Evolve Your Path – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, EYP Host Megan Flanagan interviews Maggie Blackburn, a former tech product marketer who quit her job in November 2024 after 10 years of climbing the corporate ladder. Now, her work isn’t just one thing anymore, and she finally gets the freedom to choose what she wants to do. She is a Corporate Events Freelancer, Retreat Planner, Community Builder, Airbnb Superhost, Coach, Pilates Teacher, and Writer of the Feel Free Newsletter.

Maggie was born in Shanghai, China and adopted at three months old. She grew up in the Bay Area, went to school at Cal Poly, and has been living in Brooklyn, NY for the last 4 years.

Key topics we discuss include:

• Definition of a portfolio career
• Experimentation and testing new opportunities
• Building self-trust and overcoming fear
• Community and networking in career development

Chapters:

00:00 Understanding Portfolio Careers

07:57 Navigating Career Changes During COVID

13:41 The Experimentation Phase of a Portfolio Career

19:02 Coaching Multi-Passionate Women

24:52 Finding Community and Inspiration

43:03 Introduction to Evolve Your Path Podcast

43:28 Transitioning and Resources for Growth

Connect with Maggie:

Website: www.maggie-blackburn.com

Instagram: @maggieblackburn

Newsletter: https://maggieblackburn.beehiiv.com/

Bonus: See Megan's feature on Maggie's Beehiiv!

Follow Evolve Your Path:

@evolve.your.path (IG)

Substack

In this episode, Megan Flanagan interviews Stephanie Reese about her diverse career journey, from French studies to startup leadership, and her insights on fractional work, leadership, and work-life balance. They explore challenges, soft skills, and lessons learned from living abroad and working in startups.

Key topics we cover include:

• Career transitions from software engineering to COO
• Fractional work and entrepreneurship
• Soft skills for leadership and challenging conversations
• Lessons from living abroad in Germany and France
• Building systems, processes, and guardrails in startups

Chapters:

00:00 The Unplanned Journey: Embracing Opportunities

07:50 Finding Interest in Challenges: Career Evolution

10:42 Integrity and Values in Startups

13:23 Transitioning from Software Engineer to COO

15:51 Work-Life Balance: A Personal Perspective

18:51 Cultural Insights from Living in Europe

21:20 The Art of Knitting: Lessons in Patience

24:02 Navigating the Fractional Path: Challenges and Insights

26:38 Creating Systems: The Operations Mindset

29:19 Revenue and Relationships: Key Metrics for Success

31:56 Introduction to Evolve Your Path Podcast

32:22 Transitioning and Resources for Growth

Connect with Stephanie:

LinkedIn

Connect with Evolve Your Path:

Instagram: @evolve.your.path

Join our Beyond the Surface group for women in Denver.

In this episode, we interview Tomide Awe, who shares her journey from a corporate career in management consulting and tech to building a portfolio career on her own terms. Tomide discusses the importance of education, the value of an MBA, and the necessity of questioning traditional career paths. She emphasizes the significance of mental health, the need for ruthless prioritization in managing multiple ventures, and the power of community support. Tomide's mission is to empower women to take control of their lives and live authentically, challenging societal expectations along the way.

Keywords:

career, entrepreneurship, personal growth, work-life balance, education, coaching, consulting, women empowerment, mental health, portfolio career

Takeaways:

Tomide's journey reflects the importance of taking things one step at a time.

Education can be a tool for personal branding and career shifts.

An MBA can be valuable for industry changes but not always necessary.

Pushing back against societal expectations is crucial for personal happiness.

Mental health should be prioritized over corporate success.

Ruthless prioritization is key when managing multiple ventures.

Living life on your own terms requires questioning existing beliefs.

Discomfort can lead to significant personal growth and change.

Building a supportive community is essential for navigating career transitions.

Creating a platform for women to take control of their lives is a powerful mission.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Tomide Awe's Journey

03:01 Education and Career Path Insights

05:45 Questioning Traditional Paths and Personal Growth

09:02 Navigating Personal and Professional Life Changes

12:04 Rethinking Work and Life Balance

14:55 Challenging Assumptions and Beliefs

17:54 Building a Portfolio Career on Your Own Terms

20:48 Managing Multiple Ventures and Prioritization

23:49 Vision for 'On Your Terms' and Future Aspirations

26:55 Living Life on Your Own Terms Responsibly

Connect with Tomide:

LinkedIn

Amplio

Substack: On Your Terms

Connect with EYP:

Apply to join the Slack community

Read the latest blog/podcast post

High achievers often do everything “right”—yet still feel unfulfilled at work. In this episode of Evolve Your Path, Megan Flanagan talks with career strategist Rachel Spekman about navigating nonlinear careers, reclaiming agency, and reverse engineering your career around what genuinely lights you up. They explore why external success markers often fall short, how to identify your unique strengths, and the power of building a personal “board of advisors” to support career transitions.

If you’re questioning what’s next and craving more meaning in your work, this episode will help you take aligned, intentional steps forward—without needing all the answers first.

Key concepts:

career transformation, coaching, fulfillment, high performance, community support, reverse engineering, personal growth, professional mission, mental health, career change

Takeaways:

You can and very likely should reverse engineer your career.

Identifying what lights you up is crucial for career satisfaction.

Community support is essential during career transitions.

Childhood experiences can shape your professional path.

Finding your calling often involves deep personal reflection.

Building a board of advisors can provide valuable support.

Curiosity is a key driver in discovering your passions.

High-performing professionals often feel isolated in their struggles.

Progress is progress, no matter how small.

It's important to articulate what a great day looks like for you.

Memorable quotes:

"What lights you up is connection."

"What sparks you is curiosity."

"Progress is progress, better is better."

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Career Transformation

03:02 Reverse Engineering Your Career

05:51 Identifying What Lights You Up

08:50 Childhood Influences on Career Choices

11:34 Navigating Career Transitions

14:32 The Moana Moment: Finding Your Calling

17:23 Building a Board of Advisors

20:15 The Importance of Community Support

22:59 Understanding Your Special Sauce

25:53 The Journey of Becoming a Therapist

28:57 Scaling Coaching Practices

31:36 Patterns in High-Performing Professionals

34:29 The Role of Curiosity in Career Development

37:17 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Connect with Rachel:

https://www.rachelspekman.com (website)

Follow us @evolve.your.path on Instagram for the latest.

Apply to join the Evolve Your Path Slack Community:

https://forms.gle/cJyA1kMgHSEGNFtP6

Whew! It's been quite a past few months of transitions over here in my world. I'm sharing very candidly about my recent job and life transitions, including the direction I'm headed and 5 tips you can apply into your own world to make intentional shifts about the direction you want to move forward.

Ready to make a Big Bet on yourself this year? View my template here and/or create your own.

Feeling called to connect? Reach out and let's have a conversation. I'm actively booking and interviewing guests for our Portfolio Career Season, so stay tuned for more episodes soon.

Connect:

Instagram: @evolve.your.path

Website: www.evolvedpotential.co

In this episode, Megan dives in with Melanie, a healthcare leader navigating her career transitions and personal growth after experiencing layoffs. They discuss the importance of self-grace during difficult times, the value of creativity and side hustles, and how personal style can be a reflection of one's journey. Melanie shares her insights on redefining success beyond titles, the significance of relationships in career development, and her financial philosophy that emphasizes multiple income streams for security and freedom.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Melanie's Journey

01:27 Navigating Career Transitions

05:36 Experiencing Layoffs and Personal Growth

10:48 Finding Grounding Practices

15:18 Exploring Creativity and New Passions

22:28 Reflecting on Professional Experiences and Lessons Learned

28:44 Navigating Career Transitions

31:13 The Importance of Authentic Relationships

33:17 Mentorship and Leadership Influence

35:41 Defining Success in a New Light

39:00 Creating a Supportive Work Environment

40:38 Financial Independence and Philosophy

43:21 Balancing Experiences and Financial Security

47:16 Embracing New Beginnings and Personal Growth

51:38 New Chapters

Quotes from Melanie:

"Show yourself some grace."

"It's important to strike a balance in life."

"You can be a lot of things, not just one."

Connect with Melanie:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanierdandrea/

Experiencing a layoff, building a business, or plotting a career transition?

You're not alone.

Download this Momentum Map toolkit to plot your next move.

In this episode of the Evolve Your Path podcast, Megan Flanagan interviews Emily Holland, a multi-passionate entrepreneur who transitioned from corporate life to self-employment.

Emily shares her journey of embracing various roles, from media strategist to community manager, and discusses the importance of community building, outdoor activities, and personal growth.

The conversation delves into Emily's experiences with running and rock climbing, her approach to goal setting, and the value of maintaining a balanced life.

About Today's Guest:

Emily Holland (she/her/hers) is a self-employed media, partnerships, and community consultant and manager. She helps values-driven businesses and creators hone and increase their impact. When she’s not working, Emily spends her time trail running, hiking, rock climbing, skiing, or enjoying the outdoors with her partner and her rescue dog, Kayda. Based in Lyons, Colorado, and originally from upstate New York, Emily is passionate about connection, creativity, and embracing life’s adventures.

Connect with Emily:

Website: https://emilyholland.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilylholland/

In this conversation, Traci Mitchell joins me to discuss the concept of 'Echoes of the Earth,' emphasizing the connection between our physical existence and our soul. She highlights the importance of recognizing our purpose and living with intention, reminding listeners that life is temporary and we should strive to be of service to others.

Takeaways and quotes from Traci:

• I call it [the retreat] "Echoes of the Earth" just because I feel like when you hear your echo, it's almost like the Earth reminding you that you're here.
• We're not just our bodies, though. We're not just our minds. We are a soul.
• The echo is like the Earth's crying out to us telling us to remember who we are.
• We need to live our life with intention and purpose.
• I always look at my hands and say, like, how can I be of service?
• This is a temporary stay here. .. We're bigger than just our thoughts... Remember who we are.

Join us at the Echoes of the Earth Retreat in January 2026!

Flash sale: $500 off for podcast listeners with code BUZZBUZZ - register by 12/1: https://www.echoesoftheearthretreat.com).

Connect with Traci:

www.aboomlife.com (website)

Instagram: @thetracimitchell

IG: @echoesoftheearthretreat (Echoes of the Earth retreat)

This week on the Evolve Your Path podcast, we’re stepping into the luminous world of Corrie Van Horne (she/her)—LPC, EMDR-trained therapist, Reiki master, queer healer, and founder of Reverie, a radical therapy practice rooted in liberation, embodiment, and deep remembering.

Corrie believes therapy is a kind of alchemy—a sacred, sovereign space where pain transforms into power, where disconnection softens into embodiment, and where joy, magic, and wholeness are reclaimed. In our conversation, we explore what it means to heal not through “fixing,” but through remembering who we’ve always been.

Together, we walk through:

✨ Corrie’s path to Reverie - The moments that cracked something open, the healing that reshaped her work, and the vision behind the name “Reverie” — a space where possibility is alive.

✨ Radical healing, community, and attunement - How therapy becomes a portal for authenticity, connection, and liberation… especially for LGBTQ+ folks navigating identity and belonging.

✨ Corrie’s three-phase model: Soul Healing, Self Attunement & Aligned Action - A powerful framework for moving from trauma to truth, from remembering to embodiment, and from clarity to courageous action.

✨ Liberation, identity & justice-oriented healing - How holding multiple identities informs Corrie’s lens — and how we can all begin releasing internalized shame to reclaim our most liberated selves.

✨ Embodiment, ritual & daily practices that anchor us - including joy and rituals that sustain Corrie beyond the therapy room — from slow mornings to alpine lakes, skates, and her beloved dog Roxy.

None of us are meant to navigate healing alone. Corrie reminds us that when we soften, attune, and step into relationship—with ourselves and with each other—we access a deeper magic. A remembering. A return.

If you’re craving clarity, courage, or a way back home to yourself… this conversation is a portal.

Learn more about Corrie and Reverie:https://www.reverie-co.com/

Listen now and step into your wholeness—one breath, one truth, one moment of reverie at a time.

What if the key to career fulfillment isn’t about climbing higher — but aligning deeper?

In this episode of Evolve Your Path, I sit down with Jennifer Vancil, a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach and career development expert who helps people find or create jobs they actually like — and are good at.

With over 20 years of experience in higher education, leadership coaching, and career transitions, Jennifer shares how to build a strengths-based career rooted in purpose, self-awareness, and authenticity.

We talk about:
✨ How to uncover your natural talents and use them as your career compass
💬 The power of communicating your strengths effectively to the right people
🌿 Why meaningful work isn’t about doing more — it’s about becoming more
💡 The mindset shifts that help you move from stuck to aligned in your professional journey

Whether you’re exploring your next career chapter or redefining success on your own terms, this conversation will help you reconnect with what you’re naturally meant to do — and give you tools to move toward it with confidence.

Connect with Jennifer:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifervancil/

Website: https://www.communicatingstrengths.com/

Purchase her book: https://www.communicatingstrengths.com/book