Life Leaps Podcast

41. Cracking Into Creativity, Finding Flow - With Yale Prof. Astrid Baumgardner Jun 05, 2024

Astrid Baumgardner is a Yale Professor, NYC-based career coach, author of the book Creative Success Now, TedX speaker (you name it!) who helps others make life and career choices based on their values, strengths and passions. But - for an important twist - Astrid also made her own life leap, which really came to focus in a time of personal and physical crisis, after she went into a coma, 25 years into her career..
Today, Astrid delves into:

What sparked her own life leap after 25 years
The questions we should all ask ourselves
What mindset is (and isn't!) helpful
Why we should all unlock and cultivate our inner creativity when making life and career changes - and how to do it

Check out Episode 41 and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts!

And learn more about Astrid Baumgardner at www.astridbaumgardner.com, on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram @astridlrb. Learn more about her book, Creative Success Now, and watch her TEDx talk, Cracking the Code on Creativity.

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
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*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

40 - Activating Your Genius (And Using It To Help You Leap), With Your Host May 22, 2024

Today we're back with a solo episode from your host on how we can evaluate our time, energy and talents in a whole new way to help us leap. We'll dive into (and highly recommend you also check out for yourself!):

Rachel Rodgers' book "We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power"
Gay Hendrix's book "The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life To The Next Level"
Plus a previous podcast episode of our own with Yale Professor, life coach, TedX speaker and more, Astrid Baumgartner (Ep. 14), on unlocking your creativity to live a life more in alignment with your values and goals.

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

39. "Single Mom, By Choice" - Why Lori Decided To Stop Waiting May 08, 2024

Lori Leonardo wanted love, marriage, and a kid (in that order). But when she found herself in her late thirties, divorced, and frustrated with her options, she decided to take matters into her own hands. In this rewind episode, we’ll hear about Lori’s leap into single motherhood, by choice, including:

How and why she decided to do it
Reactions from her friends and family
How she had a very slim chance—one shot, actually—and decided to take it
How she found the resources that made this all possible, and
What she wishes she’d known, plus larger insights for the rest of us who might feel we’ve reached a dead end but might not have considered other, ‘less-traveled’ paths
*PLUS, an update on Lori's life that has significantly affected her parenting plans since this episode aired a year ago*

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
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*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

38. Doing Hard Things As A Family, With Sara + Nick Apr 24, 2024

Today, we're rewinding to Sara and Nick, whose family of five leapt across the world five years ago and isn't done yet. Since we first aired this episode, we've heard from a LOT of parents -- especially those with younger kids -- trying to figure out ways to make changes while also balancing their relationship with each other, their careers, of course their kids' needs. Leaping as a family is its own beast, no doubt. But Sara's and Nick's journey, not just the whole getting overseas part (the "chosen challenge") but the unexpected challenges like a layoff, a big change in career goals, and more, remind us that change and doing hard things as a family -- whatever that looks like for you -- can make us tighter, better and stronger. So tune in to hear how Sarah and Nick Windschitl, two teachers from Minneapolis with three kids under the age of 10, did and continue to do it.
Also, here’s the podcast episode we referenced from one of our amazing listeners, Deb, who went back to school in her thirties and said it was one of the toughest and best things she’s ever done. And she recently did a related update!

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

This Mom (x3) Changed Careers, Went Back to School, and Became an Intern *While Pregnant* in her 30s Apr 10, 2024

When Yasmine, a then-mom of two on maternity leave, decided to go back to school instead of back to her day job, she knew she was taking the less-traveled path. Then she got pregnant, started her first "internship" at 34, and things really got interesting. Or, as she puts it, very freeing. Join us in Ep. 37 as we discuss making changes as a mom, a Millennial, and what it is that really gets in our way. “For me, for a long time, my limiting belief was it's too late," Yasmin says. "It's not." We also delve into the identity crisis (and guilt - because I spent so much time on this already!) that can come with career change, reframing failure, and how motherhood actually helped Yasmine feel more reconnected to herself and her goals. We also get to move counties, and talk about how it felt to be a student and then pregnant intern in your mid-thirties so, buckle up.
More on Yasmine on IG @pivot.by.design. More on the identity shift (er, crisis?) that can come with career change, and on getting out of your bubble and figuring out what to do next, in Ep. 5 of Life Leaps Podcast with JoDee Scissors.

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

36. When Her Leap-For-Two Fell Through, She Did It Anyway Mar 27, 2024

Annet and her partner of nearly ten years planned to leap together. Then, she shares, "the whole plan crumbled," but she decided to do it by herself anyway. Annet's story takes us from a small village in Estonia to big city corporate burnout, to creating portable income and a trip around the world, to healing heartache. And talking to her reminded me how often hardship can spur on the biggest, most positive changes in our lives, if we let it.
Follow Annet's journey on IG @AnnetMuru. And find the other podcast episodes referenced here!

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

35. What Separates Those Who Leap (And How To Get It) Mar 13, 2024

Today we dive into the art and the science behind the leap. What's the one thing we've seen all our guests have in common? And how do we get it? Join us today in Ep. 35, a solo ep. with our host (!), discussing this and more.

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
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*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

34. From Airplanes to Honeybees - Yuka and Yosuke's Journey Feb 28, 2024

"When I proposed to her, she said she could only live in an area with a subway," Yosuke jokes while sitting in the kitchen of he and his wife, Yuka's, rural home in southern Japan. The couple met later in life and thought they were set in their ways, until an earthquake hit -- and the boredom, stress (and risks) of city living all came into focus.
Join us in Ep. 34 as we unpack the story behind this creative, persistent, and quite unflappable couple's journey from urban living to something altogether different -- a life where they live off of, well, mostly honeybees. Today they share:

how in the heck they got there;
what drove them to keep at it even when their first two plans failed (you’ll see in the very end, it’s quite a different answer for each of them);
how they made the money work;
and more, including what insights they have for the rest of us looking to make life changes (some of which might surprise you).

And follow their journey on IG @pocotoscana!

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
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*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

33. Leaping Back *IN* After Kids - With Jade Navega Feb 14, 2024

Motherhood rocked Jade's world - career included - and she's in the throes of leaping back in to her business and her 'pre-mom' self. Join us for a candid conversation in Ep. 33 as we cover how Jade first leapt to a new city and formed her business "The Mindful Step" in the first place; was forced her to put her plans on ice; and - most importantly - reignited her adventurous and ambitious self to form a new (and less conventional) family plan, starting now.
Follow Jade's journey and her extraordinary business - The Mindful Step - which connects people around the world with sustainable fashion and other Portuguese brands from her home base of Porto, Portugal, on Instagram now.

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

32. We're BACK! An Update On Your Host's Leap + A Brand New Season Jan 31, 2024

*Quick note: the podcast will be bi-weekly now - so you'll get brand new episodes every otherWednesday!*
We're so excited to kick off a brand new season, starting with an update on your host's own life leap. It's been (gasp) a year since we packed up our Washington, DC apartment, sold our car, quit a job, and took ourselves and our toddler (and now our pets!) overseas and ended up in Spain. We've shared our updates along the way (starting with the day before we boarded the plane in Ep. 8, and our most recent was Ep. 31!) and now -- a year in -- we'll fill you in on:

How we navigated a big disruption this summer -- getting evicted from our new chosen home in Spain
(Re)learned the importance of patience, staying focused, and adapting when needed -- plus the value of a good emergency fund
How we redefined success, stayed sane, and made it back

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

31. Season Closeout + What's Next? A Message From Your Host Jun 28, 2023

It's a wrap, everyone! Join your host today for insights into next season, a reflection (and roadmap) on what we've done so far, a pitch for YOUR feedback and a brief personal update as we head into summer.
To stay in touch this summer, follow us now on *Facebook: Life Leaps Podcast* ~ *Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast* ~ *subscribe by email at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/* ~ *send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.*

Episodes highlighted today (full list at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2064695 or anywhere else you listen to podcasts):

Travel with kids / moving your family across the world
- The Jetsetting Family (Ep. 1)
- The Windschitls (Ep. 21)
Employee to entrepreneur as a new mom - Rosie (Ep. 9)
- (There are also tons of other leaps into entrepreneurship throughout the podcast, FYI)
Running for elected office - Jheanelle (Ep. 6)
Single mom by choice - Lori (Ep. 22)
New careers in your 60s and 70s
- Ms. Libby to teach in Thailand (Ep. 11)
- Sandy and her animal sanctuary (Ep. 4)
- Jane and her nearby food pantry (Ep. 29)

NOTE - I RAN OUT OF SPACE IN THE SHOW NOTES! :) GOING TO INCLUDE A LINK TO THE REST AS A BLOG POST ON MY WEBSITE LATER THIS WEEK.

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

30. "Suddenly I'm Vacuuming Inside The Freezer" - From 'Working Mom' To 'Mom' And Finding Purpose Outside Of Work, With Andrea (A Leap-In-Progress Update) Jun 21, 2023

Today we’re BACK with Andrea Gomez Kerr - whose leap-in-progress is one that we’re tracking - and whose last episode ("I Just Gave My Two Weeks" - Ep. 19, April 5, 2023) quickly became one of the podcast’s most listened-to episodes. Last time, Andrea shared that she had just quit her job and spoke really openly about Type-A-working-mom-burnout; cutting 40 percent of her family’s expenses; and a lot of the decisions (conscious and not) that landed her where she was. Andrea is a mom of 3 young kids, the child of immigrants, and has financially supported herself since she was a teenager - so all this has been a very big change.
Today, in Ep. 30, and a few months into her leap, Andrea and I discuss:

The identity crisis of leaving a job and how we often still feel like we’re on the hamster wheel - even when we don’t have to be (and what to do about it);
What happens when ANOTHER family member finds themselves suddenly leaping as well (and when can that be a good or not-so-good thing); and
What it really means to be a ‘good mom’ and - as we make life changes - how we navigate prioritizing ourselves alongside our kids (or spouses, or other roles we play in life, for that matter).
Finally, we break down what a life leap really is (hint: it can be less drastic than you might think).

**sponsored content**

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
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*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

29. "It's Soul Pay" - A Reminder We Can Leap At Any Age, And Without Going Far From Home, With Jane Jun 14, 2023

After 40 years as a nurse, mother, and caring wife, Jane Merrow leapt into an entirely new world - running a food pantry - reminding us that change is possible at any age, and that we don't have to travel far and wide to do it. (Or, in Jane's case, beyond the same street she grew up on!) Today in Ep. 29, we’ll hear how Jane:

Got the idea to start the Newbury Food Pantry (hint, it involves several chance encounters over the years which, like so many of us, she didn't realize were laying the track-work for change at the time),
Made the pantry into a reality (and an incredibly successful, innovative, and impactful one, including having the first food recovery program in the state of Massachussetts!),
Was put to the test by extraordinarily difficult circumstances and almost decided to quit - but didn’t - and in the end it saved her.
Offers insights for the rest of us considering life changes.

To learn more about the Newbury Food Pantry's incredible work, visit their website at https://www.newburyfoodpantry.org/get-food, and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

28. Self-Care + Life Changes - Why Health Has To Be Part Of The Equation, With Liliya (A Leap-In-Progress Update) Jun 07, 2023

Liliya Reshetylo is back! After leaping from Ukraine to Canada, the corporate world to being a flight attendant, motherhood, and now starting her own company of sustainable children’s clothing (Tiny Advocates), Liliya is no stranger to life changes. But in today's episode, she’ll share for the first time how much she’s realized her health - physical, mental, emotional - and family relationships need to take more of a front seat along the way. In a very honest discussion about self-care and life changes, Liliya fills us in on her journey since we last spoke about her *leap-in-progress* in March (Episode 17, Part 1 [March 15] and Part 2 [March 22]) and ways we can ALL be a little more mindful as we leap.

Learn more about Liliya Reshetylo and Tiny Advocates at https://linktr.ee/tinyadvocates, and check out her adorable, ethically made and sourced children's clothing on Instagram at @tiny_advocates, Facebook at Tiny Advocates, and on Linkedin.
Other episodes referenced:

Lawyer-turned-farmer Kristin Aquino-Pham: Ep. 16 [March 8, 2023].
Your host's latest *Leap-In-Progress*: Ep. 23 [May 3, 2023].

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

27. “What Do I Want To Do?” (And How Often Do I Already Know The Answer?), With Jason May 31, 2023

Jason Siegel spent most of his adult life trying to figure out “what do I want to be when I grow up” - except, turns out, as a young kid, Jason already knew the answer. Today, in what is best described as a *boomerang leap,* a return to your roots - that original 'knowing' of what made you tick - we’ll hear how Jason:

Had an early passion but, like many of us, didn’t pursue it;
Went from, as he describes it, ‘floating’ from one career to the next, to really taking ownership over what he wanted;
Realized what he wanted was - turned out - right in front of him all along;
Was - and is - willing to make a change when things don’t feel right;

And finally, Jason’s story really reminds us all to ask ourselves: how often do we ask what we want to do, but some part of us kind of already knows the answer? Or, as in Jason’s case, it’s there but we just don’t see it yet.

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

26. “Leap for Love” - Shifting Focus From Professional To Personal, With Cori May 24, 2023

Cori was (and mostly still is) a pragmatist. In her twenties and much of her thirties, she grew her career, friendships, and sense of self. Then, one day, a chance encounter changed everything. Eight yeas later, in Ep. 26, Cori shares how she:

Took one leap (totally unrelated to love) that led to the next;
Met Emiliano (her now life partner) by chance - but knew, *listened to herself,* and decided it was time to take some risks;
Against a lot of odds - geography, language, career - made it work;
Dealt with challenges on the other side - including adjusting to switching countries, her own personal reckoning with putting her personal life ahead of her career; and finally - though she and Emiliano have a daughter now - Cori talks really openly, for the first time, about fertility struggles and miscarriage (something that one in three couples experience but very few are talking about) — and which takes its own kind of courage.

Today's leap is a story of a great love, yes, but also of overcoming a whole lot of barriers, logistics and heartbreak, and the power of cultivating a dogged certainty that, in the end, things will work out and if they haven’t yet then, well, it must not be the end.

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

25. Part 2, Redefining Success: Quitting A Job, Being OK With Not Knowing What's Next, And Leaping Into Entrepreneurship, With Kobby May 17, 2023

This week we're BACK with Kobby O’sei Kusi, who leapt to the US and achieved what most of us would call a whole lot of ‘outward’ success. Until he stopped and asked himself: "are these goals, are all these things I achieved, really true to me?” Last week we ended with Kobby starting that internal shift, and today we’ll hear how it all ended up, including how he:

Decided to leave a job he once loved
Went on a mission to reorient his compass from the outer world to the inner one
Figured out what makes him tick - and now does it
Learned to navigate - and even appreciate - the doubt and the not knowing, then and now.

Find Kobby Osei-Kusi at Kobby@thepirl.com or on Linkedin, and learn more about the extraordinary company he ultimately founded - Pirl Technology, "Next-generation EV charging technology" - at https://www.pirlcharger.com/.
Annnd references from this episode:

Find Karen's appearance on The Great Teacher Resignation (TGTR) Podcast with JoDee Scissors and Alexandra Simon - live today (!) (May 17, 2023) - on Apple, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts.
Your host's *Leap-in-Progress" blog.

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

24. “Were Those Goals Really True To Me?” Redefining Success On Your Own Terms, With Kobby (Part. 1) May 10, 2023

Kobby O’sei Kusi leapt to the US and achieved what most of us would call a whole lot of ‘outward’ success. Until he stopped and asked himself: "are these goals, are all these things I achieved, really true to me?” Kobby took time off, and really dug into which parts of his life made sense to him, and which parts he seemed to be living for others - and in the end he found out what really made him tick. His leap will be a two-fer (two parts, that is). Today, we’ll hear how Kobby’s:

Early days set the stage for later leaps, and how he sees taking risks as kind of like a muscle;
Navigated the moments - and there’ve been some big ones - when those around him didn’t see his vision or his potential (plus an extremely insightful response we can all use in those situations); and
Reached the point where he really started asking “what’s next” with - as usual - plenty of insights for the rest of us considering that same question.

Then next week, we’ll hear not only how Kobby answered that question, but how in the heck he got there.

Find Kobby Osei-Kusi at Kobby@thepirl.com or on Linkedin, and learn more about the extraordinary company he ultimately founded - Pirl Technology, "Next-generation EV charging technology" - at https://www.pirlcharger.com/.
Annnd references from this episode:

Karen's appearance on the Pockets of Knowledge Podcast with Desiree Stanley from last week (May 3, 2023) is on Apple, Spotify, and wherever else you get your podcasts!
Life Leaps Podcast interview with "Coach G" is here, and with JoDeeScissors is here.
Your host's *Leap-in-Progress" blog.

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast
Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

23. Leap-In-Progress: Your Host! *Update #4 - "Now We Get To Rebuild"* May 03, 2023

We're back! With an update on our move with our toddler to southern Spain (after we leapt *see Episode 8* and pivoted *see Episode 13* and finally landed in a place to call home (!) *see Episode 18*) we can't wait to share our highs, lows, and lessons learned in this latest chapter of our leap.
Learn more about this podcast (and us, with a blog I recently started!) on the Life Leaps Podcast website at https://lifeleapspodcast.com/. We're so happy you're here!
*SPONSORED CONTENT BELOW*

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

22. "Single Mom, By Choice" - Why Lori Decided To Stop Waiting Apr 26, 2023

Lori Leonardo wanted love, marriage, and a kid (in that order). But when she found herself in her late thirties, divorced, and frustrated with her options, she decided to take matters into her own hands. In Ep. 22, we’ll hear about Lori’s leap into single motherhood, by choice, including:

How and why she decided to do it
Reactions from her friends and family
How she had a very slim chance—one shot, actually—and decided to take it
How she found the resources that made this all possible, and
What she wishes she’d known, plus larger insights for the rest of us who might feel we’ve reached a dead end but might not have considered other, ‘less-traveled’ paths.

*SPONSORED CONTENT*

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast
Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

21. "We Can Do Hard Things" - A Family That Moved Across The World And Isn't Done Yet, With Sara and Nick Windschitl Apr 19, 2023

Sara and Nick Windschitl moved their family of five across the world intending to stay for only a short time and - four years later - realized that that leap was only the beginning. In Ep. 21, the couple reflects on:

What drove them to leave their comfortable lives in Minneapolis (and how Sara never actually thought she’d do it!)
How their kids handled the transition
How a surprise hardship in their new lives forced them to make a choice about whether to pursue yet another long-held dream (hint: they took the leap, and several more, after that first dramatic turn of events)
And why doing hard things is more important than you might think.

They also reflect on how their faith and their relationship with each other played a role in all these changes with - as usual - insights for the rest of us considering making life changes.

Episode 21 of Life Leaps Podcast is live now! Learn more about this podcast and your host's own leap-in-progress here.
Follow Sara and Nick's journey at https://thaischitls.wordpress.com and learn more about the school they founded in Chiang Mai, Thailand - The Nest International School - here.

*Sponsored Content*

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast
Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

20. "We've Changed The Conversation" - Turning Workplace Harassment Into A Nonprofit That Protect Others, With Aliza Shatzman Apr 12, 2023

Aliza Shatzman wanted to be a prosecutor. But when her first boss - a federally-appointed Judge - started telling her he was 'more comfortable' with her male counterparts, she realized she'd need to navigate an entirely different set of challenges. In Ep. 20, we'll hear how Aliza:

Decided to come out about harassment at work (including through Congressional testimony!)
Realized anti-discrimination laws didn't cover her particular situation and so founded a non-profit - The Legal Accountability Project - to help change that.
Now works to protect others in a way that no other organization is doing.

Aliza's writing on judicial accountability has been featured in the Harvard Journal on Legislation, Yale Law & Policy Review, UCLA Journal of Gender & Law, Administrative Law Review, NYU Journal of Legislation & Public Policy, Law360, Above the Law, Slate, Ms. Magazine, and Balls and Strikes, and more.
Today, Aliza shares her leap - which was both deeply personal and professional - into this world of advocacy.
Follow Aliza Shatzman on Twitter @AlizaShatzman or on LinkedIn. Read her House Judiciary testimony here, and learn more about The Legal Accountability Project at https://www.legalaccountabilityproject.org/.

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast
Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

19. "I Gave My Two Weeks" - Deciding It's Time To Step Back, Breathe, And Figure Out What's Next, With Andrea Apr 05, 2023

Andrea Gomez Kerr just left her full throttle job in marketing in search of some time, space, and who knows what's next. Today we'll hear how Andrea:

Realized she'd reached the point of burn-out
Is creating the financial space for her family - she's got three small kids - to live on 1 salary instead of 2 (hint: she's managed to cut 40% of their expenses!)
Is now examining the kinds of decisions - conscious and not - that landed her on her current trajectory and how she can re-think and rearchitect her life moving forward
Insights for us along the way

Andrea's is another leap we'll track in the months to come and I can't wait to introduce her to you all today in Episode 19.
Learn more about this podcast (and us, with a blog I recently started!) on the Life Leaps Podcast website here.
*Sponsored Content*

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

18. Leap-In-Progress: Your Host! *Update #3 - "3 Steps Forward, 2 Back - But We're Stepping!"* Mar 29, 2023

We're back! With an update on our move with our toddler to southern Spain (after we leapt *see Episode 8* and pivoted *see Episode 13*!) and can't wait to share our highs, lows, and lessons learned.
Learn more about this podcast (and us, with a blog I recently started!) on the Life Leaps Podcast website here.

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

Facebook: Life Leaps Podcast
Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast
Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

17. Part 2: "I Just Felt Alive" - Being A First-Time Entrepreneur With A Mission, With Liliya Mar 22, 2023

We’re back with Liliya Reshytilo, who told us last week how she quit her corporate job and became an event planner and flight attendant, and everything was going great until - just a year in - COVID hit. Liliya was pregnant, basically out of both jobs, and found herself needing to leap again. Today we pick up where we left off. Liliya shares how she:

Figured out what to do next (hint: as with most of us, her everyday life was full of clues - she just needed the tools to help her connect those dots)
Managed to break into a new industry - sustainable fashion - that she had no background or experience in
Learned to put herself out there as an introvert
Approached the uncertainty of it all; and
What is happening RIGHT NOW in her world - which is the launch of her brand new sustainable children’s clothing brand, Tiny Advocates.

So catch up on last week if you have not already, and then dive into today’s episode because Liliya’s leap is LIVE and we’ll actually track it in the months to come!
Learn more about Liliya Reshetylo and Tiny Advocates at https://linktr.ee/tinyadvocates, and check out her adorable, ethically made and sourced children's clothing on Instagram at @tiny_advocates, Facebook at Tiny Advocates, and on Linkedin.

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

Facebook: Life Leaps Podcast
Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast
Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

17. "I Just Felt Alive" - On Leaving Corporate To Fly And Launch A Sustainable Fashion Brand, With Liliya (Part 1) Mar 15, 2023

Liliya Reshytelo isn't afraid of work. After moving from Ukraine to Canada at 15 without speaking English, she settled and succeeded in the way she thought she was supposed to: by earning her degree and joining the corporate world. But for her, the shoe never quite fit. Liliya finally leapt - several times, actually - and is now starting her own eco-friendly, sustainable kids clothing company - Tiny Advocates - that also educates kids about their clothes. Liliya is launching her brand as we speak! We'll track her leap in the coming months and, over this and next week, we'll hear how she:

First got the guts to leave her corporate job without a backup
Realized why it wasn't right for her in the first place
Thought through the finances
Leapt into two careers she enjoyed but was grounded (literally, as she had become a flight attendant at the time) by COVID and had to rethink what was next - all while pregnant, by the way.
(And next week we'll hear all about that *next*: how she got the idea to start her children's clothing brand; worked with a mindset coach to grow her dreams (with tips!); learned to 'put herself out there' in business as an introvert; and broke into an industry she had no background in, and made a name for herself.)

Learn more about Liliya Reshetylo and Tiny Advocates at https://linktr.ee/tinyadvocates, and check out her adorable, ethically made and sourced children's clothing on Instagram at @tiny_advocates, Facebook at Tiny Advocates, and on Linkedin.

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

Facebook: Life Leaps Podcast
Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast
Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

16. "How Much Time Do We Actually Have?" - From Law to Livestock, With A Foot In Both Worlds, With Kristin Aquino-Pham Mar 08, 2023

Kristin Aquino-Pham admits she had no business (literally or otherwise!) being a livestock farmer when she bought her first piece of land in 2020 in the north Georgia mountains. An urban lawyer and mother of three young kids, what started as an exploration - even just a distraction - for her during chaotic times became a full-fledged mission, business, and so much more (goats, sheep, pigs and all!) as Kasama Farm Foundation / OOBD Products. Today, we'll hear how Kristin:

Decided to do this in the first place, starting with a very helpful approach
Was pushed by an unexpected hardship in her law world
Now manages to do law and farming, reminding us you don't have to leave your old life completely - or wait for retirement! - to test a dream
Talks about being a woman of color - she's Filipina - in this space
And offers really solid advice - which we haven't heard before - about approaching a leap when loved ones are leaping with you

More on Kristin Aquino-Pham, Kasama Farm Foundation and OOBD Products in Elijay, Georgia at https://kasamafarmfoundation.com/ on Instagram at @tintinpham and @oobdfarm, Facebook at Kristin Aquino-Pham: Livestock Farmer, and on YouTube. (And for more on her 'other' professional life and background, including in law, check out her LinkedIn.)
And SUBSCRIBE to your host's *Leap-in-Progress* blog here (very bottom of the page) and catch up past posts here!

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast
Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

15. "I Had Nothing To Lose" - How A Leap Of Faith With A Stranger Changed His Life Forever, With Marco Mar 01, 2023

Marco Ferrari is a Master Stylist from Milan, Italy with decades of experience in Milan, London, and LA who now owns and runs the upscale Salon Ferro in downtown Washington, DC. (Recently voted Best in DC, by the way!) But rewind - just a *few* years - and you'd see a young, sort of reckless guy leaving his home - and what was supposed to be his future in the family business as a hairstylist - for a short stint in the UK where he instead ran out of money, was almost forced to head home, but had an extraordinary encounter with a stranger that gave him another chance. Marco took that chance and it changed everything. Today we’ll hear how Marco:

Took a HUGE leap of faith with a stranger
Found his calling and, along with it, some surprising new relationships
Almost leapt again, but instagram (of all things)changed his mind
Takes a very unique (and helpful!) mindset in the face of failure - which he and I really tie together at the end of the episode - and which allowed him to actually strengthen his business during COVID

SUBSCRIBE to your host's *Leap-in-Progress* blog here (very bottom of the page) and catch up past posts here!
And follow Marco on Instagram @MarcoFerrariHair and Ferro Salon DC on Instagram @FerroSalonDC and Facebook at Ferro Salon DC. And Check out Episode 14 and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts!

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast
Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

14. "Cracking Into Creativity" - Leaping 25-Years-In And Coaching The Rest Of Us To Do The Same, With Yale Prof. Astrid Baumgardner Feb 22, 2023

Astrid Baumgardner is a New York City-based career coach, author of the book Creative Success Now and teaches creativity and entrepreneurship at Yale University's School of Music where she coaches students on career (and life) success. She's given a TedX talk on the topic, and leads frequent workshops, lectures, you name it - all in the name of helping others make life and career choices based on their values, strengths and passions. But - for an important twist - Astrid also made her own life leap, which really came to focus in a time of personal and physical crisis, 25 years into her career.
In Ep. 14, Astrid delves into:

What sparked her own life leap after 25 years
The questions we should all ask ourselves
What mindset is (and isn't!) helpful
Why we should all unlock and cultivate our inner creativity when making life and career changes - and how to do it

Check out Episode 14 and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts!

And learn more about Astrid Baumgardner at www.astridbaumgardner.com, on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram @astridlrb. Learn more about her book, Creative Success Now, and watch her TEDx talk, Cracking the Code on Creativity.

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

Facebook: Life Leaps Podcast
Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast
Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

13. Leap-In-Progress: Your Host! *Update #2 - "We Leapt, Now We Pivot"* Feb 15, 2023

We're back! With an update on your host's own leap-in-progress. Catch up on our highs, lows, and one big plot twist. (And, if you haven't yet, listen to Ep.8, where we first explain how and why we - with our 18-month toddler in tow! - left our Washington, DC apartment, sold our car, and resigned from a job (mine!) in pursuit of some big life changes.)
**And, as promised, follow more of our adventures on our new BLOG housed on on the Life Leaps Podcast homepage at https://lifeleapspodcast.com/leapinprogress-blog! (PS - pictures and other blog post edits/updates to come - but we decided to just GET the thing up there, imperfect as it is, for right now!)**

Check out Episode 13 and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts!

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast
Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

12. “Want To Help Mommy Write A Book?” - From Lawyer To Author, With Shayla McGhee Feb 08, 2023

Shayla Turner McGhee never felt like she was cut out for the law, but she was also no quitter. When it came time to take that first prestigious job after law school, though, she knew she had to decide. In Ep. 12, hear how Shayla:

Got the courage - and the financial freedom (with tips for listeners!) - to pivot from a future in law to writing, opening a publishing company, and more
First got the idea to write with her young daughter
Wishes she’d had a community like this one when she was making her leap
Encourages others, especially millennials, to think outside the box when deciding the right career fit - whether you’re just starting out, or deep in and looking for a change

Learn more about Shayla and her work by visiting Sable Inspired Books, Ivory Pen Publishing or Instagram @mcgheepartyof5.

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast
Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

11. “You’re Never Done” - From Not Having A Passport To Teaching In Thailand (In Her Sixties!), with Ms. Libby Feb 01, 2023

Elizabeth (Libby) Williamson tried to retire from her job as an elementary school teacher after 36 years in rural and suburban South Carolina. For a few months, anyway. Then, through a stroke of luck, curiosity, and a whole lot of courage, she decided life had other plans for her. She wasn’t done yet. In. Ep. 11, hear how Ms. Libby:

Decided to take the leap to Thailand in her sixties (twice!)
Is a survivor in more ways than one
Became part of an international movement to vaccinate Americans living abroad during COVID
Reminds us that growth, change, and taking chances can - and must - continue no matter your age. And that sometimes we have to step back, breathe, and remind ourselves that there are different seasons for everything.

To view the news story on Ms. Libby from her time in Thailand during COVID, which became part of a larger movement to vaccine Americans abroad, check it out here.

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

Facebook: Life Leaps Podcast
Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast
Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

10. "You Have To Bet On Yourself" - Reinventing Yourself And And Your Brand, with Coach G Jan 25, 2023

Gerard (“Coach G”) Burley’s mission is to reinvent the way we think about inclusion, fitness and wellness. He’s the founder of Sweat DC fitness studio - and so much more - and his “fun, inclusive, build you up from the inside out” approach to fitness has made him a bit of a local celebrity, both in Rome, Italy and now in DC. But getting there has been a deeply personal mission and journey for Coach G, with a lot of leaps along the way. In Ep. 10, hear about Coach G’s:

Extremely unique approach to fitness and wellbeing - a life mission that was shaped by personal tragedy
Leap for love which - far beyond the ‘love’ part - changed the course of his life
Approach to doubt and uncertainty when it inevitably creeps in during times of change
…And so much motivation. He is a coach, after all!

Follow and learn more about Coach G at @coachgfitness and https://www.coachgfitness.com/, and Sweat DC fitness studio at @sweatdc at https://sweatdc.com/.

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

Facebook: Life Leaps Podcast
Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast
Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

9. “What Do I Want To Offer The World” - From Non-Profit Employee To Entrepreneur, With Rosie Jan 18, 2023

Three years ago, Rosie Stafford Smith - a mom of two with a knack for solving problems - took the leap from employee to entrepreneur. Rosie founded and now runs a successful consulting business, Stafford Smith Group, which “helps busy social impact leaders turn big ideas into funded strategies” and her clients include one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the country. But in the beginning, Rosie was just frustrated with trying to find opportunities in a place where she felt like they didn’t exist.

In Ep. 9, hear how Rosie (who never expected to become an entrepreneur):

Decided to take the leap
Navigated a near fatal business setback
Managed to build work around her life, instead of the other way around
Tells us the two things we need to have when contemplating life and career changes

Check out Episode 9 and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts!

Learn more about Rosie Stafford Smith and Stafford Smith Consulting at:

Website: https://www.staffordsmithgroup.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosiestaffordsmith/

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast
Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

8. Leap-In-Progress: Your Host! Jan 11, 2023

In the last two weeks, my husband, toddler, and I have left our Washington, DC apartment, sold our car, and resigned from a job (mine!) in pursuit of some big life changes. Join us in Ep. 8, to hear:

Why we're leaping
What sparked it (which may surprise you!)
How we planned it
How this podcast has helped

Check out Episode 8 and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts!

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

Facebook: Life Leaps Podcast
Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast
Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

7. "If You Can See It In Your Mind" - Leaping Countries, Industries, And Why We Should Never Stop, with Chamo Dec 21, 2022

Gilbert "Chamo" Osorio has led a life of leaps - some of them quite shocking - starting with leaving his home country of Colombia at a very young age; living off of the streets of Venezuela; and reinventing himself - several times - in the US until he created his successful Miami-based event planning business, Cache Events, which he's now run for over 25 years. In Ep. 7, hear how Chamo:

Navigated extraordinary setbacks and extraordinary strokes of luck
Found a career that does so much more than pay the bills
Takes a very unique approach to sharing - or not - your ideas with the world
Encourages a certain mindset when you're considering life changes, big or small

Check out Episode 7 and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts!

Learn more about Gilbert "Chamo" Osorio and Cache Events at:

Contact: cacheeventsus@gmail.com
Instagram: @cacheeventsinc
Facebook: Cache Events Inc.

***
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Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

6. “I Wanted A Seat At The Table” - Running For Office, Winning, And Becoming the First Black Woman to Represent The District, with Jheanelle Wilkins Dec 14, 2022

Jheanelle Wilkins wanted to run office but, for a time, took her life in another direction. Until she ran for - and won - a seat on the Democratic Central Committee in Montgomery County, Maryland and went on to become a Maryland State Delegate. In Ep. 5, hear how Jheanelle:

Found the support she needed to put her name on the ballot
Overcame her fear of (very public) failure
Navigated the challenges of being and looking different than others who’d been in her position
Advises the rest of us considering life changes, big or small

Check out Episode 6 and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts!

Learn more about Maryland State Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins at:

Website: https://www.jheanellewilkins.com/
Twitter: @JheanelleW
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JheanelleWilkins/

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
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Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast
Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

5. "Who Am I If I'm Not A Teacher?" - From The Classroom To Teaching *Teachers* How To Leave, With JoDee Scissors Dec 07, 2022

13 years in, JoDee Scissors loved her students but knew she needed a change. She decided to leave teaching - a very secure profession that most people, JoDee included, go into thinking they’ll stay for life. Fast forward a few years to today and JoDee runs her own consulting firm, creates digital content for the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, and co-host her own successful podcast for teachers called The Great Teacher Resignation (TGTR). But between those steps there were highs, lows, and a lot of lessons learned. In Episode 5, hear how JoDee:

Realized she was in denial about wanting to leave her job
Found the helpful - and not-so-helpful - places to turn for support
Translated her experience to different job fields
Finally took the leap, landed, and now helps others take their own

Check out Episode 5 and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts!

Learn more about JoDee - including her consulting work and great new podcast - at:

The Great Teacher Resignation Podcast:
- Facebook: @tgtrpodcast or Instagram: @tgtrpodcast
- Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-great-teacher-resignation/id1614449534
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/67ZxePdjxVYLYMY1xTybdX
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodeescissors/
PaperPlanes ED: https://www.paperplanesed.com/

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
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Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

4. "It Never Crossed My Mind I Was Too Old" - Deciding To Save Animals On A Greek Island Mountainside, WIth Sandy Nov 30, 2022

At 63, British expat Sandy Simon left the tourism industry and bought a large, ancient property on a mountain overlooking the sea on the Greek island of Andros. Over a decade later, she continues to run a thriving - and extraordinarily unique - animal sanctuary out of her home there with the help of volunteers from around the world. She has homed countless animals and Andros Animal Shelter has become a magnet for travelers or anyone looking to adopt, lend a hand, or get inspired by Sandy's journey. In Episode 4, hear how Sandy:

Decided animals were her calling
Took a less-than-linear path as she navigated times of economic uncertainty
Takes a very unique approach to risk and aging
Reminds us not to be *too* careful in life leaps

Check out Episode 4 and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts!
Learn more about Sandy (Alexandra) Simon and Andros Animal Shelter - including the latest animals looking for a home and ways to volunteer, donate, or stay in her Airbnbs on your travels - on:

Facebook: @androsanimalsheltergreece
Instagram: @androsanimalshelter
Donate via: Paypal or Patreon or Crowdfunding
And more on Ben Fogle's TV feature on Sandy here

And a BONUS...flashback to your host's donkey-chasing escapades with Sandy - complete with photos of Magic Mountain and the animals - here: https://karenandjuan.wordpress.com/2019/04/28/we-lost-a-donkey/

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast
Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

3. "Courage Is A Muscle" - From Unemployed To Helping Congress Understand Technology, With Travis Moore Nov 22, 2022

In 2022, Washingtonian Magazine named Travis Moore "Tech Titan of the Year" for his work with Tech Congress, an organization he founded to bring more sorely-needed technological know-how to Members of Congress. But 7 years ago, Travis was just one of many staffers working there - on Capitol Hill - trying to keep his head above water as he tried to decipher complex proposed laws that would affect big tech companies and Americans' privacy rights without much support. Then, he was out of a job. In Episode 3, hear how Travis:

Didn't initially intend to found Tech Congress
Was spurred to action
Used proven tools to help him figure out next steps
Navigated the often-confusing world of startups and money
Financially survived his leap
Got his first break
Advises others who want to start something, or explore what's next, on how to get started

Check out Episode 3 and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts!
Learn more about Travis Moore and Tech Congress - including their latest fellows, podcast, and blog - at: https://www.techcongress.io/.

Twitter @congressfellows
Other forums: https://linktr.ee/techcongress

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast
Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

2. "That's It, I'm Opening A Youth Center" - Leaving Corporate For A New Life Mission, with Mary In South Africa Nov 22, 2022

13 years ago, in her mid-40s, Mary Mlambo left her corporate insurance job in bustling Johannesburg, South Africa to open a youth center hours (and worlds) away in rural Mzingazi, Richards Bay, South Africa. At the time, many people - including the local community in Mzingazi - thought she was crazy. But the now-vibrant Lungelo Youth Development Center (LYD) is a beacon for children, teens, young parents, and community members of all ages and Mary's been named Zululand's Inspirational Woman of the Year; Humanitarian of the Year; and South Africa's Good Deeds Day Country Representative. In Episode 2, hear how she:

Had the idea to open the center, but returned to her 'normal' life at first
Finally took the leap
Finds ways to support herself and the center
Navigates challenges and doubt
Advises others who want to make an impact

Check out Episode 2 and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts!
Follow our guest, Mary Mlambo of Lungelo Youth Development Center (LYD), at:

https://www.facebook.com/ryt2b
https://www.instagram.com/lungeloryt2b/
Contact her, including if you're interested in donating or volunteering (even from afar!), at: info@lungeloyouthdevelopment.org.za or +27(0)79 7980 528 (Whatsapp)

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast
Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

1. "If You Love Something Enough" - Becoming The Jetsetting Family, With Rod & Jess Nov 22, 2022

Jess and Rod Sanchez left their comfortable lives in 2017 to travel the world with their two small kids, Nora and Santi, visiting 40 countries over two years as "The Jetsetting Family." In Episode 1, hear how they:

Got the idea
Tested it before leaving
Pushed through doubt
Managed to make the finances work
Navigated setbacks along the way
Pivoted yet again when COVID hit during their travels
And advise others who are considering their path, or any big life change

Check out Episode 1 and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts!
Follow our guests, Rod and Jess Sanchez of The Jetsetting Family, as their adventures continue at:

https://www.instagram.com/thejetsettingfamily/
https://www.facebook.com/Thejetsettingfamily/
Contact them, check out their podcast, blog, and more, at: https://thejetsettingfamily.com

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast
Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

Trailer Oct 28, 2022

Considering a career pivot? Geographic move? Travel? Ready for something new but not quite sure what, when, where or how? (Dealing with any of the above while also balancing self-doubt, student loans, family, or just that gnawing feeling that maybe you don't quite have what it takes / the timing isn't quite right / what if your next thing doesn't turn out how you hope / etc. / etc. / etc. / we all know the list goes on...?)
Well, welcome to Life Leaps Podcast! You'll fit right in.
Every week host Karen Tanenbaum - who's taken a few leaps of her own - interviews a different guest who shares the ins and outs of their leap ~ what finally drove them; what almost held them back; times things didn't go as planned; and insights for the rest of us considering life leaps, big or small.
Hear the inspiring stories of ordinary people who made extraordinary life changes. From opening an animal sanctuary on the side of a mountain (in your mid-sixties, no less!) to packing up your young kids to travel the world (and managing to make money while doing it?!) to transitioning from employee to entrepreneur, lawyer to children's book author, teacher to podaster and more. Then go out and make a few changes of your own.
See you soon! Every week. Here. On Life Leaps Podcast.

***
Have guest ideas? Can't wait to hear what leaps will be next?
Subscribe to Life Leaps Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow, rate and review us - we're *brand new* so, it means a lot - and be the first to know when we launch new episodes each week:

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Instagram: @LifeLeapsPodcast
Online at: https://lifeleapspodcast.com/
Or send us a good old-fashioned email at lifeleapspodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you.

*ACCESSIBILITY: Transcripts are available for each episode here. (Just click your episode of choice, and then click the "transcript" tab! And if you have any issues at all don't hesitate to reach out.)

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