Advertise on podcast: The Next Phase

What if you're not procrastinating because you're lazy, unmotivated, or bad at managing your time? What if you simply have too much on your plate? If you have ADHD, struggle with FOMO, or constantly feel overwhelmed by your never-ending to-do list, this conversation is for you. After spending months decluttering my home, I realized something: I finally WANT to maintain a peaceful, organized space, but I've overscheduled my life so badly that I don't have time to do it. So I invited clinical psychologist and Procrastination Coach Dr. Christine Li back to the podcast to help me figure out what's really going on. We talk about why we keep saying yes when we're already overwhelmed, the connection between procrastination and clutter, how our habits and self-talk keep us stuck, and why slowing down might actually help us get more done. We also get into ADHD, time management, nervous system regulation, and the surprising difference between rushing through life and actually being productive. If you're tired of feeling behind, rushing from one thing to the next, and wondering why you can't seem to get your life together, I think you'll find a lot to relate to in this episode. Connect with Dr. Christine Li: Instagram: @procrastinationcoach Free Cut the Clutter download: https://maketimeforsuccesspodcast.com/energy

Why is it that my ADHD brain wants to do ALL the things, but then gets completely overwhelmed by all the things? Between work, kids' activities, volunteering, and building my business, I've packed our family calendar so full that there's barely room to breathe. And yet, I still struggle to say no. In this personal, diary-style episode, I'm talking about ADHD, FOMO (fear of missing out), overcommitting, and the anxiety that comes with an overscheduled life. Why are new opportunities so hard to resist? Why does everything feel important? And why do I keep saying yes when I'm already at my limit? After months of decluttering my home, I've realized that my biggest source of clutter might actually be my calendar. I'm not coming to you with another productivity hack or time management system. I'm sharing what it feels like to be an overwhelmed ADHD mom who desperately wants to slow down but doesn't want to miss out on anything. Because just because there's room on the calendar doesn't mean there's room in my life. Next week, I'm bringing on Dr. Christine Li, The Procrastination Coach, to explore why we take on too much and how to start making space for what matters.

You decluttered the room. You gave everything a home. You feel AMAZING. And then two weeks later, your shoes are sitting next to the shoe cubby, the Amazon box is almost but not quite in the recycling, the clean laundry has been hanging in the laundry room for three weeks, and somehow every cabinet door in your kitchen is open. So... how do we actually KEEP our homes decluttered? That's what I'm talking about with professional organizer Rana McAnear. We get into the part of decluttering I don't think we talk about enough: maintenance. And specifically, why that last 10 percent of a task can feel so damn hard for an ADHD brain. Rana helped me notice all the tiny points of friction in my own house that make me less likely to put something away. A sticky drawer. A squeaky door. A container with a lid. A laundry basket in the “right” place instead of the place where the clothes actually land. And my personal favorite: the shredder that I never use because it's in my husband's office. The big takeaway from this conversation? If you keep failing at a system, maybe you don't need to try harder. Maybe you need to change the system. We talk about making things easier to put away, creating systems around how you actually live, why picture-perfect organization can be impossible to maintain, the dreaded “last 10 percent,” and why having less stuff may be one of the simplest ways to have less mess. This is for anyone who has ever cleaned up their entire house, and then one week later, look around and wondered: How did it get back to THIS so quickly?  Get in touch with Rana Here: @Mama.Rana.Organizing [email protected]   (720) 515-4807

What happens when you're doing everything “right” for your health... and your body still collapses on you?  Amy Mewborn knows that feeling well. After a stroke at 29 and another serious health crisis that landed her in the ICU at 48, the longtime health and fitness professional was forced to reconsider everything she believed about wellness, achievement, and what it actually means to take care of yourself. In this episode, Amy and I talk about why high-achieving women are especially vulnerable to turning wellness into another thing to achieve, the problem with “wellness maxing,” and why the answer in our 40s may not be another supplement, tracker, protocol, or harder workout. We also get very real about my own inability to choose sleep over my 5 AM workout, even when I KNOW better. Amy's philosophy is simple: “Simple works. Complicated sells.” And maybe that's exactly what some of us need to hear right now. In this episode: slowing down without giving up your ambition, sleep and circadian rhythm, cycle syncing and exercise, testing instead of guessing, nervous system regulation, and what Amy wishes high-achieving women understood before their bodies force them to listen. About Amy: Amy Mewborn is the founder of Living Simpler, a TEDx speaker, Integrative Health Practitioner, life coach, and wellness educator who has helped more than 9,000 women throughout her 20+ years in health and fitness. Amy's free Seven Signals Method: living-simpler.com/health

You probably already know how to declutter. You know what you don’t use. You know what needs to go. And you definitely know the closet, drawer, or pile that’s driving you crazy. So why are you still not doing it? If you have ADHD, you might be especially good at turning research into procrastination. Read the book. Listen to the podcast. Find the perfect method. Learn one more strategy. Meanwhile, the Goodwill bag is still sitting there. After five weeks of decluttering my own home, I realized something: My problem was never knowing how to declutter. My problem was getting myself to start. In this short episode, we’re talking about why starting is often harder than decluttering itself, how taking action can break the story that you’re just a “messy person,” and why you might not need another decluttering hack at all. You already know how to declutter. Now it’s time to do it.

You already know you should declutter your house. But what if a clean house was never a good enough reason to actually do it? Five months ago, decluttering expert Dana K. White said something on this podcast that I haven't been able to stop thinking about: The goal isn't to have a clean house. The goal is to have a house that doesn't hold you back. So this summer, after YEARS of thinking about decluttering, I finally did it. I decluttered 7 rooms and 3 spaces in 5 weeks. And what happened wasn't just that my house looked better. My brain felt different. Because every time I searched for a missing basketball jersey, stepped over a Goodwill bag, dug through a laundry basket for underwear, couldn't find a piece of paperwork, or walked past something I'd been meaning to deal with for six months, my house was quietly spending some of my limited capacity for me. I thought avoiding the mess meant I had more time for the things I actually cared about. I had it completely backwards. In this episode, we're talking about decluttering as unconventional nervous system work, especially for those of us with ADHD brains. I'm sharing what happened when I stopped trying to create a “clean” house and started asking two very different questions: How is this space holding me back? How can I make this space make tomorrow easier? Because maybe nervous system regulation sometimes looks like meditation, breathwork and somatic exercises. And maybe sometimes it looks like knowing where the damn leotard is. In this episode:  Why “having a clean house” was never enough to motivate me  The Dana K. White advice that completely changed the way I think about my home  How I decluttered 7 rooms and 3 spaces in just 5 weeks  Why your clutter may be taking your time and energy even when you're avoiding it  The surprising connection I've noticed between my environment, ADHD brain and nervous system  Why I stopped organizing for an imaginary “neat freak” version of myself  How I'm creating a home that does some of the remembering for me  The two questions I'm now asking in every space of my house I don't want my house to BE my life. I want my house to make my life possible. If you're creative, ambitious, full of ideas and perpetually wondering why you can't just get your shit together at home, this episode is for you.

You’re exhausted. Your sleep is weird. Your period is changing. You’re more anxious, more overstimulated, and your body suddenly seems to have a mind of its own. So you finally make the doctor’s appointment. You wait 30 minutes, get 15 minutes to explain everything, and leave hearing some version of: “Your labs look normal.” So... now what? Welcome back to Season 2 of The Next Phase Podcast. We’re kicking off our Back to Basics season with something I desperately needed in my own perimenopause journey: a different way to understand what was actually happening in my body. In this episode, I’m sitting down with my own naturopathic doctor, Dr. Danica Woods, to demystify naturopathic medicine — what it is, what it costs, what happens during that first (nearly two-hour!) appointment, and why looking at the whole person can sometimes uncover pieces of the puzzle that have been missed. And we get personal. I share what finally drove me to seek another kind of care after years of recurring health issues, urgent-care visits, antibiotics, and buying supplements based on whatever Instagram told me I needed. We also talk about the testing Dr. Woods did with me, what surprised us about my hormones, and why perimenopausal women may need more individualized information than a generic list of symptoms and supplements.  In this episode, we talk about:  What a naturopathic doctor actually does — and how their training differs from conventional medicine  Why a naturopathic intake can take nearly two hours  What naturopathic care and lab testing actually cost  The problem with guessing which supplements your body needs  Why “normal” labs don't always end the conversation  Hormone testing during perimenopause and why timing matters  My own experience with hormone testing — and what I was surprised to learn  When it's time to stop Googling your symptoms and get professional help  How to find a naturopath who actually feels like the right fit for you If you’ve ever left a doctor’s office thinking, “But I still don’t feel right…”, this conversation is for you. This isn’t about rejecting conventional medicine. It’s about understanding that you can ask more questions, get curious about your body, and find care that makes sense for the woman you’re becoming. About Dr. Danica Woods Dr. Danica Woods is a naturopathic doctor with a whole-person approach to health and a particular interest in women’s hormone health, physical medicine, and mind-body care. Her work focuses on looking beyond individual symptoms to understand the larger patterns affecting a patient’s health — from hormones and nutrition to sleep, stress, movement, health history, and lifestyle.  Dr. Woods earned her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University and holds a BA in Integrative Physiology from the University of Colorado Boulder. She is also a certified Integrative Holistic Life Coach and an active member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and the Colorado Association of Naturopathic Doctors, where she serves on the board as Legislative Chair. Her philosophy is grounded in helping patients understand their bodies, uncover underlying contributors to their symptoms, and create individualized paths toward better health — rather than simply chasing one symptom at a time. Stay Connected This season of The Next Phase is all about getting back to basics — with our bodies, our homes, our money, and our ADHD brains. And I’ve been working all summer on resources to help you put some of what we’re talking about into practice. Want to know what I’m working on? Join my email list here and get your free Cycle Syncing Map: Stacey's Email List   Find Dr. Woods: Her website Her instagram

What if your home is affecting your nervous system more than you realize? In this episode, Stacey sits down with interior designer, feng shui master, and author Lisa Morton for a conversation about clutter, energy, burnout, and the surprising emotional impact of the spaces we live in. After experiencing severe burnout early in her own design career, Lisa became fascinated by the connection between our environments and our wellbeing. Today, she blends interior design, feng shui, and energy work to help women create homes that feel calmer, more supportive, and more aligned with the lives they actually want to live. Together, Stacey and Lisa explore: how our homes affect our emotional statewhy so many women in midlife suddenly want to change their homesthe connection between clutter and “stuck” energypractical feng shui shifts anyone can tryhow to create a home that feels grounding instead of overwhelmingand the magic of actually becoming friends with your homeThis conversation is equal parts practical, comforting, and surprisingly emotional — especially for the women who feel overstimulated, scattered, or disconnected from the spaces they live in. About Lisa Morton: Lisa Morton is an interior designer, feng shui master teacher, podcast host, and creator of the Intuitive Home Method. For more than 25 years, she has transformed homes, businesses, and even luxury private jet interiors. She is also the host of the Feng Shui Living podcast and author of the book Aligned at Home. Find Lisa: Website: purelivingwithlisamorton.com Podcast: Feng Shui Living Book: Aligned at Home

Micropeels. Botox. Retinol. Peptides. Red light masks. 11-step skincare routines. The pressure on women to “age well” right now can feel completely overwhelming — especially when your skin suddenly starts changing seemingly overnight in your late 30s and 40s. In this episode, Stacey sits down with Stephanie DiPisa, founder of Solara Suncare, for a conversation that starts with sunscreen… and turns into something much deeper. After two of Stephanie’s children experienced severe reactions to traditional sunscreen, and while navigating her own health journey with Lyme disease, she found herself deep in the world of ingredients, inflammation, hormones, wellness, and sensitive skin. What started as one mom trying to solve a problem for her family eventually became an award-winning skincare brand trusted by dermatologists, estheticians, beauty editors, and retailers including Bluemercury, Neiman Marcus, Whole Foods, and Target. But this conversation isn’t really about skincare products. It’s about what happens when women enter midlife and suddenly feel pressure to “fix” every part of themselves. In this episode, we talk about:  why skin changes so dramatically in midlife  inflammation, hormones, and sensitive skin  sunscreen confusion and what actually matters  wellness overwhelm and trying to “age well”  simplifying skincare in your 40s  the connection between stress, nervous system health, and skin  supplements, social media wellness culture, and learning to listen to your body  and why sometimes less really is more If you’ve ever looked in the mirror during this phase of life and thought,  “Who is this woman?”  this conversation is for you. About Stephanie DiPisa Stephanie DiPisa is the founder of Solara Suncare, a mineral sunscreen and skincare brand she created after two of her children experienced severe reactions to traditional sunscreen. While navigating her own health journey with Lyme disease, Stephanie became deeply interested in ingredients, inflammation, wellness, and sensitive skin. Today, Solara is an award-winning skincare brand trusted by dermatologists, estheticians, beauty editors, and wellness-conscious women looking for simpler, cleaner skincare solutions. Find Stephanie + Solara Instagram: @stephdipisa + @solarasuncare Website: https://solarasuncare.com

Have you ever felt like your entire life became one giant self-improvement project? In this solo episode, Stacey explores what happens when high-achieving women become trapped in a constant cycle of optimization — always trying to become healthier, calmer, more productive, more healed, more emotionally regulated, more “their best selves.” From self-help books to wellness culture to nervous system work to productivity routines… when does trying to improve yourself quietly become exhausting? Stacey shares:  the pressure millennial women feel to “have it all”  why so many high-achieving women struggle to relax  the connection between perfectionism and nervous system overwhelm  how endless self-help can disconnect us from our actual lives  why silence feels uncomfortable now  the surprising ways clutter and unfinished tasks affect anxiety  and the shift she’s making toward what she calls “returning to real life” This episode is for the women who are tired of treating themselves like projects. And maybe… just need a little more quiet.

If your hair suddenly feels different in this phase of life… you’re not imagining it. In this episode, I’m talking with Allison Conrad and Jay Small, founders of AREY, about what actually happens to women’s hair in perimenopause — and why so many of us feel completely caught off guard by it. We talk about:  why your hair suddenly feels completely different in midlife  the science behind gray hair (and why it’s not “just genetics”)  how stress and inflammation impact aging hair  why postpartum can accelerate hair aging  the surprising connection between scalp health and overall health  what’s actually happening when your hair becomes thinner, drier, or frizzier overnight  and why changes to our hair can feel way more emotional than we expectThis conversation goes way beyond beauty. It’s really about what happens when we start noticing the physical signs that we’re entering a new phase — and how disorienting that can feel as women who are used to functioning at full speed all the time. And yes… we also talk about what can actually help. Just to be clear: this is not a sponsored episode. AREY is simply something I found while trying to understand what was happening to my own hair in my 40s, and I thought it could help some of you too. 🎉 GIVEAWAY 🎉 I teamed up with AREY to give one listener their AM + PM Duo (a 3-month supply valued at $295). Enter here: Arey + Next Phase Giveaway About AREY: AREY creates products designed to support healthier aging hair by focusing on scalp health, oxidative stress, and long-term hair wellness. Learn more: arey.com Follow them: @areyhaircare If this episode resonated with you, send it to a friend who’s been staring at her hair lately wondering what the heck is happening. Have an idea for the next episode? Email me at [email protected] DM me @stacehutson

What if success isn’t supposed to cost you yourself? So many of us did everything “right.” We chased the goals. Built the life. Hit the big hairy audacious goals. And then somewhere along the way… we started to feel like we were losing ourselves in the process. In this episode, I’m talking with Jess Ekstrom—speaker, founder, and bestselling author—about what happens when high-achieving women realize the finish line isn’t what they thought it would be. We talk about:  the pressure to keep chasing the next “summit”  how motherhood reshapes your identity in ways you don’t expect  why so much self-help leaves us feeling more disconnected, not less  and how to start trusting yourself instead of constantly looking outside for answers This is one of those conversations that doesn’t try to fix you— it helps you see yourself more clearly. About Jess: Jess Ekstrom is a Forbes Top-Rated speaker, bestselling author, and the founder of Headbands of Hope, a company that has donated millions of headbands to children facing illness. She is also the founder of Mic Drop Workshop, where she helps women become paid public speakers and use their voices in a bigger way. Her new book, Making It Without Losing It, explores what it really means to succeed—without sacrificing yourself in the process. If this episode resonated with you… Jess’s new book Making It Without Losing It just released this week, and it goes deeper into everything we talked about today. You can find it here:  🔗 Making It Without Losing It

Many millennial moms are going through something that past generations never had to do: Raise young children while also caring for aging parents. It’s overwhelming, emotional, and (somehow) completely unexpected. In this episode of The Next Phase Podcast, Stacey Hutson sits down with elder care clinician Debra Kooser to talk about what really happens when the roles begin to reverse—and why so many women feel unprepared for this stage. Together, they explore: what it looks like when aging parents begin to need more supportthe emotional impact of role reversal between parent and childwhy so many families wait until a crisis to make decisionsand the very real toll of caregiver fatigue and burnoutDebra explains why caregiver fatigue is more than just stress—it’s a serious, often unrecognized experience that affects both mental and physical health. This conversation also highlights something many women don’t expect: The guilt, emotional exhaustion, and mental load that comes with trying to balance it all. For listeners who are starting to notice changes in their parents—or already feel overwhelmed by the responsibility—this episode offers both validation and a starting point. About Debra:  Debra Kooser has a Masters Degree in counseling with over 30 years in healthcare, the last 18 years in hospice as a Medical Social Worker and Bereavement Coodinator.  Additionally, she has worked as a Geriatric Care Manager for an estate planning lawfirm. She has a specialty in consulting with adult children navigating their aging parents needs. She coordinates senior living placement from a clinical perspective, as well as offering ongoing case management for busy adult children/relatives who benefit from support and oversight for their family members. Resources & Next Steps: Debra Kooser helps families navigate caregiver fatigue, planning, and next steps. You can reach her here: [email protected] Local to Colorado? Stacey is speaking at the Golden Women in Business Founder’s Day event next week—an evening celebrating women making real impact in the community. Join us in Golden on April 29th: 🔗 https://www.goldenwomeninbusiness.com/upcoming-events/founders-day-2026

Are you doing nervous system work… and it’s still not working? In this episode, I’m sharing a realization that completely changed the way I approach anxiety, overwhelm, and “regulation” as an ADHD mom. For years, I did everything I was supposed to do: meditation, breathwork, supplements, EFT, energy work… And yet, I still felt stressed, rushed, and completely out of control in my daily life. Why? Because I was trying to calm my nervous system… while living in constant chaos. Laundry everywhere.  Unpaid bills.  An overpacked schedule.  Always running late. 👉 There’s a disconnect there. In this episode, I’m breaking down why I believe so many of us are doing nervous system work backwards—and what actually needs to come first. This is not about abandoning the “woo.” It’s about putting it in the right order. The new approach: Environment → Logistics → THEN nervous system tools If your life doesn’t feel manageable, no amount of meditation is going to fix that. Want to take this further? I created a simple, no-overwhelm guide to help you start: 👉 The Work Before the Woo Reset This walks you through exactly what I’m focusing on right now to get my life out of chaos and into something that actually feels calm and manageable. No routines. No pressure. Just real-life steps that make a difference. You can download it for free here:  🔗 The Work Before the Woo Reset If this episode resonated, I’d love to hear from you. email me: [email protected]

Messy. Overwhelmed. Always behind. At some point, you start to wonder… Is this just who I am? In this episode, I’m talking to Dana K. White — creator of the No Mess Decluttering Process and author of Decluttering at the Speed of Life — about what it actually takes to get your home (and your life) under control… especially if you’re not naturally organized. Because here's the thing you need to remember: You don’t need a perfect system. You need a system that works with your brain. We talk about:  Why clutter feels so moral (and why that’s not helping you)  The mindset shift from “done” → “better” Where to start when your house feels completely overwhelming  Why dishes matter more than making your bed  The real reason laundry feels never-ending (and how to fix it)  How to handle a partner or family who isn’t on board  And why decluttering might be the missing piece for your nervous system If you’ve ever felt like:  “I should be better at this by now…”  This episode is for you. ✨ Want more support with this? If this episode hit something for you…  If you’re tired of trying to fix yourself and just want a way to support your real life… I’m working on something for you. It’s not ready yet — but you can join the “First to Know” list here: 👉 Get on the list 📚 Resources + Links Dana K. White:  Books (start here): https://www.aslobcomesclean.com/books/  Podcast & Blog: https://www.aslobcomesclean.com  Find a certified decluttering coach: https://declutteringcoaches.com From this episode:  Try Dana’s method: Start with trash in your most visible space Mindset shift: Better > Done