The Distracted Dreamer

Send Carlene a text

I used to think recovery meant sleep, a long walk, or a girls’ weekend — but even after all that, I still felt drained. It didn’t make sense… until I learned what was actually happening in my nervous system.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the real science of recovery — how your body toggles between go mode and rest mode, and why so many of the things that look restful still keep you stuck in performance mode. 

...

Send Carlene a text

Your dreams deserve more than scattered energy and half-finished to-do lists. They need your focus. 

In this episode, I’m sharing the exact 7-step focus routine I use behind the scenes to move my dream work forward — even when life gets full, messy, or distracting (which, let’s be honest… is most of the time). 

This isn’t about being more productive just for the sake of it. It’s about creating a rhythm that actuall...

Send Carlene a text

Your companion guide for this special episode 👇

Start Dreaming Again: 3 Gentle Steps to Rediscover What You Really Want

Here’s the thing no one tells you about “figuring out your dreams”…
You don’t actually think your way there.
You feel your way back.

This episode isn’t about setting goals or chasing productivity.
It’s a gentle, coaching-style mini-workshop designed to help you wake up the part of you ...

Send Carlene a text

Click here to hop on Dream Studio Waitlist and get founding member perks!

What if chasing your dream didn’t have to feel so heavy?

For a long time, I thought if I was serious about a dream, I had to make a Big Plan and then follow it perfectly. You know… map it out, get it right, make sure I really knew what I was doing before I even started.

But the truth? That pressure kept me stuck.

What finally helped me move for...

Send Carlene a text

What if all your “research” is actually a really sneaky form of procrastination?

Let’s be real — I’ve spent way too much time thinking I was making progress just because I was learning. I had tabs open, courses saved, notebooks full of ideas… and still felt totally stuck.

At one point, I even signed up for a course on how to code my own website. (Yep. Coding. Me.🙃)

But here’s what I’ve learned — and am still learni...

Send Carlene a text

What if the thing you’re avoiding is the very thing that could change everything?

Let’s be honest—there’s probably a task sitting at the bottom of your list that’s been there for weeks. The one that low-key haunts you.
It feels too big, too scary, too uncomfortable. And if you're like me, you've probably moved that one thing from Monday… to Tuesday… to “someday.”

I’ve been there more times than I’d li...

Send Carlene a text

When was the last time you let yourself be bored? Really bored?

Growing up, boredom was a normal part of life — long car rides staring out the window, endless summer days of “go outside and play” with no plan, and doodles on scrap paper that turned into wild ideas. Out of those empty spaces came creativity, play, and daydreams.

But somewhere along the way, we started treating stillness like failure. Daydreaming got...

Send Carlene a text

Have you ever pushed through the week only to crash—your brain foggy, your body drained, your heart disconnected from your dreams?

I used to fight those crash days, but I’ve learned they’re not failures—they’re signals. Our bodies are always whispering what they need, and when we ignore them, they shout. 

The good news? When we practice small, daily acts of self-care and recovery, those crashes get gentler, our ene...

Send Carlene a text

This episode is one I needed to hear as much as I needed to record.

Because perfectionism? It’s still something I wrestle with almost every day.
It shows up when I try to write. When I go to share something personal. When I wonder if what I’m doing is “enough.”

And here’s what I know now: perfectionism is stealing our dreams.

In this episode, I’m opening up about my own struggles with getting stuck in the “not g...

Send Carlene a text

I know what it’s like for the dream to feel so much harder than you imagined. I’ve been there—facing fear, self-doubt, unexpected curveballs, and the deep exhaustion that comes from caring so much. Because the hard parts make you want to throw in the towel, question everything, and wonder if maybe you were wrong for wanting it in the first place. That’s exactly why I wanted to have this conversation with you.

Toda...

Send Carlene a text

Have you ever carried that quiet guilt—the kind that whispers you're not doing enough, even when you're doing everything? You're not imagining it. Parenting today asks more of us than ever before—and it’s leaving a lot of us burned out, overwhelmed, and riddled with guilt.

I used to think the stress was just part of the job. But then I looked at the numbers. And I realized—this isn't a personal...

Send Carlene a text

While you're stuck in your head, someone else is taking the next step toward your dream— or a version of it.

I've been there — stuck in my head, overthinking every move, waiting for the perfect moment to start.

But this week, I looked around and realized... while I was overthinking my dreams, other dreamers were out there doing the the thing. Planting gardens. Writing books. Starting messy.

In this episod...

Send Carlene a text

Feeling stuck, scattered, or creatively off track? In this episode, I’m sharing the 7 D’s of distraction—seven sneaky ways we lose focus on our dreams without even realizing it. Distractions aren’t always loud. Sometimes they show up as quiet whispers, gently pulling us away from what matters most. 

Using a simple self-rating tool, I’ll help you gently name what’s really pulling your attention away. Because when y...

Send Carlene a text

If you’ve ever felt like you missed your chance—or that it’s too late to go after what you really want—this episode is for you. 

I sat down with Alicia Staley Johnson—a friend, photographer, and creative soul who stopped hiding the most authentic part of herself and reclaimed her dream at 59.  She finally went all in on a dream she’d tucked away for years. And WOW... what happened next blew me away.

This isn’t just...

Send Carlene a text

Have you ever felt that quiet ache of not measuring up—like you’re always behind, no matter how hard you try? You know those moments where it feels like everyone else is ahead—more successful, more creative, more together?

I used to believe that if I just learned more, worked harder, or polished everything to perfection, I’d finally catch up to…well, everyone else. 

But here’s what I know now: comparison was k...

Send Carlene a text

If dreaming feels silly, selfish, or out of reach — you’re not alone. In fact, you might just be hearing echoes of childhood messages that told you to stay small, play it safe, and be realistic.

The messages we absorbed in childhood — about obedience, achievement, and staying “realistic” — still shape the way we show up as adults.

In today’s episode (our first with a guest!), I’m joined by my longtime friend a...

Send Carlene a text

If you’ve ever whispered, “Who am I to charge for this?” or felt weird about putting a price on your work — this episode is for you.

For so many of us creative dreamers — whether you’re offering personal services like coaching, selling a product you dreamed up, or sharing art you’ve poured your heart into — charging can feel deeply personal.

In this honest conversation, we’re diving into self-worth, pricing, and th...

Send Carlene a text

In this episode, I’m sharing a deeply personal moment that brought me face-to-face with a question I know many of us wrestle with: Can I be both? Can I be the mom who shows up, the grandma who’s present, the daughter who cares—and still say yes to my dreams?

If you’ve ever felt like just as you were finally making space for your own dreams, life started pulling you in another direction, I see you. I’m right there ...

Send Carlene a text

Saying no is hard.

Maybe you’ve felt it too—that tug-of-war between wanting to help and secretly knowing you’re already stretched way too thin. I’ve been there more times than I can count. 

If you’ve ever struggled to say no because you didn’t want to disappoint someone—you’re not alone.

In fact, I’ve had so many of you reach out asking “How the heck do I say no without feeling guilty or ruining relationships?” That...