Ready for a raw, real conversation about self-acceptance, coming out later in life, and giving yourself permission to live authentically?

In this episode, I chat with Lisa Kirkman, host of Big Gay Overalls podcast, about her journey from feeling like she was watching her life in third person to fully owning who she is.

Lisa shares her powerful story of breaking free from the "shoulds," finding her voice, and creating a life that actually fits instead of forcing herself to fit into a life that wasn't meant for her.

We dive deep into what it means to accept yourself, set boundaries without feeling like an asshole, and intentionally design a life you love.

Whether you identify as queer or not, this episode is for anyone who's ever felt like they're living someone else's version of success.

On today's episode all about self-acceptance so you can live YOUR best damn life, we discuss:

• Why self-acceptance is a manual process, not an automatic one
• How to stop protecting everyone else at the cost of yourself
• The freedom that comes from giving zero f*cks about others' expectations
• Why tiny steps forward are more powerful than you think
• The importance of finding your ride-or-die support system

Use Lisa's story as inspiration to get out of your own damn way and create YOUR Best Damn Life.

This conversation is your permission slip to start.

Read the transcript, watch the YouTube video, and get the show notes on Your Best Damn Life here.

*Note: This is an extra sweary episode because sometimes that's exactly what the topic calls for. You've been warned!*

If you're tired of feeling burnt out, spread thin, and giving f*cks about things that don't actually matter...this episode is your permission slip to stop that shit.

Here's the truth - you have a finite number of f*cks to give, and society, culture, family - hell, even that rando on Instagram - all have opinions about where those should go.

But you know what? That sneaky little f*cker called "should" has been running your show without you even realizing it and that stops NOW.

So today, we're changing all that because when you know better, you do better.

And it's never too late to start giving the right f*cks.

On today's episode all about protecting your energy so you can live YOUR best damn life, we discuss:

• Why you're treating your f*cks like confetti at the NYE party you didn't even want to attend
• How giving too many f*cks is draining your emotional energy i.e. getting in the way of you living your best life
• 5 types of f*ck-giving that are burning and stressin' you out
• A framework for becoming a connoisseur of f*ck-giving (so fancy!)

And ends with The F*ck Yeah Challenge: Your step-by-step guide to reallocating your f*cks.

Read the transcript, watch the YouTube video, and get the show notes on the Your Best Damn Life website here.

We ALL carry some form of shame with us each and every day and often, it's THE THING™ that stops us from moving forward on what we actually want for and from our life.

In this powerful episode, I'm joined by shame expert Karen C.L. Anderson as we dive deep into the world of shame, self-compassion, and healing.

Listen in for...

• Karen's innovative "Shame Box" method for dealing with her internalized shame daily
• How to break generational cycles of shame and self-doubt
• Karen's 6 N's framework for shame resilience
• Why "fixing" shame doesn't work (and what to do instead)
• Navigating complex mother-daughter relationships
• Practical strategies for self-compassion and healing

Karen shares personal stories, expert insights, and actionable advice for anyone struggling with shame, difficult family dynamics, or the journey to self-love. Whether you're dealing with your own shame or supporting someone who is, this episode offers valuable tools for transformation.

Join us for an honest, sometimes funny, and always compassionate conversation about embracing your authentic self (including the shame you carry!) and living your best damn life!

QUOTES

Karen on being human: "We are humans and we're going to f*ck up.We're going to say the wrong thing. We're going to hurt people. We will always have that in us, the ability or the capacity to hurt others. Sometimes intentionally, sometimes not."

Jen on the dangers of saying "mindset is everything...": "I think it's actually dangerous when folks think that, or they're told that mindset is everything. I find it very harmful. I used to fall into that camp, right? And then doing my own research and ngoing through my own healing process, I, I was like, no, that is actually very harmful."

Karen on unapologetic joy: "There was something very intoxicating about being witnessed in my joy..."

#ShameResilience #SelfDiscoveryJourney #EmbraceImperfection #MindsetShift #PersonalGrowth #RelationshipHealing #BreakingGenerationalCycles #LiveYourBestLife #JenVertanenPodcast #YourBestDamnLife

CONNECT W/ SHAME EXPERT KAREN C.L. ANDERSON

Website: https://kclanderson.com

Karen's Shame School: https://www.kclanderson.com/shame-school

Difficult Mothers, Adult Daughters: https://a.co/d/8kVfpNQ

You Are Not Your Mother: https://a.co/d/1Kn1THx

Overcoming Creative Anxiety: https://a.co/d/6lSz0mo

Insta: https://instagram.com/kclanderson

Karen's 6 Ns.: https://kclanderson.ck.page/posts/this-is-how-i-free-myself-from-shame-every-day

RESOURCES MENTIONED

The Single Most Important Parenting Strategy | Becky Kennedy, TED Speaker

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