The Nina Gervase Show

In this episode of Unfiltered Conversations, I have the pleasure of interviewing Kristeen Barker, a nephrologist, educator and podcaster out of Australia. Kristeen explains how she knew she could be doing more, even after reaching the exact goal she had worked years for.
She shares what it looked like to follow that internal pull instead of continuing down a path that didn’t feel right—and how that decision led her to build something completely her own.
We get into the real stuff…What it feels like to realize the “end goal” isn’t actually itHow to trust yourself when everyone around you is telling you to do something differentThe uncomfortable reality of putting yourself out there and not knowing how it’s going to landAnd why learning to pivot quickly might be the most important skill you can develop
There’s a moment in this conversation where we talk about tying happiness to an outcome—and how dangerous that can be. Because so many women are chasing something thinking that’s when life will finally feel right.
This conversation is honest. It’s real. And it’s a reminder that just because something looks right on paper doesn’t mean it’s right for you.
If you’ve been feeling that pull to do something different… don’t ignore it.
 
Follow Kristeen on Instagram @renaltutorials
Follow Kristeen on YouTube @Tutorials by Kristeen Barker
Follow Kristeen's Podcast "Am I Doing It Wrong? For Doctors By Doctors"
 

Do you even know what the reticular activating system is in your brain?Do you understand how your RAS is literally controlling your future?
Because it is.
And here’s the part most people don’t realize…
Your brain is constantly filtering what you see, what you notice, and what you believe is possible. So if you’re walking around thinking, “this isn’t working,” “I’m stuck,” “nothing ever goes my way”… your brain is going to go find proof of that all day long.
It’s doing its job.
But it’s also the exact reason you keep ending up in the same place.
Now flip that.
The second you start focusing on what you actually want—the goal, the future version of you, the life you’re trying to build—
your brain starts looking for that instead.
Opportunities you missed before.People you wouldn’t have noticed.Paths that were always there… you just weren’t focused on them.
Same life.Different filter.
In this episode, I’m breaking down how your RAS is either keeping you stuck or helping you move forward—and how to start training it to work for you through visualization, journaling, and daily focus.
Because you are the writer, the director, and the producer of your life.
And right now… your brain is just following your lead.
If this hits, send it to a girlfriend who needs to hear it.

I am so excited for this episode because I finally got Jessica Burgio on the podcast as my very first guest… and I’ve been wanting this conversation for a while.
 
If you don’t know Jess yet, you will after this—and you’ll get it. I couldn’t wait to introduce you to her!
 
She’s one of those people where the more you hear her story, the more you realize nothing about it was straight or easy. She’s pivoted more than once, taken chances when things didn’t feel certain, and just kept evolving instead of staying comfortable. And that’s what makes her so powerful to listen to.
 
I love hearing how people actually got to where they are, and Jess is such a real example of what that looks like. Not perfect. Not planned. Just being open, paying attention, and going for the opportunities when they show up.
 
She’s a highly sought-after hairstylist, coach, mentor, and group leader—but more than anything, she’s someone who will push you to stop sitting on the sidelines and actually go for what you want.
 
She’s also the reason this podcast exists. She’s the one who pushed me to stop overthinking and just do it.
 
I love her. I’m so grateful for her. And I already know you’re going to love her too.
 
Be sure to connect with Jess:
Instagram @jessicaburgio
Podcast @The Jessica Burgio Show
Get her book!
Join her mastermind!

Fifteen years into widowhood, I can tell you this with complete honesty: it doesn't get any easier. Grief has, however, help shape who I have become.
In this deeply personal episode, I’m sharing where I truly am after 15 years of carrying love, loss, gratitude, heartbreak, and legacy all at once. I talk about what it feels like to watch your children reach milestones their father should be here for, how joy and pain can coexist in the same breath, and why grief can still crack your heart open decades later.
But inside that pain, there is also perspective. There is resilience. There is a reminder to love harder, live fuller, and cherish the people beside us while we still can.
If you’ve ever wondered whether what you still feel years later is normal, this episode is for you. And if you love someone who is grieving, this may help you better understand the strength and heartbreak they carry at the same time.
If this episode touched your heart, please share it with someone who may need it right now—a widow, someone walking through grief, someone living with a difficult medical diagnosis, or anyone trying to hold joy and heartbreak in the same life. Sometimes one shared conversation can be the thing that helps someone feel less alone.

Inspired by something I recently heard from Dr. Joe Dispenza, this episode is your wake-up call: the new version of you cannot come from the same thoughts, habits, and patterns that created the life you have now. I’m breaking down why real change starts in your mind first—and how visualization, gratitude, and journaling help you finally break the cycles keeping you stuck.
 
If this hit you, share it with a woman who needs to hear it—and make sure you’re following so you don’t miss what’s coming next.
 
And when you’re ready, get your FREE journal prompts here:
https://carelifecoaching.com/free-journaling-prompts

Saying yes does not mean doing everything, girl.
This is your permission slip to say yes and be honest about what that yes actually looks like.
Yes, I’m in.And here’s what I can give.And here’s what I can’t.
That little word AND is what keeps your yes from turning into stress, guilt, and resentment.
You are allowed to protect your peace, stay in your strengths, and still go all in on what matters most.
Question:Where do you need to start saying yes with rules instead of pressure?

You keep saying yes… and it’s draining you.
The guilt.The overcommitment.That gut feeling you ignored—and now you’re stuck.
In this episode, we’re getting honest about why you say yes when you shouldn’t, how to pause before committing, and how to say no without overthinking or feeling like you’re letting people down.
Because every “yes” is costing you something.And it might be the life you actually want.
It’s time to trust yourself, protect your time, and stop doing everything for everyone else.
If this hit you, share it with a woman who needs to hear it—and make sure you’re following so you don’t miss what’s coming next.

Fast doesn’t win. Slow does. And if you’re constantly going all in, burning out, and still not where you want to be… we need to talk.
 
You’re not lazy. You’re not unmotivated. You’re just moving too fast without a real plan.
 
In this episode, I’m calling you out (with love) on the way you’re chasing your goals—and showing you how to actually get there faster by slowing it down, getting it on paper, and working it step by step.
 
Because burnout isn’t progress. And chaos isn’t a strategy.
 
This is how you stop spinning your wheels… and start executing like the woman you know you’re meant to be.
 
Let’s go.
 
Get your FREE journal prompts here:
https://carelifecoaching.com/free-journaling-prompts
 

Welcome to the show that helps you create an independent, confident & audacious life! We women are meant for more, so now it's time to create it!
 
Get your FREE journal prompts here:
https://carelifecoaching.com/free-journaling-prompts

You are one decision away from changing your life.
 
Not confidence.Not a perfect plan.Not the “right time.”
 
A decision.
 
So many women feel stuck because they’ve been conditioned to believe life just happens to them. That circumstances decide. That other people decide for them… giving away so much control in their lives to circumstances.
 
No.
 
You are the writer, the director, and the producer of your life.
 
Every choice you make — or avoid — is casting a vote for the woman you become.
 
The question is:
What decision have you been avoiding that could change everything?
 
Get your FREE journal prompts here:
https://carelifecoaching.com/free-journaling-prompts