The Morning Upgrade Podcast Featuring Stephanie Rose

Welcome to episode #158 of the Morning Upgrade Podcast. In this week’s episode I spoke with Stephanie Rose, the founder and owner of Firefly Scout.

Top Talking Points

• Figuring out want you want to do in your life.
• Realizing when something is not fulfilling you and taking action to change that.
• The importance of a daily walk and appreciation.

Resources & Links

Connect With Stephanie at FireflyScout.com.

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Transcription

Ryan: Hey, Stephanie, welcome to the Morning Upgrade podcast. How’s your day going?

Stephanie: It’s going great, Ryan. I’m excited to chat with you.

Ryan: Yeah, me too. We’ve already been chatting for 15 minutes before I hit record. Your big thing is life purpose, which I’m really dialed into right now, so I’m excited to dive into that. But first, please introduce yourself to the audience—tell us who you are, what you do for a living, and something you’re grateful for right now.

Stephanie: I’m Stephanie Rose, founder and owner of Firefly Scout, which is a Know Your Glow business. I offer products that help people know their glow and start living a life that lights them up. As for gratitude, I actually have a bit of a complicated relationship with the word, so I usually shift it to appreciation. Right now, I appreciate having connected with someone like you, who I can tell is on the same wavelength about helping people. That really fuels my glow.

Ryan: Now you’ve got me curious—why appreciation instead of gratitude?

Stephanie: I’m a bit of a word nerd and really tune into the energetics behind words. For me, the idea of a “gratitude practice” started to feel surface-level and artificial. Sure, I can be grateful for things like having a job or a house, but it didn’t feel deep. Appreciation, on the other hand, allows me to really notice and embody the small, magical moments in life. That’s where I feel more peace and meaning.

Ryan: That’s really interesting. I do a gratitude practice every morning, but as I’m listening to you, I get what you’re saying. Especially when it comes to the small things—appreciation seems to capture it better. Very insightful. Love it. So, let’s talk about your morning routine. How do you start your day?

Stephanie: My morning routine isn’t as structured as yours, but I know what serves me best and I work to be intentional about it. When I wake up, I take a moment to transition from sleep to wakefulness rather than just jumping out of bed. I set an intention or choose a word that reflects the energy I want for the day. I try not to grab my phone right away—though I’m guilty of that sometimes—but after a quick check, I make a point to look out the window, stretch my eyes, and take in the distance and perspective. As I get ready, I always have a full glass of water to start the day feeling hydrated and “juicy,” as I like to call it. Those are the key things I aim to do each morning.

Ryan: I love that. We’re recording this in July 2023, and in New Jersey, the mornings are warm right now. I go outside and see the deer with their little babies running around—it adds a whole new element to my morning. It’s amazing what you notice when you stop and really take it in.

Stephanie: Exactly. The world is happening outside of our heads and our houses. You just have to stop, listen, and acknowledge your place in it all.

Ryan: 100%. There’s so much happening—birds, insects, weather—you just have to be still and observe. So, I’m curious: what inspired you to start doing this work? Was there a specific moment or was it a gradual process?

Stephanie: It was definitely a journey. I’m a mom of two, and when my youngest was about one, I started getting a little more sleep and began asking myself, “What’s next?” I had done everything society tells you to do—college, career, house, marriage, kids—and I was ready to rediscover who I was beyond those roles. I started reading personal growth books, did The Artist’s Way, and journaled a lot. Eventually, I realized this wasn’t just a personal journey—it was something I wanted to share with others. I’ve always loved stationery, notebooks, and pens, so it made sense to create something tangible. That’s how the Illumination Kit was born.

Ryan: Love it. How long have you been doing this?

Stephanie: Six years.

Ryan: Over those six years, have you noticed any changes in your relationships—your husband, kids, friends, or even your work life?

Stephanie: Definitely. I left my corporate career a year ago after a long tenure. Even though I made shifts within that career to align it more with who I am, I still didn’t feel deeply fulfilled. Leaving was a big decision—one I had to discuss with my husband and fully believe in myself to pursue. It hasn’t always gone how we expected, but I wouldn’t trade the experience. I know myself better now, where I thrive, where to step back, and how to honor my strengths.

Ryan: Do your husband or kids get involved in your work at all?

Stephanie: My husband reads more personal growth books now and even completed 75 Hard. I like to think I inspired that. I’ve had my own daily walk streak going for over three and a half years—what started as a challenge became a self-preservation practice. It’s my daily promise to myself. My kids know that when mommy goes for her walk, she comes back better.

Ryan: That’s amazing. I can relate. I do a lot of walking too—sometimes with Audible, but lately I’ve been experimenting with leaving my phone behind. It’s been tough, but freeing, just being out in nature alone with my thoughts.

Stephanie: Yes, many people are uncomfortable being alone with their thoughts, which is why they reach for their phones. But giving yourself that space is powerful. I sometimes bring my phone for walk-and-talk recordings—it’s like an audio journal for when inspiration strikes—but I do try to maintain healthy boundaries with it.

Ryan: Absolutely. Well, this has been a really fascinating conversation. I feel like we could talk for hours, but I try to keep these episodes to 15 or 20 minutes for my audience. One final question: after six years on this journey, what’s your current view on the meaning of life?

Stephanie: I believe the meaning of life is to get quiet enough to listen and recognize the purpose that lives within your soul, the one you were born with. And then, find a way to bring that out in a way that lights you up.

Ryan: Your products help people do that, right? Where can people go to learn more?

Stephanie: Yes. I share my thoughts on my website, FireflyScout.com. I also have a weekly newsletter with actionable tips. And for those ready to start their own journey, I offer the Illumination Kit, which walks you through this process.

Ryan: Excellent. Thanks, Stephanie. Great job.

Stephanie: Thanks, Ryan.

Ryan: Thanks for listening to the Morning Upgrade podcast. Please subscribe and review, and don’t forget to visit us at MorningUpgrade.com for more.