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In this solo episode, Dara reflects on a recent conversation with a longtime friend that reminded her how much healthy friendships shape our faith, growth, and everyday resilience. She unpacks the difference between friendships built on proximity and frequency versus friendships built on true intimacy and trust, and shares honest reflections on toxic dynamics she's had to walk away from over the years. Dara talks through what it looks like to give friends grace as life gets busier and seasons shift — marriage, kids, career changes — without losing the connection. She also digs into why Christ-centered friendships matter so deeply to her: friends who pray with you, tell you the truth even when it's hard, and point you back to God instead of just telling you what you want to hear. Drawing on Proverbs 27:17 and the story of the friends who carried a paralyzed man to Jesus, Dara challenges listeners to ask not just what they need from their friendships, but what fruit they're producing in return. BeyondBrokeHungry.com

Dara is back on camera (reluctantly) for this solo episode, closing out the summer series with an honest check-in on what happens when a good routine falls apart. Her husband's new job schedule upended the quiet-time ritual she'd built her mornings around, and instead of forcing it back, she talks through what she learned about meeting God wherever she actually is — not in some elaborate version of devotion, but in a fifteen-minute cup of coffee on the couch. She also gets into the six months it's taken to feel like herself again post-wedding, why she's suddenly become a napper after a lifetime of not being able to sit still, and the idea that rest is less about productivity and more about trust — trusting that the blessings in her life are being handled well enough to actually stop for a minute. It's a reminder that changing seasons don't call for a whole new system. Sometimes it's just picking the Bible back up, or talking out loud in the car. Three questions close out the episode for anyone wanting to sit with their own season of transition. BeyondBrokeHungry.com

Ever feel like summer slipped away before it was actually enjoyed? Dara closes out "Operation Take Back the Summer" and the summer series with an honest look at how the season actually went. This episode covers 5 things: What "taking back the summer" really meant (hint: it was never about taking the whole summer off)The wins — more beach time, flexible movement, mindful travel, and real progress paying down wedding debtWhat didn't work — an overloaded calendar, not enough empty space, and turning fun into another goalWhat Dara's changing before next summerWhat's coming with her into fallShe's also sharing why a four-hour beach day with her friend Emma and her daughter is a memory she'll never forget — and why Doug (who doesn't even like the beach) sticking around for an hour and a half meant so much to her. If this episode encourages you, share it with a friend who needs to hear it today. 📖 Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV) — "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."

Feeling that summer-to-fall shift in your body and your routine? 🍂 On this episode of Beyond Broke & Hungry, Dara is joined by Dr. Greg Goldberger, physical therapist and owner of Movement Driven, for real talk on getting your body — and your habits — ready for the season ahead. They're covering: How to safely return to your workouts after a summer of travel, rest, or a totally different routineThe real number of workouts you actually need each week (and why more isn't always better)Why recovery, sleep, and stress management matter more than most people thinkThree simple things you can start doing today to prepare your body for fall 📖 "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training... I discipline my body and keep it under control." — 1 Corinthians 9:25, 27 (ESV)

What do you want to remember about this summer? In this episode of Beyond Broke & Hungry, Dara gets honest about a moment on her courtyard when her husband gently called her out for being on her phone instead of present with him — and unpacks what it actually means to choose presence over perfection before the season slips away. We're covering: Why "experience over perfection" has been the thread running under this whole summer seriesShowing up for family in the small, unplanned moments — not just the scheduled onesWhy adult friendship takes real intention (and how one no-agenda "porch night" text became a favorite night of the summer)Marriage and the leftover-energy trap, plus a simple phone-free habit that changed the quality of dinner conversationsA practical, no-pressure challenge: pick one phone-free moment this week Personal story callout: Dara shares the TMI-but-hilarious story of getting sick in her dad's brand-new truck on the way to their family cabin — and why, decades later, that's still one of her family's favorite memories. 📖 Psalm 90:12 — "Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."

Summer feels light and breezy... until you check your bank account. 👀 This season, this episode is the "broke" half of Beyond Broke & Hungry — a practical, faith-rooted look at why summer quietly wrecks so many budgets, and what to do about it. We're covering: Why summer is one of the sneakiest seasons for your moneySeasonal side hustles that only exist right now (and why picking one up isn't a step down)How to save ahead for vacations so you're not still paying for it in NovemberTurning extra summer income into a debt payoff plan — before it even hits your accountWhy July is the smartest time to start a holiday savings fundHow to run your business differently depending on the seasonPlus a personal one: the summer Doug and I looked at our bank account and just laughed (then cried) after a hundred small "yeses" added up — and what changed for us since. If you're feeling behind on your summer finances or dreading the holidays creeping up already, this one's for you. 📖 Proverbs 21:5 (ESV)

How do you stay healthy on vacation without being the person who ruins the trip obsessing over it? Welcome back to Beyond Broke & Hungry! Today Dara is answering that exact question — no guilt, no gimmicks, no "I'll just eat salad the whole trip and cry about it." We're covering 7 things today: Navigating airport food without the hangry panicRoad trip snacks and staying flexible in the carBeach vacations, presence, and letting movement happen naturallyEating local (because the bagel, the butterbeer, and the fried shrimp are part of the memory)Alcohol and balance — one drink, no guilt, no pressure either wayStaying active while traveling without forcing a workoutReturning home and getting back to routine without the guilt spiralDara pulls from her own summer so far — walking New York with her mom, theme park days with her family, and a Tampa trip to see her first Mariners game — to show what "healthy on vacation" actually looks like in real life. Her mantra for the whole episode: she doesn't strive to land the plane perfectly, just consistently. If this episode gave you a little permission to enjoy your trip this summer, share it with a friend who's got travel coming up, and leave a review — it helps this show reach more people. 📖 1 Corinthians 10:31 — "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Ever wonder how some moms seem to find the energy to do it all — work, kids, and their own health goals — without burning out? Welcome back to Beyond Broke & Hungry! Today I'm joined by my longtime friend Chloe Parsons, a mom of three, full-time employee, and competitive bodybuilder, for a real conversation about discipline, energy, and building a healthy routine that actually sticks. We're covering things today like: How Chloe went from stay-at-home mom to competitive bodybuilder after her divorceWhat discipline really looks like during competition prep — and how she protects her energy without losing her social lifeHer daily routine with three kids, meal prepping, and running a businessHow her kids factor into her fitness journey and what she teaches them about balanceHer honest advice for the mom who feels like she doesn't have the capacity to "start"Chloe opens up about rebuilding her sense of self after her divorce, and how starting small — even just a 10-minute walk — was the real turning point in her journey, not some perfect all-or-nothing plan. If you've ever felt like healthy living is only for people with more time, energy, or willpower than you, this episode is for you. 🎧 Tap the link in my profile or find it wherever you listen to hear the full conversation.

Ever feel like summer wrecks your fitness routine, and you spend the whole season feeling guilty about a gym schedule you can't keep up with? You're not alone. In this episode of Beyond Broke & Hungry, we're redefining what summer movement actually looks like — not the Pinterest-perfect version, the real one that fits your actual life. We're covering four things today: My Tuesday morning ritual — coaching a 5am class, then taking my Bible to the beach for scripture, prayer, and an ocean swim before the workday even startsWhy summer hands you more opportunities to move than almost any other season, without it ever having to feel like "exercise"Why I sat out this year's Gate River Run, and what that decision taught me about wisdom over prideThe most underrated fitness tool nobody talks about — hydration, and why feeling "out of shape" might actually just mean you're under-hydrated If you've been feeling guilty about your routine being "off" this summer, this one's for you. 📖 Scripture referenced: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

What does it actually look like to listen to your body instead of fighting it? In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Karli Nichols — former Division I lacrosse player, yoga instructor, lacrosse coach, sixth-grade teacher, and soon-to-be mom — for an honest conversation about what wellness looks like across every season of life. We dig into Karli's journey from an all-or-nothing athlete mindset to finding real balance between intensity and recovery, her years-long fight to get diagnosed with Hashimoto's after being told her labs were "normal," and the misconceptions around autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto's and PCOS. We also talk about navigating gluten and dairy sensitivities without feeling left out this summer, why recovery days are non-negotiable, and how she's continued moving her body through pregnancy while reshaping the way she talks to herself. This conversation is a reminder that health isn't one-size-fits-all — it's about feeling well, not just looking or performing a certain way. Connect with Karli: @karlielizabethnichols (Instagram)Follow along: @beyondbrokeandhungry | @mrsdaracarlisle

Summer doesn't have to be a choice between healthy habits and actually living your life — and that's exactly what this episode is about. This is Part 1 of the Beyond Broke & Hungry Summer Series, and today we're laying the full foundation: the mindset, the practical tools, and the faith perspective that will carry us through the next several weeks. We're covering: Why the all-or-nothing approach to summer wellness keeps you starting over every SeptemberThe real difference between balance and excuses (and how to tell which one you're doing)Hydration non-negotiables — especially when heat and alcohol are in the mixHow to keep food prep light, realistic, and actually enjoyableWhy summer is the best season to move your body outside the gymMorning sunlight and circadian rhythm — what it is, why it matters, and how to use itHow to vacation without guilt or a two-week recovery periodUsing summer as a financial building season instead of a slow oneProtecting the moments that actually make summer feel like summerDrink the margarita. Go to the beach. Take the trip. But also drink your water, move your body, save some money, and spend time with God — because the goal isn't to survive summer and start over in the fall. 📲 Instagram: @beyondbrokeandhungry | @mrsdaracarlisle

This is a replay from our archives — originally recorded in 2020 with our former host and the team at Oasis Wealth Planning in Nashville. While some details may be dated, the financial wisdom in this conversation is timeless and arguably even more relevant in today's economy. If you're juggling a side hustle, working multiple jobs to chase your creative dream, or just trying to get a grip on your finances — this episode is for you. Dara and former host, Ellen, sit down with Mel and Steve from Oasis Wealth Planning in Nashville, Tennessee, two seasoned financial advisors with a combined 50+ years of experience, to break down money fundamentals for creatives and young professionals. They cover: 💰 Why your income is "lumpy" — and how to budget around it🛡️ Why your emergency fund might need to be bigger than you think📱 How to pick a budgeting app (and why community matters more than the app itself)💳 Credit cards: friend or foe? What young people need to know📈 How much of your income should actually go toward retirement savings🔥 The FIRE movement — and whether retiring early is realistic for creatives🧘 Balancing financial goals with actually enjoying your lifeWhether you're barely scraping by or just landed your first salaried job, this conversation will help you build a foundation that lowers your money anxiety and gives you the freedom to take bigger creative risks. Beyond Broke and Hungry is a podcast for creatives, dreamers, and hustlers navigating financial wellness on their own terms.

What if the thing you've been trying to fix with more effort actually just needs rest? In this episode, Dara gets real about the years she spent perfecting a beautiful morning routine — only to realize she was pouring water into a cracked cup. The problem wasn't her mindset, her productivity system, or even her ADHD. She just wasn't sleeping. We're diving into what sleep deprivation is actually doing to your body and brain (backed by research from the CDC, the National Sleep Foundation, and Dr. Matthew Walker), and why no supplement, morning ritual, or motivational podcast can outrun a chronically exhausted nervous system. Dara shares the exact evening framework she uses now — a hard stop time, a simple shutdown ritual, and the small, consistent signals that finally helped her nervous system feel safe enough to rest. No ten-step skincare routine required. You'll also hear a perspective shift on rest from a faith lens — because if the Creator of the universe built rest into the rhythm of existence, maybe it's time we stop fighting it. In this episode: What the science says sleep deprivation does to your body, gut, and brainWhy your morning routine isn't the problem (and what actually is)How to build a nighttime wind-down that fits your real lifeA note for those navigating ADHD or neurodivergent wiringA closing prayer for the ones lying awake when they should be sleepingYou are not a machine. Rest is not laziness. Now go sleep. 📲 Follow on Instagram: @beyondbrokeandhungry | @mrsdaracarlisle ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review — it helps more people find this space.

Have you ever lost a client, a contract, or an opportunity and wondered if God dropped the ball on you? You're not alone. In this episode of Beyond Broke and Hungry, we're getting real about what it actually looks like to let God lead your business — not just on Sundays, but on the Monday when the invoice doesn't get paid and the bank account doesn't match the vision board. We're covering four things today: How to pray over your business — before things break, not just afterTrusting God with your finances — even when it's terrifyingWhat pruning seasons are really for — and why losing clients might be a blessingRedefining success — because peace, purpose, and faithfulness are metrics tooThis episode includes a personal story about losing multiple clients in one season, what God revealed on the other side of it, and why the success we think we want isn't always the success God has for us. If you're in a hard season of your business right now, this one is for you. 📖 Scriptures referenced: Proverbs 3:5-6, James 1:5, Matthew 6:33, Malachi 3:10, John 15:1-2, Isaiah 43:19, Jeremiah 29:11, Colossians 3:23

WELCOME TO BEYOND BROKE & HUNGRY Life can feel like a constant balancing act. Career, relationships, health, finances, faith, and somewhere in the middle of all that, trying to pursue the dreams God placed on your heart. That’s what Beyond Broke and Hungry is all about. Here, we talk about real life wellness. Not perfection, not extremes, but the everyday habits, mindset shifts, and faith that help us build strong, meaningful lives. Sometimes I’ll be sharing conversations with wellness experts. Other times it will just be me reflecting on what I’m learning as a wife, entrepreneur, and someone trying to live well in every area of life. If you’re figuring things out as you go, you’re in the right place.