The Process with Brooke Dawson

When you're ready, I'm here to help you trust yourself. Book a call here: https://calendly.com/brookedawson/discovery-call FREE Negative Self-Talk Masterclass Webinar: https://www.brookedawson.com.au/negative-self-talk-masterclass If you want to see more of what I do, you can find me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heybrookedawson/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsbrookedawson ------------- Mitch Parkins spent almost two decades in senior marketing roles, climbing fast, ticking every box. And slowly grinding himself into the ground. In this episode, Mitch and I talk about what it looks like to wake up and realise the version of success you've been chasing was never really yours. We get into the moment he looked at his health, his kids, his dad's patterns and decided something had to change. We talk about reframing failure and the idea that every bad investment, every wrong hire, every decision that didn't work out is still a brick on the bridge. You don't know which brick is going to get you to the other side. You just keep laying them. Because every time you build a new skill or have a new experience, those are bricks you get to add to the bridge too. And we talk about time. How having kids cracks something open in you and suddenly you feel exactly how fast it moves... and that you can never get it back. The importance of going after the things you said you always wanted to do, because otherwise time will pass and one day you'll look back and realise it never happened. And that realisation, as uncomfortable as it is, is what finally gets you moving (if you're willing to listen to it).

When you're ready, I'm here to help you trust yourself. Book a call here: https://calendly.com/brookedawson/discovery-call FREE Negative Self-Talk Masterclass Webinar: https://www.brookedawson.com.au/negative-self-talk-masterclass If you want to see more of what I do, you can find me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heybrookedawson/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsbrookedawson ------------- This episode almost didn't happen. I'd had a rough few nights with my daughter, I was running on empty, and I genuinely did not feel like showing up. But that's exactly what this episode is about: the pressure we put on ourselves to be on all the time. And what happens when we're not. Because for me it was never just "oh I'm tired today." It was a full spiral. I'm lazy, I'm failing, I'm never going to make it. And then I'm so in my head that I can't do the thing anyway. We are not robots. We're not meant to operate at the same level every single day. And honestly? If you are, you're probably not growing. Because growth needs fluctuation. Growth needs stillness. Some hard weeks where you show up anyway, even if it's not your best. I needed this reminder today. I hope it helps you too x

Want to stop waiting until it feels less scary?: https://calendly.com/brookedawson/discovery-call FREE Negative Self-Talk Masterclass Webinar: https://www.brookedawson.com.au/negative-self-talk-masterclass For those who have no idea who I am (understandably so), I'm the coach behind women who finally stopped waiting and started moving. If you want to see more of what I do, feel free to check out my👇 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heybrookedawson/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsbrookedawson ------------- In this episode I talk about why our brains resist the things we want to do most, why that resistance sounds so rational and logical, and why getting angry at yourself for feeling it only makes it worse. I also talk about what this has looked like for me this week, and what I've been doing to move through it instead of letting it pull me back to where I was before. If you've ever talked yourself out of something and genuinely believed it was the right call, this one's for you.

Want to stop waiting until it feels less scary?: https://calendly.com/brookedawson/discovery-call FREE Negative Self-Talk Masterclass Webinar: https://www.brookedawson.com.au/negative-self-talk-masterclass For those who have no idea who I am (understandably so), I'm the coach behind women who finally stopped waiting and started moving. If you want to see more of what I do, feel free to check out my👇 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heybrookedawson/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsbrookedawson ------------- In this episode I talk about the Jim Rohn concept "you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with." This one has had a powerful impact on my life. But I think it goes further than just the people around you. The podcasts you put on, the accounts you follow, the conversations you keep having. All of it is input. All of it is shaping something. I get into how I'm actively navigating this in my own life and why it takes a lot more conscious effort than people talk about.

Want to stop waiting until it feels less scary?: https://calendly.com/brookedawson/discovery-call FREE Negative Self-Talk Masterclass Webinar: https://www.brookedawson.com.au/negative-self-talk-masterclass For those who have no idea who I am (understandably so), I'm the coach behind women who finally stopped waiting and started moving. If you want to see more of what I do, feel free to check out my👇 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heybrookedawson/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsbrookedawson ------------- Nobody teaches you how to be in a relationship. You just show up, bring everything from your past, and figure it out as you go. Most of us stay stuck in the same patterns for years, not because we don't care, but because we never learned there was another way. In this episode, I speak with Brooklynn, a counselor who works with mums and families, about what it actually looks like to do the work on your relationship instead of just waiting for things to get bad enough to force a change. We get into emotionally focused therapy, why conflict feels so automatic, and what happens when you finally slow down long enough to hear what your partner is actually saying. We also talk about why so many couples treat therapy as a last resort when it works best as a practice, something you build into the relationship before you're ever in crisis. If you've ever felt like you and your partner keep having the same fight, or like you're coexisting instead of actually connecting, this one's for you. Brooklynn's practical takeaway at the end is something anyone can start tonight. If you're in central Alberta and looking for a counsellor, you can find Brooklynn at: -www.counsellingbybrooklynn.com - @counsellingbybrooklynn - or search her on Psychology Today.

Want to stop waiting until it feels less scary?: https://calendly.com/brookedawson/discovery-call FREE Negative Self-Talk Masterclass Webinar: https://www.brookedawson.com.au/negative-self-talk-masterclass For those who have no idea who I am (understandably so), I'm the coach behind women who finally stopped waiting and started moving. If you want to see more of what I do, feel free to check out my👇 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heybrookedawson/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsbrookedawson ------------- This episode is about regret. A few years ago, I stood on a beautiful beach in Sydney with my husband and my parents while my parents were visiting from Canada. The water was crystal clear. It was one of those rare, perfect moments. I wanted to jump in so badly. But I talked myself out of it. I didn’t have a towel. I didn’t want sandy feet. It felt inconvenient. So I stayed on the shore and watched instead. And I regretted it for years. Recently, I found myself in almost the exact same situation again. Same pull. Same excuses. But this time, I chose differently. In this episode, I talk about how we create reasons to avoid small discomfort, and how those tiny decisions shape our confidence, our identity, and the life we end up living. We unpack the idea “if you can, you must” and what it means to stop talking yourself out of things that matter. Because it’s never really about the swim. It’s about who you become when you choose to go in anyway.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the school system lately, and honestly, I’m a little fired up. In this episode, I talk about how growing up in a system built around tests, rubrics, and one-shot assessments shaped my fear of getting things wrong. When you only get one chance to prove yourself, it makes sense that you start playing it safe. I share how that mindset followed me into adulthood, how it limited where I’d go and what I’d try, and why I think it’s such a disservice to kids who are learning right now. This isn’t about blaming teachers. It’s about questioning a structure that rewards being right over being curious, and how that impacts the way we see ourselves long after we leave school.

Want to stop waiting until it feels less scary?: https://calendly.com/brookedawson/discovery-call FREE Negative Self-Talk Masterclass Webinar: https://www.brookedawson.com.au/negative-self-talk-masterclass For those who have no idea who I am (understandably so), I'm the coach behind women who finally stopped waiting and started moving. If you want to see more of what I do, feel free to check out my👇 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heybrookedawson/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsbrookedawson ------------- This episode is a special one. I’m sitting down with one of my oldest friends Megan to talk about something that’s been changing both of our lives when it comes to trying something new or working on a skill: letting go of whatever the outcome 'should' be and instead focusing on putting in as many reps as possible. We unpack the stories we’ve carried since childhood about being “naturally good” at some things and “just not cut out” for others. We talk about how those identities shape our choices, why we quit too early, and how fear of failure keeps our world small. We explore: • Why success is a numbers game • Why 80% of attempts might “fail” and why that’s normal • How to treat your life like an experiment • The difference between input and output • And how doing the reps can literally rewrite your identity If you’ve ever thought “I’m just not good at that,” this conversation will challenge that.

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the phase of life right before you have kids. In this episode, I talk about how easy it is to rush through this season because everyone around you is excited for what’s next. But this window, the time where it’s just you (or you and your partner), where you can make decisions purely based on what you want, is so much more precious than we realise. I share my own experience of holding off on having kids until I did the things that mattered to me, and why I’m so grateful I gave myself that space. This isn’t about delaying motherhood or saying one phase is better than another. It’s just a reminder to slow down, pay attention to what you want, and really live this part of your life before it changes.

In this episode, I talk about what it feels like to show up when you don’t feel ready or confident, and why fear so often shows up right before growth. I share a moment from this week where everything in me wanted to pull back and wait, and what shifted when I chose to move anyway. We talk about the stories fear brings up, the urge to hide or delay, and how to tell the difference between listening to fear and letting it run the show. This isn’t about getting rid of fear. It’s about learning how to move forward with it. If you’ve been waiting to feel less scared before you start, this episode is a reminder that fear doesn’t mean stop.

I talk about the word experiment and why changing the way I frame mistakes, effort, and uncertainty has completely changed how I show up. For most of my life, I avoided trying new things unless I knew I’d be good at them. Making a mistake felt personal, like it said something about who I was. In this conversation, I share how seeing things as experiments instead of tests has helped me let go of judgment, loosen my grip on outcomes, and actually take action. We talk about moving from being a judge to being a scientist, using curiosity instead of self-criticism, and why uncertainty isn’t something to avoid, but something you need in order to learn. This episode is about language, learning, and giving yourself permission to try without needing to know how it will turn out.

In this episode, Brooke talks about why so many of us feel stuck waiting for clarity, motivation, or confidence before we start, and why that approach usually keeps us frozen. She reflects on the idea that clarity doesn’t come first. It comes after action. Through personal reflection, Brooke explores how momentum is created by doing, not thinking, and why discomfort is often the doorway to insight, not a sign that something is wrong. This episode is about stopping the endless loop of waiting to feel ready, and learning to trust that action itself is what creates direction, energy, and clarity over time.

If you’re someone who worries about disappointing people, this episode is for you. In this conversation, I talk about how often we make decisions based on not wanting to let others down, and what that costs us over time. We look at why it feels so uncomfortable to say no, why hard conversations get avoided, and how easy it is to keep putting yourself last without even realising it. This episode isn’t about becoming selfish or uncaring. It’s about learning how to show up for yourself with honesty and kindness, and recognising that when you keep letting yourself down, resentment and burnout tend to follow. If you’ve been saying yes when you mean no, avoiding conversations you know you need to have, or feeling torn between caring for others and honouring yourself, this episode will likely resonate.

This episode is about black and white thinking and how deeply it can shape the way we move through life without us realising. Brooke reflects on how growing up in systems that reward “right” and “wrong” can teach us to believe there is only one correct way to do things. Over time, that belief can stop us from trying new things, learning, and enjoying the process of getting better. She shares personal examples from school, art, cooking, exercise, and play, and how unlearning this way of thinking has opened up more freedom, creativity, and self-trust in her life. This episode is a reflection on nuance, permission, and finding your way back to curiosity instead of judgment.

In this episode, Brooke talks about three small words we use every day that impact how we think, feel, and act. She shares why she is removing one word from her vocabulary, adding another, and changing the way she uses a third. These shifts seem small, but they have made a big difference in how committed she feels and what feels possible. This episode is about noticing how language shapes our inner experience before our behaviour changes. It's not about getting it perfect, because that's not realistic. But it is about being more intentional with the language we use. Because it does make a difference.

Brooke talks about what happens when we get so caught up in rules, algorithms, and doing things “the right way” that we stop ourselves from showing up at all. She reflects on creating content without editing, polishing, or optimising, and why trying to make things perfect too early can silence your voice before it even has a chance to form. This episode is about letting go of made-up rules, trusting your way of speaking and thinking, and giving yourself permission to just start, even if it’s messy.

In this episode, Brooke shares four lessons she learned after moving across the world to Australia at 21 to work as an au pair. At the time, she didn’t know how much that year would change her. Looking back now, she can see how those experiences shaped how she makes decisions, sets boundaries, and trusts herself. She talks about learning who you are when you leave familiar people and places, realising that being good at school doesn’t always mean being good at real life, and learning how boundaries and courage are built through experience. These weren’t lessons Brooke learned by thinking about them. She learned them by living them. And nine years later, they still shape how she lives her life today.

In this episode, Brooke reflects on the idea of “putting in the reps” and why so many of us avoid starting things we care about because we’re scared of being bad at them. She talks about how we often believe that if something doesn’t come naturally, it must not be for us, and how that belief quietly stops growth before it even begins. Using examples from fitness, business, creativity, meditation, and learning new skills, Brooke explores why repetition, not talent, is what actually creates change. This episode is about being willing to start before you’re ready, staying with the discomfort of not being good yet, and trusting that every rep counts, even when it doesn’t feel like progress.

n this episode, Brooke explores three deeply ingrained beliefs that quietly prevent us from starting the things we care about most. As she begins showing up more honestly online, she notices familiar internal patterns surfacing. The belief that if you are not good immediately, you are not cut out for it. The belief that failure is personal and says something about who you are. And the belief that everyone else is already ahead, so there is no point in trying. Through personal stories and real-time reflection, Brooke unpacks where these beliefs come from, how they were reinforced early in life, and the subtle ways they lead to overthinking, paralysis, and inaction. Rather than speaking from the other side, this episode is a look inside the process itself, naming the beliefs as they arise and beginning to challenge them through action. This episode is for anyone who feels stuck at the starting line, waiting to feel ready, confident, or certain before taking the first step.

In this episode, Brooke explores the subtle ways “being good with money” can quietly shape our lives, often at a much higher cost than we realise. She reflects on her own relationship with saving, spending, and responsibility, and how early money beliefs led her to optimise for safety at the expense of experiences, ease, and alignment. From guilt around everyday spending to bigger decisions about travel, time, and investing in herself, this conversation unpacks how money can become a shield rather than a tool. This episode is not about reckless spending or abandoning responsibility. It’s about expanding the story. About recognising when caution turns into self-denial, and learning how to use money intentionally to support the life you actually want to live. If you’ve ever felt tension, guilt, or anxiety around spending, even when you can afford it, this episode will likely resonate.

In the first episode of The Process, Brooke shares why she started the podcast and what this space is really about. This episode explores learning and unlearning, identity shifts, perfectionism, and how the stories we tell ourselves shape our lives. Brooke also outlines what listeners can expect from the podcast as it evolves.