Do you ever feel a mix of emotions when revisiting places connected to your family history? Whether it's a relative's home, a cherished childhood vacation spot, or a community where you spent a lot of time steeped in memories, sometimes these "family spaces" can feel complicated. We evolve, these places change, and the history can be heavy. But what if these complicated places offered an unexpected opportunity for personal growth and creating new, meaningful connections?

In this personal episode, Monique shares her journey back to her family's farm in the rural Midwest. This isn't where she grew up, but it's a 'family space' that forms a rich part of her family's roots, steeped in generations of stories, transformations, and memories. Monique unpacks the emotional nuances of returning to spaces with mixed feelings and reveals how she chose to see familiar places, create new experiences, and make new meaning for this next generation.

This episode is your invitation to acknowledge that more than one truth can exist simultaneously. You don't have to have it all figured out, and it's okay for things to feel uncertain. Learn how to create new, positive associations and memories in places that once felt fraught. It's time to embrace the art of rediscovery: redefining your relationship with these spaces, fostering new peace, and deepening your connection to your roots, all on your own terms.

(01:11) - A quiet pause in the Midwest (02:30) - The emotional nuance of returning to “happy” places with mixed memories (05:10) - A new home on old land (07:18) - Rediscovering like a tourist (08:58) - When the middle of nowhere becomes peace (09:36) - Becoming a tourist in your own town (10:49) - A love for both the city and the quiet country (12:31) - Appreciating your roots while choosing new rhythms

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

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In this special case study episode, Monique takes listeners inside an experiment of her own — using Google’s AI tool, NotebookLM, to analyze the first 20 episodes of this podcast.

Part recap, part reflection, this episode blends AI with insight and gently explores how technology can help us see our evolution more clearly. Monique shares surprising themes that emerged and offers a simple invitation: What might you discover if you used a tool like this on your work… or your own life?

Whether you’re new to this podcast or have been here from the start, this is the perfect moment to catch up and maybe see your own story with fresh eyes. Let’s dive in!

(01:40) - Exploring NotebookLM: An AI Tool for Summarization (04:14) - Insights and Limitations of AI Summarization (06:04) - Themes of Resilience and Human Skills in a Changing World (07:28) - Engagement and Feedback from Listeners

(09:46) - Navigating the Nonlinear Journey (14:25) - Cultivating a Resilient Mindset for Growth (18:09) - Practical Frameworks for Sustainable Progress (21:41) - Building a Supportive Ecosystem

• NotebookLM | https://notebooklm.google/

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

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What if your next professional breakthrough isn’t about doing more but showing up differently?

In this episode, Monique Schafer sits down with powerhouse entrepreneur and social media strategist, Mary Robb. As the founder and CEO of Social Practice, Mary brings the kind of clarity and warmth that cuts through the noise and reminds us what social media was always meant to be: connection, storytelling, and service.

Together, Mary and Monique unpack the messy, beautiful, and often emotional process of showing up online, not just as a business, but as a whole human. They talk about the difference between business and personal branding (and how to do both without losing your mind), why values should lead your content, and how to create boundaries that protect your mental health while still building real influence.

This one’s for the multi-passionate leader, who’s been silently asking: How do I put myself out there without losing myself? For the high-achiever who’s built a career but hasn’t quite figured out how to bring their voice forward. And for anyone who just knows it’s time to start using her voice with intention — imperfectly, honestly, and on purpose. Let’s dive in!

(05:00) - Business Brand vs Personal Brand: What’s the Difference? (07:31) - Know Your Values, Know Your Voice (13:24) - Creating a Personal Brand with Intention (09:46) - The Identity Beyond the Job Title (14:07) - Showing Up Before You’re Polished (17:49) - Why Boundaries Are a Brand Strategy (23:18) - Creating Before Consuming (24:13) - Rethinking Vulnerability Online (29:40) - Attracting Talent Through Social Media (30:45) - Why Developing Your Personal Brand Is Key in This New Era of Work (36:26) - Two Questions to Get You Started (41:22) - You’re Not a Resume — You’re a Story (42:47) - Getting Over Yourself and Posting It Anyway

• Social Practice | https://social-practicetx.com/
• Book - The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About by Mel Robbins | https://a.co/d/5FSHIck
• FORDIFY with Emily Ford | https://www.instagram.com/fordifymybrand/

• Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/maryelizabethrobb
• Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/socialpracticeus/
• LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryerobb/

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

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This episode is a little different. No guest. No perfectly mapped-out lesson. Just me — showing up in the middle of a quiet, in-between season.

You know those times when the words don’t come? When everything feels a little slower, a little foggier… and you’re not quite sure what’s next, but you know you’re not where you used to be? That’s where I’ve been.

Today, I’m inviting you into the pause. The space between clarity and action. The soft unraveling that happens when you finally let your nervous system breathe. This isn’t an episode with big “aha” moments — it’s one that meets you exactly where you are, especially if you’ve been craving permission to slow down, feel more, and do a little less.

If you’re in a season of reflection, reset, or just needing a little more quiet in a loud world — you are not alone.

(01:33) - Reflections on a Week of Uncertainty (02:51) - The In-Between Season (03:53) - There Is Power in Not Knowing Yet (05:00) - Embracing the Stillness (05:36) - Finding Clarity and Wisdom in Waiting

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

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In this episode, Monique Schafer welcomes powerhouse executive Katie Kruger for a raw, riveting, and deeply relatable conversation on transformation, grit, and redefining what success looks like.

Raised in rural Alaska, dreaming of skyscrapers while hauling firewood and joining an exclusive male workforce in the oil fields, Katie now leads in the C-suite of a $35B company and has become a sought-after policy influencer and mentor. Her story is a masterclass in reinvention — not the loud, flashy kind, but the kind that happens when no one is watching, when you say “yes” to growth, over and over again, even when it’s hard.

She shares what it was like being one of the only women in the oil fields, how she taught herself policy in a coffee shop, and why her version of success has nothing to do with titles — and everything to do with relationships, service, and staying grounded.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a version of yourself that no longer fits, if you think you’re too late to pivot, or that your past defines your ceiling, you need to hear this one.

(08:38) - Katie’s Early Years in Rural Alaska (10:46) - Incremental Transformation (11:11) - Strategic Career Pivots: Katie’s Journey to Becoming a Policy Expert (12:27) - Katie’s Rigorous Self-Study Routine (15:55) - The Power of Building Relationships and Adding Value to Others (27:09) - The ROI of Giving Without Expecting (35:57) - Balancing Work and Personal Life, Especially for Working Parents (40:56) - The Importance of Taking Risks and Being Curious in Personal & Professional Growth (41:25) - The Role of Policy in Supporting Working Parents (43:48) - Believing You Can Become Something New

• Linkedin | https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-kruger-colorado/

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

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In this heartwarming episode, Monique reconnects with her college roommate and lifelong friend, Kelsey Murray, a former ad agency director with a deep background in marketing and digital strategy. After more than a decade climbing the corporate ladder, she made the bold decision to step away in pursuit of motherhood and a more intentional way of living.

Her career journey has included becoming a stay-at-home mom, launching a photography business, consulting as a fractional CMO, and ultimately stepping into franchise ownership. Each pivot was less about chasing titles and more about rediscovering what truly lights her up.

Together, Monique and Kelsey explore how ambition can evolve, how motherhood can feel both sacred and stifling, and how we can integrate every season of our lives into a more whole version of who we are becoming. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a season that was supposed to fulfill you or if you’re currently navigating a pivot, this episode will remind you that it’s not too late to begin again. Let’s dive in!

((05:19) - Kelsey’s Unexpected Pivot (07:00) - Motherhood and the Guilt That No One Talks About (10:20) - Finding Community and the Power of Shared Experiences (13:04) - The Season of Self-Discovery (21:33) - Beyond the Resume: Redefining Your Personal Brand (22:43) - Legacy, Family, and the Story Behind Kelley Blue Book (29:19) - Releasing the Need for Perfection and External Validation (32:45) - The Importance of Staying Open to What’s Next (34:14) - God Whispers and Soul Alignment

• Book - The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav | https://a.co/d/byYJUm9

• Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/mrsmurray923/

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

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In this insightful episode, Monique expands on one of the key themes from Episode 15, Foundation Not Fumes, diving deeper into the nuanced and often misunderstood topic of overwhelm. More importantly, the critical difference between legitimate temporary overwhelm and lifestyle overwhelm.

Drawing inspiration from Mel Robbins and her own lived experience as a parent and a business leader, Monique provides listeners clear, actionable strategies for regaining clarity, presence, and momentum in both life and business.

Whether you’re managing a business, a household, or both, this episode offers practical, compassionate guidance for reclaiming mental clarity and capacity amidst chaos. Let’s dive in!

(01:15) - The Inspiration Behind This Impromptu Mini-Episode (02:40) - Legit Temporary Overwhelm (04:14) - Lifestyle Overwhelm (05:55) - Reclaiming Clarity: The Power of a Brain Dump (07:03) - Identifying Your Top 3 Priorities (08:21) - Making It Easy to Begin and Giving Yourself Grace

• Mel Robbins Podcast | https://www.melrobbins.com/episode/episode-50/
• The Great Life Experiment Podcast Ep. 15 | https://youtu.be/bKrc0VXcJiI?si=CmdZ7nimtaqInfuI

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

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In this episode, Monique Schafer sits down with Michele Ashby, a trailblazing executive, board director, and founder of ACE LLC. With over three decades of experience in finance and capital markets, and eight board seats under her belt, Michelle is on a mission to train 1,000 women to step into corporate boardrooms with confidence, clarity, and impact.

Together, Monique and Michelle dive into the real path to board leadership — from mastering governance and financial acumen to navigating the unspoken dynamics of the good old boys’ network. They also explore the mindset shifts women need to own their value, silence imposter syndrome, and speak the executive vernacular that commands a room.

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Is this all there is?” or “Could I be doing more?”, this episode is your blueprint for what’s next. Whether you’re an experienced executive, a rising leader, or simply curious about how women can shape the future of corporate governance, this conversation will challenge and equip you to lead at the highest level and claim the seat that’s already waiting for you.

(05:37) - Michelle’s Journey to the Boardroom (08:58) - The Importance of a Unique Value Proposition (10:13) - The Power of Relationships (14:12) - How Visibility Builds Momentum (17:22) - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome (21:41) - Beyond Tactical: How Michele’s Program Transforms Identity (24:27) - The Future of Women in the Boardroom (27:23) - Understanding the Transfer of Wealth (34:28) - Core Competencies: What Makes You Board-Ready? (40:33) - The Role of Men in Supporting Women (48:47) - Final Takeaways

• Michele’s Talk at Oxford | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgdh83r5IZM
• Board-Ready Bundle | https://www.acellc.consulting/board-ready-bundle

• Website | https://www.acellc.consulting/
• Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/ashbyconsultingenterprises/
• LinkedIn | http://linkedin.com/in/micheleashby1

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8