Bucket List Careers

Lauren Magel was an English as a Second Language teacher when the pandemic inspired her to reimagine her career. A devoted mother of three and a five-time NYC Marathon finisher, she turned to CBD products to alleviate muscle recovery and back pain. The relief she experienced shattered her initial skepticism. Today, Lauren is a passionate hemp wellness educator with Green Compass, offering a full l...

Andrea Moore Beaulieu’s exciting color palate, unique fabrications, and gender-neutral designs are the signature aesthetic for her fashion brand MOORE , which was launched in 2013. Andrea has been sewing her entire life, went to school for Fashion Design, and honed her skillset while working for other brands nationwide. But it was a dream that prompted Andrea to open her storefront in Larchmont, N...

Heather Redisch is an adulting expert who spent most of her career in talent management until she saw a blank space. Now, she coaches thousands of rising and recent college grads on job searching, interviewing, and negotiating. After years in executive recruiting, Heather recognized that there is a massive discrepancy between the expectations of recent grads and their employer.  So she created her...

Claudia Kandel’s professional experience spans various industries and sectors, from small start-ups to established corporate giants. She began her career at the National Endowment for the Arts before moving on to brand management and new product development at General Mills and Kraft Foods. However, her true passion project emerged recently when she teamed up with like-minded former colleagues see...

Jennifer Musser has navigated a diverse career path, from being a corporate rising star to embracing motherhood and experiencing a layoff. In her latest chapter, she has emerged with what she describes as a new, fresh, and improved version of her professional self! With over twenty years of experience in consulting and corporate finance, working for leading firms like PwC, Kroll, and Marsh & M...

Before launching her fitness studio, Michelle Gross dedicated her career to being an operating room nurse in New York City and Greenwich, CT, where she built a strong foundation in health and wellness. But after years of treating patients, Michelle finally discovered her true passion was rooted in prevention, inspiring her to empower individuals to avoid illness altogether! A transformative moment...

Christa opens 2025 with a deeply personal solo episode focused on self-growth! She introduces "The Let Them Theory" from Mel Robbins' inspiring book, encouraging listeners to let go of others' opinions and prioritize what truly matters to them. Sharing her own struggle to balance dreams and family responsibilities, she connects the theory to the show's theme of pursuing professional fulfillment an...

Cheryl Brause co-founded Pause To Be Present in Westchester, NY, a premier mindfulness and meditation studio. However, she wasn’t always an entrepreneur! Cheryl spent most of her career as an investment banker with Goldman Sachs and then as a corporate litigator. After a decade of personal practice and training, she decided to pivot her career to focus on something that truly inspires her: teachin...

Jeremy George, founder of BucketMatch.ai and TEDx speaker, left behind 10+ years working at software and tech companies in sales and business development roles to build something that empowers people to pursue their bucket lists! Jeremy walks us through his transformative journey, including a 52-Week Challenge, his "what a year project", where he completed 52 bucket list items in a year,...

Mary Olson-Menzel's impressive career journey began in TV news, but after several successful transitions, she found her ideal role as an executive coach, entrepreneur, and author of the national bestseller “What Lights You Up?” Mary shares how her new book guides readers in navigating the complexities of the modern world to uncover their professional purpose! With over 30 years of leadership exper...

Aviva Kamander, a seasoned Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and psychotherapist for two decades in New York, discusses her transformative journey from traditional therapy to coaching mission-driven business owners. She shares valuable insights in this episode on overcoming limiting beliefs, staying true to one’s values, and achieving a balanced, fulfilling life. Listen in for inspiration fro...

Shani Lynn Sherman is proud co-owner of Locals 10538, a vibrant dining and event space dedicated to fostering a sense of community through its engaging live music performances, private party offerings and the tantalizing, locally-sourced seasonal cuisine crafted by her husband, acclaimed New York chef Peter Sherman. Drawing from her performance experience including notable musical theatre, TV and...

Jess Galica has an extensive business background, working in management consulting at Bain & Company and holding positions at Apple, Siemens, and various start-ups. In 2020, she shifted her focus to researching and writing about women's experiences in the workplace, driven by her own journey into motherhood. Drawing from her personal story and research involving over 150 successful women, she...

The brains behind Su Casa Mezcal and a well-known name in the wine and spirits industry, Joey Angelo had twenty years of sales and marketing experience before his "aha moment" led to the creation of his own unique brand of mezcal, the fastest-growing liquor category in the US.  Su Casa Mezcal was born after Joey co-founded the popular canned margarita brand MARGS and served as President/...

In this episode, we dive into Jennifer Mullen's inspiring journey from a successful career in education to becoming a holistic health coach. Jennifer shares how she found her true passion in guiding others toward transformative wellness after transitioning from special education and sales for a clean-crafted wine company. She opens up about the bold decision to pursue her calling in integrative he...

In this milestone episode, Christa reflects on the podcast's journey to #150, including recent changes and the transition to in-person recordings at a new studio. She shares insights on embracing a growth mindset, discussing how experimenting, making mistakes, and learning from failures can lead to personal growth and career advancement. From career pivot journeys to embracing new job opportunitie...

A self-taught local artist and art instructor, Meera Agarwal experienced a turning point in her life after a three month youth expedition to China. She quit her accounting job in Dubai and entered the field of corporate communications in the U.S. Even as she switched gears/countries, her art practice was a source of inspiration and later began pursuing it full-time as a working creative in her hom...

Stefanie Schmidt, a lawyer turned clothing designer, was inspired to pivot her career after her mother was diagnosed with cancer, which heightened her awareness of the chemicals in everyday products and foods. When she couldn’t find easily accessible organic children’s clothing for her kids, she had the idea to start her own company. She soon learned that the U.S. lags behind in regulating potenti...

Anita Devlin, a recovery advocate, producer, author, and professional organizer, is dedicated to inspiring change through the power of organization. Her business, We Heave Ho, led by an all-female staff, offers in-home services for organization, decluttering, moving management, and occupied staging. By embracing the philosophy that "possessions fill voids, while simplicity creates space to br...

Donna Lennox's vision for her company Gear 80 extended beyond reintroducing a line of clutch bags from the 1980s, each adorned with the iconic bubble detail that once made them a fashion essential. Recognizing the emotional resonance the vintage style holds for so many (including herself), Donna is dedicated to transporting her customers back to the memories of their high school days. Drawing from...

After her experience as a nanny, Maggie Pearson spent several years working as a personal chef in Rhode Island, bringing the same level of care to each family she served. It was rewarding to see how her cooking could make a difference in the lives of her clients, and wanted to share it with more. She started preparing meals at home and personally delivering as a way to take on more clients. Despit...

Dara Astmann crafted her dream gig as a coach for mothers seeking clarity, confidence, and purpose in their next step, whether it’s returning to the workforce after raising kids, renewing their professional purpose, or embarking on a mid-career pivot. Before she started her business, she spent nearly two decades in media and sales, most recently working for Paramount while being a mother juggling...

Tamara Witham is a certified financial planner who started her own investment advisory firm, GreenLife Advisors to help people achieve their long-term goals, from saving for their children’s education and weddings to their own retirement. Roughly half of her clients are first-generation Americans and foreign-born permanent residents and the other half are women. In this episode Tamara talks about...

Lata Hamilton has worked with some of Australia’s biggest companies in various marketing roles but it wasn't until she embraced the move to organizational change management that she tripled her salary in a few years and launched her own training and consulting venture, Passion Pioneers.  A seasoned Change Management Consultant, Leadership Trainer, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner, a...

Kristen Larkin spent 16 years as a director and client relationship manager at UBS before making a major professional change. Switching gears from finance to art, she launched her own business, 22KATKRAFTS, which specializes in bespoke hand-painted glassware designs. Kristen also organizes public and private events, creating memorable "paint your own" experiences for her clients filled w...