Messy & Magnificent with Karlee Fain

Karlee Fain
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Welcome to Messy & Magnificent with Karlee Fain - The place high-achievers with big heart and broad vision come to root and rise - one doable strategy at a time.  This show is equal parts inspiring stories and practical tools you can use this week to boslter your time, energy, and expertise. 

  1. 11H AGO

    What Really Matters | Honoring Priorities That Sustain You

    🌟 Click to Send Karlee a Text - We Want To Hear Your Thoughts About This Episode 🌟 When was the last time you slowed down long enough to notice what truly matters? In a culture that glorifies endless productivity, it can feel radical to measure our lives not by what we produce but by what we prioritize.  And yet, the research, and our lived experience, is clear… Doing more doesn’t necessarily mean achieving more. Choosing to honor your pace is not indulgence, it’s leadership. It’s innovation. It’s what makes your contributions last. This week, Karlee invites you into a season of discernment, replenishment, and permission to honor what’s essential. From an eight-year-old’s wisdom about the importance of water, to lessons from farmers, thinkers, and even board games, this episode is a reminder that true leadership isn’t about hustling harder. It’s about cultivating the rhythms that sustain us. In this episode, we’ll explore how to release the pressure of “shoulds,” how to spot the difference between real urgency and false urgency, and how to make space for the life-giving priorities that nourish us and those we lead. If you’ve been carrying too much, rushing through days without replenishment, or wondering what to let go of so that what really matters can flourish, you’ll learn practical ways to identify and focus on what matters most.  If you’re ready to replenish where you can, let go of what you don’t need to carry, and remember what’s really important, then this episode is for you. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: (1:45) How an 8-year-old reminded Karlee of life’s most essential priority(4:12) The surprising research that proves productivity plateaus(6:25) How prolific thinkers like Darwin sustained their genius(8:33) A farmer’s wisdom on discerning true urgency from false urgency(11:02) Three prompts to help you clarify what matters most this season People Mentioned in this Episode: Jen Salineti References: 1. Productivity drops after 50 hours a week A Stanford University study found that output per hour sharply declines after 50 hours of work per week, and plummets entirely after 55 hours. People working 70 hours produce nothing more than those working 55.   Ref: John Pencavel, Stanford University, “The Productivity of Working Hours” (2014)2. Sleep deprivation = poor decision making The Harvard Business Review reports that lack of sleep costs U.S. businesses over $63 billion annually in lost productivity, primarily due to poor decision-making and reduced creativity. Ref: Hafner et al., RAND Corp (2016); HBR summary, “Sleep Deprivation is Killing You and Your Career.”3. Rest enhances creativity and innovation Neuroscientist Alex Soojung-Kim Pang documents how “deliberate rest” boosts creativity and productivity, showing that some of history’s most prolific innovators (Darwin, Dickens, etc.) worked only ~4 focused hours/day, leaving space for rest and reflection. Ref: Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less (2016) Use the “Text Karlee” option above to send your Audio Comments and Questions to us. Connect With Karlee:  Website LinkedIn Instagram Messy and Magnificent is produced by the folx at

    15 min

  2. AUG 10

    The Strategic Art of Basking | Why Slowing Down Is Your Most Radical Leadership Move

    🌟 Click to Send Karlee a Text - We Want To Hear Your Thoughts About This Episode 🌟 “Just to like live it.”  That's what seven-year-old Julian said when asked about the meaning of life.  Kids really do know things we forget. One of those things is the pure joy in the simplicity of just living life, basking in the moment.  Why talk about basking when everyone's telling you to hustle harder?  Because in a culture that equates worth with output, choosing your own pace isn't just self-care—it's revolutionary. We can't build regenerative leadership on speed alone. Even in a car, we shift our cadence when appropriate. Sometimes the most strategic thing you can do is slow down long enough to let something good actually land. So if you've been craving permission to not have it all figured out, to take a breath, and to remember what actually matters, you're in the right place. This week, Karlee shares lessons from "Aunt Camp", a sacred summertime tradition with her niece and nephews, about why basking isn't laziness. It's strategic. You'll hear real client stories about how tiny shifts can lead to major boundary changes, and why slowing down a lucrative business deal actually made it stronger. In this episode, you'll learn how to discern your right pace, why doing less in one area creates space for fullness in another, and how rest becomes resistance in systems built on exhaustion. If you're ready to be reminded that busy and impactful aren't the same thing, then this is the episode for you. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: (6:19) How to discern your right pace and intensity (8:52) Why doing less is often the most strategic option(11:16) Prompts to consider when you’re ready to start basking(12:03) Embracing the presence of joy and the power of rest(15:12) Permission to soften (without losing your edge) Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Book: Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto by Trisha Hershey Book: The Use Of Life by John Lubbock  Quotes Mentioned in this Episode: "Rest is not idleness. And to lie sometimes on the grass, under the trees on a summer's day, is by no means a waste of time." John Lubbock from The Use of Life (1894) "Joy is not made to be a crumb." Mary Oliver poem: "Don't Hesitate"  Use the “Text Karlee” option above to send your Audio Comments and Questions to us. Connect With Karlee:  Website LinkedIn Instagram Messy and Magnificent is produced by the folx at Ginni Media.

    20 min

  3. JUL 27

    Why Does This Always Fall on Me? | A live conversation about stepping out of the fixer role without burning bridges

    🌟 Click to Send Karlee a Text - We Want To Hear Your Thoughts About This Episode 🌟 If you're the one everyone comes to for solutions, the one who holds it all together at home and work, have you ever wondered…”Why is it always me?”  Being "the fixer" isn't just about what we do. It's about the internal compulsion we feel to step in, solve problems, and carry the weight when things get hard. It's the guilt we experience when we can't fix everything, and the quiet exhaustion that comes from constantly managing not just our own lives, but everyone else's too. So why does it always fall on you?  The truth is that you developed this role for good reasons. It's served you and others well. But if it's becoming unsustainable, there are ways to shift the dynamic without abandoning your natural gifts or feeling guilty about creating the boundaries you need.  This week, Karlee teams up with trusted friend and colleague Jack Mason-Goodall for a live group conversation about what it means to be the one who fixes, holds, and carries, and what it costs when no one notices just how much you're managing. In this episode, you’ll join a thoughtful live audience as they explore why we fall into fixing roles, how these patterns develop from childhood, and most importantly, how to create more sustainable ways of showing up that honor both your capacity to help and your need for support. If you’re ready to understand the psychology behind your fixing patterns and learn how to shift from "fix or fail" to something more balanced, this episode is for you. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: (17:43) The three relationship roles we all inhabit and how they shape our interactions(21:58) How trust influences our tendency to step in and fix(26:18) Bringing awareness in to thwart our automatic responses(34:28) How to navigate resistance while changing your role in relationships (49:08) Vulnerability and self-compassion on the path to change Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Get your FREE "When Helping Gets Heavy" companion guide for this episode Book: Games People Play: The basic handbook of transactional analysis by Eric Berne MD  People Mentioned in this Episode: Dr. Senem Eren Connect with Jack Mason-Goodall, BSc., MA, MBACP, MBPsS: LinkedIn AutismOptimismInternational.com Focused on relationship‑based play therapy, autism family support, coaching for parents, professionals, and businesses HowToBeUs.com Offers individual and group psychotherapy/coaching with a commitment to inclusivity (LGBTQIA+ affirming, anti‑oppressive) Connect With Karlee:  Website LinkedIn Instagram Use the “Text Karlee” option above to send your Audio Comments and Questions to us. Messy and Magnificent is produced by the folx at Ginni Media.

    1 hr

  4. JUL 13

    Who's Really in Charge Here? Spotting the Power Plays That Make Group Dynamics Tricky with Jack Mason-Goodall

    🌟 Click to Send Karlee a Text - We Want To Hear Your Thoughts About This Episode 🌟 RSVP HERE to Join us for the LIVE Recording of Episode 186:  “Why Does This Always Fall on Me?: A Live Conversation About Stepping Out of the Fixer Role Without Burning Bridges." You’re at a project kickoff meeting and the energy is high. Your manager looks around the room…their gaze lands on you.  You’re told you’ll be handling logistics - keeping everyone organized. Meanwhile, everyone else gets assigned the creative, high-visibility tasks that could actually advance their careers. Or you’re at a neighborhood meeting planning an upcoming block party. You notice the same three people dominating the discussion while others,  like the new family who just moved in and the elderly couple from the corner house, sit quietly, occasionally nodding but never quite finding space to contribute their ideas. Whether it's boardrooms, community meetings, family, or friend groups, unspoken power dynamics shape every interaction. Some voices dominate while others quietly carry the weight. The problem isn't that people are trying to be unfair — it's that we're all operating within invisible systems of rank and privilege that we rarely acknowledge, let alone address. While these situations can feel delicate, the truth is that there IS a healthy, productive way to navigate them. It is possible to create more equitable spaces without blowing up the room. This week, Karlee is back with Jack Mason-Goodall, a UK-based psychologist who works in both clinical therapy and organizational consulting. In this episode, we’re diving deep into the power structures that either fuel collaboration or leave some people feeling silent resentment (while others remain blissfully unaware). You’ll learn the four distinct types of rank that operate in every group setting and why understanding them is crucial for healthy collaboration. You'll learn why talking about power feels so uncomfortable and how to move past that discomfort to create real change. You'll also walk away with practical strategies for addressing power imbalances without burning bridges or burning yourself out, whether you're the one feeling sidelined or the one with privilege who wants to be a better ally. If you're ready to stop feeling powerless in groups and start shifting dynamics for everyone's benefit, regardless of where you sit on the privilege spectrum, then this episode is for you. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: (11:15) The four types of rank that shape group dynamics (14:34) How privilege comfortably takes up space (20:10) The real reason talking about rank and privilege feels so uncomfortable (26:53) How to address situations where your influence feels minimized (31:38) Practical first steps for addressing unspoken power dynamics Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Free Download:The Power Plays You Didn’t See Coming: A Quick Guide to Spotting Rank and Privilege in Groups (and What to Do About It) Connect with Jack Mason-Goodall, BSc., MA, MBACP, MBPsS: LinkedIn AutismOptimismInternational.com Focused on relationship‑based play therapy, autism family support, coaching for parents, professionals, and businesses HowToBeUs.com Offers individual and group psychotherapy/coaching committed to inclusivity (LGBTQIA+ affirming, anti‑oppressive) Connect With Karlee:

    46 min

  5. JUN 29

    Why Groups Feel Like Herding Cats—And How to Actually Get Somewhere with Jack Mason-Goodall

    🌟 Click to Send Karlee a Text - We Want To Hear Your Thoughts About This Episode 🌟 Another work meeting, or family phone call, same exhausting dynamics. You know the scene: Someone brought snacks, there's polite chatter about the weather, and then... the same voices dominate while others quietly disengage. The tension builds, nothing really gets resolved, and you walk away thinking, "Why can't we ever just move forward?" Whether it's your work team, family group text, or friend group trying to plan a weekend getaway, the patterns are eerily similar. So, why do some groups just click while others feel like pulling teeth? It’s because every group has two essential elements: task and process. Most groups focus obsessively on the what while completely avoiding the more emotional (and sometimes messier) how. Groups get stuck when they avoid the messy work of actually being with each other. The way forward isn't around the feelings — it's through them. This week, Karlee kicks off Part 1 of a special 3-part series: How to Be in Relationship with People That Drive You Nuts. She’s joined by Jack Mason-Goodall, a UK-based psychologist who works in both clinical therapy and organizational consulting. Jack is her go-to collaborator when a client’s team dynamics require more than coaching; when the real issue is what’s happening beneath the surface. In this episode, you'll discover why some groups flow effortlessly toward their goals while others get trapped in frustrating loops of dysfunction. You'll learn to recognize the invisible emotional undercurrents that either fuel collaboration or sabotage progress. Most importantly, you'll walk away with practical tools to help any group, from your workplace team to your family dinner table, actually accomplish what they set out to do without losing their minds in the process. If you're ready to stop dreading group interactions and start understanding why they go sideways so you can help redirect them (without becoming the group therapist), then this is the episode for you. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: (9:09) The difference between task and process(15:32) How the "superhero leader" myth keeps groups dysfunctional(21:26) Signs your group is leaning too heavily toward task or process(27:14) How to stop being the emotional holder(31:28) The radical idea that healthy groups can handle conflict and frustration Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Free Download: "Why You're Dreading That Meeting Again, and How to Stop Walking in Circles Together" RSVP HERE to join us for the LIVE Recording of Episode 3: Why Does This Always Fall on Me? How to Stop Being the Fixer in Every Room on Sunday, July 20th at 11am Eastern People Mentioned in this Episode: Wilfred Bion Maria Sirois Connect with Jack Mason-Goodall, BSc., MA, MBACP, MBPsS: LinkedIn AutismOptimismInternational.com Focused on relationship‑based play therapy, autism family support, coaching for parents, professionals, and businesses HowToBeUs.com Offers individual and group psychotherapy/coaching with a commitment to inclusivity (LGBTQIA+ affirming, anti‑oppressive) Use the “Text Karlee” option above to send your Audio Comments and Que

    44 min

  6. JUN 15

    The Pause with a Pulse | How to Navigate the In-Between

    🌟 Click to Send Karlee a Text - We Want To Hear Your Thoughts About This Episode 🌟 You’ve finally gotten what you wanted—the freedom, the team, the space to breathe. So why does it feel so... strange? Somehow, the discomfort of this in-between feels more unsettling than the chaos you left behind. Or, maybe you’ve made the hard choice to step away from something that wasn’t serving you—or the world has shifted beneath your feet without your consent—only to find yourself floating in an unfamiliar space between what was and what’s next. Here’s what I know to be true: you’re not lost—you’re simply in the liminal hush. That powerful space between what was and what will be.  But… this in-between isn’t a detour.  It’s an invitation. This week, in the third and final part of our Navigating Change series, Karlee explores what it means to reside in the in-between—to no longer be who you were but not yet fully inhabit who you’re becoming. This tender, disorienting space is actually where transformation happens. In this episode, you’ll learn how to make room for the after and create space for what you’re becoming. You’ll hear prompts to help you identify the versions of yourself that can finally rest, and how to stay grounded through community and authentic discernment. You’ll also explore what it means to pause long enough for the wisdom to bubble up, rather than rushing to rebuild what wasn’t really working in the first place. If you’re ready to tend to your becoming rather than push through it, then this episode is for you. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: When change happens (even by choice)…and now it's weird? (0:45) Experiencing the Liminal Rush (or Hush) (2:14) When something new unveils itself (7:17)How to make room for the after (12:37)The wisdom of the in-between (18:05) Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Episode 181: This Was Supposed to Feel Better | What real change stirs up Episode 182: Replace the 5-Year Plan | Why linear goals fail in nonlinear lives Living Through the Unveiling by Adrienne Marie Brown Workshop: Navigating Change: Steering Toward Your True North June 21–23 People Mentioned in this Episode: Adrienne Marie Brown  Dr. Maria Sirois Quotes Mentioned in this Episode: “New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.” -Lao Tzu Use the “Text Karlee” option above to send your Audio Comments and Questions to us. Connect With Karlee:  Website LinkedIn Instagram Messy and Magnificent is produced by the folx at Ginni Media.

    24 min

  7. JUN 1

    Replace the 5-Year Plan | Why linear goals fail in nonlinear lives

    🌟 Click to Send Karlee a Text - We Want To Hear Your Thoughts About This Episode 🌟 You’ve meticulously crafted the perfect five-year plan, only to watch life crumple it up like yesterday's newspaper. Maybe you've found yourself questioning whether you're off track because nothing is lining up the way it "should." Here’s the thing… Clarity doesn't always come first. Maybe you're not behind schedule—you're just moving to a different rhythm.  Planning has its place, but reality often moves more like a spiral than a straight line. Sometimes the detour, the thing that feels like a kink in the railroad tracks, is the direction. And sometimes, a rigid timeline can feel more like a prison than a path forward. Lasting change begins not with forcing ourselves into plans that no longer fit, but with recognizing the season we're actually in. This week, Karlee shares her own story of a carefully constructed plan that got swept away in life’s wake—and how that interruption created space for what ended up laying the foundation for her work today.  In this episode, you’ll hear how the space between the moment you’re in now and the clarity you’re looking for can harbor the unexpected. You'll learn to identify whether you're in a season of replenishment, emerging ideas, building, or harvesting wisdom, and how to take grounded actions that match.  You'll also learn how the concept of "spiral mapping" can help you make the right-sized movement that respects and honors the season you’re in now. If you’re ready to embrace what’s outside of the linear and see what presents itself in the spiral, then this episode is for you. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: (0:53) When life interrupts your big plan(7:26) The problem with planning(8:31) Recognizing the season you’re in (11:22) The concept of spiral mapping(14:23) 3 prompts to get started Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Workshop: Navigating Change: Steering Toward Your True North June 21–23 Book: Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career by Herminia Ibarra Episode 181: This Was Supposed to Feel Better | What real change stirs up Episode 177: Rooted, Not Rattled | Leading with a Unified Power When Others Push for Control People Mentioned in this Episode: Dr. Maria Sirois Use the “Text Karlee” option above to send your Audio Comments and Questions to us. Connect With Karlee:  Website LinkedIn Instagram Messy and Magnificent is produced by the folx at Ginni Media.

    23 min

  8. MAY 18

    This Was Supposed to Feel Better | What real change stirs up

    🌟 Click to Send Karlee a Text - We Want To Hear Your Thoughts About This Episode 🌟 Change doesn't always arrive the way we expect it to. Have you ever had your world turned upside down, only to realize later it was the doorway to something better? Something bigger? Maybe even something more honest? Whether change knocks politely or crashes through your door uninvited, it always asks something of you—and it offers something in return. Change is never just logistical. It’s always personal. Beneath the disruption lies a tender terrain where grief and opportunity dance together. The unexpected emotions that arise during change aren't signs you're doing it wrong, but evidence you're growing into someone with greater capacity. Regenerative leadership, in life and in our work, begins not with denying the messy parts, but with giving yourself permission to feel it all. This week, Karlee kicks off part one of a three-part series on Navigating Change. She explores the multifaceted nature of change, acknowledging and embracing the complex emotions that accompany transitions. In this episode, you’ll hear personal anecdotes and client stories that illustrate how both chosen and unexpected changes can lead us through grief to growth and help us uncover new opportunities in the process. You’ll learn practical strategies for navigating change with resilience and emotional honesty, inspiring you to reflect on your own experiences and the lessons that came with them. If you’re ready to feel what’s necessary in this moment so that you can process the lessons and lean into the growth that awaits, then this is the episode for you.  What You’ll Learn in This Episode: (5:00) Unraveling the complexity of change(9:10) Why change is always personal(10:09) The duality of grief and growth(14:55) Finding opportunity in disruption(18:48) Practical strategies for embracing change Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Book: Emotional Agility Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life by Susan David  Study: Reinventing Workplace Development, Deloitte LINK TO NAGIVATING CHANGE LIVE COURSE: https://kripalu.org/presenters-programs/navigating-change-steering-toward-your-true-north People Mentioned in this Episode: Dr. Maria Sorois Use the “Text Karlee” option above to send your Audio Comments and Questions to us. Connect With Karlee:  Website LinkedIn Instagram Messy and Magnificent is produced by the folx at Ginni Media.

    30 min
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About

Welcome to Messy & Magnificent with Karlee Fain - The place high-achievers with big heart and broad vision come to root and rise - one doable strategy at a time.  This show is equal parts inspiring stories and practical tools you can use this week to boslter your time, energy, and expertise. 

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