The Real Work with Maggie Sterling
Maggie Sterling
Can't stop overthinking, emotional eating, or numbing out? You're not broken—you're disconnected from your body. The Real Work helps women break chronic stress, anxiety, and burnout by addressing root causes, not symptoms. Host Maggie Sterling combines neuroscience and nervous system regulation to help you stop self-abandonment, build self-trust, and feel safe in your skin. No toxic positivity—just practical tools for rewiring your brain, regulating emotions, and coming home to yourself. Deep transformation for women ready to stop escaping and start living.
Episodes
Mentioned books
4 snips
Sep 22, 2025 • 1h 4min
06 - How to Stop Letting Other People Ruin Your Day
This discussion dives into how triggers reveal our internal beliefs, not just external actions. It highlights the primal nervous system responses that make rational thought challenging when we're fired up. The hosts introduce top-down and bottom-up approaches to emotional regulation, emphasizing the importance of taking personal accountability. They also explore how personal narratives shape our triggers and offer practical strategies for shifting our perceptions and reactions to gain emotional power.
5 snips
Sep 15, 2025 • 46min
05 - How I Used Meditation To Change My Life
Struggling to see real change? Discover why meditation and self-help tools often fall short in this engaging discussion. Experts reveal common mistakes that sabotage progress and challenge the notion of who’s truly responsible for your healing. Explore how meditation can shift your mindset and help you make intentional choices. The conversation emphasizes the importance of aligning tools with your unique energy and life, rather than conforming to cookie-cutter methods. It’s time to take control and embrace personal transformation!
10 snips
Sep 8, 2025 • 33min
04 - Decompressing Without Coping Mechanisms
Feeling overwhelmed after a long day? You're not alone! Unpacking the 'pressure cooker' effect, the discussion dives into why our brains crave quick hits of dopamine through snacks, screens, or drinks. They distinguish between mere numbing and true decompression. Learn how decision fatigue impacts willpower and the importance of embracing urges without judgment. Plus, practical tips for intentional transitions from work mode to relaxation. It's all about asking what your body truly needs and reclaiming control over coping mechanisms.
Sep 4, 2025 • 27min
03 - Symptom Chasing and How To Actually Heal From Anxiety
The discussion dives into the concept of symptom chasing, revealing how fixating on anxiety symptoms can actually deepen anxiety. Maggie explores the emotional needs that drive compulsive behaviors like overeating and phone usage. She emphasizes the importance of acceptance over frantic fixing, suggesting that allowing anxiety to exist diminishes its power. The conversation encourages living intentionally, even when symptoms persist, and highlights the significance of understanding the underlying reasons for anxiety rather than simply seeking quick fixes.
5 snips
Sep 2, 2025 • 29min
02 - How to Make Changes That Actually Stick
Feeling pumped to transform your life but getting stuck in old habits? Discover why your brain pushes back against drastic changes and how quick fixes often lead to burnout. Explore the risks of the TikTok 'lock-in' trend and why it's better to embrace realistic, gradual change. Learn how to differentiate between self-love and self-hate in your habits, and why it's essential to move slowly and mindfully for deeper transformation. Say goodbye to perfectionism and hello to steady progress!
9 snips
Sep 2, 2025 • 29min
01 - What Is "The Real Work"?
Explore the deeper connection between chronic stress and physical symptoms as the host shares her transformative journey through trauma and anxiety. Discover how addressing nervous system dysregulation can lead to true healing, rather than quick fixes. The conversation highlights the importance of facing discomfort and emotional processing, especially for overthinkers and high achievers. Learn how distraction often masks underlying issues, inviting listeners to tackle the real work of reconnecting with themselves for lasting change.
