Your Next Success – Details, episodes & analysis

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What happens when a federal program manager leaves government service and turns her insider knowledge into a business that helps others thrive?

In this episode of Your Next Success, Dr. Julia Barzyk shares her transition from managing a $6M+ geoscience and engineering research portfolio at the U.S. Army Research Office to founding Wise Investigator—a strategic coaching practice for university researchers seeking funding.

You’ll hear about:

• The moment Julia realized it was time to make a change
• The behind-the-scenes realities of federal research funding
• What most scientists misunderstand about proposal strategy
• How she built a business around a gap she saw in academia
• How career transitions affect identity—and what helped her find peace with leaving a prestigious role
• Her perspective on authentic success now, as a business owner and mentor

Julia’s story is a powerful example of how technical expertise, when paired with vision and empathy, can be reshaped into something deeply fulfilling—and wildly impactful.

Links: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-barzyk/

https://www.youtube.com/@wiseinvestigator

https://wiseinvestigator.beehiiv.com/

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Watch full video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextSuccessMethod/

Learn more about Next Success www.nextsuccesscareers.com

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What does it really take to let the truest version of you lead?

In this powerful episode of Your Next Success, host Dr. Caroline Sangal sits down with Natalie Siston—keynote speaker, author of Let Her Out, and the Lead Global Presenter at Positive Intelligence®—to explore how to navigate career shifts with clarity, authenticity, and internal permission.

Natalie opens up about her early corporate career, the unexpected transitions that reshaped her path, and how motherhood, creativity, and mental fitness helped her reconnect to what matters most. She shares how she built a speaking and coaching business rooted in deep service—and how the idea for her book Let Her Out came from decades of unspoken insights finally ready to be shared.

This conversation is for anyone wondering what’s next—especially if you’ve been carrying big dreams for a long time and are finally ready to take the next step.

In This Episode:

• Natalie’s career journey from corporate leadership to creative entrepreneurship
• The story behind Let Her Out—and how journaling became a transformational act
• How Positive Intelligence (PQ) helped her reframe her inner critic
• Navigating transitions with courage, especially after motherhood
• How to define success for yourself—and stay grounded in what matters

Connect with Natalie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliesiston
Website: https://www.nataliesiston.com
Instagram: @NatalieSiston

Let Her Out: https://letherout.com/

Let Her Out information: You haven’t lost yourself. You’ve just buried HER under everyone else’s expectations. Let Her Out is your invitation to reconnect with the version of yourself you were always meant to be. Through stories, coaching prompts, and real-life insights, this bestselling book will help you reignite your passions, release what no longer serves you, and reclaim your identity with confidence.

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Subscribe to Your Next Success so you never miss an episode.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextSuccessMethod/

Learn more about Next Success www.nextsuccesscareers.com

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In Part 2 of Renée’s story, the real transformation begins. After decades of doing everything right and feeling everything wrong, she said yes to something different: alignment.

We talk about the internal work Renée did inside the Next Success Method—what she discovered about herself, how her past shaped her leadership, and the deep clarity she found on what truly matters.

If you're feeling disconnected from your purpose or stuck in a life that doesn't fit anymore, this is the episode to listen to.

You’ll hear:

• The moment she realized it wasn’t about fixing—but remembering who she is
• How the DISC assessment unlocked old patterns she couldn’t see
• The emotional breakthrough that changed how she leads and lives
• What it feels like to create success on your own terms

Start your own reflection with the Navigating Career Transitions Guide

New here? Be sure to listen to Part 1 first for the full journey.

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Watch full video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextSuccessMethod/

Learn more about Next Success www.nextsuccesscareers.com

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She was successful on paper—Director title, MBA, decades of leadership experience. But inside, Renée was burned out, angry, and wondering if this was all life had to offer.

In this episode, we dive into the story behind the success. Renée shares how growing up on a farm shaped her resilience, how she rose through the ranks in engineering and operations, and what it looked like when everything started to crumble.

If you’ve ever felt like your career looks good from the outside but feels heavy on the inside, this one’s for you.

We explore:

• Early career wins and setbacks in engineering
• The hidden toll of being “the strong one”
• Personal loss, burnout, and the breaking point
• Why she finally reached out for help

Remember to get your free Navigating Career Transitions Guide and don’t miss Part 2: Renée’s transformation through the Next Success Method.

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Subscribe to Your Next Success so you never miss an episode.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextSuccessMethod/

Learn more about Next Success www.nextsuccesscareers.com

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If you’ve been laid off or are navigating a career transition, this episode reveals the 7 most common mistakes people make after job loss—and what to do instead.

Career coach Dr. Caroline Sangal shares practical insights on how resume rushing, panic applying, and desperation networking can sabotage your progress. Learn how to pause with purpose, rebuild confidence, and make aligned career moves that support your long-term goals.

Learn:

• Why your resume might be hurting—not helping
• How fear-based job search strategies backfire
• What to say (and not say) about your layoff

Download your free Layoff Reflection Workbook: https://nextsuccesscareers.com/the-pause

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Subscribe to Your Next Success so you never miss an episode.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextSuccessMethod/

Learn more about Next Success www.nextsuccesscareers.com

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What if that fog you’re feeling after losing your job... isn’t failure, but grief?

In this tender and powerful episode of Your Next Success, Dr. Caroline Sangal pulls back the curtain on the emotional aftermath of a layoff—the identity unraveling, the shame, the numbness—and why trying to “stay positive” too soon can actually keep you stuck.

You’ll discover:

• The 5 hidden losses that silently weigh on you after a layoff
• How the 5 stages of grief show up in your career journey (yes, even denial and bargaining)
• Why skipping grief doesn’t save time—it steals your clarity
• A powerful exercise to begin reclaiming your voice, values, and vision

Ready to pause and reflect?
Download The Pause: A Gentle Reflection Guide  https://nextsuccesscareers.com/the-pause 
It’s soft. It’s grounding. And it’s here to help you process this moment with grace—not guilt.

Because grief isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom. And you?
You’re not broken. You’re becoming.

Keywords: grief after layoff, emotional recovery after job loss, mental health after layoff, what to do after getting laid off, career grief, identity loss after job, stages of grief job loss, layoff trauma, healing after job loss, how to recover from a layoff, Dr. Caroline Sangal, Your Next Success podcast, job transition support, layoff reflection guide, the pause reflection guide, rebuilding after a layoff, job loss advice, career clarity after layoff

Support the show

Subscribe to Your Next Success so you never miss an episode.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextSuccessMethod/

Learn more about Next Success www.nextsuccesscareers.com

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What if getting laid off wasn’t the end of your career story—but the beginning of something more aligned?

In this powerful first installment of a multi-part series on unexpected job loss, Dr. Caroline Sangal shares the truth about what really happens when the rug gets pulled out from under you. From the shock and shame to the silence and identity confusion, this episode explores the emotional side of layoffs that most people avoid—but almost everyone feels.

Whether it happened recently or years ago, if you’re still carrying the weight of a layoff, this episode will help you pause with purpose and begin writing your next chapter with clarity and confidence.

What We Cover:

• Why layoffs feel so personal—even when they’re not
• The emotional symptoms no one talks about
• How to begin healing and reclaiming your story
• What to say (and not say) to someone who’s been laid off
• Thought reversals that can shift your whole perspective
• Caroline’s personal story of loss, uncertainty, and transformation
• Why this moment might be the very opening you’ve been waiting for

Free Resource: Download The Pause, a gentle reflection guide to help you process your experience and begin moving forward with clarity: https://nextsuccesscareers.com/the-pause

Keywords: layoff support, job loss recovery, career transition, coping with job loss, life after layoff, rebuilding after layoff, emotional impact of layoff, career clarity, job search journey, identity after job loss, you are not your job, next career move, authentic success, thought reversal, mental health and career, career coaching podcast, next success method, your next success podcast, mini layoff reflection guide 

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Subscribe to Your Next Success so you never miss an episode.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextSuccessMethod/

Learn more about Next Success www.nextsuccesscareers.com

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 If you're stuck after graduation or questioning your career path, you're not broken — you're becoming. In this episode, we unpack the messy middle of career transitions and how to move from confusion to clarity. 

Career Clarity Begins in the Messy Middle

If you’re questioning your direction, your job, or your definition of success… you’re not stuck — you’re in the messy middle. In this episode, Dr. Caroline Sangal explores what this space really means, why it matters, and how to begin finding clarity in the unknown.

Welcome to the Messy Middle — the space between no longer and not yet.

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking:
“I don’t hate my job… but something feels off.”
“I’ve outgrown where I am, but I don’t know where I’m going.”
“I want more, but I don’t know what that means.”

…then this episode is for you.
🎧 Inside, you’ll learn:
 • What the Messy Middle actually is (and how to spot it)
 • Why clarity often begins right here — in the pause
 • 3 steps to shift from confusion to confidence
 • Tools to help you reconnect with your natural abilities, values, and vision

Download the free Navigating Career Transitions Workbook

Let this be your permission to stop rushing and start listening — to yourself.
You are not broken. You’re just becoming.

Keywords:
 career transitions, stuck after graduation, messy middle, STEM careers, job search mindset, PhD to industry, career clarity, early career advice 

Support the show

Subscribe to Your Next Success so you never miss an episode.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextSuccessMethod/

Learn more about Next Success www.nextsuccesscareers.com

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Have you ever quietly asked yourself, “Is this it?”
That question isn’t a breakdown. It’s the beginning of something deeper — your next success.

In this short preview episode, Dr. Caroline Sangal introduces Your Next Success Podcast — a space for students, job seekers, and professionals in transition to pause, reflect, and rebuild a career that actually fits their life.

This podcast explores:

• Career transitions (planned and unexpected)
• The messy middle between where you are and where you’re going
• Layoffs, reinvention, burnout, and finding clarity
• How to reconnect with your natural gifts and redefine success on your own terms

You'll hear real stories, guest interviews, and practical insight to help you move forward with more alignment, peace, and purpose.

If you’ve been searching for more meaning, more clarity, or simply permission to question your path — you’ve found your space.

Subscribe now and begin Your Next Success.
Listen to all episodes at https://www.nextsuccesspodcast.com

Support the show

Subscribe to Your Next Success so you never miss an episode.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextSuccessMethod/

Learn more about Next Success www.nextsuccesscareers.com

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What do you do when your career has spanned the globe, your leadership has made a measurable impact, and you still feel called to something more?

In this episode of Your Next Success, Dr. Caroline Sangal talks with Dr. Lucinda Jackson—a global executive, scientist, author, and speaker—about the choices, turning points, and clarity that shaped her remarkable career and powerful next chapter.

Lucinda has worked in more than 30 countries for four Fortune 500 companies, led international environmental and safety teams, and served as General Manager at Chevron. In her next act, she joined the Peace Corps, launched LJ Ventures, and authored two compelling memoirs:

• Just a Girl: Growing Up Female and Ambitious
•  Project Escape: Lessons for an Unscripted Life

This conversation explores what it means to evolve with intention, stay open to reinvention, and create a life of meaning—no matter what stage you're in.

In this episode, we explore:

• How Lucinda navigated leadership in industries where few women were present
• The mindset that guided her most meaningful transitions
• Her experience moving from global executive to author and advisor
• How writing helped her reflect, realign, and reimagine what’s possible
• Encouragement and clarity for anyone ready to build what comes next

🔗 Resources & Links:
📚 Learn more about Lucinda and her books: www.lucindajackson.com and connect with her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucinda-jackson/

Support the show

Subscribe to Your Next Success so you never miss an episode.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextSuccessMethod/

Learn more about Next Success www.nextsuccesscareers.com