Let’s Get Real with Jena Burris

Welcome to Let’s Get Real, the podcast for women who feel like they’re holding it all together on the outside… but falling apart on the inside. If you’re exhausted from pretending, overwhelmed by the pressure to be everything for everyone, or unsure who you even are anymore—you’re not alone. And you’re not crazy. Let’s Get Real is where we have honest conversations about the struggles most people avoid—healing emotional wounds, losing yourself in motherhood, rebuilding your identity, and learning how to live whole again. I’m Jena Burris—wife, mom, and your host. With a background in marriage and family therapy, life coaching, and years spent navigating life behind the scenes of the NFL and Hollywood, I’m passionate about creating a space where real conversations lead to real healing. Each week, you’ll hear real stories, practical tools, and the reminder that freedom is closer than you think. Because I believe that i

Let’s Get Real with Jena Burris is a health podcast hosted by Jena Burris, with 62 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Jena Burris hosts Let’s Get Real with Jena Burris, a health show with 62 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #63

  What Chronic Illness Taught Me About Rest, Guilt & Self-Trust

  Sep 29, 202636 min

  Free Resource for Moms Feeling overwhelmed and like you’ve lost yourself in the chaos of motherhood? You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep feeling this way. I created this FREE guide for you: The Overwhelmed Mom’s Guide: 10 Small Changes to Start Feeling Like You Again Simple, realistic shifts you can start making today without adding more to your plate. https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801 Episode 63: What Chronic Illness Taught Me About Rest, Guilt & Self-Trust For years, I knew something wasn't right. I was exhausted no matter how much I slept. Brain fog made it difficult to think clearly. Anxiety, dizziness, nausea, and overwhelming fatigue became part of my everyday life. Doctor after doctor told me my lab work looked normal, leaving me questioning my own experience and wondering if it really was "just stress." In this solo episode, I'm sharing the story I've only touched on in short clips online—the journey that ultimately led to discovering severe mold toxicity, the emotional toll of chronic illness, and what this season has taught me about healing. This wasn't just a story about finding a diagnosis. It became a story about learning to trust myself again. When You Know Something Is Wrong—Even When No One Else Can See It Living with chronic illness often feels invisible. Symptoms are easy to explain away as motherhood, grief, hormones, stress, or simply getting older. But when months turn into years and your body continues to decline despite doing "all the right things," it becomes impossible to ignore. I share what it was like navigating countless doctors, trying different treatment plans, feeling dismissed, and questioning my own reality before finally finding practitioners who understood what was happening. Discovering mold toxicity didn't solve everything overnight, but it finally gave a name to what my body had been fighting for years. Healing Isn't Just Physical—It's Emotional Too Finding mold in our home completely changed our lives. From moving out of our house for months, navigating remediation, managing insurance, caring for young children, supporting my husband through his own cognitive symptoms, and making overwhelming decisions while still incredibly sick, it was one of the hardest seasons our family has ever experienced. Even after returning to a safe home, my body didn't immediately bounce back. Instead, it shut down. That experience forced me to ask a question I hadn't asked myself in a very long time: What do I actually need? The answer surprised me. Rest, Play & Learning to Trust Myself Again For so long, my life revolved around responsibilities, productivity, and survival. Healing invited me into something completely different. This summer became an intentional season of rest, fun, and play. I started saying yes to things that brought me joy, playing golf, buying the Jeep I'd dreamed about for over twenty years, taking naps without apologizing, and allowing myself to rediscover parts of who I was underneath the illness. What I didn't expect was the guilt. In this episode, I unpack why choosing ourselves can feel uncomfortable, how chronic illness exposed beliefs I didn't realize I was carrying, and why self-trust often begins with listening to the quiet needs we've ignored for far too long. In This Episode, We Discuss: My years-long journey searching for answers to chronic illness. How mold toxicity was finally discovered. The emotional impact of feeling dismissed by medical professionals. What our family experienced during mold remediation. Why healing requires more than physical treatment. The connection between rest, nervous system regulation, and recovery. Learning to choose joy without guilt. Rebuilding self-trust one small decision at a time. If you've ever felt unseen, exhausted, or questioned your own experience because no one could explain what was happening, I hope this episode reminds you that you're not alone. Healing isn't always linear. Sometimes it begins the moment we stop dismissing ourselves and start believing what our body has been trying to tell us all along.

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  Episode #62

  When Getting Lost Becomes Your Turning Point with Tracy Smith

  Sep 8, 202649 min

  Free Resource for Moms Feeling overwhelmed and like you’ve lost yourself in the chaos of motherhood? You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep feeling this way. I created this FREE guide for you: The Overwhelmed Mom’s Guide: 10 Small Changes to Start Feeling Like You Again Simple, realistic shifts you can start making today without adding more to your plate. https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801 Episode 62: When Getting Lost Becomes Your Turning Point with Tracy Smith Sometimes the biggest transformation doesn't begin with having a perfect plan. It begins with saying yes to something that feels exciting, even if you don't know exactly how it will unfold. In this episode, Jena sits down with author and traveler Tracy Smith to talk about the one-way ticket to Iceland that unexpectedly changed the course of her life. After years of putting everyone else's needs first, Tracy found herself entering a new season where her children no longer needed her in the same ways. What started as an impulsive decision to join friends on a trip eventually became a journey of self-discovery, courage, and learning who she was beyond the roles of mom, employee, and caregiver. Their conversation is a powerful reminder that rediscovering yourself rarely happens overnight. It's often built through small, intentional decisions that slowly reconnect you with the person you've always been. Learning to Say Yes to Yourself Again For years, Tracy's life revolved around caring for everyone else. Like many women, every decision first went through the filter of, "What do my kids need?" As her children became more independent, she realized she finally had space to consider what she wanted. Rather than jumping straight into a completely different life, Tracy explains how learning to say yes started with small decisions—reading a book before doing the dishes, taking a weekend trip, or allowing herself to make plans without guilt. Those small moments eventually built the confidence to book a one-way ticket across the world. Why Travel Changed More Than Her Passport While the destinations were beautiful, the greatest transformation happened within. Travel exposed Tracy to different cultures, perspectives, foods, and ways of living. More importantly, it challenged the fears and patterns she didn't even realize she carried. Over time, she became more confident, more curious, and more willing to step outside her comfort zone. One of the biggest surprises wasn't becoming fearless—it was realizing she no longer depended on someone else to create happiness for her. The change happened so gradually that she didn't fully recognize it until she looked back months later. You Are More Than the Roles You Carry One of the most meaningful parts of this conversation is the reminder that we are more than the titles we hold. Yes, you're a mom, a spouse, an employee, a caregiver—but underneath every role is still you. Tracy shares how rediscovering herself helped her build healthier boundaries, strengthen her relations Nhip with her children, and make intentional choices that reflected who she truly wanted to be. If you've been waiting for the "right time" to pursue a dream, this episode offers hope that your dreams don't disappear just because life gets busy. Sometimes they simply wait patiently until you're ready to answer them. Whether your next step is booking a trip, trying something new, or simply saying yes to yourself in one small way today, this conversation will encourage you to believe that it's never too late to rediscover who you are. Connect with Tracy https://www.instagram.com/tracytravelseverywhere/ https://www.tracysmithauthor.com/ P.S. If this episode resonates with you, please reach out. I truly want to hear your story. You can DM me on Instagram @jenaburris or email me at jena@jenaburris.com. Your voice matters — and I’m here for you.

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  Episode #61

  Smart, Successful and Still Not Fulfilled? Let's Talk About It with Zerina Derveni

  Sep 1, 202638 min

  Free Resource for Moms Feeling overwhelmed and like you’ve lost yourself in the chaos of motherhood? You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep feeling this way. I created this FREE guide for you: The Overwhelmed Mom’s Guide: 10 Small Changes to Start Feeling Like You Again Simple, realistic shifts you can start making today without adding more to your plate. https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801 Episode 61: Smart, Successful and Still Not Fulfilled? Let's Talk About It with Zerina Derveni What happens when you've done everything "right"—built a successful career, reached impressive milestones, and created a life that looks successful from the outside—but internally, something feels off? For many high-achieving women, success becomes a cycle of striving, proving, and chasing the next accomplishment. Yet even after reaching the goals they once dreamed of, they're left wondering why they still feel disconnected, exhausted, or unfulfilled. In this episode of Let's Get Real, Jena sits down with executive and life coach Zerina Derveni to explore why so many ambitious women experience burnout despite outward success. Zerina shares her own story of repeatedly feeling the quiet nudge that she was meant for something different—and how learning to listen to that inner voice completely changed the trajectory of her life. The Courage to Rediscover Yourself Rather than making impulsive decisions, Zerina explains why lasting change begins with slowing down and becoming curious. Together, Jena and Zerina discuss the limiting beliefs that often keep women stuck, the importance of questioning old definitions of success, and why discovering your purpose is a process rather than a single moment. Zerina also introduces her five-stage framework—awakening, unlearning, exploration, integration, and authentic living—which helps women navigate seasons of uncertainty while building greater confidence, clarity, and self-trust. Living Authentically Instead of Performing One of the most powerful themes throughout this conversation is the difference between performing and truly living. Emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and learning to trust your intuition become essential tools for creating a life that feels aligned—not just impressive. If you've been feeling disconnected, questioning your next chapter, or sensing that there's more to life than simply checking boxes, this episode will remind you that those quiet inner nudges aren't something to ignore. They may be the invitation to rediscover who you really are and begin living with greater purpose, peace, and authenticity. Connect with Zerina https://www.zerinalifecoach.com/ https://www.instagram.com/zerinalifecoach/?igshid=YjNmNGQ3MDY%3D P.S. If this episode resonates with you, please reach out. I truly want to hear your story. You can DM me on Instagram @jenaburris or email me at jena@jenaburris.com. Your voice matters — and I’m here for you.

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  Episode #60

  When Faith is Misused & Healing From Abuse with Rev. Cheryl Kincaid

  Aug 25, 202641 min

  Free Resource for Moms Feeling overwhelmed and like you’ve lost yourself in the chaos of motherhood? You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep feeling this way. I created this FREE guide for you: The Overwhelmed Mom’s Guide: 10 Small Changes to Start Feeling Like You Again Simple, realistic shifts you can start making today without adding more to your plate. https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801 Episode 60: When Faith Is Misused & Healing From Abuse With Rev. Cheryl Kincaid There are few things more confusing than being hurt by someone while also being told your faith requires you to stay silent. For many women, spiritual language becomes tangled with fear, guilt, and shame. Scriptures about forgiveness are used to excuse abuse. Submission is misunderstood as enduring harm. And instead of finding safety, many women are left wondering where God is in the middle of their pain. In this episode of Let's Get Real, I sit down with Rev. Cheryl Kincaid to have an honest conversation about faith, abuse, trauma, and healing. Cheryl shares her own journey of surviving childhood abuse, navigating unhealthy relationships, and discovering that true biblical healing required more than simply trying harder or hiding her pain behind Scripture. It required telling the truth. When Faith Is Used to Silence Instead of Heal Cheryl opens up about how she once believed that if she stayed faithful enough, disciplined enough, and only dated Christian men, she would automatically break unhealthy patterns. Instead, she found herself repeatedly drawn into abusive relationships and unhealthy ministry environments. Everything began to change when she sought trauma-informed counseling and started reading Scripture through a different lens. We talk about why counseling is not a lack of faith, the importance of finding safe people to process trauma with, and how confession, honesty, and healing have always been deeply biblical. Cheryl explains the difference between forgiveness and denial, showing how minimizing abuse or pretending it "wasn't that bad" actually keeps women trapped in harmful cycles. God's Heart Is Never Abuse One of the most powerful parts of our conversation centers on righteous anger. Cheryl explains that anger is not the enemy—it can be God's gift that alerts us when injustice has occurred. Healing isn't about pretending we aren't hurt; it's about acknowledging the truth, releasing vengeance to God, and learning healthy boundaries. We also discuss how spiritual language can sometimes be misused to pressure women into staying in unsafe situations. Cheryl challenges common misconceptions about forgiveness, submission, and unconditional trust, reminding us that Jesus Himself modeled wisdom, caution, and healthy boundaries. If you've ever questioned whether protecting yourself is biblical... if you've struggled to separate forgiveness from reconciliation... or if you've wondered whether God truly sees the pain you've carried, this conversation offers both compassion and hope. Healing begins when we stop denying what happened and start telling the truth. If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who may need this reminder today: God never asks you to ignore abuse in the name of faith. He invites you into truth, healing, and freedom. Connect with Rev.Cheryl https://www.instagram.com/pastorcherylkincaid/ https://www.youtube.com/@cherylkincaid5643/podcasts P.S. If this episode resonates with you, please reach out. I truly want to hear your story. You can DM me on Instagram @jenaburris or email me at jena@jenaburris.com. Your voice matters — and I’m here for you.

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  Episode #59

  The Difference Between Real Faith and Avoiding Your Pain With Laura Bratton

  Jun 23, 202639 min

  Free Resource for Moms Feeling overwhelmed and like you’ve lost yourself in the chaos of motherhood? You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep feeling this way. I created this FREE guide for you: 🎁 The Overwhelmed Mom’s Guide: 10 Small Changes to Start Feeling Like You Again Simple, realistic shifts you can start making today without adding more to your plate. 👉 https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801 Episode 59: The Difference Between Real Faith and Avoiding Your Pain With Laura Bratton Faith can be powerful. But sometimes what we call faith is actually avoidance. In this episode, I sit down with Laura Bratton to talk about the subtle, and often invisible — difference between trusting God and bypassing our pain. Because there’s a version of “faith” that sounds spiritual… but keeps us disconnected from our hearts. And there’s a version of faith that requires us to feel everything. When Faith Becomes a Shield For many women, especially in faith communities, we’re taught to: “Give it to God.” “Trust the process.” “Count it all joy.” And while those truths hold weight, they can sometimes become shields we hide behind. Laura shares how easy it is to spiritually explain away grief, anger, disappointment, or trauma instead of actually processing it. We quote scripture. We pray harder. We smile through it. But underneath? The pain is still there. Real faith isn’t pretending we’re okay. It isn’t minimizing heartbreak. It isn’t rushing ourselves to the lesson. Real faith is bringing our full, messy, human selves to God — without editing. The Courage to Feel One of the most powerful parts of this conversation is the reminder that avoidance delays healing. When we suppress grief, it doesn’t disappear. When we silence anger, it doesn’t dissolve. When we rush past disappointment, it doesn’t transform. It just goes underground. Laura talks about how true healing begins when we allow ourselves to name what we’re actually feeling, even when those feelings feel “unspiritual.” Sad. Angry. Confused. Disillusioned. Tired. God isn’t afraid of those emotions. And neither should we be. Faith That Holds Both Faith isn’t the absence of pain. It’s the willingness to stay present inside it. This episode invites you to consider: Where am I using spiritual language to avoid emotional work? Where am I rushing myself to gratitude instead of sitting in grief? What would it look like to trust God while still honoring my pain? Because the deepest faith isn’t shiny. It’s honest. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re trusting God or just avoiding something hard… this conversation will gently help you untangle the difference. And if you’ve felt pressure to “be strong” in your faith while quietly hurting inside — you are not alone. Connect with Laura Bratton You can learn more about Laura’s work, her book Harnessing Courage , and her coaching and speaking at LauraBratton.com. Her work is a powerful reminder that grief, fear, faith, and gratitude can exist together and that moving forward doesn’t require having everything figured out. P.S. If this episode resonates with you, please reach out. I truly want to hear your story. You can DM me on Instagram @jenaburris or email me at jena@jenaburris.com. Your voice matters — and I’m here for you.

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