Stop Wasting Your Life

In this heartfelt episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, Ava welcomes back her close friend and roommate Hannah Jarrah for an open conversation about big emotions — how they show up, how they feel in her body, and how she moves through them with more compassion.

Hannah shares her personal journey with anxiety, depression, and emotional regulation, emphasizing that emotions aren’t problems to be “fixed” but messengers that offer insight ...

In this heartfelt solo episode, host Ava Heinbach returns after a short break to open up about where she’s been, what she’s been going through, and how she’s been learning to navigate her big emotions.

Ava vulnerably shares that she stepped away from the podcast to prioritize her mental health after a difficult personal situation that resurfaced emotions from a past relationship. She describes how grief, heartbreak, and anxiety resu...

In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, Ava sits down with her longtime friend, Kanak Michael Masten. Kanak opens up about being adopted from India at age five, growing up in the U.S. with white parents, and the incredible experience of reconnecting with his birth family years later. Along the way, Ava and Kanak share hilarious memories from their friendship — from sneaking around strict college dorms, to nearly losing a passpor...

What would make someone walk away from a six-figure career to start over from scratch? In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, host Ava Heinbach sits down with entrepreneur and father of three, Mitch Case, to unpack the bold decision he made to leave behind his stable engineering and sales career in pursuit of a more meaningful life. Mitch opens up about the turning points that shifted his priorities—from becoming a dad, to weat...

In this episode, host Ava Heinbach and her mentor and “second mom,” LeeAnn Shaw, continue their conversation on cultivating a growth mindset. Building on last week’s discussion, they introduce 10 practical strategies—“the 10 Ps”—that help shift from a fixed mindset to a growth-oriented one.

The 10 Ps they unpack are:

1. Pain – facing it head-on and using it as purpose.

2. Perspective – shifting your filter and outlook.

3. Preparation – ...

In this wisdom-filled and practical conversation, host Ava Heinbach sits down with her longtime mentor and “second mom” LeeAnn Shaw to unpack what it means to have a growth mindset. From personal stories and life’s unexpected valleys to strategies for building resilience, Ava and LeeAnn explore what it means to pivot, move forward, grow, and create a purposeful life. They talk about the difference between trying and training, the i...

This episode of Stop Wasting Your Life features Ava and her energy healer, Jamelle, diving deep into energy cords and how they shape relationships, especially with our partners. They explore what energy cords are, how they create lingering attachments after breakups, and why cutting these cords is key to emotional freedom. Ava shares her own struggle with still feeling tied to her ex-boyfriend, and Jamelle breaks down the spiritual...

In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, Ava sits down with energy healer and wellness coach Jamelle Zablow-Maloney to explore the often misunderstood world of energy work. They cover the science of Reiki, electromagnetic fields in humans, energy cords and so much more. Jamelle unpacks how energy healing isn’t just a spiritual practice, it’s deeply rooted in biology, physics, and emotional science.

Ava opens up about her own j...

In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, Ava sits down with Mary Long, a professional soccer player for the Kansas City Current, to talk all things soccer, confidence, and chasing your dreams—even when people tellyou not to. From growing up in Kansas City to scoring her first pro goal, Mary shares the highs, the setbacks, and what it really means to believe in yourself. Plus, rapid-fire questions and what her life looks like off ...

In this episode, Ava sits down with one of her best friends, Ashlee, to talk about her journey through depression, therapy, and inpatient mental health treatment. Ashlee opens up about the moments that nearly broke her, the love that helped her hold on, and the healing that followed. With honesty, heart, and a touch of humor, the two reflect on grief, growth, and the truth that even beauty can come from death.

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In this moving episode, Ava sits down with her friend Jordan Jacobs, who became paralyzed in 2022 after a brain tumor surgery. Jordan opens up about his life before and after the diagnosis, the emotional challenges of living with paralysis, and how he’s found purpose in creating music and bringing joy to others. Through vulnerability and wisdom, Jordan reminds us that life is a gift—and that even in limitation, there’s room for mea...

In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, Ava sits down with longtime family friend and functional medicine expert, Dr. Randy James, to challenge the myths around women’s health—especially the belief that pain, irregular periods, and hormonal chaos are just “part of being a woman.”

They dive deep into how young women are taught to treat their symptoms as normal, why that messaging is dangerous, and how personal agency in areas like...

In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, Ava sits down with entrepreneur, advisor, and former dentist Christopher Majors to unpack what it means to him to live a flourishing, intentional life. Chris shares his journey from dentistry to wealth management, emphasizing that it's never too late to pivot careers or redefine success. The conversation touches on financial freedom, mentorship, budgeting, margin, and emotional well-being....

In this heartfelt and honest episode, Ava sits down with her friend and special guest, Hannah Jarrah, to explore the journey of befriending your being — learning to accept, love, and understand yourself through all seasons of life. Their conversation weaves through stories of childhood, cultural identity, shame, healing, and reconnecting with your inner child.

Hannah shares her experiences with depression, family separation, and the...

In the premiere episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, host Ava Heinbach is joined by her best friend Raneem Alasmi, who flips the script and interviews Ava herself. Ava opens up about why she started this podcast — a deeply personal journey of figuring out how to live a fulfilling, intentional life. She shares her passion for mental health, anxiety awareness, adventure, and building a life that feels meaningful. The episode highlights...