Podcast appearances and mentions of stacey morgan

In this special holiday episode of Rhee Gold’s DanceLife Podcast, Rhee Gold and Stacey Morgan slow things down to reflect on the year that was — and the memories that truly matter. From unforgettable career highlights (including tap dancing with Hugh Jackman!) to meaningful moments at events like Dancers Against Cancer, Rhee and Stacey share what stood out most over the past 12 months and why taking time to reflect is just as important as moving forward. The conversation weaves through holiday traditions, travel plans, family time, and the realities of being a dance studio owner who is always “on.” Stacey opens up about why the beach is her place to reset and simply be herself, while Rhee shares his love of long drives, country music, and heading home for Christmas — plus a few confessions about snooping for presents as a kid. They also talk downtime (or the lack of it), background noise vs. music, Netflix habits, and yes… Ted Lasso makes another appearance. Most importantly, this episode is a reminder to pause, breathe, and truly enjoy the journey — especially during the holidays. It’s about creating lifetime memories, embracing fresh starts, and giving yourself permission to rest before the new year begins. ✨ Whether you’re a dance teacher, studio owner, or simply someone who needs permission to slow down, this episode is your invitation to reflect, reset, and move into the new year with gratitude and intention.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your culture isn’t just a poster on the wall—it’s your most powerful tool for attracting the right people, making confident decisions, and building a business that lasts. In this episode, Stacey continues the Community Capital series by exploring the power of identifying, communicating, and living your core values. From improving staff retention to making tough calls with clarity and confidence, she shares how culture can be your ultimate competitive advantage. You’ll learn: ✨ How aligning on values can reduce staff turnover by up to 28%✨ The difference between having values written down vs. lived out✨ Why empowering your team (even when it’s messy) leads to growth✨ How culture clarity simplifies decision-making, hiring, and customer alignment✨ Real-life examples of values-based leadership in action at Port Macquarie Performing Arts Plus, Stacey shares why giving your team ownership of your culture is just as important as creating it—and how doing so transforms jobs into careers with purpose.

How do you find (and keep) people who care about your business as much as you do? In this episode, Stacey continues the Community Capital series by diving into one of the most pressing questions for small business owners and franchisees alike: How do we attract and retain quality team members who are genuinely invested in what we’re building? And the answer? It’s not just about pay or perks—it’s about purpose. You’ll learn: ✨ Why community connection is just as powerful for your team as it is for your customers✨ How giving back can drive loyalty, productivity, and profit✨ The law of reciprocity (and why it’s your new best friend in business)✨ Real-world examples of community-driven leadership—from your team’s kid’s soccer team to global coffee chains✨ How to align your giving strategy with what your people actually care about This episode is full of tangible strategies and heart-centred stories to help you turn your business into more than just a workplace—it becomes a movement your team wants to be part of.

“Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people], making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16 AMP   *Transcription Below*   Questions and Topics We Discuss: How did God meet you in your experience of army life to reveal your choice of hope vs. fear? What have you learned about community, both before and after your experience of launching your husband into space? For all of us, how can we rediscover our fun side when we've been trapped in survival mode for too long?   Stacey Morgan is always ready with a funny or thoughtful story from her own life; whether it be holding down the home front during military deployments, working for the Smithsonian, skydiving, or blasting  her husband into outer space. Stacey is on staff with MOPS International, a nonprofit focused on the unique needs of mothers around the world. She and her husband, Army colonel and NASA astronaut Drew Morgan, have four children.   Connect with Stacey on Instagram or through her website.   Other Savvy Sauce Episodes Related to Friendship: Friendship with Drew Hunter Reflecting Jesus in Our Relationships with Rach Kincaid Nurturing Friendships with Jackie Coleman Art of Friendship with Kim Wier   Thank You to Our Sponsors: Chick-fil-A East Peoria and The Savvy Sauce Charities (and donate online here)   Please help us out by sharing this episode with a friend, leaving a 5-star rating and review, and subscribing to this podcast!   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook, Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV)   Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”   Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”   Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”   Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”   John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”   Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:09)   Laura Dugger: (0:09 - 2:54) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here. I want to say a huge thank you to today's sponsors for this episode, Chick-fil-A East Peoria and Savvy Sauce Charities.   Are you interested in a free college education for you or someone you know? Stay tuned for details coming later in this episode from today's sponsor, Chick-fil-A East Peoria. You can also visit their website today at https://www.chick-fil-a.com/locations/il/east-peoria.   I'm so excited to share a special Patreon re-release episode. And if you've been with The Savvy Sauce for a while, you know that we used to make some money by having people sign up for Patreon and as a reward, they would get access to special episodes. Now we have done away with that as we've transitioned to becoming a nonprofit, and we want to make all of these episodes available to you, so we re-release a few every year.   What I'd love to ask is, as we're approaching the end of year because we've taken out that revenue stream, would you consider financially supporting Savvy Sauce Charities?   There are two simple ways. First, if you want to mail us a check, that saves us all of the processing fees, and you can make that out to Savvy Sauce Charities and mail it to P.O. Box 101, Roanoke, Illinois 61561. Also, if you want to go online, visit thesavvysauce.com and you can type in different words to the search button. You could type in “donate” or “support” and it should take you to the place where there's a button to click and put in your credit card information and give that way. We would be so grateful for any amount, and we love our partnership with you.   Here's our chat.   Stacey Morgan is my guest today, and you may have heard her name in the news over the past few years. She has documented her story in her debut book, The Astronaut's Wife: How Launching My Husband into Outer Space Changed the Way I Live on Earth. And now she's going to share more about that season and all the lessons God taught her about making the most of her one incredible life, and she's going to inspire each of us to do the same.   Here's our chat. Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Stacey.   Stacey Morgan: (2:55 - 2:58) I am so excited to be here. Thank you for having me.   Laura Dugger: (2:58 - 3:07) Well, it is truly my pleasure. And will you just start by giving us a little bit more context for our time together and just share a few things about yourself?   Stacey Morgan: (3:08 - 4:49) Sure. Well, hi, my name is Stacey. I currently live in Texas.   I have four kids. I'm married to a guy named Drew who has kind of an unusual job. I grew up in a small town just outside of Boston and was kind of a scholar-athlete growing up interested in a lot of different things but always involved in church and youth group. And that really served me well when I went off to college.   The first college I went to, West Point. And actually, I'll tell you in a minute, but that is where I eventually met my now husband, Drew.   We got married after I graduated from undergrad. He's a little bit older than me and he is an Army officer. And so, we have moved all over the country. We've lived on both coasts and had a number of kinds of unusual situations just, you know, kind of typical for a military family living all over the place.   I've had a lot of crazy jobs. I think mainly I have an unusual story because I'm really quick to say yes to things, which sometimes, you know, it's a double-edged sword. Sometimes you say yes and you realize, “I should have thought through that a little bit more.” But really it's been quite an adventure because we have had the opportunity to live in a lot of different places, experience a lot of different things.   And we ended up here in 2013. We can kind of get into that if you want, but we ended up down here in Texas with my husband, who is still an Army officer, but he became a NASA astronaut. And so, that totally changed the direction of our lives and kind of changing all the plans we had for what we were supposed to be doing in the military and ending up down here at Johnson Space Center. Then, him eventually launching into outer space.   Laura Dugger: (4:49 - 5:01) Wow, there are so many points to unpack, but let's back it up to what you had mentioned about West Point. So, will you just elaborate and tell us more about how you and Drew met and fell in love?   Stacey Morgan: (5:01 - 7:21) Sure. So, we were both cadets at West Point when we met. He was a little bit older than me, but we met through Officers' Christian Fellowship, which is a Christian club that is very popular on military bases, both at the academies but in big Army and other services as well when you get out.   It's a, you know, it's like small groups, typical for what most people would find comfortable in kind of church community. And so, we met there and we just kind of clicked, you know.   I would say it's funny looking back, we were not the type of people I think we would have thought we would marry. He was far more serious than I am. I'm a little bit more, I'm the one to more kind of like walk the fine line, but we work together really well.   We've always been a great team. That's always been a real theme in our marriage, you know, that we are a team. And, you know, when he proposed after I graduated from undergrad, he kind of said, “I promise you a life of adventure,” which at the time sounded wonderful and adorable.   Of course, it has come back to haunt me several times when he has been, you know, come up with some crazy plan and when I hesitate he's like, “I promised you adventure.” And I'm like, “Now that's unfair. I did not know when you said adventure back in 2000 that you meant all these crazy things like going to space or all these different deployments and all this kind of stuff like that.”   So, we now have four kids. We've been married this summer will be 22 years. And, you know, it hasn't been without its challenges like any marriage and certainly any marriage under stress because of stressful situations, whether that's military deployments, whether that's space travel or just kind of life and parenting. And as you kind of grow up together and get to know each other and the world changes around you, we've certainly had ups and downs, but we are a team.   And I think God has really honored that and it's been really helpful for us when we've had those sticky seasons where you just feel like, “Man, we are just not connecting or kind of jiving the way we would want,” to actually say to each other that we are on the same team and that has been really helpful.   Laura Dugger: (7:22 - 7:40) The part of your story that involves space travel is one that most of us will never be able to relate to experientially, but it's still extraordinary. So, can you walk us through the detailed events leading up to 9:28 p.m. on July 20th, 2019?   Stacey Morgan: (7:42 - 15:28) Sure. So, I should back it up one big step behind that just to give everybody a little context. So, in 2012, we were kind of living our lives. We had always been deep into the Army Special Operations community. We love that. In order to live and kind of thrive in that environment you have to be all in, and we were all in.   And one day my husband came home and he was uncharacteristically giddy and he said, “You're not gonna believe this huge news. NASA is opening up the application window for a new class of astronauts.”   And I thought, “Why are you telling me this? This has no bearing whatsoever on our lives. We are on this path and that is a completely different path.”   And he said, “Well, I want to apply.”   And I thought to myself, “Well, I wanted to be a ballerina at one point in life, but that ship sailed. Like who doesn't say they always wanted to be an astronaut? Like this seems like a childhood fantasy.”   But he said, “No, I just want to apply. Like don't worry, all of our plans are gonna stay the same. They've never selected an Army physician before. I just, you know, I want to...” You know, the joke was that you'll always be a NASA applicant, right? And that'll be great. We'll laugh about it at family Christmases and stuff.   Except he kept making it through every gate. And so, in 2013 we got the call that completely took our life off of one set of train tracks and put it on another. At that time, we were currently stationed just outside of Washington DC at Fort Belvoir. We were supposed to be literally the next week moving to Germany. And that's how close these changes kind of came up on themselves. And so, we had to unravel everything for Germany and move to Houston, Texas, because that's where Johnson Space Center is.   And so, he began his training in 2013. I started my journey in learning a whole new culture, a whole new way of doing life. I'd never lived in a place that was at least not near a military base or within a military community. Didn't quite recognize at the time how much that shared sense of community had made things easier in terms of connecting with people before that and when I didn't have it.   So, it was probably our rockiest transition for me personally that I'd ever had in terms of friendships and getting connected. That's a big part of my story because I think friendship struggles are so common for adult women. It's just something that nobody really teaches us how to do and so a lot of women are very lonely.   But fast forward, he trained for several years until it was eventually his turn to fly. And in 2019, the only way to get to the International Space Station was to fly on a Russian Soyuz rocket. So, some people are very confused because they think, “Well, every space movie I've ever watched is taking place in Florida, right? Whether that's Apollo 13 or Armageddon or whatever. Why didn't he launch from Florida?”   Well, between 2011 and 2020, the Space Shuttle program had ended. SpaceX Crew Dragon had not yet started launching from Florida again. So, for about a 10-year period, the only way to get to and from the International Space Station was to ride a Russian rocket.   So, that's what NASA did. They went into partnership with the Russians, which of course makes things very interesting given today's kind of current political climate and all the world events. But that meant when it was Drew's turn to launch, we as a family had to travel to Kazakhstan, which is a country that I could not spell before 2019.   And so, if you don't know where that is, don't feel bad. I didn't either. I had to look it up. It's a former Soviet Republic really kind of in between Russia and Afghanistan. So, it is in the middle of nowhere. And when the Soviets were building their space program in the 1950s and 60s, they built their secret space city there in Kazakhstan. That's where they started their space program and they have kind of kept it unchanged and they continue to launch their rockets from there today.   It was a whole kind of world travel and cultural experience to take my four kids to Kazakhstan, which is a completely different cultural experience for really what came down to a very stressful, very emotional moment really waiting for that launch. So, unlike Florida, which you know when you watch on television, it's colorful, there's a lot of people, a lot of spectators, big people remember from the shuttle days big countdown clock, a loudspeaker kind of telling everybody what's going on... that's not how it is in Kazakhstan.   So, about 30 minutes before the launch, the kids and I were brought to this viewing area. And by viewing area I would say big field. It's not... there was kind of some grandstands area far at the other end of the field, but that's where all the space tourists stand and the press and all that kind of stuff and we didn't want to be near them. So, our escort brought us down to the end, the other end of the field, and it's just dark and it's quiet and there's no announcements. There's no countdown clock. It's just looking at your watch or your phone there just kind of in the dark and you just know that that Russian ground crew is going to launch that rocket at exactly 9:28 p.m. Not a minute earlier, not a minute later.   And so, standing there in the dark holding my kids' hands, and we can see the rocket in the distance only about a mile away, which by rocket launch standards is very close. Knowing that in a minute or 30 seconds or 10 seconds as it gets closer, it's either going to be one of the best days of your life, super exciting, super proud moment, or it's going to be the worst day of your life, and you could become a widow.   And as much as it's easy to kind of get complacent because incidents are so rare, but we all can remember any number of space disasters that have happened. Columbia, Challenger, those are very real. And with my time down here at Johnson Space Center, you come to learn those names and you meet those families and you meet those widows and widowers and you realize that space travel is dangerous. You know, at the end of the day my husband was in a little tiny capsule on top of a rocket full of highly explosive fuel. So, it's very scary.   And in that moment standing there thinking, “In 10 seconds my life is going to change no matter what happens.” Even if this goes perfectly, what happens next? I don't really know. It's kind of like having a baby. You can read all about it and assume things will be the way they're going to be, but until you're in it and then it happens, you don't really know how it's gonna go.   And so, it was a really overwhelmingly emotional moment because you think this could go sideways. And also, by the way, the world is watching live with me. So, if something goes wrong, I'm not able to process this privately. I will be experiencing it in real time with the rest of the world.   But even if it goes perfectly, what happens next? Like what does it look like to live on earth with a spouse in space and single parent for nine plus months while their other parent is in space? And you really don't know and it's scary to think like, “Gosh, what if something happens?” You know, he can't like come home early. Can't just like a business trip jump on a plane or a train and get home early. There's no coming back early. So, whatever happens, I'm on my own for better or worse. I'm on my own and I hope I have the endurance and the support system and everything I'm gonna need in order to be successful in this nine months.   Laura Dugger: (15:28 - 15:47) And my heart is pounding a little bit faster just as I hear you describe this. And I'd love to get back to your story, but first just to pause and wonder with that mixture of this adventure right in front of you and then your experience of army life, how did God meet you in all of that to reveal your choice of you're able to choose hope or fear?   Stacey Morgan: (15:47 - 22:32) Right. So, you know, when you take the time to step back and think, sometimes you don't see these patterns in your life until you kind of start putting them down on paper. And it was interesting for me to see how God had prepared me for that moment with other moments, especially related to military deployments in the past. Because certainly experiencing a rocket launch and all that fear and kind of this moment of where is my hope found in this moment, that was a varsity level moment.   But I'm so thankful that about ten years earlier God really started to prepare me for that moment with some other big moments. Like when my husband deployed for the first time.   I'll never forget, it was the height of the War on Terror. So, we were living in a military community which was amazing and a lot of my friends' husbands were also serving in the same military units or similar military units and they were deploying. The tempo was high so that meant, you know, six months deployed or longer, coming home for short amounts of time and then deploying again. Lots of action specifically in Afghanistan and Iraq at the time.   And so, lots of fatalities, lots of injuries, lots of grief, and for spouses a lot of fear because we knew what they were doing was very dangerous. And so, for me and my friends we kind of had this unspoken rule which I think a lot of people can understand which was, “Let's just not talk about this scariest thing because somehow talking about it makes it seem more possible.”   And as crazy as that is to say, people get that. You know, there's a lot of things we don't talk about because it's just too scary to think about. And so, for us the scariest thing in our life at that time was the fear that our husbands would not come home, that they would be killed in action. And that felt very real because we were going to memorial services, we were visiting people in the hospital, we were turning on the news and seeing what was going on in the world. And there was often communication blackouts because we knew that they were doing things that were very dangerous, very secretive.   And so, at the time I happily did what everybody else was doing which was, “Let's just not talk about it. Let's just kind of live life managing.” We felt like we were managing this fear, I think that's what I would have said at the time.   But then one day my friend Lisa, who's an amazing friend and she's always like two steps ahead of me on the wisdom scale, we were having coffee on her front porch and she turned to me and she said, “I've been thinking a lot about what life would be like if our husbands were killed.”   And this was like a bomb drop. I mean because we just were not supposed to be talking about this. Like here the rest of us had been avoiding all morbid thoughts about what could possibly happen with our husband and instead she had like turned and looked it straight in the eye.   And I was shocked. And so, I kind of sat up straighter and I said, “What do you mean?”   And she said, “Well, I've been thinking about it and it's not that, you know, life would certainly be hard and doesn't mean we wouldn't need counseling or our kids wouldn't need support, but life would still go on even if that happened. Life would still go on. Life would still be full of good things and God would provide and bring people around us to support us and I've just been thinking about that.”   And I was stunned. I was absolutely stunned because while the rest of us were too afraid to face that fear, in looking at it she kind of exposed it for what it was, which was certainly real and an absolute possibility that that could happen. But when she started walking down the path of like, “Okay, if this happened then what would happen?” You have to decide, “Do I believe God would really be with me or not? Do I believe His promises are true that He will be with me on good days and bad days and that He will draw people to me who will love me and support me? And have I plugged myself into friends and a faith community that would be there for me if that happened?”   And it was a game changer. That was probably one of, at the time, the biggest life-changing conversations I'd ever had as an adult because it really did shift how I viewed feeling afraid about things like that. And so, I had several opportunities... Drew deployed several times and then certainly doesn't take combat deployments to feel afraid like that. I know I have felt it before when my daughter was in the NICU, you know, and I had to leave her in the NICU and go home at night. I know I have felt it during this pandemic several times. I know I'm gonna feel it when I drop my oldest off at college this summer. You know, this moment where it just life feels very scary mainly because of the unknowns that come next and the fact that you have no control over those.   And so, that rocket launch moment was, you know, I felt like God was really prompting me in that moment to say, “Hey, if this rocket explodes like what will you do with that? Do you still trust me that I'm here with you and that I will still bring people to you and love you? Like is your support, is your foundation and your hope truly found in me or is it found in this rocket launch going successfully? Because it might not, and then what does that mean for you?”   And so, it really was this choice of am I gonna choose to live a life of fear, which is our default because if you do not choose something else we will always live a life dictated by fear of something. It's exhausting to live like that because once you conquer one fear another one's gonna pop up. Then they come in bunches and they just start layering on top of each other. Honestly it can lead to despair because there's plenty of things in the world to be afraid of and new ones just pop up every day.   So instead, I felt like God was offering me a new way of living and it really felt tangible in that moment of that rocket launch which is, “Hey, I hope that you will choose to find your hope in me. Just me. The one unchanging thing in this world that will be unchanging regardless of what happens with this rocket launch in 10 seconds. But if it goes well or if it goes poorly I am unchanging. You can rely on me. I will be with you in the best and the worst of times. And even if the rocket launch goes successfully and whatever happens in the next nine months, I'm with you there as well. So, you don't need to be afraid because I'm here with you. You can have hope that I will enable you to do what must be done no matter what happens tomorrow.”   Laura Dugger: (22:32 - 22:49) I'm so grateful that you chose hope and you chose faith. And then after all of that excitement and that adrenaline experienced on launch day, what did your life look like in the months to follow?   Stacey Morgan: (22:49 - 26:47) Yeah, it wasn't easy. You know I joke that those nine months really were like it was like a master class in all these little lessons I've learned throughout the years, but I'd never had to put them into practice at this level and all at the same time.   So, things like being honest about that I needed help. That, you know, there are times in the past where I have certainly wanted people to know or think that I had it all together and that I could do it all by myself especially, you know, I think every mom feels that way.   Certainly, military spouses, we take a lot of pride and feel like I'm doing this on my own.   And I realize now that I had certain seasons I have made life a lot harder for myself because I somehow thought that there was like an extra trophy if I finish the race by myself. I said that it was like, spoiler, there's no trophy. And also, I was just making it harder for myself.   And so, this season I could not fake it. Like past seasons I could fake it. This one I could not fake it. I had two teenagers, two tweens, a lot of hormones and then prepubescent and puberty things flying around. Just a lot of scheduling, a lot of driving, like just life. And then just the stress of living with someone who, you know, a spouse who was living in space and the stress of what does that do to your marriage, to parenting and, you know, parent-child relationships. Just every single piece of running a house, of parenting all the things, was solely on my shoulders and that's a big weight. And it was tough. It was tough.   So, I could not fake it. I had to ask for help. I had to be willing to ask for it and receive it, which are two different skill sets I found. It's sometimes you get good at one and not the other. I had to get really willing to be vulnerable as my friends and say things like, “I'm really lonely.” Can you know, it's like being honest. Like everything's not just, “Oh, this is so exciting. Oh, isn't it so great? Aren't we just so proud of them?” Yes, but at the same time sometimes I'm lonely. Sometimes I'm struggling.   Sometimes in my stress I would overly focus on trying to control my home life or what was happening within my own house and become not as pleasant of a person to live with because I was just trying to kind of regain some control in what felt like a little bit of a chaotic world and then you become not your best self and you know that. And so, I had to learn how to kind of get out of that survival mode and still have fun even when life is hard. And really just kind of accept that life isn't one thing or the other. You can be in a hard season and it still have good things in it. Life can be full of opportunities and challenges and one does not negate the other. And when you try to live your life by one narrative or the other, not only are you faking it but you make life harder than it needs to be and you kind of block other people out of it.   So, there was a lot of learning going on in there but we really all came down to that first decision of how am I gonna live my life in this season? Am I gonna live it fearfully, reactionary, hair trigger, you know, just stress all the time because I'm afraid of what comes next. I'm not sure if I'm gonna be able to handle it? Or am I gonna live a life of hope, which is of course like not wishes and dreams but it is anticipation that God will be with me no matter what comes down the pipeline. And sometimes that's divine comfort that is hard to explain but you just feel it. Sometimes it's people he draws to your life who literally will sit on the couch with you and just like hold your hand or give you a hug that moment you need it. Sometimes it's someone offering to carpool or take your kid out driving because they're trying to get their driver's license, you know?   But that's really the biggest thing for me. I talked about it in chapter one of the book because that's the foundation that really all those other lessons were built on.   Laura Dugger: (26:47 - 27:26) And I think also with your book, it was helpful to hear little insights into what it looked like for your marriage. And it was even interesting when you said it's really important for astronauts to have forms of entertainment and that you were so committed to being involved in Drew's life and that you two still found ways to stay connected. I just think that has to be encouraging to any married couples listening right now because you clearly had a big barrier to overcome. But what were some of those ways that the two of you tried as best as you could in that season to stay intimately connected to one another's lives?   Stacey Morgan: (27:26 - 31:19) Yeah, it's not easy. And I think there's kind of this fallacy that is kind of dangerous for especially young married I think to believe which is like in every season of your life you're gonna feel amazingly connected to your spouse and you're gonna constantly be growing in your relationship. And sometimes that's not true. Like sometimes one person has a job that takes them away from home or someone is sick or there are other issues going on in your life where the connection is just not as strong not because you don't want it to be but because the circumstances you find yourself in don't allow for that.   And certainly, while my husband was in space that was a lot of challenges to feeling connected. I mean there's good communication but there's a difference between like quality and quantity, right? So, he could call me on the phone every day but because of the time differences and his schedule the only time he could call me was between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. my time, which as any person knows and with any kids, is like the worst time of the day. Like everything's happening, the wheels are coming off, homework, pickups, dinner prep, like all that kind of stuff was crazy.   So, needless to say, I was not able to sit down and have like a heartfelt drawn-out conversation. And then kids hate talking on the phone so he wasn't really talking to them during the day. I'm like, you know, my eight-year-old isn't gonna send him an email. So, you know, there wasn't like a lot of quality or quantity conversation with the kids which of course puts a little stress on your marriage too because you worry about that.   And then we have one video chat a month and you want it to be fun. You want it to kind of be good for the kids as well as him but it's a very, you know, it's one hour to share between five people and so that's not a lot of time. And so, the reality is that for that season there was a lot of, I would say, relationship treading water. And you're, you know, the goal is just not to let things go downhill, which you can easily do in life when you and your spouse are experiencing the same event but from different points of view. And that's what we were doing. You know, we were sharing the mission but from two vastly different points of view.   And so, you do your best. But the difference is I think you have to in order to kind of come out on the other end better, you have to have a kind of a mutual commitment that, “Hey, we're going to... we are eventually going to come back together on this. We can't change the circumstances. I can't make the time difference different. I can't give you more time on the phone. I can't... there's things I just cannot change. But we are committed as a team to doing the best we can right now and when this circumstance changes, in this case when he came home, we're gonna kind of back up again and do some story sharing and reconnect about some things that we just didn't have the opportunity to in the past.”   And so, it's a little bit kind of like two steps forward one step back but eventually you still come out ahead if you are committed to trying to come back together and share those experiences in one way or another. Where you run into kind of danger is if people start experiencing two different things and then they never come back together so the gap just kind of keeps widening and widening. And then you hear when people say like, “Yeah, I woke up and I felt like I was living a different life than the person who was sleeping next to me.”   And so, reminding us to ourselves that we are a team even though we were experiencing the same thing. I didn't know a lot about a lot of the things he was doing. He didn't know a lot of stories about how things were for me. And so, it's okay to tell them later if you don't have the ability to tell them in the moment as long as you both have the goodwill and you prioritize coming back together eventually.   Laura Dugger: (31:19 - 34:26) And now a brief message from our sponsor.   Did you know you can go to college tuition free just by being a team member at Chick-fil-A East Peoria? Yes, you heard that right. Free college education. All Chick-fil-A East Peoria team members in good standing are immediately eligible for a free college education through Point University.   Point University is a fully accredited private Christian college located in West Point, Georgia. This online self-paced program includes 13 associate's degrees, 17 bachelor's degrees, and two master's programs, including an MBA. College courses are fully transferable both in and out of this program. This could even be a great option to complete your general education courses and then transfer to the college of your choice and save money in the process. So, if you're looking for an affordable college option while simultaneously gaining valuable work experience and earning an income, Chick-fil-A East Peoria is the place for you. You don't have to go into debt to get a great education. To apply today, please go to https://www.chick-fil-a.com/locations/il/east-peoria  and click on the careers tab. You can also call the restaurant at 309-694-1044 to find out more. And if you aren't located near Chick-fil-A East Peoria, make sure you check with your local Chick-fil-A restaurant to see if they also participate in the Elevate program with Point University. Thanks for your sponsorship.   Did you know that this podcast is 100% listener supported? We love producing free content that's available to everyone around the world with our monthly newsletters when you sign up for our email list and with our weekly episodes. We pray that this has been a benefit to you. That if any episode has ever impacted you, what we ask is that you will partner with us now and generously and prayerfully give financially before the end of the year. There's multiple ways to do this. Online at thesavvysauce.com, you can donate through Stripe,  PayPal, or Venmo with just a simple click. Or you can send snail mail to us at Savvy Sauce Charities, P.O. Box 101 Roanoke, Illinois, 61561. We hope you choose to support us today and during this season especially.   It sounds like you really leaned into your friendships. So, what would you say you've learned about community both before and after your experience of launching Drew into space?   Stacey Morgan: (34:26 - 38:07) Well, I tell you what, I realized that as an adult often a lot of us don't really know how to do friendship well. And our culture is so, it so values independence that we often convince ourselves that if we tell our friends or our community that we need help or just kind of show our true heart for how important it is to us, that somehow that's gonna be kind of like devalued or we're gonna feel weak. And I realized like, “Man, I wasted a lot of years trying to be tougher than I really am.” And I wish I could go back and change that because in this season, mainly because I had no choice. And so, God really used this opportunity to show me like, “Hey, I'm gonna kind of like force you to open up your heart, be vulnerable with this small group of really trusted friends and like just trust me to see what happens next.”   And I did and it was a game-changer. I mean, I have a lot of deep feelings but I put a little bit of a tough exterior and I forced myself to be super honest and super vulnerable with my friends and say things like, “I'm lonely or I don't even know what I need but I'm just feeling exhausted or angry or this is really frustrating to me or I need help with this and I don't even know where to begin.” And just let those friends step into my life in a really intimate way.   And you know, I think we've all had a friend at some point who has asked for help and we have been so happy to help them and we've never thought less of them for it. But somehow when it comes to our own time we're like, “Oh, I don't want to trouble anybody. Oh, they're gonna think I can't handle it.” Or like, “Well, this is like I made this bed so I better lie in it. You chose to have all these kids, you chose this career, you chose this whatever, like this is your problem.” But we would never say that about another friend. And so, I don't know why we are harder on ourselves than we are on our friends because it's not right. Most of our friends are happy to help us. They love us helping us, being with us, comforting us, supporting us. That's how they show how important you are to them and we need to let them do that.   I've also gotten better about verbalizing the feelings that I had always felt inside but I felt awkward verbalizing. Like, “Thank you for being my friend.” Or like, “Thank you for just spending this time with me,” or, “You are an important person in my life.” Words that we say to our kids, that we often say to our spouses, but sometimes for me at least felt weird saying to friends and I'm really trying to get better about that. That was a great nine months of practice. It doesn't come easy or natural I think to anybody but it's a game changer. Like why not tell your friends how much they mean to you?   So, community is essential. Like don't try to lone wolf this life. I've certainly had some more extreme experiences than probably the average person, but the principles are the same. Get plugged into community and have multiple circles of community. Certainly, your faith community but also you know if you work, if you go to the gym, if you go to school, like your kids' friends, like there's so many circles of community and don't be afraid to just jump right in and get connected. And you've got to do it before you are in crisis. You've got to kind of invest in these friendships so that you know them and can trust these friends so that when those seasons come that are hard you have this small group of people who you can rely on. It will be a complete game changer in your life when you have a small, could be one person, can be two people, trusted people who can journey with you.   Laura Dugger: (38:07 - 38:34) I could not agree more. I really think that friendship is one of the most precious gifts were given in this life. And going back to your marriage we had discussed that time of separation but then there was a whole other season of transition as well. So, what was it like to come back together after being apart for nearly 10 months?   Stacey Morgan: (38:34 - 42:55) Yeah, so it's funny there's always these Hollywood romanticized versions of what reunions must look like whether that's a military deployment reunion or you know when an astronaut comes home. And I think people assume it's some kind of like hot sexy romantic can't keep hands off of you but the reality is far different, right? Because it's... I mean maybe it is, maybe that's how it is for some people. I will just say for us, you know, when you've been living an independent life for however long, whether that was you know a six-month or an eight-month deployment or a nine-month deployment to outer space, you know I was living my own life fully independent for that long where I made all the choices. I didn't have anybody looking over my shoulder or you know there's a little bit of independent freedom there when you're the only one kind of making the big decisions.   And so, when that person comes back into your life, which you want them to come back, you're happy they're home, but there is this awkward transition period. It's definitely an opportunity for some tension because now there's another opinion back in the mix, right?   Like I had to kind of adjust my way of doing life for another person who had a valid opinion, another decision maker. The kids had to adjust to having another parent back in the house. You're kind of getting to know each other so there is a little bit of a sniffing out period where you're like, “Hey, nice to meet you.” Because we all change. You know you could be gone from someone for a month, you know, you're not the same person you were today as you were last year or six months ago or maybe even a month ago. So, anytime someone comes back in your life they're different, you're a little different. You're like my friendships had shifted over those ten months, like my work had shifted, everything in my life had moved on and he had not been there in the house with me to experience that so there was... it was a whole new set of experiences and a new person to get to know again.   Now he came home and what made it a little bit more dramatic was that Drew came home in the startup of the pandemic. He came home in April of 2020 which at the time I think we weren't sure, “Are we going up? Are we coming down?” We know now looking back we realize things were just ramping up; the world was, we were all still very confused about what's the best thing to do can we all the things you know. So, NASA pretty much brought him home and then he came home to our house after just a few days in kind of the quarantine facility there on Johnson Space Center. But then he came back to our house and then it's like he never left because all of the normal stuff that would happen when you come home from space like travel and meetings and all these kind of things were all canceled or postponed.   And so, instead of kind of like getting to know each other slowly it was like zero to sixty. I mean he was home and he didn't go anywhere, none of us could go anywhere. So, we joke that the irony that he was in space with five professional crew mates in a small space and then he came home to live in our small space with five amateur crew mates who are certainly not nearly as gracious or accommodating or helpful as the professional astronaut and cosmonaut crew mates he had. The irony is not lost on us. So, he came home I don't think we've ever spent that amount of time together you know 24/7 in the same house with all four of our kids, no school, nowhere to go because everything's closed. And so yeah we're getting to know each other in this kind of Petri dish of new experiences as the world is also kind of like upside down and everything's unusual.   So, in the end it was okay. I joke like we did a lot of “I was like let me go do this puzzle I just need some alone time” or “I'm going for a walk around the neighborhood please don't text me. I'll be back when I'll be back I just need a few minutes to myself.” I think everybody has had that moment in the during the last two years where you're just like, “I just need a few minutes alone please,” you know in my if you've been trapped in your house with somebody who you're not normally with 24/7.   Laura Dugger: (42:56 - 43:17) Well sure and with your experience, mental health is very important for the family of the astronaut and the astronaut themselves. Wasn't it your psychologist who is saying typically when you come back and enter this time of reentry and reuniting you do little bit by little bit because that tends to be wiser?   Stacey Morgan: (43:17 - 45:22) Yes, that's right. They call it titrating a return. That's a principle they have in the military as well which is they would normally come back from a deployment for at least the first couple weeks back from a long trip away they would go to work every day for several hours because it's you know psychologically difficult for two people who have been living very independent lives to come back together just with like zero transition. The military has learned this over the last 20 years you know that you could go from a combat zone to mowing your lawn in 24 hours. That's stressful especially if you add in you know marriage baggage, kids you know nagging kids or issues like that, financial struggles, that's a kind of what can be a breeding ground for some really difficult situation. So, it's best to let people get to know each other again a little bit at a time.   Like you said the normal return from space was kind of the same thing. It would be come home and then you'd have some physical therapy, you'd have these different meetings and it would be a little bit like going to work for several weeks while they're getting their body and everything back to normal. Then, you kind of could have this kind of extended time at home but it gave both people the ability to kind of like reintroduce themselves to each other in bits and pieces and just kind of ease into it. But we did not have that luxury so we kind of had to create it ourselves. And I am glad again that we had those past experiences to know where the potential minefields were. If you were not prepared you could be very disappointed if you went into it thinking, “Oh, they're gonna come home, it's gonna be like romantic. We're gonna be like together and loving it all the time and just connecting so deeply. It's gonna be amazing.” And then the first time that your spouse is like, “Why are you emptying the dishwasher like that?” It's important to know like, “Yeah, if there is going to be tension it is going to be awkward. That's okay that is part of the normal cycle and it's gonna be okay.” But I'm glad that we had that knowledge beforehand because it could be tough.   Laura Dugger: (45:22 - 46:07) Well and Stacey another reason that I really appreciate you being willing to let us enter your story with you. When we have different careers or we have someone in the military and a civilian who's not involved, there's so much room for assumptions and maybe not always assuming the best. There's opportunity for miscommunication so I'm just wondering about the person who's hearing this and what if they're thinking, “Well that sounds irresponsible or even selfish of Drew to choose this path if he's a husband and father.” So, how would you offer that kind of person another perspective that they might be missing?   Stacey Morgan: (46:07 - 48:20) I mean I would say is when it comes to astronauts for sure, you know, these are not like hot-rodding thrill-seeking people. In fact, I would say I think a lot of people make the assumption that people who do some of these higher like physically higher risky jobs must be like thrill-seeking you know just thrown caution to the wind about everything in their life. Actually, nothing could be farther from the truth. I think you would find that we certainly and I would you know I think a lot of people in the same career field are similar and that we are good risk calculators. And that like policemen, like firemen, like military personnel you know it's an act of service to be in this job. These are not just like you know space tourists or billionaires getting on a rocket for fun. These are professionals who have chosen a career field of service and whether that is as a policeman, a fireman, a service to the nation, service to humanity, service to their community and they all play a part in that.   I think most people recognize that that it is you know there's something to be said for the person who chooses a career that has a level of risk because they feel called to it and because thank God for people who will take on risk and are willing to potentially sacrifice themselves for someone else. I mean I think it's kind of a higher calling which is why in general in our culture we honor them and rightfully so. It is risky, it's very risky. They certainly don't do it for the money. I don't think anybody in any kind of government service would say that they're doing it for the money, that's for sure. You know they're doing it because they feel called to something bigger than themselves and to serve their fellow man in some way. That's certainly I know how we feel as a family that his choosing to transition as an Army physician into being still in the Army but serving in this capacity was just the next level up. The way he could serve our community, our country, our nation and all of humanity and he really is its service first. It's the opposite of selfish; it is selfless service really.   Laura Dugger: (48:20 - 48:55) Mm-hmm thank you for that. I just say amen to everything you just said. Really it's service from your entire family that requires a sacrifice from each of you like you said for the greater good. And I think something else that you pointed out so well in your book was that having this value more so of security or not living into this calling that you said this calling was put upon your lives that could actually be idolatry if you're starting to place a higher value on security or anything else other than God and so I think you model that well.   Stacey Morgan: (48:55 - 51:13) Thank you. Yeah I think a lot of people you know sometimes these idols creep up on us we don't realize that we have put something on a pedestal until it gets threatened to be taken away from us and all of a sudden our reaction is over the top because we're you know you realize, “Gosh, I'm finding my security in this thing I'm finding my identity in this thing whether this thing is a job, another person, a political party, a scientific breakthrough whatever it is.” Right? Like and I think a lot of people, I certainly felt it you know in that launch moment like, “Am I finding my identity in being married to this person or him having this job or this launch being successful? Because if I am in about 10 seconds my world may crumble because if that could all be taken away from me.” And in that yeah I think we all kind of have probably had a moment especially in the last two years where for a lot of people something that they have built their life on has been either taken away from them or has it has been threatened to be taken away because of the pandemic a job a person in their life you know a relationship your kids going off to school every day I mean whatever it is that you've built in your life and you have put on this pedestal and you kind of made without even realizing it have started to place more hope in those things remaining unchanged than you have in God. And all of a sudden when those things are threatened you have this over-the-top emotionally fearful response that's kind of an indicator I think to all of us like when we have that is like, “Whoo my fear and my response should tell me that I seem to be very very afraid that this is going to be taken away from me because I am putting too much hope in it. Instead, I should be taking that and putting it back where it belongs. I should reprioritize where I am finding my hope and the only unchanging thing that we can build our foundation on is God. Everything else, every person, everything, every job, every whatever it is can and could possibly be taken away from you and on your deathbed will be.” So, you know you can't help but have a little bit of self-reflection there.   Laura Dugger: (51:13 - 51:23) Well and then for all of us how do you recommend that we all can rediscover our fun side when we've been trapped in survival mode for too long?   Stacey Morgan: (51:23 - 56:05) This is a great question because I think all of us have felt this definitely in the pandemic. You know this part in your life where everything in the world feels very chaotic and so you try to regain some control in your own life by maybe regimenting your kids a little more, cleaning your house a little more, you know, controlling things at work or whatever your environment is. And without really realizing it you become this just like survival mode like your day just becomes about making things easier for yourself, streamlining things, making things just go go go. And you wake up one day and you were like, “I'm exhausted. Like why am I so tired? Why am I why do I have like no joy? Why do I just feel unhappy?” And you realize that you have not done anything other than just be like surviving and cleaning and doing work or whatever it is like you have just been doing the basics with no fun whatsoever.   So I have been there I hit that a bunch of times in the pandemic, but I certainly hit it when Drew was in space because it's really hard being a single parent and managing all of the emotional burdens and the logistics of it. And I realized that I was cleaning a lot I was kind of getting a little bit more trigger angry with kids or people who you know were making me upset because when you're in survival mode it's all about just like “Get out of my way let me do what I want to do,” it's about getting things done quickly and other people become an annoyance instead of a joy in your life.   So it's all about going back to something that that fills you up and it can be something really frivolous it can be something like it's very it's 100% unique to you and so I can't tell you what that thing is but I would say the first step in kind of getting yourself out of survival mode and kind of getting back to your your whole self is asking yourself the question like, “What do I enjoy?” Not for its educational value, not for its good cardio exercise or and not what your kids enjoy, not what is Instagram worthy, or anything like in your soul what fills you up? Is it reading? Is it watching movies? Is it riding bikes? Is it roller skating? Is it you know eating Mexican food? Like what is it that you enjoy doing that when you do it you just feel like more of yourself?   And then just go do it tomorrow. Like it's gonna take prioritizing time probably some money but that is as much of a part of who you are how God created you. He didn't make you this like worker bot or like just a mom or just a wife or just a daughter or a sister like He made you a whole person and a huge part of who you are are these things that you enjoy. And you cannot continue to pour into other people or work or your community if you are never getting filled up yourself. You will just dry out, you will be burnt out, you'll be unhappy and you'll actually be worse in all these other areas where you were trying to work hard because you're just gonna be like a shell of yourself.   So, for me it was prioritizing time with friends. It was... I got this crazy flyer on my front door for roller skating lessons and I had this fantasy of being a really good roller skater that stemmed from like when I was eight and so I signed my girls and I up for roller skating lessons which was hilarious and very humbling but it was just silly. It took time, we had to prioritize the time on every Saturday it took money, but it was just fun. It had no educational value my kids will look back on it and be like, “What was that all about? I don't even know.” But it was great because even in the midst of a stressful season like that was a very stressful season, undeniable, but as part of that narrative it will not only be like, “Yeah it was really tough when my dad was away and you know my mom had to like single-parent us but that was also the season where my mom took us to roller skating lessons. Isn't that weird? That was so weird.” And we'll laugh about it.   And so, it's just about finding something that you want to do and then just unapologetically spend the money, spend the time, and invite a friend to do it with you again. Doing something with a friend is always more fun than doing something alone. Don't feel like you have to justify it or explain it to everyone you don't need to take pictures to post online you don't need to tell it just just go do it and have a good time. It's amazing how when you do that suddenly like those dust bunnies or that email that had a weird tone that you got don't annoy you as much as they used to because your kind of like finding your whole self again.   Laura Dugger: (56:05 - 56:27) That's helpful to remember to live life to the fullest and be ready for the next adventure that life's gonna throw at us. Yeah. And just as a bonus can we just ask what are some of the most common questions that you and Drew answer about space?   Stacey Morgan: (56:27 - 57:25) That's a good question. A lot of like personal hygiene questions about teeth brushing toilets how do you know take showers or whatever and of course the answer is they don't take showers. But and then of course a lot of people want to know, “Hey I've always been interested in becoming an astronaut how does somebody do that?”   And there are so many resources online people you know I say, “Look go online read all about it. There's amazing videos NASA puts out an incredible amount of resources that you can read up on but at the end of the day do what you are most passionate about because the likelihood that you, or your nephew, or your cousin, or your co-worker, your son, or, whoever it is that you know is convinced they want to be an astronaut the likelihood of them being an astronaut is very low. So you should do what just fills you up do a career and a life that you are passionate about and if God calls you to that path those doors will open but if He doesn't you'll still be living a life fully within God's purpose for you.”   Laura Dugger: (57:25 - 57:39) And Stacey you're such an incredible communicator both in this interview time together but also really enjoyed your book. And so, if people want to follow you to hear what you're up to next, where would you direct them online?   Stacey Morgan: (57:39 - 58:41) Sure well they can go to my website StaceyMorgan2000. That's like Stacey Morgan two zero zero zero dot com. That has my blog that has links to a different podcast like this that I've been on and they can check that out. They can find me on Instagram same handle StaceyMorgan2000.   And you know if people want to reach out, I love when people have been sending me messages lately after they've read the book it's been so awesome. You know I tell people like I certainly didn't write this book for the money I'm actually donating all my book proceeds to charities that support military families. So, I've been joking like, “Hey read the book if you don't like it the worst that happened is you donated to a military charity. If you do like it buy ten copies and give one to all your friends. But if you do like it I love it when people send me messages and just tell me kind of like what resonated and how it spoke to them.” That's just been one of the I would say the coolest aspect of completing this project was kind of putting it out there and then getting to see how God uses it in people's lives.   Laura Dugger: (58:41 - 59:02) There were so many things that resonated but off the top of my head if anybody has a copy of the book they'll have to turn to the part about baloney on sale friends. And Stacey you may know that we're called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge and so as my final question for you today what is your savvy sauce?   Stacey Morgan: (59:02 - 1:01:08) Well I'll piggyback off your baloney is on sale friends' reference and that would be: pick up the phone and text your friend. We didn't need a study to show us this because I think most of us have just known this in our soul but there is an endemic of loneliness in the world right now as you know we've got all these ways to connect and yet people feel more disconnected. They feel more lonely especially women and what I learned through my own kind of relationship struggles over the years is that everyone's waiting for someone else to go first. That you in that moment you feel like you're the only person who's feeling lonely and alone and that everybody else is in these friend circles and you're just somehow on the outside. But the reality is that pretty much everybody feels the same way you do and everybody's sitting at home wishing someone would just text them and invite them to coffee.   So that's my practical tip is don't wait, go first be the bold friend or even acquaintance like it doesn't have to be someone that you are super besties with. But those baloney is on sale friends like I said you have to read the book and understand that that is like a special category of friendship that's the kind of friendship that our soul longs for but those things don't appear or like pop out of the ground. That kind of friend doesn't just show up it's developed over time it's invested in and cared for and loved and it starts with literally a text to go get coffee. That's how every great friendship story begins. So, if that's you, if you feel like yeah I don't have this close friend who I can do something with I'm lonely. Okay take that first step be the one who picks up the phone send that text message to the woman from church, or the woman from the gym, or that friend you haven't talked to in a while and just invite them over for coffee. Nothing fancy nothing crazy no agenda just come over for a couple hours for coffee. Every single person I know who does this no one ever regrets inviting a friend over for coffee. That's the first step that we can all take into just feeling more connected and having those kind of friends that we want.   Laura Dugger: (1:01:08 - 1:01:31) Love it. Well Stacy your book definitely changed my perspective on risk and I was so hooked on all the stories that you shared so I believe that your book is truly a gift to anyone who chooses to read it and your faith is very inspiring so thank you for sharing your journey with us and thank you for being my guest.   Stacey Morgan: (1:01:31 – 1:01:33) Well, thank you it's been great.   Laura Dugger: (1:01:33 – 1:05:16) One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it

You don’t need to be the cheapest. Or the loudest. Or the most polished. What you do need? A business culture that reflects who you truly are—and communicates it clearly to your community. In this week’s episode, Stacey continues the Community Capital series with a powerful conversation on why your culture is your greatest marketing tool. Through real stories (hello, flash mobs and pull-up banners!), she unpacks how knowing what makes you unique can drive growth, build trust, and create raving fans without spending a cent on flashy advertising. You’ll learn: ✨ How Stacey’s values-driven culture helped her studio grow from zero to 100 students in one week✨ Why being “not like the others” helped her stand out during the height of Dance Moms culture✨ Practical ways to reflect your values through images, messaging, events, and collaborations✨ Why your ideal customer doesn’t care about perfection—they care about connection✨ How to turn your unique culture into a movement your community wants to be part of

In this episode, Stacey kicks off a powerful new series exploring community capital—the often-overlooked secret to sustainable growth, standout branding, and team alignment. Using real-life lessons from both her own business and her husband’s franchise journey, Stacey dives into how building a values-aligned, community-focused culture can bring in customers, keep your team engaged, and make your brand truly unforgettable. You’ll learn: ✨ Why your culture is not an afterthought—it’s a strategic asset✨ How community engagement builds trust, loyalty, and long-term profitability✨ The difference between being in your community and being visible in your community✨ Why creating connection matters just as much as products or pricing✨ How to take one small step this week to invest in your community (and boost your brand) This episode is packed with insights for small business owners, franchisees, and team leaders who want to build a business that’s not just successful, but deeply rooted in connection and purpose.

As we wrap up the Visionary Leadership series, Stacey delivers a motivating and practical episode about showing up as your best leader self—even when it’s hard, even when you’d rather stay under the doona. This isn’t about ticking boxes or chasing perfection. It’s about asking better questions, making small sustainable shifts, and building a version of leadership that aligns with who you actually are. In this final instalment, you’ll learn: ✨ Why wellbeing, movement, and mindset are the true building blocks of sustainable leadership✨ How to stop thinking about what you should be doing and start doing it—with ease✨ The three key questions to ask yourself: What should I be doing? What am I doing well? What would I love to do more of?✨ Why rewarding yourself for progress (not perfection) matters so much✨ And how to lead even if you’re a team of one—because your community, clients, and family are still watching Whether you're rebuilding, riding high, or stuck in the messy middle, this episode will give you the reset you need to finish strong and lead from a place of clarity, connection, and self-trust.

The Importance of an Effective Table Lead - November Leadership Tip - #213: Every second Thursday of the month, one of our MomCo staff members will teach a leadership tip or principle they've learned and want to share with you. This month, Stacey Morgan talks about how strong table leads are key to a group's success. We'd love to connect with you! Send us a direct message on Instagram or Facebook or email us at leaders@themom.co.You can connect with Stacey at staceymorgan2000.com or @staceymorgan2000 on Instagram.You can also find our cohosts on Instagram: @andreafortenberry, @ivymamma and @sherri_crandall.Get your MOMCON tickets today.Sign up for MomCo Membership today!Learn more about The MomCo!Find a group online or in person near you.

In the final episode of the Performing at Your Best mini-series, Stacey pulls back the curtain on the little things that help her show up as her best self—especially on the tough days. From colourful shoes to crunchy salads and weighted blankets, this episode is a celebration of self-awareness, self-compassion, and setting yourself up to lead with clarity, calm, and confidence. You’ll learn: ✨ What “spoons” have to do with energy, productivity, and staying out of burnout✨ How sensory tools, joyful clothing, and rituals can regulate your nervous system✨ Why Stacey unapologetically leans into what works for her (and how you can too)✨ The power of finding your own quirky, comforting rhythm so you can lead from a place of strength This isn’t about copying someone else’s routine. It’s about discovering what works for you—and giving yourself full permission to do more of it.

What if your best business strategy wasn’t in your inbox—but on the treadmill? In this powerful episode, Stacey dives into part two of her performance mini-series, exploring the connection between movement and long-term business success. Whether you’re a self-confessed couch potato or an ex-dancer like Stacey, you’ll walk away feeling motivated (and maybe even a little sweaty) to move your body in a way that works for you. You’ll learn: ✨ Why Stacey’s mantra for 2025 is “Body Before Business”—and what’s changed because of it✨ How movement can regulate your nervous system and boost your resilience✨ The unexpected link between your Peloton session and business clarity✨ Why “sweating solo” is totally valid (no group classes required!)✨ What to do on the hard days when walking the dogs is the only thing keeping you afloat This episode isn’t about shame or pressure—it’s about encouragement. Stacey gets honest about her own struggles with consistency and shares the mindset shift that finally made movement a non-negotiable part of her leadership.

This episode is a heartfelt, honest, conversation between Stacey Morgan and Rhee Gold, all about the real work of running a successful dance studio and living a life you love. From the launch of Gold Alliance to growing the next generation of confident, profitable, and legacy-led studio owners, Stacey and Rhee dive into the evolution of this flagship program—and the mindset shifts needed to build something sustainable and joyful. You’ll hear: ✨ How Gold Alliance evolved from a pandemic support hub to a powerhouse leadership group✨ Why creating space, rest, and freedom for studio owners is no longer optional—it’s essential✨ The difference between hustle for hustle’s sake… and building systems that give you back your life✨ How “moms” (or “mums”!) can be your biggest allies—if you lead with clarity and confidence✨ Real talk on money, boundaries, marketing, and letting go of the wrong-fit clients✨ A behind-the-scenes look at Gold Alliance 2.0 and how it’s creating powerful pathways for newer studio owners This episode is packed with encouragement for anyone who’s ever wondered: Can I do this differently? Can I actually create a business that works for me, not just because of me? The answer: YES. You can learn more about the Gold Alliance at rheegold.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you ever feel like you're stuck in the loop of always being busy? Like rest is something you’ll earn “one day” when you’ve ticked off every last task? In this honest, warm, and wonderfully real episode, Stacey Morgan and Rhee Gold explore the dopamine-driven habits we all fall into—especially as studio owners—and how we can rewire our routines to prioritise what really matters. From addiction to Instagram scrolling, to running ourselves ragged trying to “do it all,” Stacey and Rhee talk about: ✨ The impact of our phone habits on productivity, presence, and parenting✨ How rest (yes, actual rest!) became one of Stacey’s core values✨ What you might be missing when you constantly chase “the next thing”✨ Rhee’s insights on the joy of doing nothing, and the guilt that sometimes comes with it✨ The truth about studio ownership: the hamster wheel, the pressure, and the need to pause✨ Practical ways to realign your time with your values—and lead by example If you've been craving space, clarity, and permission to slow down, this is your sign. Because rest isn’t a reward for working hard—it’s the fuel you need to keep showing up for the things you care about most.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the first episode of a new three-part mini-series on peak performance, Stacey takes us straight to the source of it all: your mind. Because if your head isn’t in the game, your business, your team, and your life will feel it. This is more than mindset fluff—it’s a call to take radical responsibility for your own mental wellbeing and leadership capacity. You’ll learn: ✨ Why emotional fitness is just as critical as strategy for business growth✨ The power of pre-built systems for wellbeing (especially in stormy seasons)✨ What Stacey’s learned from therapy, leadership coaching, and the “itty bitty shitty committee” in her head✨ Why professional development directly correlates with business revenue (and how to spot the gaps)✨ Practical ideas for tuning out the noise and tuning in to your true potential Whether you're on the floor with Lego thinking about client emails, or navigating brain fog while leading a team, this episode reminds you: your mind is your most powerful business tool.

It’s one thing to lead when business is booming. But what about when life gets messy, your team’s melting down, or the wheels fall off… again? In this episode, Stacey dives into the invisible but essential work of building strength behind the scenes—the emotional, physical, and mental stamina required to lead a thriving business without burning out. You’ll hear: ✨ Why regulating your emotions is one of the most overlooked leadership skills✨ What Stacey learned from a moody boss—and how not to lead a team✨ The link between perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and early business burnout✨ How your wellbeing rituals (yes, even Tai Chi in your front yard!) set the tone for your whole business✨ And what happened when Stacey thought she was going to miss Hugh Jackman on Broadway (spoiler: it’s a metaphor, and a good one) Whether you’re running solo or leading a team, this episode will help you check in with your own habits, energy, and self-care practices—so when the next storm hits, you’re steady, strong, and ready.

Morgan Knudsen has been involved in the world of paranormal phenomenon for 20 years. Her story began with a great great grandfather, Dr. Albert Durrant Watson, who was the president of the Association for Psychical Research of Canada in 1918, which was one of the first paranormal associations developed in Canadian history. Co-founding and leading Entityseeker Paranormal Research & Teachings in 2003, her experiences and knowledge has led to researching and co-creating a unique investigative program called 'Teaching the Living' Subsequently, she has been featured on and hosted numerous specials and TV shows • The Discovery Channel, "A Haunting", • T+E, Destination America, • The Travel Channel, • CBC, • CTV, • Planete+, • TLC, • Crime + Investigation, • Celestial Tiger networks in China, and • COAST TO COAST AM Her work has also been presented at the Rhine Research Center by The Windbridge Institute's in 2020 and she is a member, host, and a featured presenter at the Parapsychological Association. Morgan uses her outgoing, tell-it-like-it-is approach in determining haunted locations and creating solutions for the people involved. Her programs are now practiced in 3 different countries and a part of numerous social work and psychology secondary education courses in Edmonton. Morgan subsequently received the award from the City of Edmonton for Outstanding Service in 2008 and graduated from The AZIRE: The Alvarado Zingrone Institute for Research and Education two years in a row, receiving two graduating Certificates of Distinction in parapsychology. Morgan is also a regular contributor to the number one magazine in the UK, HAUNTED MAGAZINE. Morgan can also be heard on her podcast, SUPERNATURAL CIRCUMSTANCES, with co-host/co-creator Mike Browne (Dark Poutine), which delves into the mysterious, the spiritual, and the fascinating things in our universe.

As we roll into the final quarter of the year, Stacey brings a grounding reminder: it’s not about chasing perfection—it’s about finishing with purpose. In this episode, she invites you to pause, reflect, and ask: What’s working? What’s not? And what are you absolutely not carrying into next year? You’ll learn: ✨ How to review your 2025 priorities with clarity and honesty✨ What to discard so you don’t end the year like a “dirty, wrung-out dishrag” (yes, that phrase is back—and it hits hard)✨ Stacey’s real-life boundary battles (and what she’s doing differently this time)✨ Simple ways to recalibrate your time, money, and energy before the year wraps up Whether it’s overcommitted calendars, out-of-control subscriptions, or sneaky habits that keep your laptop open at 10pm—this is your permission slip to hit reset before the year ends.

This week, we're hitting pause on our usual business chat to dive into something just as important—and something that’s been coming up in nearly every coaching session lately: menopause and perimenopause. If you’ve been feeling hot, bothered, foggy, emotional, or just not like yourself lately, this one’s for you. Stacey is joined by two phenomenal women—Susan Judd from HR Culture and Alli Garison from Embodied Freedom—for a raw, empowering, and often hilarious chat about what it’s really like to lead, work, and live through this transition. In this deeply relatable episode, you’ll hear: ✨ The emotional impact of menopause in leadership and the workplace✨ Why so many women are stepping back—or out—of opportunities at the height of their careers✨ What the “hot, foggy and fabulous” research reveals about how women are really feeling✨ Practical tools to support your team, your clients, and yourself through this phase✨ And why we’re taking the doors off the hinges when it comes to talking about it Plus, we’ll give you the scoop on our upcoming Hot & Bothered live event—because if you’re going through it, you don’t have to go through it alone.

We talk a lot about strategy in business, but what about the resources that shape how you actually live and lead? In this episode, Stacey breaks down the three big levers that drive everything in your business (and your life): your time, your money, and your energy. Following last week’s chat about letting go of perfection, Stacey goes practical—sharing the mindset shifts and real-world tips that will help you lead with clarity and intention, no matter what season of business you're in. You’ll learn: ✨ Why your ideal week shouldn’t be a badge of honour—it should be a blueprint for sustainability✨ How to budget not just for profit, but for peace of mind (and avoid those 4am P&L panics)✨ The secret to knowing your “energy windows” and working with your natural rhythm, not against it✨ How to build a lifestyle that supports your business goals—without burning out in the process This episode is your permission slip to stop waiting for the “perfect” setup and start designing your business around what matters most right now.

In this episode of Rhee Gold's DanceLife podcast, Stacey Morgan and Rhee Gold dive into how dance studio owners can (and must!) evolve with the changing needs of today’s families and dancers. From rethinking class times to better suit working parents, to embracing the rise of homeschool programs and redefining what a "competitive" program looks like—this episode is packed with insights to help you thrive in 2025 and beyond. They explore: Why 5:30 PM is the new 10:00 AM for preschool classes How homeschool movement programs are replacing traditional daytime classes The importance of offering “middle ground” training options between rec and comp Why parents are pushing back on overcommitted competition schedules Creative ways to use your studio during downtime (and keep it profitable!) Community engagement as a meaningful part of your studio's performance culture Letting go of ego and redefining what “success” really looks like

Raise your hand if you’ve ever told yourself, “I’ll be happy when…”

In this episode, Stacey takes us behind the scenes—not of her business, but of herself. Continuing the visionary leadership series, this conversation dives deep into why your personal brand needs more than polish... it needs authenticity. You’ll learn: ✨ Why showing your real self (not just your CEO self) makes your brand magnetic✨ How years of performance shaped Stacey’s early business mindset—and what changed after 40✨ The difference between “Miss Stacey” and the Stacey behind the scenes✨ How being vulnerable and human creates stronger connections, loyalty, and community From breakfast radio to ballet to burnout, Stacey shares the journey of discovering who she really is behind the business—and how leaning into that truth has been transformational.

In this episode of Rhee Gold's Dance Life Podcast, Rhee Gold and Stacey Morgan dive into the busy season of studio registration and why it's crucial not to panic if your enrollment numbers aren't where you'd hoped—yet. This candid conversation explores how the dance studio business has evolved, and why September and October can be just as critical for attracting new students as the traditional registration period. You'll learn how to analyze your schedule using the red-yellow-green method, how to market specific classes (not just your studio), and how to adapt to the modern needs of dance families who value convenience and clarity. They also share actionable strategies like simplifying your registration process and building smart landing pages that convert browsers into enrollments. Whether you're a studio owner or a dance teacher, this episode is packed with insight, encouragement, and practical tools to help you confidently navigate the early season and beyond.

In this episode, Stacey continues the visionary leadership series with a heartfelt look at personal branding—not just for visibility or sales, but for impact. If you've ever wondered what your legacy could be or how to align your leadership with something meaningful beyond your day-to-day business, this one’s for you. You’ll learn: ✨ Why being known for something matters more than just being “seen”✨ How to align your personal brand with the causes and values you care most about✨ A behind-the-scenes story of Stacey’s World’s Greatest Shave journey—raising $25k with community, courage, and purpose✨ Practical ways to integrate purpose-led leadership into your brand without straying from your core business This episode will challenge you to think beyond your products and services and start asking: What kind of impact do I really want to have? And how can I bring my community along for the ride?

When business gets tough, leadership matters—and visibility is a big part of that. But what happens when self-doubt creeps in? When you worry that showing up makes you “too much”? In this episode, Stacey shares how building your personal brand can transform your leadership and your business, even when it feels uncomfortable. You’ll learn: ✨ Why people buy from people—and how to show up as one✨ The connection between visibility, trust, and leadership growth✨ How to amplify your expertise without feeling like you’re “bragging”✨ Easy, actionable steps to grow your personal brand (without losing your integrity) From updating your bio to speaking at a local event or just posting a simple “hello” on socials, Stacey offers practical ways to build confidence, expand your influence, and help your community know, like, and trust you. And don’t worry—it’s not just about you. Stacey also shares how to encourage your team to build their personal brands too, creating deeper connections with your customers and a more powerful, people-driven brand experience.

Let’s be honest, leadership is easy when the sun is shining. But what about when it’s not? In this kick-off episode of Stacey’s leadership mini-series, we’re diving into what it really means to lead when things aren’t going to plan. Whether you’ve hit a slow season, lost a team member, or are just feeling stuck, this episode will help you reconnect with your leadership style, get back on track, and start leading with clarity and confidence again. Inside you’ll learn: ✨ The difference between leadership and management (and why you need both)✨ Why your vision alone isn’t enough—and how to build a team that can actually deliver on it✨ The importance of action steps, timelines, and real accountability✨ Why management isn’t “sexy”—but is absolutely necessary for growth✨ How to make your values and goals something your whole team can see, remember, and work towards Whether you're a seasoned leader or just stepping into a leadership role, this episode will give you the tools and perspective to lead not just when it's easy but when it's essential.

If you've been following the Rhee Gold Company on social media over the past few weeks, you'll know that big changes are here! In today's episode, Stacey and Rhee unpack the new direction, talk about Rhee's new and exciting creative role and what this means for members of each of the Alliances. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ve asked for feedback… now what? In this episode, Stacey wraps up her series on feedback by getting into the nitty-gritty: what to actually do with it. From filtering through tricky customer comments to turning small ideas into big wins, this episode is a must-listen if you’ve ever felt nervous about opening that Google form. Inside, you'll hear: ✨ Why courage (just 20 seconds of it!) is all you need to start✨ How to filter feedback without letting it derail your confidence✨ A brilliant example of turning a one-off complaint into a studio-wide innovation✨ The difference between criticism and helpful insight—and who you should really be listening to Plus, Stacey shares her “Feedback Friday” tip for building consistency and trust, so your team and your clients feel heard—and you stay calm.

Let’s get real—how often are you actually asking for feedback in your business? In this episode, Stacey unpacks why feedback isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s an essential ingredient in sustainable growth. Whether you’re craving more customers, stronger retention, or smoother systems, chances are the answers are already in your community… if you’re willing to ask. You’ll learn: ✨ The difference between validation (hello, Insta likes) and true feedback✨ Why only 42% of businesses are asking for regular feedback—and why that’s a massive missed opportunity✨ Practical ways to invite feedback from clients, your team, and even non-customers✨ How Stacey uses “Feedback Fridays” in her business to create consistent, low-pressure insight loops This episode will help you create simple systems for gathering meaningful feedback—and teach you how to use it to strengthen relationships, improve service, and spark real innovation.

Back from holiday, full of ideas… but second-guessing everything? You’re not alone. In this energising and heart-to-heart episode, Stacey and Rhee take on one of the hardest parts of leadership as a dance studio owner—sticking to your vision, even when it ruffles a few feathers. Whether you're restructuring your comp team, changing your schedule, or raising fees, someone will have an opinion. The question is—are you confident enough to move forward anyway? With stories, practical tips, and a healthy dose of dance teacher truth bombs, this episode is your reminder that your studio doesn’t run on parent approval—it runs on your passion and leadership. Key Takeaways: Confidence is the secret sauce. You had a vision—don’t let other people’s doubts drown it. Mrs. Smith isn’t forever. You’re building for the next five years, not next week’s car park conversation. Backpacks full of resentment are heavy. If you’re exhausted, it’s time to let go of what no longer fits. Your vision deserves better marketing. Speak it clearly. Write it down. Share it with conviction. Who you surround yourself with matters. Not everyone is meant to come with you to the next level. This Episode is for You If: You're toying with a big change—but worried how parents or staff might react. You’ve ever lost sleep over feedback from a loud (but temporary) voice in your studio. You’re ready to reclaim your leadership, your energy, and your studio’s future. You know it’s time for a reset—and you’re looking for a loving nudge to do it. Links & Resources: Dance studio software to support your vision: Jackrabbit Dance Free benchmarks to grow your studio: jackrabbitdance.com/benchmarks Connect with Stacey: simplystaceymorgan.com More from Rhee: rheegold.com Call to Action: If you needed a reminder that you are the boss—and that your vision is worth backing—this is it. Share with a fellow studio owner who’s second-guessing themselves today. And remember… ✨ Lead boldly. Build proudly. Enjoy the journey. ✨See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Jennifer Iverson chats with Stacey Morgan about the importance of taking risks in life and leadership. Listen to their previous conversation in #120 - Embracing Discomfort, Embracing Risks.We'd love to connect with you! Send us a direct message on Instagram or Facebook or email us at leaders@themom.co.You can connect with Stacey at staceymorgan2000.com or @staceymorgan2000 on Instagram.You can also find our cohosts on Instagram: @andreafortenberry, @ivymamma and @sherri_crandall.Get your MOMCON tickets today.Sign up for MomCo Membership today!Learn more about The MomCo!Find a group online or in person near you.

Think innovation, relationship-building, and communication are all on your shoulders? Think again. In this episode, Stacey continues the series on business growth and unpacks why scaling your business shouldn’t be a solo sport. Whether you're the founder, front of house, or back of house, everyone has a role to play in delivering an exceptional customer experience—and that experience is what drives growth. Tune in as we cover: ✨ Why strategic innovation is a team effort (not just a CEO task)✨ How to create a culture where every voice is heard and valued✨ The power of a 5-star customer moment (including the champagne surprise at the Roar Awards!)✨ Simple ways to bring your team into conversations around strategy, systems, and service Stacey also shares practical ideas for setting up team systems that foster ownership, spark innovation, and keep your customers coming back again and again.

In this follow-up to last week's conversation, Stacey dives deeper into what real business growth actually looks like and spoiler alert, it’s not always sexy. It’s vulnerable. It’s uncomfortable. And it requires way more than just shouting “I want more customers!” In this episode, you’ll learn: ✨ Why growth doesn’t just “happen” (unless you’re Rihanna at the Super Bowl)✨ The three key levers to pull when you're ready to grow: Innovation, Customer Relationships, and Communication✨ How to meet your customers where they actually are (hint: it’s not just in your newsletter)✨ Why vulnerability is a business superpower and what happens when you embrace it From early business missteps (anyone else wanted to print “Have you read the newsletter?” t-shirts?) to failed offers that taught big lessons, Stacey keeps it raw, real, and relatable. Ready to grow? This episode will help you do it with intention, resilience, and a whole lot of heart.

Welcome to “The Season of Impending Doom”—that anxious few weeks before classes kick off when registration numbers aren’t quite where we want them, and every studio owner starts asking: “Is this the year it all falls apart?” In this refreshingly honest and practical episode, Stacey and Rhee tackle the universal pre-season panic and offer up thoughtful, strategy-rich advice for turning worry into action. From knowing when to breathe (and stop doom-scrolling) to how to target your marketing for real results, this episode is packed with insights you can implement today. Key Takeaways: It’s not just you. Many studio owners are still waiting for last-minute enrolments. (September and October are huge!) Ditch the vague dance promos. Be specific in your marketing. Promote exact class times and openings for better results. Less friction, more action. Long forms and decision fatigue are costing you leads. Keep your landing pages short and sweet. Let panic fuel progress. Instead of spiralling, use your nervous energy to fine-tune your strategies and get creative. Community is everything. Don’t suffer in silence. Reach out, compare notes, and find support in like-minded circles. This Episode is for You If: You’re in that awkward limbo between planning and term starting—and the phone isn’t ringing yet. You’re ready to shift from “doom mode” to strategy mode. You want actionable advice for getting those last few enrolments over the line. You need to be reminded: You’re not alone. You’ve got this.

Welcome to Episode 125 of The Perfectionist's Guide to Mothering! For this episode of the podcast, I'm sharing another episode from the friendship summer series my friend Stacey Morgan and I recorded a few years ago. This episode is aboutHow to Make Friends as an Adult Woman. Something that seems like it would be easy, but it can actually be quite a challenge! I love this conversation I have with Stacey and I think you will too! Get a Mom's Guide for Back to School herePre-order my book, Two-Minute Timeouts for New Moms: 100 Devotions for Weary and Wonderful Days.*⁠Join my book launch team.*Affiliate Link

In this episode of How to Run a Successful Business (and Still Have a Life!), Stacey gets real about the evolving expectations of today’s customers and what that means for how we market, connect, and deliver our products and services. Gone are the days of long blog posts and one-size-fits-all content. Your audience is busy, savvy, and has Google at their fingertips. So how do you meet them where they are? Stacey dives into: ✨ Why your customer journey needs to be more flexible than ever✨ The critical shift from “look at me” marketing to connection-focused storytelling✨ What Dance Moms, Google reviews, and stir-frying dinner have in common (trust us on this one)✨ How to stand out by leaning into what makes you and your business different This is the first in a mini-series on deeper customer engagement because loyal customers don’t just want convenience… they want connection.

When you're ‘not quite ready’ to raise prices, hire more team members, up that advertising spend… What’s the hidden toll? How to recognise the subtle ways shrinking back is costing you visibility and revenue. Playing bigger doesn’t have to be reckless, today's episode is about choosing discomfort on purpose. About the power of small, strategic risks that move you forward: raising prices by 10%, hiring a VA for 5 hours a week, or investing in a professional development opportunity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Change is hard. Whether it's shifting schedules, moving studios, or letting go of team members, navigating transition can feel like emotional gymnastics—especially for dance educators and studio owners. In this heartfelt and practical episode, Rhee and Stacey dive deep into the discomfort of change and how it often leads to unexpected blessings. They share personal stories—from studio moves to life-altering career shifts—and reflect on what happens when you stop resisting and start trusting your intuition (yes, even when it feels terrifying). If you've ever faced a turning point in your business or life and didn’t know which way to leap, this one’s for you. Key Takeaways: Change is inevitable—and often necessary. What feels like a disruption might be a blessing in disguise. Your intuition knows. Stacey and Rhee explore how those gentle nudges (and sometimes big shoves) lead us exactly where we need to be. Studio shake-ups aren’t always bad. Whether it’s a rent increase or losing a staff member, what feels like a loss may actually be space for growth. Discomfort is part of the process. From packing boxes to difficult conversations, leaning into discomfort is how we evolve. Simplicity can be a powerful goal. Rhee shares how letting go of “bigger is better” has led to more clarity and peace. This Episode is for You If: You’re resisting change in your studio or business A team member or family is leaving and it feels like a catastrophe You’re navigating burnout or big transitions post-pandemic You want to make a big move—but fear is holding you back

When you're ‘not quite ready’ to raise prices, hire more team members, up that advertising spend… What’s the hidden toll? In today's episode, Stacey unpacks The Subtle Signs You’re Playing Small in your Business (and Don’t Even Know It). Sometimes shrinking back doesn’t look like fear—it looks like being “busy”, over-preparing, or endlessly tweaking. Such as: Avoiding awards, speaking gigs or collaborations because “others are more qualified” Saying yes to work that’s not aligned because you’re afraid to say no Delaying launching because “it’s not perfect yet” This is part 2 of a 3 part series, stay tuned to next week's episode to learn more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Episode 124 of The Perfectionist's Guide to Mothering! For the next two months I'm going to replay some of the most popular episodes we've had over the past five years. Today I'm sharing an episode from the friendship summer series my friend Stacey Morgan and I recorded a few years ago. This is the introductory episode to the series and I highly recommend listening to all of the episodes! (Episodes 51-58). Next time I will replay another episode from that series because it is also one of my most popular episodes.  For these replay episodes, keep in mind that they were recorded a few years ago. But the advice and encouragement in them are timeless, so I hope you will be encouraged and inspired to apply it to your life and motherhood. I hope you enjoy!Pre-order my book, Two-Minute Timeouts for New Moms: 100 Devotions for Weary and Wonderful Days.*Join my book launch team.*Affiliate Link

When you're ‘not quite ready’ to raise prices, hire more team members, up that advertising spend… What’s the hidden toll? In today's episode, Stacey unpacks how to recognise the subtle ways that shrinking back is costing you visibility and revenue in your business. Whether that be:* Missed income from undercharging* Burnout from doing everything yourself* Stagnant growth from under-investing in visibility This is part 1 of a 3 part series, stay tuned to next week's episode to learn more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special reverse-interview episode of Rhee Gold’s Dance Life Podcast, Stacey takes the spotlight to share her innovative two-semester recital model that’s redefining how her Australian studio operates—and retaining more students than ever. Recording on recital morning (yes, really!), Stacey dives deep into how splitting the season into two 20-week semesters, each ending in a full theatrical performance, has drastically improved student engagement, parent satisfaction, and overall studio retention. From rental costumes and washing lines with kangaroos, to streamlining backstage flow and sidestepping level placement drama—this episode is packed with real, practical strategies.

Part two in my Favourite things series to finish out June. Today we are talking all things TV, what's on now that I am loving and what I can't wait for that's coming soon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've asked for it, here it is. My first favourite things episode for 2025. In today's episode we unpack what I have been reading, we have one new selection and one oldie but goodie! Stay tuned for next weeks episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How often do we get to the end of a season, a recital or a competition and instead of taking time to reflect and celebrate how far we have come, we race to the next task on our to-do list? Rhee and Stacey feel guilty of this too! In today's episode they talk about the importance of taking time to celebrate, every step of the journey. Thanks to JackRabbit Dance for their support of the podcast, learn more at Jackrabbitdance.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining us LIVE at the Simply Business Summit, alongside Alli Garison, Carrie Benedet, Tahnee Sanders and Julia Mattox is the fabulous Susan Judd. Susan has an exciting new topic to bring to summit this year, the impact of Menopause on work and the workplace. Today's conversion takes us to where her interest in this revolution started, to her own experience, through to what research is saying about how Menopause is impacting not just the women in our community but everyone in our community. I hope you will join Susan, Alli, Carrie, Tahnee, Julia and I at this years Simply Business Summit June 18-20, 2025. Book now at simplystaceymorgan.com/summitSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Owning a studio an teaching dance is so much more than just what happens down the floor. We have a great responsibility for mentoring, leading and teaching young dancers to be active contributors to their communities and our world. Today Rhee and Stacey unpack the importance of these 3 roles and how they see them changing over the past 50 years. Big thanks to Jackrabbit for supporting Rhee Gold's DanceLife podcast. You can learn more at Jackrabbitdance.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining us LIVE at the Simply Business Summit, alongside Susan Judd, Carrie Benedet and Tahnee Sanders is the fabulous Alli Garison. Alli is your go-to expert when it comes to managing your business and nurturing your family. On today's episode she talks about people pleasing and our ability as women to serve ourselves before others, breaking down the age old stories of having to grind ourselves to burnout in the service of others needs. She will be unpacking this further with practical tips and strategies at the Simply Business Summit. I hope you will join Alli, Susan, Tahnee and I at this years Simply Business Summit June 18-20, 2025. Book now at simplystaceymorgan.com/summitSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you stand for nothing, you'll fall for everything... sometimes as leaders it's up to us to take a stand, it's not always the easiest path but it is one that we must take at times. Today Rhee and Stacey discuss moments in time that they have had to take a stand and the reasons why it's an important part of our roles as leaders of our studios and communities. With thanks to Jackrabbitdance.com for their support!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Exceptional opportunities" was a catch phrase that Stacey came up with in the early days of her studio in order to describe the way in which her studio was different to the studio up the street. It's caught on and is now the "thing" that her studio is known for. Join Stacey and Rhee today as they explore other opportunities to set yourself apart from your competitors and give your studio the edge. A big thanks to jackrabbitdance.com for their support.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s time to mix it up! Sometimes as dance studio owners and dance teachers we fall into the trap of doing what we have always done over and over. Today join Stacey and Rhee as they brainstorm different ways to provide quality dance education and experiences for your students that may be a little bit out of the ordinary. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.