Playing The Fool

Jarna Saunders
  • 5.0 (6)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT

Welcome to the PLAYING THE FOOL Podcast, I am your host Jarna Saunders. I am a proud as fuck Life and Relationship Coach and personal development nerd, with a HUGE passion to get every single woman in the arena of their own lives.  I have over 10 years’ experience coaching 100's of women and couples. I've been where you may be right now: for years I sat on the side-lines of my life, stuck in fear, in my head, in the past of that ONE TIME I was put back in my corner and I let it cripple me with fear. That was until one day when the PAIN of staying hidden was too much to take and I made the choice to get my butt in  the ARENA of MY OWN life. To take the risk of looking like a beginner, looking silly and GOD forbid looking like a FOOL. My promise to you is to show up here in all my parts and seasons with my heart proudly on my sleeve, gate keeping nothing but asking us all to WALK OUR GOD DAM ARSES out of the corners we were never born to exist in. Let's Play.

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    Episode 39: Our Love Story: Back To The Beginning We Go.

    In today’s episode, I’m sharing something really personal. The story of how I met my husband, Shane, 16 years ago. Honestly, I felt nervous recording this because our story is messy, emotional, chaotic, funny, and so deeply special to me. Since starting this podcast, I’ve shared so much teaching and coaching, but I also want this space to hold real storytelling, the moments that shaped me, my life, and the relationships I’m most proud of. What started as a casual night at the pub with a girlfriend turned into one of the biggest turning points of my life. Shane and I actually met during one of the hardest seasons I had ever gone through. I was a single mum focused on healing, personal development, and rebuilding my life after divorce. I wasn’t looking for love at all. And then I met him. Our first interaction involved too much alcohol, a massive argument, tears in the bathroom, emotional baggage, trauma responses, and somehow… an undeniable feeling that this stranger was going to become my husband. This episode is vulnerable, honest, emotional, and probably one of the most personal stories I’ve shared publicly. And after 16 years together, I can honestly say I’m so proud of the love we’ve built. Not because it’s been perfect, but because we stayed, grew, healed, and kept choosing each other through every version of ourselves along the way. If this episode resonated with you and you’re wanting deeper support around relationships, emotional safety, communication, or self-growth, you can work with me inside Tender or through my Relationship Coaching spaces. Let’s stay connected 💌 You can find me on Instagram at @JarnaSaunders or visit jarnasaunders.com to explore ways to work together.

    57 min

  2. 13 MAY

    Episode 38: Did I Do Enough?: The Episode That Breaks my Heart

    In this episode, I open up about my journey through motherhood - the highs, the heartbreak, the healing, and everything in between. With Mother’s Day just passing, I found myself reflecting deeply on what it really means to be a mother, the emotional weight many women carry around this day, and how profoundly motherhood has shaped who I am. I share honestly about becoming a mum at 23, hitting rock bottom by 25, navigating depression, separation, shame, and feeling completely unequipped to parent in the way my son deserved. I talk about how personal development became the turning point in my life - not only helping me learn how to love myself, but teaching me how to become the safe, grounded, emotionally available mother I wanted to be. This conversation is for every mother who has questioned herself, carried guilt, wanted to do better, or is learning to break generational patterns while raising children. It’s also for anyone navigating healing, self-worth, and the lifelong process of becoming. Thank you for being here with me for this one. It’s one of the most vulnerable conversations I’ve shared on the podcast. If this episode resonated with you and you’re wanting deeper support in your relationships, communication, emotional safety, or self-growth, you can work with me inside Tender or through Relationship Coaching, where we explore these conversations in a really supportive, honest, and transformational space. Let’s stay connected 💌 You can find me over on Instagram at @JarnaSaunders or visit my website at jarnasaunders.com

    55 min

  3. 6 MAY

    Episode 37: Nourishment and Nurture: Rest isn't the Swear Word Your Ego Makes it out to be.

    I’m back babe and what a surprise this break has being, why, because I didn’t feel like I really needed it. If anything, it reminded me how I am already taking such deep care of myself that I went away with my cup already full. Because this version of me? She’s very different to who I used to be. Years ago, I was the woman who couldn’t switch off.  Who was constantly producing, thinking, doing.  Even on holidays, my nervous system was still in “go” mode and I was filled with so much scarcity. But over the years, I’ve done so much work around slowing down, listening to my body, honouring my needs and creating a life that actually supports me. And what I realised on this trip is this:  Rest now feels natural to me.  Receiving feels safe to me.  Being I nature feels like home. Yin energy isn’t just bubble baths and soft mornings.  It’s creating a life where your body no longer has to scream for rest because you’re already listening before it gets there. It’s showing up for yourself consistently.  Nourishing your system’s daily.  Letting “warmth” become a way of life, not just something you reach for when you’re completely exhausted. In this episode, I’m talking about Yin energy, nourishment, nervous system safety, and the shift from surviving life… to actually living it. Because I really believe so many women have been conditioned to abandon themselves in the name of productivity… To keep pushing.  Keep proving.  Keep holding everything together for everyone else. But there’s another way if you choose it. A way where you can still be powerful, successful, devoted and deeply loving… without constantly running yourself into the ground to get there. The feminine doesn’t wait until collapse to listen, she knows her worth no matter how many ticks on her check list, do you? If this episode resonated  you, you can work with me inside Tender or Relationship Coaching where we explore connection, communication, and emotional safety in a really supportive and honest space. Let’s stay connected! You can find me over on Instagram @JarnaSaunders  or visit my website at jarnasaunders.com 💌

    52 min

  4. 1 APR

    Episode 36: My Go To Move When Things Feel Wobbly: And it is Free.

    What if, instead of waiting for things to feel certain… you just started with what you have? In this episode, I come back to a simple but powerful reminder: start where you are, use what you have, do what you can. Not perfectly. Not all at once. Just one small step at a time with as much intention and space as you possibly can. I share a real and honest look at where I’ve been at lately, and the small shifts that have helped me move out of overwhelm and back into a place of calm, clarity, and self-trust. We talk about: noticing when you’re feeling stretched or disconnected – coming back to simple, grounding practices. – getting honest about your energy, your habits, and what’s actually within your control. – and creating more intention and beauty in the everyday, even when life feels full. This isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about meeting yourself where you are… and choosing to keep going anyway. Even if it’s slow. Even if it’s messy. It still counts. And it’s enough. And if you’re wanting support to hold all parts of yourself through seasons like this, I’d love to walk alongside you inside my coaching spaces. We will be back in 3 weeks while I switch of to be with my babes for the school holidays. Love Jarna x

    45 min

  5. 25 MAR

    Episode 35: When the Dark Night Hits, and Why Talk Therapy Just Won't Cut It.

    For the last 10 days I just hadn’t felt like myself. I felt disconnected, judgmental, and honestly just… off. I could feel my ego getting louder, my heart getting quieter, and everything around me starting to trigger something that didn’t feel like me. And then I was faced with something from my past, something I said and did that completely broke me open. Because this time, it wasn’t something that happened to me. It was something that came from me. And it sent me into a dark night of the soul. In this episode, I share what that actually felt like losing connection to my heart, sitting in the shame, and being forced to face a version of myself I didn’t want to see. (Hello darkness and alcohol my old friend). I also talk about why I didn’t try to think my way through it, and how somatic work became the thing that helped me move the emotion that was stuck in my body and I share about why I believe in RomiRomi and other somatic therapies so frikin much. This is me showing up extremely raw and real and also proud. I don’t claim to be a perfect coach BUT I do know I am a very REAL and EMBODIED coach that puts my money where my mouth is. If this episode resonated with you and you’re wanting support to also be able to be with “ALL YOUR PARTS” you can work with me inside Tender or Relationship Coaching where we explore connection, communication, and emotional safety in a really supportive and honest space. Love Jarna x

    1hr 7min

  6. 18 MAR

    Episode 34: Success Shouldn't Make You Cringe: Living Life on Your Terms.

    In this episode, I dive into a topic that sparked a powerful conversation inside my community this week: integrity. I share my honest reflections on what it means to truly live in integrity, how easy it is to slip out of it, and why building trust with yourself is one of the most important things you can do in life. For me, integrity is about being of my word to myself. It’s about honoring the promises I make to take care of my body, my mind, my relationships, and my life. And while I’m not perfect, I’ve learned that the more I keep those promises, the more peace, confidence, and self-trust I build. I also explore how integrity connects deeply with success and why I’ve had to completely redefine what success means to me. For so long, success felt like something tied to money, status, awards, or achievements. But the older I get, the more I realize that real success is much more personal. In this conversation, I reflect on the role of courage, self-advocacy, and personal responsibility in creating a life I’m proud of. I talk about the importance of speaking up, setting standards, and taking care of my mental and emotional health so I can show up fully in my life. I also share how my understanding of success has evolved through my experiences as a partner, a mother, and a coach. Financial stability and a beautiful home might look like success from the outside but if your relationships lack connection, safety, and love, it can still feel incredibly empty. Ultimately, this episode is an invitation to pause and ask yourself some deeper questions: What does success actually look like for you?  What kind of life would make you feel truly proud?  And are your daily choices aligned with the values you say matter most? Because when we live in integrity with ourselves, when we honor our values and show up in a way that feels true, we create a kind of success that goes far beyond money or recognition. We create a life that feels peaceful, aligned, and deeply meaningful. If this episode resonated with you and you’re ready to create something deeper, safer, and more honest in your relationships, I would love to support you. You can work with me inside Tender, where we explore connection, communication, and emotional safety in a supportive space, or through Relationship Coaching, where we go deeper into transforming the way you show up in love and partnership.

    50 min

  7. 11 MAR

    Episode 33: The Accountability Gap: Navigating "The Gap" in Relationships

    In this episode of Playing The Fool, I try something new and answer relationship questions sent in by my incredible community.   I start by talking about the “accountability gap” a dynamic where one partner is expressing the emotional impact of something while the other is focused on defending their intention. When this happens, couples often end up having two completely different conversations, leaving both people feeling unheard and in deep frustration.   I also explore how defensiveness in relationships can often come from shame, not a lack of care. For some people, hearing that they hurt their partner can quickly translate into feeling like they are the problem, which can trigger justification or shutdown instead of understanding.   I share insights from my work with women and couples, and why healthy relationships require two people willing to reflect, take accountability, and grow together.   And as always we keep going back into the EGO, what it is, what it isn’t and how we all have one.   Relationships are so challenging for so many of us as we were often never modelled what healthy and safe adult communication looks like in the home. If this feels like something that you struggle with and would like support to learn how to show up for yourself in a more effective way then have a look at the way we can work together in Tender and Relation Ship Coaching.   It really is life changing when you say YES to DOING this work.  If you’re ready to create something deeper, safer and more honest I would love to work with you inside Tender or through Relationship Coaching. For more relationship wisdom and practical tips, follow Dr. Rachel @heydrrachel.

    50 min

  8. 4 MAR

    Episode 32: Relationships: Asking, Receiving, and Fighting for Connection

    In this episode, I’m talking about the real work of relationships. The beautiful parts, the messy middle, and the growth that’s required when two people choose each other long term. Shane and I recently celebrated 13 years of marriage, and it had me reflecting, not just on us, but on what LOVE actually is and what it isn’t and the courage it takes to be in the work together. It’s not perfection.   It’s not avoiding conflict.   And it’s not one person doing all the emotional heavy lifting. (This is so frikin common) For a long time, many women have quietly carried that weight, wondering if they’re too sensitive, too demanding, or somehow the problem.   And I just don’t believe that anymore. Healthy relationships require brave women AND brave men.   Men who are willing to reflect, communicate, take ownership of their parts in the relationship and grow. Women who feel safe enough to ask for what they need without shrinking themselves.    Connection isn’t built by one person trying harder. It’s built when two adults show up in their bodies, with their egos in the back seat of the relationship.    If you’ve ever felt like you’re working overtime to hold everything together and the resentment and disconnection keeps building then this is for you.  If you’re ready to create something deeper, safer and more honest I would love to work with you inside Tender or through Relationship Coaching.

    38 min
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About

Welcome to the PLAYING THE FOOL Podcast, I am your host Jarna Saunders. I am a proud as fuck Life and Relationship Coach and personal development nerd, with a HUGE passion to get every single woman in the arena of their own lives.  I have over 10 years’ experience coaching 100's of women and couples. I've been where you may be right now: for years I sat on the side-lines of my life, stuck in fear, in my head, in the past of that ONE TIME I was put back in my corner and I let it cripple me with fear. That was until one day when the PAIN of staying hidden was too much to take and I made the choice to get my butt in  the ARENA of MY OWN life. To take the risk of looking like a beginner, looking silly and GOD forbid looking like a FOOL. My promise to you is to show up here in all my parts and seasons with my heart proudly on my sleeve, gate keeping nothing but asking us all to WALK OUR GOD DAM ARSES out of the corners we were never born to exist in. Let's Play.

Information

  • Creator
    Jarna Saunders
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Playing The Fool
  • Show Website
    Playing The Fool