Chasing Brighter Podcast: Choosing Real Over Perfect

Jessica Colarco and Kelly Fox
  • 5.0 (22)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

**2024 PODCAST OF THE YEAR WINNER: BEST FEMALE HOSTED PODCAST** Welcome to the Chasing Brighter podcast;  created as a guide to living brighter, more connected and real. Because real is the new perfect.  Are you ready to embrace the next chapter of your life with confidence and excitement? Whether you’re looking to reinvent your career, improve your health, deepen your relationships, or find your true purpose, Chasing Brighter is here to help. Join us each week as we bring you inspiring stories, expert interviews, and actionable tips to help you navigate the challenges and opportunities of midlife. From wellness and personal growth to connection and beyond, we’ve got you covered.

  1. 1D AGO

    The Unpaid Job Nobody Talks About: Invisible Labor

    This one is real. Before hitting record, Kelly shares something personal — her family is navigating health uncertainty with her father-in-law, and she's been quietly absorbing everything at home while her husband is pulled elsewhere. No ask for sympathy, just honesty. And it's exactly the kind of thing that never makes it onto a to-do list. This week, Jessica and Kelly get into invisible labor — the unpaid, unacknowledged work of managing, coordinating, anticipating, and holding everything together — and what carrying it silently actually costs you over time. In This Episode What invisible labor actually is (and why so many women have never heard the term) The difference between mental load and doing tasks — the doing can be shared, but the knowing often isn't Why invisible labor doesn't have to be about marriage and kids — it shows up in solo business ownership, caregiving, friendships, and more The specific kind of resentment that builds when your contribution goes chronically unseen — and what it signals clinically Jessica's honest story: 20 years into marriage before the mental load genuinely shifted, and what actually changed Raising sons who understand what it takes — and breaking generational patterns around who holds the household Why naming it out loud — even just saying it — makes it feel lighter The identity cost: when your own needs start feeling like luxury items that get cut from the budget Kelly's mental load audit (15 minutes, no editing, just get it all out) Jessica's Brighter Move: find one thing you've been managing alone and ask for it to be shared — not handed off, just shared Brighter Move of the Week Find one thing on your list that you've been managing alone and make one specific ask to share it. That's it. Start there. Mental Load Audit Got 15 minutes? Write down everything you're currently tracking, managing, or holding in your head. Don't edit it — just get it out. Looking at the full list is often the first time we give ourselves credit for how much we're actually carrying. Next Week We're closing out April with something a little different — hot takes. No caveats, no softening. Just what Jessica and Kelly actually think about everything they've covered this month: energy, capacity, invisible labor, all of it. You don't want to miss it. Free Download 🎁 Are You Living Your Values or Someone Else's? — a free values clarity guide with 5 honest questions and 5 tips for living more aligned. Free when you sign up for our newsletter. 👉 chasingbrighter.com Connect With Us 📲 Instagram: @chasingbrighter 🌐 chasingbrighter.com invisible labor, mental load, cognitive labor, unpaid labor women, second shift, emotional labor, women and mental health, invisible work, household management, mental load in marriage, mental load audit, resentment in relationships, burnout women, caregiver burnout, women holding it together, motherhood and identity, working women mental load, raising boys, generational patterns, solo business owner burnout, women's podcast, chasing brighter podcast, invisible work in partnerships, sharing the mental load, women and resentment, naming your feelings, capacity overwhelm

    17 min

  2. 4D AGO

    Super Woman Diaries #10: Spring Vibes, Jelly Shoes & Trader Joe's Tote Chaos

    No agenda, no framework — just Jess and Kelly doing what they do best: talking real life. This week it's all about what we're actually wearing this season (barrel jeans turned cutoffs, gold Birkenstocks, and a strong prediction for the summer's biggest shoe trend), how to stay warm and somewhat cute when you live somewhere that goes from 40 to 70 degrees in 48 hours, and the completely unhinged Trader Joe's tote experience that somehow turned into a lesson about just getting in the line. Come for the fashion chat, stay for the chaos. In This Episode Jess's barrel jeans era — and why it lasted approximately five minutes before she grabbed the scissors Why jelly sandals and jelly flip-flops are about to be everywhere this summer (tortoise shell, specifically) Kelly's cold-weather layering system: merino-adjacent thermals, stretchy jeans, Sorel boots, and a Hunter coat that sold out everywhere Heated vests, heated gloves, heated pants — and the glowing logo that accidentally became a cold-weather parent uniform at every Chicago sports game Secondhand shopping smarter: The RealReal, Poshmark, and thrifting as a real strategy (not just a trend) Does your closet reflect your values? A quick riff on intentional spending, capsule wardrobes, and letting go of fast fashion The Trader Joe's spring tote situation — the line, the bins, the resellers, and the old woman with opinions about Takis "If there's a line, get in the line" — Kassidy Lynn Social's advice that honestly applies to life Free Download 🎁 Are You Living Your Values or Someone Else's? — a free values clarity guide with 5 honest questions and 5 real tips for living more aligned. Free when you sign up for our newsletter. 👉 chasingbrighter.com/newsletter Connect With Us 📲 Instagram: @chasingbrighter 🌐 chasingbrighter.com spring fashion women, summer shoe trends 2025, jelly sandals trend, barrel jeans, Dolce Vita sandals, cold weather layering, Sorel boots, Hunter coat, Trader Joe's tote bag, Trader Joe's spring totes, secondhand shopping, The RealReal, Poshmark, thrift shopping tips, capsule wardrobe, intentional spending, values and money, fast fashion alternatives, women's fashion podcast, lifestyle podcast for women, chasing brighter podcast, Superwoman Diaries, Kut from the Kloth, Merino wool thermals, heated vest, jorts trend, spring wardrobe

    18 min

  3. APR 9

    You're Not Failing. You're Running Out of Capacity.

    Have you ever looked at your week and thought, if I could just get more organized, I could handle all of this? In this episode, Jessica and Kelly get into a reframe that might be the most important mindset shift you make this month: the difference between a discipline problem and a capacity problem — and why confusing the two keeps so many high-achieving women stuck in a cycle of self-blame. Jessica opens with a real-life story about having three kids in three places at the same time and the moment she stopped calling it a personal failure. Because here's the truth: no amount of discipline puts you in two places at once. Capacity is real, it's finite, and it changes — and it's time we start working with that reality instead of against ourselves. In This Episode Why high-achieving women are especially prone to the "I just need to try harder" trap The crucial difference between a discipline problem and a capacity problem (and why it changes everything) How capacity actually works — it rises and falls based on rest, stress, season of life, and what you're carrying The myth of willpower: why white-knuckling through a capacity issue doesn't refill the tank Capability vs. obligation — you can be capable of something and still not be required to do it The two questions that point in completely different directions: "What can I do more?" vs. "What is asking too much of me right now?" A language swap that takes seconds and changes how you relate to your limits Kelly's daily capacity check-in practice (it's simpler than you think) A nod to Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman and the case for opting out Brighter Move of the Week A simple language swap: every time you catch yourself saying "I should be able to handle this," try replacing it with just — "This is a lot." No comparison. No justification. Just let it be a lot. Free Download 🎁 Are You Living Your Values or Someone Else's? — a free values clarity guide with 5 honest questions and 5 tips to help you start living more aligned with what actually matters to you. 👉 chasingbrighter.com — free when you sign up for our newsletter. Next Week We're talking about the work that never makes it onto any job description — invisible labor. The quiet, endless work that runs in the background of so many women's lives, and what it's actually costing beyond time and energy. (You may want to share that one with someone specific.) Connect With Us 📲 Instagram: @chasingbrighter 🌐 Website: chasingbrighter.com overwhelm, capacity, burnout prevention, women and mental health, high-achieving women, burnout recovery, energy management, mindset shift, self-compassion, overcommitment, limits, boundaries, values alignment, invisible load, mental load women, mom burnout, work-life balance women, people pleasing, podcast for women, productivity reframe, willpower myth, emotional bandwidth, doing too much, saying no, opting out, self-awareness, four thousand weeks, Oliver Burkeman, chasing brighter podcast

    14 min

  4. APR 6

    Super Woman Diaries #9: New Piercings, Signing Parties & Choosing to Just Live

    Jessica kicks off this Superwoman Diaries with a little confession — she got new ear piercings, and everything we learned in the '90s about aftercare was wrong. She shares what current piercing care actually looks like (hint: put down the peroxide and stop twisting!), why she and Kelly are both craving a refreshed look, and how it all connects to breaking free from "good girl" conditioning and finally just doing the things that feel like you. Plus — Gabby's last-minute commitment party came together in six days and it was everything. In this episode: Why Jessica got multiple new ear piercings (inspired by Michelle Obama, naturally) Old-school piercing care vs. what actually works: saline spray, no twisting, no peroxide Why ear piercings and tattoos feel like acts of identity and self-expression The connection to Untamed by Glennon Doyle and breaking free from "good girl" rules Raising teenagers — the joy, the roasting, and the Inside Out 2 feelings Gabby's surprise softball commitment party, pulled together in under a week Free Download Mentioned: Are You Living Your Values or Someone Else's? — a free values clarity guide. Sign up at chasingbrighter.com. Connect with us: Website & newsletter: chasingbrighter.com Instagram: @chasingbrighter Keywords: ear piercing aftercare, new ear piercings, piercing care tips, saline spray for piercings, midlife self-expression, living authentically, values alignment, breaking free from good girl conditioning, Glennon Doyle Untamed, raising teenagers, college softball commitment, Chasing Brighter podcast, women's lifestyle podcast, real over perfect, midlife women podcast, identity and self-discovery, choosing yourself

    14 min

  5. APR 2

    The Exhaustion That Sleep Can't Fix

    Jessica opens this month with something deeply personal — six years of intentional self-work, 40 pounds lost, a thriving practice, two podcasts, three kids in sports, and a life she genuinely loves. And yet. There are still days when something feels off. Not physically. Deeper. This week, she and Kelly name something that doesn't show up on any wellness checklist: the exhaustion that comes from holding things — schedules, emotional temperatures, everyone else's needs — and why that kind of tired is worth paying attention to. If you've ever snapped at someone, felt immediately guilty, and then felt even more depleted by the guilt itself — this episode was made for you. What We Talk About Why you can love your life and still be genuinely depleted by it The snap-guilt-deplete feedback loop (and why it's not a character flaw) The difference between physical exhaustion and the weight of invisible labor How depletion builds through accumulation — not crisis Why numbing (scrolling, binge-watching) doesn't actually restore you Real, honest things Kelly and Jess actually do when the system needs something it's not getting: journaling, canceling plans without guilt, opting out, asking for help, protecting sleep, choosing connection that energizes Your Brighter Move for the week: Where is my energy going? (No fixing required — just noticing) Free Download  📥 Are You Living Your Values or Someone Else's? A free values clarity guide with five honest questions and five tips for living more aligned. Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter at chasingbrighter.com/newsletter Connect With Us 📲 Follow us on socials: @chasingbrighter 🌐 Visit us at: chasingbrighter.com 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter + grab your free download: chasingbrighter.com/newsletter Next Week Why capable, high-functioning women keep hitting invisible walls — and why trying harder is genuinely the wrong answer. We're talking about capacity, and it quietly reframes everything. Don't miss it.   women's wellness podcast, energy and overwhelm, emotional exhaustion, invisible labor, mental load, burnout in women, how to restore energy, emotional labor, high-functioning exhaustion, women who do it all, values clarity, choosing real over perfect, bone-deep tired, energy management for women, overwhelm without crisis, Jessica Colarco, Kelly, Chasing Brighter podcast, midlife women, women's mental health, capacity and boundaries

    16 min

  6. MAR 30

    Super Woman Diaries #8: We Don't Watch the Oscars (And We're Not Sorry)

    Oscars season is here — and Jessica and Kelly haven't seen most of the movies. Oops. This week's Super Woman Diaries takes a fun detour into what the sisters are actually watching, reading, and loving right now. From Sinners to Bridgerton to Night Court reboots, they get real about how much streaming has changed pop culture, why prestige film culture doesn't hit the same anymore, and what it means to just... watch something fun without guilt. Oh, and there's a brief but passionate tangent about Anaconda. You're welcome. In This Episode: Why neither of them can keep up with Oscar nominees (and why that's totally fine) How streaming changed what "good" means — and who gets to decide The books they're reading right now (including one that made Jessica cry) What the family is watching together when you've got an 11-year-old, two teenagers, and two adults to please Kelly's deep dive into Slow Horses with Gary Oldman Jessica's obsession with Mr. Malcolm's List and why she loves what Bridgerton does with casting The Night Court reboot nobody expected to love — and then loved A spoiler about Ford vs. Ferrari that is very much deserved at this point Books Mentioned: The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell Wuthering Heights (and the film adaptation Kelly is hunting down) Ford vs. Ferrari (yes, there's a book) Shows & Movies Mentioned: Sinners (Ryan Coogler/Michael B. Jordan) Mr. Malcolm's List Bridgerton Slow Horses (Apple TV+) Victoria The Closer High Potential Night Court (reboot) St. Denis Medical Anaconda (2025, with Paul Rudd and Jack Black) Ford vs. Ferrari Jumanji franchise Outlander Connect with Us: 🌐 Read our latest blog posts and sign up for our newsletter: chasingbrighter.com/newsletter 📸 Instagram: @chasingbrighter 🎙️ New episodes every Monday and Thursday — subscribe so you never miss one! what to watch, what to stream, Oscar nominations, Oscars 2025, Bridgerton, book recommendations, women's podcast, pop culture podcast, Chasing Brighter, Superwoman Diaries, what we're reading, streaming recommendations, TV shows for women, books vs movies, real conversations, choosing real over perfect, female friendship, sisters podcast

    20 min

  7. MAR 26

    Real Systems for Real Life

    If you've ever bought a beautiful planner, built an elaborate system, or tried to replicate a perfectly organized pantry from Instagram — and quietly abandoned it two weeks later — this episode is for you. Jessica and Kelly get real about why picture-perfect organizational systems fail and what actually works instead: low-friction, flexible, forgiving systems built around your life, not someone else's highlight reel. In This Episode Why Instagram and Pinterest organization systems are built on unrealistic assumptions (consistent moods, predictable schedules, zero emergencies) The difference between aspirational systems and real ones — and why that distinction matters What "low friction" actually looks like: 10-minute anchor habits, three default dinners, 15-minute closing shifts The power of asking: What's the smallest version of this that would still move things forward? Habit stacking in real life — how to attach new habits to things you're already doing (hi, morning coffee) Kelly's simple meal planning shift: three meals a week + weekly grocery shopping only Jess's real-life systems: cubby shoes at the door, laying out clothes the night before, weekly family schedule meetings Energy check-ins: adapting your system to your actual capacity each day, not punishing yourself for being human "If your system collapses during stressful times, it's not a supportive system." — Kelly Take the Quiz 🎉 Not sure what kind of organizer you actually are? Take our free What's Your Organizational Style Quiz to find out if you're a visual organizer, a minimalist, a flexible stacker, or someone who thrives with a little structure. Get it free when you sign up for the Thrive Guide newsletter at 👉 chasingbrighter.com/newsletter Connect With Us 📲 Instagram & all socials: @chasingbrighter 🌐 chasingbrighter.com organization tips for real life, flexible organization systems, habit stacking, meal planning simple, morning routines that work, realistic productivity, Chasing Brighter podcast, organization quiz, women's lifestyle podcast, choosing real over perfect

    11 min

  8. MAR 23

    Super Woman Diaries #7: Non-Scale Victories, Hair Obsessions & the Method That Actually Works

    Jess and Kelly are back with another unfiltered Superwoman Diaries check-in — the kind of conversation you'd have with your best friend over coffee. This week they're celebrating real fitness wins that have nothing to do with the scale, getting into the truth about body transformation timelines (spoiler: it takes longer than social media wants you to believe), and going deep on a hair care rabbit hole featuring the Abbey Young method, the curly girl method, OUAI, K18, and a $14 Amazon find that might change your routine. In This Episode: Jess's non-scale victories: 16 burpees, a minute plank, and lunges without the wall — yes, really Kelly's brutal 30-minute core blast class and why she's finally stopped caring about being "the last one" Why body transformation realistically takes years — and why that's actually okay The longevity PSA you need to hear: what happens to your body after 65 if you're not investing in yourself now The Abbey Young Method — a multi-step hair care routine with drugstore products that has Jess's curls looking their best ever L'Oréal Elvive Glycolic Glossing Shampoo & Conditioner: the drugstore find that delivers salon-level softness OUAI Air Dry Foam: Kelly's honest review (the frizz is real) K18: both hosts agree — are they using it wrong? Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray: a $14 Amazon find Kelly swears has changed her hot tool game Why the best hair routine is your routine — not Abby Young's, not a TikToker's, yours Takeaway: Whether it's your fitness journey or your hair routine, the system that works best is the one that fits your real life. Stop chasing someone else's results on someone else's timeline. Keep showing up, keep adjusting, and celebrate the wins that actually matter. This Month's Freebie 🎉 Not sure what kind of organizer you are? Take our What's Your Organizational Style Quiz — a free, fun way to discover the system that actually fits your brain and your life (not someone else's Pinterest board). 👉 chasingbrighter.com/newsletter Connect With Us: 🌐 chasingbrighter.com 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @chasingbrighter non-scale victories, body transformation timeline, women's fitness over 40, Abbey Young hair method, curly girl method, OUAI air dry foam review, K18 hair treatment, Color Wow Dream Coat, drugstore hair products, women's longevity, Superwoman Diaries podcast, Chasing Brighter podcast

    20 min
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Trailers

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About

**2024 PODCAST OF THE YEAR WINNER: BEST FEMALE HOSTED PODCAST** Welcome to the Chasing Brighter podcast;  created as a guide to living brighter, more connected and real. Because real is the new perfect.  Are you ready to embrace the next chapter of your life with confidence and excitement? Whether you’re looking to reinvent your career, improve your health, deepen your relationships, or find your true purpose, Chasing Brighter is here to help. Join us each week as we bring you inspiring stories, expert interviews, and actionable tips to help you navigate the challenges and opportunities of midlife. From wellness and personal growth to connection and beyond, we’ve got you covered.

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