PODCAST · business
Career Sessions
by fret
Career paths rarely unfold in a straight line. Some careers accelerate quickly, while others take unexpected turns, requiring us to adapt, reinvent ourselves, and seize new opportunities along the way. On Career Sessions, host J.R. Lowry sits down with accomplished leaders, entrepreneurs, academics, coaches, veterans, and professionals from all walks of life to explore the stories behind their careers. Through candid conversations, guests share the decisions, challenges, successes, setbacks, and lessons that shaped their professional journeys. Whether you're early in your career, navigating a transition, pursuing leadership opportunities, or simply looking for inspiration and practical advice, Career Sessions offers insights you can apply to your own path. Each episode goes beyond résumés and job titles to uncover how people build meaningful careers and thrive through change. J.R. Lowry has built a career across military service, management consulting, financial services, executive lea
Episodes
-
You’re Always in the Job Market: How to Manage Your Career Before You Need To, with Kelly Kay
A lot of people spend plenty of time thinking about how to succeed in their jobs, but far less time thinking about how to choose the right jobs in the first place. In this episode of Career Sessions, J.R. Lowry sits down with Kelly O. Kay, managing partner at executive search firm Heidrick &...
-
Stop Following Someone Else’s Career Playbook, with Andy Paul
You may not think of yourself as a salesperson, but every day at work, you’re selling something—an idea, a proposal, your capabilities, or even yourself. In this episode of Career Sessions, J.R. Lowry sits down with sales expert, author, and longtime podcast host Andy Paul to explore what the…
more -
Success Isn’t Enough: Building a Work Life Worth Living, with Jeff Westphal
What if you achieve everything you thought you wanted in your career, and still find yourself wondering if that's really all there is? Former Vertex CEO Jeff Westphal joins host J.R. Lowry to discuss how you can build a Work Life Worth Living when traditional status isn't enough. Jeff Westphal...
-
Why You? How to Stand Out in a Crowded Market, with April Dunford
Most professionals assume great work speaks for itself, but solid Product Positioning proves that value never communicates automatically. When competitors offer flashy feature checklists or when crowded markets blur real differentiation, buyers and hiring managers get confused quickly. Host JR...
-
The Real Job Of A Leader, With Dave Ulrich
What's the real job of a leader? According to Dave Ulrich, it isn’t having all the answers, building your own reputation, or even telling a compelling story about where you’re going. Great leaders help the people around them build their stories—and create value for others. In this episode of…
more -
Why Hiring Feels Broken—and How to Get Hired Anyway, with Lorena Prego Ojeda
Finding a job has never been easy, but today’s hiring process can feel particularly frustrating. Hundreds of applicants compete for a single role, AI is reshaping how candidates are screened, and qualified people often struggle to get noticed. At the same time, employers insist they can’t find…
more -
How to Stay Valuable in the Age of AI, with Liat Ben-Zur
AI can already draft, summarize, analyze data, write code, and find patterns faster than most of us. So as these capabilities become increasingly commonplace, what will make you valuable? In this episode of Career Sessions, J.R. Lowry talks with Liat Ben-Zur, former senior executive at Microsoft,...
-
How To Stay Human In The Age Of AI, With Johan Roos
AI can write, analyze, summarize, code, and create—and its capabilities are advancing at a remarkable pace. So as machines become more intelligent, what will keep humans indispensable? Johan Roos believes the answer lies in what he calls “human magic”: the distinctly human capabilities that...
-
Why Great Teams Work Differently, with Ron Friedman
Why do some teams consistently outperform while others—with equally talented people—struggle with endless meetings, constant interruptions, and burnout? In this episode of Career Sessions, JR Lowry sits down with organizational psychologist and bestselling author Ron Friedman to explore what...
-
The Rise of Disposable Workers, with Paul Osterman
For decades, a good job meant stability, career development, and a long-term relationship between employers and employees. But according to MIT Sloan professor Paul Osterman, that social contract has fundamentally changed. In this episode of Career Sessions, JR Lowry sits down with Osterman to...
-
Why Smart People Get Financially Stuck (and How to Break Free), with Carrie Joy Grimes
Most people were never taught how to manage money. Yet they're expected to navigate rising housing costs, student debt, investing, retirement planning, and an economy that often feels stacked against them. In this episode of Career Sessions, Career Lessons, JR Lowry sits down with Carrie Joy...
-
The Hidden Risk of a Great Career (And a Different Path to Financial Freedom), with Jon Ostenson
What if the biggest financial risk in your life isn't the stock market—but your paycheck? Most professionals spend years building successful careers, yet their entire financial future depends on a single employer. In today's world of layoffs, AI disruption, and economic uncertainty, that's…
more -
Why Talent Isn't Enough: The Discipline That Separates Top Performers, with Dre Baldwin
Most careers stall because professionals wait for permission, confidence, or the right timing rather than taking action. In this episode, host J.R. Lowry sits down with former professional athlete and entrepreneur Dre Baldwin to dissect why professional discipline outperforms raw motivation every...
-
The Leadership Lesson I Learned By Becoming My True Self, with Katherine Dudtschak
What if becoming a better leader has less to do with learning new management techniques and more to do with becoming more yourself? In this episode, former RBC executive and HomeEquity Bank CEO Katherine Dudtschak shares a deeply personal journey that transformed not only her life, but also her...
-
Why Experience Is Becoming Your Biggest Career Advantage, With Dan Pontefract
Everyone talks about AI as the future of work. But what if the bigger story is something we're overlooking? In this episode, JR speaks with leadership strategist and author Dan Pontefract about why experience—not youth—may become one of the most valuable assets in tomorrow's workplace. As...
-
Why You're Overwhelmed At Work (And How To Fix It), With Liane Davey
Why does work feel so overwhelming, even when you're getting everything done? In this episode, leadership expert and bestselling author Liane Davey explains why the problem isn't your workload—it's your thought load: the hidden combination of cognitive demands, emotional burden, and depleted…
more -
How to Turn Anxiety Into a Leadership Advantage, With Morra Aarons-Mele
Anxiety is often treated as something to overcome. But what if it’s also one of the forces driving your success? In this episode, JR speaks with Morra Aarons-Mele, author of The Anxious Achiever and host of Harvard Business Review’s popular podcast of the same name, about the complex relationship...
-
How To Overcome The Conversational Debt That Holds Teams Back, With Gustavo Razzetti
Most teams don't fail because they lack talent. They fail because they're not having the conversations that matter. In this episode of Career Sessions, Career Lessons, I sit down with workplace culture expert, consultant, and author Gustavo Razzetti to discuss his new book, Forward Talk. Gustavo...
-
Why Work Feels Broken (And How to Fix It), With Debbie Lovich
Most people spend a huge portion of their lives at work. So why do so many of us dread it? In this episode, JR speaks with Debbie Lovich, Senior Partner Emerita at Boston Consulting Group and author of Make Work Work, about why employee engagement has remained stubbornly low for decades despite...
-
From Cleaner To CFO (and Beyond): Lessons On Reinvention And Risk, With Mohamed Isa
Most people see careers as ladders to climb. Mohamed Isa sees them as mountains to explore. In this episode, Mohamed shares his remarkable journey from working as a cleaner in a bank to becoming the youngest CFO of a publicly listed company in Bahrain. Along the way, he learned that success isn't...
-
How To Escape Overwhelm And Redefine Success, With Corrie LoGiudice
Most people think overwhelm is a productivity problem. Corrie LoGiudice argues it’s something much deeper. In this episode, JR speaks with Corrie LoGiudice, author of The Five Overwhelm Culprits, about why so many high performers feel exhausted, disconnected and stuck — even when their lives look...
-
Why Success Can Destroy A Company, With Eric Ries
Most companies don’t fail because they’re outcompeted. They fail because they succeed. In this episode, JR speaks with Eric Ries, author of The Lean Startup and Incorruptible, about why successful organizations so often lose their mission, values and long-term vision. Eric explains how modern...
-
How Successful People Actually Think About Risk, Failure, And Opportunity, With Kyle Austin Young
Most people think success comes down to talent, timing, or even luck. But Kyle Austin Young suggests it could be a numbers game. In this episode, he explains how to think about success through the lens of probability so you can actively improve your odds over time. JR and Kyle explore: Why your...
-
The Hidden Cost Of Loneliness At Work, With Tracy Brower
We often talk about burnout, quiet quitting and disengagement at work, but underneath these trends is something deeper: loneliness. In this episode of Career Sessions, Tracy Brower joins JR to unpack the growing crisis of disconnection at work and why it’s affecting everything from performance to...
-
Why Rest Is the Original Performance Tool, With Nathalie Walton
Most productivity advice skips right past the most obvious lever: sleep. In this episode, JR speaks with Nathalie Walton who leads growth at Better Sleep, the app that's become the go-to sleep tool for 65 million people around the world. Nathalie's path here wasn't linear. It started with her own...
-
How To Explore Careers Without Guesswork, With Gabe DeSanti & Alex Dworsky
In this episode of Career Sessions, Career Lessons, JR Lowry sits down with Gabriel DeSanti and Alex Dworsky, co-founders of Staj, a platform built around a simple but powerful idea: What if you could experience a career before committing to it? They explore why traditional career decision-making...
-
How To Act Like An Owner: Building Engagement, Accountability, And Meaningful Work, With Greg Hawks
In this episode of Career Sessions, J.R. Lowry sits down with author, speaker, and culture expert Greg Hawks to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing organizations today: Why are so many people disengaged at work—and what actually changes that? Greg introduces the concept of the “ownership...
-
What Actually Gets You Hired and Promoted, With Mary Olson Menzel
In this episode of Career Sessions, JR Lowry sits down with coach, speaker, and bestselling author Mary Olson Menzel to explore a question many professionals wrestle with: What does it really mean to build a career that lights you up and is it realistic to do so? Mary challenges the conventional...
-
What Leaders Get Wrong About Performance And Teamwork, With Jon Levy
In this episode of Career Sessions, JR Lowry speaks with behavioral scientist Jon Levy to explore what actually makes teams effective and why the answer isn’t what most people think. Drawing on research across psychology, business, and even sports, Jon breaks down the hidden dynamics behind...
-
Why So Many Leaders Burn Out And What It Takes to Heal, With Raj Sisodia And Nilima Bhat
Why do so many successful leaders feel burned out, misaligned, or unfulfilled? According to Raj Sisodia and Nilima Bhat, the issue isn’t a lack of skill or intelligence, but rather a lack of healing. In this episode of Career Sessions, JR Lowry sits down with Raj Sisodia, co-founder of the...
-
The Beliefs Holding Leaders Back And How to Break Through Them, With Muriel Wilkins
What’s really holding leaders back? According to executive coach Muriel Wilkins, it’s often not skills, strategy, or experience -- it’s hidden beliefs. In this episode of Career Sessions, JR Lowry sits down with Muriel Wilkins, executive coach to senior leaders, host of Harvard Business Review’s...
-
How Courage And Purpose Can Help You Find Your True Path, With Christopher Williams
What does it take to walk away from a successful global executive career to pursue a deeper purpose? In this episode of Career Sessions, Career Lessons, JR Lowry sits down with Christopher Williams, former global executive and author of the new book C.O.U.R.A.GE., to explore how courage shapes…
more -
From 1,000 Rejections To Millions Hired: How Andrei Kurtuy Built Novorésumé & What Actually Makes A Resume Work
What does it take to go from sending 1,000 unanswered resumes to building a platform used by millions of job seekers worldwide? In this episode of Career Sessions, Career Lessons, J.R. Lowry sits down with Andrei Kurtuy, co-founder of Novorésumé, to unpack the hard lessons he learned navigating...
-
How Bold Questions Drive Leadership, Engagement & Performance With Dr. Debra Clary
Curiosity isn’t a soft skill. It’s a strategic advantage. In this episode of Career Sessions, Career Lessons, JR chats with Dr. Debra Clary, author of The Curiosity Curve: A Leader’s Guide to Growth and Transformation Through Bold Questions, and explores why curiosity is the missing link in...
-
Navigating A Multi-Generational Workforce & Getting Your Career In Shape With Dr. Candace Steele Flippin
What do Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers really want from work, and how can leaders navigate a multi-generational workforce without falling into stereotypes? In this episode of Career Sessions, Career Lessons, JR Lowry sits down with Dr. Candace Steele Flippin to explore generational...
-
Why OKRs Fail: Radhika Dutt on Puzzle-Driven Product Strategy, AI, and Building Better Products
If you’re a product manager, founder, executive, or even an individual contributor navigating OKRs, AI, and innovation pressure, this episode of Career Sessions, Career Lessons offers a practical reframing of how great products and meaningful work actually get built. Host JR Lowry sits down with...
-
How Curiosity Shaped My Career Journey, With Ryan Hawk
The journey from individual contributor to effective manager is often called the most significant transition of a career—a shift not just in responsibilities, but in identity. Yet, the foundations of great leadership often start with a more personal, foundational practice: curiosity and…
more -
How To Boost Your Executive Presence And Visibility, With Katy McFee
The term executive presence shows up constantly in professional feedback—but what does it actually mean? For many ambitious professionals, especially women, this vague phrase becomes a frustrating barrier that leaves them overlooked and unsure how to advance. Today, we unpack executive presence...
-
How To Go From Surviving To Thriving, With Jon Rosemberg
If we are forever in survival mode, unlocking and unleashing our full potential would be impossible. Jon Rosemberg, Co-Founder Of Anther, reveals what it takes to achieve your thriving mode. He joins J.R. Lowry to talk about his newest book A Guide To Thriving, as well as what it takes to feel a...
-
How To Master Your Intentions And Lead With Purpose And Power, With Bianca D'Alessio
If you learn how to live with intention, you can lead with purpose and manifest all of your goals in life. This is exactly what Bianca D'Alessio did, which led to her becoming the number one real estate broker in New York City. She joins J.R. Lowry to share all about her journey centered on...
-
How To Steer Your Small Business Through The Stages Of Growth, With Matt Pohl
Every entrepreneur dreams of scaling their business, but what happens when business growth stalls? You've hit a revenue ceiling, your team is expanding, and suddenly, the systems that once brought success seem to be working against you. Matt Pohl, founder and CEO of The ReWild Group, faced this...
-
Bad Bosses - What To Do About Them, And What To Do If You Are One, With Mita Mallick
In an ideal world, every manager would be a mentor, motivator, and model of leadership. But for too many professionals, the reality is far messier. If you’ve ever had to deal with bad bosses—the micromanagers, the emotionally unavailable, or the toxic cheerleaders—you know the profound toll it...
-
AI's Central Role In The World's Economy, With Dr. Joerg Storm
In this time of ever-evolving technology, every working professional will encounter AI in some shape or form. As we go deeper into the age of AI, what is the role of such tools in shaping the future of work and the entire economy? J.R. Lowry talks all about it with Dr. Joerg Storm, IT executive…
more -
How AI Is Powering Customer Analytics, With Sameer Narkar
The future of business hinges on mastering the complexities of AI customer analytics, a topic J.R. Lowry explores with Sameer Narkar, Founder of Konnect Insights, a pioneering SaaS platform that delivers an AI-powered, omnichannel view of customer interactions. Sameer details how his bootstrapped...
-
The Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) - With An AI Booster With Chris Hallberg
The "Business Sergeant": Leadership Expert, Military Veteran, And Serial Entrepreneur Ready to move past chaos and achieve scalable growth? Today, we dive deep into the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), the powerful framework and toolkit helping leadership teams gain crystal-clear vision,...
-
Building Your Resilience Plan With Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier
We hear a lot about the need for resilience these days, but simply wanting to be resilient isn't enough—in fact, the pressure to always bounce back can be counterproductive. In this exclusive interview, Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier, a psychologist, leadership expert, and author of the award-winning...
-
From Musician To Music Industry Pioneer With Josh Simons
What happens when a touring musician decides to rewrite the music industry from the inside out? Today, we sat down with Josh Simons—the force behind Vinyl Group, Australia’s only ASX-listed music company, and the founder of Vampr, the world’s largest social network for creatives. Discover how…
more -
Building A STEM Career - From Med School To C-Level and Board Roles With Dr. Sheila Gujrathi
In the demanding world of biotech and healthcare, charting a successful STEM career path, especially as a woman or minority leader, often feels like navigating without a map. But what if you had access to the boardroom lessons, the personal triumphs, and the hard-won wisdom of an industry…
more -
SaaS Software, DevOps, Data Science, And AI With Ben Johnson
Software development is undergoing rapid change as AI, DevOps, and data science reshape how teams build and scale products. In this interview, Particle41 CEO and technical co-founder Ben Johnson explains what modern software teams must do to stay competitive. He shares practical insights on...
-
The Human Side Of AI-Driven Change, With Monica Marquez
The future of work is here, and it's being shaped by AI-driven change. Dive into a captivating discussion with Monica Marquez, Co-founder of FlipWork, Inc., the enterprise-wide AI workforce transformation system, as she illuminates the evolving landscape of an AI-centric world. Monica shares her...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
Career paths rarely unfold in a straight line. Some careers accelerate quickly, while others take unexpected turns, requiring us to adapt, reinvent ourselves, and seize new opportunities along the way. On Career Sessions, host J.R. Lowry sits down with accomplished leaders, entrepreneurs, academics, coaches, veterans, and professionals from all walks of life to explore the stories behind their careers. Through candid conversations, guests share the decisions, challenges, successes, setbacks, and lessons that shaped their professional journeys. Whether you're early in your career, navigating a transition, pursuing leadership opportunities, or simply looking for inspiration and practical advice, Career Sessions offers insights you can apply to your own path. Each episode goes beyond résumés and job titles to uncover how people build meaningful careers and thrive through change. J.R. Lowry has built a career across military service, management consulting, financial services, executive lea
HOSTED BY
fret
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Career Sessions have?
Career Sessions currently has 224 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Career Sessions about?
Career paths rarely unfold in a straight line. Some careers accelerate quickly, while others take unexpected turns, requiring us to adapt, reinvent ourselves, and seize new opportunities along the way. On Career Sessions, host J.R. Lowry sits down with accomplished leaders, entrepreneurs,...
How often does Career Sessions release new episodes?
Career Sessions publishes regularly with 224 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Career Sessions?
You can listen to Career Sessions on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Career Sessions?
Career Sessions is created and hosted by fret.
URL copied to clipboard!