Playing The Fool

So a guy said "nice slut shorts" and I blocked him and went on with my day.I can do that now because I am so clear on who I am and who I am  it from the mountain of evidence that I have created for myself.I believe confidence isn't something you wake up with one day.It's something you create, it's a muscle you choose to work.In this episode, I'm talking about what it really means to Play the Fool and why discomfort is the door way to PEACE.Most women wait until they feel confident before they speak up, set a boundary, have the hard conversation, or go after what they want.But confidence doesn't come first.Courage does.When you learn to play the fool, you become willing to get it wrong, be seen learning, and take action before you feel ready. And while that matters in business and online, it matters even more at home.In your relationships.In your parenting.In the conversations you've been avoiding.Because when you stop needing the world around you to determine your worth, you become free to show up as the woman you want to be.If this episode resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you. Send me a DM on Instagram @JarnaSaunders and tell me your biggest takeaway. Or if you are ready to make a courageous choice to "do the work" then join me in Tender or Relationship Coaching and let's begin babe.

This week, I'm recording the podcast from my new studio for the very first time, and honestly, it feels like the perfect setting for the conversation I want to have with you today.It's been one of the biggest weeks I've had in a long time. We opened The Arena, I had the opportunity to speak to a room full of incredible women inside the Academy of the Gentle Sleep Specialist, and through those experiences I was reminded of something that has always been true for me:I absolutely love supporting mothers in business.Not just to make more money, but to build businesses that align with who they are, what they value, and the life they actually want to live.Because here's what I've learned:You are your social proof.Not your testimonials. Not your follower count.Not your perfectly curated content.You.The way you live. The standards you hold. The boundaries you honour. The courage you have to choose what matters most.In this episode, I'm sharing why I believe your personal values need to come before your business values and why so many women unknowingly build businesses that pull them away from the very things they care about most.My Biggest Reminder For You.Your business is a vehicle for your life - not the other way around.When you know what matters most to you and have the courage to live by those values, your business becomes an extension of your integrity.Selling becomes easier because you're living what you're teaching.Decisions become clearer because you're no longer chasing someone else's version of success.And trust grows because people can feel the congruence between what you say and how you live.Because at the end of the day, you are your social proof.Love Jarna xx ✨ If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear from you.Come connect with me on Instagram at @JarnaSaunders, where I share more insights on mindset, motherhood, business, and living in alignment with your values.You can also explore my coaching programs, courses, and current offers at jarnasaunders.com.

In this episode of Playing The Fool, I’m reflecting on turning 45, entering the next season of life, and the emotional shifts that have come with it.My eldest son has officially moved out of home, and while I’m incredibly happy for him, it’s also brought up so many feelings and new beginnings. I feel like for a while I have been holding my breathe but between turning 45, being five years away from 50, and moving into what numerology calls a “four year,” it honestly feels like "go time".In this episode we talk about the renewed energy I’m feeling around my work, my purpose, and my desire to reach more people with the message and tools that have completely transformed my own life and relationships.I also share a vulnerable story about a recent dentist appointment that triggered one of my biggest fears - needles and dental work -  and the powerful realization that came from it:You cannot shame yourself into courage.This conversation is all about the ways we shame ourselves into trying to become “better,” more confident, more brave, more successful  and why that approach actually disconnects us further from ourselves.If you come to these episodes, nod your head the whole way through with squeals of "Yes Jarna, Yes", then maybe it's time for you and I to work together babe.Whether it’s emotional safety, communication, self-trust, or creating healthier relationships, you don’t have to navigate it alone.Come connect with me on Instagram at @JarnaSaunders or explore my coaching offers at jarnasaunders.com 💌

In today’s episode, I’m sharing something really personal.The story of how I met my husband, Shane, 16 years ago.Honestly, I felt nervous recording this because our story is messy, emotional, chaotic, funny, and so deeply special to me. Since starting this podcast, I’ve shared so much teaching and coaching, but I also want this space to hold real storytelling, the moments that shaped me, my life, and the relationships I’m most proud of.What started as a casual night at the pub with a girlfriend turned into one of the biggest turning points of my life. Shane and I actually met during one of the hardest seasons I had ever gone through. I was a single mum focused on healing, personal development, and rebuilding my life after divorce. I wasn’t looking for love at all.And then I met him.Our first interaction involved too much alcohol, a massive argument, tears in the bathroom, emotional baggage, trauma responses, and somehow… an undeniable feeling that this stranger was going to become my husband.This episode is vulnerable, honest, emotional, and probably one of the most personal stories I’ve shared publicly.And after 16 years together, I can honestly say I’m so proud of the love we’ve built. Not because it’s been perfect, but because we stayed, grew, healed, and kept choosing each other through every version of ourselves along the way.If this episode resonated with you and you’re wanting deeper support around relationships, emotional safety, communication, or self-growth, you can work with me inside Tender or through my Relationship Coaching spaces.Let’s stay connected 💌You can find me on Instagram at @JarnaSaunders or visit jarnasaunders.com to explore ways to work together.

In this episode, I open up about my journey through motherhood - the highs, the heartbreak, the healing, and everything in between. With Mother’s Day just passing, I found myself reflecting deeply on what it really means to be a mother, the emotional weight many women carry around this day, and how profoundly motherhood has shaped who I am.I share honestly about becoming a mum at 23, hitting rock bottom by 25, navigating depression, separation, shame, and feeling completely unequipped to parent in the way my son deserved. I talk about how personal development became the turning point in my life - not only helping me learn how to love myself, but teaching me how to become the safe, grounded, emotionally available mother I wanted to be.This conversation is for every mother who has questioned herself, carried guilt, wanted to do better, or is learning to break generational patterns while raising children. It’s also for anyone navigating healing, self-worth, and the lifelong process of becoming.Thank you for being here with me for this one. It’s one of the most vulnerable conversations I’ve shared on the podcast.If this episode resonated with you and you’re wanting deeper support in your relationships, communication, emotional safety, or self-growth, you can work with me inside Tender or through Relationship Coaching, where we explore these conversations in a really supportive, honest, and transformational space.Let’s stay connected 💌You can find me over on Instagram at @JarnaSaunders or visit my website at jarnasaunders.com

I’m back babe and what a surprise this break has being, why, because I didn’t feel like I really needed it.If anything, it reminded me how I am already taking such deep care of myself that I went away with my cup already full.Because this version of me? She’s very different to who I used to be.Years ago, I was the woman who couldn’t switch off. Who was constantly producing, thinking, doing. Even on holidays, my nervous system was still in “go” mode and I was filled with so much scarcity.But over the years, I’ve done so much work around slowing down, listening to my body, honouring my needs and creating a life that actually supports me.And what I realised on this trip is this: Rest now feels natural to me. Receiving feels safe to me. Being I nature feels like home.Yin energy isn’t just bubble baths and soft mornings. It’s creating a life where your body no longer has to scream for rest because you’re already listening before it gets there.It’s showing up for yourself consistently. Nourishing your system’s daily. Letting “warmth” become a way of life, not just something you reach for when you’re completely exhausted.In this episode, I’m talking about Yin energy, nourishment, nervous system safety, and the shift from surviving life… to actually living it.Because I really believe so many women have been conditioned to abandon themselves in the name of productivity…To keep pushing. Keep proving. Keep holding everything together for everyone else.But there’s another way if you choose it.A way where you can still be powerful, successful, devoted and deeply loving… without constantly running yourself into the ground to get there.The feminine doesn’t wait until collapse to listen, she knows her worth no matter how many ticks on her check list, do you?If this episode resonated  you, you can work with me inside Tender or Relationship Coaching where we explore connection, communication, and emotional safety in a really supportive and honest space.Let’s stay connected! You can find me over on Instagram @JarnaSaunders or visit my website at jarnasaunders.com 💌

What if, instead of waiting for things to feel certain… you just started with what you have?In this episode, I come back to a simple but powerful reminder: start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.Not perfectly. Not all at once. Just one small step at a time with as much intention and space as you possibly can.I share a real and honest look at where I’ve been at lately, and the small shifts that have helped me move out of overwhelm and back into a place of calm, clarity, and self-trust.We talk about: noticing when you’re feeling stretched or disconnected– coming back to simple, grounding practices.– getting honest about your energy, your habits, and what’s actually within your control.– and creating more intention and beauty in the everyday, even when life feels full.This isn’t about having it all figured out.It’s about meeting yourself where you are… and choosing to keep going anyway.Even if it’s slow. Even if it’s messy.It still counts. And it’s enough.And if you’re wanting support to hold all parts of yourself through seasons like this, I’d love to walk alongside you inside my coaching spaces.We will be back in 3 weeks while I switch of to be with my babes for the school holidays.Love Jarna x

For the last 10 days I just hadn’t felt like myself.I felt disconnected, judgmental, and honestly just… off. I could feel my ego getting louder, my heart getting quieter, and everything around me starting to trigger something that didn’t feel like me.And then I was faced with something from my past, something I said and did that completely broke me open.Because this time, it wasn’t something that happened to me.It was something that came from me.And it sent me into a dark night of the soul.In this episode, I share what that actually felt like losing connection to my heart, sitting in the shame, and being forced to face a version of myself I didn’t want to see. (Hello darkness and alcohol my old friend).I also talk about why I didn’t try to think my way through it, and how somatic work became the thing that helped me move the emotion that was stuck in my body and I share about why I believe in RomiRomi and other somatic therapies so frikin much.This is me showing up extremely raw and real and also proud. I don’t claim to be a perfect coach BUT I do know I am a very REAL and EMBODIED coach that puts my money where my mouth is.If this episode resonated with you and you’re wanting support to also be able to be with “ALL YOUR PARTS” you can work with me inside Tender or Relationship Coaching where we explore connection, communication, and emotional safety in a really supportive and honest space.Love Jarna x

In this episode, I dive into a topic that sparked a powerful conversation inside my community this week: integrity. I share my honest reflections on what it means to truly live in integrity, how easy it is to slip out of it, and why building trust with yourself is one of the most important things you can do in life.For me, integrity is about being of my word to myself. It’s about honoring the promises I make to take care of my body, my mind, my relationships, and my life. And while I’m not perfect, I’ve learned that the more I keep those promises, the more peace, confidence, and self-trust I build.I also explore how integrity connects deeply with success and why I’ve had to completely redefine what success means to me. For so long, success felt like something tied to money, status, awards, or achievements. But the older I get, the more I realize that real success is much more personal.In this conversation, I reflect on the role of courage, self-advocacy, and personal responsibility in creating a life I’m proud of. I talk about the importance of speaking up, setting standards, and taking care of my mental and emotional health so I can show up fully in my life.I also share how my understanding of success has evolved through my experiences as a partner, a mother, and a coach. Financial stability and a beautiful home might look like success from the outside but if your relationships lack connection, safety, and love, it can still feel incredibly empty.Ultimately, this episode is an invitation to pause and ask yourself some deeper questions:What does success actually look like for you? What kind of life would make you feel truly proud? And are your daily choices aligned with the values you say matter most?Because when we live in integrity with ourselves, when we honor our values and show up in a way that feels true, we create a kind of success that goes far beyond money or recognition.We create a life that feels peaceful, aligned, and deeply meaningful.If this episode resonated with you and you’re ready to create something deeper, safer, and more honest in your relationships, I would love to support you.You can work with me inside Tender, where we explore connection, communication, and emotional safety in a supportive space, or through Relationship Coaching, where we go deeper into transforming the way you show up in love and partnership.

In this episode of Playing The Fool, I try something new and answer relationship questions sent in by my incredible community. I start by talking about the “accountability gap” a dynamic where one partner is expressing the emotional impact of something while the other is focused on defending their intention. When this happens, couples often end up having two completely different conversations, leaving both people feeling unheard and in deep frustration. I also explore how defensiveness in relationships can often come from shame, not a lack of care. For some people, hearing that they hurt their partner can quickly translate into feeling like they are the problem, which can trigger justification or shutdown instead of understanding. I share insights from my work with women and couples, and why healthy relationships require two people willing to reflect, take accountability, and grow together. And as always we keep going back into the EGO, what it is, what it isn’t and how we all have one. Relationships are so challenging for so many of us as we were often never modelled what healthy and safe adult communication looks like in the home. If this feels like something that you struggle with and would like support to learn how to show up for yourself in a more effective way then have a look at the way we can work together in Tender and Relation Ship Coaching. It really is life changing when you say YES to DOING this work. If you’re ready to create something deeper, safer and more honest I would love to work with you inside Tender or through Relationship Coaching.For more relationship wisdom and practical tips, follow Dr. Rachel @heydrrachel. 

In this episode, I’m talking about the real work of relationships.The beautiful parts, the messy middle, and the growth that’s required when two people choose each other long term.Shane and I recently celebrated 13 years of marriage, and it had me reflecting, not just on us, but on what LOVE actually is and what it isn’t and the courage it takes to be in the work together.It’s not perfection. It’s not avoiding conflict. And it’s not one person doing all the emotional heavy lifting. (This is so frikin common)For a long time, many women have quietly carried that weight, wondering if they’re too sensitive, too demanding, or somehow the problem. And I just don’t believe that anymore.Healthy relationships require brave women AND brave men. Men who are willing to reflect, communicate, take ownership of their parts in the relationship and grow.Women who feel safe enough to ask for what they need without shrinking themselves.  Connection isn’t built by one person trying harder.It’s built when two adults show up in their bodies, with their egos in the back seat of the relationship.  If you’ve ever felt like you’re working overtime to hold everything together and the resentment and disconnection keeps building then this is for you. If you’re ready to create something deeper, safer and more honest I would love to work with you inside Tender or through Relationship Coaching.

When my dishes are done, I wake up calmer, more regulated, and proud of myself. It's like this warm hug to go to bed too. Why, because the dishes SUX to do at the end of the day when you just want to stop.This is an invitation to notice what comes up for you and become the woman who follows through.✨ Start tonight.✨ Commit to all 7 days — not just when it feels easy.✨ Post the photo without explaining yourself.✨ Notice what comes up, the stories you make it mean.✨  Tag me so I can see you and celebrate you. @jarnasaunders✨Share this episode to your stories and tell me what part hit.✨ Send it to a friend who you know is really "going through it".✨  Leave a review if this resonated — it helps more women find this work.It sounds simple right. It’s not. Doing the dishes triggers the teenager in us that “can’t be bothered.”Posting it triggers the part of us that doesn’t want to be seen or misunderstood.But this isn’t about dishes.It’s about identity.It’s about finishing we I start.It’s about building self-trust, this is how we find those posckets of joy babe. And if you want deeper support inside this work join me in Tender or Relationship Coaching.

This drop-in meditation is a space to pause, soften, and come home to yourself. It’s not about clearing your mind or getting it right, it’s about reconnecting. Whether you’re feeling scattered, stuck, or just need to catch your breath, this is your invitation to land gently in your body, to listen in, and to return to the part of you that’s always been steady beneath the noise. Come back to centre. Come back to you. 

Recognising your growth, honouring your story, and who you’re becoming.In this episode, I take a moment to slow down and reflect on the journey that has brought me here. This is the 61st Call of The Hardest of Bar, and that alone is something worth having a moment with. So often we rush straight onto the next thing without ever truly recognising what we’ve created and how far we have come.I open up about my own path, from hairdressing to coaching, and the moments of uncertainty, courage, and identity shifts that came with having the belief to follow my heart. This is a snippet of my story and how my love for seeing women been so in love with themselves and who the be in this world has always been in me. Personal development doesn’t just change you, it changes your relationships, your standards, your choices, and the way you show up in the world.At the heart of this episode is a simple invitation:recognise yourself.See what you’ve survived.See what you’ve created.See who you’re becoming.And if you feel called, share your story. Because when one woman is brave enough to tell the truth about her journey, it gives permission for others to do the same.This work is never really finished. We keep growing, keep learning, keep becoming.And I’m so glad you’re on this path with meFind me on Instagram: jarnasaunders

The Heart Is the Bar is an invitation into this work.A 12-week container where trust, courage, and self-love stop being concepts and start becoming lived experiences.If this episode stirred something in you, if these questions are already whispering (or shouting), this is your sign.You don’t have to do this alone. Join the incredible community of women and start now. DOORS CLOSE SUNDAY THE 8TH OF FEBRUARY. The Heart is the BarThis episode was inspired by a powerful moment from our recent Heart is the Bar Event. At the heart of it all was one foundational question:What actually comes first, trust or love?We explored how courage is the starting point.The courage to show up.The courage to say yes.The courage to choose yourself, even when it feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar and like you are letting people down.When we work the muscle of courage, something beautiful happens, trust begins to form. Trust in yourself. Trust in your inner knowing. And from that place, love naturally follows.One of the questions I asked the women was:Can you have trust without love?Most said yes.But can you have love without trust?Most said no.And if there’s no trust… is what we’re calling love actually love at all?These are the kinds of conversations we sit inside during this work,  not to be right or wrong, but to feel into what is true for you. To listen for what feels alive in your body. To gently unravel the stories you’ve been living inside and decide whether they still fit and what choice you can make now.This is the energy of this next 12-week journey.It feels solid, grounded, foundational, anchored deeply in the heart, with a powerful current of femininity running through it. Real women. Big hearts. Honest conversations. A willingness to meet yourself where you are and walk forward with courage.Find me on Instagram: jarnasaundersOr my Website .

The Heart is The Bar, Doors Close Sunday the 8th.12 weeks of radical Responsibility, Action and Alignment. For the woman who is sick and tired of her own bullshit stories of "why not now" and is ready to let herself truly feel happy and peace from the inside out.If you’re done surviving and ready to start living, this is the place babe.We begin Monday, 9th of February.In this episode of the Playing the Fool podcast I reflect on my emotional journey, exploring themes of comfort, childhood wounds, and personal growth. I discusses the impact of recent experiences, including my HUGE feelings about Shane's choice of car mats, and how they triggered deeper emotional responses related to my sense of safety and comfort.  talk into the importance of understanding triggers, tour EGO'S, taking radical responsibility for how our life looks and feels, and the transformative power of coaching and community support. Yes some hard truths so we can all  make the choices to keep showing all the way up. 

In this episode of Playing The Fool, I talk about ego, what it actually is, why it exists, and how it’s been quietly running so many of our lives without us even realising it.I share honestly about my own ego, the parts of me that were controlling, reactive, angry, people-pleasing, perfectionistic, and deeply afraid. Not to shame those parts, but to finally understand them and the fact that they exist for a really good reason.Our ego isn’t here to ruin our lives. It came in when we were young to keep us safe from pain, rejection, grief, and feeling unlovable. The problem isn’t that we have an ego, the problem is when we’re adults and it’s still in the driver’s seat of our lived without us even realising.This episode is about learning how to own all of our parts, stop judging ourselves so harshly, and start re-parenting the parts of us that never learned another way.If this episode resonates with you then so will The Heart is the Bar. Doors are closing very soon.The Heart is The Bar.12 weeks of walking yourself out of corners you were never born to exist in.If you’re done surviving and ready to start living  then this is your invitation to say yes!! We Begin Monday the 9th of February.Ready to choose YOU? Join the Get On Your Mat Challenge!Love Jarna x

Welcome back to Season Two of the Playing The Fool Podcast!This episode that almost didn’t happen.Between crackly audio, tech doing its own thing, school holidays, solo parenting, and trying to carve out space to record, I came right up against a question I don’t usually have to ask myself:Do I force this… or do I trust what’s unfolding?I always trust.I am so excited to be back with you again.I am so excited to see where this season takes you.And I am so frikin excited to let you know that the doors to The Heart is the Bar are now open. Spaces are filling fast. We begin Monday the 9th of February.The link is below.https://www.jarnasaunders.com/the-heart-is-the-barhttps://www.jarnasaunders.com/get-on-your-mat

This drop-in meditation is a space to pause, soften, and come home to yourself. It’s not about clearing your mind or getting it right, it’s about reconnecting. Whether you’re feeling scattered, stuck, or just need to catch your breath, this is your invitation to land gently in your body, to listen in, and to return to the part of you that’s always been steady beneath the noise. Come back to centre. Come back to you. 

Hey babe can you believe we have made it here. The final episode of 2025. I honestly cannot believe how fast this 6 months has gone or how much I’ve loved being here with you. Before anything else… thank you. The support, the messages, the listens, the feedback, it has all felt like the warmest, most generous hug, and I am so frikin grateful.I cannot wait to come back in 2026 a little more organised and with 25 episodes under my belt. In this episode, we talk about what wrapping up 2025 can look like for you. And I share why I believe the most powerful thing you can do right now isn’t to wait for 2026… but to start today. Whatever it is you’ve been putting off, circling around, or talking yourself out of. Start TODAY. Choose the brave thing. Choose the honest thing. Choose yourself with as much devotion, intention and courage as you can. As you close out this year, pick one HARD thing you’ve been avoiding and give yourself the gift of doing it. Not next month. Not next year. Now. If this episode lands for you, make sure you’re subscribed, and come hang with me on Instagram, the place where we get to keep growing, choosing, and being our messy, unapologetic, whole hearted selves.THE HEART IS THE BAR is coming next year and I cannot wait to bring this to you.Join the waitlist now. 🖤

In this episode of Playing the Fool, I’m diving into the real work behind living an intentional life - capacity, values, priorities, standards, boundaries, needs… and yes, the one I don’t stop talking about: radical responsibility. This year I’ve been practicing exactly what I teach. I’m clearer on my Capacity, what I want to hold, and what I’m simply not available for, guilt free, and let me tell you, that level of clarity feels like freedom. Not the Instagram-quote kind of freedom. The actual kind, where you stop abandoning yourself to make everyone else comfortable. In this episode we get into how understanding your true capacity is a form of self-respect, why aligning your values and priorities isn’t “dramatic,” it’s adulting at the highest level, and how raising your standards weeds out the chaos faster than anything else you can do. And of course: boundaries. The loving kind, the firm kind, the “I’m not explaining this again” kind. I also talk about radical responsibility, the uncomfortable, empowering truth that we always have a choice. Even when the choice is hard. Even when the choice is to stop doing what people expect and start doing what actually feels right for you. And because the holiday season can turn even the calmest of us into emotional piñatas, I share some practical ways to navigate the weeks ahead with clarity, self-respect, humour, and zero self-abandonment. If you’re ready to finish the year feeling grounded, aligned, and fully in charge of your own energy… this episode is your reminder that you get to choose. Every single time. This is also you LAST CHANCE to work with me at my current price. From January first my pricing will increase significantly to reflect the healing, energy and transformations I create with my clients. You can enquire and purchase through the links below.Don’t forget to join the waitlist for The Heart Is the Bar, my signature programme launching in early 2026. Get on the list now so you don’t miss any updates.Let’s connect on IG: instagram.com/jarnasaunders. 

In this episode, I’m sitting down with you after a couple of big emotional weeks to talk all things Perimenopause.Because honestly? This past year has been a wild ride. The symptoms, heartiest heart palpitations, the “is this normal or am I actually losing it?” the Googling, the confusion… and finally, the validation that came when I heard other women share what they’ve been navigating too. There is nothing quite like the relief of realising -I’m not crazy. I’m not making it up. And I’m definitely not alone and I am definitely in Perimenopause.At 44, I’m embracing the chaos, the hormones, the itchy ears, the “ham sandwich” the intrusive thoughts (which I generously share on this podcast so you don’t feel alone in yours), and the truth about how it actually effects your life. Thank-god the whole of Instagram is also going through it as well and for my girlfriend’s sending me “real after reel” making me feel less alone.If you’re walking through perimenopause too - come find me on Instagram. Message me. Let’s talk about it, laugh about it, and support each other through this completely unglamorous yet strangely empowering chapter of our 40’s.And if this episode resonates with you, I’d really love to hear from you.Don’t forget to join the waitlist for The Heart Is the Bar, my signature programme launching in early 2026. Get on the list now so you don’t miss any updates.Let’s connect on IG: instagram.com/jarnasaunders. 

This week’s episode is a really emotional one for me. As I sat down to record, I had the tissues ready because, honestly, I could barely get through it without crying.My son, Will, turned 21 on Sunday and with that milestone came a flood of memories, emotions, and truths I’ve been sitting with for a long time. I wanted to share what it’s been like to look back on my journey as a first-time mum, the choices I made when I was still learning how to be an adult myself, and the reality of what it means to do your best when you don’t even know who you are yet.This isn’t a shiny, polished story - it’s raw and real. It’s about the parts of motherhood that are hard to talk about, the moments we wish we could redo, and the courage it takes to sit with the truth.If you’ve ever looked back and felt the sting of guilt or wished you’d done things differently, please know — you’re not alone. This episode is for every parent doing their best, learning, healing, and letting go.If you found comfort or courage in this episode, please share it with another parent who might need to hear it.💬 Connect with me: Instagram @jarnasaunders You can also visit my website at www.jarnasaunders.com 

Hi loves, it’s Jarna. Today’s episode of Playing The Fool is a little different - it’s not really an episode, but more of a “mini love note”. So Liv has been unwell with a chest infection, Shane is away for work an extended period, Will is 21 on Sunday and to be honest the week was a lot. I sat down to record this week, but it just wasn’t flowing and if I am really honest I actually couldn’t stop crying as I was trying to talk about parenthood and Will and I was a mess. So I decided to honour my capacity and my emotions and put a super quicklove note out to you instead. I want to remind you (and myself) that it’s okay to be of your WORD TO YOURSELF before everyone else. It’s okay to say no when you’re at capacity. It’s okay to let a few balls drop and still feel proud of the choices you’re making. There was a time when I would’ve pushed through no matter what, recorded at 2 a.m. just to make sure something went out. But I’m no longer a stand for that. I’m learning to live inside my values, to prioritise what truly matters, and to meet my own needs from a place of love and gentleness. So instead of a full episode this week, I’m choosing to be present — to hold my daughter, to care for my family, and to rest. That’s what feels most aligned for me right now. This is me living in integrity. This is me leading with love. This is me hoping that this gives you permission to do exactly the same and choose yourself too. With love,Jarna 🤍

I can’t believe we’re already at episode 20 of Playing The Fool! Honestly it still feels wild to say that out loud. When I first started this podcast, I had no idea what I was doing, no fancy studio, no perfect setup, just me, my laptop, a mic, and a message I felt deeply called to share.This episode is a bit of a celebration and a reflection. I talk about what it’s been like to allow myself to begin - to show up as I am, even when it feels messy or average. Because the truth is, if I had waited for it to look perfect, I probably never would have started.I share how I’ve learned to embrace the beauty of “average embodiment”, not trying to look shiny or polished, just being real and trusting that it’s enough. I also talk about how that same energy has flowed into my coaching, where I’ve seen firsthand that the most powerful transformations often start from the simplest, scrappiest beginnings.Later in the episode, I guide you through a simple visualisation script that my coach once shared with me, imagining waking up in a life where a miracle has already happened. It’s one of my favourite practices, because it helps you connect with what’s truly possible for you beyond your current consciousness.  And from that place, I bring it back down to earth, Practical and Tangible things you can start to DO today. I truly believe when our environment supports us, it becomes so much easier to stay grounded, well, and emotionally balanced. This episode is a love letter to anyone who’s been waiting for the perfect moment to start. Here’s your reminder - you don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to begin.If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Come join the conversation on Instagram @jarnasaundersYou can also visit my website at www.jarnasaunders.com 

This week on Playing The Fool, I’m diving into something that has been one of the most challenging and transformative parts of my relationship — parenting.Last week, I talked about why being a “high maintenance” woman actually makes you low maintenance in the long run — because when you have high standards for how you love, communicate, and show up for yourself, life becomes more peaceful, grounded, and aligned.But this week, I wanted to explore a truth that hits a little closer to home: how parenting can quietly create distance between partners  and how healing that gap starts with awareness, not blame.I open up about my own experiences with Shane the times we clashed over how to parent, how my fears shaped my reactions, and how his confusion or frustration often came from his own old wounds, not from who he truly was in the moment.I also share one of the most vulnerable parts of my parenting journey, a moment I deeply regretted  and how I used it as an opportunity to repair, rebuild safety, and model accountability for my kids.Because parenting isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. It’s about showing our children that love can evolve, that even when we mess up, we can come back softer, safer, and stronger.Every child deserves to feel safe. Every woman deserves to feel seen. And every man deserves to be loved for who he’s becoming, not just who he’s been.Let’s stay connected! You can find me over on Instagram @JarnaSaunders or visit my website at jarnasaunders.com 💌

This week we’re reclaiming a phrase that’s been used against women for decades: High. Maintenance. Not in the “she’s too much work” way. Not in the “she’s demanding and dramatic” way. I’m talking about high maintenance as a devotion to your wellbeing, your energy, your standards and refusing to outsource that responsibility to anyone else. Because the truth is: When I am high maintenance for myself, I become low maintenance in my relationship. There’s no guessing games. No unspoken resentment. No martyrdom. Just two adults who know how to care for themselves first, and meet each other from overflow, not need. In this episode I talk about: ·  Why discipline kept me safe, but devotion makes me soft, open and deeply honest with myself. ·  The difference between what I want vs. what I actually need — and how devotion helps me listen. ·  How claiming my “high maintenance woman” era has made my life simpler, smoother and so much more loving. ·  Why self-responsibility is the sexiest form of feminine power. If you’ve ever been called too much, too needy or too intense - good. Let’s make “high maintenance” a mission statement.Let’s stay connected! You can find me over on Instagram @JarnaSaunders or visit my website at jarnasaunders.com 💌

This drop-in meditation is a space to pause, soften, and come home to yourself. It’s not about clearing your mind or getting it right, it’s about reconnecting. Whether you’re feeling scattered, stuck, or just need to catch your breath, this is your invitation to land gently in your body, to listen in, and to return to the part of you that’s always been steady beneath the noise. Come back to centre. Come back to you. 

This week in the Heart of the bar, I’ve been reflecting on human needs and what it really means to take radical responsibility for our lives. For me, that looks like choosing myself again and again, even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it hurts.In this episode, I share the very real and humbling story of picking up a little pink 2kg dumbbell, wobbling through lunges, and waking up so sore I could barely sit down. What surprised me was how much joy and pride came with that pain, because it reminded me: I started.Here’s what I dive into: ✨ How I shifted from victim consciousness into empowerment ✨ The lessons I’ve learned about strength,both physical and emotional ✨ What it feels like to be a beginner again and how I worked through self-judgment ✨ Why soreness in our muscles mirrors the discomfort of emotional healing work ✨ How taking even the smallest steps creates massive changeThis episode is a love note to starting again. To choosing yourself. To remembering that even when it feels messy, awkward, or painful, you’re building something powerful.Because pain doesn’t mean you’re failing. It often means you’re growing.Only two spots left this year for One-on-One sessions.  Visit the website here! 

This week’s episode is all about slowing down, choosing joy, and really celebrating the wins - even when it feels uncomfortable to share them.I open up about why I chose to push back the launch of Fool School and what that decision has opened up for me and my family. From creating more space to support my daughter through her dyslexia journey, to experiencing the synchronicities and financial success that come with alignment. This week has been a powerful reminder that there’s no rush and no urgency when you’re living intentionally and trusting the process. Is there a loving arse kicking in here, of course.Change doesn’t happen by chance it happens by making a DIFFERENT CHOICE. Let me show you how.If you’ve been needing a little nudge to pause, reflect, and celebrate your own progress, this one’s for you.

What a crazy, heavy and confusing week it has been??This week I had to slow right down, literally. After slipping a couple of discs in my back, I found myself in tears, resting, and coming to a place of surrender. In this episode, I share how surrendering, nurturing myself, and letting go of launching Full School this year actually opened up space for more clients and more abundance than ever before.I deep dive into commitment and re-commitment and take you through exactly how that looks for you and just some real talk on taking back your power.💌  If you are wanting to work together this year I have two more spaces left. I have put the links below with all the details of how my One on one spots work.Connection Call.

What do you actually have control over babe? If you said yourself then I whole heartedly agree. So why do we spend so much time trying to control so many things that are completely outside of our control?This week we deep dive into - The reminder I needed to give myself: permission to let it suck sometimes.How focusing too much on outcomes can take away the joy and magic of creatingWhat’s been going on at home this week (spoiler: total chaos) and why vulnerability matters. The difference between what I can control and what I can’t—and how I find my way back to myself.Why slowing down, setting boundaries, and making myself a priority keeps me grounded when life gets messy.How I’ve shifted from trying to control everything to focusing on influence and trust. This episode feels is a very honest take wading through messy middle and reminding both of us that growth doesn’t come from perfection, it comes from showing up.

In this episode, I share a fun but surprisingly powerful experiment I set inside The Heart of the Bar: seven days of wearing red lipstick. Now, I’m not usually a bright RED lipstick person, but this practice became an anchor for me, helping me slow down, check in with my body, and show up with intention no matter how I was feeling.  I open up about the resistance, stories, and fears that surfaced - not only for me but also for the women in the group and how something so small created massive shifts in courage, confidence, and playfulness. I also tell a sweet story about my daughter jumping in on the red lipstick challenge and what that taught me about the ripple effect of modelling courage.  The red lipstick isn’t really about the lipstick, it’s about choosing to show up differently, stretching past your comfort zone, and anchoring yourself in presence and play. It’s about Playing the Fool. Because if you always do what you have always done you will always get what you have always got. You have to CHOOSE to change babe. I am about to launch something really exciting so make sure you are following me at @Jarna Saunders so you get first option to join.

This episode feels big to share and not because I am nervous to talk about but I think that for every woman there is so much emotional charge attached to our bodies that this feels like a sensitive conversation. But one that is very close to my heart and something that I will never stop being proud of.  This is just one conversation of many that we will be having on this podcast because shame cannot exist inside of vulnerability and I will always give this the voice and power I believe it deserves.In this episode I share my experience with gastric sleeve surgery, how I nearly broke a lady’s back at boot camp, and the hidden battles with food (since I was 7) and the confusion of comfort and safety that food brings.  If you’ve ever struggled with food, body image, or the weight of shame, I hope my story helps you to feel less alone and more back in your body. 💌 Let’s keep the conversation going! Connect with me at www.jarnasaunders.com or come hang out on Instagram @jarna.saunders.

This drop-in meditation is a space to pause, soften, and come home to yourself. It’s not about clearing your mind or getting it right, it’s about reconnecting. Whether you’re feeling scattered, stuck, or just need to catch your breath, this is your invitation to land gently in your body, to listen in, and to return to the part of you that’s always been steady beneath the noise. Come back to centre. Come back to you. 

In this heartfelt and practical episode, we deep dive into one of the most powerful skills you can develop in a relationship - learning to walk in and FACE the storm of your relationship instead of avoiding it. I share my own experiences with Shane, my husband of 15 years, and the lessons we’ve learned about adult communication, emotional safety, and breaking the cycle of avoidance that can turn small disagreements and triggers into hurricanes. You’ll hear real coaching insights, a simple yet profound “storm” metaphor, and tangible ways to address tension in the moment so you can dissolve it before resentment builds and come back to love. No matter what your relationship or life looks like, this episode will help you to communicate with courage, meet each other in the “I’m okay, you’re okay” space, and turn moments of conflict into opportunities for closeness. If you are a parent this is a must listen too.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          💌 Let’s keep the conversation going! Connect with me at www.jarnasaunders.com or come hang out on Instagram @jarna.saunders.

In this episode, I’m opening up about what’s been happening inside The Heart is the Bar and the powerful lessons emerging as we explore identity, belief systems, and the stories we’ve carried since childhood and how they are BLOCKING us from being seen in the world. We talk about why simply understanding your past isn’t enough to create change, and why taking action even when it stretches you is where real embodiment happens.  I share the challenge I set for the women in the program, how it triggered feelings of “too muchness,” and where you can start too and I finally tell a story I have never shared publically. Another honest episode of how to exist in the present moment without so much fear and anxiety about being “to much”. Too much is a you problem babe, It’s something you have made real. Lets blow that shit up and get you playing in the arena of what YOU really want! Your next step starts here - find out how we can work together, explore my programs, and get more resources at www.jarnasaunders.com.  I would LOVE to connect babe, jump in and dm me: @jarna.saunders.

How a simple moment with my daughter singing in the shower snapped me out of the overwhelm and reminded me of what really matters.In this episode, I unpack how easy it is to miss the point of our lives when we’re stuck in old patterns, parenting on autopilot, or feeling disconnected.This episode is an invitation to slow down, pay attention, and come home to yourself without guilt, shame, or needing to “fix” everything. It's not about blaming where you came from, but finally getting honest about how it shaped you… so you can choose differently.If this episode opened something within you, let it breathe. You’re invited to explore more support, coaching, and upcoming offerings at www.jarnasaunders.comOr join the convo over on IG: @jarna.saunders

In this episode, I’m sharing what it’s really been like trying to start this podcast.I talk the gift in letting your mess be the magic.I also open up about Ross River virus, dealing with burnout, and learning how to live and create in a more honest way with myself.I’m a Fifo mum of three. I’m in perimenopause. I’m still figuring things out. But I’m choosing to show up with as much transparency as possible. 

I can’t tell you how excited I am to be sharing this episode with you, I had no idea where it was going to go but MY GOD we went there. In this episode Tara from The Gentle Sleep Specialist speaks openly about her whole frikin life. (So grateful for her vulnerability) She speaks about the impact of her childhood, her anxiety and what she has done learn to trust her body and how it feels.This is what leadership looks like and Tara is one of the bravest leaders that I see in the way she advocates for children, families and mothers. She is the first person I would call if I needed someone to bat for me no questions ask. She is direct and doesn’t mince her words which is why I firkin love her so much but most of all no one has a heart bigger than she does.This is for the parents who want to learn what showing up looks like and what may be getting in the way. Tara doesn’t just teach sleep. She teaches safety.In your body. In your parenting. In your nervous system and I can’t wait for you to hear her story. You can connect with Tara and follow her journey (and wisdom) over at @thegentlesleepspecialist And for her consults, programs, and gentle guidance that actually delivers - visit gentlesleep.com.auJoin us inside The Heart is the Bar. Doors Close Friday the 25th.Do not miss these 12 weeks to transform your life Details + enrollment → jarnasaunders.com

This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt like they were the problem.  Hayley and I sat down to talk about something that’s been showing up a lot. You know those pesky stories that “we must be the issue”.That feeling of constantly questioning yourself, wondering if maybe you’re the reason things didn’t work out. The relationship, the job, the friendship, the dream that didn’t land the way you thought it would. We talked about how easy it is to carry other people’s pain and blame as our own. How sometimes self-awareness turns into self-blame. How trying to grow and heal can quietly become another way of proving your worth. But here’s the truth I’m sitting with right now:It is always both. This episode isn’t about fixing anything.  It’s just a real and honest conversation. A moment to pause. A reminder that maybe you don’t need to carry it all anymore. Maybe you were never broken to begin with. If you’re tired of trying so hard to be okay, this one’s for you.Come sit with us.You can connect with Haylee in the links below. I know she still has a few more space for her stunning book. She also has the most beautiful offerings and sassy Reels so make sure you go and follow her. She is an absolute creative goddess.  www.instagram.com/hayleeguiverwww.hayleeguiver.com.auThe Heart is the Bar is now open. 12 weeks to dropping the masks and the stories that are keeping you stuck. The doors Close next week. If you’ve been craving a way back to yourself, it’s here. All the details are here: [https://www.jarnasaunders.com/]

This drop-in meditation is a space to pause, soften, and come home to yourself. It’s not about clearing your mind or getting it right, it’s about reconnecting. Whether you’re feeling scattered, stuck, or just need to catch your breath, this is your invitation to land gently in your body, to listen in, and to return to the part of you that’s always been steady beneath the noise. Come back to centre. Come back to you. ✨ Continue the JourneyIf this episode cracked something open in you, don’t let it close.Explore coaching, resources, and upcoming offerings at www.jarnasaunders.comOr come say hey (and get the raw, unfiltered truth) over on IG: @jarna.saunders

In this episode, I open up about the messy magic of starting something new and why embracing the role of “the fool” takes real courage. So many tears were shed, they just kept coming as I shared the rawness of the loss of my dad and the courage it took to use my voice one last time from the deepest place of love. This is raw and messy and a reminder of what I believe the whole point actually is. The doors to my signature program are now open, The Heart is the Bar. 12 weeks of learning to do life with no regrets. For more details head to www.jarnasaunders.com or come hang out on IG for the real, messy magic of Playing The Fool: @jarna.saunders 

Hey babe so this episode takes us straight to the moment of where it all began. Mands and I talk on all things The Heart is the Bar, the work we do together and Mand’s shares her own experience of what has being possible for her since Playing the Fool in her own way. She is the “Cool One” and I am the "Daggy Mum" which I fully own and love her for.If you’ve ever found yourself laughing at your own chaos or embracing the cringe with pride, this episode will feel like home. Plus, there’s an inside joke you won’t want to miss, Amanda completely starves me in a way that feels so TRUE lol (And yes I did just get her back her by calling her Amanda)Are you ready to learn how to Play The Fool Babe? The doors to The Heart is The Bar are officially open. Come join us, this space was made just for you. [Join here]If you want to go down the “Jarna Saunders rabbit hole” and see what I offer and how we can work together you can jump in here babe www.jarnasaunders.com.Or come and find me @jarna.saunders  I would love to connect with you and hear all about how you feel about the Podcast.

This drop-in meditation is a space to pause, soften, and come home to yourself. It’s not about clearing your mind or getting it right, it’s about reconnecting. Whether you’re feeling scattered, stuck, or just need to catch your breath, this is your invitation to land gently in your body, to listen in, and to return to the part of you that’s always been steady beneath the noise. Come back to centre. Come back to you. 

In this deeply personal episode, I share how putting myself first became the very thing that strengthened my marriage. I unpack the pressure so many women carry to keep the peace and carry the load and how breaking that pattern gave my husband permission to show up more fully, too. This is a conversation about love, liberation, and what it really means to lead yourself first. Click here for more information about my signature program, The Heart is the Bar.

In this episode, I lay down the exact steps I use to shift from self-abandonment to self-trust. These 9 tangible practices are for the woman ready to stop biting her tongue, stop making herself smaller, and start showing up - even when it’s messy. If you’ve ever walked away from a moment knowing you left yourself behind, this is your sign to begin again, on purpose. If you're ready to start choosing yourself babe, doors to The Hear is The Bar are open right now. Join here.

In this kickoff episode, I share my raw, real story of stepping out of fear and into the arena of my own life. A no-BS Life & Relationship Coach, I unpack why playing it safe kept me stuck and why I'm done gatekeeping the messy, magical path to self-leadership. This is your call to stop spectating and start living. Click here for more information about my signature program, The Heart is the Bar.

Welcome to the playing the fool podcast ✨I'm your host, Jana Saunders. I'm a proud as fuck life and relationship coach and personal development nerd with a huge passion to get every single woman in the arena of their own lives. I have over 10 years experience coaching hundreds of women and couples. Just to be clear, I'm not a look and learn coach. I'm a get in and get your ass lovingly kicked, kind of coach and hug it out at the end.I've been where you may be right now. For years, I sat on the sidelines of my life, stuck in fear in my head, in the past of that one time I was put back in my corner, and I let it cripple me with fear, that was until one day, the pain of staying hidden was too much to take, and I made the choice to get my butt in the arena of my own life, to take the risk of looking like a beginner, looking silly, and, God forbid, looking like a try hard. My promise to you is to show up here in all of my parts and seasons with my heart proudly on my sleeve, gatekeeping nothing but asking us all to walk our goddamn asses out of the corners we were never born to exist in. Let's play.