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

  1. Episode 20: The Practice Interview That Got Personal

    4d ago

    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. Get full access to Cat Unmuted at catlcarnell.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 1m

  2. 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. Get full access to Cat Unmuted at catlcarnell.substack.com/subscribe

    30 min

  3. May 14

    Not My Drama

    In this episode of Cat Unmuted, I share a real experience from a recent vending event I attended with a friend—and how quickly things can spiral when people choose reaction over awareness. What started as a new opportunity turned into a front-row seat to miscommunication, personality clashes, and unnecessary drama. But instead of getting pulled into it, I found myself observing something deeper: We always have a choice in how we respond. What I Talk About: The dynamics of being the “new ones” in an established environment How assumptions about people can shape your experience before you even meet them What happens when one person’s constant complaints affect an entire group The ripple effect of reactions—how negativity spreads and escalates The difference between addressing a problem vs. feeding it Why not everything needs your engagement (even when you're invited into it) The power of staying neutral and not getting pulled into other people’s narratives Key Takeaways: You don’t have to participate just because you’re invited into the drama Complaining without intention solves nothing—it amplifies everything People reveal themselves through patterns, not isolated moments You can protect your peace without needing to control others Awareness creates space. Reaction creates chaos The Bigger Reflection: This experience wasn’t really about the event—it was about witnessing how people handle discomfort, control, and unmet expectations. Some escalate.Some withdraw.Some observe. And that choice?It shapes everything that follows. Get full access to Cat Unmuted at catlcarnell.substack.com/subscribe

    31 min

  4. May 6

    What Adenomyosis Has Been Like for Me

    This episode of Cat Unmuted is deeply personal. Cat opens up about her experience with adenomyosis, a condition she had never even heard of until after years of unexplained symptoms, chronic pain, infertility struggles, miscarriage, exhaustion, and brain fog. What started as confusion around heavy bleeding and hormonal chaos eventually led to answers she didn’t know she needed. In this raw and unfiltered conversation, Cat talks about: What adenomyosis actually is How inflammation affects the uterus, nerves, energy levels, and daily life The emotional impact of miscarriage without answers Fertility struggles and the grief that comes with uncertainty Brain fog, chronic fatigue, lower back pain, pelvic pressure, bloating, and weight changes Feeling dismissed or under-informed in traditional medical systems The role acupuncture has played in helping her symptoms Why more women need to openly talk about reproductive health Alternative treatments being explored in Asia, including MRI-guided focused ultrasound The connection between stress, hormones, inflammation, and the nervous system Learning to rest instead of forcing productivity through exhaustion This episode is slower, heavier, and more vulnerable than usual, because it was recorded in real time while actively experiencing symptoms. But that’s exactly why Cat chose to share it. Some conversations are uncomfortable. Some are deeply human. This one is both. If you’ve ever struggled with chronic pain, hormonal issues, reproductive health, miscarriage, fatigue, or simply feeling unheard in your own body, this episode may help you feel a little less alone. Get full access to Cat Unmuted at catlcarnell.substack.com/subscribe

    34 min

  5. Apr 28

    The First Showing Isn’t the Finish Line

    In this episode of Cat Unmuted, I talk about something subtle that showed up the moment we got our first house showing request… excitement. But not the calm, grounded kind. The kind that spikes.The kind that hooks you into an outcome. I walk through how that moment revealed something deeper: The difference between hope vs. attachment How “this could happen” quietly turns into “this needs to happen” Why over-excitement can actually be your body bracing for disappointment And how I brought myself back to a place of trust instead of control This episode isn’t about selling a house.It’s about how we emotionally handle movement in our lives. Because sometimes the real work isn’t in what’s happening……it’s in how quickly we try to control the outcome. Get full access to Cat Unmuted at catlcarnell.substack.com/subscribe

    24 min

  6. Apr 21

    Selling a House Isn’t Just Physical… It’s Energetic

    In this episode, I walk through the real process of preparing a home for sale—not just the physical work, but the emotional and energetic shifts that come with it. After a full month of deep cleaning, decluttering, and preparing our house for the market, I found myself navigating something deeper: letting go of identity, attachment, and control. This isn’t just about selling a house.It’s about transition. Alignment. Trust. What I Talk About The month-long process of getting our house ready to sell Why decluttering is more emotional than practical How objects hold memories, identity, and versions of ourselves Letting go of things that no longer represent who you are Viewing your home through the eyes of a potential buyer Why less clutter creates more possibility How affirmations shape decision-making and mindset The difference between trusting the process vs. trying to control it What happens when your actions don’t align with your intentions The concept of “chasing energy” vs. allowing movement How attachment can create resistance instead of flow Choosing between: Speed vs. price Control vs. trust Why your true priority determines your outcome Key Takeaways Letting go of physical items often means letting go of past versions of yourself Buyers need space to imagine, not space filled with your personality Affirmations only work if your actions support them Misalignment shows up as: Doubt Control Desperation Trusting the process creates calm, clear decision-making You can’t control everything—but you can control: Your environment Your reactions Your perspective Desperation energy cancels out intention Sometimes the hardest part is simply allowing something to move on Affirmations Shared in This Episode This house is already on its way to the right people This house sells quickly, easily, and for the right price We received multiple offers and the process was smooth, aligned, and better than expected A Moment That Sticks There’s a powerful comparison in this episode about letting go—how holding on too tightly can actually delay what’s meant to move forward. Whether it’s a person… or a house…Sometimes the shift happens when you finally say: “It’s okay to let go.” Reflection Prompt Where in your life are you saying you want something……but your actions or thoughts are quietly holding it in place? Closing Thought You don’t have to force movement.You just have to stop resisting it. Choose intention.Let things flow. Support the Show If this resonated with you: Share it with someone who needs it Subscribe for future episodes Follow along as I document this transition in real time From the Episode This episode captures a real-time transition—physically, emotionally, and energetically—while preparing to sell our home and move forward. Get full access to Cat Unmuted at catlcarnell.substack.com/subscribe

    35 min

  7. Apr 14

    Grief Doesn’t Have a Script

    I saw two posts the other day. One remembering a stillborn.One remembering a lost friend. And somehow… without even realizing it at first…they led me back to my own miscarriage. I realized it was also my anniversary for my miscarriage, which was about a week away. I didn’t fall apart. I didn’t cry the way I thought I was “supposed” to. I felt… peace. And for a split second, I questioned myself. Am I grieving enough?Am I doing this right? This week on Cat Unmuted, I talk about something we don’t say out loud enough: Grief doesn’t have a script. You don’t have to perform pain to prove something mattered.You don’t have to stay broken to show love existed. Peace and grief can live in the same space. If you’ve ever questioned the way you process loss… And if it resonates, share it with someone who might need permission to grieve in their own way. Get full access to Cat Unmuted at catlcarnell.substack.com/subscribe

    33 min

  8. Apr 7

    You Don’t Just Fall in Love Once

    What this episode explores:🔹 People Change—Not Just Women A perspective shared in this episode highlights how women evolve through major life experiences. But Cat expands on this idea: Men evolve too Emotional growth isn’t one-sided Shared experiences shape both partners Growth happens on both sides—and that matters. 🔹 Timing Is Everything One of the biggest reflections in this episode: What if you met your person… before you became who you are today? Would you still be compatible? Would you even be attracted to each other? Would the relationship have worked? Sometimes, love works because of everything that happened before it. 🔹 Past Relationships Shape Future Ones Cat shares openly about her previous marriage: Losing her sense of self Feeling restricted and unable to fully express who she was Trying to fit into a version of herself that wasn’t aligned She also reflects on her husband Josh’s past: Experiencing both emotional and physical abuse Feeling trapped and controlled Eventually breaking free and rediscovering himself These experiences didn’t break them—they shaped them. 🔹 Why This Relationship Works Cat and Josh often say they “make marriage easy.” But that ease didn’t come from luck—it came from growth. Learning what they don’t want Understanding themselves more deeply Setting boundaries from the beginning Supporting each other without control They met as evolved versions of themselves. 🔹 Growth Creates Stronger Love Real love isn’t static. People change Life happens Experiences reshape who we are And love requires the ability to: Adapt Support Grow alongside each other Not just fall in love once—but continue choosing each other through every version that follows. 🔹 Challenging Each Other to Grow One unique dynamic Cat shares: They challenge each other directly They don’t sugarcoat everything Growth is intentional—not accidental Because staying the same isn’t the goal. Growth is. 🔹 The Bigger Conversation This episode also touches on something deeper: The divide between men and women The rise of separation instead of understanding The need to come back to mutual support and respect Instead of choosing sides, Cat encourages: 👉 Understanding👉 Growth together👉 Supporting each other through change 🔍 Reflection Questions How have your past experiences shaped who you are today? Are you allowing yourself (and your partner) to grow? Would your current relationship work if you met earlier in life? Where might you be resisting change? 🌿 Personal Notes from Cat Showing up even when things aren’t perfect (yes… even with a weird voice and allergies 😄) Reflecting on how much growth has happened over the years Continuing to evolve—individually and in partnership 💬 Closing Thought You don’t just fall in love with a person once. You fall in love with who they become…over and over again. Get full access to Cat Unmuted at catlcarnell.substack.com/subscribe

    33 min
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About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Cat, Unmuted
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Catherine Carnell
  • Show Website
    Cat, Unmuted Podcast