Inspired Questions: Conversations on Self-Worth, Burnout & Showing Up Authentically

Ruth Hirshberg, MSW — Grounding with Ruth
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Inspired Questions is a podcast for women who are tired of performing, people-pleasing, and pretending they’re fine — and who are finally ready to reclaim their voice, soften their nervous system, and live with more authenticity and self-worth. Hosted by Ruth Hirshberg, MSW, self-worth and breathwork coach, each episode blends grounded conversations, honest storytelling, breathwork and meditation, and practical tools for navigating burnout, pressure, perfectionism, and the belief that you’re “not enough.” You’ll hear from women who’ve stopped shrinking and started showing up with presence. You’ll learn how to regulate your nervous system, rewrite old stories, set boundaries without guilt, and reconnect with your real self — not the version you’ve been performing. Whether it’s a guided meditation, an honest solo episode, or a conversation with a leader, therapist, or coach, Inspired Questions is your reminder that you’re not broken — you’re human, and you deserve to feel like enough. New episodes weekly. Connect with Ruth at groundingwithruth.com or @groundingwithruth.

  1. 2D AGO

    When Life Feels Like Too Much: A Grounding Meditation to Help You Pause

    This meditation is for the weeks when there's just a lot. When your nervous system is working overtime, your feelings are bigger than usual, and you haven't had a real chance to stop. Rather than pushing through or trying to fix what's hard, this practice offers something different: a few minutes to pause, to acknowledge what you're actually carrying, and to remember that you don't have to hold it all alone. This meditation may be supportive if you're: moving through a heavy week or a heavy season carrying big emotions you haven't had space to feel exhausted from pushing through and pretending you're fine in need of a real pause, not a quick fix In this practice, you'll be invited to: let your body settle and feel supported check in honestly with how you're actually feeling soften around what you're carrying without trying to fix it reconnect to your breath and the present moment There's no right way to do this meditation. You can sit, lie down, pause, or come back later. If big feelings come up, that's not a problem - that's the point. If you'd like more grounding practices like this, you can follow the podcast or find me at Grounding with Ruth, where I share meditation, breathwork, and self-worth-focused support for women navigating burnout, people-pleasing, and uncertainty. I'm also hosting a live online workshop - Grounding in Self-Trust When Life Feels Uncertain - on Saturday March 14th, 2026 at 10 AM EST. If this meditation resonated, this workshop is the next step. Details and registration below. If you're interested in working together: Register for the March 14th workshop: REGISTER Book a free discovery call: BOOK HERE Learn more about The Self-Worth Solution course: www.groundingwithruth.com Join my free FB group, The Enough Project: JOIN HERE Follow me on Instagram: FOLLOW HERE And if this meditation was supportive, a rating or review helps others find it too.

    9 min

  2. FEB 19

    Take Your Break Time Back: A Conversation with Naturopath Sara Love on Stress, Gut Health, and Permission to Rest

    Sometimes the most supportive things are also the most overlooked: a real break, a bit of movement, and something warm in your hands. In this conversation, I'm joined by naturopathic doctor and tea maker Sara Love to talk about stress, the gut microbiome, and what it actually looks like to build self-care into a busy life—without turning it into another job. This episode is for you if: You've been running on empty and keep telling yourself you'll rest "later" You're curious about how stress affects digestion, mood, and energy You want practical, small shifts that are realistic to stick with You're trying to set boundaries but keep sliding past your own limits We talk about: Sara's path from pharmacy to naturopathic medicine Why stress can make even "good" health habits feel less effective The gut microbiome (and why the research is changing so quickly) Supporting your vagal nerve with short, intentional breaks What "intentional rest" looks like (and why doomscrolling doesn't count) Boundaries that actually hold: time blocks, hard stop times, and recovery days Ultra-marathons, mental training, and the mantras that carry you through Being more intentional about what you consume—food, media, and everything else How herbal tea blends come together (including the personalities of herbs) Guest bio: Sara Love is a naturopathic doctor in Oregon with a wide scope of practice, blending evidence-informed natural medicine with conventional tools when needed. She's also the founder of Lichen Leaf Tea, where she creates herbal blends designed to support real life—stress and all. Find Sara + Lichen Leaf Tea: Website: lichenleaf.com Connect with Ruth: Website: groundingwithruth.com Instagram: @groundingwithruth Facebook: Grounding with Ruth If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a reminder to take a break, or leave a review—it truly helps. Stay Grounded.

    43 min

  3. FEB 12

    Grounding in Self-Trust When Life Feels Uncertain

    This meditation is for moments when uncertainty is making you doubt yourself — when you're second-guessing your decisions, waiting for certainty that isn't coming, or questioning whether you're doing any of this right. Rather than trying to find the answers or force clarity, this practice offers something different: a chance to reconnect to your own inner knowing and trust yourself even when you don't have it all figured out. This meditation may be supportive if you're: stuck in a decision and doubting yourself feeling unmoored by change or uncertainty waiting for external validation before you act carrying the weight of "what if I get this wrong?" In this practice, you'll be invited to: ground in your body and breath notice where uncertainty is blocking your self-trust reconnect to what you know for sure, even if it's small practice trusting yourself not because you have certainty, but because you don't need it There's no right way to do this meditation. You can sit, lie down, pause, come back later, or simply listen. If your mind wanders or doubts creep in, that's not a problem — it's part of the practice. If you'd like more grounding practices like this, you can follow the podcast or find me at Grounding with Ruth, where I share meditation, breathwork, and self-worth-focused support for women who are navigating burnout, people-pleasing, and uncertainty. If you're interested in working together: Book a free discovery call: BOOK HERE Learn more about The Self-Worth Solution course: www.groundingwithruth.com Join my free FB group, The Enough Project: JOIN HERE Follow me on Instagram: FOLLOW HERE And if this meditation was supportive, a rating or review helps others find it too.

    12 min

  4. FEB 5

    What I’ve Learned After 50 Episodes

    In this solo episode, I pause to reflect on reaching 50 episodes of Inspired Questions — how this podcast began, how it’s changed, and how I’ve changed along the way. I talk about recording the very first episode feeling terrified and unsure, learning to trust my voice over time, and letting go of the pressure to get it “right.” I share what showing up imperfectly has taught me about self-worth, authenticity, and creating work that feels aligned. I also speak more openly about my course, The Self-Worth Solution, why it exists, and how it has evolved alongside me. This episode is an invitation to reflect on your own growth, your voice, and what it might look like to choose yourself with more trust and less fear. In this episode, we explore: What it felt like recording the first episode — and how far I’ve come Letting go of performance and learning to trust my voice Why inconsistency doesn’t mean failure How self-worth work shows up in creativity and visibility The evolution of my work and The Self-Worth Solution Why you don’t need certainty to begin Links & Resources: Learn more about The Self-Worth Solution: HERE Book a free assessment call: BOOK HERE Connect with me on Instagram or Facebook: @groundingwithruth Thank you for listening — and for being part of this space. Stay grounded.

    10 min

  5. JAN 29

    Grounding Meditation: Ten Minutes at a Time

    This short meditation is for moments when everything feels like a lot — when your mind is busy and your body is asking for a pause. Rather than trying to fix anything, this practice offers something simpler: a chance to come back to where you are, notice what’s here, and let your system settle. It’s built around the idea of taking things ten minutes at a time, without pressure to solve the whole day. This meditation may be supportive if you’re: feeling anxious or overwhelmed carrying a quiet sense of “never enough” tired of pushing yourself to keep going needing something steady and uncomplicated In this practice, you’ll be invited to: settle into the body and notice support name what’s present without fixing it gently return to the breath and the moment orient toward the next ten minutes, just as they are There’s no right way to do this meditation. You can sit, lie down, pause, come back later, or simply listen. If your mind wanders, that’s not a problem — it’s part of the practice. If you’d like more grounding practices like this, you can follow the podcast or find me at Grounding with Ruth, where I share meditation, breathwork, and self-worth–focused support for women who are tired of pushing themselves through life. If you’re interested in working together, you can learn more about my offerings — including 1:1 support and my course The Self-Worth Solution — at my website: www.groundingwithruth.com And if this meditation was supportive, a rating or review helps others find it too.

    7 min

  6. JAN 22

    What Dogs Teach Us About Patience and Progress: A Conversation with Emma Berumen

    Dog struggles can feel surprisingly personal — and oddly isolating. In this episode, Ruth sits down with Emma Berumen, the founder behind Snout App (built from her own experience supporting her dog Luna through separation anxiety). They talk about what it’s like when your dog’s stress becomes your stress, why “quick fixes” often leave us feeling worse, and how real progress usually comes from small, repeatable steps… plus a lot of self-forgiveness. This episode is for you if you: love your dog deeply, but feel overwhelmed by behaviour struggles have tried plans that didn’t fit your real life (or your actual dog) notice how easily anxiety becomes a feedback loop — for both of you need a reminder that progress doesn’t require perfection In this conversation, we talk about: why dog ownership can bring up so much self-doubt (and guilt) separation anxiety: the practical stress and the emotional weight the myth of the “quick fix” — and what helps instead breaking change into bite-sized steps (and why 10 minutes matters) repairing after hard moments: apologizing, resetting, trying again building tools that adapt to real life, not ideal circumstances walking, sunlight, and getting out of your own head the reminder: “Even though it may not look like it, it will pass.” Guest: Emma Berumen Emma Berumen is the founder of Snout App, a project inspired by her own dog Luna and their journey with separation anxiety. With a background that includes science and the startup world, Emma is focused on building support that’s practical, flexible, and guided by real expertise — so people don’t feel alone while figuring things out. Links: Join the Snout App beta/waitlist: thesnoutapp.com (as shared in the interview) Connect with Ruth www.groundingwithruth.com Ruth’s work: women’s wellness, burnout recovery, self-worth, and grounded growth If this episode resonated, you can follow the show, share it with a friend who loves their dog (and might need this reminder), and leave a review — it helps more people find us. Stay Grounded.

    43 min

  7. JAN 15

    Guiding Meditation: A Practice of Being Here

    This meditation is an invitation to come back to where you are, just as you are. It’s a practice of presence—not as something to achieve or get right, but as something you can return to again and again. Whether your mind feels busy, your body feels tired, or you’re feeling a bit scattered, this space is open to you. There’s no expectation to be calm or clear your thoughts. This is about noticing what’s actually here and allowing that to be enough. This meditation supports you in: Settling into your body and your breath Noticing where your mind naturally goes Practising returning to the present moment Reflecting on what presence feels like for you Remembering that there’s no right way to meditate You don’t need to do this perfectly. If your mind wanders, that’s part of the practice. Every time you notice and come back, you’re already here. Stay grounded.

    11 min

  8. JAN 8

    A Different Way to Enter a New Year

    January often comes with a lot of noise—about who we should be, what we should fix, and how quickly we should change. In this solo episode, I share my complicated relationship with the New Year, why resolutions have never really worked for me, and what I’m choosing instead. This conversation is about loosening the grip of expectation and finding a way into the year that feels more honest, more spacious, and more supportive of real life. This episode is for you if: You feel resistant to New Year’s pressure or “fresh start” energy Resolutions tend to leave you feeling discouraged or behind You’re curious about setting intentions instead of rigid goals You want a calmer, more grounded way to move into a new year In this episode, I talk about: Why New Year’s messaging can feel heavy and unrealistic The difference between resolutions and intentions How intentions leave room for flexibility and self-compassion My personal intention for 2026: presence What presence looks like in my work, health, and relationships Connect with Ruth Website: groundingwithruth.com Instagram & Facebook: Grounding with Ruth If this episode resonates, you’re welcome to follow the podcast, leave a review, or share it with someone who might need a little less pressure this time of year. Stay Grounded.

    9 min
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About

Inspired Questions is a podcast for women who are tired of performing, people-pleasing, and pretending they’re fine — and who are finally ready to reclaim their voice, soften their nervous system, and live with more authenticity and self-worth. Hosted by Ruth Hirshberg, MSW, self-worth and breathwork coach, each episode blends grounded conversations, honest storytelling, breathwork and meditation, and practical tools for navigating burnout, pressure, perfectionism, and the belief that you’re “not enough.” You’ll hear from women who’ve stopped shrinking and started showing up with presence. You’ll learn how to regulate your nervous system, rewrite old stories, set boundaries without guilt, and reconnect with your real self — not the version you’ve been performing. Whether it’s a guided meditation, an honest solo episode, or a conversation with a leader, therapist, or coach, Inspired Questions is your reminder that you’re not broken — you’re human, and you deserve to feel like enough. New episodes weekly. Connect with Ruth at groundingwithruth.com or @groundingwithruth.

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