Good Shift – Details, episodes & analysis

With Leah Marcus and Yasaman Bakhtiar, founders of Good Girl Snacks

This is a masterclass in how to start a business and build momentum fast.

In this episode of Good Shift, I’m joined by Leah Marcus and Yasaman Bakhtiar, best friends and co-founders of Good Girl Snacks, the brand behind the viral Hot Girl Pickles.

Just a few years ago, they were working corporate jobs with zero business experience. Just 3 years later, their pickles have built a cult following online and landed on shelves at Whole Foods, Erewhon, Bristol Farms, GoPuff, and Nordstrom.

In this conversation, Leah and Yasaman share the real story behind the leap: from spotting a TikTok trend, to building in public, to trusting their gut before they felt ready and they share how you can do the same. 

I submitted Good Shift to the podcast awards (!) and as part of that, I had to put together a 15-minute highlight reel to showcase what the pod is all about.

It’s a great place to start if you’re new here, or to send to a friend who’s thinking about a career shift, hating their job, or feeling stuck on what’s next.

Enjoy my friends and cross your fingers for me for the awards!

Meet Sarah Cox, a Stanford graduate who walked away from a high-growth startup career in her late 20s to return to something she thought she’d left behind for good: professional soccer. After nearly a decade off the pitch, Sarah made the wild, bold move to re-enter elite sport — and she’s now a pro goalkeeper for Lexington SC in Kentucky.

This conversation is packed with everything you really want to know when you’re standing on the edge of change:

• Is it too late? 
• What if people laugh when I say my dream out loud?
• How do I give up a successful career to chase a dream?
• What if I fail?

We unpack how Sarah rebuilt belief, the structure she created to make it real, and what it feels like to play 100% for yourself.

Whether you’re feeling career burn-out, an identity wobble, or just that gnawing itch that there’s more — this one’s for you.

🎧 Tune in and remember: it’s not too late, you’re not too far, and there’s no rulebook on when your next chapter begins.

Sarah's instagram

Jay-Jay Feeney was New Zealand's most beloved radio host. She had everything - fame, success, a career most people dream of. But after 33 years, she made a decision that shocked everyone: she walked away from it all.

In this raw and honest conversation, Jay-Jay shares:

• The real signs of burnout (and why she ignored them for years) 
• How to separate your identity from your job title 
• The mindset shift that made leaving possible after decades of "this is all I know" 
• Why waiting for the "perfect moment" to change careers is a trap 
• How to handle the fear of disappointing everyone around you

If you’ve ever stayed in something too long, questioned what else you could do, or felt scared to leave the identity you’ve built — this one is for you.

Listen if you're ready to stop waiting and start building the next chapter of your life.

LINKS

1. Jay-Jay's ep with Dom Harvey on finishing her career
2. Podlab - Jay-Jay and Dom's fire new podcast studio
3. Who Moved My Cheese? Book by Spencer Johnson
4. Jay-Jay's insta
   
   

What if the job you’re in isn’t bad — but it’s not you?

In today’s episode of Good Shift, I’m sitting down with someone who made a shift that so many of us secretly think about but struggle to act on. Chris Harrison spent 15 years climbing the corporate ladder in banking. The money was good. The job was fine. But it never stopped gnawing at him — the childhood dream of becoming a police officer.

So, how do you leave a secure, respected career to chase a calling that’s risky, unfamiliar, paid a lot less and starts at the bottom? That’s what we unpack in this raw, honest, and deeply motivating conversation.

🎧 In this episode, we dive into:

• The quiet discomfort of a career that looks good on paper but feels wrong in your gut.
• How Chris knew it was time to stop waiting and finally take the leap.
• The fears around pay cuts, identity loss, and starting over — and how he worked through them.
• The unexpected emotional and practical challenges of joining the police force.
• The mindset shifts that helped Chris rebuild his life around purpose instead of just a paycheck.

Whether you’re in a job that’s “fine” or stuck at the crossroads of a potential career pivot, this episode will make you reflect, reevaluate, and hopefully take action toward a more aligned life.

Podcast ref: “Keep The Change”  Luke Kemeys

If you’re stuck in a job that doesn’t feel right anymore, but have no idea what to do next - this one’s for you.

Since launching Good Shift, I’ve had so many conversations with people sitting in the same place: they know what they don’t want, but feel stuck on what comes next.

This episode is your guide to getting unstuck - with 5 practical, mindset-shifting steps to help you start figuring it out. No need to burn everything down or wait for clarity to magically arrive. This is about real progress, even when you feel like you have none.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• How to spot the clues hiding in your current job
• Why waiting for clarity will keep you stuck and how to rewire your brain to see possibilities
• The exact questions to ask people who are already doing what you’re curious about
• How to create a smart, low-pressure transition plan that works 

Links & Mentions:

• Ned Gow’s episode: EP3 – Balancing a Stable Career with Creative Passion
• Claire Hughes Johnson 
• Follow the pod on IG: @goodshiftpod

Share This Episode

If you know someone sitting in the “what now?” phase — send them this episode. Sometimes all it takes is a fresh perspective and the right questions.

If you're feeling stuck in a career that no longer fits, but the idea of change feels scary or overwhelming, this episode is for you.

Today’s guest, Meredith Baker, has lived many lives. She’s a Harvard and Oxford graduate, a former international journalist, founder of an alcoholic beverage company and now a certified leadership coach and creator of the Powerful Stuff podcast. Meredith helps high-achievers tune out the noise, break up with perfectionism, and build a life that actually feels like their own.

This conversation is packed with permission slips, mindset shifts, and practical tools for navigating change - whether you’re stuck in a job that doesn’t light you up, hiding behind perfectionism, or wondering if you’re “too late” to pivot.

In this episode, we cover:

✨ The silent pressures that keep us stuck in the “shoulds”
 🧠 How to start listening to your intuition again
 📈 Confidence as compound interest — and how to build it
 🌱 A step-by-step roadmap for moving through your next transition with clarity and confidence

Stick around to the end for a grounding visualization you can do anytime you're feeling stuck or unsure about your next move.

More about Meredith:
Meredith is a Master Certified Life Coach, 500hr meditation, yoga, and breathwork teacher, and the founder of The Upgrade, a group coaching program designed to help women create more meaningful, aligned lives. 

👉 Learn more at themeredithbaker.com or follow @themeredithbaker on Instagram.

Ever thought about walking away from a high-paying corporate career to pursue something wildly different - without knowing how it would all work out?

In this episode of Good Shift, I sit down with Adam Rowland, former Head of Planning at global brands like Ralph Lauren, ASICS, and Icebreaker, who swapped spreadsheets and a high-paying corporate role, for self-made, stop-motion animation.

He didn’t wait for burnout. He made the leap while things were going well and told us why he's always had that mindset. He now runs his own animation studio, Awkward Animations.

This episode is full of real, raw, and deeply helpful insight for anyone ready to shift gears but unsure how to do it, especially with a mortgage, kids, and self-doubt in the mix.

Adam breaks down:

✅ How to know when to leave the corporate world (even if it’s going good)
✅ Why upskilling on the side was the real secret to being able to pivot
✅ How to up your game at networking and build confidence around it
✅ Advice on planning ahead for a shift (incl financials)
✅ Why backing yourself doesn’t mean you can’t build a safety net
✅ Why it’s never too late to become a beginner again

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s “too late” to start again, or worried about what people will think, this episode will shift your mindset and give you practical ways to move forward.

🛠️ Recommendations:

🎥 Pak’nSave Stop-Motion Ad (Watch It Here)

🎥 Lee Jeans commercial by Awkward Animations

🎙️ Mel Robbins Podcast on Confidence

🧠 Sir Ken Robinson TED Talk – “Do Schools Kill Creativity?”

👉 Connect with Adam:
LinkedIn
Website
Instagram

🚀 Follow Good Shift for Bite-Sized Career Shifts:
Instagram: @goodshiftpod

Why do we stay stuck in work that doesn’t feel right — even when we know it’s time to move on?

In this episode of Good Shift, I sit down with Bianca Smeekes, mind-body coach and founder of Neurospark, to unpack the neuroscience behind feeling stuck.

In this episode, we explore:

• How subtle signs like fatigue, anxiety, and numbness may be clues your career no longer fits
• Why your nervous system can keep you stuck — even when you want to change
• The mindset shifts Bianca used to move to powerful change
• The science of taking small steps toward fulfillment
• Real, grounded advice for moving forward when the future feels unclear

About Bianca:
Bianca Smeekes is a mind-body practitioner, neuroscience coach, and the founder of Neurospark, where she helps people break free from limiting patterns and step into a life that actually feels good. Her approach combines science, nervous system regulation, and self-leadership to support deep, sustainable change.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about Bianca: https://www.neurospark.co.nz/
• Connect on Instagram: @neurospark
• Bianca’s podcast: Unlearn with Bianca
• Freya's story on healing from concussion and chronic fatigue through the Lightning Process:
  Listen here on Apple Podcasts

If you're stuck, second-guessing yourself, or waiting for the “right” time to make a shift, this conversation is the nudge you've been waiting for.

How do you balance a high-performing career with a creative passion—without burning out? 

I’m joined by my good friend Ned Gow, who’s done exactly that. Ned is an Associate Director at Colliers, building a successful career in commercial real estate, while also being the drummer in No Cigar, a band that has skyrocketed with sold-out tours and a global fanbase. 

His story isn’t about escaping a job he hated—it’s about intentionally designing a life where both career and passion thrive. 

In this episode, we break down: 

🔥 The mindset shifts behind Ned’s career moves
🔥 How to take smart career risks without regret
🔥 Balancing financial security and creative freedom
🔥 The power of surrounding yourself with the right people
🔥 How to avoid burnout while chasing multiple goals 

Ned shares his key lessons on career growth, discipline, and fulfillment—plus insights on choosing the right boss, working smarter (not harder), and the books that have shaped his mindset. If you’re someone who wants more out of your career and personal passions, this episode is a must-listen. 🎧 Tune in now!

Books Mentioned: 📖 The Art of Living – Epictetus, Sharon Lebell 📖 Atomic Habits – James Clear 📖 Never Split the Difference – Chris Voss 📖 Can’t Hurt Me – David Goggins 

Where to Find Ned:
📌 Find No Cigar on Spotify
📌 Find Ned on LinkedIn