Podcast
The Contentment Creator
Hosted by Ellen Broen · EN
Welcome to The Contentment Creator Podcast – the ultimate podcast for conscious creators, mindful parents, and visionary entrepreneurs who are ready to embrace courage, clarity, and contentment in every facet of life.
I’m your host, Ellen Broen – a certified life coach, professional singer, mom, and unapologetic fan of clever wordplay, cozy books, and adorable dogs.
This podcast is your daily dose of inspiration to help you:
✨ Find clarity in your life vision and decisions.
✨ Ignite creativity and unlock your entrepreneurial potential.
✨ Cultivate contentment and balance in your personal and professional journey.
✨ Build thriving communities that feel like home.
Each short, impactful episode dives into topics like:
✔️ How to be content with yourself and your life.
✔️ Creating consistency and flow in your business.
✔️ Living consciously while pursuing your passions.
✔️ Building self-care practices that sustain your life and career.
Drawing insights from thought leaders like Dr. Shefali, Brené Brown, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Rick Rubin, we’ll answer questions like:
✨ What does it mean to be creative in everyday moments?
✨ How do you live a conscious life and lead with intention?
✨ How can you find motivation and stay grounded in an ever-changing world?
With actionable tips, inspiring conversations, and relatable stories, The Contentment Creator Podcast helps you balance ambition with presence and purpose.
💡 Follow and rate the show on your favorite podcast app or subscribe on YouTube so you never miss an episode. Together, let’s transform a world of content creators into a world of Contentment Creators – one inspiring episode at a time.
88episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Creating a new normal when you’re exiting survival mode
May 1500:11:39Tap to summarizeIs it possible to be mindful while you’re in survival mode? And what if survival mode isn’t actually something to escape as quickly as possible… but something to tend to with greater awareness and care?In this first part of the survival mode series, we explore what it means to move through overwhelming seasons of life mindfully without pretending things are okay, forcing positivity, or pressuring ourselves to “bounce back” before we’re ready.Because when life changes in profound ways—through grief, postpartum, burnout, health crises, divorce, or major transitions—it’s not just the external circumstances that shift. Our internal world changes too. And often, even after the initial emergency has passed, we’re left trying to navigate a reality where nothing quite feels normal yet.This conversation explores the difference between surviving unconsciously and surviving mindfully. Because when we resist what we’re experiencing, shame ourselves for struggling, or expect ourselves to function like we used to, we often deepen the overwhelm instead of creating safety.We talk about the first essential steps of mindful survival: acknowledgment and acceptance. Naming the truth of where you are instead of fighting it. Allowing yourself to recognize that you are in a difficult season without making that reality mean something is wrong with you.We also explore the emotional layers that often surface underneath survival mode—the grief, anger, exhaustion, confusion, and sadness we may have pushed aside in order to keep functioning. And why mindfulness is not about forcing peace, but about staying connected to yourself honestly during hard moments.This episode also unpacks the importance of naming emotions without turning feelings into identity. Because feeling empty is not the same thing as being empty. Feeling out of control is not the same thing as actually being unsafe.And finally, we explore how survival mode requires a shift in expectations. Learning to assess your capacity day by day. Conserving energy instead of treating everything like an emergency. And giving yourself permission to approach life differently while your system recalibrates.Because healing during survival mode doesn’t begin with pushing harder.It begins with meeting yourself where you are.And sometimes the most mindful thing you can do…is stop fighting the fact that this season is hard.RESOURCES:Free Guide: Growth Without Burnout: https://ellenbroencoaching.kit.com/b51104bb4dCEO Capacity Creator: https://ellenbroencoaching.kit.com/ceocapacitycreator
Transcribe →Essential self-care for survival mode seasons (when your old routine doesn’t work anymore)
May 1400:10:58Tap to summarizeHow do you take care of yourself when the version of you that created your old routines… no longer exists in the same way?In this third part of the survival mode series, we explore what essential self-care actually looks like during seasons of overwhelm, nervous system exhaustion, and emotional depletion—when your old habits and routines no longer feel accessible.Because one of the most painful parts of survival mode is realizing that the systems that used to work for you suddenly don’t anymore. And instead of recognizing that your internal capacity has changed, many of us turn that frustration inward and assume the problem is discipline, motivation, or inconsistency.But what if the real issue is that your nervous system has changed… and your tools haven’t adapted with it?This episode explores the idea that behavior must match capacity. That self-care during survival mode is not about optimization, aesthetics, or perfect routines—it’s about creating enough safety and support for your body and mind to function sustainably again.We talk about “minimum viable care” and adaptive systems that honor your actual emotional and physical bandwidth instead of forcing unrealistic expectations onto an overwhelmed system. From small nervous system supports like breathwork, rest, nourishment, and movement… to creating flexible self-care menus that meet you where you are.We also explore how survival mode impacts relationships and communication. Because when nervous systems are activated, conversations often stop being about connection and start becoming reactions to stress. This episode reframes communication through the lens of nervous system safety, co-regulation, and presence over problem-solving.And finally, we dive into parenting from capacity instead of expectation through the framework of Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 parenting—offering a more compassionate and realistic way to navigate caregiving during difficult seasons.Because survival mode doesn’t mean your life is failing.It means your system is asking for a different kind of support.And sometimes healing begins not by forcing yourself back into old routines…but by building new ones that honor who you are right now.RESOURCES:Free Guide: Growth Without Burnout: https://ellenbroencoaching.kit.com/b51104bb4dCEO Capacity Creator: https://ellenbroencoaching.kit.com/ceocapacitycreatorCustom AI Self Check-In Tool: ellenbroencoaching.kit.com/elleninmypocket
Transcribe →What Survival Mode Is Doing to Your Body (and How to Support It)
May 1300:09:24Tap to summarizeWhat is survival mode actually doing to your body… and why does it feel so hard to think clearly, rest deeply, or function the way you normally would?In this second part of the survival mode series, we explore what chronic stress does not just emotionally, but neurologically and physiologically. Because so often, what we label as laziness, inconsistency, or lack of discipline is actually a nervous system operating beyond capacity.We unpack how cognitive overload impacts working memory, decision-making, and mental clarity, and why your brain begins reallocating energy away from long-term thinking in order to prioritize immediate survival. What looks like procrastination on the surface may actually be adaptation underneath.We also explore Polyvagal Theory and the role of the nervous system in survival states. Through the lens of Dr. Stephen Porges’ work, we examine the three core nervous system states: ventral vagal (safety and connection), sympathetic activation (fight or flight), and dorsal shutdown (freeze and exhaustion).Because survival mode often isn’t a steady state. It’s a cycle between urgency and collapse. Between over-functioning and complete depletion.This conversation also explores why unresolved stress accumulates in the body, why stress cycles need completion, and how regulation happens through the body—not just through mindset or positive thinking.We walk through practical nervous system support tools including extended exhales, physiological sighs, movement, orienting to safety, and sound-based regulation techniques that help stimulate the vagus nerve and communicate safety back to the body.Ultimately, this episode is a reminder that your body is not failing you. Your nervous system is adapting the best way it knows how.And healing doesn’t begin with forcing yourself harder.It begins with learning how to work with your system instead of against it.RESOURCES:Breathwork & Somatic Healing Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_D1SwlH5gcFree Guide: Growth Without Burnout: https://ellenbroencoaching.kit.com/b51104bb4dCEO Capacity Creator: https://ellenbroencoaching.kit.com/ceocapacitycreator
Transcribe →How to Be in Survival Mode Mindfully
May 1200:16:32Tap to summarizeIs it possible to be mindful while you’re in survival mode? And what if survival mode isn’t actually something to escape as quickly as possible… but something to tend to with greater awareness and care?In this first part of the survival mode series, we explore what it means to move through overwhelming seasons of life mindfully—without pretending things are okay, forcing positivity, or pressuring ourselves to “bounce back” before we’re ready.Because when life changes in profound ways—through grief, postpartum, burnout, health crises, divorce, or major transitions—it’s not just the external circumstances that shift. Our internal world changes too. And often, even after the initial emergency has passed, we’re left trying to navigate a reality where nothing quite feels normal yet.This conversation explores the difference between surviving unconsciously and surviving mindfully. Because when we resist what we’re experiencing, shame ourselves for struggling, or expect ourselves to function like we used to, we often deepen the overwhelm instead of creating safety.We talk about the first essential steps of mindful survival: acknowledgment and acceptance. Naming the truth of where you are instead of fighting it. Allowing yourself to recognize that you are in a difficult season without making that reality mean something is wrong with you.We also explore the emotional layers that often surface underneath survival mode—the grief, anger, exhaustion, confusion, and sadness we may have pushed aside in order to keep functioning. And why mindfulness is not about forcing peace, but about staying connected to yourself honestly during hard moments.This episode also unpacks the importance of naming emotions without turning feelings into identity. Because feeling empty is not the same thing as being empty. Feeling out of control is not the same thing as actually being unsafe.And finally, we explore how survival mode requires a shift in expectations. Learning to assess your capacity day by day. Conserving energy instead of treating everything like an emergency. And giving yourself permission to approach life differently while your system recalibrates.Because healing during survival mode doesn’t begin with pushing harder.It begins with meeting yourself where you are.And sometimes the most mindful thing you can do…is stop fighting the fact that this season is hard.Videos Mentioned:Breathe With Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_D1SwlH5gcSomatic Healing https://youtu.be/diBVXFWBk78RESOURCES:Free Guide: Growth Without Burnout: https://ellenbroencoaching.kit.com/b51104bb4dCEO Capacity Creator: https://ellenbroencoaching.kit.com/ceocapacitycreator
Transcribe →How to Get Out of Survival Mode and Feel Safe Again
May 1100:47:21Tap to summarizeWhat if survival mode isn’t something to escape… but something to tend to?In this deeply reflective series, we explore what’s actually happening inside the body and nervous system during seasons of chronic stress, burnout, grief, postpartum healing, overwhelm, and emotional exhaustion.Because survival mode is rarely just “in your head.”It’s physiological. Neurological. Emotional.And often, what we label as laziness, inconsistency, lack of discipline, or emotional instability is actually a nervous system adapting to prolonged stress and overload.Throughout this conversation, we unpack how chronic stress impacts working memory, emotional regulation, decision-making, energy levels, and the body’s ability to feel safe. We explore concepts from polyvagal theory, nervous system regulation, somatic healing, and trauma-informed care to better understand why we oscillate between urgency, anxiety, shutdown, numbness, and exhaustion.But more importantly, this series reframes healing entirely.Instead of forcing ourselves back into productivity or trying to “snap out of it,” we explore what it means to work with the body instead of against it. From minimum viable self-care and adaptive routines to breathwork, co-regulation, emotional processing, and body-based healing practices, this is a conversation about building safety slowly and honestly.We also explore the emotional reality underneath survival mode:the grief of not feeling like yourself anymore,the pressure to function normally while carrying invisible weight,and the shame that often arises when your current capacity no longer matches your old expectations.Because ultimately, healing isn’t about becoming who you used to be.It’s about gently expanding your capacity for safety, presence, connection, and self-trust — one moment at a time.Videos Mentioned:Breathe With Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_D1SwlH5gcWhy Won’t People Hire me? https://youtu.be/6pQxqOJeBQESomatic Healing https://youtu.be/diBVXFWBk78When am I ready to raise my prices? https://youtu.be/Zh8xOLmcNHIRESOURCES:Free Guide: Growth Without Burnout: https://ellenbroencoaching.kit.com/b51104bb4dCEO Capacity Creator:https://ellenbroencoaching.kit.com/ceocapacitycreator
Transcribe →When am I ready to raise my prices? (Live Life Coaching Session)
May 800:18:56Tap to summarizeShould you raise your price even when long-term clients already trust and love your program?In this live coaching conversation, we explore the tension between staying in integrity with your work and the fear of changing something that people already feel comfortable with.On the surface, it looks like a pricing question. But underneath, it reveals something deeper: fear of being perceived as greedy, fear of losing clients, and fear of disrupting something that already feels safe.What emerges is a more honest reflection of what’s actually happeningyour program has evolved, your value has grown, and yet your price has remained the same. Not because of misalignment in the offer, but because of an internal hesitation around being seen, judged, or misunderstood.We also explore the emotional layer underneath pricing decisions: the desire to be seen as good, fair, and service-oriented, while also wanting to honor growth, leadership, and fear as part of expansion.Because ultimately, this isn’t just a pricing decision.It’s a conversation about worth, leadership, and being willing to let fear come along for the ride.RESOURCES:Free Guide: Growth Without Burnout: https://ellenbroencoaching.kit.com/b51104bb4dCEO Capacity Creator: https://ellenbroencoaching.kit.com/ceocapacitycreator
Transcribe →How do I get more stuff done? (Live Life Coaching Session)
May 700:11:55Tap to summarizeWhat if the real issue isn’t productivity but your relationship with your own brain?In this live coaching conversation, we explore what it actually means to feel “stuck,” especially when life is full but still feels mentally cluttered, emotionally heavy, or directionless.On the surface, it looks like a time management or routine problem. But underneath, it’s something deeper: how you relate to your thoughts, your responsibilities, and your sense of self.We unpack the desire to “move faster through life” to get past guilt, resentment, and mental friction so there’s more space for clarity, presence, and creativity. But what emerges is a different truth: this isn’t about eliminating discomfort, it’s about changing your relationship to it.From ADHD, mental load, and executive function challenges to self-prioritization and emotional resistance, this conversation reveals how much energy we lose when we constantly position ourselves as “behind” our own life.Because the real shift isn’t about doing more. It’s about finally placing yourself as your first priority and learning how to stay there.RESOURCES: Free Guide: Growth Without Burnout: https://ellenbroencoaching.kit.com/b51104bb4d CEO Capacity Creator: https://ellenbroencoaching.kit.com/ceocapacitycreator
Transcribe →Why am I unhappy when I have a good life? (Live Life Coaching Session)
May 600:23:13Tap to summarizeWhat if the problem isn’t that you lack clarity… but that you don’t trust yourself?In this live coaching session, we explore the experience of feeling stuck in the “messy middle”—busy, doing a lot, but somehow feeling like nothing truly matters or moves forward.On the surface, it sounds like a lack of vision. But as the conversation unfolds, something deeper emerges: a persistent inner voice filled with doubt, judgment, and shame that questions every decision and overrides self-trust.We look at how this “boardroom voice” develops, why it becomes so loud, and how it quietly shapes your life from big decisions down to small everyday moments. Through a simple but powerful story, we uncover how one moment of “getting it wrong” can reinforce the belief that you can’t trust yourself.This episode also explores the emotional patterns behind that constant inner tension and the need to avoid discomfort, the fear of making the wrong choice, and even the subtle resistance to joy.Because the truth is:You don’t need a perfect vision to move forward.You need to rebuild trust with yourself.WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: • Why feeling “stuck” isn’t actually about lacking direction • How your inner critical voice shapes your decisions • The connection between self-trust and clarity • Why avoiding discomfort keeps you in cycles of doubt • How perfectionism blocks growth (even in things you love) • Why joy can feel unsafe and how that affects your life • How to create more openness by allowing discomfort instead of resisting itRESOURCES: Free Guide: Growth Without Burnout: https://ellenbroencoaching.kit.com/b51104bb4d CEO Capacity Creator: https://ellenbroencoaching.kit.com/ceocapacitycreator
Transcribe →Why won’t people hire me? (Live Life Coaching Session)
May 500:15:06Tap to summarizeWhy do clients say they’re a “yes”… but still don’t move forward?In this live coaching conversation, we unpack a frustrating pattern many coaches experience like getting verbal yeses, only for clients to delay, cancel follow-ups, or ultimately say “not right now.”At first glance, it looks like a sales or pricing issue. But underneath, it reveals something deeper: a shift in confidence, discomfort around money conversations, and an internal hesitation to fully lead.As the conversation unfolds, it becomes clear that this isn’t just about clients—it’s about the coach’s own relationship with money, self-trust, and emotional safety. Fear of being intrusive, fear of questioning someone’s finances, and deeper layers of shame and guilt begin to surface.This episode explores what happens when you stop avoiding those moments and start leaning into them with honesty, compassion, and leadership.Because the real breakthrough isn’t in better closing techniques.It’s in what you’re willing to face within yourself.WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: • Why clients say “yes” but still don’t commit • How losing confidence shifts the entire sales conversation • The hidden fear behind talking about money with clients • Why avoiding discomfort leads to missed opportunities for transformation • How your relationship with money affects your ability to lead • The role of shame, guilt, and self-forgiveness in growth • Why true leadership requires staying in the conversation—even when it’s uncomfortableRESOURCES: Free Guide: Growth Without Burnout: https://ellenbroencoaching.kit.com/b51104bb4d CEO Capacity Creator: https://ellenbroencoaching.kit.com/ceocapacitycreator
Transcribe →What’s it *really* like to work with a life coach? (LIVE LIFE COACHING SESSIONS)
May 400:54:46Tap to summarizeI am pulling back the curtain on my own coaching with clients. This conversation was a great example of something an AI chat bot would never spot — when a client is operating mostly from their head and not connecting to their heart, or their deeper motivations behind their decisions. A bot could have asked her why does she want to raise her rates, but a coach could see that this client was trying to think her way into worthiness rather than lead from her inner belief and heart — and you could really see her drop in when she spoke about why she encourages her clients to raise their rates, and then her awareness solidifies when she realizes she’s been avoiding feeling what’s there for her, namely the fears and what she made them mean (what will people think? What if I’m actually selfish?), and inviting that feeling of fear instead as a part of the ride.Ultimately the value I see for all of us in this conversation is the very normal but essential challenge of walking our talk - of doing things that scare us because they not only enrich our own experience, but because it will be a source of deeper leadership and modeling her own principles for her clients. And the nuance here is not just to do things that scare us for the sake of the adrenaline rush, but because they are rooted in our values and invite us to lead from a truth in our heart.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why surface-level problems are often rooted in deeper emotional patternsHow shame and self-doubt can quietly shape your decisionsThe role of self-trust in creating clarity and confidenceWhy avoiding discomfort keeps you stuck—and how to move through itThe difference between intellectualizing change vs. truly embodying itHow to reconnect with your values and lead from a place of authenticity👇 RESOURCESFree Guide: Growth Without Burnout: https://ellenbroencoaching.kit.com/b51104bb4dCEO Capacity Creator: https://ellenbroencoaching.kit.com/ceocapacitycreator I’m curious to hear what you noticed from this conversation. What did you hear for yourself? I can’t wait to see your comments.
Transcribe →