"Perfectionism kills intuition. And as a former pastry chef who was a perfectionist, I always call myself a recovering perfectionist." – Melanie (09:49)

Are You Stuck Following the Recipe—In the Kitchen and in Life?

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by cooking, labeled yourself “the worst cook,” or relied on strict rules and recipes just to get through dinner, this episode is about to change the way you think—not just about food, but about confidence, intuition, and self-trust.

Cooking is one of the few things we do daily that engages all five senses—yet many of us feel stuck, insecure, or afraid to make mistakes. What if the kitchen could be a place of freedom instead of fear?

Friendship in midlife can feel unexpectedly hard. Why does it seem tougher to connect, and what can we do about it?

Andrea Hecht sits down with Nina Badzin, a friendship expert who has spent years helping women navigate this stage of life. They unpack why old social circles may no longer fit, why assumptions about who’s available for friendship can hold us back, and why redefining what we expect from relationships might be the key to feeling more connected.

The college admissions process can feel like a whirlwind of stress, emotions, and endless comparisons, but does it have to? In this episode, Andrea Hecht sits down with Kelly Levi, a college admissions expert and mom of three, to unpack the emotional side of navigating college applications.

Redefining your path begins with silencing fear, trusting your instincts, and embracing the bold question: “Why not me?” Amber Powers, the founder of Powers Peak Consulting LLC, joins Andrea Hecht to share her journey of career pivots and the lessons learned along the way. How can we overcome limiting beliefs and move forward with confidence when the next step feels uncertain? Amber’s approach, which is rooted in curiosity and the “Why Not Me?” mindset, demonstrates the importance of recognizing your transferable skills and building the courage to take risks.

Feeling stuck in autopilot mode—showing up for everyone but yourself? As Andrea Hecht puts it, "When you're constantly giving everything to everyone else, like your family, your career, your friends, it's really easy to feel like you're disappeared from your own life." In this episode, Andrea shares her personal journey of rediscovery and introduces her "This Is Me" coaching framework, designed to help women reconnect with themselves, let go of limiting beliefs, and build lives that feel joyful and authentic.

Loneliness can linger even in the busiest rooms, but meaningful connections have the power to transform how we feel and thrive. As your host Andrea Hecht says, “Loneliness isn’t really about how many people are around you. It’s really about that quality of connections that we have.”