Words of the Year Check-in with Allison S. Weiss and Marissa Garza

We’re back for our quarterly check-in! This episode, Garland, Marissa, and Allison get real about how 2025 is treating them—emotionally, creatively, and professionally. The crew dives into the words of the year they each picked, how those intentions are holding up (or, in some cases, getting a remix!), and the rituals keeping them grounded in these all-over-the-place times.

 

From Topple-inspired metaphors for emotional balance to morning walks and “letting go” as a radical act, you’ll find sharp honesty and truly relatable reflections. We chat about how consuming less (media, content, even responsibilities) can actually help you do more of what matters. Plus, we cover what books, podcasts, and TV shows are getting us through—and why comfort viewing totally counts as self-care.

 

If you’re managing teams, scaling impact, or just trying to stay steady as the world wobbles, you’ll walk away with a healthy dose of community wisdom—and a reminder that you are so not alone.

 

Key Conversation Highlights

• Quarterly Check-in Energy: Honest reflections on how “the 2025 of it all” is landing—balancing gratitude and struggle, creativity and overwhelm.

• Words of the Year Recap: The group revisits their chosen guiding words (like "anchor," "weave," "elevate," "impact," "release") and checks in on where those intentions are now.

• Emotional Grounding Rituals: Walks (headphone-free!), family time, and quiet routines that help anchor you amidst chaos.

• Letting Go as Power: Why releasing the need to control everything (including your kid’s forgotten shoes!) is the real flex.

• Input Diets: Reducing information overload; choosing lighter books, comfort TV, and creative projects over “shoulds.”

• Current Reads & Recos: History nerd alert, Gilded Age deep dives, rom-com reads, and nostalgia watches like ER and Survivor.

• Song of the Year: Musical mantras like “Defying Gravity,” “This Is Me,” and “Show Yourself”—and why the right anthem gives you courage to leap, even when your word of the year says otherwise.

• Community & Collaboration: The power of support, witnessing each other’s growth, and the magic that happens when you have people in your corner.

 

Resources & Mentions

• Books:

• The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron (plus real talk on the “input deprivation diet”)

• Gilded Age histories (Allison’s pick: a book on the Rothschild women)

• Buy Back Your Time (mentioned by Garland)

• TV:

• ER (classic comfort watch)

• White Lotus

• The Pit (on HBO)

• Survivor

• Righteous Gemstones

• Media Approach: Intentional reduction in podcasts/news—prioritizing rest, fiction, and lighter entertainment as self-care.

 

Songs That Set the Vibe

• “Defying Gravity” (from Wicked)

• “This Is Me”

• “Show Yourself” (from Frozen II)

 

Check out the episode playlist—songs are linked in the show notes!

 

Connect & Keep the Conversation Going

• How’s your year unfolding? Share your own words, mantras, or check-ins with us!

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