After a year away from dating while building two businesses and rebranding a podcast, Krysta jumped back into the apps with fresh energy and clearer standards. What followed were two first dates that taught more about trusting your gut than any relationship ever could. When a guy texted "I'll let you decide where we sit" after failing to secure a spot at the bar he knew about in advance, she clocked the red flag but stayed for the drink anyway. What happened next—and the date that followed with someone else—revealed something crucial about standards, nervous system regulation, and why "being too picky" early on is actually just paying attention.

In this episode we dive into:

• Why your married friends might be giving you terrible dating advice (and what they're missing about modern dating)

• The exact moment your gut is screaming at you—and why being in a rush makes you ignore it

• How the standards you accept on a first date show up everywhere else in your life

• The nervous system regulation technique that helps you make aligned decisions in dating, food choices, and business

When Your Gut Starts Screaming (But You're Too Rushed to Listen)

• You're running late, texting fast, physically hurrying—and simultaneously asking friends "should I feel some type of way about this?"

• The same energy that makes you ignore fullness cues or push through obvious burnout is what keeps you walking toward a date your intuition is rejecting

• Your grandmother's five-minute rule before getting seconds applies to every decision: pause, breathe, drop your shoulders, plant your feet, and regulate before you decide

• When you're in fight-or-flight while texting, you override the exact instinct that would protect you from wasting your evening

The "Let You Decide" Text That Changed Everything

• He asks you to text when you're two minutes away, then admits he's been waiting in his car instead of securing a table at the crowded bar you picked (at his request)

• "I'll let you decide where we sit" immediately pushes you out of feminine energy and into masculine—you've now planned the date, picked the spot, AND have to find the table

• This is information, not overthinking: if this is his best foot forward on a first date, what does month three look like?

• The universe has your back—people will see themselves out without you needing to explicitly call them out (spoiler: he did)

What Your Married Friends Get Wrong About "Being Too Picky"

• When married people say "I could never date today," they think they're validating your strength but they're actually making dating feel like a punishment you have to endure

• Every person who voted "think nothing of it and enjoy the date" was married—and when pressed, admitted they'd been out of the game for 10+ years

• Leading with the assumption that dating is bad guarantees bad dating experiences—your words are spells, and you're casting the wrong ones

• A "bad date" is actually a win because it gets you clearer on what you don't want, and removing yourself quickly is how you weed through to what you do want

This conversation reminds us that standards aren't pickiness—they're self-trust in action. Whether you're navigating dating apps, deciding if you're actually still hungry, or evaluating a potential business partnership, the ability to pause and regulate your nervous system before making decisions is what separates aligned choices from rushed reactions. The person you're meant to build a life with won't make you question your gut on date one.

Follow Krysta:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thekrystahuber⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠@thespreadmktg⁠

Instagram: ⁠@thefitnessfyx⁠

When tragic events unfold and your feed erupts with takes, counter-takes, and performance activism, the pressure to say something—or explain why you're not saying anything—becomes suffocating. But what if the entire premise is flawed?

In this episode, we examine the messy intersection of social media, influence, and responsibility during times of crisis, unpacking:

• Why influence is a byproduct of visibility, not a moral badge you earn

• The difference between being loud and being effective (and why one rarely creates the change we think it does)

• How algorithms weaponize our emotions to keep us divided, distracted, and smaller

• The litmus tests every business owner and consumer needs before posting—or reacting

The Construct We're Living In

• Social media isn't reality, yet it rules our worlds in ways we're only beginning to understand

• We've expanded who counts as "public," but the mechanism of influence hasn't changed since Hollywood award shows

• Information overload has given us more access than ever with somehow less clarity than ever

• Polarizing content drives engagement, creating a constant stream of emotionally charged information designed to keep us activated

The Business Owner's Dilemma

• The pressure to address current events versus the fear of saying the wrong thing (or nothing at all)

• Why announcing "it feels weird to post" is often a cop-out masquerading as awareness

• The slippery slope of tying your business values to political stances—and when it's worth it

• Three critical questions to ask before you post: Are you informed or dysregulated? Can you hold a boundary when someone disagrees? Does this align with how you want to be perceived long-term?

The Consumer's Responsibility

• Unfollowing someone is your right—announcing it aggressively serves no one

• The grocery store apple test: Would you do this in real life, or only behind a screen?

• How engaging with one piece of content flips your entire algorithm, creating echo chambers that feel like reality

• Why keyboard warrioring keeps us distracted from the actual work of creating change

This conversation reminds us that posting your opinion isn't the same as taking action. Whether you're a business owner wrestling with what to share or a consumer deciding where your attention goes, this episode offers the framework to move through these decisions with intention rather than reactivity. Being loud is not the same as being effective. Nuance dies in 60 seconds. And we're all being manipulated by systems designed to keep us fighting with each other instead of seeing the full picture.

Follow Krysta:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thekrystahuber⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠@thespreadmktg⁠

Instagram: ⁠@thefitnessfyx⁠

I recently sat down with a client launching a new business, and one word kept showing up in every single decision they made: intention. Not convenience. Not "that's how it's always been done." Pure, deliberate intention. In a world obsessed with speed, optimization, and AI-generated everything, this conversation stopped me in my tracks.

In this episode we dive into:

• Why the hustle-to-soft-girl overcorrection made trying feel embarrassing

• How confusing efficiency with ease is stealing your satisfaction

• The one word that will differentiate you in 2025 and beyond

• Why clarity is actually less exhausting than being wishy-washy

The Convenience Trap

• You're being sold "easy" at every turn, but easy often means less satisfaction when you actually accomplish the goal

• AI and technology promise speed, but everyone's starting to sound the same—and it's boring

• We've confused efficiency with ease in a way that removes effort, and therefore removes intention

• The real issue was never effort—it was effort without clear direction

The Overcorrection Nobody's Talking About

• Pre-COVID hustle culture burned us out, so we swung hard into "soft girl era" territory

• Suddenly caring too much became a red flag and trying became embarrassing

• Wanting something badly meant you were "too attached" and needed to let it go

• But here's the truth: if you didn't care, nothing would happen—no results, no relationships, no life you actually want

Why Intention Is Your Competitive Advantage

• Being intentional means knowing your purpose, which actually helps you make decisions faster

• When you know what inspires you to move, it's easier to throw out what doesn't align

• Intention shows up as infectious energy—people can feel when something's been thought through

• In dating, business, fitness, and life: clarity isn't asking too much, it should be the bare minimum

This conversation reminds us that slowing down to speed up isn't just a cute saying—it's how you actually build a life worth living. Whether you're overwhelmed by too many fitness rules or exhausted from saying yes to everything in your business, this episode offers permission to pick two things, commit to them intentionally, and stop apologizing for caring.

Looking for more on moving with purpose? Check out previous episodes where we explore building capacity over chasing goals.

Follow Krysta:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thekrystahuber⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠@thespreadmktg⁠

Instagram: ⁠@thefitnessfyx⁠

A movie about a ping-pong prodigy became an unexpected masterclass in the psychology of achievement. After seeing Marty Supreme, I couldn't stop thinking about one line that perfectly captures why some people get what they want while others stay stuck in perpetual "someday" mode.

In this episode we dive into:

• The difference between wanting something in theory versus wanting it so deeply in your bones that failure doesn't even enter your consciousness

• Why asking for permission or signs might actually be keeping you from the thing you say you want

• The exact mindset shift that separates people who achieve their goals from those who keep re-starting them

• How to stop making it harder on yourself by re-deciding your commitment every single day

When There's No Other Option

• You've been thinking about the same goal for months or years, constantly finding reasons why "now isn't the right time"

• The real issue isn't your circumstances—it's that you're treating your goal like an option instead of an inevitability

• Marty Supreme doesn't try to sound confident or hype himself up; he's already decided the outcome is his

• When someone asks "what if it doesn't work out?" and your genuine response is confusion because that reality doesn't exist in your mind

The Permission Problem

• Reaching out for validation reveals you're still waiting for external proof that you're ready (spoiler: you already know)

• Looking for "signs" can be empowering, but it can also be another delay tactic disguised as spiritual alignment

• The entrepreneur asking "tell me I'll be okay" already knows the answer—she's built a thriving business with limited time, showing exactly how she'll show up when she goes all in

• Your track record of follow-through matters more than any pep talk someone else can give you

Moving Like You've Already Won

• When you truly believe the outcome is inevitable, the uncomfortable actions required to get there feel easier to execute

• You stop wasting energy debating whether you should do the thing and channel that energy into actually doing it

• The person who can't complete a 10-question Google Doc or track food for three days is revealing how badly they actually want what they say they want

• Wanting something more for someone else than they want it for themselves creates an imbalance that guarantees failure

This conversation reminds us that confidence isn't about never doubting yourself—it's about refusing to let those doubts change your trajectory. Whether you're trying to lose 15 pounds or quit your full-time job to go all in on your business, this episode offers the reality check and permission slip you need to stop treating your goals like maybes and start moving like someone who's already decided.

Looking for more on building unshakeable commitment? Check out previous episodes where we explore sustainable systems over seasonal resets and why approval-seeking behaviors derail your progress.

Follow Krysta:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thekrystahuber⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠@thespreadmktg⁠

Instagram: ⁠@thefitnessfyx⁠

Have you noticed how quickly we decide we hate something - social media, working out, dating - without ever questioning whether we actually hate the thing itself, or just how we’ve been doing it? This episode started with an unexpected gift from a listener I’ve never worked with, which sparked a bigger conversation about why we drain the joy out of everything by treating it like homework. In this episode we dive into:

• The real reason you think you hate social media, exercise, or building new habits

• How transactional thinking kills genuine connection (and your results)

• The one question that makes consistency actually sustainable

The Thing You Hate vs. How You Feel Doing It

• We say “I don’t like social media” but actually mean “I don’t like doom scrolling for 30 minutes and feeling guilty”

• When someone says they hate working out, they’re really saying they hate the discomfort - not movement itself

• We’re confusing the activity with the miserable way we’ve been approaching it

When Everything Becomes Homework

• Business owners treat Instagram like a graded assignment where every post must be transactional

• A client got excited about meal prep when our AI tool removed friction and added novelty

• The moment you measure everything by “how fast can I be done,” you’ve already lost

• This pressure comes from following someone else’s blueprint instead of building what fits your life

The Gift That Changed My Perspective

• I received a package from someone who’s never paid me - just genuinely engaged with my content for 14 months

• Her note thanked me for always answering her DMs, which shocked me because I never thought twice about it

• So many coaches are taught to ignore people who aren’t actively buying

• This relationship gave me market research and genuine connection because I wasn’t trying to extract value

Integration vs. Separation

• Content creation feels seamless when you integrate it into your life instead of treating it as a separate task

• Recording while grabbing coffee, trying new spots, changing scenery - it’s just documenting life

• When podcasting becomes part of your identity, even recording late at night doesn’t feel like a burden

Your FYX Wellness Tip: The Question That Changes Everything

• Instead of “What do I NEED to do to get results?” ask “What can I do to make this easier to repeat tomorrow?”

• Notice how “need” implies force and obligation

• Could you work out at a different time instead of forcing yourself to be a 6am person?

• Consistency comes from ease and integration, not from pushing harder and creating more friction

This conversation reminds us that we don’t actually hate the things we say we hate - we hate doing them in ways that make us miserable. Whether you’re a business owner treating social media like homework or someone trying to build healthier habits while drowning in shoulds, this episode offers permission to stop forcing yourself through processes designed to feel terrible.

Follow Krysta:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thekrystahuber⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠@thespreadmktg⁠

Instagram: ⁠@thefitnessfyx⁠

You bought the color-coded planner. You reorganized your entire content folder. You told yourself that once things calm down after the holidays, everything will click into place. But here's what nobody wants to admit: most people don't actually want change—they want relief. And we're constantly confusing the two, especially in January.

In this episode we dive into:

• Why your January goals are likely designed for relief, not actual change

• The critical difference between reducing tension and restructuring your reality

• How to identify when you're avoiding the one thing that needs your attention most

• The questions that expose whether you're truly changing or just getting comfortable

When Relief Becomes Your Default

• Reorganizing your planner instead of making the uncomfortable decision you've been avoiding

• Saving endless content and telling yourself you'll implement it later while never actually posting

• Waiting to "feel ready" so you don't have to risk doing something imperfectly

• Convincing yourself that lowering your standards is just being realistic about your current season

Why January's Promise Always Disappoints

• The myth that life will slow down once the holidays end and routines reset

• That meme about being an adult: saying "hopefully things will calm down after this week" for 372 consecutive Tuesdays

• The truth nobody wants to hear: if you're a high-achieving person, the feeling of needing to catch up never goes away

• How holiday slowdowns make you comfortable with lower effort, then January's timeline creates instant overwhelm

What Change Actually Requires

• Identifying that "I need to rest" or "I'm not motivated" is often code for unclear priorities and avoided boundaries

• Committing to something basic and repeatable instead of the 7,500 recipes you saved with 17-part ingredient lists

• Making adjustments as you go rather than pausing and promising you'll restart later

• Accepting that clarity comes after commitment, not before it—and 90 days is your minimum timeline

This conversation reminds us that relief pulls you away from the problem while change redesigns the situation to get you where you want to go. Whether you're convincing yourself that now isn't the right time to have that difficult conversation or telling yourself you'll track your food "starting tomorrow" for the fifth time this week, this episode offers the honest framework to stop choosing comfort over actual progress.

Looking for more on goal-setting that actually works? Check out previous episodes where we explore building systems over chasing motivation.

Follow Krysta:Instagram:

⁠@thekrystahuber⁠

⁠@thefitnessfyx⁠

A year into living in New York City and heading into year six of podcasting, Krysta reflects on what happens when you stop trying to reinvent yourself and start living in alignment with who you've always been. This isn't a story about transformation—it's about confirmation. About finding environments that support rather than suppress, about choosing pace over pressure, and about refusing to mistake someone else's limitations for your own reality.

In this episode we dive into:

• Why the right environment doesn't change you—it reveals you

• The actual tropes about ambition, pace, and city living that everyone gets wrong

• How to distinguish between what drains you and what genuinely energizes you

• The critical difference between building your life versus tolerating someone else's blueprint

The "I Could Never" Trap

• The constant chorus of opinions from people who've never actually lived your choice

• How other people's limitations become invisible barriers to your own potential

• The phrase that reveals more about the speaker than the situation: "I could never do that"

• Why you're blocking your possibilities by imprinting someone else's "never" onto your life

When Simplicity Looks Like Hustle to Everyone Else

• The assumption that ambition equals exhaustion (and why New York proved otherwise)

• How the right pace actually creates focus instead of overwhelm

• The revelation that walking to three grocery stores beats driving to one

• Why being surrounded by builders normalizes effort instead of creating pressure

The Environment That Finally Fits

• What it feels like when you stop adjusting yourself and just exist

• The energy you waste trying to operate in spaces that don't support how you're wired

• Why The Spread evolved into hands-on content creation instead of distant consulting

• How the grind that stressed you out six months ago becomes the foundation that empowers you now

This conversation reminds us that growth isn't always about becoming someone new—sometimes it's about finding the conditions where who you've always been can finally thrive. Whether you're tolerating a pace that drains you or wondering if your ambition is "too much," this episode offers permission to trust that your version of too much might be someone else's just right.

Looking for more on building life on your terms? Check out Episode 1 of No Such Thing where we explore why there's no such thing as starting over.

Follow Krysta:

Instagram:

⁠@thekrystahuber⁠

⁠@thefitnessfyx⁠

Mary Houle runs two careers simultaneously - data analyst by day, fractional CFO by night. But it wasn't a VP laughing at her desire to "build relationships" that sparked her entrepreneurial leap. It was realizing she could help creative business owners stop avoiding the one thing keeping them stuck: their numbers.