Advertise on podcast: The Life You're Made For with Dr. Heather Penny

In this episode of The Life You’re Made For, Dr. Heather Penny shares why sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is pause with intention. Together, we explore the difference between reacting and responding, the practice of emotional intelligence, and how creating “Grace Space” helps us lead ourselves and others with greater peace, curiosity, and connection. This conversation is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and choose who you want to be as you move forward. Stick around to the end for a big announcement.  Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires

Every life includes moments that feel like a turning point—unexpected challenges, difficult decisions, or plot twists you didn’t see coming. At these crossroads, the noise gets louder. Opinions, fears, pressure, and uncertainty can pull you in a hundred directions. But what if the strategy you’re looking for isn’t outside of you… it’s already within you? In this episode join Dr. Heather Penny and Dr. LaNysha Adams, as they explore how to access your inner wisdom and create a personal strategy for navigating life’s hardest moments. Through the lens of Clarity, Confidence, and Courage, you’ll learn how to quiet external noise, tune into your own knowing, and move forward in a way that feels grounded, aligned, and true. Because you don’t need all the answers—you need a deeper trust in yourself to take the next right step. Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires

There are seasons when everything shifts at once. Roles can change, priorities might evolve, and life speeds up. In the middle of it all, a quiet question surfaces: What do I actually want now? In this conversation, Dr. Heather Penny sits down with her husband, Darren, to explore how to stay grounded in an ever-changing world. Together, they talk about the importance of anchoring yourself in what truly matters: your values, purpose, and the person you’re becoming. They unpack the power of choice, especially in overwhelming seasons, and challenge the commitments we carry. What are you holding onto out of obligation? What would it look like to step back and choose again? They also reframe self-care as essential leadership. Slowing down isn’t falling behind, it’s how you find clarity and show up fully. If you’ve been feeling stretched or disconnected, this episode will help you reconnect with your voice, ask better questions, and move forward with intention. Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires

In this powerful solo episode, Dr. Heather Penny invites you to slow down and take an honest look at the thoughts you’ve been rehearsing. Every repeated thought becomes a root, and those roots are ultimately directing your growth. But this conversation goes deeper than just mindset. It’s about coming home to yourself. Heather shares a transformative perspective: you belong to you. And from that place of belonging, you can begin to live with greater clarity, confidence, and courage. Not just as a leader, but as a parent, spouse, and friend. This episode isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about remembering who you are and how you are called to show up in the world. Pick up your copy of Heather's book The Bracelet on Amazon today!  Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires

In this episode of The Life You’re Made For, Dr. Heather Penny sits down with Heather Johnson from Bridgeway Church in Roseville, CA to explore what it really means to experience transformational growth. From navigating seasons of caregiving to stepping into leadership as the first woman to preach at her church, Heather shares how growth is rarely comfortable but always meaningful. Together, they unpack the tension between challenge and purpose, reminding us that while we can’t always control what we go through, we can choose how we respond. This conversation dives deep into the inner work of leadership by learning to give yourself grace, recognizing the voice of your inner critic, and building the courage to take risks even when anxiety shows up. You’ll hear honest reflections on failure, resilience, and the small, everyday decisions that shape who we become. If you’ve ever felt stuck between protecting yourself and stepping into something greater, this episode will challenge and encourage you to lean into discomfort, embrace growth at your own pace, and remember: you’ve done hard things before—and you can do them again. Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires

In this episode of The Life You’re Made For, Dr. Heather Penny sits down with Jennifer Draughon, President of Neptune Aviation Services, for an honest conversation about leadership, growth, and the discomfort that often comes with becoming better. Jennifer shares how her leadership is grounded in truth, trust, and transparency as well as why creating Grace Space is essential for building teams that can take risks, learn from failure, and grow without shame. Together, they unpack the tension between high standards and grace, and why real progress isn’t about perfection, it’s about showing up and getting better each day. If you’re navigating leadership, pursuing growth, or learning how to embrace discomfort, this episode will challenge and encourage you to keep moving forward. Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires

On this episode of The Life You’re Made For, Dr. Heather Penny talks with Dr. Nathan Herzog, Dean at Biola University in Southern California, about the discomfort of growth and what it really takes to lead well. Why does everyone want breakthrough but resist the process? Nate shares why clarity, confidence, and courage are essential for stepping into uncomfortable seasons, and how leaders grow by choosing connection over control. From delegation and trust to humility, belonging, and servant leadership, this episode challenges the false belief that you have to figure it out alone. If you’re ready to get comfortable being uncomfortable and lead with courage, this conversation is for you. Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires

On this episode of The Life You’re Made For, host Dr. Heather Penny sits down with Tiffany Loeffler, Executive Director of the nonprofit The Alliance, serving at-risk and foster children, to discuss sustainable leadership and how meeting real human needs shapes the way we lead. Together, they unpack what it looks like to create healthy rhythms, protect your personal life from work overflow, and build filters for the many good opportunities that compete for your attention. Tiffany shares how she structures her days, notices the warning signs of overload, and builds recovery into her life through intentional daily, weekly, and yearly practices. This episode is a thoughtful reminder that leadership isn’t about doing more. It’s about knowing yourself, staying aligned with your values, and leading from a place of clarity, balance, and purpose. Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires

What can white-water rafting in the Grand Canyon teach us about leadership and life? In this episode of The Life You’re Made For, host Dr. Heather Penny sits down with Michelle Riddell to explore how leadership begins within and is shaped through clarity, courage, and connection. Drawing from a rafting trip that became a lived leadership lesson, Heather and Michelle talk about caring for yourself, honoring the signals of your body, and choosing peace over striving. They unpack why anxiety can be a gift, how mindset shapes the energy we bring into every space, and why leadership development is never a solo journey. With a deep heart for the next generation, Michelle shares how mentors helped her believe she could design her life—and how she now walks alongside Gen Z and young professionals, helping them ask better questions, clarify their dreams, and take meaningful next steps. This episode is an invitation to slow down, listen inward, and step boldly into the life you’re made for. Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires

Leadership doesn’t start with strategy or skills, it starts within. In this episode, Dr. Heather Penny sits down with Nick Breitbart to explore why inner work is essential for healthy & influential leadership. Together they unpack the idea of Grace Space as a practice of compassion, curiosity, and candid feedback that creates room for growth. From self-awareness and blind spots to character alignment, consistency, and servant leadership, they share practical rhythms such as weekly check-ins, feedback loops, and guarding capacity that help leaders connect more deeply and lead with integrity. Whether at home or at work, leadership from within is slow, courageous work. But with grace and curiosity, it can transform how we lead and how we love. Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires

Sit down with Dr. Heather Penny as she has a chat with an old friend, Jason Squires. Jason brings a blend of entrepreneurial clarity and creative courage, helping people see creativity not just in art or writing, but in leadership, systems, problem-solving, and yes, even spreadsheets. In this conversation, Jason shares what it looks like to recognize burnout, reclaim his creative voice, and allow creativity to lead again. Together, they explore entrepreneurship not as a grind, but as a way of living rooted in clarity, confidence, courage, as well as a powerful fourth C: creativity. This episode is for anyone who’s building, growing, questioning, or quietly sensing that something needs to shift. It’s a reminder that you are in control of your space, your energy, and your choices. Life really is meant to be good, even in the work. If you’re looking for an honest, encouraging conversation about creativity, boundaries, and the real entrepreneurial journey, you won’t want to miss this one with Jason Squires. Learn more about Jason at www.thecreativelaunch.com. Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires

Join Dr. Heather Penny as she sits down with Kacee Squires for a conversation about changing holiday traditions and the freedom that comes from reassessing what truly matters. Together they talk about outgrowing old rhythms, asking better questions, and giving yourself permission to pivot instead of pushing through. At the heart of this episode is a simple but powerful truth: you don’t have to endure the holidays—you get to enjoy them. You have permission to reassess, release what’s no longer meaningful, and create traditions that honor your family as it is now. If you’re navigating changing family dynamics, holiday expectations, or the quiet grief that can come with new seasons, this conversation will meet you with honesty, hope, and freedom. Listen now and let this be the year you choose joy, presence, and traditions that truly fit the life you’re made for. For resources mentioned in this episode from Ann Voskamp please visit https://annvoskamp.com. Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires

Some episodes feel less like a recording and more like real life. This is one of them. Dr. Heather Penny (known better as mom) sits down with her son Luke, the Luke from the book dedication for Grace Space. This is an honest, tender, sometimes funny conversation about what “Grace Space” has looked like between them over the years. Together they talk about practicing grace, missing it, rebuilding it, and how it continues to shape the way they show up for each other. This is grace lived, not in theory, but in the everyday moments of a mother and her grown kid figuring life out together. If you’re a parent, a leader, a friend, or anyone navigating relationships with intention, the goal of this episode is you find fresh compassion for yourself, tools for meaningful conversations, permission to slow down and ask better questions as well as a reminder that the world is on your side. It’s personal. It’s real. It’s full of heart. Don’t miss it. Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires

A new kind of leadership is emerging and this generation is reshaping it with empathy, cooperation, and authenticity. In this episode, Dr. Heather Penny sits down with Dr. Lisa Smith, professor at Pepperdine and author of Hammer & Fire, to explore how young leaders are redefining what it means to lead well. Lisa shares why today’s young adults see leadership as a shared enterprise, how they value every voice at the table, and why being seen as a whole person matters more than ever. They’re skeptical of traditional authority, but when they find a leader they can trust, they show up with their whole heart. Together, they discuss the invitation for parents, mentors, and leaders to slow down, ask better questions, and come alongside rather than fix. From navigating constant public pressure to learning courageous conversations and intelligent risk-taking, this episode highlights the challenges and the strengths of shaping the next generation. Take a breath, stay curious, and discover what this rising generation is teaching all of us about leadership. Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires

Welcome to Part 2 of our conversation with Brian Taylor. In this episode, we explore what authentic leadership really looks like. Leadership isn’t just strategy; it’s relationships, trust, and the courage to stay curious. We talk about building circles of people who can see you, challenge you, and cheer you on. Because no leader can do it alone. You’ll hear practical tools like learning to pause before responding, listening all the way to the end, and creating space for others to shine. We unpack how to evolve with your team, honor each person’s growth, and lead with generosity instead of ego. If you’re a leader who wants to build healthier teams, stronger relationships, and a leadership style rooted in humility and presence, this episode is for you. Connect more with Brian Taylor at https://briantaylor.co/ Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires