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© 2025 Embrace the Squiggle
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The podcast where professional women share the real, unfiltered stories behind their career pivots and squiggly journeys. Whether you're contemplating a major career shift, feeling sidelined after a break, or simply questioning "what's next?" when the traditional ladder doesn't exist, this podcast is your career navigation companion.
Hosts Colleen and Kristine bring you weekly conversations with women who've navigated career uncertainty and emerged stronger, offering practical strategies and the permission you need to create your own squiggly path.
Subscribe now to transform your career squiggles from something you endure into something you embrace.
99 Episodes
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In episode 99 (!!) of Embrace the Squiggle, Colleen and Kristine welcome Kristie Raymond to discuss her journey - that all started by trying a bunch of stuff out. From launching Models Inc in 90's Boston with only a 1.5 years of professional experience, Kristie shares how her childhood dreams evolved through a diverse career path. On this journey she spotted a massive gap: where's the diversity in media? Enter Humankind – Kristie's company pushing for inclusive casting that actually reflects ...
Hair loss at 15. A twenty-year journey from hiding to helping others. This week's conversation is all about turning personal struggles into powerful purpose! We sat down with the incredible Tami Wong, founder of Hair Loss Pride, whose unexpected path from biotech professional to advocate and coach demonstrates how our biggest challenges can become our most meaningful work. Squiggles You'll Hear: Tami's journey from childhood dreams of becoming an artist and vet to healthcare and biotechHow be...
From NFL Sidelines to Therapy Office... What do professional cheerleading and mental health counseling have in common? More than you might think! This week we dive into the fascinating journey of Hannah LeBeau, who transformed from NFL cheerleader to mental health professional while discovering how these seemingly different worlds actually complement each other perfectly. 🔥 What You'll Hear: Hannah's path from childhood dance dreams to the NFL sidelinesHow growing up in a single-parent h...
Ever wonder what happens when you jump without knowing where you'll land? Kathy Martin is living proof that sometimes the most unexpected career paths lead to the perfect destination! We sat down with Dr. Kathy Martin, President and CEO of Glenmeadow senior living community, whose journey from sports management dreams to nonprofit leadership was anything but linear. What You'll Hear: How Kathy pivoted from personal training to academia to senior living leadershipWhy transferable skills matter...
Those words were never truer than when Kelly Paxton discovered that the most trusted employees (often women with spotless reputations) were quietly embezzling thousands or millions before anyone noticed. Kelly's career reads like a spy thriller! What started in the world of commodities trading led to law enforcement. Soon she's a federal special agent, weapon strapped to her hip, chasing criminals in high-speed pursuits... all while pregnant! But the most fascinating chapter began when Kelly ...
“Who am I when I'm not a teacher?” Our first-ever Part Two is here! We continue Lauretta's story after her difficult decision to leave teaching mid-year. In this episode, Lauretta shares how walking the Camino across Spain became an unexpected path to healing and rediscovery. She opens up about navigating her identity beyond "teacher" and the simple yet profound lessons she found along the way. What You'll Hear: Lauretta's experience walking the historic Camino de SantiagoHow this journey hel...
What happens when the career path you've dreamed about since childhood starts slowly crushing your spirit? This week, we're diving into the first part of our raw conversation with Lauretta Ruppert, whose journey from aspiring singer to passionate teacher to... well, you'll have to listen to find out! What You'll Hear: How Lauretta's childhood dream of being "on stage" transformed into a calling to teachThe beautiful full-circle moment of teaching at her own alma materThe rarely discussed dark...
What if the key to professional success isn't found in external achievements, but in understanding your own inner landscape? This week, we dive deep with Kay Tear, a business psychologist who transformed her own career by turning inward first. From aspiring actress to flight attendant to acclaimed author and coach, Kay's journey reveals how self-awareness becomes your greatest professional superpower. What You'll Hear: - How Kay turned "I'll try this until it's not fun anymore" into a surpr...
Ever felt like motherhood was supposed to put your creative dreams on pause? This episode will flip that narrative on its head! We sat down with the remarkable Tina Games, whose career journey proves that motherhood isn't a detour from your creative path, it can be the catalyst that brings your truest work to life. What You'll Hear: How Tina transformed from aspiring actress to author, coach, and government commissioner through life's twists and turnsThe moment motherhood gave Tina permission...
Okay Squigglers, we're doing something a little different in this episode (cause we are squiggly after all)! After watching Taylor Swift on the New Heights podcast, we couldn't stop thinking about the GENIUS business and life lessons hidden in that conversation. So naturally, we had to break it all down for you! What You'll Hear: How Taylor's master plan to buy back her music is the ultimate negotiation masterclassWhy sharing knowledge is good for allWhy managing your energy (not just your ti...
“You have to say yes to things in order to know what you're gonna say yes and no to.” Colleen and Kristine dive into Anita Costello’s squiggle, from her beginnings influenced by her mother's flair for fashion to discovering her passion in high school. Anita shares her path from studying journalism to transitioning into apparel design. The conversation explores her entrepreneurial journey, the importance of community support, and the development of her own fashion line, Biita. Anita offers ins...
Ever wondered how a creative soul thrives in the world of heavy machinery? This episode is your roadmap! Join us as we chat with the incredible Michele Downie, marketing powerhouse at American Crane and Equipment Corporation, who's smashing stereotypes and making waves in manufacturing. What You'll Hear: Michele's journey from artist to manufacturingHow her creative background became her secret weapon in a technical industryWhy AI tools are her friends for staying ahead of the curveHer refres...
This week on Embrace the Squiggle, Casey Stevens blew us away with her candid take on mixing traditional therapy with what she calls her "witchy wisdom." From divorce to career zigzags, she kept it real about following your gut - even when life gets messy! What we love most about Casey is how she bridges science and spirituality without apology. No stuffy therapy talk here - she's all about helping people tap into their intuition and make radical transformations. If you're feeling stuck or j...
What happens when a poem you write goes viral? Our guest this week knows! Kristine and Colleen speak to Jennae Cecelia who you may know as the author of the poem “I met my younger self for coffee” to discuss her squiggly path. Jennae shares how her passion for writing blossomed from her childhood and the key moment when a viral poem on TikTok brought her significant attention. Jennae has self-published 13 books – the most popular being, The Sun Will Rise and So Will We and Healing for No One ...
Ever wondered who's working behind the scenes to bring Embrace the Squiggle to life? This week, we flip the script and put our producer, Lili Paxton, in the spotlight! Episodes Squiggles: From editing her mom's podcast "Fraudish" to becoming a full-fledged podcast strategistHow Lili's adventurous spirit led her from the US to Spain, Australia, and finally LondonHer journey through the London School of EconomicsThe creative TikTok strategy that helped her build a vibrant community in a new cit...
If helping people is your north star, this episode is for you. This week, we chat with Amanda Wininger who skipped college but still rose through the corporate leadership ranks becoming a doula and yoga instructor. It many seem random, but it's all been about helping people. Episode Highlights: How Amanda recognized and leveraged her natural talent for supporting othersThe surprising parallels between corporate HR and birth supportWhy emotional intelligence trumps technical skills in leadersh...
Ever found yourself nodding along to career advice that doesn't actually feel right for YOU? This week, your favorite career coaches throw out the rulebook completely! Colleen and Kristine tackle the question we've all secretly wondered: "Do I really want that promotion, or am I just supposed to want it?" What We're Squiggling About: The permission slip you need to define success YOUR way (even if it means saying no to that fancy title)Why keeping a "humble brag" list isn't conceited, it's ca...
Ever wondered what happens when "Take Your Daughter to Work Day" turns into a full-blown career? This week's episode is a delightful deep dive with Lindsay LaBonte, who turned her childhood fascination with her dad's mortgage business into her own financial industry adventure! What's in store: The real story of how Lindsay went from "playing bank" as a kid to actually running one 🏦The juggling act of motherhood, leadership, and that pesky thing called "parental expectations"How to delegate be...
Ever wondered what a Chief of Staff actually does… and how to become one? This episode unveils the squiggly career moves that can lead to this powerful but often misunderstood role. What You'll Discover: How to leverage research skills from academia into business advantageThe unspoken challenges of managing teams at a young ageWhy the Chief of Staff role might be the perfect fit for "connectors" and strategic thinkersStrategic pivots between large corporations and nimble startupsDarcey Bennet...
Questioning your career path? This week's guest went from working a normal corporate job to co-founding a tech company with a billion-dollar IPO—and reveals the unconventional wisdom that guided her journey. What You'll Gain: Permission to leave "secure" jobs when they no longer serve your growthHow side hustles can transform into unexpected career opportunitiesThe unfiltered truth about entrepreneurship's messy, non-linear realityStrategies for recognizing when it's time for your next pivotM...
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