The Change Effect - Inspiration and Strategies for Creating Success on Your Own Terms

What if your anger isn't a problem to solve?What if it's information?In this episode of The Change Effect, we explore one of the most misunderstood emotions women experience and why so many of us have been conditioned to suppress, soften, or explain away our anger.In this episode you'll learn:Why anger is often a signal, not a flawHow women are taught to disconnect from their own frustrationThe difference between suppression, explosion, and healthy processingWhat recurring anger may be trying to show youHow to turn frustration into clarity and actionWhy anger often reveals important values and boundariesWhen we stop treating anger as something to avoid and start viewing it as information, it becomes easier to understand what matters, where our boundaries have been crossed, and what may need to change. This episode offers a practical way to work with anger rather than against it.Download The Anger Inventory Exercise HEREConnect with Noelle:https://www.noellevan.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@noellevanvhttps://www.instagram.com/noellevanbeyondSupport the show

One of the themes that comes up often on The Change Effect is the idea that success is not a fixed destination. The definition of ambition that serves us in one season of life may not fit the next, and sometimes the bravest thing we can do is give ourselves permission to redefine it.In this episode, I sit down with Caru Jones for an honest conversation about burnout, identity, intuition, and the evolving nature of ambition.Caru Jones is an executive coach, leadership expert, and founder of Soulfulness Philosophy. With more than two decades of experience across coaching, HR, leadership, and talent development, she helps accomplished women and leaders create success that feels sustainable, aligned, and deeply fulfilling.Drawing from her own journey from a successful global HR career into entrepreneurship, Caru shares the pivotal moments that led her to realize that external achievement alone wasn't enough. In this episode, we discuss:·      The importance of understanding our personal values and using them as a compass for both our professional and personal lives.·      How fear and excitement can feel remarkably similar and why choosing which voice to listen to matters.·      The concept of "Ambition Without Self-Abandonment" and what it means to pursue meaningful goals while staying connected to yourself.·      Why success doesn't have to look the same in every season of life, and how giving ourselves permission to evolve creates space for greater fulfillment.Together, we explore what happens when high-achieving women begin asking deeper questions about fulfillment, sustainability, and what they truly want for their lives. If you are looking for inspiration at the soul level, this is a must listen!Connect with Caru:https://www.carujones.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/carujones/https://www.instagram.com/carujones/Stay Connected with Noelle:Website: www.noellevan.comInstagram: @noellevanbeyondYouTube: @noellevanvLinkedin noellevIf you enjoyed this episode of The Change Effect, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may be navigating their own next chapter. Support the show

As we evolve, our relationships often evolve with us.In this episode of The Change Effect, we explore what happens when personal growth, career transitions, and major life changes begin to reshape your friendships.Why do some relationships deepen while others become strained? How do you know the difference between temporary friction and a friendship that has run its course? And how do you let go of relationships that no longer fit without creating unnecessary conflict?In this episode you'll learn:Why change often creates tension in friendshipsHow your growth can unintentionally trigger othersSigns a friendship is worth investing inRed flags that a relationship may have reached its natural conclusionHow to create distance without dramaWhy loneliness during transition is often part of the processChange often asks more of us than a new plan or a different path. It asks us to examine the relationships surrounding that path as well. If you've been feeling disconnected, questioning a friendship, or wondering whether you're simply in a season of transition, this episode offers a thoughtful framework for understanding what's changing and why.Download the Friendship Audit Exercise HereConnect with Noelle:https://www.noellevan.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@noellevanvhttps://www.instagram.com/noellevanbeyondSupport the show

Have you ever delayed a decision, opportunity, or next step because you were waiting to feel more ready?You may not be waiting for the right moment.You may be waiting for permission.In this episode, we explore the hidden pattern many successful women carry throughout their careers—the habit of waiting to be chosen, promoted, invited, approved, or validated before making a move.In this episode you'll learn:Why the permission pattern developsHow high achievers unknowingly outsource their confidenceThe difference between seeking input and seeking approvalSigns you're waiting for validation instead of actingPractical ways to strengthen self-trustHow to stop giving away your authorityMany women spend years gathering credentials, experience, and evidence before allowing themselves to move forward. At some point, the next step requires something different: trusting your own judgment. If you've been sitting on an idea, delaying a decision, or waiting for certainty to arrive, this conversation may help you recognize what you're truly waiting for.Download The Permission Puzzle Exercise HereConnect with Noelle:https://www.noellevan.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@noellevanvhttps://www.instagram.com/noellevanbeyondSupport the show

This week's encore episode is a listener favorite for so many reasons. Sarah (Brown) Brooks shares with us how the highs and lows in life can help shape who we are and how having the grace to accept what comes our way, can't help but usher in more of the good stuff. Change can upend us in ways we never expect, yet so often, our toughest seasons become the fertile ground for our greatest growth. Sarah (Brown) Brooks life path has been marked by profound transformation through sobriety, the loss of an 18-year marriage, surviving breast cancer and finding love again through manifestation and the unwavering belief in a new chapter. Drawing from her work as an executive coach, her journey along the Camino de Santiago, and her guiding philosophy of amor fati—to love one’s fate—Sarah has emerged not just as a survivor, but as a voice of compassion, wisdom, and hope for others traveling through their own storms.Get 20% off your Day by Daybook®  with the discount code NEW20 here. In this episode, Sarah and I discuss:Sarah’s journey of sobriety, the end of her marriage, surviving breast cancer and finding new love. Walking the Camino de Santiago as a spiritual pilgrimage that mirrored her own healing.The role of intuition and how listening to her body, even amidst doubt and trauma, shaped every pivotal decision.Navigating “the gifts inside suffering,” and how adversity became her soil for new beginnings in love, purpose, and work.The power of vision boards, synchronicity, and trusting in the unknown when dreaming a new life into reality.Whether you’re walking through a difficult chapter, seeking to reframe your pain, or searching for wisdom in your own process of becoming, Sarah’s story is a testament to resilience, radical acceptance, and the healing that comes with embracing our story—no matter how it unfolds.If you enjoyed this episode don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me what resonated with you.Connect with Sarah:Website | Sarah Brown CoachingFailing Forward Podcast Connect with Noelle:https://www.noellevan.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@noellevanvhttps://www.instagram.com/noellevanbeyondSupport the show

There’s a kind of grief nobody prepares you for. The grief that comes from outgrowing a version of yourself. A career you built your identity around.A relationship that slowly stopped feeling like home.A future you pictured so clearly,  until life moved in a different direction.In this episode of The Change Effect, we explore the quiet grief that often hides underneath major life and work transitions especially for high-achieving women who are used to moving quickly into “what’s next” without stopping to process what was lost along the way.This conversation is about the emotional middle most people skip over. The flatness that can follow a big decision. The strange guilt that comes with moving on. The way unprocessed grief can quietly keep you tethered to an old version of yourself long after you’ve left it behind.If you’ve been feeling restless, emotionally stuck, disconnected from your next chapter, or quietly mourning something you can’t fully explain… this episode is for you.In this episode:Why grief often shows up during reinvention and identity shiftsThe hidden ways unprocessed grief impacts your ability to move forwardSigns you may be carrying grief you haven’t acknowledged yetPractical ways to process transition without getting stuck in the pastWe've attached a powerful reflective exercise below called The Letter You Never Wrote designed to help you process the version of your life you thought you’d have, and begin making space for what comes next. 🖊️ The Letter You Never Wrote — a guided reflective writing exercise to help you process unspoken grief and release the version of life you thought you’d have.Worksheet + Exercise Link:Listener Exercise WorksheetConnect with Noelle:https://www.noellevan.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@noellevanvhttps://www.instagram.com/noellevanbeyondSupport the show

In this week's Encore Episode, we bring back one of our listener favorites - Carly Catherine who guides us into the world of tapping to help calm anxiety and overwhelm.When life feels like an endless list of demands, how do you find peace and safety in your own body? Carly shares how nervous system regulation and EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) tapping helped her move from exhaustion and hyper-independence to a life of emotional expansion, creative joy, and authentic self-trust.Get 20% off your Day by Daybook®  with the discount code NEW20 here. Carly is an Ontario Certified Teacher and EFT Practitioner who helps women and educators move from survival mode to emotional expansion through nervous system regulation and EFT tapping. After years of people-pleasing, over-functioning, and pouring everything into her students, family, and work, Carly hit a breaking point—realizing she’d built a life that looked “successful,” but left nothing for her. Through the practice of EFT tapping and nervous system work, she began unwinding patterns of hyper-independence and self-abandonment, learning to feel safe in her body, express her emotions, and reclaim joy, creativity, and purpose. Now, she teaches others to do the same, bridging science and soul to help women and educators regulate stress, build emotional capacity, and lead from self-trust instead of burnout. Carly is the founder of The Healing Hive, a global EFT tapping membership and community for women, and she also leads workshops in schools and organizations focused on emotional regulation, well-being, and embodied leadership.In this episode, Carly and I discuss:Carly’s journey from chronic people-pleasing and burnout to reclaiming her voice and joy with nervous system regulation.The science and practice of EFT tappingPractical ways to use tapping in everyday lifeHow modeling nervous system regulation in the classroom helps students (and teachers) break cycles of dysregulation and discover emotional safety early.Why asking for help and setting boundaries aren’t signs of weakness, but the ultimate acts of strength and self-honor.Whether you’re new to EFT tapping or searching for real tools to navigate stress, anxiety, or burnout, Carly’s story offers practical insights and encouragement to find safety and possibility within.Connect with Carly:WebsiteInstagramConnect with Noelle:https://www.noellevan.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@noellevanvhttps://www.instagram.com/noellevanbeyondSupport the show

Everybody talks about the leap. The bold decision. The announcement. The beginning.And eventually, people talk about the outcome when the new chapter finally starts to make sense. But almost nobody talks about the middle.The long stretch between deciding to change and actually feeling grounded again. The phase where the old version of your life no longer fits, but the new one hasn’t fully formed yet. In this solo episode, Noelle Van explores what the “messy middle” of change really looks like, why so many high-achieving women quietly struggle here, and how to stay steady when clarity, momentum, and certainty feel far away.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why uncertainty feels so exhaustingThe hidden signs you’re in the middle of a real transitionHow to stop measuring progress the wrong wayWhy small setbacks hit harder during changePractical ways to stay grounded when life feels in-betweenIf you’ve been questioning yourself lately, feeling emotionally stretched, or wondering why change feels harder than expected, this episode is for you.Because the middle isn’t proof something is wrong.The middle is where transformation happens.Connect with Noelle:https://www.noellevan.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@noellevanvhttps://www.instagram.com/noellevanbeyondSupport the show

In this Encore Episode of The Change Effect, I selected this little treasure because of the tenacity and strength Lorna York had in moving to San Diego post divorce and starting her own studio. When we think about reinventing ourselves or starting over, especially later in life, it can feel daunting like stepping into a world of unknowns with nothing but a dream to guide us. Lorna talks about her incredible journey from humble beginnings and personal upheaval to becoming a powerhouse in the contemporary art scene. At 65, Lorna is the owner of Madison Gallery, a globally recognized art space in Solana Beach, California. Her story is one of passion, resilience, and the power of betting on yourself, even when you have to do it without a safety net.As owner of Madison Gallery, a Solana Beach-based contemporary art gallery known for introducing global artists to the Southern California art scene for the first time, Lorna built a $50 million business from scratch - no small feat in the ultra-competitive and male-dominated art industry. Proudly woman-owned and operated, Madison Gallery is globally renowned for their curatorial vision and personalized collector experience. As a leading voice in SoCal's contemporary art scene, Lorna's gallery has an established track-record as a platform for budding talent to launch their careers.In this episode, Lorna and I discuss:How Lorna built a $50 million business and became a leading authority in contemporary art starting with nothing but determined passion.The challenges Lorna faced breaking into and rising within the male-dominated art industryThe importance of pursuing work that is driven by joy and passion rather than fearEmbracing reinvention at any age, and why Lorna believes the “golden years” are the perfect time to be creative, energetic, and committed to making a difference.The role of mentorship, intuition, and believing in your vision even when success isn’t guaranteed.Whether you’re on the brink of a major life change or simply looking for inspiration to fuel your own passions, Lorna’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, community, and the willingness to step boldly into the unknown.If you enjoyed this episode don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me what resonated with you.CONNECT WITH GUEST:FB: Madison Art Gallery IG: Madison GalleryCONNECT WITH ART:RETNA “Carta de Amor” ExhibitConnect with Noelle:https://www.noellevan.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@noellevanvhttps://www.instagram.com/noellevanbeyondSupport the show

In this episode of The Change Effect, I sit down with Angelina "Strike" Stephens, a former Air Force officer, speaker, leadership coach, and advisor whose career has been defined by both high-performance leadership and the courage to speak openly about mental health.Strike spent over two decades in the military, rising through the ranks in aircraft maintenance and global leadership roles. But alongside that professional trajectory, she was quietly navigating something deeply personal. After the birth of her first son, she experienced severe postpartum anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts, and struggled for nearly a year before recognizing what she was going through.We talk about why high performers often struggle harder, how stigma breaking creates real institutional change, and what it looks like to lead with clarity, courage, and grounded self-trust, especially in environments where identity and performance are tightly intertwined.In this episode, we discuss:Why high performers and leaders often struggle harder, and carry it more silently, than anyone around them realizesWhat it actually takes to break the silence inside a highly structured system, and how honesty can deepen rather than diminish your leadershipHow to navigate a major career transition when you don't yet have the answers, and why treating it like a research project changes everythingThe connection between mental health, leadership, and team culture, and why these conversations belong together, not apartThis episode is a reminder that real leadership isn't built on having it all together. It's built on the courage to be honest, the willingness to be supported, and the conviction to let your lived experience, not just your achievements, lead the way.If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me what resonated with you.Connect with Angela Strikes Stephens:Website: www.strikestephens.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/strikestephens LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/angelinastephens Victory Strategies Webiste: www.victory-strategies.comConnect with Noelle:https://www.noellevan.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@noellevanvhttps://www.instagram.com/noellevanbeyondSupport the show