Change Academy podcast

Struggling with hard-to-quit habits? Whether it’s the nightly glass of wine, mindless snacking, or endless social media scrolling, in this episode we’re talking about why these habits are so sticky – and more importantly, how to finally change them.

You’ll learn how your brain’s reward system actually works (it’s not what most people think!) and practical strategies for making lasting changes without giving up pleasure altogether.

You’ll learn specific techniques for navigating cravings, resetting your reward system, and creating new habits that satisfy your brain’s needs in more constructive ways. If you’re tired of feeling stuck in cycles of pleasure-seeking behaviors, this episode offers a fresh perspective and actionable solutions for lasting change.

Continue reading “Escaping the pleasure trap: How to break highly rewarding habits”

Our thoughts powerfully impact our lives—but we don’t always pay enough attention to what we’re telling ourselves. In this episode, we’ll take a look at four distinct categories of thoughts: those that are both true and helpful, those that might not be proven but serve us well, those that are true but get in our way, and those that are neither true nor helpful.

I even made you a cool decision tree worksheet to help you apply these concepts to your own thoughts and move forward with more clarity and confidence.

Continue reading “What to do with your negative thoughts”

In this first episode of a three-part series, we are digging in to why we so often resist making positive changes in our lives. Resistance isn’t simply stubbornness or laziness; it can be your brain’s way of keeping you safe. The key is to recognize what our resistance is trying to tell us, so that it doesn’t hold us back.  

Continue reading “How to Overcome Your Resistance to Change”

As the end of the year looms into view, you may feel some regret or disappointment about unmet goals or unrealized ambitions. Add in the chaos of holiday schedules, and it’s tempting to shelve all personal objectives until January.

This episode challenges that mindset, showing you how to turn these final months into a period of meaningful progress. Join me to reassess your goals without self-judgment, adapt your habits for the holiday season, and create a focused approach that will allow you to end the year feeling victorious.

Continue reading “Year-End Recalibration: Let’s Make These Last Two Months Count”

Craving a break from your routines? Discover why that might actually be sabotaging your happiness…as well as your progress.

Molly Watts returns to the Change Academy to help me unravel the counterintuitive link between structure and relaxation. Learn how to craft routines that boost mental and physical well-being, make your time off more enjoyable, and ease the transition back into your normal schedule.

Continue reading “The Surprising Secret to Enjoying a Break in Your Routine”

Discover why viewing change as a lifelong journey is not just realistic, but liberating and exciting. Learn how to reframe personal growth as evolution rather than ‘fixing’ yourself, and explore the powerful concept of change as a form of self-expression. Whether you’re working on health, finances, relationships, or any other area of life, this episode will equip you with a new perspective on sustainable personal development.

Continue reading “Why Change Takes Forever (and Why That’s So Awesome!)”

In a world obsessed with success, embracing failure seems a bit counter-cultural. But if it’s good enough for the some of history’s smartest and most successful figures, there’s probably something the rest of us can learn. In fact, an outsized fear of failure could hold us back from our greatest achievements. 

Whether you’re a perfectionist paralyzed by the fear of making mistakes, or a risk-taker looking to fail smarter, let’s rewrite the script on what it means to fail — and succeed — in both personal and professional realms.

Continue reading “The Alchemy of Failure: Finding the treasure hiding in our mistakes”

In this episode, we explore the role of practice in habit formation and how a thoughtful approach can accelerate your progress more than just mindless repetition. We also talk about the mental aspect of practice and how practicing better thoughts can drive better behaviors.

Practice doesn’t make perfect; it makes permanent – choose wisely what you reinforce.

Continue reading “What (and how) you practice matters hugely. Choose well.”

Dr. Bethy Campbell joins Monica to explore the delicate dance of offering constructive criticism while maintaining positive relationships. Learn practical strategies for delivering feedback that empowers growth, builds trust, and respects autonomy.

Whether you’re offering feedback as a manager, colleague, spouse, or friend, this episode provides pro-level strategies that will transform your communication and foster meaningful change in others.

Continue reading “The ultimate guide to giving feedback that gets positive results”

Change is challenging, for all kinds of different reasons. But one thing that can make it more challenging than it actually needs to be is when we insist on going it alone.

Whether you’re aiming to improve your health, boost your productivity, or cultivate a new skill, having a solid support strategy can be the difference between frustration and success.

But getting the people around you to support you in ways that you find supportive can be challenging. Here are some ways to set yourself up for success.

Continue reading “How to create a more effective support strategy”