Permission To Be

Shannon McClintock and Jane Box
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Permission to Be — the podcast where the messy middle finally gets a microphone. If you’re a woman who loves your life but feels overwhelmed by it, if motherhood changed you in ways no one warned you about, or if you’re tired, hormonal, overstimulated, and trying to find yourself again… you’re home. We talk identity loss, motherhood, boundaries, relationships, perimenopause, nervous system overwhelm, and the absurdity of everyday life — with honesty, science, and the humor you need to survive it all. No perfection. No judgment. Just real conversations that make you feel seen.

Episodes

  1. The Complicated Truth of Women Supporting Women

    Mar 17

    The Complicated Truth of Women Supporting Women

    This week we’re talking about something most women have experienced… but almost no one says out loud: when real life starts to look like the movie Mean Girls. Because it’s actually pretty easy for women to show up for other women when they’re struggling. But when a woman starts thriving? That’s when things can get a little weird. In this episode we talk about the subtle comparison, the moments that can feel like friendly fire, and how we’ve both navigated it in our own lives. Not in a blaming way; more like a “how did we get here?” conversation. Because when women truly support other women, especially when they’re succeeding, everyone rises. If this episode resonates, share it with a friend and help us keep the conversation going.

    48 min
  2. The Truth About Perimenopause No One Prepared Us For

    Mar 10

    The Truth About Perimenopause No One Prepared Us For

    In this episode, we’re just being honest about the absolute chaos that can be perimenopause. From brain fog to random ovulation pain in places you didn’t know could hurt, to the very glamorous reality of pelvic floors that have been through a lot — nothing is off limits in this conversation. We talk about the things women experience but rarely say out loud: the hormonal rollercoaster, the weird body changes, the moments where you wonder if you’re losing your mind… and why sometimes the only sane response is to laugh about it. This episode is real, raw, and honestly hilarious. Because when your body is doing things no one warned you about, sometimes the best thing you can do is talk about it openly and find the humor in the ridiculousness. If you’ve ever wondered whether what you’re experiencing is normal or just needed a reminder that you’re not the only one navigating this phase of life, this conversation is for you. And as always, if this episode resonated, share it with a friend who needs the laugh. Following the show and leaving a review helps us reach more women navigating the messy middle of life, and we’re so grateful you’re here. Chapters 00:00 – Starting Strong With Our Latest Health Adventures03:13 – The Reality of Women’s Health Appointments04:53 – Why Ovulation Pain Shows Up in the Weirdest Places06:47 – Medical Acronyms We Probably Shouldn’t Joke About08:33 – “Normal” vs. “Common” in Perimenopause10:29 – The Things Our Kids Say About Marriage12:14 – Classic Messy Middle Moments15:36 – If You Think Perimenopause Is Starting… Listen to This19:06 – The Kind of Support Women Actually Need22:31 – Shoutout to the Partners Holding It Down25:05 – Laughing Through the Ridiculousness of It All

    26 min
  3. If You’re in a Hard Season Right Now, Listen to This

    Mar 3

    If You’re in a Hard Season Right Now, Listen to This

    In this episode, we’re talking about what it looks like when you’re in a really hard season of life… and you don’t get to pause everything else while you move through it. The grief. The overwhelm. The chaos. The very real reality of trying to keep showing up for your kids, your partner, your work — all while feeling like you’re barely holding it together behind the scenes. We share what this season has looked like for us and the things that are actually helping us survive it in real time. From asking for help (even when it feels uncomfortable), to delegating, to resting when we need to, to letting ourselves feel emotions instead of pushing them down and powering through. This isn’t about having it figured out. It’s about what you do when life doesn’t stop — and you still have to keep going. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need to hear it. Following the show and leaving a review helps us reach more women navigating the messy middle of real life — and we’re so grateful you’re here. Chapters 00:00 – When Everything Feels Like Too Much03:52 – Holding Grief While Life Keeps Going06:38 – Trying to Find Balance in the Chaos09:40 – Why Asking for Help Feels So Hard12:25 – What Happens When You Bottle It Up18:48 – Letting Yourself Feel It (Instead of Powering Through)22:29 – Actually Letting Someone Support You25:02 – Rest Isn’t a Reward30:19 – The Lie of “Having It All Together”36:33 – Being Real in the Messy Middle

    39 min
  4. How Romance Books Can Improve Your Marriage

    Feb 17

    How Romance Books Can Improve Your Marriage

    In this episode, we’re talking about something that started as a fun escape… and ended up having a much bigger impact than either of us expected. We dive into how getting into romance audiobooks has shifted the way we think about connection, communication, and intimacy — not just in our relationships with our partners, but in our friendships and with ourselves. What began as entertainment turned into conversations we weren’t having before, awareness we didn’t realize we were missing, and a deeper understanding of what we actually want and need in long-term relationships. We talk about the ripple effect that leaning into this genre has had in our real lives — from feeling more empowered to voice our desires to being more intentional about connection in our marriages. If you’ve ever wondered why romance resonates so deeply for so many women, or what happens when you stop dismissing it as “just fluff,” this conversation is for you. If this episode resonated, please share it with someone who might need to hear it. And as always, following the show and leaving a review helps us reach more women navigating relationships in the messy middle of real life — and we’re so grateful you’re here. Chapters 00:00 – Getting Into Romance (Against Our Better Judgment)02:36 – Why Narration Matters So Much05:12 – Romance, Desire & Real-Life Relationships07:45 – The Ripple Effect of Reading Romance10:18 – Feeling Empowered to Want More12:29 – Conversations Romance Opens Up15:07 – How It’s Showing Up in Our Marriages

    29 min
  5. The Messy Middle: Hormones, Relationships, and Being Present

    Feb 10

    The Messy Middle: Hormones, Relationships, and Being Present

    Consider this week’s podcast the group chat you’ve been longing to be part of. The one where nothing is too polished, no one is pretending to have it all figured out, and the conversation goes exactly where it needs to go. We talk about the real messy middle. Things like how hormones actually affect relationships, what being present as a parent looks like when you’re overstimulated and tired, how communication breaks down (and how it comes back together), and why listening isn’t about fixing or agreeing… It’s about staying. There’s laughter, honesty, tangents, and a whole lot of same energy. 👉 Send this to your group chat👉 Follow Permission to Be so you don’t miss future conversations👉 And if this episode felt familiar, leave a review — it helps more people find us CHAPTERS: 00:00 – Real Life Check-In & No-Plan Energy03:14 – “This Is the Week”: Hormones, Cycles & Relationships05:55 – Home Remedies, Body Wisdom & Trial-and-Error Living08:17 – Manifesting Generators vs. Manifestors (Why We Do Things Differently)10:47 – DIY Expectations vs. Reality16:08 – Parenting, Presence & Catching Ourselves on Autopilot21:02 – What Active Listening Actually Looks Like31:56 – Vulnerability, Being Seen & Sharing in Real Time35:06 – Closing Reflections & Invitation to Stay Present

    36 min
  6. Why Making Friends as an Adult Feels So Hard

    Feb 3

    Why Making Friends as an Adult Feels So Hard

    Making friends as an adult shouldn’t feel this complicated… and yet it does. In this episode, we’re talking honestly about adult friendships — why they feel harder, more emotional, and more fragile than we ever expected, and why so many women quietly feel lonely even when their lives look “full.” We talk about how friendships change as we move through different seasons of life, why proximity matters more than we want to admit, and why effort in adult friendship isn’t optional — it’s necessary. We also share one of our favorite metaphors for adult relationships, which helps make sense of why some people are in our lives for a season, while others stay for the long haul. We dive into authenticity, navigating hard conversations, and the role of “expanders” — the people who stretch us, reflect who we’re becoming, and help us grow into new versions of ourselves. If you’ve ever wondered why making friends feels harder now than it did before… or felt the ache of wanting someone who really gets you — this episode is for you. If this conversation resonated, share it with a friend who might need it too.Following the show, leaving a review, or sending this episode to someone you trust helps this podcast reach more women who are navigating the messy middle of life and relationships — and we’re so grateful you’re here. Chapters 00:00 – Spicy Jane Has Entered the Chat02:22 – Why Adult Friendships Feel So Hard05:20 – How Friendship Changes as We Grow08:21 – The Friendship Tree: Leaves, Branches, and Roots14:35 – Loneliness in a “Full” Life16:31 – Finding People Who Actually Get You18:36 – Expanders: Friends Who Help You Grow22:35 – The Effort Adult Friendships Require27:28 – Showing Up as Your Real Self32:53 – Not Looking Away When Things Get Hard39:32 – Final Thoughts on Friendship & Belonging

    41 min
  7. Why You're So Triggered (And What It's Actually Teaching You)

    Jan 20

    Why You're So Triggered (And What It's Actually Teaching You)

    Your Triggers Are Your Teachers Most of us think getting triggered means we’re failing at healing… or maturity… or emotional regulation. In this episode, we talk about why that’s not true at all. We explore the idea that your triggers aren’t proof that something is wrong with you; they’re information. They’re clues. They’re invitations to understand yourself more deeply and show up differently in your relationships, your parenting, and your own inner world. We share personal stories about the moments that have set us off (because… same), how quickly our minds create stories in the heat of emotion, and what we’ve learned about the parts of us that are actually being activated underneath the reaction — often the younger versions of us who learned how to survive before they learned how to feel safe. We also get into practical tools: the 90-second rule, how to move emotional energy through your body instead of stuffing it down, and how to respond instead of react when your nervous system is on high alert. This conversation isn’t about becoming unbotherable.It’s about becoming aware.It’s about learning how to work with your emotions instead of against them — and reclaiming your power in the middle of real life, real relationships, and real parenting. If you’ve ever thought, Why does this hit me so hard? or I don’t want to keep reacting like this, this one’s for you. And if this episode resonated, share it with someone who might need it too.Following the show, liking, or leaving a review helps this space reach the women who are still thinking they’re alone in this — and we’re so grateful you’re here. Chapters: 00:00 – Triggers Aren’t the Problem (They’re the Clue)01:57 – What a Trigger Is Actually Doing in Your Body05:08 – Why We React Before We Can Think10:03 – How Triggers Show Up in Relationships15:05 – Parenting, Inner Children, and Old Wounds28:40 – The Stories We Tell Ourselves in the Moment30:32 – The 90-Second Rule (and Why It Matters)34:22 – Moving Emotions Instead of Bottling Them37:44 – Tools for Regulating Your Energy in Real Time43:42 – Taking Your Power Back From Your Triggers52:31 – Letting Triggers Teach You Instead of Control You

    53 min
  8. Why Giving Everything to Your Kids Is Burning You Out

    Jan 13

    Why Giving Everything to Your Kids Is Burning You Out

    Somewhere along the way, a lot of moms were taught that being a “good mother” means disappearing. That exhaustion is noble. That rest has to be earned. That wanting more makes you selfish. In this episode, we talk about the quiet martyrdom so many women are living inside of — the kind where you give everything to your kids, your family, your home… and slowly lose yourself in the process. We get honest about the guilt that shows up the moment you try to choose yourself, why self-care feels rebellious instead of normal, and how modeling burnout isn’t actually the legacy most of us want to pass down. We talk about identity, nervous systems, the shrinking window of tolerance, and what it really looks like to build a life where motherhood is part of who you are — not all of who you are. This isn’t about doing less for your kids.It’s about abandoning yourself less. If you’ve ever thought, I love my kids, but I don’t recognize myself anymore, this conversation is for you. And if this episode resonated, share it with a mom who might need to hear it too.Likes, follows, and reviews help this podcast reach the women who are still thinking they’re alone in this — and we’re so grateful you’re here. Chapters: 00:00- Introduction to Martyrdom in Motherhood 04:00- Understanding Martyrdom and Its Impact 09:07- Permission to Prioritize Yourself 12:08- The Cycle of Martyrdom and Self-Care 17:43- Finding Balance and Empowerment 23:57- The Balancing Act of Motherhood 31:39- Understanding the Window of Tolerance 38:54- Self-Care as a Non-Negotiable 45:26- Modeling Self-Care for Future Generations

    47 min
  9. Why Couples Go From Lovers To Roommates (And How To Fix It)

    Jan 6

    Why Couples Go From Lovers To Roommates (And How To Fix It)

    At some point in almost every long-term relationship, something quietly shifts.You’re still a team. You’re still functional. You still love them…But suddenly your spouse feels more like a roommate than a lover... and no one quite knows how it happened. In this episode, we’re talking honestly about that “roommate phase” so many couples find themselves in, especially in the thick of parenting, responsibilities, exhaustion, and survival mode. We unpack how easy it is to slip into without realizing it, why it’s not a sign your marriage is broken, and what actually helps you find your way back to connection. We share personal stories from our own marriages, the small (but powerful) shifts that helped us move out of roommate mode, and why communication, vulnerability, and awareness matter more than grand gestures. We talk love languages, emotional cycles in marriage, and how intimacy often fades, not because love is gone, but because life gets loud. This isn’t about blaming your partner or “fixing” your marriage.It’s about noticing the drift, understanding what’s underneath it, and choosing connection — again and again. If your relationship feels more practical than passionate lately, you’re not alone.And you’re not doing it wrong. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need to hear it. And if you feel called, like, follow, and leave a review. It helps us more than you know. Chapters: 00:00 – The Conversations That Start in the Car03:57 – When Your Marriage Starts Feeling Like a Roommate Situation10:01 – The Cycles No One Warns You About in Marriage19:58 – How We Realized We Were in Roommate Mode29:52 – Connection Over Correction: What Actually Helps40:02 – Vulnerability, Intimacy, and Letting Yourself Be Seen50:06 – Choosing Each Other Again (Without the Pressure to Be Perfect)

    46 min
  10. The BIGGEST (And Most Humbling) Lessons of 2025

    12/30/2025

    The BIGGEST (And Most Humbling) Lessons of 2025

    As we close out 2025, we’re reflecting on a year that stretched us, cracked us open, and changed us in ways we didn’t see coming. In this episode, we talk honestly about what it looks like to move out of victim mentality and into awareness — especially as parents, partners, and humans trying to heal without passing our stuff down to our kids. We unpack the difference between control, influence, and concern, why language matters so much in parenting, and how shifting a single phrase can completely change how our children experience choice and autonomy. We also get into the deeper stuff: the masks we’ve worn, the stories we’ve believed about who we’re “supposed” to be, and what happens when we finally let ourselves be authentic — even when it’s uncomfortable. Shannon shares insights from ketamine therapy, the surprising clarity it brought, and how healing doesn’t actually happen in isolation, but in relationship. This is a reflective, grounding conversation about growth, surrender, self-acceptance, and trusting that even when it doesn’t feel good, everything really is working out in our favor. If this resonated with you, please share this with someone who you think would also benefit from listening, and make sure to hit the follow button and leave us a review, as that helps us immensely. Thank you for being a part of this journey.  Chapters: 00:00- Reflecting on 2025: Lessons Learned and Growth  14:56- Understanding Control, Influence, and Concern  29:47- Emotional Intelligence in Parenting  26:25- The Burnt Toast Theory  30:31- Transformative Experiences Through Ketamine Therapy  35:17- Ego and Healing  40:51- Removing Masks and Embracing Authenticity  45:52- Letting Go of Control and Embracing Change

    49 min
  11. We Listen, We Don't Judge: Holiday Edition

    12/23/2025

    We Listen, We Don't Judge: Holiday Edition

    In this episode, we’re taking “we listen, we don’t judge” into the most beautiful, chaotic season of all — the holidays. Because motherhood in December is a paradox: it’s magical and it’s maddening. It’s heart-melting and overstimulating. You can love creating the memories while simultaneously wondering why the entire success of the season seems to rest on your shoulders. We talk about the invisible work moms do to make the holidays feel special — the lists, the late-night wrapping, the emotional management, the grocery sprints, the outfit planning, the school gifts, the Santa logistics, and yes… whether or not we have the bandwidth for the Elf this year. We laugh, we validate, and we tell the truth:You can adore the magic and feel overwhelmed by the weight of it.You can create beautiful moments and want to hide in the pantry for a minute.You can love your people deeply and still crave a little peace. Both things are real. Both things are allowed.And through it all — we listen, we don’t judge. If this resonated with you, please do us a favor and leave a review on whatever platform you're listening on and hit the follow button. We truly appreciate it! Link for Fair Play Life Card Game: https://fairplaypolicy.org/the-cards Chapters 00:00- The Holiday Burden on Moms 06:26-Overstimulation and Mental Load 13:46- Understanding Overstimulation in Women 20:11- Holiday Responsibilities and Gift Giving 25:32- Navigating Holiday Traditions and Expectations 29:10- Navigating the Santa Discussion 34:40- Family Dynamics and Body Image 38:35- Overstimulation During the Holidays 40:04- A Message of Support for Moms

    42 min
  12. Motherhood’s PR Team Lied: Why You Don’t Feel Like Yourself Anymore

    12/15/2025

    Motherhood’s PR Team Lied: Why You Don’t Feel Like Yourself Anymore

    It’s our very first episode of Permission to Be, and we’re diving straight into the chaos — motherhood, identity loss, hormones, overstimulation, and all the things no one puts in the brochure. We talk about why so many moms feel like they’ve lost themselves, why the messy middle is where most of us actually live, and why laughing at the absurdity of it all might be the real medicine. There’s honesty, a little oversharing, some “oh wow, same” moments, and yes… our official Holiday Overstimulation Bingo to help you cope with unsolicited parenting advice, family politics, sugar crashes, and whatever else this season throws at you. If you’ve been craving a place where you can be honest, unpolished, overwhelmed, and still completely worthy — welcome. Remember to comment BINGO on any of our social media profiles and we will send you the Holiday Overstimulation Bingo Card! Instagram: @thepermissiontobepodcast TikTok: @thepermissiontobepodcast Chapters 00:00- Welcome to Permission to Be 01:11- The Birth of a Podcast 03:32- Finding Permission to Be 06:30- Living in the Messy Middle 07:28- Motherhood PR Demotion vs Promotion 10:37- Healing Through Vulnerability 16:43- Embracing Authenticity and Humor 20:32- Reflections on 2025: A Year of Shedding 31:38- Planning for the Holidays: Bingo Game Idea

    37 min
  • 12 Episodes

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Welcome to Permission to Be — the podcast where the messy middle finally gets a microphone. If you’re a woman who loves your life but feels overwhelmed by it, if motherhood changed you in ways no one warned you about, or if you’re tired, hormonal, overstimulated, and trying to find yourself again… you’re home. We talk identity loss, motherhood, boundaries, relationships, perimenopause, nervous system overwhelm, and the absurdity of everyday life — with honesty, science, and the humor you need to survive it all. No perfection. No judgment. Just real conversations that make you feel seen.

Information

  • Creator
    Shannon McClintock and Jane Box
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Shannon McClintock and Jane Box
  • Show Website
    Permission To Be