Ready for a raw, real conversation about self-acceptance, coming out later in life, and giving yourself permission to live authentically?

In this episode, I chat with Lisa Kirkman, host of Big Gay Overalls podcast, about her journey from feeling like she was watching her life in third person to fully owning who she is.

Lisa shares her powerful story of breaking free from the "shoulds," finding her voice, and creating a life that actually fits instead of forcing herself to fit into a life that wasn't meant for her.

We dive deep into what it means to accept yourself, set boundaries without feeling like an asshole, and intentionally design a life you love.

Whether you identify as queer or not, this episode is for anyone who's ever felt like they're living someone else's version of success.

On today's episode all about self-acceptance so you can live YOUR best damn life, we discuss:

• Why self-acceptance is a manual process, not an automatic one
• How to stop protecting everyone else at the cost of yourself
• The freedom that comes from giving zero f*cks about others' expectations
• Why tiny steps forward are more powerful than you think
• The importance of finding your ride-or-die support system

Use Lisa's story as inspiration to get out of your own damn way and create YOUR Best Damn Life.

This conversation is your permission slip to start.

Read the transcript, watch the YouTube video, and get the show notes on Your Best Damn Life here.

*Note: This is an extra sweary episode because sometimes that's exactly what the topic calls for. You've been warned!*

If you're tired of feeling burnt out, spread thin, and giving f*cks about things that don't actually matter...this episode is your permission slip to stop that shit.

Here's the truth - you have a finite number of f*cks to give, and society, culture, family - hell, even that rando on Instagram - all have opinions about where those should go.

But you know what? That sneaky little f*cker called "should" has been running your show without you even realizing it and that stops NOW.

So today, we're changing all that because when you know better, you do better.

And it's never too late to start giving the right f*cks.

On today's episode all about protecting your energy so you can live YOUR best damn life, we discuss:

• Why you're treating your f*cks like confetti at the NYE party you didn't even want to attend
• How giving too many f*cks is draining your emotional energy i.e. getting in the way of you living your best life
• 5 types of f*ck-giving that are burning and stressin' you out
• A framework for becoming a connoisseur of f*ck-giving (so fancy!)

And ends with The F*ck Yeah Challenge: Your step-by-step guide to reallocating your f*cks.

Read the transcript, watch the YouTube video, and get the show notes on the Your Best Damn Life website here.

We ALL carry some form of shame with us each and every day and often, it's THE THING™ that stops us from moving forward on what we actually want for and from our life.

In this powerful episode, I'm joined by shame expert Karen C.L. Anderson as we dive deep into the world of shame, self-compassion, and healing.

Listen in for...

• Karen's innovative "Shame Box" method for dealing with her internalized shame daily
• How to break generational cycles of shame and self-doubt
• Karen's 6 N's framework for shame resilience
• Why "fixing" shame doesn't work (and what to do instead)
• Navigating complex mother-daughter relationships
• Practical strategies for self-compassion and healing

Karen shares personal stories, expert insights, and actionable advice for anyone struggling with shame, difficult family dynamics, or the journey to self-love. Whether you're dealing with your own shame or supporting someone who is, this episode offers valuable tools for transformation.

Join us for an honest, sometimes funny, and always compassionate conversation about embracing your authentic self (including the shame you carry!) and living your best damn life!

QUOTES

Karen on being human: "We are humans and we're going to f*ck up.We're going to say the wrong thing. We're going to hurt people. We will always have that in us, the ability or the capacity to hurt others. Sometimes intentionally, sometimes not."

Jen on the dangers of saying "mindset is everything...": "I think it's actually dangerous when folks think that, or they're told that mindset is everything. I find it very harmful. I used to fall into that camp, right? And then doing my own research and ngoing through my own healing process, I, I was like, no, that is actually very harmful."

Karen on unapologetic joy: "There was something very intoxicating about being witnessed in my joy..."

#ShameResilience #SelfDiscoveryJourney #EmbraceImperfection #MindsetShift #PersonalGrowth #RelationshipHealing #BreakingGenerationalCycles #LiveYourBestLife #JenVertanenPodcast #YourBestDamnLife

CONNECT W/ SHAME EXPERT KAREN C.L. ANDERSON

Website: https://kclanderson.com

Karen's Shame School: https://www.kclanderson.com/shame-school

Difficult Mothers, Adult Daughters: https://a.co/d/8kVfpNQ

You Are Not Your Mother: https://a.co/d/1Kn1THx

Overcoming Creative Anxiety: https://a.co/d/6lSz0mo

Insta: https://instagram.com/kclanderson

Karen's 6 Ns.: https://kclanderson.ck.page/posts/this-is-how-i-free-myself-from-shame-every-day

RESOURCES MENTIONED

The Single Most Important Parenting Strategy | Becky Kennedy, TED Speaker

You can now watch Your Best Damn Life on YouTube! Head on over, subscribe, and click the notification button so you get fancy ass alerts each time a new episode goes live.

Snag my free "Get Out Of Your Own Damn Way" guide

Are you tired of chasing someone else's definition of success?

In this unfiltered episode of YOUR Best Damn Life, I'm (Jen Vertanen - your pink-haired, unapologetically sweary, no b.s. coachsultant with 30+years of experience helping folks do epic shit) breaking down why it's crucial to define success on YOUR own terms.

We dive into:

👀 Why societal pressure keeps us stuck in unfulfilling "success"

🕵🏼 How to spot if you're living someone else's dream

🪩 A step-by-step guide to crafting your unique success definition

🤌🏼 Practical tips for owning your path, even when others don't get it

Whether you're feeling stuck in a soul-sucking career, dreaming of a major life change, or just sensing there's more to life, this episode is your roadmap to creating a truly fulfilling Best Damn Life.

Learn how to give societal expectations the middle finger and start living success on your own badass terms.

You can now watch Your Best Damn Life on YouTube! Head on over, subscribe, and click the notification button so you get fancy ass alerts each time a new episode goes live.

Snag my free "Get Out Of Your Own Damn Way" guide yourbestdamnlife.com/subscribe

Ready to go all-in? yourbestdamnlife.com/work-together

Don't do it alone! Join fellow cycle breakers in our FREE facebook community facebook.com/groups/fyeahlifewithjenvertanen/

Come say HI! on the socials...I LOVE having convos in my DMs!

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In this episode of Living Your Best Damn Life One "F*ck Yeah I Did" At A Time, I (your host Jen Vertanen) sit down with the fantabulous Angela Briones, creator of The Gay Podcast For Everyone.

Ready for some holy-sh*t-I-needed-to-hear-that moments? Listen in!

If you've ever felt too old, too gay, or too [insert your flavor of self-doubt here] to chase your dreams...Angela and I are here to call BS and we'll tell you exactly why and more importantly, share ideas for HOW to move through it.

We explore things like....

• Starting a podcast in midlife (spoiler: it's never too late even when you have a day job and even when friends and family think you're whack)
• The power of "what would Ruby do?" in kicking fear's ass in Angela's life and why knowing YOUR own motivations is so damn important
• Practical strategies to deal with imposter syndrome and the "who am I to do this?"
• How journaling might just save your sanity (and your dreams)
• Being a "box disruptor" and challenging societal expectations, especially as we age

And so much more...

Whether you're thinking of starting a podcast, coming out, or just need a kick in the pants to do that thing you've been putting off, this episode is your permission slip to get shit done (plus you see one of my fave t-shirts...it has b👀bs!).

Warning: Side effects may include sudden urges to start a podcast, write that book, or live your most authentic life. Proceed with caution or don't, and just dive in headfirst!

Tune in for an episode that'll leave you feeling like you can conquer the world one "F*ck Yeah, I Did" at a time!

QUOTES

Angela on not starting sooner: "It always kinda haunts me, to be honest. Like, it always haunts me that I didn't do something when I really wanted to because it's just wasted time..."

Jen on just getting started: "It’s essential not to let less-than-ideal conditions stop you from starting your "thing"."

Angela on finding motivation: "The memory of my friend Ruby, who was vibrant and unfiltered but passed away young, drives me to push past hesitations and continue creating."

Angela on working with and moving through her inner critic: "I transitioned from stream-of-consciousness journaling to more intentional, question-focused writing to understand and address my inner critic."

#livingyourbestlife #boldAF #personaldevelopment #selfempowerment #authenticliving #mindsetshift #intentionalliving #lifeonyourterms #jenvertanenpodcast #agingpowerfully #lgbtqiavoices #thegaypodcastforeveryone #overcomingfear

CONNECT W/ JEN

Website: https://jenvertanen.com/

Threads: https://threads.net/jen.vertanen

Insta: https://instagram.com/jen.vertanen

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@JenVertanen

CONNECT W/ ANGELA

Threads: https://threads.net/@thegaypodcast_foreveryone

Insta: https://instagram.com/thegaypodcast_foreveryone

The Gay Podcast For Everyone: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-gay-podcast-for-everyone/id1542424590

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Julia Cameron's The...

Are you ready to cut through the BS and create your own best damn life?

In this no-holds-barred episode of "Living Your Best Damn Life One 'F*ck Yeah I Did' At A Time," I'm diving deep into what living your best life is NOT and what it actually IS.

We explore things like....

- Why thinking you "should" have your ish together 24/7 is total BS

- The trap of #blessed social media perfection

- How to ditch someone else's life blueprint for your life

- Honoring your life's realities

Whether you're navigating chronic illness, mental health challenges, or just feeling lost in life's chaos, this episode is your permission slip to create a F*ck Yeah Life on your own terms.

Learn how to take that first courageous step towards living unapologetically, even when it scares the shit out of you.

Quotes

It's about creating a life that makes you say, f*ck yeah, more often than, well, what if?

Living your best life means disappointing some people. Yep. It does.

Your best life is about feeling fulfilled when you close your eyes at night, not how many people double tapped on your latest selfie, no matter how gorgeous or not it is.

Embracing your reality with all its messiness and complications, that is an absolute act of courage.

It is about intentionally creating your unique version of success, one that honors all aspects of who you are, not just the productive parts, but the playful, the quiet, the messy, like, all of it.

#livingyourbestlife #nomore #boldAF #personaldevelopment #selfempowerment #authenticliving #mindsetshift #intentionalliving #lifeonyourterms #antihustle #jenvertanenpodcast

You can now watch Living Your Best Damn Life on YouTube! Head on over, subscribe, and click the notification button so you get fancy ass alerts each time a new episode goes live.

Snag my free "Get Out Of Your Own Damn Way" guide jenvertanen.com/subscribe

Ready to go all-in? jenvertanen.com/work-together

Don't do it alone! Join fellow Bold AF’er badasses in our FREE facebook community facebook.com/groups/fyeahlifewithjenvertanen/

Come say HI! on the socials...I LOVE having convos in...

Hey there, Bold AF'er!

Ready to break free from generational BS and start living your F*ck Yeah Life?

In this inaugural episode of "Living Your Best Damn Life One 'F*ck Yeah I Did' At A Time," I'm diving deep into what it means to be a cycle breaker.

I share why breaking cycles is hard AF (but so worth it), and arm you with my Cycle Breaker's Toolbox - six essential strategies to break free from inherited patterns.

Plus, I'm introducing the powerful Cycle Breaker's Manifesto, your personal battle cry for living life on your own terms.

Episode Highlights:

• What exactly is a cycle breaker?
• The challenges of breaking cycles (and why it's totally worth it)
• My 6-piece Cycle Breaker's Toolbox for breaking free
• The Cycle Breaker's Manifesto: Your blueprint for change
• How to take that first tiny, courageous action towards your F*ck Yeah Life

Whether you're battling toxic relationships, financial struggles, or any other inherited crap, this episode is your permission slip to chart your own course.

Remember, it's never too late to start living differently unless YOU say it is.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Download your free Cycle Breaker's Manifesto!

QUOTES

The discomfort, the doubt, the occasional, what the f*ck am I doing moments, they're all signs that you're growing, changing, and creating a life that actually fits you instead of squeezing yourself into a life that was never meant for you in the first place.

All the awareness in the world isn't gonna change a single damn thing if you don't take action.

Remember, you don't ever, ever, ever, ever have to figure it all out because you won't. You will never have it all figured out. You just need to start. Take one tiny courageous action today, then another tomorrow. And before you know it, you will look back and realize just how far you've come.

You Are a Badass: "You are a badass to them. You are helping them give themselves permission to do the same thing, so you are absolutely a badass.

You can now watch Living Your Best Damn Life on YouTube! Head on over, subscribe, and click the notification button so you get fancy ass alerts each time a new episode goes live.

Snag my free "Get Out Of Your Own Damn Way" guide jenvertanen.com/subscribe

Ready to go all-in? jenvertanen.com/work-together

Don't do it alone! Join fellow Bold AF’er badasses in our FREE facebook community facebook.com/groups/fyeahlifewithjenvertanen/

Come say HI! on the socials...I LOVE having convos in my DMs!

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Welcome to the brand spankin' new podcast..."Living Your Best Damn Life One "F*ck Yeah I Did" At A Time!

This show is for rebellious cycle breakers who are beyond ready to transform their dreams into reality.

I'm your host, Jen Vertanen - an unapologetically sweary, no-BS, "Live Your Best Damn Life" coach with 30+ years of experience.

This show helps you overcome indecision, self-doubt, and perfectionism whether you want to:

• write the next Netflix hit
• own a cozy bookshop, or
• rise from a tough divorce

This podcast will arm you with real stories for inspiration, expert wisdom, and actionable strategies to create a roadmap and live your own Bold AF life.

Subscribe now and turn your shoulda, coulda, wouldas into 'F*ck yeah I did' moments.

New episodes coming soon!

Jen V. xo

You can now watch Living Your Best Damn Life on YouTube! Head on over, subscribe, and click the notification button so you get fancy ass alerts each time a new episode goes live.

Snag my free "Get Out Of Your Own Damn Way" guide jenvertanen.com/subscribe

Ready to go all-in? jenvertanen.com/work-together

Don't do it alone! Join fellow Bold AF’er badasses in our FREE facebook community facebook.com/groups/fyeahlifewithjenvertanen/

Come say HI! on the socials...I LOVE having convos in my DMs!

Facebook

Insta

Threads

TikTok