In this episode, I’m joined by writer, creator, and guide Melanie Santos for a conversation about embodiment, intention, and what it really means to come home to yourself.

We talk about Melanie’s journey from disconnection and navigating mental health struggles in silence to building a body of work rooted in presence, integration, and everyday healing. And together, we explore the tension between spirituality and real life, the pressure to perform wellness instead of live it, and how identity, culture, motherhood, grief, and transformation shape the way we access ourselves.

This conversation is an invitation to slow down, reconnect, and consider what it looks like for your life to become the work.

Connect with me:

• Book your Clarity Call: https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/somatic-coaching
• Resources: https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/free
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamshanettamcdonald/
• Newsletter sign-up: https://shanetta.substack.com/

This week, I’m unpacking the “work harder and you’ll succeed” narrative and why it keeps missing the mark.

I break down the real reason this messaging doesn’t land for so many women, especially Black women and mothers. Spoiler, we aren't lacking ambition or discipline. But we are lacking acknowledgment around capacity.

I explore what capacity actually means, how your nervous system impacts your ability to follow through, and why one-size-fits-all success advice often leads to burnout, shame, and self-doubt. I also share practical ways to start working with your capacity instead of constantly overriding it.

This Sunday, May 3rd in LA, I'm also Gathered: Sunday In The Park a free event for moms where we slow down, regulate the nervous system, and intentionally enter the week ahead together. RSVP here.

Connect with me:

• Resources: https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/free
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamshanettamcdonald/
• Newsletter sign-up: https://shanetta.substack.com/

In this episode, I’m sharing a bit about the season I’m currently in and how it’s reflecting the same patterns I’m seeing with my clients.

I also talk about the truth behind feeling “stuck,” why you probably already know what you want, and what actually gets in the way of going after it.

Lastly, I'm opening up a few 1:1 coaching spots, beginning in April. Apply here.

Connect with me:

• Resources: https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/free
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamshanettamcdonald/
• Newsletter sign-up: https://shanetta.substack.com/