If Only

“If only” sounds harmless, but it can quietly become the sentence that runs your days. Brenda returns with a quick, energizing update for the If Only podcast, introducing fresh music, a new vibe, and a recommitment to the space we’ve created together. Over the summer, we’re re-releasing some of our most popular and impactful episodes, the conversations that moved us, challenged us, and reminded us...

Your calendar is full, you’re the one everyone counts on, and you’re still telling yourself you’ll “get to” your health later. That bargain feels normal until it doesn’t. I sit down with Melanie Saiedy, founder of Alevance LLC and a veteran leadership and organizational development consultant, to talk about the hard-earned lesson behind her “if only”: prioritizing everyone else’s needs while putti...

Autopilot can look like productivity, but it feels like stuck. My guest, Linda Lamb, brings a refreshingly direct take on what finally creates change: self-awareness plus action over time. She shares what it was like to spend years doing workshops and reading personal development books, yet feeling the same patterns keep repeating and why “knowing” the concepts still isn’t the same as living them....

A number on a scale can feel like a verdict, but Rosie Faulkner makes a sharper point: the real damage is the story we tell ourselves afterward. Rosie is a confidence curator and empowerment strategist who helps women over 40 rebuild self-esteem, identity, and personal style without tying worth to weight, and her own midlife reinvention started when perimenopause and pandemic weight gain knocked h...

The fastest way to burn out in midlife is to treat your body like it’s supposed to run on deadlines and willpower forever. Brenda sits down with returning guest Cara-Michelle Nether, a midlife consistency consultant and founder of the Strength and Vitality Accelerator, to name the belief that quietly drives so many high-capacity women: “I’m not enough.” We talk about how that story shows up as pla...

One moment of shame can become a life sentence if we never challenge the story it creates. My guest, Colleen Clifford, knows that firsthand. After a painful STI diagnosis at 19 and the judgment that came with it, she quietly decided she was unlovable and lived for years with self-loathing, binge drinking, and a drive to disappear into work and distance, including decades in the commercial fishing...

If your inner voice defaults to doubt, Carol Rieg brings a radically practical alternative: treat optimism like a decision, not a personality trait. We sit down with Carol, a philanthropic strategist and longtime nonprofit leader whose career spans Capitol Hill advocacy, the Future City STEM competition, corporate social responsibility, and NASA. Her “if only” isn’t a regret. It’s a challenge to c...

Silence can look like humility from the outside and feel like invisibility on the inside. When a role Rachel Platt was ready for went to someone else, she discovered the hard truth: great work doesn’t speak for itself unless you give it a voice. We unpack how that moment reshaped her approach to career growth, leadership, and the people strategies she now builds with clients across industries. We...

What if years of detours could have been avoided by trusting your inner voice sooner? Sitting across from Nicole Renee—founder of Tidy Bee, certified Scrum Master, and pillar of encouragement—we unpack how faith, focus, and people-first systems help you rebuild after career shocks, lead your family with intention, and make real progress on the projects that keep stalling. Nicole shares how she mov...

Ever been told you’re not ready or not the “right fit”? Meet Yvette Campbell, a meeting broker and hospitality leader who turned early doubt into a career built on creativity, precision, and care. We trace her path from a restaurant host stand to banquets, weddings, sales leadership, and global venue sourcing—showing how initiative and anticipation can replace pedigree and open doors across hotels...

A chance firing. A racetrack gate. A hospital monitor that won’t slow down. Our conversation with Linda Pankala traces a remarkable arc from electronics lab to jockey silks to a healing practice and a powerful mission: help women prevent the number one killer they’re too often not told about—cardiovascular disease. We talk about the moment that changed everything: a trainer leaning down at Belmont...

What happens when you give everything to a role, ask for a fair raise, and get told no? For Madeline Miskie, that moment didn’t end the story—it rewrote it. We dive into how a voice teacher and yoga practitioner turned rejection into a values-led business that helps people reconnect with breath, body, and voice while honoring their worth. We talk about the power of a “career portfolio” mindset and...

What if the belief that “aging is decline” is the very thing keeping you from the freedom you crave? We sit down with Kat Miller MA—counselor, TEDx speaker, and founder of Age Freely—to explore how dismantling internalized ageism can unlock joy, presence, and self-compassion at any age. Her spark came from her If Only of believing she did not matter “enough.” That admission opened a path through t...

When life throws unexpected curveballs, it’s easy to spiral into regret and self-blame. But what if those painful moments were actually sacred invitations—to pause, heal, and transform? In this deeply moving episode,  Brenda L. Balding , a nurse and spiritual guide, shares how losing  $60,000—including her late father’s estate—to a sophisticated scam  became the beginning of her greatest spiritual...

Ever been told that the secret to fixing overwhelm is just “better time management”? Or that burnout is simply part of being a high-achieving entrepreneur? In this episode, we’re challenging those myths head-on. Discover how  purpose, integrity, and aligned values  can completely transform how you manage your time, your business, and your energy. My special guest,  Alison Jones , is a leadership a...

Ever wondered why some of the most talented, hardworking professionals still hit a wall in their careers—despite doing  everything right ? In this inspiring episode, Dr. Vicki Johnson reveals how her biggest career breakthrough didn’t come from another award or all-nighter—but from something far more powerful: learning to ask for help. As the founder and CEO of  ProFellow , the leading resource fo...

Challenges, Intuition, and the Stories We Hide What if the real secret to magnetic leadership isn’t about being fearless—or even having all the answers—but about sharing the stories you once tried to hide? In this conversation, we dive into the unexpected: from altitude sickness and coaching wins to raw insights on intuition, self-awareness, and why authenticity is the one thing people remember lo...

If Only I’d Known Sooner: Navigating HR, Bipolar Disorder, and the Secret to Better Workplaces Are you tired of launching communication initiatives, DEI trainings, or new HR strategies only to face the same burnout, misunderstandings, and resistance from leadership? You’re not alone. Many HR leaders, managers, and advocates for inclusion feel stuck between wanting real change and hitting the same...

What if you could finally stop second-guessing yourself and fully show up as the real you—on stage, in business, and in life? In this episode, we explore how to move beyond self-doubt, quiet the inner critic, and embrace a new level of unfiltered confidence and freedom. My special guest, Marci Brand, is a seasoned business development expert, speaker, and mentor with over three decades of experien...

Helping Others Navigate Neurodivergence: My Calling as an ADHD Coach Have you heard the three myths about managing ADHD that might be holding you back? Myth #1: ADHD is just about being hyperactive. Myth #2: People with ADHD can't succeed in their careers. Myth #3 : ADHD management strategies are one-size-fits-all. T he truth might surprise you, and I can't wait to share it with you. Sta...

Living the Life You've Imagined: Answering the Whisper on Your Heart Are you ready to uncover the surprising truth about pride and satisfaction? Rachael Edmondson Clark shares a unique perspective that challenges traditional notions of pride and invites you to rethink your own journey. Discover the unexpected connection between pride and comparison, and the powerful shift towards finding fulf...

From Pleasing to Purpose: Finding Your Authentic Voice in Life and Business If you're feeling the weight of keeping secrets and struggling to navigate personal relationships, then you are not alone! The impact of childhood secrets can linger into adulthood, affecting how we view ourselves and interact with others. But what if there's a way to break free from the burden of secrecy and ste...

Reigniting Your Summer with Renewed Possibilities Welcome back to If Only! In this short but heartfelt message, Brenda shares exciting updates—new music, a fresh vibe, and a renewed dedication to the transformational stories that define this podcast. As summer unfolds, Brenda encourages you to pause and reflect on the “If Only” that may still be holding you back. With powerful replays on the way a...

If Only I Hadn’t Gone Into Early Menopause: Turning Challenges into Strength What happens when life takes an unexpected turn—one that disrupts your health, identity, and plans for the future? For Nirit Roddy, early menopause wasn’t just a medical milestone; it was a wake-up call that reshaped her relationship with her body, her goals, and her purpose. In this deeply personal episode, Nirit shares...

The Ripple Effect: How One Child Sparked a Lifetime of Service Does it sound familiar to feel like your child doesn't quite fit into the "normal" mold and is facing challenges at school? You might have been told to just accept the status quo, but the pain of watching your child struggle and not getting the right support is overwhelming. If this resonates with you, it's time to...