What if the biggest thing standing between you and the life you really want… is a story you’ve been holding onto for too long? A story that says, “You need to have it all figured out.” “Certainty is safer than possibility.” “You’re not ready.”

This week on The Flourish Careers Podcast, I’m talking with Dominique Luster—archivist, storyteller, and founder of The Luster Company, where she’s devoted to preserving and uplifting Black narratives.

As an archivist, Dominique’s work is all about collecting and preserving stories. In her chapter, “The Lies We Hold,” from Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Letting Go, she realized there were also stories she was holding about herself that were quietly keeping her stuck.

When faced with personal loss and the uncertainty of a changing world, Dominique reached a crossroads. The life she was living no longer fit the person she was becoming. And like any good archivist, she got curious. Her inspiration was Charity, her fifth great-grandmother, a woman who, against all odds, built a life, a business, and a lasting legacy.

This is a story about letting go of certainty. A story about creating a legacy. About choosing curiosity over perfection and trusting that with the right mindset, strategy, and a seed of faith… You can (and will) figure it out.

🌟 Connect with Dominique: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominiqueluster/

💛 Website, The Luster Company: https://www.thelustercompany.com/

📗 You can read Dominique's entire chapter in Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Letting Go, available now on Amazon https://amzn.to/43X5Dq6

🌟 Meet all the courageous women rewriting the rules of success: https://course.flourish.careers/Lessons-In-Letting-Go

🎧 Related Episodes: Special Edition: Brave Women, Bold Stories, A Celebration of Letting Go: https://flourish.careers/brave-women-letting-go/

💛 Stay in touch! Newsletter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Pinterest | Freebies + Shop

🖋️ For detailed show notes, visit the Flourish Careers Blog

Imagine how different our work environments could be if every leader approached challenges with compassion.

Imagine how much more fulfilling our careers would feel if kindness led the way.

Now, imagine what’s possible when we let go of the self-sabotaging behaviors that keep us stuck—isolating, self-medicating, or holding onto past pain—and step into a life where we show up with intention and purpose.

In this episode, I talk with Amy Quesenberry, founder of Start With Compassion, as she shares her story of releasing past trauma and embracing a life guided by compassion. And let me just say—Amy is the real deal. I had the joy of spending a few days with her in real life, and she radiates compassion. It’s not just something she talks about—it’s how she moves through the world. She listens with her whole heart, greets everyone with joyful, grounded energy, and somehow always knows how to lighten the moment with a perfectly timed laugh.

Amy's story is a reminder that there’s another life waiting for us—we just have to be brave enough to find it. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about letting go and choosing compassion as a way of life.

📗 You can read Amy's entire chapter in Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Letting Go, available now on Amazon https://amzn.to/43X5Dq6

🌟 Connect with Amy: https://linkin.bio/start_with_compassion

💛 Website: Start With Compassion:https://startwithcompassion.com/

🌟 Meet all the courageous women rewriting the rules of success: https://course.flourish.careers/Lessons-In-Letting-Go

🎧 Related Episodes: Special Edition: Brave Women, Bold Stories, A Celebration of Letting Go: https://flourish.careers/brave-women-letting-go/

🌟 Ready to Let Go? Fried to Flourishing career change experience offers career clarity, resume refresh, and job search coaching. Use code PODCAST for $50 off!

💛 Stay in touch! Newsletter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Pinterest | Freebies + Shop

🖋️ For detailed show notes, visit the Flourish Careers Blog

What if the bravest thing you could do is slow down?

After years working in academia, with no real summers off, Jackie Cetera made a bold move: she let go of the hustle, tuned into her intuition, and finally gave herself the break she desperately needed.

What followed was a season of sunshine and self-discovery that changed everything. 😎

In this week’s episode, I’m delighted to share my conversation with Jackie Cetera—founder of JNC Innovations, a champion of women’s empowerment, and one of the most extraordinary experience creators I’ve ever seen in action. No detail is missed!💚

With humor and a whole lot of heart, Jackie walks us through what it means to let go of a former version of yourself—and how letting go isn’t giving up, it’s making space for something far more meaningful.

Her story is a beautiful reminder that we’re allowed to pause and create a life that lights us up from the inside out. 💫⁠

📗 You can read Jackie's entire chapter in Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Letting Go, available now on Amazon https://amzn.to/43X5Dq6

🌟 Connect with Jackie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-cetera/

💛 Website: JNC Innovations: https://linktr.ee/jncinnovations

🌟 Meet all the courageous women rewriting the rules of success: https://course.flourish.careers/Lessons-In-Letting-Go

🎧 Related Episodes: Special Edition: Brave Women, Bold Stories, A Celebration of Letting Go: https://flourish.careers/brave-women-letting-go/

🌟 Ready to Let Go? Fried to Flourishing career change experience offers career clarity, resume refresh, and job search coaching. Use code PODCAST for $50 off!

💛 Stay in touch! Newsletter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Pinterest | Freebies + Shop

🖋️ For detailed show notes, visit the Flourish Careers Blog

Let’s talk about something real…⁠ Fear. Doubt. Uncertainty.⁠

They have a sneaky way of showing up anytime we’re considering a change, especially when it’s tied to our careers or sense of purpose.⁠

Dr. Shawnté Elbert knows that feeling. When life threw her a curveball, she realized she had a choice: let fear run the show or practice something different.⁠

Her choice? Inhale faith. Exhale fear.⁠

It’s not just a one-time thing. It’s a practice and a mantra—a way of moving forward even when the next step feels unclear. With honesty, humor, and heart, Shawnté shares how she navigated big life pivots, embraced uncertainty, and discovered the value of rewriting her story. Her path is a reminder that fear often signals growth, not failure.⁠

If you're standing at a crossroads, feeling unsure of what’s next, this conversation will meet you right where you are and inspire you to take your next tiny, brave step forward.⁠

📗 You can read Shawnté's entire chapter in Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Letting Go, available now on Amazon https://amzn.to/43X5Dq6

🌟 Connect with Shawnté on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnteelbert/

💛 Websites: Elbert Innovative Solutions: https://elbertsolutions.my.canva.site/eis | Sister Wells: https://www.sisterwells.org/

📗 Blog, Dr. E Speaks! Using words to heal and inspire: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/dr-e-speaks-7190711196314959873/

🖋️For detailed show notes, visit the Flourish Careers Blog

🎧 Related Episodes: Special Edition: Brave Women, Bold Stories, A Celebration of Letting Go

🌟 Ready to Let Go? Fried to Flourishing career change experience offers career clarity, resume refresh, and job search coaching. Use code PODCAST for $50 off!

💛 Stay in touch! Newsletter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Pinterest | Freebies + Shop

What happens when you listen and act on your intuition? A beautiful partnership and a bold collaboration begin. Today, we’re kicking off a very special season—one dedicated to celebrating the women behind the book Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Letting Go. To launch the series, I’m joined by the dynamic duo who brought this project to life: Jen Pestikas and Hope Mueller.

Together, they describe their collaboration as naïve joy—a blend of trust, inspiration, and the belief that something magical happens when women come together to share their stories.

In this heartfelt conversation, we explore the spark behind the Brave Women at Work book series, why letting go became the theme of this latest collection, the courage it takes to release old identities, roles, or expectations, and an extra-special behind-the-scenes peek at the magic that unfolded along the way.

Whether you’re navigating a career pivot or simply feeling the call to release something, you’ll feel supported here. Stay tuned—this season is packed with stories that are honest and wildly inspiring.

📗 Buy the book! Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Letting Go: https://amzn.to/43X5Dq6

🌟 Connect with Hope Mueller https://www.linkedin.com/in/hope-mueller-3167896/

🌟 Connect with Jen Pestikas https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferpestikas

💛 Check out CLIMB conferences https://www.climbconferences.com/about

🎧 Related Episodes: Special Edition: Brave Women, Bold Stories, A Celebration of Letting Go: https://flourish.careers/brave-women-letting-go/

🌟 Ready to Let Go? Fried to Flourishing career change experience offers career clarity, resume refresh, and job search coaching. Use code PODCAST for $50 off!

💛 Stay in touch! Newsletter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Pinterest | Freebies + Shop

🖋️For detailed show notes, visit the Flourish Careers Blog

Is your work starting to feel a little… meh?

Before you toss everything out the window and start fresh, hang tight—sometimes, all it takes is a slight shift to bring back that spark. In today's episode (the season 8 finale!), we're tackling creative rituals—simple practices that can help you feel more energized, inspired, and connected to your work.

These aren't big, dramatic changes. We're talking about tiny, meaningful moments that add up—like screen-free evenings, curiosity lists, or a good old-fashioned mood board. Whether you're in a season of change, feeling stuck in your routine, or just craving more joy in your day-to-day, this conversation is for you.

And a quick peek ahead—Season 9 is coming soon!

In a few weeks, we're kicking off a very special series inspired by Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Letting Go. I'll chat with my co-authors about the stories behind the book—stories of reinvention, release, and what it means to let go in your career and your life.

Make sure you're subscribed to the Flourish Careers newsletter for updates, special savings, and a dose of heart-based career inspiration.

The Flourish Careers Podcast is proudly highlighted in the Top Career Podcast Guide

🌟 Feeling stuck? Fried to Flourishing career change experience offers career clarity, resume refresh, and job search coaching. Use code PODCAST for $50 off!

💛 Stay in touch! Newsletter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Pinterest | Freebies + Shop

🖋️For detailed show notes, visit the Flourish Careers Blog

Please note that I value confidentiality. In cases where real-life experiences are recounted, names may be changed, or stories are shared with direct permission from those involved.

Tired of outdated career rules? Same! It’s time to flip the script.

In today’s conversation, I’m joined by Jamie Jacobs—former corporate exec turned Founder and CEO of Gig Talent. Jamie is on a mission to reimagine how work gets done—with more freedom and intention. At its core, it’s about doing great work with great people.

Jamie has built an impressive career as an HR leader, and her real superpower is driving transformational change. She challenges outdated systems and helps values-driven professionals and companies flourish in the new world of work.

✨ Fun fact: Jamie and I go way back—over 15 years! From early career days to now collaborating through Gig Talent, I’ve watched her lead with courage and heart. She’s a bold thinker and a champion of what’s possible when we dare to do work differently.

We dive into the rise of the gig economy and why taking ownership of your path is more important than ever. If you’re craving more autonomy + alignment in your career, this conversation is your guide. Because your career should work for you—not the other way around.

💛 Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn | Website | Instagram | The Courageous Choice Podcast

Book a free Ideation Session with Jamie: https://calendly.com/jamiegigtalent/connection-meeting

Jamie's Flourishing Fave: The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.

The Flourish Careers Podcast is proudly highlighted in the Top Career Podcast Guide

🌟 Feeling stuck? Fried to Flourishing career change experience offers career clarity, resume refresh, and job search coaching. Use code PODCAST for $50 off!

💛 Stay in touch! LinkedIn | Instagram | Pinterest | Freebies + Shop

🖋️For detailed show notes, visit the Flourish Careers Blog

✨ Have you ever found yourself instinctively reaching for a specific color, without even thinking about it?⁠ Maybe it’s a bold red blazer on a day you need extra courage… or a soft blue sweater when your spirit craves calm.⁠

Color is so much more than just style—it’s energy, emotion, and intuition speaking to us. 🎨⁠

I had the best conversation with intuitive artist Heather Eck about how color can support us through life transitions—and even help clarify our career paths.⁠ From yellow symbolizing growth to blue encouraging communication, the colors we’re drawn to reflect where we are… or where we’re headed.⁠

Especially during seasons of change, color becomes this beautiful, quiet guide—reminding us to trust ourselves and stay curious.⁠

🤝 Connect with Heather on her Website | Instagram | Spirit Portraits | Color + Chakra Guide

🎧 Related Episodes: Heather Eck’s Heart-Based Path From Corporate HR to Creative Artist

The Flourish Careers Podcast is proudly highlighted in the Top Career Podcast Guide

🌟 Feeling stuck? Fried to Flourishing career change experience offers career clarity, resume refresh, and job search coaching. Use code PODCAST for $50 off!

💛 Flourishing Faves: Handpicked professional development resources just for you!

🌟 Let's work together to craft your HEART-based career path or propel your team's professional development

💛 Stay in touch! LinkedIn | Instagram | Pinterest | Freebies + Shop

🖋️For detailed show notes, visit the Flourish Careers Blog