Plucky Not Perfect Podcast

Coach Carrie
  • 4.7 (3)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Plucky Not Perfect—a podcast for women in midlife who want to build resilience, find courage, and embrace life’s messy middle with grit and grace. Hosted by Carrie Bradley—coach, caregiver, and cancer survivor—this podcast is about showing up as you are, letting go of perfection, and discovering strength in unexpected places. In Season 2, you’ll hear a mix of solo episodes and interviews with inspiring women who are navigating midlife transitions, health challenges, career shifts, family dynamics, and personal growth. Together, we’ll explore practical tools for resilience, self-care strategies that actually fit into busy lives, and mindset shifts that help you thrive when life doesn’t go as planned. Whether you’re over 40, caring for others while trying to care for yourself, or simply looking for encouragement to keep going—this podcast will remind you that you don’t have to be perfect to feel worthy and live bravely. Plucky means “determined courage.” Not perfect? That’s all of us. Join us to find hope, connection, and inspiration for one imperfect step at a time.

  1. Sep 1

    Standing Up to Your Inner Critic with Alison Dawn Lee (#45)

    That voice telling you that you’re not good enough is a liar, and you don’t have to listen to it. Leadership coach and spiritual guide Alison Dawn Lee chats with Carrie about confronting the inner critic, reclaiming parts of ourselves we’ve learned to suppress, and discovering who we are beyond the stories we’ve inherited. Alison shares her own “plucky” choices, from leaving a six-figure job before the 2008 financial crisis to moving from Canada to the U.S. to follow her heart. Alison offers practical ways to disengage from the inner critic, including getting into our bodies, taking up space, naming the messages we hear, and accessing what she calls our “essential strength.” She also explores how perfectionism, cultural messages, and even spiritual beliefs can keep us from fully embracing our power. Alison invites us to gather up all the scattered “ducklings” within us with love and compassion—and then fiercely protect them from the inner critic. Beneath all the voices telling us who we should be, there is a deeper self that is so much greater than we can imagine.  Connect with Carrie on Instagram Connect with Alison: Website: Alison Dawn Lee Instagram and Facebook: @alisondawnlee LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/alisondawnlee Out Beyond Ideas Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts If this conversation resonated with you: She it with a friend who might need encouragement Leave a rating or review

    Standing Up to Your Inner Critic with Alison Dawn Lee (#45)

  2. Jul 21

    Thinking About Starting a Podcast? Six Permissions to Help You Begin (#44)

    Have you ever thought, I'd love to start a podcast... but who would listen to me? If so, you're not alone. I share the story behind launching Plucky Not Perfect, despite being shy, hating the sound of my own voice, and wondering if I’d have anything worthwhile to say. Forty-four episodes later, I’m looking back at what it really took to begin. This isn't a technical guide to podcasting. It's a pep talk for anyone sitting on a creative dream. Whether you're considering starting a podcast, writing a book, launching a business, or simply sharing your voice more boldly, these six "permission slips" will help you move from fear to action. In this episode, you'll learn: Why you don't have to feel ready before you begin. How accountability and community can help you overcome procrastination. Why every creator needs permission to be a beginner. How to define success on your own terms. Why it's okay (and healthy) for your creative work to evolve over time. The mindset shift that helps quiet your inner critic. Why courage matters more than confidence. Books & Resources Mentioned Teri Holland’s 5-Day Launch Your Podcast Challenge  The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron (for quieting your inner critic) The Run Like A Girl Podcast | hosted by Courtney McQueen  If this episode inspires you to start a podcast or any creative project, I would love to hear from you. Reach out with your questions, ideas, or fears. You don't have to figure it all out alone. Instagram: @carriejobradley Email: thecarriejobradley@gmail.com

  3. Jun 2

    Sensitivity as a Superpower with Joanna Brewster (#43)

    What if your sensitivity wasn't a weakness to overcome, but a gift to embrace? Carrie chats with emotional intelligence coach Joanna Brewster for a deeply honest conversation about courage, self-awareness, and learning to trust yourself. Joanna shares her journey from a highly sensitive child who learned to suppress her feelings, to a woman who found the courage to leave an unhealthy marriage and rebuild her life. Along the way, she discovered the power of emotional intelligence—not just as a professional tool, but as a pathway back to herself. Carrie and Joanna explore how our thoughts, feelings, and actions shape our lives, why small courageous steps matter, and how learning to listen to our bodies can help us navigate fear, overwhelm, and change. Connect with Carrie on Instagram  Connect with Joanna Website: www.hearttalks.ca Instagram: @hearttalks_withjoannabrewster Mentioned in This Episode The Quiet Courage Challenge A gentle, action-oriented 5-day experience for heart-led entrepreneurs ready to move from overthinking into grounded, courageous action. No hustle. No shame. Just regulated, quiet courage and small brave steps that move your business forward.

    Sensitivity as a Superpower with Joanna Brewster (#43)

  4. May 13

    Afraid of a Colonoscopy? Here’s What Helps (#42)

    Fearful about getting a colonoscopy? I’m sharing practical colonoscopy prep tips, ways to manage anxiety, and encouragement for facing the fear of cancer screening. As a stage 3 colorectal cancer survivor diagnosed through colonoscopy, I explain why early detection matters and talk through the three most common fears.  You’ll learn simple strategies to make prep day easier, calm your nervous system, and feel more confident and relaxed going into the procedure. Resources Colonoscopy Prep Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/08ACyCt6R5lgsXyV9kPLMp?si=650315d96cc6441d Recommended Podcast: What Everyone Gets Wrong about Colonoscopies: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2iR5kJk050nCCCW7oyKI3F?si=81e415a6d2664ca5 If this episode helped you, please share it with someone preparing for a colonoscopy. And reach out to me at thecarriejobradley@gmail.com or on Instagram to let me know any results you want to share or any questions you have.

  5. Apr 21

    How to Finally Feel Worthy (Without Achieving More) (#41)

    What if the thing you’ve been chasing was never the thing that would make you feel worthy? In this episode, I explore the arrival fallacy—the belief that once we hit a certain goal, we’ll finally feel happy, fulfilled, or “enough.” From striving for the perfect body to chasing achievement and simply trying to survive hard seasons, it’s amazing how the target keeps moving. I realized that worthiness isn’t something you earn; it’s something you choose to believe. If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly proving yourself or waiting to arrive at “enough,” this conversation will meet you right where you are. Listen to the end for a simple journaling prompt to root this idea into your daily life. Connect with Carrie: Instagram: @CarrieJoBradley Email: thecarriejobradley@gmail.com If you’ve been enjoying the podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts—it helps more people find Plucky Not Perfect!

  6. Apr 7

    Seeing Beyond the Darkness with Blind Storyteller Anne Mok (#40)

    What does it mean to be plucky when life keeps throwing the unimaginable your way? Carrie sits down with author, advocate, and newly-trained voice actor Anne Mok to explore resilience—not as a personality trait you’re born with, but as something forged in the hardest seasons of life. After facing vision loss, chronic illness, grief, and caregiving challenges, Anne shares how she rebuilt her identity, found unexpected purpose, and created global community—all while learning to live one day (and one low-pain moment) at a time. If you’re in a hard season right now, Anne’s story offers this quiet encouragement: You don’t need to have it all figured out and you don’t have to have a five-year plan. Just take the next small step—and stay open to where it might lead. Connect with Carrie on Instagram  Connect with Anne Instagram: @purposeinview Website: purposeinview.com If this conversation resonated with you: Share it with a friend who might need encouragement Leave a rating or review Send Carrie a message—what part of Anne’s story stayed with you?

    Seeing Beyond the Darkness with Blind Storyteller Anne Mok (#40)

  7. Mar 17

    The Secret to the Journaling Routine That Helped Carry Me Through the Hardest Year of My Life (#39)

    In this solo episode, I walk through the structured journaling routine that helped carry me through one of the hardest seasons of my life—after cancer treatment, a failed ostomy reversal, and 40 days in the hospital. But here’s the secret: It wasn’t the journaling that carried me. It was God. Journaling simply became the space where I could process my thoughts, practice gratitude, and remember who God is and who I am. If you’ve ever wondered how to start journaling—or how to deepen your reflection practice—I share the simple prompts that help ground me each day.  If you’re new to journaling, start small. Just pick one prompt and see what happens. Journaling doesn’t have to be perfect. One sentence counts. For me, journaling has become a way to process my thoughts, remember how God has been at work in my life, and notice how I’m growing over time. Let’s Continue the Conversation I’d love to hear about your journaling practice. What prompts do you use? Is there one from this episode you want to try? You can: Comment on Spotify Send me a DM on Instagram Email me at Courage Coaching with Carrie Danielle Wiebe – Bloom Business Collective Coach Jenn Moore Meredith Hite Estevez – Art Is How God Loves Us

  8. Mar 3

    Rewrite Your Life Without Burning It Down with Michelle Hooey (#38)

    What does it look like to rewrite your life without burning it down? As I sat down with coach, author, and “Goldie’s CEO,” Michelle Hooey, she shared her powerful story.  Her daughter, Goldie, was born in 2023 with complex medical needs and spent nearly six months in the NICU, and still doesn’t have a diagnosis. In this conversation we explore: * what it means to be plucky in the face of uncertainty * how burnout can unravel your identity * why 15 minutes a day might be all it takes to begin rewriting your life. This episode is about surrender, scrappiness, resilience, and celebrating the small wins. Michelle’s new book, The Goldie Effect is available now! This memoir/self-help book shares her journey through trauma, uncertainty, and transformation — along with practical tools to help readers rewrite their own lives in small, sustainable ways. At the heart of the book is the 15-Minute Rewrite: Because 15 minutes is just 1% of your day, and small shifts add up. This episode is for you if you’re navigating uncertainty, a major life plot twist, burnout, or just need encouragement to keep going. Connect with your host, Coach Carrie on Instagram Connect with Michelle Website: anchorlesscoaching.com Instagram: @instagram.com/michelle_hooey Her book: The Goldie Effect  The energy audit is inside The 15-minute Rewrite

    Rewrite Your Life Without Burning It Down with Michelle Hooey (#38)
See All (45)

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to Plucky Not Perfect—a podcast for women in midlife who want to build resilience, find courage, and embrace life’s messy middle with grit and grace. Hosted by Carrie Bradley—coach, caregiver, and cancer survivor—this podcast is about showing up as you are, letting go of perfection, and discovering strength in unexpected places. In Season 2, you’ll hear a mix of solo episodes and interviews with inspiring women who are navigating midlife transitions, health challenges, career shifts, family dynamics, and personal growth. Together, we’ll explore practical tools for resilience, self-care strategies that actually fit into busy lives, and mindset shifts that help you thrive when life doesn’t go as planned. Whether you’re over 40, caring for others while trying to care for yourself, or simply looking for encouragement to keep going—this podcast will remind you that you don’t have to be perfect to feel worthy and live bravely. Plucky means “determined courage.” Not perfect? That’s all of us. Join us to find hope, connection, and inspiration for one imperfect step at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Coach Carrie
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Plucky Not Perfect Podcast