This week, Blythe and Kari sit down with the incredible Lauren Riepl, founder of Conscious Community Strategies, historian, speaker, and fierce advocate for women’s empowerment. Lauren’s story is one of resilience, rebirth, and radiant joy—proof that even the deepest wounds can become portals to purpose.

Together, they dive into:

• The Witch’s Wound — how women’s ancestral power was rewritten and how to reclaim it.
• Why circles of women are sacred (and even backed by science).
• How community can literally save your life—and why asking for help is never weakness.
• The myth of “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” and the courage it takes to heal out loud.
• Lauren’s journey through trauma, mental-health recovery, and building a mission-driven business that bridges nonprofits and women-owned brands.

With humor, heart, and history, Lauren reminds us that joy is not naïve—it’s rebellious. Whether she’s speaking about ancient feminism, modern sisterhood, or near-death wake-up calls, her message is clear: you are not alone, and joy is always worth fighting for.

Welcome back to In Joy the Show—where real talk meets radical joy. This week, Blythe and Kari take a sledgehammer to the myth that you’re “behind.” Behind in career, motherhood, healing, dating, business… you name it. Spoiler: you’re right on time for your life.

Through laughter, honest stories (midlife pivots, divorce, and messy drafts-in-progress), and powerful reframes, they explore the difference between divine timing vs. deadlines, why comparison keeps us stuck, and how baby steps (even half-baby steps!) still count. Kari shares the stop-and-start journey of writing her fourth 30-day guided journal—Serenity—and how the pause added the “missing puzzle pieces.” Blythe offers a goosebump-worthy metaphor about elephants circling to protect the vulnerable—and why women often step into their deepest purpose in the second half of life.

If you’re in a season that doesn’t look like the plan, this episode is your reminder: there’s no invisible checklist, no scoreboard, and no late arrivals. You can begin again—today.

What We Cover

• Busting the “I’m behind” myth (and how social timelines hijack our joy)
• Divine timing vs. deadlines: when a missed deadline is actually protection
• Baby steps, micro-moves, and getting unstuck from analysis paralysis
• The elephant circle metaphor: midlife, menopause, and women’s wisdom
• Reframing setbacks so you recover faster—and keep moving with joy

Memorable Lines

• “You’re not behind—you’re right on time for your life.”
• “Movement in any direction is progress. If it’s the wrong way, that’s data.”
• “There’s no scoreboard. My win is living with delight, whimsy, and joy.”

Mentioned

• Kari’s 30-Day Guided Journals (Self-Love, Boundaries, Vision, and the new Serenity)
• Blythe’s “reframe” practice and choosing joy in the messy middle

Join the Conversation

Tell us where you’re letting go of the fake timeline—or how your friends “circle the wagons” like elephants when you need it most. Tag @InJoyTheShowPodcast on Instagram or find us on Facebook.

If you loved this episode

Leave a rating/review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts—it helps more women reclaim joy, on their own timeline.

We’ve all heard it before: “Just get over it.” But what if healing doesn’t mean forgetting? What if you don’t need to move on—you just need to keep moving?

In this deeply honest episode, Kari and Blythe break down the myth of “moving on” and explore the real, nonlinear path of healing. From grief and heartbreak to life-altering diagnoses, they share personal stories, tender truths, and empowering reframes to help you move forward without shame.

✨ What We Talk About:

• The myth of “moving on” and why it’s so harmful
• How grief, joy, and healing can all exist together
• What to say (and not say) to someone in pain
• Learning to set boundaries as part of your healing
• The grief box analogy and nonlinear healing
• Creating joyful rituals and celebrating your progress