This isn’t about keeping resolutions or trying harder. It’s about not quitting on yourself.

In this first episode of 2026, I explain what it really means to be plucky and why determined courage (not perfection) is the key to living an authentic, aligned life.

• What “plucky” really means and how to practice determined courage
• Why perfectionism keeps us stuck (and how to move forward anyway)
• The PLUCKY framework:
  • Proactive over reactive
  • Longevity over rushing
  • Underdog courage before confidence
  • Consistency that compounds
  • Kindness to your inner beginner
  • Yet — the mindset that keeps you going

If you’ve fallen off track, feel discouraged, or are tempted to quit, this episode will help you keep moving forward — imperfectly and bravely.

• Book a free Courage Consult with Carrie
• Let’s connect on Instagram @carriejobradley

What happens when life doesn’t just take a detour—but completely reroutes your future?

In this deeply moving episode of Plucky Not Perfect, I’m joined by Erika Brouillette—mom, caregiver, advocate, podcast host, and founder of Reclaim: TBI Wives. Erika shares her story of becoming a full-time caregiver overnight when her husband suffered a severe traumatic brain injury, and how that moment reshaped her identity, faith, boundaries, and purpose.

We talk about:

• Advocating for a child with special needs—and a spouse with a traumatic brain injury
• Becoming a caregiver in the middle of crisis (and COVID)
• Losing yourself in survival mode—and how to slowly reclaim who you are
• The permission many women need to care for themselves without guilt
• Setting boundaries after years of people-pleasing
• Finding hope when doctors give none
• Why community matters when no one else truly “gets it”
• Gratitude, faith, and recognizing glimmers of hope in the darkest seasons

Erika also shares how her own healing led her to create a space for other women walking similar roads—women who are so often asked how their husband is doing, but rarely how they are.

This conversation is for anyone who has found themselves living a life they didn’t plan—and is learning how to keep going anyway.

Connect with Erika:

• Website & Community: Reclaim TBI Wives
• Podcast: Real Lives of TBI Wives
• Socials: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok

Connect with your host: Carrie

When someone you care about is facing grief, illness, divorce, or any major life shake-up, it’s easy to worry about saying the wrong thing… and end up doing nothing. After my own cancer journey and recovery, I learned firsthand what truly helps and what doesn’t.

• Why something is better than nothing (even if you feel awkward)
• How to check in without adding pressure or expecting a reply
• Offering specific, practical help instead of “Let me know if you need anything”
• Caring for friends from afar: texts, cards, gift cards, meaningful little touches
• Supporting friends nearby: homemade food, errands, childcare, time together
• What not to do when you're trying to help

You don’t have to be perfect, just present. Plucky helps! Small gestures of care go a long way.

Email me at thecarriejobradley@gmail.com if you would like the companion guide to this episode, a free printable PDF with tangible reminders of how to help in a time of need.

Let’s connect on Instagram @carriejobradley.

What if the bravest thing you could do was to slow down? In this episode, Carrie talks with life coach, speaker, and author Heather Boersma about redefining success, finding rest, and living from a deep sense of worthiness instead of striving for it.

Heather shares how years of chasing achievement led her to burnout and anxiety, and how she learned to live “from significance, not for it.”

Together, they explore rest as a courageous act, how to realign with your core values, and why being present is the true measure of a meaningful life.

In this conversation:

• The difference between living for success and living from significance
• How burnout taught Heather to reimagine rest as strength, not laziness
• Co-regulation, nervous system safety, and redefining identity beyond productivity
• Courage, worthiness, and the beauty of slowing down
• Practical ways to live from your values

Resources & Links:

www.heatherboersma.com

The Rest Revolution

Connect with your host: www.instagram.com/carriejobradley.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s “too late” to start over—or felt stuck between who you’ve been and who you want to become, this is the episode for you.

Jennifer Montgomery-Lay’s story is one of unimaginable resilience. As a cancer mom for more than two decades, she’s spent much of her adult life caregiving. Instead of letting fear or past identities define her, Jenn has learned to lean into discomfort to step out into new adventures.

Jenn and Carrie met at a business networking event a few years ago. Back then Jenn didn’t have a business—just a quiet nudge that she was meant for something more. What she did have was courage.

In this episode, Jenn shares how her family traveled the world in the midst of heartbreak, chaos and uncertainty. She talks about how travel became a catalyst for healing, and how she’s now helping others rediscover themselves through adventure. We talk about perfectionism, giving ourselves permission to dream again, and what it really means to be plucky in midlife.

As Jenn said, “You’re gonna be okay. Even if you look silly. Even if you mess up. You can find people who believe in you until you believe in yourself.”

• The uncomfortable moment that sparked Jenn’s reinvention
• Life as a cancer mom: the raw truth, not the hashtag version
• How a one-way ticket and a leap of faith changed everything
• The healing power of travel and curiosity
• Saying yes to new adventures (even when it feels scary)

Resources & Links:

www.instagram.com/lifealloverthemap

Connect with your host: www.instagram.com/carriejobradley.

In this episode, Carrie shares her personal journey of facing the fear of surgery following her battle with colorectal cancer and past traumatic hospital experiences. She discusses the emotional challenges of preparing for surgery, the importance of acknowledging fear, and the role of mindfulness and community support. Carrie discusses the Plucky Challenge as a way to build courage and emphasizes that who we are matters more than our actions in moments of fear. She encourages listeners to embrace their fears and lean into their inner courage. The episode concludes with a listener’s insight.

Resources & Links:

Connect with your host: www.instagram.com/carriejobradley.

Carrie reconnects with her friend Lindsay Aho (Kuehster), who shares her powerful story of loss and rebuilding with courage. Lindsay opens up about life behind the façade of perfection — navigating her husband’s alcoholism and PTSD and facing unimaginable loss when he took his own life.

Through it all, Lindsay found the strength to start again, to heal, and to redefine what grace looks like. Her story reminds us that courage isn’t about pretending everything is fine; it’s about facing the truth, asking for help, and rebuilding one brave step at a time.

• The hidden pain behind “having it all together”
• Recognizing when it’s time to leave and finding the courage to do it
• Healing from trauma and loss through writing and community
• The power of forgiveness for ourselves and others
• What “strength” looks like when you don’t feel strong

Resources & Links

• Lindsay’s memoir: Redefining Grace
• Connect with Carrie: @carriejobradley