Well, happy New Year to one and all. Happy New. All right. That's the energy I'm talking about. That's what I'm needing. Oh gosh. Um, welcome to the Cowgirls Over Coffee podcast in 2026. Um, every new year I'm like, this is the year. I'm like, this is it. This is the year that's gonna deliver. And I am really excited because we spent most of 2025, or I will, I will blame myself. This wasn't like a team thing. I was just having like this moment of like, where, where do we go? Because everything was feeling a little like wonky. Not crazy about everything I'm seeing on social media, which is like a big admission for the champion of all things social media. And so, um, we're back. We have a plan and I'm so excited. So I brought everybody here. We have Meg and Lana and Audrey and me, so I know like, yeah, so enjoy, like this is like literally like, this isn't like sitting down at the room, like this is like in. Like this is everybody. So I hope that you really enjoyed this conversation. Um, as we're rolling this out and talking about like what you can look forward to, Cal with us at Cowgirls Over Coffee in 2026, screenshot this tag at Cowgirls Over Coffee. The links to everybody and everything I talk about are gonna be right there in the show notes. So like, don't hesitate and you can always like DM cowgirls over coffee and like, that's probably the quickest way to get through to us. But I just wanted to say that at the top, at the top of our conversation today. But, um, Jesse, you guys. Thanks for being here with, thanks for like, do you guys realize five years of cowgirls over coffee?

it's a

amazing. Yeah, it

Right?

the moment sitting on my front step talking to you about this. I

Isn't that bananas? And I was like, I know the sun. Of course this thing, right? This sun was shining, but now it's like January. Actually I'm really vibing on January this year. I, I've been like a re like. I found love in January. I don't know, I think it started last year with January. I know. I just like am loving January even though the sun, like the sun is shining. You said that and I was like, it's like a different brighter sun than like, 'cause I'm pretty sure that was like summertime when we were, or like late spring anyways, so five years, hundreds of women. You guys, I looked back and I think it's like over the course, obviously, like with people coming in and out of a membership, how it's been, you know, set up in the past is like something like 12 or 1300 people have like. Come through and utilize the resources and things. I know, I'm really excited. So I guess I will just start by saying, um, the whole point of cowgirls over coffee when I started this was, um, I was just so tired of having so many conversations of so many people struggling, right? Like of women struggling because we have so much on our plate and I was tired of the guilt and exhaustion and shame that came along with like, I just want something more, right? Like. I know I'm capable of this and I know like I'm worthy of this. And I was like, well, we need to get together and have these conversations because y'all, this has bugged the crap outta me all through, like the last year, no one's talking about x. I'm like, are you kidding me? I have been screaming about this. I'm like, I am, I am losing my voice from talking about this, um, everywhere to everyone. And so I really am like, we rolled out the membership of Cowgirl over Coffee and I mean, I created so many, gosh, you guys, so many workbooks, so many worksheets, so many conversations, so many live calls. We have experimented with small group accountability groups, like we've done all the experimenting and I have like, there's just all of this information and as you're listening to this podcast, you're probably like, I have no idea what happens inside the membership. Like you probably don't because of

out to the. girls that were awesome and stuck through

Right. We

I'm just thinking of some of those names, like, Ugh, rockstar

I know they are the absolute best. I know. Well, and with each other.

life, and I'm like five years in on these relationships. I'm like,

Yes,

I know. Yeah. And that's the, like, that's the whole thing. So anyways, I'm looking at all this stuff and I was like, okay, it's never, and there's so many resources, you guys, and over the course of this, because I am a strategy girly, like I just love. To figure the things out. And you guys are like, everyone on the team is kind of like this. Like how can we optimize, how do we be efficient? How am I leveraging my time, my energy, my attention, and um, which is fab. But really it's about the connection, right? Like what you guys were just saying. And so we are going to be dropping, and you can grab this in the show notes, um, there's like, it's like 40 or 50 pages. I did a full, like, I wrote an entire ebook of all of the methodology, like everything. Every single planning practice routine concept, all of the IP is together in one document is totally free because I want this to be our starting point for our conversation as we step into 2026

Happy

That's gonna be so.

Happy New Year. So the Cowgirls Over Coffee gift to you is literally everything that we have refined over five years. As far as like being, we know it works like it's solid gold.

Mm-hmm.

and you, like, I'm always putting like, testimonials on the website or whatever for the membership, but like it's, it's been tested across the board. Like this is what works. So,

my life for

I lo

Seriously. Yeah, for

But like also, it's not about that, right? Like it's about the conversations, it's about the accountability, it's about the advice, it's about the feedback loop. It's about the sitting down and like developing these deep connections where we truly know each other because it's so easy to withdraw and isolate when we're in these places of exhaustion. Everyone's like, you either have to choose, and I feel like I'm so sick of this and I want someone else to talk about this besides me, but I'm so sick of this. Like, oh, um, there's so much judgment and shame. You either need to, you're dreaming too big, you want too much, you can have everything, but not at the same time. Like I'm just, and like some of us that makes our skin crawl, right? Like, um. So I, yeah, it just makes my skin crawl. And then the other side of it is like, oh, well you just need to hustle harder and you have to give up. Like there's that big bro energy that's like, you're gonna have to, like, maybe you're not going to eat or maybe you're not gonna sleep. And you know, like sleep is, you can sleep when you're dead or what any, and I'm like, no, that's complete horse pucky. Like that is absolutely. Those are false choices. That is a completely false binary and I hate it. And so I know what keeps, what keeps the things running is the connection and the conversation and opening yourself up and being honest and being vulnerable and showing up and being a good friend. And so that's what I wanna double down on in 2026. 'cause basically I'm really irritated, like I am.

But in that irritation, you're motivated. You know, and I, I sometimes you use that to motivate yourself, and maybe that's like where some of you are at too. Like I know for me that's a huge motivator.

Yeah.

And we're entering that season right now where we could so easily fall prey and be victims to like these big emotional, um, stories that people like to tell us to try to sell their products, right? So this like whole binary of do it or don't do it. When in reality, like the magic is in the mundane, like in the

Yes.

in developing relationships and being human and being authentic and naming what's important to you. And I think that's exactly what cover rolls over Coffee does. I'm super excited about this workbook being available to people so you don't have to like jump off the deep end and with the bro energy or the housewife energy or whatever it is, you know, it's like being sold right now is so yuck.

Well, and it's so much like being, I feel like it's so important to. Like maintain your, like, I'm just not gonna lower my bar. And that's cool if you like, if you don't want to, I always use the analogy of like, if you want to go to the Olympics, if you wanna be an Olympic level, elite level at whatever it is in your life, like not everyone wants to climb Mount Everest, but if you do, you're gonna have to commit to training. And it's gonna like, and you don't like, it's hard work, but it doesn't have to feel hard, right? Like you don't have to go into it like, I'm gonna sacrifice everything to climb the top of Everest. You don't have to do that. Like you can create things in a way that are sustainable. And that's why like the cadence of the seasons that we use, where we're like, okay, we're gonna. Go hard. This one thing, we're gonna prioritize momentum and mo and motivation and moving forward and moving the needle. And now we're gonna take a step back. And I even hate to use the language to take a step back, but now we're gonna shift our focus. And now I'm gonna be like, okay, where's my wellbeing? What do I need to restore? How do I fill my cup? And those are the con, this is where the conversation comes in. Because when we're talking about these things, it's like, okay, yeah. Like that's where I'm at too. And we can all be at different places, but like that doesn't mean we have to slow down. And it also doesn't mean we have to sacrifice or compromise. And I'm just like, I'm here for if you want it all. Like, it's absolutely possible. It doesn't have to feel like crap doing it. And I mean just let's go for it. But like we're probably gonna have to work really hard at some things. Like until you can get up to the baseline. And I know for me, like I've been thinking a lot about like what that baseline was and I was reading something and I can't remember where it was, but it was like if you slip below your baseline, it's gonna take a heroic effort to get back up to the baseline if you can hold your baseline. Like it doesn't take as much to get over it. And I feel like I've. I've, I've found a lot of those places and like everything's gonna change and everything's shifting. It's not like you figure one thing out and then it's fixed forever. And so it's like really cultivating yourself as someone who is elite and agile to address things where it's like, okay, I really need to like my nervous system's outta whack, so now I'm gonna have to do this, or my business needs to hit a goal, so now I'm gonna focus here. Or I need to get meal plans together so I'm not stressing because. Honest to God, so many of the things that we're struggling with is 'cause we're not willing to do the boring crap.

Yeah, we're willing to like do all the research to do it though, like, you know what I mean? I see. If you spend hours and hours looking at reels about like how to get your life together, but don't actually. Put your phone down and get your life together, like there's no progress made. Right. And I think that's where we are as a culture. It's like we're getting so much information on like what to do that we're not actually like getting the work done. And I like, that's why I love this community and just this particular group of women because it shifts our focus from like just being consumers of information to actually doing. What we know we're called to do and yeah, I mean, it's so good, so good. So I love you guys,

Yeah.

but.

why I think the, oh.

ahead,

Okay. Now it's probably not as, it's prob Well, I, that's where I think the conversations really come into play because like you guys are mentioning, we're consuming all of this information and then saving it in our folders on our Instagram.

Right.

And never opening it.

ever look back at it? I don't know.

it.

It

But as you're like,

like as you're in community, almost like.

daily, weekly

Workshop and girlfriends who are headed towards a similar trajectory, even if everybody's on green,

Olympics, we're

we're all headed towards a similar

of like meeting the height

height of our goal. Like whatever our goal is, be the height of that goal. And so

like

like everyone's a different season. Everyone's kind of in different places, but we're having these conversations that are helping us

each

other, almost like a

towards reaching that

channel. Yeah.

Um,

And so I think, I think

like, for me, the biggest

that's, if that we kind of implemented, hey, here's, I'm going, I'm going gangbusters. Yes. And then as we

you. evolve and

in ebb and flow and because that's where like the bro energy

for example, is do

do or die, and then the opposite.

spectrum, I don't know what that's called, but um,

shrug, whatever.

shrug just like whatever happens, happens.

Lazy. Yeah.

and trying to find that happy. Like, it's interesting because when you've been in the bro energy, you're like, the rest sounds really nice.

Yeah.

you hear that and you're like, oh, actually that sounds great. And then you kind of go, go into that space and you're like, wait a second, I

I call it the pendulum swing. Like we can, you know, there's like one side or the other, but like what about the medium?

right.

Right. So you, and having those convers

and those relationships kind of brings you back to that center point that

helps

keep taking steps towards having all of it

quickly, like this compound, like the little here and there.

just compounds. And that's,

I think that's really how we get

wanna be.

Absolutely. Honestly, for me, that's like the workbooks and stuff helps me change my trajectory though because like I am, everything's so much. On our phone and it's not like actually writing and like processing. And that's why like those books have been so helpful for me. 'cause then it, like I can get out of my own head. It's not just like. Consuming it, you know? So like for me, those workbooks that you made, Thea just like helped me to like know what to the next step needed to be. And then also just having your conversations where we can just move forward. Uh, I don't know, it just, it just changes your mind set, I guess. But, so, yeah, I don't know.

I had a really interesting conversation the other day. came at a really timely time. Maybe a just gonna open the can of worms, girls.

Do it. That's my favorite.

My, so I had a, I've been struggling a little bit with work, like in a positive way and that I wanna be an Olympic athlete. We're going through like a lot of change right now. Um, there's a lot of like, pressure on me to accomplish this really big, like, very existential, project. And I was talking to one of my colleagues who's like, I don't, he's, he's an incredible friend too, and he was just like. Let's talk through this, Meg, like what are, where and how are you getting stuck? So I'm like explaining this to him and he's like, girl, you're trying to boil the ocean. Like you're trying to boil the ocean in

Yeah.

for the the Olympics. And he is like, you need to break it down and just do one simple thing that creates this. Small win and think about breaking these into incremental steps. And all I could think about BIA was just like you chirping in my ear, and I do this all the time with work. It's just like think about, okay, how do I break this down into more manageable steps? How do I see these substeps? How do I think about like,

Okay.

the sequence and the small wins so that I can gain momentum and frankly, how do I build accountability around myself with the people that care about me and wanna

Mm-hmm.

And so it was just like, I don't know, it was just kind of this aha moment where I'm like taking this, um. Very like technical strange problem in applying it, uh, to the cowgirls over coffee methodology. And I just, I think

Yeah, like real life.

yeah, it was just like.

Yeah.

Don't, don't boil the ocean. Megan, I was texting with one of my friends last night about it. Um, she and I are like totally wired the same way. I have a feeling many of you listening to this are probably wired

Probably are.

Um, and she's like, man, I didn't even realize I needed to hear that right now. But you're right.

Mm-hmm.

boiling the ocean. Like I gotta step back and like start to think about these small things that I can do that, that aggregate and compound. Back to

Mm-hmm.

Audrey, like

Mm-hmm.

to have real, real impact and outcomes. So. I'm excited for those folks that may be feeling that same way this, this, these workbooks and methodologies that the had just mentioned that are gonna be available to you. Like you can dive in and start to like, get back to those basics. Uh, embrace that kind of like mundane, I say that with all the love in my heart so that you can start to see progress at my Everest.

Mm-hmm.

A hundred percent. And I think that's too, where I'm like, I'm just like, I'm low key, sick of the lack of progress. Like I'm, I'm, I mean, not even low key, like I am sick of hearing, I'm just sick of hearing the same problem. And so that's where I wanna step in like in a big way with cowgirls over coffee for you. Um. In this year and in, gosh, I hope in another five, 10 years too. It's like I'm done. I'm done hearing the frustration, like I'm tired of hearing the frustration and all of the information is out there and it's kind of like, I think I like to, um. Use losing weight as an analogy, because I think it's something that we're all familiar with. Like the basics are still the same. Like it's more movement and less calories, right? Like that's it. The basics are same. And then finding whatever works for you is the next piece. And so I am like done, like, okay. Here's everything that we know works. And I feel like the IP that we've created around this, as far as like, you know, just the, like you said, Meg, it was like, okay, here's the methodol methodology and how do we break down these steps and how do we start and what works for everybody? So it's there. And now I'm done talking Tacticals, like, I'm all like, I'm sick of talking tactical. Now let's get into inflammation. Implementation. Let's get into reflection. Let's get into iteration because that's how we get there. Like if you want the ocean hot, like if you want that ocean boiling, like we're done talking tactics, we're done. And a lot of times it's stuff we don't wanna hear. Like, um, I know Audrey and I were talking a few days ago or something, and it's like, I know you want, like, you're like, I wanna hit six figures into my business, therefore I need like a bomb marketing plan. No, you don't. You need to get to bed on time and fold your laundry like, and we don't wanna hear that. Like we don't wanna hear that. And so that's where I wanna step in with cowgirls over coffee is like. We are here to facilitate you implementing and executing. And I want you to like, you don't have to be in the membership. Like I want you, I have accountability squad workbooks. I have methodologies like we will, we will show you in real time how we talk to one another. You can make a couple of different friend groups like, what are your goals? But I'm just not here for, and your goal can be like, wow, my goal is to take a big step back like. I am shocked and I really think about this as far as like new mothers, like just don't just take 18 months, like quote unquote off because it's going to like you, it's you're gonna be so depleted and like, that's one of the things I wish I would have thought about ahead of time and like, and I think there's some core truths and those are the conversations I wanna have too, is like, I don't think that you can lose traction, you know what I mean? Like, can you lose a little bit of traction? Yes. But like in the grand scheme of things. You are, it's not gonna set you back. You take 18 months off of whatever to get your, your shit together. Like it's going to, you know, it's gonna pay off exponentially in the future. And so I'm, I'm also down, I'm also done, and this speaks to like my own like personal experiences, which is so funny 'cause I feel like I've made this like whole 360 degree return to myself. And I still have plenty of things to work on, like to get back up to where I wanna be. But I'm done lowering my expectations for myself to make other people feel more comfortable. I'm done feeling

Say it twice.

and like, and I wanna give that message to other people too, and I'm like. If you like. There is no judgment or shame coming towards from me towards anyone else, but like, this is what I want from me and these are the women I wanna be around. And I mean, I know every single one of my friends, we are always reaching back up to pull the next person, right? Like we're always reaching back to pull the next person up. I don't know any of us, like, we're always like bringing new, new ladies into the fold. And I'm so here for that, but like I'm just not gonna apologize for it anymore. And I don't know if you need to hear that too. It's like there are girls out there, um, there are women out there. I still refer to everybody as, as girls. I don't know why I am like, everything is like girls. I know this. I know right. It's like, I'm gonna be 65 and I'm gonna like, alright girls. Um, but I'm just like, you might need to hear it because I'm just tired of this rhetoric around and I'm here for like simplifying, but I wanna simplify strategically so I can move further, faster, more. And um, and I always think. Because I'm such a stickler for like communication and vocabulary and things like, I just, like, I want the, I feel like too often when we're saying bigger, better, more, higher, faster, like it sounds, um, a little empty. But I mean, I'm talking like nutrient dense. Life like that is, that is what I want and I want it all. I want to, I wanna be healthy. I wanna feel fit and strong in my body. I always said like, I'm gonna live to be 120 years old and I'm not gonna be like on a respirator, like I'm just gonna drop dead out there, fall off the back of the horse and it'd be like, oh, there goes granny. Guess it was her time. Jesus came for her. Like she, 'cause she got called home. But I want that. I want money. I want wealth, like actual monetary wealth. I'm not getting into the Instagram meme of like, oh, what is wealth? No, I want money because I want my kids to have opportunities. I don't want them to struggle. I wanna help, like there's so many things in the world that I wanna change. I am tired of not sleeping at night. 'cause I'm like worried about kids in foster care or like neglect or whatever, like, and. Quite frankly, that's how we change things. And I really truly believe, like my mission with Cowgirls Over Coffee is to bring the level of friendship that I have in my personal life because I am blessed to have the most, like you guys, I send voice notes back and forth and I'm like, like, we're just like riffing all the time. And it doesn't matter that I live in the middle of nowhere, like. And that was something that was really hard for me when I first moved out here because my life was so, um, like high touch, right? I was CEO, I was in the middle. When you work in an events industry, like you are kind of the person that everybody knows, and I know you guys have all been there too, like where you were, you were quote unquote an important person, right? Like that identity piece. And when I came out here, I'm like, I can bring all my friendships with me. I can bring my friendships and these level of conversations and this level of execution and expectations into ranching, into motherhood, into health, into everything. And so. Like one of the things I really want to call out today, and I think because I am such a little d Lulu, welcome to the January 1st, new year, new me energy. Like I am here for that and I'm done apologizing for it. And that's who I want in this community. And I will, I will cheer for you. I will give you every resource. I will hope you find your people. I cannot be your best friend. Like I can personally, like there is a capacity to which like we can be friends. Like that's just like. Science, right? Like, look it up. You can Google too. Um, but, uh, we will give you everything you need and we will model for you. Like I, I, I hope when you listen to this podcast every week, you're like, damn. Yes. Here

Well, okay. Here's the one thing though. 'cause like, okay, we have. I I have too many friends. Like if scientifically so, 'cause I love friends. I, I love friends. I love friends. But here's the thing, I have so many people being like, gosh, that's so nice for you that you have friends. If you want a friend, you have to learn to be a friend. So if you're like, if you, yes, be a friend. So like, if you're listening to this and be like, wow, that's nice that those girls can chit chat and have friends. I wish I had that. You can, you have to take this first step though, like. We're talking about community and we're talking about how awesome it is and like I know, I know there's so many that just don't have that and, but sorry, I'm not very nice. But you gotta, you gotta be the friend. You gotta be the

and as you're listening to this, call us out. Be like, okay. And I've gotten those dms so many times. Okay, Theo, where are these people? I will tell you, I'll be like, okay, what do you

next door.

it. yeah.

Get, get out there. And they're not gonna be perfect, but you know.

can I

Like me,

a. I, so I grew up in a family of three girls. So like we had built-in friends, right. And I'm the second, and like, you know how birth order, you have personality stuff. And I've always had, I mean, I have no personality quirks whatsoever.

You're so boring in vanilla.

so vanilla. So it's interesting 'cause I think about this all the time, like, and my sisters aren't even my best friends love them to death, but they're not even my best friends. And I've always had, um, I've always had, like, if we go back through my friendship list, I don't really know how we became friends. It just kind of was something that happened. And I feel like most of those friends were like, oh, Audrey, I wanna be your friend. And then we end up being friends. So it's super interesting. And I had my first experience, so this is, I know we're not doing tactical anymore, but this is coming from, sorry, is coming from Audrey, who like doesn't, I'm not like,

I dunno how I make friends.

It just happens. And then there are these like really, really deep friendships, right? Like I think, yeah. Anyways, but I did make a new friend in the last couple months on talk Talk or, um, what's it called?

TikTok,

Yeah. So.

one's showing their age here.

Facebook. Um, so, so I

Like she's

photographer girl and she like, had a

a thing and I comment. I commented back a little bit

and then we became friends on social media and I

and I was like.

gonna be at the lazy E at the all girl BFII will meet you then. Like, this is, and, and then you just kind of become friends. But I think, I think this is a really, really important

Um,

Um, this whole be a villager thing because.

again, like I'm in a, I'm in a, where it's just Audrey. Like I love

Mm-hmm.

husband, like, it's just Audrey. And I

I am just

like, and it's different because everyone has the responsibilities like you have.

and your kids and this and that. But

But like, I would say this for my

my girlfriends

like my really good girlfriends amidst their lives, still have space and or a friendship with me. I'm just like so grateful because they're like, award.

is the

That's kind a girly

Yeah. Yeah.

it And,

and you do like,

to,

this

you have to.

is, and even if your words the same

like here's the thing too

too that we have to like the Olympic, right? But then there's also like the ghost and there's all, you know, there's also all these different players in that person.

life. That's like going to the

To the Olympics. And, um, I think about this when I was

at a really high

humble, um, there was this girl and she was competing

an even higher level than I was, and

and like her best friend was, but was always there supporting, cheering on, like, like, if anyone

this, you can do

do this. So I think that like,

have to evaluate, like you have to evaluate, are

are you crazy space or.

these friendships? Are you

are you creating your community? Because here's the thing, the tactical stuff that is necessary for us, for Jodi is,

this

this is arbitrary. Okay. Yeah. 10, 10, 15%. And where you're really gonna get that growth, like your tactical stuff should be able to implement, set and go set it and let it like leave it alone. And it's

the

the growth I think.

happens in the. Nuanced conversations in the considering, in the figuring

Like

okay, I'm gonna do

this,

and take those

those steps every day. Compound.

And I know this, like I

I know there's this

effect of this tactical thing

compound, especially women, I dunno, dunno about men. We're not even yet touching that

But like, especially as women, these like conversations and friendships. That are like moving the dial forward and helping us expand our thought process and helping us consider different things and view different perspectives and hear you, like, I can hear you say, I'm doing X, Y, Z, and I can, from the outside perspective be like, huh, that kind of works. That kind of doesn't work. But because it's not in. I can't figure it out for myself, but I can figure it out for

Yeah.

Right. Yeah.

think I, I think, and just probably took this on a little bit of a tangent, but I just wanna hit home like, you do have to show up in these friendships. And don't have to be a voice

Memo.

I mean, we all are. We love our voice

I do. I've, I'm a late, I'm a late into the voice memo game. But yeah,

love it. But you have to do something like figure you

you have to do something. You have to.

like, so consider this like your tactical, your burnout is because your tactical, the space, the spaces you're, you're creating or the

The space that you are to

your tactical execution stuff exceeds what

what?

needs to be. Because you need,

You need

need the

the community girlfriends. You need these conversations. We're gonna have so many, we're gonna have so many episodes about this because like the, that's been like really on my heart too, as we're like, you know, as I'm like, okay, community, friendship, but I don't know, Meg, can you imagine just meeting someone randomly? Like on Twitter and making them your best friend in the whole wide world. Like, that's insane. A little bit of lore. Just, I, I know we've touched on this, but like maybe you're just tuning in for the first time. Like, Meg and I met, I think it was like 2008. I was the CE of the United Way. I think you were like, you were doing like CSU stuff still, like you were,

still at school.

you were still at school.

I hadn't even, neither of us had met or now husbands.

No. And it's so funny because this is like, you cannot divide, you cannot argue that God doesn't have a plan and uh, the sense of humor because like I, I met Meg on Twitter 'cause you were at Cowgirl Barbie and I was, and I was. At this cowgirl life and we like, we totally like what you're talking about on the talk talk there, Audrey. Um, yeah, the talk, talk. We like bonded. The next thing you know, I'm like, Hey, let's make a magazine. And you're like, heck yeah. And then I'm like flying out to. To Denver from New Mexico. And I'm like, just gonna say like everything our, our parents told us about the internet. They're like, don't talk to Stranger. I'm like, I'm randomly flying. And then Meg couldn't pick me up, so she said, TR to pick. I'm like, I dunno, some man's speaking, some random man who makes that just picking me up at the, at the airport. But I mean, you've gotta be willing, right? Like and that's what I.

it's like, Hey, how do we, how do we know? How do you guys know each other? Oh, we go to the same internet.

I know. I love it. Yeah, we're on the same internet. What do you think, Meg? You've been contemplative.

No, I'm just like sitting here laughing, thinking about friends because my husband is like, definitely. he struggles to make friends like many men do. Um, and we live very rural, so like the pool for friendship is limited. Although, I will say he has made a lot more friends in the last year, and I'm proud of him. But he gets su super jealous of me and like pokes fun at me because he's like, you literally make friends with like your Uber driver, the checkout lady at the grocery store. The other, no, the other day. This one was really good. The other day, I'm like, we're driving to town, and I'm like, there's a flag, like a construction and there's a flag girl at the construction center. I'm like, Hey, I know her. I'm friends with her on Facebook. I bought a chicken incubator from her.

That's so good.

a divorce. She's super nice. She lives in Sheridan and my husband just like looks at me. He's just like, what? But

I know.

it is about like putting yourself out there and like finding like commonalities with people. I don't, I just like love giving love and creating space for people to

Yes.

up as themselves. And when you just like do that, cool things happen.

Yeah.

so many friends on the internet, I love, I love that. Um, and you don't have to be like the person that sends voice modes. You could be the person sends memes or

yes.

like, you know, um. I have a lot of friends like I have. Okay, I've got one friendship. Might even be listening to this podcast Right now she has four kids under four. She just had a set of twins. She lives in the middle of nowhere, like literally, she and her husband have like three businesses. Like she is the epitome of what should be burnout out. She doesn't like. I get so excited when I even just get like a meme or a text message from her. 'cause she doesn't have two hands right now. Like

Yeah.

got four kids on her all the time. And every once in a while I'll just send her like a little heart emoji and like I expect, or like I say, hand squeeze, like I expect nothing from

Yes.

And like I know she would do the same and that she's thinking of me like, I got this like beautiful snapshot of her, like her twins in the sunset last night. She was just thinking of me and she sent it to me. You know, like I'm tearing up just even thinking about

I know, right?

it's just like about that reciprocity in, in that village and just like finding a way to just show, give a little bit of your heart and a little bit of love to somebody.

Well, and I'm like on the back, I'm on the other side of that too. 'cause like, uh, my. I baby just turned one, but in so many ways, like I was the Olympic athlete and then I took the bench, right? Like, and that's, I mean, and I

so hard.

yes, it is hard and it's not necessarily like. Like you're saying, like backing totally out of it. It's just switching focuses. Right. I'm switching my focus to like motherhood right now because that's all I can handle. But I will say there comes a point, like I'm a year into this with an infant, but there comes a point where you have to like stick your head back out. Right? Like, and Thea, you've been so good. with with me. And that too, of being like, Hey, you're gonna be on this podcast today. And I'm like, okay. You know?

Yeah.

So, because like, I think for so many of us women that like have, maybe you're, you've been at that place where you're like, I am just trying to tread water. It's really hard to realize you can now move forward because you, you're just so stuck. You're so stuck in like where you've been that it's hard to move forward because you're just like in the routine of just like being stuck. So like,

Yeah.

it's a momentum thing, right? And like there's a lot of things that can put you on the bench, right? Yeah. And like, this is also where I wanna say, like, this is where I feel like I'm such a good warning and not a good example because like, I push, I push through regardless. Like I just keep pushing through and um, I know right? And I love that. I have, I love how it works and how, like I have all these people, like you guys in my life that are like, yeah, same. I get it. Um, regardless of the flavor, right? Like it's a, it's still an ice cream shop, even if it's different flavors. And I am like, which is not a good thing, right? It's not. I've been doing a lot of reflecting about things that I like. It's a little death of the ego, right? Where I'm like, oh, I'm so independent and I'm so good at, I'm so tenacious, and I'm like, is this, like I've said before, I was like, I've never met anybody who like. Was not independent and like really couldn't do anything on their own that was unhappy about it. Like it's only like something that like independent people like to be like, you can't do anything by yourself. Yeah. They, they seem like they're thriving and you're, you're not so much. So maybe let's take a look at that. But, um. Yeah, there's so many things that can put us on our bench and then we tend to think it's forever. And I think that's the hardest piece is be like, instead of pushing, pushing, pushing to get out of this, like sit on the damn bench, just sit there and be like, okay. Like, because I will tell you guys, um, not too long ago, 'cause this has been like honestly in 2025. I, I took a step back for OB observation. Like I really started just observing without, it's kind of like active listening in my life. I was actively observing, whereas previously I was like listening to see what I would say next, right? Like I had, I shifted my gears in my life to be like, okay. I am, I'm, I'm actively observing, like, not to say, to see what I'm gonna do next or how I can do better or where the efficiencies are, but like, I'm just observing and it really made me have the best year in that way. And then I was like, when I was like coming back online, I'm like, why can I not step on the field like. There's no reason I can't step on the field. Like there's no, like, it feels like I can't step on the field. And so I was like putting some things into chat, GBT 'cause that's, I'm like, okay, here's some things. And it was like, oh, because you've pushed through so many times. And I mean, I've had plenty of challenges, like everyone and I, and I even was like, this sounds like I'm being dramatic. And it's like, actually your thinking you're being dramatic is a trauma response. Like, so just, just take a moment and I'm like. That's why I wanna say like sit down on the bench and like have people, and it's not like I haven't had people be like, Thea, your nervous system is shot. Like dude, I don't know how many times Meg's been like, Hey, maybe, maybe your nervous system is shot. And it took me like putting everything into chat GBT and being like, oh, so turns out, and I was laughing 'cause I was laughing. I was, I know. I was like, oh, they know me really, really well. And that's where it comes back to is like. That's why I'm saying there's no shame or judgment, like I can sit on the bench. I can act actively, observe the game, sit on the bench, and then step back in. And like if I could just like, I don't know, it's almost like, um, shifting my brain to be, um, I don't know. It's like a different place. It's just a different, like a different gear to be in. Like it's just as important and just as active. And I never dropped my expectations. But I'm, I'm doing it in a better way. It's more efficient. Like that's actually Olympic level, way to go, not to push through. Like that's how you injure yourself. Right. And I know I, I'm like the queen of metaphors, but like, I have been injuring myself. Like I literally, you guys, when I broke my foot and had to have that foot surgery, which I feel like I talked about so much, but I'm like, that's why I'm so excited for 2026 because I'm like. I have changed so much. Like I just have so much better and like, do I have, am I anywhere near where I wanna be? No. But by my timeline, have like a name there 80 or 90 years to go. So we'll get there.

That. I mean like just that idea though of. Just being able to know yourself well enough to know when it's time to sit on the bench, when is it time to like get back into the game or, or when is it time to get the Olympic medal. And I think that's what all, all of us are at different parts in that right now. And, but we can all speak into each other's lives too well, no matter where we're at, you know, in the game, if you will, if you wanna continue the metaphor. But, uh,

go ahead.

no,

I was like, I was like, I was just like, I'm like what Audrey said about the team. I'm like, oh, that is so good. Because you know what, like I'm tired of this narrative of, oh, I just like, I just need a simple life. Like I wanna, I want the simple things, but I want all the simple things. Like I just want it with such ferocity and like, even if I'm on the bench, I'm on the dang team, like I am on the team that's going to the Super Bowl. Regardless. Even if I'm not on the field this season, I will be next season. And I think if we have that mentality, and I, I mean, I can't speak for people who don't have that mentality because I don't,

of it is just knowing not to give up. I think we just give up when we get to that point too, where it's like the overwhelm is so overwhelming, right? Like, and it's hard to know. It's hard to know what to do next. 'cause you just feel like there's too much to do, if that makes sense.

I know. Okay, you guys, we gotta wrap this up and do some final thoughts here because we all have lives we have to get back to, but I'm so looking forward to more of these conversations in this coming year, and I, I hope you are too. Again, please DM us, screenshot this, tag us. What is your takeaway? I'm not saying that performatively either. I mean it. Slide into the dms, tag us. Like take some action. Like be like, yeah, I'm on board for this. Like I'm ready to like take my team to the Super Bowl or find my team, or whatever it is, right? Yeah. First we're gonna have all the conversations and if there's conversations you wanna hear our take on, and I'm gonna do my best not to. I think we all can do this. Like I don't want to censor or disclaim anymore. Like I really wanna come out and like I'm okay with being wrong, like. The most beautiful thing I love is like when I see something from a different per perspective and I realize like I was incorrect about something. Like I think that's really fun, but like final thoughts like Meg, final thoughts. Audrey Lana. We'll let Meg start 'cause she's got so many, you have all the thoughts. That's what we have a whole a podcast every week, every single week. But what do you, what do you guys think as we're moving into 2026? Like what would be your like current words of wisdom? Um, for those who are listening, silence.

I

I think that

just pick

pick the things

You need to compound that, you know you are

are gonna get to your end goal and go make a friend. Go make a friends. Make a friends. Start building that team.

build the

the team, right? Build the team. Yes.

I

Yep. That's great.

myself like five years ago. If I was talking to like five years ago, Meg, I

Mm.

like, don't make it so complicated. Like you

come on.

you're gonna go achieve like incredible things, but you need to embrace the system and you need to surround yourself with the right people so that

Yeah.

are an alone in this journey in all the ways.

And celebrate your little wins. Don't be so hard on yourself. You know, that's what I needed to hear.

That's good. I love that. Every single one of those things, and I, my, my advice would be like, quit overthinking. Like, just, just do, do so you can get the information so that you can iterate. Like that's like the biggest thing is I, and don't question and don't make yourself smaller. And I know I, I, as I say all of this, I feel like it's all so meme worthy, but like you don't. If your team makes you feel like you suck, then find a different team. You know? And like, I know that like some of those things, like you may be like, well, I can't really, whatever. I don't care. Like, we're done making excuses, we're done feeling shame, we're done with all of that stuff. It's just onward and upward, you know? And, and in the most sustainable, thoughtful way you can be. Like, just, I, I want it to be like, again, I want this super nutrient dense life. Like, I want to eat it all. Like I want. I want all of it. So I hope that, um, and we'll like, we're here for you. Like this is, this is, if you need a village, start here. Like, and you can just listen. Yeah. DM us or just listen to the podcast every week. Like if you are gonna get, like, I guarantee that there will be something or someone and, um, or get on the talk. Talk and, uh,

Talk and find new friends.

a new friend. Thank you guys so much for taking the time to have this conversation with me and kick off the new year. Um, and thank you for all of you for being part of this like five year journey. Five years feels, yeah. When you think about like the lifespan of like a, if you will say quote unquote online, you know. online endeavor of any sort. Like five years is pretty good, even though I feel like I've been at this since the olden days with Meg with a back in. Wow. So long. I know All the things all, all the things we've been involved with. Oh man. The good old Skype. Oh my. I know, right? So here for it. All right guys.

Skype for hours.

I know just like little chat box in the bottom. Like as we were at work, at our real jobs where we're like, Hey, I need feedback on this. Like, that's the other thing. We, we didn't even work together and we were still working together on like shared projects. Like that's, that's a village, right? Like that's a team. I'm excited. All right guys. You are awesome. Everyone who's listening, you're awesome too. Unless you're sitting there listening just to hate. And if you are like, Hey, thanks for being a fan. Like I'm down. Like I'm here for, I'm just like so ready to, I'm so excited about this year 'cause it just feels so good that year of observation, which I didn't even realize till I was talking to you guys, which is another reason to have more conversations. All right, we'll see you guys back here next week.