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 25 | How Sobriety Forced Me to Stop Performing and Start Living

    Amanda Wais thought she had it figured out. Marriage, motherhood, a career as a travel writer. Then her son was born with Down syndrome, and the doctor's words landed like a crack in the foundation of everything she'd been performing. What followed wasn't inspiration. It was survival, then reckoning, then something closer to freedom. This conversation goes to the places most people edit out. The drinking that masked fear of potential. The marriage that required her to disappear. The moment she realized her son was teaching her what authenticity actually looks like, one stranger at a time. Amanda doesn't tie it up neatly. She tells it like it happened: messy, raw, and still unfolding. If you've ever felt exhausted from pretending, or wondered what it costs to finally stop, this one will land. Key Timestamps:  [00:00:00] Introduction [00:04:30] The moment the doctor said "Down syndrome"   [00:11:20] The death of her travel writing career   [00:18:30] Drinking to avoid her own potential   [00:29:15] Winning the International Impact Book Award for her memoir   [00:33:50] Why she stopped her podcast   [00:38:20] Building community for writers who are afraid to tell the truth Memorable Quotes: [00:12:18] "Nobody else can write this, Amanda. Anybody else can travel to the ski hills and write about it. But nobody can write what's coming out for you." – Amanda Wais [00:20:45] "I was afraid of who I could become. I am becoming, if not already, a true leader in this world. And I know that my calling is great." – Amanda Wais [00:40:15] "When someone comes up to me and they're like, 'I'm thinking about writing my book. What's the first thing I do?' I say, 'Get in a community.'" – Amanda Wais  Connect with Amanda Wais: Amanda Wais is an international award-winning author, transformational speaker, author coach, and publisher devoted to rekindling authentic human connection through sharing our truth. Her memoir, Digging for Light, recently won the International Impact Book Awards for memoirs. She lives in Michigan's Upper Peninsula with her son, who continues to teach her what real love and connection look like. Website: https://thecheekyscribe.com/  Email: cheeky@copperharborvitality.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandak.wais/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheeky.scribe/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-wais-8805a6149/ 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

    33 min

  2. MAY 5

    Episode 24 | When Silence Costs You Your Identity

    Every time you stay silent to keep the peace, you teach people how to treat you. And somewhere along the way, between being a good wife, a devoted mother, and a reliable employee, you stopped recognizing yourself in the mirror. Irina Shehovsov, founder of Reclaim Your Life and author of “The Gift Inside,” knows this pattern intimately. She's built her work around helping women who've spent years molding themselves to fit everyone else's expectations, finally ask: What about me? In this conversation, we unpack the small, daily choices that erode identity, the lies we tell ourselves about timing and readiness, and why updating the software running your life matters more than upgrading your phone. This is about waking up to the fact that suffering is optional, and the life you're living right now is the result of decisions you made before, and not about blame. The question is: what will you decide next? Key Timestamps:  [00:00:00] Introduction [00:02:09] Women losing identity in roles [00:03:11] Cost of staying silent [00:07:45] Finding your people vs fitting in [00:08:20] Permission to choose yourself [00:10:52] Why “selfish” isn’t bad [00:12:24] Intentional morning routines [00:13:19] 10 minutes of daily joy [00:17:07] Lies about timing [00:18:56] Slowing down to be present [00:19:18] Breaking victim mindset [00:20:26] Your past isn’t your identity [00:22:47] Trauma replay loop [00:25:12] Updating life “software” [00:26:38] Expectations vs agreements [00:28:12] One decision to reclaim life Memorable Quotes: "We don't have to stay stuck. We don't have to create the life that happened. It's just a chapter. It doesn't have to be your life story." [00:20:26] – Irina Shehovsov "How often do you get an upgrade on your phone? Probably two, three times a month. But when was the last time you updated the software that's running your life?" [00:23:52] – Irina Shehovsov If this resonates with you, you can join my Weekly Wisdom at www.thesusanhouston.com, where I share how stepping out of destructive self-talk and old judgments can help you rebuild a life that actually feels like yours and move into the person you were always meant to be. Links Mentioned In This Episode: The Gift Inside Book: https://www.irinashehovsov.com/thegiftinside1 Connect with Irina Shehovsov: Website: https://www.irinashehovsov.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/re.claimyourlife/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@happinessacademy_ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irinashehovsov/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@re.claimyourlife 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

    29 min

  3. APR 28

    Episode 23 | After 40, You’re Seasoned, Not Fading

    A man-child in a coffee shop told me I was past my prime for launching a podcast. He cited "data" about brain elasticity and suggested I move fast before it's too late. I didn't slap him. But I didn't shrink either. This episode is for every woman who has been handed someone else's ceiling and told it was her floor. I unpack the myth of decline, the science of crystallized intelligence, and the audacity it takes to rebuild yourself when the world keeps whispering that your best years are behind you. Spoiler: they're not. Key Timestamps:  [00:00:00] Introduction [00:02:34] The audacity of unsolicited advice [00:05:05] Redefining "prime" [07:24:00] The data doesn't measure wisdom [00:10:06] Women who were "past their prime" [00:20:22] Declaration: I am not past my prime Memorable Quotes: "That data doesn't measure wisdom. It doesn't measure courage. It doesn't measure tenacity. And it doesn't measure what it takes to rebuild the real you." [00:06:56] – Susan Houston "You didn't just offend a woman who is past her prime. You son, you just lit a fire under a woman who's just getting started." [00:18:35] – Susan Houston If you’re ready to quiet the noise and step into who you’re meant to be, join my Weekly Wisdom at https://www.thesusanhouston.com.  And if you’re ready to go deeper? My masterclass, Chosen For More, is now open for enrollment.  Lastly, if this episode sparked something in you, catch me live at the Midlife on Fire Summit on April 29th at 10:55 AM, where we’ll dive even deeper. Click this link to register: https://go.eventraptor.com/summit/the-wealth-wellness-summit-2604/susanhouston2  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

    22 min

  4. APR 21

    Episode 21 | From Silenced to Celebrated: Reclaiming Your True Power

    Sally Morgan couldn't make a sound in her recurring childhood nightmare. She screamed and screamed inside, but no voice came out. Years later, as an award-winning singer-songwriter and voice coach, she discovered that dream was a map to something most of us are still living: the suppression of our truest, brightest selves. This conversation isn't about finding your voice in the motivational poster sense, but what happens when you've been told your light is too much, your passion doesn't fit, your superpower makes others uncomfortable. Sally walks through the cost of that silence and the creative explosion that happens when teams, leaders, and individuals finally stop pretending. If you've ever felt like you're performing a version of yourself that isn't quite real, or if you lead people who seem to be holding something back, this episode will shift how you see power, presence, and what it actually means to command a room. Key Timestamps:  [00:00:00] Introduction [00:01:49] Keynote cabaret & music’s impact [00:03:44] Sally’s journey to speaker development [00:08:36] The nightmare that shaped her work [00:10:26] Discovering your hidden superpower [00:12:37] The cost of hiding your true self [00:15:21] Everyday superheroes & inner power [00:17:17] How vulnerability transforms teams [00:20:45] It takes all kinds of people [00:22:07] Owning being a “fabulous” woman [00:24:15] The masks we wear Memorable Quotes: "Music is that connection that is fun, and it takes some of the pressure off of them as an audience." [00:02:24] – Sally Morgan "Gone are the masks we used to wear, gone is the silence we used to bear." [00:24:10] – Sally Morgan And if you're ready to step out of doubt and into who you were always meant to be, join my Weekly Wisdom at www.thesusanhouston.com. Connect with Sally Morgan: Instagram: https://instagram.com/singlikeyouspeak Facebook: https://facebook.com/sally.morgan.1654 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sallymorganvoice 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: https://www.evolvedpodcasting.com

    28 min

  5. APR 14

    Episode 21 | The Doubt Committee: How Fear, Second-Hand Doubt, and the Voice in Your Head Are Running Your Life

    After years of studying how people make and fail to make life-changing decisions, I discovered something startling: self-doubt isn't a personality trait or evidence of your capabilities, but a governance problem. There's a meeting happening inside your head right now, and you've never questioned who's running it. When I walked away from a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with Lori Greiner (before Shark Tank fame), I thought I was making a wise business decision. Instead, I was letting a committee of voices I’d never elected make the choice for me. The inner critic is using my history against me. The borrowed warrior carrying someone else's fear. The phantom judge performing for an audience that doesn't exist. The committee is always in session. The question is: who's running that meeting? Key Timestamps:  [00:00:00] Introduction [00:05:40] Meet the doubt committee [00:08:25] The inner critic [00:18:27] The borrowed warrior [00:20:12] The phantom judge [00:25:15] Taking back control [00:30:49] Reframing missed opportunities Memorable Quotes: "Self-doubt, it's not a feeling. It's not a personality trait. It's not evidence of who you are or what you're capable of. Self-doubt, it's a governance problem." [00:04:06] – Susan Houston "You are living your actual irreplaceable life based upon the opinions of people who don't even exist." [00:22:05] – Susan Houston And if you're ready to take back control, join my Weekly Wisdom at  www.thesusanhouston.com, where I share the tools that helped me break destructive self-talk, walk away from old judgments, and step fully into a life that finally feels like mine. 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: https://www.evolvedpodcasting.com

    34 min

  6. APR 7

    Episode 20 | When Motherhood Erases You Completely

    Kristina Campos thought she was doing everything right as a mother and educator until her divorce forced her into her closet to cry and confront a devastating truth: she had completely disappeared. After 20 years of teaching and raising four kids, she couldn't even answer what she wanted for dinner without filtering it through everyone else's needs. The wake-up call led her to quit her teaching career and build The Impactful Parent, but not before learning two brutal lessons about the fatal errors even the most devoted mothers make. Her story reveals why "fake it till you make it" sometimes saves your sanity, how letting your kids see you fail becomes their greatest gift, and why that golf cart trailing behind her last-place son taught them both something no participation trophy ever could. Key Timestamps:  [00:00:00] Introduction [00:03:08] The closet breakdown and divorce wake-up call [00:05:12] The two fatal errors good mothers make [00:07:27] Losing yourself in motherhood identity [00:08:56] Making the list when you've forgotten who you are [00:16:02] Getting your kids as your biggest cheerleaders [00:18:04] The challenge of making adult friendships [00:21:23] The cross-country meet that taught everything about failure [00:26:00] Building The Impactful Parent as a passion project Memorable Quotes: "The whole point of motherhood is to grow amazing adults… and yet if we're doing everything for them… then we're just doing them a disservice." [00:20:19] – Kristina Campos "That's what we need to create as parents is the safe space for them to fail." [00:25:06] – Kristina Campos The breakthrough you’re searching for starts with rewriting the story you’ve been telling yourself, which is exactly why you’ll want to join my Weekly Wisdom at  www.thesusanhouston.com, where I share how to break free from doubt, silence destructive self-talk, and step fully into the life you were meant to live. Connect with Kristina Campos: Website: https://theimpactfulparent.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/theimpactfulparent Facebook: www.facebook.com/theimpactfulparent LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/theimpactfulparent  YouTube: https://theimpactfulparent.com/youtube Podcast: https://theimpactfulparent.com/parenting-podcast App: https://theimpactfulparent.com/app 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

    28 min

  7. MAR 31

    Episode 19 | The Stories We Tell Ourselves About Failure (And Why They're Wrong)

    Jan Raeder returns with a conversation that will shift how you see every setback in your life. When a trusted advisor's bad counsel nearly cost her business $289,000, Jan discovered something profound: failure isn't the opposite of success, but data waiting to be decoded. This isn't about positive thinking your way through hard times, but the raw truth that your formative years planted limiting beliefs so deep you're still living by someone else's rulebook. Jan digs into why business cultures that embrace failure breed innovation, how a Wednesday weigh-in became a lesson in self-worth, and the moment Jan realized her father "did the best he could with what he had." The real revelation? Those people who've endured the worst should be the wisest on the planet, if they choose to see their pain as preparation instead of punishment. Key Timestamps:  [00:00:00] Introduction. [00:03:28] Failure is data, not identity. [00:07:02] The Wednesday weigh-in shift. [00:12:53] Growth starts outside comfort. [00:13:11] Secondhand doubt and limiting beliefs. [00:16:13] The $289K survival story. [00:24:35] Seeing parents with compassion. [00:31:15] Success shows what, failure shows why. Memorable Quotes: "Failure and success are not opposites. Business cultures that are open to failure, most people do better in cultures like that." [00:02:52] – Jan Raeder "You need to get out of your comfort zone. That's how you grow. It's like a plant. You can't keep a plant in the form of a seed. You have to let it burst out of the seed for it to go, to make whatever it is." [00:10:27] – Jan Raeder And if you're ready to break free from the same destructive self-talk and step into the life you were always meant to live, join my Weekly Wisdom at www.thesusanhouston.com, where I share the shifts that helped me walk away from old judgments and finally build a life that feels like mine. Connect with Jan Raeder: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selfcaresenseijraeder/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/selfcaresenseijraeder LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-raeder-48799b26/  Check out Jan Raeder’s book, Strive for M.O.R.E: https://www.amazon.com/Strive-M-R-Wellbeing-Achieve/dp/1964365015  Listen to Part 1 of this podcast episode with Jan Raeder Apple connect - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-18-the-self-care-foundation-most-people-miss/id1857909658?i=1000756956896  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/49qEohbbOKPlee6VLTGjjh?si=I33IUlAKS5-8tFRwIR-lIg  YouTube: https://youtu.be/lYeSBd3p5L4  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

    35 min

  8. MAR 24

    Episode 18 | The Self-Care Foundation Most People Miss

    Jan Raeder spent three decades teaching martial arts before discovering that most people have self-care completely backwards. The woman who calls herself the "Self-Care Sensei" isn't talking about wine nights and bubble baths; she's talking about the kind of deep work that makes you show up better everywhere you go. After losing herself for nearly a decade during perimenopause, Jan dove into positive psychology research and emerged with a framework that turns conventional wellness wisdom on its head. Her approach to discipline doesn't rely on willpower or motivation but starts with something most people refuse to do. Key Timestamps:  [00:00:00] Introduction. [00:02:35] The origin of the "Self-Care Sensei." [00:04:36] Why traditional self-care is temporary. [00:06:17] The past and future don't actually exist. [00:08:48] The "What Went Well" gratitude practice. [00:17:42] Transitioning from martial arts to wellness. [00:20:55] Jan's 10-year struggle with perimenopause. 00:24:14] The connection between discipline and self-love. 00:29:34] Building momentum with small wins. [00:32:13] Creating positive emotion albums on your phone. Memorable Quotes: "True self-care is learning about who you are and what makes you tick and completely understanding you." [00:03:43] – Jan Raeder "If you're trying to accomplish something like getting fit, working out every day, if I don't care about myself, then I'm not going to do it." [00:26:21] – Jan Raeder If this conversation resonated with you and you’re ready to go deeper, this is the kind of shift we continue to explore beyond the episode.  It’s the same work I share inside my Weekly Wisdom at www.thesusanhouston.com, where I help you break free from doubt and step into the life you were always meant to live. Connect with Jan Raeder: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selfcaresenseijraeder/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/selfcaresenseijraeder LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-raeder-48799b26/  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

    36 min
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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
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Susan Houston
  • Show Website
    Done Pretending