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. 13h ago

    RE-RELEASE: Reset Your Nervous System (Without Reinventing Your Life)

    February is all about resetting, resting, and reconnecting — and Jessica and Kelly start with the foundation of it all: the nervous system. If you've been feeling irritable, exhausted, numb, or like you're running on fumes, it's probably not a motivation problem, it's a regulation problem. This episode reframes the conversation from fixing yourself (which brings shame) to regulating yourself (which brings compassion), and offers a full menu of simple, accessible nervous system resets you can use anywhere — no cold plunge or life overhaul required. What We Cover Regulation, not fixing — why "my nervous system needs support" is a more compassionate (and more accurate) frame than "I need to fix myself" The seasonal mismatch — how winter naturally asks us to slow down, and why expecting spring-level productivity from a winter body creates unnecessary shame Signs your nervous system needs a reset — irritability, feeling emotionally flat or checked out, being exhausted yet wired, and everything feeling like "too much" The nervous system reset menu, broken into four categories: Breath: the physiological sigh, hand-on-chest breathing, and an audible exhale (sigh or hum) Body: wall leaning, the shoulder drop reset, and temperature resets (warm mug, cold water) Environment: shifting overhead lighting to lamps or natural light, taking an outside pause, and using a visual anchor (naming three neutral or pleasant things you see) Mental/emotional: name it to tame it, using a permission phrase ("nothing needs to be solved in this moment"), and a one-question check-in ("what would help me feel 5% better right now?") Emergency-level resets for high-stress days — sitting or lying down and doing nothing for 90 seconds, slowly drinking a full glass of water, and closing your eyes to feel your breath without changing it A daily reconnection question — "What does my nervous system need right now?" instead of "What should I do?" Today's permission slip — I don't have to be at my best to begin again Coming Up Next week: Kelly and Jessica talk about rest without guilt — because you don't have to earn your humanity. Connect With Us 📩 Subscribe to the newsletter at chasingbrighter.com/newsletter | 📷 @chasingbrighter (Instagram) nervous system reset, nervous system regulation, dysregulation, winter body spring productivity, self-love reset, seven day brighter challenge, micro resets, physiological sigh, hand on chest breathing, vagus nerve, wall leaning, shoulder drop reset, temperature reset, grounding techniques, environmental reset, visual anchor, name it to tame it, permission phrase, emotional regulation, high stress day reset, rest without guilt, self-compassion, real over perfect, Chasing Brighter podcast

    18 min

  2. Jul 6

    RE-RELEASE: Reconnecting With Yourself Before You Reconnect With Everyone Else

    In this re-released episode, Jessica and Kelly explore what it really means to feel disconnected — not from other people, but from yourself. Valentine's Day and February can amplify loneliness, comparison, and that quiet "am I behind somehow?" feeling, even for people who are partnered, busy, or surrounded by others. Jessica and Kelly unpack how self-disconnection shows up (resentment, numbness, people-pleasing), why these patterns are coping strategies rather than character flaws, and how to begin the slow, quiet work of coming back home to yourself. What We Cover What disconnection actually looks like — resentment, numbness, people-pleasing, and saying yes when you mean no Why these patterns aren't flaws — they're nervous system strategies for safety, connection, and acceptance Being alone vs. being disconnected — why solitude and social fullness aren't the same as connection or disconnection Reading your own energy — noticing what's energizing vs. depleting, and using that awareness as a compass Shifting friendships — how values and identity change over time, and how to reconnect with people in new ways rather than ending relationships The Friendship Audit — a tool for identifying which relationships energize you, which deplete you, and how to set boundaries or shift the dynamic Reflection prompts for self-connection, including: What feels noisy in my life right now — not wrong, just loud? What feels nourishing, even if it's small? Where am I saying yes out of habit instead of alignment? Why self-connection matters — clearer relationships, kinder boundaries, and steadier (not perfect) choices Connect With Us 📩 Subscribe to the newsletter at chasingbrighter.com | 📷 @chasingbrighter (Instagram)  self-connection, disconnection, Valentine's Day loneliness, reconnecting with yourself, nervous system safety, people pleasing, resentment, numbness, coping strategies, energy audit, friendship audit, energizing vs depleting relationships, boundaries, self-awareness, reflection prompts, journal prompts, real over perfect, midlife friendships, identity shift, decluttering and emotional connection, Deanna Moll, Deez Declutter, Organizing with Ease, organizational style quiz, Chasing Brighter podcast

    18 min

  3. Jun 29

    Super Woman Diaries #21: Home Runs, Hundred-Degree Heat, and Why We're Still Talking About The Crash

    Jessica is back from a week at AFA Nationals in St. George watching Gabby's softball team battle through four games in 102-degree heat (and a home run!), while Kelly's son Wes had his own big weekend in Chicago — also with a home run of his own. The sisters dig into the realities of travel ball season, why some kids start losing interest in the sports they grew up playing, and whether kids today need "real jobs" or if summer chores and creative challenges do the trick. Plus: how Jessica used Claude to build a custom writing workbook for her son who hates writing, summer reading picks (hello, Lord of the Flies), and a full true-crime detour into Netflix's The Crash that gets spicy fast. In This Episode, We Talk About: Surviving four softball games in one day at 102 degrees (and Gabby's clutch home run) Wes's home run weekend at a massive Chicago tournament Why some kids start pulling away from sports they once loved The "should teens have summer jobs" debate — sports vs. work ethic Turning summer into "worker season": chores, reading, and creative projects A flag football carpool experiment in independence (yes, public buses were involved) Using Claude AI to build a custom 60-page writing workbook for a reluctant writer Prepping for honors math placement and tackling Lord of the Flies before fall A deep dive into Netflix's The Crash — the parents, the prosecution, and all the theories A tease for their next true-crime watch, Maternal Instinct Getting nostalgic over Off Campus and what it brings up about their own college years What they're reading this summer (hi, The Bollywood Bride) Shows & Documentaries Mentioned: The Crash (Netflix, 2021) Mean Girl Murders (Hulu) Maternal Instinct Off Campus Books Mentioned: The Bollywood Bride Lord of the Flies by William Golding Connect With Us: 🌐 Visit us at chasingbrighter.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for giveaways, insights, and behind-the-scenes fun 💌 Get our Newsletter softball travel ball, AFA Nationals St. George, youth sports parenting, sports tournament parenting, kids losing interest in sports, teen athletes, summer jobs vs sports, work ethic in teens, summer chores for kids, screen time motivation, raising independent kids, public transit for kids, using Claude AI for homework help, AI writing workbook for kids, reluctant writer tips, math placement prep, Lord of the Flies summer reading, true crime podcast moms, The Crash Netflix review, Mean Girl Murders Hulu, Maternal Instinct true crime, Off Campus show reaction, college nostalgia, summer reading list, sisters podcast, Superwoman Diaries, Chasing Brighter podcast

    31 min

  4. Jun 25

    What We Learned This Season — Our Season 5 Finale

    It's officially a wrap on Season 5. In this finale, Jessica and Kelly look back at the whole arc of the season — from rest and reset in February, to choosing real over perfect in March, through exhaustion and invisible labor in April, identity and worthiness in May, and joy and presence in June. They get honest about what actually shifted in each of them this season, why they expanded the show beyond "midlife" to all women, and what they're each carrying into summer. Plus — two free downloads, a Brighter Move from each host, and an invitation to do one thing this summer that's just about living. In This Episode: A look back at the Season 5 arc: Rest & Reset (Feb), Real Over Perfect (March), exhaustion and invisible labor (April), identity and worthiness (May), and joy and presence (June) Why they shifted the show from "midlife women" to all women, after hearing from listeners in their 30s who didn't feel like the audience Kelly's biggest shift: moving from "what's wrong with me" thinking to "what do I need right now" — and how that language change lightens the load How Kelly's gone from needing months to recognize burnout to catching it within weeks Jessica's biggest shift: reclaiming "Athlete Jessica" after the slow fade that came with motherhood, and what going back to Orange Theory gave her Jessica's honesty about body dysmorphia, posting outfits of the day anyway, and not giving her inner critic the last word Why Jessica's GLP-1 journey is a tool, not a shortcut — letting her body catch up to years of consistent work The "May-sumber" phenomenon and why May always seems to be the month everything piles on Reframing "stuck" as "in process" — and why the questions you're asking now are proof you're moving Two free downloads for summer: the Choose Your Own Adventure Summer Planning Template and a summer fashion freebie A shared invitation: put one thing on your calendar this summer that's purely about living, not achieving Quotable Moment: "You can reclaim yourself in small choices over time. It's not a dramatic thing — it's the accumulated decisions where you keep choosing the person you're becoming, in small little pieces." — Jessica Brighter Moves: Kelly's Brighter Move: Name one thing this season that shifted in you — a question you're asking differently, a choice you wouldn't have made before, a moment you were more present for. Write it down, because it matters. Jessica's Brighter Move: Put one thing on your calendar this week that's purely about living — not building, not achieving, just living. This Month's Freebies 🎉 Two free downloads all June long: Choose Your Own Adventure Summer Planning Template — big anchors, small rituals, your whole summer in one doc Summer Style Freebie — for the fashion lovers Grab both at chasingbrighter.com/newsletter Chasing Brighter podcast, season 5 finale, real over perfect, choosing yourself, midlife women podcast, women's lifestyle podcast, burnout recognition, invisible labor, identity and worthiness, reclaiming yourself, Athlete Jessica, Orange Theory, body image, body dysmorphia, GLP-1 journey, summer planning template, romanticizing your life, presence over productivity, Brighter Moves, season 6 chasing brighter Connect with us: Website & newsletter: chasingbrighter.com Instagram: @chasingbrighter

    18 min

  5. Jun 22

    Super Woman Diaries #20: Lost AirPods, AI Decor Hacks, and Finding Joy in the Little Things

    Kelly kicks things off with an epic (and hilarious) saga of a missing AirPod that turns a weekend getaway into a full-blown investigation — trash cans, lint traps, and all. From there, Jess and Kelly riff on how far audio tech has come, then dive into something they're both obsessed with lately: using AI to tackle home projects. Jess shares how she used Claude to plan a budget-friendly bathroom refresh (cabinet paint job, new light fixture, desert-themed wall art), and Kelly shares how she used it to completely rearrange her home office without buying a single new thing. They wrap up with simple, affordable ways to bring more joy into your space — plus a reminder to grab their free Joy Dressing Trend Cheat Sheet before summer kicks off. In This Episode Kelly's two-day hunt for a missing AirPod (and where it finally turned up) A quick trip down memory lane on how far wireless audio has come Budget headphone hacks for everyday use vs. real AirPods for calls Jess's $250 bathroom refresh: painting cabinets, new lighting, and the step-by-step cure time for polyurethane Using AI (Claude) for home decor inspiration and room layout planning Where to find affordable, non-copyrighted wall art (Unsplash, Etsy, IKEA frames) Same-day printing hacks using Walgreens and Capital One Shopping discount codes Why small changes — like swapping a light fixture or hanging new art — can completely shift how a room feels A reminder about the free Summer 2026 Joy Dressing Trend Cheat Sheet Resources & Links Mentioned Unsplash (unsplash.com) — free, non-copyrighted photos for wall art Etsy — affordable printable art downloads Walgreens same-day photo printing Capital One Shopping — for promo codes/discounts IKEA — affordable frames Get the Free Download Don't forget to grab our Summer 2026 Joy Dressing Trend Cheat Sheet — a one-pager with trend recommendations in a fun "try it, skip it, already living it" format. 👉 Sign up at chasingbrighter.com/newsletter Follow Us Find us on socials and TikTok: @ChasingBrighter joy, small joys, AirPods, lost AirPods, wireless headphones, AirPod Pro, noise cancelling headphones, home decor on a budget, DIY bathroom renovation, painting cabinets, polyurethane cure time, AI home decor, Claude AI, AI room design, AI office makeover, Unsplash, Etsy printable art, wall art ideas, affordable home decor, IKEA frames, Walgreens photo printing, Capital One Shopping, joy dressing trend, summer fashion trends, Real Over Perfect, Chasing Brighter podcast, Crime Junkie, Ashley Flowers, relatable podcast moments, sisters podcast, women's lifestyle podcast

    15 min

  6. Jun 18

    Choosing Joy Is an Act of Courage

    Joy isn't something that just happens when the circumstances are right — it's something you have to practice, protect, and sometimes fight for. In this episode, Jessica and Kelly unpack the real difference between happiness and joy, why so many women struggle to fully inhabit the good moments in their lives, and what it actually looks like to choose joy as a daily practice. From the fear of letting yourself feel good, to guilt, to the mental habit of "half-leaving" a beautiful moment — this conversation is honest, grounded, and full of the kind of realness you don't find on a greeting card. Plus: joy sprinkles, banana bread matcha, and a brighter move you can try today. What We Cover: Why happiness and joy are not the same thing — and why the difference actually matters Joy as a practice: how to orient toward it deliberately instead of waiting for it to arrive The fear of joy — that anxious waiting-for-the-other-shoe-to-drop feeling when things are going well Why women in high-efficiency mode can lose access to joy and how to rebuild that channel The guilt dimension: is it okay to feel this much joy when others are struggling? Research on joy: people with more access to genuine joy tend to be more generous and more present Real-life joy in action: Jessica's lunch with Gabby, Dom, and Gio, bathroom renovation chaos, and banana bread matcha What "half-leaving" a good moment looks like — and how to stay in it The 5% better question: small, accessible ways to invite more joy in even on hard days Brighter Moves: a joy practice you can start this week Brighter Moves: Kelly: Name one thing that genuinely brings you joy — specific, personal, not aspirational. Ask yourself: when did I last do this? When can I do it next? Then make it real. Jessica: Practice staying in a good moment this week. When something genuinely lovely is happening — a conversation, a meal, a quiet evening — try to stay in it instead of half-leaving. Add 10 more seconds of presence. That's the practice. Mentioned in This Episode: June download: Joy Dressing Trend Cheat Sheet — chasingbrighter.com/newsletter Smartless podcast (Jessica's go-to pick-me-up) Banana bread matcha at Starbucks (highly endorsed) Next Week: Season 5 Finale — Jessica and Kelly share what this season actually changed for them. Not just the content — the real shifts. Plus a summer invitation you don't want to miss. Connect with Us: Follow us on Instagram @chasingbrighter | Blog & show notes: chasingbrighter.com | Newsletter: chasingbrighter.com/newsletter choosing joy, joy as a practice, happiness vs joy, fear of joy, women and joy, intentional living, joy guilt, being present, half-leaving, overcoming perfectionism, personal growth podcast, women's lifestyle podcast, mindset shift, joyful living, real over perfect, chasing brighter podcast, summer mindset, brighter moves, joy for women, letting yourself feel good

    19 min

  7. Jun 15

    Super Woman Diareis #19: Our Summer Reading List (Light, Spicy, Twisty & Everything In Between)

    It's officially summer reading season — and Kelly and Jess are giving you their full list. From spicy hockey romance to psychological thrillers, cozy small-town reads to historical fiction, there is genuinely something here for every kind of reader. Plus: why reading might be one of the most underrated wellness habits of all, and how to romanticize your reading life this summer even if you're only sneaking in 10 minutes at a time. In This Episode: The science behind reading as a wellness tool — including a study showing it reduces psychological stress by 68% in as little as six minutes Kelly's reminder that June is the month of joy — and that reading is one of the easiest ways to romanticize your everyday life Jess's confession: she always reads the book before the show drops, and she will always be disappointed by the adaptation. Every time. No regrets. The Off Campus series by Elle Kennedy — Jess's top spicy vacation rec (first book: The Deal; now streaming on Prime Video) Kelly's best beach bag pick: Typewriter Beach — a 1957 historical fiction set in Hollywood and Carmel by the Sea Jess on Freida McFadden's The Boyfriend — twisty, bingeable, and won't emotionally wreck you Kelly's pick for the book you'll lose an entire weekend to: Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett (The Help) Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke — a contemporary fiction born out of the "tradwife" trend, perfect for readers who want something with a little more edge Jess's cozy comfort rec: The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Lori Gilmore (book four in the Dream Harbor series) Kelly goes a little darker: Bright Young Women — a page-turner rooted in Ted Bundy's crimes, set in 1978 Tallahassee Jess's pick for those who want some cozy cowboys: The Lucky Shamrock by Carolyn Brown Kelly's final rec: Alan Opts Out — a funny, relatable story about a successful man who steps off the treadmill and what happens next Books Mentioned: The Deal (Off Campus series) — Elle Kennedy Typewriter Beach — Meg Waite Clayton The Boyfriend — Freida McFadden Calamity Club — Kathryn Stockett Yesteryear — Caro Claire Burke The Strawberry Patch Pancake House (Dream Harbor series) — Lori Gilmore Bright Young Women — Jessica Knoll The Lucky Shamrock — Carolyn Brown Alan Opts Out — Courtney Maum Brighter Move — Jess: Give yourself permission to read what sounds fun — not what sounds impressive. Light and fluffy is a completely valid summer choice. Brighter Move — Kelly: Even 10 minutes counts. Find the nooks and crannies in your summer and bring the joy back to reading. This is the month of joy — and your book list is part of that. Free Download: Grab our Joy Dressing Trend Cheat Sheet — perfect to screenshot and save for those "what do I even wear?" summer mornings. Sign up for our newsletter at chasingbrighter.com/newsletter and it's yours. Check out the full book list on our blog at chasingbrighter.com 📱 Instagram: @chasingbrighter 🌐 chasingbrighter.com 💌 Newsletter: chasingbrighter.com/newsletter   summer reading list, beach reads 2026, book recommendations for women, what to read this summer, best vacation books, cozy romance books, spicy romance recommendations, psychological thriller books, Elle Kennedy Off Campus series, Freida McFadden books, Kathryn Stockett new book, historical fiction summer reads, small town romance books, Carolyn Brown books, chasing brighter podcast, women's lifestyle podcast, romanticize your life, joy habits summer, reading for mental health, stress relief reading, books that reduce anxiety, summer book club picks

    17 min

  8. Jun 11

    Permission To Slow Down

    It's June — and for so many of us, that means the pace finally starts to shift. But what happens when slowing down feels uncomfortable? When stillness makes your nervous system anxious instead of at ease? In this episode, Jessica and Kelly kick off June with an honest conversation about what it really looks like to choose rest before you're forced into it. They talk about the difference between collapsing from exhaustion and intentionally creating space — and why that distinction changes everything. This is your permission slip to actually be in your life instead of just running it. What You'll Hear in This Episode Why coming out of a full season can feel uncomfortable, even when you're relieved The difference between rest as collapse vs. rest as a conscious choice Dr. Sandra Dalton-Smith's seven types of rest — and why sleep alone isn't enough Why summer's unstructured time can actually feel harder than the busy school year How presence over performance is a skill worth rebuilding Real Over Perfect moments from both of us on slowing down in real life How to protect small, intentional moments without adding them to your to-do list Why free time feeling wrong is actually worth sitting with Brighter Moves This Week Kelly's Brighter Move: Look at one thing on your June calendar that's optional — something you may be doing out of habit or obligation. You don't have to cancel it. Just sit with it. Ask yourself: is this a yes, or a slow no? Jessica's Brighter Move: Find one place this week where you can choose to slow down before you're forced to. One morning, one meal, one moment — let it actually land. Then notice how it feels to choose it. Free Download Grab our free Choose Your Own Adventure Summer Planning Template — big anchors, small rituals, and a joy inventory all in one doc. Sign up for the newsletter at chasingbrighter.com to get yours. Resources Mentioned Like this episode? You might like: Episode 15: The Exhaustion Sleep Can't Fix Dr. Sandra Dalton-Smith — Seven Types of Rest (linked episode in show notes) Choose Your Own Adventure Summer Planning Template — free at chasingbrighter.com/newsletter Connect With Us Blog & Newsletter: chasingbrighter.com Instagram: @chasingbrighter Newsletter Sign-Up: chasingbrighter.com/newsletter ----more---- permission to slow down, intentional living, summer wellness, rest and burnout recovery, joy as a choice, seven types of rest, Sandra Dalton-Smith, women and burnout, nervous system regulation, real over perfect, choosing rest, slow living, presence over productivity, summer planning, mindfulness for women, chasing brighter podcast, slowing down without guilt, summer intentions, micro joys, personal development for women

    13 min
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**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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