Bloom Your Mind

Marie McDonald
  • 4.9 (92)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

We all think and talk about what we’ll do someday, but what if that someday could start right now? If there’s a change you want to make in yourself, in your life, or an idea that you have that you want to make real … this podcast is for you. After 20 years leading and coaching innovators, Certified Coach Marie McDonald is breaking down how great change-makers think so you can do what they do and take your ideas out of your head and into the world where they belong. We’ll teach you how to stop trying to get other people to like you and your ideas, and how to be your own biggest fan instead. You’ll learn how to ditch the drama and have fun with failure, to stop taking things personally, and to get out of anxiety and into decisive action when you don’t even know how or what you’re doing yet. Marie has used this work to go from bar tender to Vice President, to create the family of her dreams, and to start a multiple six-figure business from scratch within eight months. Whether you want to change a relationship, a habit, write a book or start a movement, it starts here on The Bloom Your Mind Podcast. Find me on Instagram @the.bloom.coach to get a daily mind-bloom, and join my weekly list. See you inside!

  1. 15h ago

    Ep 182: Chasing Validation

    Marie opens this episode fresh off the final call of the first-ever Moxie Mastermind cohort — and she is FEELING it. The women were in tears. Every single one named the Moxie group as one of the greatest sources of positive feeling in their last six months. And almost all of them are coming back for round two in September. From that high, she dives into something she's been coaching heavily lately — a shift that her clients keep describing as total freedom: learning to need nothing in the way of external validation, while giving everything in the way of it. This one's a game changer. What you'll learn in this episode: Why needing external validation is one of the biggest things standing between you and making your idea real — and why the people who love you most still can't give you what you needThe story of Marie leaving her career to start over, feeling sheepish sharing her vision, and why she had to believe in the "after" before anyone else could see itWhy chasing external validation is chasing the dragon — it will never be enough, it will rob you of your authenticity, and it will pull you off your own internal compassThe three things you actually have control over (hint: it's not what other people think of you) and why handing that power to someone else is the opposite of MoxieWhat a vulnerability hangover is, how to be with the feeling instead of running from it, and why embracing your "too-muchness" makes it lose its powerReal client stories: the woman who stopped asking her partner if he was mad at her, the one who stopped checking in with her boss at the end of every day, the one who stopped fawning over her chaotic family — and what changed for all of themWhy Marie doesn't believe in feeling neutral about positive feedback — receive it, soak it up, let it feel great — and what to do with negative feedback insteadThe two-part process: never need validation because you give it to yourself first — and always give it freely in the form of gratitude, appreciation, and presenceWhy that combination — needing nothing, giving everything — creates an ecosystem where nobody else controls how you feel, and your momentum becomes inevitableAlso in this episode: A sneak peek at the Moxie Mastermind September cohort (almost full — apply at dothebloom.com)The Pocket Moxie — an AI tool Marie is building to give her clients access to her full body of work anytime, right in their pocketAnd a little love letter to taking August completely off — by design, on purpose, unapologetically.The Moxie Mastermind September cohort is almost full. Apply now at dothebloom.com.How to connect with Marie: On the Web | The Local BloomInstagram: @the.bloom.coachAll Things Marie on LinkTreeJOIN THE BLOOM ROOM! We'll take all these ideas and apply them to our lives. Follow me on Instagram at @the.bloom.coach to learn more and snag a spot in my group coaching program!

    Ep 182: Chasing Validation

  2. Jul 24

    Ep 181: Failure Tolerance

    We open this episode on a yacht in San Diego Bay — silky robes, pirate ships, debating whether to jump into very questionable Coronado waters — deep in conversation with a brilliant restaurateur from a small town in Italy. He asked my advice and posed a question: I know I need to collect failures. But I get too much positive feedback. Where am I going wrong? My answer: I don't buy it. From there, this episode becomes a masterclass in what it actually means to put yourself out there — and why if you're not failing, you might not be going far enough. What you'll learn in this episode: Why "I don't see evidence of failure" usually means one of two things — and neither of them is that everything's going greatHow praising kids (and ourselves) for being good at something actually causes us to stop taking risks — straight from the research in MindsetThe real reason we don't recognize our own failures — and why your brain might be actively hiding them from youMy own recent failures: from missing my husband's best friend energy, to a chaotic first three weeks of summer, to courses delayed, a book half-written, health issues from 20 years of athletic yoga, and a friendship changed by necessary boundariesWhy every item on that failure list is there because I’m putting my full heart into my life — and what that means for yoursWhy if you're not failing, you may be depriving the world of something only you can give itThe design thinking concept of failing forward — and how mastering the Gain instead of minding the Gap makes it easier and more funWhy measuring progress against your ideal is a logical fallacy (your vision isn't real yet — it's a steering mechanism, not a measuring stick)Why measuring from where you started kicks you into higher brain function, makes you more creative, and actually makes you statistically more likely to hit your goalThe two questions I leave you with to uncover how YOU can fail bigger, better, faster, MORE. Mentioned in this episode: Mindset by Carol DweckThe Gap and the Gain by Dan SullivanCompassionate Observer (Bloom Your Mind Podcast) Look How Far you’ve come (Bloom Your Mind Podcast) The Moxie Mastermind Monthly Retros — where failures get collected, celebrated, and learned fromThe Moxie Mastermind is enrolling for the September cohort now.  Find the application at dothebloom.com. How to connect with Marie: On the Web | The Local BloomInstagram: @the.bloom.coachAll Things Marie on LinkTreeJOIN THE BLOOM ROOM! We'll take all these ideas and apply them to our lives. Follow me on Instagram at @the.bloom.coach to learn more and snag a spot in my group coaching program!

    Ep 181: Failure Tolerance

  3. Jul 17

    Ep 180: The Blueprint

    What are you actually building? Not reacting to — building. Marie opens this episode with a summer reflection on the people you spend the most time with, and what it means to be truly intentional about who and what you let into your mind, your energy, and your week. From there, she gets into the concept she lives by and teaches inside the Moxie Mastermind: the Blueprint. Two focused priorities — one for contribution, one for life force — that hand you back the reins of your own life and point you toward the things that actually light you up. If you've ever had that quiet, uncomfortable thought of is this all there is? — this episode is for you. What you'll learn in this episode: Why energy acclimation is real, and how to be intentional about the rooms, relationships, and conversations you put yourself in — instead of just saying yes to whatever approaches youThe two-priority Blueprint Marie uses inside the Moxie Mastermind every six months — one goal for your contribution to the world, one for pure joy, adventure, and self-expressionWhat a Misogi is (thank you, Jessie Itzler) and why setting a goal purely for fun and aliveness is just as important as your big professional swingWhy "if you have more than three priorities, you have none" — and what it costs you to stay scatteredHow women are socialized to say yes to all the small things, hold everything for everyone, and never make the big moves toward the thing that's actually theirs to makeWhy your brain's negativity bias and your tendency to over-serve everyone around you are the same problem — and require the same intentional solutionHow the Blueprint works with your subconscious: when you choose a direction, your brain starts filtering for it and pulling you toward it — instead of keeping you stuck in reaction mode, replaying the pastThe difference between avoiding what you don't want and actively choosing what you do — and why only one of those creates real changeWhat essentialism looks like in practice: letting go of everything — habits, people, scrolling, energy drains — that doesn't code you toward the result you're creatingWhat becomes possible in just six months when you have a Blueprint, a community, and accountability — moves, funding, horses, healed marriages, inner peace, and wild things Marie has watched happen inside the MoxieThe Moxie Mastermind is enrolling for the September cohort now. The group is incredible, the Blueprint process is the core of how we work, and spots are limited. Find the application at dothebloom.com. Mentioned in this episode:  Moxie Applications at dothebloom.comJessie Itzler’s Big Ass Calendar Essentialism by Greg McKown Brain buckets Bloom Your Mind Episode How to connect with Marie: On the Web | The Local BloomInstagram: @the.bloom.coachAll Things Marie on LinkTreeJOIN THE BLOOM ROOM! We'll take all these ideas and apply them to our lives. Follow me on Instagram at @the.bloom.coach to learn more and snag a spot in my group coaching program!

    Ep 180: The Blueprint

  4. Jul 10

    Ep 179: The Metaphoric Two Step

    What if you could transform a hard, spinning, overwhelming emotion into something useful — in as little as thirty seconds? This episode teaches exactly that. The Metaphoric Two-Step is a tool rooted in Marie's training as a hypnotist, and it's applicable to anyone at any age. It's how she helped her son navigate panic attacks around bullying in kindergarten. It's what left her mom — a retired therapist who literally wrote her thesis on the use of metaphor in psychology — completely astounded. And it's a practice Marie returns to again and again to clear her emotional space so her mind can follow. What you'll learn in this episode: Why dropping into your body first thing in the morning — before trying to "fix" your mindset — is the move that actually worksHow emotions carry data, and what you miss when you shove them down or act them out instead of feeling themThe 90-second practice for sensing where an emotion lives in your body and using metaphor to understand it more deeplyHow metaphor allows the brain to access both hemispheres, decreasing anxiety and lowering resistance to the emotional state Why allowing emotions should be followed by alchemizing them into something that serves you How to use visualization to transform that metaphor into something more helpful — a keystone image you can return to anytime, anywhereHow to anchor that image to invoke it and change your emotional state at any time you need to Why this tool works for kids, adults, seasoned therapists, and everyone in between. (And yes — it's a little bit like the Boggart in Harry Potter. If you know, you know.)Mentioned in this episode: The Metaphoric Two-Step tool (from Marie's hypnosis training)Harry Potter — the Boggart sceneReady to go deeper? The Moxie Mastermind is enrolling for the September cohort now. Find the application at dothebloom.com. How to connect with Marie: On the Web | The Local BloomInstagram: @the.bloom.coachAll Things Marie on LinkTreeJOIN THE BLOOM ROOM! We'll take all these ideas and apply them to our lives. Follow me on Instagram at @the.bloom.coach to learn more and snag a spot in my group coaching program!

    Ep 179: The Metaphoric Two Step

  5. Jul 3

    Ep 178: Own Your Past, Own Your Present, Own Your Future

    In this episode, Marie goes straight to the part most people skip when they're trying to make an idea real — that moment when the voices in your head start telling you it's not realistic, you don't see anyone else doing it, and you're not sure if you have what it takes. She breaks down exactly why your brain does this (threat scan, negativity bias, a regenerative thought loop you didn't sign up for), why every single person you admire had to generate belief from scratch, and the three-part practice that turns that belief into rocket fuel: own your past, own your present, own your future.  Marie shares her own story — how finding her moxie the first time saved her life, and how finding it again completely rebuilt it — and invites you to do the same. What You'll Learn What "making an idea real" actually means — any change you're making or vision you're bringing to lifeWhy your brain threat-scans every new idea and how negativity bias quietly stacks "evidence" against youThe truth that you won't see external evidence for what's possible yet — and why that gap is the perfect opening for youWhy social definitions of worth (beauty, affluence, power) are a moving target across cultures and centuries — and why letting them define you is a trapA three-step ownership practice that turns the story or your past into the engine for what's nextHow a hero’s journey format can help you hijack negative thinking about the past and help you accept the circumstances of what you’ve lived through How to frame your mindset around the present so that it fuels your motivation every day The practice of using our narrative of the past and present to supercharge our belief in the futureHow internally articulating our stories of the past, present and future sets us up for creating buy-in externally as we share our ideas How claiming the things you think you’re supposed to hide about yourself create more freedom, authenticity and connection How becoming obsessed with the life you’ve built sets you free to love and live The Practice: Own Your Past, Present, and Future 1. Own your past. Write your own story of it. Say the thing you think you're not supposed to say out loud. Claim the wildness, the weirdness, the part you think you're supposed to be embarrassed about. When you say it, other people get to say theirs too. 2. Own your present. What are you up to now? Why do you love it? Why are you proud of it? What part are you in right now, and why are you obsessed with it? Take responsibility for where you are and what you're up to — instead of getting pulled into imposter syndrome, comparison, and not-enoughness. 3. Own your future. The possibility you're standing up for. The work you love to do and be about in the world. Write it, share it, own it. Let it fuel you. This Week's Invitation Sit down and write your own story — past, present, and future — in your own words. Say the thing you think you're not supposed to say. Become obsessed with the part you're in right now. Stand up for the possibility you're walking toward. Then share it. Because the world needs you, and that starts with falling in love with yourself, your story, who you are right now, and where you're going next. Memorable Quotes "Your job is to believe in yourself and your vision more than you believe the thoughts in your mind telling you not to.""Both are equally true. You won't pull this off. It's inevitable that you'll pull this off. Choose the one that's more helpful to you.""If you don't see people that look just like you doing what you want to do, in the way you want to do it — that's not proof it's not realistic. That's the perfect gap in the world for you.""Finding my moxie saved my life the first time. The second time, it completely changed it.""I'm obsessed with your story. Are you?"“The world needs you. That starts with falling in love with yourself, your story, who you are right now, and where you're going next.” How to connect with Marie: On the Web | The Local BloomInstagram: @the.bloom.coachAll Things Marie on LinkTreeJOIN THE BLOOM ROOM! We'll take all these ideas and apply them to our lives. Follow me on Instagram at @the.bloom.coach to learn more and snag a spot in my group coaching program!

    Ep 178: Own Your Past, Own Your Present, Own Your Future

  6. Jun 19

    Ep 177: Deciding on Purpose

    In this episode, Marie unpacks one of the most powerful habits a person can build: deciding on purpose and ahead of time. She kicks things off with a behind-the-scenes look at the summer bucket list she just built with her family — and why that one ritual is setting them up for a collaborative, empowered, unforgettable summer where they actually get to know each other better and make real decisions about how to spend the moments of their precious life together.  From there, she shares why her recent Time Whispering class is getting rave reviews (spoiler: it's the deciding on purpose ahead of time of it all), and then walks through exactly how this practice changes everything — from how you eat and move, to how you build your career, to how you show up in your relationships, to how much of your life you actually feel present for. What You'll Learn Why "in the moment brain" is reactive, negativity-biased, and almost always defaults to what's easiestHow deciding ahead of time lets you pull from your wisest mind — the one that actually has your best interest at heartWhy goals are never really about accomplishing the goal — they're about who you become as you reach for themA repeatable process for making decisions, recommitting to them, and moving through the obstacles that show up along the wayThe truth that you're always deciding — either on purpose from your highest mind, or by default in reaction to whatever life throws at youHow to apply this to the real, daily places it matters most: diet and exercise, career, relationships, and time with the people you love Mentioned in This Episode Time Whispering Course — the recent class is getting rave reviews because it puts this exact principle into practice. Grab the course to get the full resource and start deciding ahead of time about your time.The Moxie Mixer — Marie shares details on the upcoming Moxie Mixer event and how to grab your ticket. Listen in for the link and how to claim a spot.Summer Bucket List — try this with your family or even solo. It's a small ritual with an outsized return on your summer.How to connect with Marie: On the Web | The Local BloomInstagram: @the.bloom.coachAll Things Marie on LinkTreeJOIN THE BLOOM ROOM! We'll take all these ideas and apply them to our lives. Follow me on Instagram at @the.bloom.coach to learn more and snag a spot in my group coaching program!

    Ep 177: Deciding on Purpose

  7. Jun 12

    Ep 176: Be Your Own Ride Or Die

    Marie is back from a week in the Catskills (and a stroll down the High Line) and diving into a concept that keeps showing up everywhere in her life — in her therapy, at the retreat she just led, in her coaching groups, and in the books she's been reading. When she mentioned it in both the Bloom Room and Moxie, the room lit up. So here it is. The idea is simple and radical: the person who should be your ultimate ride or die isn't out there. She’s you. We start with talking about how parents are doing in the transition between the school year and summer, how to  What you'll learn in this episode: What it actually means to be your own ride or die — and why Marie sees it as the heart of living from your MoxieHow to protect your time and energy through regenerative design — and why access to you is something people earn, not automatically receiveWhy living authentically (even when it's uncomfortable) is one of the most powerful forms of self-loyaltyWhat "shame slaying" is and how radical honesty robs shame of its powerHow to be a cycle breaker — and why you probably won't get positive reinforcement for it (and why that's okay)The difference between loving someone and giving them an all-access pass to your time and energyHow to be the compassionate observer of yourself when you're struggling — and what the "I got you" energy really looks like from the inside outMentioned in this episode: The Way of Integrity by Martha BeckThe Limit Does Not Exist by Shoshana RavenThe Time Whispering course (now available for purchase)The Love and Moxie course (now available for purchase)The Moxie Mastermind — and the June 25th Mixer in San DiegoFind Marie at dothebloom.com or @the.bloom.coach on InstagramHow to connect with Marie: On the Web | The Local BloomInstagram: @the.bloom.coachAll Things Marie on LinkTreeJOIN THE BLOOM ROOM! We'll take all these ideas and apply them to our lives. Follow me on Instagram at @the.bloom.coach to learn more and snag a spot in my group coaching program!

    Ep 176: Be Your Own Ride Or Die

  8. May 29

    Ep 175: The Triumvirate of Belief

    You can have a bulletproof work plan. You can take massive action every single day. You can believe in the impact your idea will have once it's out in the world. And you can still stay completely stuck — or keep repeating the same frustrating patterns without understanding why. In this episode, Marie introduces one of her favorite client exercises, rooted in the regenerative design process: the Triumvirate of Belief. It's a framework that examines the three essential parts of bringing any idea into the world — you, your idea, and the people who will receive it — and surfaces the hidden beliefs that are quietly running the show. In This Episode Marie digs into why belief work isn't just about believing in yourself — it's about examining what you believe about all three players in the regenerative design process. When any one of those beliefs is off, sneaky, or sitting just below the surface of your awareness, it will find a way out. It will sabotage your action, stall your momentum, or keep you spinning your wheels in confusion. This isn't abstract or theoretical. Marie walks through how the Triumvirate of Belief shows up across the real areas of life where we're most often trying to make change: Relationships — and the ideas we have about how to improve themBusiness, entrepreneurship, leadership, and careers — and what we believe about the ideas we're putting into those spacesHabit change and personal health — and what's really running the show when we can't seem to make a change stickThen she shares the exercise itself — a simple, practice you can apply anytime, to any idea, in any area of life. It's the exercise Marie's Moxie Mastermind students recently called one of their favorites, and once you try it, you'll understand why. The Three Parts of the Triumvirate 1. Beliefs About Yourself What do you actually believe about who you are, what you're capable of, and whether you deserve to put this idea into the world? These beliefs set the ceiling — or the sky. 2. Beliefs About Your Idea How do you really feel about what you're creating or pursuing? Is it good enough? Is it ready? Is it worth people's time, money, and attention? Your hidden beliefs here will show up in how — or whether — you share it. 3. Beliefs About Your Audience What do you believe about the people who will receive, use, buy, or be changed by what you're putting out? Do you trust them? Do you believe they want what you have? These beliefs shape everything about how you show up for them. The Practice A belief that lives under the surface doesn't stay there. It sneaks out and undermines everything you're building — in your relationships, your work, your health, your leadership. The only way through is to look directly at it. This episode's exercise is simple enough to do right now and powerful enough to change everything. Once you can see your beliefs clearly across all three areas, you can start replacing the ones that aren't serving you with thoughts and perspectives that actually move you forward. Mentioned in this episode The Regenerative Design Process — Bloom Your Mind PodcastRegenerative Thought Cycles - Bloom Your Mind Podcast Bridge Thinking — Bloom Your Mind PodcastHow to connect with Marie: On the Web | The Local BloomInstagram: @the.bloom.coachAll Things Marie on LinkTreeJOIN THE BLOOM ROOM! We'll take all these ideas and apply them to our lives. Follow me on Instagram at @the.bloom.coach to learn more and snag a spot in my group coaching program!

    Ep 175: The Triumvirate of Belief
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4.9
out of 5
92 Ratings

About

We all think and talk about what we’ll do someday, but what if that someday could start right now? If there’s a change you want to make in yourself, in your life, or an idea that you have that you want to make real … this podcast is for you. After 20 years leading and coaching innovators, Certified Coach Marie McDonald is breaking down how great change-makers think so you can do what they do and take your ideas out of your head and into the world where they belong. We’ll teach you how to stop trying to get other people to like you and your ideas, and how to be your own biggest fan instead. You’ll learn how to ditch the drama and have fun with failure, to stop taking things personally, and to get out of anxiety and into decisive action when you don’t even know how or what you’re doing yet. Marie has used this work to go from bar tender to Vice President, to create the family of her dreams, and to start a multiple six-figure business from scratch within eight months. Whether you want to change a relationship, a habit, write a book or start a movement, it starts here on The Bloom Your Mind Podcast. Find me on Instagram @the.bloom.coach to get a daily mind-bloom, and join my weekly list. See you inside!

Information

  • Creator
    Marie McDonald
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    184
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Bloom Your Mind
  • Show Website
    Bloom Your Mind

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