Setting Boundaries & Owning Your Story with Ellen Smith

This week on the F.E.E.L. Podcast, we kick off a powerful two-episode lineup with the bold, unapologetic, and deeply compassionate Ellen Smith—a self-proclaimed “suburban troublemaker,” author, activist, and boundary-setting boss.

Ellen is known for standing up for the underdog, speaking truth to power, and fiercely combating racism, antisemitism, and injustice in all forms. In this candid conversation, Ellen doesn’t hold back, diving into the tough topics with her signature mix of empathy, humor, and radical honesty.

🛑 Key Takeaway: Boundaries Aren’t Just Helpful—They’re Necessary
One of the biggest gems from this episode? Ellen’s non-negotiable 5 PM work cut-off. In the post-2020 world of blurred lines between home and work life, Ellen reminds us how crucial it is to create firm boundaries to protect your mental health, energy, and creativity. Whether you work remotely or juggle multiple hats, this boundary-setting approach is your reminder to reclaim your time and space.

🖊️ Memoir, Mental Health, and Turning Pain Into Power
We also explore the powerful process behind Ellen’s book, Memoirs of a Suburban Troublemaker—a bold and vulnerable story of growth, resilience, and resistance. Writing a memoir often means revisiting difficult chapters of your life. Ellen shares how she approached those dark corners with humor, honesty, and healing, and how reframing her story from “this happened to me” to “this happened for me” shifted everything.

💡 Whether you’re thinking about writing your own story, struggling to set boundaries, or searching for ways to navigate your personal healing, this episode delivers insights you’ll want to carry with you.

📚 Plus: Melissa reads a moving excerpt from Ellen’s memoir that truly captures the spirit of the episode—one of growth, justice, courage, and emotional authenticity.

🔑 Keywords: memoir writing podcast, boundary setting tips, women’s empowerment podcast, working from home mental health, feminist memoir author, Ellen Smith suburban troublemaker, anti-racism advocate podcast, women reclaiming their stories, mental health and writing, how to write a memoir, female authors of 2025

💬 Listener Love Tip:
Pause. Reflect. Set your boundary. Then press play. This is the episode that reminds you that your story matters—and your peace matters even more.

Blog Excerpt: After everything was shut down in 2020, we got used to having work with us 24/7 on our phones and computers. There wasn’t a clear line of where work stopped and your personal life began.

Ways to Engage: Think about the perceptions you have about different communities in your area or that you’ve come across in your life. Are these perceptions based on behavior you’ve experienced or stereotypes you’ve been told? Make sure the opinions you’re forming are your own and are fair.   

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 5:01 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 18:36 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 29:09 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 37:28 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 52:20 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 55:37 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 1:03:12 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 1:11:04 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 1:14:21 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:20:32 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

• #MemoirWritingJourney

• #BoundariesArePower

• #WomenWhoWrite