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 in order to heal, we have to get real.
New episodes every Tuesday. Real talk. Real tools. Real healing.
For speaking inquiries, brand partnerships, or workshop opportunities, visit www.jenaburris.com or email jena@jenaburris.com.
Let’s Get Real with Jena Burris
Values That Teach Kids Responsibility With Colleen Souza
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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.
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Episode 51: Values That Teach Kids Responsibility
With Colleen Souza
What if discipline didn’t have to feel like a constant power struggle?
So many moms find themselves stuck in the same exhausting cycle. Our kids act out. We react. Everyone feels frustrated. Nothing really changes. We want to raise responsible, respectful kids but most days it feels like we’re just putting out fires.
In this episode, I sit down with nationally recognized educator, leadership coach, and mom Colleen Souza to talk about a different approach. Instead of reacting to behavior with more control, more yelling, or more guilt, Colleen teaches that responsibility grows from something deeper, the values that guide your home.
Through her book Living by the Mantras, Colleen shares 21 simple sayings that transform everyday challenges into teachable moments. This conversation is about shifting from drama to direction.
Moving From Power Struggles to Purpose
Colleen shares how healthy organizations thrive because they operate from clearly defined values. There is alignment. There are expectations. There is unity around what matters most. She challenges us to think: if workplaces with diverse personalities, backgrounds, and perspectives can unite around shared values, why can’t our homes?
We explore how defining a few core family values creates clarity. Respect. Integrity. Responsibility. These values aren’t just words on a wall — they become daily anchors. When paired with simple mantras like “Leave it better than you found it” or “You always have a choice,” they give kids language for behavior and decision-making.
It’s not about controlling behavior. It’s about cultivating character.
Boundaries, Bandwidth & Living by Design
Values don’t replace boundaries, they strengthen them. Colleen explains how values, mantras, and boundaries work together.
We also talk about something so practical and often overlooked: developmental capacity. Many power struggles happen because we expect more than our kids can realistically handle. When we understand their bandwidth, their age, their limits, their emotional capacity, we parent more intentionally and less reactively.
One of the most powerful takeaways is this: you don’t have to overhaul everything to begin. Start small. Choose one value. Define it clearly. Create a mantra that reflects it. Model it consistently.
You don’t have to wait for your spouse to be fully on board. You don’t need a perfect family meeting. You are a leader in your home. You can begin. When values become your compass, discipline shifts from chaos to clarity. From reacting on default to parenting by design.
If this episode resonated, share it with a friend who’s tired of the power struggles.
Connect with Colleen:
Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/p/ColleenSouzaAuthor-61576298213577/
https://livingbythemantras.com/about-colleen-souza/
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.