Be Freaking Awesome Podcast

Angela Belford & Sami Kinnison

Tired of surface-level conversations and sugar-coated advice? You’re in the right place. Be Freaking Awesome is not your average personal growth podcast. Hosted by Angela and Sami, an insightful mother-daughter duo with a gift for keeping it real, this is the space where authenticity, emotional intelligence, and radical self-awareness come together. We’re not here just to inspire you. We’re here to equip you with tools, stories, and soul-level truths that will help you grow in the real world, not some Pinterest-perfect version of it. Each week, we open up the real stuff: the messy middles, the limiting beliefs, the grief we never processed, the boundaries we were never taught to hold, and the dreams we’re still afraid to say out loud. From navigating burnout and setting healthy boundaries to healing your relationship with money and learning how to sit with hard emotions, we go deep and we do it with compassion, humor, and zero judgment. This show is especially for the big-feeling, high-achieving, people-pleasing, growth-obsessed folks who are ready to stop pretending they’ve got it all together and actually start living aligned. If you've ever said, “I know there’s more for me,” or “I’m tired of carrying all this alone,” this podcast was made for you. We bring two generations of experience, two distinct but complementary perspectives, and one shared mission: to help you stop settling, start healing, and live a freaking awesome life. You’ll hear from a mix of powerful guests including trauma-informed financial coaches, creatives who turned pain into purpose, and business leaders with heart. We also share solo and co-hosted episodes where we dive into our own struggles and triumphs from the therapy room to the boardroom to our own kitchen table. We’re not into quick fixes or perfectionism. We’re into progress, emotional regulation, nervous system safety, redefining success, and showing up with more courage, joy, and clarity than you ever thought possible. No matter where you are on your journey, whether you’re starting over, in transition, building something bold, or just feeling a little lost, we’re here to remind you that you are not broken, you are not too much, and you are capable of far more than you’ve been led to believe. Take a breath. Hit play. And get ready to do the deep work of becoming who you were always meant to be. This is your space to grow, heal, laugh, cry, question, and transform. Because life’s too short to settle for anything less than freaking awesome.

  1. 2D AGO

    EP218 When Your Brain Goes Negative Before You Even Have a Reason

    Send us Fan Mail You didn't do anything wrong. Your brain just got there first. That's the thing about automatic negative thoughts: they don't wait for evidence. They don't ask permission. Something happens, and before you've had a single conscious thought about it, your brain has already decided: of course this went sideways. Nobody ever comes through. Something is wrong with me. And then you feel bad about feeling bad, which is its own whole thing. In this episode, Sami and Angela wrap up an accidental three-part series on how your brain actually works, following conversations on metacognition and cognitive distortions, by landing on the concept that ties it all together. We dig into: What an automatic negative thought actually is (and why it's not the same as pessimism)Where these thoughts come from and what seeds themWhy "just choose a better thought" is not as easy as it sounds (and what to do instead)How to recognize when your brain is jumping to a conclusion that isn't yoursWhat it actually looks like to interrupt the pattern without judging yourself for having itAngela breaks down how these thoughts grow from deeper core beliefs, the weed whacker vs. the root analogy is going to stick with you. Sami brings her factory metaphor to explain why the machine itself shapes the output, and why understanding that changes everything. They also talk about the spotlight effect, a story about a speaker who got a standing ovation and still thought she bombed, and the one thing that actually interrupts an automatic negative thought in someone else. You're going to walk away with language for something you've probably experienced a hundred times and never had a name for. That's half the work. Once you can call it out, you're already ahead of it. Press play. Your brain is not broken. It's just been running the same loop for a while, and this episode is a good place to start changing that. Mentioned in this episode: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk - besselvanderkolk.comAtlas of the Heart by Brene Brown - brenebrown.com/book/atlas-of-the-heartBe Freaking Awesome by Angela Belford - bfreakingawesome.comLoving What Is by Byron Katie (The Work / four questions) -- thework.comThe 3rd Annual Family Business Forum is May 19 in Springdale, AR. A day built for family-owned businesses who want to communicate better, lead stronger, and actually enjoy working together. Sessions on communication, AI, and high performance, plus a panel, awards, and networking. Early bird tickets are $75 through April 30, then the price goes up. Grab your spot before May 1 at familybusinessnow.com.  Support the show Sign up at bfreakingawesome.com to get the latest news, insights, and episodes straight to your inbox. Follow Be Freaking Awesome on Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, and Instagram. Let us know what questions you want to be answered and discussed by emailing us at podcast@bfreakingawesome.com.

    30 min
  2. APR 14

    EP217 The Thought Patterns That Keep You Stuck (And How to Catch Them)

    Send us Fan Mail You have somewhere between 6,000 and 60,000 thoughts a day. Nobody agrees on the number. But here's what most researchers do agree on: a significant chunk of them are negative, and a startling number are repeats from yesterday. Your brain is running the same playlist on loop, and a lot of those tracks were recorded a long time ago by a much younger version of you who was just trying to stay safe. Last week we introduced metacognition as the practice of watching your thoughts. This week, we get into what you'll actually find when you start watching. Cognitive distortions are the biased thought patterns that warp how we see reality, and they're not a character flaw or a sign that something is broken in you. They're patterns your brain got good at, often for very good reasons. Naming them is the first step toward not being completely at their mercy. In this episode, we dig into: A clearer picture of what cognitive distortions actually are (and why calling them "distortions" doesn't mean you're broken)All-or-nothing thinking: why high achievers are especially prone to this oneCatastrophizing: what to do when your brain fast-forwards to the worst possible outcomeShould statements: the sneaky way they disguise themselves as high standardsLabeling: why the words you use about yourself (and others) carry more weight than you thinkPermission to be in-progress without labeling yourself as a failure for still working on itSami shares the story of getting called to the principal's office in high school, expecting the worst, and finding out there was a snapping turtle in her car. Angela talks about the should statements she thought she'd healed from, only to realize she'd just changed the language ("I need to" and "I meant to" turn out to be the same trap with a different label). They catch themselves doing all-or-nothing thinking and overgeneralizing in real time, which is maybe the most honest advertisement for why this work matters. If you've ever told yourself you're bad at something after one rough moment, jumped to the worst-case conclusion when your boss asked to see you, or slapped a permanent identity label on yourself or someone you love, this episode is the one. These patterns feel true because your brain is very convincing. They're also not the whole truth. Press play. It's a little chaotic in there, but you're in good company. Mentioned in this episode: EP216 — Metacognition: Thinking About Your Thinking (last week's episode in the series)EP212 — Expectations vs. Agreements (referenced by Sami in the should statements discussion)Liven App — nervous system support tool Angela mentioned: theliven.comBe Freaking AwesomThe 3rd Annual Family Business Forum is May 19 in Springdale, AR. A day built for family-owned businesses who want to communicate better, lead stronger, and actually enjoy working together. Sessions on communication, AI, and high performance, plus a panel, awards, and networking. Early bird tickets are $75 through April 30, then the price goes up. Grab your spot before May 1 at familybusinessnow.com.  Support the show Sign up at bfreakingawesome.com to get the latest news, insights, and episodes straight to your inbox. Follow Be Freaking Awesome on Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, and Instagram. Let us know what questions you want to be answered and discussed by emailing us at podcast@bfreakingawesome.com.

    37 min
  3. APR 7

    EP216 Thinking About Your Thinking

    Send us Fan Mail You know that moment when you say something and immediately think, “Wait, where did that even come from?” Most of us brush right past it. This episode is about what happens when you don't. Angela and Sami are diving into metacognition: the skill of thinking about your thinking. It sounds deceptively simple. It's also the thing that makes every other communication and leadership skill actually work. If you've ever wondered why you keep reacting the same way even when you know better, this episode is going to give you some answers. In this episode, we dig into: Why self-awareness and metacognition aren't the same thing (and which one most of us are actually missing)The difference between reflecting on something after the fact and catching yourself while it's still happeningA four-question framework that can interrupt a thought spiral before it takes overWhat it looks like to practice this skill in real, everyday momentsYou'll walk away understanding something that most people never learn to name, let alone use. And once you see it, you can't unsee it. Press play. This one's a foundation piece. Mentioned in this episode: Loving What Is by Byron Katie: thework.com/loving-what-is-revised-editionTraveling Light by Angela BelfordTasha Eurich - research on self-awareness: https://www.ted.com/talks/tasha_eurich_increase_your_self_awareness_with_one_simple_fix The 3rd Annual Family Business Forum is May 19 in Springdale, AR. A day built for family-owned businesses who want to communicate better, lead stronger, and actually enjoy working together. Sessions on communication, AI, and high performance, plus a panel, awards, and networking. Early bird tickets are $75 through April 30, then the price goes up. Grab your spot before May 1 at familybusinessnow.com.  Support the show Sign up at bfreakingawesome.com to get the latest news, insights, and episodes straight to your inbox. Follow Be Freaking Awesome on Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, and Instagram. Let us know what questions you want to be answered and discussed by emailing us at podcast@bfreakingawesome.com.

    34 min
  4. APR 1

    EP215 Why Making Friends as an Adult Feels So Hard (And What to Do About It)

    Send us Fan Mail You sent the text. You waited. Two days passed and nothing. And your brain went straight to the worst possible explanation. That spiral is not a character flaw. It is what happens when a deeper belief is running in the background: the belief that you do not quite belong. And when that belief is active, even the smallest social interactions can feel loaded. Not texting back becomes rejection. A short response becomes evidence. A friend who moves away becomes proof that closeness does not last. This week, Sami and Angela get honest about why adult friendships are so much harder to build than they should be, what the research says about why relationships are literally keeping us alive, and the invisible cycle that keeps lonely people lonelier. They dig into the concept of "bids for attachment," the poker chip theory of connection, and why the fear of rejection is not just about the other person rejecting you. In this episode, they get into: Why the stories we tell about an unanswered text reveal more about our beliefs than the other person's behaviorThe clinical concept of "bids for attachment" and how it explains why reaching out can feel like a gamblePermission to grieve a friendship that changed, even when no one did anything wrongTwo friendship skills worth actually practicing: curiosity and remembering the detailsWhy deciding you want a different kind of connection is the actual first step Angela shares a story from 28 years ago about a moment at church that has stuck with her ever since: a friend who thought she was being cold, and the person who quietly redirected her toward what was actually going on. Sami gets personal about the friendship she built with her next-door neighbor during a hard season of early motherhood, what it felt like when that friend moved to Colorado, and why she still thinks the risk of closeness is worth it every single time. If you have ever found yourself waiting for someone else to go first, or telling yourself you are just not a person who makes friends easily, this episode is for you. It is not about being more extroverted. It is about deciding what you actually want and then going toward it on purpose. Press play. You are more belongable than you think. Mentioned in this episode: The Harvard Study of Adult Development (longest running study on happiness and relationships)The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (coming up next episode): melrobbins.com/book/the-let-them-theory/Be Freaking Awesome book by Angela BelfordBFA Episode 23 (abandonment issues and attachment): bfreakingawesome.com/ep23The 3rd Annual Family Business Forum is May 19 in Springdale, AR. A day built for family-owned businesses who want to communicate better, lead stronger, and actually enjoy working together. Sessions on communication, AI, and high performance, plus a panel, awards, and networking. Early bird tickets are $75 through April 30, then the price goes up. Grab your spot before May 1 at familybusinessnow.com.  Support the show Sign up at bfreakingawesome.com to get the latest news, insights, and episodes straight to your inbox. Follow Be Freaking Awesome on Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, and Instagram. Let us know what questions you want to be answered and discussed by emailing us at podcast@bfreakingawesome.com.

    36 min
  5. MAR 17

    EP214 Why Your Vote Actually Matters (And What the League of Women Voters Is Doing About It)

    Send us Fan Mail If you've ever thought your vote doesn't really matter, that politics is too confusing, or that the whole system is just... too much, this episode is for you. A lot of us are carrying around this low-grade exhaustion with national politics right now, and it's easy to let that feeling bleed into disengagement. But there's a whole level of government that most people skip over completely, and it's the one that fills potholes, sets school policy, and shapes what your actual daily life looks like. This week we're stepping away from our regularly scheduled programming to participate in Podcasthon, a global event where thousands of podcasters dedicate one episode to a charity that matters to them. Ours was an easy choice: the League of Women Voters. Angela is the vice president of the Washington County chapter and secretary of the League of Women Voters of Arkansas Education Fund C3, and this conversation gave us a chance to dig into what this organization actually does, how it operates, and why it matters right now more than ever. In this episode, we get into: Why the League is nonpartisan but absolutely political (and why that distinction matters)How the League protects democracy by actually suing the government when it breaks its own rulesWhat direct democracy means and the ballot initiative Arkansans can sign right nowA real picture of how local elections are won by fewer votes than you'd thinkConcrete ways to get involved, from $20 memberships to volunteering at voter registration drivesAngela shares what it was actually like to stand on the hill in Athens where the very first democratic assembly happened, why she thinks Arkansas's unexpected ranking in social connectedness matters, and the story of a candidate in Fort Smith who ran unopposed and still lost because not a single person, including himself, voted. Sami gets into her own personal mission: getting Arkansas off the bottom of voter turnout rankings. This episode is part civic education, part pep talk, and a whole lot of two Arkansas women who genuinely care about this stuff. You don't have to run for office. You don't even have to understand how every piece of the system works. You just have to show up. Press play, and let's talk about why that actually means something. Mentioned in this episode: Podcasthon (global podcasting charity event): podcasthon.orgLeague of Women Voters (national): lwv.orgLeague of Women Voters of Arkansas: lwvar.orgLeague of Women Voters of Washington County, AR: lwvarwc.orgVOTE411.org (nonpartisan voter information): vote411.orgThe 3rd Annual Family Business Forum is May 19 in Springdale, AR. A day built for family-owned businesses who want to communicate better, lead stronger, and actually enjoy working together. Sessions on communication, AI, and high performance, plus a panel, awards, and networking. Early bird tickets are $75 through April 30, then the price goes up. Grab your spot before May 1 at familybusinessnow.com.  Support the show Sign up at bfreakingawesome.com to get the latest news, insights, and episodes straight to your inbox. Follow Be Freaking Awesome on Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, and Instagram. Let us know what questions you want to be answered and discussed by emailing us at podcast@bfreakingawesome.com.

    26 min
  6. MAR 10

    EP213 You Can't Be Mad About an Expectation Nobody Agreed To

    Send us Fan Mail You have expectations of the people in your life. And they have expectations of you. The problem is that half the time, nobody actually said any of that out loud. And then someone ends up disappointed, resentful, or quietly fuming on the drive home. In this episode, we dig into a reframe that might just change how you navigate every relationship in your life: the difference between expectations and agreements. Because if you're expecting something from somebody who never agreed to it, you're not frustrated with them, you're frustrated with a story you made up in your head. We talk about why unspoken expectations are a relationship landmine, what it actually looks like to turn an expectation into an agreement, and how to handle it when someone else's expectations land on you uninvited. In this episode you'll gain: Permission to stop managing other people's disappointment when they expected something you never agreed toA practical framework for turning unspoken expectations into real agreements before resentment buildsClarity on what to do when someone's expectations of you feel unfair or unreasonableTools for having these conversations without it turning into a confrontationA check engine light for when setting expectations feels impossibly hard, and what that might be telling youAngela shares real examples from running The Belford Group, including how she learned to put "bonus" work on client invoices so people actually understand what they're getting versus what they paid for. Sami opens up about navigating the unexpected web of expectations that came with her daughter's open adoption, and how getting clear on agreements with the birth parents early has made all the difference in keeping things grounded. If you've ever felt the slow burn of resentment toward someone who "should have known," or found yourself on the receiving end of expectations you never signed up for, this episode is going to give you language and tools you can use immediately. You'll walk away with a new operating system for the relationships that matter most, and a lot more grace for yourself and the people around you. This one is practical, personal, and a little bit overdue. Press play right now. Mentioned in this episode: The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbinsvote411.org - voter research tool by the League of Women VotersSteve Toth, team facilitator - crestlineleaders.comThe 3rd Annual Family Business Forum is May 19 in Springdale, AR. A day built for family-owned businesses who want to communicate better, lead stronger, and actually enjoy working together. Sessions on communication, AI, and high performance, plus a panel, awards, and networking. Early bird tickets are $75 through April 30, then the price goes up. Grab your spot before May 1 at familybusinessnow.com.  Support the show Sign up at bfreakingawesome.com to get the latest news, insights, and episodes straight to your inbox. Follow Be Freaking Awesome on Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, and Instagram. Let us know what questions you want to be answered and discussed by emailing us at podcast@bfreakingawesome.com.

    34 min
  7. MAR 3 ·  BONUS

    Bonus Episode Living for 80-Year-Old You: The Europe Trip Recap (Extended)

    Send us Fan Mail Five countries. Six cities. Olympic tickets. A two-star Michelin restaurant. A near meltdown over very expensive seats. And more walking in the cold than Angela would normally tolerate. This is the full story. In this extended version of episode 211, we let you behind the curtain of the trip and of our friendship. We unpack the moments that did not make Instagram, the history nerd rabbit trails, the money conversations, the unexpected disappointments, and the small mindset shifts that changed the entire experience. Inside this episode, we talk about: Working remotely from Greece and what that experiment taught usThe reality of Olympic logistics and managing expectationsSpending real money on meaningful experiencesWhat nervous system growth looks like in actionHow leadership, history, and travel intersectWhy some seasons allow for big adventures and others look very differentLiving for your future self does not mean everything goes perfectly. It means you show up intentionally anyway. This conversation is thoughtful, layered, a little nerdy, and very real. If you love behind-the-scenes stories with depth, honest processing, and the long version of how growth actually unfolds, settle in and listen all the way through. Someday, 80-year-old you is going to want stories worth telling. This might be the episode that helps you start living them. The 3rd Annual Family Business Forum is May 19 in Springdale, AR. A day built for family-owned businesses who want to communicate better, lead stronger, and actually enjoy working together. Sessions on communication, AI, and high performance, plus a panel, awards, and networking. Early bird tickets are $75 through April 30, then the price goes up. Grab your spot before May 1 at familybusinessnow.com.  Support the show Sign up at bfreakingawesome.com to get the latest news, insights, and episodes straight to your inbox. Follow Be Freaking Awesome on Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, and Instagram. Let us know what questions you want to be answered and discussed by emailing us at podcast@bfreakingawesome.com.

    1h 19m
  8. MAR 3

    EP212 Living for 80-Year-Old You

    Send us Fan Mail What if the person you should be trying to impress isn’t the internet, your boss, or even the people around you, but 80-year-old you? Fresh off a whirlwind Europe trip that included five countries, Olympic events, freezing mountain tops, and one very heavy backpack, Angela came home with more than stories. She came home with confirmation that growth doesn’t happen accidentally. It happens because you decide in advance who you are going to be and then you practice. In this episode, we talk about what it really looks like to live intentionally in the moment. Not just when everything is magical and photogenic, but when you are cold, disappointed, uncomfortable, or comparing your season of life to someone else’s. We unpack: What it means to decide who you are going to be before you walk into the situationWhy flexibility is a skill you build, not just a personality traitHow to regulate disappointment in real timeThe difference between expectations and reality when you are chasing big experiencesWhy your 80-year-old self might be the most important audience you will ever haveThis is not just a travel recap. It is a conversation about identity, perspective, and becoming the person you keep saying you want to be. If you have ever felt stuck in comparison, overwhelmed by disappointment, or unsure how to close the gap between who you are and who you want to become, this one is for you. Press play. Your future self will be glad you did. The 3rd Annual Family Business Forum is May 19 in Springdale, AR. A day built for family-owned businesses who want to communicate better, lead stronger, and actually enjoy working together. Sessions on communication, AI, and high performance, plus a panel, awards, and networking. Early bird tickets are $75 through April 30, then the price goes up. Grab your spot before May 1 at familybusinessnow.com.  Support the show Sign up at bfreakingawesome.com to get the latest news, insights, and episodes straight to your inbox. Follow Be Freaking Awesome on Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, and Instagram. Let us know what questions you want to be answered and discussed by emailing us at podcast@bfreakingawesome.com.

    44 min
4.5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Tired of surface-level conversations and sugar-coated advice? You’re in the right place. Be Freaking Awesome is not your average personal growth podcast. Hosted by Angela and Sami, an insightful mother-daughter duo with a gift for keeping it real, this is the space where authenticity, emotional intelligence, and radical self-awareness come together. We’re not here just to inspire you. We’re here to equip you with tools, stories, and soul-level truths that will help you grow in the real world, not some Pinterest-perfect version of it. Each week, we open up the real stuff: the messy middles, the limiting beliefs, the grief we never processed, the boundaries we were never taught to hold, and the dreams we’re still afraid to say out loud. From navigating burnout and setting healthy boundaries to healing your relationship with money and learning how to sit with hard emotions, we go deep and we do it with compassion, humor, and zero judgment. This show is especially for the big-feeling, high-achieving, people-pleasing, growth-obsessed folks who are ready to stop pretending they’ve got it all together and actually start living aligned. If you've ever said, “I know there’s more for me,” or “I’m tired of carrying all this alone,” this podcast was made for you. We bring two generations of experience, two distinct but complementary perspectives, and one shared mission: to help you stop settling, start healing, and live a freaking awesome life. You’ll hear from a mix of powerful guests including trauma-informed financial coaches, creatives who turned pain into purpose, and business leaders with heart. We also share solo and co-hosted episodes where we dive into our own struggles and triumphs from the therapy room to the boardroom to our own kitchen table. We’re not into quick fixes or perfectionism. We’re into progress, emotional regulation, nervous system safety, redefining success, and showing up with more courage, joy, and clarity than you ever thought possible. No matter where you are on your journey, whether you’re starting over, in transition, building something bold, or just feeling a little lost, we’re here to remind you that you are not broken, you are not too much, and you are capable of far more than you’ve been led to believe. Take a breath. Hit play. And get ready to do the deep work of becoming who you were always meant to be. This is your space to grow, heal, laugh, cry, question, and transform. Because life’s too short to settle for anything less than freaking awesome.