Alive & Well – Nervous System, Productivity, Time Management, Somatic Tools, Work-Life Balance, Burnout, Anxiety

Michelle Grosser – Inspired by Mel Robbins, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and Ed Mylett
  • 4.9 (506)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

On paper? You’re crushing it. But your body’s telling a different story: fatigue, anxiety, brain fog, and a burnout you just can’t seem to shake. Welcome to Alive & Well—the podcast for high-achieving women ready to burnout-proof their lives by rewiring their nervous system for clarity, energy, productivity, and ease. I’m your host, Michelle Grosser, Esq.—trial attorney turned nervous system strategist, wife, mom, and entrepreneur (x3). After burning out hard trying to do it all, I discovered the missing piece: nervous system regulation.  Now I help ambitious, high-capacity women like you build a life that’s sustainable and successful—where your nervous system becomes your superpower, not your saboteur. Around here, you’ll learn: ✔️  Burnout-proof systems for time management and productivity ✔️  Science-backed tools for nervous system and emotional regulation ✔️  Somatic practices that help you stay grounded & calm under pressure ✔️  Faith-rooted wisdom for leading from overflow—not overdrive ✔️  Boundaries that protect your purpose—not just your calendar ✔️  Sustainable strategies for stress management, presence, and work-life balance It’s time to break the burnout cycle, reclaim your well-being, and lead with the kind of peace that doesn’t cost your ambition. Hit follow and start your path to living Alive & Well. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday.

  1. 14H AGO

    418 - 6 Signs High Cortisol Is Blocking Your Joy: How Chronic Stress Steals Your Happiness (And What to Do About It)

    “Why can’t I just feel happier… when my life is actually good?” If you’ve asked yourself some version of this question -  it isn’t a gratitude problem, it’s not a mindset failure, and it’s not that you’re “bad at joy.” It's what's happening in your physiology.  Chronically elevated cortisol can quietly shift your nervous system into survival mode — and when that happens, joy becomes neurologically inaccessible, even when good things are happening. In this episode, we unpack: ✔️ The science of high cortisol and low mood — and why stress chemistry blunts pleasure ✔️ The subtle, real-life signs your nervous system is blocking joy for protection ✔️ Why “choosing joy” and mindset work often fall flat when your body is overwhelmed ✔️ How somatic, body-based practices help your system feel safe enough to receive goodness again ✔️ Simple ways to start softening stress so joy can come back onlineThis conversation isn’t about forcing happiness. It’s about removing the physiological blocks that keep joy out of reach. Because joy isn’t something you create with effort. It’s something your body allows when it feels safe. If you’ve felt flat, disconnected, or like everything is just “one more thing to get through,” this episode will feel validating — and gently hopeful. Your nervous system isn’t broken. It’s been protecting you. And with the right support, it can learn how to soften again — so you can actually feel the life you’re living. Related Episodes: Previous Episode4 Signs You’re Addicted to Cortisol (and How to Fix It)5 Habits I Stopped Doing to Heal My Nervous System & Balance My Cortisol4 Ways to Foster Joy in Our FamiliesTake 2 Minutes: Boost Your Joy with Daily Gratitude Practices Backed by Science with Marc Fussell-- Burnout Recovery Blueprint starts again in January - check it out! Join the Burnout Recovery Blueprint Waitlist here!

    34 min

  2. 4D AGO

    417 - Brain Mapping Could Be the Key to Understanding Your Child’s Anxiety, ADHD, or Autism with Dr. Giancarlo Licata

    If you’ve ever been told you or your child has anxiety, ADHD, or both—but it never fully explained what was actually happening—this conversation will feel like a breath of fresh air. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Giancarlo Licata, director of Vital Brain Health, to unpack what’s really going on in the brain beneath these labels—and why understanding how the brain is firing matters more than the diagnosis itself. We talk about anxiety, attention, and regulation through a neuroscience lens that’s nuanced, practical, and deeply validating for parents and high-achieving adults alike. In this episode, we’re diving into: Why “anxiety” and “ADHD” are often too blunt to be helpful.A powerful way to understand rumination, fear, and fast processing—and how inherited traits, stress, and trauma can mix and match to drive anxiety and overwhelm.The order of operations your brain actually needs.The difference between calming your nervous system in the moment and actually lowering your baseline over time—and why both matter if you want lasting change.What brain mapping and neurofeedback can reveal and rewireIf you’ve ever felt like you’re throwing coping tools at a nervous system that’s already maxed out—or wondering why nothing seems to stick—this episode will help you see the bigger picture with clarity and compassion. 🎉 Special Offer: The first 5 families who inquire with Vital Brain and mention code “Alive & Well” will receive complimentary airfare for their child to Los Angeles for brain mapping—with at-home brain training to follow. -- Burnout Recovery Blueprint starts again in January - check it out! Join the Burnout Recovery Blueprint Waitlist here!

    45 min

  3. DEC 16

    416 - 5 Things I'd Do Differently If I Had to Start Over in My Career as a Working Mom

    If I were starting my career over today — with everything I now know about ambition, the nervous system, and sustainable success — I would do it very differently. Not because I regret being driven or capable. But because I misunderstood what actually creates long-term performance, clarity, and well-being. In this episode, I’m sharing the five shifts I wish I had made earlier in my career — back when I was running a law practice, raising babies, and equating success with doing more, faster, and better.  These aren’t productivity tips.  They’re nervous-system-informed lessons about how high-achieving women can build meaningful careers without sacrificing their health, energy, or peace. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why defining success for yourself is the foundation of sustainable ambitionHow saying no more — and saying it faster — protects your nervous system and capacityWhy daily nervous system regulation matters more than discipline or willpowerThe difference between managing your time and managing your energyWhy aligned mentorship changes everything (and why I wish I’d invested sooner)This episode is for working moms who are ambitious, capable, and successful — but quietly exhausted by the way they’ve been holding it all.  If you want to keep your drive while building a career that actually supports your body and your life, this conversation will give you a powerful reframe and a more sustainable way forward. Press play to hear what I’d do differently — and how you can start making these shifts now. Related Episodes: Previous EpisodeThree Keys to Working from Home with KidsFeeling Overwhelmed with Work-Life Balance? 3 Mindset Shifts for Working MomsWorking Mom’s Survival Guide: 8 Lessons for Work-Life Balance with Dr. Elizabeth Arleo3 Reasons Your Productivity Hacks Aren’t Working (And What to Do Instead)Do You Have These 3 Signs of Mom Burnout? Here’s How to Reclaim Your Energy-- Burnout Recovery Blueprint starts again in January - check it out! Join the Burnout Recovery Blueprint Waitlist here!

    28 min

  4. DEC 11

    415 - If I Wake Up Anxious & Overwhelmed, Here’s the 15-Minute Morning Practice That Actually Helps

    If you open your eyes and instantly feel mentally crowded, emotionally tense, or already behind, this 15-minute morning practice is going to change everything about how your day begins. In today’s episode, I’m sharing the exact 15-minute sequence I use on mornings when I wake up anxious, wired, or overwhelmed — and the neuroscience behind why it works.  Morning anxiety isn’t a mindset issue.  It’s a physiological pattern driven by cortisol rhythms, overstimulation, and a nervous system that hasn’t been fully off-duty in a long time. When you learn how to work with your body instead of forcing your way through your mornings, you create a completely different internal experience: calmer thoughts, steadier emotions, and a more grounded start to your day. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why morning anxiety is so common among high-capacity womenWhat the cortisol awakening response is and how it affects your emotional baselineThe number-one mistake most women make in the first 60 seconds of their dayThe full 15-minute practice I use when I wake up overwhelmedThe somatic movements that instantly calm your systemHow hydration, nourishment, and gentle pacing shift your mood and energyThe final 60-second ritual that anchors clarity and presence for the rest of your dayIf you’ve been waking up stressed, rushed, or already overstimulated before your morning even starts, this episode will give you a simple, powerful framework to reset your system and start your day grounded. Press play and learn the morning practice your nervous system has been asking for. Related Episodes: Previous EpisodeMy 5-step Morning RoutineWhat To Do the Morning After (A Bad Night’s Sleep)5 Morning Mistakes that Wreck Your Nervous System and Cause BurnoutMorning Meditation: Grounded, Grateful, and EnergizedNot a Morning Person or is it Actually AM Anxiety? Signs You Might Be Waking Up in Fight-or-Flight (and What to Do About It)-- Burnout Recovery Blueprint starts again in January - check it out! Join the Burnout Recovery Blueprint Waitlist here!

    25 min

  5. DEC 9

    414 - The 90% Rule: How to Make Aligned Decisions and End Overwhelm

    You’re not overwhelmed because you’re doing too much — you’re overwhelmed because you’re committing to things that aren’t truly aligned. The 90% Rule is a deceptively simple framework that will help you stop overthinking, stop people-pleasing, and stop tolerating the 60–70% decisions that drain your bandwidth.  When you learn to choose only what is deeply aligned — and release the rest — your entire life gets quieter, clearer, and more intentional. In this episode, I break down the neuroscience behind decision fatigue, how the body responds to indecision, and the practical way to apply the 90% Rule in your everyday life. You’ll learn: Why “maybe” is your nervous system’s fastest path to burnoutHow to recognize the opportunities that look good but aren’t rightThe brain-based reason high-capacity women get stuck in obligationHow the 90% Rule protects your energy and expands your bandwidthA new way to make decisions that feel deeply aligned with your season and valuesIf you’re craving more ease, margin, and clarity in your life and work, this episode offers a clean, elegant framework you can implement today. 👉 Press play and learn how to make decisions that truly honor your capacity. -- Burnout Recovery Blueprint starts again in January - check it out! Join the Burnout Recovery Blueprint Waitlist here!

    31 min

  6. DEC 5

    413 - Emotion-Savvy Parenting: Navigating Emotional Storms with Dr. Alissa Jerud

    You know that moment where your kid says or does something, your nervous system spikes, and every parenting thing you’ve ever learned disappears from your brain…  Today we’re talking about the huge gap between what we know about calm parenting and what actually comes out when we’re tired, stressed, and triggered. I’m joined by Dr. Alissa Jerud—clinical psychologist, DBT expert, and author of Emotion-Savvy Parenting.  Dr. Jerud blends gold-standard, evidence-based tools with respectful parenting so you can stop white-knuckling your reactions and start leading with grounded emotional skill. In this episode, we’re diving into: The “knowing vs. doing” gap in motherhood Why even the most trained parents lose access to their tools under stress—and what shifts when you stop trying to control your child and start regulating yourself. The ART framework: Accept, Regulate, Tolerate  How to accept emotions without judgment, understand the real “ingredients” behind your reactions, and work with triggers, thoughts, and vulnerabilities so you’re less likely to snap. What to do when anger hijacks your system  How to feel anger without exploding, use distress-tolerance skills to dial it down, and choose actions that align with the parent you want to be. This conversation is for you if you’ve ever thought, “I should know better by now,” but your reactions aren’t matching the mom you want to be. You’ll walk away with language, lenses, and practical tools you can use in real time… even on the messy days. Pick up Dr Jerud’s book Emotion-Savvy Parenting here. -- Burnout Recovery Blueprint starts again in January - check it out! Join the Burnout Recovery Blueprint Waitlist here!

    42 min

  7. DEC 2

    412 - The 4 Misaligned Boundaries That Quietly Drain High-Capacity Women

    What if the real reason you’re exhausted isn’t your schedule… but the boundaries you don’t even realize you’re breaking? If you’ve been feeling overstimulated, stretched thin, reactive, or like you’re carrying more than your share (mentally, emotionally, logistically)… this episode is the missing piece. Because high-capacity women don’t burn out from weakness. They burn out from misaligned boundaries — the subtle, invisible ones you don’t see until your energy is already leaking everywhere. And once you understand these four boundary categories, you’ll finally see: ✨ why you feel overextended even when you “should” be fine ✨ where your bandwidth disappears ✨ the patterns that pull you out of regulation ✨ why your emotional labor keeps creeping up ✨ and the exact boundaries you need to rebuild next This is one of the most important conversations I’ve ever recorded for high-achieving women who want to feel calm, grounded, and in control of their energy again. If you’ve been trying to “manage stress,” “be more disciplined,” or “get organized” — and it still feels like you’re running on fumes — press play. This is the episode you’ve been needing. In this episode, you’ll learn: The 4 misaligned boundaries that drain nearly every high-capacity womanWhy overwhelm is not a time-management problemHow your nervous system determines your boundaries long before your mind doesThe subtle ways you leak energy without noticingThe boundary category that most high-achieving women neglectThe exact places to start if you want more time, more bandwidth, and more easeIf you’re ready to stop leaking energy — here’s your next step: Honor Your Energy and the VIP Capacity Alignment Audit are open through Wednesday, December 3 at 1pm ET. Register before the live call starts, and you’ll get coaching with me inside the session. -- Burnout Recovery Blueprint starts again in January - check it out! Join the Burnout Recovery Blueprint Waitlist here!

    23 min

  8. NOV 28

    411 - Feeling Overwhelmed? Here’s the Shift That Changes Everything

    What if the most powerful version of you isn’t the one who does more — but the one who gets crystal clear on what truly matters… and stops leaking energy on everything that doesn’t? Today’s episode is a grounded, science-backed reframe of overwhelm — not as a time problem, but as a capacity problem.  When you understand what’s actually happening inside your nervous system, everything shifts: your clarity, your presence, your patience, your ability to breathe again. Inside, we’ll cover: ✔️ The physiology of overwhelm (and why it hits without warning)✔️ Who you become when your nervous system finally gets the support it’s been asking for✔️ The one-minute somatic reset that expands your capacity fast✔️ Why honoring your energy is the first step toward feeling like yourself again Honor Your Energy, my 7-day nervous system + boundaries reset, is open for a few more days at the Founder Rate. It’s the most powerful next step if you’re ready to stop running past your bandwidth and rebuild your capacity from the inside out. -- Burnout Recovery Blueprint starts again in January - check it out! Join the Burnout Recovery Blueprint Waitlist here!

    26 min
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About

On paper? You’re crushing it. But your body’s telling a different story: fatigue, anxiety, brain fog, and a burnout you just can’t seem to shake. Welcome to Alive & Well—the podcast for high-achieving women ready to burnout-proof their lives by rewiring their nervous system for clarity, energy, productivity, and ease. I’m your host, Michelle Grosser, Esq.—trial attorney turned nervous system strategist, wife, mom, and entrepreneur (x3). After burning out hard trying to do it all, I discovered the missing piece: nervous system regulation.  Now I help ambitious, high-capacity women like you build a life that’s sustainable and successful—where your nervous system becomes your superpower, not your saboteur. Around here, you’ll learn: ✔️  Burnout-proof systems for time management and productivity ✔️  Science-backed tools for nervous system and emotional regulation ✔️  Somatic practices that help you stay grounded & calm under pressure ✔️  Faith-rooted wisdom for leading from overflow—not overdrive ✔️  Boundaries that protect your purpose—not just your calendar ✔️  Sustainable strategies for stress management, presence, and work-life balance It’s time to break the burnout cycle, reclaim your well-being, and lead with the kind of peace that doesn’t cost your ambition. Hit follow and start your path to living Alive & Well. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday.

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