Great Life Experiment Podcast

Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. Long before we reach exhaustion, our emotions, our relationships, and even our bodies begin telling us that something is out of alignment. The question is: are we paying attention? In this episode, Monique welcomes multi-time CEO, Six Sigma Black Belt, and Heartnomics founder Hanna Bauer to explore a new way of thinking about leadership - one that builds resilienc...

You don’t always need more discipline to find your creative spark again. Sometimes, all you need is one conversation.  In this episode, Monique reflects on what happens when creative energy begins to fade under the weight of a full, demanding life, and how, unexpectedly, one conversation can shift everything.  What starts as a reflection on corporate pressure, survival mode, and creative depletion...

AI is moving fast, and the pressure to keep up can feel even faster. In this episode, Monique unpacks the quiet guilt many professionals are experiencing as AI reshapes workflows, product strategy, and the future of work. From internal company initiatives to the endless stream of LinkedIn hot takes, it’s easy to feel like everyone else has already figured out the tools, the language, and the pace...

So often we find ourselves frustrated at work, in teams, in family, or in friendships, because someone else isn’t showing up the way we think they should. We get stuck waiting for them to act, to decide, and to fix things. And in that waiting, we surrender the control that’s always been ours.  In this episode, Monique dives deep into the concept of reclaiming your agency, emphasizing the importanc...

Leadership isn’t about doing it all. It’s about making clear decisions, defining accountability, and protecting your team’s energy. In this episode, Monique draws insights from a quarterly business review to explore how leaders can prevent cognitive overload while maximizing team performance. She highlights the power of clear roles, well-defined accountability, and strategic prioritization - not j...

Life doesn’t slow down when you’re overwhelmed.  In this episode, Monique explores what it’s like when all aspects of life demand attention at once - work, parenting, health, leadership, and personal projects. She examines how to stay present and effective without letting overwhelm take control. Monique reframes difficulty as an opportunity rather than a failure. She shares practical strategies fo...

In this episode, Monique gets honest about breaking her own consistency streak and why giving ourselves grace matters in a messy, overwhelming world. She talks about holding space for real feelings at work and at home, and shares practical, down‑to‑earth ways she’s using AI in real life—from planning a family trip to synthesizing feedback and even learning to build with AI through a product boot c...

At the start of every year, we quietly hope that this will be the one where we finally feel in control of our time. We imagine a calendar that feels calm, a life that feels balanced, and a year that feels ours.  But the truth is, most of us aren’t overwhelmed because we lack discipline. We’re overwhelmed because we’re trying to keep every option open, and the pressure of possibility quietly become...

If 2026 is going to be your year, the secret isn’t doing more. It’s doing the small things consistently.  In this episode, Monique reflects on the power of showing up for yourself, even when life is busy or messy. Drawing from her experience of launching The Great Life Experiment Podcast, she shares why repeated small actions, not perfect execution, are the key to building identity, momentum, and...

Have you ever been in a meeting when someone proposes an idea, and your first thought is, “That will never work”? Maybe you hesitated to speak up because you didn’t want to come across as negative, or worse, shut down creativity. But what if that gut reaction could actually become your most powerful tool? In this episode, Monique explores how diverse experiences, expertise, and biases can shape th...

Thanksgiving is more than just gratitude. It’s a mirror for what’s next.  In this Thanksgiving episode, Monique invites you to reflect on your life in a way that honors what’s really good, while listening to the whispers of your next chapter. She offers a grounded, compassionate perspective on gratitude that goes beyond the usual “be thankful for what you have.” It’s an invitation to listen to the...

Missed the live workshop? Here’s everything you need to know to catch up and move your ideas forward.  In this episode, Monique recaps the Great Life Experiment Sprint, sharing key lessons, breakthroughs, and exercises from the two-day workshop. From uncovering your real “why” to experimenting with new ideas and using AI thoughtfully, she distills the most important takeaways to help listeners mov...

What if the same principles that build great products could help you build a life that feels more aligned, intentional, and alive? In this episode, Monique reflects on the unexpected ways product thinking has shaped the way she creates, leads, and makes decisions that matter. She shares how the principles of discovery and design apply not just to business, but to family rhythms, unfinished ideas,...

There will always be more time to do than the time we have to do it.  In this intimate birthday reflection, Monique invites you into the truth most high-achievers avoid: There will always be more ideas, more ambition, more responsibility than there will ever be time. And strangely, accepting that might be the most liberating shift of your life.  Monique explores the transition between seasons, the...

Product leadership has always been about navigating complexity - people, priorities, and pressure to deliver. But in a world being reshaped by AI, where change is faster than our ability to process it, the real challenge isn’t what we do, it’s how we think.  In this episode, Monique sits down with Ravi Mehta, one of the most respected voices in modern product leadership. Ravi has served as Chief P...

The best leaders aren’t setting goals. They are setting puzzles.  In this episode, Monique sits down with Radhika Dutt, author of Radical Product Thinking, to explore a new paradigm for leadership in a world obsessed with metrics. Radhika’s framework has been adopted across 40+ countries, helping leaders, founders, and teams replace goal-chasing with vision-led learning.  Through her concept of pu...

Collaboration doesn’t have to feel complicated. With the right framework, teamwork can become clear, aligned, and surprisingly easy.  In this episode, Monique introduces the P.A.I.D Model, a framework designed to bring clarity to collaboration. By identifying four key roles — Pilot, Advisors, Informed Stakeholders, and Decision Maker —  teams can navigate complexity with less friction.  Monique ex...

We’ve all had those seasons where our career feels stuck, where the questions are loud, but the answers feel far away. But what if the way forward isn’t another job search, but a different way of seeing your path? In this episode, Monique shares a simple yet powerful framework that has guided her own career moves. This practical tool helps you uncover what you truly want out of your career, recogn...

How are you, really? Sometimes it feels easier to give the polite answer than to name what’s true when the world feels heavy and your heart is carrying more than words can hold. In this reflective solo episode, Monique opens up about what it means to live with the weight of so many emotions at once and why protecting our energy is our first responsibility. She shares the small but powerful practic...

When the rules of the game keep shifting, what does bold leadership look like? In this 'Ask Monique' episode, Ben Schafer (Rev Op Leader and husband) joins Monique (Product Leader and Advisor) to explore a listener's questions: do we make bold moves in uncertain times? And how do you, as a leader, show up with all this uncertainty? Together, Monique and Ben explore the nuances of courage, risk, wh...

What if the tension you are feeling right now, whether in your career, business, or life, isn’t a problem to solve, but an invitation to step into flow? In this episode, Monique sits down with Kathy Keating, a technology executive and bestselling author of Liquid. With more than 30 years of experience as a CTO, founder, board director, and advisor, Kathy has walked leaders through the fire of SaaS...

When what you’ve always done stops working, it can feel unsettling. But disruption often carries a quiet invitation: maybe the only way forward is going back to the basics of who you are and what you truly believe. In this episode, Monique explores what happens when life, work, or the world no longer responds to the patterns that once made sense. Whether it’s shifting industries, changing careers,...

Taking a moment to pause, reset, and be present. Monique shares a quick update as she steps away for a two-week break to honor rest, family, and disconnection. The Great Life Experiment returns August 21 with fresh episodes and deeper conversations. Until then, take care of yourself, enjoy your people, and we’ll be back soon.  Connect with Monique: Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodca...

What do you do when change is happening and you’re not in charge? In this candid AMA-style conversation, Monique sits down with her husband and long-time tech leader, Ben Schafer to unpack what it means to lead through change, especially when you’re not in a formal leadership role.  Monique shares real stories from her own career pivots - from consultant to product leader to director, and breaks d...

You don’t need millions to start investing. You just need curiosity, intention, and the willingness to begin before you feel ready.  In this episode, Monique Schafer sits down with Natalie Levy, founder of She’s Independent, to explore how angel investing becomes a pathway not just to financial returns, but also to confidence and leadership.  Natalie shares how her journey, from Wall Street to val...