the own it podcast

70. Staying Present This Christmas w/Donta

In this episode, I’m joined by my special guest Donta as we share a real-life family update and talk honestly about pregnancy—how it’s showing up in my body this time around and what this season has been inviting me to slow down and notice. We also open up about what we’re currently owning as a family, especially the choice to not escape or check out during the holidays, but to stay present, grounded, and connected even when life feels full.

We keep things light and fun, talking about how to own the Christmas season through laughter and joy, plus sharing some of our favorite holiday hot takes—are fake trees actually better than real ones, and what really is the best Christmas movie of all time? Join us for laughs, honest conversation, and a little holiday cheer. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good week. 🎄✨

HOW TO CONNECT WITH ME:

Find me on social media @chantelleenelson for more engaging and practical content on how to show up to your life! And don't forget to visit comealivelifecoaching.com for more information on my offers and coaching.

69. Owning Your Season of Singleness w/Barkot

This week on the podcast, I have an amazing guest, and a personal friend of mine, Barkot, on with me! We’re kicking things off with some fun hot takes—one thing we admire about both millennials and Gen Z, and one thing we lovingly wish each generation would stop doing. Then we’re going there with a listener-submitted question. We dive into why hearing from friends who are actually walking out singleness in their late 20s and 30s is so life-giving, and how their Godly wisdom brings a grounded, refreshing perspective to conversations around identity, purpose, and timing.

We unpack the very real tension of holding a desire for marriage while building a full, joyful, healthy life right where you are. We talk about staying anchored in who God says you are when your relationship status doesn’t look like the timeline you imagined, and the spiritual, emotional, and practical rhythms that help you flourish in this season. We also explore what many singles wish others understood about dating culture today and why empathy, curiosity, and community matter more than ever. Whether you’re single, married, or somewhere in the middle, this conversation invites you to live with intention, honor your current season, and own your story with confidence.

HOW TO CONNECT WITH ME:

Find me on social media @chantelleenelson for more engaging and practical content on how to show up to your life! And don't forget to visit comealivelifecoaching.com for more information on my offers and coaching.

68. Holiday Triggers – let’s actually get free

Today’s episode is all about the holidays — the traditions we grew up with, the ones we’re building now, and the ones we’re deciding to leave behind. I share some of my favorite nostalgic childhood memories and the new ones we’re building with our family. And now, with my own family, I’m learning that traditions only work when there’s buy-in. You have to cast vision, set the culture, involve everyone, and make it feel special and memorable. 

But then we go deeper, because the holidays also stir things up — triggers, old wounds, insecurities, and familiar coping mechanisms. I talk honestly about the years when I used my triggers as an excuse to shut down and hide, even though all my self-awareness wasn’t actually leading me to freedom. We look at what a trigger really is, how it connects back to past pain, and why our triggers need Jesus more than they need another journaling session. I share the story of the woman caught in adultery and how Jesus didn’t shame her — He empowered her to walk differently. And I open up about burning down the “island” I used to escape to every time I felt overwhelmed. My prayer is that this episode helps you recognize the places you’ve been excusing, validating, or idolizing your triggers, and invites you to let Jesus heal them fully — even if that means burning a bridge you’ve leaned on your entire life.

HOW TO CONNECT WITH ME:

Find me on social media @chantelleenelson for more engaging and practical content on how to show up to your life! And don't forget to visit comealivelifecoaching.com for more information on my offers and coaching.

67. Pregnancy, Marriage, Nostalgia + Fantasy w/the Nelsons

Life has been full lately — pregnancy, marriage, Thanksgiving, and juggling this full, beautiful life we have. I’ve been moving a little slower, feeling a lot deeper, and trying to be fully present in this tender season. I’m also thinking a lot about Advent and asking myself, What am I currently owning in my life? Where am I being invited to show up with intention instead of autopilot? Those reflections led perfectly into today’s episode, which was actually inspired by a DM I received on Instagram asking if I could talk about getting stuck in deep nostalgia and spending more time in fantasy than in the present moment. So I have my husband, Donta, with me to unpack this topic with me. 

So today, we go there. We talk about what nostalgia really is — that warm, sentimental “I miss this” feeling that can remind us of sweeter seasons — and how fantasy can pull us into imagined worlds, ideal scenarios, or “maybe someday” living. We explore why it’s so easy to drift into the past or the pretend future when the present feels overwhelming, and we offer some gentle, grounded tips for processing those emotions and returning to your body. This episode is a good one. 

HOW TO CONNECT WITH ME:

Find me on social media @chantelleenelson for more engaging and practical content on how to show up to your life! And don't forget to visit comealivelifecoaching.com for more information on my offers and coaching.

66. A Cozy Thanksgiving Episode

In this episode, I’m catching you up on life lately — and honestly, it feels like a breath of fresh air. I’ve had so much more energy these days: cooking again, working with focus, actually enjoying bedtime routines. My kids are off school this week, and I’m so excited for long, unhurried days with them — less phone, less multitasking, more presence after such a long, busy stretch. The holidays always fly by, and with a baby arriving in just over four months, I’m savoring these slow moments while I can. Today you’ll also hear my hot take that Thanksgiving is, in fact, better than Christmas Day… and the story behind our four-year Friendsgiving tradition that started when we stopped waiting to be invited and decided to be the ones who open our door.

We’re doing a real heart check — emotionally, spiritually, and mentally — because this week holds a lot for many people. Gratitude can feel complicated when life feels heavy or uncertain, and there’s been a lot happening in our community lately. So we’re talking about the kind of gratitude you grow into: gratitude for growth, like how motherhood has slowly untangled my anxiety; gratitude for the hard seasons, including the fire Donta and I walked through in 2020 that shaped us into who we are today; and gratitude for who you’re becoming. I’m leaning into the new stretch of becoming a mom of four, letting go of what no longer serves me, and welcoming the woman God is forming in this season.

HOW TO CONNECT WITH ME:

Find me on social media @chantelleenelson for more engaging and practical content on how to show up to your life! And don't forget to visit comealivelifecoaching.com for more information on my offers and coaching.

65. I’M PREGNANT: The Shock of Our Lives

In this episode, I’m sharing the wild plot twist of our year — I’m pregnant, and truly, it was the shock of our lives. After our daughter was born, we were so sure we were done that I spent two years grieving the chapter I thought I’d never reopen. I even sold everything and wrote a post called “I think I’m done, but I’ll always want another baby”… while unknowingly already pregnant. And even though I was excited for the season of all my kids finally being in school, something inside felt off — so off that I almost pulled my daughter out of preschool.

We’re catching up on life lately, how my heart is doing, and what this pregnancy has been like so far (good news: the nausea is almost gone). It’s a cozy, reflective, honest conversation — from embracing the Christmas season to making paleo hot chocolate, to my hot take on finding out the gender at birth, to the simple truth that contraception is only 99% effective… and that’s all I’m going to say. Ready to start wrapping up the year with a deep breath and a slow exhale? Let’s dive in.

HOW TO CONNECT WITH ME:

Find me on social media @chantelleenelson for more engaging and practical content on how to show up to your life! And don't forget to visit comealivelifecoaching.com for more information on my offers and coaching.

64. Keeping Up With The Nelsons w/Donta

This week, we're doing things a little differently. I brought on my favorite person — my husband, Donta — to unpack it all with me. We’re catching you up on everything from everyday family life to our recent adventures and the random things that keep us laughing. Think long drives, house projects, and the ongoing comedy that is Facebook Marketplace.

We’re also chatting about a few hot takes — including the big one: to Disney or not to Disney? It’s giving lighthearted debate energy, and we definitely have thoughts. Mostly, this episode is just us inviting you into the conversations we have in real life, the ones that make marriage feel fun, even when life is crazy.

And of course, we’re doing a little heart check because my daughter turns three tomorrow, and I am feeling all the big mom emotions. We talk about her sweet–spicy personality, what God has spoken to me about her strength, and my desire to nurture it instead of tame it. It’s honest, fun, and full of those real-life moments that make motherhood and marriage so meaningful.

HOW TO CONNECT WITH ME:

Find me on social media @chantelleenelson for more engaging and practical content on how to show up to your life! And don't forget to visit comealivelifecoaching.com for more information on my offers and coaching.

63. Cultivating Hunger

In today’s episode, I’m sharing a little life update — from finally painting our house to kicking off the holiday season (my favorite time of year!). Meal planning is officially back in our rhythm — hopefully to stay — and the kids gave my chili two thumbs up, which feels like a small miracle. But beyond the cozy home updates, this episode dives deep into something I’ve been feeling lately — spiritual hunger and what it means to feel dry in your soul.

We talk through verses like Psalm 42, Psalm 63, and John 6, where God reminds us that He alone satisfies the hungry and fills the thirsty with good things. It’s easy to fill our lives with the “junk food” of busyness, distraction, or even good things that aren’t the thing — His presence. I also unpack the concept of interoception, our body’s ability to sense what’s going on inside us — like hunger, thirst, or restlessness — and how that mirrors our spiritual lives. When we’re full on everything else, it’s hard to feel hungry for more of Him. But when we start feeding on what’s nourishing, our appetite for His presence grows. We’ll also touch on the story of Mary and Martha and how misordered priorities can dull our spiritual hunger. This episode is all about learning to stir your hunger again — to make space for what truly satisfies.

HOW TO CONNECT WITH ME:

Find me on social media @chantelleenelson for more engaging and practical content on how to show up to your life! And don't forget to visit comealivelifecoaching.com for more information on my offers and coaching.

62. Where I’ve Been + What I’m Owning

After being MIA for a couple of weeks, I’m back and catching you up on where I’ve been and what I’m learning in this season. Life has been full but underneath the busyness, I’ve realized I’ve unintentionally made a few things idols — and I’m learning to own my season instead of trying to control it. It’s tricky finding a healthy relationship with social media when it’s such a big part of my work, but I’m leaning into grace, boundaries, and rhythms that keep me grounded.

In this episode, I’m also introducing a new structure to The Own It Podcast with six fun and intentional segments: Life Lately, Currently Owning, Hot Takes, Heart Check, Let’s Go There, and a 60-Second Pep Talk. Each segment is designed to make space for real conversation — from what’s happening in everyday life to spiritual check-ins and quick bursts of encouragement for your week.

I’m talking about the art of showing up, embracing your season, and finding growth through rhythms rather than results. Whether you’re feeling dry, distracted, or just figuring out how to stay grounded, this episode is your reminder that no matter what’s happening around you, there’s always something you can own.

HOW TO CONNECT WITH ME:

Find me on social media @chantelleenelson for more engaging and practical content on how to show up to your life! And don't forget to visit comealivelifecoaching.com for more information on my offers and coaching.

61. Becoming the Woman I Am at 37

It’s my 37th birthday today, and instead of talking about achievements or goals, I wanted to reflect on who I’ve become — what I’ve learned, what I’m still learning, and how each season has shaped me. Every year brings both a shedding and a deepening, and 37 feels like both. My 20s were about striving and searching for purpose, while my 30s have been about rooting, aligning, and choosing myself. With three years left in this decade, I want to soak them up and embrace what’s next with gratitude.

In this episode, I’m sharing seven core lessons I’m taking into this new year: you can’t rush becoming; healing is about integration, not fixing; there’s power in small, faithful steps; purpose is discovered, not created; my body is a messenger, not an enemy; motherhood has been my greatest refining; and aging is a gift, not a curse. If you’re in your own season of becoming, my hope is that these reflections remind you to be where your feet are and trust that slow, unseen growth is still growth. Here’s to becoming — not the perfect version, but the present one.

HOW TO CONNECT WITH ME:

Find me on social media @chantelleenelson for more engaging and practical content on how to show up to your life! And don't forget to visit comealivelifecoaching.com for more information on my offers and coaching.