Balancing Work With Life- The Struggle is REAL

Starting Better and Badder has been a dream I’ve held onto, but I’ll be honest—it has not been a walk in the park. Since I was a little girl, I’ve wanted a talk show like Oprah, but imagine launching a podcast in the middle of election season, right near my birthday, while also juggling work deadlines. It’s been a mix of excitement, exhaustion, and a lot of caffeine. And, if I’m being totally transparent, I was supposed to get the latest episode out last week — oops!

I’m learning to edit audio, which I initially thought would be easier than it is. There’s this steep learning curve that no one really talks about until you’re knee-deep in it. I’ve spent hours on Adobe Audition, adjusting levels, fine-tuning sound, and then realizing that I missed a whole section of the audio I thought was ready to go! Every episode feels like a mini-milestone, but each milestone comes with its own set of challenges. In a way, thohgh, each of those challenges is a little trophy, showing me that today’s problems are ones I used to dream of having.

Balancing all this has shown me the importance of giving myself grace and recognizing that “perfect” isn’t the goal - “finished” is. This podcast is about growth, and I’m learning that it includes growing pains, too.

Starting this journey has been challenging, but it’s also been grounding. Each episode reminds me of why I’m doing this, and who I’m doing it for. It’s for those who are out there struggling with their own balancing acts, trying to make something beautiful out of the chaos. Through it all, I’ve learned just how essential friendship and community are. The support from friends cheering me on, the connections with other creators, and the ‘Wine-Down-Wednedays’ we wnjoy to keep our spirits high have been lifelines. These are the people who listen to my half-edited episodes, encourage me when I feel like I’m in over my head, and remind me of my “why.” Knowing I’m not in this alone keeps me moving forward, even on the days that feel especially overwhelming. This podcast may be my voice, but it’s built on the love, encouragement, and strength of my community.

Thanks for being here with me, through the highs, lows, and late nights. I’ll keep pushing forward, one episode at a time—working to create something real, something better and badder.