Ordinary To Badass

Life doesn’t always go the way we planned.
...
Sometimes the path completely changes—and we’re left figuring out who we are on the other side.
...
In this Flashback episode of Ordinary to Badass, I sit down with Michelle Lauren Anderson, a burn survivor who experienced burns over 91% of her body at just two years old.
...
What followed was a lifetime of surgeries, physical challenges, and emotional healing—but also a powerful journey of reclaiming her story.
Michelle shares how surviving trauma shaped her perspective on strength, identity, and resilience—and why being “tough” isn’t always the same thing as being strong.
...
This conversation dives into what it really looks like to move from surviving… to thriving.
✨ Theme: Resilience Stories
In this episode we talk about:
🔥 The difference between toughness and true emotional strength
...💡 How to set boundaries when people ask about your trauma
...💬 Why reclaiming your story is one of the most powerful things you can do
...🐎 How passion (like Michelle’s love for horses) can help you heal and move forward
...
Michelle also shares the concept of “rehearsed responses”—a tool burn survivors use to confidently respond to difficult questions from others.
...
If you’ve ever felt like your past defines you, this conversation will remind you that you get to author your own story.
...
Because being a badass isn’t about pretending everything is fine.
...
Sometimes it’s about facing the hard things—and choosing to rise anyway.
Connect with Michelle:
Website: SurvivorNotVictim.com
—
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow the show and leave a review.
To your Badassery,

Think confidence comes first?
Think again.
In this flashback episode of Ordinary to Badass, Marie revisits a powerful conversation with Laquita Monley — speaker, coach, and Army wife — who shares how life experiences, identity struggles, and unexpected challenges helped her discover the strength she already had inside.
Laquita’s journey didn’t start with confidence.
It started with a wake-up moment that forced her to realize she had lost her identity after years of defining herself by roles — wife, mother, daughter — instead of who she truly was.
From raising five children to navigating military deployments and rebuilding after major setbacks, Laquita learned that resilience isn’t about avoiding hardship.
It’s about changing your perspective.
✨ Theme: Resilience & Mindset Shifts
In this episode we talk about:
🔥 Why losing your sense of identity can become the moment that transforms you
💡 How perspective can turn life’s hardest situations into opportunities for growth
💬 Why asking for help is actually one of the strongest things you can do
🔥 The mindset shift that helps you push past imposter syndrome
If you’ve ever felt like you’re figuring things out as you go… this conversation will remind you that you’re stronger than you think.
Because sometimes the most powerful transformation doesn’t happen when life gets easier.
It happens when you start seeing yourself differently.
🎧 Connect with Laquita:
https://www.laquitamonley.com
💬 If this episode resonated with you, share it with a woman who needs the reminder that she’s stronger than she thinks.
⭐ And if you enjoy the show, don’t forget to rate and review Ordinary to Badass so more women can find these stories and step into their own power.

We’re taught that resilience looks like confidence.
Certainty.
Toughness.
Never doubting yourself.
But that’s not real life — especially if you work in a high-pressure or predominantly male environment.
In this episode of Ordinary to Badass, I break down what resilience actually looks like when you’re in the middle of it — not after you’ve “figured it out.” Not when things feel clean or resolved. But when you’re doubting yourself, replaying decisions, feeling overwhelmed, and still showing up anyway .
This isn’t an Instagram-worthy definition of resilience.
It’s the kind you don’t usually get credit for.
Inside this episode, we talk about:
Why resilience isn’t about being confident — and never was

How doubting yourself doesn’t mean you’re weak (it means you’re human)

The mistake most women make by downplaying everything they’ve survived

Why hard things — not comfort — are what actually build strength

How self-trust is built through action, not certainty

Why rest and recovery are leadership skills, not rewards

I also share personal stories — from second-guessing myself early in my career to pushing through moments that didn’t feel resilient at the time, but absolutely were .
If you’ve ever thought:
“I should be over this by now.”

“Other people have it worse.”

“If I were really resilient, this wouldn’t bother me.”

This episode is for you.
Because resilience isn’t something you earn later.
It’s something you’ve been demonstrating the whole time — even if no one ever taught you to recognize it.
🎧 Listen now and ask yourself one simple question:
What have you survived that you’ve never given yourself credit for?
Save your seat at the Masterclasshttps://go.ordinarytobadass.com/joinbcd

A failed promotion can mess with your head—even when you know you’re qualified.
...
Suddenly you’re replaying conversations, questioning your value, and wondering what you missed or what’s wrong with you. And if you work in a predominantly male industry, that spiral can feel even heavier.
...
In this episode of Ordinary to Badass, Marie breaks down what a promotion setback actually does to your mindset—and how to stabilize yourself emotionally without pretending it didn’t hurt.
...
We talk about:
What self-worth really means (and why it’s not the same as confidence)

How to separate your career performance from your personal value

Why a promotion decision doesn’t define your leadership potential

What to do when your confidence takes a hit after being overlooked

Practical ways to rebuild internal trust after a failed promotion

How women in predominantly male workplaces can stop internalizing rejection

This isn’t about toxic positivity or “just trying harder.”
...
It’s about grounding yourself after disappointment, reclaiming your value, and deciding your next career move from a clear, steady place—not a wounded one.
If you didn’t get the promotion and you’re trying to get your footing back, this episode is for you.
Check out Behind Closed doors ordinarytobadass.com/behind-closed-doors

Everyone says, “Just be more confident.”
...But no one tells you how confidence actually gets built—especially when you’re a quiet leader in a high-stakes environment.
...
In this Badass Debrief, I’m breaking down the real lesson from last week’s conversation with leadership strategist Traci Austin—and translating it into something you can actually use.
This episode isn’t a recap.
...It’s the reframe most women miss.
...
We’re talking about:
Why confidence doesn’t come before opportunity—it comes after evidence

How self-doubt shows up when your brain forgets your wins

The hidden cost of waiting to “feel ready”

Why awareness often feels like insecurity (but is actually executive-level thinking)

How to start building confidence without changing who you are

...
If you’ve ever thought:
“I know I’m capable… but I hesitate”

“I freeze when it’s time to speak up”

“I need to feel more confident before I go for it”

This episode will change how you see yourself—and how you move next.
...
🎯 Plus, I’m giving you one simple action to start building confidence the way leaders actually do: with receipts.
And if you want help turning your proof into words—especially in high-stakes conversations at work—I’ll tell you exactly where to go next.
...
Because confidence isn’t something you wait for....
It’s something you build on purpose.
👉 Listen now and start trusting what you already know.