Chasing Brighter Podcast: Choosing Real Over Perfect

Super Woman Diaries #21: Home Runs, Hundred-Degree Heat, and Why We're Still Talking About The Crash

Jessica is back from a week at AFA Nationals in St. George watching Gabby's softball team battle through four games in 102-degree heat (and a home run!), while Kelly's son Wes had his own big weekend in Chicago — also with a home run of his own. The sisters dig into the realities of travel ball season, why some kids start losing interest in the sports they grew up playing, and whether kids today need "real jobs" or if summer chores and creative challenges do the trick. Plus: how Jessica used Claude to build a custom writing workbook for her son who hates writing, summer reading picks (hello, Lord of the Flies), and a full true-crime detour into Netflix's The Crash that gets spicy fast.
In This Episode, We Talk About:
Surviving four softball games in one day at 102 degrees (and Gabby's clutch home run)
Wes's home run weekend at a massive Chicago tournament
Why some kids start pulling away from sports they once loved
The "should teens have summer jobs" debate — sports vs. work ethic
Turning summer into "worker season": chores, reading, and creative projects
A flag football carpool experiment in independence (yes, public buses were involved)
Using Claude AI to build a custom 60-page writing workbook for a reluctant writer
Prepping for honors math placement and tackling Lord of the Flies before fall
A deep dive into Netflix's The Crash — the parents, the prosecution, and all the theories
A tease for their next true-crime watch, Maternal Instinct
Getting nostalgic over Off Campus and what it brings up about their own college years
What they're reading this summer (hi, The Bollywood Bride)
Shows & Documentaries Mentioned:
The Crash (Netflix, 2021)
Mean Girl Murders (Hulu)
Maternal Instinct
Off Campus
Books Mentioned:
The Bollywood Bride
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Connect With Us:
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What We Learned This Season — Our Season 5 Finale

It's officially a wrap on Season 5. In this finale, Jessica and Kelly look back at the whole arc of the season — from rest and reset in February, to choosing real over perfect in March, through exhaustion and invisible labor in April, identity and worthiness in May, and joy and presence in June. They get honest about what actually shifted in each of them this season, why they expanded the show beyond "midlife" to all women, and what they're each carrying into summer. Plus — two free downloads, a Brighter Move from each host, and an invitation to do one thing this summer that's just about living.
In This Episode:
A look back at the Season 5 arc: Rest & Reset (Feb), Real Over Perfect (March), exhaustion and invisible labor (April), identity and worthiness (May), and joy and presence (June)
Why they shifted the show from "midlife women" to all women, after hearing from listeners in their 30s who didn't feel like the audience
Kelly's biggest shift: moving from "what's wrong with me" thinking to "what do I need right now" — and how that language change lightens the load
How Kelly's gone from needing months to recognize burnout to catching it within weeks
Jessica's biggest shift: reclaiming "Athlete Jessica" after the slow fade that came with motherhood, and what going back to Orange Theory gave her
Jessica's honesty about body dysmorphia, posting outfits of the day anyway, and not giving her inner critic the last word
Why Jessica's GLP-1 journey is a tool, not a shortcut — letting her body catch up to years of consistent work
The "May-sumber" phenomenon and why May always seems to be the month everything piles on
Reframing "stuck" as "in process" — and why the questions you're asking now are proof you're moving
Two free downloads for summer: the Choose Your Own Adventure Summer Planning Template and a summer fashion freebie
A shared invitation: put one thing on your calendar this summer that's purely about living, not achieving
Quotable Moment:
"You can reclaim yourself in small choices over time. It's not a dramatic thing — it's the accumulated decisions where you keep choosing the person you're becoming, in small little pieces." — Jessica
Brighter Moves:
Kelly's Brighter Move: Name one thing this season that shifted in you — a question you're asking differently, a choice you wouldn't have made before, a moment you were more present for. Write it down, because it matters.
Jessica's Brighter Move: Put one thing on your calendar this week that's purely about living — not building, not achieving, just living.
This Month's Freebies 🎉
Two free downloads all June long:
Choose Your Own Adventure Summer Planning Template — big anchors, small rituals, your whole summer in one doc
Summer Style Freebie — for the fashion lovers
Grab both at chasingbrighter.com/newsletter
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Connect with us:
Website & newsletter: chasingbrighter.com
Instagram: @chasingbrighter

Super Woman Diaries #20: Lost AirPods, AI Decor Hacks, and Finding Joy in the Little Things

Kelly kicks things off with an epic (and hilarious) saga of a missing AirPod that turns a weekend getaway into a full-blown investigation — trash cans, lint traps, and all. From there, Jess and Kelly riff on how far audio tech has come, then dive into something they're both obsessed with lately: using AI to tackle home projects. Jess shares how she used Claude to plan a budget-friendly bathroom refresh (cabinet paint job, new light fixture, desert-themed wall art), and Kelly shares how she used it to completely rearrange her home office without buying a single new thing. They wrap up with simple, affordable ways to bring more joy into your space — plus a reminder to grab their free Joy Dressing Trend Cheat Sheet before summer kicks off.
In This Episode
Kelly's two-day hunt for a missing AirPod (and where it finally turned up)
A quick trip down memory lane on how far wireless audio has come
Budget headphone hacks for everyday use vs. real AirPods for calls
Jess's $250 bathroom refresh: painting cabinets, new lighting, and the step-by-step cure time for polyurethane
Using AI (Claude) for home decor inspiration and room layout planning
Where to find affordable, non-copyrighted wall art (Unsplash, Etsy, IKEA frames)
Same-day printing hacks using Walgreens and Capital One Shopping discount codes
Why small changes — like swapping a light fixture or hanging new art — can completely shift how a room feels
A reminder about the free Summer 2026 Joy Dressing Trend Cheat Sheet
Resources & Links Mentioned
Unsplash (unsplash.com) — free, non-copyrighted photos for wall art
Etsy — affordable printable art downloads
Walgreens same-day photo printing
Capital One Shopping — for promo codes/discounts
IKEA — affordable frames
Get the Free Download
Don't forget to grab our Summer 2026 Joy Dressing Trend Cheat Sheet — a one-pager with trend recommendations in a fun "try it, skip it, already living it" format. 👉 Sign up at chasingbrighter.com/newsletter
Follow Us
Find us on socials and TikTok: @ChasingBrighter
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Choosing Joy Is an Act of Courage

Joy isn't something that just happens when the circumstances are right — it's something you have to practice, protect, and sometimes fight for. In this episode, Jessica and Kelly unpack the real difference between happiness and joy, why so many women struggle to fully inhabit the good moments in their lives, and what it actually looks like to choose joy as a daily practice. From the fear of letting yourself feel good, to guilt, to the mental habit of "half-leaving" a beautiful moment — this conversation is honest, grounded, and full of the kind of realness you don't find on a greeting card. Plus: joy sprinkles, banana bread matcha, and a brighter move you can try today.
What We Cover:
Why happiness and joy are not the same thing — and why the difference actually matters
Joy as a practice: how to orient toward it deliberately instead of waiting for it to arrive
The fear of joy — that anxious waiting-for-the-other-shoe-to-drop feeling when things are going well
Why women in high-efficiency mode can lose access to joy and how to rebuild that channel
The guilt dimension: is it okay to feel this much joy when others are struggling?
Research on joy: people with more access to genuine joy tend to be more generous and more present
Real-life joy in action: Jessica's lunch with Gabby, Dom, and Gio, bathroom renovation chaos, and banana bread matcha
What "half-leaving" a good moment looks like — and how to stay in it
The 5% better question: small, accessible ways to invite more joy in even on hard days
Brighter Moves: a joy practice you can start this week
Brighter Moves: Kelly: Name one thing that genuinely brings you joy — specific, personal, not aspirational. Ask yourself: when did I last do this? When can I do it next? Then make it real.
Jessica: Practice staying in a good moment this week. When something genuinely lovely is happening — a conversation, a meal, a quiet evening — try to stay in it instead of half-leaving. Add 10 more seconds of presence. That's the practice.
Mentioned in This Episode:
June download: Joy Dressing Trend Cheat Sheet — chasingbrighter.com/newsletter
Smartless podcast (Jessica's go-to pick-me-up)
Banana bread matcha at Starbucks (highly endorsed)
Next Week: Season 5 Finale — Jessica and Kelly share what this season actually changed for them. Not just the content — the real shifts. Plus a summer invitation you don't want to miss.
Connect with Us: Follow us on Instagram @chasingbrighter | Blog & show notes: chasingbrighter.com | Newsletter: chasingbrighter.com/newsletter
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Super Woman Diareis #19: Our Summer Reading List (Light, Spicy, Twisty & Everything In Between)

It's officially summer reading season — and Kelly and Jess are giving you their full list. From spicy hockey romance to psychological thrillers, cozy small-town reads to historical fiction, there is genuinely something here for every kind of reader. Plus: why reading might be one of the most underrated wellness habits of all, and how to romanticize your reading life this summer even if you're only sneaking in 10 minutes at a time.
In This Episode:
The science behind reading as a wellness tool — including a study showing it reduces psychological stress by 68% in as little as six minutes
Kelly's reminder that June is the month of joy — and that reading is one of the easiest ways to romanticize your everyday life
Jess's confession: she always reads the book before the show drops, and she will always be disappointed by the adaptation. Every time. No regrets.
The Off Campus series by Elle Kennedy — Jess's top spicy vacation rec (first book: The Deal; now streaming on Prime Video)
Kelly's best beach bag pick: Typewriter Beach — a 1957 historical fiction set in Hollywood and Carmel by the Sea
Jess on Freida McFadden's The Boyfriend — twisty, bingeable, and won't emotionally wreck you
Kelly's pick for the book you'll lose an entire weekend to: Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett (The Help)
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke — a contemporary fiction born out of the "tradwife" trend, perfect for readers who want something with a little more edge
Jess's cozy comfort rec: The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Lori Gilmore (book four in the Dream Harbor series)
Kelly goes a little darker: Bright Young Women — a page-turner rooted in Ted Bundy's crimes, set in 1978 Tallahassee
Jess's pick for those who want some cozy cowboys: The Lucky Shamrock by Carolyn Brown
Kelly's final rec: Alan Opts Out — a funny, relatable story about a successful man who steps off the treadmill and what happens next
Books Mentioned:
The Deal (Off Campus series) — Elle Kennedy
Typewriter Beach — Meg Waite Clayton
The Boyfriend — Freida McFadden
Calamity Club — Kathryn Stockett
Yesteryear — Caro Claire Burke
The Strawberry Patch Pancake House (Dream Harbor series) — Lori Gilmore
Bright Young Women — Jessica Knoll
The Lucky Shamrock — Carolyn Brown
Alan Opts Out — Courtney Maum
Brighter Move — Jess: Give yourself permission to read what sounds fun — not what sounds impressive. Light and fluffy is a completely valid summer choice.
Brighter Move — Kelly: Even 10 minutes counts. Find the nooks and crannies in your summer and bring the joy back to reading. This is the month of joy — and your book list is part of that.
Free Download: Grab our Joy Dressing Trend Cheat Sheet — perfect to screenshot and save for those "what do I even wear?" summer mornings. Sign up for our newsletter at chasingbrighter.com/newsletter and it's yours.
Check out the full book list on our blog at chasingbrighter.com
📱 Instagram: @chasingbrighter 🌐 chasingbrighter.com 💌 Newsletter: chasingbrighter.com/newsletter
 
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Permission To Slow Down

It's June — and for so many of us, that means the pace finally starts to shift. But what happens when slowing down feels uncomfortable? When stillness makes your nervous system anxious instead of at ease?
In this episode, Jessica and Kelly kick off June with an honest conversation about what it really looks like to choose rest before you're forced into it. They talk about the difference between collapsing from exhaustion and intentionally creating space — and why that distinction changes everything.
This is your permission slip to actually be in your life instead of just running it.
What You'll Hear in This Episode
Why coming out of a full season can feel uncomfortable, even when you're relieved
The difference between rest as collapse vs. rest as a conscious choice
Dr. Sandra Dalton-Smith's seven types of rest — and why sleep alone isn't enough
Why summer's unstructured time can actually feel harder than the busy school year
How presence over performance is a skill worth rebuilding
Real Over Perfect moments from both of us on slowing down in real life
How to protect small, intentional moments without adding them to your to-do list
Why free time feeling wrong is actually worth sitting with
Brighter Moves This Week
Kelly's Brighter Move: Look at one thing on your June calendar that's optional — something you may be doing out of habit or obligation. You don't have to cancel it. Just sit with it. Ask yourself: is this a yes, or a slow no?
Jessica's Brighter Move: Find one place this week where you can choose to slow down before you're forced to. One morning, one meal, one moment — let it actually land. Then notice how it feels to choose it.
Free Download
Grab our free Choose Your Own Adventure Summer Planning Template — big anchors, small rituals, and a joy inventory all in one doc. Sign up for the newsletter at chasingbrighter.com to get yours.
Resources Mentioned
Like this episode? You might like: Episode 15: The Exhaustion Sleep Can't Fix
Dr. Sandra Dalton-Smith — Seven Types of Rest (linked episode in show notes)
Choose Your Own Adventure Summer Planning Template — free at chasingbrighter.com/newsletter
Connect With Us
Blog & Newsletter: chasingbrighter.com Instagram: @chasingbrighter Newsletter Sign-Up: chasingbrighter.com/newsletter

Super Woman Diaries #18: Summer 2026 Fashion Trends — What to Try, What to Skip & What You're Already Living

June is officially joy month at Chasing Brighter — and what better way to kick it off than with one of our favorite subjects: fashion. In this Superwoman Diaries episode, Jessica and Kelly break down the summer 2026 fashion trends worth paying attention to, the ones you can skip, and the ones you're probably already wearing without even knowing you're trendy. No pressure, no closet overhaul required. This is a wear-what-brings-you-joy conversation.
Free Resource
🎁  Summer 2026 Joy Dressing Trend Cheat Sheet
A free one-pager with all of this episode's trends in a fun Try It / Skip It / Already Living It format. Super easy, super shareable.
Grab it free at chasingbrighter.com — also available when you sign up for our newsletter!
What We Cover in This Episode
Jelly sandals & the Y2K comeback — mule styles, Dolce Vita, Cushionaire dupes, and how to actually find a pair that isn't sold out
Crocs glow-up — the Crocs Miami strappy sandal, Brooklyn low wedge, and platform styles that survive the ball field and the Clorox wipe test
Matching sets & coordinated looks — why a two-piece set is an easy anchor piece for a busy, on-the-go life; spotlight on Z Supply
Linen everything — wide-leg pants, linen sets, button-down + shorts combos; plus the honest conversation about wrinkle care and fabric quality
Low-effort, high-impact dressing — breezy, multi-purpose pieces that work from the beach to happy hour (and survive a mustard spill)
Skirts with personality — bold colors, fun patterns, tiered maxi skirts, leopard print as a neutral, and tips for finding the right skirt silhouette for your body
Graphic tees that say something — V-neck cuts for women, how to pair a tee with a skirt and low-profile sneaker or a linen layer
Romantic & feminine details — ruffled hems, lace, eyelet fabrics, airy pastels, and tiered maxi skirts (Gabby approved!)
Bermuda shorts / dad shorts / boyfriend shorts — longer denim shorts, the DIY cut-your-jeans approach, and what actually flatters different body types
Bralettes and the no-wire movement — an honest hot take on who this works for and who needs more structure (spoiler: Jessica is firmly in the underwire camp)
Raffia accents & coastal details — belts, earrings, sandals, woven bucket totes, and the Clarvy raffia bag moment
Budget-smart fashion strategies — thrifting on apps (ThredUp, The RealReal), Rent the Runway for designer access, Google Shopping deals, tailoring what you own, and quality vs. fast fashion
Brands & Resources Mentioned
Dolce Vita — tortoiseshell jelly sandals
Cushionaire — affordable dupes for Birkenstock and Dolce Vita styles
Jelavu (J-E-L-A-V-U) Glimmer Jelly Mule
Birkenstock Arizona (white / non-leather)
Crocs Miami strappy sandal and Brooklyn low wedge
Z Supply — mix-and-match knit and linen sets
Michael Stars — ribbed tank dresses and quality staples
Cut from the Cloth — denim shorts
Democracy Ab Fab — flattering jeans (Nordstrom Rack)
Thigh Society — under-skirt shorts without the shapewear feel
Clarvy — raffia and quilted bags
Rent the Runway — designer clothing rental (link in show notes for a bonus piece)
ThredUp & The RealReal — online thrifting platforms
Krista K Boutique — local Chicago boutique; Melissa Briskman (returning this fall!)
Target Universal Thread ribbed tanks — the ultimate summer uniform staple
Connect With Us
Follow us on Instagram: @chasingbrighter
Website: chasingbrighter.com
Newsletter: chasingbrighter.com/newsletter
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Romanticizing Your Life

You've seen the aesthetic — the linen aprons, the cottagecore feeds, the slow-morning coffee rituals on Instagram. But what does romanticizing your life actually mean when real life is messy, busy, and full? In this episode, Jessica and Kelly strip the concept down to its honest core: noticing what's already there, claiming it, and refusing to let it slip past you on autopilot.
 
Jessica opens with the story of Athlete Jessica — the competitive, hard-working girl she was growing up — who quietly faded somewhere around 2012 and who she's been getting back, one Orange Theory treadmill push at a time. Kelly digs into the ancient roots of this idea (and a book obsession that led to a surprisingly joyful laundry practice). Together they explore how the real practice isn't about pretty things — it's about orientation, attention, and deciding your ordinary life is worth paying attention to.
What We Cover
Why romanticizing your life has nothing to do with aesthetics — and everything to do with attention
Jessica's story of losing (and reclaiming) her athlete identity over more than a decade
The difference between living intentionally and just performing your life
Kelly's post-book laundry revelation and what "mastery in everyday life" actually looks like
Research from Professor Fred Bryant at Loyola on savoring as a learnable, wellbeing-linked skill
Why summer is the perfect season to start a noticing practice
How family dinners, gym rituals, and morning coffee can be radical acts of presence
Brighter Moves This Week
From Jessica — The Noticing Practice:
Once a day, pause and notice one specific, ordinary thing. Not abstract gratitude — something concrete. The color of something. The sound of something. The way something feels. Hold it for 10 seconds. That's the whole practice.
 
From Kelly — The Single-Tasking Challenge:
Pick one activity this week — making coffee, eating lunch, driving somewhere — and do it with zero competing input. No TV, no podcast, no screen. Just the activity. Notice what surfaces when there's nothing else competing for your attention.
Free Download — June Freebie
Choose Your Own Adventure: Summer Planning Guide
 
A free template to help you design a summer worth remembering — complete with big anchors, small rituals, and a joy inventory. The whole season in one document.
 
→ Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter at chasingbrighter.com
Next Week on Chasing Brighter
How June feels different this year. A season is ending, a new one is beginning — and we want to give you permission to actually land in it. We're talking about what it means to slow down before life makes you.
New episode drops Thursday.
Connect With Us
Website & newsletter: chasingbrighter.com
Instagram: @chasingbrighter
 
If today's episode resonated, share it with a friend who needs permission to slow down — and grab your free Summer Planning Guide at chasingbrighter.com.
 
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Super Woman Diaries #17: Sleeping In, Sending Kids Off, and Letting Go of the Plan

Jessica and Kelly are back for another real-life check-in, and summer is officially on the horizon. In this episode, they get into all of it: the exhausting reality of trying to figure out what to do with your tween when camp is impossible to get into, the surprisingly calm approach Jessica is taking to sending Gabby off to Centre College, the dorm prep rabbit hole (sheets, storage units, and yes, whether lofts are still a thing), kids learning to drive, and why both of them are just ready to breathe. If you are in the thick of the school-to-summer transition and you need someone to tell you that "we'll figure it out" is a perfectly valid plan, this one is for you.
In This Episode:
The tween and teen summer gap: what do you do with kids who are too old for camp and too young for a job? Kelly gets real about camp competition in Chicago and why she is done fighting for it.
Gabby's heading to Centre College in Kentucky this fall, and Jessica is taking a refreshingly low-key approach to dorm prep -- no stress, no Amazon cart yet, just waiting until she gets there and knows what she actually needs.
Roommate connections, Facebook parent groups, storage units, and the unexpected sisterhood of moms who have already been through it.
Wes and Dominic are both in the permit stage, and Jessica and Kelly talk about the real freedom (and the real fear) of handing the wheel to your teenager.
Why summer feels like an exhale: no homework, no lunch packing, no schedule checking. Just slower mornings and fewer mental tabs open.
A little preview of what is coming this month on Chasing Brighter -- June is all about joy and intentional living, and these two are ready for it.
Connect With Us: Website: chasingbrighter.com Instagram: @chasingbrighter
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Still Figuring It Out

No frameworks, no formulas — just two sisters getting real. In this May wrap-up episode, Jessica and Kelly close out the month by doing what they do best: being honest. They share the moments they slid back into old patterns (Jessica with achievement pressure, Kelly with people-pleasing), talk about parenting through milestones, and remind us that noticing the pattern is the work. This one might just be one of their favorites — and it might become one of yours too.
In This Episode
Jessica opens up about a surprising emotional moment with her high school senior, Gabby, and catches herself sliding back into achievement-based pressure — the exact pattern she's been unpacking all season. Kelly shares her own version: people-pleasing still shows up, even when you know better. Together, they explore what it actually looks like when two people who talk about growth for a living still have to do the messy, daily work of it.
They also leave you with three things you can actually use when you catch yourself sliding back:
Name it without judgment. Simply say, "I'm in that old pattern right now." You don't have to fix it immediately.
Get curious, not critical. Instead of asking why am I doing this again?, ask what is this part of me needing right now?
Choose one small thing that's genuinely yours. Not productive, not for anyone else — just one small act of being the person you're becoming.
Brighter Moves This Week
🌿 Kelly's Move: Write down a few words that describe who you are becoming — not who you were, not who you plan to be, but who you are moving toward right now. Keep them somewhere you'll actually see them.
🌿 Jessica's Move: Do one thing this week that is purely about curiosity. Not ambition, not productivity — just something you're genuinely interested in. One hour. One small yes to yourself.
Free Resource Mentioned
The Real Over Perfect Weekly Check-In — 5 questions, 5 minutes, once a week. Grab it free when you sign up for the newsletter at chasingbrighter.com or chasingbrighter.com/newsletter.
Looking Ahead — June
After the deep identity work of April and May, June is intentionally lighter. Think joy, romanticizing your real life, and intentional living. Kelly and Jessica are calling it a deep breath — and they can't wait to take it with you.
Connect With Us
Find us at chasingbrighter.com | Newsletter sign-up, blog, and more Follow us on all socials: @chasingbrighter
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