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Published by Erin McQuade-Wright
The Brave and Balanced Fundraiser is the podcast I wish had existed during my 15 years in fundraising. It’s a love offering to the people behind the mission—the professional fundraisers who give their hearts and energy every day to make the world better. This show isn’t about strategy, metrics, or money. It’s about you —the human being doing the work. Each episode offers real tools and soulful conversations to help you regulate your nervous system, reconnect with your purpose, and renew your energy so you can lead with clarity, compassion, and courage. If you’ve ever felt stretched thin, overworked, or caught in the constant pressure to perform, this podcast is your invitation to return home to yourself. Join me to learn how to cultivate balance, resilience, and authentic impact—from the inside out. Full Episode Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/fkFZpmNYF3v
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Why your first reaction to a big vision may be the very thing keeping you small Have you ever had an exciting idea—only to talk yourself out of it before it had a chance to breathe? In this episode, I share a powerful insight from a recent one-on-one business retreat: the biggest obstacle to our dreams often isn't a lack of time, money, or opportunity. It's the habit of rushing straight to the logistics. When we're operating from old patterns of fear or self-protection, our minds become remarkably efficient at explaining why something won't work. Before we've even allowed ourselves to imagine what's possible, we've already dismissed it. What if the first step isn't figuring out how your vision will happen—but giving yourself permission to simply hold it? Whether you're dreaming about a bold fundraising initiative, a career move, or a life that feels more aligned, this episode invites you to notice how quickly you leave possibility behind—and how opening your heart may be the key to opening your future. In this episode, you'll discover: Why your nervous system may be shutting down creativity before it has a chance to emerge. How childhood patterns of staying safe can quietly keep you thinking small as an adult. The surprising connection between an open heart and expansive vision. Why jumping immediately to "how" can suffocate your best ideas. A simple practice to help you stay with possibility long enough to discover what's truly available. Sometimes the most courageous thing you can do isn't to build the dream. It's to stop talking yourself out of it. Enjoying the podcast? Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if this conversation resonated with you, I'd love for you to leave a rating and review. It helps more fundraisers and nonprofit leaders discover a healthier, more sustainable way to lead. 💌 Join my free newsletter, The Brave & Balanced Note , for practical tools and reflections on emotional mastery, fundraising, leadership, and creating an inner climate where abundance can grow: https://brave-balanced-note.kit.com/profile You can also learn more about my coaching and speaking at Vitalist Coaching : https://www.vitalistcoaching.com Send Erin a text Book your 1:1 Brave and Balanced Breakthrough Coaching Session here: https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough ✨ Stay Connected & Continue Your Fundraising Growth Listen to all episodes + subscribe: https://thebraveandbalancedfundraiser.buzzsprout.com Join the community: The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser Facebook Group 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/braveandbalancedfundraiser Book a Brave & Balanced Breakthrough Call: A personalized 1:1 session to support your inner clarity and fundraising wellbeing. 👉 https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough Learn more about Erin’s coaching & nervous-system based support: VitalistCoaching.com Connect on Instagram: @erinmcquadewright
How to Stop Believing the Stories That Keep You Small What if the loudest voice in your head isn't the wisest one? In this special collaboration episode, Erin sits down with Tania Cervoni , host of Banish the Lies , to explore the stories we unknowingly carry about ourselves—and how those stories shape our confidence, our relationships, our careers, and our willingness to pursue what matters most. Together, they discuss the inner critic, nervous system regulation, curiosity, perfectionism, and the surprising truth that ready isn't a feeling—it's a decision. Whether you're a fundraiser, leader, entrepreneur, or simply someone who wants to stop second-guessing yourself, this conversation offers practical tools for recognizing the voices that keep you small and choosing a different path. In this episode, you'll learn: Why your inner critic developed in the first place—and what it's trying to protect. How curiosity can interrupt anxiety and create new possibilities. Why success often triggers fear before it creates confidence. What The Big Leap taught both Erin and Tania about expansion and upper-limit problems. How childhood strategies can quietly shape our careers and relationships decades later. Why "ready" isn't a feeling you wait for—it's a decision you make. A compassionate way to relate to the younger parts of yourself that still fear rejection and failure. About Tania Cervoni Tania Cervoni is the host of Banish the Lies , a podcast that helps listeners recognize and challenge the unconscious beliefs that quietly shape their lives. Through thoughtful conversations and practical insights, she explores self-awareness, self-compassion, leadership, and the stories we inherit about who we are. If this conversation resonated with you, I encourage you to listen to Banish the Lies and connect with Tania for more conversations about quieting the inner critic and creating a life based on truth rather than fear. Stay Connected If you're enjoying The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser , be sure to subscribe and join The Brave &Balanced Note , my free newsletter with practical tools for emotional mastery, sustainable fundraising, and living with greater courage and ease. And if this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to leave a review or share it with someone whose inner critic has been a little too loud lately. Send Erin a text Book your 1:1 Brave and Balanced Breakthrough Coaching Session here: https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough ✨ Stay Connected & Continue Your Fundraising Growth Listen to all episodes + subscribe: https://thebraveandbalancedfundraiser.buzzsprout.com Join the community: The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser Facebook Group 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/braveandbalancedfundraiser Book a Brave & Balanced Breakthrough Call: A personalized 1:1 session to support your inner clarity and fundraising wellbeing. 👉 https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough Learn more about Erin’s coaching & nervous-system based support: VitalistCoaching.com Connect on Instagram: @erinmcquadewright
How Plants Can Help You Return to Calm, Healing, and Self-Sovereignty In this personal episode, I'm stepping outside my usual fundraising conversations to share one of the practices that has profoundly shaped my own healing journey: working with medicinal plants. When I became seriously ill in early 2020, I found myself searching for ways to support my body while the world felt uncertain. That search led me into the study of herbalism—a path that reminded me of something our ancestors once knew well: that many of the plants growing around us have been trusted allies for generations. This isn't about rejecting modern medicine. Quite the opposite. It's about expanding our understanding of what caring for ourselves can look like. Alongside the incredible gifts of modern healthcare, there's also something deeply empowering about learning simple ways to support our nervous system, our rest, and our everyday well-being. In this episode, I share: Why studying herbalism changed my relationship with healing The connection between plants, intuition, and self-sovereignty Four gentle herbs I reach for regularly (and why) How to prepare nourishing herbal teas and relaxing herbal baths Why slowing down and reconnecting with nature may be one of the greatest forms of self-care available to us Whether you're simply curious about herbs or you've been longing to reconnect with the natural world, I hope this conversation encourages you to explore with wonder, wisdom, and respect. Mentioned in this episode Penn Herb — Quality dried medicinal herbs and supplies https://www.pennherb.com Strictly Medicinal Seeds — Medicinal herb seeds and plants for growing your own herbal garden https://strictlymedicinalseeds.com If you're enjoying these conversations about living with greater courage, balance, and authenticity, I'd love to have you join my free newsletter, The Brave & Balanced Note , where I share practical reflections and tools to help you create an inner climate that supports the life you're here to live. Subscribe here: https://brave-balanced-note.kit.com/profile?_gl=1*qniw91*_gcl_au*MjEwODgyNzI0OS4xNzc1NzY5ODE1 Send Erin a text Book your 1:1 Brave and Balanced Breakthrough Coaching Session here: https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough ✨ Stay Connected & Continue Your Fundraising Growth Listen to all episodes + subscribe: https://thebraveandbalancedfundraiser.buzzsprout.com Join the community: The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser Facebook Group 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/braveandbalancedfundraiser Book a Brave & Balanced Breakthrough Call: A personalized 1:1 session to support your inner clarity and fundraising wellbeing. 👉 https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough Learn more about Erin’s coaching & nervous-system based support: VitalistCoaching.com Connect on Instagram: @erinmcquadewright
The Fear That Keeps Brilliant Women Playing Small Have you ever downplayed your accomplishments, brushed off a compliment, or hesitated to celebrate a win because you didn't want to seem arrogant? Many of us were taught that being humble is a virtue. But what if some of what we've been calling humility is actually fear? In this episode of The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser , Erin McQuade-Wright explores the hidden emotional patterns that keep so many caring, capable people from stepping fully into their gifts. Together, we'll unpack why we shrink ourselves to stay safe, how old stories about criticism and belonging shape our behavior, and what it really means to lead with confidence without losing our humility. If you've ever worried about "getting too big for your britches," felt uncomfortable receiving recognition, or found yourself holding back even though you know you're capable of more, this conversation is for you. In this episode, you'll discover: Why humility and self-doubt are not the same thing. How fear of criticism can quietly keep you playing small. The surprising cost of dismissing your accomplishments instead of celebrating them. Why you are not responsible for managing other people's emotional reactions to your success. A simple daily practice to help you build an internal sense of safety instead of searching for it through other people's approval. The goal isn't to become louder, more boastful, or more self-promotional. It's to become free—free to accept appreciation, celebrate your growth, and pursue the work you're uniquely here to do without apologizing for taking up space. Enjoying the podcast? Follow The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser , leave a review, and share this episode with someone who has a habit of making themselves smaller to keep everyone else comfortable. Want more practical tools for leading with courage, clarity, and emotional resilience? Sign up for The Brave & Balanced Note , my free newsletter, where I share coaching insights, reflections, and practical exercises to help you lead from alignment instead of anxiety. Join here: https://brave-balanced-note.kit.com/profile?_gl=1*qniw91*_gcl_au*MjEwODgyNzI0OS4xNzc1NzY5ODE1 Send Erin a text Book your 1:1 Brave and Balanced Breakthrough Coaching Session here: https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough ✨ Stay Connected & Continue Your Fundraising Growth Listen to all episodes + subscribe: https://thebraveandbalancedfundraiser.buzzsprout.com Join the community: The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser Facebook Group 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/braveandbalancedfundraiser Book a Brave & Balanced Breakthrough Call: A personalized 1:1 session to support your inner clarity and fundraising wellbeing. 👉 https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough Learn more about Erin’s coaching & nervous-system based support: VitalistCoaching.com Connect on Instagram: @erinmcquadewright
How Unexpected Endings Can Lead You Back to Yourself Losing a job can feel devastating. It can shake your confidence, your identity, and your sense of security. But what if getting fired wasn't the end of your story? What if it was the beginning of something far more aligned? In this episode of The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser , Erin McQuade-Wright shares her own experiences of both being fired and having to let others go, exploring why the career endings we resist can sometimes become the greatest gifts of our lives. Together, we'll unpack the fear that keeps us holding on long after we've outgrown a role, why some of us are wired to stay longer than we should, and how unexpected transitions create an opportunity to reconnect with who we really are and the work we're here to do. Along the way, Erin references the astrological concept of Fixed signs —one of the three zodiac modalities—as a metaphor for loyalty, perseverance, and the tendency to resist change. If you're curious about the differences between Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable signs , The Old Farmer's Almanac offers a helpful overview of these personality modalities: https://www.almanac.com/cardinal-fixed-mutable-cardinal-signs . In astrology, Cardinal signs tend to initiate, Fixed signs sustain and stabilize, and Mutable signs adapt and embrace change. While astrology isn't the focus of this episode, it's a useful lens for understanding why some of us naturally cling to the familiar while others are more comfortable embracing change. In this episode, you'll discover: Why getting fired doesn't define your worth—it can create space for something more authentic. How fear quietly keeps us in jobs we've already outgrown. The questions to ask yourself after an unexpected career ending. How work can become a distraction from your deeper purpose. Why life's biggest disruptions often become the catalyst for your greatest growth. If you're navigating a layoff, career transition, or simply wondering whether it's time for a change, this episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and trust that endings often make room for beginnings we couldn't yet imagine. Enjoying the podcast? Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who's facing a career transition or wondering what's next. Want more tools for leading with courage, clarity, and emotional resilience? Sign up for The Brave & Balanced Note , my free newsletter, where I share coaching insights, practical tools, and reflections to help you lead from alignment instead of anxiety. Join here: https://brave-balanced-note.kit.com/profile?_gl=1*qniw91*_gcl_au*MjEwODgyNzI0OS4xNzc1NzY5ODE1 Send Erin a text Book your 1:1 Brave and Balanced Breakthrough Coaching Session here: https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough ✨ Stay Connected & Continue Your Fundraising Growth Listen to all episodes + subscribe: https://thebraveandbalancedfundraiser.buzzsprout.com Join the community: The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser Facebook Group 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/braveandbalancedfundraiser Book a Brave & Balanced Breakthrough Call: A personalized 1:1 session to support your inner clarity and fundraising wellbeing. 👉 https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough Learn more about Erin’s coaching & nervous-system based support: VitalistCoaching.com Connect on Instagram: @erinmcquadewright
Why Emotional Intelligence Matters More Than Fundraising Experience Serving on a nonprofit board can be one of the most meaningful ways to give back—but it can also become one of the fastest paths to burnout if you're carrying too much responsibility without enough support. In this episode of The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser , Erin McQuade-Wright explores what effective board fundraising really looks like, why asking for money isn't the only way to advance your organization's mission, and how emotional intelligence can help you become a more confident and sustainable volunteer leader. Whether you're brand new to board service or you've been volunteering for years, this conversation will help you approach fundraising with greater clarity, healthier boundaries, and a mindset that allows you to serve without sacrificing yourself. In this episode, you'll learn: Why relationship-building is more powerful than simply asking for donations. How a culture of philanthropy strengthens fundraising across an entire organization. Practical ways new board members can begin fundraising with confidence. Why nonprofit organizations have a responsibility to support—not just expect—their volunteer fundraisers. How emotional intelligence helps you recognize your limits before burnout and resentment take over. If you've ever wondered whether you're doing enough as a board member—or felt like you're carrying more than your share of the load—this episode is for you. Enjoying the podcast? Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and share it with a fellow board member, volunteer, or nonprofit leader who could use a little encouragement. Want more practical tools for leading with courage, clarity, and emotional resilience? Sign up for The Brave & Balanced Note , my free newsletter, where I share reflections, coaching insights, and practical strategies to help you lead from alignment instead of anxiety. Join here: https://brave-balanced-note.kit.com/profile?_gl=1*qniw91*_gcl_au*MjEwODgyNzI0OS4xNzc1NzY5ODE1 Send Erin a text Book your 1:1 Brave and Balanced Breakthrough Coaching Session here: https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough ✨ Stay Connected & Continue Your Fundraising Growth Listen to all episodes + subscribe: https://thebraveandbalancedfundraiser.buzzsprout.com Join the community: The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser Facebook Group 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/braveandbalancedfundraiser Book a Brave & Balanced Breakthrough Call: A personalized 1:1 session to support your inner clarity and fundraising wellbeing. 👉 https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough Learn more about Erin’s coaching & nervous-system based support: VitalistCoaching.com Connect on Instagram: @erinmcquadewright
How cognitive distortions drive fundraising anxiety—and a simple progressive muscle relaxation practice to shift your nervous system back into ease, clarity, and authentic confidence. Ever feel like you have to be “palatable” to donors—like you need to shrink, mask, or perform to succeed? In this episode, Erin sits down with Kelly Hint, LMHC, NCC, and OCD specialist, to unpack the difference between cognitive dissonance (the body-level discomfort of not being your authentic self) and cognitive distortions (the anxious thought-loops that fuel perfectionism, catastrophizing, mind-reading, and the “shoulds”). You’ll hear how these patterns show up in fundraising pressure—like tying your self-worth to results, assuming a “no” means you failed, or believing you can’t be fully yourself without losing the donor. Then Kelly guides a progressive muscle relaxation practice you can use before donor meetings, after tough interactions, or anytime anxiety takes over—helping you release tension and regain steadiness. In this episode, you’ll learn: Common cognitive distortions that drive fundraising anxiety Why uncertainty triggers the mind to “fill in the gaps” with fear How the body holds stress—and why job changes don’t automatically reset it A step-by-step progressive muscle relaxation exercise (quick, practical, and repeatable) About Kelly Hint: Kelly is a licensed mental health counselor in New York, a nationally certified counselor, a nationally certified clinical mental health counselor, an OCD specialist, and the author of Kick Ass Coping Companion . Find Kelly: Book: Kick Ass Coping Companion (https://a.co/d/7slRbZ7) Therapy: KellyMHint.com Coaching: CoachKellyHint.com Podcast: The Hint Hive: Amplifying Women’s Voices Send Erin a text Book your 1:1 Brave and Balanced Breakthrough Coaching Session here: https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough ✨ Stay Connected & Continue Your Fundraising Growth Listen to all episodes + subscribe: https://thebraveandbalancedfundraiser.buzzsprout.com Join the community: The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser Facebook Group 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/braveandbalancedfundraiser Book a Brave & Balanced Breakthrough Call: A personalized 1:1 session to support your inner clarity and fundraising wellbeing. 👉 https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough Learn more about Erin’s coaching & nervous-system based support: VitalistCoaching.com Connect on Instagram: @erinmcquadewright
Why Other People's Emotions Keep Pulling You Away from Your Most Important Work Have you ever sat down with a clear plan for your day… only to find yourself pulled into everyone else's problems? In this episode, Erin shares a simple metaphor from the New Mexico desert that completely changed the way she thinks about work, leadership, and people-pleasing. Using the image of lava rock—with all of its tiny holes and distractions—she explores why so many caring professionals abandon their own priorities in order to manage relationships, smooth conflict, and keep everyone else comfortable. If you've ever finished a workday exhausted without making progress on what mattered most, this episode will help you understand why—and how to begin changing the pattern with curiosity instead of self-criticism. In this episode, you'll learn: Why people-pleasing is often a nervous system safety strategy—not a personality trait. How workplace relationships can quietly pull your attention away from your highest priorities. What this looks like in fundraising conversations with donors and volunteers. Why mindfulness helps you notice unconscious patterns before they take over your day. A simple question to ask yourself whenever you feel pulled into everyone else's agenda. Resources mentioned Playing Big by Tara Mohr If this episode resonated with you, subscribe so you never miss an episode, and join The Brave & Balanced Note , my free newsletter, for practical insights on emotional mastery, leadership, and fundraising without burnout. Sign up here: https://brave-balanced-note.kit.com/profile?_gl=1*qniw91*_gcl_au*MjEwODgyNzI0OS4xNzc1NzY5ODE1 If you found this conversation helpful, I'd be grateful if you'd leave a rating or review—it helps more thoughtful fundraisers discover the show. Send Erin a text Book your 1:1 Brave and Balanced Breakthrough Coaching Session here: https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough ✨ Stay Connected & Continue Your Fundraising Growth Listen to all episodes + subscribe: https://thebraveandbalancedfundraiser.buzzsprout.com Join the community: The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser Facebook Group 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/braveandbalancedfundraiser Book a Brave & Balanced Breakthrough Call: A personalized 1:1 session to support your inner clarity and fundraising wellbeing. 👉 https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough Learn more about Erin’s coaching & nervous-system based support: VitalistCoaching.com Connect on Instagram: @erinmcquadewright
What Teachers and Fundraisers Can Teach Each Other About Burnout, Boundaries, and Being Human Teachers and fundraisers may seem worlds apart—but underneath the surface, they're doing remarkably similar emotional work. In this special podcast swap episode, Erin joins Betsy Burris , host of Teaching Through Emotions , for a wide-ranging conversation about the invisible emotional labor that comes with helping professions. Together they explore burnout, people-pleasing, nervous system regulation, somatic awareness, the Enneagram, and why so many caring professionals end up sacrificing themselves in the name of serving others. Whether you spend your days in classrooms, nonprofit organizations, hospitals, coaching practices, or any profession centered on helping people, this conversation offers a powerful reminder: the relationship you have with yourself shapes every relationship you have with others. In this episode, we discuss: Why teaching and fundraising attract many of the same kinds of people. How people-pleasing can become an unconscious survival strategy. The difference between compassion and self-abandonment. Why burnout is often rooted in emotional patterns—not just workload. How somatic awareness helps us access wisdom beyond our thinking minds. The hidden cost of tying your worth to your performance. Why learning to feel your emotions creates more capacity to support others. A simple 90-second daily practice to begin reconnecting with yourself. Connect with Betsy Burris If this conversation resonated with you, be sure to check out Teaching Through Emotions , where Betsy helps teachers understand the emotional and relational dynamics that shape life in the classroom. Even if you're not an educator, you'll find practical wisdom for navigating relationships, emotions, and leadership with greater awareness. Stay Connected If you're enjoying The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser , subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and join The Brave & Balanced Note , my free newsletter filled with practical tools for emotional mastery, fundraising, and sustainable leadership. I'd also love to hear what stood out to you from this conversation. Leave a review, share this episode with a colleague, or send it to someone in a helping profession who needs the reminder that taking care of themselves isn't selfish—it's essential. Send Erin a text Book your 1:1 Brave and Balanced Breakthrough Coaching Session here: https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough ✨ Stay Connected & Continue Your Fundraising Growth Listen to all episodes + subscribe: https://thebraveandbalancedfundraiser.buzzsprout.com Join the community: The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser Facebook Group 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/braveandbalancedfundraiser Book a Brave & Balanced Breakthrough Call: A personalized 1:1 session to support your inner clarity and fundraising wellbeing. 👉 https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough Learn more about Erin’s coaching & nervous-system based support: VitalistCoaching.com Connect on Instagram: @erinmcquadewright
How Your Words Can Make Donors Pull Away Have you ever answered a simple question and then kept talking long after you'd already answered it? Maybe you've explained your reasoning, then explained your explanation, then explained why you explained it in the first place. If so, you're not alone. In this episode of The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser , Erin McQuade-Wright explores the hidden emotional and nervous-system dynamics behind over-explaining. What appears on the surface to be a communication habit is often something deeper: a fear of rejection, disapproval, misunderstanding, or not being enough. Drawing on a recent experience in a group setting, Erin unpacks what happens when explanation turns into self-protection—and how this same pattern can show up in fundraising conversations, where too much talking can unintentionally push donors away. You'll learn: Why over-explaining is often a nervous system response rather than a communication problem How fear of rejection can drive us to keep talking long after we've made our point What a donor taught Erin about the importance of leaving room for others to respond How over-explaining can crowd out connection and make people pull away A simple somatic practice for catching yourself when you're leaving your center and seeking approval If you've ever found yourself talking faster, explaining more, or trying to convince someone to understand you, this episode offers a compassionate invitation to pause, breathe, and trust that your words can stand on their own. In This Episode: The difference between explaining and over-explaining Why silence can feel uncomfortable The connection between over-explaining and self-worth How this pattern shows up in fundraising asks Learning to let your words land A Question to Reflect On: The next time you catch yourself over-explaining, ask: "Am I speaking to inform, or am I speaking to seek safety?" The answer might surprise you. Subscribe to The Brave & Balanced Note for weekly reflections and practical tools to help you fundraise, lead, and live with more courage, clarity, and ease: The Brave & Balanced Note Send Erin a text Book your 1:1 Brave and Balanced Breakthrough Coaching Session here: https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough ✨ Stay Connected & Continue Your Fundraising Growth Listen to all episodes + subscribe: https://thebraveandbalancedfundraiser.buzzsprout.com Join the community: The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser Facebook Group 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/braveandbalancedfundraiser Book a Brave & Balanced Breakthrough Call: A personalized 1:1 session to support your inner clarity and fundraising wellbeing. 👉 https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough Learn more about Erin’s coaching & nervous-system based support: VitalistCoaching.com Connect on Instagram: @erinmcquadewright
Why Moving Faster Isn't Always the Answer What if the thing making you feel like you need to speed up is actually the thing asking you to slow down? In this episode of The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser , Erin McQuade-Wright explores the hidden cost of living in a constant state of urgency. From fundraising campaigns and Giving Tuesday deadlines to overflowing inboxes and endless to-do lists, many nonprofit professionals have learned to operate as though every day is an emergency. But what happens when urgency becomes our default way of being? Drawing on her own experience in fundraising leadership, Erin shares how chronic urgency can narrow our perspective, strain our relationships, disconnect us from our bodies, and ultimately make us less effective—not more. You'll learn: Why urgency is a normal human response—but a dangerous long-term strategy How constant activation affects your nervous system, creativity, and decision-making The surprising reason reflection can feel uncomfortable when you're stuck in "go mode" Why many fundraisers feel guilty slowing down, even when they desperately need it Practical ways to pause, regulate, and respond more intentionally when everything feels urgent Erin also shares insights from Mark Nepo's The Book of Awakening and reflects on the fundraising culture that often rewards exhaustion while overlooking sustainability. If you've ever felt like you can't stop, can't rest, or can't slow down because there's simply too much to do, this episode is for you. In This Episode: The difference between true urgency and chronic urgency How fundraising culture can normalize burnout Why post-campaign reflection is often the first thing to disappear—and the thing we need most The hidden belief that slowing down is irresponsible What it means to "slow down to go fast" Journal Prompt: Where in your life are you telling yourself, "I don't have time for that" ? Could that be the very thing your nervous system needs most? Subscribe to The Brave & Balanced Note for weekly reflections and practical tools to help you fundraise, lead, and live with more steadiness and less stress: The Brave & Balanced Note Send Erin a text Book your 1:1 Brave and Balanced Breakthrough Coaching Session here: https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough ✨ Stay Connected & Continue Your Fundraising Growth Listen to all episodes + subscribe: https://thebraveandbalancedfundraiser.buzzsprout.com Join the community: The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser Facebook Group 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/braveandbalancedfundraiser Book a Brave & Balanced Breakthrough Call: A personalized 1:1 session to support your inner clarity and fundraising wellbeing. 👉 https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough Learn more about Erin’s coaching & nervous-system based support: VitalistCoaching.com Connect on Instagram: @erinmcquadewright
The “state” shift that turns scarcity into abundance… fast In this episode, Erin sits down with Dr. Pollyanna Chavez, hypnotherapist and NLP trainer, to explore why your state might be your most powerful fundraising tool. Pollyanna shares the surprising origin story that led her into hypnosis and neurolinguistic programming — a wild mustang that mirrored her internal anxiety — and then guides Erin through a simple, practical exercise to shift from scarcity and constriction into abundance, joy, and play. You’ll learn how to “anchor” a resourceful state (using thumb + index finger), why donors can sense incongruence even when you’re saying the “right” words, and how to give your high-achiever mind an on/off switch — so you can show up calm, connected, and magnetic. In this episode, we cover: The wild mustang that became a “thousand-pound emotional thermometer” Why your nervous system broadcasts louder than your fundraising script “Every machine needs an on and off button” (and how to install one) A guided state-shift exercise you can replay and practice at home Anchoring abundance, joy, and play before donor meetings “Be happy for no reason at all” (and why it’s not suppression) “If you don’t know how to run your mind, your mind is gonna run itself” Try this: Before your next donor meeting, press thumb + index finger together (your anchor), recall a vivid memory of abundance/joy/play, and let the feeling expand through your body. Notice what changes in your presence. Find Dr. Pollyanna Chavez and her NLPI (Next Level Pro Institute) here: https://linktr.ee/nlpi If you loved this episode: Follow/subscribe to The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser , and share this with a fundraiser friend who’s ready to stop white-knuckling their way through asks. Send Erin a text Book your 1:1 Brave and Balanced Breakthrough Coaching Session here: https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough ✨ Stay Connected & Continue Your Fundraising Growth Listen to all episodes + subscribe: https://thebraveandbalancedfundraiser.buzzsprout.com Join the community: The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser Facebook Group 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/braveandbalancedfundraiser Book a Brave & Balanced Breakthrough Call: A personalized 1:1 session to support your inner clarity and fundraising wellbeing. 👉 https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough Learn more about Erin’s coaching & nervous-system based support: VitalistCoaching.com Connect on Instagram: @erinmcquadewright
And Why They Keep Becoming Your Reality What if the thoughts you repeat most often about money are quietly shaping your entire life? In this episode of The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser, Erin McQuade-Wright explores the hidden “money mantras” many of us inherited in childhood — beliefs like money is hard to make , there’s never enough , I have to sacrifice myself for money , or people with money are selfish — and how those unconscious thoughts continue to shape our nervous systems, fundraising, relationships, leadership, exhaustion, and sense of self-worth. Erin shares personal stories, practical examples, and reflective journaling prompts to help listeners uncover the financial beliefs they absorbed before they were old enough to question them — and begin intentionally choosing new beliefs that create more peace, possibility, and alignment. In this episode, you’ll learn: How unconscious “default mantras” about money are formed Why your brain continually searches for evidence supporting your beliefs How scarcity beliefs show up in fundraising and leadership The connection between money beliefs, burnout, hyper-independence, and over-functioning Why receiving support and abundance can feel emotionally unsafe A simple exercise to help you identify and upgrade inherited money beliefs Erin also explores how the nervous system often prefers familiar struggle over unfamiliar expansion — even when the old patterns are painful — and why changing your internal story about money can begin changing your external experience of life. Journal prompt from this episode: The money belief I inherited was… The belief I want to practice instead is… Subscribe to Erin’s newsletter, The Brave &Balanced Note , for reflections and tools to help you lead, fundraise, and live with more steadiness and less scarcity: The Brave & Balanced Note Send Erin a text Book your 1:1 Brave and Balanced Breakthrough Coaching Session here: https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough ✨ Stay Connected & Continue Your Fundraising Growth Listen to all episodes + subscribe: https://thebraveandbalancedfundraiser.buzzsprout.com Join the community: The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser Facebook Group 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/braveandbalancedfundraiser Book a Brave & Balanced Breakthrough Call: A personalized 1:1 session to support your inner clarity and fundraising wellbeing. 👉 https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough Learn more about Erin’s coaching & nervous-system based support: VitalistCoaching.com Connect on Instagram: @erinmcquadewright
Why Overresponsibility Eventually Turns Into Resentment What if the very thing that makes you “good” at fundraising is also quietly exhausting you? In this episode of The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser, Erin McQuade-Wright explores the hidden emotional pattern behind overgiving, over-functioning, and burnout in the nonprofit world: the Selfless Servant persona. With humor, honesty, and powerful personal stories, Erin unpacks why so many fundraisers unconsciously tie their worth to being indispensable — and why that pattern eventually leads to resentment, nervous system exhaustion, and emotional depletion. You’ll learn: The difference between genuine service and self-abandonment Why over-functioning can become an identity How resentment signals that a boundary or truth has been ignored The hidden emotional “payoff” many people get from martyrdom Why exhaustion is not proof of devotion How to begin serving from steadiness instead of sacrifice Erin also shares a practical “Selfless Servant Checklist” to help listeners recognize this pattern in themselves — including people pleasing, emotional scorekeeping, over-responsibility, difficulty receiving support, and the belief that rest is selfish. If you’ve ever felt secretly resentful while telling everyone you’re “happy to help,” this episode is for you. Subscribe to Erin’s newsletter, The Brave & Balanced Note , for reflections and tools to help you fundraise, lead, and live with more steadiness and less self-abandonment: The Brave & Balanced Note Send Erin a text Book your 1:1 Brave and Balanced Breakthrough Coaching Session here: https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough ✨ Stay Connected & Continue Your Fundraising Growth Listen to all episodes + subscribe: https://thebraveandbalancedfundraiser.buzzsprout.com Join the community: The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser Facebook Group 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/braveandbalancedfundraiser Book a Brave & Balanced Breakthrough Call: A personalized 1:1 session to support your inner clarity and fundraising wellbeing. 👉 https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough Learn more about Erin’s coaching & nervous-system based support: VitalistCoaching.com Connect on Instagram: @erinmcquadewright
How resentment quietly builds when you abandon yourself for the mission Have you ever noticed how some people in fundraising start out hopeful, warm, and deeply connected to the mission… and a few years later they’re cynical, exhausted, and quietly resentful? In this episode, Erin McQuade-Wright explores why bitterness is often not a character flaw—but accumulated self-abandonment. When we constantly override our needs, overextend ourselves, avoid boundaries, and expect other people to regulate our emotional experience, resentment begins to build beneath the surface. And over time, that bitterness doesn’t just affect our wellbeing—it affects our fundraising results, our relationships, and the energy we bring into every room. This episode dives into the hidden emotional patterns beneath bitterness, how your nervous system shapes your fundraising presence, and why your internal climate matters more than you may realize. You’ll also learn how to recognize bitterness early, work with it instead of against it, and stop outsourcing your emotional state to donors, leadership, coworkers, or circumstances. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why bitterness is often accumulated self-abandonment How resentment quietly builds in caring, mission-driven people The hidden cost of overgiving and chronically overriding yourself Why your energy and nervous system shape your fundraising results How dreading your day changes what you notice and attract A simple somatic practice to regulate your nervous system before bitterness hardens into burnout A moment to reflect: What if bitterness isn’t proof that something is wrong with you… but feedback that something inside you needs your attention? Ready to go deeper? Subscribe to The Brave & Balanced Note for weekly reflections and practical tools to help you regulate your inner climate and fundraise with more ease, clarity, and grounded confidence: The Brave & Balanced Note Share this episode: If you know a fundraiser who’s carrying too much, feeling resentful, or quietly burning out, send them this episode. They may need the reminder that bitterness is not failure—and they don’t have to harden themselves to survive this work. Send Erin a text Book your 1:1 Brave and Balanced Breakthrough Coaching Session here: https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough ✨ Stay Connected & Continue Your Fundraising Growth Listen to all episodes + subscribe: https://thebraveandbalancedfundraiser.buzzsprout.com Join the community: The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser Facebook Group 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/braveandbalancedfundraiser Book a Brave & Balanced Breakthrough Call: A personalized 1:1 session to support your inner clarity and fundraising wellbeing. 👉 https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough Learn more about Erin’s coaching & nervous-system based support: VitalistCoaching.com Connect on Instagram: @erinmcquadewright
The invisible limit that’s controlling how much money you raise. Have you ever had a stretch in your fundraising where things feel easy—momentum is building, conversations are flowing—and then suddenly, it’s like you hit a wall? Same effort. Same strategy. Completely different results. What if you’re not stuck… you’ve just hit your money ceiling? In this episode, Erin McQuade-Wright explores the concept of a “money ceiling”—the internal limit your system believes is safe when it comes to raising money, visibility, and success. When you push beyond that limit, your nervous system doesn’t celebrate—it often pulls you back. That can look like overthinking, avoidance, under-asking, or losing momentum right after a breakthrough. From the outside, it looks like inconsistency. From the inside, it’s self-protection. You’ll learn how to recognize when you’ve hit your ceiling, what your system is actually trying to protect you from, and how to expand your capacity for more—without pushing harder or burning out. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why fundraising results often plateau (even with the right strategy) How your “money ceiling” quietly shapes your behavior and outcomes The signs you’re hitting your upper limit in real time Why success can feel just as unsafe as failure How to expand what feels safe so you can sustain higher levels of fundraising A question to sit with: What would be possible if more success actually felt safe? Ready to go deeper? If this episode resonated, subscribe to The Brave & Balanced Note —my weekly newsletter where I share tools and reflections to help you regulate your inner climate and raise money with more clarity, confidence, and ease: 👉 https://brave-balanced-note.kit.com/profile?_gl=1*qniw91*_gcl_au*MjEwODgyNzI0OS4xNzc1NzY5ODE1 Share this episode: Know someone who’s been feeling inconsistent or stuck in their fundraising? Send this their way—it might help them see what’s really going on beneath the surface. Send Erin a text Book your 1:1 Brave and Balanced Breakthrough Coaching Session here: https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough ✨ Stay Connected & Continue Your Fundraising Growth Listen to all episodes + subscribe: https://thebraveandbalancedfundraiser.buzzsprout.com Join the community: The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser Facebook Group 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/braveandbalancedfundraiser Book a Brave & Balanced Breakthrough Call: A personalized 1:1 session to support your inner clarity and fundraising wellbeing. 👉 https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough Learn more about Erin’s coaching & nervous-system based support: VitalistCoaching.com Connect on Instagram: @erinmcquadewright
Why Stress, Comparison, and “Not Enough” Are Driving More Than You Think In this conversation, Erin McQuade-Wright sits down with fundraising coach and What the Fundraising host Mallory Erickson to explore the inner dynamics that shape how fundraisers show up: comparison, visibility discomfort, nervous system dysregulation, and the quiet belief of “not enough.” Together, they unpack the hidden cost of tying your identity to outcomes—and what it takes to create space between who you are and what you produce. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing well on paper but struggling internally, this episode will hit home. In this episode, we cover: Why visibility can feel unsafe—even when you want to grow The comparison trap and what it’s really about How “not enough” quietly drives overperformance (and burnout) What nervous system dysregulation actually feels like in real time Practical ways to regulate before a donor conversation The subtle ways fundraisers become attached to stress How to separate your identity from fundraising outcomes Key Insight You can’t control how a donor responds—but you can control how you show up. And that starts with your inner climate. 🔗 About Mallory Erickson Mallory Erickson is the founder and CEO of Practivated, an executive coach, fundraising consultant, and host of the podcast What the Fundraising . She helps fundraisers move beyond transactional approaches to build lasting, mission-aligned partnerships. Through her Power Partners Formula™, Mallory has trained over 60,000 fundraisers, blending executive coaching, behavior design, and strategic fundraising. Her book, What the Fundraising , explores how shifting away from scarcity leads to more sustainable and impactful fundraising. 🔗 Connect with Mallory Learn more: malloryerickson.com/powerpartners Podcast: What the Fundraising — malloryerickson.com/podcast Book: malloryerickson.com/book Instagram: @_malloryerickson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallory-erickson-bressler/ Practivated: https://practivated.com/ 🔗 Connect with Erin Website: vitalistcoaching.com Newsletter: The Brave & Balanced Note Send Erin a text Book your 1:1 Brave and Balanced Breakthrough Coaching Session here: https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough ✨ Stay Connected & Continue Your Fundraising Growth Listen to all episodes + subscribe: https://thebraveandbalancedfundraiser.buzzsprout.com Join the community: The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser Facebook Group 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/braveandbalancedfundraiser Book a Brave & Balanced Breakthrough Call: A personalized 1:1 session to support your inner clarity and fundraising wellbeing. 👉 https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough Learn more about Erin’s coaching & nervous-system based support: VitalistCoaching.com Connect on Instagram: @erinmcquadewright
The hidden filter that’s keeping you from seeing opportunity right in front of you If you’re not raising the money you want, what if the issue isn’t effort—but awareness? In this episode, Erin McQuade-Wright explores a powerful (and often invisible) truth: you may be walking past opportunities every single day—not because they aren’t there, but because your brain is filtering them out. Drawing on a simple but eye-opening story from her own life, Erin breaks down how your mind prioritizes safety, familiarity, and identity over possibility—and how that directly impacts your ability to see and act on fundraising opportunities. From avoiding follow-ups to deciding a donor “isn’t ready,” many of the choices we make aren’t based on facts—they’re based on internal filters designed to protect us from discomfort, rejection, or risk. And every time you obey that filter, you may be leaving money on the table. This episode will help you recognize where this is happening in your own work—and give you a simple, grounded way to start shifting it today. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why you’re not actually missing opportunities—you’re filtering them out How your brain’s need for safety impacts your fundraising decisions The subtle ways avoidance shows up (and how it costs you money) Why waiting until something feels “ready” keeps you stuck A simple, body-based practice to help you take action with more ease A moment to reflect: What am I not allowing myself to see? Ready to go deeper? If this episode resonated with you, subscribe to my newsletter, The Brave & Balanced Note , for weekly tools and reflections to help you regulate your inner climate and raise money with more clarity, confidence, and ease. Sign up here . Send Erin a text Book your 1:1 Brave and Balanced Breakthrough Coaching Session here: https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough ✨ Stay Connected & Continue Your Fundraising Growth Listen to all episodes + subscribe: https://thebraveandbalancedfundraiser.buzzsprout.com Join the community: The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser Facebook Group 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/braveandbalancedfundraiser Book a Brave & Balanced Breakthrough Call: A personalized 1:1 session to support your inner clarity and fundraising wellbeing. 👉 https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough Learn more about Erin’s coaching & nervous-system based support: VitalistCoaching.com Connect on Instagram: @erinmcquadewright
The hidden reason you’re avoiding action—and how to move anyway If you’ve ever tried to push yourself out of feeling stuck—only to end up overthinking, procrastinating, or avoiding the very thing you know you need to do—this episode is for you. In today’s conversation, Erin McQuade-Wright unpacks what’s actually happening beneath the surface when you feel stuck. Instead of treating it like a problem to fix, she reveals how “stuck” is often a protective strategy your nervous system is using to avoid pain—especially the pain of judgment, failure, or getting it wrong. You’ll learn why waiting for clarity keeps you frozen, how avoidance disguises itself as productivity, and the simple shift that moves you back into action—without white-knuckling your way through it. This episode also includes a brief somatic reset you can use in real time, plus one powerful question to help you move forward today: “What do you need to let go of to experience being in action?” In this episode, you’ll learn: Why feeling stuck is often a nervous system response—not laziness How avoidance shows up as overthinking, procrastination, and “busywork” Why clarity and confidence only come after action—not before The hidden cost of staying stuck (and how it impacts your work and relationships) A simple, body-based practice to help you take your next step A quote to carry with you: “God meets me in action.” — Cathy Heller Ready to go deeper? If this episode resonated with you, subscribe to my newsletter, The Brave & Balanced Note , for weekly reflections and tools to help you regulate your inner climate and show up with more clarity, courage, and ease. Sign up here ! Send Erin a text Book your 1:1 Brave and Balanced Breakthrough Coaching Session here: https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough ✨ Stay Connected & Continue Your Fundraising Growth Listen to all episodes + subscribe: https://thebraveandbalancedfundraiser.buzzsprout.com Join the community: The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser Facebook Group 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/braveandbalancedfundraiser Book a Brave & Balanced Breakthrough Call: A personalized 1:1 session to support your inner clarity and fundraising wellbeing. 👉 https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough Learn more about Erin’s coaching & nervous-system based support: VitalistCoaching.com Connect on Instagram: @erinmcquadewright
The Psychology Behind Fundraising Discomfort — And What to Do About It Why does asking for money feel so… personal? In this episode, Erin explores the moment many fundraisers recognize: when a professional ask suddenly feels like something about you is on the line. Not strategic. Not neutral. Personal. This isn’t a tactics problem—it’s a human one. You’ll learn why the ask can trigger a sense of social risk, how identity and nervous system responses shape your experience, and what to do in the moment to stay grounded, present, and connected. If you’ve ever avoided an ask, overthought it, or walked away feeling drained, this episode will help you understand why—and how to approach it differently. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why asking for money activates a sense of social risk How fight, flight, and freeze show up in fundraising The connection between identity, worth, and the ask Why burnout isn’t caused by the ask itself—but what it means to you Simple ways to regulate your nervous system before and during a conversation Send Erin a text Book your 1:1 Brave and Balanced Breakthrough Coaching Session here: https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough ✨ Stay Connected & Continue Your Fundraising Growth Listen to all episodes + subscribe: https://thebraveandbalancedfundraiser.buzzsprout.com Join the community: The Brave & Balanced Fundraiser Facebook Group 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/braveandbalancedfundraiser Book a Brave & Balanced Breakthrough Call: A personalized 1:1 session to support your inner clarity and fundraising wellbeing. 👉 https://calendly.com/vitalistcoaching/brave-balanced-breakthrough Learn more about Erin’s coaching & nervous-system based support: VitalistCoaching.com Connect on Instagram: @erinmcquadewright
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