Wait... What's Next?

Rock Bottom Isn’t Always Loud: Burnout, Identity Loss & Finding Yourself Again

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2018275/fan_mail/new] What happens when you’ve drifted so far from yourself that you no longer recognize who you’ve become? This week’s conversation goes there. Fully, honestly, and without the polished version of healing we’re so used to seeing online. Amanda opens up about a relationship that became one of the biggest lessons of her life, but also one that slowly pulled her away from herself until she reached a point where she could no longer recognize the person she had become. She shares the difficult decisions, years of healing, and inner work it took to finally come back home to herself. I share a different kind of rock bottom. One that wasn’t caused by a breakup or a dramatic life event, but by a quiet internal voice that slowly became louder and louder until ignoring it felt impossible. Leaving my career and searching for my own “wait… what’s next?” moment wasn’t impulsive. It was the realization that I could no longer live disconnected from my own potential. Together, we talk about:  • identity loss and burnout  • heartbreak and emotional healing  • nervous system regulation and getting back into your body  • nature, self-care, and routines that helped us rebuild  • the messy middle that exists between breaking down and becoming someone new This episode is for anyone navigating a life transition, questioning their path, feeling disconnected from themselves, or quietly wondering if anyone else feels this way, too. You are not the only one going through it. And maybe this conversation will help you feel a little less alone in yours. 🎧 New episodes every Thursday. Follow, share, and join us in the in-between. Wait... What's Next?  Host: Laura Alba  Co-Host: Amanda Brilhante Executive Producer: Lauren Atkinson Instagram: @waitwhatsnextpod [https://www.instagram.com/waitwhatsnextpod/], @lauraalbaz [https://www.instagram.com/lauraalbaz/?hl=en] & @amandakbril [https://www.instagram.com/amandakbril/] Email:  waitwhatsnextpod@gmail.com [waitwhatsnextpod@gmail.com]

My First Solo Episode: Building a Podcast on the Side While Working a 9–5

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2018275/fan_mail/new] This episode is a little different… my first solo episode. Because life happens. Showing up for your dreams doesn’t always look perfect. It looks like doing what you can with where you are. As the host of this podcast, that means continuing to build, to show up, and to stay committed to the community we’re creating, even when life, work, and everything in between try to get in the way. In this episode, I share a quick check-in. What it’s been feeling like behind the scenes, the moments of overwhelm, and practicing grace, which is just as important as staying consistent. I also touch on what we’ve been building lately, where the podcast is going, and the core idea that continues to guide everything we do. Bringing to light the real-life transitions that don’t always get a voice. This is a short, honest conversation. A one-on-one moment to pause, reset, and keep going. If you’re navigating your own transitions, building something of your own, or trying to stay on track, this one is for you. Listen in for a real, 1:1 chat with your Wait… What’s Next host. New episodes every week. Wait... What's Next?  Host: Laura Alba  Co-Host: Amanda Brilhante Executive Producer: Lauren Atkinson Instagram: @waitwhatsnextpod [https://www.instagram.com/waitwhatsnextpod/], @lauraalbaz [https://www.instagram.com/lauraalbaz/?hl=en] & @amandakbril [https://www.instagram.com/amandakbril/] Email:  waitwhatsnextpod@gmail.com [waitwhatsnextpod@gmail.com]

Coachella Recap, Bieber Fever & The Lessons We’re Taking With Us

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2018275/fan_mail/new] In this episode, we’re catching up on everything. A full Coachella recap, the energy, the moments, and yes… the Bieber fever that had everyone talking. But beyond the fun, we come back to real life and sit with what actually stayed with us. We revisit our conversation with Morgan Wijay and break down the relationship lessons, personal growth, and emotional shifts that hit deeper than expected. The habits you build when you feel strong, the way relationships shape who you become, and the realization that no matter how different our stories look, we’re all navigating similar transitions underneath it all. This episode blends culture, life updates, and honest conversations about growth, relationships, and self-awareness. It’s about taking moments that feel light and fun, and turning them into something that actually moves you forward. If you’re navigating life changes, relationship shifts, or simply trying to understand yourself a little better, this conversation will resonate. The Interview we refer to in this episode can be found on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5pYsldaVHBO55LVe6bMzKF?si=0vBMo_IdSLCNUT9F20elZA] or Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wait-whats-next/id1634459591?i=1000762027783] New episodes every week. Follow, share, and stay connected. Wait... What's Next?  Host: Laura Alba  Co-Host: Amanda Brilhante Executive Producer: Lauren Atkinson Instagram: @waitwhatsnextpod [https://www.instagram.com/waitwhatsnextpod/], @lauraalbaz [https://www.instagram.com/lauraalbaz/?hl=en] & @amandakbril [https://www.instagram.com/amandakbril/] Email:  waitwhatsnextpod@gmail.com [waitwhatsnextpod@gmail.com]

The Unwritten Chapter: Healing and Rebuilding Your Life on Your Terms | Morgan Wijay

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2018275/fan_mail/new] Sometimes the hardest transitions are the ones that ask you to question the life you’ve built. In this episode, Laura sits down with Morgan, a mother, former athlete, and a woman who lived the traditional life society often expects, to talk about what it really looks like to grow within a relationship, try to make things work, and eventually realize when something no longer feels aligned. Morgan shares her experience of getting married young, becoming a mother, and navigating years of life within a relationship that shaped who she was. We explore what it feels like to slowly lose parts of yourself, to make choices that don’t fully reflect your values, and the moment when you can no longer ignore your own voice. This conversation is about the internal shift. The courage it takes to choose yourself, even when it means walking away from something familiar. We also talk about rebuilding. Starting over in your 40s, redefining what love looks like, and being open to something new that feels aligned, supportive, and real. This episode touches on relationships, self-worth, personal growth, marriage, divorce, and life transitions, while offering a perspective that it is never too late to choose a different path. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve outgrown a version of your life, this conversation will stay with you. Wait… what’s next? Wait... What's Next?  Host: Laura Alba  Co-Host: Amanda Brilhante Executive Producer: Lauren Atkinson Instagram: @waitwhatsnextpod [https://www.instagram.com/waitwhatsnextpod/], @lauraalbaz [https://www.instagram.com/lauraalbaz/?hl=en] & @amandakbril [https://www.instagram.com/amandakbril/] Email:  waitwhatsnextpod@gmail.com [waitwhatsnextpod@gmail.com]

Alexa, Play “Younger You”… We Grew Up But Miss Who We Were

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2018275/fan_mail/new] Lately, it feels like everything we grew up with is turning 20. The shows. The music. The versions of ourselves that once felt so certain about who we were going to be. And somehow… in the blink of an eye, we realize we’re the adults now. In this episode, we talk about that in-between feeling. Growing, evolving, taking on real responsibilities, and making decisions for your life… but still not fully recognizing the person you’re becoming. The nostalgia of who we used to be and the quiet shift into who we are now. The part of growing up that no one really prepares you for. The part where you’re building a life, but still trying to hold on to the lightness, the joy, and the version of you that felt a little more carefree. Growing up doesn’t always feel like you imagined it would. And maybe that’s not a bad thing. Maybe that’s the whole point. If you’ve ever looked at your life and thought “How did I get here?” while still figuring out who you are… this one is for you. Wait… what’s next? Wait... What's Next?  Host: Laura Alba  Co-Host: Amanda Brilhante Executive Producer: Lauren Atkinson Instagram: @waitwhatsnextpod [https://www.instagram.com/waitwhatsnextpod/], @lauraalbaz [https://www.instagram.com/lauraalbaz/?hl=en] & @amandakbril [https://www.instagram.com/amandakbril/] Email:  waitwhatsnextpod@gmail.com [waitwhatsnextpod@gmail.com]