The Next Best Thing

Most people are job searching the same way they did 10 years ago. It's not working.  🎙️   Send the application. Wait. Send another. Wait longer. Refresh the inbox. Repeat. That's not a job search. That's a lottery. And in 2026, the odds are worse than ever, not because the market is impossible, but because everyone is using the exact same playbook.   What Aundrea figured out when everything fell a...

The economy is shifting, AI is moving fast, and playing it safe isn't a strategy anymore. This week, one line from a Jay-Z interview stopped me cold, and it's been living rent-free in my head ever since. Let's talk about what it means to stop playing defense and finally go on offense in your own life. Jay Z GQ interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu_MVMOdbvY&t=1413s Join the tribe: If yo...

We often think moving forward is about doing more, but sometimes the breakthrough requires a new blueprint and the courage to stop strategies that lead to burnout instead of results. I’m exploring the 'Season of No’, the privilege of subtraction and giving ourselves permission for beautiful endings to make room for what truly aligns. This week, I’m asking you to marinate on one question: What do y...

Transitions often feel like a whirlwind where it is easy to get lured into the appeal of something simply because it is new. To remain rooted during these shifts, you must be clear about your non-negotiables. In this week's NEXT Nuggets Voice Note, Aundrea reflects on her fifteen-year career as an on-air television journalist and the heavy toll that lifestyle took on her personal relationships. Fr...

In the current job market, getting an interview is a win, but landing the job is an entirely different game, especially with the "AI recruiting doom loop" making it harder than ever to stand out. In this episode of The NEXT Best Thing, certified interview coach Lili Foggle prepares you for what may be the most important conversation in your career. Lili is the Director of the Interview Institute a...

This episode isn't just about seasons. It’s about navigating the winters in our own lives, especially when it feels like we're "hustling backwards" or juggling too much to keep up.   From the snow mounds of New York to the Texas sunshine, Aundrea shares a lesson on patience and progress. Discover why a bumpy flight with prolonged turbulence doesn't actually mean you're delayed, and how to stay gro...

"Maybe it is time to stop pushing through." In this episode, host Aundrea Cline-Thomas sits down with award-winning psychologist and author Dr. Charmaine Jackman to unpack the heavy reality of career grief and burnout. Whether you’ve recently lost a job or you’re still "armored up" in a toxic environment, this conversation is a reminder that you don't have to carry the weight of your workspace alo...

In this week’s Nuggets Voice Note, Aundrea explores the liberating power of Jill Scott’s new album title, "To Whom This May Concern." Reflecting on her transition from the "appeal to everyone" world of journalism to the "find your tribe" reality of life and business, she shares why your worth isn't defined by your palatability. Whether you're navigating a career shift or dealing with "keyboard cou...

Is the "American Dream" actually a math problem that doesn't add up? In this episode, I'm joined by Stephanie Perry and Roshida Dowe, the founders of the Exodus Summit. We’re breaking down the literal cost of freedom, like how one woman they coached traded a $2,700 daycare bill in the US for $550 in Panama. Stephanie and Roshida aren't just "retired," they are working, living, and bopping around t...

Companies that demand 110% loyalty are the same ones that can pivot their entire strategy in an 18-minute Zoom call. If you’re still following rules for a market that doesn’t exist anymore, you aren't moving the needle, you’re just standing still. It’s time to stop serving a job description and start serving your future self. Shift your focus from being "The Best Employee" to being "The Best Asset...

"The math isn't mathing anymore."   January's job market just flashed warning signs we haven't seen since 2009. While everyone else is hitting snooze, I'm asking: what's YOUR plan if everything changes tomorrow?   This week, I'm breaking down the 4 things you need to do RIGHT NOW to protect yourself. This is about knowing your options, your resources, and your next move before you are forced to fi...

Getting laid off while being six months pregnant wasn't in the plan. But that devastating moment forced her to completely rethink her relationship with money, work, and financial security. What started as survival mode turned into discovering a skill that would eventually make her more in a single week than her entire monthly salary. This isn't about quitting your job or getting rich quick. It's a...

Feeling the weight of pushing forward when no one's cheering yet? This week's voice note is about what happens when you're still in the arena and the applause hasn't arrived. We're talking about the gap between doing the work and getting the recognition, also known as the exact place where your strength gets built. This is your reminder that your best work often gets recognized in hindsight. Press...

Therapist Minaa B breaks down why most people get boundaries completely wrong, and what actually works. If you've tried setting boundaries but still feel drained, taken advantage of, or guilty, this conversation will change how you approach relationships. We discuss the difference between boundaries and walls, why emotional caretaking leaves you depleted, and how to stop abandoning yourself while...

If bullies rely on silence to win, what changes when you decide to make noise?   Audacity is a necessary skill, not a character flaw or something reserved for bullies. Audacity can be deployed to push back, take up space, and stop letting other people dominate the room. Using the rise of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as a real-world example, Aundrea shows how momentum is built by refusing to...

Feeling pressure to become a completely different version of yourself to move ahead? In this episode of The Next Best Thing Podcast, Aundrea explains why success in 2026 isn’t about doing more. It’s about leveraging what you already have. She shares her EMPOWER framework, lessons from career transitions, and practical strategies to build momentum, set boundaries, and design a career that supports...

This voice note is a grounding reset for anyone carrying quiet grief, uncertainty, or unease about the state of the world. This pep talk is meant to help guide you back to steady ground by reconnecting with what you actually can control. I understand how disorienting this moment can feel and I want you to start your week feeling a little more anchored, clear, and less alone in what you’re navigati...

Mondays feel different when you begin them with intention. NEXT Nuggets Voicenotes are your weekly reset. A few focused minutes of grounded, honest reflection every Monday to help you cut through the noise and remember what you’re really doing all this for. Just enough to reset your thinking and reclaim your week before it runs you.   Don't worry, the traditional podcast is coming back. This is ju...

What if your next hello could change the trajectory of your career? Natasha Cornstein knows it can. On this episode of The Next Best Thing Podcast, the Blushington CEO shares how a single introduction transformed her path from customer to CEO, and how intentional relationships have fueled every step of her journey. Natasha opens up about navigating the pandemic and rebuilding the business from scr...

We’re living through a time when everything’s changing. From AI to government furloughs and mass layoffs, so why are you still playing by the old rules? In this episode, we’re talking about why it’s time to stop waiting for your job to take care of you and start taking control of your own career. It's time to start creating your NEXT Best Thing TODAY! We’re getting into the biggest mistakes people...

After an unplanned (but very necessary) break, I’m returning to The Next Best Thing Podcast with a real talk update on what’s been going on behind the scenes. Spoiler alert: life got a lot, and I had to take a step back to reassess everything, from my schedule and money to my energy and purpose. In this episode, I’m sharing what led to the pause, the wake-up calls that followed, and how I’ve been...

I went to my first-ever Beyoncé concert, and listen, I expected the fringe, the glam, the vocals. But I did not expect to walk out of that stadium thinking so deeply about purpose, reinvention, and how we show up in the world. This episode isn’t a concert recap, it’s a heart-to-heart about what Beyoncé’s brilliance unlocked for me in real time. If you’re in a season of change, questioning your nex...

Job market got you stuck? Executive Coach, former economist and Chief People Officer, Alisia Gill shares 5 hard truths every job seeker needs to know right now. With job confidence at its lowest since 2020, it's time for real talk about career pivots, LinkedIn strategy, and why "just-for-now" jobs might be your smartest move. Discover actionable steps to take control of your career trajectory, eve...

In today's hustle culture, simply grinding harder won't cut it. Your technical skills? Great. Your dedication? Essential. But here's the real career secret: success is about strategic connections. While you're burning the midnight oil, others are building the relationships and visibility that actually get them noticed while opening doors to new opportunities. Melody Wilding, executive coach and au...

Feeling buried by stuff and stress? This week, Christine Platt, author of The Afro Minimalist’s Guide to Living With Less, shows us how minimalism, when rooted in culture and intention, can be a path to true liberation. Forget the cold, colorless aesthetic. Christine’s approach embraces warmth, identity, and purpose focusing on why we accumulate and how to release what no longer serves us. She sha...