Her Origin Story

Check Out These Highlights: Jessica Noel’s story begins with her early love of books and the way her parents shaped her path as a lifelong reader and teacher. From there, she embarked on a winding journey that took her through technical writing and education before discovering copywriting and eventually leading publishing at Copy Hackers. A pivotal nudge from Joanna Wiebe reignited her passion for...

Check Out These Highlights: When the pandemic forced a sudden career pivot, Kerry Dobson found herself at a crossroads: stay in corporate or finally build something of her own. That moment sparked the creation of her business helping coaches, authors, and leaders design group programs that truly change lives. In this conversation, Kerry and Toby talk about the moment she realized her love for lear...

Check Out These Highlights: When Megan Porta returned to work after maternity leave, she knew something had to change. What started as a tearful conversation with a friend—and the offhand comment, “Why don’t you just do it?”—became the spark that launched a food blog, a thriving business, and a life built around what matters most: freedom and family. In this conversation, Megan shares how getting...

Check Out These Highlights: When Kimberly Roy lost her father while six months pregnant, her world changed completely. What began as a season of grief became a journey of healing, purpose, and empowerment. In this episode, Kim shares how her healing journey led her to launch her first podcast, Redefining Anger , and eventually found her company, Pitch with Kim . We explore what it really means to...

Check Out These Highlights: Lindsey Laughlin’s origin story didn’t begin in a marketing agency; it started in a high school chemistry class with a spark of curiosity and a desire to make things clearer for others. That same passion now drives her work at Gravity Group, where she helps brands communicate with authenticity and purpose. In this episode, Lindsey opens up about navigating toxic workpla...

Check Out These Highlights: Simone Pero’s path wasn’t a straight line; it was a series of purposeful pivots that connected her love for policy, media, and storytelling. From working on landmark legislation like the Family and Medical Leave Act to producing powerful documentaries and narrative films, Simone has always been drawn to stories that spark dialogue and move people to action. In this epis...

Check Out These Highlights: Julia Healey didn’t always believe she was “good at math,” but one teacher’s encouragement changed the trajectory of her life. From that spark, Julia pursued a career in finance, earned her MBA, and eventually became the CEO of United Charitable, a nonprofit that helps donors and social entrepreneurs turn passion into real-world impact. In this episode, Julia shares the...

Check Out These Highlights: Lisa Michelle Zega didn’t set out to become a grief guide, but life had other plans. In this episode, she shares the winding path that began with a painful divorce, the heartbreaking estrangement from her children, and the unexpected death of her fiancé. Through it all, she discovered that grief isn’t something to fix—it’s something to witness, honor, and be transformed...

Check Out These Highlights: Ashley Cox didn’t plan to become a leadership mentor. But after working under a toxic manager early in her corporate career, she found herself stripped of her responsibilities and determined to never lead that way. In this episode, Ashley shares how advocating for herself changed the trajectory of her career and planted the seeds for her company, podcast, and bestsellin...

Check Out These Highlights: Dayna Del Val’s path didn’t follow a script, and that’s exactly what makes it so powerful. In this episode, she shares how growing up in a small town, pursuing acting, and eventually running a regional arts organization laid the foundation for her greatest reinvention yet. After leaving the nonprofit world, Dayna turned inward—using journaling and intuitive listening to...

Check Out These Highlights: Heather Campbell didn’t start with a business plan—she started with a promise to her 10-year-old self: to never depend on anyone else for financial stability. That determination drove her through agency life, a corporate branding career, and eventually entrepreneurship. But it wasn’t until a ruptured brain aneurysm forced her to slow down that she truly redefined what s...

Check Out These Highlights: When Sarah Masci realized she was spending more time commuting than with her five-month-old son and grieving the recent loss of her own mom, she knew something had to change. What followed was a winding journey through mom blogging, Etsy shops, branding work, and eventually a successful web design business. But even then, the hustle didn’t stop until one spontaneous off...

Check Out These Highlights: When Morgan Adams was diagnosed with breast cancer, it sparked more than a health transformation—it became the turning point for everything that followed. In this episode, Morgan shares how her personal healing journey led her to explore deep wellness, quit the hustle culture, and ultimately start a business helping other women reclaim their sleep without medication. We...

Check Out These Highlights: Sue Harper didn’t launch her business with a master plan—just a Mac the size of a compact car and a deep desire for more freedom. In this episode, Sue shares how she transitioned from hands-on film assembly to digital design, why a July 4th vacation request changed everything, and how Sharper Creative has evolved over the past 20+ years. We talk about learning on the jo...

Check Out These Highlights: After decades in corporate radio, Ann Ranson knew something had shifted—what once felt exciting no longer fed her soul. In this episode, she shares what happened when she walked away without a plan and why it turned out to be the most important decision of her life. From financial struggle to spiritual growth, Ann’s story is a reminder that reinvention is rarely linear,...

Check Out These Highlights: Kris Ward used to wear hustle as a badge of honor until long hours started taking a toll on her health, relationships, and joy. Then, when her husband was diagnosed with colon cancer, the systems she had put in place allowed her to step away from her business completely… without her clients ever realizing she was gone. In this episode, Kris shares how she went from over...

Check Out These Highlights: If you’ve ever felt disconnected from yourself while chasing a career or business goal, this episode will resonate deeply. Christine Passo’s story is one of rediscovering creativity, facing hard truths, and finding freedom in aligning with what really matters. Christine shares how her love of writing and creating, once hidden away in childhood, became the spark for her...

Check Out These Highlights: Denise Morrison was just six years old when she became the “joy bringer” in her family—a role that shaped her for decades. In this episode, Denise shares how early emotional pressure, family addiction cycles, and internalized perfectionism fueled a years-long struggle with emotional eating even as she pursued a career in physical therapy and fitness. We explore the mome...

Check Out These Highlights: Barb Mason never planned to start a business, let alone two. But after decades in HR and a joyful detour into statement jewelry, a layoff and a global pandemic nudged her to explore a long-held curiosity: coaching. In this episode, Barb opens up about finding purpose in unexpected places, the truth about starting over in midlife, and why we should stop thinking about re...

Check Out These Highlights: After years in corporate sales and marketing, Vicki O’Neill realized she was no longer excited about the climb. A spark of curiosity (and a few freelance projects) led to a bold leap into entrepreneurship—and eventually to helping other women do the same. In this episode, Vicki shares her story of building KenKay Marketing, launching the YES Effect movement, and why the...

Check Out These Highlights: When Britt lost both of her parents just months apart, she faced a choice: repress the grief or move through it with intention. In this episode, Britt shares how that season of loss led her deeper into yoga, meditation, and eventually reiki—transforming her personal healing journey into a calling to help others. We explore the subtle power of energy work, how grief can...

Check Out These Highlights: Caroline Pennington spent 15 years climbing the corporate ladder, placing C-suite executives and mastering the art of communication on LinkedIn. But when the work stopped feeling meaningful, she listened to the voice in her head saying, “You were made for more.” In this episode, Caroline shares how she launched a wine product during the pandemic, built a powerful person...

Check Out These Highlights: When Aubria Ralph’s mom told her to pack her bags mid-workday, she didn’t panic; she made a plan. That single moment set her on a path of fierce self-reliance and ambition. In this episode, Aubria shares how that experience, and others like it, shaped her into the scrappy, strategic force she is today. We talk about learning to trust your voice, saying yes before everyt...

Check Out These Highlights: When Michelle DeNio lost a close friend unexpectedly, it sparked a deep reckoning. Why wait for retirement to start living the life you actually want? That question launched Michelle into a bold life overhaul: quitting her job, selling her belongings, and moving to Florida to build a life—and eventually, a business—on her own terms. In this episode, Michelle shares how...

Check Out These Highlights: After the loss of her father and a growing sense that her “good job” wasn’t quite enough, Amy Mitchell followed a quiet pull toward more freedom and purpose. What started with remote grant writing in Bali became a leap into entrepreneurship—and eventually led to the founding of Hey Systems, a supportive membership for service-based business owners who want clarity, stru...