Advertise on podcast: Girls Night with Stephanie May Wilson

For years, I thought New Year's resolutions would finally turn me into the “best version” of myself. Spoiler: they mostly left me discouraged, exhausted, and convinced I was already falling behind. So I stopped. And in this episode — my last before a long season away from the podcast — I’m sharing the simple New Year’s ritual I created instead. One that feels grounding, healing, spacious, and actually sustainable. Today we’re walking through: ✨ How to remember the story you lived this year ✨ What to release so you don’t carry old weight into a new season ✨ How to reset with intention — without pressure or perfectionism If resolutions haven’t been working for you (or haven’t felt kind)… this is an episode you don’t want to miss. To go deeper, grab my brand-new guided journal The Story of This Year — the complete version of this process with prompts and space to reflect: 👉 StephanieMayWilson.com/NewYear Since the podcast will be on hiatus for a while, the best place to stay connected is my email list: 👉 StephanieMayWilson.com/email Thank you for being here. This community is one of my life’s greatest gifts. Love, Steph 🤍 Podcast Sponsors: - ⁠⁠Antique Candle Co. ⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠BetterHelp⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠NIV Application Bible⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠Piper and Leaf⁠ - Please donate today at ⁠MercyShips.org/podcast⁠ - Visit ⁠OmahaSteaks.com⁠ for 50% off site-wide during their Sizzle All the Way Sale. And for an extra $35 off, use promo code FUN at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s Girls Night, we’re talking about what to do when you’ve done everything “right” and it’s still not working. Maybe you’ve followed the rules, made the plans, gone to therapy, prayed the prayers, checked all the boxes… and yet your life, career, relationships, or family story still don’t look anything like what you hoped for. It feels like you’re stuck in a giant “this is not what I ordered” moment, especially in this Everything Era where all the big decisions seem to pile up at once. As we wrap up this season of the show (and before I take a break from Girls Night for a good chunk of next year), I’m sharing two things I really want to leave you with: You get to want what you want. You have more agency than it feels like you do. I’ll read a section from my book, Create a Life You Love, and we’ll walk through practical tools for what to do when doors aren’t opening: when to quit, when to keep going, when to change tactics, how to invest in the life you have right now, and how to ask for help when you’re exhausted. If you’re looking around thinking, “I thought I’d be further along by now,” this episode is for you. You are not behind. You are not failing. And you’re not as stuck as you feel. 💛 Podcast Sponsors: - ⁠Antique Candle Co. ⁠ - ⁠BetterHelp⁠ - ⁠NIV Application Bible⁠ - ⁠Piper and Leaf - Please donate today at MercyShips.org/podcast - Visit OmahaSteaks.com for 50% off site-wide during their Sizzle All the Way Sale. And for an extra $35 off, use promo code FUN at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Girls Night! We’re down to the final few episodes of the year, and today we’re diving into something so many of us feel this time of year but rarely say out loud: 👉 Why does the holiday season sometimes feel like one big “This is not what I ordered”? Maybe you thought you’d be spending Christmas with someone special this year, or reaching a goal you’d hoped to hit by December. Maybe family dynamics are messy or complicated, or your little family doesn’t look the way you imagined. Or maybe you had big dreams for a magical, cozy December… and somehow you slid into the holidays exhausted and overwhelmed, wondering where the magic went. If any of that sounds familiar, this episode is absolutely for you. Today we’re asking two big questions: ✨ How do we set ourselves up for delight — not disappointment — this holiday season? ✨ And how do we make Christmas magical… when we’re the ones responsible for the magic now? We’ll talk about the moment you realize you’ve gone from experiencing Christmas to creating Christmas, why so many of us approach December like college finals week, and the gentle, intentional steps we can take to build a season we actually get to feel and enjoy. We’ll walk through: ⭐️ noticing the expectations we’re carrying ⭐️ choosing the few meaningful things that matter to us ⭐️ putting them on the calendar so they actually happen My hope is that this conversation feels freeing, grounding, and hopeful — like a deep breath in the middle of a busy month. You deserve to experience the magic you’re so faithfully creating, friend. Let’s build a December that feels more like the one our hearts have been longing for. Mentioned in this episode: 💛 Love Your Single Life [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/singlelife] 💛 Just Married [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/justmarried] 💛 Becoming Mama [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/becomingmama] 🛒 Stephanie’s Journals & Guides [https://stephaniemaywilsonshop.com/] Stay connected: 📸 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/smaywilson/] 🌐 Website [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/] 💌 Join the Girls Night Community [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/email] Podcast Sponsors: - ⁠Antique Candle Co. ⁠ - ⁠BetterHelp⁠ - ⁠NIV Application Bible⁠ - ⁠Piper and Leaf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Girls Night, we’re doing something a little different — and incredibly special. As my twins turn five (how?!), I’ve been reflecting on everything I wish I could go back and tell myself before becoming a mom. The fears, the hopes, the questions, the emotions — the moments when I looked around and thought, “This is not what I ordered.” So in today’s episode, I’m sharing four letters I wrote to the woman I was before motherhood — the woman who was wondering… 💌 Who will I be after I become a mom? 💌 What will kids do to our marriage? 💌 What if something goes wrong? What if the world is too scary? 💌 What if I mess this up? If you’re planning, trying, pregnant, or simply wondering if you’ll ever feel “ready,” these letters are for you. They’re honest, tender, hopeful, and full of the things I wish someone would have told me years ago. We’ll talk about what actually happens to your identity, how marriage shifts (and strengthens), how to navigate fear in a world that feels overwhelming, and why motherhood isn’t something you download — it’s something you grow into. And if these letters resonate with you, you can get the full series for free at StephanieMayWilson.com/letters — they’re yours to keep or share with a friend who needs them. At the end of the episode, I’ll also share more about Becoming Mama — the course my best friend Kelsey (a brilliant therapist) and I created to help you prepare emotionally, mentally, and practically for this huge transition. It’s the roadmap we wish we’d had, and enrollment is open for just a few more days. Wherever you are on the path to motherhood, friend — you’re not alone. I’m right here with you. Mentioned in this episode: 💛 Love Your Single Life [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/singlelife] 💛 Just Married [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/justmarried] 💛 Becoming Mama [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/becomingmama] 🛒 Stephanie’s Journals & Guides [https://stephaniemaywilsonshop.com/] Stay connected: 📸 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/smaywilson/] 🌐 Website [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/] 💌 Join the Girls Night Community [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/email] Podcast Sponsors: - Antique Candle Co. - BetterHelp - NIV Application Bible - Piper and Leaf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All season long, we’ve been talking about what I call The Everything Era—that season when you have to make so many of the biggest, most consequential decisions of your life all at once. It’s full of possibility, but it’s also full of pressure—especially when some of those decisions don’t seem to fit together very well. And one of the trickiest examples of that is the tension between career and motherhood. What happens when the rhythm that used to work suddenly doesn’t anymore? When the version of success you used to chase doesn’t quite fit the life you have now? Or when your family needs you in one way, but your career seems to demand something entirely different? My guest today is Neha Ruch, founder of Mother Untitled and author of The Power Pause: How to Plan a Career Break After Kids—and Come Back Stronger Than Ever. Through her work, Neha is helping women rethink what it means to take a pause in their careers after having kids—showing that stepping back doesn’t mean stepping away from your ambition. She’s helping us reimagine this in-between space as a powerful, intentional season of reflection and realignment—a chance to build a life and career that actually work together, not against each other. Whether you’re already a mom, planning for motherhood, or just thinking about what your next chapter might hold, this conversation will give you permission to press pause—not out of fear or failure, but as a power move. Alright friends, let’s dive in. Here’s my conversation with Neha Ruch. Mentioned in this episode: 💛 The Power Pause 💛 Love Your Single Life [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/singlelife] 💛 Just Married [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/justmarried] 💛 Becoming Mama [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/becomingmama] 🛒 Stephanie’s Journals & Guides [https://stephaniemaywilsonshop.com/] Stay connected: 📸 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/smaywilson/] 📸 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/neha_ruch] 🌐 Website [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/] 💌 Join the Girls Night Community [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/email] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes life doesn’t go the way we planned. The job ends, the relationship shifts, the dream unravels — and we’re left standing in the in-between, wondering how to trust again. In this episode of our Not the Life I Ordered series, we’re talking about what it looks like to start dreaming again after disappointment. We’ll talk about rebuilding hope, rediscovering curiosity, and learning to believe that the story of your life might still turn out beautifully — even if it looks nothing like you imagined. Mentioned in this episode: 💛 Love Your Single Life [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/singlelife] 💛 Just Married [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/justmarried] 💛 Becoming Mama [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/becomingmama] 🛒 Stephanie’s Journals & Guides [https://stephaniemaywilsonshop.com/] Stay connected: 📸 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/smaywilson/] 🌐 Website [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/] 💌 Join the Girls Night Community [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/email] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve been feeling disconnected lately — like everyone else has their people and somehow you just… don’t — you’re not alone. In this episode, we’re talking about why friendships fade, why loneliness doesn’t mean something’s wrong with you, and how to start again. Stephanie shares the five most common kinds of disconnection, what science says about why friendship really matters, and a simple recipe for rebuilding the kind of circle every woman needs. 💛 Listen in, share this episode with a friend who might need it too, and remember: you’re not behind — you’re just between circles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This season, we’ve been talking about what to do when you look around at your life and think, “Wait… this is not what I ordered.” Maybe things didn’t turn out the way you thought they would — and now you’re asking those big, scary, beautiful questions: Who am I now? What do I want? Where do I go from here? But for a lot of us who grew up in church, those questions can feel… complicated. Because somewhere along the way, we were taught that it’s wrong to want things. That it’s dangerous to trust ourselves. That being a “good Christian woman” means making yourself smaller — dying to yourself, staying quiet, and serving everyone else first. Today we’re having a conversation I think so many of us need — about what faith actually asks of us. Our guest is Dr. Alison Cook, a therapist, host of The Best of You podcast, and author of the bestselling book by the same name. Alison is an expert at the intersection of faith and psychology. She helps women heal from past wounds, develop a strong sense of self, and experience a loving God who is for them — not asking them to disappear. We’re going to talk about what self-denial really means, how to know when faith has turned into self-erasure, and what it looks like to follow Jesus without losing yourself in the process. You ready? Let’s jump into my conversation with Alison! Mentioned in this episode: 💛 Love Your Single Life [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/singlelife] 💛 Just Married [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/justmarried] 💛 Becoming Mama [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/becomingmama] 🛒 Stephanie’s Journals & Guides [https://stephaniemaywilsonshop.com/] Stay connected: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smaywilson/ | https://www.instagram.com/dralisoncook/ 🌐 Website: https://stephaniemaywilson.com/ 💌 Join the Girls Night Community: https://stephaniemaywilson.com/email Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever woken up one day and thought, “I don’t even know who I am anymore?” Maybe it’s after motherhood, a breakup, a big move, burnout, or even after finally reaching a goal you worked so hard for — and suddenly realizing it doesn’t feel the way you thought it would. Somewhere along the way, between the to-do lists and expectations, you lost touch with the person underneath it all. In this episode, we’re talking about how to find your way back. 💛 We’ll talk about: ✨ Why we lose touch with ourselves (and why it’s not a failure — it’s human) ✨ How to start hearing your own voice again ✨ Practical ways to rediscover what you love, need, and value in this season ✨ How to rebuild a life that feels like peace on the inside, not just success on the outside This isn’t a “self-care” conversation — it’s a coming home to yourself conversation. If you’ve been on autopilot, feeling disconnected from who you are, this episode will help you start to find your way back — gently, honestly, one small step at a time. So grab a cozy drink and join me — let’s reintroduce you to you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Girls Night, we’re asking one of the biggest — and maybe most important — questions we can ask ourselves: Do you like your life? And even more — do you believe you’re allowed to? So many of us have followed all the rules, checked all the boxes, and built the kind of life we thought we were supposed to want — only to look around and wonder why it doesn’t feel like home. In this episode, we’re slowing down, taking inventory, and learning how to remodel the parts of our lives that no longer fit. We’ll walk room-by-room through your “life house” — your relationships, your body, your work, your faith, your family, your joy — and ask some simple but powerful questions: 👉 Does this still fit me? 👉 Do I like it? 👉 What might need to change? This isn’t about burning it all down. It’s about noticing what’s working, what’s not, and making small, thoughtful changes that help your life feel like you again. If you’ve been trudging along a path that feels uphill and exhausting, this episode will help you find a new route — one that’s easier, freer, and a lot more beautiful. Resources Mentioned: Love Your Single Life Just Married Becoming Mama Stephanie’s Journals & Guides Let’s be friends! Instagram Website Join the Girls Night Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever felt like you were doing everything “right” — checking every box, following every rule — and still ending up restless, disappointed, or wondering, Is this really the life I want? In today’s episode, we’re talking about something many of us rule-followers were never taught how to do: questioning authority. We’ll unpack: Where the formulas and “life scripts” we’ve been following actually came from How to recognize when a leader, community, or cultural voice doesn’t deserve authority in your life A practical vetting process for deciding who should get a seat at your table What to do when a leader you trusted lets you down How to quiet the noise of other people’s expectations and hear your own voice again If you’ve ever felt crushed by the weight of doing what you’re “supposed” to do, this episode will help you take a deep breath, release the old scripts, and start writing a life that truly fits. ✨ Resources & Links 📘 Create a Life You Love (my newest book) 💻 My online courses & journals 💍 Newlywed couples course — Just Married: StephanieMayWilson.com/JustMarried ❤️ Free resource to find a counselor you can trust: StephanieMayWilson.com/Counseling Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss what’s ahead this season — because together we’re going to keep unpacking how to let go of other people’s expectations and rebuild a life that feels like home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 22 is here — and Girls Night just turned 8! In this special kickoff, Stephanie introduces our new series, Not the Life I Ordered, a single, long, rolling conversation about what to do when your life doesn’t look or feel the way you thought it would — especially in The Everything Era, when all the biggest decisions arrive at once. You’ll hear the origin story of Girls Night, why this season is different, why so many of us feel disoriented and isolated right now, and a simple practice to turn down the noise so you can hear (and trust) your own voice again. Stephanie also guides you through three clarifying questions and leaves you with four grounding reminders — including this one: It’s not too late. In this episode: • The Everything Era (and why you’re not behind) • When the formula “A + B = C” fails you • The people-pleaser’s trap • How to create quiet in a noisy world • A guided reflection to name what’s hard (and why it helps) Resource mentioned: What to Say Script Guide — practical, word-for-word responses for uncomfortable family questions (marriage, kids, timelines & more): stephaniemaywilsonshop.com If this resonates, please follow/subscribe and leave a quick rating & review — it helps more women find the show. And say hi! DM or email me — I truly write back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when two of the biggest parts of your life collide—your career and your desire to start a family? That’s exactly what we’re talking about in today’s Girls Night episode. I’m joined by my dear friend Jena Dunay—a mom of two, business owner, and career strategist who has spent years helping women navigate big transitions in their work lives. Jena knows firsthand what it looks like to juggle both career ambitions and motherhood dreams, and she’s here to share the wisdom she’s learned along the way. In this conversation, we cover: How to prepare your career for baby before you’re even pregnant What to do if you love your job but also know you want to start a family soon Whether you should “pull back” at work before baby—or lean in until it’s time to pivot How to know if your workplace will really support you as a mom The truth about maternity leave (paid vs. unpaid, how it works, what to ask your HR team) When and how to tell your employer you’re pregnant Practical ways to set boundaries and actually enjoy your maternity leave How to define “success” in your career during different motherhood seasons This episode is full of encouragement and practical advice for anyone who’s in what I call The Everything Era—that stretch of life when so many big decisions seem to come at once. If you’ve ever wondered how to hold space for both a career you love and a family you’re dreaming of, this conversation will be such a gift. Resources & Links: Connect with Jena: Instagram / Company Listen to Jena’s past Girls Night episodes on dating, singleness, and career transitions. More encouragement + resources for navigating The Everything Era: stephaniemaywilson.com ✨ If you loved this conversation, would you take 30 seconds to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify? It means the world and helps more women find the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey friend, welcome to Girls Night — a podcast for women who are figuring out what's next.  Whether you're focused on career, dating, getting married, having kids, or honestly just trying to figure out your life right now — this show gives you expert guidance and practical next steps to create a life you genuinely love, not one someone else thinks you should live. I'm Stephanie May Wilson — 9x author, TEDx speaker, and your host here at girls night and in each episode, we tackle the questions that keep so many of us up at 2 AM — like what to say when people ask invasive questions about your life choices, how to stop comparing your timeline to everyone else's, and most importantly, how to figure out what you actually want and what your next right step is to get there. As we’re trying to figure out our lives, you might find yourself running into some obstacles and wondering, “Is this normal?” Does everybody struggle with this or am I the only one?” Or maybe like me, you've had several friends receive ADHD diagnoses recently, and you're wondering,”What about me? Am I neurotypical? Or are there some things that are different and unique about my brain too?” Friend, in this episode you're going to hear from Greer Jones. Greer is the host of The Unfinished Idea podcast and a passionate advocate for neurodivergent families, helping others build lives that actually work for their unique brains.  I learned SO much from this conversation. I can’t wait for you to hear it.  Resources Mentioned: → "We Need to Talk" guide with scripts for 44 difficult conversations https://stephaniemaywilsonshop.com/products/we-need-to-talk-scripts-for-44-of-lifes-most-difficult-conversations → Love Your Single Life course for building confidence and navigating dating conversations https://stephaniemaywilson.com/SingleLife → Just Married course for newlyweds learning to navigate conflict and communication https://stephaniemaywilson.com/JustMarried → Becoming Mama course for advocating for yourself during pregnancy and early motherhood https://stephaniemaywilson.com/becomingmama → Create A Life You Love book https://stephaniemaywilson.com/create Connect with Girls Night: 🎧 New episodes every week: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/girls-night-with-stephanie-may-wilson/id1278993781 📱 Follow @SMayWilson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smaywilson/ 💌 Weekly newsletter with exclusive content https://stephaniemaywilson.com/email 🌐 Show notes and resources https://www.girlsnightpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you ever feel like everything on your to-do list is important? Like, genuinely important? And you want to do it all well, but you're also feeling completely overwhelmed and maybe a little burned out? If you just nodded your head, this episode is for you. I'm sitting down with my new friend Alexandra Kaval — who coaches ambitious women through exactly this struggle. And friends, this conversation is going to give you permission to think differently about your priorities and actually provide you with a roadmap for getting unstuck. We're talking about the big rocks method, why the things we get distracted by are never as important as the things we get distracted from - that's an Andy Stanley quote that will stick with you - and honestly, some pretty vulnerable stuff about how to rank the people in your life when you can't say yes to everyone. This is one of those conversations that's going to make you want to grab a notebook because Ali shares some really practical tools that you can start using today. So let's dive in. Resources Mentioned: → Join the email fam to receive instant access to our 15-minute coaching workshop → Apply for your complimentary clarity call for 1:1 coaching to live your most intentional, Christ-centered life both personally & professionally → Apply for Flourish - GSCC's Mastermind to grow your business, ground your faith, and cultivate community → "We Need to Talk" guide with scripts for 44 difficult conversations https://stephaniemaywilsonshop.com/products/we-need-to-talk-scripts-for-44-of-lifes-most-difficult-conversations → Love Your Single Life course for building confidence and navigating dating conversations https://stephaniemaywilson.com/SingleLife → Just Married course for newlyweds learning to navigate conflict and communication https://stephaniemaywilson.com/JustMarried → Becoming Mama course for advocating for yourself during pregnancy and early motherhood https://stephaniemaywilson.com/becomingmama → Create A Life You Love book https://stephaniemaywilson.com/create Connect with Girls Night: 🎧 New episodes every week: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/girls-night-with-stephanie-may-wilson/id1278993781 📱 Follow @SMayWilson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smaywilson/ 💌 Weekly newsletter with exclusive content https://stephaniemaywilson.com/email 🌐 Show notes and resources https://www.girlsnightpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices