Twenty Something with Olivia Burnett

Twenty Something with Olivia Burnett

by Olivia Burnett
Grief Doesn't End, But Neither Does Joy with Alexa Norton
Olivia sits down with Alexa Norton, creator of Grief Shine, for one of the most honest conversations yet about what it actually means to live after losing someone you love. After losing her dad in a tragic skiing accident at just 22 years old, Alexa found herself navigating the kind of grief that no one can truly prepare you for. Together, Olivia and Alexa talk about what those first days felt like, why grief never really "ends," and how it's possible to hold both heartbreak and happiness at the same time. They also share the lessons they've learned from losing their dads at a young age—from the moments that still catch them off guard to the unexpected hope they've found years later. Whether you're grieving someone yourself, supporting someone who is, or simply want to better understand one of the most universal human experiences, this conversation is for you. In this episode, Olivia and Alexa discuss: Losing a parent in your twenties Why grief doesn't follow a timeline Learning to feel joy without leaving your loved one behind The hardest moments no one prepares you for How to support someone who's grieving Practical ways to preserve memories before it's too late Why it's okay to protect yourself while healing Finding hope after unimaginable loss If this episode resonates with you, consider sending it to someone who's grieving or someone who wants to better understand how to show up for the people they love. Connect with Alexa: Instagram: @griefshine Connect with Olivia: Instagram: @oliviaburnett TikTok: @oliviaburnett YouTube: @twentysomethingpodcast Website: twentysomethingpodcast.com
The One Word That Saved His Life with Todd Sylvester (How the Story You Tell Yourself Changes Everything)
In this episode of Twenty Something, Olivia sits down with Todd Sylvester, a mental fitness coach, substance use disorder counselor, bestselling author, host of the Belief podcast, regular host on Good Things Utah, and one of the 2024 Freedom Award honorees. After battling addiction, self-hatred, and despair, Todd found himself at one of the darkest points of his life. Then one word led him to ask for help, and that moment became the beginning of a story that would eventually save his life. Today, after conducting more than 18,000 coaching sessions and helping people through some of their hardest battles, Todd teaches one core truth: you are not broken. In this conversation, Olivia and Todd talk about addiction, recovery, identity, shame, faith, mental fitness, and the power of the story you tell yourself. Todd shares how the negative voice in his head almost destroyed him, what helped him begin to change, and why rewriting your inner narrative can completely transform your life. Whether you are struggling yourself, love someone who is struggling, or simply feel tired of believing you are not enough, this episode is full of honesty, hope, and practical wisdom. You are not too far gone. You are not broken. And the story you tell yourself changes everything. Connect with Todd Instagram: @tsinspires Podcast: Beliefcast Connect with Olivia Instagram: @twentysomething_podcast Tiktok: @twentysomething_podcast Subscribe on YouTube: @TwentySomething-OliviaBurnett
Feeling Advice Overload? How to Cut Through the Noise and Take the Right Action with Jimmy Rex
There is more advice available to us than ever before, but somehow, it can make us feel more stuck. More podcasts. More books. More TikToks. More opinions. More people telling you how to build a successful life. So how do you know what to actually listen to? In this episode, Olivia sits down with Jimmy Rex, entrepreneur, podcaster, author, and founder of We Are The They, to talk about how to stop getting trapped in learning mode and start taking real action. Jimmy shares why confidence is built by doing, why failure is often the thing that teaches you the fastest, and how the right mentors, friends, and relationships can completely change the direction of your life. They also talk about dating, imposter syndrome, networking, building community, and why you don’t need to have every step figured out before you start moving. This conversation is for anyone who feels overwhelmed by all the voices, opinions, and options around them and is ready to cut through the noise, trust themselves, and take the next right step. Connect with Jimmy Instagram: @mrjimmyrex Podcast: The Jimmy Rex Show Connect with Olivia Instagram: @twentysomething_podcast Tiktok: @twentysomething_podcast YouTube: @TwentySomething-OliviaBurnett
How to Live in Alignment with the Life You Actually Want with Shawn Moore
What does it actually mean to live in alignment with what you want? And how does that change your life? In this episode, Olivia sits down with Shawn Moore, founder and CEO of COVE and a board member for Humanitarian Experience, to talk about health, happiness, purpose, and what it really looks like to build a life that feels true to you. Shawn shares key decisions he made that initially scared him, but ultimately led him to a more intentional way of living and helped him find more peace, love, and fulfillment than he expected. Together, Olivia and Shawn talk about why “alignment” is more than a buzzword, how to know what your soul is actually longing for, and why the scariest decisions are often the ones that lead to the most freedom. This conversation is for anyone who feels stuck, off-track, or tired of living in the same everyday rat race. It’s for anyone who feels like they’ve been measuring their life by someone else’s timeline and wondering why it doesn’t feel right. This episode is a reminder that you don’t have to have everything figured out to start making choices that feel more honest, grounded, and aligned with the life you actually want. Sometimes the smallest changes lead to the biggest differences. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to know what you actually want Why living “in alignment” matters for your happiness How to stop measuring your life by someone else’s timeline Why scary decisions can lead to deeper peace How health, relationships, spirituality, and purpose all connect Why love and presence are at the center of a meaningful life Connect with Shawn: Instagram: @shawnybravo21 Connect with Olivia: Instagram: @twentysomething_podcast TikTok: @twentysomething_podcast YouTube: @TwentySomething-OliviaBurnett
Why Trying New Things Is the Point of Your 20s with Rylee Thompson
In this episode ofTwenty Something, Olivia sits down with Rylee Thompson to talk about why your 20s are not about having everything figured out. They’re about trying, changing your mind, following your curiosity, and becoming confident enough to trust your own timeline. Rylee shares how moving to a new state, pursuing her career, content creation, health and wellness, and deepening her faith have helped her build a life that feels more aligned, exciting, and true to her. Olivia and Rylee also talk about mental health, comparison, dating in your 20s, setting boundaries, learning to spend time alone, and what it actually looks like to become the version of yourself you keep picturing in your head. This episode is for anyone who feels behind, stuck, scared to start over, or unsure if they’re allowed to change their mind. Rylee’s reminder is simple: nothing is permanent, and changing your mind does not mean you failed, it might be the thing that helps you become who you were meant to be. In this episode, you’ll learn about: How to stop waiting until you feel “ready” Why trying new things is one of the most important parts of your 20s How to change your mind without feeling like you failed Why comparison can steal joy — and how to move through it How to develop healthy friendship and dating relationships How spending time alone can build self-love Connect with Rylee: Instagram: @ryleethompson1 TikTok: @rylee_thompson Connect with Olivia: Instagram: @twentysomething_podcast TikTok: @twentysomething_podcast YouTube: @TwentySomething-OliviaBurnett
How to Build the Kind of Unshakeable Confidence No One Can Take From You With Eliza Smith
Self-doubt will keep you waiting for permission that is never coming. She was cut late in her sport. Many said she couldn't do it. Then she ended up at her dream school. How did she do it? In this episode of Twenty Something, Olivia sits down with Eliza Smith, a D1 soccer player at the University of Utah, to talk about what it actually takes to build confidence, chase big goals, and become the kind of person who follows through. Eliza shares her journey from getting cut, switching teams, showing up to ID camps, advocating for herself, and eventually earning the opportunity to play college soccer. But this conversation goes far beyond sports. It is about discipline, pressure, identity, resilience, and learning how to bet on yourself before anyone else does. In this episode, you’ll hear about: How to stop letting self-doubt control your decisions Why confidence is built by keeping promises to yourself What athletes understand about discipline, pressure, and resilience How to chase a dream without letting it define your worth Why rejection is not the end of the story How to become the kind of person people want to bet on Whether you’re an athlete, a former athlete, or someone trying to build the confidence to go after something bigger, this episode will remind you that you do not need the perfect path to become who you are meant to be. Connect with Eliza: Instagram: @elizajsmith11 TikTok: @eliza.smith7 Connect with Olivia: Instagram: @twentysomething_podcast TikTok: @twentysomething_podcast YouTube: @TwentySomething-OliviaBurnett
What Happens When We Die? Near Death Experiences with Martin Tanner
What happens after we die? And what can near death experiences teach us about the way we live now? In this episode of Twenty Something, Olivia sits down with Martin Tanner to discuss the stories, patterns, and life-changing lessons he has heard from interviewing more than 700 people about their near death experiences. Martin is the host of the Religion Today podcast and radio show on KSL, co-founder of Utah’s International Association for Near-Death Studies, and a longtime researcher of near death experiences. Together, Olivia and Martin explore the common threads Martin has heard across stories from people of different ages, backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures. From experiences with loved ones who have passed on, to life reviews, to encounters with divine love, these stories raise questions about purpose, healing, faith, and what may come next. Martin shares some of the most powerful near death experiences he has heard firsthand, including stories of people who came back with a deeper sense of urgency, a greater desire to love others, and a clearer understanding that their life still had meaning. Whether you fully believe in near death experiences, feel skeptical, or are simply curious, this conversation is an invitation to ask deeper questions about life, death, heaven, and why each life matters more than we may realize. In this episode, you’ll hear stories about: Howard Storm, a former professor whose terrifying near death experience led to a complete life transformation David Herod, a Marine in Vietnam who came back with a message about learning to love others George Ritchie, whose near death experience with Jesus gave him a new sense of urgency about life Don Wood, a man with cystic fibrosis who wrestled with the unfairness of life and what his suffering meant Crystal Locke, a little girl who drowned at age seven and later shared what she said she experienced in heaven Blind individuals who say they were able to see during their near death experiences Jeff Olson, who lost his wife and son in a car accident Dr. Ron Kennedy, who described being welcomed by loved ones after a violent attack Ted Whiting, who saw a large gathering of family members and loved ones waiting for him on the other side This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered where their loved ones go, what happens after this life, or whether their life has a specific purpose. Connect with Liv: Instagram: @twentysomething_podcast TikTok: @twentysomething_podcast YouTube: @TwentySomething-OliviaBurnett Connect with Martin: Religion Today podcast and radio show on KSL
The Power of Reinventing Yourself with Ruston Jones
In this episode of Twenty Something, Liv is joined by Ruston Jones and Kait Stone for a conversation about creativity, resilience, reinvention, and what happens when you give yourself permission to keep evolving. After a motorcycle accident shifted the way Ruston moved through life, he found his way into hot yoga and Pilates, eventually becoming the kind of instructor who makes people feel seen, welcomed, and brave enough to try. But his story doesn’t stop there. Ruston is also a filmmaker, author, and fashion designer who has built a life around curiosity, courage, and trying new things even when he isn’t sure how they’ll turn out. Together, they talk about starting over, meditation, learning how to be bad at something new, releasing the fear of being “cringe,” putting yourself in the way of luck, and how Ruston began sewing, upcycling thrifted and vintage fabrics, and eventually putting his work into fashion shows. This episode is for anyone who feels stuck, afraid to try something new, or unsure if they’re allowed to become a different version of themselves. In this episode, you’ll hear about: How Ruston’s motorcycle accident led him into yoga and Pilates Why meditation is more practical than most people think The courage it takes to be bad at something new Why being “cringe” might mean you’re actually trying How Ruston went from learning to sew to showing his designs in fashion shows Why reinvention is part of building a fuller, more honest life Connect with Liv: Instagram: @twentysomething_podcast TikTok: @twentysomething_podcast YouTube: @TwentySomething-OliviaBurnett Connect with Ruston: Instagram: @rustonj TikTok: @rustonj ⁠Purchase Ruston's Book⁠
How to Take Ownership of Your Health, Work, and Love with Lauren Dudley
Do you ever leave the doctor’s office and think, “Wait, what did they just say?” Or sit in your car afterward realizing you forgot to ask the one question you actually needed answered? In this episode of Twenty Something, Liv sits down with Lauren Dudley for a conversation about what it looks like to take ownership of your health, your work, and your relationships, especially in your 20s when you’re suddenly expected to figure so much of it out on your own. Lauren is currently living what so many of us talk about but few actually do: betting on herself before she has it all figured out. She is helping build Shepard, a health care app designed to make doctor’s appointments less overwhelming by helping patients prepare better questions, understand what their doctor is saying, and feel more confident managing their own health. Together, Liv and Lauren talk about the frustration of not knowing what’s going on in your body, how overwhelming it can feel to navigate symptoms or diagnoses, and why so many of us leave appointments wishing we had been more prepared. But this conversation goes beyond health. Lauren also shares what it was like to leave her job, build a business with her partner, navigate entrepreneurship in her early 20s, and create a relationship built on trust, communication, and shared vision. In this episode, you’ll learn: • How to feel more prepared before a doctor’s appointment • What to do when medical language feels confusing • Why advocating for your health matters, even when it feels intimidating • What it looks like to build a business in your 20s • How to bet on yourself without having it all figured out • Why abundance matters in dating, work, and life • How to put yourself in the way of luck This episode is for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by their health, embarrassed to ask a question, unsure what a doctor meant, or ready to stop living reactively and start taking ownership of their life. Connect with Olivia Instagram: @twentysomething_podcast TikTok: @twentysomething_podcast YouTube: @TwentySomething-OliviaBurnett Connect with Lauren: Instagram: @laurendudley Connect with Shepard Health: Instagram: @shepardhealth
Exploring Different Religions, Asking the Hard Questions, and Healing from Sexual Abuse with Logan Green
In this episode of Twenty Something, we sit down with Logan Green for an honest conversation about faith, healing, shame, and what it looks like to ask yourself and God the hard questions. Sometimes, asking questions about your religion can feel scary. It can feel like doubting, betraying God, or stepping too far outside of what you’ve always known. But instead of avoiding those questions, Logan has taken a different approach. He has started asking them directly, exploring different churches and religious communities, studying what they believe, and trying to learn as much as he can from the ways other people worship and connect with God or a higher power. Logan also opens up about his experience healing from childhood sexual abuse, the religious guilt and confusion that followed, and how finally talking about what happened became part of his healing. Together, we talk about sitting in uncertainty, learning to feel safe again, finding common ground across different faiths, releasing shame, and creating enough stillness to hear what your body, soul, and God might be trying to tell you. In this episode, you’ll learn about: How to ask honest questions about your faith without feeling like you’re doing something wrong Why exploring different beliefs can deepen your understanding of God instead of pulling you further away How shame can shape the way you see yourself, your body, your relationships, and your faith What it can look like to begin talking about painful experiences you’ve kept buried Why sitting with uncertainty can actually become part of finding peace How stillness, honesty, and self-awareness can help you reconnect with yourself and God Connect with Logan Instagram: @lmg.journal Connect with Liv Instagram: @twentysomething_podcast TikTok: @twentysomething_podcast YouTube: @TwentySomething-OliviaBurnett Content disclosure: This episode includes a discussion of childhood sexual abuse, trauma, shame, and religious guilt. We do not go into graphic detail, but it may be sensitive for some listeners. Please take care of yourself as you listen, and feel free to pause, skip, or come back to this episode when you feel ready.
1 of 4