Playing The Fool

Jarna Saunders
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Welcome to the PLAYING THE FOOL Podcast, I am your host Jarna Saunders. I am a proud as f**k 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. 2d ago

    Episode 56: Women in Business, I’m Coming for You: It Is Time To Stop Hiding Your Worth.

    What if the thing standing between you and the woman you want to be isn’t a lack of confidence… What if it’s that you haven’t given yourself enough evidence that you can trust yourself? For years, I was very good at learning. I read the books. I did the courses. I worked with coaches. I knew the language. But there was a problem. I wasn’t actually doing the things I said I wanted to do. I was hiding behind learning. And honestly? You can know everything there is to know about confidence, courage and self-belief and still stay safely behind the scenes. Because at some point, you have to get in the arena. You have to use your voice when you’re scared. Put yourself out there before you feel ready. Let yourself be seen. Launch the thing. Get on the stage. Make the mistake. Feel the cringe. Survive the discomfort. And discover that you are still there on the other side of it. That’s where self-trust is built. Not by thinking your way into feeling confident. But by giving yourself evidence that you can feel uncomfortable, be seen, get it wrong, disappoint someone, change your mind, take up space — and not abandon yourself in the process. And this is exactly why I created Fool School. It’s an eight-week experience for women who are ready to stop hiding behind what they know and start becoming the woman they keep saying they want to be. We’re going to play with courage. Being seen. Using your voice. Building self-belief. Doing the things that make you cringe. And expanding your capacity to hold more of yourself — without needing to become fearless first. Because I don’t think confidence is something you wait for. I think confidence is something you build by living. And sometimes the quickest way to find out what you’re capable of is to be willing to look a little bit foolish. In this episode: • Why getting outside your comfort zone is about so much more than “doing scary things” • The difference between learning about change and actually changing • How intentional discomfort can build self-trust • Why being seen can feel so uncomfortable • What happens when you stop hiding behind preparation • How making mistakes can become evidence that you can trust yourself • Why courage doesn’t require you to abandon yourself • And why I created Fool School Ready to intentionally give yourself the ick, get uncomfortable, and stop taking yourself so seriously? Join me for The Intentional “ICK” Masterclass on Wednesday, September 30 at 9:00 AM. We’re going to lean into the cringe, challenge the parts of you that want to hide, and explore what becomes possible when you’re willing to be seen. 👉 Come play with the ick and join me for the masterclass. Questions to take with you: Where am I hiding behind learning, preparing or waiting until I feel ready? Where am I keeping myself safely behind the scenes? What would I do if I trusted myself? What could I intentionally do this week that gives me a little bit of the ick? And what if the discomfort isn’t a sign to stop… but an invitation to expand? READY TO PLAY? Fool School is coming. If something in this episode has made you realise that you’re ready to stop hiding and start putting yourself in the arena, join the Fool School waitlist. This is where we stop talking about who we want to be and start practising being her. And if you want more real-life chaos, cringe, courage and conversations about becoming the woman you actually want to be, come hang out with me on Instagram: @JarnaSaunders You don’t need to feel ready. You just need to be willing to play.

  2. Sep 9

    Episode 55: Perspective: Are You Sure It's As Bad As You Believe?

    In this episode, I reflect on Father’s Day, grief, loss, and how being close to tragedy has completely changed my perspective on life. Thinking about the people I've lost and those I love who have experienced unimaginable grief reminded me just how precious life is and how easily we overlook the things we already have. I talk about slowing down enough to notice the everyday things we often take for granted: our health, our families, our homes, our bodies, the food in our fridge, and the people we love. I also share why I believe gratitude and responsibility go hand in hand. We can choose where we spend our time, how we show up, how we treat ourselves, and what we choose to focus on. This isn't about invalidating the hard things you're going through. Two things can be true: life can be hard, and you can still be incredibly grateful. This week, I’m inviting you to slow down, pay attention, and ask yourself: What am I grateful for? Who can I thank? And what am I doing really well that I haven't stopped to acknowledge? Ready to lean into the ick, laugh at yourself, and stop taking it all so seriously? 👉 Join the waitlist and be the first to know when Fool School opens its doors. Come hang out with me on Instagram @JarnaSaunders for more of the chaos, conversations, and real-life moments. And if you're ready to go deeper, head to jarnasaunders.com and come get yourself into the arena.

  3. Sep 2

    Episode 54: Priorities Aren’t a Swear Word: Put Down Martyrdom, Pick Up Love.

    For so long, I believed that putting myself first meant I was selfish. I thought my children should always come first. That my husband’s needs, my family’s needs, my work, and everyone else’s needs were more important than mine. I became incredibly good at being the person everyone needed me to be and somewhere along the way, I stopped asking myself what I needed. In this episode, I share the moment that completely changed my relationship with prioritizing myself. Nearly nine years ago, during a personal development event, I was given a simple exercise around choosing myself. I had the opportunity to keep my own “pop stick” a symbol of my value and worth, but when push came to shove, I gave mine away. I even told a little white lie about it. That moment broke something open in me. On the drive home, I was sobbing and repeating over and over: “I choose me first.” Since then, I’ve built my life around learning what it really means to live inside my priorities, not from selfishness, but from responsibility, self-worth, and love. Choosing yourself doesn’t mean you stop loving your partner, your children, your family, or the people around you. For me, it means taking responsibility for my own happiness, wellness, needs, boundaries, and joyso I can show up for the people I love from a place of overflow rather than resentment, obligation, or exhaustion. Because when my tank is full, I have so much more to give. And sometimes, choosing yourself means being willing to disappoint someone, make them uncomfortable, or let them misunderstand you. You can love someone deeply and still choose yourself. Fool School is where you come and GET YOUR “ICK” ON—on purpose!! Ready to lean into the ick, laugh at yourself, and have a little fun with it? 👉 Join the waitlist and be the first to know when Fool School opens its doors. Come connect with me on Instagram @JarnaSaunders! And if you’re ready to go deeper, come find me at jarnasaunders.com and let’s get you into the arena.

  4. Aug 26

    Episode 53: The "ICK" is the Invitation: Why Confidence Feels So Hard.

    There’s something I noticed recently that completely stopped me in my tracks. I was watching footage from one of my events, and instead of celebrating how confidently I was showing up, I started giving myself the ick. I caught myself thinking, Who do you think you are? You're being too much. In this episode, I’m sharing why that moment was actually one of the biggest signs of growth. We talk a lot about confidence, visibility, and stepping into the arena but no one talks enough about the shame, fear, and discomfort that show up after you start becoming the version of yourself you've been asking for. That uncomfortable feeling? It isn’t proof you’re doing it wrong. It’s often proof you’re growing. We dive into the roles our inner little girl, teenager, and ego play when we start taking up more space, and how learning to re-parent those parts changes everything. If you've ever felt embarrassed after posting online, speaking up, launching something, or simply being seen, this episode is for you. A reminder from this episode The goal isn’t to stop feeling the ick. The goal is to recognize it as a sign that you’re stretching beyond your comfort zone and to stay in the arena anyway. Feeling the ick? Good. It might mean you’re growing. Come connect with me on @jarnasaunders and tell me what you’re stepping into. Fool School is where you come to GET YOUR “ICK” ON on purpose!!  Join the waitlist.

  5. Aug 19

    Episode 52: Kelly Beatty: Through Our Eyes, Raising a Child with ADHD + ASD

    Before we begin, the doors to THE HEART IS THE BAR are closing Sunday. If you’re ready to choose yourself, understand what’s really going on beneath the surface, and create meaningful change in your life and family, this is your moment. Here is the link to join now… In this episode, I sit down with my beautiful client Kelly Beatty for a deeply personal conversation about motherhood, family, ADHD, and the transformation she has experienced over the past three years. Kelly shares what life looked like before we started working together, when she felt constantly stressed, anxious and overwhelmed. Struggling to communicate within her marriage, and constantly questioned why family life felt so difficult despite having what seemed like everything she needed to be happy. We talk about what happened when we started uncovering the reasons behind those struggles, including recognising patterns of neurodivergence in both herself and her children. For Kelly, understanding these patterns brought an incredible sense of relief. Instead of seeing herself as lazy, forgetful, difficult, or “too much,” she began to understand herself with more compassion and she could see a way to not only advocate for herself BUT also for her son. We explore her journey as a mother and how learning more about ADHD and ASD changed the way she understood how to support her son, Hendy. Rather than focusing on how children “should” behave or worrying about other people’s judgments, Kelly learned how to look at their individual needs and create an environment where they could feel safer to be with “all their parts”. We talk about the courage it took for Kelly to choose herself, invest in her own growth, and allow her husband, Matt, to make his own decision about stepping into the work. We also reflect on how those changes eventually transformed their relationship, their parenting, and the way their family functions together. But my favourite part of this whole conversation is how even when the doctors said “it was just anxiety” that she knew there was more going on and we unpack all of that. This conversation is a reminder that sometimes the biggest shift happens when we stop asking “What’s wrong with me?” and start asking “What is actually going on, and what do I need?” Kelly Beatty is a mum of two who spent much of her life caring for others as a nurse and support worker. Throughout her life she has experienced both anxiety and depression, which has shaped a deeply personal story of growth, identity, and change. Her son’s recent autism and ADHD diagnosis has deepened Kelly’s understanding of acceptance, advocating for his individual needs, and creating an environment where he can thrive. Moving to a new town and school has been a key part of this journey. Kelly speaks openly about motherhood, personal growth, and navigating neurodivergence both as a parent and through her own lived experience. You can connect with Kelly on Instagram at @kellyb.well or with myself at @jarnasaunders Have a great week babe. Love Jarna xx

  6. Aug 12

    Episode 51: My Daughter is on Ritalin: My Personal Story As Her Mum

    In this episode of Playing The Fool, I’m opening up about something very personal: my daughter’s recent diagnosis of inattentive ADHD and how her journey has made me look more closely at my own brain and childhood experiences. Liv was previously diagnosed with severe dyslexia and had also experienced anxiety. After years of tutoring, speech therapy, school support, and different strategies to help her learn and manage her emotions, we finally went through the process of getting her assessed for ADHD. Getting the diagnosis brought relief, but it also brought a whole new wave of fear when medication was suggested. I share what the first few weeks have looked like for us, including the changes I've noticed in Liv’s energy, focus, happiness, and willingness to engage with things that previously felt exhausting for her. I also talk about the conversations I've had with other mothers and the different experiences they have shared with me. For me, this experience has also brought up a much bigger realization: I see so much of myself in Liv. I reflect on my own experience with ADHD traits, masking, motivation, perfectionism, mental health, and the challenges I've experienced throughout motherhood. I talk about how becoming a mother can make masking much harder because there is simply less space to rest, recover, and manage everything in the way you might have before having children. I also share the systems and routines I've developed over the years to work with my brain rather than constantly fighting against it, from my morning routine to the simple things I do the night before to make the next day easier and now what I teach to hundreds and hundreds of other women. Most importantly, I share why I believe we shouldn't be afraid of getting the answers we need. A diagnosis doesn't tell you what you have to do. For me, it gives us more information, more understanding, and ultimately, more choices. Doors are Closing to The Heart is the Bar. This is your last chance to join this final round. This episode shares my personal experience and is not medical advice. Every person and family is different, and decisions around diagnosis and treatment should always be made with qualified healthcare professionals.

  7. Aug 5

    Episode 50: Kara Carnegie-Harding: Relationship Coaching Saved Our Marriage - What It Actually Takes.

    I am so excited to be sharing this episode with you. Today we are talking withmy beautfil client Kara. Kara runs her own business Outward In, she is an operations and systems OBM business for Health and Fitness coaches. Kara is on her 3rd round of Heart is the Bar with and has being doing Relationship Coaching with her husband Kyle for the last 18 months. In this episode Kara shares openly about her relationship, what it looked like before, the work it's taken, and what "the heart is the bar" means for her in becoming the best version of herself for her three girls, Kyle, and her own identity and a woman. We talk about what life looked like before coaching, the constant conflict, resentment, communication breakdowns, and parenting challenges and the practical shifts that helped create a stronger, more connected relationship. In this episode, we cover: Why they reached a breaking point in their marriage and how working together has supported them both. How childhood experiences influence adult relationships.Moving from blame and resentment to teamwork.Navigating conflict with compassion instead of reactivity.Parenting from connection rather than stress.What it's like when both partners commit to doing the work.Why lasting change happens through consistent action not just awareness. Whether you're feeling disconnected, navigating conflict, or simply want to strengthen your relationship with yourself or in your relationship, this conversation offers practical insights and hope that change actually is possible. Heart Is the Bar Is Now Open. The doors close Sunday the 23rd August. This is a 12-week coaching programme for the woman who is ready to hold a new STANDARD for herself and her life. AKA be frikin brave with going "all in" on themselves. Over these 12 weeks, you’ll build emotional courage, self-trust, and the capacity to hold a stunning life. You’ll learn how to speak honestly without over-explaining, set boundaries without shutting down, and choose yourself without guilt and confusion. AND this is the last time that I am offering programme in this in this way. If you're ready to build a deeper, healthier relationship and create lasting change, I would love to have you join us. The Heart is the Bar Link. To connect with Kara go and follow her Instagram below, do not be shy she is such an incredible woman with so much passion for supporting women in business and life. Instagram: Instagraminstagram.com/outwardinvirtualassistance  Website: OutwardinvirtualassistanceOutward In Virtual Assistance | Health & Fitness VA Love Jarna x

  8. Jul 29

    Episode 49: Nothing Changes if "Nothing Changes": Your Life Is Up To You.

    The problem is you don’t know what you don’t know. And that’s exactly why learning, healing, and choosing yourself can change everything but so often we don't know it can because we havn't learnt it yet AND we don't know it exists. This episode is a reminder that courage isn’t about being fearless. It’s about being willing to step into discomfort, trust yourself, and build a life that feels aligned, grounded, and deeply yours. If you’ve been waiting for the "right time," it doesn't bloody exist and that it part of the problem. Because here's what I know after almost 20 years of this work. The women who create lives they genuinely love aren't the women who never feel fear. They're the women who know life is scary and messy and hard AND they show up anyway. They stop waiting. They stop watching. They stop sitting on the sidelines. They become brave enough to go "f**k around and find out". In this episode, I'm sharing why I believe courage changes everything, why playing the fool is the price of becoming the woman you know you're here to be, and why staying the same is often far more painful than taking the risk. I also share why I created The Heart is the Bar, the exact way it has changed hundreds of womens lives. This is also the very last time I'll be running The Heart is the Bar in its current 12-week format. If you've been circling it, watching from a distance, or telling yourself, "Maybe next time," I want you to know there won't be another round like this. $539 to go all in on YOU. Imagin what could be possible going into 2027 being able to take yourself less seriulsy and face your life HEAD ON. Then imagine how another 6 months of NOT learning another way is going to feel. Then you get to choose babe. Rest. Replenish. Receive. A morning with Beth Katherine and Jarna Saunders Reserve your place - Nourished. Have a beautiful week babe. Love Jarna x

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About

Welcome to the PLAYING THE FOOL Podcast, I am your host Jarna Saunders. I am a proud as f**k 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
    63
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Playing The Fool
  • Show Website
    Playing The Fool