The Lost & Found Podcast with Amanda Powers

Amanda Powers

Ever wake up and think, "How did I get here?" Same. I'm Amanda — a former intel analyst who left the only career I'd ever known and started over from scratch. No roadmap. No guru. Just me, figuring it out in real time. The Lost & Found Podcast is for anyone navigating identity loss, career pivots, burnout, or that nagging feeling that something's missing. We talk self-discovery, hard transitions, and what it actually means to rebuild. No perfect answers here — just honest conversations. Subscribe for weekly episodes and join a community of people figuring it out. Wanderers are always welcome!

  1. 9h ago

    Ep. 125: Why Your Brain Fears Uncertainty More Than Pain (And the Framework That Finally Helps)

    Episode 125: Your brain would rather take a guaranteed painful electric shock than sit with a 50/50 chance of getting one. That's not a personal failure. That's biology — and it might be the most validating thing you hear all week. In this solo episode, recorded live in-studio after an unexpected guest cancellation (which, honestly, felt like the universe assigning the homework), Amanda gets into one of the mostparalyzing forces driving the Millennial Identity Crisis right now: uncertainty. Not a fluffy "lean into the discomfort" pep talk — the real,science-backed reason why big life decisions feel impossible, why watching someone you love stay stuck can make you quietly furious, and why your brain has been working against you this whole time. Inspired by fellow podcaster Liz Moody and the journalist and bestselling author Simone Stolzoff's research on uncertainty tolerance, Amanda unpacks the science and makes it personal — including a raw, honest story about a close friend navigating a sudden breakup, and the moment Amanda realized she'd been projecting her own risk tolerance onto someone who needed something entirely different. She also revisits a chapter from her intelligence analyst days — a White House job offer that unraveled in three weeks — and what living inside that kind of professional and personal free falltaught her about the millennial career pivot she didn't see coming. If you've ever asked yourself "should I move?", "should I leave this relationship?", "should I change careers?" — and then immediately answered yourself with "but what if it doesn't work out?" — this episode was made for you. In this episode, you'll learn: Why your brain is literally wired to fear uncertainty more than actual suffering — and the study that proves itThe difference between acute uncertainty and ambient uncertainty, and why it matters for every decision you're currently avoidingThe "outsider looking in" trap — why being frustrated with someone else's indecision is actually about your own threshold, not theirsThe Only Option Test: a deceptively simple tool to cut through decision paralysisOne-way door vs. two-way door decisions — and how knowing the difference changes the stakes entirelyWhy you don't need certainty to commit — and what commitment actually isThe most powerful mindset shift for when you're drowning in fear: how to trust your future self to solve problems that haven't arrived yet RESOURCES: Simone Stolzoff — How to Not Know: simonestolzoff.com/how-to-not-know The Liz Moody Podcast ft. Simone Stolzoff — Part 1: Listen on Spotify The Liz Moody Podcast ft. Simone Stolzoff — Part 2: Listen on Spotify CONNECT WITH AMANDA: Don't forget to subscribe for weekly content about identity, healing, purpose, and becoming your future self. Want to share your story or question for an upcoming Wanderer Wisdom Episode? Send Amanda a message here! Website: https://www.podcastforthelost.com/Instagram: @podcast.for.the.lost & @amanda.k.powersTikTok: @podcast.for.the.lostYouTube: @podcastforthelostSubstack: https://podcastforthelost.substack.com/ AFFILIATE LINKS: ShopMy → Browse and shop the skincare, supplements, outfits, tech, and personal luxuries I actually reach for and use Momentum Shake (Free Variety Pack) → Highest quality protein on the market, replaces 20+ supplements IM8 Health → My comprehensive daily essentials for overall well-being, energy, digestion, and longevity Twenty2Nutrition (5% Off) → American made, third-party tested, and Informed Sport Certified supplements time___line → 20% code POWERS

  2. 9h ago

    VIDEO: Why Your Brain Fears Uncertainty More Than Pain (And the Framework That Finally Helps)

    **Until Apple Podcasts Connect and Spotify for Creators platforms are able to share HSL Video, please watch the video version of this episode on Spotify or YouTube** Episode 125: This episode explores uncertainty tolerance, decision paralysis, risk tolerance, fear of the unknown, and the big life transitions that define the Millennial Identity Crisis — including whether to move, change careers, leave a relationship, or start completely over. If you're looking for practical decision-making frameworks that don't require you to have all the answers first, this one's for you. This week, Amanda explores her own uncertainty lately, and draws on the research of Simone Stolzoff — journalist, bestselling author of The Good Enough Job, and author ofthe new book How to Not Know: The Value of Uncertainty in a World That Demands Answers. His work on uncertainty tolerance, decision-making science, and the psychology of risk is the backbone of the frameworks Amanda shares in this episode. CONNECT WITH AMANDA: Don't forget to subscribe for weekly content about identity, healing, purpose, and becoming your future self. Want to share your story or question for an upcoming Wanderer Wisdom Episode? Send Amanda a message here! Website: https://www.podcastforthelost.com/ Instagram: @podcast.for.the.lost & @amanda.k.powers TikTok: @podcast.for.the.lost YouTube: @podcastforthelost Substack: https://podcastforthelost.substack.com/ AFFILIATE LINKS: ShopMy → Browse and shop the supplements, skincare, outfits, tech, and personal luxuries I actually reach for and use

  3. 1d ago

    VIDEO: How to Stop Comparing Your Life (and Your Content) to Everyone Else's

    **Until Apple Podcasts Connect and Spotify for Creators platforms are able to share HSL Video, please watch the video version of this episode on Spotify or ⁠YouTube⁠** Episode 124: This episode of The Lost & Found Podcast with Amanda Powers explores creative shame, comparison culture, career reinvention, self-worth, and the quiet fear that you're falling behind — the everyday textures of the Millennial Identity Crisis — including what it means to start something before you feel qualified, to grieve a career path you outgrew, and to keep showing up when you're still learning the skill. Amanda and her friend and fellow content creator Mika Carr get into the myth that you have to "batch content" or have it all figured out to be legit, the dreams we get shamed out of chasing, and why turning another year older isn't proof you're running out of time. If you're looking for permission to change your mind, stop comparing your behind-the-scenes to everyone else's highlight reel, and build something new without waiting to feel ready first, this one's for you. Connect with Mika: @mikamcarr Connect with Amanda: Don't forget to subscribe for weekly content about identity, healing, purpose, and becoming your future self. Want to share your story or question for an upcoming Wanderer Wisdom Episode? Email us at hello@podcastforthelost.com Website: https://www.podcastforthelost.com Instagram: @podcast.for.the.lost & @amanda.k.powers TikTok: @podcast.for.the.lost YouTube: @podcastforthelost Substack: https://podcastforthelost.substack.com AFFILIATE LINKS: ShopMy → Browse and shop the supplements, skincare, outfits, tech, and personal luxuries I actually reach for and use!

  4. Jul 20

    Ep. 124: How to Stop Comparing Your Life (and Your Content) to Everyone Else's | Mika Carr

    Feeling behind because everyone else's content — or life — looks more put-together than yours? This episode is your permission slip to stop comparing and start posting anyway. Amanda sits down with her friend and coworker Mika Carr — video editor, content creator, and one of the very first people who told her "Yes, do the podcast!!!!" back when it was just an idea. What starts as a fun, low-stakes catch-up (card games, cheesecake, and one seriously delicious croissant) turns into a real conversation about the exhausting myth that you have to "batch content" to be legit, the career dream Mika abandoned before content creation ever entered the picture, and why the "post it anyway" advice beats waiting for perfect. Amanda also shares two moments from her intelligence-analyst days that taught her more about handling conflict and comparison than any leadership seminar ever could. In this episode we discuss: Why comparing your content (or your career) to someone else's is quietly exhausting youThe forgotten career dream Mika had before content creationWhy "post it anyway" beats chasing a perfect algorithm strategyAmanda's FBI story on standing your ground without losing yourselfMika's closing advice on embracing change, even when it's scary If you've ever compared your behind-the-scenes to someone else's highlight reel — or wondered if you're "behind" in your career, your content, or your life — this one's for you. CHAPTERS: 00:00 — Welcome Back! 01:32 — How did this podcast actually start? 06:07 — Why does comparing your content to everyoneelse's feel so exhausting? 10:20 — What career did Mika almost pursue beforecontent creation? 20:29 — What does it mean to actually own the identityof “podcaster” or “creator”? 32:44 — Is free advice better than paid mentorship rightnow? 34:54 — What is the “millennial career crisis”everyone's talking about? 47:51 — Amanda's most humbling story from her FBIcareer 55:47 — What does it look like to pause your own careerto help family? 59:31 — Who shaped you the most without knowing it? 1:05:06 — How do you stop being afraid ofchange? CONNECT WITH MIKA: Find Mika on Instagram: @mikamcarr CONNECT WITH AMANDA: Don't forget to subscribe for weekly content about identity, healing, purpose, and becoming your future self. Want to share your story or question for an upcoming Wanderer Wisdom Episode? Email us at hello@podcastforthelost.com Website: https://www.podcastforthelost.comInstagram: @podcast.for.the.lost & @amanda.k.powers TikTok: @podcast.for.the.lostYouTube: @podcastforthelost Substack: https://podcastforthelost.substack.comAmanda's Favorite Things (includes affiliate links): ShopMy → Browse and shop the skincare, outfits, tech, and personal luxuries I actually reach for and use Momentum Shake (Free Variety Pack) - Highest quality protein on the market, replaces 20+ supplements IM8 Health - My comprehensive daily essentials for overall well-being, energy, digestion, and longevity Twenty2 Nutrition (5% Off) - American made, third-party tested, and Informed Sport Certified supplements time___line - 20% Off with code POWERS

    Ep. 124: How to Stop Comparing Your Life (and Your Content) to Everyone Else's | Mika Carr
  5. Jul 7

    Ep. 123: How to Survive the Messy Middle with Authentic Integration | Dr. Saidie Rodriguez, MD

    Episode 123: What if feeling lost isn't proof that you're failing — but proof that you're finally doing it right? That question is basically the whole reason this show exists, and it's exactly whatI dig into with my guest this week: Dr. Saidie Rodriguez, MD — physician, coach, speaker, and host of soulSHINE: The Art of Becoming. Dr. Saidie has a name for that specific ache so many of us hit somewhere in our late 20s, 30s, and 40s: authentic integration. It's the idea that our most disconnected, unmoored seasons — the ones that can feel like a full-blown Millennial IdentityCrisis — are actually the ones where an old identity is finally loosening its grip so a truer one can take shape. Dr. Saidie built her career at the intersection of science and soul, helping high-achieving individuals move from performance to presence. We get into burnout, imposter syndrome, the “arrival fallacy,” and why self-awareness alone isn't enough to create real change — plus how to build the kind of self-trust thatkeeps you moving even when you're scared. If you've ever felt like you're not living up to the future version of yourself you're chasing, or you've quietly wondered whether feeling this uncomfortable means something is wrong with you — this one's your permission slip to stop rushing the messy middle. In this episode, you'll learn: What “authentic integration” means and why identity loss can be a sign of growth, not failureHow the arrival fallacy keeps high achievers chasing the next goal instead of feeling presentWhy self-awareness alone doesn't create transformation — and what actually doesHow survival mode blocks creativity, and how to build internal safety insteadWhy high-achieving women are especially prone to discounting their own pain and traumaPractical tools for moving through fear, self-doubt, and imposter syndromeDr. Saidie's simple daily practice for living without regret Chapters: 00:00 - What If Feeling Lost Means You're Doing It Right? 01:34 - Meet Dr. Saidie Rodriguez, MD 02:23 - What Does “Becoming” Actually Mean? (And What Is the Arrival Fallacy?) 05:50 - Her Story: Successful on Paper, Disconnected on the Inside 12:09 - Can Science and Soul Coexist? Why She Almost Rejected Her Own Method 15:31 - Where Does Healing Actually Start When You Feel Lost? 26:05 - Survival Mode vs. Creation Mode: How Do You Build Real Self-Trust? 32:26 - Why Do High-Achieving Women Discount Their Own Trauma? 38:03 - What to Remember When You're Scared to Become Who You're Meant to Be 50:21 - What Do You Actually Want Out of Life? 55:42 - Her #1 Piece of Advice If You're Lost and Don't Know Where to Start CONNECT WITH SAIDIE: Website: https://soulshine.global/ Instagram: @soulshine_global YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SoulSHINE_global Podcast (Apple): soulSHINE: The Art of Becoming Podcast (Spotify): soulSHINE: The Art of Becoming Free Gift: 10-minute self-trust activation CONNECT WITH AMANDA: Don't forget to subscribe for weekly content about identity, healing, purpose, and becoming your future self. Wantto share your story or question for an upcoming Wanderer Wisdom Episode? Send Amanda a message here! Website: https://www.podcastforthelost.com/ Instagram: @podcast.for.the.lost & @amanda.k.powers TikTok: @podcast.for.the.lost YouTube: @podcastforthelost Substack: https://podcastforthelost.substack.com/ Amanda's Favorite Things (includes affiliate links): ShopMy - Browse and shop the skincare, outfits, tech, and personal luxuries I actually reach for and useMomentum Shake - highest quality protein on the market, replaces 20+ supplementsIM8 Health - most comprehensive daily essentials for overall well-being, energy, digestion, and longevityTwenty2 Nutrition - 5% OFF American made, third-party tested, and Informed Sport Certified supplementstime___line - 20% code POWERS

    Ep. 123: How to Survive the Messy Middle with Authentic Integration | Dr. Saidie Rodriguez, MD
  6. Jun 23

    Ep. 122: Why You Make Your Worst Dating Decisions During An Identity Crisis | Alissha Davis

    Episode 122: We're back from a short break and bringing you along the journey with some brand new guests! This week we are kicking things off with nomadic relationship expert and guide, Alissha Davis. You're the most self-aware you've ever been. You've done the therapy, listened to the podcasts, read the books. So why do you keep making your worst dating decisions right now — in the middle of a career change, a move, a total reinvention? In this episode — our very first conversation about love and relationships on the show — Amanda sits down with Alissha Davis, dating and relationship specialist and founder of Nomad Love Lab. Alissha has spent 11 years living abroad, from Thailand to Brazil, studying what actually happens to our love lives when our identity is in flux. Her answer is equal parts science and soul: when you're in transition, your nervous system stops looking for compatible love and starts looking for anyone to hold onto. That dopamine hit, that sudden quiet, that feeling of "finally" — it isn't always destiny. Sometimes it's just your body finding a regulation source and dressing it up as fate. Together, Amanda and Alissha get into the science of why "quieter" gets mistaken for "right," the red flags we can't see in ourselves, and Alissha's CED Method — Clarity, Emotional Regulation, and Discernment — for making grounded decisions in love. Alissha also shares her own raw story of grief, losing her father suddenly, and how she caught herself latching onto the wrong person while she was at rock bottom. This one is personal, a little vulnerable, and exactly what you need if you're trying to find love and yourself at the same time. What you'll hear in this episode: Why self-awareness doesn't protect you from bad dating decisionsThe "Anchor Effect" and what your nervous system does when your identity destabilizesHow to tell genuine connection from someone who just makes the uncertainty feel quieterThe CED Method: Clarity, Emotional Regulation, Discernment — and which one collapses firstThe myth of being fully "healed" before you're allowed to loveHow to determine when you're using dating as avoidance Chapters: 00:00 Why We're Finally Talking About Love & Identity 02:42 Meet Alissha Davis 09:16 Why You Shouldn't Pause Your Love Life During a Transition 16:57 Why Self-Awareness Doesn't Stop Bad Dating Decisions 21:52 The CED Method: Clarity, Emotional Regulation & Discernment 24:01 How to Know What You Actually Need in a Relationship 25:29 Emotional Regulation: Calming Your Own Nervous System 27:38 Why Clarity Comes First (and What Happens When It Collapses) 29:44 Comfort vs. Compatibility: Is It Love or Just Relief? 32:59 When "Couple Goals" Is Really Emotional Anesthesia 34:28 The Anchor Effect: How Identity Loss Creates Codependency 35:26 Alissha's Story: Grief, Clarity & Walking Away 38:40 How Living Abroad Reshaped Her View of Love 43:01 How to Date in the Middle of a Major Life Transition 46:26 Take the Risk: Advice for Anyone Who Feels Lost CONNECT WITH ALISSHA: Website - https://www.nomadlovelab.com/ Instagram - @alisshagoesthere & @nomadlovelab Coaching, Quizzes, Events - Sign Up Here! CONNECT WITH AMANDA: Don't forget to subscribe for weekly content about identity, healing, purpose, and becoming your future self. Want to share your story or question for an upcoming Wanderer Wisdom Episode? Email us at hello@podcastforthelost.com Website: www.podcastforthelost.comInstagram: @podcast.for.the.lost & @amanda.k.powersTikTok: @podcast.for.the.lostYouTube: @podcastforthelostSubstack: podcastforthelost.substack.com DISCOUNTS & AFFILIATE LINKS: Momentum Shake – Free Variety Pack IM8 Health – Code POWERS Twenty2 Nutrition – 5% Off PTULA Active – $10 Off Oner Active – $10 Off MONDAY Swimwear – 20% Off BEIS Travel Luggage – $20 Off U BEAUTY – $25 Off Timeline – 20% Off (Code POWERS) Fusionary Formulas – 15% Off (Code LOST15)

    Ep. 122: Why You Make Your Worst Dating Decisions During An Identity Crisis | Alissha Davis
  7. May 12

    Ep. 121: The Messy Middle — When Life Makes You Put Your Dream on Hold

    Episode 121: In this solo episode, Amanda gets honest about what’s been going on behind the scenes: the creative burnout, the depressive fog, the guilt spiral of falling behind on the podcast, and the overwhelming pressure of trying to build something meaningful while still holding everything else together in real life. This is the messy middle in real time — that phase of thejourney where you’ve already decided to walk down a new path, but the path has forests, mudslides, and days where the quicksand just keeps pulling you under. It’s not pretty. It’s not polished. And it’s 100% real. In this episode, Amanda talks about: What creative burnout actually feels like when your passion project becomes pressureThe comparison spiral of watching other creators and wondering what you’re doing wrongJuggling a full-time job, family caregiving, and a dream that doesn’t fit neatly into the margins of your dayWhy she’s been absent — and why she’s not going to pretend she has it all figured outA personal life update that’s bringing both terror and a whole lot of hope  If you’ve ever felt like you’re failing at the very thing that’s supposed to save you — this one’s for you. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is show up exactly as you are. Chapters: 00:00 Navigating Overwhelm: A Personal Update 02:52 The Messy Middle: Embracing Life’s Challenges 05:07 The Struggle of Content Creation 07:31 Finding Balance: Work, Life, and Creativity 09:31 The Journey of Self-Discovery 11:25 Family Matters: Caring for Loved Ones 13:56 The Decision to Move: A New Chapter 16:01 Facing Change: Emotions and Expectations 17:57 The Importance of Authenticity 20:12 Looking Ahead: Future Aspirations Don’t forget to subscribe for weekly content about identity,healing, purpose, and becoming your future self. Want to share your story or question for an upcoming Wanderer Wisdom Episode? Email us at hello@podcastforthelost.com or fill out the Contact Form. Connect with Amanda: Website: www.podcastforthelost.com Instagram: @podcast.for.the.lost & @amanda.k.powers TikTok: @podcast.for.the.lost YouTube: @podcastforthelost Substack: podcastforthelost.substack.com Discounts & Affiliate Support Links: Momentum Shake → Free Variety Pack   IM8 Health → Code POWERS Twenty2 Nutrition → 5% Off PTULA → $10 Off Oner Active → $10 Off   MONDAY Swimwear → 20% Off   Beis Travel Luggage → $20 Off   U BEAUTY → $25 Off   Timeline → 20% Off (Code POWERS) Fusionary Formulas → 15% Off (Code LOST15) Factor Meals → Free First Box

  8. Apr 20

    Ep. 120: How to Break Free From Generational Trauma, Societal Expectations, and Your Mistakes | Tavarus Taylor

    Episode 120: What does it mean to break a chain you were born into? In this deeply moving episode, Amanda Powers sits down with Tavarus Taylor — Nashville entrepreneur, community advocate, drag performer Vivica Steele, and radio host of The Queen's Table — for one of the most layered and honest conversations this show has ever had. Tavarus opens up about growing up carrying an identity hedidn't yet have the language to explain, surviving a criminal justice system that took away his right to vote over a $5.44 check, getting laid off from corporate America and turning that betrayal into a thriving business, and the moment he realized his drag persona, Vivica Steele, wasn't just a performance. She was saving his life.   This conversation is about what it really looks like to carrygenerational trauma without letting it become your whole story. It's about LGBTQ+ identity, systemic injustice, radical self-acceptance, and the quiet everyday courage it takes to build a life on your own terms — even when the world around you keeps trying to write a smaller story for you.   What you'll hear in this episode: How generational trauma shapes who you are before youeven understand itWhat it actually costs to lose your constitutional rights — and what it takes to reclaim themWhy Tavarus walked away from corporate America and started a his own businessHow drag became his pathway to self-love, purpose, and liberationWhat "breaking chains" really means when you're the first in your family to do itThe one thing Tavarus says every lost person needs to do first — before any book, podcast, or sermon If you've ever felt like the story someone told about youwasn't yours to keep — this episode is for you. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Introduction to Tavarus Taylor 01:35 - Understanding Identity and Trauma 07:54 - Overcoming Adversity and Self-Discovery 13:24 - Navigating the Criminal Justice System 17:43 - Empowerment and Community Advocacy 22:15 - Transitioning from Corporate to Entrepreneurship 25:07 - The Turning Point: From Employment to Entrepreneurship 27:43 - Embracing Identity: The Journey of Vivica Steele 30:15 - Navigating Life's Challenges: The Importance of Self-Love 35:21 - Creating Safe Spaces: The Queen's Table Initiative 42:37 - Building Meaningful Relationships: Love and Support 44:46 - Finding Your Path: The Power of Self-Reflection CONNECT WITH TAVARUS: Business Website: tntcommercialservices615.com Vivica Steele Website: vivicasteele.com Vivica's Instagram: ⁠@vivicasteele615⁠ The Queen's Table: acmeradiolive.com/the-queens-table The Queen's Table Instagram: @thequeenstable615 Personal Instagram: ⁠@ttaylor608⁠ CONNECT WITH AMANDA: Don't forget to subscribe for more content about reclaiming your identity, finding your purpose, and steps for becoming your future self. Want to share your story or question for an upcoming Wanderer Wisdom Episode? Send Amanda a message here: podcastforthelost.com/contact/   Email: hello@podcastforthelost.com Website: www.podcastforthelost.com Instagram: @podcast.for.the.lost & @amanda.k.powers TikTok: @podcast.for.the.lost YouTube: @podcastforthelost Substack: podcastforthelost.substack.com   AFFILIATE LINKS: Momentum Shake — Get a Free Variety Pack: momentumshake.com IM8 Health — Code POWERS: im8health.com Twenty2 Nutrition — 5% Off: twenty2nutrition.com PTULA — $10 Off: ptula.com Oner Active — $10 Off: oneractive.com MONDAY Swimwear — 20% Off: mondayswimwear.com Beis Travel Luggage — $20 Off: beistravel.com U BEAUTY — $25 Off: ubeauty.com Timeline — 20% Off (Code POWERS): timeline.com/POWERS Fusionary Formulas — 15% Off (Code LOST15): fusionaryformulas.com

    Ep. 120: How to Break Free From Generational Trauma, Societal Expectations, and Your Mistakes | Tavarus Taylor

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About

Ever wake up and think, "How did I get here?" Same. I'm Amanda — a former intel analyst who left the only career I'd ever known and started over from scratch. No roadmap. No guru. Just me, figuring it out in real time. The Lost & Found Podcast is for anyone navigating identity loss, career pivots, burnout, or that nagging feeling that something's missing. We talk self-discovery, hard transitions, and what it actually means to rebuild. No perfect answers here — just honest conversations. Subscribe for weekly episodes and join a community of people figuring it out. Wanderers are always welcome!