Beyond Should: women reinventing their lives, careers & owning their power

Avni Patel Thompson: The Future Doesn’t Have to Be Built Around Someone Else’s “Shoulds”

Entrepreneur and AI founder Avni Patel Thompson joins Lucy Reynolds for a conversation about invisible labor, ambition, technology, and community. Together, they explore how women can move beyond expectations, trust their own values, and build lives—and solutions—that work for them. More about Avni:  Avni Patel Thompson is a serial founder building at the intersection of technology and modern parenthood. With her rare blend of scientific, care and business management expertise, Patel Thompson is able to develop cutting edge solutions to very nuanced and human problems. She holds a BSC in Chemistry from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from Harvard Business School and authors 10,000 Ways, a newsletter about building solutions to the problems you live. Stay connected: * Connect with Avni  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/apatelthompson/] * Check out The Murmuration Collective [https://www.themurmurationcollective.com/] * Interested in 1:1 Coaching [https://www.themurmurationcollective.com/coaching]with Lucy * Connect with us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/themurmurationcollective/] & LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/murmuration-collective/] * Subscribe to our monthly newsletter [https://www.themurmurationcollective.com/newsletter-sign-up] Beyond Should is creatively supported by a team of dynamic women:  Host and Founder of TMC : Lucy Reynolds  Executive Producer: Lauren LoGrasso Producer: Daniela Silva   Marketing Manager: Esti MacInnes

Michelle Jacobs: The “Shoulds” Women Carry Around Aging, Health & Reinvention

What happens when you realize the life you built no longer fits who you’re becoming? In this episode of Beyond Should, Lucy sits down with Michelle Jacobs, co-founder and COO of Womaness, to unpack reinvention, women’s health, leadership, and the cultural narratives women inherit around aging. From walking away from corporate life to building a company dedicated to women in midlife, Michelle shares what it looked like to stop seeking approval, trust her instincts, and create something entirely new. Together, they explore why so many women feel disconnected from their bodies, the lack of education around perimenopause and menopause, and why midlife can become a powerful season of clarity, confidence, and reinvention. They also discuss women and risk-taking, investing in women-led businesses, and the importance of taking up more space. More about Michelle:  Michelle Jacobs is Co-Founder and COO of Womaness, a brand changing the conversation around aging, midlife, and menopause through clinically and doctor-tested products that address symptoms from hot flashes to sleep to fine lines. Womaness is available on Womaness.com, Amazon, and Ulta Beauty. A strategic development leader, Michelle spent 20 years building brands before co-founding Womaness — spanning sales, partnerships, licensing, logistics, and financial management across categories from home and décor to health and baby. She began her career in licensing, then led client relationships for Polo Ralph Lauren and Lancôme at a digital media agency. After earning her MBA, she marketed billion-dollar brands like Centrum and Advil to retailers ranging from corner bodegas to Costco. Michelle later spent a decade at Time Inc., launching the licensing and retail business for Real Simple, Cooking Light, and InStyle with partners including Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Crate & Barrel. She was then recruited by QVC/HSN to lead the retail rollout for the Joy Mangano brand — yes, inventor of the Miracle Mop. Stay connected: * Connect with Michelle Jacobs  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-jacobs-womaness/] * Check out The Murmuration Collective [https://www.themurmurationcollective.com/] * Interested in 1:1 Coaching [https://www.themurmurationcollective.com/coaching]with Lucy * Connect with us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/themurmurationcollective/] & LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/murmuration-collective/] * Subscribe to our monthly newsletter [https://www.themurmurationcollective.com/newsletter-sign-up] Beyond Should is creatively supported by a team of dynamic women:  Host and Founder of TMC : Lucy Reynolds  Executive Producer: Lauren LoGrasso Producer: Daniela Silva   Marketing Manager: Esti MacInnes

From The Vault: Friendship & Sheer Determination at The Great World Race — with Becs Gentry, Jenny Simpson, Chirine Njeim and Hillary Kupish

This week, we’re pulling a fantastic episode from the podcast vault:  Lucy is joined by a group of extraordinary women who recently completed The Great World Race — running 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days. It’s hard to believe that Becs Gentry, Jenny Simpson, Chirine Njeim, Hillary Kupish and Ashley Paulson didn’t know each other when they started running, but this experience bonded them like nothing else as they supported each other to and through their limits over the course of the race. With many of them even winning awards for their finish times! In this conversation, Becs, Jenny, Chirine, and Hillary share how they decided to run this race and everything they yielded from making it to the finish line together. We dive deep into the expansive mindset, the grueling reality, and the lasting impacts. They also offer the pearls of wisdom they’re taking away from their once-in-a-lifetime event. Enjoy this episode and we hope you love it as much as we do!  Connect with our guests: * Becs Gentry [https://www.instagram.com/becsgentry/?hl=en] * Jenny Simpson [https://www.instagram.com/trackjenny/?hl=en] * Chirine Njeim [https://www.instagram.com/chirine.njeim/] * Hillary Kupish [https://www.instagram.com/hiiku/] Stay connected with us:  * Check out The Murmuration Collective [https://www.themurmurationcollective.com/] * Interested in 1:1 Coaching [https://www.themurmurationcollective.com/coaching]with Lucy * Connect with us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/themurmurationcollective/] & LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/murmuration-collective/] * Subscribe to our monthly newsletter [https://www.themurmurationcollective.com/newsletter-sign-up] Beyond Should is creatively supported by a team of dynamic women:  Host and Founder of TMC : Lucy Reynolds  Executive Producer: Lauren LoGrasso Producer: Daniela Silva   Marketing Manager: Esti MacInnes

Shena Patel: The Career You Were Told You “Should” Want Isn’t Always Yours

What happens when you stop following the path you were supposed to take—and start trusting what actually feels right? In this episode of Beyond Should, Lucy sits down with creative executive and brand strategist Shena Patel to unpack how letting go of “should” can open the door to a more aligned, expansive career. From switching from pre-med to English lit to building a non-linear path across publishing, fashion, and creative leadership, Shena shares how trusting her instincts—and embracing uncertainty—changed everything. They explore the difference between expectation and expectancy, the power of relationships in shaping your career, and why you’re allowed to change your mind at any stage of your life. Shena Patel is a New York–based creative executive, strategist, and writer with over 20 years of experience shaping brand voices and campaigns across luxury, fashion, lifestyle, and women's health. Today, she works with founders and CEOs as a fractional creative leader, helping build purpose-driven brands with clarity and impact. Connect with Shena:  * https://www.shenapatel.com/ [https://www.shenapatel.com/] * https://www.linkedin.com/in/shena-patel-09533/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shena-patel-09533/] Stay connected: * Check out The Murmuration Collective [https://www.themurmurationcollective.com/] * Interested in 1:1 Coaching [https://www.themurmurationcollective.com/coaching]with Lucy * Connect with us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/themurmurationcollective/] & LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/murmuration-collective/] * Subscribe to our monthly newsletter [https://www.themurmurationcollective.com/newsletter-sign-up] Beyond Should is creatively supported by a team of dynamic women:  Host and Founder of TMC : Lucy Reynolds  Executive Producer: Lauren LoGrasso Producer: Daniela Silva   Marketing Manager: Esti MacInnes

Can Doesn’t Mean Should….Capacity with Meg Whicher

When did “I can” quietly become “I should”? Lucy sits down with mountaineer Meg Whicher to unpack the cost of overcapacity, external validation, and ignoring the body’s warning signs. After surviving a devastating fall, Meg reimagines success, boundaries, and what it truly means to honor our limits. For every woman who’s ever pushed past exhaustion in the name of “should.” Connect with Meg:  * Meg Rogosienski Whicher (@megwhicher)  [https://www.instagram.com/megwhicher/] * LinkedIn  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-whicher-442463367/] Stay connected: * Check out The Murmuration Collective [https://www.themurmurationcollective.com/] * Interested in 1:1 Coaching [https://www.themurmurationcollective.com/coaching]with Lucy * Connect with us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/themurmurationcollective/] & LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/murmuration-collective/] * Subscribe to our monthly newsletter [https://www.themurmurationcollective.com/newsletter-sign-up] Beyond Should is creatively supported by a team of dynamic women:  Host and Founder of TMC : Lucy Reynolds  Executive Producer: Lauren LoGrasso Producer: Daniela Silva   Marketing Manager: Esti MacInnes