Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff with Kristine Carlson

This week Kristine Carlson shares her personal journey with gratitude, joy, and happiness. You’ll learn how she navigates her own moments of grief and low mood by staying engaged in the present, noticing simple joys like sunlight streaming through trees or a beloved pet playing freely. She beautifully explains the difference between happiness and joy; happiness as a gentle hum you live from, and joy as the sparkling moments that elevate your spirit. Throughout the episode, you’re invited to remember how gratitude can bring you back to your natural good feeling state, and how your thoughts and feelings are intricately connected through your heart and mind. Kristine invites you to practice noticing and shifting your mindset into gratitude, allowing positive feelings to return. If you’re looking for more inspiration, consider exploring the classic books “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff Every Day” and “You Can Be Happy No Matter What.” After listening, you will feel uplifted, centered, and empowered to choose happiness no matter what’s going on around you. Thanks for listening!

What if your life is unfolding exactly on time? Vedic astrologer Carol Allen joins Kristine for a deeply personal conversation about the chapter she’s in now: the growth within her romantic relationship, her enduring soul connection with Richard, and the larger cycle the United States is moving through. Kristine and Carol discover: • the season of life Kristine is stepping into • why her Rahu cycle signals destiny and expansion • what the U.S. chart reveals about this transformative time • how astrology helps us trust life’s timing If you’re navigating change or wondering where you are on your path, this conversation offers reassurance, perspective, and the reminder that nothing in our lives is сoincidence; yet all part of a greater unfolding. GUEST BIO: Carol Allen is a Vedic astrologer and relationship coach who’s been happily married for over three decades and is passionate about helping women align love with timing, wisdom, and intentional action. Her approach beautifully bridges Eastern astrology with modern relationship research, offering guidance that is both spiritual and practical. She has been featured on E!, EXTRA, Bridezillas, LifeChangers with Dr. Drew, and in Chicken Soup for the Soul and Woman’s World, and is the author of Love Is in the Stars: The Wise Woman’s Astrological Guide to Men Visit Carol’s website here Book your reading here

All supplements are not created equally! This week on the Health Tips Series, Kristine gets specific about the vitamins and supplements she personally uses and trusts. She shares how she views supplements as supportive tools rather than quick fixes, and how to stay informed and empowered without getting lost in wellness trends. Kristine shares: If you’re in a season of transition, you don’t have to walk it alone. Kristine’s What Now? Retreat and Course offer gentle guidance, reflection, and connection as you step into your next chapter. Only a few spots left! Details here. Please Note: This episode is a deep dive into Kristine’s personal supplement routine, and is not intended as medical advice.

In the first episode of Health Tips Series, Kristine Carlson shares the personal practices she relies on to look and feel her best as she enters a new year. This episode is an honest look at how Kristine supports her health in real life, through choices that help her stay steady, energized, and emotionally centered. Kristine reveals: • the sleep rituals that help her truly rest • how she approaches food, gut health, and understanding her sensitivities • supplements and daily wellness supports she trusts • meditation, mindfulness, and prayer for staying positive • creating an atmosphere that supports her mind, body, and spirit If you’re craving a healthier way to move through this year, Kristine shares exactly where she begins - so you can, too! If you’re in a season of transition, you don’t have to walk it alone. Kristine’s What Now? Retreat and Course offer gentle guidance, reflection, and connection as you step into your next chapter. Only a few spots left! Details here. Please note: Kristine is sharing her personal experience and practices. This episode is not a substitute for medical advice.

Kristine shares how she’s welcoming fresh energy for the year ahead, what it’s been like entering a new live-in relationship, and how love can return after loss. If you’re stepping into something new, this one is for you. Listen in for her reflections on: If you’re in a season of transition, you don’t have to walk it alone. Kristine’s What Now? Retreat and Course offer gentle guidance, reflection, and connection as you step into your next chapter. Only a few spots left! Details here.

Do you know your personal year number and what it reveals about the year ahead? In this two-part conversation, Kristine sits down with professional numerologist Michele Landers to explore the ancient wisdom of numerology and how numbers quietly shape our lives. Listen in and gain insight into your personality, life path, and the themes gently shaping this season of your life. Michele Landers is a board-certified life purpose coach, hypnotherapist and professional numerologist. She is a dynamic and gifted lecturer, teacher, author and consultant on the subjects of personal empowerment, spiritual wisdom, the law of attraction and numerology. Recognized and highly regarded as an authority in her field, her books, The Tao of Numbers and The Year of Living Miraculously are both informative and entertaining. For more information on her upcoming Truth Mapping workshop, visit her website here.

In Part One of this two-part conversation, Kristine Carlson sits down with professional numerologist Michele Landers to explore the foundation of numerology: your Life Path number. Michele explains how to calculate your Life Path number using your birth date and what it reveals about your natural strengths, challenges, and recurring life themes. It’s a grounded, easy-to-follow introduction that invites greater self-understanding and clarity. A must-listen for anyone curious about the patterns shaping their path. Michele Landers is a board-certified life purpose coach, hypnotherapist and professional numerologist. She is a dynamic and gifted lecturer, teacher, author and consultant on the subjects of personal empowerment, spiritual wisdom, the law of attraction and numerology. Recognized and highly regarded as an authority in her field, her books, The Tao of Numbers and The Year of Living Miraculously are both informative and entertaining. For more information on her upcoming Truth Mapping workshop, visit her website here.

We all have days when our energy dips and everything feels a little heavier. In this gentle, heart-opening episode, Kristine reminds you that low moods are simply part of being human—and that they don’t define you. She shares how gratitude can shift your inner state, open your heart, and help you return to a place of peace and perspective. You’ll learn: -why it’s okay to experience low moods without judgment -how gratitude transforms your emotional energy -simple ways to reconnect to presence and lift your spirit Listen in to rediscover your natural resilience and remember: you don’t have to fix a low mood, you can breathe through it and let gratitude lead you back to calm.

Peace begins the moment you pause, turn inward, and trust the quiet guidance of your own spirit. In this episode of the Communication Mastery Series, Kristine walks you through three specific steps to open yourself to spiritual guidance and listen to what your deeper intuition has to say. You’ll learn how to: -open your heart to Spirit and release doubt -attune yourself to presence so you are divinely aligned -say a simple prayer to receive true wisdom -turn spiritual insight into meaningful, inspired action Join Kristine as she guides you—step by step—through a gentle process of tuning in, listening deeply, and allowing Spirit to lead the way.

Amy Wong helps visionary leaders and teams – like Salesforce, Meta, and LinkedIn – build relationships that drive real results. Today she joins Kristine on the show to explore what it really takes to communicate with clarity, confidence, and heart. Amy shares how fear and anxiety shape the way we speak and listen, and offers practical tools to move from uncertainty to trust. Amy Wong is a TEDx speaker, award-winning author, and leadership expert who helps organizations use human connection to drive breakthrough performance. With a background in mathematics, transpersonal psychology, and two decades in Silicon Valley, she’s shaped thriving cultures at companies like LinkedIn, Salesforce, and Meta. She teaches leadership and communication at Stanford University Continuing Education and wrote Living on Purpose. Her work centers on trust, alignment, and exceptional communication to fuel fulfillment and success. Visit her website: https://amyelizawong.com/

Conflict doesn’t have to drive us apart—it can actually become the doorway to deeper intimacy. In this episode, Kristine Carlson explores how getting clear within yourself first is the key to transforming difficult moments into loving, constructive conversations. She reminds us that conflict isn’t “bad” when it’s handled with maturity, presence, and care—it can be a chance to strengthen trust and understanding. Kristine shares how to: With honesty and warmth, Kristine shows how the way we engage in conflict can either divide us, or bring us closer together.

In this tender episode of the Communication Mastery Series, Kristine Carlson shares the practice she and her late husband, Richard, used to keep their marriage strong: setting aside sacred time for heart-to-heart communication. She explains the simple yet powerful parameters they followed so each of them felt deeply heard and understood. In this episode, you’ll learn how to: Kristine invites you to bring this practice into your own life as a way to cultivate deeper love, closeness, and understanding one heartfelt conversation at a time.

Recorded just before her Italy retreat, Kristine shares how to move beyond the surface and create genuine intimacy in new relationships. Drawing from her experience working with women in retreat settings, she explains how simple gestures—like a warm greeting, smiling, or gentle touch—can melt away superficial barriers and allow us to meet each other in our shared humanity. In this episode, you’ll learn how to: She also reflects on how our triggers can be powerful teachers, guiding us toward deeper compassion—and how each new connection is an opportunity to practice intimacy, presence, and love.

Kristine launches her brand-new series, Communication Mastery, with an inspiring invitation to explore how deeper, more mindful communication can transform every relationship in your life. In this series, you’ll discover how to: Plus, you’ll learn a powerful guided imagery meditation to help you transform the way you listen and speak! Get ready to bring intimacy and closeness into all of your conversations with this illuminating series.

Kristine welcomes back Dr. Paul Zeitz to the Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, Live the Big Stuff podcast for a heartfelt conversation about the true meaning of patriotism. Together, they explore how honoring our shared rights and humanity can bring us closer, even in times of deep division. Together, they reveal practical insights on how to: -Recognize whether leaders are working for unity or fueling division -Stay open to hearing different perspectives without losing your own voice -Navigate family and friendships when opinions don’t align -Overcome the fear and uncertainty so many of us feel in today’s America This powerful conversation is a reminder that what unites us is far greater than what divides us and that living with courage, empathy, and optimism is the path forward for all. Dr. Paul Zeitz is a physician, epidemiologist, author, and award-winning advocate for global justice and human rights. For more than 35 years, he has led campaigns and movements with a bold vision for a more just and compassionate world. In his new book Hit Refresh on the U.S. Constitution: A Revolutionary Roadmap for Fulfilling the Promise of Democracy, he shares how we can peacefully and inclusively rewrite the "code" of our democracy—so it truly works for everyone. Visit his website: https://drpaulzeitz.org/ Follow Dr. Zeitz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drpaulzeitz/

In the first episode in the Unify Series, Kristine Carlson speaks from the heart about the division and extremism we’re seeing in America today. At a time when polarization seems louder than ever, Kristine offers a compassionate call to return to moderation, empathy, and connection. This episode is a reminder that when we choose to stand in unity rather than division, we become part of the healing our world so desperately needs.

Join Kristine Carlson as she talks with life coach and Women Waking Up author Wendy Valentine—a guide for women ready to reignite their spark and embrace the magic of midlife. Wendy shares her powerful story of transformation, showing how unexpected change can become a catalyst for courage, freedom, and joy. Her daring leap into van life across Europe isn’t just adventure—it’s proof of what’s possible when you say yes to your next chapter! In this inspiring conversation, you’ll learn: -How to stay grounded and resilient through life’s biggest transitions -Practical ways to step into a bold new direction with confidence -What true freedom feels like when you create a life that matches your soul Get ready to feel energized, uplifted, and inspired to reimagine your midlife—and step boldly into the extraordinary life waiting for you! Wendy Valentine is a speaker, certified professional life coach, and author of Women Waking Up —a midlife rebel with a mission to help women reignite their spark and embrace the magic of midlife. Her podcast, The Midlife Makeover Show, helps midlifers who are ready to get unstuck, take courageous action, and reclaim their life. Visit her website: wendyvalentine.com

Reentering the dating world in midlife can feel daunting—but it doesn’t have to be. Internationally acclaimed relationship coach Bern Mendez joins Kris as she reflects on her own early experiences of stepping back into dating after loss, and together, they share practical strategies for navigating modern dating with authenticity and self-confidence. Bern Mendez is a neuroscience-based dating and relationship coach with over 14 years of experience helping accomplished midlife women break through subconscious emotional barriers and create deeply committed, lasting partnerships. Featured by CNN, HuffPost, Redbook, and more, Bern is recognized globally as a trusted voice in the field. His YouTube channel ranks among the top twelve most-followed dating advice platforms for women worldwide, with over 30 million views and a community of 227,000 subscribers. Connect with Bern Mendez at Bernmendez.com

In the 4th episode of the Inner Confidence Series, Kristine is joined by longtime coach, TEDx speaker, and bestselling author Kim Somers Egelsee for a powerful conversation about coming back to yourself as the foundation for lasting confidence. Kim shares the transformative practices she uses to help clients reconnect with who they truly are, move beyond hidden blocks that erode self-trust, and show up fully—in life, business, and even dating! What you’ll take away: “The 0–100 Practice” to help you better understand and honor yourself, so you can fully step into your self-worth -A simple anchoring exercise to rise above self-doubt in stressful moments -How improving your posture and physiology can shift how confident you feel -Guidance on rebuilding confidence after a breakup—and returning to dating with strength and self-trust If you’ve felt disconnected from your confidence or unsure of your next step, this episode offers grounded tools, fresh perspective, and a clear reminder: the way forward starts by returning to you. Kim Somers Egelsee is an intuitive guide, TEDx speaker, #1 bestselling author, life and business coach, and publisher with over 20 years of experience. She empowers individuals to shine by uncovering their true gifts and purpose through speaking, writing, and media. Kim specializes in healing emotional blocks, shifting energy, and overcoming limiting beliefs to foster confidence, clarity, and authentic success. She is the co-host of the acclaimed podcast Talk Purpose and Truth and co-founder of High Vibe Soul Sisters, offering transformative retreats, events, and healing circles. Connect with Kim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimlifecoach Connect with Kristine Carlson: Website: www.kristinecarlson.com Instagram: Instagram.com/kristine_carlson