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Jess and Lisa explore the emotional complexity of ending coaching relationships and how setting firm boundaries enables us to become the people we want to be in both personal and professional contexts.

• Jess shares the bittersweet experience of a coaching client ending their relationship after achieving their goals
• Coaching creates intimate spaces where clients can share vulnerable thoughts, making the conclusion of these relationships emotional
• Boundaries are immutable lines we draw, while everything "to the left" of the boundary remains negotiable
• Effective boundaries allow us to protect our time and prioritize what truly matters
• Drawing boundaries around family time creates safety and enables intentional parenting
• Time-blocking specific commitments (like limiting evening events to twice a month) helps maintain balance
• Confidence, like grief, isn't linear but follows ups and downs that can feel more painful after experiencing success
• Zooming out during difficult moments helps provide perspective on how far we've come
• Self-care through keeping promises to ourselves builds resilience during confidence dips

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Jess and Lisa explore the emotional rollercoaster of major life transitions, focusing on Lisa's recent layoff experience and her struggle between constant action and creating space for strategic thinking.

• Lisa describes feeling like a "passenger" in her own emotional journey after being laid off
• The pull between taking immediate action and allowing space for clarity and intentional next steps
• The concept of a "white room" – creating mental and physical space to think strategically rather than reactively
• Recognizing how our professional identities become tied to constant busyness and productivity
• The generational shift from destination-focused careers to journey-oriented approaches
• The pressure we put on decisions when viewing them as ultimate rather than next steps
• Shifting from asking "what do I want to do?" to "who do I want to be?"
• Treating major life changes as gifts to be unwrapped intentionally

Support the show

Want to support the podcast and help us keep creating content that matters? Here’s how you can get involved:

Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! What resonates with you from this episode? How are you navigating your own journey? Connect with us on Instagram @lotstounpacktherepodcast or send us a message at unpack@riverdropcoaching.com.

Subscribe & Stay Connected: If you love what you hear, subscribe and leave us a review! Your support helps us reach more women who need a space like this. Let’s build this community together!

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Jess and Lisa dive deep into the mysterious ways our professional identities shape our personal interactions, revealing surprising insights about hidden assumptions and unexplored potential.

Jess shares her puzzling tendency to apologize when canceling subscriptions or requesting refunds—despite not considering herself a people-pleaser in other contexts. This "subscription guilt" prompts a fascinating exploration of why we sometimes feel obligated to justify our consumer decisions. Could it be that professional communication patterns are bleeding into personal interactions? The friends unpack how our work personas can unconsciously influence behavior in unexpected ways.

The conversation takes a profound turn when Jess reveals how her coaching practice has evolved beyond her initial target demographic of "moms in leadership." Through a new platform where she couldn't select her clients, she found herself working with numerous male executives—something she hadn't anticipated. This experience challenged deep-seeded assumptions about both her capabilities and her clients' receptiveness. "Who I am is so much more multifaceted than I was giving myself credit for, and who they are is so much more multifaceted than I was giving them credit for."

This revelation speaks to a universal truth about professional growth: stepping outside our comfort zones often leads to unexpected discoveries about our capabilities. Like a chef's knife being honed for specialized purposes, Jess discusses how diversifying her client base is "sharpening" her coaching skills in ways working exclusively with similar clients never could.

Whether you're questioning your own professional boundaries or curious about how subtle limiting beliefs might be operating in your life, this episode offers valuable perspective on recognizing and challenging the assumptions that constrain our growth. Connect with us on social media to share your own experiences with limiting beliefs and how you've overcome them!

Support the show

Want to support the podcast and help us keep creating content that matters? Here’s how you can get involved:

Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! What resonates with you from this episode? How are you navigating your own journey? Connect with us on Instagram @lotstounpacktherepodcast or send us a message at unpack@riverdropcoaching.com.

Subscribe & Stay Connected: If you love what you hear, subscribe and leave us a review! Your support helps us reach more women who need a space like this. Let’s build this community together!

📬 Stay Inspired: Sign up for our Substack, where you’ll get fresh insights delivered straight to your inbox. Whether you choose a free or paid subscription, you’ll be the first to know what’s next: Substack

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Every bit of support helps us keep bringing real conversations from our hearts to your ears! Thank you for being part of the journey! 🙌

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When a door closes, what if it's not just a setback but an opportunity for liberation? This week, Lisa shares her raw, unfiltered response to being laid off—and it's not what you might expect. Rather than devastation, she describes feeling "relief bordering on giddiness" as constraints and frustrations suddenly lifted from her professional life.

After 18 years in cybersecurity, Lisa finds herself at a crossroads that many mid-career professionals face: continue with the expertise she's built, or use this unexpected transition to explore untapped passions and possibilities. Her story challenges our conventional understanding of job loss and invites listeners to consider how we sometimes stay in careers simply because we've invested time in them, not because they still fulfill us.

What makes this conversation particularly powerful is its honesty about the complexities of career transitions. Lisa describes the peculiar experience of remaining at work for a month after being notified of her layoff—creating awkward interactions but also allowing colleagues to share meaningful feedback about her impact. One comment in particular—"You are one of the best things to happen to this company in a long time"—finally broke through her composed exterior days after receiving the news.

The metaphor that emerges throughout is striking: rather than merely facing closed doors in her work, Lisa felt she'd been running into bricked-over walls that wouldn't budge despite her best efforts. Now, suddenly, all doors stand open—creating both freedom and the paralysis of possibility. As she navigates this unexpected transition, her determination to remain intentional rather than reactive offers a masterclass in turning disruption into opportunity.

Whether you're facing a career transition yourself or simply wondering if you're on the right path, this conversation offers permission to experience these pivotal moments authentically and on your own terms. What doors in your life might be waiting to open?

Tune in next week as we unpack what it looks and feels like to sharpen your edge and in the process of venturing outside our comfort zone, maybe even evolve into something new.

Support the show

Want to support the podcast and help us keep creating content that matters? Here’s how you can get involved:

Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! What resonates with you from this episode? How are you navigating your own journey? Connect with us on Instagram @lotstounpacktherepodcast or send us a message at unpack@riverdropcoaching.com.

Subscribe & Stay Connected: If you love what you hear, subscribe and leave us a review! Your support helps us reach more women who need a space like this. Let’s build this community together!

📬 Stay Inspired: Sign up for our Substack, where you’ll get fresh insights delivered straight to your inbox. Whether you choose a free or paid subscription, you’ll be the first to know what’s next: Substack

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Jess and Lisa dive into a profound discussion about the concept of belonging and how it relates to our sense of self and our place in various communities.

• Sharing the ups and downs of family life including the inevitable sharing of germs
• Exploring the relationship between productivity and waste, suggesting productivity increases when waste decreases
• Challenging traditional views by proposing that belonging starts with declaring "I belong here" rather than waiting for external validation
• Distinguishing between "fitting in" (changing yourself to match others) and "belonging" (being accepted as your authentic self)
• Examining belonging through the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion using a dance floor analogy
• Considering the role of self-confidence and authenticity in creating a sense of belonging
• Questioning whether belonging is something we create for ourselves or something bestowed upon us by others

Join us next time as we unpack unexpected career transitions and how to move forward in choice.

Support the show

Want to support the podcast and help us keep creating content that matters? Here’s how you can get involved:

Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! What resonates with you from this episode? How are you navigating your own journey? Connect with us on Instagram @lotstounpacktherepodcast or send us a message at unpack@riverdropcoaching.com.

Subscribe & Stay Connected: If you love what you hear, subscribe and leave us a review! Your support helps us reach more women who need a space like this. Let’s build this community together!

📬 Stay Inspired: Sign up for our Substack, where you’ll get fresh insights delivered straight to your inbox. Whether you choose a free or paid subscription, you’ll be the first to know what’s next: Substack

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Every bit of support helps us keep bringing real conversations from our hearts to your ears! Thank you for being part of the journey! 🙌

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Thursday is the best day of the week. At least according to Jess, who had her perspective permanently shifted by a high school biology teacher's grocery store metaphor 25 years ago. But why do certain random moments stick with us so powerfully? How do offhand comments from adults shape children's entire worldviews?

This episode dives deep into how our perspectives form and evolve through seemingly minor interactions. We explore parenting moments where asking thoughtful questions reveals surprising truths—like when Lisa's five-year-old daughter claimed she had "no friends" but was actually struggling with the complexities of navigating different friendship dynamics. The power of a simple "tell me more" creates space for understanding that problem-solving never could.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn when Lisa unpacks her experience being repeatedly interrupted and cut off during professional meetings as the only female manager in her organization. We examine the double standards at play when well-intentioned advice like "limit yourself to two questions" would ultimately reinforce the very inequality it aims to address. The "likability trap," unconscious bias, and the exhausting mental calculations required to navigate predominantly male spaces reveal how workplace dynamics reflect broader societal patterns.

Whether you're navigating parenthood, leadership challenges, or simply trying to understand why certain days feel different than others, this episode offers thoughtful reflections on how our perspectives shape—and are shaped by—our daily interactions. Join us for an honest conversation about finding authenticity in a world that often encourages us to make ourselves smaller.

Tune in next week as we unpack the idea of belonging everywhere you go.

Support the show

Want to support the podcast and help us keep creating content that matters? Here’s how you can get involved:

Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! What resonates with you from this episode? How are you navigating your own journey? Connect with us on Instagram @lotstounpacktherepodcast or send us a message at unpack@riverdropcoaching.com.

Subscribe & Stay Connected: If you love what you hear, subscribe and leave us a review! Your support helps us reach more women who need a space like this. Let’s build this community together!

📬 Stay Inspired: Sign up for our Substack, where you’ll get fresh insights delivered straight to your inbox. Whether you choose a free or paid subscription, you’ll be the first to know what’s next: Substack

🎧 Bonus Content: Want exclusive access to behind-the-scenes moments and extra episodes? For as little as $3, you can support the show and enjoy bonus content that’s just for you: Support Us

Every bit of support helps us keep bringing real conversations from our hearts to your ears! Thank you for being part of the journey! 🙌

What You’ll Hear:

• Bravery in the Everyday – How courage isn’t just for big leaps but also for the small, uncomfortable moments we push through.
• Owning Your Story – The power of reflecting on where you’ve been and how it shapes where you’re going.
• The Ripple Effect of Validation – Why being seen and heard is one of the greatest gifts we can give—and receive.
• The Impact of Mentorship – How a simple conversation can plant seeds of confidence and possibility in someone else’s life.
• Try It Until You Become It – The mindset shift that can help you grow into the person you want to be.

Notable Moments:

“Maybe we have to be brave just to live our lives.” (22:30)

“Try it until you become it.” (28:39)

“Your voice matters today—not just when you have a degree, experience, or a platform.” (34:45)

“We assume small things don’t change the world, but maybe they do.” (43:06)

“Take the gifts you don’t know are gifts and hold onto them forever.” (54:47)

This episode is a powerful reflection on bravery, identity, and the small yet meaningful ways we shape each other’s lives.

Of note! The podcast episode Jess mentions is this one, and the psychologist she quotes is Caroline Fleck.

Tune in next week, when we'll unpack Thursdays being the best day of the week, the likability trap, and working in a male-dominated field.

Support the show

Want to support the podcast and help us keep creating content that matters? Here’s how you can get involved:

Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! What resonates with you from this episode? How are you navigating your own journey? Connect with us on Instagram @lotstounpacktherepodcast or send us a message at unpack@riverdropcoaching.com.

Subscribe & Stay Connected: If you love what you hear, subscribe and leave us a review! Your support helps us reach more women who need a space like this. Let’s build this community together!

📬 Stay Inspired: Sign up for our Substack, where you’ll get fresh insights delivered straight to your inbox. Whether you choose a free or paid subscription, you’ll be the first to know what’s next: Substack

🎧 Bonus Content: Want exclusive access to behind-the-scenes moments and extra episodes? For as little as $3, you can support the show and enjoy bonus content that’s just for you: Support Us

Every bit of support helps us keep bringing real conversations from our hearts to your ears! Thank you for being part of the journey! 🙌

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What You’ll Hear:

• The Power of Self-Perception – How what we say about ourselves influences how others see us—and how we see ourselves.
• Breaking the Burnout Cycle – Why pushing through exhaustion leads to the “capability trap” and what to do instead.
• Nature’s Reset Button – How a simple walk in the sun can shift motivation and mindset.
• Owning Your Narrative – The surprising impact of defining (and declaring) your strengths.
• Aligning Who We Are With How We Show Up – The role of intentionality in leadership, parenting, and personal growth.

Notable Moments:

“If you don’t take the time to care for yourself now, you’ll be forced to later.” (11:22)

“I learned that I wasn’t a thoughtful person—and carried that story for 20 years before I questioned it.” (36:28)

“You don’t need to fix your whole life—just figure out what fills your tank by the end of the day.” (17:28)

“If you say you’re good at something, people will believe you. So what story do you want to tell?” (24:37)

“Maybe we need more bold declarations in life.” (48:06)

This episode explores how the stories we tell ourselves shape our reality, how self-care impacts the way we show up for others, and how a little self-belief can go a long way.

Tune in next week as we dive into the ideas of bravery and validation—we can’t wait to unpack it with you!

Support the show

Want to support the podcast and help us keep creating content that matters? Here’s how you can get involved:

Join the Conversation: We want to hear from you! What resonates with you from this episode? How are you navigating your own journey? Connect with us on Instagram @lotstounpacktherepodcast or send us a message at unpack@riverdropcoaching.com.

Subscribe & Stay Connected: If you love what you hear, subscribe and leave us a review! Your support helps us reach more women who need a space like this. Let’s build this community together!

📬 Stay Inspired: Sign up for our Substack, where you’ll get fresh insights delivered straight to your inbox. Whether you choose a free or paid subscription, you’ll be the first to know what’s next: Substack

🎧 Bonus Content: Want exclusive access to behind-the-scenes moments and extra episodes? For as little as $3, you can support the show and enjoy bonus content that’s just for you: Support Us

Every bit of support helps us keep bringing real conversations from our hearts to your ears! Thank you for being part of the journey! 🙌