Let’s be real—me time often feels like a myth. You carve out a quiet moment, light a candle, maybe even start doing something that brings you joy… and then chaos enters stage left (looking at you, Snoopy 🐶).

We've all been there—staring at the ceiling at 3 a.m., our minds running a marathon of overthinking. Did I lock the front door? Should I have taken that other job? How is it possible that I still don’t have it all figured out? If I dropped this episode at 3 a.m., I bet some of you would actually be awake to listen.

But what if these middle-of-the-night wake-ups aren’t just annoying?

What if they’re actually trying to tell you something?

"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.