In this Sunday Shortie, Christy shares a raw and honest reflection on what keeps her moving forward in the uncertain world of solopreneurship. Building something of your own can feel lonely, especially when the income isn’t predictable and the people around you don’t always understand the vision.

In this episode of RTDB, Christy talks about three simple but powerful mindsets helping her stay grounded during the messy middle of entrepreneurship: learning to live frugally and separate wants from true needs, taking the journey one step at a time—much like the “one day at a time” philosophy in sobriety—and choosing to believe in herself even when external validation is nowhere to be found.

If you’re navigating a career pivot, building a business from scratch, or standing at the starting line of something uncertain, this conversation is a reminder that progress often looks like quiet persistence.

In this episode:

• Why redefining wants vs. needs can reduce financial pressure while building a business
• How the “one day at a time” mindset helps solopreneurs keep moving forward
• The courage it takes to believe in yourself when others doubt your path
• Why persistence—not perfection—is what gets you to the next chapter

A short, honest pep talk for anyone walking the long road of entrepreneurship.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.

In this episode of RTDB, I’m joined by my former college roommate and co-host of The Screening Lounge, also Christy, for a lively and layered conversation about women in film and television — the trailblazers who rocked the boat, the milestones that changed Hollywood, and the representation gaps we’re still working to close.

We talk about historic Oscar milestones, unforgettable movie scenes that shaped cultural conversations, and the actresses who have built long, enduring careers in an industry that hasn’t always made that easy for women. From the early pioneers to modern powerhouses, we explore how storytelling both reflects and reshapes what women believe is possible.

This episode is equal parts celebration and reality check.

Yes, women have broken barriers in directing, screenwriting, producing, and acting. But equal representation, diverse voices, pay equity, and decision-making power remain ongoing conversations.

If you care about women’s leadership, media representation, Hollywood history, and the cultural power of storytelling, this conversation will remind you why it matters who gets to tell the story.

• Historic Oscar award milestones for women directors and actresses
• The firsts that paved the way — and the barriers that linger
• Memorable movie scenes that redefined female agency on screen
• Actresses who have built decades-long careers in Hollywood
• How representation in film and TV shapes identity, ambition, and voice
• Where the industry still has significant strides to make

Listen to Christy's show, The Screening Lounge, for weekly recommendations of binge-worthy TV shows and new films.

Some of the movies and filmmakers we discuss:

The Hurt Locker - Kathryn Bigelow

Nomadland - Chloe Zhao

Hamnet - Chloe Zhao

Norma Rae - Sally Fields

When Harry Met Sally - Meg Ryan

Barbie - Greta Gerwig

Black Panther - Rachel Morrison

In this episode of RTDB, we’re reclaiming a word that many women were taught to fear: assertive.

If you’ve ever confused assertiveness with being rude, selfish, or unkind, this conversation will shift that belief. For people-pleasers, Enneagram 2's, and high-capacity women, staying quiet, over-explaining, or softening every request can feel safer. But over time, that pattern leads to burnout, resentment, and feeling invisible.

In this Sunday Shortie, I break down how to move from passive to direct — without becoming harsh — and share five practical ways to build assertive communication skills:

• Use “I” statements and direct language. Clearly state your needs with ownership: “I feel…” “I need…” Be honest and concise instead of meandering or over-explaining.
• Learn to say no. Healthy boundaries don’t require long justifications. “No” is a complete sentence when it protects your time and energy.
• Adopt confident body language. Stand tall, maintain eye contact, keep your posture open, and let your nonverbal cues match your message.
• Start with low-stakes practice. Build confidence in small moments — ask for a different table at a restaurant or clarify a scheduling mix-up — before tackling bigger conflicts.
• Manage emotions and stay calm. Pause, breathe, and regulate. Assertiveness is grounded clarity — not frustration spilling over into aggression.

Assertiveness isn’t about dominating a room. It’s about respecting yourself enough to be clear. And clarity, as we know, is kind.

If you’re ready to stop being the doormat and start communicating with calm, steady confidence, this episode will give you the mindset and language to begin.

SEO Keywords: assertive communication skills, how to be more assertive, people-pleasing recovery, setting healthy boundaries, how to say no without guilt, confident body language, overcoming fear of conflict, women and leadership communication, burnout prevention.

In this episode of RTDB, Christy sits down with Marin Nelson, founder of Sobrynth.com, for a powerful conversation about creating recovery-friendly workplaces and challenging the unspoken role alcohol plays in professional culture.

Approaching eight years of sobriety from alcohol herself, Christy shares incredibly vulnerable stories about her own sober-curious days and how she ultimately got and stayed sober. It is why she believes so passionately in Marin's mission.

After more than 15 years in enterprise tech and navigating her own sober journey, Marin founded Sobrynth to help organizations and professionals rethink how alcohol shows up at work — from networking events to leadership norms.

Her mission is clear: build workplace cultures where recovery, sober curiosity, and alcohol-free living are respected, normalized, and supported.

Together, Christy and Marin explore:

• What it actually means to create a recovery-friendly workplace
• The impact of workplace drinking culture on women’s leadership and advancement
• How high-performing professionals quietly question their relationship with alcohol
• The difference between sobriety, sober curiosity, and mindful drinking
• How leaders can build inclusive environments without relying on alcohol-centered connection

If you’re a leader, HR professional, entrepreneur, or ambitious woman navigating corporate culture, this episode will expand your thinking about inclusion, performance, and authenticity.

Learn more about Sobrynth at www.sobrynth.com or on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/sobrynth/

Keywords: recovery-friendly workplace, sober curious, alcohol-free lifestyle, workplace drinking culture, women in leadership, corporate inclusion, sobriety journey, HR leadership, workplace wellness.

In this Sunday Shortie episode of RTDB, we’re unpacking two classic people-pleasing behaviors that keep us stuck in anxiety cycles: rehearsing conversations before they happen and ruminating long after they’re over.

If you’ve ever:

• Practiced what you were going to say 47 different ways
• Played out worst-case scenarios in your head
• Replayed a conversation for hours (or days) afterward
• Wondered if you were “too much,” “too blunt,” or “not enough”

This episode is for you.

Rehearsing isn’t about preparation — it’s about protection.

When you grow up managing other people’s emotions, your brain learns that safety equals predictability. So before hard conversations, your nervous system tries to:

• Predict every possible reaction
• Script the perfect response
• Avoid conflict at all costs
• Control the outcome

The problem? You can’t control the outcome. And trying to creates anxiety, not clarity.

We’ll talk about the neuroscience behind rehearsing — how your brain’s threat system (hello, amygdala) activates when connection feels at risk — and why your body treats social tension like physical danger.

In this episode of RTDB (Rock the Damn Boat), I’m talking about something that doesn’t get nearly enough daylight: the increased risk of suicide during menopause — and what can happen when hormone or medication changes impact your mental health.

This Sunday Shortie is personal.

I’m sharing my own experience with medication adjustments that unexpectedly triggered intrusive and suicidal thoughts — not because I wanted to die, but because my brain chemistry shifted. If you’ve ever felt blindsided by anxiety, depression, or dark thoughts during perimenopause or postmenopause, you are not broken — and you are not alone.

We’ll talk about:

• The link between menopause, hormone shifts, and mental health
• Why medication changes (including HRT or antidepressants) can temporarily intensify symptoms
• Why to discuss this with your doctor, even if they are dismissive
• The importance of monitoring mood during hormonal r medication transitions

Menopause mental health is still wildly under-discussed — especially in high-functioning women who “look fine” on the outside.

If you’re navigating perimenopause, postmenopause, hormone therapy, antidepressants, ADHD, or mood instability in midlife, this episode is a reminder: your brain deserves support just as much as your body.

If this conversation resonates, please share it with a woman who might need to hear it.

And if you’re struggling right now, reach out for professional help immediately. You are not meant to carry this alone.

9-8-8 is the national suicide hotline in the United States.

You can reach me at christy@thrivewithchristy.com for more resources on substance abuse.

Learn about my upcoming retreats or work with me by visiting thrivewithchristy.com

What happens when time passes between texts, calls, or visits—and shame fills in the gaps?

In this episode, I explore theory of mind and how our ability (and tendency) to assume what others are thinking can quietly sabotage friendships. When we haven’t heard from someone in a while, our brains often jump to self-blaming stories: I did something wrong. They’re upset. They don’t care anymore.

But what if none of that is true?

I share how shame convinces us to stay silent and how we can move forward with courage: by reaching out without over-explaining, releasing relationships that have naturally run their course, and making peace with the fact that not every friendship is meant to last forever.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever stared at their phone, wanting to reconnect—but letting shame stop them.

In this episode:

• What theory of mind is—and how it works against us in adult friendships
• Why silence often has nothing to do with rejection
• How shame convinces us to assume the worst about ourselves
• The difference between grief and shame when friendships change
• When reaching out is brave—and when letting go is healthy
• How to stop making neutral situations mean something about your worth

Sometimes the bravest thing we can do isn’t protecting ourselves from rejection—it’s refusing to let shame write a story that was never true in the first place.

In this episode of Rock the Damn Boat, I sit down with Alicia "ACE" Easter, founder of Ace Yoga LA, for an honest conversation about leaving corporate life, navigating burnout, and building a career rooted in alignment rather than approval.

ACE shares her journey from the corporate world into full-time yoga teaching in Los Angeles—and the emotional, financial, and identity shifts that come with making a major career pivot. We talk candidly about entrepreneurial alignment, trusting intuition after years of external expectations, and how yoga becomes a grounding practice during seasons of uncertainty.

This episode is for women craving something more—those questioning the “safe path,” navigating a career transition, or craving more meaning in their work and lives. It’s a grounded, real-world look at what happens after you leap, and how to build something sustainable without losing yourself in the process.

In this episode, we explore:

• Leaving corporate life without a perfect plan
• Newfound freedom and nervous system regulation
• The realities of entrepreneurship for women
• Yoga as a tool for clarity, resilience, and self-trust
• Redefining success beyond productivity and income

Whether you’re a yoga teacher, creative, founder, or woman navigating a career change, this conversation offers reassurance, perspective, and permission to listen to what your body and intuition already know.

Follow ACE and support her work at aceyogala.com

Subscribe to her Substack The Life of a Ram

Check out three of her boat-rocking role models:

Rae Okino: https://www.raeokino.com/

Maryam Hasnaa: https://www.maryamhasnaa.com/

Imani Cohen: https://thehoodhealer.com/

Learn more about Christy's work at thrivewithchristy.com

including her upcoming Texas and Tahoe retreats