Welcome to the What the Helene Podcast, where fulfillment coach and recovering overachiever Hélène Caniac dismantles perfectionism with unfiltered honesty, sharp humor, and more compassion than you probably give yourself. In this episode, Hélène gets real about the messy reality of chasing dreams in a world obsessed with getting it “right.” From barking dogs and noisy neighbors to the myth of the perfect productivity hack, she exposes the absurdity of waiting for ideal conditions and urges us to embrace imperfection as a radical path to freedom, self-acceptance, and actual joy.

Through smart storytelling and the occasional joyful rant, Hélène unpacks everything from military metaphors to why planning your way to healing is a trap, offering nuanced insights that land somewhere between personal growth and societal critique. If you’re tired of binary success/failure thinking and want permission to fuck around and find out—this episode’s for you. It’s not about striving for the utopia of “having it all together.” It’s about showing up, taking messy action, and learning to call yourself a success on your own terms.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 The Pursuit of Perfection

04:52 Rethinking Children's Aspirations

09:01 Embrace Present Moment Awareness

13:59 Path to Healing and Grace

15:40 Trapped in Self-Reliance Cycle

18:38 Embrace Imperfect Action