Brain Boundaries: Stop Your Thoughts from Spiraling
Okay, Now What? - With Kate Gladdin
Release Date: 01/23/2025
The Episode I Never Wanted to Record… and a Bonus Episode to Keep You Going When You Want To Quit
Okay, Now What? - With Kate Gladdin
I know I've been MIA the past month, and I've recorded this episode with a broken heart to explain why. This episode is messy, raw and honestly I'm still in shock that I had to record it at all.. But I always want to keep it real with you guys about the realities of what we all go through in life.. and right now I am really going through it.. My Mum was truly one of a kind. The best parts of me, are her. In honor of her generous heart and lifelong mission to uplift others, we’ve created the Julie Fitzsimons Legacy Fund at Sheridan College. This endowment will support students in...
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How to Last The Miles in Long Distance Relationships
Okay, Now What? - With Kate Gladdin
Let’s be real—long distance isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s for the ones who are willing to cry on dog walks with sunglasses on. The ones who whisper we’ll figure it out even when every plan falls through. The ones who know love is worth the effort—but still wonder, how the heck do people actually make this work? So in this episode I dive into this topic that's close to my heart - the rollercoaster of long distance relationships. After navigating my own 2 year international long distance relationship with my now-husband Nate (including military life and visa challenges!), I'm...
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Your Brain After A Breakup: The Neuroscience of Why You Can't Just Get Over It
Okay, Now What? - With Kate Gladdin
Ever been through a breakup that didn’t just hurt emotionally—but physically? Like your chest was caving in or your stomach was in knots? You're not crazy. In fact, there's actual science behind that soul crushing pain. In this episode, we dive deep into what's actually happening in your brain and body when your heart gets broken—and why breakup grief might actually be harder to heal from than grief after death. If you've ever felt like you were "crazy" for not being able to "just get over it," this episode is for you. We'll explore the fascinating neuroscience behind heartbreak and give...
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Bust Your Buts: Bravery, Gumption & Going for It - With Sally Zimney
Okay, Now What? - With Kate Gladdin
What if the thing holding you back isn’t fear—but the story you're telling yourself about it? This week on Okay, Now What?, I’m joined by the powerhouse that is Sally Zimney—award-winning speaker, bestselling author, and host of one of the top speaker podcasts in the world—for a real, raw, and laugh-out-loud honest conversation about what bravery really looks like. Spoiler: it’s not the absence of fear. It’s showing up with it. We unpack: Why “confidence” is overrated and what to build instead The power of gumption (and no, not the Aussie cleaning product kind—though...
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Busy Isn't Better: Breaking Free from Time Poverty - With Peggy Sullivan
Okay, Now What? - With Kate Gladdin
Let’s be honest: Most of us aren’t just busy - we’re burnt out, overbooked, and quietly wondering if this is just how life’s meant to be. If your schedule feels like a never-ending to-do list and your soul’s running on empty, this episode is for you. This week on Okay, Now What?, I’m joined by the incredible Peggy Sullivan — a leadership coach, TEDx speaker (her talk’s hit over 1 million views!), and author of Beyond Busyness. And let me tell you… this conversation is like a permission slip to finally stop glorifying the hustle and start living with intention....
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Moments That Matter: How to Live More Fully After Losing Someone You Love - With Kara Byron
Okay, Now What? - With Kate Gladdin
What if the most heartbreaking chapter of your life also held the key to your greatest purpose? In this powerful and tender conversation, I sit down with Kara Byron - founder of Moments by Kara - to talk about the raw reality of being a full-time caregiver to her father in her early twenties, how she turned grief into a lifelong mission of creating meaningful moments, and the difference between moving on and moving forward after loss. We get real about the emotional toll of caretaking, the sacredness of grief, and how to hold joy and sorrow in the same hand. Whether you’ve lost someone,...
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The Conversation You Need to Interrupt EVERY Single Day!
Okay, Now What? - With Kate Gladdin
From a young age, we're taught not to interrupt conversations. But I've realised there is definitely a conversation we need to interrupt EVERY SINGLE DAY. It's the one happening in our between our own ears. Because let's be honest - do you ever find yourself spiraling in self-doubt, thinking things like “I’m not good enough,” “I always mess things up,” or “I’m just not the type of person who can…”? Yeah, welcome to being human right?! So in this episode, I dive into a powerful mental interrupt tool—one simple question that can help you stop those runaway thought spirals...
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The Cure for People Pleasing? One Simple Word Swap
Okay, Now What? - With Kate Gladdin
Ever feel like you’re doing all the right things—yet still feel off? Tired? Resentful? Like you're living life for everyone but you? Yeah… me too. In this powerful episode, I pull back the curtain on one sneaky little word that’s silently controlling so many of our choices—and not in a good way. That word? Should. It seems harmless. Responsible even. "I should call her back." "I should go to that dinner." "I should be happier by now." But when you really pay attention, you’ll notice how heavy that word feels in your body. How tight your chest gets. How small your world...
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Stuck in self-pity or faking “I’m fine”? Listen to this.
Okay, Now What? - With Kate Gladdin
Ever find yourself spiraling in “why me?” energy—or slapping on a fake smile, insisting “I’m fine” when you’re anything but? Yeah. Been there. Both sides of that coin will wear you out. That’s why this episode? It’s a lifeline. Fresh off an emotional and empowering experience speaking at my first ever women’s leadership conference, I’m unpacking a topic that hits deep: the difference between self-pity, self-denial, and self-compassion—and why knowing how to navigate between them is one of the most important skills you’ll ever learn. In this episode, I share: ✨ The...
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Blind Faith and Outback Steakhouse: Finding Purpose in Life's Darkness - with Kevin Lowe
Okay, Now What? - With Kate Gladdin
In this powerful episode, we're joined by Kevin Lowe, an inspirational speaker and podcast host who shares his remarkable journey of losing his sight at 17 and discovering an entirely new way to "see" the world. Through launching his own travel agency, creating a podcast during the pandemic, learning how to 'see' through sound and now inspiring others through speaking, Kevin exemplifies resilience in its purest form. His personal equation—"faith plus family equals a life worth living"—reminds us all to identify what gives our lives meaning, especially during our darkest moments. Kevin's...
info_outlineToday's episode is diving into a new concept I've created call "brain boundaries" that I think we all need to put into practice more often because of how easy it is to start to spiral into thoughts or habits that are nothing more than a waste of energy. Whether it's constantly weighing yourself, overthinking what you said in the meeting yesterday or re-checking your shares portfolio over and over, brain boundaries will help you re-gain the much needed mental energy to show up as your best for the other areas of your life that REALLY matter.
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Podcast Episode Timestamps
Introduction and Welcome (00:00:03)
Kate Gladdin welcomes listeners and shares her recent speaking experiences in Minnesota.
Concept of Mental Energy (00:01:15)
Discussion on the importance of managing mental energy and avoiding unnecessary overthinking.
Brain Boundaries Explained (00:03:24)
Introduction of the concept of "brain boundaries" to manage thoughts and mental energy.
The Toddler Analogy (00:04:26)
Comparison of managing our brains to parenting a toddler, emphasizing self-control.
Recognizing Unhelpful Thought Patterns (00:05:16)
Understanding how our brain's instincts can lead to unproductive thoughts and habits.
Setting Brain Boundaries (00:06:08)
Strategies for establishing boundaries with our thoughts to conserve mental energy.
Investing in Mental Energy (00:07:47)
Discussion on the inefficiency of obsessively checking investments or social media.
Redirecting Mental Energy (00:09:31)
Encouragement to focus mental energy on productive activities instead of spiraling thoughts.
Breaking Unhelpful Habits (00:10:20)
Advice on recognizing and redirecting compulsive thought patterns.
Practical Tips for Mindfulness (00:12:02)
Suggestions for grounding techniques to bring awareness back to the present moment.
Managing News Consumption (00:14:41)
Recommendations for limiting exposure to negative news to preserve mental well-being.
Conclusion and Encouragement (00:15:31)
Kate wraps up with encouragement to respect and implement brain boundaries in daily life.