In today's episode, I'm talking about the fear that keeps so many of us stuck — the fear of getting it wrong.

We'll explore how perfectionism can disguise itself as protection, and how real freedom begins when we let ourselves start messy. I'll share how The Daily Ascent almost didn't happen because I was waiting for everything to be perfect… and what finally made me begin.

Question to carry into your day:
What's one thing you've been waiting to start because you're afraid of messing it up? And can you love yourself enough to take even the smallest, most imperfect step toward it today?

Connect with Molly Carmel:

• Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com
• Instagram: @mollycarmel
• Subscribe on YouTube
• Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages)

If The Daily Ascent reminds you that you don't have to be perfect to begin, make sure to subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with someone who's been waiting for the right time to start.

An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

Ever catch yourself sure someone else dropped the ball… only to realize it might have been you? Yeah, me too.

In this episode, I share a story about a time I completely checked out, blamed someone else, and got smacked with one of those spiritual two-by-fours that remind you what real freedom feels like. Spoiler: it isn't in being right.

Question to carry into your day:
Where might taking responsibility set you free?

Connect with Molly Carmel:

• Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com
• Instagram: @mollycarmel
• Subscribe on YouTube
• Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages)

If The Daily Ascent hits home for you, subscribe and share it with someone who's ready to stop avoiding and start evolving.

An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

In today's episode, I'm sharing how one tiny dinner-table moment with my 15-year-old goddaughter catapulted me straight out of adulthood and right back into my teenage self — and how a Celtic prayer helped me find my way back to love.

Whether it's parenting, friendship, or just life being life, this one's about the messy magic of being human — and the peace that comes when we stop needing to be right and start showing up with an undefended heart.

Question to carry into your day:
What might happen if you set down your armor and chose connection instead?

Connect with Molly Carmel:

• Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com
• Instagram: @mollycarmel
• Subscribe on YouTube
• Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages)

If The Daily Ascent hits home for you, subscribe, leave some love and share it with someone who might need a little reminder that growth can be gritty - and still sooooo good.

An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

Welcome to The Daily Ascent — a quick, meaningful moment in your day to pause, breathe, and come back to yourself. I'm Molly Carmel: therapist, coach, business owner, sister, godmother, dog mom, and a woman who's learned the hard way that real healing doesn't come from chasing fixes — it comes from finding truth.

Each weekday, I'll bring you real stories, simple insights, and honest reflections from my own winding path of recovery and growth. Together, we'll explore what it means to live with intention, stay grounded, and keep climbing — one small step at a time.

It's honest. It's hopeful. It's like your favorite morning ritual — the one that always leaves you feeling a little lighter, a little clearer, and a lot more human.

Tune in to this episode as Molly shares why she is taking a break from the show. We all know that from time to time, it's important to do an inventory of our lives to see what is working and what is not. Creating content for different social media platforms can be very rewarding, but it's also a lot of work. When the content comes from a place of obligation instead of passion, you know it's time to hit the pause button.

Check the links below to know where you can keep in touch with Molly!

Episode Quotes

• "Sometimes the road to knowing what you want to do is really knowing what you don't want to do."

About Molly Carmel

Molly is a leading addiction and eating disorder therapist and the founder of the BeaconProgram, which offers individual and group solutions to help people break free from their destructive relationships with food and dieting. She is also the author of 'Breaking up with Sugar' and the host of 'What You're Craving' Podcast.

Connect with Molly

• THANK YOU for being a part of my life for the last two and a half years! As a BIG tytyty I'm offering you FORTY percent off my retreat on September 10th using the code MOLLY40 - sign up here!
• Join the WAITLIST for our amazing ALL IN INTENSIVE COACHING in September here: mollycarmel.com/all-in-intensive-coaching.
• Also this is MOST DEFINITELY not goodbye - LOTS of ways to still keep in touch!!! Join my list for my Sunday Love Letter, and a free mini masterclass: mollycarmel.com/signup
• Purchase the Breaking Up with Sugar course here: mollycarmel.com/buws
• Become a part of the Breaking Up with Sugar FB Group: facebook.com/groups/buwsbook

Come hang with me on social media!

• IG (I love a DM!): @mollycarmel
• YouTube: Molly Carmel
• TikTok: @realmollycarmel
• Facebook: facebook.com/mollycarmel.buws

In this episode of What You're Craving, Molly connects with Rachel, a member of the Breaking Up with Sugar community. Rachel shares her journey and her current struggles, dealing with imposter syndrome and the fear of detaching even a little bit from her eating habits. She explains that even the thought of being a little more flexible with her diet makes her experience fear and shame.

Rachel shares that weighing and measuring food helps her feel in control, and although she has had overeating episodes, she has been on a successful journey, which makes her even more afraid of falling off the wagon. The key question here is: how to feel safe when you reach a certain level of progress?

Perfectionism can be tricky, even more for someone trying to heal their relationship with food. Molly encourages Rachel to expand her identity as someone trying to heal instead of someone trying to follow the plan perfectly. Tune in to learn more!

Episode Quotes

• "The only anesthetic for shame is going to be food. It's a profound rejection. It's literally what the brain is trying to protect us from completely."
• "Funny thing about diets: they don't take into account the human spirit, they don't take into account biodiversity, and they don't take into account even the healing of the endocrine system."

About Molly Carmel

Molly is a leading addiction and eating disorder therapist and the founder of the BeaconProgram, which offers individual and group solutions to help people break free from their destructive relationships with food and dieting. She is also the author of 'Breaking up with Sugar' and the host of 'What You're Craving' Podcast.

Connect with Molly

• Join the WAITLIST for our amazing ALL IN INTENSIVE COACHING in September here: mollycarmel.com/all-in-intensive-coaching.
• Join my mailing list for info (+ discount!) on our SELF-LOVE CAMP coming in August, my Sunday Love Letter, and a free mini masterclass: mollycarmel.com/signup
• You can purchase the Breaking Up with Sugar course here: mollycarmel.com/buws
• Become a part of the Breaking Up with Sugar FB Group: facebook.com/groups/buwsbook

Come hang with me on social media!

• IG (I love a DM!): @mollycarmel
• YouTube: Molly Carmel
• TikTok: @realmollycarmel
• Facebook: com/mollycarmel.buws

In this solo episode of What You're Craving, Molly gives her opinion on a topic that has been getting some attention lately: injectables for weight loss. First and foremost, we need to acknowledge that it is a medical intervention, and it needs to be treated that way. And guess what? There is nothing wrong with asking for medical support to lose weight.

On the other hand, it won't help if the person taking it stops paying attention to their eating habits and neglecting their health. Cultivating healthy habits, having a balanced diet rich in protein and fiber, and exercising still play an essential role in this process.

Molly invites you to see injectables for weight loss as another tool in the toolbox, not a magic wand that will solve all the problems. And if you are considering making use of this tool, don't forget to weigh the pros and cons, and most importantly, don't treat it like a quick fix. Tune in to learn more!

Episode Quotes

• "Maybe it's a beautiful thing to get some help. Maybe we don't really know what we're talking about and maybe we need to set aside all of these prejudices that diet culture has put into us that the only way it works is through hard work."

About Molly Carmel

Molly is a leading addiction and eating disorder therapist and the founder of the BeaconProgram, which offers individual and group solutions to help people break free from their destructive relationships with food and dieting. She is also the author of 'Breaking up with Sugar' and the host of 'What You're Craving' Podcast.

Connect with Molly

• Sign up for CAMP SELF-CARE - find what may be the missing link for you to be living the life you deserve - learn more at: mollycarmel.com/camp-self-care.
• Join the WAITLIST for our amazing ALL IN INTENSIVE COACHING in September here: mollycarmel.com/all-in-intensive-coaching
• Join my mailing list for info (+ discount!) on our SELF-LOVE CAMP coming in August, my Sunday Love Letter, and a free mini masterclass: mollycarmel.com/signup
• You can purchase the Breaking Up with Sugar course here: mollycarmel.com/buws
• Become a part of the Breaking Up with Sugar FB Group: facebook.com/groups/buwsbook

Come hang with me on social media!

• IG (I love a DM!): @mollycarmel
• YouTube: Molly Carmel
• TikTok: @realmollycarmel
• Facebook: facebook.com/mollycarmel.buws