Shows / About Progress
About Progress
All the self-help extremes out there seem designed for perfect robots. But what if progress doesn’t require perfection? Welcome to your gentle self-development hub: About Progress, a podcast and community devoted to progress made practical. Join host and coach, Monica Packer, and her special guests to get the hug AND kick in the pants you need to do something and grow in ways that stick.
Episodes
About ProgressAP 325: Nourish Your Passions Into Your Purpose || with Nikki Innocent
We sometimes confuse our passions and our purpose, so what is the difference and why does it matter? Podcaster, coach, and passions enthusiast Nikki Innocent…
About ProgressAP 324: Circumstances are NOT Neutral || Growth Spurt
While working with a therapist treating my eating disorder he taught me that thoughts affect your feelings, and your actions. With that in mind, I have sort of…
About ProgressAP 323: Doable Tips to Create Purpose with What You Already Love || with Lisa Funk
Three years ago Lisa Funk was a guest here and something she said has stuck with me ever since, "We are born to create." We talk often about the importance of…
About ProgressAP 322: Seek Purpose || March 2021 Theme
How often, when asked to introduce yourself, do you describe what you do and not who you are? Instead of placing emphasis on your roles and responsibilities…
About ProgressAP 321: 3 Tips to Becoming a Book Worm || Growth Spurt
As a young child you could hardly find me without a book, as reading was something I truly loved and carried a passion for into adulthood. As I became a…
About ProgressAP 320: Easy Ways to Find Yourself, No Matter How Late || with Mikayla Johnson
When I created my first ever Do Something Plan 5 years ago it was simply to try to dig my way out from under a quarter-life identity crisis. I say simply not…
About ProgressAP 319: Ways to Practice Deep Self Care Beyond the Treat Yourself Variety || with Taylor Elyse Morrison
If you've been a part of this community for a little while, you already know I'm not opposed to treating yourself, but I am opposed to the idea that it is the…
About ProgressAP 318: How to Overcome Body Obsession and Come Home to Yourself || with Lexie Kite, PhD
When the opportunity arose to have one of our previous guest's twin sister on the show, I rearranged a lot because this interview is exactly what so many of us…
About ProgressAP 317: Be Wholehearted || February 2021 Theme
Years ago I shattered a bottle of balsamic vinegar, and in the nightmarish process of cleaning it up I lost it. It made me rage, scaring myself and my young…
About ProgressAP 316: Shake Off Your Past for a Better Future || with Michael Arterberry
You don't need to ignore your past, or shove it deep down. There is a fine balance between acknowledging it and moving beyond it - whether that's lifelong…
About ProgressAP 315: Major Secrets You Need to Know to Accomplish Your Biggest Goals || with Noelle Pikus-Pace
Olympic athletes...they're just like us! Or at least that's what this interview with medalist Noelle Pikus-Pace will have you thinking. Her major secrets you…
About ProgressAP 314: How to Make Goals that Won't Kill You || Bonus Episode
It was only three years ago that I got back into goal-making (the right way) and that year it took me three months to even decide on them all. I've been on…
About ProgressAP 313: How to Strive for Excellence (and Still Be Human!) || with Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife and Carolyn Bever
Licensed marriage and sex therapist, Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife is well known to this community. Today she is joined by her sister, Carolyn Bever who is an…
About ProgressAP 312: Reach for More || January 2021 Theme
If you've been around here for a little while you may know the story of how this blog, and now podcast and community, got started. Years ago, I was a shell of…
About ProgressAP 311: Do Something to Unlock the Best Version of You || Bonus Episode to Start 2021 on the Best Foot
Goals are GREAT. But, what if you are simply too tuckered out from 2021 to overhaul alllll of the things right now? What if you are empty inside from a year of…
About ProgressAP 310: 2020 Taught Me... || "Dear Progressor," November + December Edition
As always, I'm sharing a little bit about what my family and myself have been up to, and why I'm actually recording from out of town. Plus, a little update…
About ProgressAP 309: How to Know Who You Are || with Arielle Estoria (Encore!)
During this time of year, and going into a new year, it's so important to know who you are. I am re-airing my favorite episode from 2020 to help you get…
About ProgressAP 308: Bonus Episode: Are you on the list?
Amidst the lengthy lists we make this time of year, including gifts to buy and service to render, are you on the list? While it's extra relevant throughout…
About ProgressAP 307: Why Discouragement is a Gift || with Suzy Boyce Chriswell
Are you a little bit tired of the "rah-rah" messages of positivity despite all circumstance messages out there? What if you could lean into growth, while…
About ProgressAP 306: How Perfectionism is Getting in Your Way || with Kolbie Blume
If you've been around for any amount of time you know this, but our premise here is that life is about progress, not perfection. As a recovering perfectionist…
About ProgressAP 305: There are Times and Seasons || Growth Spurt
I really don't like the word "should." Whether you've found others "shoulding" on you, or you "should" on yourself, it usually doesn't feel very good. Instead…
About ProgressAP 304: Evolve Alongside your Gifts || with Carol Lynn Pearson
Was there something you really loved as a child and gave up on? Or, even a passion you found more recently, but you convinced yourself was too late to pursue…
About ProgressAP 303: What if it's really too late? || Growth Spurt
All month long we've discussed our theme "Never Too Late" with several guests here on the podcast and on Instagram. So, today's Growth Spurt may seem…
About ProgressAP 302: Give Yourself Permission to Try || with Michelle Gifford
Do you, like so many women, struggle with even starting something because you're unsure if it’s “worth it?” I want to suggest that what you're really…
About ProgressAP 301: How to Value Your Motherhood || with Dr. Julie Hanks
My aspirational views of motherhood began when I was a young child, and translated to impossible ideals once I actually had my own children. I was a shell of…
About ProgressAP 300: We Made it: 300 Episodes!!! || Bonus Episode
Most of you have heard me tell the story before, of how this podcast got its start. From a bucket list of sorts, that led to a multi-subject blog, to an…
About ProgressAP 299: Why You Must Fail Your Way Forward || with Courtney Rich
Amongst perfectionists the idea of failure is really scary, it's something to be avoided at all costs. I know that because I've been there, stuck and afraid of…
About ProgressAP 298: Do I Really Need Goals? || Growth Spurt
Whether you're goal averse or goal obsessed, it is essential to have a vision to know who you want to be. That's because we have to have purpose. I have felt…
About ProgressAP 297: Never Too Late || November + December's Theme
New goals in November?! Yep! You can make new goals whenever you want to. You are not too old, too far down your path, and you are never too late. I'm sharing…
About ProgressAP 296: "Dear Progressor" || September + October 2020 Edition
Did September and October kick your trash? Same here. That's why I am SO happy to share some notes from our fellow Progressors. Listen in to get the boost you…
About ProgressAP 295: Forge Your Own Path || with Preethi Harbuck
Are you guilty of looking around, comparing yourself to others, feeling less than, then choosing your path based on those (likely terrible) feelings? The goal…
About ProgressAP 294: Embrace Nuance || Growth Spurt
Only once before have I woken up in the night writing an episode in my mind, and that was my big faith crisis episode. The subject of this episode is the…
About ProgressAP 293: How To Maximize What You Do || with Heather Glenn
It's all too easy to look at our selves and pick apart the areas in which we lack, the areas where we feel most scarce. It is so much more important to see…
About ProgressAP 292: How to Shift Your View of Money || with Janae Chandler
Though we're spending the whole month discussing living abundantly, this is the only interview specifically about money. Yep, money. That thing you're not…
About ProgressAP 291: Live Abundantly || October's Theme
I once went down a long line of memories from my life due to a coaching prompt, in which I discovered my own feeling towards abundance. I explain further in…
About ProgressAP 290: Bonus Episode: How To Persevere When Spiritual Doors Seem Closed
It has been almost two years since I first publicly shared about my faith crisis. It was something that I had battled with in my mind for many years, but took…
About ProgressAP 289: Ways To Reconnect After Porn Use In Marriage || with Darcy Spafford
The best perk of this podcasting gig is getting to connect with the listeners here. Seriously, I cannot wait until there is a time when we can all meet in…
About ProgressAP 288: What To Do When You Hate Sex || with Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife
After seven appearances now on the podcast, your fan favorite is here to discuss a previously less talked about, but integral, part of her work: sex. It was at…
About ProgressAP 287: Stopping vs. Quitting || Growth Spurt
In the world of self-development you may have convinced yourself to never give up, or some other undying mantra. But I say, it's okay to stop! Because it's…
About ProgressAP 286: What To Do When You Don't Fit In || with Jasmine Bradshaw
It doesn't matter if the circumstances are really true or not, if you don't feel like you belong, the weight and hurt of it feels the same. In this interview…
About ProgressAP 285: Bonus Episode: How We Are Homeschooling
Don't run away thinking I'm another influencer trying to give you advice you don't need. More than anything I want you to always feel supported here at About…
About ProgressAP 284: You CAN Change + Ways to Start || with Brooke Snow
I want you to think about something you've always wanted to change. And I ask this at the beginning of this episode, then rattle off lots of ideas, but I bet…
About ProgressAP 283: Persevere || September's Theme
Did you know I actually plan my monthly themes several months in advance? Interestingly, this month's theme of perseverance could not be more timely. I hope…
About ProgressAP 282: “Dear Progressor,” July + August 2020 Edition
Just to recap from the summer, we listened to encore episodes in July and then talked about being consistent throughout August. The "Dear Progressor," episode…
About ProgressAP 281: Go From Disappointed to Content with Your Habits || with Kendra Brimhall
Last month I announced a change for the podcast - each month we would alternate between the "Dear Progressor" episodes and an interview with a "regular"…
About ProgressAP 280: You'll Never Make It || Growth Spurt
For a long, long time I valued my worth based on my outcomes. If I didn't look a certain way, or achieve a certain thing, I thought that meant I wasn't good…
About ProgressAP 279: How to Become Indistractable || with Nir Eyal
This is a power-packed episode that I know I will listen to over and over again. The tips are simple and doable, and there are lots of them. Every week I send…
About ProgressAP 278: Bonus Episode: We Bought a House!
My husband, Brad, and I are sitting down to give you a super informal update on our lives! A while back we talked about a lot of the unknowns we faced when we…
About ProgressAP 277: How to Maximize Consistency with Your Routines || with Ashley Brown
Certain things are frequent topics on this podcast, and habits and routines has been one of them. If you're still overwhelmed and unsure of how to make those…
About ProgressAP 276: Be Consistent || August's Theme
I want to talk to you about a pervasive lie that flys around the self development world. I believe that the idea of being an overnight success is a lie! If…
About ProgressAP 275: How to Find Magic in Your Mess || with Cori Connors
I knew Cori Connors growing up as the “Mom” of the neighborhood–the one always ready to laugh with instead of scold you, eager to cheer you on, and willing to…
About ProgressAP 274: Why You are VERY Exhausted || with Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith
Seven types of rest?! Yep. But don’t worry, you’re likely not lacking in each of those areas. And actually, if you can see where your bucket needs filling and…
About ProgressAP 273: Ways to Choose More Happiness || with Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife
One of the biggest takeaways from interviews about happiness, has been about how to fulfill this need internally, rather than relying on external factors. If…
About ProgressAP 272: Resistance is Part of Your Path || with Patrice Washington
Raise your hand if you have fallen victim to circumstances, or excuses, and your list of “What if’s?” seems like the only thing in your life that is growing…
About ProgressAP 271: How to Get Out of a Funk || with Natalie Norton
How is progressing going for you? Is it all over the place, back and forth, kind of a mess? GOOD. Progress is messy. All month long we are talking about what…
About ProgressAP 270: “Dear Progressor,” May + June 2020 Edition
We've spent longer than I originally planned on discussing the most recent theme, "Be Healthy", with an emphasis on being, not getting, to our healthiest…
About ProgressAP 269: How Confirmation Bias Can Shift Your Health Habits
In this episode I'm combining self development with science, and it really does work. For example, as part of my seemingly never-ending quest to develop…
About ProgressAP 268: The Power of Eating Without Fear || with Taylor Chan
We're all born as intuitive eaters, if you think about it. Tiny babies know when they're hungry, and even cry a certain way to let us know! They also sometimes…
About ProgressAP 267: Christopher Clark || A Tribute
Christopher Clark didn't ask for a diagnosis of ALS at the peak of his life, family, and career. Over the five years he faced with continuously limited…
About ProgressAP 266: What To Do When You Don't Know What To Do About Racism || Bonus Episode
Maybe you are like me and you thought systemic racism was mostly over after the Civil Rights Movement. Or maybe you still knew racism existed, but it was only…