Beyond the Cookie Cutter

Hosted by Mary Black

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Episodes

162

Latest episode

Mar 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Feeling stuck in a cookie cutter life? Struggling to inject order into schedule, children, work, and budget? No time for YOU and your UNIQUE needs? In this podcast, you will find insights from women who have – and are still living through many of the things that you are experiencing. They freely share wisdom and valuable lessons from years of experience. Mary Black shares her own lessons learned, along with outside interviews with beautiful, experienced women. Mary is an amazing communicator. She loves to teach naturally through stories that touch the heart. She helps women connect to the power of their own narrative to grow themselves and those they influence in joyful, inspiring ways.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

March 31, 2026Episode 511 min

Who Are You Listening To?

Send us a Text Message! We would love to hear from you!In this episode, we take a closer look at the inner voice we listen to every day. So often, we can be our own harshest critics—speaking to ourselves in ways we would never speak to others. But what if becoming aware of that voice could help us grow?We explore how recognizing negative self-talk is the first step toward becoming a better, more compassionate version of yourself. By shifting your awareness, you can begin to replace criticism with encouragement and reinforce thoughts that build confidence instead of tearing it down.This episode offers simple, meaningful ways to practice positive thinking, speak to yourself with kindness, and choose a voice that uplifts rather than discourages—because the voice you listen to shapes the person you become.Please share your thoughts and feedback! We love hearing from you!Email: marybcooks@gmail.comInstagram: @marybcooksFor a free 1 on 1 meeting, find a time here: https://calendly.com/mblack7718/free-chat-with-maryHere's to your joy-filled life!-Mary

March 27, 2026Episode 412 min

More Than Perfect: Permission To Be You

Send us a Text Message! We would love to hear from you!In a world that constantly pushes perfection, this episode is a reminder to slow down and recognize the progress you’ve already made. I talk about what it looks like to celebrate your successes—big and small—and truly notice how far you’ve come.Success isn’t one-size-fits-all, and in this conversation, I explore how to define it for yourself in a way that feels meaningful and true to who you are. You’ll be encouraged to practice self-compassion, reflect on your strengths, and even take time to write down what you’re doing well—because those things matter more than we often realize.I also dive into the importance of asking for help and letting go of the pressure to do everything perfectly on your own.This episode is a gentle invitation to release perfection, embrace your growth, and step into a more honest, confident version of yourself—because you are already enough, just as you are. If you'd like to learn more, here are a few books I recommend:“The Gap and the Gain,” Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy“Mindset: The New Psychology of Success,” Carol S. Dweck“The Gifts of Imperfection,” Brene’ Brown“Real Love,” Greg Baer, MD Please share your thoughts and feedback! We love hearing from you!Email: marybcooks@gmail.comInstagram: @marybcooksFor a free 1 on 1 meeting, find a time here: https://calendly.com/mblack7718/free-chat-with-maryHere's to your joy-filled life!-Mary

March 19, 2026Episode 39 min

Permission To Serve

Send us a Text Message! We would love to hear from you!In a world that often celebrates recognition and achievement, this episode is a gentle reminder that some of the most meaningful work happens quietly. This episode explores the idea that women are naturally gifted with a desire to care for and uplift others—and that this calling is something to embrace, not overlook.I talk about how service can be a powerful source of joy and purpose, even in the smallest, most unseen ways. From caring for those closest to you to seeking out simple opportunities in your community, service doesn’t have to be big or noticed to matter.This episode is an invitation to let go of pressure and perfection, and instead give what you can, where you are. Whether it’s through your time, talents, or presence, your ability to serve makes a real impact. When we choose to serve in the everyday moments, we create a life filled with purpose and quiet influence.Looking for ways to serve? Check out these organizations below if you would like to get involved:-https://www.justserve.org/ -https://www.icrc.org/en-https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer.html-https://www.idahokindness.com/Please share your thoughts and feedback! We love hearing from you!Email: marybcooks@gmail.comInstagram: @marybcooksFor a free 1 on 1 meeting, find a time here: https://calendly.com/mblack7718/free-chat-with-maryHere's to your joy-filled life!-Mary

March 12, 2026Episode 29 min

Stronger Together: Women, Wealth & Wisdom

Send us a Text Message! We would love to hear from you!In this episode, we explore what it means to become an agent in every area of our lives, especially when it comes to money. Too often, women are taught to fear finances or feel limited by scarcity. But financial education can empower us to step out of the mindset of lack and into a place of confidence, stewardship, and freedom.I talk about how understanding money can help us break free from the pressure of constantly serving it, and instead learn how to use it as a tool to build the life we truly want. When women come together to share their knowledge, talents, and experiences, something powerful happens—we lift each other up.This episode is an invitation to join a community of women building women. A place where we learn together, support one another, and grow in wisdom so that we can live with greater agency, purpose, and financial confidence. Because when women share what they know and strengthen each other, we truly become stronger together.Please share your thoughts and feedback! We love hearing from you!Email: marybcooks@gmail.comInstagram: @marybcooksFor a free 1 on 1 meeting, find a time here: https://calendly.com/mblack7718/free-chat-with-maryHere's to your joy-filled life!-Mary

February 20, 2026Episode 148 min

Bridging The Lead Rope: Healing Horses, Healing Ourselves

Send us a Text Message! We would love to hear from you!In this grounding and transformative episode, we sit down with Syd of Honor Equine at Springhill Community Ranch in beautiful Belgrade, Montana, to explore how horses help us reconnect with our intuition, release what’s keeping us stuck, and step into a more authentic way of living.Syd, an Equus Coach, Intuitive Medicine Practitioner, Master Facilitator, and intuitive horse listener, shares how these powerful retreats create space for clarity, healing, and realignment. Together, we talk about the wisdom of horses, the power of nature to reset the soul, and what becomes possible when we slow down enough to truly listen.This conversation is an invitation to breathe deeper, trust yourself again, and rediscover the life you were meant to create.You'll hear: Horses mirror our emotions and help us break through personal blocks. Stepping away from everyday noise can change your life. Learn to reconnect with your intuition in a grounded, practical way. If you’re ready to revitalize your life and immerse yourself in nature, learn more at:www.honorequine.comwww.springhillcommunityranch.comPlease share your thoughts and feedback! We love hearing from you!Email: marybcooks@gmail.comInstagram: @marybcooksFor a free 1 on 1 meeting, find a time here: https://calendly.com/mblack7718/free-chat-with-maryHere's to your joy-filled life!-Mary

October 23, 2025Episode 2743 min

Learn • Live • Fly: Saying Yes to Promptings, Purpose, and Everyday Miracles with Livia Pewtress

Send us a Text Message! We would love to hear from you!What if your life changed by simply saying “yes” to God—one small prompting at a time? In this tender, faith-filled episode, Mary Black sits down with Livia Pewtress (Learn • Live • Fly) to talk about “God moments,” living a consecrated life, and how head-knowledge becomes heart-living—and then, with God, you fly.Livia shares her story as a devoted mom of five, creator, and community builder whose work centers on listening, obedience, and practical spiritual disciplines. She opens up about founding The Consecrated Life Project, the meaning behind Learn • Live • Fly (head → heart → Holy Spirit), and how tiny acts of showing up can ripple into miracles for many.You’ll hear:How to notice and act on promptings (even when they don’t make sense yet)“Learn • Live • Fly”: moving truth from the head to the heart—and into Spirit-led actionWhy “showing up” (imperfectly) invites miracles and multiplies blessingsCreating sanctuary: in your heart, home, community, and eventually in the worldDiscernment, boundaries, and choosing what keeps your light brightPractical encouragement for faith, family, health, and purpose-driven workResources & Ways to Connect 🌐 Livia’s hub: learnlivefly.com — podcast, community, resources, contact 📧 Email: livia@learnlivefly.com 🌿 The Consecrated Life Project: theconsecratedlifeproject.com 🙏 “Anchored in Christ” community (via Learn • Live • Fly) 🛠️ Tech made simple for heart-led founders (mentioned by Livia): via Learn • Live • FlyPlease share your thoughts and feedback! We love hearing from you!Email: marybcooks@gmail.comInstagram: @marybcooksFor a free 1 on 1 meeting, find a time here: https://calendly.com/mblack7718/free-chat-with-maryHere's to your joy-filled life!-Mary

August 28, 2025Episode 2640 min

From Storytelling to Strategy: Meaghan Anselm on Marketing, Media, and Valuing Your Worth

Send us a Text Message! We would love to hear from you!Marketing isn’t just about selling—it’s about storytelling that connects, inspires, and drives impact. In this episode of Beyond the Cookie Cutter, Mary sits down with Meaghan Anselm, founder of Saves the Day Marketing, to unpack the evolution of video, the power of audience connection, and why valuing your time is essential for success.With over 18 years in PR, marketing, digital strategy, and video storytelling, Meaghan brings a wealth of experience from producing television to building campaigns for mission-driven organizations. As the founder of Saves the Day Marketing, she and her team specialize in helping nonprofits, entrepreneurs, and public agencies find their voice, expand their reach, and create meaningful community impact.In this episode, you’ll learn:How the evolution of media has changed the way we connect with audiencesWhy storytelling is the most powerful tool in marketing todayPractical tips for entrepreneurs and nonprofits to stretch their budget without sacrificing qualityHow to set boundaries and price your services in a way that reflects your worthWhy clarity and authenticity matter more than polished perfection in building relationshipsWhether you’re an entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, or creative ready to elevate your message, this conversation will give you practical tools and a fresh perspective on how to grow your impact without burning out.📧 Connect with Meaghan: Meaghan@SavesTheDayMarketing.com 🌐 Learn more: savesthedaymarketing.comPlease share your thoughts and feedback! We love hearing from you!Email: marybcooks@gmail.comInstagram: @marybcooksFor a free 1 on 1 meeting, find a time here: https://calendly.com/mblack7718/free-chat-with-maryHere's to your joy-filled life!-Mary

August 21, 2025Episode 2526 min

Reclaiming Your Power: Jessica Egea-Avalos on Women’s Leadership, HER Seat & Leading from Alignment

Send us a Text Message! We would love to hear from you!What if true leadership isn’t about performance, but alignment? In this powerful episode of Beyond the Cookie Cutter, Mary Black sits down with leadership coach and HER Seat founder Jessica Egea. From young single motherhood to executive leadership in male-dominated spaces, Jessica shares how women can reclaim their voice, power, and purpose."Jessica’s journey is one of resilience and reinvention. After navigating seasons of struggle and growth, she created HER Seat—a transformational space for women ready to rise authentically, lead boldly, and step into the seats they were always meant for.In this episode, you’ll hear:Jessica’s journey from single motherhood to senior leadership rolesHow to transform challenges into seasons of growthWhy women must lead from truth, not performanceThe vision behind HER Seat and how it’s changing leadership for women everywherePractical ways to reclaim your voice and step into authentic leadership✨ Learn more at www.jessicaegea.com 📩 Connect: hello@jessicaegea.comPlease share your thoughts and feedback! We love hearing from you!Email: marybcooks@gmail.comInstagram: @marybcooksFor a free 1 on 1 meeting, find a time here: https://calendly.com/mblack7718/free-chat-with-maryHere's to your joy-filled life!-Mary

August 14, 2025Episode 2428 min

Healing Codependency & Awakening Your Soul: Kari Vest England on Akashic Records & Living Your Purpose

Send us a Text Message! We would love to hear from you!At 45, Kari Vest England decided she couldn’t live another day in codependency and self-neglect. That choice led to a powerful spiritual awakening—one that revealed her intuitive gifts, unlocked the Akashic Records, and helped her break generational cycles. This episode is your invitation to reclaim your power and purpose.In this transformative conversation, Mary Black welcomes Kari Vest England—Master Intuitive, Shamanic Practitioner, Light Field Astrologer, and Akashic Record Keeper—to Beyond the Cookie Cutter.Kari shares her powerful journey from a life shaped by codependency and self-abandonment to one of deep spiritual connection, soul-level healing, and authentic empowerment. Through her own healing, she now guides others to release false narratives, clear karmic contracts, and reconnect with their highest selves.You’ll hear:How childhood empathy can become both a survival skill and a spiritual giftThe process of clearing Akashic Records and breaking generational cyclesHow to release inherited beliefs and emotional patterns that don’t serve youThe role of faith, universal guidance, and quantum principles in healingWhy it’s never too late to reclaim your power and purposeKari’s story, featured in the anthology Together We Rise: The Wounded Healer’s Enlightened Journey to a Collective Ascension, is a reminder that even in our darkest seasons, we are never alone—and the path forward may be more divinely guided than we think.📚 Read Kari’s story in Together We Rise: https://amzn.to/44hvyaX 🌐 Connect with Kari: karivestengland.comPlease share your thoughts and feedback! We love hearing from you!Email: marybcooks@gmail.comInstagram: @marybcooksFor a free 1 on 1 meeting, find a time here: https://calendly.com/mblack7718/free-chat-with-maryHere's to your joy-filled life!-Mary

August 7, 2025Episode 2343 min

The Love Codes: Finding Connection, Stillness, and Healing in a Noisy World with Laura Kimmel

Send us a Text Message! We would love to hear from you!A poetic conversation on language, nature, art, and remembering who we areIn this soul-nourishing episode, Mary Black welcomes Laura Kimmel, a poet, musician, educator, and author of The Love Codes—a trilogy of poetry born during the silence and awakening of the pandemic.Laura shares how walking through the forests of Florida and listening—truly listening—to birds, trees, and stillness allowed her to reconnect with her deepest self and the world around her. Together, she and Mary explore the healing power of language, the spiritual role of art, and the sacred resonance that comes from reading, speaking, and writing with intention.This is more than a conversation. It’s a reminder:That art is a tool for peace—and presenceThat our language shapes how we think and feelThat stillness is not empty—it’s where we find ourselves againThat even in grief or global noise, connection is possibleLaura shares the story behind The Love Codes—her poetic trilogy (book one is out now)—and how it came to life through international collaboration, emotional depth, and intuitive creativity.Whether you're an artist, a writer, a musician, or simply someone craving connection in an increasingly distracted world… this episode will meet you where you are.📚 Learn More📖 The Love Codes – Book One by Laura Kimmel: https://amzn.to/4laIF3V 📩 Email: kimmel@kimmelvoice.com✨ Subscribe to Beyond the Cookie Cutter and share this episode with someone whose soul speaks in poetry.Please share your thoughts and feedback! We love hearing from you!Email: marybcooks@gmail.comInstagram: @marybcooksFor a free 1 on 1 meeting, find a time here: https://calendly.com/mblack7718/free-chat-with-maryHere's to your joy-filled life!-Mary