Choose Joy Over Prestige | Julie Hartigan | Chef, Coach & Culinary Travel Guide

What happens when you stop chasing the career you're "supposed" to want and start building a life around food, joy, and connection? Julie Hartigan made that leap. After a decade in tech and engineering, she became a chef, wellness coach, TV personality, and now a food-focused travel entrepreneur. In this episode, Julie shares how she pivoted careers in her 40s, what it means to make food an act of self-love, and why she's now creating global experiences that bring women together through cooking, wine, and culture. From healthy eating habits to launching dream businesses, this conversation is packed with wisdom, warmth, and inspiration for anyone craving a more meaningful life. 00:00 From engineer to chef: Julie’s unconventional journey 01:15 Why she left a “prestigious” job to chase joy 03:00 Choosing food as a career, even when no one else understood 05:30 Starting over in her 40s with young kids at home 07:10 The power of self-permission and trusting your gut 10:00 Rebuilding her relationship with food and her body 12:15 How she helps women untangle emotions around eating 14:45 Childhood roots: Italian food and family traditions 16:10 Why food is self-love, not punishment 18:00 Sunday lunch in Rome and the culture of connection 19:30 Building women's culinary trips in Italy and beyond 21:45 Why she focuses her work specifically on women 24:00 Creating a business that includes your favorite people 26:00 What “Powerful Ladies” means to her now 29:00 Setting limits in entrepreneurship and redefining success 32:30 Saying no to hustle culture, yes to joyful business 35:00 Getting on camera in her 40s and working with brands 38:00 Her mission now: more joy, more women traveling, more great food The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms. Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think. Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices