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In this moving and insightful episode, Angela and Sami speak with Jody LaVoie, founder of Widows in the Workplace and The Grief Company. Following the traumatic loss of her husband, Jody assumed leadership of his company, all while raising three daughters and facing unimaginable grief.

Now a grief expert and coach, Jody shares how that experience shaped her purpose—and how she now equips both individuals and organizations to better navigate grief. This conversation offers both professional insight and personal reflection, with practical guidance for anyone experiencing or supporting others through loss.

💡 What We Talk About:

• Jody’s story of sudden loss and becoming a leader overnight
• How grief shows up in unexpected places (including the office)
• Why “just let me know if you need anything” isn’t that helpful
• Ways to show up for grieving friends or coworkers
  
  

📘 Key Takeaways:

• Grief does not follow a timeline—and that’s normal
• Thoughtful action is more impactful than asking “how can I help?”
• Managers have a vital role in creating supportive workplace environments
• Small gestures, like checking in or offering practical help, go a long way
• Healing often involves rebuilding on your own terms—both emotionally and physically

💬 Thank you for being a valued part of the Be Freaking Awesome community. If this episode resonates with you, consider sharing it with someone who may benefit.

🔗 Resources
Connect with Jody on LinkedIn: Jody LaVoie

Widows in the Workplace: www.widowsintheworkplace.com

The Grief Company: www.thegriefcompany.com

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🔧 What if communication isn’t just a tool—but the tool?

In this thought-provoking and hilariously vulnerable conversation, Sami shares the messy middle of writing a book about communication—and Angela digs deep into what it means to clarify not just our words, but our hearts.

From exploring the emotional roots of poor communication to dissecting how our inner world struggles to translate into language, this episode is both a sneak peek at Sami’s evolving book and a powerful guide to more meaningful conversations.

Whether you're navigating conflict with a spouse, talking to a friend, or leading a team, the insights here will make you rethink how you show up in conversation—and in life.

🎧 Press play to laugh, learn, and feel a little more seen.

📘 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why communication is more than just saying the right thing—it’s about being understood
✅ How to identify what you actually want before entering a conversation
✅ What “bad communication” really means—and why it’s often a symptom, not the root problem
✅ The difference between heart language and spoken language
✅ How cultural or emotional context changes the way we interpret words
✅ Why some conversations should start with “What do I want from this?”

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Struggling to lead with confidence? You’re not alone. Whether it shows up as micromanaging, burnout, or saying yes to too much, a lack of confidence can quietly undermine even the most capable leaders.

In this episode, Angela and Sami sit down with leadership strategist and speaker Therese Gopaul-Robinson for a powerful conversation about what confidence really is—and why it’s way more than just a personal mindset issue. From micromanaging and burnout to team culture and career growth, Therese unpacks how low confidence shows up in our leadership—and what to do when it’s holding you (and your team) back.

Whether you’re leading a company, a team, or your own life, this conversation will challenge how you think about confidence—and give you practical steps to build more of it.

💡 What We Talk About:

• What low confidence really looks like in leaders (hint: it’s not what you think)
• Why female leaders often feel overwhelmed—and how to stop over-working
• What micromanaging says about your own insecurities
• Confidence as a muscle: why it’s built through trying, not knowing
• How to delegate with trust instead of fear

📘 What You’ll Learn:

• Therese’s 3-step “security stacking” framework to build real confidence
• Why leadership success starts with inner work, not outer authority
• How to break the cycle of proving your worth through overwork
• Ways to model confidence for your team—and your kids
• Why everything you need, you already have

🎧 Listen now and start building real, resilient confidence—from the inside out.

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Connect with Therese on LinkedIn: Therese Gopaul-Robinson
• Visit her website & join her community: www.theresegr.com

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This week, Angela’s back on her soapbox—and we are here for it. She and Sami take us on a deep (and sometimes hilarious) dive into why vision boards, affirmations, and goal-setting strategies work better when you understand the brain behind them.

Spoiler: it’s not about manifesting magic. It’s about your Reticular Activating System—the part of your brain that filters what you notice based on what you believe. And once you understand how it works, you can start intentionally reprogramming it to support the life you actually want.

💡 What We Talk About:
- What the Reticular Activating System is and why it matters
- How your beliefs shape what you notice (and ignore)
- The real reason vision boards and affirmations can be powerful
- Angela’s “day in the life” exercise—and how it quietly came true

📘 What You’ll Learn:
- How to use neuroscience to support lasting personal growth
- A new approach to goal-setting rooted in identity, not hustle
- Why rewiring your brain starts with repetition, not willpower
- How to start noticing evidence of the life you want—right now

Thanks for listening and being part of the Be Freaking Awesome community. If you loved this episode, share it with a friend and tag us @BeFreakingAwesome.

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In this heartfelt and insight-packed conversation, Angela and Sami sit down with longtime client, coaching partner, and friend Jonathan Janacek. Jonathan opens up about the journey from sweeping job sites as a kid to purchasing and running the family remodeling business.

This episode is a goldmine for second-generation business owners, parents preparing for leadership transitions, and anyone navigating the tension between honoring legacy and carving a new path forward.

Jonathan shares what it was like growing up in a business-focused family, how he set intentional boundaries between work and home, and the hard-earned lessons that come with evolving a business while staying true to your values.

What They Explore:
- The shift from “babysitting on job sites” to leading the company
- How calling your dad “Tim” at work changes everything
- Navigating loneliness, perfectionism, and high expectations in leadership
- The emotional weight of rebranding the family business
- Owning your mistakes—and the healing that follows

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- How to transition from employee to owner in a way that builds trust and confidence
- Why boundary-setting is crucial (and tricky) when your coworkers are also your parents
- How to balance honoring what was with building what could be
- Insights on leading authentically—especially in a business that bears your last name
- Why vulnerability and honesty are leadership superpowers in generational businesses

Why You Should Listen:
Whether you’re stepping into leadership, working with family, or learning to own your role without losing yourself, this episode is your reminder that growth is messy, legacy is complicated, and it’s all part of being freaking awesome.

Connect with Us
Loved this episode? Share it with a fellow business owner or second-gen leader! Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and tag us when you post your biggest takeaway!

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In part two of our conversation with psychologist and author Dr. Adam Dorsay, we’re diving into how to build connection—not just feel it. This episode is all about friendship, chosen family, and why adult connection often needs more intention (and less perfection) than we think.

Angela, Sami, and Adam explore the vulnerability of reaching out, the reality of feeling lonely in a busy world, and the beauty of showing up for the people who matter. From voice texts to Google Sheets to hammocking over creeks (you’ll get it when you listen), this conversation is packed with practical ways to create more closeness in your everyday life.

If you’ve ever wondered how to go from “we should hang out” to “this person is my person”—this episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why adult friendship takes effort—and why it’s worth it
• The different levels of connection (and how to go deeper)
• How “quests” can bring magic and meaning into relationships
• Why perceived support is just as powerful as real support
• How to bring more fun, awe, and intention into your connections

Key Takeaways:

• Reconnection starts with a single reach-out
• You don’t need more friends, just more realness
• Awkwardness is the cost of meaningful friendship—pay it anyway
• Time is your most non-renewable resource—spend it wisely

Special Offer:
Ready to build more connected relationships? Grab a copy of Super Psyched for actionable tools to create deeper bonds with yourself and others—and don’t forget to pair it with Traveling Light to realign your inner world.

Where to find Adam:

• Adams Book: Super Psyched
• Adams Podcast: SuperPsyched with Dr. Adam Dorsay
• Contact Adam

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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.

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What if the most important connections in your life didn’t happen by chance—but by choice?

In this episode, Angela and Sami chat with psychologist and author Dr. Adam Dorsay about the four types of connection outlined in his book Super Psyched: connection to self, others, the world, and something greater. It’s a real, reflective conversation about how intentional connection shapes how we live, love, and show up.

They explore why asking for what you want isn’t selfish, how awe can be microdosed, and why being vulnerable (even in therapy!) is a superpower. Plus, you’ll hear personal stories that make the science hit home—from skydiving metaphors to birthday gifts to "Can we be friends?" moments that actually work.
This isn’t about forcing relationships—it’s about freeing yourself to build them with purpose.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

- What the four types of connection are—and why they matter
- Why connection doesn’t kill spontaneity (and might actually increase it)
- How awe, presence, and play invite deeper emotional healing
- The surprising link between disconnection and mental health challenges
- How to start reconnecting—with yourself and the people who matter

Key Takeaways:

- Connection is a practice, not a personality trait
- Being intentional doesn’t make it less magical—it makes it more real
- Your relationships can be designed with purpose
- Wonder, courage, and presence go hand-in-hand
- Showing up now is better than regretting later

Special Offer:
Feeling inspired to reconnect? Grab Super Psyched wherever books are sold for practical tools to deepen connection in every area of your life—and pair it with Traveling Light for a full-body reset of your inner world

Where to find Adam:

Adams Book: Super Psyched
Adams Podcast: SuperPsyched with Dr. Adam Dorsay
Contact Adam

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

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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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Ever feel like politics is just too messy, too partisan, or too overwhelming to even try to get involved? We get it. But what if there was a way to protect democracy, empower voters, and make a real impact—without the drama?

This week on Be Freaking Awesome, we’re joining the global Podcasthon Movement to highlight an organization that’s been fighting for democracy since 1920—the League of Women Voters.

Angela, a dedicated volunteer and board member, shares her journey with the League, the real ways they hold the government accountable (spoiler: lawsuits and policy wins included), and how YOU can get involved—no political expertise required.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• What is a Podcasthon? (Hint: Think modern telethon, but for awareness & impact!)
• How the League of Women Voters is nonpartisan—yes, REALLY.
• The hidden ways your local government impacts your daily life (and why showing up matters).
• The League’s biggest wins—including lawsuits that have changed communities.
• How you can easily get involved: whether it’s registering voters, learning about candidates, or just showing up.

Why This Matters:
Politics isn’t just about Washington D.C. What happens locally impacts our daily lives, from schools to roads to community laws. But here’s the good news—you don’t have to be an expert to make a difference.

This episode is your guide to becoming an informed, empowered citizen—without the drama, misinformation, or feeling like it’s “not for you.”

Related Episodes to Check Out:

• EP156 - Talking Politics Without Losing Friends: Strategies for Difficult Conversations
• EP142 - From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Simple Ways to Build a Better World
• EP143 - How to Keep Going in Divided Times

Resources & Links:
🔗 Be Freaking Awesome Book: AngelaBelford.com
🔗 Donate to the League of Women Voters Arkansas: lwvar.org/give
🔗 Learn more about Podcasthon: podcasthon.org/about
🔗 Subscribe to the Be Freaking Awesome newsletter: BFreakingAwesome.com

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.