaviour, not because it disappeared, but because somewhere along the line, you learn...

Ever found yourself second-guessing your needs or downplaying your desires for fear of being labeled "too much"? You're not alone. This fear of appearing high maintenance isn't random—it's carefully cultivated through messages that have taught us, especially women and people pleasers, that having clear boundaries makes us difficult to love.

But what if I told you that what's often dismissed as "high maintenance" is actually just having standards? Think about powerhouse women like Zendaya, Reese Witherspoon, and Serena Williams. They're frequently labeled "difficult" or "demanding" when they're simply refusing to compromise their worth. They demonstrate what it...

Some voices never truly leave us. They echo in our minds, guiding our decisions and comforting us long after the physical presence is gone. My mother Constance's voice is that eternal presence for me, and her sayings have become the foundation of who I am today.

From her playful "shuffle off to Buffalo" when heading to bed to her profound "this too shall pass" during life's storms, Mom's words created the soundtrack of my childhood. She practiced mindfulness with "just breathe" long before wellness gurus made it trendy. Her wisdom about faith—"God isn't out there, it's in...

That hollow feeling when the noise dies down and everyone else has gone home? 

It might not be loneliness at all—it might be your first real chance to discover who you truly are.

For those of us who've spent years (or decades) tying our worth to how useful we can be to others, that ache of isolation often strikes right when we finally stop pouring ourselves into everyone else. 

Suddenly, there's silence, and in that silence might be grief, fear, or echoes of a younger self who learned that being alone meant doin...

This week's self-care surge took me from enneagram typing to chiropractic scans and theta healing, revealing the critical difference between authentic mojo and toxic positivity. The journey cracked me open, exposing blind spots I didn't realize were there and showing how my body was carrying stress my mind had rationalized away.

• Mojo is your authentic life force – the inner fire that gets you moving and showing up as yourself
• Toxic positivity is a "good vibes only" mask that overrides real emotions with forced sunshine
• True self-care makes you feel more like yourself, not someone you thin...

AS PROMISED - HERE'S YOUR 🔗 TO THE FULL LIST! JUMP ON IN!  

Episode Snapshot: 

That nagging feeling of being slightly "off" – not broken, not lost, just disconnected from yourself – is something many of us experience but struggle to address. What if reconnecting with your authentic self doesn't require dramatic change but rather intentional micro-adjustments?

This episode explores 20 powerful, game-changing habits that serve as breadcrumbs back to your truest self. Beginning with our weekly mantra "I choose habits that make me feel good about myself," we dive into how feeling good about yourself isn't a luxury...

Have you ever felt that familiar stomach flip, tight chest, and sudden urge to scroll Instagram when faced with potential conflict? You're not alone. In this illuminating exploration of why we avoid difficult conversations, we uncover the surprising truth: conflict isn't the enemy—avoidance is.

Throughout this episode, we dismantle the myth that keeping the peace means swallowing your truth. Most of us don't avoid conflict because we don't care; we avoid it because we care too much. We've been conditioned to believe that speaking up is dangerous, disrespectful, or "not nice." But what if this avoidance is...

Ever wondered if you can truly be a friend and a leader at the same time? In this candid exploration of the friendship-leadership dynamic, we dive into the beautiful complexities and potential pitfalls of building your empire alongside those you love most.

The science is fascinating—when women engage in meaningful conversation with emotional bonding, our brains release oxytocin, literally calming our nervous systems and creating biological resilience. We're wired for connection, which makes the idea of building businesses with our besties so appealing. But as we discover through conversations with various entrepreneurs, this blending requires intentionality an...

Have you ever known something with absolute certainty but couldn't explain why? That quiet voice, that feeling in your stomach, that inexplicable knowing—it's your intuition trying to guide you home.

In this milestone 50th episode of Pocketful of Mojo, we're diving deep into why our gut instincts matter, why we so often ignore them, and how reconnecting with this inner wisdom transforms our relationship with ourselves. For recovering people pleasers, overthinkers, and perfectionists, that gut feeling can feel fuzzy or buried under layers of doubt, fear, or programming about what others think. But what if your in...

We unpack what the popular "Let Them Theory" doesn't tell you and why finding your "Let Me" energy is essential for true freedom and fulfillment. The missing piece isn't just about letting others go, but discovering what you truly want after years of people-pleasing.

• The "Let Them Theory" is powerful but incomplete without knowing what you want for yourself
• Many people-pleasers have lost touch with their authentic desires after years of making others happy
• Achievement without alignment equals exhaustion, not joy
• Success isn't about external approval but inner peace and fulfillment
• How to conduct a...

Self-image goes deeper than just appearance, influencing how we carry ourselves, speak, make decisions, and experience life as the bridge between self-perception and self-worth. 
In this episode, we'll dig deeper past the surface of self image to uncover a few gems. Like: 

• When we don't consciously shape our self-image, we risk letting the outside world define us
• The clothing-mood connection works both ways – what we wear can influence how we feel and vice versa
• Identifying outdated beliefs about yourself is the first step to rewriting your self-image story
• Common myths include that self-image i...

This episode examines the difference between fitting in and belonging while empowering listeners to reclaim their authentic selves. Through personal anecdotes and practical tools, we encourage stopping the habit of unneeded apologies and embracing self-love, helping listeners transform their mindset and actions. 

• Understanding self-love and its relationship with societal roles
• Differentiating between fitting in and belonging 
• The significance of a full moon practice for releasing limiting beliefs
• The importance of reclaiming your voice and space
• Acknowledging the health risks tied to suppressing authenticity
• Setting intentions for a more empowered life
• Practical steps for nurtur...

Perfectionism can hinder our progress and self-worth, making us feel inadequate when we don't meet unrealistic standards. This episode explores the traps of perfectionism, offering strategies for embracing imperfection and reclaiming our confidence.

• Examines the mantra "I am allowed the grace of imperfection"
• Defines pitfalls of perfectionism: all-or-nothing thinking, validation loops, fear of failure 
• Discusses the productivity paradox and its effects on our creativity 
• Encourages listeners to apply the 80% rule and embrace unfinished work 
• Promotes separating self-worth from work to reduce pressure and anxiety 
• Suggests letting imperfection be a teacher and learning fro...

Establishing boundaries is crucial for protecting your peace, energy, and self-worth. This episode empowers listeners to recognize the importance of boundaries, provides strategies for setting them effectively, and challenges common misconceptions about their purpose. 

• Boundaries are not selfish; they're essential for healthy relationships 
• Recognizing signs that you need stronger boundaries 
• Performing an energy audit to identify boundary deficiencies 
• Common traps that keep people without boundaries 
• Practical mindset reframes for overcoming guilt and fear 
• Steps for clear communication and handling pushback 
• Following through with boundaries for self-respect 
• Encouragement to embrace and share boundary-setting e...

This episode digs into the essence of self-awareness, highlighting its important role in overcoming people-pleasing tendencies and rediscovering one's authentic self. You will learn to identify patterns of over-giving, understand the significance of core values, and explore practical tools to reclaim their power.

• Exploring the concept of self-awareness 
• Identifying signs of people-pleasing behaviors 
• Understanding the role of core values 
• Aligning actions with personal values 
• Practical strategies for self-discovery 
• Key takeaways for empowerment and authenticity 

Make sure to share your self-awareness breakthroughs on Instagram or in the comments!

What if you could truly listen to your body and discover the secrets to feeling your best every day? On Pocket Full of Mojo, I, Steph, invite you to explore this potential by tapping into your innate mojo—a wellspring of unshakeable confidence and self-worth. Through heartfelt storytelling, I share my transformative return to Canada, juggling the roles of the Mojo Maven, a caregiver, and a determined entrepreneur, all while navigating life’s unpredictable twists. Embrace the mantra of the week with me: "I listen to my body when it tells me what it needs in order to feel its...

Unlock the secrets to revitalizing your mojo and transforming your life with intention and purpose. What if your daily decisions could directly align with your deepest desires and personal goals? This episode promises to guide you through the art of conscious choice-making, moving away from the routine of autopilot living. Explore how intentional decision-making can bridge the gap between your dreams and your current reality. Through personal stories and practical insights, we’ll reveal how to commit to a path that resonates with your true self, sparking unstoppable confidence and self-worth.

Join me, Steph, as we navigate th...

After years of struggling to find the perfect morning routine, I discovered a blend of self-compassion and personalization that changed my life, and I'm here to share how it can transform yours too. Embrace the power of mornings with me, Steph, your Mojo Maven, as I guide you through the art of crafting a routine that suits your unique lifestyle. Broadcasting from the beautiful city of Nantes, France, let's explore how the mantra, "I choose to make today count with positivity and grace," can set the tone for every day, allowing you to become the main character in your...

Imagine transforming chaos into happiness through the simple yet powerful practice of gratitude. That's the journey I embarked on, moving from a life filled with disorder to one illuminated by joy and fulfillment. Join me as I unfold my personal story of intentional living and self-love, and explore the mantra that has reshaped my perspective: 'I'm grateful that I get to live the life I've chosen.' This isn't just a story; it's a guide to recognizing privileges and shifting from feeling obligated to embracing the abundance around us.

Gratitude goes beyond just a feeling—it's a fo...

Ever felt like your voice was just an echo lost in the bustling world around you? Join me, broadcasting from the energetic streets of Nantes, France, as I share my personal journey of chaos transformed into joy, underpinned by the empowering mantra, "I am important and my voice matters." This mantra, a cornerstone of my self-love first aid kit, has guided me in living with intention and confidence. It serves as a powerful reminder that the key to self-worth lies within us. Together, we'll explore the heart of a vibrant city while grounding ourselves in the essential belief of...