The Uplift app is here! Try it free for 30 days.

Here is a truth most people avoid: Just because it's familiar doesn't mean it's faithful to your future. That friendship where you're the unpaid therapist? That group you got guilt-tripped into joining faster than you could say, "I guess I can help"? That job that drains your soul every Sunday night, just thinking about Monday morning? Yep. That.

You don't need a crisis to walk away. You don't need a round of applause to choose peace. But since I'm here, let me say it anyway: You have the power to put it down now. God never asked you to carry all that.

This episode is for the woman who's tired of spinning all the plates while smiling like everything's fine. You're not alone in this struggle. Whether you're raising teens with more opinions than clean laundry, building a business from scratch, or barely keeping it together while Instagram keeps showing you everyone else's picture-perfect life, I need you to hear me clearly: You are allowed to walk away.

You don't need permission, but if a little holy affirmation helps, here it is: You're not quitting; you're obeying. You're not letting people down; you're laying your burdens down.

Let this be the day you stop apologizing for no longer being available for chaos. The peace you crave isn't selfish—it's sacred. It's your right to prioritize your well-being.

Timestamps:

(01:31) -The Permission Problem

(02:23) - 3 Types of Drains We Tolerate

(06:24) -The Real Cost of Tolerating What’s Quietly Draining You

(07:31) - Why We Keep Holding On to What’s Holding Us Back

(08:17) - Your Step-by-Step Liberation Plan to Finally Let Go

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Links to great things we discussed:

• Alli’s Makeup Recommendation - What's Up Beauty - Watch Me! Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara

I hope you loved this episode! 🎉Don’t forget to hit that subscribe button on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so you never miss a thing. And guess what? We're on YouTube! If you're loving the content, show us some love by leaving a review and giving us some stars—it means the world to me! Take care, and stay fabulous!

xo,

Alli

The Uplift app is here! Try it free for 30 days.

Welcome back to Smart Girl Summer! Today, I’m sitting down with the incredible Annie F. Downs, a best-selling author, podcaster, speaker, and Enneagram enthusiast, for a powerhouse conversation you won’t want to miss.

We’re two Enneagram Sevens pulling back the curtain on what it really looks like to build a thriving business and grow a platform, without losing yourself in the process. You know those glossy success stories that make it all look effortless?

Well, we’re here to talk about the real journey, the bad advice we ignored, the behind-the-scenes realities no one tells you about, and the lessons that shaped us.

So, if you love business and you need a fresh shot of motivation and wisdom, this one’s for you. Buckle up, friend—it’s going to be a good one!

Timestamps:

(08:05) - Why 2025 Is the Best Time to Start a Podcast

(11:02) - What Actually Grows a Podcast (And What Doesn’t)

(25:15) - Find Your Lane and Run Fast

(32:02) - Don’t Just Dream—Get in the Room with People Who’ve Done It

(39:22) - What’s Really Working on Social Media Right Now

WATCH ALLI ON YOUTUBE

Links to great things we discussed:

• Annie’s Favorite Skin Care Product - Cattle + Comb Tallow Lotion

I hope you loved this episode! 🎉Don’t forget to hit that subscribe button on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so you never miss a thing. And guess what? We're on YouTube! If you're loving the content, show us some love by leaving a review and giving us some stars—it means the world to me! Take care, and stay fabulous!

xo,

Alli

The Uplift app is here! Try it free for 30 days.

Do you know what’s quietly stealing your joy, keeping you small, and making sure everyone else’s needs come first, while yours barely make the list? Being low maintenance. Yep, I said it.

Somewhere along the way, we got the message: don’t ask for much, don’t rock the boat, and definitely don’t be “difficult.” But let’s get real—that’s not a virtue. That’s a survival strategy we learned to keep the peace, and it’s keeping us stuck.

Today, I’m calling it out. If you’ve ever said, “No worries, whatever works!” when it absolutely did not work, or if you’ve ever ignored that little voice in your head telling you what you actually want, it’s time to break free. You’re not “too much.” You’re not “demanding.” You’re a human with real wants and needs, and you deserve to own them, without apology.

Timestamps:

(02:42)-Where Exactly Did the Low-Maintenance Myth Come From

(04:22) - The Cortisol Cascade: How People-Pleasing Wrecks Your Nervous System

(06:49) -Your Identity Is at Stake: What You’re Really Losing When You Keep the Peace

(08:52) - Practical Ways to Start Showing Up Without Shrinking Your Needs

(12:01) - How to Finally Break the Low-Maintenance Cycle

WATCH ALLI ON YOUTUBE

Links to great things we discussed:

• Don't forget -- The Uplift app is FINALLY here! Try it free for 30 days.
• Alli’s Product Recommendation - Native Path Bone Health Collagen Peptides

Some things are beautiful, some things are meaningful—but when you find both in one? That’s something special. Little Things Studio’s Hymn Tea Towel set brings beloved hymns to life through stunning floral designs printed on 100% cotton for the perfect blend of charm and function.

I hope you loved this episode! 🎉Don’t forget to hit that subscribe button on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so you never miss a thing. And guess what? We're on YouTube! If you're loving the content, show us some love by leaving a review and giving us some stars—it means the world to me! Take care, and stay fabulous!

xo,

Alli