The Calm Collective - a wellness podcast for women

AshLiving
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Alternative Health
  • Updated Weekly

Co-hosted by Ashlee Livingstone and Colleen Kurtz, experts in wellness, stress management, and finding your calm. Stress is a normal part of life, but the chronic effects don’t have to be. Join us for raw, relatable conversations as we explore how everything is connected—mind, body, and even the powerful mind-gut connection. We’ll share simple, practical tools to help you move out of survival mode and transform your wellness. The Calm Collective is your space to pause, breathe, and realign. Ready to feel more calm and in control? Tune in weekly for your wellness.

  1. 3d ago

    "I'm So Busy": The Excuse That’s Hijacking Your Health

    How many times a day do you answer "How are you?" with a sigh and a default, "Oh, just so busy!"?  We’ve worn "busy" as a badge of honor for so long that we’ve convinced ourselves we have zero time left for our health, our joy, or our goals. But is time really the problem, or is it a cover story for misaligned priorities and a fear of saying no? This week on The Calm Collective, Colleen and Ashlee dissect the subtle ways our language around time keeps us trapped in burnout. Ashlee breaks down why she banished the word "busy" from her vocabulary in favor of "a full season," and how that tiny linguistic shift radically altered her schedule.  Colleen shares her real-life process of building a "Joy List" to audit where her energy actually goes, and why protecting space for movement and rest models long-term health for our kids. If you’ve been putting off your well-being until "things slow down" or "after the holidays," this episode is the honest, empowering wake-up call you need to reclaim your calendar and stop sacrificing long-term vitality for short-term convenience. Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠ And we encourage you to share this with one person you know who could benefit from this conversation.

  2. Sep 24

    Comparison is sabotaging you

    You’ve likely heard that ‘comparison is the thief of joy’ but in this episode Ashlee takes it one step further describing comparison as: greedy, distracting and rooted in not enough. Ashlee uncovers how comparison often sabotages you from your own path, journey, wins and growth by trying to make you feel less than and what you can do instead to shift that limiting belief into one of curiosity. This episode will challenge you to see comparison differently and let yourself grow. Take a moment to share how this resonated with you by sending Ashlee a direct message here Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠ Want to explore this further? Book a free clarity call with Ashlee Here And we encourage you to share this with one person you know who could benefit from this conversation.

  3. Sep 17

    Why We Self-Sabotage even when we want change

    Have you ever started to make progress toward a goal - finally sleeping better, feeling energized, or building momentum - only to suddenly drop your routine, abandon your habits, and slide right back into old patterns? It feels frustrating, but it’s not a lack of willpower. It’s self-sabotage, and it’s your brain's way of retreating to what is familiar, even if what's familiar is making you feel awful. This week on The Calm Collective, Colleen and Ashlee unmask the hidden mechanics of self-sabotage and why change can actually trigger deep resistance. We discuss why true, sustainable lifestyle shifts take time, why "taking off the blinders" forces us into new levels of personal responsibility, and how to spot the subtle ways we fight our own success.  Instead of beating yourself up for slipping, Colleen and Ashlee show you how to trade judgment for deep self-compassion, build unshakeable self-trust, and focus on small, manageable habits that actually stick. Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠.  And we encourage you to share this with one person you know who could benefit from this conversation

  4. Sep 10

    Gut Myths and Misconceptions

    If you’re constantly bloated, constipated, or convinced there’s a growing list of foods your body “can’t tolerate,” this episode is for you. We’re busting some of the biggest gut health myths—from elimination diets and probiotics to fiber, detoxes, carbs, and constipation—and talking about what your gut may actually need to heal and function well. Ready to stop guessing and get to the root of your gut issues? Book your free Gut Clarity Call here:https://l.bttr.to/2ldW7

  5. Sep 3

    Healthy Eating Shouldn’t Be This Hard: Back-to-School Edition

    Back-to-school doesn't have to mean chaotic mornings, sad lunches, and the daily “what are we having for dinner?” spiral. In this episode, Colleen shares her simple system for feeding your family well without spending your entire Sunday meal prepping—including easy breakfasts, realistic kid lunches, protein-first dinner planning, leftovers, grocery delivery, and the gut-health basics that actually matter. Because healthy eating doesn't need to be complicated.  Breakfast Guide: Cookbook Links: https://amzn.to/4x4jKpo and https://amzn.to/4zp29tQ Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠

  6. Aug 27

    Silencing the Inner Critic to Build Unshakeable Self-Trust

    What if the biggest obstacle standing between you and your boldest goals isn't market competition, lack of time, or external criticism but the voice inside your own head?  For so many women, the inner critic runs the show, masquerading as protective logic while quietly fueling self-doubt, shame, and hesitation. In this inspiring solo episode, Ashlee pulls back the curtain on how she learned to separate her true, authentic voice from the relentless chatter of her inner critic. Drawing from her personal evolution from hiding behind the scenes to confidently showing up on video, launching her book chapter, and building a thriving business, Ashlee breaks down why true safety begins on the inside.  She shares why building radical self-trust and self-reliance is the mandatory foundation for taking bold, aligned action in your life and business. Ashlee dives into: The Voice of Deception: How to distinguish between your intuitive internal wisdom and the fear-driven inner critic holding you back.Self-Trust First: Why we often fear our own perceived failures more than external threats—and how to cultivate internal safety.From Hiding to Showing Up: Ashlee's personal story of overcoming self-shame to build visibility and confidence in her business.Fall Program Announcements: Details on Ashlee’s upcoming women’s business group program and her live 5-Day Morning Reset (September 14th–18th) designed to quiet the noise, utilize somatic breathwork, and set you up to crush your Q4 and 2027 goals. Want more support? Join Ashlee’s 5 Day Morning Reset to quiet the critic: join here Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠

  7. Aug 20

    Healing your body image with self love

    How often do you catch yourself treating your body like a project that constantly needs fixing? We’ve been conditioned to believe that self-criticism is the ultimate motivator—that if we are just tough enough on ourselves, we will finally reach our goals and earn self-worth. But the truth is, self-criticism doesn't motivate us; it paralyses us, blindfolding us to our wins, our strength, and our progress. This week on The Calm Collective, Colleen and Ashlee dive into the complex, often painful reality of body image. They unpack how the non-stop highlight reels of "perfection" on social media hijack our nervous systems, layer onto the self-image stories we inherited as kids, and keep us trapped in an endless loop of body dissatisfaction. Colleen and Ashlee share how to break free from the trap of exercising or eating to "fix" your flaws, and how to shift toward movement and nutrition as an authentic act of self-love. If you’re ready to stop waiting for a specific number on the scale to start appreciating who you are today, this conversation is the gentle, powerful perspective shift you need. Colleen and Ashlee discuss: The Social Media Distortion: How constant exposure to curated "perfection" online fuels body dysmorphia and triggers old childhood wounds around belonging."Fitness to Fix" vs. Fitness for Joy: Unpacking the toxic mindset of working out as a punishment versus moving your body to build strength and connection.Rewriting Your Self-Image: Somatic and mindset practices to unlearn deep-seated childhood conditioning and start viewing your body through a lens of appreciation.Want more support? Join Ashlee’s 5 Day Morning Reset to quiet the critic: join here Or grab a Discovery Call with Colleen  Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠

  8. Aug 13

    Thriving the Back-to-School Transition with Becky Funk

    The transition back to school isn’t just stressful for our kids it completely disrupts the entire household's nervous system. From navigating massive high school hallways and locker anxieties to wrestling teenage sleep schedules and morning routine battles, the shift from summer freedom to autumn structure is a high-stakes transition for everyone involved. This week on The Calm Collective, Colleen and Ashlee welcome back guest Becky Funk to unpack how parents can navigate back-to-school anxieties without taking over, micro-managing, or projecting our own fears onto our kids.  Becky shares brilliant, real-world parenting strategies for supporting your teen's growing independence, including how to ditch accusatory language, manage the constant stress of online grade notifications, and help regulated teens make peace with natural consequences. Colleen, Ashlee, and Becky discuss: High School Transition Anxieties: How to validate fears around larger buildings, finding lunch tables, and shifting social dynamics without trying to "fix" everything. The "Should, Could, Would" Priority Reset: A simple paper-and-pen strategy to help overwhelmed teens (and parents!) organize their brain dumps and prioritize mental health over endless schedules. Curiosity Over Accusation: Why switching from "Why didn't you...?" to curiosity-based questions opens the door for genuine communication and co-regulation. Sleep, Energy Drinks, and Morning Battles: Practical ways to gradually adjust adolescent circadian rhythms and establish breakfast routines that actually stick. Balancing Safety with Independence: How to give your teenager control over their decisions while maintaining steady, supportive boundaries. Grab Becky’s free resource to discover if your teen is struggling with anxiety or if it is just typical teen stuff: https://www.thebeckyfunk.com/anxiety-or-typical-teen-stuff Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠ And we encourage you to share this with one person you know who could benefit from this conversation.

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5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Co-hosted by Ashlee Livingstone and Colleen Kurtz, experts in wellness, stress management, and finding your calm. Stress is a normal part of life, but the chronic effects don’t have to be. Join us for raw, relatable conversations as we explore how everything is connected—mind, body, and even the powerful mind-gut connection. We’ll share simple, practical tools to help you move out of survival mode and transform your wellness. The Calm Collective is your space to pause, breathe, and realign. Ready to feel more calm and in control? Tune in weekly for your wellness.

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