Clarity On Fire

I’ve gotta admit, there’s something fun about those “what do you eat in a day?” or “what’s in your bag?” videos that you’ll often find celebrities doing on YouTube. Of course, I highly doubt what’s being curated for YouTube is real — their bags are probably a whole lot more embarrassing, and their food choices more realistic, than what you see online.   Kristen and I are about as far from celebrities as you can get, but there can still be a bit of a ~mystique~ around people you don’t really know, IRL. In the past 3.5 years, we’ve published over 300 episodes of the podcast! And if you didn’t know any better, you might think that we’ve somehow managed to integrate every bit of wisdom from each of them.     But much like a famous chef with a glossy cookbook who rarely makes those meals (and eats oatmeal for breakfast every day instead), we definitely aren’t always walking our talk!   So, in this month’s brand-new Side Chat, we’re getting into what the two of us actually do every day for our mental health. We got

If you’re all caught up with Forever Alone, what did you think about all those crazy Universe stories I told last week??   This week we’re on to Chapter 5: Highlands & High Expectations, in which I…   Encounter a hot Scottish man on a train, Zero in on a future mother-in-law, Break up with the Universe, And finally drag myself to therapy.   This might be my favorite episode so far, so if you want to share your reaction with me, you can leave a comment here or DM me on the Forever Alone site!   As always, this episode is available on the Clarity on Fire podcast feed, but I’d love it if you subscribed to the Forever Alone feed and listened there!    And of course, if you haven’t yet, It would mean a lot if you’d leave a 5-star rating and review! You can find Forever Alone on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, Amazon, YouTube, among other places you listen to podcasts.   1:1 COACHING IS COMING BACK!   One-on-one coaching will be open for enrollment again this Friday, September 17! A few pointe

I once told Kristen, and I quote, “I’d rather my life be harder and more complicated than necessary, but still happen on my terms, rather than it be easier but not go the way I’ve envisioned.” Charming, I know!   What can I say? I’m a Hermione-Granger type know-it-all with a penchant to grab onto something and insist that I know when, how, and why it’s supposed to happen … and then get indignant when it doesn’t go my, naturally.   Wouldn’t it be easier to, I dunno, release control over the unknown and chill out? Yes! It would. But that’s not as easy as it sounds, which is why I’ll never stop having conversations about how to let go—I need constant reminders. And I suspect you do, too.   So, in this month’s brand-new interview with a normal person, tune in as I chat with Diana, a former-client-turned-friend, about how she learned to let go of control. We got into…   Why Diana was tripping up on how to put the concept of feminine energy into practice. How an early experience with chronic illness created her pa

I’m back with another episode of Forever Alone—we’ve officially passed the halfway point in this story! And things are only getting deeper, wilder, and weirder from here. So, dive on into Chapter 4: Signs and Synchronicity, in which I…   Question the existence of God, and have some epic panic attacks Flirt aggressively with a boy dressed as Jesus Discover a higher power I can actually get down with Develop remarkably witch-like powers of intuition   This episode is available on the Clarity on Fire podcast feed, but I’d love it if you subscribed to the Forever Alone feed and listened there! And of course, hit me up with a 5-star rating and review. You can find Forever Alone on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, Amazon, YouTube, among other places you listen to podcasts.   And if you want to share your reaction to this episode, you can leave a comment here or DM me on the Forever Alone site!   1:1 COACHING IS COMING BACK!   One-on-one coaching will be open for enrollment again on Friday, Septembe

Welcome to another episode of Dear Krachel, our monthly advice segment where we answer listener questions about life, career, relationships, existential angst, and anything that helps you become a more whole, fulfilled version of yourself.   This month we answered questions from:   A Huge Fan Forever, who’s been offered a new job that seems great, but is really nervous considering they got let go a few years ago. Are the nerves a sign they should pause and reconsider, or just a symptom of being burned once before? Brie, who listened to our Side Chat from this month about why you don’t need motivation, as well as our Side Chat from last month about how to actually do feminine energy—but now she’s confused! How can it be true that you can’t wait for motivation to strike while being more passive and allowing things to happen naturally? Theresa, whose family’s extreme political beliefs enrage her. As someone new to speaking up for herself, how does she push back on the crazy stuff her family believes?   Come le

Last week I took you on a journey through the heartbreak and awkwardness of high school and college—I know I made at least one of you cry, so I consider that a success—and now we’re onto Chapter 3 of Forever Alone and (dramatic pause) adulthood.    And if you thought becoming an adult made me any more clear, confident, or “together” than I was as a teenager, you’d be very mistaken. Here’s a preview of what you’re about to hear:   That time Kristen and I weren’t on good terms for 8 months Bringing home the Puppy From Hell (sorry, Scarlett) and why it woke me up Getting back together with an ex-boyfriend … oops Quitting my job and running out of money … bigger oops   This episode is available on the Clarity on Fire podcast feed, but I’d love it if you subscribed to the Forever Alone feed and listened there! And of course, hit me up with a 5-star rating and review. You can find Forever Alone on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, Amazon, YouTube, among other places you listen to podcasts.   And if

If you’re anything like us, we’re pretty sure you loooove a good personality assessment. There’s nothing quite like getting your geek on with something that cracks a new code on the human experience.   We’ve been hearing a lot about Human Design for the past couple years—from clients, friends, and fellow coaches—but we hadn’t done any deeper digging yet. So instead of try to read about it online (and end up overwhelmed and confused … which we quickly did) we invited an expert to teach us what we need to know!   Listen in as Rachel and Human Design expert Sara Bacon get into…   What Human Design actually is and how it works The five basic types you could possibly be, and how common/rare each is How each of the five types processes information and makes decisions  The hang-ups and growth areas you might experience in life (we talked about career and dating examples!) according to your type Where to get started to make Human Design feel more approachable   Come leave a comment after you’ve listened to share yo

Thank you all so much for the outpouring of support, comments, and love I got last week for my birthday and the release of Forever Alone! I’ve had SO much fun putting this out into the world, and hearing your feedback has been the cherry on top.   I’m back this week with Chapter 2: Proms & Palpitations—where I’m dialing it back to 2002 and pressing play on my relationship history, starting with high school. I got into…   How a first heartbreak can define how you see yourself, and your future relationship patterns, LONG after your wounds have healed. The inception of me thinking my mental health was something a boy could solve. Fracturing into two people—a girl who bought into love and fantasy and an adult who believed in practicality and checking the right boxes. Why it became so easy for me to believe you can’t “have it all” with one person.   This episode is available on the Clarity on Fire podcast feed, but I’d love it if you subscribed to the Forever Alone feed and listened there! And of course, hit

A couple weeks ago one of my client’s asked, “Why is it so hard to get myself to do things that I KNOW are good for me? I really do want to eat healthy, exercise, not sit on the couch binging Netflix for hours after work … but finding the motivation is so hard. How do I get motivated??”   To which I replied, “How about we start by NOT trying to find motivation?”   In this month’s brand-new Side Chat, Kristen and I are diving into the perils of relying on motivation to get things done. We talked about …    Why we should all probably delete “motivation” from our vocabulary, in general A much better, and more reliable, source of fuel for getting important things done … that will propel you whether or not you “feel like it” in the moment How we can apply this new strategy to all the big areas of life – health, fitness, relationships, work, creativity, and more!   Come leave a comment after you’ve listened to share where in your life you’ve decided to toss out motivation!   FOREVER ALONE IS HERE!   In case you m

It’s Rachel’s birthday! And if you’ve been following along, you know that also means that today she’s giving herself, and you, a big gift … the first chapter of Forever Alone: One introverted millennial’s half-agonizing, half-hopeful journey through singledom.   I’ve watched her pour a ton of time and energy into this—it’s been a true labor of love! I’m just as excited as you to listen in (because she hasn’t let me yet, haha).    Even though I haven’t heard it yet, I know for sure it’s going to be relevant to more than just single folks (though you should definitely share with your single friends). Knowing Rachel, she’s found a way to make it hit home for just about anyone who wants something that they haven’t yet figured out how to get. And also knowing Rachel, it’ll be funny and snarky and poignant and inspiring, in equal measure.   I asked her to give me a preview of what’s in this chapter, and she said she’s getting into:   The difference between seeing her singledom as her “fault” vs. her “responsibilit

So … I did a thing. A BIG thing. And since it’s my (well, our) podcast, I’m allowed to make Kristen interview me about the big thing I’ve done. ;)   Back in January, when Kristen and I were trying out (and massively resisting) The Artist’s Way, an idea fell nearly fully formed, into my lap:   I want to create my own podcast about my ridiculously long, weird, confusing, painstaking journey through singledom. I knew immediately how I wanted it to sound, what stories I wanted to tell, what the art could look like, what the chapters would be called … I just needed to sit down and actually make it.   The idea was so potent that it wouldn’t let me sleep, for nights in a row, until I started writing it all down—it poured out, almost faster than I could keep up with.    I’ve been working on it in fits and bursts ever since, and next Wednesday, August 18—my birthday, as a matter of fact—I’m dropping the first episode of my new miniseries, Forever Alone: One introverted millennial’s half-agonizing, half-hopeful journey

Welcome to another episode of Dear Krachel, our monthly advice segment where we answer listener questions about life, career, relationships, existential angst, and anything that helps you become a more whole, fulfilled version of yourself.   This month we answered questions from:   Your Biggest Man Fan, who has achieved some pretty spectacular things in life: Climbing out of poverty, losing 130 pounds, and being married for 20 years, to name a few! But now that his weight loss has stabilized and he’s no longer climbing the ladder at a corporate job, he’s finding it hard to enjoy his success—How do you feel good about yourself when you’re no longer measuring your progress with numbers and metrics? Heartbroken & Confused, whose trust in her husband has been shattered after learning he’s been lying to her for three years about something very significant. He doesn’t understand why she’s so upset … is she crazy for making a big deal out of it?   We choose to answer just two questions this time, because we kn

Honing your intuition is one of the most important parts of getting clear on who you are, what you want, and where you’re headed. Without it, you’re like a GPS with bad reception — you’re not going to get very clear guidance, and you may end up driving in circles.   But honing your intuition can take time and practice, so sometimes it’s nice to piggyback off of another GPS you can trust, even if it’s just long enough to check your directions.    So, in that spirit, here’s another Message from the Universe episode for you! Tune in if you need a little clarity, guidance, or just a fun pick-me-up.    Today we pulled a few cards from The Enchanted Map deck by Colette Baron-Reid. One or all has a message for you — come find out what it is!    This one BLEW OUR MINDS, so we’re thinking it might resonate with you, too. ;)   Click here to see the cards, as well as read the description of each! And after you listen, come leave a comment to share how this one spoke to you.   JOIN THE CLARITY ON FIRE COMMUNITY!   You sh

A lot of us know for sure when we’re up in our heads—over-thinking, spinning with anxiety, acting like life is a formula that you can solve if you analyze it long enough.    And most of us probably know by now that there are other places you can be, besides the mind … like the body, or your intuition.    But making the journey from mind to body or intuition is daunting and confusing, especially when you’re stuck in your head.   So, in this month’s Side Chat we’re diving into a practical way to reorient your life so that your mind, body, and soul are all in balance! We got into…   Why anxiety and over-thinking usually means you’ve given your mind the totally wrong job How to think of mind, body, and soul as different parts of a company, and what their proper roles actually are Some examples of how us, and clients, have applied this idea to their lives with great results (and big relief)   Leave a comment after you’ve listened and share how you’re going to bring your mind, body, & spirit back into balance

Yep, you read that subject line right! I (Kristen) got a job.    I know some of you are like, “Umm … excuse me, what??”   First of all, rest assured this does NOT mean I’m stepping away from Clarity on Fire or anything of the sort. On the contrary, getting a job will (counterintuitively) free up my best mental and emotional energy to pour back into my client work.    The thing is, when you’re a coach who spends all your time helping people find alignment in their life and career, you can’t exactly ignore when you’re feeling out of alignment yourself … at least, not for very long before you feel compelled to do something about it.    I’m telling the whole story in this week’s interview with a normal person, where I get to be the normal person! ;)   Listen in as Rachel interviews me about...   How I’ve actually been playing with this idea for a long time, but was overcomplicating things and getting in my own way (until just a few months ago).      Why writing a book about Passion Profiles (it’s in the works ri

Welcome to another episode of Dear Krachel, our monthly advice segment where we answer listener questions about life, career, relationships, existential angst, and anything that helps you become a more whole, fulfilled version of yourself.   This month we answered questions from:   Ana, who’s got a LOT on her mind right now: Trying to work from home while caring for two small kids, a recent ADHD diagnosis, and feeling like she’s constantly underperforming at work. She knows she could benefit from ADHD-specific coaching, career-specific coaching, and therapy … but how does someone who’s in the midst of a big struggle even decide where to start untangling their issues? Uninspired Thriver, who’s really attracted to the idea of being their own boss, having financial independence, and traveling the world. Starting a business seems like a natural next step, but they aren’t having any ideas that excite them. What questions should they be asking to figure out what to do next? Lauren, who loves a lot of things about

Imagine making the momentous decision to pack up your entire life and move cross-country from Pennsylvania all the way to Portland, Oregon. You decide to start your move on January 1, 2020, because it feels clean and fresh with possibilities, and you embark on your journey with enthusiasm and optimism.   And then everything, and we do mean everything, promptly falls apart.   You get COVID, but you don’t know it’s COVID yet because no one knows what it is, and almost die.    Your partner loses their job because of the pandemic, making you the primary breadwinner while you’re still struggling to breathe every day.   Your teeny tiny apartment, where you’re now trapped with your partner in a brand-new city where you don’t really have friends, and can’t make new ones, is infested with spiders.   That’s just a taste of what Kristen Kalp’s 2020 was like … and lord, the hits kept comin’. So, we sat down with Kristen, our friend-we’ve-never-met-in-real-life, to talk about what was inarguably the worst year ever. She g

A few weeks ago we put out a call for Dear Krachel questions, and a LOT of you asked us questions about feminine energy—turns out many of you listened to our normal person interview with Carolyn Canonica and came away wanting to know more about how you actually do feminine energy.   We promised we’d dedicate a whole episode just to this question, and here it is! In this month’s brand-new Side Chat we’re getting into…   Three steps for actually “doing” feminine energy—AKA, how to easily integrate this way of being into your everyday life. Examples of how us and our clients have successfully used these three steps. What to do if switching to this mindset makes you feel like you’re “settling.” The right balance of masculine vs. feminine energy in each area of your life.   Leave a comment after you’ve listened and share your ideas for how you’re going to practice these steps!   JOIN THE CLARITY ON FIRE COMMUNITY!   You should definitely come check us out on Patreon!   Join the $3/month tier (The Spark) for acc

Earlier this year we talked about finding a dream job in 24 hours.    We figured it was only fair to also hear the exact opposite side of things—what happens when you’ve been wanting a dream job (or anything!) forever and ever and ever and you still haven’t gotten it?   So, on this month’s brand-new interview with a normal person, Rachel and Natalie dive into…   At what point do you decide you’re crazy for wanting something that hasn’t happened in well over a decade … and just move on? The burnout and existential crisis you suffer from when your job isn’t aligned with your Passion Profile (and what happens when you do get aligned). Worrying that future employers won’t give you a chance after you’ve taken a break from the workforce. How the random, non-linear path actually makes you more qualified for a dream job, not less.   Leave a comment after you’ve listened to share how Natalie’s story resonates with you!   JOIN THE CLARITY ON FIRE COMMUNITY!   You should definitely come check us out on Patreon!   Joi

Welcome to another episode of Dear Krachel, our monthly advice segment where we answer listener questions about life, career, relationships, existential angst, and anything that helps you become a more whole, fulfilled version of yourself.   This month we answered questions from:   Ashley, who’s wondering how long is too long to stay at a bridge job? Diana, who listened to last month’s Side Chat and is curious—where’s the line is between unreasonable and irresponsible when it comes to quitting your job? JoAnn, who really wants to reduce her hours at work but is afraid her supervisor won’t be happy. How can she ask to do less even though she doesn’t have a “good reason” for asking?   Leave a comment after you’ve listened to share how our advice for these listeners resonated with you!   Want to submit a question for our July episode of Dear Krachel? Fill out this form and you might hear us tackle your Q!    JOIN THE CLARITY ON FIRE COMMUNITY!   You should definitely come check us out on Patreon! Join the $3/