Lauren Ruth Martin thought she would be a radio deejay...not a therapist. But either way, she was clearly sent here to help us all manage burnout, perfectionism, and eldest-daughter energy. And those planners we all buy every year? It's time to stop because they're stressing us out! But don't worry -- Lauren has us covered with the BEST planner on the planet!

Lauren comes in with so much real-life advice on this episode! Whether you're tired of being called flaky, trying to figure out how to quit a job, or you want to stop worrying about what other people think, this episode is for you!

Real advice. Real tools. From a real therapist. And when it changes your life, you can tell your IRL therapist that you heard it on a podcast (Lauren says they really love that).

Start 2026 with new energy. It's time to look around and find the right doors for you!

Follow Lauren on Instagram: @laurenruthmartin

Follow Amanda on Instagram; @askamandaadams

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And don't forget...DRINK MORE WATER!

It takes more than luck to make it in the music business. It’s an industry that will knock you down far more than it will lift you up. But Barrett Baber isn’t one to stay down for long.

From surviving a plane crash, to having the courage to leave a job he hated — and then leaving a job he loved to bet on himself on The Voice — Barrett has built a career by doing one thing, over and over again: showing up.

Now a certified platinum songwriter, including co-writing “Nothing On You” for Cody Johnson, Barrett shares how he’s taken every curveball life has thrown his way, figured out how to keep moving forward, and trusted the process even when the outcome was anything but guaranteed.

What We Talk About in This Episode

• Life before The Voice — teaching, faith, responsibility, and early setbacks
• Why Barrett understood The Voice as an opportunity, not a shortcut
• Leaving stability (twice) and betting on himself
• What really happens after the spotlight fades
• The Nashville grind: writing rooms, rejection, and patience
• Using AI as a tool without losing the human heart behind the music
• Writing “Nothing On You” and reaching platinum success
• The mindset that’s carried him through it all: Keep showing up!

Follow Barrett on Instagram: @BarrettBaber

Follow Amanda & the show: @AskAmandaAdams and @DrinkMoreWaterPod

Support the show

Thanks for listening. If you loved this episode, make sure to like this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

Melissa Grace always wanted to be a writer. But for years, she believed writer was a title reserved for extraordinary people — and she thought she was ordinary.

So she did what many of us do. She pursued other paths. Tried different things. Kept her dream quietly on the shelf.

Then 2020 arrived. Grief, isolation, and the impending loss of her grandmother changed everything. Needing somewhere to put her energy — and her heart — Melissa started writing.

Fast forward to today, and Melissa Grace has written seven books.

In this episode of Drink More Water, Amanda and Melissa talk about grief and what it teaches us, the courage it takes to begin before you feel ready, and the moment you stop disqualifying yourself from the life you want. Because extraordinary people aren’t born that way — they’re ordinary people who decide to claim the dream and do the work.

Follow Melissa Grace on Instagram at @heymelissagrace

Follow Amanda on Instagram at @askamandaadams

Support the show

Thanks for listening. If you loved this episode, make sure to like this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.