Why Your Career Doesn't Have to Fit in a Box: Maggie Blackburn on Portfolio Careers

Why Your Career Doesn't Have to Fit in a Box: Maggie Blackburn on Portfolio Careers

In this episode of RTDB (Rock the Damn Boat), Christy Hughes sits down with Maggie Blackburn of maggie-blackburn.com [http://maggie-blackburn.com] to talk about what it really looks like to leave the traditional 9-to-5 and build a portfolio career on your own terms. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE * What a portfolio career actually is — and why it's more than just "having a side hustle" * The difficult conversation with a manager that became the turning point for Maggie's corporate exit * Why questioning corporate life is a valid, necessary step — not a crisis of confidence * Rocking the boat in real life: Maggie's move into self-employment and building multiple income streams * A fun tangent on dream retreat destinations (because entrepreneurship needs joy too) * How to work with Maggie to figure out your next steps and market your ideas with steadiness and direction KEY TAKEAWAYS * A portfolio career isn't about doing everything at once — it's about building income streams with intention * The moment you start questioning corporate life is often the moment real direction begins * Self-employment doesn't require having it all figured out on day one * Marketing your ideas well matters as much as having good ideas in the first place CONNECT WITH MAGGIE BLACKBURN * 🌐 Website: maggie-blackburn.com [http://maggie-blackburn.com] * 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maggieblackburn [http://linkedin.com/in/maggieblackburn] CONNECT WITH CHRISTY & RTDB * 🎙️ More episodes of RTDB: thrivewithchristy.com [http://thrivewithchristy.com] * 🤝 Join The THRIVE Collective for ongoing support as you build your own next chapter ---------------------------------------- Enjoyed this episode of RTDB? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a woman who needs permission to rock the damn boat.

Feeling All The Feels: The Reality of Post-Menopausal Fatigue, PTSD, and Aging

In this Monday Mini episode of RTDB, Christy gets honest about the fatigue that comes with aging, the strange grief of realizing some "firsts" are behind her, and why she's leaning harder into travel to satisfy her wanderlust. She also unpacks why women's brains seem to dig up old trauma out of nowhere — and what to do when it happens. Show Notes: * The real, unfiltered version of fatigue — not "tired," but the deeper exhaustion of aging and carrying more * Grieving the "firsts" — acknowledging that some experiences won't happen again, and why that's okay * Choosing travel as a response to wanderlust instead of postponing it "someday" * Why women's brains seem wired to resurface old trauma — nervous system patterns, not weakness * Reframing fatigue and memory resurfacing as information, not failure Support: menopause.org [http://menopause.org] sherecovers.org [http://sherecovers.org]

How Curiosity Builds a Celebrated Career: The Non-Linear Path to Leadership with Rachel Skaff

Rachel Skaff is the Senior Vice President of Sales at FedEx and a veteran of the tech industry with past leadership stints at AWS and Intel. Known for her "messy, magical, and spectacular" career path, Rachel combines the technical mind of a computer scientist with the heart of a mentor. She is a passionate champion for STEM and a believer that an exceptional life only happens outside of your comfort zone. When she isn't scaling global organizations, she’s exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations with her six children. Join Christy as she discusses Rachel's wide variety of industries, from hardhat construction as a civil engineer to global logistics with FedEx. At the heart of everything Rachel does is a curiosity for how things work, how to simplify them, and how to improve the world around us. Beyond the P&L, Rachel is a fierce advocate for inclusive leadership and STEM education. She is a sought-after voice on the "Human Advantage" in the age of AI, believing that vulnerability and authenticity are the ultimate drivers of high-performing cultures. Rachel holds an MBA from Regis University and is an alumna of Columbia Business School. Based in the Phoenix area, she is a mother of six and an avid adventurer who can be found hiking or boating when she isn't transforming global sales organizations. What We Discuss: * Rachel's starting line, and how her career has looked more like an obstacle course than a run * The key traits of steady leadership * The difficult but necessary act of listening * How we can shape the next generation through understanding and support * How grabbing the markers help us play it big Follow Rachel's colorful career and tips on compassionate leadership and presence on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelskaff/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelskaff/] Learn more about Christy's work at thrivewithchristy.com [http://thrivewithchristy.com]

Lake Tahoe Hiking Adventure: My Favorite Northern California Trails & Bruised (and Bare) Bums

Christy shares a thrilling (and hilarious) hiking adventure through Northern California and Tahoe, complete with a rickety bridge crossing, a steep tumble, and an unexpected visit to a secret clothing-optional beach. This episode is all about courage, rediscovery, and the messy side of stepping outside your comfort zone. ---------------------------------------- What Happened Christy tackled a challenging hike that included crossing a sketchy wooden bridge and navigating a steep descent—which ended with a literal fall on her bum and a bruise to prove it. The adventure took an amusing turn when she discovered a clothing-optional beach nearby, where she became one of many "bums" enjoying nature in the raw. Why It Matters This isn't just a funny story—it's about what happens when you revisit things you used to love and push past the fear that says you can't. 3 Key Takeaways 1. Enjoy Nature — Get outside. The views, the fresh air, and the reminder that you're small in the best way. 2. Revisit Things You Used to Love — Hiking used to be Christy's thing. Coming back to it brought joy she'd forgotten. 3. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone — That's where the story (and the bruise) come from. Growth isn't always graceful. Safety Reminder Be sun smart and always tell someone where you're going—especially on solo or remote hikes. Follow me on Instagram for more hiking photos www.instagram.com/rockthedamnboat [http://www.instagram.com/rockthedamnboat] Find out more about The Thrive Collective www.thrivewithchristy.com [http://www.thrivewithchristy.com]

How a Layoff Led to a Creative Sabbatical with Real Time Creator Host, Alison Kinsey

Getting laid off doesn't have to be the end of the story — sometimes it's the opening scene. In this episode of RTDB, I sit down with Alison Kinsey, host of the Real Time Creator podcast. After being laid off last year, Alison didn't scramble for the next "safe" job — she leaned into creative work and said yes to whatever came her way. She already had the skills: Alison runs a podcast editing business with her husband, and that behind-the-scenes experience became the launchpad for her own show. We talk about: * What it actually felt like to get laid off — and the mindset shift after * Why she chose to build something of her own instead of job-hunting * How her editing business gave her an unfair advantage in podcasting * What "leaning into whatever comes" has looked like in practice * Advice for creators thinking about launching their own show Connect with Alison: 🎙️ Podcasting for Creatives: https://www.podcastingforcreatives.com/ [https://www.podcastingforcreatives.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-langone/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-langone/] IG: https://www.instagram.com/alisonkinsey/ [https://www.instagram.com/alisonkinsey/]