Advertise on podcast: About Progress

In this Growth Spurt, I share a moment from narrating my audiobook for Sticky Habits when I spotted small errors that survived countless rounds of editing. Spiraling into self-doubt, I had to remind myself that even masterpieces like Harry Potter and Oppenheimer aren't perfect — and that mistakes aren't just unavoidable, they're a necessary part of the path. The only way to avoid mistakes is by not trying, and that's the biggest mistake of all.  ⁠Order Sticky Habits⁠ (now available as an audiobook!) Leave a ⁠review⁠ of the book Get the Archive Pass for the ⁠More for Moms Conference⁠ with $10-off code: “LISTENER.” Join the ⁠Supporters Club⁠ to keep About Progress around for good.  Watch this episode on ⁠Youtube⁠ Go to Quince for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns at https://www.quince.com/monica. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How many times have you caught yourself scrolling and immediately thought, "Oh no, I did it again. I seriously need more self-control"? I've done this too. We all do. But what if scrolling isn't proof that you lack discipline? In this episode, I talk with Ruby Ryba, author of How to Stop Scrolling, about a much more compassionate way to use our phones less. Instead of shaming ourselves or swearing off our phones entirely, Ruby teaches us to get curious about what our scrolling is really giving us, design our lives so our phones have less power over us, and fill that reclaimed space with things that actually meet our needs. Because the goal isn't just to spend less time on your phone—it's to spend more time actually living the life you choose. Ruby's website, book Order Sticky Habits (now available as an audiobook!) Leave a review of the book Get the Archive Pass for the More for Moms Conference with $10-off code: “LISTENER.” Join the Supporters Club to keep About Progress around for good.  Watch this episode on Youtube Complementary episodes: The Practice of Attention: How to Stop Scrolling in a Distracted World, with Cody Cook-Parrott; How Screens Are Changing Childhood, with Catherine Price Go to Quince for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns at https://www.quince.com/monica. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wonder why you feel like you have to hustle for everything, or why one critical comment can undo a whole good day? In this clip, Jessica Hottel gets honest about growing up in survival mode and how those early beliefs followed her into adulthood: the approval-chasing, the trouble resting, and the shutting down when she felt triggered. If you're a mom trying to figure out how to be happier without adding one more thing to your to-do list, this one's for you. Jessica talks about why the stories we carry about ourselves start so early, and why getting curious about where they began is a powerful piece of personal development. It's not self improvement in the fix-yourself sense. It's about understanding the daily habits and reactions you built to protect yourself, and meeting them with kindness instead of criticism. That's where self-compassion comes in. When you can see why you hustle, why you go quiet, or why "good enough" feels so out of reach, it gets easier to stop being a perfectionist and start treating yourself the way you'd treat a friend. Self care for mothers isn't only bubble baths and naps (though we're pro-nap). It's also giving yourself permission to understand why you are the way you are. Small shifts like that are what personal growth and development actually looks like, and they're often how to feel happy on an ordinary day, not just in the big moments. Listen to the full episode here: https://www.aboutprogress.com/blog/5-steps-to-better-process-emotions-and-heal-your-souls-story Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After months of interviews for my book Sticky Habits, one question kept coming up: "How do you make time for self-care habits?" And it stopped me in my tracks. We love to say "just make time," but honestly? I think that reeks of toxic positivity. I spent a year and a half waking up at 5:00 AM to write my book while walking, doing strength training, and running on fumes — and it nearly broke me. You will never make time for everything — need, good, or worthy — and that's not just okay, it's the whole point. So let's talk about what it really means to make time for what matters, without losing yourself in the process. Order Sticky Habits (now available as an audiobook!) Leave a review of the book Get the Archive Pass for the More for Moms Conference with $10-off code: “LISTENER.” Join the Supporters Club to keep About Progress around for good.  Watch this episode on Youtube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever looked around your home and thought, "I'm just bad at this"? I've been there too — wrong-size rugs, bad paint colors, the works. In this episode, I talk with interior decorating educator Dani Watson about why perfectionism — not lack of talent — is what really keeps us stuck. Dani shares her own messy learning journey and teaches us that decorating is a skill anyone can build. We dig into her four principles for confident decorating: defining your personal aesthetic, choosing how you want your home to feel, telling your family's story through meaningful pieces, and working within your budget. Dani also makes a beautiful case for "slow decorating" — the idea that a home with soul can't be bought in a weekend, but is curated over time. If you've been waiting for permission to stop chasing Pinterest perfection and start enjoying the process, this one's for you. Dani's Instagram, website, design guide Order Sticky Habits! (now available as an audiobook!) Leave a review of the book Get the Archive Pass for the More for Moms Conference with $10-off code: “LISTENER.” Join the Supporters Club to keep About Progress around for good.  Watch this episode on Youtube This episode brought to you by ⁠⁠Quince⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Somewhere between the to-do lists and the school pickups, a lot of us lose track of the thing that used to light us up. In this clip, Just Thrive founder Tina Anderson talks about what it looks like to find that spark again and decide whether it's a hobby you love or something you could turn into your life's work. Tina shares her simple test for telling the difference: if you can figure out how your passion serves people, you can probably monetize it. She also explains why the best investment you can make isn't the stock market, it's yourself. Her advice is to take a class, learn a skill, and borrow ideas from people who've already done it. It's personal development in its most practical form, and you don't have to have it all figured out to begin. Her big takeaway is to start small but think big, and that's an easy permission slip to take with you. Listen to the full episode here: https://www.aboutprogress.com/blog/how-do-you-turn-your-passion-into-your-lifes-work-with-tina-anderson-of-just-thrive Order my book "Sticky Habits" today! https://www.aboutprogress.com/stickyhabits Join the Supporters Club to keep About Progress around for good. https://www.aboutprogress.com/support Get the Archive Pass for the More for Moms Conference with $10-off code: “LISTENER” at https://www.aboutprogress.com/moreformoms Become a supporter! https://www.aboutprogress.com/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This monthly series features an episode sharing my recent highs and lows, how my habits are going, a Do Something List update, plus what I'm loving lately and my commitments for the upcoming month. I hope this glimpse into my life, my family, my work, and my own self development encourages you in your own journey. Around here the goal is never perfection, just to keep trying, even if in very simple ways. I think you'll see that with all of the big changes going on for me, taking the smallest of steps has helped to keep me afloat and feeling like myself. As always, I encourage you to get messy, too!  Order Sticky Habits (now available as an audiobook!) Leave a review of the book Get the Archive Pass for the More for Moms Conference with $10-off code: “LISTENER.” Join the Supporters Club to keep About Progress around for good.  Watch this episode on Youtube This episode brought to you by ⁠⁠Quince⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns; and from REBEL, your next favorite find is waiting at fromrebel.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve looked in the mirror and seen nothing behind your eyes—not postpartum, not exhaustion, but the quiet disappearance of you —you're not alone. In this replay from the More for Moms conference, Monica shares a preview of a private workshop on one of motherhood's most important questions: Who are you underneath all the roles? Not because motherhood doesn't matter, but because it matters so much that you can't afford to lose yourself in it. Discover why your kids shouldn't have to carry the burden of proving your worth, what it means to live the "and equation,” and how to map your way back to a self you may not have met in years, or never known to begin with. Whether your kids are still tiny or already grown, this episode is your invitation to come back home to yourself. Order Sticky Habits! Get the Archive Pass (formally the All-Access Pass) for the More for Moms Conference with $10 early bird pass: “LISTENER.” Join the Supporters Club to keep About Progress around for good.  Go to Quince for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns at https://www.quince.com/monica. Your next favorite find is waiting at fromrebel.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s More Mini Moments from More for Moms, where we honor some of the most stand-out moments from our speaker sessions. Catch up on some gems you missed, better prioritize what you want to listen to before the conference ends, or simply bask in the moments you loved.  You still don’t have to do it all, but remember: free access ends on Sunday night at midnight. Also ending at that time? Our limited-time bonus of getting the All-Access Pass (soon to be called the Archive Pass): a hardcover copy of Sticky Habits, delivered to any domestic U.S. address of your choice. Other included bonuses: lifetime access to video and audio versions of each speaker session, a private ad-free podcast feed so you can listen on-the-go for years to come, and the replay of my private mid-week workshop, “Finding Your Identity Outside of ‘Mom.’”  ⁠UPGRADE⁠ to the All-Access pass for lifetime access, special bonuses, and a private, ad-free podcast feed ⁠PARTICIPATE⁠ in the private Facebook group (+vote for your daily favorite speaker NOW!) ⁠CHECK OUT⁠ our Sponsors, who made 7 free days and an affordable All-Access pass possible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s More Mini Moments from More for Moms, where we honor some of the most stand-out moments from our speaker sessions. Catch up on some gems you missed, better prioritize what you want to listen to before the conference ends, or simply bask in the moments you loved.  You still don’t have to do it all, but remember: free access ends on Sunday night at midnight. Also ending at that time? Our limited-time bonus of getting the All-Access Pass (soon to be called the Archive Pass): a hardcover copy of Sticky Habits, delivered to any domestic U.S. address of your choice. Other included bonuses: lifetime access to video and audio versions of each speaker session, a private ad-free podcast feed so you can listen on-the-go for years to come, and the replay of my private mid-week workshop, “Finding Your Identity Outside of ‘Mom.’”  ⁠UPGRADE⁠ to the All-Access pass for lifetime access, special bonuses, and a private, ad-free podcast feed ⁠PARTICIPATE⁠ in the private Facebook group (+vote for your daily favorite speaker NOW!) ⁠CHECK OUT⁠ our Sponsors, who made 7 free days and an affordable All-Access pass possible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s More Mini Moments from More for Moms, where we honor some of the most stand-out moments from our speaker sessions. Catch up on some gems you missed, better prioritize what you want to listen to before the conference ends, or simply bask in the moments you loved.  You still don’t have to do it all, but remember: free access ends on Sunday night at midnight. Also ending at that time? Our limited-time bonus of getting the All-Access Pass (soon to be called the Archive Pass): a hardcover copy of Sticky Habits, delivered to any domestic U.S. address of your choice. Other included bonuses: lifetime access to video and audio versions of each speaker session, a private ad-free podcast feed so you can listen on-the-go for years to come, and the replay of my private mid-week workshop, “Finding Your Identity Outside of ‘Mom.’”  ⁠UPGRADE⁠ to the All-Access pass for lifetime access, special bonuses, and a private, ad-free podcast feed ⁠PARTICIPATE⁠ in the private Facebook group (+vote for your daily favorite speaker NOW!) ⁠CHECK OUT⁠ our Sponsors, who made 7 free days and an affordable All-Access pass possible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s More Mini Moments from More for Moms, where we honor some of the most stand-out moments from our speaker sessions. Catch up on some gems you missed, better prioritize what you want to listen to before the conference ends, or simply bask in the moments you loved.  You still don’t have to do it all, but remember: free access ends on Sunday night at midnight. Also ending at that time? Our limited-time bonus of getting the All-Access Pass (soon to be called the Archive Pass): a hardcover copy of Sticky Habits, delivered to any domestic U.S. address of your choice. Other included bonuses: lifetime access to video and audio versions of each speaker session, a private ad-free podcast feed so you can listen on-the-go for years to come, and the replay of my private mid-week workshop, “Finding Your Identity Outside of ‘Mom.’”  ⁠UPGRADE⁠ to the All-Access pass for lifetime access, special bonuses, and a private, ad-free podcast feed ⁠PARTICIPATE⁠ in the private Facebook group (+vote for your daily favorite speaker NOW!) ⁠CHECK OUT⁠ our Sponsors, who made 7 free days and an affordable All-Access pass possible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s More Mini Moments from More for Moms, where we honor some of the most stand-out moments from our speaker sessions. Catch up on some gems you missed, better prioritize what you want to listen to before the conference ends, or simply bask in the moments you loved.  You still don’t have to do it all, but remember: free access ends on Sunday night at midnight. Also ending at that time? Our limited-time bonus of getting the All-Access Pass (soon to be called the Archive Pass): a hardcover copy of Sticky Habits, delivered to any domestic U.S. address of your choice. Other included bonuses: lifetime access to video and audio versions of each speaker session, a private ad-free podcast feed so you can listen on-the-go for years to come, and the replay of my private mid-week workshop, “Finding Your Identity Outside of ‘Mom.’”  UPGRADE to the All-Access pass for lifetime access, special bonuses, and a private, ad-free podcast feed PARTICIPATE in the private Facebook group (+vote for your daily favorite speaker NOW!) CHECK OUT our Sponsors, who made 7 free days and an affordable All-Access pass possible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if one surprising thing that's quietly draining you is your shopping cart? As a style influencer, Julie Rose Allen had packages arriving in numbers so high she's pretty sure her neighbors started a group chat. But the wake-up call wasn't just about waste—it was realizing that the constant consumption robbed her of her own personal style. In this session, Julie shares how thrifting didn't just change her wardrobe, it flipped a switch in her mind. She stopped caring about the number on the tag. She found a meditative practice hidden in the racks (yes, really). And she rediscovered a creative autonomy that years of online consumption had quietly taken from her. If you're tired of chasing sales and fads, want to get higher quality items for your closet using less money, or even just want to use more of a creative part of your brain, learn how to thrift from Julie! FREEBIE for all: Fall Style Guide A simple guide to having fun getting dressed this fall! BONUS raffled off to All-Access Pass Holders: Thrift Bundle! Every month, Julie gives away a bundle of 5-7 thrifted items for someone in her community. She will send out a detailed questionnaire to understand your style, your sizing, and your inspiration and spend the month shopping for you!     Julie Rose Allen is first and foremost a mom to six kids ranging from middle school to young adults. She created the That Julie Girl community online as a place to encourage women to be intentional with their lives - through style, thrifting, travel, and friendship. She gives simple Big Sister advice to get more creative in your closet and have fun creating the life you really want. FOLLOW ON IG   OTHER LINKS UPGRADE to the All-Access pass for lifetime access, special bonuses, and a private, ad-free podcast feed PARTICIPATE in the private Facebook group (+vote for your daily favorite speaker) CHECK OUT our Sponsors, who made 7 free days and an affordable All-Access pass possible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(Short note: we recorded this session prior to securing our sponsors for the conference. All references to them were organic.) You have thousands of photos on your phone . . . and your kids almost never see them. In this session, photo expert Casey Von Stein (Miss Freddy) makes the case for actually using your pictures in easy-to-make photobooks that will be cherished by the whole family. She breaks down every obstacle that holds us back and replaces them with stupid-simple options that meet you where you are. Casey's family yearbook method takes a few hours a year, follows a "decide once" principle so you never have to rethink the process, and costs less than you'd think. If you've been telling yourself you'll make a photobook "someday," this conversation will finally help you cross that finish line.   FREEBIE for all: Managing Kids Memories eBook Do you feel overwhelmed by preserving kids memories? What should you do with all the STUFF of childhood? This 44 page digital guide has practical tips and project ideas for documenting childhood from birth through high school. BONUS raffled off to All-Access Pass Holders: Backup Bootcamp Course Everyone needs this course! Backup Bootcamp™ will teach you how to make sense of your digital photo mess. Video tutorials for both Mac + PC walk through centralizing photos from many devices (creating one digital photo hub), removing duplicates, sorting into simple folders, and backing it all up to the cloud.   Casey von Stein, aka Miss Freddy, is a certified Professional Photo Organizer in Golden Colorado.  She’s a mom of two (a 13 year old boy and 11 year old girl). After 10 years as a professional photographer, she realized that what people really needed was HELP managing and enjoying their photos.  She offers remote organizing services for clients worldwide and self-paced online courses for those who want to tackle their photo mess on their own. FOLLOW ON IG WEBSITE   OTHER LINKS UPGRADE to the All-Access pass for lifetime access, special bonuses, and a private, ad-free podcast feed PARTICIPATE in the private Facebook group (+vote for your daily favorite speaker) CHECK OUT our Sponsors, who made 7 free days and an affordable All-Access pass possible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices