Mindset Unlimited: Tips, Tools, and Inspiration for Women in a Time of Change

Hosted by Valerie Friedlander

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145

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Your Mindset Unlimited is a podcast for women navigating professional and life transitions who are seeking to release learned limitations and build a more holistic, liberatory version of success. Your Host, Valerie Friedlander, is an ICF certified leadership coach, sociologist, intersectional feminist, artist, business owner, and mom. Based in Chicago and supporting clients world-wide, she helps passionate women in demanding careers break free of frustrating patterns, clarify their purpose, and create meaningful success on their own terms. In this podcast you'll find tips, tools, and inspiration to help you release the internalized limitations cultivated by our social system imbalances and lead your life with more ease and joy. Some of the topics you'll find here are: finding fulfillment, habit shifting, motivation, time management, money mindset, stress management, impostor syndrome, productivity, work/life balance, communication, boundaries, leadership, social activism, burnout, building a business, motherhood, and more. You can find out about Valerie and her work at www.valeriefriedlander.com Follow her on most social media @unlimitedcoachval Sign up for her email list at www.valeriefriedlander.com/signup Books referenced on the podcast can be found on Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/lists/unlimited-podcast-book-recommendations

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 3, 2026Episode 537 min

Cultivating a Culture of Truthlighting: Stop Workplace Gaslighting and Advance Fair Opportunities for Women with Dr. Falguni Shah

Cultivating a Culture of Truthlighting offers a path for workplaces to move away from practices that gaslight women and toward ones that build a culture grounded in truth, trust, and accountability that advance fair opportunities for women. In this episode, my guest, leadership and workplace culture consultant and author Dr. Falguni Shah, shares practical ways to recognize gaslighting, validate people’s reality, and use “truthlighting” behaviors to create safer, more inclusive environments where people can thrive instead of constantly second-guessing themselves. This conversation is for anyone who senses something is “off” at work and wants language, clarity, and tools to drive real change. Some of what we talk about on this episode includes:The erosion of self-trust from workplace gaslightingShifting from “imposter syndrome” to impostor’s ambitionCultivating truthlighting as a leadership and culture frameworkWhen it’s time to leave and reclaim your purpose, confidence, and truth. Have thoughts or questions about this episode? Share them with me!Send me a voice memo: https://www.speakpipe.com/MindsetUnlimited CONNECT WITH FALGUNI:WEBSITEBUY THE BOOK: FROM GASLIGHTING TO TRUTHLIGHTINGMEDIA FEATURES BOOK FALGUNI TO SPEAK LINKEDIN INSTAGRAM FACEBOOKTIKTOK CONNECT WITH VALERIE:Ask Valerie (anonymous form)Sign up for Valerie’s newsletterApply to be coached on the podcastSchedule an exploration call This podcast was produced by Valerie Friedlander CoachingProud member of the Feminist Podcasters CollectiveSend us Fan MailSupport the show

May 20, 2026Episode 441 min

Talking to Your Partner About Internalized Patriarchy

Talking to your partner about internalized patriarchy is easy to put off (especially when he seems “better than most”). But if you’re feeling increasingly frustrated by how it shows up in shared routines, the mental load, and emotional labor, it’s time to do more than just commiserate with friends. In this episode, we’ll explore how those “small” frustrations connect to sacred rage, how to recognize your own internalized norms, and how to resource yourself and set boundaries. You’ll walk away with language and tools to invite your partner into a collaborative, honest conversation about changing the dynamics in your home. Some of what I explore in this episode includes:Recognizing your part and being willing to changeStop minimizing emotions and understanding sacred rageResourcing yourself and setting boundariesWays to invite a conversation and initiate change Have thoughts or questions about this episode? Share them with me!Send me a voice memo: https://www.speakpipe.com/MindsetUnlimited RELATED MINDSET UNLIMITED EPISODES:CNN Exposing a global r*pe academyCreating Change through Joy for Greater Ease with Heather VickeryPartner Alignment WorkbookStress Language QuizEnergy Leadership Index Assessment code FLASHELI CONNECT WITH VALERIE:Ask Valerie (anonymous form)Sign up for Valerie’s newsletterApply to be coached on the podcastSchedule an exploration call This podcast was produced by Valerie Friedlander CoachingProud member of the Feminist Podcasters CollectiveSend us Fan MailSupport the show

May 6, 2026Episode 338 min

Creating Change through Joy for Greater Ease with Heather Vickery

Creating real change often feels heavy, but what if joy is actually the most sustainable way through it? In this conversation with my guest, transformation coach Heather Vickery, we explored what it actually means to create change through joy, why authenticity is more than a buzzword, and how we can hold grief and joy at the same time without bypassing the very real challenges we’re facing. Tune in to learn how joy can be a compass for navigating big life transitions and designing a life that truly fits you. Some of what we talk about on this episode includes:Honoring your embodied knowingFinding your place in the work of changePrioritizing joy while honoring griefBuilding intentional community Have thoughts or questions about this episode? Share them with me!Send me a voice memo: https://www.speakpipe.com/MindsetUnlimited LINKS TO REFERENCES MADE IN THIS EPISODE:Chicago Empower Breakfast CONNECT WITH HEATHER:WEBSITECONNECT WITH HEATHERFREE HUMAN DESIGN CHART CONNECT WITH VALERIE:Ask Valerie (anonymous form)Sign up for Valerie’s newsletterApply to be coached on the podcastSchedule an exploration call This podcast was produced by Valerie Friedlander CoachingProud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective Send us Fan MailSupport the show

April 15, 2026Episode 219 min

Releasing Perfectionism and Pursuing Purpose

Perfectionism isn't just about not wanting our imperfections to show. Sometimes it shows up when we care deeply but feel overwhelmed. In this episode I explore how perfectionism, overwhelm, and our stress response patterns can quietly keep us from taking any action at all, even when our intentions are good. We’ll talk about reconnecting with your purpose in the present moment, honoring your true capacity, and recognizing the unique gifts you naturally bring. If you’ve been stuck waiting to do the “right” or “best” thing, this conversation will help you take meaningful, imperfect action.Some of what I talk about on this episode includes:Perfectionism can be because you really careRecognizing your stress responseHonoring your capacity and giftsFocus on purpose not outcomeThe importance of taking actionHave thoughts or questions about this episode? Share them with me!Send me a voice memo: https://www.speakpipe.com/MindsetUnlimited RELATED MINDSET UNLIMITED EPISODES:How to Cure ComparisonitisHow to Avoid Overwhelm and Access Joy in a Time of ChangeCONNECT WITH VALERIE:Ask Valerie (anonymous form)Sign up for Valerie’s newsletterApply to be coached on the podcastSchedule an exploration call This podcast was produced by Valerie Friedlander CoachingProud member of the Feminist Podcasters CollectiveSend us Fan MailSupport the show

April 1, 2026Episode 128 min

Being a Mission-Driven Woman and Stepping into Possibilities: The Focus of Season 6

In this first episode of Season 6 of Mindset Unlimited, host and leadership coach, Valerie Friedlander, introduces the season’s focus on mission-driven Chicago women. She unpacks what “mission-driven” means, highlighting the importance of creativity, possibility, and staying connected to your values in a world that often pulls you into judgment and survival mode. Valerie also reflects on embracing her own non-linear process and invites listeners to explore how they relate to their own way of thinking, creating, and building their mission. Throughout the episode, she lays the groundwork for upcoming conversations with entrepreneurs, community organizers, and artists who are actively shaping the future they want to see.Some of what Valerie explores in this episode:What you can expect this seasonWhat it means to be mission-drivenCultivating a creative mindsetEmbracing your processRequest for listener input Have thoughts or questions about this episode? Share them with me!Send me a voice memo: https://www.speakpipe.com/MindsetUnlimited LINKS TO REFERENCES MADE IN THIS EPISODE:Where Do We Go From Here – Reflections on this Podcast & Layoff Uncertainty CONNECT WITH VALERIE:Ask Valerie (anonymous form)Sign up for Valerie’s newsletterApply to be coached on the podcastSchedule an exploration call This podcast was produced by Valerie Friedlander CoachingProud member of the Feminist Podcasters CollectiveSend us Fan MailSupport the show

December 17, 2025Episode 2026 min

Dreaming, Setting Intentions, and Keeping Yourself Accountable

Dreaming, setting intentions, and keeping yourself accountable are not easy in the world we currently live in. Our society has built systems that erode the individual and collective spaces that hold these generative processes. This is a powerful time of year to begin to reclaim the space of pausing in the darkness to be with yourself, dream new possibilities, and lay the foundation for what you want to create in the world. In this episode of Mindset Unlimited, I share insights and tips on the power of dreaming, setting intentions, and keeping yourself accountable as we head into a new year. Some of what I explore in this episode includes:Embracing end of year energy (darknessThe importance of pausing and why it’s hardUnderstanding intentions and creating accountabilityYou don’t have to be perfect, just present Have thoughts or questions about this episode? Share them with me!Send me a voice memo: https://www.speakpipe.com/MindsetUnlimited LINKS TO REFERENCES MADE IN THIS EPISODE: Lord Of The Rings Facebook Post A Swiftly Tilting Planet – Madeleine L’EngleHow to Manifest What You Want How to Plan for the Future and Enjoy the Present How to Avoid Overwhelm and Access Joy in a Time of Change Done With New Year New You CONNECT WITH VALERIE:Ask Valerie (anonymous form)Sign up for Valerie’s newsletterApply to be coached on the podcastSchedule an exploration call This podcast was produced by Valerie Friedlander CoachingProud member of the Feminist Podcasters CollectiveSend us Fan MailSupport the show

December 3, 2025Episode 1943 min

Leading with Curiosity: Building Intentional Relationships in Your Business and Personal Life with Danielle Marshall

Curiosity is one of the most important tools we have for creating deeper connection, healthier culture, and more aligned leadership. When we slow down enough to notice and question our unconscious assumptions, we open the door to new possibilities. This, in turn, expands our sense of hope and improves our ability to collaborate with others. In this conversation, we explore how organizational culture is shaped, how we shape our personal relationships, and the role curiosity plays in shifting limiting patterns in both areas. You’ll walk away with practical ways to listen differently, ask better questions, and align your actions with the human you most want to be.In this episode of Mindset Unlimited, I invited Danielle Marshall to join me in a conversation about why leading with curiosity is key to intentionally cultivating what you want in your business and personal life.Some of what we talk about in this episode includes:What you need to build a strong organizational cultureSimple curiosity supporting questions that strengthen relationships in personal and professional life.Recognizing and reframing limiting beliefs that keep you from your potentialPractical ways to slow down, reduce assumptions, and create more intentional connections. Thanks for listening! Have thoughts on this episode? Send me a voice memo: https://www.speakpipe.com/MindsetUnlimited CONNECT WITH DANIELLEWebsiteLinkedInInstagramThe Curiosity Playbook Unpacked: Culture Chronicles Podcast CONNECT WITH VALERIE:Sign up for Valerie’s newsletterApply to be coached on the podcastSchedule an exploration callListen to the Unlimited Playlist This podcast was produced by Valerie Friedlander CoachingProud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective Send us Fan MailSupport the show

November 19, 2025Episode 1833 min

3 Holiday Reflections for Navigating Grief, Gifts, and Gratitude

The holiday season often brings a swirl of emotions. Unfortunately, the uncomfortable emotions can often overwhelm the joy we want to embrace. Many people experience tension around grief, traditions, gift-giving, and expectations. Navigating these challenges means finding ways to honor grief, fostering meaningful connections with healthy boundaries, and using gratitude as a tool not a weapon. The reflections in this episode offer guidance for moving through the season with greater intentionality. You don't have to be perfect to create the holiday experience you want.In this episode of Mindset Unlimited, I share some holiday reflections for navigating grief, gifts, and gratitude with intention and mindfulness.Some of what I explore in this episode includes:Navigating grief and loss during the holiday season with practical emotional support strategiesMindful and meaningful holiday gift-giving, including setting healthy boundariesEmbracing mindful spending and supporting financial well-beingPracticing gratitude, hope, and courage to cultivate authentic connections and community support during holidays Have thoughts or questions about this episode? Share them with me!Send me a voice memo: https://www.speakpipe.com/MindsetUnlimited LINKS TO REFERENCES MADE IN THIS EPISODE:Holiday Stress Support PageLoving Yourself Through Grief with Lisa ZawrotnyReclaiming Humanity Through GriefNavigating our Relationship with Death with Nikki SmithAccessing the True Power of Gratitude: Beyond IndividualismSetting Holiday BoundariesBonus Episode: Seven Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress CONNECT WITH VALERIE:Ask Valerie (anonymous form)Sign up for Valerie’s newsletterApply to be coached on the podcastSchedule an exploration call This podcast was produced by Valerie Friedlander CoachingProud member of the Feminist Podcasters CollectiveSend us Fan MailSupport the show

November 5, 2025Episode 1744 min

Living Life With Integrity with F. John Potter

Living a life of integrity means showing up whole and in alignment with your values, no matter what life throws your way. It can be especially difficult to stay centered in who you want to be during periods of life that feel uncertain and you’re stepping into the unknown, yet that is when being true to yourself matters most. Having a moral compass supports resilience, clarity, and strength to take the next indicated step forward as you navigate the unpredictability of life. It creates not only stability in uncertainty but also builds a lasting legacy. In this episode of Mindset Unlimited, I invited F. John Potter to join me in a conversation about what supports living life with integrity and navigating unexpected career changes. Some of what we talk about in this episode includes: Being open to the unexpectedDecision-making with the support of friendsCourage and defining enoughNavigating unemploymentThe accumulation of skills(This is a replay episode with a new intro and re-added content around the 20 minute mark.) LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE:Frank John Potter’s ObituaryJohn’s Ignite Talk Leaning Into a Mid-Life Career Change Tao Te Ching CONNECT WITH VALERIE:Sign up for Valerie’s newsletterApply to be coached on the podcastSchedule an exploration callListen to the Unlimited Playlist This podcast was produced by Valerie Friedlander CoachingProud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective Send me a text!Support the showSend us Fan MailSupport the show

October 15, 2025Episode 161 hr 6 min

Rest that Leads to Radical Joy: Letting Go of Performance and Embracing Your Truth with Jordan Maney

Rest that leads to radical joy is a birthright that we have learned to avoid instead of embrace. We are taught to prove our worth through our hustle, and what better excuse to avoid the space of being present with yourself. Opening to the vulnerability of being present is scary for a variety of reasons, including the shadows we may have to face. The good news is that joy is also there waiting for us to make room for it. Rest is how we make room. In this episode of Mindset Unlimited, I invited Jordan Maney to join me in a conversation about what it looks like to find true rest that leads to radical joy. Some of what we talk about in this episode includes:Meeting yourself where you are with restPerforming self-care vs authentic and connective restActs of resistance and finding a way forward in uncertaintyConnecting to yourself as a starting point for community Thanks for listening! Have thoughts on this episode? Send me a voice memo: https://www.speakpipe.com/MindsetUnlimited CONNECT WITH JORDANWebsite LinkedInInstagramYoutTubeSign up for Jordan’s newsletter CONNECT WITH VALERIE:Sign up for Valerie’s newsletterApply to be coached on the podcastSchedule an exploration callListen to the Unlimited Playlist This podcast was produced by Valerie Friedlander CoachingProud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective Send us Fan MailSupport the show