In this powerful Mental Health Awareness Week conversation, Angela is joined by returning guest Daryn Mason, a former tech exec turned psychotherapist, to explore why so many men struggle to talk about their mental health.

Together they unpack the emotional cost of staying silent, the societal pressures that shape male identity, and the real impact of high-performance environments on wellbeing. From the early signs of burnout to full breakdown, Daryn shares his dual perspective as both a survivor and a therapist with insight, warmth, and clarity.

Themes include: – The three stages of burnout: flameout, burnout, rustout – Why success and mental health aren’t opposites – Perfectionism, performance identity & compartmentalisation – The importance of active listening and real recovery – Why men often wait until it’s “too late” to get help

Links: – "Working Pluralistically with Burnout: A therapist's guide" - Daryn’s burnout guide for therapists: https://amzn.eu/d/6NjxmHQ – Connect with Daryn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darynmason/

This special solo episode marks Mental Health Awareness Week with a deeply personal story from Angela Scott. It’s not a story of crisis or collapse, but of quiet misalignment and the slow, steady realisation that “not that bad” isn’t the same as alright. If you’ve ever felt like you’re performing a life that no longer fits, this one’s for you.

Key Themes:

• The invisible cost of overadaptation in high-functioning professionals

• Why mental health challenges don’t always look dramatic

• Trust, misfit, and the slow erosion of self in misaligned systems

• Letting go of performative roles and reclaiming vitality

• Redefining success through clarity, not consensus

Connect: If this episode resonated with you, Angela would love to hear from you. Reach out at angela@joynergi.com

What is it isn't really about the money but more about creating a life you don’t need to escape from?

In this episode, Angela talks with Linda Ta Yonemoto, founder of Good For You Money, about what it really means to build wealth on your own terms. Linda shares her story of growing up as a child of refugees, navigating a high-pressure career in tech and digital strategy, and ultimately choosing a path aligned with her values. Together they explore how our relationship with money shapes our identity, why high earners can still feel trapped, and how to design a life that’s sustainable, not just financially but emotionally.

Themes:

• Financial independence beyond FIRE

• Values-based wealth and time freedom

• Identity, status, and the cost of over adaptation

• Breaking inherited success scripts

• Redefining growth outside the corporate path

Whether you’re leading a company or leading your own reinvention, this is an invitation to rethink what you’re really working for.

High performance looks great on paper. Until your body starts keeping the score.

In this episode, Aoife Reilly shares how she went from thriving at IBM and Meta to facing a quiet health crisis that changed everything. What began as burnout symptoms turned into a complete rethinking of success, work, and well-being.

We talk about:

• The physical cost of pushing through and why most people miss the early signs

• Why Aoife didn’t leave corporate overnight — and what changed when she became a parent

• How she built Juvelo to support leaders who want to thrive without burning out

• The surprising link between nutrition, energy, and executive performance

This isn’t your usual burnout story — it’s about making space for health before your body forces you to.

Connect with Aoife: www.juvelolife.com Email: aoife@juvelolife.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoife-reilly-juvelo/

What do archaeology, the Peace Corps, and SaaS revenue architecture have in common? More than you think, especially when Beth Yehaskel is the one connecting the dots.

Beth didn’t set out to build a career in tech. She started in the dirt (literally) as an archaeologist. But her love of writing and curiosity about people took her from field reports to technical writing, and eventually to customer success, go-to-market strategy, and coaching executives across the globe.

In this episode, we talk about how to spot the systems and patterns that hold businesses (and careers) back, and why stepping away after a bad job can sometimes be the best decision you ever make.

We also explore:

• The red flags she missed and what she learned from a role that didn’t work

• Why consulting helped her rediscover confidence and clarity

• Why AI is about systems, not shortcuts.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between “I’ve worked hard for this” and “I’m not sure I want it anymore,” Beth’s story will speak to you.

Connect with Beth:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-yehaskel-4b71a

https://www.elevategtmexecs.com/

What happens when the identity you’ve built no longer fits?

For years, Meghan Opitz was unstoppable—competitive swimmer, tech startup leader, high-achiever through and through. She was always chasing the next goal. But when life threw unexpected challenges her way, she was forced to re-examine everything she thought she knew about success.

In this episode of Change Unfiltered, Meghan shares:

✔️ The real difference between ambition and drive—and why one is often misunderstood ✔️ How competitive swimming shaped her mindset—and the moment she realised she wouldn’t become an Olympian ✔️ What it was like to scale a tech company pre-IPO—and then face a completely different challenge: motherhood ✔️ Why she felt like she was failing as a mum—and the mindset shift that changed everything ✔️ What success looks like now—and why it’s no longer about chasing the next big milestone

Plus, she reveals the unexpected anthem that got her through one of the biggest moments of her life—now added to the Change Unfiltered Playlist on Spotify.

🌍 Connect with Meghan: 🔗 Website: https://www.meghanopitz.com 🔗 Substack: Every Woman Rising https://meghanopitz.substack.com 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanopitz

🎶 Check out the Change Unfiltered Playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6I5Sikl02JF46cnNO6XPQI?si=0xHVp2ZnSieLuluIuJzOHQ&pi=-o8l_L5cSFWoT&nd=1&dlsi=9273cc1b711c4bba

or search for Change Unfiltered Podcast: Guest Choices

So many experienced professionals hit a point where corporate life stops making sense. But knowing it and doing something about it? That’s a different challenge.

After a long career in financial services and tech, Carmen Orr found herself at a crossroads. She’d built high-performing teams, navigated executive leadership, and thrived in complex business environments. But then layoffs, ageism, and the slow realisation that the traditional job market wasn’t built for people like her.

So, she decided to do something radical: to bet on herself.

In this episode, Carmen shares:

• The gut-punch of applying for jobs and getting one interview in nine months
• The invisible barriers of ageism in hiring and how fractional work flips the script
• Why she almost didn’t go out on her own (and what changed her mind)
• How she landed her first clients
• The secret being a successful fractional leader

Plus, she reveals the song that sums up her career transition—now added to the Change Unfiltered Playlist on Spotify.

Connect with Carmen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmenorr/ Think2Perform website: https://www.think2perform.com/about-us/#team

1. Carmen’s book recommendations: The AI-Driven Leader: Harnessing AI to Make Faster, Smarter Decisions – Geoff Woods
2. Team-Based Strategic Planning: A Complete Guide to Structuring, Facilitating, and Implementing the Process – C. Davis Fogg
3. The Soul of Wealth: 50 Reflections on Money and Meaning – Daniel Crosby

Check out the Change Unfiltered Playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6I5Sikl02JF46cnNO6XPQI?si=dje2K4Q5Rj-mzR4WktsDVg&pi=v2B32mnsTIeFe&nd=1&dlsi=11bdbc87635441ce

So many experienced professionals know deep down that they’re done with corporate. But actually making the leap? That’s the terrifying part.

After 20+ years in senior HR roles, Clare Wearn reached that moment. Burnout was creeping in. The job no longer felt like the right fit. But walking away from a stable pay cheque? That was another story.

In this episode, Clare shares:

✅ The moment she knew it was time to leave corporate (and why she nearly took another job instead) ✅ The fears that almost kept her stuck and how she tackled them ✅ Why networking terrified her at first, and how she pushed through ✅ The financial reality of self-employment (spoiler: the stress doesn’t disappear overnight!) ✅ What success looks like now compared to her corporate career

Plus, she reveals the songs that powered her career transition—now added to the Change Unfiltered Playlist on Spotify! 🎶

🌍 Connect with Clare: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-wearn

🎶 Check out the Change Unfiltered Playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6I5Sikl02JF46cnNO6XPQI?si=dje2K4Q5Rj-mzR4WktsDVg&pi=v2B32mnsTIeFe&nd=1&dlsi=11bdbc87635441ce