PODCAST · society
Stop Wasting Your Life
by Ava Heinbach
Stop Wasting Your Life began with a question our founder Ava Heinbach asked herself: “What am I doing with my life?” Her journey—fueled by travel, raw conversations, bold adventures, and the courage to embrace what it means to be fully human—was shaped by the people she met and the lessons that cracked her open. Now, her mission is to share those stories and voices to help others live with purpose, depth, and freedom.This podcast exists to inspire and equip listeners to create a life of intention—through honest dialogue, transformative experiences, and practical tools. We explore what it means to be fully alive: to embrace discomfort, pursue passion, prioritize well-being, seek adventure, and honor the messy beauty of being human.Life is too short to live on autopilot—and far too meaningful to waste. Welcome to the journey.https://www.stopwastingyourlifepodcast.com/Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
Episodes
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“Life After Gradebooks: Finding Purpose After 23”
In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, Ava sits down with her longtime friend Drew Majors to talk about navigating your early twenties, mental health, and redefining success. Drew shares his journey through emotional highs and lows, being initially diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and...
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“There Are People Who Will Love You, Anxiety and All”
In the final episode of the anxiety series, Ava shares a vulnerable story from her trip to Florence where panic attacks, sickness, and the urge to run home threatened to take over. But at the center of it all wasn’t fear. It was love. This episode is about the friend who stayed. The one who sat…
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You can’t control your anxiety’s timing, but you can control how you show up for yourself when it does.
In part two of our anxiety series, Ava shares the story of the Paris trip that didn’t go as planned. What was supposed to be a dream vacation quickly turned into panic attacks, overwhelming triggers, and the difficult decision to go home. Through it all, she learned a powerful truth: you cannot...
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Step Off Your Anxiety Ledge and Onto Your WOAH Ledge: Reframing How You View Your Anxiety
In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, Ava explores anxiety through her “ledge” metaphor. She describes anxiety as standing on the edge of a terrifying drop, where panic feels inevitable and overwhelming. But after a conversation with her therapist, she begins to see that not every ledge is...
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When Grief Meets God: Finding Hope After Unthinkable Loss
In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, Ava sits down with Rick Mumford to talk about finding hope with God after devastating loss. Rick shares the story of losing his son, Mac, and how grief challenged his faith yet ultimately drew him closer to God instead of pushing him away. Together, they...
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When Grief Becomes a Teacher: What Loss Reveals About Love, Compassion, and Being Human
In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, Ava Heinbach speaks with author Bryan Welch about how grief can become a powerful teacher. After losing his son, Bryan reflects on how profound loss reshaped his understanding of love, compassion, joy, and what it means to be human. Rather than closing…
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A Pastor’s Journey Out of Porn, Sex Addiction, and Shame
In this episode, Ava Heinbach speaks with Nate Larkin, a former pastor and founder of the Samson Society, about his decades-long struggle with porn and sex addiction, the shame that kept it hidden, and the recovery that transformed his life and marriage. Nate shares how early exposure to...
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Mama Meg’s Six-Year Heartbreak and the Wisdom It Sparked
In this episode, Ava sits down with the legendary Mama Meg to unravel the story of her biggest heartbreak, the quiet warnings she ignored, and the inner compass that eventually pushed her toward a better life. Together they explore gut instincts, red flags, post-breakup grief, and finding clarity...
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Finding Your Purpose in Doing Good
In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, Ava sits down with her producer, Kate Kruse, to talk about how volunteering can help you find purpose, community, and connection. Kate shares how moving to Kansas City with almost no friends led her to volunteering, and also tells the unforgettable story...
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My Go-To Grounding Exercises to Get Me Out of My Head
In this solo episode, Ava opens up about her favorite grounding exercises — the simple, practical tools she’s used since childhood to calm anxiety, soften overwhelming emotions, and reconnect with the present moment. She breaks down what grounding really means, the different types (physical,...
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Faith as a Single Mother with Brooklynn Sumonja
In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, host Ava Heinbach talks with Brooklynn Sumonja — a single mother, military member, and woman of faith — about finding strength, purpose, and grace through motherhood. Brooklynn opens up about facing an unexpected pregnancy, walking through shame and…
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The Secret Life of a 1960’s Flight Attendant: Mimi’s Life Lessons and Stories
In this heartwarming and entertaining episode, Ava sits down with Mimi — her lifelong friend, honorary grandmother, and former TWA flight attendant — to talk about what it was really like to work the skies during the golden age of flying. From meeting celebrities like Maria von Trapp and Jimmy…
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Surviving the Brink of Hell: Danny’s Story of Recovery, Surrender, and Faith
In this powerful episode, Ava talks with Danny Crawford, who shares his journey from addiction and rock bottom to redemption through faith. After years of partying, drug abuse, and a near-fatal psychosis, Danny found healing in recovery and a renewed purpose through Jesus. Now sober and helping...
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Healing Out Loud Part 2 - Hannah Jarrah’s Experience with Big Emotions
In this heartfelt episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, Ava welcomes back her close friend and roommate Hannah Jarrah for an open conversation about big emotions — how they show up, how they feel in her body, and how she moves through them with more compassion. Hannah shares her personal journey…
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Healing Out Loud - How I Work Through My Big Emotions
In this heartfelt solo episode, host Ava Heinbach returns after a short break to open up about where she’s been, what she’s been going through, and how she’s been learning to navigate her big emotions. Ava vulnerably shares that she stepped away from the podcast to prioritize her mental health...
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Kanak’s Story - From Finding his Birth Mom to Sharing Funny Memories
In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, Ava sits down with her longtime friend, Kanak Michael Masten. Kanak opens up about being adopted from India at age five, growing up in the U.S. with white parents, and the incredible experience of reconnecting with his birth family years later. Along the...
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Quitting a Six-Figure Job to Chase a Passion: Mitch Case’s Story
What would make someone walk away from a six-figure career to start over from scratch? In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, host Ava Heinbach sits down with entrepreneur and father of three, Mitch Case, to unpack the bold decision he made to leave behind his stable engineering and sales...
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How to Transform Your Life with the 10 Ps for a Growth Mindset
In this episode, host Ava Heinbach and her mentor and “second mom,” LeeAnn Shaw, continue their conversation on cultivating a growth mindset. Building on last week’s discussion, they introduce 10 practical strategies—“the 10 Ps”—that help shift from a fixed mindset to a growth-oriented one. The…
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How to be a Palm Tree: Using a Growth Mindset to Flourish in Life
In this wisdom-filled and practical conversation, host Ava Heinbach sits down with her longtime mentor and “second mom” LeeAnn Shaw to unpack what it means to have a growth mindset. From personal stories and life’s unexpected valleys to strategies for building resilience, Ava and LeeAnn explore...
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Are You Still Connected to Your Ex? The Power of Energy Chord Cutting
This episode of Stop Wasting Your Life features Ava and her energy healer, Jamelle, diving deep into energy cords and how they shape relationships, especially with our partners. They explore what energy cords are, how they create lingering attachments after breakups, and why cutting these cords…
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Stop Wasting Your Life and Start Healing Your Energy: Diving Into Energy With Jamelle
In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, Ava sits down with energy healer and wellness coach Jamelle Zablow-Maloney to explore the often misunderstood world of energy work. They cover the science of Reiki, electromagnetic fields in humans, energy cords and so much more. Jamelle unpacks how…
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The Cream Rises to The Top: Mary Long’s Journey to Pro Soccer
In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, Ava sits down with Mary Long, a professional soccer player for the Kansas City Current, to talk all things soccer, confidence, and chasing your dreams—even when people tellyou not to. From growing up in Kansas City to scoring her first pro goal, Mary...
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Even Beauty Can Come From Death: Ashlee’s Mental Health Journey
In this episode, Ava sits down with one of her best friends, Ashlee, to talk about her journey through depression, therapy, and inpatient mental health treatment. Ashlee opens up about the moments that nearly broke her, the love that helped her hold on, and the healing that followed. With…
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Do What You Can While You Can: Jordan’s Life After Paralysis
In this moving episode, Ava sits down with her friend Jordan Jacobs, who became paralyzed in 2022 after a brain tumor surgery. Jordan opens up about his life before and after the diagnosis, the emotional challenges of living with paralysis, and how he’s found purpose in creating music and…
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Your Period Pain Isn’t Normal: Optimizing Women's Health With Functional Medicine
In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, Ava sits down with longtime family friend and functional medicine expert, Dr. Randy James, to challenge the myths around women’s health—especially the belief that pain, irregular periods, and hormonal chaos are just “part of being a woman.” They dive…
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Don’t Buy the Porsche: Lessons in Finances and Living Intentionally
In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, Ava sits down with entrepreneur, advisor, and former dentist Christopher Majors to unpack what it means to him to live a flourishing, intentional life. Chris shares his journey from dentistry to wealth management, emphasizing that it's never too late to...
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Befriending Your Being: Hannah’s Journey of Healing and Self-Acceptance
In this heartfelt and honest episode, Ava sits down with her friend and special guest, Hannah Jarrah, to explore the journey of befriending your being — learning to accept, love, and understand yourself through all seasons of life. Their conversation weaves through stories of childhood, cultural...
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Who the Heck Is Ava and Why Does This Podcast Exist?
In the premiere episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, host Ava Heinbach is joined by her best friend Raneem Alasmi, who flips the script and interviews Ava herself. Ava opens up about why she started this podcast — a deeply personal journey of figuring out how to live a fulfilling, intentional life....
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Stop Wasting Your Life began with a question our founder Ava Heinbach asked herself: “What am I doing with my life?” Her journey—fueled by travel, raw conversations, bold adventures, and the courage to embrace what it means to be fully human—was shaped by the people she met and the lessons that cracked her open. Now, her mission is to share those stories and voices to help others live with purpose, depth, and freedom.This podcast exists to inspire and equip listeners to create a life of intention—through honest dialogue, transformative experiences, and practical tools. We explore what it means to be fully alive: to embrace discomfort, pursue passion, prioritize well-being, seek adventure, and honor the messy beauty of being human.Life is too short to live on autopilot—and far too meaningful to waste. Welcome to the journey.https://www.stopwastingyourlifepodcast.com/Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
HOSTED BY
Ava Heinbach
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Stop Wasting Your Life have?
Stop Wasting Your Life currently has 28 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Stop Wasting Your Life about?
Stop Wasting Your Life began with a question our founder Ava Heinbach asked herself: “What am I doing with my life?” Her journey—fueled by travel, raw conversations, bold adventures, and the courage to embrace what it means to be fully human—was shaped by the people she met and the lessons that...
How often does Stop Wasting Your Life release new episodes?
Stop Wasting Your Life has 28 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Stop Wasting Your Life?
You can listen to Stop Wasting Your Life on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Stop Wasting Your Life?
Stop Wasting Your Life is created and hosted by Ava Heinbach.
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