Pulling Back the Curtain: Recent Episodes

Natalie Hodson

How are women like us actually living up to the pressure to balance everything? To have it together physically, emotionally, and financially. The truth is, most of us don't. Perfection is a myth we all fail. While raising babies and growing seven figure businesses online, I spent years helping women look at these three areas in their life: being strong physically, emotionally, and financially. But how does someone learn to actually do that? This podcast is here to give you the answer. Join me as I pull back the curtain and talk about things that nobody usually talks about. Where I share my real, raw stories and give you tangible strategies on ways you can work through some of the same vulnerable issues we all face. My name is Natalie Hodson and welcome to the Pulling Back the Curtain Podcast.

In this podcast episode, I have a really powerful discussion with Molly Galbraith!

Ten years ago, Molly founded Girls Gone Strong. According to Molly, it started as a simple Facebook Page, and has now evolved into the world’s largest platform providing evidence-based, interdisciplinary health, fitness, nutrition and pregnancy information for women and the professionals that work with them.

For the last seventeen years, Molly’s collected insight from her community about things like scarcity mindset — where women feel like the success of other women is leaving less success for them, or that they don’t amount to the same success. She says women have more opportunity and power than ever, yet there’s still a really big gap. Her platform is all about learning to love ourselves, learning to lift other women up, and learning how to acknowledge negative feelings within ourselves and how to change them.

Molly wrote a book called Strong Women Lift Each Other Up where she shares the psychology of behavior change. She is passionate about getting women to feel like they can do what they say they’re going to do… and to feel comfortable in their own skin as they do it. She’s so honest, talks about really vulnerable topics, and is truly passionate about women supporting other women.

I truly got goosebumps every five minutes reading this book! I promise you’ll get so much out of this episode!

To download a FREE chapter of her book, click HERE! And if it resonates with you, you can pre-order it now on Amazon, Target, Barnes & Noble, Audible, Kindle, or Bookshop!

Find Molly on Instagram @themollygalbraith

Find Molly on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mollymgalbraith

Thank you so much for your message and for this discussion, Molly!

Please enjoy!

xo Natalie

I love helping people with their business. It’s what lights me up. Today, this podcast episode will do just that and I hope it lights you up, too!

Because of COVID, I haven’t been able to do a lot of the public speaking that I started doing over the last few years. But this episode is a recording of a speaking event I was asked to do by my mentor Russell Brunson. I share the most powerful advice for business I WISH I would have known years ago.

I didn’t have anyone showing me the ropes when I first started, which is why I now feel really passionate about doing that for other people. But I really think that even if you’re not in business, my story and what I’ve learned is applicable in a lot of areas.

During this speaking event, I share my story, my struggles, my wins, and what I’ve learned. I talk about connection, and how creating authentic and strong connections with people turned into my magic superpower.

My talents aren’t about writing books, making workout programs, or even marketing! My talent really is just learning how to connect to people through authenticity and vulnerability.

Through numbers, data, and testing, I learned what works. And what works is connection.

I hope you love this episode!

Thank you for listening!

xo Natalie

P.S. I would love it if you would rate and subscribe to this podcast! It really does make such a huge difference!

Okay, this isn’t the most exciting or sexy topic… but it’s a topic that is on many of our minds every day!

Money. Bills. Budget.

I was never really taught about money. I think money is sort of a taboo topic in a lot of families, and it felt like that in mine. We didn’t have a ton of it, but we never learned about saving, or interest rates, or credit, or anything like that.

My ex-husband was great with money and taught me a lot about a budget, though I was resistant to it at first because it felt controlling and I didn’t like the restrictions. We had a lot of student loan debt (listen to more on that HERE on another podcast episode), and I ran across Dave Ramsay’s content. I really geeked out on it! And now I have a ton of tools in my tool belt in terms of budgeting. I stopped looking at budgeting as ‘restrictive’. I started looking at it as a tool to track behaviors… and it’s your behaviors that create the outcomes that you want.

In this podcast episode, I go through my actual budgeting spreadsheet. I talk about tracking expenses, tips for saving, and how it can be fun to play around with retirement savings tools. I talk about looking at your finances each month, and also annually. I discuss talking about budgeting with your spouse, and gift alternative ideas when you have a big extended family like I do.

I know budgeting and money can feel overwhelming, but these are the tips that helped me. Trust me, I didn’t come from a lot of money, and my ex and I were once in $170,000 in student loan debt that we completely paid off. I have walked the talk!

Just remember, budgeting is hard. Give yourself grace. Just because you’ve failed doesn't mean you're a failure.

Good luck with your budgets!

If you have some budgeting, saving, or financial tips, share on social media! Also, if there’s a topic you want me to talk about on this podcast, let me know!

xo Natalie

P.S. I would love it if you reviewed this podcast and subscribe! It really does make such a huge difference!

Resources from this episode:

Our Womanhood Free Trial

Sample Budget Spreadsheet

5 kids, an 8 figure business, and 1 amazing story from one of my favorite people! 🙌

Jaime Cross is an amazing mother, an incredibly successful business owner, and a close friend of mine! I love Jaime’s story because it’s inspiring, and it really shows her tenacity, faith, and willingness to take risks. Her story proves hard work and taking a chance can really go a long way in terms of success and overall happiness.

Her business was truly built from the ground up, and her products speak for themselves! Her skincare products are great, even for someone like me who has notoriously sensitive skin. Her journey from corporate life with kids in diapers, to having her cards declined, to asking God for a billion dollar idea, to literally going door to door with that idea, is one that truly shows her grit and determination.

In this podcast episode, I interview Jaime about her story. She talks about identity, empowerment, vision, and what drives her. We talk about hardships, how she expanded her business, and how mindset plays a big role in her ability to continue with forward momentum.

She’s passionate about helping women succeed, helping people heal, and building the best life she can for her children.

In the words of Jaime, there’s no message without a mess!

Trust me, you don’t want to miss this episode! Jaime proves that building a successful business while raising kids is entirely possible. She proves hard work and passion are powerful tools to find happiness.

I know you’ll love her just as much as I do!

Thank you so much for Pulling Back the Curtain, Jaime!

Enjoy!

xo Natalie ❤️

It’s been a while.

I haven’t recorded a new podcast in forever!

So I wanted to hop back in and just fill you guys in on what I’ve been up to, why I took a break from the podcast, and what I have up my sleeve coming down the pipeline for you in the next few months :)

So part of the reason I took a break from the podcast is because I was feeling overwhelmed. I had a lot on my plate and some things had to get curbed for me to feel like I could get everything else done. But this podcast is something I truly love doing, and I’ve missed it.

So if you are in a phase right now where you’re kind of feeling overwhelmed (I mean...hello...2020 has been hard on nearly everyone!) Here’s what I would recommend.

Give yourself permission to say no to some things if you need to. It doesn’t mean you have to say no forever, but prioritize the things in your life or in your business that really are important and move those higher on the list.

So there’s a little sneak peek, and if there are any other stories, or topics, or lessons you want me to talk about let me know on social or email! I’m always up for getting ideas from you guys. In the meantime, I’m so happy you are here and am so excited to start sharing on this podcast again. I hope you guys will subscribe, and share this podcast on social media or with your friends. It means so much to me when you do, and if you tag me in your stories I will always re-share.

I appreciate you guys! See you next time!

Have you heard of @fit2fat2fit? My friend Drew Manning intentionally GAINED 70lbs in 6 months (back in 2011) and then spent the next six months losing the weight.
😳
And guess what? Nearly ten years later….he’s doing it AGAIN
🤯
But this time, with a totally different perspective and understanding. His new journey is called Fit2Fat2Forty (because he’s turning 40 in December) where he is currently spending 4 months gaining 60lbs and then he’ll spend the next 4 months getting back in shape. He’ll be sharing his workouts, meals, etc all online (all for free) so you can follow along too.
🙌🏻
I brought Drew on my podcast today and asked him alllll the things! We go through things like:
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The science behind what is happening/going to happen in his body, and also advice on what health markers we should ALL be getting tested on a regular basis.
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The emotions he is experiencing (food cravings, brain fog, body image), what it’s like for his daughters (ages 9 & 11), and how his relationship with his girlfriend @juliefreedom is being impacted by this experiment.
🥞🍝🍻
We broke down what a typical day of meals looks like for him right now in the weight gain phase. One of the cool things we talked about is how he’s breaking down a lot of the popular fad diets as he does this...Vegan, Keto, Paleo & Vegetarian. He’s going to show how you can do all of those the right way OR the wrong way.
✨
My favorite part, though, is where Drew explained his genuine intention and goal for doing this. He wants to bring empathy to the forefront of the fitness industry and show how having an empathy-first approach can have so much more of an impact than what you typically see in the fitness industry (get skinny, get a 6-pack, etc) and make everything all just about body image.
💥

I really think you’re going to love this podcast with Drew (who is a long-time friend of mine). You’re seriously going to want to follow along on his new journey...I know I am excited to see how it goes!
👇🏻
Hit play to listen -- link in bio!

You can learn more about Drew at:

https://www.instagram.com/fit2fat2fit/

https://fit2fat2fit.com/forty/

https://www.facebook.com/fit2fat2fit/

“So many things in our food system actually are making us sicker. In my quest to heal my son’s ulcerative colitis, I learned that what actually was working with nutrition was in direct conflict with what I had been taught during my formal education and past 20 years experience as a Registered Dietician Nutritionist.”
✨

That’s what @shana.hussin.rdn told me during our conversation about taking control of our weight, health, and illnesses. She explained how the majority of Americans believe that following standard nutrition will make you healthier (i.e. eat less, lower your fat intake, and move more) when in fact, it often can actually be the driver behind obesity and chronic illness.
🤯🤒🙅🏼‍♀️
It was so fascinating for me to hear Shana tell her story of how she had been in the medical nutrition therapy field for 20 years but then in 2016 her son was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and got severely sick. She found that through nutrition, you can work together with your body to not only lose weight, but reverse many symptoms of chronic illnesses (and the best part...her 14-year old son is thriving and healthy now)
💕
Shana is a master at helping others take control of their weight and health, and now even helps other practitioners and nutritionists who want to understand the core reasons behind obesity and chronic illness.

3 moments you’ll want to listen for:
💫“The timing of your eating is just as important as what you eat”💫“I don’t give people any kind of special foods, I don’t have them take special supplements, I don’t have them count anything. And they are having sustainable, long term amazing results.”
💫“In our school systems, young kids are being fed breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, and often times sugary treats and drinks. What that means is that they are telling their bodies to store energy all day long. This can be one of the biggest drivers for children and weight gain.”
🎧📱
You can listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts -- Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play Music, and more!

You can learn more about Shana’s 28-Day Fast To Heal Challenge we talked about in the episode here! 👉🏻https://www.fasttoheal.info/

Registration Link to Shana’s challenge: https://www.subscribepage.com/f9h3j4

“If I just lose ten lbs I will feel good about myself again…”

“When I’m thin I get so many compliments on my appearance…”

“If I don’t follow my plan perfectly and to a “t” then that means I’ve failed…”

“I can’t keep any sweets in my house or else I will gorge myself on them…”

Has anyone ever had those thoughts before?

I know I certainly have in the past 🙋🏼‍♀️ In fact, truthfully, it took me years to learn how to rewire my brain out of wanting to constantly diet.

But once I learned to change the way I looked at food….it was the most wonderful freeing feeling ever.

I’m so excited to share my newest podcast with you guys! I brought on Maria Simpson (@bodyloveboss) to talk about the amazing movement she is creating teaching others how to end the diet cycle, to love your body, and to never have to diet again.

In our podcast, we talk about:

-Her past experience of disordered eating and compulsive exercise
-How her body started shutting down from extreme dieting and overexercising
-How she struggled with thyroid issues, gaining weight, losing her hair...and how she overcame that
-Ways you can cultivate positive body image for your own children (Maria is a mom of 5!)
-The first step you can take as you learn to break out of the diet cycle.

“It came down to restriction. Your brain wants what it can’t have. That’s human nature. Knowing in my brain that I was going to restrict food again caused me to obsess about it and want it. It was a constant craving and obsession and having to fight against it. I decided “what if I never restrict again? What if I just take that off the table and my body can trust me that all food is available at all times. There’s not a scarcity.” It really changed the game. Knowing that if I wanted a cookie I could have it. Food lost it’s power once I decided to take restriction off the table.”

Maria has an incredible way of using empathy and compassion to share her own journey and help others as they are navigating through that as well. She has amazing programs where she helps teach other women how they can learn to love their bodies and never have to diet again. You can find more about Maria www.bodyloveboss.com!

Xo
Natalie

Have you ever thought about investing but weren’t really sure how to get started? If so, you will love our newest podcast episode. Kiana Daniel (@investdiva) shares her wisdom and guidance on this topic and how investing even just an extra $100 a month can radically change your future.

I loved having Kiana, and we really ‘pulled back the curtain’ to talk about a topic that often times can trigger a lot of shame or insecurity for people.

Kiana has the coolest story! She shares in this episode how she was living in Japan when she started to learn about investing (something she didn’t really grow up around), and how she grew up in a culture where women weren’t really taught to run businesses or manage money.

In our podcast we talk about things like:
-What is the first thing someone should know when it comes to investing?
-Should you use someone else to manage your money or should you be doing the investing yourself?
-How to talk to your spouse about finances in your marriage and if that is a touchy subject...ways you can work through that and get on the same page.
-Should you invest first or pay off debt first?
-How you can teach your kids important money principles at a young age (Kiana has the sweetest little baby girl!)

I love how Kiana’s superpowers are: helping people understand complicated financial concepts, empowering women to remain feminine in male-dominated industries, and helping people grow their wealth by investing (even if you don’t have a lot to invest - she started with just $500!).

I really, really think you guys are going to love this new podcast as much as I enjoyed recording it. Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts or if you have any questions! I’ll answer them in the comments!

Learn more about Kiana here 👉🏻https://bit.ly/InvestDiva

Xo
Natalie

I brought on one of my friends, Brad Gibb, who has SUCH a cool program and process. Once, I was joking with them and asked, “Are you the anti-Dave-Ramsey”?

To understand why I asked him that, you can listen to today’s podcast. (:

He has a process that will make you Financially Free in ten years, or less! It’s REALLY really interesting. To hear about his perspectives, his philosophy, and his reasoning behind it is something I think you’re really going to love.

Coronavirus Math: Everyone Must Understand This. This is the most important podcast (video) I’ve ever done. ⁣ ⁣ Just last week, I was one of the people saying, "oh it's not even as bad as the flu". ⁣ ⁣ Until I saw the math. ⁣ ⁣ I had been looking at the wrong numbers the entire time. It's not about the death rate, or comparing to flu stats.⁣ It's about our hospitals. The math proves it.⁣ ⁣ I break it all down very easily in the first few minutes of this video. This is not panic, this is not hype, these are the numbers.⁣ ⁣ I filmed this live video last night (we had 9,360 confirmed cases at 9pm 3/18 when I filmed this). Since this recording (18 hours later) the US is already up to 13,475 cases. ⁣ ⁣ Listen. Understand the math.⁣ ⁣ The most loving thing you can do right now is stay inside. Please. We will get through this, but this is going to get worse before it gets better. ⁣ I'm not saying that from a place of fear, but from the most loving place I know to come from. We must take action inside our homes and immediate families. We must. ⁣ ⁣ There IS a solution, I talk about it here, but people have to understand the problem before they can solve it.⁣ ⁣ I have never pushed an agenda on this page, ever. In the 10 years I've had a public profile. This isn't about an agenda. This isn't about me. We are all on the same side right now. We have to be.⁣ ⁣ This information needs to be shared with more people. People who are like I was just a few days ago. Good people who just haven't been shown the math. ⁣ ⁣ Please share this video. Spread the information. Let people make educated decisions.⁣ ⁣ It's the kindest, most loving thing you can do for your families, your neighbors, your loved ones, and our country. Please share.⁣ ⁣ I am here for you. Focus on the things you DO have control over right now, instead of the things you don't. We will get through this, there is hope. But we need to pay attention to what the numbers are telling us, and we need to take action. ⁣ ⁣ Let's share. Give hope. Choose love.⁣ ⁣ NOTE: Anyone, including the media, is free to use this post, any related content, in all or in part, for any purpose, in any format, with no attribution required. Please DM me if you have other ideas.

Hey guys! This was such a fun podcast! I got to chat with my friend, Kurt Yazici. He has a brand called “Karnivore Kurt”. His story, his book, his brand and his methods to improve overall health are incredibly fascinating.

If you’re looking for answers with your dietary health, easing your anxiety or clearing your skin,

he has an alternative that not many are talking about.

In fact, when I first heard about the Carnivore Diet, I thought it had something to do with hunting. But after he explained and educated me on the diet and the benefits, I thought it would be fun to bring him on to the podcast to explore this topic.

I know that sometimes, this can be a divisive topic. At first, I thought, “That’s kind of weird… you’re only going to eat meat?”

Then, as I started to learn more about some of the benefits that he’s experienced, it felt worthy of sharing.

Even if you aren’t looking to change your diet, there are unheard perspectives in here that I think would be interesting to listen to with an open mind.

HERE is the link for the free live training I talked about in the podcast! Hope you’ll be there with me! http://wrgo.io/NAH/16768

I was in my kitchen one night running around and making dinner for the kids, and I heard a ding on my phone. I glanced over at my lock screen and saw the ding was an email from my business mentor Russell Brunson to Dean Graziosi….my heart started racing. Why was I included in this email between these two powerhouse men?? This had to have been a mistake….

As I scrolled on my phone and kept reading, I saw that Russell was emailing Dean and telling him that I should be a speaker at his next event…

As much as I’ve done loads of personal work on changing the negative voice in my own head….I found my internal thoughts kick into imposter syndrome. Has that ever happened to you before? Things like:

“I’m not qualified to be in the same space as these guys.”

“Uh oh...they’re going to find out soon that I’m not really that special, I’m just a single mom who came from a small town in Idaho and I’m really not that smart.”

“I don’t have best-selling books like these guys do. They’re going to see right through me.”

What ended up happening next was really important. I learned more about Dean’s story. I learned that, just like me, he grew up in a broken home (his parents were married and divorced nine times), he had been diagnosed with dyslexia as a child, and everyone around him told him he wasn’t smart enough to even get to college.

But even facing all that...he’s still gone on to build multi-million dollar companies and build a business that gets to impact and help SO many people.

I started to see myself in his story. I started to realize that voice in my head that kept me feeling “not enough” wasn’t actually real. I started to believe that maybe I actually could take my own life experiences and the skills and knowledge I already had to help other people.

Dean’s story was so helpful and impactful for me that I asked him to be on my podcast and he graciously agreed. I hope you will get a chance to listen to this one because, if you’re anything like me, hearing stories of other people who have faced hard challenges in life and worked through them is usually the little ray of hope I need to keep going.

Dean didn’t go get a fancy MBA or have to spend tens of thousands of dollars on traditional education. He figured out a way to take his own life experiences to use that to create a business that makes a real impact.

We talk all about that on today’s podcast, and how you can do that too.

I know what it feels like to struggle with imposter syndrome. I know what it feels like to wonder if you are good enough, or smart enough, or if you have what it takes. I know because I’ve been there...I still feel that at times. But I hope that my story, Dean’s story, and others can show you that you do have something great inside of you. The things you have gone through in your life have happened for a reason. You can use those skills, that knowledge, those experiences to help and impact others.

This is one of my favorite podcasts I’ve recorded maybe…..ever. Hope you’ll take a chance to listen ❤️

HERE is the link for the free live training I talked about in the podcast! Hope you’ll be there with me! http://wrgo.io/NAH/16768

Have you ever had to experience tragic loss in your life? 💔Or have had a loved one who is grieving? If so, you are going to love this new podcast we put up today.

I had the privilege of bringing Jodi Coochise onto my podcast today, and her story made me tear up, smile, and get goosebumps... all at the same time.

When Jodi was 27 years old, she was hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa with her husband. It was something they trained for an entire year and was a bucket list adventure they had always wanted to do. As they were climbing the mountain, there was a major rock slide and Jodi’s husband was hit by the rocks and instantly died.

In our podcast today, she tells the story of what was going through her mind in the moment, how she still had to hike down the mountain to get aid, what the grieving process was like for her then and now, how she was able to eventually move on and find her current husband, things she did at the time that helped, tips for others who may have a friend or family member experiencing grief, and how she still honors her late husband to this day.

This was SUCH a beautiful story and it was such an honor to have Jodi on the podcast. I really know you guys are going to love this one, and I am so grateful that Jodi really “pulled back the curtain” and shared the real, raw parts of her story.

Xo
Natalie

PS - Jodi is a licensed psychologist in Boston, if you would like to connect with her more you can find her here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-coochise-phd

Also, here are links to the books she mentioned in the podcast:
“It’s Ok That You’re Not Ok” by Megan Divine (Amazon: https://amzn.to/2uLWxy5 and Audible: https://amzn.to/35UvwFu)
“The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion (Amazon: https://amzn.to/2QRxulI and Audible: https://amzn.to/3a9jRpW)

It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand

The Year of Magical Thinking

I sometimes joke (but not really joking) that I’m a recovering perfectionist. Anyone else feel that way? 🙋🏼‍♀️

I used to really struggle with an all-or-nothing mentality. If I couldn’t do things perfectly I would just push them off until I thought I “had enough time” or the situation was “just right” for things to be perfect.

A few years ago I learned how to use the “good, better, best” technique to help me still keep my promises to myself even if I couldn’t be perfect.

This one simple trick has helped me learn to train my brain that I can say I’m going to do something and actually do it….even if it’s not as perfect as I actually wanted. This process is what helps me gain momentum towards the things I want to get done instead of getting stuck in the “I’ll start again on Monday” mentality.

I just released a new podcast where I teach this process to you guys, and give you specific examples of times I applied this. I hope you like it!

Xo
Natalie

PS - this is one of the strategies I teach in my 21 Day Challenge. We are starting our challenge up next week and I would LOVE for you to join us! You get daily videos from me for 21 days where I teach you my exact process for learning to get unstuck and re-write your story. Best case scenario: you learn tools that will change your life. Worst case scenario: you get to hang out with me for 21 days :) I hope you will join us! 👉🏻 challenge.nataliehodson.com

Want to know my secret for getting “unstuck” and re-writing your story? 🙋🏼‍♀️

This is the time of year where I see everyone posting about their 2020 resolutions, their “word” for the year, and the changes they want to make. I think it’s great to dream big and have big ideas….but only if you have the tools to actually make that happen.

I recorded a new podcast today where I teach you guys my one simple trick that I’ve used for the last 15 years to actually make changes that stick.

It’s a simple concept, but it works so well and it’s the exact same process I still use to this day.

All you need is an inexpensive whiteboard you can get for less than $10 and the courage to try something that might feel a little out of your comfort zone.

This “microgoals” process that I use is what has helped me build confidence. It’s taught me that I can say I’m going to do something and then actually do it. And it’s what gives me the momentum to stick with things.

I hope you’ll listen and check it out! This concept is also something I teach in my 21 Day Challenge which is starting in just a few days. You should join us! My big promise is that you will have at least one life-altering breakthrough by the end of the 21 days. You’ll learn the tools you need to get “un-stuck” and re-write you story. 👉🏻challenge.nataliehodson.com for more info.

So much love,

Natalie

Earlier this year I dealt with a situation at my daughter’s school where she was being bullied. As a mom, it was something I had never gone through before, and it broke my heart to see how it was impacting her.

I recorded a new podcast today on this topic. I didn’t go into any specific details of what happened that day, but I wanted to record a podcast that I hope will open up a very important conversation on how you can support your kids if they are being bullied. I know that I felt very lost on what to do when this happened with my daughter, and I wish I could have had a resource like this when I was going through it.

So in today’s podcast, I talked about:

-Some of the steps I took (and my attorney advised me to take) during the process working with the school

-How I talked to my daughter about what happened and how it was important to me that she knew I was always going to believe her

-Conversations we had in our home about consent, bullying, and how we can be kinder to others

-Books I purchased that helped me talk to my kids about the situation

I hope you enjoy this one! I believe that when we share our stories, and we talk about things that people don’t always talk about, we are able to live more wholeheartedly. I know how grateful I was from the advice I got from you guys during this situation, and I hope I can provide that same advice to other parents who are going through similar things.

So much love,

Natalie

Something happened a few weeks ago that really bothered me, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I had a FB memory pop up from last year where I posted a status and it said, “I want to learn to snowshoe and cross country ski this year! Any tips on what I need, where I can go to get it, and how to get started?”

I had loads of comments and advice people gave me on that post.

And guess what? I never did it. I never put myself out there and learned to do something I’ve really wanted to do for a long time.

Today, I put out a new podcast where I talk about “Why We Don’t Try New Things”

I think the biggest reason is because most of us are experts at avoiding criticism. It doesn’t feel good to fail or to be judged publicly, so we tend to avoid situations where that might happen. We try to delay potential failure.

I learned in (one of my favorite books ever) “Atomic Habits” by James Clear that a lot of times we get stuck in motion (planning, strategizing, learning, etc). Instead of actually taking action (doing something that produces a result).

Motion (planning, dreaming) makes you feel like you’re getting things done. But really, you’re just preparing to get something done. When preparation becomes a form of procrastination, you need to change something. You don’t want to merely be planning. You want to be practicing.

So that’s what I talk about in my new podcast! I shared with you how I got all my ski gear on a budget ($47 to be exact! Which I was super proud of because normally that gear would have been hundreds of dollars).

How I talked a friend to go with me who had also never been skiing, and how we laughed our way through the falls.

When you embrace the fact that you are always going to suck at the beginning, everything becomes so much easier.

Hope you love this podcast! If you’ve been putting off trying something new because maybe you are afraid of looking like you don’t know what you are doing, or are feeling timid, or just doing too much “planning” instead of taking action, this podcast will be a fun one for you.

Leave a comment and let me know if there’s something you’ve been wanting to do lately that you’ve been putting off! <3

So much love,

Natalie

PS - cross country skiing was a blast and an awesome workout. If you haven’t tried it yet, you should! I’m so glad I did.

Have you ever felt paralyzed before when negative Imposter Syndrome or “I’m-Not-Enough-itis” thoughts start to creep into your head? 👋🏻

I 💯 have! In fact, research actually shows that 70% of us struggle with Imposter Syndrome or feeling like a fraud. Even huge name actors like Jodi Foster, JLo, and Maya Angelou have said they have felt this way too!

I released a new podcast today where I talk about how this happened to me recently. I got a really cool opportunity to speak on stage at Brendon Burchard’s Influencer event. I remember the day so clearly…. when I saw that text on my phone pop up from Brendon asking me to be there - I was so excited in that moment!

Later that day, they asked me to send in a bio and headshot. As I was sitting there in my chair in front of my computer I was staring at the blank cursor on my screen and just couldn’t come up with the words to write my bio.

I started reading the bios of all the other amazing speakers (Rachel Hollis, Tom Bilyeu, Lewis Howes, Trent Shelton, Dean Graziosi, and others)...and those negative voices started to creep into my head.

“Natalie, you haven’t written a New York Times Bestseller Book like Rachel has...”

“Natalie, you don’t reach 60M people weekly like Trent does with his videos...”

“Natalie, you haven’t done $1Billion in sales revenue like Dean has...”

“Natalie, your podcast doesn’t have 100M downloads like Lewis’ does...”

In my podcast today, I talk about what that day was like for me, and how I worked through it. And other times I’ve felt this way (launching new products in my business, not feeling good enough at mom groups, not thinking I was smart enough around my internet marketing friends, not feeling “fit” enough in a swimsuit in public, etc).

I shared with you my 5 strategies for beating those imposter syndrome feelings when they creep up...things you can implement today if you’re struggling with this too.

Ultimately, I knew I had two options. Option 1: I could let the imposter syndrome paralyze me and do nothing. Cancel my invitation, or shrink into that fear. Or Option 2: I could show up anyways.

I chose to show up.

The braver choice.

I reminded myself that I was asked to be there for a reason, and that I have a unique voice that nobody else has. I wholeheartedly believe that pushing through those negative voices, and putting yourself in hard or uncomfortable situations are what ACTUALLY give you the grit and tenacity needed to be successful.

Learning how to do this over and over and over again (even when it feels hard) is the secret that what will lead you to long term success and greatness.

Hope you love the podcast!

Xo
Natalie

Shame and How It's Holding You Back From Achieving EVERYTHING You Want In Your Life- LIVE Presentation I am OBSESSED with the idea that... Just because you failed, doesn't mean you're a failure. Failing is an act, a failure is your identity. The thing about identity is that it's malleable. You can put steps in place to change things about yourself. So anyway we look at a time we've screwed up, failed a class, messed up a promotion, felt like we did a bad job as parents, we have the chance to change it and fix it. I have put so much shame around failure in my past and I think it's important to learn how to work through that and get past it so that it doesn't keep you from trying again. So today,I pulled the audio from a live presentation I did in my 30 Day Challenge and shared it with all of you. I hope you love it! xoxo, Natalie

Todays podcast was awesome! I brought on my personal therapist, Rick Boyes! Rick has truly changed my life and helped me identify issues I didn't even know I had. I get tons of messages asking about therapy and finding a therapist so I hope this helps!

I always imagined counseling to be this kind of awkward sit down where you talk about how you feel and the counselor just nods their head. What I love about Rick is he calls you out on your stuff, and helps you work through issues and traumas quickly. My life has changed so positively because of him and the work we have done together. I urge anyone in need of a counselor to listen to this podcast and seek therapy today. Sometimes we get stuck and it's OKAY to need help conquering our darknesses.

A little about Rick: He has both his Masters and PhD in Counseling and Counselor Education and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. He also teaches at a local University here as the Director of Trauma, Grief and Crisis.

We cover:

Psychological survival skills and how we adapt
Readiness for change and how to get there - EMDR and hypnotherapy and what it's used for - Marriage and relationships and the agenda we carry in the beginning of relationships - How our brain turns parts off and on when we talk about our traumas - Suggestions on what YOU can look for if you're searching for specific therapy or don't know where to start ... so much more! I hope this helps anyone in need of therapy. xoxo, Natalie

I loved recording this podcast so much. We talked for so long, we had to cut this into two parts. If you haven't listened to part one already, go check it out before you listen to part two so you can get these amazing people's back story.

Last podcast, we talked about what it was like to go through a divorce, for your husband to come out as gay, and how to continue co-parenting with such a unique dynamic.

Today we go into:

How to accept yourself and own your story
How to handle hate from other people and not let it define you
Jealousy in a marriage
Ex-spouses that are still a part of your life, and how to get that amazing connection these three have

... so much more!

I just want to take a minute to remind everyone exactly what this podcast is about. Owning who you are and knowing that that's how you can become your best you is so important.

"Once you own your story, it no longer has power of you." -Brene Brown

I had such a great time recording this, I can't wait for you to listen! I had three of my great friends, Jessica, Steve and Matt on. We talked so long that we had to cut this into two parts.

"Steve and Jessica were happily married for 7 years until Steve came out as being gay which inevitably ended in divorce. Now, Matt and Jessica have been happily married for 6 years. As you can see, Matt, Jessica, and Steve have a relationship that, by most standards, would be considered atypical." No matter what situation you're in, you can walk away with something from this podcast today. The respect these three have for one another is so inspiring! These three have a podcast called Husband In-Law that I recommend everyone check out for some amazing advice in parenting, marriage, relationships and so much more!

They leave nothing off the table and really reinforce the saying, "once you own your story, you can take the power away from it."

I hope you guys enjoy part one of two!

Today, this whole podcast is about negative and unproductive thoughts! So many times we go down the rabbit hole of believing things our mind is telling us when we feel scared, insecure or like we are failing. I have done this so many times, so I came up with a system that I always use to replace those thoughts with a “how?” question. I give you the step-by-step system I shared in my 21 day challenge, on how to keep thoughts from leading you down that same rabbit hole and instead, get your mind to ask HOW can I take this on and make it happen? I hope you all can take this podcast and apply it to something you are struggling to achieve but know you want to.

We cover:

How negative thoughts can make you not be able to do something you really want to do and how replacing those with a “how” question can change your reality
A three question process I use to get rid of insecurities
Helpful books that have helped me come up with the tools I use and share

I hope you love it!

Xoxo,

Natalie

podcast.nataliehodson.com

So many of you guys reach out with questions about the aftermath of divorce, I decided to bring on two of my friends, Angie and Marie, to dig deep and talk about the "grieving" process of a divorce. They have an awesome community of women that they call "The Unwed's" where they lift each other up by sharing advice and stories... post divorce.

We cover:

The first year post divorce
Dating
Prenuptials
The broken feeling you have afterwards and how to work through that
Having kids during and after

...and so much more!

Hope you love it!

xoxo,

Natalie

I am SO excited for you guys to listen to this podcast! Today, I have brought one of my good friends from the business group I am in and we dive deep into the emotional and psychological side of MONEY! Ryan has an amazing business focused on helping people achieve financial freedom and his passion for helping people shines through. He shares raw stories about his own struggles to remove that shame that so many of us have felt around money, debt and even status.

We cover:

How to teach your kids the value of money
How to remove the shame around money
Some of his own stories of struggle
How his son needed heart surgery around the same time Ryan found out he lost 80% of his savings AND was living in a different state than his family
His goal of empowering people to live a purpose driven life TODAY

... and so much more!

Ryan teaches people not only to budget or save but how to feel FREE from debt and financial burden. He takes into consideration the emotional side of spending and helps you invest in yourself and taking that burden off your shoulders long term. Today, he really pulled back the curtain.

podcast.nataliehodson.com

To learn more about Ryan:

https://cashflowtactics.com/about/ or you can check him out on youtube!

I hope you love this podcast!

Xoxo,

Natalie

P.S. For more info on the EXCITING 30-day challenge I talked about in the podcast today, go to:

challenge.nataliehodson.com/promises

The Power Of Vulnerability- LIVE Presentation

This podcast is a little different today… We pulled the audio from a live presentation I did with Russel Brunson’s inner circle, talking about vulnerability. As Brene Brown says, “vulnerability is our unsuspecting super power,” and it has been a KEY part of both my personal and business life. A lot of people tell me that trying to be vulnerable is like standing naked in front of the whole school, and it can be. It will be, but it is SO important to use your shame and times that make you feel vulnerable to make connections and tell your story.

We cover:

Tips for opening up and becoming more vulnerable
Go over people that have helped me become more vulnerable
My tips on building an “emotional story”
Turning shame into something positive

I hope you enjoy this podcast!

Xoxo,

Natalie

“YOU are the only one that can give your loved ones a healthy mother, spouse and friend that loves her life.”

I have had so many people reach out and ask how to run a business with a spouse so I brought on my good friend and amazing entrepreneur, Marley Baird. Marley is a youtube guru and runs an AWESOME business with her husband. In this podcast she talks about the ups and downs and gives great advice on how to keep family and business separate and when you can’t, how to balance both at the same time. Marley pulls back the curtain on times she has been so burned out and stressed she was having physical symptoms and shares ways she has taken a step back and gotten the mental and physical rest and help needed to run a business and stay healthy emotionally.

In this podcast we cover:

Running a business with your partner
Feeling burned out or exhausted and how to recharge
How to generate your own self worth and not depend on others to give you value
Taking care of your marriage and mental health
Some fun tips on growing and scaling an audience

This podcast really pulled back the curtain on mental and emotional health and I hope you guys love it as much as I do!

You can also check out Marley’s website at bairdstrategycall.com

Xoxo,

Natalie

Last month my son started asking some questions… questions about sex. So it was that time to have “the talk”. I decided to record a podcast about this because I found myself so nervous and didn’t really know where or how to start. I reached out to some girlfriends that recommended some really good books that made this a lot easier.

We sat down and read, “It’s Not The Stork!” by Robie H. Harris and I just let them ask questions and reminded them that it was nothing to be embarrassed about. I think that when you have this conversation with your kids, it's important to remember that it's mostly about you and a little bit about them.

I want to hear about your experience with this and any tips you have! I definitely recorded this podcast to open up a conversation with you guys!

In this podcast:

My son asks me a pretty funny question!
The importance of knowing the anatomy and how to explain that to your kids
The books that really helped me have this conversation
How to approach this if you’re coparenting
How I explained some of the touchy questions your kids might ask
If they get embarrassed, what to say

Hope you guys love it!

Xoxo,

Natalie

Podcast.nataliehodson.com

P.S. You might hear me take a little break in the podcast to talk about something I am REALLY excited about! Check out the link below to find out!

challenge.nataliehodson.com/promises

I traveled to Las Vegas AND New York City for speaking events in the span of ten days last week. It was a lot of travel and kind of took its toll on me. (I’m actually not someone who loves travel and I am kind of a homebody and prefer being at home with my normal routine and my garden - anyone else? Or am I just weird that way?)

A lot of you guys asked how I handle my diet and workouts when I travel, so I recorded a quick podcast talking about what I did well on these trips, and what I totally bombed at.

Things we go over:
-What kind of quick grab and go snacks you can pack in your suitcase

-Which is more important on vacation: follow your diet or getting your workout in?

-How to order at a restaurant when on vacation but still trying to be mindful of your calories.

-My secret little trick for order wine, bread, and/or dessert at dinner.

-How to modify your workouts with a hotel gym.

Hope you enjoy it! Do you have any tips for traveling? I’d love to start a conversation here! Let me know in the comments!

Xo
Natalie

This is a question I get asked so often, I wanted to record a podcast on it and “Pull Back The Curtain” to talk about a topic that can often be a sensitive one.

I brought in one of my best friends @rikki__g for this podcast, because like me she also is coparenting her two kids with her ex husband.

We go over:
-How the first year is always the roughest, but that it can get better
-What kinds of questions to ask your attorney when you are going through the divorce process
-How it’s important to make it about the kids first, and put aside your hurt feelings and anger when it comes to parenting your kids
-How a new wife/husband coming into the picture can actually help improve your relationship
-How to handle jealousy with your ex

-The phrase “out of your control, bro”

-How to set aside control issues you might have around the way the kids are being parented at the other home
-And so much more!

I’d love to start a conversation in the comments on this topic! If you have gone through a divorce, what is your #1 tip you would give a friend in a similar spot to help improve their coparenting relationship with their ex?

So much love,

Natalie

Today I brought on my two friends, Bryan and Stephanie Dulaney. We talk about their business, the crazy story about how they met and so much more!

When Bryan was in college he survived a near death experience that left him in a coma that doctors say he should never have woken up from. Bryan then turns this story into such an inspiring one by listening to the small promptings that came after that to make some big changes in his life.

I loved hearing Bryan talk about how he took something so devastating and turned it into what he has now.

In this podcast we also cover:

Stephanie's pregnancy
How to listen to "the signs" the universe is giving you to help you fulfill your total potential
How Stephanie sent Bryan an instagram message that ended up with her spontaneously flying to Hawaii to meet Bryan for the first time
Tools for communicating if you and your partner are running a business together

... and so much more!

Hope you love it!

xoxo,

Natalie

I’ve never cried during a podcast….until this one. I hope you will take the time to listen to it, the stories that my friends Wallace and Ashlan Nelson touched me deeply.

Ashlan and Wallace are two of my favorite humans on this planet. And in this podcast, we talked about SO many things!

Wallace shared his stories of growing up with a powerhouse mother who was a strong business woman, and how she pioneered the way in a male-dominated market as a naturopathic doctor and the mark that left on him.

Ashlan and Wallace talk about their new program called Vitavore that is exploding in popularity that teaches people how to eat intuitively while getting amazing fat loss results!

THEN...Ashlan completely blew me away (and made me cry) when she opened up and talked about how she felt completely broken after she went through her divorce. She told me how she was a single mom working as a hair stylist, and burning the candle at both ends while she tried to make money, raise babies, and take care of herself at the same time. She dove deep on self worth, and the specific steps she followed as she began to believe in herself again.

Ashlan and Wallace have EIGHT kids, and we talked about how they balance work and family life and bringing blended families together.

This was a packed podcast that, I promise you, will leave you loving these two as much as I do.

If you want to learn more about these two amazing humans you can at their sites:
www.vitavore.com

www.unstoppablesylist.com

So much love,

Natalie

I hope you had a chance to listen to Part 1 of this awesome podcast with Alison and Makayla Prince! This mom/daughter duo have such an amazing story and I am SO grateful they agreed to be on my podcast.

In part 1, we share Alison’s journey of how she went from qualifying to food stamps to building her own multi-million dollar businesses.

But the story doesn’t end there….in Part 2 I spend a lot of time with her daughter Makayla and we share her story. And boy is it a cool story!

At age 13, Makayla (and her 11 year old sister) took the framework their mom taught them about starting businesses, and made $100k in 9 months selling scarves!

In this podcast we dig deep into:
-The specific things Alison and her husband did to instill financial responsibility in their kids
-What it was like for Makayla watching her mom build businesses and raise babies as she was growing up

-What is was like for her as a teenager entrepreneur and how her friends responded to her being a business owner at a young age

-Her plans after high school, and her decision to not go to college and to work on her businesses instead

These two are great friends of mine, and they’ve inspired me to change a lot of the things I’m doing with my own kids when it comes to money and finances. I hope you love it and make sure to follow @alisonjprince and @makaylaprince - they are genuinely good people and such rockstars.

Xo
Natalie

I am so excited to introduce you guys to my friend Alison Prince and her daughter Makayla Prince. Alison is one of my closest friends and I love our friendship because we have the kind of relationship where I can call or text her when I’m struggling with my business AND I can call or text her when things are going great and we cheer each other on and support one another without jealousy or competition. #strongwomensupportingstrongwomen

Alison has an INCREDIBLY cool story, and I brought her on the podcast to share it. She graduated from college and had her teaching degree, and was shocked when she got her first teaching job and wasn’t making enough to even afford groceries - her salary qualified her for food stamps.

With a new baby on the way, she knew she had to make some changes and that’s when she began her entrepreneurial journey.

The stories she shares of her failures and successes along the way gave me chills! Alison started her first business by selling scraps she found around her house!

We actually ended up breaking this one into two parts because it got long, but in this first part we start sharing the story of how she taught her four kids money principles at a young age (including cutting them off financially at twelve years old)! Her daughter Makayla is on the podcast too, talking about what it was like growing up watching her mom start various businesses. And, in fact, Makayla and her sister started their own business at just 11 and 13 years old and make 100k in 9 months selling….scarves!

I hope you love this podcast as much as I loved recording it. Alison and Makayla are two women who I love and look up to, and have pure hearts of gold.

So much love,

Natalie

This was such a special podcast I recorded with my dad and sister. It might be my #1 favorite podcast so far. Fair warning….you might want tissues!

My little sister, Erica, was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia when she was just 3 years old. In this podcast, we brought my dad in to retell the story of what our family went through during this time (I was just 8 years old so don’t remember a lot of the details).

They both went into detail on:

-What it was like for him emotionally to find out his first-born child had been diagnosed with cancer.

-The treatment the hospital in the United States had her do.

-A spiritual experience, high fever, and dream that Erica had that he believes contributed to her remission.

-Explanation of why they chose to bring Erica to Mexico for treatment and what forms of treatment they performed in Mexico.

-What it was physically like for Erica to go through this experience and how that has impacted her physical and mental health for the rest of her life.

We all started crying at various points while we recorded this podcast. I know so many of us have been impacted by cancer, and I hope that sharing this story can bring us all closer together.

So much love,

Natalie

I recorded SUCH a fun podcast with my friend @myrongolden and we just released it today! Myron is arguably one of the best salesmen in the world and he has such a cool story…. In fact he talks a lot about his background in his book “Trash Man to Cash Man”, and Myron is somebody who has personally helped me so much with my own money mindset, not feeling guilty for charging people for your services, and how to provide as much value to your customers as possible.

In today’s podcast, we talk about a lot of fun topics!

-The fun story of how he romanced his wife with poetry and how they met

-How he got started in sales…..and how he tried selling insurance for 18 months before he ever made a dime

-Why you should never feel guilty for charging what you are worth
-How to provide the most value possible inside the products you sell
-How to teach your kids to understand the value of money

And so much more. I laughed in this podcast so many times I can’t even count! I hope you love listening as much as I loved recording it.

So much love,
Natalie

In this podcast, I talk about the other day when I yelled at my kids. I talk about the importance of self-care, how to help my kids next time.

It was a hard morning. The house was a mess, they turned on the TV right when they woke up, they wouldn't clean up after themselves, and they both had meltdowns. After that, I had a meltdown of my own.

On social media, my first Instagram story showed me making homemade blueberry waffles for them. If I had left it at that, no one would have known about my "motherhood sucks" day. But, I decided to record a story about what happened.

What I discovered was that these honest moments are so important for the motherhood community so we all know we aren't alone when motherhood sucks. It's also a reminder that we often don't see the bad moments on social media.

Hope you like it!

This was SUCH a fun podcast to record!! I had my friend Jeff Brewer come over and we had a blast recording this podcast. Jeff is a master at helping people launch their products (he was hugely instrumental in our pregnancy training guide launch last year), and I thought we were going to talk business, but I was pleasantly surprised when we really pulled back the curtain and our conversation took a different direction.

Jeff shared how when he was in junior high, his father was sent to prison for embezzlement. He was the same age I was when my mom was sent to prison! We connected on a lot of levels, and he shared what it was like for him at that age, how his mom was a huge influence in his life as he watched her build companies and raise her boys…..all as a single mom.

He shared hardships he went through to get to where he is at now, including developing a severe stutter as an adult and the steps he went through to work through that.

We finished up by talking about things he felt his mom did a great job with as a single parent that helped shape his own drive and work ethic.

This will be a great podcast to tune into if you want to hear a great story of someone who has overcome many obstacles in their way to get to where they are at. I loved recording this episode and hope you guys love it too!

A few years ago I went through one of the most painful and emotional experiences of my life. I had an ectopic pregnancy and lost a baby that I wanted so badly. I released a podcast today where I talk about my experience, tell the entire story of what happened, the ambulance ride, the emergency surgery they had to perform, how I lost a fallopian tube, and the emotional roller coaster that I experienced afterwards.

Miscarriage is something I completely misunderstood….until I went through it myself. This is embarrassing to admit, but I used to remember thinking (when I heard about other women having miscarriages), “well...that’s sad but not as sad as if they lost a REAL baby”. I now know that the experiences are completely different, but I was so naive back then to how hard the experience really is for a mother.

In this podcast I talk about:

-My own story and experience
-How I went from sad and angry, to thankful, back to sad and angry and feelings of “not fair”
-What my recovery from the surgery was like (might be a bit TMI)
-How my husband (now ex-husband) handled things differently than I did
-The feelings of hatred I had towards my body for letting me down
-The anxiety attacks I experienced afterwards
-The fears I had/have about having any more children and having it happen again
-Tips on what to say and what NOT to say if a friend or loved one has gone through a miscarriage

I hope you tune in. I wish this is a topic that more people openly talked about. For me, knowing I wasn’t alone in my experience helped me heal and cope so much.

So much love,

Natalie

This is probably up there with my top 3 favorite podcasts I’ve ever recorded. If you haven’t listened to any of my podcasts, I hope you’ll check out this one! It’s good!

Questions I get asked often:
“What do you do when you don’t want to keep going with your fitness goals?”
“Natalie, how do I even get started with this business idea I have?”
“I’m feeling paralyzed by perfection.”

In this podcast, I fill you in on the new projects I’m working on right now (like our mountain retreat!), my exact step-by-step process of how I pull the ideas out of my head, get them on paper, and create an actual product.

It’s the exact same process I go through when I’m feeling stuck with my weight loss and fitness goals.

Action creates momentum. Remind yourself of this over and over if you have to. Write it on a sticky note and tape it to the wall if you need to.

Imperfect action is better than no action at all.

My top three tips (which I explain in more detail in the podcast) are:
1) Just get started. Don’t be that person who always is waiting to “start on Monday”. Start right now with what you have. I explain my “brain dump” process which is what you see in this photo.
2) Find a mentor and/or surround yourself with a tribe of people who have similar goals. I am a very influenceable person (which can be good or bad) and I know that if I surround myself with people doing the same types of things I want to be doing….I will have much better success.
3) Be realistic. Do a social media cleanse if you are following anyone who makes you feel “less than” or “not enough”. Remember that you have to have a 1.0 version before you can ever get a 2.0 or a 10.0 version. Everyone begins somewhere.

Hope you’ll listen and I hope you love it <3

So much love,
Natalie

Nicholas Bayerle is a man who understands what it means to struggle.

He understands how to take the pain of your past and use that pain to create a life you want.

Nicholas (and his wife Amanda) are friends of mine and he has an amazing story of struggle and success that will bring you to tears and inspire you to begin believing in yourself and how to begin taking action when you are doubting yourself.

We go over topics like:

-How to help encourage your kids to grow up with confidence and believe in themselves

-How he overcame depression and near suicide

-How he and his wife work together to run their business

-How he learned to eat healthy and begin exercising

-His top secrets for getting motivated and getting started

If you’ve ever felt doubt, crippling anxiety, or asked the question, “Who am I to do this?” Then you will love this episode with my friend Nicholas.

This is one of the top questions I get asked!! People DM me and say, “Natalie...I love all your outdoors pictures, and I want to do something like that but I’m afraid to go alone!” So, I recorded a podcast talking about everything I know about backpacking and how I overcame my fear too. In this podcast I go over:

-How I had never backpacked before in my life, showed up at REI one day, bought everything I thought I would need, and hiked 150 miles on the Appalachian trail all my myself (3 years ago).

-How to figure out where to go, and the best places to find what trails to hike (books to buy, apps to download, people to talk to, etc)

-What to pack and my top 3 items I never leave without

-If you want to carry a gun, I talk about the pros/cons and what kind of handgun I have

-How I sometimes feel that I have kind of a wild spirit to me, and spending time alone in nature helps me keep that in check.

And so much more! I share a bunch of crazy stories, but I hope you like this one, I had a ton of fun recording it.

“Some people hear their own inner voices with great clearness and they live by what they hear. Such people become crazy, or they become legends.” - One Stab

Xo - Natalie

Narcissism is a term I had NEVER heard of in my entire life until this past year. I sat down with two of my closest girlfriends, Rikki and Mandy in today’s episode. We continue our podcast on Narcissism, this is part 2 where we talk about how to move on if you’ve been in a toxic relationship with a narcissist. This was one of my most popular podcasts so far, I’m excited to share Part 2 with you guys! Things we go over:

-What you need to do to emotionally get over the feeling of being alone after removing a narcissist from your life

-What type of inner work you need to do to get over a toxic relationship with a narcissist

-How you can help a friend who is in a narcissistic relationship

-How to go no-contact and also how to deal with a narcissistic in your life you can’t remove (parent, sibling, co-parent, etc)

Hope you guys love it! Link in my bio.

Xo
Natalie

“A narcissist will burn down your house to warm up their hands.”

I had never heard about the term “narcissism” until last year when two of my closest girlfriends introduced me to what narcissism is, how to recognize it, and how to heal from it. Someone who has a complete lack of empathy for others, who thinks very highly of oneself, needing admiration and believing others are inferior.

We had so much fun recording this podcast!

Things we cover in this podcast:

-What is Narcissism

-How you can tell if you are in a relationship with a narcissist

-The difference between being a narcissist or just having narcissistic tendencies

-What terms like: love bombing, gaslighting, and future faking mean

-Our own stories of having narcissistic family members, narcissistic best friends, and narcissistic ex-boyfriends

-A narcissist’s cycle of overvalue, devalue and discard

So many of you guys say that listening to my podcast makes you feel like you are sitting around having a glass of wine with a girlfriend...so that’s what we did here! We sat around a table, shared our stories and experiences, and what we have learned through those experiences. We talked for a long time so turned this into a Part 1 and a Part 2 series, I hope you love it!

So much love,
Natalie

Today’s podcast is a little bit of a confessional...if you haven’t listened to my last podcast about #75Hard you should listen to that one first. But, long story short I slipped up on #75Hard, and on this program when you mess up you go back to Day 1. I give all the details of what happened, what I learned from it, and how I’m going to work through it all on today’s podcast.

My main takeaways:

-My body DOES feel better when I’m getting my steps in, outdoor walking, and drinking a gallon of water a day.

-Doing hard things are important, but I also believe in the importance of habit stacking, being realistic with your goal setting, and not changing too many things all at once.

-The way you speak to yourself matters, and at the end I touch on my top tips for learning to speak kindly to yourself even if you aren’t exactly where you want to be with your physique.

-It’s ok to show yourself grace when you mess up. The most important part when you screw up is to dust your knees off, stand back up, and make sure the story you tell yourself isn’t “I’m a failure” but the story you tell yourself is, “I got in the arena, I tried, I stumbled, how can I re-adjust to make this a win for me next time?”

Hope you guys enjoy this one!

Love you guys!

Xo - Natalie

This podcast style was a little different! I just recorded an “Ask Me Anything (AMA)” style podcast where I took your guys’ questions and answered them in more detail than I can provide anywhere else. Questions like:

-Would you ever consider having more kids?

-Tips on feeling worthy to have major success whether it’s business, personal, etc?

-What was one moment that changed your view on your own self confidence?

-Any advice on long distance relationships?

-Are you still doing #75hard and if so what diet are you following?

-What do you eat for breakfast when you don’t have time to cook?

-How do you feel about keto?

-Update on your health and the weird rash you had?

-What is the best way to prepare elk meat?

-How do you handle a spouse who isn’t supportive for an online business?

-Do you ever do fasting and if so do you workout while fasting?

And more! Hope you guys love it!
xo - Natalie

Have you ever heard me joke (but I’m not really joking) that I’m a secret prepper? Like….a doomsday type-prepper lol. Even though I don’t actually think there are any big conspiracies out there or anything like that, I DO see a ton of value in having the skills necessary to take care of yourself if something crazy were to happen. For example, what if you didn’t have a grocery store you could just run to and get your food? Would you know how to cook things if you didn’t have electricity for a week? Even though the chances are slim of something like that happening, I love learning and having the knowledge and skills that make me feel prepared.

In today’s podcast, I share some fun stories about growing up that helped me lean towards this lifestyle, the benefits of growing your own food, what kinds of things you can grow to (for example) reduce fever, get rid of toothache, or how to build a backyard brick oven with bricks if you had no electricity, and then I share my best tips on how to get started if you are interested also.

I could give you a whole bag of excuses why, but none of them really matter. The past five-ish months I just haven’t been super consistent with my workouts. Truthfully, it’s kind of annoyed me because I tend to identify as someone who...when I say I am going to do something, I typically do it.

So, I decided to commit to an extreme #75hard challenge that I saw @andyfrisella start. It’s tough and it’s intense, and it isn’t a physical transformation challenge but rather a mental transformation challenge. I was amped up when I listened to his podcast, and intrigued by the idea of using this challenge to create mental toughness.

In today’s podcast, I share a little bit more insight into why I decided to do this. Then I tell you guys my three secrets….the things that you MUST do if you want to make a big change in your life.

I hope you love it! - Natalie

Have you ever put yourself out there, or shared something really personal and then instantly felt exposed, and regretful, and maybe even a little sick? Yeah….that’s called a Vulnerability Hangover. And even though I share my stories often….I still go through this nearly every time I share.

The irony of being vulnerable, is that when YOU are the one being vulnerable it makes you feel small, and scared….but vulnerability serves a purpose. Brene Brown (if you haven’t watched her Tedx talk yet go do it right now. Her work changed my life in so many positive ways) says, “vulnerability is our most accurate measure of courage.”

I one time heard Roman Krznaric say, “We live in a culture where making yourself vulnerable – exposing your fears and uncertainties, taking emotional risks – is considered a form of weakness, and something most of us want to run away from. But Brené’s research reveals the hugely positive outcomes that emerge from stepping into the arena of vulnerability. It is precisely when we expose ourselves – perhaps in a relationship or at work – that ‘we have experiences that bring purpose and meaning to our lives’.”In last week’s podcast about my mom, I shared a lot of things I haven’t really talked about publicly before. I still kept parts of the story out that I felt like weren’t necessarily my story to tell, but I shared my experience of how I grew up through my own lens. As soon as the podcast went live, I started almost instantly feeling like I was standing naked on stage. Like my story was out there for everyone to see and judge. I handled some of it well, and some of it...not so well. I talk about the aftermath of sharing in today’s podcast, and give a few tips for how to handle a vulnerability hangover when you go through it too.

At the end of the day, I am glad I shared. Just like Brene Brown says, “when you own your story, that story no longer has power over you.” I’ll probably never quit sharing my stories. It’s just a part of who I am. The less shame I have around my stories and my past, the more I have been able to live wholeheartedly, and frankly just be a happier person. xo - Natalie

“Imperfections are not inadequacies. They are reminders that we are all in this together.” One of my favorite quotes from Brene Brown. In this podcast, I share how this concept has helped strengthen my relationships with my friends, my kids, and in my business. I was at an event in the Bahamas a few weeks ago and I taught this concept and related it to my favorite Nintendo game: Mario Kart! I share it all in this podcast, hope you love it!

I remember these days so vividly. Trying to work from home, but still having toddlers to entertain….trying to type while bouncing them on my lap or giving them coloring books to draw on (and hopefully not draw all over the table). This picture was four years ago, and I just knew so badly I had something inside me that was….meant for more. I just didn’t know exactly what that looked like, or how I was going to get there. Even though I loved being a mom, I still wanted something that was “my own” outside of just changing diapers and making school lunches. Fast forward a few years later, and I was able to build a multi-million dollar online business, but it didn’t just happen overnight. In fact, I would argue that it was all the failures and experiences that happened along the way that prepared me to run the company I have now. In today’s podcast, I go over the “backstory” to where my business is at now! How I got here, the crazy jobs I took along the way, what made me feel fulfilled and what made me feel miserable, and all the ups and downs I experienced as I was building my business. Hope you enjoy it! xo - Natalie

Part 2 of our Dating 101 podcast was released today! Part 1 was so popular! In this Part 2 episode @dustinolson21 and I go over:

-Dopamine effect of new romances

-Setting proper expectations

-Ghosting

-Guy code

-Difference between connection vs attachment

and more! We laughed a lot, I told some of my more recent painful dating experiences, and we both shared stories. I hope you guys love this episode, and like I mentioned before, comment with any of your dating questions and/or use the hashtag #DatingWithDustin - he has great insight and gives great advice!

-Natalie

So far, my most downloaded podcast (hands down) was the Sex After Divorce podcast I did with one of my closest friends @lynn_livinmybestlife. It had 5x more downloads than any of my others! So many of you responded and said you would love to hear a similar conversation from a guys point of view! So, for this episode I brought on one of my good guy friends, @dustinolson21, and in true “Pulling Back the Curtain” fashion...we get into all the dating questions most people are too shy to talk about I had a blast recording this podcast, and we chatted for so long I broke this podcast into two parts. In Part 1, we go over Dating 101 questions like:

-red flags from a guy’s point of view

-our worst first date experiences

-how to figure out what you want in a partner

-dating apps and will you probably find your soul mate on one?

Hope you guys enjoy this podcast! I think you’re going to love it :) - Natalie

PS - we started a new hashtag #datingwithdustin you can ask Dustin your dating questions with it! he gives great dating advice! I always ask him my dating questions all the time, and I seriously think he should start his own IG page for it! Until I can convince him of that, we’ll start with a hashtag :)

I have had so many moments through motherhood where I have really screwed up. We all have been there. Today, I talk about the very real "mom guilt" we all struggle with. It's so easy to not show ourselves grace and beat ourselves up over every little thing we do as mothers. But I believe that kids watch what you do more than what you say, habits are caught not taught. My hope for my kids is that they can grow up knowing that their mom wasn't afraid to try, that I chased my dreams and could admit when I screwed up and apologize for it. The more grace I can show myself, the more it teaches my kids that they can show themselves grace. We are all doing the best we can. In this podcast I talk about the amazing week I had as a working single-mom and then came home to a serious "mom guilt" moment.

I had so much fun recording this podcast with my friend Amy Ledin, she is somebody that I have personally learned so much from and I've implemented so many of the tips that she shares into my own personal life. I wanted to introduce her to you guys because everything that she teaches about habits and discipline has seriously helped me so much.

I know you guys are going to love this podcast.

xo Natalie

Andrew Coussens was getting ready for his 22nd deployment when he found out his wife had taken her life. Instantly, he became a single dad to his three young kids and had to figure out his “new normal” as he coped with grief, an entirely new day-to-day life, and parenting solo. I had him on my podcast to talk about his new book “A Failed State” which is a fiction book that parallels his own experience with the military, the dynamic of deployment and how that impacts families, and more.

We dug deep into how to handle grief when you lose a loved one, what it’s like for military spouses, and single parenting. I had a blast on this podcast and I really think anyone who listens will relate to some or many parts of what we talked about.

Can’t wait for you to listen to it, it truly was a joy to have Andrew as a guest!

Natalie

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I have brought on one of my good friends, Stacey Martino, who is a relationship expert, and we dive deep into some of the messy topics around why marriages struggle and how you can build an unshakeable love in your marriage.

I hope you guys love this podcast. I know you're going love Stacey and I can't wait to hear what you think.

Visit Stacey at RelationshipBreakthroughSecrets.com

xo Natalie

Say YES. Figure it out later. Put yourself at risk of something extraordinary happening. Don’t worry if you don't know how to do it. And if it scares you, even more reason to say yes and get after it.

I put up a brand new podcast today talking about everything related to saying yes even when you feel scared, even when you think you're inadequate, even if you think you're not enough, how to work through that and some of the really awesome opportunities that can come from facing those fears and saying yes anyway…..even if you don't know how to do it. I tell a story about how saying yes (when years ago I would have been afraid to do this), led me to help one of my business mentors Russell Brunson at an event for 35,000 people this weekend and then a trip to the Bahamas on a private yacht.

I hope you love it. Thank you to each of you who listen to my weekly podcasts. Recording these podcasts has become one of my new favorite things.

xo Natalie

Welcome to the Pulling Back The Curtain podcast. Today I brought on my good friend Ashley Penrod, the COO of my company. Together we share moments we've had as parents, that we aren't that proud of, but we know that whenever we share our stories with our girlfriend's they open up and share their struggles too and know they aren't alone.

I hope you like it.

Your friend,

Natalie

On today's podcast, I brought on my good friend Annie Grace. Annie and I talk about the social programming we have as a society that encourages drinking, why it can be hard to stop drinking sometimes when you want to, and some really good scientific tips and practical advice if you have been wanting to cut down on your alcohol consumption or stop altogether.

I hope you guys love this podcast! I love Annie, and her book has helped so many people.

Your friend,
Natalie

Today I open up and talk about a topic that I’ve never really talked about publicly before. It’s a question that maybe some of us have asked ourselves at times, “Am I drinking too much right now?” So this is a podcast I was really nervous to record, because I think there was a time in my life I would have judged many of the stories I share and talk about. This is Part 1 in a 2-part series talking about alcohol and drinking and my own and others’ experiences with it. I hope you can take a minute to listen, and if you enjoy it, come back here and leave a comment with your own thoughts on this topic.

Your friend,

Natalie

It’s a couple of weeks into the new year and a lot of us are starting to maybe slip from our New Years goals and resolutions. I’m super excited for the podcast we released today because we talk about this! I brought on my good friend JazzyThings who is a total rockstar in the kitchen and makes healthy meals easy to make. We both talk about our own struggles with food and give some really good, actionable tips of things you can do right now if you're struggling with eating healthy.

Xo Natalie

After I released the podcast “What It Feels Like To Wake Up To $170k In Student Loan Debt”, I got hundreds of messages and emails from you guys asking for more specific tips on HOW to save, HOW to budget, and HOW to pay off debt. Some of these tips seem silly, but they seriously really did help me a lot when I was aggressively paying off that debt, and they are things I still do today.

Xo - Natalie

Today on the Pulling Back The Curtain podcast, I am opening up about something I used to be embarrassed to admit but, I recently started talking about more because….well….truthfully I wish I would have known years ago how helpful this has been for me. I recently started going to see a therapist and it has been one of the most healing, and helpful things I did for myself in 2018. I released a podcast this morning talking about something my therapist shared with me in one of our recent sessions, and it is one of the main reasons he said he sees some relationships last 30+ years and why other relationships struggle. It all has to do with unspoken expectations, and I share some of my own stories and experiences where I have struggled in this area.

Leave a comment/review if you do listen and let me know your thoughts!

Xo - Natalie

Welcome to my pulling back the curtain podcast! Today, I am interviewing my friend and CEO of Simple Green Smoothies, Jen Hansard. She talks about going from being on WIC to owning her own business. I can’t wait for you to listen to her fun stories and pulling back the curtain on shame, comparison and that “mom guilt” we all feel.

xo Natalie

On today's Pulling Back The Curtain podcast, I brought one of my closest friends, Lynn Manning, and we talk all about sex after divorce. When I was going through my own divorce, Lynn was about six months ahead of me in her divorce, and we co-owned a company together at the time where we would live together in a house for 2-3 weeks at a time and film workouts. I remember having so many questions, things I was SUPER embarrassed to even say out loud, let alone ask anyone else about. During that time Lynn helped talk me through a lot of my worries, insecurities, and just showed me through example that it’s ok to be comfortable talking about sex and your sexuality. So, in this podcast episode, we basically revisit all those old questions and worries and talk about it all! In true “pulling back the curtain” fashion nothing got left off the table.

I hope you enjoy it!

So much love,

Natalie

Today, on the Pulling Back The Curtain Podcast, I talk about how maintaining good female relationships as an adult can feel really hard.

I talk about how in the past I've struggled with making really good friends, and how you can’t create close relationships if you aren’t willing to open up and show the imperfect sides. I also share my best advice on how to learn who you can and can’t open up to.

I hope you'll check it out!

In today's Pulling Back The Curtain podcast, I talk about how to get yourself out of a funk. The things you should do when you are feeling unmotivated, scared, afraid, or even unsure of what direction to take. You might be surprised by some of the things I suggest (and don’t worry…I’m not going to tell you to go climb a mountain lol). But these are the EXACT things I’ve done that have always helped me when I feel stuck.

Every day I am actively trying to mold myself into the person I want to become. I don’t always make the right decisions, and I fail a LOT. Like, a lot a lot. More than you guys even see here online. I talk about that in the podcast and what I’ve learned most from my biggest failures in the past ten years. I hope you like it. <3

Your friend,
Natalie

Those who know me closely know that I am still very much a “pen and paper” person. When I have an idea or something I need to pull out of my head or remember, I have to write it down....not type it out. I’m not really sure why I have that weird quirk, but it is what works best for me.

Every podcast I record for you guys, I usually write out 3-4 pages of notes and heartfelt ideas beforehand so that I don’t have “squirrel! Shiny object” syndrome when I’m talking on the podcast.

I just released a podcast today talking about my crazy mountain adventure from this weekend, how to stay positive when things go wrong, and how the REGULAR practice of choosing to stay positive is what will take you further in your life than almost any other daily routine.

There are only two things in your life you truly have the ability to control: your attitude and your effort. In this podcast, I’m also giving practical tips for learning HOW to choose to stay positive when that doesn’t feel easy or natural to you.

Hope you love it and can laugh with me at some of the crazy stories I share.

Welcome back. In today's Pulling Back The Curtain Podcast, I open up about an exciting position I took from Russell Brunson, my ultimate mentor. I talk about what I did to get exactly where I am today by obsessively geeking out over a certain type of people.

I share my stories about how surrounding myself with people who had similar goals as me, helped shape my career and I talk about how it's the process of trying, that actually creates the success, not the success itself.

Let me know if you're listening to this podcast, what you think and let me know who you're obsessing over, who you're modeling, and what you're doing to implement new strategies.

xo Natalie

In this episode of Pulling Back The Curtain, I talk about "How to Balance Everything". I share my best tips on learning to say no, setting boundaries, and how to prioritize fitness, family, health, work, and relationships. How are women like us actually living up to the pressure to balance everything, to have it together physically, emotionally, and financially? The truth is most of us don't. Perfection is a myth.

I believe it's all of us starting to pull back the curtain and share both our failures and our successes that brings us all closer together. If you're enjoying this podcast, I would love it if you would give me a review and subscribe.

xo Natalie

In this episode of The Pulling Back The Curtain Podcast, I interview my good friend Drew Manning, from Fit2Fat2Fit. We collectively share our stores about how we became friends and eventually started our careers in the fitness industry. We chat about how fitness cultivates community, why this industry had such a huge impact on our lives and we talk about, why what you see on social media isn't always real.

Join us as we Pull Back The Curtain on things most people never talk about. Thank you so much for listening.

Follow along on Instagram at, instagram.com/nataliehodson1, on Facebook at, facebook.com/NatalieHodson and visit me at nataliehodson.com.

My brother's wedding is this weekend. I'm so excited and one of the questions I get all the time is how do I balance social events or going out with friends or wanting to have some drinks? How do I balance that while trying to maintain my weight? So this episode falls under the pillar of being healthy physically, and I hope you guys like it.

I'm going to talk to you about something that I'm going to call the unglamorous side of divorce. I think that the advice I'm going to give might be different than what you would expect from me, but I wholeheartedly wish that I would've had a friend or an older sister or somebody who would have given me the same advice and I wish I would have been not stubborn enough that I would have actually listened.

I believe it's all of us starting to pull back the curtain and share both our failures and our successes. That brings us all closer together. If you're enjoying this podcast, I'd love it if you could give me a review and subscribe.

On today's podcast, I talk about how I ended up in $170,000 in student loan debt. At one point I remember dreaming about the day I could go to the grocery store and just buy any produce I wanted, not just the stuff that was super cheap and on sale. I give you tangible steps and tips that I took to get out of that debt and what I do now to stay on a budget and to continue to control my spending.

I'm super excited for this podcast. One of the number one things I hear from people I work with and just my girlfriends in general, seriously, every single person says, oh, I would be happy with myself if I could just lose these last 5, 10, or 15 pounds. I'm going to dig deep. I'm going to tell my own stories, but I'm also going to talk about specific ways you can change your mindset so you can be happy with where you're at right now. Also some tactical tips on ways that you can balance nutrition and moderation into your daily lifestyle.

Welcome to my brand new podcast called pulling back the curtain. I am so excited that you guys are here. Thank you for giving me your time, this is something I wanted to do for a really long time. But, to be truthful, I've just been a little bit nervous to launch it, but I am super excited to go this direction. So basically on this first episode I want to give you some insight into what you can expect from this podcast and why I wanted to start this and why I'm so, so, so excited to share, so many stories with you guys and literally pull back the curtain on so many different topics. I also want to take a second and just tell you a little bit more about myself. Kind of my story and how I got started and why some of these topics are so important to me.