Stay ConnectedThriving by Nature is a podcast for people who are growing, leading, and carrying a lot, and want to do it without burnout. Hosted by Bethany Stone, a mindset and life skills coach with a Montessori-informed approach, this show explores emotional awareness, self-care as a skill, and sustainable personal growth through real life stories and practical insights.
Website: https://www.thrivingbynature.com
Drop-In Group Coaching: https://www.thrivingbynature.com/special-offer
Most of us were taught grammar, manners, and to raise our hand before speaking. Very few of us were taught how to listen so someone feels safe, or how to say the hard thing without shutting down or blowing up.
In this episode I share why communication is a life skill, not a personality trait, and what it looks like to learn it as an adult and as a leader.
In this episode I share:
1. The story of two people having the same conversation over and over, and ending up further apart every time
2. Dr. John Gottman's Four Horsemen of communication breakdown, and the learnable antidote to each one
3. Dr. Brené Brown's research on vulnerability and the armor we wear when honesty feels risky
4. What Harvard Business Review research says about listening and leadership
5. What Montessori has known for over a century about teaching communication, plus three practices you can use in your very next conversation
Your next step: if your voice has been waiting, I would love to talk with you about the Executive Presence Speaking School. Book a free call here:
https://calendly.com/thrivingbynaturecoaching/executive-presence-speaking-school-inquery
Connect with me
Website: https://www.thrivingbynature.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thriving_by_nature_coaching
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethany-stone-speaking-leadership
Thriving by Nature is part of the PodFather Network.
This episode is different. It isn't polished or structured. It's real.
Life can feel heavy and beautiful at the same time. In this episode I share what it looks like to hold both, grief and hope, pressure and purpose, and how to keep showing up when your heart feels full and tired all at once.
If you lead people, run a business, or care for a family while carrying something heavy, this one is for you. You don't have to choose between strength and softness. You are allowed to hold both.
Your next step: if you're carrying a lot right now, you don't have to carry it alone. Come sit with us at drop in group coaching on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday. Five seats each, and you can come as often as you need.
https://www.thrivingbynature.com/special-offer
Chapters
00:00 Showing up real instead of perfect
00:30 When life feels heavy and overwhelming
01:10 Watching someone you love struggle and holding hope
01:50 Grief, loss, and the weight of real life
02:30 Why we think we can only feel one emotion at a time
03:00 Holding grief and gratitude at the same time
03:40 Hope in the middle of hardship
04:15 Being present in loss
04:45 The urge to stay busy instead of feeling
05:10 Simplifying when everything feels like too much
05:45 Letting go of perfection and just showing up
06:10 What "happiness is a choice" really means
06:45 How to keep going when your heart feels heavy
07:15 Holding strength and softness
07:40 Closing thoughts
Connect with me
Website: https://www.thrivingbynature.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thriving_by_nature_coaching
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethany-stone-speaking-leadership
Thriving by Nature is part of the PodFather Network.
You cannot expect a seed to grow in soil that has not been prepared, and neither can you. In this episode, I share what 20 years as a Montessori educator taught me about the power of a prepared environment, plus the research behind why your space shapes your choices, your stress, and your health more than you realize.
We talk about the kitchen, the cake, the clutter, and the science of choice architecture, and I give you three practical steps to prepare your own soil this week.
Want to go deeper? The Five Domains Business Reset is open for early access now at www.thrivingbynature.com/prelaunch
Have you ever felt lost even when life looks good on the outside? In this episode, we talk about what happens when you spend your life chasing approval instead of living in alignment with who you actually are.
I share the story of a woman who built her entire sense of worth on gold stars and praise, and what happened when the world stopped giving them to her. We dig into the science of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, why high achievers are especially vulnerable to the shiny object trap, and three practical steps to start making decisions from the inside out.
If you have been feeling scattered, disconnected, or like something is just off, this one is for you.
Want to go deeper? Early access to the Five Domains Business Reset is closing soon. Grab your spot at thrivingbynature.com/prelaunch
Bethany explores ageism, multi-generational living, and the powerful wisdom that comes from staying connected to our elders. Through personal stories from her classroom and family life, she reflects on how intergenerational relationships foster compassion, emotional well-being, and a deeper sense of belonging.Connect with Bethany Here
In this episode of Thriving by Nature, I’m sharing a personal story about what happened when I pushed my body too far through a season of weddings, travel, business, dance, fitness, family, and nonstop responsibility.
This episode is about physical self-care, but not in the fluffy way. We are talking about what overextension really costs your immune system, your emotions, your clarity, your energy, and your ability to show up fully for the people and work you love.
If you have been running on empty, ignoring the signs, or telling yourself “just one more thing,” this episode is your reminder to listen earlier. Your body is always communicating, and learning to honor it is not weakness. It is wisdom, leadership, and self-respect.
If this episode spoke to you, I would love to invite you to take the next step.
Go to https://www.thrivingbynature.com/ or book your free Leadership Clarity Call. This is a chance for us to look at where you are feeling stretched, stuck, overwhelmed, or out of alignment, and begin identifying the small shifts that could help you lead your life, your business, and your responsibilities with more clarity and peace.
You do not have to keep running on empty. Your body, your mind, your relationships, and your purpose are worth protecting.
And if this episode helped you, share it with someone you love who has been carrying too much for too long.
Staying the course is easy to talk about and hard to live.If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, or leader who feels discouraged because progress feels slow or invisible, this episode is for you.In this podcast episode, we talk about what it actually takes to stay the course without burning out. We explore the emotional reality of perseverance, why motivation fades, how the brain changes through repetition, and how to tell the difference between quitting out of fear versus pivoting with clarity.This episode includes real stories, research backed insight, and practical mindset tools to help you keep going when the results have not caught up yet.Topics covered in this episode includeHow to stay consistent when motivation fadesWhy progress often feels invisible before it becomes obviousThe science of grit and neuroplasticityHow entrepreneurs can avoid burnout while building something meaningfulStaying aligned with your values while growing your businessIf you are building something that matters to you and want to stay grounded through the process, you are in the right place.Subscribe for more mindset, life skills, and self care conversations for entrepreneurs and leaders.
🔗 Resources & LinksGet the Five Domains Course : https://www.thrivingbynature.com/5-domainsSchedule a Leadership Clarity Call: https://calendly.com/thrivingbynaturecoaching/30min📲 Connect With BethanyWebsite: https://www.thrivingbynature.com/Instagram: @thriving_by_nature_coachingLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bethany-stone-mindset-coach
What you say to yourself matters more than you think.In today’s episode of Thriving by Nature, I’m diving into affirmations, not the fluffy, surface level kind, but the kind that actually shift perspective and rewire how you see yourself and your life.I share a personal story about perspective, how the lens you look through shapes everything, and I even sing one of my affirmation songs that I use in my own life.Affirmations are not about pretending.They are about intentionally choosing the words that shape your identity.Ready to go deeper?Join my Group Coachinghttps://www.thrivingbynature.com/special-offerRegister for my Free Masterclasshttps://calendly.com/thrivingbynaturecoaching/the-self-care-masterclassBook a Free Strategy Callhttps://www.thrivingbynature.comConnect with me:Website https://www.thrivingbynature.comInstagram https://www.instagram.com/thriving_by_nature_coachingYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@BethanyStone-ThrivingbynatureFacebook https://www.facebook.com/bethany.e.courtright/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@bethanystone933 00:00Have you ever tried affirmations and felt like a complete fraud?00:20It's like saying I'm confident while your nervous system is in full panic mode, or repeating I am calm while your brain is completely spiraling.01:09Affirmations will definitely feel fake sometimes, and they don't work when they contradict your nervous system.01:17Because they can be extremely unbelievable at the time. 01:21They can ignore the really emotion that you're feeling and they are used to suppress instead of regulate. 01:28And if your body doesn't feel safe, your brain isn't going to believe the words that you're saying. 01:35So instead of saying something like.02:48Well, for me, this is, these are things that I will ask myself. What do you want to embody when you're feeling that? 03:43Do you want to feel calm? 03:44Do you want to feel strong? 03:46Do you want to feel empowered?03:48And then here is the most powerful part. 03:52You're step three create an I am statement.03:58Some I am statements I've used before are I am strong.04:05I am becoming.04:08I am capable of handling this.04:11Creating an I am statement for your.04:17Affirmation is going to change everything because I am becoming more steady.04:25I am capable of handling this. 04:28My worth is not dependent upon my productivity or determined upon that, and I'm going to respond from alignment and not reaction.04:40The only things that you have to really make sure that you're doing that are really key here are making sure that you are staying grounded.04:49Keep your IM statements true enough that your body doesn't reject the IM statement.04:55So.04:57The other practice that I get is how am I going to practice these affirmations? 05:03How do I do this? 05:05So there's about three times during the day when I feel like affirmations are useful in your mind space. 05:13So in the morning, choose your affirmation. 05:16I like to choose.05:17The same affirmation, and I use it for a very long time until another affirmation will resonate with me. 05:25Right now my affirmation is I am strong and I will write that down.05:31And then?05:33I think that I write it because that's what I write is in the morning. 05:38
Staying the course sounds inspiring until you are in the middle of it.
In this episode, we talk about what it really looks like to keep going when progress feels slow, results are quiet, and quitting feels tempting. This is for the entrepreneurs, leaders, and high achievers who are doing the work but wondering if it is actually working.
We explore the emotional side of perseverance, the science behind grit and neuroplasticity, and the difference between quitting, pivoting, and staying aligned. I share stories, research, and practical tools to help you stay grounded, focused, and committed without burning yourself out.
If you are building a business, navigating a transition, or working on becoming a stronger version of yourself, this episode will remind you why staying the course matters, and how to do it in a sustainable way.
If you are ready to grow without losing yourself in the process, this one is for you.
Learn more or book a free strategy call at
https://www.thrivingbynature.com
In this episode of Thriving by Nature, Bethany reflects on ageism, multi-generational living, and the deep wisdom that comes from staying connected across generations.
Fresh off a presentation at the Utah Montessori Conference, Bethany shares personal stories from her classroom, her family, and her own experience living in a four-generation household. From inviting elderly guests into her classroom to growing up alongside her Swiss grandmother, she explores how relationships with elders shape patience, compassion, emotional well-being, and perspective.
This episode highlights the benefits of intergenerational connection, including research-backed reductions in anxiety and improved mental health for younger generations. Bethany invites listeners to reconsider how society treats the elderly and to reflect on what we lose when we isolate those who carry so much lived wisdom.
A heartfelt reminder that thriving doesn’t happen in isolation, it happens in connection.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
