Open Doors Podcast

15. You're in the Middle and It Sucks: Here's How to Keep Going

Everyone sees the beginning—the excitement, the launch, the "I'm doing this new thing!" post. And everyone sees the end—the exit, the success story, the "look what I built" moment.But nobody talks about the middle. The part where you're grinding every single day with no recognition, no pat on the back, and your bank account giving you constructive feedback that honestly feels pretty rude.Here's what nobody tells you: the dip can last 25 years. If you look at any CEO, any elite athlete, any person who's built something meaningful—they didn't get there because they're lucky. They got there because they showed up in the middle when nobody was watching.We break down what it actually means to be in the dip, why you can't quit in the middle, and how to find the small wins when the summit feels impossibly far away. Plus: why working for yourself means your bank account is your only boss—and that's both liberating and terrifying.
If you're in the middle of something hard right now—building a business, stuck in a career transition, working toward a goal that feels far away—don't quit. Just keep going.Listen to Open Doors wherever you get your podcasts. 🎧

14. How to Actually Practice Mindfulness When Your Life Is Complete Chaos

If you've been telling yourself you "should" meditate but can't find the time, or you've tried it once and felt like you were doing it wrong—this one's for you.
Here's the thing: mindfulness isn't about adding another task to your to-do list. It's not about sitting in silence for an hour while your brain screams at you about everything you should be doing instead.
We break down what mindfulness actually looks like when you're overwhelmed (spoiler: it's not what Instagram makes it seem), how to find those micro-moments throughout your day when life is throwing everything at you, and why watching yourself like you're a character in a movie might be the key to staying sane.
Shannon just did a global meditation with 1,000 people on Zoom (yes, really) and found more peace than she's had in months. Lauren's been shifting her language from "I have to" to "I get to"—and adding why it matters. It's simple. It works. And it might save you this holiday season.
In This Episode:
Why mindfulness is a muscle (and how to build it without adding to your overwhelm)
The "I get to" practice that changes everything—plus the extra layer that makes it stick
How to observe your life like you're watching a movie (and why that's actually healthy)
The invisible load women carry (and how Fair Play breaks it down)
One good humiliation a day: why watching your reaction is the practice
If you're heading into the holidays feeling maxed out, burnt out, or just barely holding it together—take a breath. We're all in the dance together.
Listen to Open Doors wherever you get your podcasts! 🎧

13. The Future of Work Just Changed (And Nobody Knows What to Do About It)

Okay. If you've been lying awake at night wondering if your job is safe, if your skills still matter, if you're going to be okay, you're not alone.While everyone's spiraling about the WALL-E future where we're all just riding around on conveyor belts, there's actually something else happening here. Something kind of exciting if you can get past the fear for a second.We break down what's really going on (spoiler: it's messy and we're all figuring it out together), what skills you actually need now (hint: it's not about knowing everything, it's about learning how to unlearn), and why this might free up space for all the creative stuff you've been too exhausted to do. That book you wanted to write? That company you wanted to start? The thing you've been putting off because you "don't have time"? Shannon's literally teaching her 12-year-old how to create content with Al. You can vibe-code ideas into existence now. That's both terrifying and kind of amazing. In This Episode: • Why becoming a collaborator with Al might not be the dystopia you think • The skills that actually matter: learn, unlearn, relearn (and breathe) • How this could give you time back for creativity and the things you actually care about • Why we're all learning together now (and that's okay) • The abundance mindset: what if things are actually rigged in your favor? Yeah, change is scary. We feel it too. But it's also full of possibility if you're willing to walk through the fear.Listen to Open Doors wherever you get your podcasts!

12. 3 Things I Wish I Knew in My 20s (That Would've Saved Me Years of Pain)

What if you could go back and tell your younger self the one thing that would've changed everything?Here's what nobody tells you: that feeling you have right now—good or bad—it's not permanent. The people in your life? Some are here for a reason, some for a season, and some for a lifetime. And that "perfect path" you think everyone else is on? It doesn't exist.We break down the permanence illusion (why we cling to feelings way longer than we should), how to stop chasing people who aren't investing in you, and why redefining wealth might be the most important thing you do in your 30s and 40s."We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us." — Joseph CampbellIf you feel stuck or like everyone else has it figured out—this one's for you!

11. How to Find Your Life Purpose (When You Have No Idea What You're Doing)

Here's what nobody tells you: your purpose isn't hiding in a job title, a career path, or some grand revelation you're waiting to stumble upon.
We break down why the question "what should I be doing with my life?" is actually the wrong question. The real work? Transformation. Growth. Learning to feel your actual feelings (not what you think you should feel).
We walk you through making the list—the actual exercise that helps you filter every decision. Every job offer. Every relationship. Every opportunity. It's about asking: how do I want to feel? And then building your life around that answer instead of what you think you're supposed to do.

10. Are You Building Someone Else's Dream or Your Own Legacy? How to Handle Life's Pivots

Scroll through LinkedIn right now. Count how many people have posted about career changes in the last three months alone. Lost jobs. New jobs. "Exciting pivots."
It's a lot.
But here's the thing—life is full of all types of pivots. The ones you choose and the ones that choose you.
We talk about how to actually move through unexpected change, why the only way out is straight through, and what to do when the pivot chooses you.
If you feel like you're in a weird life pivot right now, this episode is for you.

9. The Three Tiers of Asking for Help (Most People Get This Wrong)

What's the worst thing that's happened from asking for help? Probably nothing. So why does it feel so terrifying?Here's what nobody tells you: there are three tiers of asking for help. Get the level wrong and things can get uncomfortable fast. Your inner circle, close friends, professional contacts—the rules change at each level.We get into why we've lost the built-in communities we used to rely on (spoiler: we used to have villages, now we have LinkedIn messages), why middle-aged people with mortgages are the least spiritually free, and how asking for help got tangled up with self-worth for both of us. Plus: what to do when people ask YOU for help and you're already drowning.

8. You're Afraid of the Wrong Thing When You Post Online

We're back! And we're talking about something that's been eating at both of us: why does promoting yourself online feel so uncomfortable? Like you're bragging or being too much?
We get into the weeds on naming what actually scares you, why everything you want really does live on the other side of cringe, and the difference between building a brand and just... being a person who's growing.
If you've ever typed a caption about your work, hovered over "post," and then deleted the whole thing because you didn't want to seem self-promotional—this episode is for you.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
How to name who you're actually afraid of—and why that specific naming helps
How to balance being real online with professional boundaries (and why it's harder for women)
What your actual superpower is (hint: it's not your job title)
Why your personal brand only works if you're actually growing as a person

7. Self-Reliance with Special Guest Maha Abouelenein

In this episode, Lauren Douglass and Shannon Pruitt sit down with powerhouse communicator and author Maha Abouelenein to unpack one of the most transformational mindset shifts we can make: self-reliance.
Maha shares the inspiration behind her book, The Seven Rules of Self-Reliance, and how these principles can help anyone stop waiting for permission and start building the life they want. From building your personal brand to ditching the “waiter” mindset (think: stop waiting, start doing), Maha shares how to invest in yourself and take control of your future. They also unpack the challenges of speaking up as a woman, navigating imposter syndrome, and getting out of your own way to actually move forward.
Whether you’ve ever felt stuck, unseen, or like you’re just waiting for your next opportunity, this episode is your invitation to stop waiting and start doing.Link to Maha's book: 7 Rules of Self-Reliance

6. Goals Before The End: Bucket Lists

In this reflective episode, Lauren Douglass and Shannon Pruitt explore the concept of bucket lists, not just as a checklist of "must-dos" before we die, but as a lens to reimagine how we live with intention. From rethinking what truly matters in a world that rarely slows down to asking hard questions about dreams, creativity, time, and purpose, this conversation goes far beyond travel goals and skydives.
If you've ever felt too busy to think, too distracted to dream, or just curious about what truly fills your cup, this episode is for you.