“There are some very universal pieces of armor that we all wear: foreboding joy, perfectionism, and numbing.” — Brené Brown

In this episode of The Wholehearted Series, we explore what it means to cultivate a resilient spirit—a key guidepost in living a wholehearted life. At the heart of this guidepost is a liberating invitation: let go of numbing and powerlessness.

Many of us have learned to disconnect from pain through busyness, perfectionism, or emotional shutdown. But numbing doesn’t just protect us from discomfort—it dulls our capacity for joy, creativity, love, and connection. In this episode, we unpack how to shift from powerlessness to purpose, and how resilience is less about pushing through, and more about recovering well, choosing hope, and staying connected to what makes us feel alive.

You’ll hear:

• The five traits resilient people have in common
• Why hope is not an emotion but a way of thinking (thanks to Dr. C.R. Snyder’s research)
• The role of spirituality, storytelling, and recovery seasons in building inner strength
• What it means to reclaim power when trauma has shaped your nervous system’s default
• How I personally wrestled with powerlessness, and how nervous system awareness became a turning point
• The truth about numbing: why it’s not neutral, and how it slowly distances us from our fullest selves

Whether you’re healing from burnout, living through a hard season, or learning how to show up for yourself with more compassion, this episode will meet you where you are—with insight, encouragement, and the reminder that you’re not alone.

Get your free Wholehearted Living journal prompts. https://calm-sun-843.myflodesk.com/x5yo2oyoyu

Book a free discovery coaching call: www.ella-hooper.com

Follow me on Instagram:@ella.hooper__

In this transformative conversation, I’m joined by Dr. Margaret Nagib — clinical psychologist and spiritual development coach — to explore the vital role of the nervous system in both our emotional and spiritual health. Dr. Margaret unpacks how the nervous system forms the foundation for every area of life and why tending to it is essential for true balance and wholeness.

We dive into how psychology and faith intersect, the dangers of spiritual bypassing, and why clarity is so important in your spiritual journey. You’ll learn practical tools for regulating your nervous system, building capacity for emotional experiences, and aligning your desires with your deeper purpose. This episode is an invitation to move beyond survival mode into a life marked by peace, presence, and authentic growth.

Find out more about Margaret Nagib's programs: https://www.thedunamisproject.org/

Follow Margaret Nagib: https://www.instagram.com/margaretnagib/

In this episode, I talk with Donna Winship about identity, belonging, and what it really means to hear God’s voice. Donna shares her journey from growing up in a Jewish community, to wrestling with big questions about God, to ultimately discovering a new identity through Jesus.

We dive into her life with Jamie Winship—from his career in law enforcement to their years in high-conflict zones—and the surprising ways God showed up, even drawing the attention of the CIA. Donna unpacks how God speaks (always with love, never with condemnation), and how encountering Him transforms the way we see ourselves and others.

This is a conversation about identity, connection, and the freedom of living fully as who God says we are.

Donna Winship is a speaker, teacher, and co-founder of Identity Exchange. Alongside her husband, Jamie Winship, she has dedicated her life to helping others discover their true identity and live fearlessly. https://www.identityexchange.com/

In this episode of The Wholehearted Series, we explore the powerful shift from perfectionism to self-compassion. Perfectionism ties our worth to performance, fueling fear, shame, and disconnection. But self-compassion offers a new way—one rooted in kindness, common humanity, and mindful awareness.

We unpack:

• The difference between self-esteem and self-compassion
• How perfectionism mirrors a fixed mindset
• Why many of us resist self-compassion (hello, Backdraft)
• And how learning to meet ourselves with tenderness can transform how we live, relate, and grow

Letting go of perfectionism isn’t about lowering the bar—it’s about reclaiming your worth, exactly as you are.

Get your free Wholehearted Living journal prompts. https://calm-sun-843.myflodesk.com/x5yo2oyoyu

Book a free discovery coaching call: www.ella-hooper.com

Follow me on Instagram:@ella.hooper__

"Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity." – Brené Brown

As part of The Wholehearted Series, I knew we had to talk about a key ingredient of wholehearted living—and that is vulnerability. Honestly, I don't think you can live a truly wholehearted life without it. So I invited my friend and returning guest, Jon Toms, back on the podcast to explore this important topic.

In this heartfelt and honest conversation, Jon and I unpack what it really means to be vulnerable—and why we so often resist it. We dive into the difference between vulnerability and transparency, the hidden fears that keep us from opening up, and the subtle ways we armor up through humor, perfectionism, anger, and numbing.

We also share personal stories—moments where vulnerability opened something sacred… and moments where it fell flat or wasn’t received well. Along the way, we talk about self-protection patterns, the trap of oversharing, and how to practice discernment in knowing when and with whom to share our deeper stories.

Finally, we explore how vulnerability can shift the way we do conflict, build safer spaces, and help us show up more compassionately—for ourselves and others.

Whether you’re new to vulnerability or learning to live with an open heart in deeper ways, this episode offers gentle insight and practical tools for moving toward greater courage, connection, and freedom.

Follow Jon Toms on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jontoms

Get your free Wholehearted Living journal prompts. https://calm-sun-843.myflodesk.com/x5yo2oyoyu

Book a free discovery coaching call: www.ella-hooper.com

Follow me on Instagram:@ella.hooper__

“Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are.” — Brené Brown

In this episode of The Wholehearted Series, we explore the foundational guidepost of living a brave, connected life: Cultivating Authenticity by letting go of what people think.

Authenticity isn’t a personality trait—it’s a daily, courageous practice. It requires self-awareness, self-acceptance, and the willingness to disappoint others rather than abandon ourselves.

We’ll dive into:

• What happens when we lack self-awareness and self-knowledge
• How our need for belonging can lead to self-abandonment
• Toxic guilt, false responsibility, and people-pleasing
• Why spiritual formation starts with knowing and accepting yourself
• How self-acceptance sets you free from performance and perfectionism
• The cultural and church dynamics that can cause us to mask our true selves
• My personal stories of coming back to Australia, navigating cultural differences, and relearning what it means to belong without betraying myself

This episode weaves in wisdom from saints, mystics, therapists, and theologians—from St. Teresa of Ávila to Thomas Merton and Pete Scazzero—alongside practical insights on how guilt, fear, and inherited expectations shape our identity.

We ask deep questions like:

• Who did I learn I had to be in order to be loved?
• Where am I still waiting for permission to be who I already am?
• How do I come back to myself after years of self-abandonment?

And we land in this truth: Your true self is the most generous, humble, and powerful version of you. When you live from that place, you stop performing and start becoming.

This episode is an invitation to take up your space, tell the truth, and be who God always dreamed you to be.

Get your free Wholehearted Living journal prompts. https://calm-sun-843.myflodesk.com/x5yo2oyoyu

Book a free discovery coaching call: www.ella-hooper.com

Follow me on Instagram:@ella.hooper__

The Wholehearted Series – Inspired by Brené Brown

Welcome to The Wholehearted Series on The Next Brave Thing podcast.

This special season is a deep dive into what it means to live from the inside out—with integrity, alignment, and courage. Inspired by the transformative work of Dr. Brené Brown, we’re exploring the ten guideposts for wholehearted living from her book The Gifts of Imperfection.

Often, when we're trying to find balance and healing, we find ourselves swinging between extremes. This series is about learning to live from your core values—not the ones handed to you by culture, family, or fear—but the ones that arise from your truest self. It’s about replacing the old operating system of punishment, people-pleasing, and perfectionism with one built on compassion, trust, and authenticity.

Living wholeheartedly means getting our soul, body, and spirit on the same page—no more compartmentalizing, no more hustling for worth. It’s learning to recognize the difference between sacrifice and self-abandonment, and letting go of black-and-white thinking in favor of something deeper, slower, and more whole.

Throughout the series, we’ll unpack these ten guideposts:

1. Cultivating Authenticity – Letting go of what people think
2. Cultivating Self-Compassion – Letting go of perfectionism
3. Cultivating a Resilient Spirit – Letting go of numbing and powerlessness
4. Cultivating Gratitude and Joy – Letting go of scarcity and fear of the dark
5. Cultivating Intuition and Trusting Faith – Letting go of the need for certainty
6. Cultivating Creativity – Letting go of comparison
7. Cultivating Play and Rest – Letting go of exhaustion as a status symbol and productivity as self-worth
8. Cultivating Calm and Stillness – Letting go of anxiety as a lifestyle
9. Cultivating Meaningful Work – Letting go of self-doubt and “supposed to”
10. Cultivating Laughter, Song, and Dance – Letting go of being cool and always in control

My hope is that as you listen, your heart would widen, your body would relax, and your spirit would sit up taller. May you reconnect with emotions like joy, wonder, and peace—feelings that don’t need to be earned, just remembered.

Brené’s words have served as a kind of midwife in my own life—delivering me into deeper truth, integrity, and freedom. This series is my way of passing on that gift to you.

Let’s walk the wholehearted way—together.

Get your free Wholehearted Living journal prompts. https://calm-sun-843.myflodesk.com/x5yo2oyoyu

Book a free discovery coaching call: www.ella-hooper.com

Follow me on Instagram:@ella.hooper__

Today I’m wrapping up Season 5 with an episode all about understanding your emotions. Emotions can often feel abstract and ambiguous, so in this episode, I’m sharing some of the foundational things I’ve learned that can help make sense of them.

I’ll be back in a few weeks with Season 6—and I’m excited to bring you a new series on how to live wholeheartedly!

Check out my website or book in a coaching session here: https://www.ella-hooper.com/