Luck, Burnout & Lemon Cake: What 3 Years of The Scenic Route Taught Me About Slowing Down

Three years, 111 episodes, and countless conversations later — host Jennifer Walter sits down for a full-circle moment with Lauren Best to celebrate The Scenic Route’s third birthday.They flip the mic to talk about what really happens when you stop hustling and start listening: to your body, your luck, your burnout, and your joy. From viral posts to creative dry spells, from slow living to self-trust, this episode explores how to create — and live — at your own pace in a world that keeps shouting “more, faster, better.”If you’ve ever wondered how to build a life that feels honest, sustainable, and still a little rebellious, this one’s for you.In this episode, we talk about:✨ What burnout taught Jennifer about rest, creativity, and play 🍋 Why luck matters (more than hustle) — and how to make space for it 💬 The power of Honest (Self-)Talk in work, art, and mental health 🌿 Learning to trust the process (even when it’s messy) 🎧 What it really means to “slow down” without giving up ambition 🔥 Why slow living is not an aesthetic — it’s a quiet rebellionPerfect for you if…You’re a smart, thoughtful woman juggling too many tabs open — craving more meaning, less noise, and permission to do life differently. Think: academic brains, creative hearts, recovering perfectionists, and quietly radical feminists.About LaurenLauren Best is a Transformation Designer, Wellness Facilitator, Certified Hypnotherapist, Multi-Best-Selling Author, Founder of Possibilities Universe, and Writer of Possibilities In Between on Substack. After navigating her own experiences with perfectionism, overwhelm, and burnout, she now guides people to trust themselves, take aligned action, and expand what’s possible in their work and lives.Send me a DMSupport the show_____________________________________________________________________🔮 DAILY DOSE OF WOO The free Scenic Route Affirmation Card Deck is your online invitation to trust your inner voice again. What does your card say? 👉 Pull your daily affirmationCrave something Soft?Sign up for Soft — one gentle email each month to help you ground before everything speeds up again, complete with the meme de jour and a roundup of my favourite things.⭐ LOVE THE SHOW?If this episode resonated with you, please leave a rating and review. It helps other midlife women find their way to the Scenic Route podcast.