What happens when you’ve done the work… and now relationships feel harder, not easier?

In this episode, Amanda and Ashton unpack why healing can actually make love, friendship, and partnership more challenging — but also more meaningful.

After a weekend filled with stillness, church, deep conversations, and seven kids running around (because balance), Amanda reflects on the power of quiet and how grounding yourself changes what you’re willing to tolerate. When you’ve fought hard for your peace, you stop handing it away.

We talk about:

• Why you don’t fully heal before love — you heal inside of it
• How relationships expose wounds you didn’t know were still there
• Why second (and third) marriages have higher divorce rates
• The difference between healed and scabbed-over
• What it means to be a “safe container” for someone
• Faster repair vs. perfection
• Why healing raises your standards — and lowers your tolerance
• The truth about conflict: does it bring you closer or push you apart?
• Friendship after growth: depth over drama

We also explore what real love actually looks like — not the highlight reel version, but the patient, kind, accountable, grounded kind. The kind that doesn’t weaponize your wounds. The kind that stays.

If you’ve ever wondered why dating feels harder now that you know yourself…
If you’ve struggled with boundaries after surviving painful relationships…
If you’ve questioned whether you’re “too much” or just unwilling to settle…

This one’s for you.

Because healing doesn’t mean becoming untriggerable.
It means becoming aware enough to respond instead of react.

Cheers to peace. Cheers to purpose. And cheers to depth over drama. 💛

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This week, Amanda and Ashton unpack a Gary Vee graphic that hit them right in the nervous system: “How to Not Give a F*ck.” And honestly? It’s less about being cold or careless—and more about protecting your peace, owning your choices, and refusing to waste your life performing for other people.

They walk through the framework point-by-point and get real about what it actually looks like in everyday life:

• Stop valuing other people’s opinions (especially when they don’t have the life, experience, or integrity you respect)
• Create opportunities instead of chasing the perfect decision (because perfectionism is just fear in a cute outfit)
• Realize nobody gives a f*ck—people are consumed with their own stuff, and you don’t need to rent space in their heads
• Surround yourself with optimistic people who challenge you, steady you, and help you grow (not the gossip-and-doom crowd)
• Be your own biggest fan, not your harshest critic—hold yourself accountable without emotionally body-slamming yourself
• Get quiet in your own head—not by having a magical “nothing box,” but by learning to pause, regulate, drop the ego, and respond with compassion instead of reactivity

Along the way, they get into why criticism is often projection, how confidence is built through self-trust, and why “not giving a f*ck” doesn’t mean you don’t care—it means you care about the right things.

If you’ve been exhausted, overthinking, people-pleasing, or replaying every little thing you said in your head at 2 a.m… this one’s for you.

Got a topic you want us to talk about? Send in your requests—relationship advice, work drama, mindset spirals, or whatever you need unraveled.

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We’re back from the dead 😅—sickness, moves, mom life chaos, studio lighting fails, and all—and this week we’re diving straight into one of the most talked-about dating theories on the internet: the infamous three boxes men put women in.

You’ve probably heard it:
👉 The friend box
👉 The “fun” box
👉 The fiancé box

But is it really that simple?

In this episode, we unpack where this theory comes from, why it resonates with so many women, and—most importantly—how it can actually take your power away if you’re not careful. We talk honestly about dating experiences, mixed signals, inconsistency, boundaries, self-worth, and the painful moments when effort isn’t being matched.

Then we flip the script.

Instead of asking “What box am I in?” we introduce a new framework: unboxing the man. We break down the questions every woman should be asking to determine if someone is emotionally available, ready for a relationship, capable of sustaining intimacy, and aligned with the life she wants.

We also get real about:
• Why “if he wanted to, he would” is usually true
• The difference between attraction and intention
• How social media and validation play into modern dating
• Why over-performing never leads to commitment
• And why choosing yourself changes everything

This episode is for anyone who’s ever waited, overanalyzed, lowered their standards, or questioned their worth in dating. You’re not broken. You’re not behind. And you don’t need to fit into anyone’s box.

Pull up a chair, sister. You’re safe here. 💛

🎧 Have a dating question or story? DM us or send a voice note—we might feature it on a future episode.

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Inspired by Taylor Swift’s I Can Do It With a Broken Heart (no, they can’t play it—licensing, besties), Amanda and Ashton unpack what it actually looks like to keep showing up when you’re devastated: heartbreak, grief, divorce, disappointment, burnout… and still having a calendar full of meetings, kids to care for, and responsibilities that don’t pause just because your heart is in pieces.

They talk about:

• The tension between “suck it up and push through” vs. honoring your emotions
• Why giving people grace matters (you never know what someone is carrying)
• The difference between dissociation as a survival skill and emotional suppression that eventually shows up in your body
• When you can power through—and when you truly need to fall apart and rest
• Practical ways to keep going without abandoning yourself: support systems, small reprieves, movement, creativity, boundaries, and asking for help

You’ll hear personal stories (including Amanda’s engagement ending and rebuilding her life, and Ashton’s honest truth about not always being able to “do it” with a broken heart), plus the reminder that sometimes simply getting up and carrying on is, in fact, magnificent.

If you’re in a season of grief or heartbreak, this one feels like a warm hug with a tiny bit of chaos… and a lot of permission.

Stay strong. You can do it with a broken heart.

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In this episode, Ashton takes the mic solo while Amanda is in full-on moving mode (Danville ➝ Indiana chaos… the real pain body trigger 😅) and she brings in someone perfectly matched for the topic: Shelly Henk, former nurse turned “artist of the soul,” co-author of the bestselling book Just Say No, and featured in the PBS documentary Medical Stories Under Control.

Together, they dive into pain..not just as a feeling, but as a force: how unprocessed emotional wounds live in the body, how they get “reactivated” by everyday triggers, and why symptoms like anxiety, chronic fatigue, migraines, inflammation, and even burnout can be your body waving a giant red flag that something deeper needs to be witnessed.

Using Eckhart Tolle’s concept of the pain body as a launching point, Shelly breaks it down with a more grounded lens: emotions are real, measurable, stored in tissue and they don’t disappear just because we “move on.” Ashton shares her own raw experience with what it looks like when a carefully-built emotional fortress finally cracks, and why true healing often requires something many high achievers avoid: an empathetic witness, a safe space, and the courage to actually feel.

They also explore why so many high performers are driven by trauma responses, why our culture is terrible at grief and emotional processing, and how healing isn’t just about “fixing the past” - it’s about rewriting the story, reclaiming wholeness, and turning pain into purpose.

Shelly closes by sharing how she helps clients through her signature process, Artful Story Work, using the canvas as a tool for emotional release and transformation- moving through the four elements: Feel, Heal, Dream, and Create.

If you’ve ever felt like your reactions are “too big,” your body is carrying something your mind won’t name, or you’re ready to stop surviving and start living -this conversation will meet you right where you are.

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Girls aren’t taught what to do when someone crosses a line.
So we giggle. We fawn. We freeze. We try to keep the peace.

In this episode of The Audacity!, Amanda and Ashton unpack the female experience of disrespect—from sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior to people-pleasing, shame, and self-abandonment. We talk candidly about real stories, why setting boundaries feels so hard, and how to protect yourself without compromising your character.

This conversation is about self-respect, safety, and learning when to speak up, when to walk away, and when silence is power.

If you’ve ever struggled to say no, felt guilty for setting a boundary, or carried shame for something that was never your fault—this episode is for you.

🎧 Listener discretion advised.
Topics include sexual harassment, assault, and emotional trauma. Feel free to skip or pause if needed.

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It’s our first episode of 2026..and we’re still kind of shook that the podcast has 1,100+ downloads across 19 countries. (Japan?! Singapore?! Hi besties. 👋)

Today we’re switching gears from goofy relationship chaos to something we actually know a lot about: entrepreneurship. We share our real stories from Amanda’s 13-year journey (distillery → hog operation → personal training → insurance/financial advising) to Ashton’s path of founding nonprofits, building community programs, commercial property development, and running a consulting company with multiple clients.

We break down the skills and mindset entrepreneurs need to survive (and thrive): discipline without a boss, tolerance for discomfort, handling rejection, delayed gratification, being misunderstood, and the biggest one-disconnecting your identity from your business results. Because your revenue can fluctuate… but your worth doesn’t.

If you’re building something (or dreaming of it), this episode is your permission slip to stop playing small, think bigger than your zip code, and keep going even when the doubt spiral hits.

Want us to answer your business question on the show? DM us...we LOVE this stuff. And if you’re here for the “tea,” at least learn something while you sip. ☕😅

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Forget “new year, new you.” In this episode, we talk about how to actually make 2026 your best year yet—without burnout, shame, or resolutions that die by February.

We reflect on the real lessons of 2025, unpack why motivation isn’t enough, and explain why the biggest changes come from small, daily habits—not dramatic overhauls. From self-trust and discipline to gratitude, boundaries, and handling life’s curveballs, this conversation is honest, practical, and a little unhinged (in the best way).

If you’re ready to stop quitting and start building, this episode is for you. Audacity required. Taco Bell optional.

Takeaways

• 2025 was a year of significant change and growth.
• Navigating relationships requires self-respect and love.
• Career transitions can lead to newfound freedom and alignment.
• Emotional turmoil can lead to shedding what no longer serves you.
• Shifting from goals to actions can create a more fulfilling life.
• Adding positive habits is more effective than removing negative ones.
• Self-reflection is crucial for understanding patterns in life.
• Life's unpredictability requires a purposeful approach to living.
• Gratitude for small joys can enhance overall happiness.
• Building self-trust is essential for personal growth.

https://www.melrobbins.com/bestyear/