The Should-Free Life and Business Podcast

12: "I should always choose the good, responsible way over pleasure and joy"

This episode is a wild, joyful permission slip to break free from every box you’ve ever put yourself into in the bid to be the goodest good girl in the world.
This week I’m joined by Emma Eirene - founder of Joyous Misfit, creator of the Pleasure Code Framework and all-round joy activator - for a delicious conversation about choosing authenticity, creativity and pleasure over all the ‘good girl’ expectations we’re taught to live by.
Emma shares her journey from burnt-out primary school teacher to fierce advocate for feminine energy, somatic healing and radical self-expression. We go deep on what it means to rebel against the ‘shoulds’ that keep us small and step into a life led fully by our authentic passion, joy and self-trust.
Here’s what we get into:
✨ How burnout became the catalyst for Emma’s radical self-reclamation, and her journey from burnout to a life and business that’s led entirely by joy and freedom.
✨ What it really takes to stop playing by society’s rulebook - and start creating your own
✨ The role of somatic practices and nervous system support in shifting from survival to soul-led
✨ Why emotions are instructions (not inconveniences!), and how to start listening effectively to them
✨ Practical ways to reconnect with your joy and activate your truest, most authentic and aligned self
✨ How to tune into exactly what your body is telling you about what she needs, what’s keeping you stuck, and what to do to reach your next best level.
Whether you’re itching to rebel against who you’ve been made to believe you ‘should’ be or you just want to get out of the doldrums of your everyday life, this conversation is exactly the soul food and loving truth bombs you’ll need to find that spark again.
🎧 Tune in now to start stopping all those ‘good girl shoulds,’ rekindling your joy and remembering how truly powerful it is to live life your way - no compromises.
❤ If you loved this episode, don’t forget to Subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review—it’ll help more people discover the show and start their should-free journey too!
 
Join Emma’s event Misfit Nation in Bristol, 15 May 2025: https://www.joyousmisfit.com/misfitnation
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11: "I should be better with money by now"

If you’ve ever carried shame, fear or stress around money, this episode is a must-listen.
This week on The Should-Free Life and Business Podcast, I’m joined by Jo Cantle, a wealth activation coach based in South Yorkshire, to talk all things money, nervous system regulation and rewriting the ‘shoulds’ around wealth so that you can truly and practically manifest everything your soul desires at all levels.
Jo shares her powerful personal journey - from burnout and debt to reclaiming her wealth identity. Then, using neuroscience, psychology and manifestation principles, she clearly and lovingly explains how we can begin to heal our relationship with money on a practical, emotional and energetic level.
Here are the gems we explore:
✨ The most common money ‘shoulds’ we carry, and how they can sneakily show up throughout our lives to sabotage our financial growth and stability
✨ How the nervous system responds to financial stress and what we can do to regulate it
✨ The neuroscience between appreciation and gratitude practices, and how they shift our financial reality
✨ Why asking for help (and actually allowing ourselves to receive and enjoy it!) is a crucial part of wealth expansion
✨ Practical steps to start being your most abundant self right now.
Whether you’re navigating feast-and-famine cycles, healing from financial shame, or just want to feel more confident and supported when it comes to money, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, hopeful, and inspired.
🎧 Tune in now to start rewriting the money ‘shoulds’ and step into the next level of your wealth identity.
❤ If you loved this episode, don’t forget to Subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review—it’ll help more people discover the show and start their should-free journey too!
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Books and Resources mentioned on the podcast
Widen the Window, by Elizabeth Stanley
The Magic, by Rhonda Byrne (a 28-day practice on gratitude)
The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne
Learn more about Abraham Hicks on abraham-hicks.com
 
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The should-free framework for more freedom, confidence and ease

We’ve been talking so far about the ‘shoulds’ - how they stress us out, throw us off kilter and make life so much harder.
But what if there was a simple way to stop reacting to those ‘shoulds’ on autopilot - and start reworking them into something that’s actually going to help us?
In this episode, I’m sharing a super practical 3-step framework to help you do just that.
Whether you’re navigating career pressure, life decisions or moments of self-doubt about what you should want - this episode will help you move from stress and misalignment to clarity and confidence to take your very next step.
A quickie peek at the 3-step framework:
✨ How to spot the sneaky ‘shoulds’ beneath every stressful pressure you’re dealing with
✨ How to check in with what you actually desire and need beneath those external ‘shoulds’ and pressures
✨ A powerful reframe to help you shift from obligation to alignment
Bonus: I also connect this framework with the magical principles of manifestation and higher-vibe energy so you can always move from a place of ultra-aligned creation, growth and feel-good progress.
🎧 Tune in now to dive deeper into the 3-step method that’ll help you rewrite the shoulds, reconnect with what’s true for you, and live with more ease, freedom and intention.
❤ If you loved this episode, don’t forget to Subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review—it’ll help more people discover the show and start their should-free journey too!
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9: "I should be able to juggle it all as a working single mother"

If you’re ever feeling like you have to do it all - be an attentive parent, an ambitious, ‘successful’ professional, a caring friend, a dutiful daughter - and spin all those plates perfectly, you’ll find a kindred spirit in this episode’s guest speaker.
Today, I’m joined by Amanda Ford, a financial services professional with over 20 years of experience, co-founder of the Financial Planning Club, and single parent navigating the complex, often conflicting expectations of contemporary (working) life.
Together, we dive deep into the many 'shoulds' women, especially single mothers, face when trying to juggle multiple roles at once.
Here’s what we uncover through some honest real talk:
✨ The unrealistic expectations placed on women to juggle it all - without ever dropping a ball
✨ Why integration, not separation, of our roles leads to more flow, ease, and authenticity in everything we do in our personal and professional lives
✨ The hidden pressures around parenting, professionalism and “doing it right”
✨ The power of vulnerability and showing up as your full self in both work and life, even when you’re feeling like “a spicy disaster”
✨ How to honour your unique parenting style while still building your career and working steadily towards your goals
Amanda brings refreshing honesty and deep insight to the realities of being a working single mother and business owner, and reminds us that letting go of perfection and an immaculate ‘balancing act’ is where your real strength lies.
🎧 Tune in now for an inspiring, should-free take on balancing work, life, parenting, yoga and everything in between - your way, on your terms.
❤ If you loved this episode, don’t forget to Subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review—it’ll help more people discover the show and start their should-free journey too!
 
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8: "You should only share your story when it's perfectly polished"

How many times have you held back from sharing your truth and your stories because you felt like they should be more polished, more dramatic or more “worthy” of being told?
In this episode, I’m joined by Jessica Graham, expert brand storytelling expert, to explore the power of sharing our personal stories in business…. and address why so many of us struggle to be truly okay with sharing our own.
Jessica’s journey is a testament to the universal power of storytelling. From being captivated by stories as a child over the kitchen table with her mom and grandma, to attending 12-step meetings and teaching in international school communities, she’s seen first-hand how sharing our stories can build such powerful connection, impact and confidence - both for our lives and our businesses.
Here’s what we get into in this gorgeous chat:
✨ The ‘shoulds’ that keep us from fully embracing and sharing our stories.
✨ The biggest obstacles to storytelling - fear of vulnerability, perfectionism and blocks to self-worth - and how to overcome them.
✨ Practical ways to start sharing your story with confidence and authenticity, even if you’re super shy
✨ How to power-up your storytelling and get way more comfortable sharing your truth by identifying your core values and practising storytelling in safe spaces
Your story doesn’t need to be perfect to be powerful. It just needs to be yours.
🎧 Tune in now to learn how to own your narrative, let go of storytelling ‘shoulds,’ and start sharing your journey in a way that feels truest and most valuable to you.
❤ If you loved this episode, don’t forget to Subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review—it’ll help more people discover the show and start their should-free journey too!
 
🌻 Connect with Jessica
Join Your Stories in Action, a monthly online gathering for sharing and working through our stories: jessicagrahambrandstudio.com/your-stories-in-action
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Website: jessicagrahambrandstudio.com
 
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7: "I should be thinner, prettier and more confident"

How many times have you felt like you should be thinner, more polished or more confident before you can truly take up space? Society hands us a long list of ‘shoulds’ when it comes to beauty, body image and confidence - but what if we faced those expectations head on and decided for ourselves what confidence really looks like?
In this episode of The Should-Free Life and Business Podcast, I’m joined by confidence and visibility coach Tamsin Broster, to dive deep into the many complex, nuanced issues around body image, self-acceptance and breaking free from harmful, limiting beauty ideals.
Together, we explore:
✨ Tamsin’s personal journey with body image, from diet culture struggles to true self-acceptance
✨ The ‘shoulds’ we absorb around thinness, beauty, and confidence, and how they hold us back
✨ How oppressive systems and privilege shape our experiences with body image and visibility
✨ Why real confidence isn’t about distraction or avoidance but about about confronting and unlearning these societal oppressions
✨ How all of this ties into women’s visibility in business and the way they live every moment of their days - whether that’s on stage or at the family dinner table
If you’ve ever felt like you should shrink yourself—physically or metaphorically—this conversation is for you. It’s time to reclaim your space, embrace your body as it is and show up in the world with a confidence that’s defined by nobody but yourself.
🎧 Tune in now for an empowering, should-free take on confidence, self-acceptance and visibility.
❤ If you loved this episode, don’t forget to Subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review—it’ll help more people discover the show and start their should-free journey too!
 
🌻 Connect with Tamsin
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Listen to Tamsin’s podcast Unshakeable Confidence
Website: tamsinbroster.co.uk
 
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6: How we 'should' other people (and stress ourselves out over it)

We’ve been talking a lot lot about letting go of the ‘shoulds’ we put on ourselves — but what about the ones we place on other people?
In this episode, I’m diving into our unconscious tendency to ‘should’ others — expecting people to act, think or respond in ways that we believe they should. Inspired by Mel Robbins’ latest book The Let Them Theory, I explore how our expectations of others creates frustration, disappointment and unnecessary stress in our lives, and offer some other more peaceful ways to deal with them instead.
Here’s what I talk about:
✨ What we’re really doing when we ‘should’ others
✨ The two key steps of Let Them Theory: letting people be who they are and taking responsibility for our reactions.
✨ How releasing control over others' behaviours leads to a more empowered, liberated life.
✨ Some real life examples of how we ‘should’ others (and what to do instead).
I’ll show you how when we stop trying to control what others do and focus our attention on our choices and actions, we can finally step out of that cycle of resentment, disappointment and stress.
🎧 Listen now to start embracing the Let Them mindset and start enjoying plenty more freedom and ease in your relationships.
❤ If you loved this episode, don’t forget to Subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review—it’ll help more people discover the show and start their should-free journey too!
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5: "I should have it all figured out by now"

Ever feel like everyone around you has their sh*t together while you’re over here just trying to keep up? If you’ve been feeling like you should have it all figured out by now, you’ve gotta tune into this episode.
I’m busting the illusion that there’s this ideal state where we magically ‘have it all figured out’ because spoiler alert: Nobody has it all figured out — no matter how glossy and perfect it all looks on social media. We’re all just figuring it out as we go along.
Here’s what I’m diving into:
✨ Why the belief that everyone else has it together is an illusion (and how social media fuels this myth).
✨ What it really means to ‘have it all figured out’ - and why it’s impossible to achieve.
✨ The importance of self-trust, versatility, and staying open to learning as you go.
✨ Real examples from business and culture that show how true success and growth lies in moving through the uncertainty and working with life’s messiness.
✨ Why admitting you don’t have it all figured out can actually lead to greater creativity, self-reflection, and unique paths to success and fulfilment.
Because here’s the truth: You don’t need to have it all figured out to start, to succeed or to be worthy.
Your real power and results come from figuring it out as you go.
🎧 Tune in now to release the pressure of ‘having it all together’ and see why this wobbly uncertainty could be exactly the magic to fuel your life and business.
❤ If you loved this episode, don’t forget to Subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review - it’ll help more people discover the show and start their should-free journey too!
 
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4: You don't HAVE to do anything...

How often do you tell yourself "I can’t do this because I have to [do this other thing]”? E.g.: ❎ I can’t go to the gym because I HAVE to take this client call❎ I can’t attend that wedding because I HAVE to work that weekend❎ I can’t turn down that client because I HAVE to earn that money
But what if I told you that most of the things we feel obligated to do aren’t actually have to’s - they’re choices?
In this episode I’m diving into the mindset of obligation and how shifting it can completely change the game in your life and business.
Here’s what we’re exploring:
✨ A pivotal lesson that'll change how you see‘have to’s’ and obligations forever.
✨ Why most of what we believe we have to do is actually a choice - driven by our priorities and values.
✨ Real-life examples: prioritising client calls over workouts or PhD students considering whether to quit their PhD.
✨ How shifting from I have to → I choose to can lead to empowerment, better decision-making, clarity and so much more freedom.
When we recognize that we do have some agency - even if the options feel limited - we get to take back control over how we work and live.
🎧 Tune in now to start rethinking your have to’s and making more intentional, values-aligned decisions in your life and business.
❤ If you loved this episode, don’t forget to Subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review—it’ll help more people discover the show and start their should-free journey too!
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3: "I should be working harder"

If you’ve ever felt like you have to grind, hustle, or push yourself to exhaustion just to feel worthy of success - this episode is for you.
In this episode, I’m tackling the deeply ingrained belief that success only comes from working harder, longer and sacrificing any of our bodily needs like rest. Sound familiar? This ‘hard work = success’ equation starts young and follows us into adulthood, shaping how we approach our careers, businesses, and even our self-worth.
Here’s what we’re unpacking:
✨ Where this belief comes from (and why it’s so hard to shake).
✨ My own experiences with overwork in sectors that glorify struggle, including religious organizations and academia
✨ Why it’s time to challenge outdated ideas of productivity and success.
✨ How to set your own boundaries and redefine what a truly productive day looks like for you.
I’ll also be sharing insights from Cal Newport’s Deep Work, as well as tools like Human Design, to help you curate workdays that truly honour your energy and personal flow.
🎧 Tune in now to start rewriting your work rules, embracing guilt-free rest, and making productivity a personalized experience instead of a one-size-fits-all grind.
❤ If you loved this episode, don’t forget to Subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review—it’ll help more people discover the show and start their should-free journey too!
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