With everyone talking about community right now, we wanted to ask the question… why does it feel harder than ever to actually find it?

We grew up in environments where connection felt easy — school, university, even early careers — but as we’ve got older, building meaningful friendships and feeling part of something has become a lot less straightforward.

At the same time, we’re more “connected” than ever online… yet somehow more disconnected in real life.

So why is that? And what can we actually do about it?

In this mini episode, we unpack:
🏡 Why community used to feel easier (and what’s changed)
📱 How social media creates the illusion of connection
🤝 The difference between having friends vs feeling like you belong
🌍 Why everyone wants a “village” — but no one wants to build one
😬 Why putting yourself out there feels uncomfortable (but is necessary)
☕ How small, everyday moments can lead to real connection
✨ Why we decided to start building our own community for “5–9ers”

KEY MOMENTS:
00:00 Everyone wants a village — but no one builds one
01:00 Why community feels more important than ever
02:00 From built-in communities to building your own
03:00 The impact of remote work & post-COVID life
04:00 Why it’s harder to make friends as an adult
05:00 Social media vs real connection
07:00 Why “catch-up culture” isn’t real connection
09:00 Building community in small, simple ways
11:00 Why you have to put yourself out there
13:00 Finding your people (and trusting your intuition)

If you’ve ever felt like you’re missing “your people” — this episode is for you.

Follow us on socials @whatiwishiknewsoonerpod and send this to someone who might need the reminder 💛

In this episode, we’re joined by Jessica Lindfield - career strategist, author of Play the Game and founder of EmbraceHer.

From the outside, Jess’s career looks incredibly successful. But behind the scenes, her experience with ambition, burnout and navigating corporate life hasn't always been straightforward.

We talk about what it really means to “play the game” at work and why working hard alone isn’t always enough to get ahead.

✨We also get into:

• why ambition needs to be sustainable (not just impressive on paper)
• confidence vs self-trust (and what actually moves the needle)
• how to build visibility without it feeling forced
• the career advice women aren’t always taught
• and how to define success in a way that actually works for your life

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overlooked, or unsure how to navigate your next move, this episode is for you.

KEY MOMENTS:

00:00 – Introduction to Jess Linfield

02:00 – How her relationship with ambition has evolved

03:30 – Chasing promotions vs enjoying your day-to-day

04:30 – Rapid career growth at 24 (and realising it wasn’t what she wanted)

06:00 – Why she created Embrace Her

07:30 – What women are really struggling with: confidence vs career strategy

09:00 – Why self-trust matters more than confidence

10:30 – Imposter syndrome and getting out of your own way

12:30 – How confidence is actually built

21:00 – The DARE method explained

30:00 – Why working hard isn’t enough (visibility, strategy & impact)

💬 Follow us for more conversations on life, career & personal growth @whatiwishiknewsoonerpod

💛 And if you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to follow, rate and share the podcast - it helps us reach more people who might need these conversations.

With everyone talking about the millennial career crisis, we wanted to ask the question… is it actually a crisis or are careers just evolving?

Many of us were raised to follow a certain path: go to school, go to university, get a stable job, work hard, and eventually everything will fall into place.

But the world we’re working in now looks very different.

AI is reshaping industries, the job market is shifting, and more people are questioning whether climbing the traditional ladder is the only definition of success.

So are millennials really lost or are we just redefining what work and purpose look like?

In this mini episode, we unpack:
💼 Why so many people feel stuck or uncertain in their careers
🤖 How AI and technology are changing the job market
🧠 Why your job title shouldn’t define your identity
🎨 The importance of passions and creative outlets outside of work
📉 Whether university is still the “right” path for everyone
🔄 Why pivoting careers is more normal than we think
✨ And how to build a life that isn’t defined only by work

KEY MOMENTS:
00:00 Are millennials actually in a career crisis?
02:00 Millennials were raised for a different world
03:30 AI, job security & the changing job market
05:00 The rise of personal brands and creator careers
07:00 University vs alternative career paths
11:00 Hustle culture vs Gen Z work values
13:00 Why life starts to feel like Groundhog Day
15:00 Finding purpose outside your job
18:00 Redefining success and pivoting careers

If you’ve ever felt like everyone else has their life figured out while you’re still working it out — this episode is for you.

Follow us on socials @whatiwishiknewsoonerpod and send this to someone who might need the reminder 💛