We Are Tired AF Podcast

Episode #12 “How to Build a Business That Doesn’t Kill You”In Episode 12 of Tired AF, hosts Mel, Courtney, and Sandra dig into what it actually looks like to build a business that works for you rather than against you. Drawing on their own experiences as late-diagnosed neurodivergent women, the three reflect on what they have stopped forcing, including rigid productivity schedules, performative consistency, and traditional business structures that were never designed with them in mind. They share how unlearning the shame tied to their unique working styles has become the foundation for building something genuinely aligned, and why that internal clarity has to come before any external strategy.The conversation weaves together the complementary nature of all three of their businesses, forming what they call an "accidental ecosystem." Mel works with individuals to understand who they are at their core; Courtney helps them translate that into aligned branding and go-to-market strategy; and Sandra helps them scale and teach what they know. Together, they make the case that ethical, people-first business building is not just a feel-good concept but a necessary alternative to systems that are, as Courtney puts it, "toxic and crumbling." The episode closes with a collective rallying cry to stop explaining yourself to people committed to misunderstanding you, and to start building with people who genuinely see you.“Things” to Think About From This Episode: Where in your work or life are you still forcing yourself into a structure that was built for someone else entirely, and what would it look like to design around how you actually operate?Are the people around you challenging you back to yourself, or are they challenging you into compliance?Links to our businesses mentioned in the episode:Sandra - BeLearning @ https://belearning.center/ Courtney - Chief Troublemaker Company @ https://chieftroublemaker.co/ Mel - This Is What’s Next @ https://thisiswhatsnext.com/ Download the full transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/tiredaf-s1-ep-12 Make sure to Join the Rebellion newsletter on Substack https://wearetiredaf.substack.com/ where we keep the conversation going and offer new insights into reclaiming our power in this crazy world. Send your questions and comments for Tired AF to [email protected] *************You can find us any time you want to connect at Tired AF: https://bio.site/wearetiredaf  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearetiredaf.substack.com

Episode # 11 “Tired of Fitting Into the Box: Why Obedience Isn't Success”In this episode of Tired AF, Mel, Sandra & Courtney unpack the myth of “the box” — the rigid, unspoken rules that define success, professionalism, and productivity in society. Through personal stories across corporate, academic, and creative spaces, they expose how these systems reward obedience over creativity and punish those who think differently. The conversation highlights how women, especially neurodivergent women, are often conditioned to believe they are the problem when they don’t fit, leading to cycles of guilt, shame, and self-doubt.As the discussion deepens, the hosts challenge the legitimacy of these systems, calling out capitalism, patriarchy, and institutional power structures that benefit from conformity while excluding those who don’t comply. They explore what happens when that illusion begins to collapse and why reclaiming personal authority is no longer optional, but necessary. The episode ultimately reframes not fitting in as a form of clarity and power, inviting listeners to question the rules they’ve been following and consider what it means to build a life outside the box.“Things” to Think About From This Episode: Where in your life are you still trying to “earn” your place in a system that was never designed for you?What would change if you stopped trying to fit the box… and started trusting how you naturally operate instead?Download the full transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/tiredaf-s1-ep-11 Make sure to Join the Rebellion newsletter here on Substack https://wearetiredaf.substack.com/ where we keep the conversation going and offer new insights into reclaiming our power in this crazy world. Send your questions and comments for Tired AF to [email protected] *************You can find us any time you want to connect at Tired AF: https://bio.site/wearetiredaf This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearetiredaf.substack.com

Episode # 10 “Why Neurospicy Women Work Differently”In this episode of Tired AF, Mel, Courtney, and Sandra pull back the curtain on how neurodivergent women can work together in ways that traditional workplaces rarely allow. Reflecting on past work experiences where their strengths were misunderstood or punished, the hosts explore how discovering their neurodivergent identities helped them recognize and value the different ways their brains work. Instead of forcing themselves into rigid workplace expectations, they’ve built a collaborative dynamic where each person’s natural strengths are not only accepted but intentionally centered.The conversation highlights how their partnership works in practice. Courtney brings visionary thinking and big-picture ideas, Sandra excels at systems and breaking complex ideas into actionable steps, and Mel acts as the architect who connects strategy, community, and execution. Together, they demonstrate how collaboration rooted in trust, honesty, and ego-free communication allows everyone to thrive. The episode celebrates community over competition and encourages listeners to find or create spaces where their unique ways of thinking and building are not just accepted but celebrated.“Things” to Think About From This Episode: Where in your life or work are you trying to force yourself to be good at something that isn’t actually your natural strength?What might change if you built relationships or collaborations that centered each person’s unique gifts instead of expecting everyone to do everything?Download the full transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/tiredaf-s1-ep-10 Make sure to Join the Rebellion newsletter on Substack https://wearetiredaf.substack.com/ where we keep the conversation going and offer new insights into reclaiming our power in this crazy world. Send your questions and comments for Tired AF to [email protected] *************You can find us any time you want to connect at Tired AF: https://bio.site/wearetiredaf This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearetiredaf.substack.com

Tired AF PodcastEpisode #9 - “Why Neurodivergent Women Get Misunderstood”In Episode 9 of Tired AF, Mel, Courtney, and Sandra dig into what it’s like to be “different” and get judged for it, especially as late-diagnosed neurodivergent women. They share how learning about autism and ADHD flipped the script from “I’m broken or lazy” to “my brain works differently,” and how that shift can lift years of shame, self-criticism, and masking.They also call out how neurodivergence gets misread in workplaces and relationships, especially under gender bias, where questions become “attitude” and cyclical bursts of brilliance get labeled “inconsistent.” The episode lands on a clear message: stop punishing yourself for your wiring, build boundaries that actually fit your nervous system, and find communities that replace judgment with understanding.“Things” to Think About From This Episode: Where have you been labeling yourself as lazy, difficult, or “not disciplined enough” when you might actually be working with a different brain, different needs, or a different nervous system rhythm?What’s one place in your life where you could swap self-judgment for self-support this week by changing the environment, the expectation, or the people you’re trying to impress?Download the full transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/tiredaf-s1-ep-9 Make sure to Join the Rebellion newsletter on Substack https://wearetiredaf.substack.com/ where we keep the conversation going and offer new insights into reclaiming our power in this crazy world. Send your questions and comments for Tired AF to [email protected] *************You can find us any time you want to connect at Tired AF: https://bio.site/wearetiredaf This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearetiredaf.substack.com

Episode #8 “Tantrums as Policy: When Men’s Emotions Become Power”In Episode 8 of Tired AF, Mel, Courtney, and Sandra call out the exhausting double standard around emotion and leadership. Women get labeled “emotional,” “unlikable,” or “bossy” in performance reviews and workplaces, while men’s volatility gets excused as authority or “passion.” Courtney backs it with data and names the trap clearly: there’s no magical “right way” to be a woman in power, because the rules shift to keep women wrong.They widen the lens to politics and culture, naming how unregulated male emotion turns into harm, cruelty, and even policy decisions. The episode lands on a real self-care truth: sometimes the most grounded thing you can do is admit you’re tired, let yourself be angry, and stop performing optimism on demand.“Things” to Think About From This Episode: Where in your life are you managing someone else’s unregulated emotions to keep the peace, keep your job, or keep the relationship functioning? What is that costing you?When you express emotion or set a boundary, what labels get thrown at you (too emotional, too cold, too aggressive)? What would change if you stopped trying to fit the “right” box and focused on being effective and honest instead?Download the full transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/tiredaf-s1-ep-8 Make sure to Join the Rebellion newsletter on Substack https://wearetiredaf.substack.com/ where we keep the conversation going and offer new insights into reclaiming our power in this crazy world. Send your questions and comments for Tired AF to [email protected] *************You can find us any time you want to connect at Tired AF: https://bio.site/wearetiredaf This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearetiredaf.substack.com

Episode 7 - “Stop Acting Surprised: Violent Men Built These Systems”In this episode of Tired AF, the hosts take on a reality the world keeps pretending is shocking: violent men have built and maintained the systems that govern power, punishment, and control. Through historical context, lived experience, and unapologetic analysis, the conversation traces how patriarchy, white supremacy, capitalism, and state violence are deeply intertwined. From the founding of the United States to modern policing, including ICE, the hosts dismantle the myth that this violence is accidental or new. It is systemic, it is profitable, and it has been normalized for generations.They emphasize this is not about hating men, but about naming a system that dehumanizes everyone and trains women to live on constant alert. Through personal stories, cultural examples, and hard truths, they call out how silence and distraction protect abusers, while accountability and collective refusal are the only way things change.Notable mentions from the episode:Andrea Dworkin’s 1983 speech delivered to the Midwest Regional Conference of the National Organization for Changing Men in St. Paul, MN - titled, “I Want a 24Hour Truce During Which There is No Rape.” Mel’s new Spiritual safe-space: Shine Sanctuary“Things” to Think About From This Episode: Where have I been taught to normalize, excuse, or minimize violence because it is “just the way things are,” and what would it look like to stop doing that?In my own life, where am I being asked to manage someone else’s comfort at the expense of my safety, truth, or humanity, and what would change if I refused?Download the full transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/tiredaf-s1-ep-7 Make sure to Join the Rebellion newsletter on Substack https://wearetiredaf.substack.com/ where we keep the conversation going and offer new insights into reclaiming our power in this crazy world. Send your questions and comments for Tired AF to [email protected] *************You can find us any time you want to connect at Tired AF: https://bio.site/wearetiredaf This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearetiredaf.substack.com

Tired AF PodcastEpisode 6 - “Self-Care Isn’t Bubble Baths (It’s Actual Work)”In Episode 6 of Tired AF, Mel, Courtney, and Sandra dismantle the fluffy self-care myth and get real about what healing actually requires. They talk about self-care as maintenance and reconnection, not escapism, and they challenge the idea that anyone is “broken.” Healing, they argue, is the work of unearthing the parts of yourself you had to bury to survive and building a life you do not need to escape from.They also name the systems that make this harder, from capitalism to corporate culture to the way women are trained to care for everyone else first. The conversation moves through shame, late diagnosis and neurodivergence, and the reality that healing is not linear, it is cyclical and ongoing. They close with practical encouragement: progress happens in small steps, the right support matters, and community makes the work feel possible.“Things” to Think About From This Episode: Where have I been treating healing like a checklist or a quick fix, and what would it look like to practice it as ongoing maintenance instead?What is one signal my body or emotions keep sending that I’ve been dismissing, minimizing, or medicating instead of listening to?Download the full transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/tiredaf-s1-ep-6 Make sure to Join the Rebellion newsletter on Substack https://wearetiredaf.substack.com/ where we keep the conversation going and offer new insights into reclaiming our power in this crazy world. Send your questions and comments for Tired AF to [email protected] *************You can find us any time you want to connect at Tired AF: https://bio.site/wearetiredaf This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearetiredaf.substack.com

Tired AF PodcastEpisode 5 - “Patriarchy Keeps Rewarding Incompetence”The hosts come in hot about how patriarchy and white supremacy keep rewarding incompetence at the top while everyone else lives with the fallout. They unpack patriarchy as a systemic machine, not “men being trash,” and call out how it harms all genders while still centering a narrow version of powerful, wealthy, usually white masculinity. They dig into how media, education, and propaganda shape what we see as “normal,” who we think deserves power, and even what history we’re allowed to know, making it harder for people to question the system or see beyond it.They also talk about survival, nervous system regulation, and capacity in a world that will never fully calm down. The hosts name the privilege of having done their own healing work, acknowledge that not everyone has the safety or bandwidth to push as hard, and stress that courage has to be grounded in each person’s reality. They point to independent media, women-led consulting collectives, and everyday acts of resistance as “parallel systems” already growing at the edges of the mainstream. The episode lands on this: the big broken systems are not disappearing anytime soon, but each of us can choose how we see, question, and participate in them.Media outlets mentioned in this episode:SubstackThe 1440Patreon“Things” to Think About From This Episode: * Where in your own life have you accepted “that’s just how it is” without realizing it might actually be patriarchy, propaganda, or conditioning talking?* What is one small, concrete way you can regulate your own nervous system and then use that steadiness to question, resist, or step outside a system that benefits from you staying silent?Download the full transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/tiredaf-s1-ep-5 Make sure to Join the Rebellion newsletter on Substack https://wearetiredaf.substack.com/ where we keep the conversation going and offer new insights into reclaiming our power in this crazy world. Send your questions and comments for Tired AF to [email protected] *************You can find us any time you want to connect at Tired AF: https://bio.site/wearetiredaf  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearetiredaf.substack.com

Episode 4 - “Your Weirdness is the Gift: Sandra’s Origin Story”In our final “origin story intros,” Sandra’s origin episode follows her path from “too much” smart girl in a tiny Texas town to fully claimed crone. She shares what it was like to grow up autistic, bisexual, and deeply curious in a community that labeled her weirdness as wrong, punished her for asking questions, and treated her interests as dangerous. College fed her mind, but real belonging did not click until she found fellow “weirdos”, where her love of stories, strategy, and depth finally matched the room. Teaching, writing, and helping others understand complex ideas became her way of turning that lifelong outsider status into a superpower.She then traces her time in academia and corporate tech, where her integrity and blunt clarity kept colliding with systems that prized compliance over truth. From being praised as the “best boss” by her teams and dismissed by executives, to being told to soften what is celebrated in men, Sandra names the moral injury of staying in spaces that demand you betray yourself. Now in her crone era, she claims her role as the wise woman who refuses to play small and urges listeners to protect their weirdness, listen to their bodies, and stand with those resisting injustice.“Things” to Think About From This Episode: Where are you still playing small or hiding your “weirdness” to make other people comfortable?What signals is your body sending about work, relationships, or systems that feel morally off?Download the full transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/tiredaf-s1-ep-4 Make sure to Join the Rebellion newsletter on Substack https://wearetiredaf.substack.com/ where we keep the conversation going and offer new insights into reclaiming our power in this crazy world. Send your questions and comments for Tired AF to [email protected] *************You can find us any time you want to connect at Tired AF: https://bio.site/wearetiredaf This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearetiredaf.substack.com

Episode 3 - “Unapologetic & Un-Gaslit: Courtney’s Origin Story”This episode turns the spotlight on Courtney as she traces the path from a picture-perfect childhood to the moment everything unraveled with the loss of her brother. She shares how grief, undiagnosed neurodivergence, and years of surviving without support shaped her into someone who overperformed for everyone else while abandoning herself. Her move into Silicon Valley sales only amplified the harm. Gaslighting from bosses, medical dismissal, and a culture obsessed with profit pushed her to believe she was the problem until deeper therapy finally revealed the truth: it wasn’t her, it was the systems.From there, the story shifts into her rebuild. Courtney talks about reclaiming her voice, learning to recognize her anger as power, and rebuilding community in a way that feels safe and aligned. By the end, she makes it clear why she said yes to creating Tired As Fuck: she’s here to un-gaslight women, burn down the bullshit, and help others step into their own authority with clarity and fire.“Things” to Think About From This Episode:* Where have you been carrying shame that was never yours to hold?* What kind of community do you actually need, not the one you were told to accept?Download the full transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/tiredaf-s1-ep-3Make sure to Join the Rebellion newsletter on Substack, where we keep the conversation going and offer new insights into reclaiming our power in this crazy world.Send your questions and comments for Tired AF to [email protected]*************You can find us any time you want to connect at Tired AF: https://bio.site/wearetiredaf This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearetiredaf.substack.com

Episode 2 - “From Outsider to Main Character: Mel’s Origin Story”In this episode, Mel traces her journey from a childhood marked by not fitting anywhere to becoming a creator of true belonging and community. She opens up about growing up mixed race, navigating poverty, loneliness, and early trauma, and slowly learning to trust herself enough to step into spaces where she could finally feel seen. Her path through queer identity, chosen family, and spiritual exploration reveals how a lifetime of searching shaped the way she builds connection today.The conversation reflects on personal growth and the relationships that transformed her life. Mel shares how community became the antidote to shame, how advocacy work sharpened her understanding of systems, and why honest, supportive relationships are essential for healing. By the end, listeners get a clear picture of her mission: creating spaces where women can show up whole, connect deeply, and grow into the strongest version of themselves.“Things” to Think About From This Episode: * Where have you felt out of place in your personal story?* How have you created “family” for yourself?Download the full transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/tiredaf-s1-ep-2 Make sure to Join the Rebellion newsletter on Substack https://wearetiredaf.substack.com/ where we keep the conversation going and offer new insights into reclaiming our power in this crazy world. Send your questions and comments for Tired AF to [email protected] *************You can find us any time you want to connect at Tired AF: https://bio.site/wearetiredaf This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearetiredaf.substack.com

S1- Episode 1 - “Why Women Are Tired as F#@k and Done Playing Nice”In our 1st episode your hostesses, Mel Morris, Sandra Elliott and Courtney Broderick discuss the importance of women's voices in today's society. They share their personal experiences with broken systems, the need for community support, and the power of vulnerability. The conversation centers around the challenges women face in various industries and the need to create spaces for honest dialogue. The hostesses also introduce the Tired AF origin story and the journey that led them to create Tired AF, emphasizing the importance of sharing experiences and supporting one another in the fight against systemic issues that keep women from reaching their full potential.************************************************“Things” to Think About From This Episode: What BS ways have you been asked to keep yourself small?What does a supportive community look like for you, whether you have it or need to create it for yourself?Download the full transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/tiredaf-s1-ep-1 Make sure to Join the Rebellion newsletter on Substack https://wearetiredaf.substack.com/ where we keep the conversation going and offer new insights into reclaiming our power in this crazy world. Send your questions and comments for Tired AF to [email protected] *************You can find us any time you want to connect at Tired AF: https://bio.site/wearetiredaf  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearetiredaf.substack.com

The podcast that’s so much more than your average show. It’s a collective brain trust. A movement. A loud, loving, no-BS invitation to burn the outdated playbook and write a new one - one that actually fits the fullness of who you are.We’re three women from three very different worlds - Silicon Valley sales and marketing, coalition building and transformational coaching, academic writing and learning strategy - who all hit the same tired conclusion: the game is rigged and the rules were written without us in mind.So, we decided to build something different!Together, we turn exhaustion into clarity, rage into rebellion, and rest into resistance.Tired AF isn’t another self-help show. It’s a space to stop playing small and start building something different, together. Where intuition meets business, storytelling collides with strategy, and rebellion becomes a roadmap. It’s the space for women who are done hustling for crumbs and ready to build tables of their own.We’re tired! Tired of being gaslit, tired of contorting ourselves to fit someone else’s mold, tired of pretending “this is just how it is.”If you’re Tired AF - then this is the podcast for you!!!*************Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode.Make sure to Join the Rebellion newsletter, where we keep the conversation going and offer new insights into reclaiming our power in this crazy world.And send us your questions and comments, we want to hear from you! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wearetiredaf.substack.com