The Life You're Made For with Dr. Heather Penny

Dr. Heather Penny
  • 5.0 (16)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

The Life You’re Made For is about addressing some of life’s most important questions with creativity and curiosity—that can also sometimes be vulnerable and risky. Together we'll make new connections, understand our unique purpose, check the beliefs we hold, and learn how to overcome unexpected challenges. Each and every one of us holds our own inner clarity, confidence, and courage –  3C Living & Leading – so let’s go after it together.

  1. 096 Leadership Lessons from the Rapids with Michelle Riddell

    FEB 4

    096 Leadership Lessons from the Rapids with Michelle Riddell

    What can white-water rafting in the Grand Canyon teach us about leadership and life? In this episode of The Life You’re Made For, host Dr. Heather Penny sits down with Michelle Riddell to explore how leadership begins within and is shaped through clarity, courage, and connection. Drawing from a rafting trip that became a lived leadership lesson, Heather and Michelle talk about caring for yourself, honoring the signals of your body, and choosing peace over striving. They unpack why anxiety can be a gift, how mindset shapes the energy we bring into every space, and why leadership development is never a solo journey. With a deep heart for the next generation, Michelle shares how mentors helped her believe she could design her life—and how she now walks alongside Gen Z and young professionals, helping them ask better questions, clarify their dreams, and take meaningful next steps. This episode is an invitation to slow down, listen inward, and step boldly into the life you’re made for. Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires

    48 min
  2. 095 Leadership Starts Within with Nick Breitbart

    JAN 21

    095 Leadership Starts Within with Nick Breitbart

    Leadership doesn’t start with strategy or skills, it starts within. In this episode, Dr. Heather Penny sits down with Nick Breitbart to explore why inner work is essential for healthy & influential leadership. Together they unpack the idea of Grace Space as a practice of compassion, curiosity, and candid feedback that creates room for growth. From self-awareness and blind spots to character alignment, consistency, and servant leadership, they share practical rhythms such as weekly check-ins, feedback loops, and guarding capacity that help leaders connect more deeply and lead with integrity. Whether at home or at work, leadership from within is slow, courageous work. But with grace and curiosity, it can transform how we lead and how we love. Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires

    56 min
  3. 094 The Entrepreneurial Journey with Jason Squires | Clarity, Creativity & the Courage to Choose

    JAN 7

    094 The Entrepreneurial Journey with Jason Squires | Clarity, Creativity & the Courage to Choose

    Sit down with Dr. Heather Penny as she has a chat with an old friend, Jason Squires. Jason brings a blend of entrepreneurial clarity and creative courage, helping people see creativity not just in art or writing, but in leadership, systems, problem-solving, and yes, even spreadsheets. In this conversation, Jason shares what it looks like to recognize burnout, reclaim his creative voice, and allow creativity to lead again. Together, they explore entrepreneurship not as a grind, but as a way of living rooted in clarity, confidence, courage, as well as a powerful fourth C: creativity. This episode is for anyone who’s building, growing, questioning, or quietly sensing that something needs to shift. It’s a reminder that you are in control of your space, your energy, and your choices. Life really is meant to be good, even in the work. If you’re looking for an honest, encouraging conversation about creativity, boundaries, and the real entrepreneurial journey, you won’t want to miss this one with Jason Squires. Learn more about Jason at www.thecreativelaunch.com. Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires

    53 min
  4. 093 When Holiday Traditions Shift with Kacee Squires: Permission, Presence, and Protecting What Matters Most

    12/17/2025

    093 When Holiday Traditions Shift with Kacee Squires: Permission, Presence, and Protecting What Matters Most

    Join Dr. Heather Penny as she sits down with Kacee Squires for a conversation about changing holiday traditions and the freedom that comes from reassessing what truly matters. Together they talk about outgrowing old rhythms, asking better questions, and giving yourself permission to pivot instead of pushing through. At the heart of this episode is a simple but powerful truth: you don’t have to endure the holidays—you get to enjoy them. You have permission to reassess, release what’s no longer meaningful, and create traditions that honor your family as it is now. If you’re navigating changing family dynamics, holiday expectations, or the quiet grief that can come with new seasons, this conversation will meet you with honesty, hope, and freedom. Listen now and let this be the year you choose joy, presence, and traditions that truly fit the life you’re made for. For resources mentioned in this episode from Ann Voskamp please visit https://annvoskamp.com. Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires

    38 min
  5. 092 Grace Space in Real Life: A Mom and Her Son Luke

    12/03/2025

    092 Grace Space in Real Life: A Mom and Her Son Luke

    Some episodes feel less like a recording and more like real life. This is one of them. Dr. Heather Penny (known better as mom) sits down with her son Luke, the Luke from the book dedication for Grace Space. This is an honest, tender, sometimes funny conversation about what “Grace Space” has looked like between them over the years. Together they talk about practicing grace, missing it, rebuilding it, and how it continues to shape the way they show up for each other. This is grace lived, not in theory, but in the everyday moments of a mother and her grown kid figuring life out together. If you’re a parent, a leader, a friend, or anyone navigating relationships with intention, the goal of this episode is you find fresh compassion for yourself, tools for meaningful conversations, permission to slow down and ask better questions as well as a reminder that the world is on your side. It’s personal. It’s real. It’s full of heart. Don’t miss it. Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires

    34 min
  6. 091 Leadership in the Next Generation with Dr. Lisa Smith | Trust, Collaboration, and Courage

    11/19/2025

    091 Leadership in the Next Generation with Dr. Lisa Smith | Trust, Collaboration, and Courage

    A new kind of leadership is emerging and this generation is reshaping it with empathy, cooperation, and authenticity. In this episode, Dr. Heather Penny sits down with Dr. Lisa Smith, professor at Pepperdine and author of Hammer & Fire, to explore how young leaders are redefining what it means to lead well. Lisa shares why today’s young adults see leadership as a shared enterprise, how they value every voice at the table, and why being seen as a whole person matters more than ever. They’re skeptical of traditional authority, but when they find a leader they can trust, they show up with their whole heart. Together, they discuss the invitation for parents, mentors, and leaders to slow down, ask better questions, and come alongside rather than fix. From navigating constant public pressure to learning courageous conversations and intelligent risk-taking, this episode highlights the challenges and the strengths of shaping the next generation. Take a breath, stay curious, and discover what this rising generation is teaching all of us about leadership. Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires

    58 min
  7. 090 Building Your Circle with Brian Taylor | Why Leaders Need People Who See, Challenge, and Cheer Them On

    11/05/2025

    090 Building Your Circle with Brian Taylor | Why Leaders Need People Who See, Challenge, and Cheer Them On

    Welcome to Part 2 of our conversation with Brian Taylor. In this episode, we explore what authentic leadership really looks like. Leadership isn’t just strategy; it’s relationships, trust, and the courage to stay curious. We talk about building circles of people who can see you, challenge you, and cheer you on. Because no leader can do it alone. You’ll hear practical tools like learning to pause before responding, listening all the way to the end, and creating space for others to shine. We unpack how to evolve with your team, honor each person’s growth, and lead with generosity instead of ego. If you’re a leader who wants to build healthier teams, stronger relationships, and a leadership style rooted in humility and presence, this episode is for you. Connect more with Brian Taylor at https://briantaylor.co/ Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires

    45 min
  8. 089 Rebuilding from the Inside Out with Brian Taylor | Finding Strength Beyond Success

    10/22/2025

    089 Rebuilding from the Inside Out with Brian Taylor | Finding Strength Beyond Success

    It’s easy to look like a great leader on the outside while quietly falling apart within. In this episode, executive coach Brian Taylor shares his journey from high performance to personal breakdown as well as how rediscovering his faith, family, and inner peace transformed the way he leads. Heather and Brian unpack what happens when achievement outpaces what you want to be doing, why slowing down can actually make you stronger, and how self-leadership begins with emotional and spiritual honesty. If you’ve ever felt exhausted, disconnected, or unsure what “winning” really means, this conversation will remind you that true leadership starts on the inside. Learn how to build rhythms of rest, rediscover your sacred center, and lead with clarity, confidence, and courage. Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on! heatherpenny.com @heatherpennyphd Music & Production by Jason Squires

    54 min
See All (96)

5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

The Life You’re Made For is about addressing some of life’s most important questions with creativity and curiosity—that can also sometimes be vulnerable and risky. Together we'll make new connections, understand our unique purpose, check the beliefs we hold, and learn how to overcome unexpected challenges. Each and every one of us holds our own inner clarity, confidence, and courage –  3C Living & Leading – so let’s go after it together.

Information