Mindset Unlimited: Tips, Tools, and Inspiration for Women in a Time of Change

Valerie Friedlander
  • 5.0 (28)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Biweekly

Your Mindset Unlimited is a podcast for women navigating professional and life transitions who are seeking to release learned limitations and build a more holistic, liberatory version of success. Your Host, Valerie Friedlander, is an ICF certified leadership coach, sociologist, intersectional feminist, artist, business owner, and mom. Based in Chicago and supporting clients world-wide, she helps passionate women in demanding careers break free of frustrating patterns, clarify their purpose, and create meaningful success on their own terms. In this podcast you'll find tips, tools, and inspiration to help you release the internalized limitations cultivated by our social system imbalances and lead your life with more ease and joy. Some of the topics you'll find here are: finding fulfillment, habit shifting, motivation, time management, money mindset, stress management, impostor syndrome, productivity, work/life balance, communication, boundaries, leadership, social activism, burnout, building a business, motherhood, and more. You can find out about Valerie and her work at www.valeriefriedlander.com  Follow her on most social media @unlimitedcoachval Sign up for her email list at www.valeriefriedlander.com/signup Books referenced on the podcast can be found on Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/lists/unlimited-podcast-book-recommendations

  1. 2d ago

    3 Simple Ways to Increase Joy and Resist Oppressive Systems

    How can I find joy when everything feels heavy? When the world feels uncertain or unjust, it can seem as though resisting it must mean pushing harder and doing more. But resistance also means living into the kind of world we want. In this episode of Mindset Unlimited, Valerie Friedlander explores how leaning into wonder, rest, and connection are critical components of creating a more caring world. When everything feels so heavy, it can be a struggle to make room for joy. Yet how we take action influences what we end up creating, so let us make the foundation in joy. Listen to discover practical ways to sit with uncertainty, honor your need for rest, and strengthen community through small, meaningful acts.   Some of what we talk about in this episode includes: Making room for wonder instead of feeling pressured to always have the answerWhy rest is a human need, not a reward you have to earnSorting activities into depleting, energizing, and rejuvenatingHow everyday connection and collective care can help us create change   Have thoughts or questions about this episode? Share them with me! Send me a voice memo: https://www.speakpipe.com/MindsetUnlimited   LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: Catharina Doria IG reel on Generative AI Reducing Willingness to Say “I don’t know” International Business Times article on AI study   Emile Ennis Jr. IG reel on the Normalization of Deviance Paper by Diane Vaughan on The Normalization of Deviance   All Time Isaac IG reel on The value of activism Wiley Online Library Article on Some Benefits of Being an Activist   Rest Is Resistance by Tricia Hersey Let This Radicalize You by Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba Read This When Things Fall Apart edited by Kelly Hayes   CONNECT WITH VALERIE: Schedule an exploration call Ask Valerie (anonymous form) Sign up for Valerie’s newsletter Apply to be coached on the podcast This podcast was produced by Valerie Friedlander Coaching Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective Send us Fan Mail Support the show

    3 Simple Ways to Increase Joy and Resist Oppressive Systems

  2. Oct 7

    Art, Business, and Embracing Creativity with Stephanie Graham

    What if you didn’t have to wait until everything was perfect to begin? In this episode of Mindset Unlimited, leadership coach Valerie Friedlander talks with Chicago-based artist, filmmaker, and Nosy AF podcast host Stephanie Graham about creativity, entrepreneurship, and the freedom to experiment. Stephanie shares how starting messy helped her grow as an artist, build meaningful connections, and make room for new possibilities. Whether you’re launching a creative project, exploring a business idea, or juggling multiple passions, this conversation is a reminder that you can learn as you go and change direction without shame.  Some of what we explore is: Overcoming perfectionism and starting before you feel “ready”Creating art from curiosity, personal observation, and lived experienceBuilding spaces where people can connect and feel welcomeTreating business as an experiment and giving yourself permission to make changes Have thoughts or questions about this episode? Share them with me! Send me a voice memo: https://www.speakpipe.com/MindsetUnlimited   CONNECT WITH STEPHANIE: Nosey AF Podcast  Stephanie Graham Art  Stephanie's Instagram  Nosey AF Instagram The Good Neighbor Playbook    CONNECT WITH VALERIE: Ask Valerie (anonymous form) Sign up for Valerie’s newsletter Apply to be coached on the podcast Schedule an exploration call   This podcast was produced by Valerie Friedlander Coaching Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective Send us Fan Mail Support the show

    Art, Business, and Embracing Creativity with Stephanie Graham

  3. Sep 16

    Giving Yourself Grace vs. Making Excuses

    You’re struggling to get something done and you’re trying not to beat yourself up but the longer it takes, the more you wonder if giving yourself grace has turned into another excuse. However, the problem isn’t giving yourself grace. Beating yourself up makes it harder to make supportive, intentional choices. So, grace is a critical first step toward taking action but you will feel stuck if you stop there. The next steps are restoring connection to context, capacity, and choice — not from applying more pressure. In this episode, I’ll walk you through the why and what of each of these steps.  Some of what I cover is: What grace actually is, and where it turns into an excuseWhy punitive self-talk feels like the only way to motivate yourselfHow "I am" statements turn a pattern into an identityA step-by-step process for moving forward without beating yourself up  LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: What’s Killing My Motivation?  Deep Self-Care to Shift Habits  Am I Just Making Excuses?  The Energy Leadership Index Assessment   CONNECT WITH VALERIE: Schedule an exploration call Ask Valerie (anonymous form) Sign up for Valerie’s newsletter Apply to be coached on the podcast   This podcast was produced by Valerie Friedlander Coaching Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective Send us Fan Mail Support the show

    Giving Yourself Grace vs. Making Excuses

  4. Sep 2

    Understanding Collective Grief and Reconnecting to a Sense of Purpose

    Understanding collective grief and reconnecting to a sense of purpose explores the increasingly pervasive feelings of aimlessness and low motivation and what you can do about it. We are living through a time of ongoing crisis in a society that fails to recognize and allow room for the wide-ranging impact of grief when it’s personal, let alone when it’s collective. When you’re not directly impacted by the crises (yet), it’s understandable to be confused at the energetic drain you’re experiencing. This episode unpacks how collective grief quietly shapes your brain and pulls at your energy, especially when we layer on stories of personal failing or laziness. Listen if you want language, context, and gentle tools to help you feel more understood and more connected to a sense of purposefulness in everyday life.   Some of what I talk about in this episode includes: The “lazy” story we tell ourselves that keeps us stuck and ashamedHow grief and chronic stress impact the body, brain, and motivationSupportive ways to engage with stress, vicarious trauma, and collective griefPurposeful living and meaning-making as ways to feel reconnected and less aloneHave thoughts or questions about this episode? Share them with me! Send me a voice memo: https://www.speakpipe.com/MindsetUnlimited   LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: National Library of Medicine: Collective Trauma and the Social Construction of Meaning National Health Care for the Homeless Council: Confronting Collective and Cumulative Grief as Institutional Responsibility American Brain Foundation: Healing Your Brain After Loss  NPR: How Your Brain Copes with Grief Priya Parker - How to Hold Collective Grief  Renegade Grief: A Guide to the Wild Ride of Life After Loss  Being A Quaker: A guide for newcomers    CONNECT WITH VALERIE: Schedule an exploration call Ask Valerie (anonymous form) Sign up for Valerie’s newsletter Apply to be coached on the podcast   This podcast was produced by Valerie Friedlander Coaching Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective Send us Fan Mail Support the show

    Understanding Collective Grief and Reconnecting to a Sense of Purpose

  5. Aug 19

    Learning to Value Your Voice: Red Flags, Financial Safety, & Healing After Abuse with Jennifer Solarte

    Learning to value your voice is a process of reclamation for many of us but particularly when you’ve experienced abuse. In this episode, I chat with the founder of &Rise, Jennifer Solarte, and we dive into practical mindset shifts, somatic awareness, and financial self-protection so you can break harmful cycles and rewrite your story with confidence. If you’ve ever questioned whether what you’re experiencing is “normal” or felt silenced in your own life, this conversation offers both validation and tools to help you rise.   Some of what we talk about in this episode includes: How to recognize when your voice has been silenced and finding you superpowerSubtle and obvious red flags in relationships, including financial control and “jealousy as love”The importance of building financial safety, independence, and credit in your relationshipThe role of community, somatic awareness, and boundaries in healing after abuse and creating a future you choose  Have thoughts or questions about this episode? Share them with me! Send me a voice memo: https://www.speakpipe.com/MindsetUnlimited   CONNECT WITH JENNIFER: &Rise www.womenrisechicago.org  Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@and_rise_   Facebook https://facebook.com/womenrisechicago   Instagram https://instagram.com/and_rise__  Subscribe to our newsletter https://www.womenrisechicago.org/subscribe   CONNECT WITH VALERIE: Ask Valerie (anonymous form) Sign up for Valerie’s newsletter Apply to be coached on the podcast Schedule an exploration call   This podcast was produced by Valerie Friedlander Coaching Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective Send us Fan Mail Support the show

    Learning to Value Your Voice: Red Flags, Financial Safety, & Healing After Abuse with Jennifer Solarte

  6. Aug 5

    Rescue Your Nervous System from Burnout and Brain Rot

    This episode offers support to rescue your nervous system from burnout and brain rot with gentle tips and powerful insights. If you are you’re feeling fried by constant stress, endless to‑do lists, or brain‑numbing scrolling, this episode helps you understand what your nervous system is actually trying to tell you so you can respond with care instead of self-blame. You’ll walk away with simple, realistic shifts that make life feel more doable, even when the world still feels heavy. Some of what we talk about in this episode includes: How “nesting dolls of stress” and liminal seasons (like end of summer) impact your nervous systemShifting from shame and self-blame into choice, capacity, and compassionate responsibilityPractical somatic tools to get out of your head and back into your body (without bypassing real problems)The difference between AI-driven “support” and real human connection—and why community matters for resilience Have thoughts or questions about this episode? Share them with me! Send me a voice memo: https://www.speakpipe.com/MindsetUnlimited   LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: Emile Ennis Jr. Instagram  Liberation With Ekta Instagram  Mindset Unlimited: How to Manifest What You Want  Harvard Business Review: AI Doesn't Reduce Work It Intensifies It  Brave Space Alliance Albany Park Theater Project   CONNECT WITH VALERIE: Schedule an exploration call Ask Valerie (anonymous form) Sign up for Valerie’s newsletter Apply to be coached on the podcast   This podcast was produced by Valerie Friedlander Coaching Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective Send us Fan Mail Support the show

    Rescue Your Nervous System from Burnout and Brain Rot

  7. Jul 15

    Navigating a Mid-life Crisis and the Reclamation of Self

    Navigating a Mid-life Crisis and the Reclamation of Self explores what it really means to hit a midlife “crisis” and why it might actually be an invitation to reclaim who you are instead of a sign that something’s gone wrong. This episode helps you see your midlife career and life questions through a new lens, so you can stop wondering “Is it just me?” and start understanding the deeper patterns at play. If you’re feeling restless, stuck, or like you did “all the right things” and still aren’t happy, this conversation gives you language, validation, and direction for what comes next. Some of what we talk about in this episode includes: Where the idea of a “midlife crisis” comes from and how cultural stories shape your experienceThe difference between genuine crisis and a powerful period of transition and reevaluationHow attention capitalism and constant busyness affect when and how we finally prioritize ourselvesPractical ways to honor this midlife season, without feeling like you’re broken or behind Have thoughts or questions about this episode? Share them with me! Send me a voice memo: https://www.speakpipe.com/MindsetUnlimited   LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: The Modern Midlife Crisis – Psychology Today Midlife Crisis - Wikipedia Quarter Life Crisis - LinkedIn  Quarter Life Crisis – Newport Institute Leaning Into a Mid-Life Career Change [coaching] Reclaiming Your Attention to Focus on What Matters Honoring Menopause as a Life Stage  CONNECT WITH VALERIE: Schedule an exploration call Ask Valerie (anonymous form) Sign up for Valerie’s newsletter Apply to be coached on the podcast   This podcast was produced by Valerie Friedlander Coaching Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective Send us Fan Mail Support the show

    Navigating a Mid-life Crisis and the Reclamation of Self

  8. Jul 1

    Creating Authentic Connections in Business with Women Belong Co-Founders

    If traditional networking leaves you feeling drained, unseen, or like you have to leave parts of yourself at the door, this conversation is for you. In this episode, Valerie speaks with Women Belong co-founders Kate Alpert and Dorothy Rosen about building business relationships that support your whole self. You’ll come away with a deeper vision of what’s possible when women gather in community, dream bigger together, and measure success by impact as much as income.   Some of what we talk about on this episode includes: Redefining professionalism and showing up as your whole self in businessChallenging internalized rules about work, rest, play, and successHow loss and grief can invite new clarity of purpose and connectionCreating spaces of belonging as hope in action  Have thoughts or questions about this episode? Share them with me! Send me a voice memo: https://www.speakpipe.com/MindsetUnlimited   CONNECT WITH DOROTHY & KATE: Women Belong website  Come to a Women Belong Event Visit a Women Belong Circle Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Dorothy’s LinkedIn Kate’s LinkedIn   CONNECT WITH VALERIE: Ask Valerie (anonymous form) Sign up for Valerie’s newsletter Apply to be coached on the podcast Schedule an exploration call   This podcast was produced by Valerie Friedlander Coaching Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective Send us Fan Mail Support the show

    Creating Authentic Connections in Business with Women Belong Co-Founders
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Your Mindset Unlimited is a podcast for women navigating professional and life transitions who are seeking to release learned limitations and build a more holistic, liberatory version of success. Your Host, Valerie Friedlander, is an ICF certified leadership coach, sociologist, intersectional feminist, artist, business owner, and mom. Based in Chicago and supporting clients world-wide, she helps passionate women in demanding careers break free of frustrating patterns, clarify their purpose, and create meaningful success on their own terms. In this podcast you'll find tips, tools, and inspiration to help you release the internalized limitations cultivated by our social system imbalances and lead your life with more ease and joy. Some of the topics you'll find here are: finding fulfillment, habit shifting, motivation, time management, money mindset, stress management, impostor syndrome, productivity, work/life balance, communication, boundaries, leadership, social activism, burnout, building a business, motherhood, and more. You can find out about Valerie and her work at www.valeriefriedlander.com  Follow her on most social media @unlimitedcoachval Sign up for her email list at www.valeriefriedlander.com/signup Books referenced on the podcast can be found on Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/lists/unlimited-podcast-book-recommendations

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