Done Pretending

Susan Houston
  • 5.0 (5)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
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Done Pretending is a sanctuary for the soul where healing meets authentic living. Host Susan Houston shares powerful stories of courage, freedom, and truth that inspire you to drop the mask, embrace who you really are, and live the life you were created for.

  1. 3D AGO

    Episode 17 | Breaking the Silence That Breeds Shame in Our Children

    Parents think they're protecting their children by avoiding difficult conversations about sexuality and growing up. But this silence creates the perfect breeding ground for shame and leaves kids vulnerable to the very dangers parents fear most. Jennifer Elledge has spent 20 years helping families break through the awkwardness and fear that keeps parents from having the conversations their children desperately need. She reveals why shame thrives in secrecy, how our good intentions can backfire, and the simple communication shifts that create connection instead of shutdown. This episode is all about building the skills to navigate a lifetime of honest conversations. Key Timestamps:  [00:00:00] Introduction. [03:44:00] How shame shows up in parenting. [05:03:00] The protection myth that backfires. [07:45:00] Why waiting for questions isn’t enough. [10:51:00] Practical communication strategies for parents. [23:31:00] Shame as a skill gap and how it can be unlearned. Memorable Quotes: "When we're parenting, especially a teen, we need to lead with curiosity before concern. Because we get so worried so fast, right? We're like, why are you asking that question? Who needs to know?" [00:14:15] – Jennifer Elledge " Shame shows up, I think when parents believe, but they don't feel equipped. So it's not a failure in our parenting. It's a skill gap." [00:23:34] – Jennifer Elledge If this conversation resonated with you, I’d love to support you beyond this episode. Join my Weekly Wisdom at www.thesusanhouston.com for practical encouragement and mindset shifts to help you step out of doubt and lead your family and your life with confidence. Connect with Jennifer Elledge: Website: http://www.thetalkinstitute.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetalkinstitute/ Connect with Susan Houston: Website: www.thesusanhouston.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanhouston.kienitz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanhouston.kienitz/ Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com

    26 min

  2. MAR 3

    Episode 15 | Moving from Silence to Braving Authentic Conversations

    After 24 years with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Tammy Ward knows the cost of silence. She's responded to tragic calls, lost colleagues to suicide, and witnessed firsthand how "I'm fine" has become society's most dangerous lie. Now she's on a mission to replace superficial pleasantries with what she calls "brave conversations." In a world where two people can sit at dinner both staring at their phones, where asking "How are you?" has become as meaningless as saying hello, Tammy reveals why authentic connection requires courage. She shares the simple shift that transforms empty exchanges into lifesaving dialogue, and why giving ourselves grace might be the most radical act of self-care. This is about creating space for truth in a culture that's forgotten how to really see each other, and not about forcing vulnerability.  Key Timestamps:  [00:00:00] Introduction. [00:04:00] The "other F-word" and why "fine" has lost all meaning [00:06:00] What's made society so silent and disconnected [00:12:56] The power of giving ourselves grace [00:17:00] Creating hourly reminders for self-care and presence [00:21:00] Ending each day with gratitude instead of regret [00:24:00] The Brave Start: A 7-day reset for busy, high-stress humans Memorable Quotes: "If you actually want to ask somebody how they're doing, then be real about it. Be authentic." [00:04:23] – Tammy Ward " So many people suffer in silence. I saw that as an officer, both in responding to unfortunate calls. I also lost friends on the job to suicide." [00:05:11] – Tammy Ward If this episode stirred something in you, if “I’m fine” has been your default, don’t let it end here. Download The Brave Start: A 7-Day Reset for Busy, High-Stress Humans, Tammy’s free workbook to help you slow down, reflect, and begin the conversations that matter most. Start your reset here: tammywardspeaks.com/thebravestart/ Connect with Tammy Ward: Website: https://tammywardspeaks.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourtruthlieswithin/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammy-ward-speaks/ Connect with Susan Houston: Website: https://www.thesusanhouston.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanhouston.kienitz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanhouston.kienitz/ Produced by Evolved Podcasting:https://www.evolvedpodcasting.com

    35 min

  3. FEB 24

    Episode 14 | The Guilt that Follows Every Caregiver

    There's a particular kind of guilt that follows caregivers around. It doesn't announce itself loudly, but hums in the background, showing up every time you sit down for five minutes because you think you should be doing more. Most caregivers aren't struggling because they don't care enough, but rather they're struggling because they care so much in a situation that gives them very little room to be human. I get honest about the reality of caring for my 91-year-old mom while building my business, and the pressure I put on myself to be present all the time. I break down the different types of caregiver guilt, from resentment guilt to fantasy guilt, and why pretending you're okay has a cost that shows up as numbness, sideways anger, and losing who you are outside of what you provide. This is about becoming a more honest human inside an impossible role, where gratitude and grief can exist in the same body, and not about becoming a better caregiver. Key Timestamps:  [00:00:00] Introduction. [00:01:57] My caregiving reality [00:03:44] The ‘I’m fine’ mask [00:05:14] Pause & name it [00:07:00] Faces of guilt [00:10:00] Fantasy guilt & life seasons [00:13:21] Minimizing pain costs [00:15:13] Gratitude & grief coexist [00:17:12] Stop pretending limitless Memorable Quotes: "There's nothing broken about you. Most caregivers aren't struggling because they don't care enough or because they don't love enough. They're struggling because they care so much and in a situation that gives them very little room to be human." – Susan Houston "Gratitude and grief can exist in the same body. Anyone who says otherwise hasn't lived this." – Susan Houston Join our Weekly Wisdom on my website: https://www.thesusanhouston.com/ Connect with Susan Houston: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanhouston.kienitz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanhouston.kienitz/ Produced by Evolved Podcasting: https://www.evolvedpodcasting.com

    19 min

  4. FEB 17

    Episode 13 | From Hiding in Photos to Coaching Peak Performance: Lucy Dutton's Transformation Story

    Lucy Dutton used to hide at the back of photographs and forgot her own name the first time she spoke on stage. Today, she's a certified peak performance coach helping entrepreneurs align mindset, purpose, and strategy for success with ease and fulfillment. This conversation reveals the hidden cost of perfectionism, why vulnerability creates deeper connection than polished presentations, and how the stories we tell ourselves become our reality. Lucy shares her transformation from someone who would literally run away from speaking opportunities to training audiences of 700 people, plus the boundary-setting strategies that changed her client's work life completely. Key Timestamps [00:00:00] Introduction [00:02:51] The moment that changed everything for Lucy [00:05:53] Where self-limiting beliefs really come from [00:09:47] Reframing failure as learning and moving forward [00:14:06] The biggest obstacles entrepreneurs face [00:19:01] Why vulnerability creates connection in an AI world [00:22:54] Upcoming boundary-setting workshop details Memorable Quotes "As long as you can look at that experience and go, What did I learn from that? What could I do differently? That's the lesson." – Lucy Dutton "You cannot be the best at everything, but you can find people who are the best" – Susan Houston “I think what's happening in today's world is when we see someone who allows themself to be vulnerable, we lean in a little bit and go, Wow, they're really real." – Susan Houston Join our Weekly Wisdom on my website: https://www.thesusanhouston.com/ Connect with Lucy Email: lucy@lucyjdutton.com Website: https://www.gracengritcoach.com  Website: https://www.lucyjdutton.com and https://www.lucyjdutton.com/boundaries LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-dutton-mentor-and-coach/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC99MCR1C7NauiphAnGQhJfA Connect with Susan Houston: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanhouston.kienitz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanhouston.kienitz/ Produced by Evolved Podcasting: https://www.evolvedpodcasting.com

    29 min

  5. FEB 10

    Episode 12 | Everything You Need Is Right in Front of You (But Are You Listening?)

    Tom Pizio thought he had it all figured out. Four decades in business, a 5x sales increase in an industry that grows at 3%, director-level success. Then the company sold, his health crashed, and he found himself with tubes coming in and out of his body, jobless, asking one simple question: what's next? The external validation was there, but the foundation wasn't. What followed was a journey from corporate pretending to authentic purpose, captured in over 100 videos shot in his backyard forest. Tom discovered that everything you need is right in front of you, but the real question is: are you listening This conversation explores the layers of reinvention, why change feels terrible before it feels good, and the critical difference between having all the right moves and having the right foundation. Key Timestamps [00:00:00] Introduction [00:03:08] Why do we stop pretending as we age? [00:05:32] Clarity comes in stages. [00:07:18] What paved the way for “Walk Your Path” [00:10:00] Taking inventory: what am I good at vs. what do I like? [00:18:08] Taking small steps or building on layers.  [00:19:35] Finding your grounding stone: what would you die for? [00:23:15] You can't make decisions when confused. [00:27:01] Everything you need is right in front of you. Memorable Quotes “I had all this external validation of what I wanted to do, but I didn't have a foundation." – Tom Pizio "If you're on an airplane, and there's turbulence, and suddenly the masks fall down. You need to put that mask on yourself first to breathe oxygen before you can help anyone else." – Tom Pizio "The one piece of wisdom is everything that you need is right in front of you. The universe will speak to you. And the question I have is, are you listening?" – Tom Pizio Join our Weekly Wisdom on my website: www.thesusanhouston.com Connect with Tom Pizio: Website:https://www.tompizio.com/ Email: info@tompizio.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tom.pizio/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tompizio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tompizio/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tomtalkswyp Connect with Susan Houston: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanhouston.kienitz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanhouston.kienitz/ Produced by Evolved Podcasting: https://www.evolvedpodcasting.com

    30 min

  6. FEB 3

    Episode 11 | Why Being Seen & Heard Matters: Authenticity, Emotions, & True Connection

    We're all desperate to be seen and heard, but most of us are going about it completely wrong. We talk louder, explain more, polish our message, and somehow still don't land. What if the problem isn't that people aren't listening, but that we're speaking from the wrong place entirely? In this episode, I explore the uncomfortable truth about why performing never gets us the connection we crave, and what happens when unexpressed emotions get trapped in our bodies. Through raw personal stories, including a brutal caregiving day with my 91-year-old mother, I reveal why authenticity is a practice that requires honest feedback from people we trust, and not a mindset shift. Key Timestamps:  [00:00:00] Introduction. [00:02:48] Connection is forged through presence.  [00:03:31] The surface self vs. the grounded self.  [00:04:28] Authenticity as a practice. [00:06:18] Emotion is energy.  [00:12:10] Being seen and being heard. Memorable Quotes: "Being seen and heard is a basic human need, not a luxury, not an ego thing. It's a need." [00:03:17] – Susan Houston "If you're trying to grow without true, honest feedback from people that you can trust, you're not evolving. You are rehearsing your blind spots." [00:05:32] – Susan Houston Join our Weekly Wisdom on my website: www.thesusanhouston.com Listen to the episode with Faith Rumer through these platforms:  Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/3tyukGESWz74DcqPCprVdS?si=owlxh4OKThm6hkNclOCHtg  Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-authentic-voice-is-your-power-interview-with/id1857909658?i=1000746825331  YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIR3sQ328Fs  Connect with Susan Houston: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanhouston.kienitz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanhouston.kienitz/ Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com

    16 min

  7. JAN 27

    Episode 10 | Your Authentic Voice is Your Power - Interview with Faith Rumer

    What happens when a six-year-old in a pink dress gets told "it's not nice to show off"? For most of us, we learn to shrink. We perform instead of express. We seek approval instead of connection. Faith Rumer, Bestselling Author and Voice Coach to Academy Award winners and global CEOs, reveals why we're living in an epidemic of people not feeling truly seen and heard. She breaks down the science of how unexpressed emotions literally get stuck in our bodies, blocking our energy and authentic voice. But here's what's fascinating: the same place in your heart that holds grief also holds love. This is about aligning your mind, body, and spirit so that who you really are finally lands with others. Key Timestamps:  [00:00:00] Introduction. [00:03:07] The epidemic of not being seen or heard. [00:07:11] The real basic human need of being seen and heard [00:17:26] The 7–55–38 communication rule. [00:20:21] The four stages of powerful communication [00:27:01] People are just people.  [00:28:23] Are we all trying to do this alone? [00:29:05] The importance of community.  [00:30:37] Raising Your Impact Coursework  Memorable Quotes: "To become an awesome communicator, my formula is we need dynamic presence plus genuine connection." [00:22:31] – Faith Rumer "Being seen and heard means that who you are is landing. It's not just the words you're saying. Because if your mind and your body and your spirit aren't aligned, you could be saying all the right things, but it's not gonna make a difference." [00:16:56] – Faith Rumer Ready to free and empower your emotions? Faith is offering an 8-week live online course, "Find & Empower Your Feelings," designed to help you reset your nervous system, unlock blocked emotions, and use the power of your voice and body to live with authenticity, confidence, and impact. Limited to 12 participants for personalized guidance. Sign up at: courses.raisingyourimpact.com/findyourfeelings-jan26. Connect with Faith Rumer: Website: https://raisingyourimpact.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithrumer/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faith-rumer-7314817 Email: Support@RaisingYourImpact.com Connect with Susan Houston: Website: https://www.thesusanhouston.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanhouston.kienitz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanhouston.kienitz/ Produced by Evolved Podcasting: https://www.evolvedpodcasting.com

    33 min

  8. JAN 20

    Episode 9 | The Artist Who Became a Mental Health Advocate: Journey Through Invisible Disability

    What happens when a struggling artist discovers her true calling isn't in selling her work, but in using her lived experience to help others heal? Sage Homan-Muise shares her powerful journey from navigating invisible disability as a child to becoming a mental health peer support specialist in Portland, Oregon. In this deeply personal conversation, Sage opens up about learning to self-advocate through years of vision challenges, the reality of being a self-employed artist, and how her struggles ultimately led her to meaningful work supporting others in their mental health journeys. Her insights into breaking stigma and the simple power of showing up for people without judgment offer hope for anyone feeling lost in their own path. This episode reminds us that our struggles often become our greatest strengths, and sometimes the most circuitous route leads us exactly where we need to be. Key Timestamps:  [00:00:00] Introduction. [00:03:00] Sage's transition from art to mental health work [00:04:00] Lessons learned as a struggling artist [00:09:00] What peer support specialists do [00:14:00] Growing up with invisible disability [00:17:00] Learning to self-advocate in college [00:22:00] The power of showing up without judgment Memorable Quotes: "I learned what I liked and what I didn't like, and there's really only one way to do that and that it's through trying." [00:05:18] – Sage Homan-Muise "This isn't something I asked for and I wanna deal with, but I deserve to have an equal opportunity to others." [00:18:21] – Sage Homan-Muise Join our FREE Skool Community:  https://www.skool.com/done-pretending-susan-houston-4882 Connect with Sage Homan-Muise: Website: https://sageflanneryart.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sageflanneryart Connect with Susan Houston: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanhouston.kienitz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanhouston.kienitz/ Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com

    27 min
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out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Done Pretending is a sanctuary for the soul where healing meets authentic living. Host Susan Houston shares powerful stories of courage, freedom, and truth that inspire you to drop the mask, embrace who you really are, and live the life you were created for.

Information

  • Creator
    Susan Houston
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Susan Houston
  • Show Website
    Done Pretending