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What if the person standing in your way isn’t your competition at all but you?

In this episode, Sami and Angela sit down with Jake Thompson, keynote speaker, leadership coach, and Chief Encouragement Officer at Compete Every Day, to talk about what it really means to compete with yourself instead of everyone else. Jake opens up about how years of chasing other people’s success left him feeling drained and unfulfilled, and how shifting his focus inward completely changed his perspective.

Together, they explore how to balance ambition with peace, drive with gratitude, and growth with rest. This conversation is about redefining what winning looks like, learning to enjoy the process, and realizing that self-care is not selfish, it is strategic.

You will walk away knowing how to push yourself without burning out, find satisfaction without settling, and build habits that help you show up as your best self every day. If you have ever felt like you are always running but never arriving, this episode will help you reset, refocus, and rediscover what it means to grow in a healthier way.

Listen now to learn how to stop competing with everyone else, start growing into your best self, and go be freaking awesome.

🎙️ This is Part 1 of our conversation with Jake Thompson.
Part 2 drops next week and dives into how competition shows up with others and how to turn comparison into connection.

💡 Resources and Links Mentioned

Connect with Jake Thompson
Website: CompeteEveryDay.com
Instagram: @JakeThompsonSpeaks
LinkedIn: Jake Thompson
Podcast: Compete Every Day Podcast

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Let us know what questions you want to be answered and discussed by emailing us at podcast@bfreakingawesome.com.

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Have you ever stopped yourself from telling a story because you thought, “Well, that’s not important enough” or “That’s too small, nobody cares about that”? Or maybe you’ve worried that if you share your story, people will think you’re being too vulnerable, too much, or (worst of all) a little bit “woe is me.”

That’s exactly why Sami and Angela were so excited to sit down with Sara Lohse on this episode of Be Freaking Awesome. They first met Sara at PodFest and instantly knew she needed to be on the show. Sara is a storyteller, podcast producer, and author who can take something as simple as a pen and turn it into a powerful connection moment that sticks with you. (And yes, she shares a pen story in this episode!)

What makes Sara stand out is how approachable she makes storytelling feel. You don’t have to have some giant, traumatic, dramatic event in your past to be a storyteller. You don’t need to sound like a polished keynote speaker. You just need to notice the everyday moments and share them in ways that make people say, “Oh my gosh, me too.”

In this conversation, listeners will discover:

• Why the everyday, ordinary stories connect better than the “headline” ones.
• How to strike the right balance between too many details and not enough.
• The mindset shift that takes the pressure off: your story isn’t really about you.
• Practical tips for practicing storytelling without feeling like you’re “performing.”
• And plenty of laughs about exaggerating stories just a little for effect.

If you’re a business owner, a coach, a speaker, or just someone who wants to connect more authentically, Sara’s wisdom and humor will help you see your stories in a whole new light.

So grab your coffee, pull up your notes app (or your favorite pen 😉), and press play right now. By the end of this episode, you’ll feel inspired to stop waiting for the “perfect” story and start sharing the ones you already have, because your stories are freaking awesome.

You can find Sara Lohse and grab her book Open This Book at openthisbook.com. You’ll also find her socials and more resources there.

Order Traveling Light wherever you get your books!

Sign up at bfreakingawesome.com to get the latest news, insights, and episodes straight to your inbox.

Follow Be Freaking Awesome on Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, and Instagram.

Let us know what questions you want to be answered and discussed by emailing us at podcast@bfreakingawesome.com.

Send us a text

Ever feel like you’re stuck in that “in-between” space where life feels uncertain, overwhelming, or just plain messy? You’re not where you were, but you’re not where you want to be yet. That’s the messy middle, and it can be one of the hardest seasons to walk through.

In this episode, Angela and Sami sit down with Amy Wilkins, Messy Middle Mindset Coach, to talk about what it really takes to find strength in the middle of life’s transitions. Together, we unpack why pausing isn’t weakness, how perfectionism keeps us stuck, and why you don’t have to do this season alone. You’ll hear personal stories, practical mindset shifts, and the reminder that growth often happens right in the thick of the mess.

If you’ve been feeling like you’re just surviving instead of thriving, this conversation will give you hope, tools, and encouragement to reframe your messy middle as a season of transformation.

👉 Tune in now and discover how to let go of perfection, embrace rest, and start moving forward with resilience and clarity.

Order Traveling Light wherever you get your books!

Sign up at bfreakingawesome.com to get the latest news, insights, and episodes straight to your inbox.

Follow Be Freaking Awesome on Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, and Instagram.

Let us know what questions you want to be answered and discussed by emailing us at podcast@bfreakingawesome.com.