The Becoming Year

Danielle Kanouse
  • 5.0 (3)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Becoming Year is a personal development podcast for women and mothers navigating growth, motherhood, health, wellness, and faith. Through honest conversations and reflective storytelling, host Danielle Kanouse explores healing, intentional living, spiritual growth, and the quiet inner work of becoming-one season at a time. Perfect for women in their late 20s to 40s seeking meaningful conversations about motherhood, identity, wellness, and personal growth.

Episodes

  1. 6D AGO

    Mental Health, Motherhood, & Learning to Stop Abandoning Yourself

    In this deeply personal Mental Health Awareness Month episode of The Becoming Year Podcast, Danielle opens up about the quiet mental health struggles so many women, especially mothers, experience behind closed doors. From childhood shame and self-worth struggles after losing part of her finger in middle school, to anxiety, perfectionism, postpartum isolation, functional depression, body image struggles, people pleasing, and the grief of abandoning herself out of fear, this episode is an honest conversation about healing, motherhood, identity, and learning how to stop leaving yourself behind. Danielle shares the mindset shifts, daily mental health practices, nervous system supports, faith, community, and healing tools that have helped her reconnect with herself through the hardest seasons of life and motherhood. This episode also explores: High-functioning depression in women and mothersMental health and motherhoodShame, perfectionism, and self-worthHealing vs. "fixing" yourselfPostpartum isolation and identity lossAnxiety, comparison, and fearNervous system regulation and simple wellness habitsBuilding community as a motherFaith, resilience, and emotional healingLearning to stop quitting on yourself If you've ever felt disconnected from yourself while still showing up for everyone else, this conversation is for you. Because healing is not about becoming perfect. it's about learning how to return to yourself again and again.

    17 min

  2. MAY 4

    Mother's Day Isn't the Problem (The Invisible Mental Load of Motherhood, Burnout, and Why Moms Need More Than Self-Care)

    Mother's Day is supposed to feel restful, meaningful, and full of appreciation--but for many moms, it feels heavy, overwhelming, and strangely underwhelming. In this episode, we're unpacking why. From the invisible mental load of motherhood to the emotional and cognitive labor moms carry every single day, this conversation goes deeper than surface-level "self-care". Because the truth is: one massage, one brunch, or one day off doesn't fix a life where you're carrying everything alone. We talk about: The invisible labor and mental load of motherhoodWhy so many moms feel unseen and unappreciatedThe real reason Mother's Day doesn't feel as good as it's supposed toWhy asking for help feels so hard (and how to start)What support actually looks like in everyday lifeHow to begin building a life that feels lighter, more intentional, and more like your own This episode is both a reframe and a permission slip. Because you don't need a better Mother's Day. You need a life that finally includes you.

    20 min

  3. APR 27

    The Lie That There's Not Enough Time (And What's Really Stealing Your Day)

    Feeling like there's never enough time in your day? In this episode, we're breaking down the real reason busy moms feels overwhelmed...and it's not what you think. We're diving into time management for moms, how to stop saying "I don't have time", and how to start building a schedule that actually reflects your priorities. You'll learn how to do a simple time audit, identify where your time is really going, and create realistic routines that support your goals in this season of life. If you've ever struggled with finding time to work out, start a side hustle, build better habits, or simply feel more in control of your day, this episode will give you practical tools to shift from chaos to clarity. In this episode: Why "not enough time" is often a mindset (not a reality)How to identify time-wasting habits and daily distractionsA simple 5-step time audit to reset your scheduleHow to prioritize what matters without guiltThe connection between boundaries, burnout, and time management This is your reminder: you don't need more time...you need better awareness and intention.

    17 min

  4. APR 20

    You’re Not Behind, You’re in a Different Season (How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others)

    If you’ve ever felt like you’re falling behind in life, constantly comparing yourself to other moms, careers, or timelines, this episode is for you. In this episode of The Becoming Year Podcast, we’re diving into the comparison trap: why it happens, why it hits so hard in motherhood, and how to stop comparing your life to others. I’m sharing my personal experience with comparison, from early motherhood and identity shifts to the pressure of social media, and the mindset shifts that have helped me find more peace, confidence, and clarity.  We’ll talk about: Why you feel behind (and why you’re actually not) How social media fuels comparison and self-doubt The truth about “different seasons of life” Simple mindset shifts to stop comparing yourself to others How to refocus your life, goals, and growth This is your reminder that you are not behind, you are exactly where you’re meant to be. If you’re ready to feel more grounded, present, and confident in your own path, press play.

    14 min

  5. APR 13

    If You Want a Village, You Have to Be a Villager First (Building Real Connection, Letting Go of Expectations & Becoming the Friend You Wish You Had)

    If you've ever looked around and thought: where is my village? This episode is for you. So many of us are quietly carrying this feeling. The vision we had of what support and connection would look like in motherhood, and the reality of what it actually became. The family we thought would show up. The friendships we hoped would deepen. The village we pictured that just...didn't come together the way we imagined. And somewhere in the middle of that disappointment, a question worth asking: am I showing up for others the way I wish they would show up for me? In this episode we're getting honest about all of it: the grief of an unmet expectation, the identity shift required to become a true villager, and why "let me know if you need anything" might be the least helpful thing we say to the people we love the most. This episode covers: Why the village so many moms are waiting for isn't coming--and what to do insteadThe powerful identity shift behind "if you want a village, you have to be a villager first"Why "let me know if you need anything" is actually a passive form of support--and what to say insteadWhat proactive, specific, thoughtful support really looks like in everyday lifeThe quiet grief of realizing your village doesn't look like you pictured, and why you need to honor that before you can move through itHow Mel Robbins' "Let Them" theory can free you from the exhausting cycle of unmet expectations in relationshipsWhy your village doesn't have to be big, it just has to be realHow to shift your energy toward who is showing up instead of who isn'tWhy depth over breadth will always win when it comes to connectionWhether you're in the thick of feeling unsupported, quietly grieving the village you thought you'd have, or ready to become the kind of woman who creates the connections she craves--this episode will meet you exactly where you are. Because the village you want? It's available to you. It just might not come packaged the way you expected. The middle of the story really does matter. Small steps. Real change. Finally you.

    16 min

  6. APR 6

    What Nobody Tells You About Becoming (Identity Shift, Relationships, & the Growing Pains of Real Change)

    If you've been doing the work--the real, internal work--and things around you have started to feel a little different, a little uncomfortable, a little unfamiliar...this episode is for you. Because nobody talks about the other side of personal growth. They sell you the transformation. They don't tell you what comes with it. In this episode, we're getting into the raw, honest truth of what actually happens when you start becoming the woman you've been thinking about for so long. The awareness that kicks in. The relationships that shift. The boundaries that feel brand new and terrifying. The quiet grief of outgrowing spaces that used to feel like home. And the loneliness of doing the inside work in a world that's mostly focused on the outside. This episode covers: Why the middle of your transformation is actually where the growth happens--and why most people quit right before the breakthroughThe identity shift that has to happen before your outside world can change (and why you keep reverting without it)What awareness really is--and why it's not the same as judgementHow your relationships naturally shift when you grow--and why that's not a sign something is wrongThe difference between fitting in and true belonging, and why real growth can feel lonely at firstHow to redefine proximity as a mom when you can't just build a bran new circle overnightWhy becoming and motherhood aren't separate--and what we're really teaching our kids when we take care of ourselvesWhat stop doing while you're in the middle of your becoming Whether you're deep in the process or just starting to feel the pull toward something more, this episode will remind you that the discomfort you're feeling isn't a problem to solve--it's proof that you're becoming. The middle of the story really does matter. Small steps. Real change. Finally you.

    22 min

  7. MAR 30

    Living with Autoimmune Disease as a Mom (What No One Tells You)

    There was a point where I couldn’t walk. Where I couldn’t pick up my own body, let alone show up as the mom I wanted to be. In this episode, I’m sharing my experience living with rheumatoid arthritis: how it started, what it felt like to have my body shut down right before my wedding, and what it’s been like navigating autoimmune disease through motherhood. We talk about the part no one really prepares you for: the fear, the mental toll, the identity shift, and the grief of not being able to show up the way you want to. I also share what actually helped me during my worst flare-ups. From small, simple shifts to the mindset changes that carried me through and what I’ve learned about supporting my body instead of fighting it. If you’re living with autoimmune disease, chronic illness, or you’ve ever felt like your body is working against you, this episode is for you. You’re not alone in this.

    26 min

  8. MAR 23

    How to Change Your Life Without Starting Over (Small Habits for Moms)

    If you’ve ever felt like your life will finally start later ...when the kids are older, when you have more time, or when things feel easier, this episode is for you. In Episode 3 of The Becoming Year, we’re talking about how to change your life without starting over. Because the truth is:You don’t need a completely new life to feel more fulfilled.You don’t need to wait for a new season. You need to start making small, intentional edits inside the life you already have. In this episode, I share: Why so many moms feel stuck in the “in-between” (and how to move through it)How your self-worth and identity impact your habits and daily decisionsThe real reason you may be self-sabotaging your routinesA simple, realistic framework to redesign your life without overwhelmHow to build habits that actually work in busy motherhood seasonsWe also talk about: The identity shift that happens in motherhoodHow to stop waiting and start becomingCreating routines that fit real life (not a perfect version of it)Why small daily habits are the key to long-term changeThis episode is for the mom who knows she’s meant for more but doesn’t want to burn her life down to find it. Because becoming doesn’t happen all at once.It happens in the middle of your life… in the small choices you make every day. 🎙️ If this episode resonates, share it with a friend who’s in this season too.

    23 min

  9. MAR 16

    The Identity Shift No One Talks About

    Becoming a mom changes everything...but one of the biggest shifts no one prepares you for is what happens to you. In this episode, I'm sharing the honest story of how my identity changed after becoming a mother--from busy teacher and leader to suddenly feeling like pieces of myself had disappeared overnight. We talk about the loneliness of early motherhood, the pressure of being the default parent, the struggle with losing your professional identity, and the quiet realization that if you want to feel like yourself again...you have to start rebuilding intentionally. This episode is also about hope and the small ways we can begin returning to ourselves while still fully embracing motherhood. In this episode: Why the identity shift in motherhood can feel so disorientingThe power of community and why one friend can change everythingHow motherhood doesn't have to mean losing yourselfA simple three-step exercise to start becoming the version of yourself you want to be If you've ever felt like parts of you disappeared after becoming a mom, this episode is for you.

    23 min

  10. MAR 9

    Why I'm Starting Before I Feel Ready

    If you’re waiting for the perfect time to start something new, this episode is for you. For weeks I’ve been battling a quiet voice in my head telling me maybe this isn’t the right season. Maybe my kids need me more. Maybe starting something new right now is selfish or unrealistic. But I’ve heard that voice before. In this first episode of The Becoming Year, I’m sharing why I’m choosing to start this podcast before I feel ready and why I think so many women, especially moms, are stuck waiting for the “right time” that never comes. Motherhood asks a lot of us. But it doesn’t mean our growth, dreams, or becoming have to stop. If you’ve ever felt like you’re behind, like it might be too late, or like your life is on pause while everyone else moves forward. This conversation is for you. Because becoming isn’t something that happens someday. It starts the moment you decide to begin. The Becoming Year is a podcast about growth, motherhood, identity, and building the life you want...one intentional step at a time.

    18 min
  11. Welcome to The Becoming Year

    FEB 6

    Welcome to The Becoming Year

    Welcome to The Becoming Year a podcast for women and mothers navigating seasons of growth, change, and becoming. In this short trailer, host Danielle Kanouse introduces a space centered on personal growth, motherhood, wellness, faith, and the quiet inner work of becoming-one season at a time. If you're in your late 20s through 40s and craving honest, grounding conversations without pressure or perfection, you're in the right place. New episodes every Tuesday morning.

    1 min
  • 11 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Becoming Year is a personal development podcast for women and mothers navigating growth, motherhood, health, wellness, and faith. Through honest conversations and reflective storytelling, host Danielle Kanouse explores healing, intentional living, spiritual growth, and the quiet inner work of becoming-one season at a time. Perfect for women in their late 20s to 40s seeking meaningful conversations about motherhood, identity, wellness, and personal growth.

Information

  • Creator
    Danielle Kanouse
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Danielle Kanouse
  • Show Website
    The Becoming Year

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