This week on the MeaningFULL Work Podcast, Dr Nicole sits down with the incredible Lauren Berty, Creative Director, CEO of That Twin Mama Podcast, social media sensation, and proud mom of three, for an honest conversation about what it really takes to move from guilt to grace, pressure to peace, and overwhelm to empowerment.

Balancing family, career, leadership, and your own wellbeing can feel impossible at times, but this episode is filled with wisdom, laughter, and real-life moments that remind you that you are not alone. Whether you’re a mom, dad, bonus parent, caregiver, or someone who supports parents, this conversation is for you.

5 Powerful Takeaways from This Episode 🚀

✨ How to release shame and step into empowerment as a parent
✨ Why vulnerability and storytelling are powerful tools in motherhood
✨ How humor and authenticity can help you navigate everyday challenges
✨ Why connection matters more than perfection with your children
✨ How to manage social media’s impact on self-image and parenting expectations

This conversation will leave you feeling lighter, encouraged, and ready to show up for yourself and your loved ones—messy hair, laughter, and all. 💛

Ready to let go of mom guilt (or simply enjoy a good laugh)? Press play on this inspiring episode now!

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, share your biggest takeaway in the comments, and send this episode to someone who could use a little encouragement today.

In this episode we’re diving into one of the most overlooked skills in emotional intelligence (EQ): knowing when to overcome an obstacle and when it’s time to move on.

Whether you’re leading a team, navigating workplace relationships, or becoming the highest version of yourself, this conversation will help you recognize the difference between persistence and peace.

Too often, we stay stuck trying to force what no longer fits. Other times, we walk away too soon from something that requires growth, courage, and strategy. In this episode, we unpack how emotional intelligence helps you discern the next right move.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

● How to recognize when an obstacle is meant to be overcome versus when it’s time to release it

● Practical strategies for empathy, conflict management, and building healthier relationships

● Actionable ways to strengthen your EQ in both career and personal life

● How to respond with wisdom instead of reacting from emotion

● Steps to become the best version of yourself in every season

Why This Episode Matters:

Your ability to shift instead of blend in often comes down to discernment. Emotional intelligence isn’t just about understanding feelings, it’s about making empowered decisions that align with your growth, purpose, and peace.

Keep the Conversation Going:

Did something in this episode resonate with you? I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway, story, or question. Share with me on social or send me a message.

Share the Wisdom:

If you know someone who’s navigating challenges at work, in relationships, or within themselves, send them this episode.

Keep Listening:

Be sure to catch Parts 1 and 2 of the Shift or Blend In series for the full roadmap to shifting into purpose and leading with intention.

Here’s to shifting, growing, and becoming the highest version of YOU. 💫

We’re back with Part 2 of the Shift or Blend In series—and this conversation will stretch you in all the right ways. If you’ve ever felt the pull to settle, stay silent, or simply blend into what’s comfortable, this episode is your invitation to rise higher.

Because let’s be clear; average was never your assignment.

In this episode, we explore what it truly means to lead yourself well so you can lead others with intention, clarity, and purpose. Through practical strategies and powerful examples, you’ll learn how to move from reactive to intentional, and from blending in to boldly shifting forward.

Here’s what you’ll walk away with:

● Why settling for average quietly limits both your fulfillment and your impact

● A deeper understanding of “subdue” and why it matters in how you show up at work

● Powerful lessons on self-regulation through the story of Esther in the bible.

● How to discern the difference between decision fatigue and true discernment.

● A simple, practical technique to strengthen your emotional intelligence and leadership presence

This episode isn’t just something to listen to, it’s something to apply.

So the next time you feel triggered, tested, or tempted to react… pause. Practice the technique Dr Nicole walks you through in this episode. Then come back and tell us what shifted for you.

We’d love to hear your takeaways and those “aha” moments that remind you, you were never meant to blend in.

Have you realized that God did not create you to blend in, so why do so many leaders choose to settle rather than going after the shift it will take to subdue, just as God intended.

In this episode, Dr. Nicole challenges you to make 2026 your year of ambition by choosing to SHIFT not settle. She shares candid stories from her own journey, the lessons she’s still learning, and practical steps for leading with intention, emotional intelligence, and self-awareness. If you’re ready to stop hiding and start advancing, spiritually, professionally, and personally, this episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn:

1. Self-Awareness as Your Superpower - How tuning into your emotions forms the foundation of effective leadership and simple practices to strengthen it.
2. Emotional Intelligence as a Career Accelerator - Why EQ matters as much as IQ for career growth, stronger teams, and wiser leadership decisions.
3. Breaking Free from Comfort Zones - Why “blending in” isn’t your calling and the mindset shifts that move you toward excellence.
4. Identifying and Managing Triggers - Dr. Nicole’s personal reflections on triggers and anger, plus ways to recognize emotional patterns and transform responses.
5. Finding and Fueling Your Motivation - How to uncover what truly drives you at work so you can show up more powerfully and purposefully.

Ready to Shift? Listen now and begin leading with intention, courage, and clarity—whether you’re aiming for your next role or a more purpose-driven life.

Resource from this episode

• Get Your Emotional Wheel Map - https://meaningfullwork.kit.com/emotionalwheel
• Listen to episode from last season - Cracking the code: secrets to discovering meaning in your work https://youtu.be/OzASoEBzUAM?si=4pjEPMAAERJ_y7E8

In this episode, Dr. Nicole Roberts Jones sits down with the unstoppable TeeJ Mercer, founder of Move-In Day Mafia and Hollywood storytelling veteran, to unpack a bold pivot from a thriving entertainment career to a movement that has changed lives across the nation. If you’re at a crossroads, wrestling with risk, or hungry for faith-driven momentum, this episode will fuel your courage.

What You’ll Get from This Episode?

🔥A real-life roadmap for trusting God in the unknown as TeeJ shares who she traded Hollywood lights for community impact.

🔥Honest, practical insight to walk by faith.

🔥How to align strategy with the One who knows your map; a perspective that transforms business and life decisions.

🔥The ABCs of Audacity and why collaboration multiplies what one person can do.

🔥Start where you are to build something that becomes life-changing.

Where is God asking you to step out of the boat? Drop your takeaways in the comments, tell us if TeeJ pushed your limits, and share how you’re being nudged to your next level.

Listen now, share with a friend who needs a faith-filled push. You might be the answer to someone’s prayer.

Want to help Move In Day Mafia? Visit www.moveindaymafia.org

What if the real key to performance isn’t pushing harder, but building smarter?

In this powerful episode, Dr. Nicole sits down with Jennifer LaMothe, Chief Administration and People Officer at Kynisca Sports Management, for a bold, no-nonsense conversation on what it really takes to lead high-performing teams and create lasting organizational impact.

Jennifer doesn’t just talk leadership, she architects it.

From federal services to global women’s professional sports, she’s mastered the art of building operating systems that unlock potential, drive alignment, and sustain growth. And in this episode, she’s pulling back the curtain on how it’s actually done.

🔥 Here’s what you’ll walk away with:

● The truth about control vs. real leadership, and why most leaders get it wrong.

● Why people, not just performance metrics, are your greatest competitive advantage.

● How to build systems that create clarity, consistency, and flexibility.

● What it means to “send the elevator back down” and lead with legacy in mind.

● Practical ways to design high-impact performance systems—without micromanaging.

This is the conversation every high-level leader needs—but few are having.

Jennifer’s philosophy is simple, but powerful:
Infrastructure drives impact.

And if you’re serious about scaling your leadership, your team, or your organization… this episode will shift how you think about all three.

✨ Get your notepad ready, there are gems in every minute.

Busy leader, ambitious achiever: this episode is for you!

When your to-do list grows faster than your energy, it’s time to reclaim your day. Dr Nicole delivers sharp, practical guidance to help executive women align ambition with well-being so you can lead sustainably and boldly.

The 5 Key Tools you’ll leave this episode with (high-level):

1. A simple framework to protect focused time and restore control without drama.

2. Tiny resilience rituals that compound into real energy and clarity.

3. Stop unknowingly getting in your own way: this mindset reset exposes those hidden patterns and gives you the tools to stop sabotaging yourself and accelerate forward.

4. Learn tactical delegation = delegate with strategy, confidence, plus hear insight that shows exactly how it frees your time and multiplies impact.

5. A fast, empowering habit to acknowledge wins and build momentum.

Why listen?

This episode is short on fluff and long on real, usable moves designed for high-performing women who want results, not guilt. Tune in to recalibrate your schedule, sharpen your leadership edge, and start putting yourself back on your own agenda.

Listen now and start reclaiming your day.Ready to put yourself back on your own to-do list? Catch the full episode now!

Resources for this episode

Listen to Season 1 Episodes

· Work-Life Balance Hacks: Part 1 - https://youtu.be/uY8b0imRpgs?si=fkd10YH_l__01Iq0

· Work-Life Balance Hacks: Part 2 - ​​https://youtu.be/pWCpWYFuRw4?si=nLmR3W5Y9SMlxpXh

Ready to make big moves in your career and life this year? Don’t miss this episode.

What you’ll get from this episode:

• The true power of leadership growth: why developing as a leader multiplies your influence across your team, business, and career.
• Commitment vs. interest: the vital difference that separates wishful thinking from real momentum.
• The 4 Ps of Leadership Growth: Dr. Nicole’s practical framework and how to apply each “P” for measurable progress.
• Your personal Leadership Growth Charter: a fillable template Dr. Nicole walks you through so you can set goals and track growth (download link below).
• How to tackle common barriers: concrete strategies for overcoming time constraints, fear, and feedback using a growth-minded approach.

Why listen: Dr. Nicole delivers actionable tips, relatable stories, and a touch of Biblical wisdom to inspire promotions, pivots, and personal breakthroughs.

Links & Resources:

• Download the Leadership Growth Charter + BONUS Vision Board Worksheet by CLICKING HERE - https://meaningfullwork.kit.com/leadershipgrowth
• Subscribe for more episodes on leading with ambition