Balanced but Barely
Welcome to the “Balanced but Barely” Podcast page! Here you will find show notes for each episode, including links and resources referenced, guest information, and where you can listen. I am so excited you are here!
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Available on ALL streaming services below:
Trailer: You’re Not Broken
Show Notes: April 17, 2026
What if healing didn’t look perfect? What if growth was messy, emotional, nonlinear… and sometimes looked like crying in your car before walking into Target like nothing happened?
Welcome to Balanced but Barely, a podcast for the ones doing the inner work while still feeling like they’re barely holding it together.
Hosted by Carla Jean Lundgren, this show is a safe space for real conversations about stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma healing, overwhelm, self-love, spirituality, and emotional resilience—without toxic positivity and without pretending life is always figured out.
Here, we talk about what it actually means to be human:
Meditating in the morning and still spiraling by afternoon
Trying to heal trauma while still getting triggered
Working on self-improvement while forgetting why you walked into a room
Learning to regulate your nervous system… and still having hard days
Because healing is not linear. And you are not broken.
Through honest storytelling, relatable humor, and grounded reflection, Balanced but Barely explores what it means to build a life rooted in mental wellness, emotional balance, and personal growth, even when life feels overwhelming.
This podcast is for you if you are:
Struggling with anxiety, depression, PTSD, or emotional burnout
Feeling stuck, unseen, unheard, or alone in your healing journey
Interested in self-improvement, mindset shifts, and behavior change
Exploring spirituality, self-love, and purpose
Trying to find balance between surviving and thriving
Each episode blends real-life experiences with practical insights to support your growth—without pressure, perfectionism, or shame.
This is your reminder that you don’t have to have it all together to start healing. You just have to show up as you are.
No perfection. No pretending. Just real life, real healing, and real conversation.
If you’ve ever thought: “I should be further along by now…” “I thought I healed this already…” or “Is it just me?”
You belong here.
If this resonates with you, subscribe to Balanced but Barely so you never miss an episode.
Follow along for daily real talk, encouragement, and behind-the-scenes healing conversations:
Instagram: @_carlajean143
YouTube: carlajean143
You don’t have to be fully healed to be growing. You just have to start.
Welcome to Balanced but Barely.
Episode 1: Your Inner Voice Needs A Rebrand - Fixing Self-Talk, Anxiety, & Overwhelm
Show Notes: May 6, 2026
Welcome to the very first episode of Balanced but Barely — a podcast for the people holding it all together on the outside while internally running on caffeine, survival mode, and nervous system alarms. 😅
In this deeply personal launch episode, Carla Jean shares why she intentionally chose this release date — the anniversary of her breast cancer diagnosis — as a way to reclaim the day and create something rooted in purpose, growth, and connection.
This episode dives into the powerful relationship between self-talk, identity, anxiety, overwhelm, nervous system regulation, and communication. Together, we unpack how the words we repeatedly speak to ourselves can quietly shape our reality, relationships, emotional health, and sense of self.
If you’ve ever felt:
emotionally exhausted but unable to slow down
stuck in survival mode
unseen, unheard, or disconnected
overwhelmed while still functioning at a high level
like your inner voice is your biggest bully…
…this conversation is for you.
✨ In This Episode, We Talk About:
🧠 How Your Words Shape Your Identity
Why repeated phrases become beliefs
The difference between:
“I am overwhelmed” vs.
“I feel overwhelmed right now”
How identity-based language impacts your nervous system
The hidden connection between people pleasing, shame, and self-talk
💬 Nonviolent Communication & Feeling Truly Heard
Why most of us were never taught how to safely express our needs
How defensive communication creates disconnection
A simple framework for healthier conversations:
“When this happened…”
“I felt…”
“I need…”
“Would you be willing to…”
Why emotional safety matters in relationships
🔄 Reframing Thoughts Without Toxic Positivity
Why reframing is not pretending everything is okay
The thoughts keeping many people stuck:
“It’s too late for me”
“If I slow down, everything will fall apart”
“I’m selfish for wanting more”
How changing one sentence can shift shame, anxiety, and overwhelm
🛠️ Practical Tools Shared in This Episode
✔️ The “Catch & Change” self-talk exercise
✔️ A simple nervous system-friendly reframing process
✔️ Communication prompts for deeper connection
✔️ Ways to identify identity-attacking language patterns
✔️ Grounded mindset shifts for anxiety and emotional overwhelm
💭 Memorable Quotes from the Episode
“You might feel stuck, but you’re not stuck. You’ve just been speaking in a way that makes it feel like you are.”
“You don’t need to become a different person. You just need to start speaking to yourself like someone you care about.”
“Balance? Yeah… some days it’s less balanced and more barely.”
📚 Resources & Mentions
Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg
🤍 Support the Podcast
If this episode resonated with you, make sure to:
🎧 Subscribe to Balanced but Barely
⭐ Leave a review
📲 Share this episode with someone who needs it
Connect with Carla Jean:
Instagram: @_carlajean143
YouTube: carlajean143
Website: www.carlajean143.com
🛍️ Sponsors Mentioned
Special thanks to:
Poshmark — Use promo code CARLAJEAN143 for $10 off when you sign up
Find the Good — Use promo code CARLAJEAN143 for 10% off at findthegood.com
Take a deep breath. Drink some water.
And remember—you don’t have to have it all together to keep going.
🎙️ Balanced but Barely — where growth meets real life.
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