Pockets of Knowledge

What if the exhaustion you're carrying isn't from doing too much—but from doing too much of the wrong things? In this lively, no-BS conversation, host Desiree Stanley sits down with Anne Karber—entrepreneur, author of The Life Hack Playbook, and host of the Let's Get Naked Podcast—who shares how she went from living on autopilot, people-pleasing, and giving from an empty shell to building a life she genuinely loves by getting ruthlessly intentional about where she puts her energy. Anne introduces her signature "Skittles Energy" concept: your energy is finite, valuable, and yours to spend—and most of us are leaking it all over the place on drama, overthinking, and obligations we never actually agreed to. She explains the difference between a life driven by ego (checking boxes, keeping up appearances) and one driven by soul (aligned choices, savage self-awareness, and boundaries that actually protect your peace). From complaining about traffic to replaying arguments in your head to saying yes when every part of you means no—these are all Skittles you'll never get back.Anne offers practical tools for anyone feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or out of touch with who they actually are: start with low-hanging fruit, pause before reacting, get quiet enough to hear what your body is telling you, and understand that a yes to someone else is always a no to yourself. She also reframes asking for help—not as weakness, but as giving the people who love you the gift of being able to show up for you.Whether you're a serial people-pleaser running on empty, someone who's been giving from a cracked shell for years, or simply curious about why your life feels like it belongs to everyone but you, this conversation offers both the permission and the practical tools to take it back.Bio:Anne Karber is an entrepreneur, author of The Life Hack Playbook, and host of the Let’s Get Naked Podcast. Known for her no-BS approach to personal growth, she challenges people to break out of performative living and build real self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and ownership. Anne blends raw honesty with practical tools—like her signature “Skittles Energy” framework—to help people stop running on autopilot and start making intentional, aligned choices. Through her work, she’s on a mission to spark real conversations, disrupt old patterns, and help people reconnect with who they actually are.Connect with Anne:Email: [email protected]: https://annekarber.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Lets-Get-Naked/61564129792887/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lets_get_naked_podcast/?hl=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-karber-abbb949b/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@letsgetnakedpodcastBooks mentioned:The Life Hack Playbook - Proven Shortcuts to Peace & Purpose by Anne Karber - https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9781969372650https://amzn.to/48Wk3svThe Surrender Experiment by  Michael Singer - https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9780804141109https://amzn.to/3PjRrTt Brené Brown's work -  The Atlas of the Heart - https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9780399592553The Atlas of the Heart Podcasts mentioned:Let's Get Naked with Anne Karber - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-get-naked/id1776246773

What if the version of success you're chasing is actually killing you? In this candid conversation, host Desiree Stanley sits down with Dr. Amy Loden Tiffany—physician entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, author, and mom of five—who shares how she went from burnout and serious health crises to building a thriving concierge practice that helps ambitious women reclaim their health without losing their impact. Dr. Amy's journey includes multiple wake-up calls that forced her to ask: am I being who I want to be, and if not, what am I going to do about it? She rebuilt her medical practice and her life around a different definition of success—one that doesn't require sacrificing health, relationships, or sanity to make an impact. Throughout the episode, Dr. Amy explains what most doctors won't tell you: pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia aren't just pregnancy problems—they're warning signs of serious long-term health risks. Half of women with gestational diabetes develop type 2 diabetes within five years. Women with preeclampsia face four times higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease before age 60 if left untreated. Yet the healthcare system offers little intervention after delivery.She introduces her VIP framework for decision-making: Values (what matters most), Impact (the change you want to create), and Priorities (how you manage them without guilt). Dr. Amy challenges the myth that successful women just need better time management—the real issue is priority management aligned with your values.Whether you're an ambitious woman feeling the pressure to do it all, navigating postpartum or perimenopause while maintaining your career, or anyone who suspects the way you're living isn't sustainable, this conversation offers both urgent truth and practical tools for building a life that doesn't require sacrificing your health for your success.Bio:Dr. Amy Loden Tiffany is a physician entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, author, and mom of five who’s redefining what success looks like for ambitious women. After years in traditional medicine, Dr. Tiffany built a thriving concierge practice that helps women reclaim their health, energy, and confidence while leading in business, family, and life. She turned her own story of burnout and reinvention into a blueprint for ambitious women who want to lead powerfully without losing themselves. From postpartum to perimenopause, from the boardroom to the home, Dr. Tiffany helps women align their health and goals so they can thrive in every arena of life. Connect with Dr. Amy:EmailWebsiteFacebookInstagramLinkedInYouTubeResource:TEDx Talk The Menopause SocietyBooks mentioned:Postpartum Pivot by Amy Loden Tiffany, MD, MBATop Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing By Bronnie WareAtomic Habits by  James Clear - https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9780735211292https://amzn.to/4na6knWExtreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win (New Edition) by Jocko Willink, Leif Babin - https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9781250183866https://amzn.to/4cSsbeFPodcasts mentioned:The Authentic Physician with Dr. Amy TiffanyDiary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett———If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your friends so that they can be educated, informed, inspired and empowered!Contact me through my website, www.PocketsofKnowledge.com, or find me on Instagram @desireedstanley. Thanks for listening!———This podcast is intended to educate, inspire, and empower you on your personal journey. Please note that individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.This is not intended to treat any medical condition. I am not a medical doctor and do not offer any professional health or medical advice. If you are suffering from any medical conditions, please seek help from a qualified health professional.

CONTENT NOTE: This episode briefly mentions child abuse in the context for how one girl entered the foster system.What begins with one life can change entire generations. In this inspiring conversation, host Desiree Stanley sits down with Ashley Trussell—founder of Butterfly Effect Foundation—who shares how a single relationship during COVID led to creating a nonprofit that now mentors teenage girls aging out of foster care in Arizona, one butterfly at a time.Ashley's journey started when she and her husband met a young woman at their church who was in an unsafe home situation. After DCS placed her in a group home, Ashley kept showing up—bringing her to church, helping her get a job, and making vision boards with the other girls in the home. When another girl asked, "Could you be my mentor?", the foundation was born. What makes Butterfly Effect unique is the one-on-one model: each mentor commits to just one girl, creating a genuine relationship without reporting requirements or professional distance—just someone who shows up and genuinely cares.Ashley explains what most of us take for granted but these girls have never experienced: opening a bank account, getting a driver's permit, building a resume, and learning to save. Butterfly Effect helps them catch up through practical support—mentors connect with them to help them learn practical skills, enjoy outings and experiences, and explore careers they never knew existed. She shares the story of one butterfly who discovered flower arranging with her mentor and built a thriving business at 16, learning real-world skills while saving for her first car.Whether you're considering becoming a mentor, looking for ways to support foster youth in your community, or simply want to understand how one person showing up can change everything, this conversation offers both inspiration and a clear path to making a difference.Bio:Ashley Trussell is the Founder & Chair of the Butterfly Effect Foundation. Born and raised in Mesa, Arizona, Ashley and her husband live in Las Sendas and are graduates of Mesa’s Mountain View High School and Arizona State University. Ashley’s two children graduated from Red Mountain High School, with her son playing Division 1 football and graduating from the University of Central Arkansas and her daughter graduating from Grand Canyon University’s Nursing program. Raised in a Christian home, Ashley's values are rooted in God, family, and loving life.Ashley founded Butterfly Effect Foundation, a nonprofit that mentors, one-on-one, teen girls living in group homes, aging out of the foster care system in Arizona. She also serves as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) in Maricopa County. Her life motto is "Love Life."Connect with Ashley:EmailWebsiteInstagramPhone - 602-837-3777Donations can be made directly: Zelle - 602-837-3777Venmo - @butterflyeffectfoundationCheck - PO Box 20166, Mesa, AZ 85277Flower ArrangementsResources:If you need support, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-656-4673.Books mentioned: Love Does by Bob Goff - https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9781400203758https://amzn.to/3R5wQTaEverybody Always by Bob Goff - https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9780718078133 https://amzn.to/49fzHPJPodcasts mentioned:Voices For CASA The Ramsey Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ramsey-show/id77001367

In this warm, practical conversation, host Desiree Stanley sits down with Gail—speaker, author, and founder of Single Moms Empowered—who has spent nearly two decades turning her hardest season into lasting support for women navigating single motherhood.Gail shares how she returned to college with three little kids and started writing because she realized other women needed the same kind of stories that had carried her through. What began as weekend retreats to give single moms a break evolved into something more permanent when she noticed a pattern: the women who were thriving had some form of education or skill, while those barely scraping by had neither the training nor the time to get it. That insight led her to found Single Moms Empowered in 2007, a nonprofit that helps single mothers earn two-year degrees or certifications in fields with real employment waiting.Throughout the episode, Gail offers clear-eyed, compassionate advice for single mothers and those who want to support them. She talks about the power of routines and calendars, and combating loneliness without running to the wrong places. She encourages awareness without judgment, practical support, and understanding that the viewpoint you have toward a mom makes all the difference. Whether you're a single mom looking for encouragement and practical tools, someone who wants to support the single mothers in your life, or anyone navigating a season that wasn't part of the plan, this conversation offers both hope and actionable wisdom.Bio:Gail Showalter had it all — three children, a family business, a dream home, a boat, and a promising future. Then came the other woman, and everything changed.As a newly single mom, Gail leaned into inspirational stories that fueled her through the hardest season of her life. She returned to college with three little kids in tow, published her first piece, Baby Steps, and eventually moved in an entirely different direction, becoming a Braille teacher. For sixteen years, she navigated single motherhood firsthand.Trained as a personality specialist in 2000, Gail began coaching women and discovered that understanding personalities is essential to parenting and life. What started as simply wanting to give single moms a break grew into something much bigger. In 2007, she founded Single Moms Empowered, a nonprofit supporting single mothers earning a degree that leads to employment. She's still at it.Gail eventually remarried and is now not only a mother but a grandmother. In southeast Texas, she's known as the "Old Bird with Feathers of Wisdom for Women and a Soft Spot for Single Moms." Her book, Living, Learning, Loving, published by Morgan James Publishing, is available on Barnes & Noble and wherever books are sold.She counts herself a fortunate woman, remarried and still passionate about single mothers.Connect with Gail:WebsiteFacebookInstagramLinkedInYouTubeResources: https://www.singlemomsempowered.org/The  Jeremiah ProgramBucknerBooks mentioned:Living, Learning, Loving: Lessons of Insight and Encouragement on the Path of Motherhood by Gail Cawley ShowalterWired That Way Florence & Marita Littauerhttps://amzn.to/3Ot02TuEnneagram Made Easy: Explore the Nine Personality Types of the Enneagram by Deborah Threadgill EgertonThe Adversity Advantage: Turning Everyday Struggles into Everyday Greatness by Erik WeihenmayerPodcasts mentioned: Bent Not Broken with Deborah Griffiths——— If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your friends so that they can be educated, informed, inspired and empowered!Contact me through my website, PocketsofKnowledge.com, or find me on Instagram @desireedstanley. Thanks for listening!———This podcast is intended to educate, inspire, and empower you on your personal journey. Please note that individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

What if that restless feeling inside you isn't a crisis—but an awakening? In this warm conversation, host Desiree Stanley sits down with Sarah Andreas—artist, author, and reinvention guide—who helps women navigate the in-between space of who they've been and who they're becoming, especially in midlife and major life transitions.  Throughout the episode, Sarah explains how our bodies know our truth before our minds do—that tightness in your chest, tingling in your arms, the feeling of being a butterfly stuck in a cocoon. She encourages writing down 27 things you want to do before your 80th birthday (because it forces you to think beyond the standard list), creating mantras for who you're becoming (not who you are now), and holding your plans with an open palm instead of a closed fist so the universe can show you possibilities you never imagined. Sarah challenges the idea of "learning to be content" when you feel restless. She explains that you don't need to be content—you need to be fulfilled and happy. When you ignore that feeling that there's more for you and keep pushing it down, that's when midlife becomes a crisis instead of a gradual, curious evolution. She also addresses the small daily betrayals we commit against ourselves—saying yes when we mean no, letting others take the time we blocked for ourselves, staying silent about our big dreams—and why these erode our self-trust over time. Whether you're feeling restless in something that looks good from the outside, sensing it's time for change but unsure what that means, or ready to stop betraying yourself every day, this conversation offers both permission and practical tools for stepping into who you're becoming.Bio:Sarah Andreas is an artist, author, and reinvention guide who works with women navigating identity transitions, especially in midlife and major life shifts. Her work is rooted in the belief that reinvention is not a crisis or failure, but a natural awakening that happens when a woman outgrows the life she has been living.  After years in leadership and academia, Sarah experienced her own quiet turning point, realizing that success and responsibility can mask a deeper sense of misalignment. That awakening led her back to art, where creativity became a tool for clarity, self-trust, and identity change. This work became the foundation for her book, Step Into the Ether, and the Reinvention Studio, an online space supporting women who are in the in-between phase of becoming.  Connect with Sarah:Email: [email protected]:https://sarahandreas.com/collections/books-for-becoming-stories-reflections-and-truths-for-women-in-transitionBooks mentioned:Beauty from Chaos by Sarah Andreas - https://sarahandreas.com/products/beauty-from-chaosStep into the Ether by Sarah Andreas - https://sarahandreas.com/products/step-into-the-ether Be Your Future Self Now by  Dr. Benjamin Hardy - Bookshophttps://amzn.to/4moyZVC10x Is Easier Than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less by Dan Sullivan and Dr Benjamin Hardy - Bookshophttps://amzn.to/3QwTT9c