Aleutian Trail Talks

When your children are little, everyone talks about childcare. But what happens when they're teenagers? For many working parents, the logistics don't disappear—they simply evolve. School schedules, sports, transportation, emotional support, and preparing teenagers for adulthood can make balancing a demanding career feel just as challenging as the daycare years. In this episode of Between Peaks, El...

What if the thing you love most isn't a distraction from your career—but the foundation of it? In this episode of Switchbacks, Michelle sits down with Kyle Richardson , President of Royal Talens North America , to explore a career path that was anything but conventional. From dropping out of college and moving across the country with no clear plan, to leading a successful international business in...

In this episode of the Aleutian Trail Talks Podcast, we discuss “Purposeful Opportunities” — developing the mindset and skill to recognize opportunities, create value, and turn ideas into meaningful outcomes. Using real-world examples from companies like Airbnb, Netflix, and TOMS, we explore how initiative, creativity, and collaboration can lead to growth, innovation, and impact. Whether you are e...

Welcome to the first episode in Aleutian Trail Talk’s New Terrain series—where we explore how AI is reshaping work, skills, and career growth for early- to mid-career professionals. Right now, everyone’s talking about AI—but what does it actually mean for your career? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Noah Myers, an expert in AI and data analytics, to move beyond the hype and tackle the real q...

Not every career path is linear—and not every valuable skill comes from a traditional background. The skills you think don’t count might be the ones that set you apart In this episode, we talk with Aria Taylor, who transitioned from a career in vocal performance to accounting (recently going back to school and completing her master’s degree) and initially questioned whether she belonged in a field...

Most early-career professionals think they need to have the right answers to stand out. But the truth is—your impact isn’t defined by what you know. It’s shaped by the questions you ask. In this episode of Aleutian Trail Talks, we break down the skill of Active Questioning—how asking thoughtful, open questions can deepen understanding, spark better conversations, and elevate the ideas around you....

If hard work were the only factor in career growth, upward mobility would look very different. In this episode, we move from awareness to action, exploring the practical steps young professionals can take to shape access to opportunity. Because advancement isn’t just about effort—it’s about access to information, relationships, and the moments that influence who gets seen and supported. Through re...

Who gets access to opportunity at work—and what shapes that path? In this first episode of our three-part series on upward mobility, we explore how workplace cultures influence who is heard, who is developed, and who advances. Because upward mobility doesn’t happen by accident—it’s shaped by everyday interactions, systems, and decisions that determine how talent is recognized and rewarded. Grounde...

Early careers are often expected to move fast — but real life doesn’t always follow that pace. After a break from recording our podcast, we reflect on career slowdowns: the seasons where priorities shift, energy changes, or progress looks less visible. We discuss how to maintain skills and relationships during a professional pause, how to frame slow periods constructively, and how to restart witho...

You know your stuff — but do you own it? In this episode, we explore what it really means to be a subject matter expert — not by title, but by trust. We break down how younger professionals can grow beyond just “knowing” things and start applying their knowledge with confidence, clarity, and credibility. Turn self-doubt into self-trust and start showing up as the expert you already are. Whether yo...

In this episode, we dive into the hidden gender biases shaping modern workplaces — from why men’s voices are automatically valued to why women often feel they must “earn” the right to speak. Through real stories from corporate and academic settings, we unpack the emotional labor, credibility gaps, and career costs women face when stepping into leadership or advocating for themselves. If you’re a y...

Career success isn’t just shaped by big wins or bold moves—it’s often built on the small, consistent habits that colleagues and leaders quietly notice over time. In Part 2 of this episode, we explore the “invisible” daily practices that signal reliability, professionalism, and leadership potential long before a job title does. From the ability to reflect on lessons learned, mindsets of generosity...

Career success isn’t just shaped by big wins or bold moves—it’s often built on the small, consistent habits that colleagues and leaders quietly notice over time. In this episode, we explore the “invisible” daily practices that signal reliability, professionalism, and leadership potential long before a job title does. From showing up prepared, to recognizing others, to practicing direct and clear c...

In this first episode of our Switchbacks series, Elise sits down with her best friend and colleague, Jen Craver, to trace a career path that was anything but linear. Jen shares how she became a mom before finishing college, returned to school as a single parent, and ultimately built a thriving tax career that led to an Enrolled Agent credential and a principal-equivalent role at a national firm. J...

Feeling stuck, curious, or ready to pivot? In this Jeopardy-style episode of the Aleutian Atlas Podcast, Annie and Michelle play with categories like Workplace Survival Skills, Bad Manager Habits, Allies & Advocates, Mentor Moments, and Take the Leap—using real stories to map the messy, non-linear terrain of modern careers. If you’re plotting a pivot, craving meaning where you are, or simply n...

Every career has its bumps—missed promotions, failed projects, or tough feedback that stings. But what if those setbacks are actually the building blocks of your professional growth? In this episode, we reframe failure not as an ending, but as feedback (and a step on the path to success!). We’ll explore how challenges develop resilience, adaptability, problem-solving, and even empathy—the very ski...

Childcare is one of the biggest challenges for working parents — especially for professionals navigating demanding careers while raising young kids. In this episode, Elise and Michelle, two moms also working professionally, share their candid experiences exploring childcare options in both major U.S. cities and suburban areas.   We dive into the real differences in cost, accessibility, and quality...

Facts inform, but stories inspire action. In this episode of our Unspoken Leadership Skills series, we explore how storytelling can be one of the most powerful tools for emerging leaders. From enhancing collaboration to creating buy-in for new initiatives, stories help ideas travel, stick, and motivate others to act. We’ll share practical ways young professionals can use storytelling to clarify vi...

Great leaders don’t just maximize their own talents—they uncover and develop the strengths of others. In this fifth episode of our Unspoken Leadership Skills series, we explore the shift from “fixing weaknesses” to building on what people do best. You’ll learn why a strengths-based approach leads to greater engagement, faster growth, and stronger teams, and how to balance that with addressing crit...

Feedback is one of the most powerful—and most overlooked—leadership tools. In this episode of our Unspoken Leadership Skills series, we explore how to give feedback with clarity and empathy, and how to receive it with openness and resilience. Whether you’re navigating your first peer-to-peer conversation, learning to accept critique from senior leaders, or guiding others as a new manager, feedback...

How do you balance the desire to grow a career with the decision to start a family? In this debut episode of Between Peaks, we dive into the real stories of women who’ve navigated this question in different ways. You’ll hear real stories from and about women who: Chose to start a family first, and then pursued their careers. Built career experience and timed family planning around career developme...

Leadership isn’t about titles, org charts, or who signs the paychecks—it’s about impact. In this episode of Unspoken Leadership Skills, we explore how to guide, inspire, and create change even when you don’t hold formal authority.   From building credibility to strengthening relationships, from telling the right story to practicing reciprocity, we’ll unpack the subtle but powerful tools that help...

You don’t need a title to lead. In Part 2 of our Unspoken Leadership Skills series, we explore how presence — the way you communicate, carry yourself, and earn trust — shapes your influence long before you step into a formal leadership role.   We break down what presence really means (beyond confidence or charisma), why it matters in your 20s and early 30s, and how it can open doors to new opportu...

Many professionals in their 20s and 30s are entering roles where expectations aren’t clearly spelled out, projects lack neat roadmaps, and decisions must be made with incomplete information. Ever been handed a project and felt pressure to “just figure it out”? Welcome to ambiguity—the crucible where modern leaders are forged.   In this episode, we break down how navigating the unknown isn’t just a...

If you’ve ever felt like you’re sprinting on the career treadmill — constantly pushing to level up while running on empty — this episode is for you. Hustle culture can feel motivating in the short term, but when the pace isn’t sustainable, burnout is inevitable. Elise, Annie, and Michelle get real about what it takes to thrive in your career and life. They share lessons learned from navigating hig...