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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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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.

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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.

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Sami returns to the podcast with an honest look at what life has been like after becoming a mom of three through an unexpected guardianship that is now on the path to adoption. She shares the emotional highs and lows of bonding with a toddler, navigating work transitions, and leading a major community project all at once.

This episode unpacks what it means to follow through on something meaningful even when it’s incredibly hard. Sami also tells a powerful story about a simple act of kindness that made a big impact during one of her toughest days.

If you've ever found yourself in a season where you’re stretched thin, trying to do what’s right while barely holding it all together, this conversation will make you feel seen.

What We Talk About

• Parenting a third child with very little prep time
• Balancing family, work, and leadership responsibilities
• The return of TEDxFayetteville and the tension of timing
• Learning to let go of old parenting rules
• The emotional impact of being seen in a hard moment
• Why small kindnesses matter more than we think

This episode is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and find meaning in the moments that often go unnoticed. Whether you are leading, parenting, or just trying to make it through the week, you will walk away feeling encouraged and a little less alone.

Resources and Links

• Learn more at TEDxFayetteville
• Want to learn more about coaching with Sami? Book a free 30-minute call: calendly.com/tbg_sami/30-min

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What if the bravest thing you could do… was stop?

In this powerful and vulnerable episode, Angela sits down with fellow podcaster and author Stacy Ryan to talk about what it really looks like to consciously walk away from something—even something meaningful, purpose-driven, and healing.

Stacy shares her journey through surviving cancer, losing her husband, launching a podcast and book series about grief—and then making the bold decision to stop telling that story in public. Together, we unpack the emotional toll of constantly revisiting trauma, and the power of giving yourself permission to move forward into a new chapter.

Whether you're stuck in a role, a project, or a season of life that no longer fits—this episode is for you. You’ll walk away feeling seen, empowered, and maybe even a little more free.

🔗 Resources & Where to Find Stacy Ryan:

• 💻 Website: https://stacyryanauthor.com
• 📖 Books: Whole New Life book series — available on Amazon
• 🎧 Podcast: Whole New Life — streaming on all major podcast platforms
• 📸 Instagram: @stacyryanauthor
• 👥 Facebook: Stacy Ryan Author
• 🧘‍♀️ Wellness Studio: Follow Stacy’s latest adventure opening a yoga and wellness space on her socials!

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Happy September! In this solo episode, Angela reflects on why this time of year feels like the real New Year and how we can use it to reset, reflect, and rewire the beliefs that are holding us back.

She also celebrates the anniversaries of publishing Be Freaking Awesome (2017) and Traveling Light (2023). Angela shares what she’s learned since writing them, what’s shifted in her healing journey, and why rewriting your internal script is the key to moving forward with more freedom and peace.

You’ll walk away with questions to ask yourself, a fresh take on goal-setting, and encouragement to step into the next season of your life feeling lighter and more aligned.

✨ In This Episode:

• Why September might be a better time for resolutions than January
• The seven core beliefs that shape how you show up in the world
• How to know if you're moving toward growth or running from fear
• Behind the scenes of Angela’s book anniversaries and what they’ve taught her
• A self-check-in: What will you stop doing, start doing, and keep doing in the rest of 2025?

📚 Grab Angela’s Books:

• Traveling Light: Free Yourself from the Crap in Your Head
  → Buy on Amazon
  
  
• Be Freaking Awesome: How to Create a Life You Love
  → Buy on Amazon

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🎙 Episode 186: From GED to PhD: Hope, Healing, and a Hunger to Learn

with Dr. Jessi Brewer | Part 2 of 2

What if the way back to yourself started with a book?

In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Jessi Brewer, we move from big systems to deeply personal transformation. Jessi opens up about growing up below the poverty line, navigating limited access to formal education, and how discovering books and community college helped her chart an entirely new path — from a GED to earning her PhD.

This episode is about more than just reading. It’s about reclaiming the right to learn, rethinking what literacy really means, and giving yourself permission to grow in your own way.

We talk about:

• Redefining what counts as “reading” (spoiler: audiobooks totally count)
• Quitting books without guilt
• Why access to public libraries matters more than ever
• How education can be a lifeline, not a luxury
• The small steps that lead to big change

This one’s full of warmth, wisdom, and honest encouragement — for anyone who’s ever felt behind, overlooked, or just hungry for something more.

📲 Connect with Dr. Jessi Brewer on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jessibrewer

🎧 If you missed Part 1, go listen to “What Literature Teaches Us About Justice” — an eye-opening dive into how 19th-century novels helped shape the modern prison system and why imagination is essential for justice.

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🎙 Episode 158: What Literature Teaches Us About Justice with Dr. Jessi Brewer

Part 1 of 2 with Dr. Jessi Brewer

What does Victorian literature have to do with modern prisons?

This week, we’re joined by Dr. Jessi Brewer, a literary scholar and Arkansas native, for a conversation that just might blow your mind. From GED to PhD, Jessi’s journey is packed with grit, purpose, and a radical rethinking of what justice could look like.

In Part 1 of this two-part series, we explore:

• The literary roots of the modern prison system
• How 19th-century British novels helped normalize incarceration
• The difference between prison reform and prison abolition
• Why literature gives us the language to imagine something better
• Jessi’s take on how carceral logic impacts everyday people

This episode is equal parts thought-provoking and hopeful, and it’s just the beginning.

👉 Be sure to come back next week for Part 2, where we’ll dive into Jessi’s powerful personal story and talk about how books, libraries, and second chances really can change lives.

📲 Connect with Dr. Jessi Brewer on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jessibrewer

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