Chasing Brighter Podcast: Choosing Real Over Perfect

Jessica Colarco and Kelly Fox
  • 5.0 (23)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

**2024 PODCAST OF THE YEAR WINNER: BEST FEMALE HOSTED PODCAST** Welcome to the Chasing Brighter podcast;  created as a guide to living brighter, more connected and real. Because real is the new perfect.  Are you ready to embrace the next chapter of your life with confidence and excitement? Whether you’re looking to reinvent your career, improve your health, deepen your relationships, or find your true purpose, Chasing Brighter is here to help. Join us each week as we bring you inspiring stories, expert interviews, and actionable tips to help you navigate the challenges and opportunities of midlife. From wellness and personal growth to connection and beyond, we’ve got you covered.

  1. 2d ago

    Super Woman Diaries #2: "2026 Is the New 2016" — Remembering Who We Were vs. Who We're Becoming

    Jessica and Kelly dig into the viral "2026 is the new 2016" trend — the exercise of looking back a decade and asking who you were then, what you miss, and what you don't. The conversation quickly turns into a heart-to-heart about parenting through transitions: Kelly reflecting on missing her kids' toddler years, and Jessica processing the very fresh experience of dropping her oldest daughter, Gabby, off at college. They talk through the emotional whiplash of watching a child thrive without you, the mental load that shifts (and doesn't) once a kid leaves home, and how far "away at school" really feels in 2026 versus a generation ago. What We Talk About The "2016 vs. now" trend and why picturing a specific year is so hard to do without anchoring on your kids' ages Kelly's mixed feelings about missing her kids' younger years while not missing the exhaustion that came with them Jessica's take on grief as a recurring, transition-by-transition experience — not a one-time event Why going all-in on college visits, extended orientation, and getting to know the campus made the drop-off easier The behind-the-scenes of choosing the right-fit school, and how a five-day orientation builds fast bonding and retention How support systems (mentors, upperclassmen "hosts," roommates) ease the transition for freshmen The temptation to monitor kids via apps like Life360 — and choosing not to How the household mental load shifts when a "squeaky wheel" kid leaves versus a low-maintenance one Meal plans, Venmo cards, and DoorDash culture — how Gen Z's relationship with food and money differs from their parents' childhoods Why immersive campus culture (walkable, self-contained "mini worlds") shapes the college experience differently than it did a generation ago Reflection Questions What year would you pick if someone asked you "when do you wish you could go back to"? What does that answer say about what you actually miss? Is there a transition in your life right now that you're grieving even as you're also excited about it? Where are you holding onto more control (checking in, monitoring, managing) than you actually need to? Connect With Us 🌐 Website: chasingbrighter.com 📸 Instagram: @chasingbrighter 🎵 TikTok: @chasingbrighter 📘 Facebook: @chasingbrighter ▶️ YouTube: @chasingbrighter 💌 Get our free monthly resource — sign up for the newsletter: chasingbrighter.com/newsletter 2026 is the new 2016, sending kids to college, empty nest, college drop off, parenting transitions, letting go of your kids, college orientation, freshman year college, mental load parenting, Gen Z college life, meal plan college, Life360 parenting, empty nest grief, college move in day, sisters podcast, midlife motherhood, parenting older kids, college readiness, letting your teenager grow up, nostalgia trend, women's mental health podcast

  2. 6d ago

    The Credential Trap: Why We Keep Waiting to Feel Qualified

    Last week we talked about "I'm not ready yet" as fear dressed up as logic. This week, Jessica and Kelly pull on that thread further to unpack the credential trap — the pattern of adding one more certification, one more year of experience, one more thing to point to before you'll let yourself begin. It looks like ambition and diligence from the outside, but underneath it is often a single question: do I have the right to be here? Kelly shares her own story of pursuing (and ultimately not needing) her MBA and her PMP certification, and Jessica opens up about the moments in 21 years of clinical practice where she's felt the pull toward "just one more" credential — including EMDR certification — even when she knew it wasn't what she actually needed. Together they explore the real difference between preparation and permission-seeking, why this pattern is so deeply tied to how women are socialized, and why the research shows this isn't always "just" imposter syndrome — for many women, and especially women of color, the extra proof they're gathering is a rational response to systems that really do demand more of them. What We Cover The credential trap as its own specific pattern — distinct from procrastination Kelly's story with her MBA, the GMAT, and working alongside colleagues with and without advanced degrees Kelly's PMP certification journey and what she learned about not needing the piece of paper Reshma Saujani's framing: girls are taught to be perfect, boys are taught to be brave A KPMG finding that 75% of female executives report experiencing imposter syndrome, often coping by adding more credentials Jessica on 21 years in clinical practice, the pull toward EMDR certification, and choosing brainspotting instead The real test: is this new knowledge you don't have, or is it a delay? And who are you imagining will finally give you permission? A Harvard Business Review perspective pushing back on "just fix your imposter syndrome" — for many women, especially women of color, the extra preparation is a rational response to real bias, not just a mindset issue Preparation vs. permission-seeking: preparation moves you toward something; permission-seeking keeps you at a safe distance Brighter Moves Jessica: Instead of asking "Am I qualified enough?" ask "Am I curious enough? Am I committed enough? Do I care about this enough?" Qualifications get you in the room — commitment keeps you there. Kelly: Audit one thing you're waiting to finish before you start something else. Ask honestly: is this genuinely necessary, or is it a sophisticated way to stay safe? You don't have to act on the answer — just answer it. This Week's Freebie 📥 [Grab your free download here] — The One Thing Starter Worksheet: a simple, no-pressure tool to help you name the one thing you've been putting off and take one small step toward it. Coming Up Next Week Jessica and Kelly tackle perfectionism — but not in the way you'd expect. Most women who struggle with it don't identify as perfectionists; they identify as someone with "high standards." That reframe is the trap. Connect With Us 🌐 Website: chasingbrighter.com 📸 Instagram: @chasingbrighter 🎵 TikTok: @chasingbrighter 👍 Facebook: @chasingbrighter ▶️ YouTube: @chasingbrighter 📩 Newsletter signup credential trap, imposter syndrome, women and imposter syndrome, permission seeking vs preparation, overqualification, professional confidence, women in leadership, KPMG imposter syndrome study, Reshma Saujani, Harvard Business Review imposter syndrome, women of color and bias, MBA, PMP certification, EMDR certification, brainspotting, credentialism, self-doubt at work, career confidence, chasing brighter podcast, feeling qualified, waiting to start, fear of not being enough, workplace bias, systemic bias, procrastination and fear, one thing starter worksheet

  3. Sep 7

    Super Woman Diaries #1: How ChatGPT Became My Personal Stylist

    In this week's Superwoman Diaries, Jessica shares how she's been using ChatGPT as an unexpected style consultant on her weight loss journey. What started as a simple question — "how do I dress this changing body?" — turned into a full-blown "Jessica Style Playbook," complete with a closet audit, body-shape analysis, and outfit ratings. Kelly and Jessica dig into why understanding why something works on your body (not just that it does) is so much more useful than generic style rules, and how tools like this can replace — or at least prep you for — a stylist consultation. What We Talk About Jessica's "love affair" with using ChatGPT to analyze her body type, closet, and outfit photos Building a personalized "Jessica Style Playbook": color schemes, silhouettes, and a closet audit Discovering her body shape ("soft apple" with athletic shoulders) and what that means for fit Why a higher neckline, higher waistband, and structured double-fabric tops work better for her frame Getting outfit ratings and specific feedback (down to the neckline) from AI Comparing the AI experience to in-person stylists at Aritzia and Evereve How sizing inconsistency between brands complicates in-store shopping Kelly's take on Evereve's Trendsend box service and why in-store pickup gets you more options How bodies and style needs shift as we age — more structure, higher waistlines, more intentional fit Jessica's new favorite: a double-fabric Lululemon workout top she can't stop buying in every color Why feeling good in your clothes is directly tied to confidence Mentioned in This Episode ChatGPT — the AI tool Jessica used to build her style playbook Lululemon — for the double-fabric workout top Jessica is now obsessed with Aritzia — clothing store Jessica visited for a button-down shirt Evereve — stylist-supported clothing store, including their Trendsend box service This Month's Freebie The One Thing Starter Worksheet — a simple, no-pressure tool to help you name the one thing you've been putting off and take one step toward it. Get it, plus more free resources and the blog, at chasingbrighter.com. ChatGPT styling, AI personal stylist, weight loss journey, body confidence, dressing for your body type, soft apple body shape, capsule wardrobe, closet audit, wardrobe playbook, athletic shoulders, high waistband, structured tops, aging and style, Lululemon workout tops, Aritzia review, Evereve Trendsend, stylist vs AI, outfit confidence, sisters podcast, midlife style, Chasing Brighter

  4. Sep 3

    The Lie of "I'm Not Ready Yet"

    In this episode, they unpack why "I'm not ready yet" sounds responsible but is usually just fear in disguise, why readiness is a decision instead of a feeling, and how the question "Am I ready?" is a lot less useful than "Am I willing?" Jessica shares how she's built almost everything in her life — from her private practice to both podcasts — by starting before she felt ready, and Kelly gets honest about the goals she's been quietly putting off. What We Cover The difference between fear and being unready — and why we so often confuse the two Why perfectionism convinces us that "exactly right" and "not at all" are the only two options The idea that starters, even imperfect ones, tend to outpace people who wait to feel ready Why "I'm not ready" can be less about capability and more about belonging or perfectionism Reframing the question from "Am I ready?" to "Am I willing?" The myth of the perfect starting point, and why the conditions we're waiting for rarely arrive on their own Brighter Moves Kelly's move: Write down one thing you've been saying "not yet" to. You don't need to fix it or plan it — just name it. Jessica's move: Ask yourself, "What would I do this week if I knew being scared was allowed?" Not comfortable, not certain — just allowed. Free Download of the Month: Just One Thing This month's freebie is the Just One Thing starter worksheet — a simple, no-pressure tool to help you name one thing you've been putting off and take one real step toward it.   📥 [Grab your free download here] Connect With Us 🌐 Website: chasingbrighter.com 📸 Instagram: @chasingbrighter 🎵 TikTok: @chasingbrighter 👍 Facebook: @chasingbrighter ▶️ YouTube: @chasingbrighter 📩 Newsletter signup Coming Up Next Week Why do we keep adding credentials, experience, and proof before we let ourselves begin? Why does no amount of qualifying ever feel like enough — and who set that bar in the first place? Join us next week as we dig in. becoming not arriving, season 6, starting before you're ready, fear vs readiness, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, self-sabotage, women and perfectionism, personal growth, starting a business, overthinking, procrastination, willingness vs readiness, Just One Thing worksheet, Chasing Brighter podcast

  5. Aug 31

    The Messy Middle: Chasing Brighter Season 6 Trailer

    Last season, we dug into the gap between who women think they're supposed to be and who they actually are — the expectations, the perfectionism, the invisible rules about what a "good life" looks like. But figuring out who you are was never the finish line. Season 6 picks up where that left off: the messy middle. What happens when you know who you are and have to actually start living that way? This season, Jessica and Kelly explore starting before you feel ready, letting friendships change without needing a villain, saying no without over-explaining yourself, and changing even when the people around you liked the old version of you better. Because maybe the goal was never arriving. Maybe it's becoming — and that's a life that's actually yours. Season 6 of Chasing Brighter premieres September 3rd. Come become with us. 🌐 Website: chasingbrighter.com 📷 Instagram: @chasingbrighter ▶️ YouTube: @chasingbrighter 📘 Facebook: @chasingbrighter 🎵 TikTok: @chasingbrighter   becoming not arriving, chasing brighter season 6, messy middle, personal growth podcast, perfectionism, boundaries, identity, self-discovery, women's empowerment podcast, letting go of perfectionism, changing relationships, comparison, starting before you're ready, real over perfect, growth and rest

  6. Aug 27

    What are you waiting to feel ready for?

    So many of us are waiting for the moment we finally "arrive." When we lose the weight. When the kids need us less. When work calms down. When we're more organized, more confident, more together... then we'll be happy. Then we'll rest. But what if there isn't an arrival point? In this trailer, Jessica and Kelly open up Season 6 with a question that changes everything: what if this is it? Not in a depressing way, but in a freeing one. Maybe your life isn't something you have to perfect before you're allowed to enjoy it. Maybe you can be proud of who you are and still want to grow. Maybe rest doesn't have to be earned, and starting something before you feel ready is allowed too. This season isn't about becoming the perfect version of yourself. It's about becoming more you. Season 6 of Chasing Brighter, Becoming Not Arriving, begins September 3rd. In This Episode: Why the idea of "arrival" keeps so many of us stuck Letting go of the myth that you have to be finished before you can be happy Growth that's real, rest that's earned, and a life that's actually yours What to expect from Season 6 Season 6 begins September 3rd. Subscribe now so you don't miss it. Find us: Website: chasingbrighter.com Instagram/TikTok: @chasingbrighter Keywords: chasing brighter, becoming not arriving, season 6, personal growth, self acceptance, letting go of perfectionism, rest without guilt, women's podcast, sisters podcast, real over perfect, growth mindset, self worth, starting before you're ready, permission to rest, life transitions

  7. Season 6 Trailer

    Season 6: Becoming, Not Arriving

    So many of us are waiting for the moment we finally "arrive." When we lose the weight. When the kids need us less. When work calms down. When we're more organized, more confident, more together... then we'll be happy. Then we'll rest. But what if there isn't an arrival point? In this trailer, Jessica and Kelly open up Season 6 with a question that changes everything: what if this is it? Not in a depressing way, but in a freeing one. Maybe your life isn't something you have to perfect before you're allowed to enjoy it. Maybe you can be proud of who you are and still want to grow. Maybe rest doesn't have to be earned, and starting something before you feel ready is allowed too. This season isn't about becoming the perfect version of yourself. It's about becoming more you. Season 6 of Chasing Brighter, Becoming Not Arriving, begins September 3rd. In This Episode: Why the idea of "arrival" keeps so many of us stuck Letting go of the myth that you have to be finished before you can be happy Growth that's real, rest that's earned, and a life that's actually yours What to expect from Season 6 Season 6 begins September 3rd. Subscribe now so you don't miss it. Find us: Website: chasingbrighter.com Instagram/TikTok: @chasingbrighter Keywords: chasing brighter, becoming not arriving, season 6, personal growth, self acceptance, letting go of perfectionism, rest without guilt, women's podcast, sisters podcast, real over perfect, growth mindset, self worth, starting before you're ready, permission to rest, life transitions

  8. Aug 3

    RE-RELEASE: Real Systems for Real Life

    Ever bought a beautiful color-coded planner and abandoned it in 10 days? Jessica and Kelly get real about why aspirational, Instagram-perfect systems fail — and what actually works instead. This episode is about meeting yourself where you're at: building systems that are low-friction, flexible, forgiving, and repeatable, especially on hard days. Because social media isn't perfection, it's performance — and real systems need to expect a human, not a highlight reel. What We Cover Why perfect systems fail — Instagram and Pinterest systems assume consistency, predictable schedules, and stable moods, while real life includes hormones, travel, burnout, grief, and aging parents. If a system collapses under stress, it was never actually supportive. What real systems look like — low friction, flexible, forgiving, sustainable, and repeatable, not aspirational Trading elaborate for repeatable, with real-life examples: A 10-minute anchor habit (coffee, stretching, reviewing the day) instead of a 90-minute morning routine Three default dinners on rotation instead of an elaborate weekly meal plan A 15-minute nightly "closing shift" where everyone tidies a few things instead of a full nightly reset Two inbox folders — Action and Archive — instead of inbox perfection Three priorities a day (sticky note optional) instead of a complicated goal-tracking system The smallest-version question — asking "what's the smallest version of this that would still move things forward?" to get unstuck on things like replying to an email or text Habit stacking — attaching new habits to something you already do daily (like making coffee), rather than building something from scratch Real examples from Jessica and Kelly's own homes, including: A baby-step lunch habit (grabbing simple protein like turkey pepperonis or trail mix) instead of full meal prep Planning just three meals a week and shopping just-in-time instead of stocking up in advance A shoes-at-the-door system and laying out clothes the night before A weekly family scheduling check-in (including grandparents) to coordinate who's taking whom where The energy system check — asking "what kind of energy do I have today?" and adapting instead of punishing yourself for being human Free Resource The Organizational Style Quiz helps you figure out whether you're a visual organizer, a minimalist, a flexible stacker, or someone who needs more structure. Free when you sign up for the Thrive Guide newsletter at chasingbrighter.com/newsletter. Connect With Us 📩 Subscribe to the newsletter at chasingbrighter.com/newsletter | 📷 @chasingbrighter (Instagram) simple systems, organizing your life, real over perfect, low friction systems, sustainable habits, anchor habit, habit stacking, meal planning, default dinners, closing shift routine, inbox management, daily priorities, smallest version strategy, energy check, organizational style quiz, visual organizer, minimalist organizer, flexible stacker, family scheduling, just-in-time grocery shopping, Chasing Brighter podcast

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**2024 PODCAST OF THE YEAR WINNER: BEST FEMALE HOSTED PODCAST** Welcome to the Chasing Brighter podcast;  created as a guide to living brighter, more connected and real. Because real is the new perfect.  Are you ready to embrace the next chapter of your life with confidence and excitement? Whether you’re looking to reinvent your career, improve your health, deepen your relationships, or find your true purpose, Chasing Brighter is here to help. Join us each week as we bring you inspiring stories, expert interviews, and actionable tips to help you navigate the challenges and opportunities of midlife. From wellness and personal growth to connection and beyond, we’ve got you covered.

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