Most Self-Improved

Erin Jensen and Bhavana Chilukuri
  • 5.0 (2)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Most Self-Improved is a personal growth podcast that releases new episodes every other Thursday, or Thersday! Unless that's annoying, then let's just keep moving! Show hosts Erin Jensen and Bhavana Chilukuri are friends who met in a comedy class in 2019, which they'd enrolled in after being dumped. They quickly bonded over the shared habit of dreaming bold dreams and wanting to go after them. Quite candidly and humorously they'll admit to you that they don't have it allll figured out, but they are certainly trying! In each episode, Bhavana and Erin will talk to an expert (typically in the wellness space) to help answer questions that they, along with their fellow Millennial women, are curious about: “How do I make friends as a thirty-something?” “Do I really need a 25-step skincare routine?” “How do I truly know if I want kids?”Subscribe now so you don't miss an episode!

  1. 09/19/2025

    Vision mapping with coach Beth Batson

    How do you move from setting goals that fizzle out to living a life that feels deeply aligned with who you are? In this episode of Most Self-Improved, we sit down with coach and vision mapping expert Beth Batson to talk about creating a vision that serves as your North Star. Beth shares how vision mapping can shift you away from fixing what’s broken and instead guide you toward a future fueled by possibility, clarity, and meaning. You’ll learn how to map backwards from your future self, tend to your vision daily, and embrace both the detours and the magic that life throws your way. If you’ve ever struggled with fear, doubt, or the overwhelm of “Where do I even begin?” this conversation will help you build a roadmap you can live now — not just someday. In this episode: 1:16 Why traditional goal-setting often fails4:31 How to dream beyond your past experiences7:46 Facing fears and vulnerability in creating your vision13:31 The difference between your goals and vision and how to map backwards20:56 Building resilience and flexibility when life throws detours27:31 Daily and weekly practices to keep your vision alive31:46 Final reflections and takeaways More: Learn more about Coach Beth Batson Website: bethbatson.comReflect & Reconnect Workbook: Download hereInstagram: @bethbatsonConnect with Most Self-Improved Follow on Instagram: @mostselfimproved

    35 min

  2. 08/28/2025

    Deciding if you want kids with Merle Bombardieri

    Should you have a baby? What if you want one, but circumstances are beyond your control? And how do you grieve when life doesn’t unfold the way you hoped? In this deeply moving and pragmatic episode, hosts Bhavana Chilukuri and Erin Jensen speak with Merle Bombardieri, clinical social worker, therapist, and author of “The Baby Decision” and “Baby or Childfree?” For decades, Merle has guided people through one of the most life-shaping questions: whether to become a parent or embrace a fulfilling, childfree life. This episode will speak to you if you are: Wrestling with whether to have childrenCoping with grief around infertility or circumstanceAlready childfree, but seeking peace and confidence in your choiceCurious how to navigate the decision with a partner who feels differentlyMerle brings both compassion and concrete exercises to help you uncover what you truly want for your life. This is an episode to bookmark, share, and maybe keep a tissue handy for. (Yes, Erin is back to “pretty crying.”) In this episode 3:00 Merle’s personal journey of questioning motherhood in the 1970s and finding role models7:15 Common fears people face when deciding whether or not to have children10:15 How to think about regret and why ambivalence is a normal part of this decision13:00 Why making peace with mortality can clarify what matters most15:00 Exercises to separate your desires from family or societal expectations17:00 Navigating grief when having a child isn’t possible, and how to hold both loss and hope21:00 When partners aren’t on the same page25:00 How to honor the path not taken27:00 Support networks and organizations for the childfree-not-by-choice community28:00 Practical exercises33:00 Merle’s reminder that this decision is never just about babies, it’s about the life you want Learn more about Merle Bombardieri For more about Merle and her writing, visit her website Find Merle on Instagram If this episode resonates, share it with a friend who may be sitting with this question right now. And don’t forget to subscribe to Most Self-Improved and follow us on Instagram @mostselfimproved for more conversations about building your best, most authentic life.

    36 min

  3. 08/15/2025

    How to pivot toward work you love with career coach Emily Lamia

    Get the Sunday scaries? Feel stuck in a role that’s “fine” but far from fulfilling? You’re not alone — nearly 80% of people feel disengaged at work, according to Gallup. But what if you could design a career that lights you up instead of draining you? In this inspiring conversation, career development coach Emily Lamia, founder of Pivot Journeys, shares practical, energizing strategies to help you figure out what’s next — whether you’re dreaming of a bold career change, craving more autonomy where you are, or just wondering if your “dream job” even exists. Emily’s advice is both compassionate and no-nonsense — and she proves that with the right experiments, support, and mindset, your chances of finding work you love are higher than you think. Whether you’re starting from scratch, juggling “what if” dreams, or trying to tweak your current role to fit you better, this episode will give you the tools (and the push) to take that first step today. In this episode: 3:47 Emily’s own winding career journey from politics to full-time coaching 6:13 The little experiments approach for testing your new career out 9:40 Stuck and don’t know what you want? Emily’s 3-part process 13:14 Tackling the “I’m too old to change careers” myth — and why identity shifts are part of the process 16:09 What to consider when making a pivot 22:29 The “talk shop” approach  23:42 What comes after prototyping  26:01 Why your dream job will change over time — and why that’s healthy 27:50 Redefining success and achievement 29:50 Lessons learned from a pivot that didn’t go as planned  34:48 The one thing to do today to kickstart your career change 36:06 Getting in touch with Emily and finding the right coach for you More resources: Emily’s website:  The book “Designing Your Life”  The CliftonStrengths Assessment Follow Most Self-Improved on Instagram

    44 min

  4. 08/01/2025

    Make hard choices easier with decision coach Nell Wulfhart

    If you’ve ever felt paralyzed by choice — whether it’s small, like deciding on dinner, or big, like changing careers — this episode is your push toward clarity. Decision coach Nell Wulfhart joins hosts Erin Jensen and Bhavana Chilukuri to help untangle what’s actually keeping us stuck. From overthinking to fear of regret, this honest conversation offers practical strategies and mindset shifts to help you finally decide and move forward. Nell shares why taking action — even imperfectly — is often better than staying in indecision, why most decisions are reversible, and how to build your decision-making muscle. You'll learn how to test your dreams in small ways and how the scariest leaps can be the most worthwhile. In this episode: 3:13 What a decision coach actually does (and why one session is enough) 5:43 How Nell built her decisiveness—and how you can too: “Decision making is a muscle” 7:15 Why fear of regret stops us in our tracks: “The decision making business is really just the regret-minimization business”  9:08 Overthinking red flags and how to stop them: “Letting the doubt creep into your mind, you could just lose so many opportunities” 12:28 Nell’s tool for overcoming regret: “Learn to separate the decisions from the outcome” 16:01 Nell’s future exercise to help you make decisions  18:41 What to do when your dream doesn’t feel realistic right now 20:52 Why are we risk-averse?  25:00 You’ve made your decision. Now what? More: Nell offers single-session decision coaching designed to help you stop swirling in doubt and start taking action. For more information, visit her website and sign up for her newsletter. Follow us on Instagram, @mostselfimproved Subscribe and share this episode with a friend who’s stuck on a decision. It might save them hours (or years).

    29 min

  5. 07/03/2025

    Stop waiting, start packing: How solo travel changes you with Melissa Byron

    You don’t need a significant other, bestie, or bachelorette invite to see the world. You simply need the desire (which you’ve got), the confidence to take your dreams seriously, and the courage to act on it. In this episode of Most Self-Improved, hosts Bhavana Chilukuri and Erin Jensen chat with Melissa Byron of A Solo Woman Traveling — an expert who curates luxury European tours for women. She’s here to tell you that freedom, fun, and self-discovery don’t require anyone else’s permission.  “I was about to turn 30,” Melissa remembers of her first solo trip, “and I hadn’t really done any traveling. And I thought, ‘Okay, I can just keep waiting, or I can go on a trip by myself.’” If you’ve ever dreamed of booking the flight, making pasta from scratch in Italy, or sipping espresso in Paris without explaining yourself to anyone, this episode will have you fired up like a jet engine. In this episode: 1:35 Bhavana and Erin’s experience with solo travel and their hesitation 5:23 Melissa enters the chat: Solo travel “changed my life in so many ways” 6:15 What keeps us waiting: “In the early days I was saving destinations until I had someone special to go with, and then I realized, 'This is silly. I can always go back.’” 10:48 Avoid Melissa’s travel mistakes  12:30 How to make friends on trips 13:30 Melissa’s tips for solo travel: Start local and “pay for convenience over anything else” 16:18 Preparing for solo travel 19:00 Your sign to just go: “Look and book” More: If you’re interested in learning more about Melissa, her tips, and her trips, make the journey over to her website. Connect with her on Instagram: @ASoloWomanTraveling Subscribe to Most Self-Improved and DM us your dream solo trip so we can cheer you on!

    22 min

  6. 06/19/2025

    Are you being too picky when it comes to dating or just thoughtful? Coach Rachel Simeone breaks it down

    This is such a fun and informative episode for anyone who has been accused of being picky or secretly wondered if their standards for dating are too high. Dating coach Rachel Simeone joins hosts Erin Jensen and Bhavana Chilukuri to unpack what it really means to be picky and what settling feels like. “Settling comes from a place of fear, a place (of) insecurity,” Rachel says. “The message you're giving yourself is something like, ‘What if I never find anyone else? Maybe I can't get the kind of person I want. Maybe this is all there is for me.’”  Rachel also shares the inspiring journey of how she found true love after a 17-year relationship crumbled. Whether you're deep in dating app burnout or wondering if you’re the “single for a reason” friend, this episode will give you clarity and encouragement. In this episode: 2:14 The end of Rachel’s 17-year relationship: “I really wanted to find my true love”  4:21 Rachel is shocked by who she finds online: “There were just a lot of people out there — I call it ‘single for a reason’” 6:19 How important is physical attraction? 9:54 Setting your dating criteria: “The energy of too picky is very different than the energy of thoughtful dating” 13:01 Dating someone worthy who gives you butterflies 14:49 Defining dealbreakers 15:36 When does being open become settling? 18:42 Your intuition’s role 19:52 If you’re not being too picky then why are you single? Finding answers in patterns 21:27 How to use dating apps strategically and avoid emotional burnout 22:56 Rachel’s advice for meeting people in real life: “This is going to sound strange” More: Learn more about Rachel Simeone and her teachings via her website, rachelsimeone.com Email her at rachel@rachelsimeone.com Book a free dating strategy session via her website Follow Most Self-Improved on Instagram: @mostselfimproved Show some love to a friend who is single by sharing this episode

    29 min

  7. 06/05/2025

    What is breathwork? Feeling your yes and no with Tricia Dimon

    Your Most Self-Improved hosts Erin Jensen and Bhavana Chilukuri kick off Season 3 with an episode that might be just the exhale you need. Tricia Dimon, a breathwork facilitator and founder of Breath of Abundance, explains the inner clarity and calm that can be achieved through intentional breath.  If you’ve ever felt stuck, disconnected from your intuition, or like your body is carrying stress you can’t name, this one is for you. Learn about a new tool for self-regulation and decision-making that you can try during the episode. In this episode: 2:17 Introduction of Tricia Dimon, breathwork facilitator  6:00 What exactly is breathwork? 6:56 Softening trauma and releasing stress   8:03 How breathwork differs from typical breathing 9:12 How breath can be a bridge back to your intuition, clarity, and confidence 12:06 A guided breathwork session that you can try 22:00 Breathing back into alignment with your true self 25:50 Bhavana and Erin’s takeaways from the episode More: To learn more about Tricia’s work, visit her website or purchase her book.  Follow the show on Instagram: @mostselfimproved Subscribe and leave a review if this episode moved you or helped you reconnect to yourself. Share it with a friend who could use an exhale.

    28 min

  8. 10/12/2024

    Solo parenthood: A bold journey with Ali Cherry

    Maybe you haven’t found the right partner, or perhaps pairing up isn’t of interest at all, but you’d still like to pursue your dream of becoming a parent on your own. In this eye-opening episode, Most Self-Improved hosts Bhavana Chilukuri and Erin Jensen chat with Ali Cherry, wearer of multiple hats, including therapist, writer, standup comic and mom.  Discover Ali’s inspiring story of embracing life on her own terms and her journey to becoming a mom. This heartwarming episode is not only an exploration of what it means to pursue solo motherhood but also a celebration of life's non-linear paths. This episode also reveals some happy, personal news for one of our very own podcast hosts as the show heads for a break. In this episode: 2:30 Introducing Ali Cherry: Therapist, writer, and mom 3:19 Ali's journey to solo parenthood: Trying on the idea of solo parenting 5:58 Fears about solo parenting 6:45 Picking a sperm donor: “Shockingly easy” 7:11 How being a solo parent has changed her: “I feel more settled” 9:44 Ali on being the author of her own parenting journey: “I don’t want that story of ‘It’s hard’” 11:20 The process of getting pregnant 14:45 Ali’s parting advice for aspiring solo parents: Acknowledge “life is not linear” and embrace the process 19:40 One co-host announces her own baby news and a Most Self-Improved break More: Watch Ali talk about “Being Single in a Coupled World” on YouTube.    Follow Most Self-Improved on Instagram and Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

    22 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Most Self-Improved is a personal growth podcast that releases new episodes every other Thursday, or Thersday! Unless that's annoying, then let's just keep moving! Show hosts Erin Jensen and Bhavana Chilukuri are friends who met in a comedy class in 2019, which they'd enrolled in after being dumped. They quickly bonded over the shared habit of dreaming bold dreams and wanting to go after them. Quite candidly and humorously they'll admit to you that they don't have it allll figured out, but they are certainly trying! In each episode, Bhavana and Erin will talk to an expert (typically in the wellness space) to help answer questions that they, along with their fellow Millennial women, are curious about: “How do I make friends as a thirty-something?” “Do I really need a 25-step skincare routine?” “How do I truly know if I want kids?”Subscribe now so you don't miss an episode!

Information

  • Creator
    Erin Jensen and Bhavana Chilukuri
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Most Self-Improved
  • Show Website
    Most Self-Improved