The Daily Ascent

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 54 | Meeting People's Mess With Grace Instead of Judgment Jan 15, 2026

Show notes

In today's episode, I'm talking about what it looks like when someone meets your chaos with grace - and what happens when you forget to do the same.

I share the story of my friend Liz showing me what grace looks like in action, and how it made me realize I hadn't done the same for my brother.

Question to carry into your day: When someone's chaos spills into your life, instead of making their worst moment mean something about who they are, can you meet them with grace today?

Want to chat about working together? Me too! Visit https://www.mollycarmel.com to schedule a free call about my Stop Starting Over System.

Let's Stay Connected:

Instagram: @mollycarmel
Subscribe on YouTube
Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages)
Questions or want to share your story? Email me at dailyascentpod@gmail.com

An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

Ep. 53 | What Needs to Go Out in 2025: Compartmentalization, What Needs to Come In: Compassion Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

In today's episode, I'm talking about what needs to go out in 2025 - compartmentalization - and what needs to come in in 2026 - compassion.

I share what's been coming up in my sessions this month with clients who are trying to stuff down their feelings, and why compartmentalization for big-feeling people just means the feelings will explode or leak out somewhere else - often with food.

We'll explore how having compassion for your difficult feelings is actually stronger than pretending you're fine.

Question to carry into your day: What are you trying to compartmentalize right now - and what would it look like to have compassion for yourself for feeling bothered instead?

Want to chat about working together? Me too! Visit https://www.mollycarmel.com to schedule a free call about my Stop Starting Over System.

Let's Stay Connected:

Instagram: @mollycarmel
Subscribe on YouTube
Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages)
Questions or want to share your story? Email me at dailyascentpod@gmail.com

An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

Ep. 52 | How I Taught Myself to Love Something I Hated (The Hot Yoga Experiment) Jan 13, 2026

Show notes

In today's episode, I'm talking about how I taught myself to love hot yoga by going every single day for two weeks - even though I hated it at first.

I share the story of my relentless best friend Josh convincing me to try, and how I decided to see if I could actually change my relationship with something I thought I just "didn't like."

We'll explore how commitment - not motivation - is what creates real change.

Question to carry into your day: What's something you've written off as "I just don't like that" - and what would it look like to commit to showing up for it consistently and see what changes?

Want to chat about working together? Me too! Visit https://www.mollycarmel.com to schedule a free call about my Stop Starting Over System.

Let's Stay Connected:

Instagram: @mollycarmel
Subscribe on YouTube
Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages)
Questions or want to share your story? Email me at dailyascentpod@gmail.com

An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

Ep. 51 | The 3-Year-Old Who Wanted to Smell Everything (And What He Taught Me About Being Alive) Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

In today's episode, I'm talking about what my 3-year-old godson taught me about curiosity, wonder, and using all of our senses to really experience life instead of just observing it.

I share the story of him wanting to see and smell everything in my dog's travel bag - approaching dried fish skins like they were miracles - and how his openness reminded me what it looks like to approach life with genuine wonder instead of cynicism or the need for certainty.

We'll explore how wonder requires vulnerability and how we can bring more curiosity into this new year.

Question to carry into your day: Where in your life have you traded curiosity for certainty - and what would shift if you approached it with genuine openness instead of assuming you already know?

Want to chat about working together? Me too! Visit https://www.mollycarmel.com to schedule a free call about my Stop Starting Over System.

Let's Stay Connected:

Instagram: @mollycarmel
Subscribe on YouTube
Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages)
Questions or want to share your story? Email me at dailyascentpod@gmail.com

An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

Ep. 50 | I Broke My New Year's Resolution on January 3rd (And Why That's Actually Perfect) Jan 09, 2026

Show notes

In today's episode, I'm talking about what happened when I broke my New Year's resolution on January 3rd - and why perfectionism is the real enemy, not imperfection.

I share the story of reflexively reaching for my phone and playing Wordle before my morning practice, and how my yoga teacher told the exact same story that day.

We'll explore why the goal isn't to never mess up - it's to learn how to mess up and keep going anyway.

Question to carry into your day: What resolution or intention are you holding with too much perfectionism - and what would it look like to hold it with both commitment and self-compassion instead?

Want to chat about working together? Me too! Visit https://www.mollycarmel.com to schedule a free call about my Stop Starting Over System.

Connect with Molly Carmel:

Instagram: @mollycarmel
Subscribe on YouTube
Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages)
Questions or want to share your story? Email me at dailyascentpod@gmail.com

An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

Ep. 49 | What Happens When You Stop Deciding You Can't Do Things Jan 08, 2026

Show notes

In today's episode, I'm talking about what happens when we stop assuming we're incapable and let ourselves stay with discomfort long enough to learn.

I share a personal story about facing a skill I wanted to avoid and what it taught me about self-trust and growth.

We'll explore spiritual growth, emotional recovery, and a powerful reading from Keep It Simple about willingness and progress.

Question to carry into your day: Where might you be deciding you "can't," without ever letting yourself find out?

Connect with Molly Carmel:

Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com
Instagram: @mollycarmel
Website: www.mollycarmel.com
Subscribe on YouTube
Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages)

If this episode helped you see yourself differently, consider subscribing or sharing it with someone who's learning to trust themselves again.

An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

Ep. 48 | When Diet Culture Gets Loud: Stop Comparing Your Insides to Their Outsides Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

In today's episode, I'm talking about how the resurgence of skinny culture can destabilize even the most grounded healing journeys.

I share a story from my work with someone who was doing beautifully — and how cultural noise pulled her attention from her insides to her outsides.

We'll explore spiritual growth, emotional recovery, and a grounding insight from Inner Harvest about choosing serenity over perfection.

Question to carry into your day: Where have you noticed your attention drifting to the outside — and what helps you come back to yourself?

Connect with Molly Carmel:

Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com
Instagram: @mollycarmel
Website: www.mollycarmel.com
Subscribe on YouTube
Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages)

An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

Ep. 47 | When Letting Go Early Is the Most Loving Choice Jan 06, 2026

Show notes

In today's episode I'm talking about a difficult but deeply clarifying leadership lesson: when letting go early can actually be the most loving and honest decision.

I share the story of releasing an assistant I genuinely cared about, the moment a friend's advice challenged a lifelong pattern of staying too long, and how choosing based on the goal rather than personalities changed everything.

This episode explores emotional maturity, spiritual growth, and the cost of carrying misalignment until it turns into resentment.

We'll explore how Stoic wisdom helps us face reality without drama, why clarity can feel painful and still be right, and how ending something early can preserve dignity for everyone involved.

Question to carry into your day: Where in your life might clarity be asking you to choose based on the goal, rather than the comfort of familiarity?

Connect with Molly Carmel:

Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com
Instagram: @mollycarmel
Website: www.mollycarmel.com
Subscribe on YouTube
Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages)

If The Daily Ascent helps you rise a little higher, I'd be so grateful if you'd subscribe, rate, and share the show with someone who might need it.

An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

Ep. 46 | The Power of Saying No and Letting Yourself Rest Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

In today's episode, I'm talking about the power of saying no — especially during the holidays — and how honoring your body's limits can be deeply restorative.

I share a personal story about choosing rest over obligation and the surprising clarity that followed.

We'll explore emotional recovery, boundaries, and a beloved reading from Melody Beattie about why saying no allows us to say yes to the good.

Question to carry into your day: Where in your life is your body quietly asking for a no — and what might become possible if you listened?

Connect with Molly Carmel:

Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com
Instagram: @mollycarmel
Website: www.mollycarmel.com
Subscribe on YouTube
Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages)

An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

Ep. 45 | The Wisdom of Winter Jan 02, 2026

Show notes

In today's episode, I'm talking about the winter seasons of our lives — those moments that feel dark, uncertain, or stripped down to the essentials.

I share a story about supporting a friend who is in a difficult moment in her business, and the unexpected wisdom that arrived as autumn leaves fell across my windshield.

We explore the quiet power of winter, the truth that every season holds meaning, and how resurgence is always preparing beneath the surface.

Question to carry into your day: Where in your life might you be in a winter season, and can you soften into the possibility that something is gathering strength beneath the surface, preparing for its resurgence?

Connect with Molly Carmel:

Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com
Instagram: @mollycarmel
Website: www.mollycarmel.com
Subscribe on YouTube
Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages)

If The Daily Ascent helps you rise a little higher, share it with someone who might need a little light in their winter.

An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected