The Pivot Life Podcast:

In this episode of The Pivot Life Podcast, I’m joined by Janeen Blake for a conversation about what it really takes to create freedom on your own terms.After a major reality check around family safety, Janeen made a bold pivot. She built an online business as an Etsy creator, reimagined what was possible for her family, and ultimately made the move to Portugal.In this conversation, we talk about what freedom actually looks like beyond the highlight reel, the work required to build it, and why having a clear vision matters more than waiting for the “perfect” time.If you’ve been craving a different kind of life but aren’t sure how to bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be, this episode is such a powerful reminder that freedom is often built one brave decision at a time.If you would like to find more from Janeen you can find her: Freedom UnClocked On IG Love Eat Travel RepeatFinally, if you would like a little more from The Pivot Life, join Pivot Notes. Monthly tidbits bits of inspiration, After the pod discussions and community in process . Join Here: Pivot Notes

There’s a statistic floating around that says 47 is one of the unhappiest years in a woman’s life , but I don’t believe we have to become the statistic.In this short solo episode, I’m sharing the top things I’ve learned from the women I interview on The Pivot Life Podcast, plus a few lessons from my own journey, about how to shift that quiet something feels off feeling before it settles in too deeply.This isn’t about major crisis; it’s about that more subtle kind of unhappiness where life looks fine, but feels a little flat, heavy, or disconnected.We’re talking about the bright side:the little joys, the tiny pivots, the fun, the honesty, the permission, and the small changes that can make life feel like yours again.Because sometimes you don’t need to burn it all down.You just need to bring yourself back into the picture.If this episode hit home, come join me in Pivot Notes: my monthly email where I share the afterthoughts, reflections, and little nudges that keep the conversation going after the mic turns off. 'If you want deeper thoughts, honest perspective, and encouragement for your own pivot, you can join here: Pivot Notes

What happens when you build the “successful” life… and realize it still doesn’t feel right?In this episode of The Pivot Life Podcast, I’m joined by Allison O’Brien for an honest conversation about the hidden cost of success, high-functioning anxiety, burnout, and what it really takes to rebuild a life that fits.After building a 6-figure business, Allison found herself face to face with a truth so many women quietly live with: just because something looks good from the outside doesn’t mean it feels good on the inside.We talk about the moment she had to get radically honest with herself, what burnout revealed, and how she began rebuilding her work and life with far more intention — consciously shaping it around her values, her family, and the kind of peace she no longer wanted to sacrifice.This episode is a powerful reminder that success without alignment can still leave you exhausted… and that the next chapter often starts with telling yourself the truth.You can listen to Allisons podcast Living Simply and Well wherever you listen to podcasts Allison can be found on Instagram @mamafinally

Sometimes the boldest move isn’t chasing the dream. It’s being honest enough to admit when the dream no longer fits.In this solo episode, I’m sharing a real-life update on one of our biggest family decisions — and why we changed course.What started as a beautiful vision for our next chapter eventually became something deeper: a reminder that when you’re planning a major life change, the destination matters a whole lot less than the life you’ll actually be living when you get there.This episode is about what happens when you stop making decisions based on what looks exciting, impressive, or “dreamy” on paper… and start making them based on what will actually create more peace, more connection, and more happiness for the people you love most.Get Pivot NotesA monthly behind-the-scenes note from The Pivot Life, with honest reflections, life updates, and a growing space for women making bold pivots.Join HereThe Pivot Life Community: Coming Soon! subscribe to Pivot Notes for updates.

What does it really look like when a family decides to stop waiting and start exploring?In this episode of The Pivot Life Podcast, I’m joined by Anna Haakenson of Wanderlust Haaks for a conversation about family travel, taking the leap into a less conventional life, and what draws families toward bigger experiences together.We talk about the reality behind making bold travel decisions as a family, the excitement, the logistics, the mindset shifts, and the deeper “why” that makes it all worth it.This is a fun, honest conversation about choosing adventure, navigating family travel in real life, and rethinking what’s possible when you’re willing to do things differently.Whether you’re dreaming about extended travel, curious about a family gap year, or simply craving a life that feels a little bigger and more intentional, this episode will leave you thinking.Connect with Anna Haakenson of Wanderlust Haaks:Wanderlust Haaks website/blogWanderlust.Haaks on Instagram Listen, follow & share:If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow The Pivot Life Podcast and share it with someone who’s been dreaming about traveling more, living differently, or making a bold family pivot of their own.

“Follow the thing that you love because that is where your magic is.”In this episode of The Pivot Life Podcast, I sit down with Brooke Rosell, a former teacher who now works as a surf photographer and storyteller.We talk about how she moved from the classroom into the ocean and began documenting women surfing through a distinctly female lens. Brooke shares what it means to photograph women in a way that reflects their real experience in the water, not just how the industry has traditionally portrayed them.Our conversation goes beyond career shifts. We talk about the idea that you are not just what you do. You are allowed to evolve. You are allowed to hold multiple interests. You are allowed to build a life that integrates the things you love instead of separating them into neat titles.Brooke speaks honestly about being multi passionate, creating online, and choosing to follow what feels alive rather than what looks conventional. It is a conversation about identity, creativity, and giving yourself permission to live fully in the things that matter to you.Follow what you love. Then find a way to weave it into your life.You can find Brooke over on TikTok sharing her life: @brooke.rosellAnd for a more curated look at her amazing photography or to work with her!https://www.instagram.com/brookerosell/

In this episode of The Pivot Life Podcast, I’m joined by international, award-winning artist Linda Storm, a former Montessori teacher who trusted a quiet nudge that changed everything.Linda’s pivot began with a single invitation to show her work in an Italian gallery. That moment became the catalyst for leaving the classroom and stepping fully into her life as an artist. Today, her work is shown around the world, but the real story runs deeper than success or recognition.We talk about what it actually takes to trust your intuition, to let your art (or calling) lead, and to move from practicingsaying “I am an artist” to fully embodying it. Linda shares how art became her way of serving and building community — not just creating work, but opening doors to new spaces, people, and ways of belonging.This is a conversation about identity, courage, and the quiet power of saying yes before you feel ready.Connect with Linda Storm:Website: https://www.lindastormart.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stormartist/

This week, we sat down with Sara Dahmen, a multi-passionate creative, Emmy Award winning producer and screenwriter,, writer, and former event planner who followed her interests into an unexpected career path.We talk about the importance of saying yes and how that mindset led Sara to become the only female coppersmith designing cookware in the United States. Without a clear roadmap, she built momentum by showing up, asking questions, and staying persistent until she found the skills and access she needed to bring her vision to life.This conversation also explores the value of hobbies, pursuing creative interests without needing immediate payoff, and the uniqueness and strength of being a multi-passionate person in a world that often pushes specialization.If you have ever felt unsure about your path but curious enough to keep going, this episode is for you.Find more about Sara, Including her Cookware and where you can read her books. https://www.instagram.com/sara_dahmen/https://www.instagram.com/thehousecopper/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYb9YkWCgp--7FWWexebNFA

In this episode, Kenya Joseph shares her powerful pivot from a career in finance into community service, where she now leads the Hearts and Hands Food Pantry and serves as Chair on both her local and State Food Councils.Kenya talks about the faith it takes to follow a calling before the path is fully clear; that deep knowing that when you step out, the next stone will be there to meet your feet.We dive into what it means to be both proactive and reactive in seasons of change, the tools she relies on to stay grounded while carrying big responsibility, and her transformative approach to service:You’re not truly helping if you’re helping from your own perspective. Real impact begins the moment you step fully into someone else’s shoes.It’s a conversation about courage, purpose, and trusting the invisible threads that are always guiding your story.To follow Kenya, or learn more about Food Security and how you can help: https://www.instagram.com/hiddenhippiealchemist/Hearts and Hands Food Pantryhttps://www.instagram.com/heartsandhandsfoodpantry/www.heartsandhandsfoodpantry.comMore on Food Policy: www.charlottefoodpolicy.com@cltfoodpolicywww.northmeckcommunity.com

In this episode, Sara shares how her pivot began with one bold move: a single LinkedIn post where she finally put it all out there  and admitting that something in her life and work needed to change. That moment cracked everything open.From there, she followed the pull toward community, creativity, and building something people genuinely enjoy. As the founder of Lichen and Leaf, Sara talks about recognizing when it’s time to shift direction, trusting the path even before it makes sense, and choosing to run her own race rather than anyone else’s.We get into the power of learning from your mistakes (and embracing them), the importance of showing up honestly, and why community isn’t just something you build, it’s something you belong to.A grounded, refreshing conversation about courage, alignment, and creating a life that finally feels like your own.If you would like to connect with Sara, or order some of her fantastic tea you can find her online: Use the code: podcast 2025 for a great discount!https://www.instagram.com/lichenleaf/https://www.lichenleaf.com

Trigger Warning:This episode includes conversations about pregnancy loss and other traumatic life events. Please listen with care.In this episode of The Pivot Life, I sit down with Shayla Dugan, an author whose story is less about a dramatic comeback and more about the quiet, relentless choice to keep going, even when life feels impossible.Shayla opens up about the tragedies that changed everything, the small acts of survival that carried her through, and the moment she allowed herself to follow the thing that genuinely lit her up: writing. What started as an outlet became her her first publisher-backed book, on her very first attempt!If you would like to read Shayla's work, and I highly recommend you do you can find her: Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shayladuganwrites/Her Book Learning to Swim: https://egretlakebooks.com/learning-to-swim/Her Self Published title: Do You Have to Cross the Street to Get to Heaven can be found on amazon.

In today’s episode, I sit down with the vibrant and multi-passionate Mariah for a lively, honest conversation about what it really means to live authentically and lead from the truest parts of yourself. We explore how resilience grows from simple self-connection—listening inward, trusting what’s placed on your heart, and taking action from that place. We talk about following intuitive nudges, pivoting with clarity, and learning to stay rooted in who you are becoming.To connect further with Mariah you can find her online: https://www.mariahrealestatefernie.cahttps://www.instagram.com/mariah_in_fernie/https://www.facebook.com/mariah.runions

This week on The Pivot Life Podcast, I sit down with Betsy, a woman whose life has been shaped by curiosity, openness, and the deep work of self-discovery. After the loss of her first husband, Betsy found herself at a crossroads — a moment where everything could have closed her down, but instead became the pivot that opened her to an entirely new chapter.Her path forward wasn’t linear. It was guided by tiny nudges, unexpected adventures, and a quiet willingness to say “yes” even when she didn’t know what came next. That journey eventually led her to the man who would become her second great love — and to the work she now does helping other women rediscover themselves through transformative boudoir experiences.In this conversation, we explore how staying open can reshape a life, what it means to follow curiosity as a compass, and why support is essential when you’re stepping into who you’re becoming.You can find Betsy online:https://www.betsymccuepictures.comhttps://www.instagram.com/betsymccuepictureshttps://www.facebook.com/BetsyMcCuePictures

Trigger warning: This episode openly discusses pregnancy and infant loss. Please if this is a sensitive topic for you, take care of yourself. Today we meet Kate from Dogs Eye View in Michigan, a woman whose life has been shaped by the pivots she never saw coming. In this conversation, she opens up about the moments that redirected her path, the intuitive nudges she learned to trust, and the deeper WHY that keeps her moving forward.This episode is a reminder that not all pivots are chosen, but you can still choose what comes next.Kate’s honesty and courage offer a powerful look at listening to your inner voice, rebuilding your direction, and taking the next right step even when the path wasn’t your plan.If you’ve ever felt pushed into a new chapter, questioning what’s next or where to go—this one will land deeply.If you would like to connect with Kate for training, take one of her online courses, or are interested in more about her: https://www.dogseyeviewtraining.comhttps://www.instagram.com/devdogtraining/https://www.youtube.com/@DogsEyeViewTraining

In this episode, we backtrack a little — because before you can truly pivot, you have to know yourself. This is where the real change starts. We talk about what it means to explore who you are beneath the roles, noise, and expectations.You can’t change your life if you don’t even know who you are or where you might actually want to go!

This one’s short and a little raw — more of a rant than a roadmap. I’m talking about the first real step in changing your life: actually deciding to. Not thinking about it. Not planning it. Just choosing it.If you’ve been circling the same thoughts, waiting for a sign, or telling yourself you’ll start “when things calm down,” this episode might be the nudge you need.