Cat, Unmuted Podcast

Cat, Unmuted

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I’m Catherine (Cat) Carnell, an author, unconventional healer/coach, and storyteller. I normalize taboo topics through lived experience and reflection, often avoided until life high-fives us in the face. No rushing. No pressure. No judgment. catlcarnell.substack.com

1d ago

Episode 27: When Letting Go Is Self-Respect

Episode 27: When Letting Go Is Self-Respect Not every relationship is meant to last forever. Some people enter our lives to teach us something, to help us grow, or to walk beside us for a season. Others stay much longer than they should because we're holding onto hope instead of reality. In this episode of Cat Unmuted, I share three deeply personal stories about relationships I eventually had to let go of: A stepmother I spent years hoping would become the mother I needed. A marriage that slowly isolated me from the people I loved. Friendships that ended in betrayal, disappointment, and the difficult realization that protecting my peace had to come first. This conversation isn't about resentment or revenge. It's about self-respect. It's about recognizing when you've done everything you can, accepting that not every relationship can be saved, and giving yourself permission to stop carrying what no longer belongs in your future. Sometimes letting go isn't giving up on someone else. Sometimes it's finally choosing yourself. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Have you ever had to let go of a relationship that no longer served you? What did that experience teach you? As always... Through Courage Comes Bliss. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit catlcarnell.substack.com/subscribe
Jul 21

What If the Delay Is the Point?

Waiting can feel like failure. When you've packed your house, made the plans, and emotionally said goodbye to a chapter of your life, every extra day can feel like you're standing still. This week, I share what it's been like to prepare for our move to Okinawa... only to still be here more than 90 days later. At first, I saw the delay as an obstacle. But slowly I realized something unexpected. Life wasn't putting me on pause. It was making room. During this "waiting season," I found clarity about Maya's future, rediscovered my books, met incredible new people, reconnected with my relationship, accepted an opportunity to speak about miscarriage and postpartum mental health, and found myself letting go of something I've always struggled with: Control. Sometimes the timeline we create isn't wrong. It's simply incomplete. In this episode Why waiting has been harder than I expected The emotional reality of preparing to move overseas Why I made the heartbreaking decision about Maya How delaying our move unexpectedly reopened doors Learning to stop fighting timelines I can't control Why patience isn't passive... it's active trust One of the biggest lessons I've learned is this: Just because nothing looks like it's happening doesn't mean nothing is happening. Sometimes the biggest transformations happen while life appears completely still. Mentioned in this episode Kassy's KauseAn organization dedicated to raising awareness about postpartum depression and supporting families. I'll be speaking at their event on August 21 in Albuquerque. More information:https://kassyskause.org If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear: What delay in your life ended up becoming a gift? Through Courage Comes Bliss. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit catlcarnell.substack.com/subscribe
Jul 14

Living Your Best Life, No Matter What

Episode 25: Purpose, Loss, Adventure, and Living Your Best Life with Jane Bradley In this episode of Cat Unmuted, I sit down with my mentor, Jane Bradley, one month before her 88th birthday. Jane has lived many lives: ranch girl, mother, artist, writer, businesswoman, mentor, traveler, and adventurer. She shares stories of love, devastating loss, reinvention, courage, and the deep question that shaped her book, Your North Star. We talk about grief, identity shifts, childhood wounds, purpose, joy, bliss, and what it means to live your best life no matter what life hands you. Jane’s definition of bliss stayed with me: Bliss is sustainable joy. This conversation felt like sitting beside a campfire with someone who has walked through storms, dust bowls, heartbreak, and wonder, and still chooses purpose. In this episode, we talk about: Jane’s life as a creative spirit Growing up in New Mexico ranch country The grief of losing the love of her life Reinventing yourself after loss Why purpose changes as we change The difference between happiness, joy, and bliss Women, courage, adventure, and breaking old rules Jane’s book, Your North Star The question: “Who do you want to be?” Connect with Jane Website: janebradleysays.comBook: Your North Star by Jane Bradley, available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble online Jane also generously shared her personal email address and phone number during this episode for anyone interested in connecting with her. You can hear those details near the end of the conversation, or visit her website to learn more. Thank you for being here with us. With courage comes bliss.Editor's Note During our conversation, I mention that I may have covered the fear of sharing my story and being accused of lying in a previous episode. After looking through my episodes, I realized I haven't dedicated one to that topic after all. That conversation deserves its own space, and it's now on my list for a future episode of Cat Unmuted. We'll explore what it's like to tell your truth, the fear of not being believed, and what it takes to share your story anyway. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit catlcarnell.substack.com/subscribe
Jul 7

When I Lost Myself, I Lost My Marriage... Or So I Thought

Sometimes the problem isn’t your relationship. Sometimes... you’ve simply disappeared inside everyone else’s needs. This week’s episode is one of the hardest I’ve ever recorded. I talk openly about my struggles with intimacy, what therapy has uncovered, and how years of being everyone’s caretaker slowly caused me to lose myself. If you’ve ever forgotten who you are while taking care of everyone else, I hope this conversation reminds you that you’re not alone. 🎙️ New episode of Cat Unmuted is available now. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit catlcarnell.substack.com/subscribe
Jun 30

Episode 23: Expansion, Boundaries, and Becoming Yourself Again

🎙️ Episode 23 of Cat Unmuted is now live! This week, I sit down with Journey Pierre from The Inner Bloom for a conversation about rock bottoms, shadow work, boundaries, nervous system healing, self-worth, and the identities we leave behind as we grow. We talk about childhood wounds, sibling guilt, toxic family dynamics, validation, feminine energy, and what it really means to become the person you were always meant to be. One of my favorite moments? When Journey said the word she chases is expansion. Not happiness.Not success.Expansion. If you’ve ever felt stuck between who you were and who you’re becoming, this episode is for you. 🎧 Listen now and let me know: What is the one word you chase in life? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit catlcarnell.substack.com/subscribe
Jun 16

Episode 21: Voices, Stories, and Finding the Good

Episode 21: Voices, Stories, and Finding the Good Guest: Heather Ballantine of Voices and Stories Studio Welcome to Episode 21 of Cat Unmuted, and my very first guest episode! In this conversation, I sit down with my friend Heather Ballantine, fellow Air Force veteran, author, podcast host, and creator of Voices and Stories Studio. Heather shares her journey from military life to writing books for young readers, including stories inspired by deployment, military families, history, and the importance of helping children feel seen. We also talk about her podcast, America is Great, her “blind date with a book” style project for rehoming used books, and the many creative ideas that somehow all keep circling back to stories. This episode took a different path than I expected, which honestly made it even better. We talked about creativity, authorship, motherhood, military life, miscarriage, identity shifts, and the strange way life keeps handing us lessons wrapped in chaos and hailstorms. In this episode, we talk about: Heather’s return to the military through the Vermont Air National Guard Writing her first book from her son’s perspective during her husband’s deployment Why military kids need stories that help them feel seen Her love for history and writing young adult books The reality of learning authorship the expensive way The importance of having people in your corner How creative ideas can grow into one connected business Military life, motherhood, and the hard choices that come with both Miscarriage, grief, and how loss becomes part of who we are Looking for the good without pretending the hard parts aren’t real What success means when your work is truly people-centered About Heather Heather Ballantine is an author, podcast host, military member, and creator of Voices and Stories Studio. Her work centers around books, storytelling, military families, history, and helping people connect through stories. You can find Heather at:voicesandstoriesstudio.squarespace.com Final Thought This episode is really about stories. The ones we write, the ones we live, the ones we survive, and the ones we choose to pass on. Sometimes the story starts with fear. Sometimes it starts with loss. Sometimes it starts with a child watching their parent deploy. And sometimes, it starts with two old friends finally catching up and realizing there was a whole bookcase of life between them. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit catlcarnell.substack.com/subscribe
Jun 10

Episode 20: The Practice Interview That Got Personal

Episode 20: Interviewing Myself This episode started as an experiment. I've been thinking about bringing guests onto Cat Unmuted because, if I'm being honest, talking to a camera by myself can feel awkward. I wanted to test-drive a set of interview questions I've been developing for future guests. So instead of interviewing someone else, I interviewed myself. What followed was a surprisingly honest reflection on who I am today, who I used to be, and the experiences that shaped the path between those two versions of me. In this episode, I share: • Why I see myself as both an author and a writer • The passion behind self-growth, self-communication, and reflective self-talk • The three major rock bottoms that changed the course of my life • Growing up between Japan and the United States • The lasting impact of a narcissistic stepmother and the beliefs I carried because of it • How my military experience became a turning point in discovering my own worth • Why my miscarriage became the hardest season of my life • The emotional dissociation, postpartum depression, and identity shifts that followed • The moment I realized I could no longer continue life the way I had been living it • Closing a business I spent nine years building • Discovering writing as something far bigger than a hobby • How grief unexpectedly revealed a new purpose • The role gratitude plays in keeping me grounded • Why resilience is more than simply "being strong" • The connection between physical health, mental health, and self-talk • What I would tell the younger versions of myself today • Why I believe courage is required before bliss can ever be found Throughout this conversation, I kept returning to one idea: The hardest moments of my life didn't simply break things apart. They redirected me. The woman who desperately wanted to feel the sun, wind, rain, and freedom on her skin during the darkest days of her miscarriage is the same woman who is now writing books, building new projects, preparing for a move to Okinawa, and creating a life that feels more aligned than ever before. My goal isn't a life without hardship. My goal is bliss. Not constant happiness. Not perfection. Bliss, peace, freedom, and the courage to keep choosing the life that feels true. If this episode resonates with you, I hope it encourages you to ask yourself a few difficult questions of your own. Sometimes the answers are already waiting. Through Courage Comes Bliss. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit catlcarnell.substack.com/subscribe
May 26

The Exhaustion of Holding It All Together

I thought I was being lazy.Turns out… I was exhausted. Not physically. Emotionally. Living in a house that no longer feels like mine.Trying to keep everything perfect for showings.Writing a book.Trying to stay positive.Trying to “manifest correctly.”Trying to hold it all together. Then one day I stopped cleaning.Stopped forcing productivity.Stayed up until midnight playing Super Mario with Josh like two teenagers avoiding responsibility. 😂 And honestly?It felt liberating. This episode is about the pressure of perfection, emotional burnout, and giving yourself permission to just… be human for a minute. 🎙️ Episode 18 of Cat Unmuted is up now. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit catlcarnell.substack.com/subscribe

I’m Catherine (Cat) Carnell, an author, unconventional healer/coach, and storyteller. I normalize taboo topics through lived experience and reflection, often avoided until life high-fives us in the face. No rushing. No pressure. No judgment. catlcarnell.substack.com

Creator

Cat, Unmuted
Years Active

2026
Episodes

26
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Catherine Carnell
Show Website

Cat, Unmuted Podcast