Episodes
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Anne-Marie Rabago on solo practice and legal incubators
My guest this week is Anne-Marie Rabago, the founder and principal of Modern Juris, which provides tools, training, and support to help lawyers build financially sustainable businesses designed to serve the latent legal market. Anne-Marie started her legal career at Pricewaterhousecoopers, then...
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Kate Bridal on Escaping Burnout and Embracing A Winding Career
My guest today is Kate Bridal, a former lawyer turned legal tech marketer turned co-host of The Legal Burnouts podcast. We explore her professional journey, from drama school to working with primates (yes, seriously - she got to sign with chimps), to law and beyond. Kate shares with us how she's...
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Sejal Thakkar goes from employment lawyer to workplace culture consultant
Our guest today is Sejal Thakkar, a former employment law attorney, a 2X TEDx speaker, and the Founder and Chief Civility Officer at TrainXtra, a woman/minority- owned training consulting firm, where she helps leaders create positive, safe, and respectful workplaces through customized training…
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April Roberts on embracing adaptability: Navigating multiple career and life transitions
April Roberts is a former attorney turned financial advisor who now coaches Gen X women to achieve more abundance, love, spirituality and alignment by connecting with their femininity. She also hosts the podcast Vixen Voice where she shares stories of Gen X women that have shed the traditional...
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Laura Terrell on intentionally navigating your legal career
Today’s guest is Laura Terrell, an executive coach with over twenty-five years of experience as a legal and business leader. Prior to coaching, she was a Special Assistant to the President at the White House, a senior level appointee at the U.S. Department of Justice, an equity partner in two...
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Emily Witt on legal recruiting and career evolution
Emily Witt is a legal recruiter with almost twenty years of industry experience (on both the firm side at one of the world's preeminent law firms and also on the agency side). She tells us about her own career evolution, as well as how she helps lawyers find their next best job. We talk about the...
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How to start climbing the right success ladder
Today I’m talking about how success is an entirely personal thing. It looks different for each of us. Yet, our society (and our industry) tend to have a pretty narrow and uniform definition. That's how so many of us get stuck climbing one particular type of success ladder. I encourage you to give...
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Leah Campbell Badertscher leaves law to be an artist and creativity coach
This week’s guest is Leah Campbell Badertscher. She is a former lawyer who has become an artist and a coach to world-class performers and leaders in the arts, business, and social good. Her work is about fulfilling her client’s greatest potential by cultivating a way of being that energizes,...
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What the Woo? A Chat with Chiara Woods
This week's episode is a little different. I teamed up with Chiara Woods (another former lawyer) for an episode that is airing on both this podcast and on hers, The Soulicitor Podcast. We tackle the question of how lawyers and other left-brainers can engage with the world of woo. Those of us in...
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Dorna Moini leaves BigLaw to build a legal tech start-up
Dorna Moini is the CEO and founder of Gavel (formerly Documate), an easy-to-use platform for building client-facing legal apps. Prior to starting the company, Dorna was a litigator at Sidley Austin. There, in her pro bono practice, she worked with legal aid organizations to build a web…
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Given the time commitment and uncertainty, is entrepreneurship worth it?
The truth is that building a business you care about does take time, and there's no way to have a clean, complete map of the process in advance that guarantees success. And in this episode, I argue that it's still worth. It has a lot to do with the fact that a heart-centered business is more than…
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Janelle Christian leaves BigLaw to build her dream life and business
I am so excited to have Janelle Christian as my guest this week. Janelle tells us about her attempts to find her place within different law firm settings, and her ultimate realization that the law was just not for her. She initially launched an interior design firm, which led to people asking her...
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What coaching actually involves and if it’s for you
The truth is, the answer to what coaching looks like and who it’s for is much like the answer to most legal questions: it depends. It does. It depends on the coach, their approach, the intended outcome, the timeline, etc. And I know how confusing and unhelpful that can sound. In a world where...
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Age & Authenticity: Work, Life and Style After 40
Melanie Lippman, a style and image coach, and I co-hosted a webinar last month called Age & Authenticity: Work, Life & Style After 40. It was such a good conversation, I wanted to share it with all of you on the podcast. In this conversation, we discuss: How to embrace, rather than resist, your...
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Using new school year energy to jumpstart your next chapter
There's just something about back-to-school energy. There's a sense of hope and possibility. And it's a great opportunity to refocus and recommit to the big career changes you've been wanting to make. In this episode, I share some ideas for how you can set yourself up for success and make this…
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A New Paradigm for Success
This week I share my thoughts on how we can buck the system and define success on our own terms. I think the new paradigm of success is centered on you being self-actualized and of true service, rather than being the best rule follower out there. I also shared some wise, if salty, words from my...
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Kristen Gyolai combines law and entrepreneurship
Kristen Gyolai is the owner of The Law Office of Kristen Gyolai & Lure of Law. She started her career at a high-volume law firm. She enjoyed the practice of law but 5 years in, she was feeling burnt out and needed a change. After considering her options, she ultimately decided to start her own…
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Lauren Kay teaches us about Human Design and creating a portfolio career
Lauren Kay is the host of the Legally Different Podcast, a Human Design expert, and a lawyer practicing on her terms. Lauren tells us about her journey of quitting the law in search of something more fulfilling. She identified freedom as her top value, and with that as a guiding principle, has…
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Mary Adkins leaves BigLaw litigation to become a novelist
Mary Adkins is a former BigLaw litigator turned writer. She is author of the novels When You Read This (Indie Next Pick, “Best Book of 2019” by Good Housekeeping and Real Simple), Privilege (Today.com “Best Summer Read,” New York Post “Best Book of the Week”), and Palm Beach (recently named one…
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From partner to entrepreneur: Embracing your second act
Erika Cole built a thriving, very specialized law practice advising churches and other faith-based organizations. After running her own firm, she merged her practice and became a partner at a larger firm. She enjoyed the work. And from the outside, all the boxes of success were checked. But,...
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A holistic approach to designing your career
Elena Deutsch is the founder and CEO of WILL (Women Interested in Leaving Law). With a background in executive and leadership coaching, Elena guides women through the process of discovering what they want, leveraging their strengths, and researching inspiring new possibilities. In this episode,...
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It’s ok to be an accidental entrepreneur
I never would have guessed that I'd end up being an entrepreneur. I had some long-standing stories around how I just wasn't naturally built for it. I think so many of us have a certain idea of who built for entrepreneurial success and who isn't. But, there are different types of entrepreneurs and...
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Jessica Medina shows us it’s possible to unlock the golden handcuffs
Jessica Medina is a former big law litigator and SEC investigator who is now an accredited financial counselor. She specifically helps big law attorneys who need a financial plan in place to allow them the freedom to explore new career options. Jessica also reassures us that it's possible to…
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A powerful self-coaching question
The #1 thing that is limiting your career options is your assumption that all of your thoughts are true. In this episode I talk you through how to question the reasons you dismiss certain options, like entrepreneurship. ~ Connect with Megan! Daydreams to Designs Private Podcast:...
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How do you define success?
In this episode, I question our historical definitions for success and challenge you to create a new, more personalized definition for yourself. ~ Connect with Megan! Daydreams to Designs Private Podcast: https://bit.ly/daydreamstodesigns Schedule a Catalyst Call:...
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What is a Heart-Centered Business?
In this episode, I dive into what I mean when I talk about heart-centered businesses and why I think they are the real key to your freedom and fulfillment. ~ Connect with Megan! Daydreams to Designs Private Podcast: https://bit.ly/daydreamstodesigns Schedule a Catalyst Call:...
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Marni Blank leaves law to become a multi-passionate entrepreneur
Marni Blank began her career as a lawyer, working both for the Federal and NYC government. Ultimately realizing law was not her passion, she decided to switch paths to real estate while co-founding Blank Studio NYC and Blank Farmhouse with her sister. Marni continues to evolve her career…
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Sigalle Barness leaves law, becomes a COO, then creates her own role as Chief Storyteller
Sigalle Barness is a former lawyer who is now the Chief Storyteller at Lawline, the leading online education platform for lawyers. After her experience in practicing law did not go as she expected, Sigalle transitioned to working at Lawline where she’s built an incredible career. She rose to COO,...
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Emily Hirsekorn goes from law to higher education to career confidence coaching
Emily Hirsekorn is a former lawyer turned career confidence coach. After a stint in higher education, she decided to pursue a certification in professional coaching with iPEC. Specifically, Emily now helps lawyers and other ambitious professionals navigate their careers, develop as conscious...
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Seth Bradley leaves big law to pursue his passion for real estate
Seth Bradley is a former big law attorney who decided to follow his passion for real estate and create his own unique career path. He started his own firm, Bradley Law Limited, where he helps his clients with their real estate and asset protection needs. He has also become a real estate...
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Morgan Thomas Hall transitions from law to tech sales
Morgan Thomas Hall is an Account Executive at Twilio Inc. Morgan practiced in both a firm and for the government before realizing that it wasn’t just a job problem, it was a career problem. She went back to the drawing board to explore her interests, and found herself drawn to tech, and then...
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Marie Sotelo leaves law for freelance writing
Marie Sotelo is a former lawyer turned freelance writer. After leaving the law, she leveraged her legal experience to become a go-to ghostwriter for entrepreneurs and chief executives in the law, compliance, and risk management space. She firmly believes that money is a means to an end—lifestyle...
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Heather Eastwood leaves practice to teach high school
Heather Eastwood is a public interest lawyer (with a brief detour into BigLaw) who found her long-term calling teaching public high school. In today’s episode, we discuss: Heather came out of college feeling adrift without a clear path to follow She went to law school somewhat on a whim, because…
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Rachel Coll leaves practice to become a life coach
Rachel Coll is a lawyer turned life coach. Although Rachel actually largely enjoyed practicing, she allowed herself to evolve and follow the threads that interested her. She ultimately felt called to get into coaching. It did require pushing through some discomfort and external judgment around…
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David Johnson Shows Us How Use Design Thinking to Make Fulfilling Career Shifts
David Johnson is a lawyer, writer and professor at Stanford Law School. He started his career working in house at tech companies, received a JSM in Law, Science, and Technology and now (among other things) teaches a course on design thinking as applied to negotiations at Stanford Law. Dave talks…
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The 5 Step Lawyer's Escape Plan Framework
Today’s episode is the audio from the webinar I hosted last week, The 5-Step Lawyer’s Escape Plan. It walks you through the roadmap that will take you from stuck and uninspired to having clarity and a plan. The 8-week Lawyer’s Escape Plan group program begins next week, so if you’re interested in...
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Free Webinar: 5-Step Lawyer's Escape Plan
On Thursday, June 10th at 7:30pm EDT, I'll be hosting a free live webinar. A replay will also be available. I'll be walking you through the 5-Step Lawyer's Escape framework that you can follow to go from stuck and uninspired to confident and planning your move. Sign up for the free webinar here:...
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Risa Weaver-Enion leaves law to become a wedding planner and photographer
Risa Weaver-Enion is the founder and chief planner at Risa James Events, where she both plans weddings and offers product branding photography services. Risa went to law school thinking she’d get into entertainment law, but after her summer internship, quickly realized that there was a lot about...
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Eimear McCann transitions from immigration and human rights law to a legal tech start-up
Eimear McCann is the Head of Strategy at Summize, a legal tech company in the UK. Eimear left law school vowing not to practice. But, after a stint of freelance writing, she came back to the law and worked in immigration and human rights. She loved the work, but when her organization lost…
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Illegal Design: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
In today's episode, I talk about how can take an overwhelming project (like eating an elephant or finding a new, fulfilling career) and break it into bite-sized, executable steps. You can do hard things. It's just about getting started, strategizing, and taking one step after the other. Get on…
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Jen Berson leaves litigation to start her own PR agency
Jen Berson left civil litigation after she “saw the light”, decided to pursue more creative endeavors, and founded her own business. She is now the President & Founder of Jeneration PR and the creator of the Agency Accelerator, where she teaches entrepreneurs how to launch, grow & scale a...
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The Top 2 Mistakes Lawyers Make When Trying To Change Careers
I'm letting you in on the top 2 mistakes I see people make when trying to change careers. First, they start by asking what job they think they can get, rather than asking what they want. Second, they don't prioritize themselves and the process of figuring out the next best career step. Get on the...
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Robert Ingalls leaves litigation to start a podcast production company)
Robert Ingalls is a former litigator turned founder of Lawpods, a podcast production company for lawyers. Robert tells us how he tried a variety of practice areas before realizing that law just wasn’t the right fit for him. While he still had a full-time job, Robert experimented with a number of...
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Illegal Design: 4 Habits Of Lucky People
You know those people who seem to just always have things work out? From career to relationships? They're just "lucky." Turns out it's not magic. There are some habits these people have that put them in the path of luck more frequently: Putting themselves out there Listening to their gut Having a...
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Rob Bertman shows us that our lives don't have to be dictated by student loans
Rob Bertman is a senior consultant at Student Loan Planner, and a CFA and CFP. Rob talks to us about how it’s possible to manage your student loans around your life, rather than have them dictate what your options are. We get into how it’s even possible to have a runway for starting your own...
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Lisa Rosen leaves litigation to work at an environmental non-profit organization
Lisa Rosen is the Chief Operating Officer at SustainCERT. After starting her career in litigation, Lisa followed her interest in environmental issues to an in-house legal position at a non-profit and ultimately transitioned into an operations role there. Lisa’s story shows how your legal…
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Francesca Chang is an ex-lawyer turned travel writer and life coach for lawyers
Francesca Chang is a lawyer turned marketing professional, tech recruiter, published travel writer, and now life coach for lawyers. Francesca tells us about leaving practice to explore various other career opportunities. It’s a great example of what can evolve when you don’t tie yourself to a...
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Illegal Design: Living By Design Versus By Default
Are you living your life by design or by default? As crazy as the world is right now, it's a great opportunity to move forward more purposefully.
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Dr. Aisha leaves medical practice to coach high achievers on the science and heart of making change in your life
Dr. Aisha is a former practicing physician turned coach specializing in helping high achievers create change in their lives. Her core message is that in order to make meaningful change in our lives, we need to slow down long enough to get off autopilot and connect to our real thoughts and…
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Rho Thomas balances practice, a side business, motherhood, and tackling law school debt
Rho Thomas is a trademark lawyer at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, a financial coach for lawyers, and the mom of two young boys. Rho tells us how she has a vision for her life that includes working as a lawyer, pursuing her side business, and being a present mom. Part of that journey has…
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About this show
Megan Smiley interviews recovering lawyers, career advisors, and other professionals for advice and inspiration on transitioning out of law practice.
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Megan Smiley
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