In this special solo episode, host The Gals Podcast host Erin Gregg shares her journey from journalism to senior leadership, reflecting on the experiences, relationships and lessons that have shaped who she is today.

After more than two decades in government and a career built around communication, strategy and solving problems, Erin is asking herself a different question: "Just because I can make something work, does that mean I should?"

She reflects on what it means to live intentionally, trust your instincts, establish boundaries and move beyond simply achieving toward creating a life that genuinely feels like your own.

Join Erin for a conversation about identity, courage, intentionality and learning to choose yourself.

Photo credit: @luminariecreative

The field of quantum technology can sound highly perplexing - until you meet someone like Elise Usunier.

In this conversation, the Chief Commercialization Officer at Zero Point Cryogenics shows how a non-linear career path, a willingness to learn, and a customer-first mindset can open the door to one of the most advanced fields in technology.

Elise shares how she went from marketing and wine sales to an MBA, then into software, and finally into quantum hardware - without a physics background.

What makes her story compelling is not just the pivot, but the way she kept finding transferable skills and using them to step into rooms she was never supposed to enter.

We discuss:

• The mindset that allowed her to change industries without starting over
• Why “I can learn” is a career strategy, not just a slogan
• What resilience looks like when timelines are long, stakes are high, and supply chain issues can derail progress
• Why women do not need a technical degree to build a real career in STEM

Essential listening if you’ve ever wondered how to build a meaningful career in tech without a traditional path, or what it actually takes to thrive once you get there.

Photo credit: @luminariecreative

What happens when a side passion becomes the thing that finally gives your life room to breathe?

Edmonton artist Amy Dixon shares how she walked away from a corporate career, rebuilt her days around painting, and turned creativity into a full-time business - even when people thought she was taking a huge risk.

Amy opens up about what pushed her back to art in the first place, the planning that made her leap possible, and the practical realities no one talks about: shipping paintings across borders, building an e-commerce studio from scratch, and learning how to run the business side of being an artist without losing the joy of making work.

We discuss:

• How Amy recognized that art had become essential to her mental health and sense of self

• What it actually takes to be a self-represented artist selling directly to collectors
• The hidden logistics behind painting while traveling
• How she balances bold creativity with spreadsheets, deadlines, and strategy
• Why listening to your gut can be the hardest - and smartest - move you make

Amy also shares the mindset shift that helped her survive uncertainty: focusing on what she can control, accepting the messy middle, and tuning out other people’s opinions long enough to hear her own.

If you’ve ever felt pulled toward a career pivot, a creative leap, or a life that fits your values better, this conversation will make you feel a little braver.

Photo credit: @luminariecreative