Great Life Experiment Podcast

You’ve returned to work after a necessary break—maybe it was for your health, family, or just life. But now you’re wondering… why does it feel like you’re starting from scratch? In this episode, Monique offers a grounded, strategic take on what it really looks like to return to work after a career pause and the quiet courage it takes to advocate for yourself in the process. Drawing from a real-lif...

Do you ever feel a mix of emotions when revisiting places connected to your family history? Whether it's a relative's home, a cherished childhood vacation spot, or a community where you spent a lot of time steeped in memories, sometimes these "family spaces" can feel complicated. We evolve, these places change, and the history can be heavy. But what if these complicated places offered an unexpecte...

In this special case study episode, Monique takes listeners inside an experiment of her own — using Google’s AI tool, Google NotebookLM, to analyze the first 20 episodes of this podcast.  Part recap, part reflection, this episode blends AI with insight and gently explores how technology can help us see our evolution more clearly. Monique shares surprising themes that emerged and offers a simple in...

What if your next professional breakthrough isn’t about doing more but showing up differently? In this episode, Monique Schafer sits down with powerhouse entrepreneur and social media strategist, Mary Robb. As the founder and CEO of Social Practice, Mary brings the kind of clarity and warmth that cuts through the noise and reminds us what social media was always meant to be: connection, storytelli...

This episode is a little different. No guest. No perfectly mapped-out lesson. Just me — showing up in the middle of a quiet, in-between season. You know those times when the words don’t come? When everything feels a little slower, a little foggier… and you’re not quite sure what’s next, but you know you’re not where you used to be? That’s where I’ve been.  Today, I’m inviting you into the pause. T...

In this episode, Monique Schafer welcomes powerhouse executive Katie Kruger for a raw, riveting, and deeply relatable conversation on transformation, grit, and redefining what success looks like.  Raised in rural Alaska, dreaming of skyscrapers while hauling firewood and joining an exclusive male workforce in the oil fields, Katie now leads in the C-suite of a $35B company and has become a sought-...

Monique reconnects with her college roommate and lifelong friend, Kelsey Murray, a former ad agency director with a deep background in marketing and digital strategy. After more than a decade climbing the corporate ladder, she made the bold decision to step away in pursuit of motherhood and a more intentional way of living. Her career journey has included becoming a stay-at-home mom, launching a p...

In this insightful episode, Monique expands on one of the key themes from Episode 15, Foundation Not Fumes, diving deeper into the nuanced and often misunderstood topic of overwhelm. More importantly, the critical difference between legitimate temporary overwhelm and lifestyle overwhelm.  Drawing inspiration from Mel Robbins and her own lived experience as a parent and a business leader, Monique p...

In this episode, Monique Schafer sits down with Michele Ashby, a trailblazing executive, board director, and founder of ACE LLC. With over three decades of experience in finance and capital markets, and eight board seats under her belt, Michelle is on a mission to train 1,000 women to step into corporate boardrooms with confidence, clarity, and impact.  Together, Monique and Michelle dive into the...

What happens when two driven, high-achieving people fall in love and try to do life — careers, kids, dreams — together? You get high-powered love, with all the magic and the mess that comes with it.  In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant and deeply grounded Heather Clark, a licensed therapist and expert trained in trauma reprocessing and EDMR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing...

Picture this: It’s late. The day’s been a lot, and we’re in post-bedtime haze when big thoughts come out. The ones when something from work is still swirling in your head, and you just need to say it out loud to someone who gets it. That’s exactly where this episode begins.  In this episode, you’ll hear a real-time conversation between me and my husband, Ben, as we talk through a super common lead...

There are moments in life when you’re doing all the “right” things — you’re showing up, you followed the plan, you played by the rules — and somehow, it’s still not working. It’s frustrating. It’s heartbreaking. And it can leave you questioning everything.  In this episode, I’m opening up about those exact moments — the ones that test your patience, your plans, and your belief in what’s possible....

Let’s be real: AI is here, and it’s flipping the script on how we work, lead, and connect. But here’s the thing they don’t tell you — the most valuable thing in the age of AI is still YOU. Your humanness, your intuition, your vibe, and your ability to make meaning out of a mess.  In this episode, I’m spilling the tea on the top 5 human skills that research says will actually matter as AI continues...

You know that moment when something feels “off” — you can’t quite name it, but you know you’re not where you’re meant to be? Maybe you’re over-functioning. Maybe you’re burned out. Or maybe life just feels muddy, and you’re ready to gain clarity, lit up, and be aligned again.  Today, I’m joined by my mentor and one of the original voices in the coaching space, Cathy Hawk. Cathy is the founding dir...

Ever walked into a room, a new team, a class, or a board meeting and thought, “Should I say something? Or just listen and blend in? Yeah, me too. In this episode of Ask Monique, I’m sharing the conversations I’ve had with real friends and clients who were navigating those few uncertain steps in new spaces. Whether you’re stepping into a new job, joining a leadership team, or just trying to figure...

What if the thing that breaks you is also the thing that builds you?  In this episode, I sit down with my jiu-jitsu training bestie, Chelsea Ottaviano, to talk about career pivots, job loss, and what really happens when your career path doesn’t go as planned.  If you’ve ever felt blindsided by your career, sat in your Banana Republic slacks questioning your purpose, or wondered how to actually sho...

Hello everyone! Today, I’m so excited to bring you the very first episode of the “Ask Monique” series here on The Great Life Experiment Podcast — this is where I take your real questions—the messy, nuanced, “what do I even say or do right now?” kind of moments—and give you practical tools, honest language, and a little pep talk so you can show up with confidence in your work and life. And we’re ki...

Let’s talk about something we all go through — change. Whether it’s a career shift, a relationship ending, a big move, or just stepping into a new season of life, change is inevitable. But here’s the thing: change is not just about the ending or the new beginning — it’s also about the “in-between”, where things feel uncertain, uncomfortable, and sometimes downright chaotic.  In this episode, I bre...

Life’s a series of plot twists, right? One moment, you’ve got everything figured out, and then you’re wondering what’s next, who’s coming along for the ride, and how to even begin recalibrating. If you’ve ever felt the weight of big life transitions, shifting friendships, or just a need for a reset, this episode is for you! In this episode, I sit down with my bestie, Sarah Norman, who is also the...

If we were sitting across from each other right now, you might ask, “How did you get into tech?” And I probably would have laughed because the truth is — I never planned for any of this. I didn’t dream of working in a billion-dollar company. I didn’t go to school for product management. I didn’t even know this career existed when I was younger. I’ve taken some wild pivots in my career — from dream...

Let’s get real — how are you feeling right now? Are you running on caffeine and sheer willpower trying to keep up with work, relationships, family, and maybe—just maybe—your own sanity? Does life feel like a chaotic circus act where you’re juggling responsibilities, dodging curveballs, and hoping something does not crash—trust me, you are not alone.  I call it the Season of Fullness — those moment...

Getting groups of people to work together, especially on big, complex, high-stakes projects, is one of the hardest things in business. And guess what? AI isn’t going to solve this for us. We still have to figure out how to align different personalities, priorities, and working styles to make progress.  In this episode, we’re diving exactly into that: why group projects get stuck, how to break thro...

You know that moment when you’re starting something new, heart pounding, wondering, “Can I actually do this?” Yeah, we’ve been there — on the mat, in life, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  In this episode, I am joined by my Jiu-Jitsu bestie, Chelsea Ottaviano, to talk about what it’s really like to start Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a woman. Just so we’re clear — we are not experts; we’re just two blue belts f...

Welcome to The Great Life Experiment Podcast! I’m your host, Monique Schafer, and together, we’ll grapple with the messy and beautiful, and ever-changing world of business and life.  There is no one right way to do life. That’s why we’re here — to test, try, and experiment. Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder, building your own things, or just trying to make sense of all the change happen...