Life from Within

In this solo episode of Life From Within , I explore why meaningful personal and professional change can be so difficult, especially in a world shaped by chronic stress, uncertainty, and constant disruption. Using the Beckhard-Harris Change Equation as a starting point, I share why I believe this classic framework needs an update for modern life and leadership. I introduce what I call the Life Fro...

In this episode of the Life From Within podcast, I chat with ops, partnerships, and community consultant Micah Mador to explore how deep self-awareness transforms personal and professional growth. Micah shares his personal evolution from identifying as an Enneagram Type 7 (The Enthusiast) to discovering his core of Type 2 (The Helper), and how redefining his identity shaped his consulting work in...

In today’s episode, I have Darrin Murriner , the co-founder and CEO of Cloverleaf . Darrin shares his journey from spending 15 years in the structured corporate world to launching an automated team coaching platform. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Darrin spent 15 years in the corporate world with roles in risk management and auditing at Munich Re , Arthur Andersen , and Fifth Third Bank . He i...

In a world increasingly dominated by AI, how do we ensure that technology amplifies our humanity rather than eroding it? In this episode of Life From Within , I talk with Ryan Martens , a serial entrepreneur in software services, SaaS, and AI, as well as Pledge 1%. He was the founder of Rally Software , which became the first public B-Corp in 2013. Ryan has spent his career at the leading edge of...

When we face a major career pivot or step into a high-stakes leadership role, we often change more than just our job title. We may lose the ability to "trade" on the value of our previous role, leaving us in a vulnerable gap between who we were and who we are becoming. In this special episode of Life from Within , the tables are turned as Elicia Carmichael interviews Kelly. Moving away from the ro...

Reclaiming Visibility, Power, and Presence for Women Over 50 with Barbara Brooks and Julie Ciardi Is midlife a diminishing season or an ignition point? In this powerful double-feature conversation, Kelly talks with Barbara Brooks and Julie Ciardi about age, reinvention, visibility, ambition, and the deeper call many women feel in the second half of life. Barbara shares how ageism at 51 led her to...

Change isn't just about new software or updated protocols; it’s about people. Today I am speaking with Chris Bower, President and CEO of Endurance Federal Credit Union . He is a veteran of the credit union industry with 30+ years of experience. Chris shares how he has modernized the organization over his 18-year tenure as CEO through technology and culture change. We talk about the importance of t...

In this solo episode, I reflect on surrender , r esistance , and the moments of clarity that energize the path ahead. Whether it’s pivoting to a new career or launching a creative project, we often find ourselves stuck in seeking mode, paralyzed by the need to guarantee an outcome before we even begin. I share two pivotal stories from my own life - transitioning into full-time coaching and launchi...

Have you ever told yourself, "I’m just not the creative type" ? In this episode, Vika Nikitina Chala , founder of Rising Heart Coaching and Studio and author of Mother Monster Mystery , dismantles the myth that creativity is reserved for professional artists. Vika shares her incredible journey from a 20-year career as a process engineer and pharmaceutical services professional to becoming a creati...

Welcome back to Life from Within. In this episode, I chat with Lara O'Connor Hodgson, the CEO of ROXWrite . We talk about her journey as a contrarian thinker and how her background in aerospace engineering shaped her unique approach to solving complex problems in startups . We also discuss how to foster innovation, the importance of doing something different and how she is currently using AI to re...

Welcome back to Life from Within. How do you transition to the next version of yourself when you achieve everything you thought was impossible, only to find a hollow feeling inside? In this episode, I am joined with Beck Sydow , a self-described "business geek with Buddhist roots ." Beck shares their journey from a 20-year corporate career at UPS to leading Sticker Giant as COO through a period of...

How do you move from a $19,000-a-year entry-level recruiter to the CEO of a private equity-backed IT staffing firm? In this episode, Matthew Ripaldi , CEO of Talent Groups , shares his 26-year journey through the technical staffing industry. Matthew shares his motivation behind recruiting, the isolating pressure of the CEO chair, and the high-speed execution required in the world of Private Equity...

The Power of a Million Little Things: Persistence in Work and Life with Bill Nolan What does it take to leave a secure, prestigious position to build something from scratch? In this episode, I chat with Bill Nolan , the founding managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg’s Columbus office. Bill shares the unflashy reality of leadership from his days as the Mayor of Powell and the persistence requi...

How Confidence Is Built in the Stretch: From White-Knuckling to Grounded Leadership with Kate Tansey Chevlen Episode 9 Welcome back to Life from Within. This is the final episode of the year, and I am so grateful for all of my guests and listeners who made this podcast possible. What happens when you land your dream promotion and realize on day one that you don’t speak the technical "language" of...

Join us for a deeply honest and inspiring conversation with Rashida Bradley , an accomplished Operational Strategist , as she shares her journey in navigating career pivots and family balance . Rashida opens up about the many challenges she faced—from balancing graduate school and a surprise pregnancy to managing the impact of grief and joy on the same day. Rashida highlights the importance of com...

Episode 7 Jake Gunn-Sandell On this episode, I speak with Jake Gunn-Sandell , Director of Strategic Affairs at Instructure (the company behind Canvas ), about his incredible journey. We discussed his bold career pivots , particularly his high-stakes transition into executive search, where he developed the innovative 'Polymath Practice'—a powerful framework for C-Suite recruiting . I learned so muc...

Connecting Authentically: A Conversation with Chris Schwalbach Episode 6 • November 10, 2025 Founder Chris Schwalbach on shifting from head to heart and why authentic relationships are the real ROI. After building a successful finance firm, Chris Schwalbach realized his leadership needed less logic and more heart. He shares how coaching helped him unlearn family beliefs, ask personal questions, an...

Owning Your Work, Your Worth, and Your Well-Being with Kristin McGee Episode 5 — October 26, 2025 “I want people to feel joy.” About This Episode What happens when a world-class teacher with decades of experience and who helped launch Peloton’s Yoga & Pilates programs bets on herself? Kristin McGee joins Kelly to talk about the brave, messy, very human leap from corporate star to founder of Kr...

Speak Up with Confidence: Lessons from "The Next Conversation" with Alessandra Zielinski Episode 4 - October 13, 2025 About This Episode In this episode, Kelly Dwyer and Alessandra Zielinski discuss the intricacies of communication, particularly in the context of coaching and leadership. They explore themes from Jefferson Fisher's book, 'The Next Conversation,' focusing on assertive voice, confide...

Unlocking Purpose: Sobriety, Vision Quests, and Leadership with Laurel Donnellan Episode 1 - September 29, 2025 Ask yourself, why am I working? About This Episode In this episode of Life From Within, Kelly Dwyer interviews Laurel Donnellan, founder and CEO of Compassionate Leaders Circle. Laurel shares her transformative journey from a successful career in hospitality to embracing sobriety and dis...

Tools for Resilience: Facing a Health Crisis and Career Crossroads with Justin Shuman Episode 2 - September 29, 2025 Fear for my life was a gift. About This Episode In this conversation, Kelly Dwyer and Justin Shuman explore the profound impact of personal health challenges on career and self-perception. Justin shares his journey through a serious health diagnosis while also searching for a job, t...

Leading Through Chaos and Becoming a Visible CEO with Stephanie Postles Episode 3 - September 29, 2025 "51% curiosity, 49% fear." About This Episode In this episode, Kelly Dwyer talks with Stephanie Postles, founder and CEO of Mission.org and RELVNT.com. Stephanie shares her journey from Google to entrepreneurship, the near-collapse of her company, and the limiting beliefs she overcame to step int...

✨ Welcome to Life from Within ! ✨ This podcast is about the inner and outer work of becoming who you’re meant to be—at work, in leadership, and in life. Hosted by executive coach and facilitator Kelly Dwyer , Life from Within is for growth-minded professionals and leaders who want to grow through career challenges, lead with integrity, and live with more clarity and confidence. Through candid co...