Unlock Your Blocks with Elyssa

You know you are meant for more, but you keep getting stuck in the same frustrating cycle! I see you. I’ve been there. And I’ve got you! I’m Elyssa Smith, a trauma-informed executive coach and the host of Unlock Your Blocks Podcast. I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed by triggers, stuck in survival-mode, and cycles of self-sabotage. The great news is that you can overcome all of this! I know firsthand how to follow the roadmap to freedom. You can rewire your survival brain, heal the trauma holding you back, and unlock the next level of success and confidence! On Unlock Your Blocks, I’ll teach you the exact tools and strategies to break free from self-doubt, regulate emotions, and finally be able to follow through with your biggest goals! Subscribe now! Let’s get you the right keys to unlock your blocks and create the life you were made for!

Unlock Your Blocks with Elyssa is a education podcast hosted by Elyssa Smith, with 89 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Elyssa Smith hosts Unlock Your Blocks with Elyssa, a education show with 89 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #91

  Why You’ll Never Feel Fully Ready (And Why Waiting Is Keeping You Stuck)

  Aug 31, 202612 minS1

  Why You’ll Never Feel Fully Ready (And Why Waiting Is Keeping You Stuck) Have you ever told yourself you’ll take the next step once you feel more confident, more prepared, or more qualified? Maybe you’re waiting for the website to be perfect, the plan to be finished, or that feeling of certainty to finally show up. The problem is, your nervous system may never give you that feeling before you move. In this episode, Elyssa breaks down why perfectionistic high achievers often wait for readiness before taking action, and why unfamiliarity can feel unsafe to your nervous system. If you’ve been holding back on something important because you don’t feel completely ready, this conversation will show you how to create enough internal safety to move forward anyway. ✅ What You'll Learn ✔️ Why waiting to feel ready can keep you stuck indefinitely ✔️ How perfectionism turns uncertainty into a threat ✔️ Why unfamiliar opportunities can activate your survival system ✔️ The connection between confidence, readiness, and nervous system safety ✔️ Why even major accomplishments may not make you feel qualified ✔️ How imperfect action builds trust with your nervous system ✔️ The 60% rule Elyssa uses to keep moving forward ✔️ Why simple safety cues can make uncertainty easier to tolerate ✔️ How to take bigger steps without needing 100% confidence first Episode Chapters 00:00 – Why waiting to feel ready keeps you stuck 00:55 – How perfectionistic high achievers delay action 01:45 – Why unfamiliar things feel unsafe to your nervous system 02:35 – The advice to move before everything is perfect 03:25 – Why asking for help can feel like you are not ready 04:15 – The trap of waiting for confidence or certainty 05:00 – Elyssa’s TEDx experience and still not feeling qualified 05:50 – The choice between certainty and moving forward 06:40 – Learning to feel safe without being 100% ready 07:15 – Why readiness does not create action 08:05 – Safe, imperfect action and the 60% rule 08:55 – Using nervous system safety cues before taking the next step 09:35 – Why deep breathing actually helps with uncertainty 10:20 – Building trust through small imperfect actions 11:05 – Moving forward with 60% confidence 11:40 – Letting your goals get bigger without staying small Free Resource for Women ✨ 5 Nervous System Hacks You Can Do at Your Desk Quick, science-backed tools to calm your body in under 60 seconds, even in the middle of the workday. https://elyssasmith.com/reset For Women Ready for Their Next Breakthrough Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks Focus Call to uncover what's keeping you stuck and overwhelmed, and get a clear, gentle plan for your next step. https://elyssasmith.com/focus

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  Episode #90

  How to Tell If You're in Fight, Flight, Freeze, or Fawn

  Aug 24, 202615 minS1

  How to Tell If You're in Fight, Flight, Freeze, or Fawn Do you ever wonder why you react the way you do under stress? Maybe you become angry over small things, avoid difficult conversations, procrastinate on important tasks, or constantly put everyone else's needs ahead of your own. In this episode, Elyssa explains the four common survival responses—fight, flight, freeze, and fawn—and how they often show up in the lives of high-achieving women. You'll learn why these patterns aren't personality traits or character flaws, but protective strategies your nervous system developed to help you survive. If you've ever thought, "This is just who I am," this conversation will help you understand where those patterns come from and how you can begin creating new, healthier responses that lead to more peace, confidence, and freedom. ✅ What You'll Learn ✔️ The difference between fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses ✔️ Why your survival responses are not personality traits ✔️ How childhood experiences shape the way you respond to stress today ✔️ Why perfectionism and people-pleasing are forms of survival mode ✔️ How procrastination and shutdown are connected to the freeze response ✔️ Why high-achieving women often live in chronic survival mode ✔️ A simple exercise to identify your default stress response ✔️ How observation creates the first step toward lasting nervous system healing ✔️ Why your brain can be rewired through neuroplasticity Episode Chapters 00:00 – Why survival mode isn't your personality 01:05 – Understanding fight, flight, freeze, and fawn 02:30 – Elyssa's personal experience with all four responses 03:45 – Why your nervous system is trying to protect you 04:45 – How procrastination, perfectionism, and people-pleasing show up as survival responses 06:05 – The surprising truth about the fawn response 07:05 – Why these patterns keep you stuck and disconnected from yourself 08:10 – How survival responses develop in childhood 09:35 – Why your nervous system reacts before your thinking brain can 10:35 – A simple challenge to identify your default stress response 12:00 – How observation leads to nervous system healing 13:10 – Rewiring old patterns through neuroplasticity 14:05 – Taking your next step toward lasting regulation Free Resource for Women ✨ 5 Nervous System Hacks You Can Do at Your Desk Quick, science-backed tools to help calm your nervous system in under 60 seconds—even during your busiest days. https://elyssasmith.com/reset For Women Ready for Their Next Breakthrough Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks Focus Call to uncover what's keeping you stuck, overwhelmed, or living in survival mode, and walk away with a clear, personalized next step. https://elyssasmith.com/focus

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  Episode #89

  Why You Shut Down Under Pressure (And the 1% Rule That Gets You Moving Again)

  Aug 17, 202616 minS1

  Why You Shut Down Under Pressure (And the 1% Rule That Gets You Moving Again) Do you ever have a long list of things you know you need to do, but every time you try to start, you freeze? Maybe your brain gets foggy, you suddenly feel exhausted, or you find yourself procrastinating on the very thing that matters most. In this episode, Elyssa explains why shutting down under pressure isn't a character flaw—it's often your nervous system trying to protect you. You'll learn why high achievers and perfectionists are especially prone to this response, what's actually happening inside your brain when you feel stuck, and one simple strategy that can help you build momentum without overwhelming your system. If you've been frustrated by procrastination, burnout, or feeling like you "just can't get yourself to do it," this episode will help you understand why—and show you a gentler way forward. ✅ What You'll Learn ✔️ Why overwhelm often leads to shutdown instead of productivity ✔️ What's happening inside your nervous system when you feel stuck ✔️ Why high achievers and perfectionists are more likely to procrastinate ✔️ What a dorsal shutdown is and why it happens ✔️ How your nervous system mistakes uncertainty for danger ✔️ Why big projects feel impossible to start ✔️ The 1% Progress Rule and how it helps you build momentum ✔️ How breaking tasks into tiny steps helps your brain feel safe ✔️ Why nervous system regulation creates more sustainable productivity Episode Chapters 00:00 – Why overwhelm causes your nervous system to shut down 01:10 – What high achievers experience under pressure 02:25 – A real client story about feeling stuck and overwhelmed 03:10 – Why your brain sees certain tasks as dangerous 04:45 – How uncertainty and perfectionism trigger procrastination 06:00 – Understanding dorsal shutdown and survival mode 07:20 – The cycle of overworking, crashing, and hiding from your to-do list 08:30 – Introducing the 1% Progress Rule 09:20 – Why your brain needs a staircase instead of a cliff 10:15 – Real-life examples of breaking overwhelming tasks into smaller steps 12:00 – How tiny actions create momentum and reduce resistance 13:15 – Building long-term resilience by creating nervous system safety 14:05 – Free nervous system resource and final encouragement Free Resource for Women ✨ 5 Nervous System Hacks You Can Do at Your Desk Quick, science-backed tools to help calm your nervous system in under 60 seconds—even during your busiest days. https://elyssasmith.com/reset For Women Ready for Their Next Breakthrough Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks Focus Call to uncover what's keeping you stuck, overwhelmed, or burned out, and walk away with a clear, personalized next step. https://elyssasmith.com/focus

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  Episode #88

  How to Rebuild Your Life After Everything Changes with Sabrina Wilson

  Aug 10, 202646 minS1

  How to Rebuild Your Life After Everything Changes with Sabrina Wilson What do you do when life changes overnight? Whether it's losing a job, navigating grief, or realizing the path you've spent years pursuing is no longer the one you want, unexpected transitions can leave you questioning everything. In this episode, Elyssa sits down with executive coach and leadership advisor Sabrina Wilson to talk about rebuilding after loss, creating a life that's aligned with your values, and why the right people can completely change the trajectory of your future. Together, they explore the importance of boundaries, asking for help, and surrounding yourself with a personal "Board of Directors" who will challenge, support, and champion you through life's biggest transitions. If you've been facing uncertainty, feeling stuck in a career that no longer fits, or wondering how to move forward after disappointment, this conversation will remind you that sometimes life's biggest detours become your greatest opportunities. ✅ What You'll Learn ✔️ How to rebuild after an unexpected career setback or major life transition ✔️ Why losing something important can become the beginning of something better ✔️ The power of creating your own personal Board of Directors ✔️ How mentors, sponsors, allies, and friends each play a unique role in your growth ✔️ Why asking for help actually strengthens relationships and builds trust ✔️ How boundaries protect your time, energy, and long-term well-being ✔️ Why high achievers often sacrifice themselves in pursuit of success ✔️ How grief and joy can exist at the same time during seasons of change ✔️ A simple mindset shift that makes saying "no" much easier Episode Chapters 00:00 – Sabrina's life-changing career transition 01:30 – Going from career success to unexpected job loss 05:10 – Processing disappointment and redefining success 08:00 – Discovering a new purpose through executive coaching 12:40 – Navigating grief while building a new business 16:00 – Why relationships matter during life's biggest transitions 18:15 – Elyssa's 3S Framework: Safety, Self-Trust, and Safe Support 20:40 – What a personal Board of Directors is and why everyone needs one 25:40 – How to intentionally build supportive relationships 33:30 – Why asking for help builds stronger connections 37:00 – Self-sabotage, boundaries, and learning to say no 45:30 – Sabrina's advice for creating a more intentional life Free Resource for Women ✨ 5 Nervous System Hacks You Can Do at Your Desk Quick, science-backed tools to help calm your nervous system in under 60 seconds—even during your busiest days. https://elyssasmith.com/reset For Women Ready for Their Next Breakthrough Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks Focus Call to uncover what's keeping you stuck, overwhelmed, or living in survival mode, and walk away with a clear, personalized next step. https://elyssasmith.com/focus

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  Episode #87

  Why Your Body Is Always Waiting for the Next Bad Thing (Even When Life Is Good)

  Aug 3, 202612 minS1

  Why Your Body Is Always Waiting for the Next Bad Thing (Even When Life Is Good) Do you ever feel like you can't fully relax, even when everything is finally going well? Maybe you're always waiting for the other shoe to drop, scanning for problems, or feeling like you need to stay productive just in case something goes wrong. In this episode, Elyssa breaks down why your nervous system may still be living in the past, even when your current life is safe. You'll learn how childhood experiences can train your brain to stay on high alert, and why learning to feel calm is one of the most important skills for healing, productivity, and long-term health. If you've ever struggled to slow down, enjoy your success, or simply feel at peace, this conversation will help you understand why and give you a practical exercise to begin retraining your nervous system. ✅ What You'll Learn ✔️ Why your body keeps expecting something bad to happen ✔️ How childhood experiences create chronic hypervigilance ✔️ The connection between nervous system regulation and physical healing ✔️ Why high achievers often struggle to truly rest ✔️ How survival mode impacts focus, health, and decision-making ✔️ The difference between your executive brain and survival brain ✔️ How the 5-4-3-2-1 Right Now Reset helps your body feel safe ✔️ Why feeling calm actually makes you more productive, not less ✔️ A simple daily practice to build lasting nervous system safety Episode Chapters 00:00 – Why your body keeps waiting for the next bad thing 00:55 – How childhood teaches your nervous system to stay alert 01:50 – Why high achievers struggle to relax 02:45 – The hidden cost of chronic survival mode 03:40 – How stress impacts healing and physical health 04:35 – Understanding your executive brain versus your survival brain 05:30 – Why your nervous system resists slowing down 06:25 – Elyssa's ankle injury and the importance of feeling safe to heal 07:20 – Teaching your body that calm is productive 08:15 – Introducing the Right Now Reset exercise 09:10 – Using your five senses to create safety 10:05 – How the 5-4-3-2-1 exercise interrupts survival mode 11:00 – Expanding your awareness instead of scanning for danger 11:50 – Building a nervous system that trusts the present moment 12:35 – Why internal calm leads to better performance and focus Free Resource for Women ✨ 5 Nervous System Hacks You Can Do at Your Desk Quick, science-backed tools to calm your body in under 60 seconds, even in the middle of the workday. https://elyssasmith.com/reset For Women Ready for Their Next Breakthrough Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks Focus Call to uncover what's keeping you stuck and overwhelmed, and get a clear, gentle plan for your next step. https://elyssasmith.com/focus

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