What if you don't actually want to change your life? What if you just like the idea of having changed it?We talk a lot about setting boundaries, but not nearly enough about what it actually takes to maintain them.In this episode of Genuinely Jeni, we're talking about why setting boundaries, breaking bad habits, and making lifestyle changes can be so difficult. From the dopamine-driven excitement of starting something new to the routines, relationships, and environments we've built around the very things we want to change, there's a reason good intentions don't always turn into action.I'm sharing personal experiences with family boundaries, my 110-pound weight-loss journey, and the mental burden of carrying around an endless list of things we keep saying we're going to do.Here's the uncomfortable question: If you're not willing to make the changes necessary to reach a goal, why are you still carrying it around as something you're failing to accomplish?Sometimes the answer is to do the hard thing, sometimes it's to accept your circumstances, and sometimes it's to intentionally take something off your list.Let's talk about healthy boundaries, self-accountability, personal growth, overcoming discomfort, and living a life that actually aligns with your values.🎧 Subscribe to Genuinely Jeni for honest conversations about wellness, relationships, mindset, and real life.Follow along on Instagram @genuinely.jeni.619** and visit www.genuinelywell.com for more.If this episode makes you think of someone, share it with them!

Have you ever heard someone's political opinion and thought, "How could anyone possibly believe that?"What if the answer has less to do with intelligence or morality and more to do with the lens through which we see the world?Remember The Dress? That viral photo that some people saw as blue and black while others swore it was white and gold? What if that same phenomenon could help us understand political polarization, conflicting beliefs, and why we struggle to see another person's perspective?In this episode of Genuinely Jeni, I'm exploring how our upbringing, experiences, culture, and psychology shape our beliefs—often before we even realize it. We'll talk about cognitive biases, moral foundations, political division, religious freedom, and why understanding someone's perspective doesn't mean agreeing with it.And I'll share why I believe protecting our freedom to choose—even when we disagree with someone else's choices—is essential to finding common ground.

🎧 Listen, follow, and subscribe to Genuinely Jeni on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.💬 I'd love to hear your perspective!

Connect with me on Instagram @genuinely.jeni.619, TikTok @genuinelyjeni619, and YouTube @genuinelyjeni619.🌐 Visit www.genuinelywell.com/genuinelyjenipod

Topics: Political polarization, independent thinking, psychology of beliefs, cognitive bias, moral foundations, perspective, freedom of choice, religious liberty, empathy, and finding common ground.

What if the beliefs you're defending aren't actually your own?

I've never liked being told what to think. Tell me everyone loves a movie, and I probably won't watch it. Tell me a joke is hilarious, and suddenly I don't want to laugh. But what started as a childhood experience of feeling like my opinions didn't matter has become something much bigger.

In this episode of Genuinely Jeni, I'm exploring the psychology behind why we resist being told what to think—and why so many of us find it difficult to question the beliefs we've inherited.

We're talking about psychological reactance, cognitive dissonance, independent thinking, political polarization, and the pressure to choose a side. I'll share why being politically independent doesn't mean I don't care about the issues, how therapy has helped me understand my own reactions, and why changing your mind might be one of the bravest things you can do.

Contrary to what I was raised to believe, thinking for yourself isn't about always disagreeing. It's about having the courage to question, the humility to listen, and the grace to let other people do the same.

If this episode makes you think, subscribe to Genuinely Jeni on your favorite podcast platform and follow me on Instagram @genuinely.jeni.619 for more honest conversations about personal growth, faith, relationships, wellness, and living according to your values.

And share this episode with someone who isn't afraid to challenge your perspective.

Live what you love.

We schedule sex. As in, it's on the calendar. Who DOESN'T want something to look forward to?! 😆

This week on Genuinely Jeni, my husband Ken joins me for a funny, candid conversation about sex after 40 and how physical intimacy has evolved throughout our relationship. From early chemistry with very little communication to parenting, body image struggles, and seasons when sex felt more like an obligation, we’re sharing the things we didn’t always know how to talk about.

We get into how weight loss changed our confidence, our personal experiences with testosterone therapy and libido, and why Ken decided to do a little homework on women’s pleasure. Plus, we explain how scheduling sex became part of our routine—and why anticipation, curiosity, and honest communication have made this chapter of our marriage so much fun.

If you’ve ever struggled with mismatched desire, felt awkward asking for what you want, or wondered about keeping intimacy alive in a long-term relationship, pull up a chair. We’re sharing our experience, plenty of laughs, and a reminder that you’re allowed to speak up about your own enjoyment.

Because if connection is something we value, it deserves our time and effort.

Subscribe to Genuinely Jeni wherever you get your podcasts, and share this episode with someone who would appreciate an honest conversation about marriage and intimacy.

Follow along:
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New episodes Tuesdays. Life hacks for genuinely and courageously living your values.

Adult conversation and explicit language. Personal experiences with hormones and other products are not medical advice.

My dad struggled with cocaine addiction for more than two decades.

He was also my best friend—and the best person I've ever known.

Both of those things are true.

In this deeply personal episode of Genuinely Jeni, I'm sharing what it was like to grow up as the child of a parent with substance use disorder: the chaos I didn't understand, the responsibilities I never should have carried, the years I spent wondering why I wasn't enough for him to stop, and the painful boundary that eventually meant loving my dad from afar.

I'm also talking about some of the misconceptions we have about addiction—and about the people who love someone with an addiction. Why don't they just leave? Are they enabling them? How can they cut off someone who needs them? And if an addict really loves their family, why don't they just stop?

There aren't simple answers.

We talk about boundaries, forgiveness, accountability, childhood trauma, hyper-independence, therapy, recovery, remorse, and what I've learned about separating someone's humanity from the worst things they've done.

Addiction was part of my dad's story. It was a devastating part of mine. But I refuse to let it become his whole story.

If you've ever loved someone struggling with drug or alcohol addiction—or you're still sorting through what that experience left behind—I hope you hear something in this episode that reminds you you're not alone.

Follow/subscribe to Genuinely Jeni wherever you're listening so you don't miss an episode, and follow @genuinely.jeni.619 on Instagram for more conversations about wellness, relationships, accountability, faith, family, and figuring ourselves out as we go.

If this episode reminds you of someone who needs to hear it, please share it with them.

What if saying “no” isn’t really about what you’re giving up—but what you’re choosing instead?

In this episode of Genuinely Jeni, my husband Ken joins me to talk about the choices we’ve made to build a life around what we value most. From turning down career opportunities and financial tradeoffs to protecting family time, resisting hustle culture, limiting overscheduled kids, and occasionally just admitting that we’d rather stay home together, we’ve learned that every “no” is also a “yes” to something else.

We talk about parenting, marriage, work-life balance, family priorities, extracurricular activities, setting boundaries, people pleasing, the pressure to stay busy, and why a full calendar isn’t necessarily the same thing as a full life.

This isn’t about saying no to everything—or believing our priorities should be yours. It’s about knowing your values well enough to recognize what each yes is costing you and deciding whether the trade is worth it.

What are YOU saying yes to?

🎧 Follow/subscribe to Genuinely Jeni for honest conversations about wellness, relationships, parenting, faith, personal growth, authenticity, and building a life that actually reflects what you say you value.

If this episode made you think of someone, share it with them—and send me your questions or thoughts for a future episode.

@genuinely.jeni.619 across socials!

What if the reason your wellness plan isn’t working isn’t because you need to do MORE, but because you haven’t found the right balance yet?In this episode of Genuinely Jeni, I’m talking about what I call The Wellness Sweet Spot: the individual combination of nutrition, macros, exercise, consistency, sacrifice, and lifestyle that actually works for your body and your goals.We’re constantly being told to eat more protein, get more fiber, cut carbs, lift heavier, do Zone 2 cardio, take supplements, get more sleep, walk 10,000 steps, yada yada yada...and somehow fit all of it into an already full life. But optimal wellness isn’t necessarily about maximizing every “healthy” thing.It’s about finding YOUR recipe.I share why calorie restriction stopped working for me, how my own approach to cardio and strength training has changed throughout different seasons of my life, what research comparing low-carb and low-fat diets tells us about individual responses to weight loss, and why the most frustrating answer in wellness is often also the most accurate one:It depends.We’ll also talk about sustainable weight loss, macro balance, strength training vs. cardio, wellness for women over 40, changing needs during perimenopause and menopause, and how to figure out which one or two variables might actually make the biggest difference for you.If you’re tired of wellness checklists and wondering why doing “all the right things” still isn’t giving you the results you want, this episode is for you.🎧 Subscribe to Genuinely Jeni wherever you listen so you don’t miss future conversations about weight loss, wellness, women over 40, perimenopause, fitness, authenticity, and real life.📱 Follow me on social: @genuinely.jeni.619 for more real-life wellness, weight loss, fitness, perimenopause, and life-over-40 content.💚 Interested in personalized wellness coaching? If you’re tired of following generic plans and want help figuring out the nutrition, movement, and accountability strategy that works for your body and your life, learn more about working with me through Genuine Wellness.

What can The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City possibly teach a mom and her 13-year-old about life? Turns out a LOT.

After rewatching RHOSLC together, Ellie and I are talking about the surprisingly real life lessons hiding underneath all that reality TV drama—from accountability and owning your mistakes to blind loyalty, imperfect friendships, negativity, forgiveness, and why being wrong doesn’t make someone a bad person. We also get into why drama may grab attention but genuine connection keeps us watching—and what reality TV can teach us about relationships in real life. Whether you’re an RHOSLC superfan, a reality TV lover, or just fascinated by human behavior, come join our mother-daughter conversation before Season 7 begins!

🎙️ Subscribe to Genuinely Jeni wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow me on social media @genuinely.jeni.619 for more conversations about wellness, relationships, parenting, authenticity, and figuring out life as we go.