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 Progress
AP 503: How to Find and Better Prioritize HOBBIES! || with Sarah Hart-Unger
Sarah Hart-Unger is a mother of three and physician, with a passion for hobbies. She is an avid runner, and hosts two podcasts - one of which discusses all…
- About Progress
AP 502: Affirm Your Progress || Growth Spurt
When I shared about my 500th podcast episode I received a simple comment, "What are you doing to celebrate yourself?!" And that prompted me to do some…
- About Progress
AP 501: The Three N's of Numbing Behavior
In my early years as a young teacher, spread really thin, I found myself engaging in certain numbing behaviors after my students left for the day. I would tell…
- About Progress
AP 500: The 500th Episode Q&A: the history of the podcast, my favorite guests, what I’ve learned, what I wish listeners knew, and what the future holds.
This podcast is one of the things I have been the most consistent with throughout my life, and over seven years that has led me to this 500th episode. I sat…
- About Progress
AP 499: Your Story Is Worth Telling + How to Find (and Own!) Yours || with Dan Davis of Stiry
Do you have an inner critic telling you that your story is too dumb to matter? Maybe you even have outer critics that make your story feel unimportant. Those…
- About Progress
AP 498: My trip to Washington DC, planning our garden, why my habits are struggling, my favorite ice cream, and some honest thoughts as a parent of children with special needs || Messy Middle June 2023
This monthly series features an episode sharing my recent highs and lows, how my habits are going, a Do Something List update, plus what I'm loving lately and…
- About Progress
AP 497: Stop Seeking and Start LIVING with Purpose
Whether you feel like you're in a never ending chase after your purpose, or stuck on the sidelines waiting for your purpose to find you, either extreme can…
- About Progress
AP 496: How Do You Become a Group Fitness Instructor || with Taylor Rockwood
Is there something that has made you think other people can do that, but not me? This is part of a monthly series to convince you otherwise. These episodes…
- About Progress
AP 495: The Biggest Self-Care Myths You Need to Bust (it’s more than bubble baths!) || with Taylor Morrison
Does your day-to-day life have you feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, or irritable? Maybe you are squeezing in some self-care here and there, like a rare sweet…
- About Progress
AP 494: What to do When Nothing Goes to Plan || Growth Spurt
Do you remember the children's book, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?" I think we've all had days that at least match the…
- About Progress
AP 493: How to Uncover Your Habit Type
For most of my childhood and into my young adulthood I had a habit identity that was closely tied with my perfectionistic tendencies. I had decided that if I…
- About Progress
AP 492: Progress Principle: CHOICE || Growth Spurt
I’ve recently been sharing growth spurts where I share principles that guide my work with clients and my own life, too. We’ve covered: the discomfort zone…
- About Progress
AP 491: How To Be The Mom You WANT To Be, Not Who You Think You SHOULD Be || with Rachel Nielson
Have you ever wished that you could love motherhood as much as you love your kids? That's a little line I borrowed from my dear friend, Rachel Nielson of the 3…
- About Progress
AP 490: Our family trip to southern Utah, my first creativity challenge, our nighttime routine with kids, the olive oil cake I'm loving, and re-evaluating my work || Messy Middle May 2023
This monthly series features an episode sharing my recent highs and lows, how my habits are going, a Do Something List update, plus what I'm loving lately and…
- About Progress
AP 489: Why It’s OK to Have Regrets + What to Do When You Struggle with Them
It's a pet peeve of mine when people say they "don't have regrets." While I understand what they mean by that, I think it's too dismissive of the lessons we…
- About Progress
AP 488: How Do You Turn Your Passion Into Your Life's Work? || with Tina Anderson of Just Thrive
Is there something that has made you think other people can do that, but not me? This is part of a monthly series to convince you otherwise. These episodes…
- About Progress
AP 487: The 5 Steps I Used to Reconnect with my Personal Style in a New Season of Life || with Jenny Eversole of Style Space
In 2020 I put something on my Do Something List that I almost talked myself out of: have fun with fashion. I ended up loving the results so much that I've kept…
- About Progress
AP 486: Being Present is Being Productive || Growth Spurt
Recently I've felt really unproductive, which is not how I am used to feeling. To be really honest, adding a fifth child to our family, a newborn after five…
- About Progress
AP 485: How to Be More Productive AND Less Busy at the Same Time || with Tanya Dalton
It is so easy to get caught up in the busyness of our day-to-day lives, whether it's a productive kind of busy, or not. But, what if there was a way to…
- About Progress
AP 484: Emily Bell || a Tribute
I had the honor of interviewing Emily three years ago where we discussed personal growth, traveling the world as a family of five, and getting out of our…
- About Progress
AP 483: The Roots Behind Your Clutter Problem + How to Fix Them || with Tracy McCubbin
Unfortunately, perfectly curated Pinterest boards don't always translate to perfectly organized homes. And while you can appreciate the beauty of a rainbow…
- About Progress
AP 482: Spring Break in CA, my Viral Reel, a Creativity Challenge, the Book I Loved and Show I'm Starting, Using my Voice for Change || Messy Middle April 2023
This monthly series features an episode sharing my recent highs and lows, how my habits are going, a Do Something List update, plus what I'm loving lately and…
- About Progress
AP 481: The Truth About Bad Habits
Several years ago I developed a full-blown bad habit with online shopping. I can say that now because I can see how besides the obvious financial consequences…
- About Progress
AP 480: How to Make Self-Sabotoge Your Friend || with Heather Chauvin
Sometimes when I have something really daunting on my to-do list I find myself caught in the cycle of self-sabotage. If you've ever felt that way you know it's…
- About Progress
AP 479: Why the Dance of Creativity Matters + How to Tap Into This Deepest Part of Yourself || with Brooke Schultz
There's something that I often see in my young children, that we lose in adulthood, and it's the ability to abandon fear and ego, and to create. In today's…
- About Progress
AP 478: How do you direct a charitable race event? || with Leann Stickle
Is there something that has made you think other people can do that, but not me? This is part of a monthly series to convince you otherwise. These episodes…
- About Progress
AP 477: Habit Secrets You Need to Know
How long do you think it takes to build a habit? Whenever I ask this question I get a wide range of answers, and I'm here to tell you that those methods that…
- About Progress
AP 476: One Question To Ask Yourself When You Procrastinate || Growth Spurt
I used to teach an entire class on procrastination, because from time to time we are all subject to it's relentless grasp! The goal is not to prevent it…
- About Progress
AP 475: How Embracing Your Brokenness Can Lead to Greater Healing || with Toni Collier
Toni Collier is a Hope Coach, author of Brave Enough to Be Broken and the founder of Broken Crayons Still Color, an international women’s ministry that helps…
- About Progress
AP 474: Progress Principle: COMPASSION || Growth Spurt
I used to think that the only way I could change myself was by being hard on myself. This led to a lot of self-criticism, as I tried to achieve very high…
- About Progress
AP 473: Three Big Ways You Can Feel Like Yourself Every Day
With the benefit of hindsight on my side, I can look back and see a stark contrast between the way I felt after my third child was born, and the way I felt…
- About Progress
AP 472: Current Self Care, Dance Class, Getting Up Before My Kids, My Favorite Homemade Treat, and Managing New Feelings of Anxiety || Messy Middle March 2023
This monthly series features an episode sharing my recent highs and lows, how my habits are going, a Do Something List update, plus what I'm loving lately and…
- About Progress
AP 471: Keys to Overcoming Conflict and Healing Connection for Couples || with Trevor Hanson
Every relationship deals with conflict, just in different ways. Some are avoidant, while others are confrontational. Some are constantly simmering, while…
- About Progress
AP 470: How do you get into photography? || with Kylie Pond
Is there something that has made you think other people can do that, but not me? This is part of a monthly series to convince you otherwise. These episodes…
- About Progress
AP 469: “How can I prioritize what matters to me when I have an under-supportive spouse?” || Coaching call with Emily
Emily is a mother of 6 struggling to juggle the various demands of her life, including finding time for herself to pursue higher education. What started off as…
- About Progress
AP 468: Self Respect > Self Love
I once had a workshop attendee ask me about self-love, and I answered honestly. I don't always love every part of myself, but I do respect myself. This is a…
- About Progress
AP 467: Ways to Get Over Perfectionism in the Bedroom || with Emily Nagoski
Quick disclaimer! While not explicit, the topic we are covering today is adult in nature. Those who typically listen with kids around may consider putting in…
- About Progress
AP 466: Progress Principle: CURIOSITY || Growth Spurt
Today I want to talk about curiosity, but I first have to address our desire for certainty. We tend to want straightforward, black-and-white, prescriptions for…
- About Progress
AP 465: An Alternative to Block-Scheduling || How to Plan Your Day by Rhythms
A few years ago I got really interested in block planning after seeing the success that some other influential people were having with this way of scheduling…
- About Progress
AP 464: New Baby Birth Story, Creating my Official DSL, Bedtime Routine Hack, my Favorite Room in the House, Adjusting as a Family of 7! || Messy Middle January 2023
This monthly series features an episode sharing my recent highs and lows, how my habits are going, a Do Something List update, plus what I'm loving lately and…
- About Progress
AP 463: "How can I create a spiritual practice that feels aligned with both my current season and shifting spiritual life?” || Coaching Call with Heather
Has your spiritual life shifted the last few years? You’re not alone. And while that can be beautiful (and of course challenging), it also poses some…
- About Progress
AP 462: HOW DO YOU do things that scare you? || with Michelle Cox
Is there something that has made you think other people can do that, but not me? This is part of a monthly series to convince you otherwise. These episodes…
- About Progress
AP 461: How to Better Handle Conflict, Even as a Former People Pleaser || with Kwame Christian
After 15 years of marriage, I was reflecting on the conflict between my husband Brad and I, and it's not what you might expect. Our problem was a lack of…
- About Progress
AP 460: Bodies Change || Growth Spurt
Often at the beginning of a new year we are bombarded with the messaging that we need to change our bodies in a very specific way. I want to dive into that a…
- About Progress
AP 459: Do Something List Workshop: Make your DSL for 2023!
The "Do Something List" is the one thing that really started this all - the blog, the podcast, the community, and everything else. Several years ago, and six…
- About Progress
AP 458: Progress Principle: COURAGE || Growth Spurt
I had the idea to start sharing "progress principles" based on things that I was struggling with personally, and that my coaching clients were struggling with…
- About Progress
AP 457: Why Self-Expansion Will Improve Every Area of Your Life, Including Relationships || with Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife
Last year I had the opportunity to interview a returning favorite, Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife, and her sister Carolyn Bever, which produced two of the most…
- About Progress
AP 456: Health Updates, Doing Almost Nothing on My Do Something List, a New Family Habit, an Author I'm Loving, a Thank You || Messy Middle January 2023
This monthly series features an episode sharing my recent highs and lows, how my habits are going, a Do Something List update, plus what I'm loving lately and…
- About Progress
AP 455: Value-Driven Living || What it Is and How It Changes EVERYTHING
Before you dive head first into a list of goals or resolutions for the new year, I want you to do something first. Get clear about your values. In this episode…
- About Progress
AP 454: Our Community’s DID Something List for 2022 || Dear Progressor, December 2022
In this month's edition of "Dear Progressor," you'll hear from members of this community who called in and answered my prompt to share their did something…
- About Progress
AP 453: How to Handle Pre-New Year Anxiety || with Kimberley Quinlan, LMFT
I feel pretty in tune with the rhythms of this community, so I tried to predict what topics we (including me) would need as the year ends and a new one begins…
- About Progress
AP 452: Hold and Honor "Wise" Expectations
Managing life is about managing your expectations, and that can be a tough truth to learn. But I want to caution against high expectations that are too high…
- About Progress
AP 451: How to Look Back, So You Can Look Forward
I love the energy that the new year brings, because for many of us it's a time for looking forward and making new plans. I have a whole episode about being a…
- About Progress
AP 450: Maternity Leave Plans, Visiting Family in California, Playing Flute, Recommitting to Bedtime, and the Household Tool I'm Loving || Messy Middle December 2022
This monthly series features an episode sharing my recent highs and lows, how my habits are going, a Do Something List update, plus what I'm loving lately and…
- About Progress
AP 449: "How can I reset my routines between busy seasons?" || Coaching Call with Taryn
"I need to figure out how to reset some of those routines and some of those self-care habits so that I can feel more fulfilled and less defeated as I show up…
About ProgressIntroducing Habits You Love
This week, we’re featuring an episode from a podcast you should check out. Habits You Love, hosted by Kayla Fassio, is a mental health podcast about self-love…
- About Progress
AP 448: How Do You Get Into Summitting Peaks || with Emily
These episodes feature real women from this community who are answering the question "How do you...?" about their various passions and pursuits. Today's…
- About Progress
AP 447: What To Do When You Feel Inadequate || with Sara Dean
I am willing to bet that even the most confident person you can think of probably feels inadequate from time to time. Another way you might describe this…
- About Progress
AP 446: Just Say NO || Growth Spurt
I once wrote a rejection email and had it posted online by the recipient. Sounds dramatic, doesn't it? Sometimes the thought of rejecting someone or something…
- About Progress
AP 445: My Favorite Things: Podcast Edition || Happy 6 years!
First of all, thank you for being here with me to celebrate SIX YEARS of the About Progress podcast! This is a fun episode because we get to hear from you, the…