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In episode 147 of The Empowered & Embodied Show, Kim and Louise sit down with Becky Vollmer, a speaker, yoga teacher, and author to unpack what it truly means to be "stuck"—and more importantly, how to move beyond it. Through humor, vulnerability, and powerful insights, they explore self-trust, questioning societal expectations, and embracing personal evolution. As the creator of You Are Not Stuck, a movement that empowers people to pursue the lives they most deeply desire, Becky is a leading voice in the sobriety and recovery community, guiding individuals and groups through movement, breathwork, self-exploration, and action planning across the country. This conversation dives into self-trust, questioning societal expectations, and embracing personal evolution. From tackling fears and limiting beliefs to redefining success and self-worth, this episode is an invitation to step into freedom, trust your inner stardust, and live a life that aligns with your values.

"The opposite of fear isn’t just courage—it’s choice." - Becky Vollmer

Key Takeaways
🔹 The Difference Between Stagnation and Stuckness – You're not actually stuck; you might just be facing fear, uncertainty, or difficult choices.
🔹 The Power of Reflection – We don’t learn from experience alone, but from reflecting on it.
🔹 Trust Your Stardust – We all have an inner wisdom guiding us—if we learn to trust it.
🔹 Permission to Feel and Accept – Healing starts with acknowledging wounds instead of covering them with band-aids.
🔹 The Myth of Other People’s Expectations – So many of the "rules" we follow aren't even ours. Question them.
🔹 Aligning with Evolved Values – Our values shift as we grow, and our lives should evolve with them.

Key Moments
[00:00] – Introductions and celebrating unexpected free time
[03:42] – Embracing “unspecified outcome time” and releasing expectations
[07:09] – The difference between feeling stuck and actually being stuck
[10:31] – Shifting from fear to choice as a path to empowerment
[15:18] – Aligning with evolving values and reassessing priorities
[18:20] – Questioning societal expectations and redefining success
[26:18] – Trusting your stardust and embracing self-discovery
[34:35] – Letting go of emotional band-aids and facing discomfort
[39:47] – Using self-inquiry and reflection to spark transformation
[48:23] – Choosing freedom and giving yourself permission to evolve

Learn More About Becky:
🌟 Website: YouAreNotStuck.com
🌟 LinkedIn: Becky Vollmer
🌟 Instagram:

Additional resources from your hosts:

• Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or burnt out as you strive to create change in this world? Created by Kim Romain, The Rising Visionaries is a one-of-a-kind community offering support, tools, and connection with like-hearted changemakers to help you reclaim your energy, find clarity, and align your actions with purpose—so you can make a meaningful impact with greater ease.
  
  
• Discover how to thrive in your career and life during the perimenopause and menopause transition. Created by Louise Neil, Menomentum is here to empower you with education, strategies, and support to align your work and life with your values.
  
  
• Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective. Learn more about the FPC at https://feministpodcasterscollective.com

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In episode 146 of The Empowered and Embodied Show, Kim and Louise are joined by Michele Heyward—engineer, tech CEO, and fierce advocate reshaping the landscape for Black, Latina, and Indigenous women in STEM. Michele shares her journey from her early days mentoring engineering students to leading a company that champions underrepresented voices in tech. She invites us to look beyond who fills our rooms to who waits at the threshold—a shift that transforms how we solve problems and build our future. This conversation is a loving reminder that empowerment isn't about permission—it's about recognizing the authority that already lives within us. Because real change blossoms when someone—perhaps you—chooses to speak up, step into the room, and reshape it with their presence.

"It's not about who you are talking about, but who you aren't talking about." - Michele Heyward

Key Takeaways

🔹 Take action—don’t wait for permission. Change happens when we step up and push forward, even when the system isn’t ready.
🔹 Ask better questions. Instead of “Who’s in the room?” ask, “Who isn’t—and why?” Real inclusion starts with addressing exclusion.
🔹 Inclusion is essential. Retaining and supporting underrepresented groups strengthens our communities and workplaces.
🔹 Advocates and sponsors matter. Mentorship and sponsorship can be game-changers—seek them out and pay it forward.
🔹 Meet communities where they are. If people aren’t engaging, rethink outreach—it’s about access, not interest.
🔹 Small changes drive impact. Simple solutions, like curb cuts or better workplace benefits, create lasting transformation.
🔹 You have power—use it. Knowing your worth and challenging norms can spark real change.

Key Moments

• [00:00] – Introductions and celebrations
• [06:34] – The power of mentorship
• [09:33] – The difference between mentoring individuals and creating systemic change
• [13:04] – How organizations can identify who they are excluding.
• [18:23] – Finding advocates and sponsors within organizations to create real career opportunities.
• [26:18] – The labor shortage crisis in AEC: Why keeping women in the industry is critical.
• [34:06] – The consequences of exclusion
• [39:47] – Rethinking community engagement
• [49:44] – How professionals can use their influence for good
• [55:22] – Final thoughts

Connect With Michele:

Website: https://PositiveHire.co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelecheyward/

Additional resources from your hosts:

• Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or burnt out as you strive to create change in this world? Created by Kim Romain, The Rising Visionaries is a one-of-a-kind community offering support, tools, and connection with like-hearted changemakers to help you reclaim your energy, find clarity, and align your actions with purpose—so you can make a meaningful impact with greater ease.
  
  
• Discover how to thrive in your career and life during the perimenopause and menopause transition. Created by Louise Neil, Menomentum is here to empower you with education, strategies, and support to align your work and life with your values.
  
  
• Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective. Learn more about the FPC at https://feministpodcasterscollective.com

Send us a Message

In this episode, co-hosts Kim Romain and Louise Neil are joined by Dennise M. Kowalczyk, also known as The Adventure Broad, for a deep and inspiring conversation about living life with intentionality, embracing joy, and reclaiming personal power at any stage of life. Together, they explore how we can detach from external expectations, combat self-sabotage, and make empowered choices by tuning into our inner wisdom. Dennise shares her journey of breaking free from limiting beliefs, stepping into new possibilities, and embracing midlife with confidence. If you're seeking insights on healing, self-trust, and personal growth while navigating a chaotic world, this episode will leave you inspired to live fully and intentionally.

"Lean into the discomfort—it’s often not as bad as you think, and it’s the key to moving forward." – Dennise M. Kowalczyk

Key Takeaways

• Intentionality combats autopilot: When we pause and reflect, we can challenge false narratives and external expectations that no longer serve us.
• Releasing attachment to outcomes: Detaching from expectations allows us to enjoy the process and embrace the joy of possibility, even if things don’t go as planned.
• Healing through self-awareness: Acknowledging discomfort and fear is key to personal growth and reclaiming confidence.
• Self-sabotage awareness: Recognize when saboteurs are holding you back, and choose to rewrite your story to create opportunities for joy and success.
• Redefining beauty at any age: Challenge societal norms and reclaim your own narrative around beauty, age, and self-worth.
• Empowerment through choice: Every moment offers an opportunity to choose alignment, joy, and embodiment in the face of chaos or discomfort.

Key Moments
[00:00] – Introductions
[01:42] – The power of laughter and finding joy in chaos
[03:42] – Avoiding disappointment and being stuck to outcomes
[07:09] – Celebrating groundedness and intentional living
[10:31] – Embracing risk, choice, and letting go of control
[15:18] – "Eating the frog" by tackling the hardest task of the day first builds confidence and shifts energy
[18:20] – How detaching from outcomes and intentional decision-making create empowerment
[26:18] – Challenging societal narratives of aging
[34:35] – Defining beauty on our own terms
[39:47] – The power of stillness and intentional pauses
[48:23] – Grace and connection in relationships

Learn More About Dennise:
You can find Dennise online at TheAdventureBroad.com and on Instagram @TheAdventureBroad to learn more

Additional resources from your hosts:

• Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or burnt out as you strive to create change in this world? Created by Kim Romain, The Rising Visionaries is a one-of-a-kind community offering support, tools, and connection with like-hearted changemakers to help you reclaim your energy, find clarity, and align your actions with purpose—so you can make a meaningful impact with greater ease.
  
  
• Discover how to thrive in your career and life during the perimenopause and menopause transition. Created by Louise Neil, Menomentum is here to empower you with education, strategies, and support to align your work and life with your values.
  
  
• Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective. Learn more about the FPC at https://feministpodcasterscollective.com