Ever wondered what truly goes on behind the mic of your favorite podcast week after week?
If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the pressure to do it all or questioned if you're doing enough, this candid two-year anniversary Q&A episode is your permission slip to breathe, laugh, and let go of perfection. Michelle answers real listener questions that dive deep into mindset, habits, and what it actually takes to create a life and business with more ease.
In this episode:
- Hear the biggest mindset shift that helped Michelle get stronger by doing less.
- Discover the exact routines, tools, and planning habits she uses to stay sane (and sleep like a rock in a freezing cold room).
- Learn the one belief Michelle wishes she could erase from every client’s brain—and probably yours too.
Press play to laugh, reflect, and feel totally seen in this heartfelt, no-filter episode made just for you.
Send Me a Message - Have a question, comment, or just want to say hi? Message me here, I'd love to chat!
Work With Me - Interested in working with me 1-on-1, taking a class, or joining one of my coaching groups? Message me here to get the scoop.
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Life can be overwhelming, but on this podcast, you'll discover practical strategies to overcome overwhelm, imposter syndrome, and negative self-talk, manage time effectively, set boundaries, and stay productive in high-stress jobs—all while learning how to say no and prioritize self-care on the Overwhelmed Working Woman podcast.
Thank you for listening! If you love the podcast, please subscribe and leave a review. 💗
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Michelle Gauthier (00:01):
Do you ever wonder what goes on behind the
scenes of this podcast or whatother listeners love most about
listening to this podcast?
You're listening to OverwhelmedWorking Woman, the podcast that
helps you be more calm and moreproductive by doing less.
(00:21):
I'm your host, MichelleGauthier, a former overwhelmed
working woman and current lifecoach.
On this show, we unpack thestress and pressure that today's
working woman experiences andin each episode you'll get a
strategy to bring more calm,ease and relaxation to your life
.
(00:41):
Hi, friend, this is not yourusual episode.
To celebrate two years of thepodcast, I turned the mic around
and answered your questions,the ones that made me laugh and
reflect, and I even startedcrying at one of them.
So in this special Q&A styleepisode, you'll hear from real
listeners and they're going totell me their favorite takeaways
and then questions that diginto my mindset, routine and
(01:04):
behind the scenes of how I runthis podcast and my life, so it
feels really personal andpowerful and packed with
encouragement.
You're going to hear about mybiggest mindset shift that made
me stronger by doing less, thebiggest behind the scenes
challenge and what I would erasefrom every one of my clients'
brains if I could, and howplanning and presence, and
(01:25):
sleeping in a freezing coldbedroom helped me keep my
overwhelm in check.
And more.
So press play for a heartfeltlook back, some honest truths
and a few laughs.
This one's for you, my amazinglisteners.
Thank you so so much.
If you're a listener and youhaven't yet written a review, I
would absolutely love if youwould do that for this two-year
(01:46):
celebration.
I'm really making the reviews apriority so that the podcast
can continue to grow andcontinue to be shown to other
women who are feeling stressedand overwhelmed.
Okay, enjoy the episode andthanks for listening.
Leslie (02:01):
Hi, this is Leslie from St Charles.
Michelle, congratulations ontwo years of your amazing
podcast.
One of the many things that Ihave benefited from is learning
the love and fit test, whichgoes along with no, is a one
word sentence.
That has really, really helpedme establish healthy boundaries
for myself with other people,and now I find myself doing
(02:23):
things that I want to do and I'mavoiding things that I don't,
so I really really appreciatethat.
My question for you is who isyour favorite author when it
comes to you reading self-helpbooks?
Michelle Gauthier (02:36):
Hi Leslie, thanks so much for your question
.
I'm so glad that the Love andFit test was a good help for you
.
That's awesome my favoriteself-help author.
That's a tough one.
It's like choosing a favoritechild, but if I had to choose
just one, I would say JenSincero.
Her you Are a Badass book wasthe first self help book that I
(02:57):
ever read, and I read it after Igoogled what to do to
completely change your life orsomething dramatic like that
when I was feeling reallymiserable one time.
And that book delivered.
If anyone listening has everdone a coaching session with me
and seen my video background,her book is always sitting there
as a reminder to me.
So Jen Sincero is the answer.
Katie (03:21):
Hi, michelle, congratulations on two years.
That's so wonderful.
Your podcast is amazing.
This is Katie Kalagi.
I am from Wisconsin and I wouldsay my favorite part of the
podcast is that you reallyprovide quick, impactful ways
for us as women to be moreempowered with our overwhelm.
(03:43):
I think we often feel verydisempowered given just the
length of our to-do list at work, the pressures of our demanding
jobs, the pressures ofeverything we have at home.
It just feels like we're kindof victims to the overwhelm and
amount of things that we have todo, and I love that you give us
ways to take control of thatourselves without having to have
(04:05):
the outside world change aroundus.
So thank you for that.
And then a question I have is Iwould love to hear something
you made easier, whether in yourbusiness or your life, that
ended up having bigger results.
I'm always thinking about howto make things easy, so I would
love to hear there's somethingthat you took a step back from,
(04:29):
made it easier and then foundthat the results were actually
better.
Thanks so much, michelle.
Michelle Gauthier (04:35):
Hi, katie, thanks so much for your message.
I'm so glad that the podcastmakes you feel empowered,
because I think when we'reempowered we can do just about
anything.
I love the question that youhad for me about where I made
something easier in my businessor personal life that ended up
having better results.
I can actually think of a bunchof things, but I'll give you
one personal and oneprofessional.
(04:57):
So on the personal front, lastyear I decided that I was going
to work out only three days aweek.
I had previously worked outfive, sometimes six days a week
and I decided that I wanted tofocus and zoom in on lifting
weights, which is known to begood for women.
So I decided I was going tofocus in on lifting weights and
I go to my gym three strengthdays a week and that has enabled
(05:19):
me to sleep in and get moresleep on the days that I don't
work out.
And when I am there working out, I'm super focused and I'm
giving that workout my 100%.
So I have found that giving100% three days a week feels
better.
I've had less injury, I feelstronger, I've gained more
muscle than when I would go fiveor six days a week.
(05:43):
On the professional front, Ihired Carrie, who I always call
the amazing Carrie when I talkabout her on the podcast.
She does a lot of the thingsthat I don't have to be the one
to do.
So, for example, of course, inthis kind of business, I coach
my clients, I write the podcast,I record the podcast, I come up
with ideas for the newslettersand the emails that we send, but
(06:04):
I don't have to do the editingof the podcast and the
publishing of it and create thesocial media posts that go with
it, and so Carrie does all ofthose things for me, and that
was great because it saved timeon my side.
But I think that the productthat goes out is actually better
than if I had done it myself.
So not only am I saving hours,but I think that a better end
product gets delivered, becauseCarrie has the skill of being
(06:27):
super detailed and I'm much moreof a high level person.
So it's been really an amazing,awesome change for our business
.
Pamela (06:38):
Hi, Michelle.
This is Pamela from Ballwin,Missouri.
I am a huge fan of your podcastand I especially love listening
to it on the drive to work,because it is the perfect length
to cover any number of greattopics in your authentic style
and with a piece of reallytangible advice that I can go
use.
And probably my most favoritewas your Love and Fit episode.
(07:00):
In fact, many months after Ihad first heard that episode, I
went and looked it up so that Icould make a decision about a
volunteer opportunity, and itwas the perfect tool that I had
in my back pocket that I couldpull out and figure out if that
was the right fit for me.
I have a question for you.
I would love to know in turnwhat your favorite episode has
(07:21):
been and if there's some gueststhat you interviewed that after
that interview had a big impactin your life, I'm curious who
that would be.
Thanks, Michelle.
Michelle Gauthier (07:31):
Hey, Pamela, thanks for the question and I'm
so glad that you were able touse the love and fit test to
figure out for yourself whatwould be the best opportunity
for your volunteer situation.
That is awesome.
To your questions, so whichepisode is my favorite or had
the most impact on me?
I could not even pick afavorite.
(07:51):
They all kind of run togetherin my mind in a good way, but I
will say one that really stickswith me was when I interviewed
Lisa Woodruff.
Lisa Woodruff is the founder ofa company called the Sunday
Basket, which is an organizingmethod that you use and when I
was really super overwhelmed,like in 2013, I mean a long time
ago and I was working thisstressful corporate job and I
(08:13):
had two little kids and I wasreally struggling.
I don't even know what Igoogled, but I came across her
concept and her idea and I haveliterally used it ever since.
And I was talking about it on apodcast a couple of months back
and I thought I can't rememberwho invented that.
I need to look that up.
And I looked it up and I senther an Instagram message and she
replied back to me and then Iinvited her to be on the podcast
(08:36):
just on a whim and she said yes.
So having her on the podcast andreally getting her to explain
her methods and you know thethoughts behind her organization
strategy to my audience feltlike a surreal moment.
Like if you would have told Ican remember standing in my
kitchen because I had my Sundaybasket in my kitchen with all
(08:58):
these different file folders init and trying to keep our family
organized and if you would havetold me hey, one day you're
gonna have a podcast I don'teven know if I knew what a
podcast was then and on thatpodcast is going to be the
person who invented this and whohas a podcast too, with like 50
million downloads on it.
I would have been like no way Ican't believe I'm gonna get to
(09:19):
to be that person.
So that was a really specialepisode for me personally, just
because it felt like you've comea long way, baby, if you know
what I mean.
Amanda (09:30):
Hey, this is Amanda out in Nashville, and I love
Michelle's podcast for so manyreasons, but I think the biggest
takeaway that I have gotten,not only from her podcast but
from her coaching, is to rewritethe story that you are telling
yourself in your head.
(09:51):
You know all of the what-ifs,all of the spiraling of the
things that happened or whatsomeone's going to think about
you, and it's.
It's like it hasn't evenhappened yet and I have all
these worries.
So she has taught me to rewritethat story and make it a little
bit easier to manage, easier todigest, and so I think that's
(10:13):
my biggest takeaway.
And my question for Michelle iswhat does a typical day in the
life look like?
Michelle Gauthier (10:21):
Hi Amanda, thanks for your question.
I'm so glad you're now able torewrite your own story and stop
yourself before you spiral toomuch.
That's a great skill foranybody to have.
So your question to me was whatdoes a typical day look like?
I will tell you first thatevery Sunday I spend probably
one to two hours planning myweek.
I do that from a personal andprofessional perspective.
(10:42):
So I've got absolutelyeverything on my calendar.
I even plan the meals, orderthe groceries, decide which days
I'm working out, put that on mycalendar.
So once I have all theappointments on my calendar, I
schedule in my work blocks, forexample when I'm going to record
the podcast or make anInstagram post or those kinds of
things.
So in doing that, by the time Iget to the actual day, there's
(11:07):
really not a lot of, if any,figuring out what has to happen.
It's more just executing onwhat I've planned.
For me that feels so muchbetter because I already have a
plan and I just simply need tofollow it.
If I just were to pick anaverage day, let's pick a day
where I work out, because thoseare my busier days.
I get up at five.
I go to work out at 530.
(11:27):
When I get back home, I makebreakfast for my kids.
That's something that I doevery day.
I make breakfast for my kids.
Sometimes I make them a bowl ofcereal.
It's not always somethingamazing, but I make breakfast
and hang out with each of themindividually.
They eat breakfast at differenttimes and I spend the whole
morning in the kitchen justmaking breakfast, talking to
them, cleaning up, unloading thedishwasher, all of that stuff,
(11:48):
cause I really like to make suremy house is picked up and tidy
before I go to work.
Even though I can't see thekitchen from my office, my brain
can feel it.
And after that, on a day whereI see clients, I would see
between four and six one-on-oneclients, and then I have two
group coaching things goingright now, so sometimes I'll do
group coaching as well.
And then, on a day when I don'tsee clients, I would have
(12:10):
blocks of time where I wouldwrite and record a podcast or be
a guest on someone else'spodcast or maybe talk to a
potential new client.
When I'm wrapping up work forthe day, I leave my office, I go
into my bedroom and I do aguided meditation.
I use the Breathe app.
I've used that for like sevenyears or something like that.
So I love doing that.
(12:31):
And then sometimes I make dinnerand sometimes I don't.
So if I'm going to make dinner,then I will make dinner and
hang out with my kids.
If they're hanging around,they're teenagers, so a lot of
times they're just in theirbedrooms.
If we have a busy activitynight, we'll just pick up food,
or sometimes we have dinnertogether but everybody just
makes whatever they want, sothat might look like somebody's
(12:52):
eating, you know, a bagel andslices of apple for dinner or
something really simple likethat.
But I try to just sit down sowe can have a family
conversation.
Sometimes it works andsometimes it's just me trying to
(13:17):
get my kids to not fight witheach other After dinner cleanup
TV or hang out, or maybe I'll dosomething with one of my kids,
but usually we're all just kindof relaxing and doing our own
thing.
And then I read and I go to bedearly and I keep my bedroom
freezing cold and I love tosleep with a weighted blanket.
That might be more than youwanted to know, but that's a day
in the life for me.
Bridget (13:40):
Hi Michelle.
This is Bridget from Franklin,Tennessee.
I wanted to say congrats on twoyears for your podcast.
I love the format of yourpodcast the most.
For me it is this perfectlength that is just easy to take
in, and it has become a reallyimportant part of my sort of
Monday morning ritual.
(14:00):
I drive my daughter to school,I come back home listening to
your podcast and it's just longenough for me to come home, have
my breakfast and just sort ofbe inspired for the week ahead.
Likewise, the little Thursdaysnippets are just perfect,
little bite-sized tips to sortof close out my week, and so I
really appreciate just howsuccinct and clear and
(14:21):
actionable the things are inthat podcast.
So thank you so much for that.
The question I wanted to ask youwas, as a coach.
I wondered if there was abehavior or habit or something
that you see in your clientsthat really just drives you
crazy, that you wish you coulderadicate.
Not that your clients aredriving you crazy, but with that
(14:41):
behavior that you see a lotthat you wish you could
eradicate.
Not that your clients aredriving you crazy, but with that
behavior that you see a lotthat you're just like ugh, this
thing again.
I wish I could just wave amagic wand and just eliminate
that from people's lives,because it just drives me crazy
and I wish it didn't exist.
You're always so calm and happyand friendly, and so I'm just
really curious what is somethinglike that that gets under your
skin?
Michelle Gauthier (15:01):
Thanks so much.
Hi Bridget, thanks for thecompliment and thank you for
your question.
I've given this some seriousthought to say what is the
number one thing that I wouldjust like to erase from my
clients' brains, and I'vedecided that the answer is
imposter syndrome and ornegative self-talk.
The women who I work with areaction takers.
(15:23):
They're accomplished, they'rereally smart, they're really
hardworking, and so when I hearthat their brain is offering
them thoughts like you're notdoing enough, you're not
qualified for this, you're lazy,everybody else can do this, why
can't you?
It makes me want to just liketake that thought out of their
brain.
Of course it's not that quickor that easy, but if I had a
(15:44):
magic wand, that's what I wouldget rid of.
And then your other part of thequestion, when you said I sound
like I'm always so calm andhappy and do I ever get super
worked up?
I do, but not at work.
My children can really getunder my skin.
I think my biggest pet peeveand the thing that is most
likely to make me legit angry iswhen they directly disobey me,
like when they know the rule forsomething and they break the
(16:06):
rule anyway.
That drives me insane.
So if you ever want to see mepissed off.
That's what it's going to be.
Thanks for your questionquestion.
Lauren (16:24):
Hi, M ichelle.
My name is Lauren Rappaport.
I live in Washington DC.
My favorite thing about yourpodcast is your cover.
I love your cover and myquestion for you is I want to
know what is the number onething you have learned doing
this podcast?
Michelle Gauthier (16:35):
Hi, Lauren, and thanks for your question.
I'm laughing at your favoritething being the podcast cover.
This is kind of an inside joke,but now I'm about to share it
with all of you.
Lauren, who's been a guest onthe podcast before, was helping
me decide about a year ago whenwe decided to update the cover
art, which is the thing that yousee when you go to the podcast
on Apple Podcasts or Spotify orwherever you listen.
(16:57):
She was helping me decide whichnew cover I should choose, and
when I was doing that, I usedthis website called 99designs.
Actually, it was a greatexperience and I totally
recommend it.
But you say what you want andthen designers compete to create
the final design and you choosethe one and you pay that
designer.
But at the beginning I was notvery specific in what I was
(17:20):
looking for and some of thedesigns were so, so bad, and so
I was texting them to Lauren andshe was laughing with me.
So she loves this cover becauseshe knows how bad some of the
other options were.
Oh my gosh.
Okay, I wish there was a way forme to post some of them for you
guys to see, but anyway,lauren's question was what's the
(17:43):
number one thing that I havelearned throughout this podcast,
or doing this podcast that Ilearned and I've learned a
million things from doing thispodcast, because I knew nothing
about podcasting I've neverreally interviewed people, all
that stuff so I've learned a ton.
But the number one biggestthing is trust your gut, and
this is something that I workwith all my clients on.
I would say that I'm usuallypretty good about trusting my
(18:04):
gut, but there have just been acouple times when someone
advised me to do something.
I had hired someone to help mewith the podcast and my gut was
like this is not right, this isnot what you want.
So just a few weeks before wedebuted the podcast, I ended up
letting go of that person,starting from scratch again and
recreating the whole thing, andI am so glad that I did so.
(18:26):
Trusting my gut is the biggestand best thing that I have
gotten out of the podcast.
Jack (18:33):
Hello, this is Jack Gauthier.
You know your dad, you knowwhere I live.
You go out your front door andturn right twice and go up the
street 11 houses and everythingthat you do I think is great.
But the question I have is howdo you make all of the things
that you do seem so effortless?
Michelle Gauthier (18:52):
Okay, how cute is that?
My own dad, I will tell youguys.
When I got this voice memo andI pressed the button to play it,
I just put my head down on mydesk and started crying.
I was just like, oh my gosh, Iam so lucky.
I am such a lucky person to beso loved by both of my parents
and so encouraged by them.
(19:13):
And the question that my dad hadreally got me because nothing
that I'm doing is effortless.
But the reason why it mightappear to someone else to be
effortless is because I put somuch effort into checking my
mindset, journaling everymorning, meditating, planning
ahead, not overscheduling myself, so that when I do see my
(19:33):
family like, let's say, I havethem over for dinner and they
walk in the door and I'm happythey're there And'm fully
present with them and the dinneris ready, because there have
been about 50 things that havehappened behind the scenes in
order for that to happen.
So I think that my answer isjust that I am very specific
about my schedule, I do not overplan and when I say I'm going
(19:55):
to do something, I plan aheadfor it and that way I can be
fully present, which is mynumber one goal when I'm with my
family.
Okay, friend, that's a wrap.
Thanks so much to those of youwho sent in questions.
It was so much fun to get themand to hear your feedback about
the podcast.
We're actually going to do apart two of this, so there will
(20:15):
be another episode like thisnext week because I got so many
questions and I want to try toanswer them all if I can.
So I will see you next weekwith more listener questions and
podcast favorites.
Hope you have a great week andplease don't forget to leave a
rating or review if you love thepodcast.
Thanks so much.
Thank you for listening to theOverwhelmed Working Woman
(20:41):
podcast.
If you want to learn more aboutmy work, head over to my
website at michellegothiercom.
See you next week.
Do you ever wonder what goes on behind the
scenes of this podcast or whatother listeners love most about
listening to this podcast?
You're listening to OverwhelmedWorking Woman, the podcast that
helps you be more calm and moreproductive by doing less.
(00:21):
I'm your host, MichelleGauthier, a former overwhelmed
working woman and current lifecoach.
On this show, we unpack thestress and pressure that today's
working woman experiences andin each episode you'll get a
strategy to bring more calm,ease and relaxation to your life
.
(00:41):
Hi, friend, this is not yourusual episode.
To celebrate two years of thepodcast, I turned the mic around
and answered your questions,the ones that made me laugh and
reflect, and I even startedcrying at one of them.
So in this special Q&A styleepisode, you'll hear from real
listeners and they're going totell me their favorite takeaways
and then questions that diginto my mindset, routine and
(01:04):
behind the scenes of how I runthis podcast and my life, so it
feels really personal andpowerful and packed with
encouragement.
You're going to hear about mybiggest mindset shift that made
me stronger by doing less, thebiggest behind the scenes
challenge and what I would erasefrom every one of my clients'
brains if I could, and howplanning and presence, and
(01:25):
sleeping in a freezing coldbedroom helped me keep my
overwhelm in check.
And more.
So press play for a heartfeltlook back, some honest truths
and a few laughs.
This one's for you, my amazinglisteners.
Thank you so so much.
If you're a listener and youhaven't yet written a review, I
would absolutely love if youwould do that for this two-year
(01:46):
celebration.
I'm really making the reviews apriority so that the podcast
can continue to grow andcontinue to be shown to other
women who are feeling stressedand overwhelmed.
Okay, enjoy the episode andthanks for listening.
Leslie (02:01):
Hi, this is Leslie from St Charles.
Michelle, congratulations ontwo years of your amazing
podcast.
One of the many things that Ihave benefited from is learning
the love and fit test, whichgoes along with no, is a one
word sentence.
That has really, really helpedme establish healthy boundaries
for myself with other people,and now I find myself doing
(02:23):
things that I want to do and I'mavoiding things that I don't,
so I really really appreciatethat.
My question for you is who isyour favorite author when it
comes to you reading self-helpbooks?
Michelle Gauthier (02:36):
Hi Leslie, thanks so much for your question
.
I'm so glad that the Love andFit test was a good help for you
.
That's awesome my favoriteself-help author.
That's a tough one.
It's like choosing a favoritechild, but if I had to choose
just one, I would say JenSincero.
Her you Are a Badass book wasthe first self help book that I
(02:57):
ever read, and I read it after Igoogled what to do to
completely change your life orsomething dramatic like that
when I was feeling reallymiserable one time.
And that book delivered.
If anyone listening has everdone a coaching session with me
and seen my video background,her book is always sitting there
as a reminder to me.
So Jen Sincero is the answer.
Katie (03:21):
Hi, michelle, congratulations on two years.
That's so wonderful.
Your podcast is amazing.
This is Katie Kalagi.
I am from Wisconsin and I wouldsay my favorite part of the
podcast is that you reallyprovide quick, impactful ways
for us as women to be moreempowered with our overwhelm.
(03:43):
I think we often feel verydisempowered given just the
length of our to-do list at work, the pressures of our demanding
jobs, the pressures ofeverything we have at home.
It just feels like we're kindof victims to the overwhelm and
amount of things that we have todo, and I love that you give us
ways to take control of thatourselves without having to have
(04:05):
the outside world change aroundus.
So thank you for that.
And then a question I have is Iwould love to hear something
you made easier, whether in yourbusiness or your life, that
ended up having bigger results.
I'm always thinking about howto make things easy, so I would
love to hear there's somethingthat you took a step back from,
(04:29):
made it easier and then foundthat the results were actually
better.
Thanks so much, michelle.
Michelle Gauthier (04:35):
Hi, katie, thanks so much for your message.
I'm so glad that the podcastmakes you feel empowered,
because I think when we'reempowered we can do just about
anything.
I love the question that youhad for me about where I made
something easier in my businessor personal life that ended up
having better results.
I can actually think of a bunchof things, but I'll give you
one personal and oneprofessional.
(04:57):
So on the personal front, lastyear I decided that I was going
to work out only three days aweek.
I had previously worked outfive, sometimes six days a week
and I decided that I wanted tofocus and zoom in on lifting
weights, which is known to begood for women.
So I decided I was going tofocus in on lifting weights and
I go to my gym three strengthdays a week and that has enabled
(05:19):
me to sleep in and get moresleep on the days that I don't
work out.
And when I am there working out, I'm super focused and I'm
giving that workout my 100%.
So I have found that giving100% three days a week feels
better.
I've had less injury, I feelstronger, I've gained more
muscle than when I would go fiveor six days a week.
(05:43):
On the professional front, Ihired Carrie, who I always call
the amazing Carrie when I talkabout her on the podcast.
She does a lot of the thingsthat I don't have to be the one
to do.
So, for example, of course, inthis kind of business, I coach
my clients, I write the podcast,I record the podcast, I come up
with ideas for the newslettersand the emails that we send, but
(06:04):
I don't have to do the editingof the podcast and the
publishing of it and create thesocial media posts that go with
it, and so Carrie does all ofthose things for me, and that
was great because it saved timeon my side.
But I think that the productthat goes out is actually better
than if I had done it myself.
So not only am I saving hours,but I think that a better end
product gets delivered, becauseCarrie has the skill of being
(06:27):
super detailed and I'm much moreof a high level person.
So it's been really an amazing,awesome change for our business
.
Pamela (06:38):
Hi, Michelle.
This is Pamela from Ballwin,Missouri.
I am a huge fan of your podcastand I especially love listening
to it on the drive to work,because it is the perfect length
to cover any number of greattopics in your authentic style
and with a piece of reallytangible advice that I can go
use.
And probably my most favoritewas your Love and Fit episode.
(07:00):
In fact, many months after Ihad first heard that episode, I
went and looked it up so that Icould make a decision about a
volunteer opportunity, and itwas the perfect tool that I had
in my back pocket that I couldpull out and figure out if that
was the right fit for me.
I have a question for you.
I would love to know in turnwhat your favorite episode has
(07:21):
been and if there's some gueststhat you interviewed that after
that interview had a big impactin your life, I'm curious who
that would be.
Thanks, Michelle.
Michelle Gauthier (07:31):
Hey, Pamela, thanks for the question and I'm
so glad that you were able touse the love and fit test to
figure out for yourself whatwould be the best opportunity
for your volunteer situation.
That is awesome.
To your questions, so whichepisode is my favorite or had
the most impact on me?
I could not even pick afavorite.
(07:51):
They all kind of run togetherin my mind in a good way, but I
will say one that really stickswith me was when I interviewed
Lisa Woodruff.
Lisa Woodruff is the founder ofa company called the Sunday
Basket, which is an organizingmethod that you use and when I
was really super overwhelmed,like in 2013, I mean a long time
ago and I was working thisstressful corporate job and I
(08:13):
had two little kids and I wasreally struggling.
I don't even know what Igoogled, but I came across her
concept and her idea and I haveliterally used it ever since.
And I was talking about it on apodcast a couple of months back
and I thought I can't rememberwho invented that.
I need to look that up.
And I looked it up and I senther an Instagram message and she
replied back to me and then Iinvited her to be on the podcast
(08:36):
just on a whim and she said yes.
So having her on the podcast andreally getting her to explain
her methods and you know thethoughts behind her organization
strategy to my audience feltlike a surreal moment.
Like if you would have told Ican remember standing in my
kitchen because I had my Sundaybasket in my kitchen with all
(08:58):
these different file folders init and trying to keep our family
organized and if you would havetold me hey, one day you're
gonna have a podcast I don'teven know if I knew what a
podcast was then and on thatpodcast is going to be the
person who invented this and whohas a podcast too, with like 50
million downloads on it.
I would have been like no way Ican't believe I'm gonna get to
(09:19):
to be that person.
So that was a really specialepisode for me personally, just
because it felt like you've comea long way, baby, if you know
what I mean.
Amanda (09:30):
Hey, this is Amanda out in Nashville, and I love
Michelle's podcast for so manyreasons, but I think the biggest
takeaway that I have gotten,not only from her podcast but
from her coaching, is to rewritethe story that you are telling
yourself in your head.
(09:51):
You know all of the what-ifs,all of the spiraling of the
things that happened or whatsomeone's going to think about
you, and it's.
It's like it hasn't evenhappened yet and I have all
these worries.
So she has taught me to rewritethat story and make it a little
bit easier to manage, easier todigest, and so I think that's
(10:13):
my biggest takeaway.
And my question for Michelle iswhat does a typical day in the
life look like?
Michelle Gauthier (10:21):
Hi Amanda, thanks for your question.
I'm so glad you're now able torewrite your own story and stop
yourself before you spiral toomuch.
That's a great skill foranybody to have.
So your question to me was whatdoes a typical day look like?
I will tell you first thatevery Sunday I spend probably
one to two hours planning myweek.
I do that from a personal andprofessional perspective.
(10:42):
So I've got absolutelyeverything on my calendar.
I even plan the meals, orderthe groceries, decide which days
I'm working out, put that on mycalendar.
So once I have all theappointments on my calendar, I
schedule in my work blocks, forexample when I'm going to record
the podcast or make anInstagram post or those kinds of
things.
So in doing that, by the time Iget to the actual day, there's
(11:07):
really not a lot of, if any,figuring out what has to happen.
It's more just executing onwhat I've planned.
For me that feels so muchbetter because I already have a
plan and I just simply need tofollow it.
If I just were to pick anaverage day, let's pick a day
where I work out, because thoseare my busier days.
I get up at five.
I go to work out at 530.
(11:27):
When I get back home, I makebreakfast for my kids.
That's something that I doevery day.
I make breakfast for my kids.
Sometimes I make them a bowl ofcereal.
It's not always somethingamazing, but I make breakfast
and hang out with each of themindividually.
They eat breakfast at differenttimes and I spend the whole
morning in the kitchen justmaking breakfast, talking to
them, cleaning up, unloading thedishwasher, all of that stuff,
(11:48):
cause I really like to make suremy house is picked up and tidy
before I go to work.
Even though I can't see thekitchen from my office, my brain
can feel it.
And after that, on a day whereI see clients, I would see
between four and six one-on-oneclients, and then I have two
group coaching things goingright now, so sometimes I'll do
group coaching as well.
And then, on a day when I don'tsee clients, I would have
(12:10):
blocks of time where I wouldwrite and record a podcast or be
a guest on someone else'spodcast or maybe talk to a
potential new client.
When I'm wrapping up work forthe day, I leave my office, I go
into my bedroom and I do aguided meditation.
I use the Breathe app.
I've used that for like sevenyears or something like that.
So I love doing that.
(12:31):
And then sometimes I make dinnerand sometimes I don't.
So if I'm going to make dinner,then I will make dinner and
hang out with my kids.
If they're hanging around,they're teenagers, so a lot of
times they're just in theirbedrooms.
If we have a busy activitynight, we'll just pick up food,
or sometimes we have dinnertogether but everybody just
makes whatever they want, sothat might look like somebody's
(12:52):
eating, you know, a bagel andslices of apple for dinner or
something really simple likethat.
But I try to just sit down sowe can have a family
conversation.
Sometimes it works andsometimes it's just me trying to
(13:17):
get my kids to not fight witheach other After dinner cleanup
TV or hang out, or maybe I'll dosomething with one of my kids,
but usually we're all just kindof relaxing and doing our own
thing.
And then I read and I go to bedearly and I keep my bedroom
freezing cold and I love tosleep with a weighted blanket.
That might be more than youwanted to know, but that's a day
in the life for me.
Bridget (13:40):
Hi Michelle.
This is Bridget from Franklin,Tennessee.
I wanted to say congrats on twoyears for your podcast.
I love the format of yourpodcast the most.
For me it is this perfectlength that is just easy to take
in, and it has become a reallyimportant part of my sort of
Monday morning ritual.
(14:00):
I drive my daughter to school,I come back home listening to
your podcast and it's just longenough for me to come home, have
my breakfast and just sort ofbe inspired for the week ahead.
Likewise, the little Thursdaysnippets are just perfect,
little bite-sized tips to sortof close out my week, and so I
really appreciate just howsuccinct and clear and
(14:21):
actionable the things are inthat podcast.
So thank you so much for that.
The question I wanted to ask youwas, as a coach.
I wondered if there was abehavior or habit or something
that you see in your clientsthat really just drives you
crazy, that you wish you coulderadicate.
Not that your clients aredriving you crazy, but with that
(14:41):
behavior that you see a lotthat you wish you could
eradicate.
Not that your clients aredriving you crazy, but with that
behavior that you see a lotthat you're just like ugh, this
thing again.
I wish I could just wave amagic wand and just eliminate
that from people's lives,because it just drives me crazy
and I wish it didn't exist.
You're always so calm and happyand friendly, and so I'm just
really curious what is somethinglike that that gets under your
skin?
Michelle Gauthier (15:01):
Thanks so much.
Hi Bridget, thanks for thecompliment and thank you for
your question.
I've given this some seriousthought to say what is the
number one thing that I wouldjust like to erase from my
clients' brains, and I'vedecided that the answer is
imposter syndrome and ornegative self-talk.
The women who I work with areaction takers.
(15:23):
They're accomplished, they'rereally smart, they're really
hardworking, and so when I hearthat their brain is offering
them thoughts like you're notdoing enough, you're not
qualified for this, you're lazy,everybody else can do this, why
can't you?
It makes me want to just liketake that thought out of their
brain.
Of course it's not that quickor that easy, but if I had a
(15:44):
magic wand, that's what I wouldget rid of.
And then your other part of thequestion, when you said I sound
like I'm always so calm andhappy and do I ever get super
worked up?
I do, but not at work.
My children can really getunder my skin.
I think my biggest pet peeveand the thing that is most
likely to make me legit angry iswhen they directly disobey me,
like when they know the rule forsomething and they break the
(16:06):
rule anyway.
That drives me insane.
So if you ever want to see mepissed off.
That's what it's going to be.
Thanks for your questionquestion.
Lauren (16:24):
Hi, M ichelle.
My name is Lauren Rappaport.
I live in Washington DC.
My favorite thing about yourpodcast is your cover.
I love your cover and myquestion for you is I want to
know what is the number onething you have learned doing
this podcast?
Michelle Gauthier (16:35):
Hi, Lauren, and thanks for your question.
I'm laughing at your favoritething being the podcast cover.
This is kind of an inside joke,but now I'm about to share it
with all of you.
Lauren, who's been a guest onthe podcast before, was helping
me decide about a year ago whenwe decided to update the cover
art, which is the thing that yousee when you go to the podcast
on Apple Podcasts or Spotify orwherever you listen.
(16:57):
She was helping me decide whichnew cover I should choose, and
when I was doing that, I usedthis website called 99designs.
Actually, it was a greatexperience and I totally
recommend it.
But you say what you want andthen designers compete to create
the final design and you choosethe one and you pay that
designer.
But at the beginning I was notvery specific in what I was
(17:20):
looking for and some of thedesigns were so, so bad, and so
I was texting them to Lauren andshe was laughing with me.
So she loves this cover becauseshe knows how bad some of the
other options were.
Oh my gosh.
Okay, I wish there was a way forme to post some of them for you
guys to see, but anyway,lauren's question was what's the
(17:43):
number one thing that I havelearned throughout this podcast,
or doing this podcast that Ilearned and I've learned a
million things from doing thispodcast, because I knew nothing
about podcasting I've neverreally interviewed people, all
that stuff so I've learned a ton.
But the number one biggestthing is trust your gut, and
this is something that I workwith all my clients on.
I would say that I'm usuallypretty good about trusting my
(18:04):
gut, but there have just been acouple times when someone
advised me to do something.
I had hired someone to help mewith the podcast and my gut was
like this is not right, this isnot what you want.
So just a few weeks before wedebuted the podcast, I ended up
letting go of that person,starting from scratch again and
recreating the whole thing, andI am so glad that I did so.
(18:26):
Trusting my gut is the biggestand best thing that I have
gotten out of the podcast.
Jack (18:33):
Hello, this is Jack Gauthier.
You know your dad, you knowwhere I live.
You go out your front door andturn right twice and go up the
street 11 houses and everythingthat you do I think is great.
But the question I have is howdo you make all of the things
that you do seem so effortless?
Michelle Gauthier (18:52):
Okay, how cute is that?
My own dad, I will tell youguys.
When I got this voice memo andI pressed the button to play it,
I just put my head down on mydesk and started crying.
I was just like, oh my gosh, Iam so lucky.
I am such a lucky person to beso loved by both of my parents
and so encouraged by them.
(19:13):
And the question that my dad hadreally got me because nothing
that I'm doing is effortless.
But the reason why it mightappear to someone else to be
effortless is because I put somuch effort into checking my
mindset, journaling everymorning, meditating, planning
ahead, not overscheduling myself, so that when I do see my
(19:33):
family like, let's say, I havethem over for dinner and they
walk in the door and I'm happythey're there And'm fully
present with them and the dinneris ready, because there have
been about 50 things that havehappened behind the scenes in
order for that to happen.
So I think that my answer isjust that I am very specific
about my schedule, I do not overplan and when I say I'm going
(19:55):
to do something, I plan aheadfor it and that way I can be
fully present, which is mynumber one goal when I'm with my
family.
Okay, friend, that's a wrap.
Thanks so much to those of youwho sent in questions.
It was so much fun to get themand to hear your feedback about
the podcast.
We're actually going to do apart two of this, so there will
(20:15):
be another episode like thisnext week because I got so many
questions and I want to try toanswer them all if I can.
So I will see you next weekwith more listener questions and
podcast favorites.
Hope you have a great week andplease don't forget to leave a
rating or review if you love thepodcast.
Thanks so much.
Thank you for listening to theOverwhelmed Working Woman
(20:41):
podcast.
If you want to learn more aboutmy work, head over to my
website at michellegothiercom.
See you next week.
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