In this episode of Super Real Human, I'm coming to you from bed, pillowed up and taped together, mostly to put down some proof of life. Last Wednesday (now 5 weeks ago) I was in a motorcycle accident on my way to work.

Learning to ride was a midlife goal I had wanted for years and kept putting on the back burner while I raised my kids. I finally did it. Then one pothole erased the check mark. So this episode is about what happens when the unexpected takes something from you, and what you decide to do with what is left. Gratitude for being here, frustration that it happened at all, and the stubborn refusal to hand back the part of me that wanted the adventure in the first place. All of that gets to be true at once.

If you are in the middle of something hard right now, whether it is hard in general or hard because you are a bit of a control enthusiast like me, this one is for you.

In this episode, I talk about:

• What it feels like when the unexpected takes something you finally let yourself want
• Holding gratitude and frustration at the same time without picking one
• Why I am not giving up my sense of adventure, even if the bike waits a while
• Taking things as they come when the plan is gone and your body sets the pace

More about Maura:

Need more inspirational guidance on how to make your passion a reality? Want to bring a more human side to your corporate career? Follow Maura on Instagram. Maura shares the real human side of building and marketing your business and being a senior leader, including strategic analysis, creative development, implementation, growth, and management.

Interested in bringing Maura and her experiences to your team event or conference? Reach out to info@lillablu.com for booking information!

In this episode of Super Real Human, I'm sharing a major personal and professional life update: after nearly 12 years of running my own business, I've stepped into a full-time role as Senior Vice President of Marketing.

I'm getting honest about the fears, expectations, and internal tension that came with this decision. I expected to grieve the loss of my identity as a business owner and worried that returning to an organization would feel like giving up my freedom. Instead, I'm discovering that the resilience, determination, and entrepreneurial mindset I developed are still very much a part of who I am.

This episode is about allowing yourself to evolve without treating change as failure. If you're considering a career shift, stepping away from entrepreneurship, or moving into a new season of life, I hope this conversation reminds you that your past experiences come with you, and the next chapter may feel more expansive than you expect.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The decision to move from entrepreneurship into a full-time C-suite role
• Separating your identity from your job title or business
• How freedom and flexibility can look different in different seasons
• Bringing an entrepreneurial mindset back into an organization
• Why transitions often feel scarier before you take the leap
  

More about Maura:

Need more inspirational guidance on how to make your passion a reality? Want to bring a more human side to your corporate career? Follow Maura on Instagram. Maura shares the real human side of building and marketing your business and being a senior leader, including strategic analysis, creative development, implementation, growth, and management.

Interested in bringing Maura and her experiences to your team event or conference? Reach out to info@lillablu.com for booking information!

In this episode of Super Real Human, I'm joined by my friend and fellow business owner, Ashleigh Howland, for a deeply honest conversation about burnout, overwhelm, and what it really looks like to find your way back to yourself.

Ashleigh shares her personal journey through high achievement, exhaustion, isolation, and the moment she realized something had to change. We talk about the pressure women carry, the stories we tell ourselves about success and failure, and why so many of us feel like we have to hold everything together all the time.

This conversation is real, vulnerable, validating, and full of reminders that you are not alone in what you're carrying. If you've been feeling exhausted, disconnected, or stuck in the messy middle, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What burnout actually looks and feels like beneath the surface
• The cycle of overworking, shame, isolation, and exhaustion many women experience
• Why "doing less" can be one of the hardest and most important steps
• The importance of untangling expectations, pressure, and perfectionism
• Why burnout recovery is messy, nonlinear, and still incredibly transformative

Connect with Ashleigh:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleighhowland.lighthouse
Website: https://www.ashleighhowland.com

More about Maura:

Mini-sessions are booking now! Not ready for long-term marketing coaching and support, but know you need some direction, strategy, and clear, made-for-you action items to grow your business? Work with Maura to take your business (and life) to the next level! The support, guidance, and transformation inside this 90-minute session are unlike any other. It's time to invest 90 minutes to set yourself and your business up for success and joy for the rest of 2026!

Need more inspirational guidance on how to make your passion a reality? Follow Maura on Facebook and Instagram. Maura shares the real human side of building and marketing your business, including strategic analysis, creative development, implementation, growth, and management.

Maura wants to hear from you and why you are here! Send her an email and share who you are and what you're passionate about!