Unlock Your Blocks with Elyssa

Elyssa Smith
  • 5.0 (11)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT

You know you are meant for more, but you keep getting stuck in the same frustrating cycle! I see you. I’ve been there. And I’ve got you! I’m Elyssa Smith, a trauma-informed executive coach and the host of Unlock Your Blocks Podcast. I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed by triggers, stuck in survival-mode, and cycles of self-sabotage. The great news is that you can overcome all of this! I know firsthand how to follow the roadmap to freedom. You can rewire your survival brain, heal the trauma holding you back, and unlock the next level of success and confidence! On Unlock Your Blocks, I’ll teach you the exact tools and strategies to break free from self-doubt, regulate emotions, and finally be able to follow through with your biggest goals! Subscribe now! Let’s get you the right keys to unlock your blocks and create the life you were made for!

  1. 5D AGO

    Why Asking for Help Feels So Hard (And Why It Doesn’t Mean You’re Weak)

    Have you ever felt like you should be able to handle everything on your own? Like asking for help makes you a burden… or somehow less capable? In this episode, Elyssa breaks down why support can actually feel unsafe to your nervous system — especially for high-achieving women who learned early on to be independent, capable, and self-sufficient at all costs. If you struggle to delegate, over-function in relationships, or feel uncomfortable receiving support (even when you need it), this conversation will help you understand why — and how to begin shifting into a more supported, sustainable way of living and working.   ✅ What You’ll Learn ✔️ Why high achievers often feel unsafe asking for help ✔️ How childhood experiences create hyper-independence ✔️ The link between being “parentified” and over-functioning as an adult ✔️ Why delegation and receiving support can feel threatening ✔️ How over-functioning leads to burnout in life, business, and relationships ✔️ The hidden belief that needing help equals weakness ✔️ Why asking for help actually builds trust and connection ✔️ How learning to receive support expands your capacity and ends the hustle cycle   🕒 Episode Chapters 00:00 – Why asking for help feels uncomfortable or unsafe 00:45 – The roots of hyper-independence in childhood 01:30 – Being “adultified” and praised for needing less 02:20 – How asking for help led to shame or disappointment 03:10 – Over-functioning in relationships and life 04:00 – Why delegation feels risky (at home and in business) 04:50 – The mental load and burnout cycle 05:40 – “I should be able to handle it” and the pressure to do it all 06:30 – Why vulnerability feels like a liability 07:20 – How asking for help actually builds trust 08:10 – The shift from hyper-independence to interdependence 09:00 – The “hula hoop” concept: what’s yours vs. theirs 09:30 – Expanding your capacity to receive support   💬 Free Resource for Women ✨ 5 Nervous System Hacks You Can Do at Your Desk Quick, science-backed tools to calm your body in under 60 seconds — even in the middle of the workday. 👉 https://elyssasmith.com/reset   💖 For Women Ready for Their Next Breakthrough Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks Focus Call to uncover what’s keeping you stuck and overwhelmed — and get a clear, gentle plan for your next step. 👉 https://elyssasmith.com/focus

    10 min

  2. MAR 23

    Why You Feel “Too Much” or “Not Enough” (And Why You Keep Adjusting Yourself)

    Have you ever walked into a room and instantly started adjusting who you are? Toning yourself down… or trying to be more impressive… all to feel accepted? In this episode, Elyssa breaks down why so many high-achieving women feel stuck between being “too much” and “not enough” — and why this isn’t a confidence issue. It’s a deeply wired nervous system pattern rooted in survival. If you constantly replay conversations, overanalyze how you came across, or feel like you’re shape-shifting depending on who you’re around, this conversation will help you understand why — and how to finally stop exhausting yourself trying to be everything to everyone.   ✅ What You’ll Learn ✔️ Why your brain constantly scans for how to be accepted in every room ✔️ The childhood roots of feeling “too much” or “not enough” ✔️ How emotional unpredictability trains you to self-monitor ✔️ Why people-pleasing and overthinking are survival adaptations — not flaws ✔️ The hidden exhaustion of constantly recalibrating yourself ✔️ Why guessing what others expect from you keeps you stuck ✔️ How this pattern leads to burnout, second-guessing, and self-abandonment ✔️ The shift that allows you to show up fully without shape-shifting   🕒 Episode Chapters 00:01 – The fear of being “too much” or “not enough” 01:20 – How the survival system monitors your behavior 03:10 – Why your brain is wired to keep you accepted by the “tribe” 05:00 – Childhood environments that create self-monitoring patterns 07:30 – Being labeled too loud, too sensitive, or too ambitious 09:10 – How you learned to read the room and adjust yourself 11:00 – The cost of shape-shifting and self-abandonment 13:00 – Overthinking, replaying conversations, and second-guessing 14:30 – Why this pattern isn’t insecurity — it’s adaptation 16:00 – Why constantly adjusting yourself is unsustainable 17:20 – How to begin breaking the cycle and feel safe being yourself   💬 Free Resource for Women ✨ 5 Nervous System Hacks You Can Do at Your Desk Quick, science-backed tools to calm your body in under 60 seconds — even in the middle of the workday. 👉 https://elyssasmith.com/reset   💖 For Women Ready for Their Next Breakthrough Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks Focus Call to uncover what’s keeping you stuck and overwhelmed — and get a clear, gentle plan for your next step. 👉 https://elyssasmith.com/focus

    11 min

  3. MAR 16

    Why Success Doesn’t Land (And Why the Bar Keeps Moving)

    You achieve something big… and instead of feeling proud, your mind immediately moves the goalpost. In this episode, Elyssa explains why many high achievers struggle to actually feel their accomplishments — and why the problem isn’t gratitude or humility. It’s nervous system protection. If you tend to downplay your wins, reject compliments, or immediately focus on the next goal instead of celebrating what you just accomplished, this conversation will help you understand why that happens and how to shift it.   ✅ What You’ll Learn ✔️ Why many high achievers struggle to feel proud of their accomplishments ✔️ How conditional praise in childhood trains your brain to move past wins ✔️ Why downplaying success isn’t humility — it’s nervous system protection ✔️ The hidden pattern of constantly raising the bar after every achievement ✔️ Why accomplishment without celebration leads directly to burnout ✔️ How your nervous system determines whether success feels safe ✔️ Why celebrating wins actually makes success sustainable ✔️ The mindset shift that allows you to finally enjoy what you’ve built   🕒 Episode Chapters 00:01 – Why success doesn’t always “land” in the body 01:00 – How conditional praise shapes achievement patterns 02:40 – Why praise tied to performance creates pressure 04:20 – The habit of moving past wins instead of celebrating them 06:10 – Elyssa’s TEDx story and the struggle to absorb success 08:30 – The sneaky sabotage of downplaying your accomplishments 10:00 – Why the brain keeps raising the goalpost 11:30 – How nervous system safety affects fulfillment 12:50 – Maslow’s hierarchy and why joy can feel unsafe 14:00 – Why celebration makes success sustainable 15:00 – Updating the “achievement = safety” pattern   💬 Free Resource for Women ✨ 5 Nervous System Hacks You Can Do at Your Desk Quick, science-backed tools to calm your body in under 60 seconds — even in the middle of the workday. 👉 https://elyssasmith.com/reset   💖 For Women Ready for Their Next Breakthrough Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks Focus Call to uncover what’s keeping you stuck and overwhelmed — and get a clear, gentle plan for your next step. 👉 https://elyssasmith.com/focus

    12 min

  4. MAR 9

    Escaping the Comparison Trap & Pursuing Your Dream at Any Stage

    In this powerful and deeply encouraging conversation, Elyssa sits down with sewing instructor and creative entrepreneur Taide Broadbelt to talk about comparison, confidence, faith, and what it really takes to pursue a dream, no matter your age or stage of life. This episode is part personal story, part mindset shift, and part heartfelt reminder that growth doesn’t come from comparing yourself to others… it comes from honoring your own journey.   ✅ What You’ll Learn ✔️ Why comparison quietly destroys confidence and connection ✔️ How social media fuels the “highlight reel” trap ✔️ The mindset shift that helps beginners overcome self-doubt ✔️ Why encouragement matters at every age ✔️ How to stop disqualifying yourself from your own dreams ✔️ A simple first step to start moving toward a long-held goal ✔️ The power of renewing your thoughts daily ✔️ Why growth should always be measured against your past self   🕒 Episode Highlights 00:01 – The comparison trap and confidence loss 01:00 – Why social media makes comparison constant 02:30 – Understanding the brain’s negative bias 03:00 – Teaching beginners through encouragement 05:30 – Giving yourself grace while learning something new 07:30 – Why adults still need encouragement like children do 09:00 – Renewing your mindset and self-talk 11:00 – Stop self-eliminating from your dreams 13:00 – Taking ownership of your next step 15:30 – The first action to pursue a dream 19:00 – Starting small and building consistency 20:00 – Music, confidence, and affirmation 21:30 – A simple 5-minute daily self-care ritual   💬 Free Resource for Women ✨ 5 Nervous System Hacks You Can Do at Your Desk Quick, science-backed tools to calm your body in under 60 seconds — even in the middle of the workday. 👉 https://elyssasmith.com/reset   💖 For Women Ready for Their Next Breakthrough Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks Focus Call to uncover what’s keeping you stuck and overwhelmed — and get a clear, gentle plan for your next step. 👉 https://elyssasmith.com/focus

    45 min

  5. MAR 2

    The Myth of Discipline: Your Willpower Isn't the Problem

    If discipline actually worked, you wouldn’t keep burning out. In this episode, Elyssa explains why willpower and “just push through” stops working for high achievers — and why the real issue isn’t self-control… it’s nervous system safety. If you’ve been successful for years and suddenly feel stuck, resistant, procrastinating, or exhausted, this is for you.   ✅ What You’ll Learn ✔️ Why “more discipline” is flawed advice for high achievers ✔️ How your identity gets tied to results and reliability ✔️ Why discipline often equals self-abandonment ✔️ The moment your nervous system starts rebelling against force ✔️ How shame makes the burnout cycle worse ✔️ Why intensity doesn’t create consistency, rhythm does ✔️ What survival mode does to your brain, immune system, and focus ✔️ The micro reset that helps you move forward without force   🕒 Episode Chapters 00:01 – Why discipline isn’t the answer 01:00 – The “responsible daughter” pattern and identity-based achievement 02:20 – Discipline = override (and why that leads to self-abandonment) 04:40 – Why even “good childhoods” can create nervous system pressure 06:50 – The wall: when pushing harder creates less progress 07:45 – The “hospital break” mindset and why it’s so common 09:20 – Predictability + pacing creates safety (not intensity) 10:30 – Survival mode: fight/flight/freeze/fawn and what shuts down 11:40 – Regulation makes effort feel neutral 12:10 – The micro reset: soften, breathe, and shift your body into safety 13:00 – Next steps: free chat + free nervous system hacks guide 💬 Free Resource for Women ✨ 5 Nervous System Hacks You Can Do at Your Desk Quick, science-backed tools to calm your body in under 60 seconds — even in the middle of the workday. 👉 https://elyssasmith.com/reset   💖 For Women Ready for Their Next Breakthrough Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks Focus Call to uncover what’s keeping you stuck and overwhelmed — and get a clear, gentle plan for your next step. 👉 https://elyssasmith.com/focus

    15 min

  6. FEB 23

    Why Your Nervous System Resists the Life You Say You Want

    Have you ever deeply wanted something, more visibility, more freedom, more success, but every time you move toward it, you feel resistance? In this episode, Elyssa explains why that resistance isn’t laziness, confusion, or self-sabotage. It’s a nervous system safety response. If your system doesn’t yet feel safe with the life you say you want, it will quietly pump the brakes, even on your biggest dreams. Today, we’re unpacking the desire-versus-safety mismatch and how to gently decode resistance instead of fighting it.   ✅ What You’ll Learn ✔️ Why growth can feel like a threat to your nervous system ✔️ How childhood survival patterns shape adult resistance ✔️ Why visibility, success, and freedom can trigger fear ✔️ The connection between perfectionism and abandonment fear ✔️ How overthinking and refining can mask deeper resistance ✔️ Why obligation dread shows up even when you wanted the opportunity ✔️ The one powerful question that helps decode resistance ✔️ How to move forward without forcing or shaming yourself   🕒 Episode Chapters 00:01 – Why wanting something can feel unsafe 01:00 – The desire vs. safety mismatch 02:00 – How childhood survival roles shape adult resistance 03:00 – Why growth feels like abandonment 04:00 – How resistance shows up in adulthood 05:00 – Toxic relationships and familiarity loops 06:00 – Overthinking, scanning, and refining instead of executing 07:00 – Obligation dread when success becomes real 08:30 – Resistance is information, not failure 09:00 – Staying present instead of jumping to worst-case scenarios 10:00 – The key question: What feels unsafe about taking action? 11:00 – How to decode resistance and move forward gently 💬 Free Resource for Women ✨ 5 Nervous System Hacks You Can Do at Your Desk Quick, science-backed tools to calm your body in under 60 seconds — even in the middle of the workday. 👉 https://elyssasmith.com/reset   💖 For Women Ready for Their Next Breakthrough Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks Focus Call to uncover what’s keeping you stuck and overwhelmed — and get a clear, gentle plan for your next step. 👉 https://elyssasmith.com/focus

    13 min

  7. FEB 16

    Why Results-Based Goals Quietly Undermine Your Success

    What if the way you’ve been setting goals is the exact reason you keep quietly avoiding them? In this episode, Elyssa breaks down why results-based goals, while logical on the surface, can actually keep high-achieving women stuck, burned out, and disconnected from sustainable momentum. If your motivation spikes around outcomes and then crashes… this isn’t a discipline problem. It’s a nervous system problem. This conversation will help you understand why outcome fixation keeps your system in fight-or-flight — and how shifting to capacity-based goals creates success that actually lasts.   ✅ What You’ll Learn ✔️ Why results-based goals trigger pressure, fear, and burnout ✔️ How outcome fixation ties your worth and safety to performance ✔️ The childhood conditioning that wires high achievers for results-only validation ✔️ Why hustle works… until it doesn’t ✔️ The difference between achieving results and building capacity ✔️ How to create success that’s repeatable, regulated, and sustainable ✔️ What to focus on instead of outcomes to keep momentum alive   🕒 Episode Chapters 00:01 – Why results-based goals quietly block success 01:20 – The hidden cost of outcome fixation 02:15 – How results-based goals keep your nervous system in fight-or-flight 03:45 – Why worth gets tied to performance and perfection 04:34 – Why you’re never “done” when success is results-based 05:40 – Process vs. pressure: who performs better under stress 06:45 – The shift from outcome goals to capacity goals 07:45 – Building your window of tolerance for ease and success 09:00 – Celebrating the journey (even if it feels cheesy) 10:10 – Real-life example: Elyssa’s TEDx journey 11:15 – Who do you need to be to sustain this effort? 12:30 – Measuring effort quality instead of outcomes 13:39 – How to restructure your goals for nervous system safety   💬 Free Resource for Women ✨ 5 Nervous System Hacks You Can Do at Your Desk Quick, science-backed tools to calm your body in under 60 seconds — even in the middle of the workday. 👉 https://elyssasmith.com/reset   💖 For Women Ready for Their Next Breakthrough Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks Focus Call to uncover what’s keeping you stuck and overwhelmed — and get a clear, gentle plan for your next step. 👉 https://elyssasmith.com/focus

    15 min

  8. FEB 9

    From $38K in Debt to $30M in Business

    A Candid Conversation with Lisa Johnson on Fulfillment, Fear, and Ethical Success In this episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa sits down with Lisa Johnson, global business strategist and Sunday Times bestselling author, for a powerful and refreshingly honest conversation about success, nervous system safety, fulfillment, and visibility. Lisa shares her journey from being $38,000 in debt as a single mom to building a multi–eight-figure business rooted in integrity, simplicity, and impact — without sacrificing her life or values. Together, Elyssa and Lisa unpack why so many high-achieving women still feel unfulfilled even after “making it,” and how comparison, hustle culture, and fear of being seen quietly sabotage growth. This episode is a must-listen if you’ve ever thought: I have the life I wanted… so why doesn’t it feel good?   ✅ What You’ll Learn ✔️ How Lisa went from debt to millions — and why it wasn’t overnight ✔️ Why working harder stops working at higher levels of success ✔️ The hidden self-sabotage that shows up when success starts to feel “too easy” ✔️ How comparison and online noise distort our definition of success ✔️ Why fulfillment matters more than metrics ✔️ What it really takes to build sustainable, ethical wealth ✔️ How to stop fearing visibility, criticism, and being “canceled”   🕒 Episode Chapters 00:00 – Lisa’s underdog story and rise to success 01:48 – From debt, desperation, and the library to business mastery 04:16 – Passive income, breaking income ceilings, and scaling sustainably 08:11 – Self-sabotage when success gets easier 09:31 – Why inner work is the real work of entrepreneurship 13:38 – Fulfillment, grief, and redefining a “life well lived” 17:54 – Fear of visibility, comparison, and internet criticism 20:34 – “Live as if you’ve already been canceled” (mic drop moment) 24:00 – How to define success on your own terms 26:00 – Grounding, regulation, and daily nervous system care 26:49 – What’s next for Lisa and the future of personal brands   💬 Free Resource for Women ✨ 5 Nervous System Tricks You Can Do at Your Desk Designed specifically for high-achieving women who want to calm their body in under 60 seconds — even in the middle of the workday. 👉 Download it here: https://elyssasmith.com/reset   💖 For Women Ready for Their Next Breakthrough Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks Focus Call to uncover what’s keeping you from the balance, clarity, and peace you’ve been craving. This private call is just for women who are ready to stop running on empty and start leading with ease. 👉 https://elyssasmith.com/focus   Let’s stay connected: Instagram: https://instagram.com/elyssacsmith 💼 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/elyssacsmith

    28 min
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Trailer

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

You know you are meant for more, but you keep getting stuck in the same frustrating cycle! I see you. I’ve been there. And I’ve got you! I’m Elyssa Smith, a trauma-informed executive coach and the host of Unlock Your Blocks Podcast. I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed by triggers, stuck in survival-mode, and cycles of self-sabotage. The great news is that you can overcome all of this! I know firsthand how to follow the roadmap to freedom. You can rewire your survival brain, heal the trauma holding you back, and unlock the next level of success and confidence! On Unlock Your Blocks, I’ll teach you the exact tools and strategies to break free from self-doubt, regulate emotions, and finally be able to follow through with your biggest goals! Subscribe now! Let’s get you the right keys to unlock your blocks and create the life you were made for!

Information

  • Creator
    Elyssa Smith
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Unlock Your Blocks with Elyssa