Great Life Experiment Podcast

#46 Reclaiming Your Agency

So often we find ourselves frustrated at work, in teams, in family, or in friendships, because someone else isn’t showing up the way we think they should. We get stuck waiting for them to act, to decide, and to fix things. And in that waiting, we surrender the control that’s always been ours. 
In this episode, Monique dives deep into the concept of reclaiming your agency, emphasizing the importance of reclaiming personal power in various aspects of life, including relationships and workplace dynamics. Whether it’s navigating constant urgent requests at work, negotiating expectations with a team, or stepping back from relationships that no longer align with your values, this episode is a reminder that you always have a choice, and real change comes when you take action. 
In this episode:
(01:16) - Understanding “Agency”: The Power of Choice(02:18) - Waiting for Others to Change (And Why That Fails)(03:13) - Identifying and Addressing Agency in Group Dynamics(05:43) - Protecting Your Energy and Structuring Your Time(06:29) - Negotiation as a Leadership Tool(07:17) - Resentment as a Signal You’ve Lost Control(09:00) - When Values Are Fundamentally Misaligned(10:32) - Taking Action: Your Right to Change
Links and Resources:
Book - Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself | https://a.co/d/01s96IQB 
Connect with Monique:
Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/ 
Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer 
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment 
Ask Monique
Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem? 
'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together. 
https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

#45 Leading with Clarity: How to Manage Your Workload Without Burnout

Leadership isn’t about doing it all. It’s about making clear decisions, defining accountability, and protecting your team’s energy.
In this episode, Monique draws insights from a quarterly business review to explore how leaders can prevent cognitive overload while maximizing team performance. She highlights the power of clear roles, well-defined accountability, and strategic prioritization - not just to keep projects on track, but to protect people, sustain productivity, and drive meaningful outcomes. 
In this episode:
(00:54) - Quarterly Business Review and Leadership Accountability(02:21) - Too Many Ideas, Not Enough Boundaries(03:52) - Action Steps for Clarity & Accountability(06:25) - Delegation and Ruthless Prioritization
Connect with Monique:
Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/ 
Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer 
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment 
Ask Monique
Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem? 
'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together. 
https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8
 

#44 Using the Difficulty: How to Move Forward When Life Feels Too Full

Life doesn’t slow down when you’re overwhelmed. 
In this episode, Monique explores what it’s like when all aspects of life demand attention at once - work, parenting, health, leadership, and personal projects. She examines how to stay present and effective without letting overwhelm take control.
Monique reframes difficulty as an opportunity rather than a failure. She shares practical strategies for navigating busy seasons with clarity, intention, and self-compassion. Through stories and reflections from her own life, she demonstrates how to use friction as a signal, make strategic decisions about what truly matters, and how to protect energy while still showing up fully. 
In this episode:
(00:51) - How Are You, Really?(03:12) - The Reality of Full Seasons(05:22) - Using Difficult Moments to Your Advantage(06:50) - Acknowledging Frustration Without Paralysis(08:51) - Brain Dumps & Clearing Mental Overload(11:37) - Glass Balls vs Rubber Balls Framework(13:42) - Protecting Your Team & Shielding Priorities(15:24) - Delegation, AI, Virtual Assistants, and Family Advisors
Connect with Monique:
Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com 
Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast 
Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer  
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment 
Ask Monique
Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem? 
'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together. 
https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8 
 

#43 Consistency, Grace in a Messy World, and Practical AI in Real Life

In this episode, Monique gets honest about breaking her own consistency streak and why giving ourselves grace matters in a messy, overwhelming world. She talks about holding space for real feelings at work and at home, and shares practical, down‑to‑earth ways she’s using AI in real life—from planning a family trip to synthesizing feedback and even learning to build with AI through a product boot camp. Take what resonates, leave the rest, and keep experimenting.
In this episode:
(01:36) - Consistency, Priorities, and Starting Again(04:24) - When the World Feels Heavy(05:39) - Permission to Pause and Give Yourself Grace(07:30) - Holding Safe Spaces at Work(10:47) - Planning a Family Spring Break with AI (Practical Trip-Planning Use Case)(15:27) - Using AI to Synthesize Performance Review Data Responsibly(18:19) - Building a Front-End Using Natural Language(20:00) - APIs and Backend Learning(22:01) - Why Experimenting Builds Better Product Leaders
Connect with Monique:
Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/ 
Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer 
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment 
Ask Monique
Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem? 
'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together. 
https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8
 

#42 Designing Your Year With Intention

At the start of every year, we quietly hope that this will be the one where we finally feel in control of our time. We imagine a calendar that feels calm, a life that feels balanced, and a year that feels ours. 
But the truth is, most of us aren’t overwhelmed because we lack discipline. We’re overwhelmed because we’re trying to keep every option open, and the pressure of possibility quietly becomes a weight to carry.
In this episode, Monique shares the exact vision-planning framework her family uses to design their year with intention - without burnout, guilt, or decision fatigue. It’s not about doing more, but choosing with clarity. It’s a grounded, realistic method that turns broad dreams into a clear calendar, while still leaving room for life’s unpredictability. You’ll learn how to prioritize outcomes, reduce mental load, and make big decisions early so your year can flow with purpose.
In this episode:
(00:54) - The Family Vision Planning Tradition(02:27) - The 4000 Weeks Reminder(03:11) - Why You’ll Never Do Everything - And Why It’s OK(07:03) - Defining the Outcomes(08:46) - Planning in Order of Priority(10:47) - The Regret-Minimization Test(11:48) - Locking In Priorities to Eliminate Decision Fatigue(12:40) - Staying Flexible Without Losing Structure
Links and Resources:
Book - Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman | https://a.co/d/iFhCsrC
Connect with Monique:
Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/ 
Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer 
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment 
Ask Monique
Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem? 
'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together. 
https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8
 

#41 Consistency: The Habit That Will Carry You Through 2026

If 2026 is going to be your year, the secret isn’t doing more. It’s doing the small things consistently. 
In this episode, Monique reflects on the power of showing up for yourself, even when life is busy or messy. Drawing from her experience of launching The Great Life Experiment Podcast, she shares why repeated small actions, not perfect execution, are the key to building identity, momentum, and meaningful results. 
Whether you’re growing a business, experimenting personal habits, or building long-term routines, this episode offers a simple but powerful framework to make 2026 a year defined by consistency and results.
In this episode:
(02:11) - Starting the New Year with reflection and goals(03:44) - Consistency as a central goal for 2026(04:38) - Lessons from recording 40 episodes last year(06:11) - The “Don’t Miss Twice” Rule(06:49) - When to adjust goals that no longer fit(07:46) - Setting realistic goals(08:30) - Applying consistency across life, work, and personal growth
Connect with Monique:
Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/ 
Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer 
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment 
Ask Monique
Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem? 
'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together. 
https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

#40 From Hard No to Powerful Questions: How to Challenge Ideas Without Killing Creativity

Have you ever been in a meeting when someone proposes an idea, and your first thought is, “That will never work”? Maybe you hesitated to speak up because you didn’t want to come across as negative, or worse, shut down creativity. But what if that gut reaction could actually become your most powerful tool?
In this episode, Monique explores how diverse experiences, expertise, and biases can shape the way we respond to new ideas. She shares a practical framework for turning a “hard NO” into curiosity-driven questions that guide collaboration, uncover hidden opportunities, and help others think through their solutions. 
Whether it’s at work, in your side projects, or even in your home life, this episode shows you how to influence outcomes without dominating the conversation, how to walk through scenarios constructively, and how to create space for breakthroughs that might never have happened otherwise. Let’s dive in!
In this episode:
(00:54) - Reflections from an off-site activity with the team(01:50) - The challenge of diverse experiences and solution bias(02:52) - How to say “No” without shutting down the conversation(04:13) - Finding a common ground and aligning on the problem(06:35) - Walking through solutions with curiosity-driven questions(08:22) - Holiday reflections and sneak peek into 2026
 
Connect with Monique:
Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/ 
Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer 
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment 
Ask Monique
Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem? 
'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together. 
https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8
 

#39 Grateful and Still Growing

Thanksgiving is more than just gratitude. It’s a mirror for what’s next. 
In this Thanksgiving episode, Monique invites you to reflect on your life in a way that honors what’s really good, while listening to the whispers of your next chapter. She offers a grounded, compassionate perspective on gratitude that goes beyond the usual “be thankful for what you have.” It’s an invitation to listen to the quiet nudges that often come up while we’re gathered around tables, traveling, missing people we love, or simply taking a breath between holidays. 
Whether it’s a small nudge towards better health, a new career challenge, or a subtle idea that keeps surfacing, Monique unpacks why the desire for a new chapter doesn’t mean you’re ungrateful, how to distinguish passing thoughts from meaningful whispers, and why December is one of the most powerful months to plant the seeds for your next evolution. 
In this episode:
(01:42) - Holiday reflections, stress, and opportunities(02:28) - Understanding gratitude beyond “being thankful”(03:31) - Loving your life while stepping toward growth(04:54) - Being grateful yet ready for more(05:45) - From overthinking to brave decisions(06:02) - Long-term results of starting today
Connect with Monique:
Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/ 
Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer 
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment 

#38 Key Takeaways & Workshop Recap from Great Life Experiment: SPRINT

Missed the live workshop? Here’s everything you need to know to catch up and move your ideas forward. 
In this episode, Monique recaps the Great Life Experiment Sprint, sharing key lessons, breakthroughs, and exercises from the two-day workshop. From uncovering your real “why” to experimenting with new ideas and using AI thoughtfully, she distills the most important takeaways to help listeners move forward with clarity, purpose, and curiosity - experimenting in ways that actually create results. 
In this episode:
(00:53) - Great Life Experiment Sprint: Workshop Overview(02:38) - Uncovering your true WHY(05:27) - Turning ideas into small, testable experiments(08:44) - Using AI to amplify creativity without losing human insight(11:37) - Community and accountability(12:24) - Five Whys Technique
Missed the Workshop Live?
Access the Replay and Workbook Now | https://greatlifeexperiment.com/sprint 
The Great Life Experiment: Collective:
Join the waitlist | https://greatlifeexperiment.com/Collective 
Connect with Monique:
Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/ 
Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer 
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment 
Ask Monique
Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem? 
'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together. 
https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

#37 Clarify, Experiment, Move. 3 Product Lessons for Life & Business.

What if the same principles that build great products could help you build a life that feels more aligned, intentional, and alive?
In this episode, Monique reflects on the unexpected ways product thinking has shaped the way she creates, leads, and makes decisions that matter. She shares how the principles of discovery and design apply not just to business, but to family rhythms, unfinished ideas, and the quiet callings that never seem to fade. 
Through honest insight and practical wisdom, Monique invites you to rethink how you approach your own “soulful idea” and to start designing a life that can actually hold it. Because sometimes the difference between stuck and starting again isn’t more time or talent, but learning to see your life as the most important thing you’ll ever build. Let’s dive in!
In this episode:
(01:28) - The intersection of product and life(02:09) - Defining the problem you are solving for(02:52) - Applying product thinking to home projects and priorities(05:31) - Using AI wisely: how prompts shape your outcome(07:10) - Discovery and Design - why iteration matters(09:01) - The “Soulful Idea” and the struggle with capacity(12:09) - Sneak Peek of The Great Life Experiment Sprint(13:50) - Progress, not perfection - embracing constraints
Ready to move your “soulful idea" forward? Join The Great Life Experiment Sprint
Learn more and reserve your spot | https://greatlifexperiment.com/sprint 
Connect with Monique:
Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/ 
Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer 
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment 
Ask Monique
Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem? 
'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together. 
https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8