She's So Lucky

#350: In this episode, I’m sitting down with journalist, podcast host, and founder Gia Peppers to explore what it really means to shine—not from a place of performance, but from alignment.
Because many of us have confused visibility with validation. We thought shining meant being seen, being chosen, being applauded.
But what happens when the applause fades… or never comes?
Gia takes us through her journey, from chasing the “dream opportunity” that was supposed to change everything, to having it fall apart in a way that forced her to confront herself, her faith, and what she actually wanted.
We talk about the quiet work. The healing work. The kind of work that doesn’t trend, doesn’t go viral but changes everything.
This conversation is about redefining success, releasing timelines, and learning how to show up fully—without needing permission, validation, or a co-sign.
It’s about shifting from “Who’s shining a light on me?” to “What’s shining through me?”
And once you feel that shift… you can’t unsee it.
This episode is for you if…
You’ve ever felt like you did everything “right”… and it still didn’t work out
You’re tired of performing your life instead of actually living it
You’re in a season of healing, but questioning if it’s working
You’re learning how to release timelines and trust divine timing
You’re redefining what success looks like for you
You’ve outgrown validation, but are still figuring out what replaces it
You feel pulled in multiple directions and want to explore more than one version of yourself
You’re navigating comparison, social media fatigue, or creative burnout
You’re ready to take up space without shrinking, apologizing, or dimming your light

Episode Links:
Follow Gia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giapeppers/
Subscribe to Gia’s podcast, Healed Girl Era: https://lnkfi.re/healedgirlrerapod
Join the Creatives of Faith Community: https://www.creativesoffaith.com/

Sponsors:
Nebula: Go to Nebula: Spiritual Guidance Space https://nebulaapp.onelink.me/AaEA/j53blqjz and get 3 minutes for free to chat with 3 psychics matched to you.
Cotton: Cotton is The Fabric of Our Lives. Learn more at TheFabricofOurLives.com
IM8: IM8's Daily Ultimate Essentials replaces 16 supplements in one single drink. Go to IM8health.com/lucky and use code LUCKY for a free welcome kit, five free travel sachets, plus 10% off your order.
Monarch Money: Monarch is the personal finance app that tracks everything — accounts, investments, savings goals, and spending. Get your first year of Monarch Core for half off at monarch.com using promo code LUCKY.
ButcherBox: As an exclusive offer, new listeners get their choice of free Sirloin Tips, Ground Beef, or Chicken Wings in every box for life, plus $20 off when you go to ButcherBox.com/lucky.
One Skin: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code LUCKY at https://www.oneskin.co/LUCKY #oneskinpod

Keep in Touch with Les:
Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
Visit our website at shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#349: In this month's solo episode, I'm kicking off our visibility series with a reframe I've been sitting with for a while — and one that's genuinely changed how I think about what it means to be seen as an ambitious woman.
We've been told that visibility is the goal. Get in the room. Be everywhere. Make sure the right people see you. And I used to believe that. But after watching what happens to women who reach the top and just keep pushing more of the same, I started to think we've been chasing the wrong thing.
In this episode I'm breaking down the difference between being visible and truly being seen, why they aren't the same thing, and introducing a framework that ambitious woman needs before she hits her biggest milestone. Because every peak has a ceiling, and if you don't have a plan for what comes after, the other side can be a really steep fall.

What we're getting into:
The real difference between visibility and being seen — and why it changes everything
The post-peak pivot framework and why you need one before you reach the top
Why building in public has real limits — and what oversharing can cost you
How to stop giving your power away to gatekeepers and reclaim ownership of how you show up

This episode is for you if…
You've been measuring your success by how many people are watching instead of whether the right people actually see you.
You're chasing visibility but something about it feels hollow or exhausting.
You've hit a milestone and aren't sure what the smart next move looks like.
You want to stop building for the applause and start building for the long game.
You're ready to make one strategic decision about how you show up — one that protects your power and moves you toward what's actually next.

Sponsors:
Nebula | Go to Nebula: Spiritual Guidance Space https://nebulaapp.onelink.me/AaEA/j53blqjz and get 3 minutes for free to chat with 3 psychics matched to you.
Rula | Rula makes it easier to find licensed therapists and psychiatrists who are actually in-network with your insurance. Visit rula.com/lucky to get started.
Shopify | Sign up for your $1 per month trial today at shopify.com/lucky.
Nutrafol | For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you visit nutrafol.com and enter promo code BALANCEDLES

Keep in Touch with Les:
Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
Visit our website at shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#348: In this weeks episode, I’m sitting down with Toni Bravo — creator, storyteller, and someone I’ve genuinely loved watching evolve over the years to talk about what it really looks like to trust yourself in real time.
We get into the mindset behind betting on yourself, and why Toni has such a strong reaction to the word “delusion.” Because for her, it’s never been about convincing yourself something impossible will happen — it’s about believing that what you want is actually available to you, and then doing the work to meet it there.
We talk about creativity as something fluid and open and why the hardest part isn’t coming up with ideas, it’s trusting yourself enough to follow through on them, even when no one else gets it yet.
Toni also breaks down what it looked like to leave her 9–5 at 22, not recklessly, but intentionally — building a safety net, creating structure, and knowing when it was time to make the jump.
We also talk about fear, failure, and how to tell the difference between intuition and doubt, and why your intuition speaks in statements, not questions.
This episode is about self-trust as a daily practice, not a one-time decision and learning how to move without needing everyone else to agree first.

This episode is for you if…
You keep waiting for validation before you move on something you want
You have ideas but struggle to actually follow through on them
You’re scared to start because you’re overthinking what could go wrong
You’re trying to build confidence but don’t fully trust your instincts yet
You feel pressure to explain or justify your vision to other people
You’re navigating a pivot (career, creative, lifestyle) and need clarity
You want to stop caring so much about what’s “working” and start doing what feels aligned
You’re learning how to say no and to trust that it’s the right decision

Episode Links:
Follow Toni on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonibravo/
Follow Toni on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bonitravo?lang=en
Subscribe to Toni’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@tonibravo

Sponsors:
Quince: Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to quince.com/balancedles for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/lucky
OneSkin: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code LUCKY at oneskin.co/lucky #oneskinpod
Square: Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/lucky! #squarepod

Keep in Touch with Les:
Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
Visit our website at shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#347: In this episode, I’m sitting down with Amy DuBois Barnett — media powerhouse, former Editor-in-Chief, and now author of If I Ruled the World — to talk about what it really looks like to bet on yourself throughout the many chapters of your life, and the importance of being willing to start over at any time.
Amy has built a career most people only dream about — from running iconic magazines to leading at the highest levels of media — and then made the boldest move of all: walking away from it to start over as a novelist.
This conversation is a masterclass in betting on yourself. We talk about what it takes to trust yourself at the highest level, especially when it doesn’t make logical sense to anyone else.
She breaks down her philosophy that fear is actually growth, and why the very things that scare you the most are often the clearest indicators of where you’re meant to go.
We also get into something that I think doesn’t get talked about enough: the cost of ambition. What you gain, what you lose, and how to stay connected to yourself while you’re building something big.
We talk about timing. About taking years (sometimes decades) to bring something to life, and why that doesn’t mean you’re behind… it means you’re building something with depth.
This episode is about self-trust, reinvention, and understanding that betting on yourself isn’t a one-time decision — it’s a mindset you come back to over and over again.
This episode is for you if…
You’re ready to take a bigger, bolder bet on your life
You’re thinking about making a big pivot but it doesn’t “make sense” on paper
You’re scared to start over after building something successful
You want to trust yourself more but still look for validation from others
You’re navigating ambition and questioning what it’s costing you
You have a creative idea that won’t leave you alone but haven’t acted on it yet
You’re learning how to love all parts of yourself — not just the polished ones

Episode Links:
Get Amy’s book If I Ruled the World: https://bookshop.org/a/55347/9781250378125
Subscribe to Amy’s Substack: https://amyduboisbarnett.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips
Follow Amy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyduboisbarnett/

Sponsors:
ButcherBox: ButcherBox delivers over 100 premium protein options straight to your door, from grass-fed beef, to wild-caught seafood. Get your choice between free Sirloin Tips, Ground Beef or Chicken Wings in every box for LIFE, PLUS $20 off when you go to butcherbox.com/lucky.
Momentous: Momentous Fiber+ is a complete, 3-in-1 formula with soluble fiber, insoluble fiber, and a prebiotic resistant starch. Visit livemomentous.com and use promo code lucky for up to 35% off your first order.
Merit Beauty: Merit is a minimalist beauty brand that makes elevated makeup and skincare designed to help you look put together in minutes. Right now, Merit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at meritbeauty.com.
Bask & Lather: Explore viral bestsellers and products of healthier hair of ALL types from Bask and Lather. Go to baskandlatherco.com and use code LUCKY for 20% off.

Keep in Touch with Les:
Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
Visit our website at shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week’s installment of the Betting on Yourself series, I’m sitting down with Kyyah Abdul to talk about what it actually means to create your own luck — not in theory, but in practice.
We get into the mindset behind “lucky” people, and how to increase your odds of luck through how you think, how you decide, and how willing you are to move forward even when you don’t have all the answers.
Kyyah brings such a powerful perspective to this conversation. From her background in neuroscience to her lived experiences with loss at a young age, she breaks down how resilience, decisiveness, and self-trust are all things that can be built — not traits you’re just born with.
We talk about decision-making as a muscle, why so many of us are stuck in analysis paralysis, and how social media has made us way too concerned with optics.
We also talk about boundaries (and why most people misunderstand them), the pressure of being perceived, and how to stop treating your life like a group project.
This conversation is a reminder that luck isn’t something you wait for, it’s something you build, decision by decision.
This episode is for you if…
You keep overthinking your next move and feel stuck waiting for clarity
You want to be more confident but don’t trust your own decisions yet
You’re navigating a transition (career, identity, relationships) and feel uncertain
You struggle with boundaries — especially with family, friends, or people you love
You feel held back by fear of judgment
You’re trying to “do the right thing” instead of doing what actually feels aligned
You know you’re capable of more, but something is keeping you playing small

Episode Links:
Follow Kyyah on Instagram: instagram.com/kyyahabdul
Follow Kyyah on TikTok: tiktok.com/kyyahabdul
Read The Prepared Graduate, a non-fiction career guide written by Kyyah wherever you get your books
To learn even more, visit Kyyah’s website: www.thekyyahabdul.com

Sponsors:
Cotton: Learn more at TheFabricOfOurLives.com, and follow along at @discovercotton using #ShopCotton.
Monarch Money: Use code LUCKY at monarch.com to get your first year half off at just $50.
Nutrafol: For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you visit Nutrafol.com and enter promo code BALANCEDLES

Keep in Touch with Les:
Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
Visit our website at shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.