In this inspiring conversation, Jen Maldonado sits down with Katey Blaire, founder of She’s Thrifty Like That, a luxury resale business helping people turn overlooked closet items into valuable assets.

Katey shares her journey from working a stable corporate job in Portland to making a bold move to Dallas in just three months—with no job lined up and no safety net. What followed was a mix of uncertainty, resilience, and determination that led her to build a business rooted in sustainability, fashion, and value.

She opens up about how her passion for thrifting turned into a full-time business, how trends constantly shift in the resale world, and why success looks very different to her now than it did in corporate life.

This episode also dives into deeper conversations around financial independence, the emotional connection women have with money, and why betting on yourself—even when it’s scary—can be the most rewarding decision you make.

• Why taking a risk on yourself can change everything
• How to turn passion into a profitable business
• The truth about trends in the fashion resale market
• Why resilience is essential in entrepreneurship
• How Katey redefined success after leaving corporate life
• The importance of sustainable fashion and mindful shopping

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Burnout isn’t just in your head—and trying to “think positive” might not fix it.

In this powerful conversation, Delia McCabe shares a completely different way to understand stress and burnout. Instead of focusing only on mindset, she explains what’s really happening inside your brain and body when you feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and stuck.

Delia takes us into the science of neuroplasticity and reveals how chronic stress changes the way your brain works. From late-night overthinking to falling back into old habits, there’s a biological reason behind it—and it’s not a lack of discipline.

You’ll learn why stress drains your brain of the nutrients it needs to function, how this impacts your creativity, sleep, and energy, and why real change starts with replenishing your body first.

This episode will shift how you think about burnout—and give you a new, practical way to start feeling like yourself again.

• What neuroplasticity really is and how your brain changes daily
• The “dark side” of stress and how it rewires your thinking
• Why women may experience stress and burnout differently
• How chronic stress impacts creativity, sleep, and decision-making
• The hidden link between nutrition and mental health
• Why mindset alone isn’t enough to create lasting change
• The 3-step approach: Replenish, Reframe, Recalibrate

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In this powerful and honest conversation, Sonal Harsh, a Senior DevOps Engineer, opens up about her journey from a traditional upbringing in India to working on complex infrastructure systems in the U.S. tech industry.

Sonal breaks down what DevOps really means in simple terms—comparing it to managing traffic routes to ensure speed, stability, and efficiency. She shares how she learned to think like an engineer, solve problems creatively, and build confidence over time.

Beyond her technical work, Sonal dives deep into personal growth. She talks openly about navigating ADHD, anxiety, and self-doubt, and how practices like meditation, yoga, and self-awareness have helped her stay grounded and focused.

She also reflects on redefining success—not as money or titles, but as happiness, self-respect, and fulfillment. After experiencing a layoff, Sonal shifted her mindset toward building multiple income streams and pursuing meaningful projects.

One of the most inspiring parts of her journey is her passion for animal rescue. Sonal shares how fostering dogs led her to develop an innovative idea: a low-cost tracking collar designed to help rescue organizations locate lost animals without expensive subscriptions.

This episode is a powerful reminder that you don’t have to have it all figured out—you just need the courage to start, adapt, and believe in yourself.

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In this powerful and honest conversation, Claudia Flores opens up about her journey from finance to tech, and how curiosity—not certainty—led her to transform her career. While working full-time in a demanding role, she began learning new skills, eventually pivoting into a solution engineering role that blends business, data, and technology.

Claudia shares what it really looks like to start over at 30, the mindset shifts she had to make to leave behind a successful career in finance, and how embracing failure helped her grow faster than perfection ever could.

This episode also explores the personal side of growth—what it means to navigate motherhood, redefine success, and ask for help without guilt. Claudia offers practical advice for women who feel successful but restless, and reminds us that there is never a “perfect time” to make a change.

• You can build a new career without quitting your current job
• Curiosity is often the first step toward transformation
• Starting over doesn’t mean starting from zero
• Perfectionism can hold you back more than failure
• Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness
• There is no perfect timing for big life decisions
• Success evolves as you grow

Be a Guest Are you a successful business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at https://catchherspark.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you...

What does it really mean to succeed in medicine? In this inspiring episode of the Catch her Spark Podcast with Jen Maldonado, Dr. Maria Escobar Vasco shares how her work goes far beyond treating patients. As a physician, educator, and leader in endocrinology, she is helping shape the next generation of doctors to lead with both skill and heart.

Originally from Medellín, Colombia, Dr. Maria built her medical journey through deep curiosity, meaningful mentorship, and a strong commitment to serving others. She opens up about her path from medical school in Colombia to specialty training in San Antonio, Texas, and how she discovered her passion not only for endocrinology, but also for teaching future physicians.

In this conversation, Dr. Maria talks about why medicine must stay human, even in a world moving faster and leaning more on systems, business models, and artificial intelligence. She explains why bedside manner, trust, and real connection still matter in patient care. She also shares how mentoring students and trainees is about more than science. It is about helping them become the kind of doctors people can trust.

Jen and Dr. Maria also explore what success really means, especially for women balancing career, family, leadership, and legacy. Dr. Maria reflects on how her definition of success has changed over time, how her Latina roots shaped her values, and why she is intentional about raising both her daughter and son to believe in partnership, respect, and possibility.

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What if leadership isn’t about control, strategy, or even results—but about how you show up and who you develop along the way? In this episode, Melissa Norcross shares why the best leaders don’t force outcomes—they build people who create them.

Melissa brings a powerful perspective shaped by her experience in strategy, executive peer networks, and values-driven leadership. She breaks down the myth that leaders must choose between high performance and being a good person—and shows why the opposite is true.

You’ll hear how great leaders elevate teams, not just themselves, and why your network—when used the right way—can expand your thinking, influence, and results.

Melissa also shares how curiosity and saying “yes” shaped her career across industries and countries, and why success today is less about personal achievement and more about the ripple effect you create in others.

This conversation will challenge how you think about leadership, growth, and what it really means to win.

• You don’t have to choose between being a high performer and a good leader
• Strong teams will always outperform even the most talented individuals
• Leadership is about helping others achieve what they didn’t think was possible
• Your network is a tool for growth, not just transactions
• Strategy without leadership will always fall apart
• Great leaders focus on “we,” not “me”
• Success is measured by the impact you have on others—not just your own results

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What happens when a high-adrenaline career no longer aligns with the life you want to live? In this inspiring episode, Dr. Jessica Nelson shares her journey from the fast-paced world of emergency medicine to creating a more balanced, purpose-driven career in leadership.

Jessica takes us inside the reality of being an ER doctor—far beyond the TV drama—and opens up about how her priorities shifted over time. From navigating motherhood during residency to redefining success on her own terms, this conversation is full of powerful insights for women balancing ambition, family, and personal fulfillment.

You’ll hear how Jessica transitioned into a medical director role while still staying connected to the ER, why setting boundaries actually created more opportunities for her, and how aligning your career with your values can completely transform your life.

Jessica also shares the mindset that helped her maintain a strong, respected career for over a decade: always treat patients like family and lead with integrity.

• What an emergency medicine physician really does (and common misconceptions)
• How Jessica discovered her path in medicine
• The realities of burnout and evolving career goals
• Transitioning into leadership while maintaining clinical work
• Why boundaries are essential for long-term success
• The importance of aligning your career with your life priorities
• Balancing motherhood, career, and personal fulfillment
• The power of saying “no” and how it can open doors

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What does it take to turn years of marketing experience into a scalable tech platform? In this episode, Jen Maldonado sits down with Maryna Burushkina to explore how she built a career across enterprise, agency, and tech—and why she chose entrepreneurship to create bigger impact.

Maryna shares how her journey began in marketing and evolved into founding Growth Channel, a programmatic advertising platform designed to help brands and agencies scale smarter. With experience working with global companies like Philips and Allianz, she brings a unique perspective on blending strategy, technology, and innovation.

Throughout the conversation, Maryna opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship, the importance of delegation, and how embracing technology—especially AI and automation—can create more freedom and efficiency. She also breaks down common misconceptions in programmatic advertising and explains why marketing should always be viewed as a full-funnel strategy rather than isolated tactics.

Beyond business, Maryna shares her evolving definition of success. While she continues to grow her company, she’s also focused on creating more time for family, teaching, and giving back by sharing her knowledge with others.

This episode is a powerful reminder that success is not static—it evolves with your priorities, your life stage, and your vision for the future.

• Why Maryna transitioned from services to a scalable tech platform
• The power of combining enterprise, agency, and tech experience
• Common myths about programmatic advertising
• Why marketing should never be treated as a standalone channel
• How delegation, AI, and automation can free up your time
• Rethinking success at different stages of life
• Practical advice for women who feel successful—but restless

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