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. 3d ago

    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

  2. 6d ago

    Super Woman Diaries #18: Summer 2026 Fashion Trends — What to Try, What to Skip & What You're Already Living

    June is officially joy month at Chasing Brighter — and what better way to kick it off than with one of our favorite subjects: fashion. In this Superwoman Diaries episode, Jessica and Kelly break down the summer 2026 fashion trends worth paying attention to, the ones you can skip, and the ones you're probably already wearing without even knowing you're trendy. No pressure, no closet overhaul required. This is a wear-what-brings-you-joy conversation. Free Resource 🎁  Summer 2026 Joy Dressing Trend Cheat Sheet A free one-pager with all of this episode's trends in a fun Try It / Skip It / Already Living It format. Super easy, super shareable. Grab it free at chasingbrighter.com — also available when you sign up for our newsletter! What We Cover in This Episode Jelly sandals & the Y2K comeback — mule styles, Dolce Vita, Cushionaire dupes, and how to actually find a pair that isn't sold out Crocs glow-up — the Crocs Miami strappy sandal, Brooklyn low wedge, and platform styles that survive the ball field and the Clorox wipe test Matching sets & coordinated looks — why a two-piece set is an easy anchor piece for a busy, on-the-go life; spotlight on Z Supply Linen everything — wide-leg pants, linen sets, button-down + shorts combos; plus the honest conversation about wrinkle care and fabric quality Low-effort, high-impact dressing — breezy, multi-purpose pieces that work from the beach to happy hour (and survive a mustard spill) Skirts with personality — bold colors, fun patterns, tiered maxi skirts, leopard print as a neutral, and tips for finding the right skirt silhouette for your body Graphic tees that say something — V-neck cuts for women, how to pair a tee with a skirt and low-profile sneaker or a linen layer Romantic & feminine details — ruffled hems, lace, eyelet fabrics, airy pastels, and tiered maxi skirts (Gabby approved!) Bermuda shorts / dad shorts / boyfriend shorts — longer denim shorts, the DIY cut-your-jeans approach, and what actually flatters different body types Bralettes and the no-wire movement — an honest hot take on who this works for and who needs more structure (spoiler: Jessica is firmly in the underwire camp) Raffia accents & coastal details — belts, earrings, sandals, woven bucket totes, and the Clarvy raffia bag moment Budget-smart fashion strategies — thrifting on apps (ThredUp, The RealReal), Rent the Runway for designer access, Google Shopping deals, tailoring what you own, and quality vs. fast fashion Brands & Resources Mentioned Dolce Vita — tortoiseshell jelly sandals Cushionaire — affordable dupes for Birkenstock and Dolce Vita styles Jelavu (J-E-L-A-V-U) Glimmer Jelly Mule Birkenstock Arizona (white / non-leather) Crocs Miami strappy sandal and Brooklyn low wedge Z Supply — mix-and-match knit and linen sets Michael Stars — ribbed tank dresses and quality staples Cut from the Cloth — denim shorts Democracy Ab Fab — flattering jeans (Nordstrom Rack) Thigh Society — under-skirt shorts without the shapewear feel Clarvy — raffia and quilted bags Rent the Runway — designer clothing rental (link in show notes for a bonus piece) ThredUp & The RealReal — online thrifting platforms Krista K Boutique — local Chicago boutique; Melissa Briskman (returning this fall!) Target Universal Thread ribbed tanks — the ultimate summer uniform staple Connect With Us Follow us on Instagram: @chasingbrighter Website: chasingbrighter.com Newsletter: chasingbrighter.com/newsletter summer 2026 fashion trends, summer fashion for women, what to wear this summer, jelly sandals trend, Y2K fashion comeback, Crocs sandals, matching sets outfit ideas, linen outfits summer, low effort high impact dressing, tiered maxi skirt, graphic tee outfit, Bermuda shorts women, raffia bag summer, summer fashion over 40, thrifting tips, Rent the Runway review, budget fashion tips, how to dress for your body type, summer capsule wardrobe, joy dressing, real over perfect style, Chasing Brighter podcast, Superwoman Diaries

    33 min

  3. Jun 4

    Romanticizing Your Life

    You've seen the aesthetic — the linen aprons, the cottagecore feeds, the slow-morning coffee rituals on Instagram. But what does romanticizing your life actually mean when real life is messy, busy, and full? In this episode, Jessica and Kelly strip the concept down to its honest core: noticing what's already there, claiming it, and refusing to let it slip past you on autopilot.   Jessica opens with the story of Athlete Jessica — the competitive, hard-working girl she was growing up — who quietly faded somewhere around 2012 and who she's been getting back, one Orange Theory treadmill push at a time. Kelly digs into the ancient roots of this idea (and a book obsession that led to a surprisingly joyful laundry practice). Together they explore how the real practice isn't about pretty things — it's about orientation, attention, and deciding your ordinary life is worth paying attention to. What We Cover Why romanticizing your life has nothing to do with aesthetics — and everything to do with attention Jessica's story of losing (and reclaiming) her athlete identity over more than a decade The difference between living intentionally and just performing your life Kelly's post-book laundry revelation and what "mastery in everyday life" actually looks like Research from Professor Fred Bryant at Loyola on savoring as a learnable, wellbeing-linked skill Why summer is the perfect season to start a noticing practice How family dinners, gym rituals, and morning coffee can be radical acts of presence Brighter Moves This Week From Jessica — The Noticing Practice: Once a day, pause and notice one specific, ordinary thing. Not abstract gratitude — something concrete. The color of something. The sound of something. The way something feels. Hold it for 10 seconds. That's the whole practice.   From Kelly — The Single-Tasking Challenge: Pick one activity this week — making coffee, eating lunch, driving somewhere — and do it with zero competing input. No TV, no podcast, no screen. Just the activity. Notice what surfaces when there's nothing else competing for your attention. Free Download — June Freebie Choose Your Own Adventure: Summer Planning Guide   A free template to help you design a summer worth remembering — complete with big anchors, small rituals, and a joy inventory. The whole season in one document.   → Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter at chasingbrighter.com Next Week on Chasing Brighter How June feels different this year. A season is ending, a new one is beginning — and we want to give you permission to actually land in it. We're talking about what it means to slow down before life makes you. New episode drops Thursday. Connect With Us Website & newsletter: chasingbrighter.com Instagram: @chasingbrighter   If today's episode resonated, share it with a friend who needs permission to slow down — and grab your free Summer Planning Guide at chasingbrighter.com.   romanticizing your life, intentional living, slow living, joy, summer wellness, mindfulness, present moment, noticing practice, savoring, athlete identity, self-identity, anti-autopilot, small rituals, women's podcast, personal growth, real over perfect, Chasing Brighter, Jessica Colarco, Kelly, everyday joy, wellbeing, summer planning, morning routine, summer 2025, single-tasking

    14 min

  4. Jun 1

    Super Woman Diaries #17: Sleeping In, Sending Kids Off, and Letting Go of the Plan

    Jessica and Kelly are back for another real-life check-in, and summer is officially on the horizon. In this episode, they get into all of it: the exhausting reality of trying to figure out what to do with your tween when camp is impossible to get into, the surprisingly calm approach Jessica is taking to sending Gabby off to Centre College, the dorm prep rabbit hole (sheets, storage units, and yes, whether lofts are still a thing), kids learning to drive, and why both of them are just ready to breathe. If you are in the thick of the school-to-summer transition and you need someone to tell you that "we'll figure it out" is a perfectly valid plan, this one is for you. In This Episode: The tween and teen summer gap: what do you do with kids who are too old for camp and too young for a job? Kelly gets real about camp competition in Chicago and why she is done fighting for it. Gabby's heading to Centre College in Kentucky this fall, and Jessica is taking a refreshingly low-key approach to dorm prep -- no stress, no Amazon cart yet, just waiting until she gets there and knows what she actually needs. Roommate connections, Facebook parent groups, storage units, and the unexpected sisterhood of moms who have already been through it. Wes and Dominic are both in the permit stage, and Jessica and Kelly talk about the real freedom (and the real fear) of handing the wheel to your teenager. Why summer feels like an exhale: no homework, no lunch packing, no schedule checking. Just slower mornings and fewer mental tabs open. A little preview of what is coming this month on Chasing Brighter -- June is all about joy and intentional living, and these two are ready for it. Connect With Us: Website: chasingbrighter.com Instagram: @chasingbrighter Superwoman Diaries, Chasing Brighter podcast, summer with kids, tween summer activities, summer camp alternatives, middle schooler summer, college dorm prep, sending your kid to college, freshman dorm packing list, Centre College, college roommate, storage unit college hack, teen driver, learning to drive teenager, summer mental load, summer exhale, intentional living summer, joy and intentional living, summer for moms, real life mom podcast, women's lifestyle podcast, motherhood podcast, work life balance summer, college transition mom, letting go of the plan, parenting teens, parenting tweens

    19 min

  5. May 28

    Still Figuring It Out

    No frameworks, no formulas — just two sisters getting real. In this May wrap-up episode, Jessica and Kelly close out the month by doing what they do best: being honest. They share the moments they slid back into old patterns (Jessica with achievement pressure, Kelly with people-pleasing), talk about parenting through milestones, and remind us that noticing the pattern is the work. This one might just be one of their favorites — and it might become one of yours too. In This Episode Jessica opens up about a surprising emotional moment with her high school senior, Gabby, and catches herself sliding back into achievement-based pressure — the exact pattern she's been unpacking all season. Kelly shares her own version: people-pleasing still shows up, even when you know better. Together, they explore what it actually looks like when two people who talk about growth for a living still have to do the messy, daily work of it. They also leave you with three things you can actually use when you catch yourself sliding back: Name it without judgment. Simply say, "I'm in that old pattern right now." You don't have to fix it immediately. Get curious, not critical. Instead of asking why am I doing this again?, ask what is this part of me needing right now? Choose one small thing that's genuinely yours. Not productive, not for anyone else — just one small act of being the person you're becoming. Brighter Moves This Week 🌿 Kelly's Move: Write down a few words that describe who you are becoming — not who you were, not who you plan to be, but who you are moving toward right now. Keep them somewhere you'll actually see them. 🌿 Jessica's Move: Do one thing this week that is purely about curiosity. Not ambition, not productivity — just something you're genuinely interested in. One hour. One small yes to yourself. Free Resource Mentioned The Real Over Perfect Weekly Check-In — 5 questions, 5 minutes, once a week. Grab it free when you sign up for the newsletter at chasingbrighter.com or chasingbrighter.com/newsletter. Looking Ahead — June After the deep identity work of April and May, June is intentionally lighter. Think joy, romanticizing your real life, and intentional living. Kelly and Jessica are calling it a deep breath — and they can't wait to take it with you. Connect With Us Find us at chasingbrighter.com | Newsletter sign-up, blog, and more Follow us on all socials: @chasingbrighter Chasing Brighter podcast, still figuring it out, sliding back into old patterns, identity work, people pleasing, achievement worthiness, parenting a high schooler, high school senior, launching your kids, self-worth, healing is not linear, personal growth podcast for women, real over perfect, shortening the loop, getting curious not critical, women's podcast, midlife identity, growth mindset, choosing yourself, May wrap-up, intentional living, romanticizing your life, self-awareness, inner work, women who are still growing

    19 min

  6. May 25

    Super Woman Diaries #16: Maycember, State Champs, and the Sports Money Grab

    It's officially Maycember — that stretch of late May where schedules implode, school events multiply, and someone always ends up puking on your air mattress. Jess and Kelly are back for another Superwoman Diaries check-in, and this one covers it all: Dominic's history-making baseball state championship (and the impromptu team party that followed), Gio's fifth grade promotion week chaos, Kelly's solo mom trip to Utah for Beck's soccer tournament, and a very real conversation about youth sports culture — who it's really for, when travel ball makes sense, and why 4U baseball tournaments might be the sign we've all lost the plot. This is the honest, unfiltered version of what this season actually looks like for two moms in the thick of it. What You'll Hear: Why "Maycember" is a real phenomenon and how Jessica is surviving it Dominic's baseball team making school history — the first-ever state championship in baseball The school parade, the bleach-blonde hair tradition, and how 21 high schoolers ended up in Jessica's backyard Giovanni's fifth grade promotion week (and the stomach bug that derailed everything first) Kelly's trip to Utah for Beckett's soccer tournament — what was great, what wasn't worth the money The youth sports money grab conversation: travel ball, tournament culture, and a 4U baseball team in Texas When travel actually makes sense vs. when it's just expensive stress Rec ball vs. club ball — what both sisters have learned and why values matter more than the scoreboard Why a team that loves each other wins games — and what Dominic's championship season proved Free Download The Real Over Perfect Weekly Check-In — Five questions to come back to every single week. Check in with who you actually are right now, not who you think you should be or who everyone else needs you to be. Screenshot it, save it, and make it part of your Sunday routine. Free when you sign up for the newsletter. Get it here: chasingbrighter.com/newsletter Connect With Us Website: chasingbrighter.com Instagram & TikTok: @ChasingBrighter Newsletter: chasingbrighter.com/newsletter Maycember, end of school year chaos, youth sports mom, travel ball, club baseball, club soccer, sports tournament travel, youth sports money grab, state championship baseball, high school baseball, Superwoman Diaries, chasing brighter podcast, mom life, busy mom, kid sports, sports burnout, rec ball vs club ball, youth athlete, sports parenting, fifth grade promotion, high school senior, baseball team party, tournament travel tips, values-based parenting, women supporting women, honest mom podcast

    23 min

  7. May 21

    Having It All Is A Myth

    This week, Kelly and Jessica blow up the "having it all" story — where it came from, why it keeps getting a makeover, and what they actually think. From the career-and-family narratives of the 1980s to today's softer language of "intentional living" and "alignment," the pressure for women to thrive in every area of life simultaneously is still very much alive. Jessica and Kelly unpack why this framework is both a myth and a trap — and what a richer, more honest version of a full life actually looks like.   What We Cover in This Episode Where the "having it all" phrase came from and how it has evolved over decades Why the new language of intentional living and alignment can feel just as suffocating Shonda Rhimes' honest take on thriving at work while feeling like you're failing at home — and why that's not actually failure Jessica's personal story of dreams in seasons: pausing, pivoting, and building at different times in her life Why a good life doesn't have to be a simultaneous one — it can be sequential How comparison triggers the "something is missing" feeling — and what to do when you catch it The reframe: happiness is a choice, not a result of the right circumstances Kelly's real-time comparison spiral at a baseball game and how she worked through it This week's Brighter Moves: naming the "everything standard" and asking what season you're actually in This Week's Brighter Moves Kelly's Move: Notice a moment this week where you're measuring your life against an invisible "everything" standard. Just name it out loud to yourself: "I'm comparing my life to an everything list right now." That awareness alone is more useful than any strategy.   Jessica's Move: Ask yourself: what season am I in right now — not the ideal life, but this season? What does this season actually call for? Give yourself permission to let that be enough. And if you find yourself waiting to be happy until things are more arranged, try choosing it today instead. Do one small thing today that's just for you — not earned, just a moment to choose happy.   Free Download This Month Grab the Real Over Perfect Weekly Check-In — five questions, five minutes, once a week. It's free when you sign up for the newsletter at chasingbrighter.com/newsletter.   Coming Up Next Week We're closing out May with our Still Figuring It Out segment. Kelly and Jessica both share something real about sliding back into old roles, old patterns, and old versions of themselves they thought they'd outgrown — and how they keep moving forward anyway. Don't miss it.   Connect With Us Website: chasingbrighter.com Newsletter: chasingbrighter.com/newsletter Instagram & TikTok: @ChasingBrighter YouTube: @ChasingBrighter Blog: chasingbrighter.com/blog having it all myth, having it all as a woman, women and work-life balance, intentional living, comparison and social media, happiness is a choice, life in seasons, sequential success, Shonda Rhimes Year of Yes, Chasing Brighter podcast, Kelly and Jessica, midlife women podcast, women's podcast, identity expectations, real over perfect, chasing brighter season 5, work life balance myth, comparison trap, brighter moves, present parenting, women entrepreneurs, choosing joy, seasonal living

    14 min

  8. May 18

    Super Woman Diaries #15: New Spaces, AI Tools, Take Your Kid to Work Day, and What's for Dinner?

    This week, Jess and Kelly are keeping it real — catching up on new studio setups, a deep dive into AI tools (Claude vs. ChatGPT, anyone?), Take Your Child to Work Day, navigating loss while hosting family, and the eternal question: what's for dinner? It's a full-life conversation about the juggle, the joy, and everything in between. What We Talk About in This Episode Studio refresh — both Jess and Kelly redesigned their workspaces and why environment matters more than we think AI tool breakdown — how Kelly used Claude to redesign her room (and why it worked better than ChatGPT), plus Jess and Kelly's honest take on when to use which AI Take Your Child to Work Day — Jess brought Gio to her therapy practice, complete with a Claude-generated workbook, a case study, and a dress code Why letting your kids see you work matters — modeling a career and identity beyond parenthood Kelly's father-in-law passed away — navigating grief, hosting family, and finding grace in the hard moments The Four Agreements and letting go of managing other people's behavior Meal planning (or the lack thereof) — crock pot meals, Costco runs, frozen shortcuts, and why defrosting things is the bane of our existence Kelly's birthday wish: a full week off from dinner duty The May Freebie — the Real Over Perfect Weekly Check-In is available now! Free Download Mentioned in This Episode The Real Over Perfect Weekly Check-In — Five questions to come back to every single week. Check in with who you actually are right now, not who you think you should be or who everyone else needs you to be. Screenshot it, save it, and make it part of your Sunday routine. Free when you sign up for the newsletter. Get it here: chasingbrighter.com/newsletter Connect With Us Website: chasingbrighter.com Instagram & TikTok: @ChasingBrighter Newsletter: chasingbrighter.com/newsletter Chasing Brighter podcast, Super Woman Diaries, Jessica Colarco, women podcast, real over perfect, May podcast episodes, identity and expectations, AI tools for women, Claude AI, ChatGPT, AI home design, workspace refresh, home office redesign, take your child to work day, modeling work for kids, children and career, women and identity, grief and family, loss and hosting, navigating death in the family, the four agreements, not taking things personally, meal planning for busy moms, crock pot meals, family dinner ideas, weekly meal prep, Costco meals, frozen meal shortcuts, cooking for a big family, women juggling everything, motherhood and career, birthday week off cooking, weekly check-in, real over perfect weekly check-in, free wellness download, women's lifestyle podcast, chasingbrighter.com

    27 min
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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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