Career Congregation: For Career Inspiration

50. Career Congregation feat. Tori DaCosta, Business Owner & Bestselling Author: From Identity Shocks to Empowerment

This week guest Tori DaCosta joins host Meghan Fitzpatrick for episode 50 of Career Congregation, the season two finale. Tori is the bestselling author of No Name Bastard: How Our Lives Teach Us What We Can Control, Manage and Influence; she is also a Fortune 50 business leader, executive coach, and founder of Journey Stone LLC. Meghan and Tori look at identity, purpose-driven work, and what alignment actually feels like in practice. They also explore trust and stillness in decision making, processing emotions versus bottling them up, and what it takes to write the kind of book that changes how people see their own lives. Main Topics Covered: Personal development, how life's hardest moments can serve as the biggest catalysts for growth and purpose, the emotional process of letting go of pain, listening to life's "whispers", mental health, emotional processing, self-awareness, the power of storytelling and writing as a method of healing, and the significance of alignment and pursuing what energises you. CONNECT WITH TORI: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toridacosta/ Instagram & Facebook: @ToriDaCostaLeadership Website: www.journeystone.com BUY HER BOOK: Hardcover: https://a.co/d/05gcgbCL Kindle: https://a.co/d/0e0FdEwE Audiobook: Audible | Spotify | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble | Libro.fm | Chirp WORK WITH MEGHAN: If you are interested in working with Meghan 1:1, you can book an intro call with her here: https://app.paperbell.com/checkout/packages/166602 GUEST SUBMISSIONS: If you think you know someone who would make a great guest on the show, feel free to email Meghan at hello@meghanfitzpatrick.com SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://ko-fi.com/meghanfitzpatrick KEYWORDS: Career, career change, career transition, personal development, mental health, purpose, fulfilling work, motivation, entrepreneurship, coaching, mentor, authentic career paths, rock bottom, personal narrative, building a brand, long-term growth, success stories, inspiring careers, burnout, therapy, identity, forgiveness, self-awareness, emotional resilience, executive coaching, work-life balance Timestamps: (00:00) - Intro to Tori da Costa and her book's significance (01:38) - How the podcast became an anchor and reflection space (04:33) - Cultural background and early influences (06:36) - Hardships shaping personal growth (07:16) - The story behind her unexpected name reveal (09:50) - Discovering her father’s last name and identity shock (11:16) - Emotional response to identity revelations (16:36) - Moving from pain to forgiveness and letting go (26:19) - The healing power of sharing vulnerable stories (32:43) - The first "whisper" to write her book (57:04) - Embracing challenges and growth through adversity (58:35) - The importance of living aligned with your purpose (61:10) - How to connect with Tori and purchase the book © Copyright Meghan Fitzpatrick 2026

49. Career Congregation Solo Episode with Meghan Fitzpatrick: Intuitive Whispers, Expats or Immigrants, and Trusting the Journey

In this solo episode, Meghan reflects on her journey over the past year and the quieter instincts that can shape major life decisions long before they make logical sense. Meghan speaks about the reality of living through the uncertainty of career and relocation decisions in real time. Leaving London, restructuring her business, reconnecting with Europe through Ireland, and exploring the possibility of building a life in Portugal. All things that required movement on her part, long before certainty existed. The episode explores what it means to follow something instinctive while still navigating fear, bureaucracy, financial pressure, and the realities of starting over again. There is also a strong focus on the emotional side of relocation. Not the romanticised version often presented online, but the administrative exhaustion, the waiting, the loneliness, and the repeated experience of rebuilding the basics from scratch. Meghan reflects on the strange position many internationally mobile people occupy, existing between countries, cultures, and identities while trying to create a sense of home. The conversation also examines the language around migration itself. Meghan unpacks her complicated relationship with the word “expat”, having lived as both an American immigrant in the UK and now both a British and American immigrant relocating again within Europe. Rather than offering simplistic conclusions, she questions the class, political, and cultural assumptions attached to terms like “expat” and “immigrant”, particularly in an era of increasing global instability and migration. Trusting the process of your own life, even when the path ahead is incomplete is a larger episode theme. Sometimes the next step only becomes obvious after you have already taken it. Sometimes you need the lived experience before you can fully understand what is right for you. The episode challenges the pressure to have every answer in advance and instead makes space for experimentation, uncertainty, and changing direction. This episode explores relocation, intuition, entrepreneurship, nervous system regulation, immigration, reinvention, career change, self-trust, and the emotional reality of building a life across multiple countries. It is a reminder that major life decisions are rarely linear, and that uncertainty does not always mean you are on the wrong path. WORK WITH MEGHAN: If you are interested in working with Meghan 1:1, you can book an intro call with her here: https://app.paperbell.com/checkout/packages/166602 [https://app.paperbell.com/checkout/packages/166602] GUEST SUBMISSIONS: If you think you know someone who would make a great guest, feel free to email Meghan at hello@meghanfitzpatrick.com SUPPORT THE SHOW: If you’d like to support the show and the work of Career Congregation, you can do so here: https://ko-fi.com/meghanfitzpatrick [https://ko-fi.com/meghanfitzpatrick] Chapters:00:00 Intuitive whispers and long-term instincts06:00 Leaving London and rebuilding within Europe14:00 Portugal, nervous system regulation, and feeling at home21:00 Expats, immigrants, and the politics of language28:00 Trusting uncertainty and making life-changing decisions Keywords: Career, Career transition, Relocation, Immigration, Expat life, Nervous system regulation, Therapy, Therapist, Coaching, Personal development, Mental health, Entrepreneurship, Self-trust, Purpose, Work-life balance, Authentic career paths, Life transitions, Reinvention, Digital nomad, Portugal © Copyright Meghan Fitzpatrick 2026

48. Career Congregation feat. Bronte Le Marquand, Anxiety, Trauma & Grief Psychotherapist: Grief, Anxiety & Career Changes

Career Congregation is your weekly gathering for all things career, a space to explore the highs, the lows, and the incredible stories of people who have navigated career challenges, stepped through fear, and found success and growth on the other side. Hosted by Therapist and Coach Meghan Fitzpatrick, each episode offers real-life inspiration for reclaiming confidence and direction in your work. Like most psychotherapists, Bronte Le Marquand didn’t arrive at psychotherapy through a straightforward route. Early roles in recruitment, HR and corporate environments never felt sustainable, particularly while she was navigating grief and anxiety. It was through her own experience in therapy that things began to shift. Learning about boundaries and recognising how much her environment was affecting her wellbeing gave her a different reference point for what work could look like. What began as an interest in coaching gradually developed into a move towards psychotherapy, shaped as much by lived experience as it was by formal training. There is a clear thread running through this conversation around misalignment. Not in a vague sense, but in the lived reality of staying in roles that chip away at your wellbeing. Bronte speaks to the physical and psychological toll of working in environments that don’t meet your needs, and how easily that can be mistaken for personal failure. Anxiety, overthinking, burnout. These aren’t always individual problems. Sometimes they are signals that something around you isn’t working. The conversation also pulls apart the idea of security. Stable jobs, predictable income, clear progression. On the surface, these offer comfort. In reality, they can come at a cost when they keep you disconnected from what you actually want. Both Bronte and Meghan explore what it takes to walk away from that structure, and the discomfort that comes with building something of your own. There is nothing polished about that process. It is uncertain, exposing, and often misunderstood by others. What stands out is the shift from external validation to internal trust. Learning to make decisions without needing approval, tuning out the noise of other people’s opinions, and recognising when the cost of staying outweighs the fear of leaving. It is not a quick transition, but it is a necessary one if you want to build a career that feels sustainable. There is also a broader reflection on the state of modern work. Redundancy, lack of progression, poor management, and workplaces that struggle to meet even basic human needs. Rather than accepting that as the norm, this conversation offers a more proactive approach. Creating your own sense of stability, exploring side paths, and staying connected to what energises you, even in small ways. At its core, this is about learning how to move forward when you feel stuck. Not by solving everything at once, but by focusing on the next step in front of you. When everything feels uncertain, that is often enough. CONNECT WITH BRONTE: Instagram: @therapywithbronte Website: www.therapywithbronte.com [http://www.therapywithbronte.com/] Email: therapywithbronte@gmail.com [therapywithbronte@gmail.com] WORK WITH MEGHAN: If you are interested in working with Meghan 1:1, you can book an intro call with her here: https://app.paperbell.com/checkout/packages/166602 [https://app.paperbell.com/checkout/packages/166602] GUEST SUBMISSIONS: If you think you know someone who would make a great guest, feel free to email Meghan at ⁠hello@meghanfitzpatrick.com [hello@meghanfitzpatrick.com] SUPPORT THE SHOW: If you’d like to support the show and the work of Career Congregation, you can do so here: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/meghanfitzpatrick [https://ko-fi.com/meghanfitzpatrick]⁠ KEYWORDS: Career, Career change, Career transition, Mental health, Therapy, Therapist, Anxiety, Grief, Burnout, Life after burnout, Nervous system regulation, Personal development, Coaching, Purpose, Fulfilling work, Authentic career paths, Career challenges, Emotional resilience © Copyright Meghan Fitzpatrick 2026

47. Career Congregation Meghan Solo episode: Boundaries, Inner Circles & Protecting Your Energy

Career Congregation is your weekly gathering for all things career, a space to explore the highs, the lows, and the incredible stories of people who have navigated career challenges, stepped through fear, and found success and growth on the other side. Hosted by Therapist and Coach Meghan Fitzpatrick, each episode offers real-life inspiration for reclaiming confidence and direction in your work. In this solo episode, Meghan explores setting boundaries. Not as a buzzword, but as a practical and often uncomfortable process of deciding who gets access to you, your time, and your personal world. Who shares your inner circle? The small group of people who hold your most personal information, who influence your thinking, and who shape how you feel about yourself and your direction. Meghan breaks down the difference between inner, middle, and outer circles, and challenges the assumption that proximity, history, or family ties automatically earn someone a place in that inner tier. There is a direct look at what happens when that space is occupied by the wrong people. Exploring the practical side of boundary work, starting with awareness, moving into energetic shifts, then verbal communication, and in some cases, stepping away entirely. It is not presented as a one-time decision, but an ongoing process that requires consistency, particularly when others are used to having unrestricted access. There is also an honest reflection on how this work evolves alongside career growth. Building a business, working independently, or pursuing something outside of conventional paths demands a level of self-trust that cannot coexist with constant doubt or dismissal from those closest to you. The people in your inner circle either reinforce that direction or quietly erode it. The wider context is hard to ignore on the collective. With increasing demands on attention, constant communication, and a general sense of pressure in both work and life, there is less capacity to carry relationships that drain you rather than support you. Protecting your energy is not indulgent, it is necessary. This episode focuses on boundaries, relationships, trust, self-respect, and the practical reality of choosing who gets access to you. It is a reminder that not everyone is entitled to your full story, and that the people closest to you should be able to hold it well. WORK WITH MEGHAN: If you are interested in working with Meghan 1:1, you can book an intro call with her here: https://app.paperbell.com/checkout/packages/166602 [https://app.paperbell.com/checkout/packages/166602] GUEST SUBMISSIONS: If you think you know someone who would make a great guest, feel free to email Meghan at hello@meghanfitzpatrick.com SUPPORT THE SHOW: If you’d like to support the show and the work of Career Congregation, you can do so here: https://ko-fi.com/meghanfitzpatrick [https://ko-fi.com/meghanfitzpatrick] Keywords: Career, Therapy, Therapist, Coaching, Personal development, Mental health, Boundaries, Relationships, Work-life balance, Burnout, Life after burnout, Purpose, Motivation, Authentic career paths, Self-trust, Emotional wellbeing

46. Career Congregation feat. Elizabeth Betts, Therapist, Supervisor & Founder of Aphrodite School of Counselling and Psychotherapy:

Career Congregation is your weekly gathering for all things career, a space to explore the highs, the lows, and the incredible stories of people who have navigated career challenges, stepped through fear, and found success and growth on the other side. Hosted by Therapist and Coach Meghan Fitzpatrick, each episode offers real-life inspiration for reclaiming confidence and direction in your work. In this week’s episode, Meghan is joined by Elizabeth Betts, a psychodynamic therapist, clinical supervisor, educator, and founder of Aphrodite School of Counselling and Psychotherapy. With a career spanning childcare, education, private practice and therapist training, Lizzie has built a reputation for developing practitioners who prioritise self-awareness, relational depth, and real-world client work over rigid academic performance. Growing up in South London, Lizzie navigated undiagnosed dyslexia and dyspraxia while quietly developing an ability to retain, interpret, and communicate information in her own way. Rather than being defined by what did not work, she built a career by leaning into what did. Her early years working in childcare, schools and as a nanny for over a decade laid the foundation for her understanding of human development, long before formal training began. The conversation explores how personal experience often shapes professional direction. Exposure to mental health challenges within close relationships, alongside years of hands-on care, led Lizzie towards counselling as both a profession and a way to deepen her understanding of people. What followed was a steady progression into therapy, teaching, and supervision, eventually combining all three into her own training school. There is a strong focus on the limitations of traditional education models, particularly for those who do not fit academic norms. Lizzie challenges the idea that written performance should define capability, highlighting how many highly skilled therapists struggle in formal assessment environments while excelling in the therapy room. Her work centres on adapting training to the individual, recognising different learning styles, and ensuring that competence is measured through application rather than memorisation. Aphrodite School of Counselling and Psychotherapy reflects this philosophy. Built with an emphasis on self-development, pastoral support, and flexible learning, the school is designed for those entering the profession as well as experienced therapists looking to progress into supervision. It is a direct response to gaps in existing training structures and a commitment to doing things differently. CONNECT WITH LIZZIE:Website: Aphrodite School of Counselling and Psychotherapy https://www.aphroditescp.co.uk/Email: info@aphrodite.com WORK WITH MEGHAN: If you are interested in working with Meghan 1:1, you can book an intro call with her here: https://app.paperbell.com/checkout/packages/166602 [https://app.paperbell.com/checkout/packages/166602] GUEST SUBMISSIONS: If you think you know someone who would make a great guest, feel free to email Meghan at hello@meghanfitzpatrick.com SUPPORT THE SHOW: If you’d like to support the show and the work of Career Congregation, you can do so here: https://ko-fi.com/meghanfitzpatrick [https://ko-fi.com/meghanfitzpatrick] Keywords: Career, Therapist, Therapy, Mental health, Personal development, Career transition, Authentic career paths, Education, Neurodivergence, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Supervision, Coaching, Mentor, Purpose, Work-life balance, Motivation, Inspiring careers © Copyright Meghan Fitzpatrick 2026