What happens when life doesn’t go according to plan?

For Katie Bryan, motherhood was always part of the vision—but doing it alone wasn’t. After years of searching for the right partner, Katie realized she was done waiting and took her future into her own hands, becoming a single mom by choice.

But her journey didn’t stop there. She not only embraced solo parenting, but also dedicated herself to creating a community of strong, independent women walking the same path. And to top it off? She found a way to start building a business that aligned with her passion and purpose.

In this episode, Katie gets real about the fears, mindset shifts, and breakthroughs that led her to solo parenting and entrepreneurship on her own terms. Whether you're considering solo parenting, dreaming of building a business, or creating a community that fuels your soul, this conversation is packed with inspiration, wisdom, and straight-up truth.

We dive into:

• How Katie went from "waiting for the right partner" to becoming a single mom by choice—and how she knew it was the right decision.
• The mindset shift that changed everything—from feeling like solo parenting was her last resort to realizing it was the best choice of her life.
• What it really takes to navigate fertility treatments, choose a donor, and embrace the rollercoaster of becoming a single mom by choice.
• How she started creating a community for other women on this path—and why connection is the biggest game-changer in solo parenting.
• Her unexpected journey into building a business—and how she turned her passion into a thriving coaching & support network for single mom by choice.

If you’ve ever questioned whether you have the courage to carve your own path, Katie’s story will prove that not only can you do it—you can thrive.

Hit play now and get ready to be inspired. Because when life doesn’t go as planned, sometimes the best thing you can do is rewrite the rules.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Female Founders Collective

Midlife on Purpose: Workbook

CONNECT WITH KATY RIPP:

Submit a letter HERE for a Dear Katy episode

Website: www.katyripp.com

Instagram: @katyripp

Pinterest: @katyripp

Facebook: @katy.ripp

CONNECT WITH KATIE BRYAN:

Website: www.singlegreatestchoice.com

Instagram: @single_greatest_choice

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, what do you really want in life?

Not what your family expects, not what society tells you, but what truly lights you up and fulfills your life purpose? If that question makes you pause—or sends you spiraling into overthinking—this episode is for you.

This is part 2 of my conversation with Michelle Theriault from the Mind Rebel Academy, where we dive deeper into how to find your life purpose and fully own your desires.

We’re exploring what happens after you decide to trust yourself. How do you start living in alignment? How do you stop holding yourself back and get clear on your life purpose?

If you’ve been craving change but aren’t sure where to start, this episode will help you answer the question “what do you really want?” and begin designing a life that feels fully aligned with your life purpose and who you are now—not who you used to be.

In this episode, we cover:

• The fear of wanting more—why asking “what do you really want?” can feel terrifying (and how to push through it)
• The sneaky ways we hold ourselves back—and how to challenge limiting beliefs keeping you from asking the question “what do you really want in life?”
• Why letting go of misaligned work, relationships, or habits can open the door to your life purpose.
• How to balance financial stability with personal alignment—and stop doing things just because they “make money”
• The exact process Michelle used to get clear on how to find your life purpose—and how you can do the same

If you’re ready to stop playing by everyone else’s rules and start asking yourself “what do you really want in life?”, this episode is your permission slip.

If you missed part 1 of my conversation with Michelle, be sure to check it out: How to Trust Yourself & Make a Midlife Career Change. In that episode, Michelle and I talked about learning to trust yourself—especially when making big life and career changes.

Have you ever felt like you’ve checked all the boxes—career, family, responsibilities—but something still feels off?

Maybe you’re standing at a crossroads, wondering what’s next.

The answer? Learning to trust yourself.

But how do you do that when self-doubt keeps creeping in?

In this first part of a two-part conversation, I sit down with Michelle Theriault from the Mind Rebel Academy to talk about how to trust yourself—in life, in business, and in those big, scary career transitions. Michelle shares her own powerful story of leaving behind a life she’d outgrown, embracing the unknown, and making a midlife career change.

If you’re on the brink of a midlife career change or just feeling stuck in the “what’s next?” phase, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• What is a life coach? And what does a life coach do? Michelle shares what real coaching looks like and why it’s not about handing out advice.
• How to trust yourself when making a midlife career change or any life decision—even when it feels terrifying.
• Michelle’s journey from stay-at-home mom to a life coach career that changed everything.
• The power of community—why the people you surround yourself with can make or break your journey of learning to trust yourself.
• Midlife career change—how to navigate the uncertainty and redefine what success looks like for you.
• Learning to trust yourself in business: How Michelle and I built careers based on gut instinct and self-belief.

If you’ve ever doubted yourself, hesitated to make a big move, or struggled to find the confidence to trust yourself and go after what you really want—this episode is for you.

Hit play now and let’s dive in! And be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss part 2, where we talk about owning your desires and living in alignment—because you deserve a life that feels as good as it looks.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Female Founders Collective

Midlife on Purpose: Workbook

Bold Dreams Held Loosely Podcast Episode: The Wild West of the Coaching Industry (Part 1)

Bold Dreams Held Loosely Podcast Episode: The Wild West of the Coaching Industry (Part 2)

Who Not How by Dan Sullivan

CONNECT WITH KATY RIPP:

Submit a letter HERE for a Dear Katy episode

Website: www.katyripp.com

Instagram: @katyripp

Pinterest: @katyripp

Facebook: @katy.ripp

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE THERIAULT AND MIND REBEL ACADEMY:

Instagram: @