8. Live Authentically! (Whatever That Means)

What if your biggest regret at the end of your life was never truly living as yourself? In this episode, Sarah and Stef crack open the #1 regret of the dying—wishing they'd had the courage to live authentically, not just follow the script written by others. With raw honesty and a dash of humor, the hosts swap stories about breaking free from expectations—whether it's skipping university, ditching a "dream job," or proudly embracing cat-lady status. They dig into why it's so hard to know what you really want, how people-pleasing and cultural "shoulds" sneak into our choices, and why sometimes it's not about courage, but capacity. 0:37 – The Origin: Regrets of the Dying: Introducing Bronnie Ware's "Top 5 Regrets" and the #1 regret: not living true to yourself. 1:33 – The Terry Crews Story: Sarah shares Terry Crews' realization that he never wanted the life he was living, despite outward success. 2:40 – Personal Expectations & Breaking the Mold: Sarah's story: questioning university, career in the police, and resisting the pressure to always "grow" her business. 7:52 – Stef's Career Pivots & Meaning: Stef's journey: journalism, therapy, and the struggle to find satisfaction and meaning beyond external validation. 12:11 – Is It Courage or Capacity: The hosts debate whether it's really about courage, or if sometimes we just lack the capacity to change. Because Stef always makes it an issue. 14:39 – Social Judgment & Authentic Choices: How fear of judgment and people-pleasing can keep us from living authentically; Sarah's choice to be single. 16:56 – The Conveyor Belt of Life: Waking up to the "automation" of life, questioning mainstream beliefs, and the challenge of knowing what you truly want. 25:15 – Mainstream, Subcultures & Critical Thinking: How even "anti-mainstream" ideas can become dogma; the importance of questioning what you subscribe to. 38:00 – Listener Challenge: Going Against the Grain: The hosts ask: What's the last thing you did that was truly for yourself, even if it went against the grain? They share their own recent examples. Love the episode? Leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform — it helps more than you'd think (and yes, we actually read them). Not sure what to write? You can literally just copy and paste this: BEST PODCAST EVER — A UNIQUE REVIEW We won't argue with you. More About Stefanie Michele: Instagram Substack Website: Work With Me Wednesday Emails More About Sarah Dosanjh: YouTube Instagram Website Book: I Can't Stop Eating