If stepping out of your comfort zone has ever felt more like panic than power… this episode is your permission slip to stop judging yourself and start celebrating yourself.
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On Day 5 of the 12 Days of Badassery, we’re digging into the moments you stretched, cracked, reached, trembled, and DID IT ANYWAY. Even when it didn’t look “bold.” Even when it didn’t feel like success.
...Because that is the real badassery most women overlook.
...
Inside the episode, we get into:
✨ Why feeling scared doesn’t cancel out being brave
✨ How to stop measuring your worth by outcomes
✨ The power of micro-stretches—your ‘toe over the edge’ moments (thanks to Dr. Mike Bechtle’s wisdom)
✨ Real-life examples of pushing past doubt—at work, at home, and in your growth
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You’ll also hear Marie share stories about applying for a chief position she didn’t get, learning to ride a bike with bruised-up legs, and why staying in the “kiddie pool” of life keeps you from ever floating on your back in the deep end.
....Every single one is a reminder: you don’t have to feel fearless to be powerful.
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By the end, you’ll see your own “I did it even though…” moments in a totally different light—because they count. They deserve to be written down. And you deserve to recognize the woman who took those risks, big or small.
📘 Grab your FREE Proof of My Badassery Journal
Let today’s prompt guide you through every comfort-zone stretch you’ve already survived.
...👉 ordinarytobadass.com/12
...
Let’s build the evidence together. Your badassery is already there—you’re just finally noticing it.
Today is Day 4 of the 12 Days of Badassery, and we’re turning the spotlight onto something most women skip right past:
your achievements — the big ones AND the tiny, easy-to-dismiss ones.
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In this episode, we dig into why you consistently overlook your own progress, how small victories quietly shape who you become, and why celebrating yourself is a core part of claiming your badass identity. Because the truth is, your life is held together by hundreds of moments you don’t give yourself credit for. And that’s about to change.
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You’ll learn how to:
🔥 Recognize achievements you’ve been ignoring (even the subtle ones)
🔥 Break the cycle of “on to the next” before celebrating what you just did
🔥 Build the habit of tracking your wins so confidence becomes inevitable
🔥 See how ordinary days stack into extraordinary growth
As you’ll hear in the transcript—Marie walks through why achievements matter, why we skip them, and how writing them down creates momentum.
...
Grab your pen, grab your journal, and hit pause as needed.
...
This is the day you stop minimizing yourself.
✨ Download your free Proof of My Badassery journal at ordinarytobadass.com/12
...✨ Share today’s win with me on Instagram @ordinarytobadass
What if being a badass isn’t about doing something dramatic…
...but about choosing yourself in small, everyday moments?
Welcome to Day 3 of the 12 Days of Badassery, where we’re talking about defying expectations—both the ones society puts on you and the ones you inherited without ever questioning.
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In this episode, we explore how often we live by scripts we didn’t consciously choose:
...how we’re “supposed” to spend our time, what we’re “supposed” to value, and who we’re “supposed” to be—especially during the holidays.
And here’s the truth:
...Every time you say no when something doesn’t align…
...every time you set a boundary…
...every time you choose what feels right for you instead of what keeps others comfortable…
...
That counts.
...
Those moments are proof of your badassery—even if they feel small.
✨ Day 3 Theme: Defying Expectations
You’ll hear:
🔥 Why following your own values is an act of courage
💡 How “ordinary” decisions add up to real confidence
💬 A reflection to help you recognize the times you chose your own path
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This episode is an invitation to stop minimizing those moments when you trusted yourself—and to start documenting them.
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👉 Grab your free 12 Days of Badassery journal at ordinarytobadass.com/twelve and write today’s reflection down. Because when doubt shows up later, you’ll have proof to look back on.
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Come back tomorrow for Day 4 of the 12 Days of Badassery.
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Until then—stay in the arena, trust your inner compass, and get after it.
Think resilience means being tough, unshaken, and emotionally unaffected?
...Think again.
...
Welcome to Day 2 of the 12 Days of Badassery, where we’re talking about one of the most misunderstood qualities of strength: resilience.
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In this episode, we explore what resilience actually looks like in real life. Not the highlight-reel version—but the kind built through loss, setbacks, heartbreak, and moments where it would’ve been easier to give up.
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Maybe you’ve:
Lost a job
Navigated debt or financial stress
Gone through a breakup or divorce
Experienced deep grief or loss
...
If you’ve been knocked down and found a way to keep going—even slowly—that counts.
...
Resilience isn’t about never falling apart. It’s about getting back up, sometimes quietly, sometimes imperfectly, but always with courage.
✨ Day 2 Theme: Resilience
You’ll hear:
🔥 Why feeling emotion doesn’t disqualify you from being strong
💡 How adversity shapes your story instead of ruining it
💬 A reflection to help you recognize your own resilience—especially the kind you’ve overlooked
This episode is an invitation to honor what you’ve survived, not rush past it.
👉 Download the companion journal and write this one down at ordinarytobadass.com/12. Because resilience becomes real when you see it in ink.
Join me tomorrow for Day 3 of the 12 Days of Badassery.
Reach out to me on IG @ordinarytobadass and share how this landed with you.
...Until then—stay in the arena, honor your strength, and keep getting after it!
Think being a badass means being fearless?
...Think again.
...
Welcome to Day 1 of the 12 Days of Badassery, where we’re kicking things off by busting one of the biggest myths out there: that confidence means never feeling afraid.
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In this episode, we’re talking about embracing fear—not avoiding it. Because the truth is, being a badass isn’t about the absence of fear. It’s about feeling it… and taking action anyway.
...
Maybe it was:
Speaking up when your voice shook
Asking for the raise or promotion
Having a hard conversation you wanted to avoid
Stepping outside your comfort zone when staying quiet felt safer
...
Those moments matter. Even if they didn’t go perfectly. Especially if they didn’t.
...
This episode is an invitation to reflect on the times you faced fear head-on—and to recognize those moments for what they really are: proof of your badassery.
...
✨ Day 1 Theme: Embracing Fear
You’ll hear:
🔥 Why fearlessness is overrated
💡 How fear is often a sign you’re growing
💬 A simple reflection to help you see your own courage more clearly
👉 Be sure to grab today’s journal prompt at ordinarytobadass.com/12 and write it down—because putting it on paper is how it sticks.
...
Come back tomorrow for Day 2 of the 12 Days of Badassery, and until then—stay in the arena and keep getting after it.
...
Download your Proof of My Badassery Journal below
Ordinarytobadass.com/1212 days of Badassery
What if the biggest injustice isn’t what you’ve been through—but that no one ever taught you to recognize how strong you are?
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In this remix episode, Marie kicks off the 12 Days of Badassery by breaking down one of the biggest lies women have been sold: that being a badass means being hard, aggressive, or unyielding.
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Spoiler alert—it doesn’t.
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A true badass is built through resilience, confidence, mindset, and getting back up after life knocks you down. Sometimes immediately. Sometimes after a long pause. And yes—even if it took you longer than you wanted.
...
In this episode, you’ll hear:
Why most women never learned to recognize their own badassery
How confidence gets confused with toughness (and why that’s wrong)
Why being knocked down doesn’t disqualify you—it proves you’re still in the arena
A powerful reframe that shows your strength has been hiding in plain sight all along
...
This episode sets the foundation for the next 12 days—each one designed to help you uncover, acknowledge, and own the badass you already are.
...
🎁 Want to go deeper? Grab the 12 Days of Badassery Companion Guide at
ordinarytobadass.com/12 so you can journal, reflect, and create a physical reminder of everything you’ve already overcome.
...
Wherever you are. Whatever you’ve been through.
...You’re still standing—and that matters.
Stay in the arena.
Self-doubt isn’t the villain you’ve been treating it like.
...It’s the breadcrumb trail. The flashing neon arrow.
...The GPS system pointing straight toward your next-level identity.
Today’s remix episode pulls back the curtain on why doubt shows up the moment you’re about to rise — and how to use it like rocket fuel instead of letting it derail you.
This series is packed with fresh 12 Days of Badassery energy:
the kind that leaves you standing just a little taller, breathing a little deeper, and whispering,
“Yeah… I’m still a badass, even when I’m scared.”
🔥 Why doubt is actually proof that something matters to you
🔥 How to spot the difference between fear and direction
🔥 The simple mindset shift that turns insecurity into momentum
🔥 A grounding reminder that even icons like MLK carried doubt (and still moved mountains)
🔥 The “Poster of Power” + Andy Vargo’s list method to instantly reset your confidence
Because real badassery isn’t loud or flawless.
...It’s choosing to keep going — shaking hands, racing heart, messy middle and all.
...It’s remembering your strength while your doubt is screaming the loudest.
...
This remix is your permission slip to stop fighting doubt and start using it.
...It’s not your enemy.
...It’s your entrance cue.
Screenshot a moment when you kept going while doubting yourself.
...Post it to your Story and tag @OrdinaryToBadass so we can celebrate your courage.
Think burnout means you’re weak?
...
Think again. Burnout doesn’t come from fragility—it comes from being too strong for too long without rest.
...
In this solo episode, Marie pulls back the curtain on a year where 100% of women in her audience reported feeling burned out—and why that wake-up call changed the way she now approaches leadership, self-care, and boundaries. From juggling a major course launch and intense demands at work to navigating grief, heartbreak, and healing, this is a raw, real conversation about what it actually takes to lead without losing yourself.
...
✨ Theme: Ambition Without Burnout
...We’re talking guilt around rest, redefining success, and learning to advocate for your wellbeing without apology.
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🔥 Why women give everything to everyone—and why that pattern must stop
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💡 The mindset shifts that helped Marie reclaim her energy, peace, and joy
...💬 How a Taylor Swift–inspired visualization helped her walk into one of the toughest conversations with her boss feeling unshakeable
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Plus, Marie shares:
The truth about work stealing more than just your weekdays
What she learned from a sexism lawsuit that changed how she protects her health
Why walking, meditation, and even a 140-mile Camino journey became non-negotiables
The boundary that changed everything: no work phone on weekends—period
🎁 Want help with high-stakes conversations at work?
DM POWER UP to @ordinarytobadass on Instagram and Marie will send you her Power-Up Routine for High-Stakes Conversations—the exact process she uses to lead with confidence without burning bridges.
...
💬 If this episode hit you in the heart, share it with the woman who hasn’t taken a real breath in months.
⭐ Rate + review the show—it helps more badass women find this message.
...
👉 Learn more at ordinarytobadass.com
Some leaders walk into a room and dominate it with volume.
...Lisa walks in and changes it with one sentence.
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In this week’s episode, we’re breaking down the moment Lisa stopped a room full of men cold — not by yelling, not by matching the chaos, but by asking one calm, grounding question that completely flipped the power dynamic.
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If you’ve ever been told you need to be “louder,” “tougher,” or “more aggressive” to lead in a predominantly male workplace… consider this your permission slip to throw that old rulebook directly in the trash.
...
Inside this Badass Debrief, you’ll hear:
✨ The mindset shift that lets you stop reacting to tone and start leading with intention
✨ The grounding questions that instantly de-escalate a tense room
✨ Why calm leadership isn’t passive — it’s strategic power
✨ How to control the energy (and the outcome) without raising your voice
✨ The Maya Angelou reminder every woman in leadership needs tattooed on her soul
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And yes… we even get into the truly disturbing things in life — like people clipping their toenails on airplanes (why is this a thing?!).
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If you’re ready to lead with confidence, clarity, and quiet command — the way women naturally do when we stop performing and start owning our presence — this episode is your new favorite.
...
Let’s get into it.
...
Quiet power is still power. 💛🔥
...
DM me on IG with the word "Rise" to learn more about the course "How to get The Promotion You Deserve and Thrive as A Leader" use code Rise25 for a 25% discount.
Think you need to be the loudest person in the room to lead?
...Think again.
...
In this episode, tech project leader Lisa Roberts shares what it really looks like to stay grounded, direct, and effective in workplaces where everyone else is losing their cool. From managing multimillion-dollar projects to handling rooms full of yelling executives, Lisa has mastered the art of quiet power — and today, she’s teaching YOU how to do the same.
Lisa also opens up about taking a seven-year career break to raise her kids, navigating divorce, and rebuilding her entire career from scratch. Her story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and stepping back into the arena even when you’re terrified.
...
🔥 How to stay calm when everyone around you is spiraling
...💬 The exact phrase Lisa uses to de-escalate high-pressure moments
...💡 Why “fake it till you make it” isn’t a weakness — it’s a strategy
...✨ How to return to the workforce after a long break (and actually thrive)
...💛 The power of women supporting women in predominantly male industries
Plus, I share my Ordinary vs. Badass moment of the week — including why sliding into DMs has surprisingly brought me JOY — and a behind-the-scenes story about how a random night of Three Dog Night VIP access became a metaphor for the kind of leadership access women deserve at work.
You’ve ever questioned your confidence in a male-heavy environment
You’re craving strategies for difficult conversations
You're coming back after a career break
You’re ready to step into leadership without pretending to be someone you’re not
DM me “waitlist” on Instagram (@ordinarytobadass) to get early access to my course:
How to Get the Promotion You Deserve — and Thrive as a Leader.
...
Early access =
✨ 25% off
✨ First dibs before the public
✨ A VIP-only bonus
Because if you're here… you belong in the VIP section.
In this episode, you’ll learn:This episode is for you if:🎟️ Want VIP access to your career?
This week’s Badass Debrief dives into a truth most leaders never hear:
...Happiness isn’t a mood — it’s a skill.
...And Carolina Ayala breaks it down in a way that will completely reset how you lead, think, and take up space.
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If you’ve been grinding, over-functioning, or feeling like you’re doing everything right but still running on empty… this debrief is your wake-up call.
...
You’ll hear:
✨ Why happiness has to be practiced, not waited for
✨ How daily intention-setting becomes a secret leadership advantage
✨ The real reason women wait to celebrate themselves — and how that holds you back at work
✨ The grounded mindset shift Marie uses to walk into high-stakes conversations with clarity and confidence
And Marie shares the Taylor Swift–inspired visualization that helped her handle a tough conversation with her boss without spiraling or shrinking. (Yes — that energy is in her Power-Up Routine.)
If you want to lead with more ease, confidence, and actual joy — not burnout masked with productivity — this episode is the reset you didn’t know you needed.
👉 Want Marie’s Power-Up Routine for high-stakes conversations?
DM POWER UP to @ordinarytobadass on Instagram and she’ll send it your way.
Think happiness comes after achievement? Think again.
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In this remix episode, holistic life coach and healer Carolina Ayala shares powerful, practical techniques to help you cultivate happiness, confidence, and inner strength — starting right now, not someday.
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We dig into how shifting your energy, setting daily intentions, and celebrating yourself can transform the way you lead, the way you show up, and the way you feel in your own life.
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✨ Theme: Embodied confidence, energy leadership, and self-celebration
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You’ll learn:
🔥 Why waiting for external milestones keeps happiness out of reach
💡 How to set intentions that reshape your day (and your life)
💬 A daily practice to celebrate yourself and build inner certainty
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Carolina doesn’t just talk mindset — she gives real, tactical steps you can use today to feel grounded, powerful, and aligned.
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This episode is a reminder:
You don’t have to earn joy. You can generate it — and lead from it.
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💬 DM me on Instagram (@ordinarytobadass) with your favorite takeaway — I love hearing from you!
⭐ If this episode lifts you up, leave a review so more women can rise with us.
Let’s step into our energy — and lead like it.
Have you ever caught yourself saying, “I just wanted to ask…” or “Maybe this is a silly question…”?
...
You’re not alone — and those small phrases might be quietly shrinking your authority.
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In this Badass Debrief, Marie unpacks a powerful idea from her conversation with Rosie Zilinskas in Episode #405: “The language we use minimizes the value we bring to the table.”
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You’ll learn how to replace minimizing language with confident communication that builds credibility, clarity, and leadership presence — without sounding arrogant or aggressive.
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💪 Speak like the leader you are.
Tag me on IG @ordinarytobadass with your takeaways from this episode.
Think your hard work will speak for itself? Think again.
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In this episode of Ordinary to Badass, career-confidence coach Rosie Zilinskas drops truth after truth about why women can’t afford to leave their careers on autopilot. From surviving a contentious divorce and rebuilding from scratch to landing executive leadership roles and launching her own business, Rosie proves that intentional action + self-advocacy = career freedom.
✨ Theme: Skill-Building Strategies & Confidence Without Apology
You’ll hear:
🔥 Why “hope is not a strategy” when it comes to promotions
...💡 How to use Rosie’s Promotion Readiness Roadmap to prepare year-round
...💬 Why advocating for yourself isn’t arrogance—it’s leadership
...💪 The mindset shifts that turn fear and failure into fuel
Plus, Marie gets real about her own limiting beliefs around money, love, and success—and what it means to choose your destiny, even when the metrics mess with your mind.
🎯 Never, ever shrink for a seat at the table—because you were born to build it.
Ever wondered what 140 miles of blisters, coffee stops, and breathtaking views can teach you about confidence and leadership?
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In this episode, Marie takes you behind the scenes of her solo trek on the Camino de Santiago—sharing ten raw, funny, and unexpected lessons about grit, self-trust, and the beauty of ordinary moments.
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From facing brutal hills to realizing that momentum is medicine, she reveals how the trail reshaped her view of work, balance, and what it really means to be a badass.
...
You’ll hear:
🔥 Why preparation matters more than the finish line—and how “ordinary” days build extraordinary results.
💡 How doing it your way (even when it’s unconventional) leads to lasting confidence.
💬 Why kindness, connection, and accepting help might be the strongest forms of leadership.
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If you’ve ever felt stuck, tired, or like you’ve lost your spark—this one’s your reminder that you can do hard things, you can start again, and you don’t have to follow anyone else’s path to be powerful.
🎧 Listen now and walk the Camino one step at a time—with lessons you can carry into every area of your life.
👉 Follow @OrdinaryToBadass on IG for more stories of confidence, leadership, and badass growth.
Think dropping hints is “kinder” than being direct? Think again.
...
In this episode of Ordinary to Badass, Marie pulls back the curtain on a leadership habit that feels safe in the moment—but slowly destroys trust on your team: passive-aggressive leadership. From circling around the issue to making side comments, she shares how she broke the habit, the exact words she uses now, and how you can shift from irritation to influence.
...
✨ Theme: Skill-Building Strategies + Mindset Breakthroughs
...We’re talking about leading with clarity, building trust that lasts, and ditching the behaviors that keep your team second-guessing you.
...
You’ll hear:
🔥 Why passive-aggressive habits erode trust faster than you realize
💡 A simple 5-step framework to handle tough conversations without the side-eye or sarcasm
💬 How being direct (without being a jerk) actually makes you a stronger, more respected leader
...
🎁 Grab the free Breaking Barriers Guide at ordinarytobadass.com/barriers
...💬 DM me @ordinarytobadass on IG if this episode called you out in the best way
...⭐ And don’t forget to rate + review—because the world doesn’t need another “nice” leader who avoids conflict. It needs you leading with confidence.
Think courage means being fearless? Think again.
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In this Badass Debrief, Marie unpacks the boldest lessons from Diane Gansauer’s 3,100-mile solo hike at 61 years old—and shows how they translate into leadership moves you can use right now. From facing fear in grizzly country to realizing persistence beats speed, these are the truths that separate ordinary leaders from badass ones.
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✨ Theme: Resilience Stories + Mindset Breakthroughs
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We’re talking about leading with courage even when fear tags along, letting go of emotional baggage that weighs you down, and refusing to let anyone else write your story.
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You’ll hear:
🔥 Why courage isn’t about fearlessness—it’s about action anyway
💡 How persistence (not pace) creates real leadership impact
💬 The game-changing power of “traveling lightly” in leadership and life
🎁 Grab the free Breaking Barriers Guide at ordinarytobadass.com/barriers
💬 DM me @ordinarytobadass on IG with which lesson hit you hardest
⭐ And don’t forget to rate + review—because the world doesn’t need leaders who wait for permission. It needs you, stepping into your story now.
Think courage has an age limit? Think again.
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At 61 years old, Diane Gansauer set out to hike the entire Continental Divide Trail—3,100 miles of mountains, rivers, and grizzly country. Along the way, she didn’t just prove her grit on the trail—she rewrote her story, discovered the power of persistence, and reminded us all what it means to carry only what truly matters.
✨ Theme: Resilience Stories + Mindset Breakthroughs
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We’re talking about letting go of what weighs you down, finding courage in the messy middle, and realizing it’s never too late to live boldly.
...
You’ll hear:
🔥 How grief, career pivots, and the wilderness shaped Diane’s confidence
💡 Why “traveling lightly” isn’t just about backpacks—it’s about life and leadership
💬 What it really takes to stand your ground, speak up, and refuse to shrink in male-dominated rooms.
🎁 Grab the free Breaking Barriers Guide at ordinarytobadass.com/barriers
💬 DM me @ordinarytobadass on IG if this episode fired you up
⭐ And don’t forget to rate + review—because the world doesn’t need another carbon-copy leader. It needs you in your full badassery.
🎉 400 Episodes of Ordinary to Badass! 🎉
Can you believe it? We’ve hit episode 400, and this one’s all about stopping the self-sabotage and finally leading like the badass you already are.
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In this milestone episode, I’m getting real about what feels ordinary (hello endless checklists 👀) versus what feels badass (training for the Camino de Santiago 🙌). More importantly, I’m breaking down the truth behind Tracy Litt’s powerful reminder: “You are done being available for being against yourself.”
...
✨ Theme: Confidence Without Apology
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We’re talking about:
🔥 Why ordinary habits often build the most badass results
...
💡 How to silence that inner critic before she talks you out of your own greatness
...💬 Why your different way of leading might be exactly what your team needs
Whether it’s Bridget Jones owning her quirks or Ted Lasso leading with heart, this episode is your reminder that you don’t need perfection to lead—you just need belief in yourself.
...
⭐ If this episode fired you up, share it on IG and tag me @ordinarytobadass. I’d love to hear what feels ordinary vs. badass in your world right now.
...
Because the truth is simple: the world doesn’t need another carbon copy leader. The world needs you
Think failure means you’re not cut out for leadership? Think again.
In this episode, Marie Sonneman—Lieutenant, coach, and host of Ordinary to Badass—shares how failing promotion boards more times than she passed didn’t stop her from becoming the only female lieutenant in a department of nearly 700. From almost giving up before her first detective role to rising into leadership, Marie breaks down why failure isn’t proof you’re unqualified—it’s proof you’re in the arena.
✨ Theme: Resilience Stories & Mindset Breakthroughs
We’re talking about the grit it takes to stay in the game, reframing setbacks into stepping stones, and why perseverance matters more than perfection.
You’ll hear:
🔥 Real stories from Marie’s own career—including the promotion she almost missed.
💡 10 iconic women who failed first (Oprah, Beyoncé, Sara Blakely, Lady Gaga, and more).
💬 A powerful reminder that your failed attempts don’t disqualify you—they shape your winning story.
🎁 Want the step-by-step playbook to land your next promotion? Check out Marie’s new course: How to Get the Promotion You Deserve—and Thrive as a Leader.
How to get the promotion you deserve Final
⭐ Don’t forget to rate + review the podcast—your support helps more badass women rise into leadership.