59: Jess Mitchell on Life After... Slowing Down: Leaving corporate, backing yourself, and career changes in your 40s

59: Jess Mitchell on Life After... Slowing Down: Leaving corporate, backing yourself, and career changes in your 40s

What if the lesson you most needed to learn wasn't about achieving more, but about finally allowing others to do life with you? This week on Life After I Left, I'm joined by Jess Mitchell, sales and leadership specialist, speaker, facilitator, and founder of Women Rise. Jess spent decades working in corporate sales and leadership, always achieving, always over-responsible, always moving fast, until a sudden career change at 44 gave her the gift she never expected: the chance to slow down and finally ask, what is my message? Jess's story begins at six years old, the youngest child of a farming family, when her mum made the courageous decision to move her children out of the family home to create a safer life. From that moment, Jess learned early how to carry more than her share. It took four decades, and stepping out of a role she thought she'd have forever, to realise that the answer to over-responsibility isn't more effort. It's togetherness. In this episode, we chat about: * Growing up in a separated home and learning over-responsibility from a very young age * Why Jess's sudden departure from corporate felt like a loss, and the unexpected gift that came from slowing down * The moment Jess realised her message wasn't about what people wanted to hear, but what she was congruent enough to say * Why confidence comes after action, not before, and what that looks like in practice * The difference between isolating yourself in business and choosing to build something together * Her Māori proverb that underpins everything: we are all in the canoe and we row together * Why she's writing a book (and who talked her into it) * The value of staying bold and curious, even when the path ahead isn't clear This episode is for every woman who has been quietly carrying too much, waiting until she feels "ready enough," or talking herself out of the help she actually needs. Jess brings warmth, zero fluff, and the kind of straight-talking insight that makes you feel seen, and sends you straight back into your work with a lot more conviction. Connect with Jess: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jess.k.mitchell/ [https://www.instagram.com/jess.k.mitchell/] Website: https://www.jesskmitchell.com/ [https://www.jesskmitchell.com/] Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-mitchell-807900123/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-mitchell-807900123/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.mitchell.71066 [https://www.facebook.com/jessica.mitchell.71066] FREE Women Rise Masterclass: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/MK0MfamUQuWJ7G0OICAaog#/registration [https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/MK0MfamUQuWJ7G0OICAaog#/registration] Connect with Cat: Join my mailing list to be the first to know about my NEW fear program: ⁠https://catlouisedunn.myflodesk.com/mailing-list⁠ [https://catlouisedunn.myflodesk.com/mailing-list⁠] Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterileftpodcast/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterileftpodcast/⁠] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catlouisedunn/ [https://www.instagram.com/catlouisedunn/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catlouisedunn [https://www.facebook.com/catlouisedunn/] Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catlouisedunn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/catlouisedunn/] Website: https://catlouisedunn.com [https://catlouisedunn.com/] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-after-i-left/id1815891092 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-after-i-left/id1815891092] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@catlouisedunn [https://www.youtube.com/@catlouisedunn] EmpowerHer Legacy ebook (Australia): https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q [https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q] EmpowerHer Legacy ebook (United Kingdom): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q [https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q] EmpowerHer Legacy ebook (USA): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q] Support the show: Got a topic idea or would love to share your story on the podcast? Connect with me on Instagram @lifeafterileftpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterileftpodcast] — I would love to hear from you. New episodes drop every Thursday. Make sure you're subscribed, so you never miss a story that could change your life (or someone else's). And we'd love a 5-star review to help these stories reach the women who need them most. ❤️ Remember: Don't be silent. Be unstoppable.

58: Life After… My First Fail as a Published Author: Getting it wrong, showing up anyway, and learning to love the failures

What if the thing standing between you and the life you actually want isn't failure, but your fear of it? In this solo episode, I'm getting real about something that happened to me yesterday morning. A small mistake, a live stream, and the wrong backdrop, and what it taught me about the one fear that quietly runs the lives of so many women in business and in life. In this episode, I chat about: * The 4:30am wake-up call that went sideways - and why I'm glad I showed up anyway * Why shaming yourself for mistakes is doing far more damage than the mistake itself * The difference between fear of failure and what's actually underneath it — fear of success * Why success can feel more terrifying than failure, and what that says about the responsibility we're afraid to own * How I've had to apply this same lesson to 20 years of patterns in relationships * What learning to walk has to do with your next scary business move * Why community and support aren't optional when you're going after big, scary goals * How I turned yesterday's mistake into content, a lesson, and a reminder that showing up imperfectly still changes lives * A sneak peek at the new program I'm building around fear, and how to get early access This episode is for the woman who has been staying in bed — metaphorically or literally — because the risk of getting it wrong feels bigger than the cost of doing nothing. It's not. Failure is not the opposite of success. It's the road that gets you there. And if you're scared right now, that's not a sign to stop. It's a sign that what you're going after actually matters. Connect with Cat: * Join my mailing list to be the first to know about my NEW fear program: ⁠https://catlouisedunn.myflodesk.com/mailing-list⁠ [https://catlouisedunn.myflodesk.com/mailing-list⁠] * Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterileftpodcast/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterileftpodcast/⁠] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catlouisedunn/ [https://www.instagram.com/catlouisedunn/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catlouisedunn [https://www.facebook.com/catlouisedunn/] * Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catlouisedunn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/catlouisedunn/] * Website: https://catlouisedunn.com [https://catlouisedunn.com/] * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-after-i-left/id1815891092 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-after-i-left/id1815891092] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@catlouisedunn [https://www.youtube.com/@catlouisedunn] EmpowerHer Legacy ebook You can grab a copy for your country at the links below. * Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q [https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q] * United Kingdom: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q [https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q] * USA: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q] * Germany: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q [https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q] * France: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q [https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q] * Spain: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q [https://www.amazon.es/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q] * Italy: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q [https://www.amazon.it/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q] * Netherlands: https://www.amazon.nl/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q [https://www.amazon.nl/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q] * Japan: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q [https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q] * Brazil: https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q [https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q] * Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q [https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q] * Mexico: https://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q [https://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q] * India: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q [https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0H4JBKJ9Q] Support the show: Got a topic idea or would love to share your story on the podcast? Connect with me on Instagram @lifeafterileftpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterileftpodcast] — I would love to hear from you. New episodes drop every Thursday. Make sure you're subscribed, so you never miss a story that could change your life (or someone else's). And we'd love a 5-star review to help these stories reach the women who need them most. ❤️ Remember: Don't be silent. Be unstoppable.

57: Kristi McVee on Life After… Policing: Child abuse investigations, PTSD & protecting children online

What would you do if your child told you, "You're not the mum I remember"? Content warning: This conversation is confronting, emotional and, at times, difficult to hear. We discuss child sexual abuse, online exploitation, grooming, and the challenges families face when navigating these issues. Today I'm joined by Kristi McVee. Kristi is a former Detective Senior Constable, specialist child interviewer, and straight-talking child abuse prevention educator who doesn't sugar-coat the truth. During her decade in the West Australian Police Force, Kristi investigated child sexual abuse, interviewed vulnerable children, managed child sex offenders, and witnessed the devastating cost of silence, shame, and systems that fail. But after years of witnessing the impact of abuse, navigating broken systems, and carrying the emotional weight of the work, Kristi reached a point where something had to change. When her daughter told her, "You're not the mum I remember," Kristi made the difficult decision to leave policing and begin the long journey of recovering from PTSD. Since leaving the police in 2020, Kristi has become a sought-after keynote speaker, bestselling author of Operation KidSafe, and a leading voice in protective parenting education. Today, she helps parents, caregivers, and communities better understand the realities of child abuse and how to keep children safe, both online and offline. In this episode, we chat about: * Kristi's journey from young mum to detective and specialist child interviewer * The emotional toll of investigating child sexual abuse and living with PTSD * Why broken systems and a lack of support can impact frontline workers * The warning signs of child grooming and predatory behaviour * The growing risks children face online through social media, AI, sextortion, and image-based abuse * How parents can better protect children in a rapidly changing digital world * Why delaying access to social media can benefit children's development * The importance of having honest, age-appropriate conversations about safety with children While the topics in this episode can be confronting, Kristi shares practical knowledge, hard-earned insights, and the conversations every parent, caregiver, and trusted adult needs to be having. Because protecting children starts with understanding the risks, recognising the warning signs, and being willing to have the conversations that many of us never had growing up.   Connect with Kristi: Instagram: @kristimcvee [https://www.instagram.com/kristimcvee?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] Facebook: @kristimcvee [https://www.facebook.com/kristimcvee] TikTok: @tiktokcop81 [https://www.tiktok.com/@tiktokcop81] YouTube: @kristimcvee81 [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFYjaqjWl8D30b3K40UcgDw] Website: https://www.kristimcvee.com [https://www.kristimcvee.com/] Podcast: https://www.kristimcvee.com/podcast [https://www.kristimcvee.com/podcasts/conversations-with-kristi] Resources & Courses: https://www.kristimcvee.com [https://www.kristimcvee.com/free-resources]   Support the show: Got a topic idea or would love to share your story on the podcast? Connect with me on Instagram @lifeafterileftpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterileftpodcast] - I would love to hear from you. New episodes drop every Thursday. Make sure you’re subscribed, so you never miss a story that could change your life (or someone else's). And we’d love a 5-star review to help these stories reach the women who need them most. ❤️ Remember: Don’t be silent. Be unstoppable.

56: Life After… NOT Giving a TEDx Talk: Failure, fear & redefining success on my own terms

What if the thing you didn’t get was actually redirecting you toward something even more aligned? In today’s solo episode, I’m reflecting on something I genuinely didn’t expect to feel grateful for: not being selected for a recent TEDx opportunity. For years, standing on a TEDx stage felt like the pinnacle. The dream. The thing that would finally prove I’d “made it” as a speaker. But after attending a TEDx event shortly after receiving the rejection, I realised something surprising: The talk I had pitched wasn’t actually the message I wanted to share with the world. This episode is an honest reflection on validation, ambition, fear, failure, identity, and the pressure to chase goals simply because we think we should. I also share why I believe failure is one of the most important parts of growth, and how this experience helped me reconnect with what truly matters: the Life After I Left community, storytelling, vulnerability, and creating spaces where women feel seen, heard, and empowered. In this episode, I chat about: * Reflecting on our recent sold-out Life After I Left live event in Melbourne * Why I felt relief (not devastation) after not being chosen for TEDx * The pressure of external validation and tying success to big milestones * How rejection can reveal what you actually want * The difference between chasing a dream and chasing alignment * Why failure and “nos” are often part of finding your real path * Building Life After I Left into a movement, including live events, a future anthology, and a national tour * The fear-driven business I’m currently creating and why fear can become fuel for transformation * Letting go of the idea that success is one specific stage, title, or achievement This episode is a reminder that sometimes the closed doors are protecting you from stepping into something that isn’t fully aligned yet. And that your worth, voice, and impact do not depend on someone else choosing you. Sometimes the real work is choosing yourself first. Connect with Cat: Join my mailing list to be the first to know about the future of Life After I Left - and to get involved! https://catlouisedunn.myflodesk.com/mailing-list [https://catlouisedunn.myflodesk.com/mailing-list] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterileftpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterileftpodcast/] Big thanks to Simone Vanden-Driesen, our Headliner Sponsor for our live Life After I Left event on 28 May: https://www.leishmans.com.au/ [https://www.leishmans.com.au/]

55: Sally Jayne Eastland on Life After… Psychological Abuse: Leaving a narcissist, spiritual awakening & starting over in Spain

How do you rebuild your life when you’ve been conditioned to believe you can’t survive on your own? Today I’m joined by Sally Jayne Eastland. Sally moved to Spain with her husband of almost 20 years in 2020, believing they were starting a new chapter together. But while living in the mountains of Almería, she began experiencing what she describes as divine signs and synchronicities that forced her to realise there was something seriously wrong within her marriage. After confiding in a trusted friend who specialised in domestic abuse, Sally was told she had been experiencing long-term psychological and narcissistic abuse. In her mid-50s, in a foreign country where she barely spoke the language, Sally made the life-changing decision to leave with no job, no home, and no clear plan for what came next. In this episode, we chat about: * Recognising the signs of narcissistic abuse and coercive control * The role intuition, spirituality, and synchronicities played in Sally’s decision to leave * Starting over after abuse with no income, home, or support system * The fear of leaving abusive relationships and being conditioned to believe you can’t survive on your own * Life as an expat in Spain and finding community in unexpected places * Spiritual healing, Reiki, sound therapy, and returning to your authentic self * Why healing often involves reconnecting with the inner child * Learning to trust yourself, your instincts, and your own path again This episode is a reminder that it is never too late to leave, rebuild, and create a life that feels safe, aligned, and true to who you are. Sally’s story speaks to the courage it takes to start over and the possibility that exists on the other side of survival. Connect with Sally: Sally’s book - Silent Abuse: A Spiritual Journey to Freedom. It is available in most countries on Amazon. https://mybook.to/rDBs [https://mybook.to/rDBs] Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-eastland-65034b28/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-eastland-65034b28/] Email: sallyeastland@icloud.com [sallyeastland@icloud.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sallyj0101/ [https://www.instagram.com/sallyj0101/] Support the show: Got a topic idea or would love to share your story on the podcast? Connect with me on Instagram @lifeafterileftpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterileftpodcast] - I would love to hear from you. New episodes drop every Thursday. Make sure you’re subscribed, so you never miss a story that could change your life (or someone else's). And we’d love a 5-star review to help these stories reach the women who need them most. ❤️ Remember: Don’t be silent. Be unstoppable.