Second Chapter Careers

Lani Bell was an English Lit major who went to law school in pursuit of a 'real' career. She loved the schooling, but the career was never really quite right. In an unexpected (and fortuitious!) turn of events, Lani was offered to do an ad campaign, which ultimately turned into a joyful (but bumpy) marketing career. In this episode, Lani talks about starting over, not just in her career, b...

David Parry has never been afraid of taking risks. In his mid-30s, as a young lawyer with his own firm, he moved across Australia with 4 young children to accept a job as a judge in a newly formed tribunal. After leaving the tribunal, David served as a judge until reaching the minimum retirement age, when he left his dream job to move to Israel. But moving across the world in your mid-50s poses al...

Marla Rottenstreich spends her days deep in the world of non-profit operations and marketing. But she finds her greatest joy in the mornings and evenings, when she runs a fitness company for women, helping them develop health, strength, and community in her wide range of exercise classes (she teaches 9 classes every week!). In this amazing story, Marla shares how she draws energy from building, ho...

How much can physical therapists REALLY make? Is it possible to balance two careers at once? HOW? Are hi-tech workers the only ones who make real money in Israel? In this thoughtful and meaningful conversation, Aharon Blatman answers these questions (and more!) while explaining how he got into the world of physical therapy, how he found his calling in the world of financial advising, and how he st...

Ahuva Shore didn’t choose social work out of passion—it was simply the most practical option at the time. Even while earning her degree, she knew it wasn’t where she wanted to stay, but she didn’t yet have a clear alternative. Her career didn’t follow a straight line. She worked as a social worker, moved into hi-tech, returned to social work, and then pivoted back again—each step building new skil...

Afraid of being bored during retirement? It's a common problem...but there is a solution: find something you love to do, and turn it into a business. After over 25 years as a music and pre-school teacher, Jill Rosalimsky did just that, finding joy in building a resin empire, complete with workshops, an active social media presence, and selling her creations in local stores and fairs. In this e...

Sonya Weigle never planned on marriage or motherhood. Until she chose both. What followed wasn’t balance. It was burnout, hard decisions, and a brutal challenge to everything she envisioned for herself and her career. In this episode, Sonya breaks down what it really looks like to raise kids while building a serious career, why stepping back can be a power move, and how intentional decisions resha...

Rachel Himelstein worked as a teacher and mashgicha (supervisor) at a girls' seminary for 20 years, providing spiritual teachings and emotional guidance for thousands of young women. In this episode, Rachel talks about the joys and challenges of working in a seminary, why she decided to leave at the top of her game, and start ALL OVER as an art therapist, earning a master's degree in her 5...

In this episode, Annette Mashi shares her unique career journey, starting from her early experiences in her father's hardware store to her education in computer science and architecture. She discusses how she noticed something was 'missing' in her life, went back to school, and found her passion in architecture and creative outlets. Annette shares stories about her move to Israel, her...

Sarah Gochberg left Wall Street to pursue passion projects and care for her family before building a career in a field that isn't just new for her - it's new for EVERYONE. As an AI consultant, Sarah drew on her vast business experience and strategic mind to build a business in a new industry that is often viewed with skepticism and questions. In this episode, Sarah talks about: how to bala...

Lianne Forman walked away from a career as a lawyer to launch critical drug prevention programming and family support groups for families of drug addicts within the Jewish community. In this episode of Second Chapter Careers, Lianne candidly discusses her family's struggle with her daughter's addiction, why she felt the need to launch a non-profit to address these sensitive issues, and how...

Shev Shatzman always thought that to find your mission, you need to work in non-profit...until she discovered otherwise. In this candid discussion, Shev shares the real roadmap she drew that lead from nonprofit to hi-tech — the steps, the mindset shifts, and the surprising discovery that purpose doesn’t disappear in the for-profit world. It just shows up differently. Shev talks about balancing mot...

Tara Horn never set out to be an entrepreneur. She started as an occupational therapist, then stumbled into biotech, marketing, and finally into building her own company helping teams master monday.com. What started as a series of “I have no idea what I’m doing” moments became a masterclass in figuring things out. Tara taught herself everything: design, marketing, sales, leadership, and now she te...

Debbie Kodish's career path (and her entire life) took unexpected turns when went to Israel for a year and decided to stay forever. As a certified CPA, she began her career both in the US and in Israel working in finance. Along the way, she pivoted to become the Executive Director of MEOR, a non-profit that provides campus kiruv and outreach services across America. Debbie ultimately found her...

In this conversation, Michal Kaye shares her inspiring journey from being an event planner to becoming a business mindset coach. She discusses her accidental entry into event planning, the challenges she faced while transitioning to Israel, and the importance of recognizing one's strengths. Michal emphasizes the significance of language in adapting to a new culture and the thriving event plann...

Summer jobs aren't just great for the resume - they're great for learning about what you love (and don't love) in any career. In this episode of Second Chapter Careers, Simon Gerstler shares how a summer job literally changed the trajectory of his career and set him on the path to a career he's loved for over 20 years. In this episode you'll learn about listening to your inner...

For nearly 20 years, I built a successful career in marketing and sales. I worked across interesting industries. I delivered results. I grew. But at a certain point, I realized something was off. I wanted to help people in a more direct, lasting way. I wanted to help people create the 'aha' moment I never had, to help them go from “I have no idea what I’m doing” to “I know exactly what I w...

Former corporate recruiter turned creator, Julian Placino shares how he left HR to build a brand, and a business, by rethinking how people get hired, and by always being guided by his faith. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating modern careers, personal branding, or the leap from employee to entrepreneur. Need help navigating your own career change? Schedule a free career clarity cal...

Hilary Faverman didn’t plan on starting over at 50—but life had other ideas. After starting her career in HR and then starting her own corporate marketing company, Hilary was a businesswoman through and through. Until AI crushed her business, October 7th hit, and she began to question every professional principle she'd built her career on. Hilary lost her business to AI - but what she found wa...

After a devastating accident ended his chiropractic career, Daniel Eisenberg spent five years rebuilding his life. Today, he works as an international money changer—an unlikely but deeply aligned second chapter. In this episode, Daniel talks about physical pain, emotional loss, rediscovering his purpose, and how his passion for helping others never left—he just found a new way to do it. Are you lo...

In this episode of Second Chapter Careers, I’m joined by Rebecca Sigala—a creative entrepreneur who pivoted her boudoir photography business into a successful coach helping women find new paths to body positivity and self love. We talk about how she built a career that challenged conventional norms, faced criticism, and still came out thriving—and how she’s helped thousands of women feel confident...

What do you do when the career you worked so hard for… just doesn’t feel right? Rabbi Anthony Manning was on the classic path to success—Oxford-educated, thriving at top law firms in London, everything looking great on the outside. But inside? He was craving more time for family, and a deeper sense of meaning. In this episode of Second Chapter Careers, Rabbi Manning shares: - Why he left law at th...

In this episode of Second Chapter Careers, I’m joined by Tamara Gestetner, who opens up about her deeply personal journey from finishing an undergrad degree she knew wasn't right to finding fulfillment as a marriage counselor, then ultimately burning out from the tension. Tamara candidly shares the story of how her unexpected pregnancy derailed the second career she THOUGHT she'd have and...

At what point do you stop chasing a career that looks good on paper and start pursuing something that truly fulfills you? Evan Rosenblum spent nearly two decades in corporate marketing, working with major brands like Pepsi, Johnson & Johnson, and Volkswagen—only to realize he wanted something entirely different. In this episode, Evan shares his journey of self discovery and how he made his way...

After nearly two decades in the nonprofit sector, Miriam Gottlieb found herself at a crossroads—navigating a career change, a divorce, and the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, all at once. What started as a creative escape slowly transformed into a thriving business, as she discovered a passion for mosaics and turned it into a full-time endeavor. In this episode of Second Chapter Careers, Mir...