Chaotic Compass Podcast

Stefanie Wainwright
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I'm Stefanie – mom of four, business owner, podcast host, and professional chaos navigator. I created Chaotic Compass to give voice to the messy middle—the part no one posts about, where you're holding everything together with a hair tie and hope. This space is for the women who are tired of pretending and ready to start living with more honesty, more alignment, and more freedom. Whether I'm behind the mic, wrangling fishing rods (or kids), or deep in a being the unpaid uber during an existential crisis, I'm here to share the real, raw, and ridiculous truths of life so you feel a little less alone in your own chaos. Welcome aboard—I promise, we might be messy, but we’re moving forward.

  1. 12/11/2025

    ️ EPISODE 110 — If You’re a Husband, Listen Up: Navigating the Emotional Labor of the Holidays

    🎙️ EPISODE 110 — If You’re a Husband, Listen Up: Navigating the Emotional Labor of the Holidays The holidays are officially here… which means I’m out here juggling 12,000 invisible tasks, three potential meltdowns (usually my own), and the emotional blueprint of the entire family — while the husbands of the world are like: “What time do we leave again?” 😅 This week’s episode of Chaotic Compass is my friendly-but-not-really PSA for husbands, partners, and the men who desperately need a gentle (or not-so-gentle) nudge to step the hell up this season. So grab a drink 🍹, take a breath 😮‍💨, and let’s break down the reality of holiday emotional labor — loud, honest, and absolutely sprinkled with F-bombs. 💥 ✨ Inside This Episode 🎄 Why the holidays send ME (and women everywhere) into full-on mental load overload 🧠 The “invisible work” I carry during this season: planning, remembering, anticipating, preventing chaos before it explodes 🚫 The wrong kind of help I see men give (garage organizing, attic leaf-blowing, random ADHD side quests) 😑 Why the phrase “Just tell me what to do” makes me want to throat-punch someone 💸 The financial pressure + NASA-level gift-planning I somehow become responsible for every December 😵‍💫 Rage-baiting kids, holiday mom-guilt, judgmental relatives, and why potatoes made with 2% milk are JUST FINE 🍒 My newest cider obsession: Cherry Treasure from Sly Clyde — fruity-pebble-in-a-cup bliss 👀 The red flags husbands miss: the “I’m fine” lie, the meltdown simmer, the “don’t ask me one more question” energy 💆‍♀️ And what I (and most women) ACTUALLY need from partners during the holidays: initiative, consistency, ownership, appreciation This episode is raw, hilarious, wildly relatable, and probably uncomfortably accurate. And honestly? If you're a husband and you’re mad… it’s probably because it’s true. 😉 💡 Husbands, Partners, Ryan… Listen Up If you want to change the entire vibe of your December, here’s what works 👇 🧹 If you see it, do it.🔄 Consistency > panic-cleaning on Christmas Eve.📝 Own your task fully. Not halfway. Not “oops I forgot.”💬 Show appreciation. Tell her you see how much she does.💆‍♀️ Buy her the damn massage.(And no — not your version of a massage. I mean a gift card + you taking the kids.) 🧡 Real Talk: What I Need After the Holiday Storm ✨ A nap✨ A margarita✨ A quiet drive alone✨ A clean floor✨ And ONE DAY — just ONE — where no one asks me where the batteries are 😭 📣 Share the Chaos If this episode made you feel seen, called out, validated, or just cracked you up… share it. Seriously, send it to: 💌 Your husband👯‍♀️ Your sister🫶 Your bestie🙃 Every overwhelmed mom you know Your shares and reviews help Chaotic Compass grow — and help keep my cider fund stocked. 🍒✨ 🧭 Stay Real, Stay Chaotic Thanks for tuning in, babes.Until next time: stay real, stay chaotic, and keep a drink close. 🥂

  2. 11/28/2025

    ️ EPISODE 109 — 40 Things I’ve Learned by 40 (Part 2): The Clarity Half

    🎙️ EPISODE 109 — 40 Things I’ve Learned by 40 (Part 2): The Clarity Half Your girl is officially in her 40s (still wild to say 😅), and we’re back with the second half of this birthday series — the grown-woman, softer-but-still-chaotic, “okay but here’s what we’re NOT doing anymore” half. Last week was the messy half.This week? 👉 The clarity half. 👉 The “wow, therapy would’ve helped” half. 👉 The “I finally learned the lesson instead of repeating it” half. ✨ Fresh off the emotional hangover of Part 1 — and fueled by my favorite drink that I’ve officially named “The Eff-It” (sugar-free watermelon vodka + Red Bull, because balance) — I’m diving into the 20 things I’ve learned after the smoke cleared, the chaos settled, and I finally stopped sprinting through my life like it was a fire drill. 🔥😅 ✨ Inside This Episode We’re unpacking the grown woman clarity — the lessons that hit different at 40, like: 💙 learning when a season needs softness vs strength💙 taking up emotional + physical space without apologizing💙 people-pleasing as self-abandonment (my Roman Empire, honestly)💙 giving fewer people access to the real you💙 wanting more without feeling ungrateful💙 why “no” is a whole sentence (no essays, no PowerPoints)💙 realizing you cannot be the glue, duct tape, AND emotional support human💙 breaking out of comfort zones that started feeling like cages💙 slowing down after a lifetime of chaos💙 finally meeting the version of myself I’ve been chasing for years It’s honest, emotional, sarcastic, slightly unhinged, and full of clarity I wish I’d figured out a decade ago. 😂 🍹 This Week’s Sip I’m sipping on The Eff-It — sugar-free watermelon vodka + my ride-or-die Red Bull.Warm, summery, caffeinated chaos in a cup. 10/10 recommend. 🍉⚡(Also, someone PLEASE support my dream of opening a nap clinic.) 🧠 Why This Episode Matters Midlife clarity doesn’t show up all at once — it sneaks in through breakdowns, quiet car rides, late-night realizations, and those “WTF am I doing?” moments we all pretend we don’t have. These lessons came from:🌪️ blended family chaos🌪️ motherhood burnout🌪️ marriage growing pains🌪️ rediscovering myself🌪️ breaking patterns I didn’t even realize I was repeating And if you’re navigating midlife, identity shifts, overstimulation, emotional labor, or just trying to figure out who the hell you are now… this episode is for you. 💙 🌈 Big Takeaway This Week You are allowed to grow.You are allowed to want more.You are allowed to change — even if people around you don’t get it. Clarity isn’t a switch… it’s a process.And girl, we’re in the process. ✨ 🎧 Listen In Pour your drink, take a breath, unclench your jaw, and settle in.The clarity era has entered the chat. 💙✨ 💬 If This Episode Hit Home… Send it to a friend, leave a review, or just nod silently in the Target parking lot — whatever feels right.Either way, thank you for navigating 40 with me. 💙 Stay real. Stay chaotic. Keep a drink close.— Stef 🍹✨

  3. 11/14/2025

    ️ EPISODE 108 — 40 Things I’ve Learned by 40 (Part 1): The Messy Half

    🎙️ EPISODE 108 — “40 Things I’ve Learned by 40 (Part 1): The Messy Half” Your girl is turning 40 on Tuesday (what the actual hell 😅), so we’re kicking off a two-part birthday series where I break down the real, raw, and ridiculously honest things I’ve learned on my way to the big 4-0. This week?👉 The messy half.👉 The “why did no one warn me adulthood was like this?” half.👉 The “I’m tired because life keeps lifing” half. Fresh off my birthday trip to Austin — complete with flight delays, Texas heat that smacked me in the face, and a two-hour tarmac sit — I’m back with a drink in hand and a whole lot of midlife awareness to unload. 🍹🔥 ✨ Inside This Episode We’re diving into the first 20 things I’ve learned before turning 40 — the unfiltered, chaotic truths like: 💙 carrying the emotional load for everyone💙 why peace feels uncomfortable when you grew up in chaos💙 the reality of communication (and why I’m not a mind reader)💙 overstimulation disguised as anger💙 friendships that fade without drama💙 rest, rage, boundaries, and the mental load of motherhood💙 how overwhelm is a season, not a personality trait No shame. No sugarcoating. Just real talk, a little sarcasm, and a ton of “holy crap… same.” 🍉 This Week’s Sip I’m cracking open Austin Eastciders Watermelon Imperial — a fave I didn’t get to try in Austin because apparently their taproom is gone?? (Rude.)Sweet, crisp, and zero “dry champagne yeast” aftertaste. 10/10 would drink again. 🍉✨ 🧠 Why This Episode Matters Midlife comes with layers: motherhood, marriage, work, emotional labor, identity shifts, overstimulation, and this weird pressure to “have it all figured out.”Spoiler: No one does.But we can figure it out together — one drink, one meltdown, and one chaotic episode at a time. 💙 🌪️ Big Takeaway This Week Overwhelmed isn’t who you are — it’s the season you’re in.And seasons change. (Even if your kids’ after-school activities don’t. 😩) 🎧 Listen In Pour your drink, take a breath, and settle in.Part 2 drops next week with the clearer, grown-woman-energy half — the “I survived all that chaos and came out wiser” version of me. (Shocking, I know. 😂) 💬 If This Episode Hit Home… Share it with a friend, leave a review, or scream into the void — whatever feels right.Either way, I appreciate you being here in the chaos with me. 💙 Stay real. Stay chaotic. Keep a drink close.— Stef 🍹✨

  4. 10/31/2025

    ️ Episode 107 — The Monsters in My Mind: Navigating the Stories I Tell Myself

    🎙️ Episode 107 — The Monsters in My Mind: Navigating the Stories I Tell Myself Description (SEO-Optimized): This week on Chaotic Compass, we’re not talking about haunted houses — we’re talking about the real horror story: our own minds. 👀 In this Halloween-themed episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the mental monsters that love to show up uninvited — Overthinking Olivia, Guilt Gremlin, Comparison Karen, and Perfectionist Polly. These are the voices that whisper “you’re behind,” “you’re too much,” “you should be doing more.” I’m diving into how fear disguises itself as busyness, how chaos can become a weird form of comfort, and how I’ve started naming and facing those inner voices instead of letting them run the show. Because most of the things that scare us aren’t even real — they’re stories we’ve told ourselves. If you’ve ever overanalyzed a text, felt guilty for resting, or convinced yourself you’re not doing enough — this one’s for you. Grab your drink, pull up a chair by the fire, and let’s navigate the monsters in our minds together. 🧭✨ 💭 In This Episode: The four mental monsters that love to take over your thoughts How fear hides behind “being productive” Why chaos can feel safer than calm The truth about overthinking and self-doubt How to name your fears and take back control of your story 🔥 Key Takeaways: Most of what we fear is a story we’ve created — not reality. You can’t out-run your thoughts, but you can face them with compassion. When you name your fear, you shrink it. Rest, calm, and joy are not rewards — they’re requirements. You’re the one holding the flashlight. 🧭 Connect with Chaotic Compass 🎧 Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | chaoticcompass.com 📸 Follow the chaos on Instagram: @chaoticcompasspodcast 💌 Join the email list for real-talk updates & behind-the-scenes chaos

  5. 10/30/2025

    ️ Episode 106 — The Art of Doing Nothing (Badly): Navigating the Fear of Slowing Down

    🎙️ Episode 106 — “The Art of Doing Nothing (Badly): Navigating the Fear of Slowing Down” Series: Scary Things I’ve Learned in 2025 Scary Truth #2: Resting is harder than working. 💬 What It’s About If being vulnerable with other people is scary, try being vulnerable with yourself. This week I’m turning the chaos inward and talking about something that makes my skin crawl: slowing down. Because apparently I’m addicted to doing shit. From tying my worth to productivity, to feeling guilty when I actually get sick, to realizing my nervous system literally panics when life gets too quiet — yeah, this episode gets real. So if you’ve ever said “I should be resting” and then immediately started folding laundry, you’re in good company. Grab your drink (Tito’s and Sprite for me tonight) and let’s figure out why the calm feels so damn unsafe. 🧠 We’re Diving Into The science of why chaos feels normal (hello adrenaline junkies) Generational “rest is earned” BS we all inherited How my brain turns “self-care day” into laundry day Tiny ways to actually handle calm without spiraling And yes… the great Red Bull shortage of 2025 🍑 ✨ Takeaway You don’t have to earn peace. You just have to stop outrunning it. It’s not laziness — it’s maintenance. And sometimes the hardest thing you can do for yourself is nothing. 📲 Join the Chaos 😂 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts 💌 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it ⭐ Leave a review if this one hit a nerve (or made you laugh-cry) ➡️ Next week: Scary Thing #3: Monsters In Our Minds Stay chaotic, stay kind, and maybe just listen a little better. 💙🧭

  6. 10/17/2025

    ️ Episode 105: Why Relationships Are Terrifying: Navigating What Women Really Want

    🎙️ Episode 105: Why Relationships Are Terrifying: Navigating What Women Really Want 💀 Love, Communication & Trying Not to Throat-Punch Your Partner Before 8 A.M. Hey friends 👋 It’s spooky season, and I’m kicking off a brand-new series called “Scary Things I’ve Learned in 2025.” And let me tell you… we’re starting with the scariest of them all — relationships. 😱 From dishwasher diplomacy and emotional mind-reading to the phrase “I’m fine” (aka the stuff of horror movies), I’m diving into what women actually want — and why communication can feel like a haunted house sometimes. 💬🧠 So grab your drink 🍷 (or coffee ☕… or vodka-Red Bull if it’s that kind of day), take a deep breath, and let’s navigate this messy, hilarious ride called love. ❤️‍🔥 ✨ Episode Highlights: 💡 It’s not the big stuff — We don’t need grand gestures or fireworks 💥… we just want you to follow through and take something off our mental load 🧠💪 🗣️ Communication isn’t talking — Sometimes we just need to vent. No spreadsheets, no PowerPoints, no “solutions.” Just listen. 👂 💌 Consistency > Confetti — Reliability and effort are way sexier than surprise flowers. 🌹 🚨 Silence isn’t peace — When she stops talking, she’s not calm… she’s detaching. 😬 🛑 Safety > Security — We don’t need heroes with tool belts 🧰 — we need partners who make us feel safe to be emotional and messy. 💬 Vulnerability is terrifying — Love means being seen — and that’s the real spooky part. 👀 🍸 What’s in My Cup This week’s drink: “True Eff-It” — watermelon Red Bull + vodka 🍉⚡ A chaotic classic that’s been fueling my 2025. 💬 Let’s Be Real Love evolves. Communication’s messy. None of us have it 100% figured out — and that’s okay. We just want to be chosen, even on the hard days. 💞 📲 Tune In, Laugh, and Send It to Your Partner 😂 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts 💌 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it ⭐ Leave a review if this one hit a nerve (or made you laugh-cry) ➡️ Next week: Scary Thing #2 — The Art of Doing Nothing Badly 😅 Stay chaotic, stay kind, and maybe just listen a little better. 💙🧭

  7. 10/10/2025

    ️ 104:September Snapshots: Navigating Cold Snaps, Birthday Chaos, and Real-Life Marriage Work

    🎙️ 104:September Snapshots: Navigating Cold Snaps, Birthday Chaos, and Real-Life Marriage Work In this month’s recap, Stefanie dives into the chaos that was September — from a freezing Labor Day weekend in the Outer Banks ❄️ to back-to-back birthday madness 🎂, another concert adventure with her daughter 🎤, and a whirlwind Atlanta work trip with Ryan that somehow doubled as their anniversary getaway 💍. She gets real about what marriage looks like beyond the highlight reels — the exhaustion, the silence, the small gestures that still matter, and choosing each other even when it’s messy ❤️‍🩹. Plus, a shout-out to her favorite cideries 🍎 (Atlanta Hard Cider Co. and a future Austin stop 🎉), her thoughts on the government shutdown 💼, and prepping for Virginia’s next nor’easter 🌧️. Grab your drink 🍷, take a breath, and let’s navigate this hot-and-cold chaos together. ✨ Episode Highlights: • 🥶 Labor Day in Buxton – when your “last summer hurrah” turns into a chilly storm. • 🎉 Birthday double-header – teenage squeals, flower bars, and family cheesecake traditions. • 🎤 Concert chaos – road-tripping to see Conan Gray in Charlotte with Kylie and surviving the screaming. • 🧳 Atlanta adventures – work trip meets anniversary getaway: speakeasies (https://www.redphonebooth.com/locations/ga/atlanta), tiny rental cars, and overpriced drinks. • 💍 Real talk about marriage – what “choosing each other” looks like after 10 years together. • 🍎 Cider love – Atlanta Hard Cider Co. review and a preview of her Austin birthday plans. • 💼 Government shutdown reflections – and why it’s hitting local families hard. • 🌧️ Nor’easter prep – because of course there’s a storm to end the month. 📍 Mentioned in This Episode: 🍏 Atlanta Hard Cider Co. – atlantahardcider.com ☎️ Red Phone Booth Speakeasy – redphonebooth.com 🌸 The Thirsty Flower Boutique (Yorktown, VA) 🎶 Conan Gray Concert – Charlotte, NC 🦪 Ocracoke Oyster Company Let’s Connect! 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform.💻 Visit me at Chaotic Compass.📱 Follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.✉️ DM me or drop your chaos stories—I’d love to share a laugh with you! Support the Podcast: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and share it with a friend! Your support keeps Chaotic Compass going! 💙

  8. 09/26/2025

    ️ 103: Is It the Universe Testing Me or Just Chaos? Navigating Signs, Synchronicities & Setbacks

    🎙️ Episode 103: Is It the Universe Testing Me or Just Coincidence and Chaos? Navigating Signs, Synchronicities & Setbacks Okay, real talk—have you ever wondered if the universe is testing you, or if life is just one big cluster of chaos? Because SAME. 🙋‍♀️ In this episode of Chaotic Compass, I’m trying to figure out if the random crap in my life—like rainstorms at the worst moment, nails in my tires, constant interruptions, and seeing 1234 everywhere—are actual signs from the universe… or just the joy of midlife motherhood and adulting. I’m diving into: ✨ The little (and not-so-little) setbacks that make me question my sanity ✨ Angel numbers, synchronicities, and whether they actually mean anything ✨ The chaos of raising kids, running businesses, working full-time, and still trying to “level up” ✨ My love/hate relationship with spirituality, journaling, and trusting my gut ✨ How I’m learning to pause, reframe, and laugh through the absolute madness This is not a “how-to” episode—it’s me, messy and unfiltered, processing out loud with a drink in hand. 🥂 If you’ve ever felt like you’re juggling way too much, questioning if the universe is sending you signs, or just wondering if it’s all coincidence and chaos, you’re gonna feel right at home here. Because at the end of the day, the universe might be testing us… or maybe life is just messy AF. Either way, I’m choosing laughter, community, and (of course) a cold cider. Cheers! 🌀🍑 Let’s Connect! 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform.💻 Visit me at Chaotic Compass.📱 Follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.✉️ DM me or drop your chaos stories—I’d love to share a laugh with you! Support the Podcast: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and share it with a friend! Your support keeps Chaotic Compass going! 💙

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About

I'm Stefanie – mom of four, business owner, podcast host, and professional chaos navigator. I created Chaotic Compass to give voice to the messy middle—the part no one posts about, where you're holding everything together with a hair tie and hope. This space is for the women who are tired of pretending and ready to start living with more honesty, more alignment, and more freedom. Whether I'm behind the mic, wrangling fishing rods (or kids), or deep in a being the unpaid uber during an existential crisis, I'm here to share the real, raw, and ridiculous truths of life so you feel a little less alone in your own chaos. Welcome aboard—I promise, we might be messy, but we’re moving forward.

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