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
Release Date: 06/27/2025
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_outlineI 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 the performing arts and athletics who are facing adversity—because that’s exactly what Mum would have done.
To learn more or donate, click here.
On this page, please select 'Honor/Memorial' on the dropdown menu and put the name "Julie Fitzsimons" in the comments session.
To see my final photo with Mum under the most beautiful rainbow, click on my instagram here.
I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who's reached out with messages of love and support.. I've been reading them all and all of your beautiful words have been giving me strength to keep holding on through this confusing and daunting time of adjusting to a new normal that feels anything but normal..
At the end of this episode, you’ll also hear the podcast I had recorded just two days before my life flipped upside down. I’ve decided to release it along with this announcement because - well firstly I wanted you all to hear how excited I was to have my parents in town, it brought me so much joy - but also because even though my world feels so different now, the message still matters: how to stay commited to your goals when change gets hard.
In this episode, I walk you through the five emotional stages of change—an honest roadmap adapted from the work of psychologists Don Kelley and Daryl Connor. Whether you're chasing a fitness goal, launching a side hustle, or starting over after heartbreak, this is the truth no one tells you about what real change feels like.
You’ll learn:
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Why motivation always fades—and what to do when it does
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How to recognize the infamous “Valley of Despair” before it swallows your dreams
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Why discomfort doesn’t mean something’s gone wrong—it means something’s working
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What to expect at each stage of growth, and how to navigate it without giving up
I also share personal stories—from starting my speaking career to moving across the world on a dream and a visa—to remind you: you are not behind, broken, or alone.
You’re just in the messy middle.
And that’s where progress begins.
Life is too short to quit on the things that you truly care about, just because they're uncomfortable sometimes.
May my Mum and sister's legacies inspire you to be kind, be brave and be fully invested on living your best life. X kg