The fetal position moment every Entrepreneur knows (And nobody talks about) | Ryan Austin

The hard truth about building a career you love

What if career growth had less to do with strategy and more to do with who you become along the way? Let’s hear Candice with Jessica Miller-Merrell, founder of Workology, talk about entrepreneurship, resilience, career pivots, and the personal growth most people never expect when building meaningful work. From losing her job because of a blog, to building a business that reaches over a million people a month, to learning how nervous system regulation changed everything, this conversation is honest, practical, and deeply human. If you are building a career, growing a business, or trying to create work that actually feels good to wake up to, this episode is for you. WHAT YOU’LL GET FROM THIS EPISODE * Why career growth often starts with personal growth * The hidden realities of entrepreneurship people rarely talk about * How to navigate uncertainty and career pivots * Lessons from building an online business before social media really existed * How nervous system regulation impacts leadership and success * What it really takes to build work you genuinely love GET TO KNOW JESSICA: Jessica Miller-Merrell is the Founder of Workology, a workplace resource for HR, recruiting professionals and business leaders. The site was listed twice as a top 75 career resource by Forbes Magazine. Jessica is the president and CEO of Xceptional HR, a human capital strategy and consulting agency, and is listed by Forbes as a top 50 social media power user. Because of her industry expertise and knowledge, Jessica’s opinions and expertise are sought after and sourced by publications and media including: The Economist, Forbes, CIO Magazine, CBS, Entrepreneur Magazine, and SHRM’s HR Magazine. Her new book, Digitizing Talent: Creative Strategies for the Digital Recruiting Age was published in 2023 by the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). CONNECT WITH JESSICA: Instagram: @workologyblog LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jmillermerrell Youtube: youtube.com/workology Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/workologyblog/ Website: https://workology.com https://go.workology.com/nervous-system-reset/ MEET YOUR HOST, CANDICE MITCHELL Candice Mitchell is a Talent Development Strategist, CEO of Talent Collective, and USA Today bestselling author of Choose You: For the People Who Refuse to Disappear. With nearly two decades of experience building and leading capability functions inside global and Fortune 500 organizations, she founded Talent Collective, a premium capability-building firm for L&D, HR, Change, and People leaders in high-growth companies. YOUR HOST, CANDICE MITCHELL, CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT: Website: https://talentcollective.org/ [https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltc/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candice_mitchell_msc/ [https://www.instagram.com/candice_mitchell_msc/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candice_mitchell_msc [https://www.youtube.com/@candice_mitchell_msc] Talent Development Academy: https://courses.talentcollective.org/bundles/talent-development-academy [https://courses.talentcollective.org/bundles/talent-development-academy] Choose You book: https://chooseyoubook.com/ [https://chooseyoubook.com/] Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven pauldehavenmusic.com [http://pauldehavenmusic.com/]

You don’t hate work. You hate how it feels

What if the problem isn’t your job… but how much of yourself you’ve tied to it This conversation with Madison Butler felt like saying out loud the things most people only think about Madison Butler to talk about work, identity, burnout, and what it actually means to build a life that feels like yours from people pleasing in early careers to detaching your identity from your job to walking away from corporate entirely, this is an honest conversation about what we’re not saying out loud. If you’ve ever felt like work is taking more from you than it’s giving this episode will hit close WHAT YOU'LL HEAR IN THIS E PISODE: * why so many people tie their identity to work * how to emotionally detach from your job without quitting * the real impact managers have on your mental health * what burnout actually looks like in real life * how to start choosing yourself without blowing everything up * why you’re allowed to redefine success at any point GET TO KNOW MADISON: Madison Butler is a workplace strategist, author, and professional “call-it-like-it-is” speaker who is on a mission to make work suck less. A former Chief People Officer turned founder, she helps companies fix broken cultures, challenge outdated leadership norms, and actually give a damn about their people. She is the host of Crash Out With Me, where she unpacks burnout, identity shifts, and what happens when high-performing humans hit their limit. She’s worked with brands like Zillow, Amazon, and Mammoth Brands, and is known for blending tough empathy with systems-level change. CONNECT WITH MADISON: Instagram: @MadisonAmeliaB LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bluehairedunicorn/ MEET YOUR HOST, CANDICE MITCHELL Candice Mitchell is a Talent Development Strategist, CEO of Talent Collective, and USA Today bestselling author of Choose You: For the People Who Refuse to Disappear. With nearly two decades of experience building and leading capability functions inside global and Fortune 500 organizations, she founded Talent Collective, a premium capability-building firm for L&D, HR, Change, and People leaders in high-growth companies. YOUR HOST, CANDICE MITCHELL, CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT: Website: https://talentcollective.org/ [https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltc/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candice_mitchell_msc/ [https://www.instagram.com/candice_mitchell_msc/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candice_mitchell_msc [https://www.youtube.com/@candice_mitchell_msc] Talent Development Academy: https://courses.talentcollective.org/bundles/talent-development-academy [https://courses.talentcollective.org/bundles/talent-development-academy] Choose You book: https://chooseyoubook.com/ [https://chooseyoubook.com/] Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven pauldehavenmusic.com [http://pauldehavenmusic.com/]

The fetal position moment every Entrepreneur knows (And nobody talks about) | Ryan Austin

From side hustle at 15 to SaaS founder — Ryan Austin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanaustin3/] shares the raw entrepreneur story behind personal growth, success mindset, self improvement, and starting a business with nothing but grit. ___________________ JOIN US FOR OUR LIVE EVENT: We run a career-changing live event every month. 🔗 Register here: https://talentcollective.org/live [https://talentcollective.org/live] ___________________ In this candid conversation, Ryan — Founder and CEO of Cognota, the world's first Learn Ops platform — tells the full, unfiltered story of what entrepreneurship actually looks like from the inside. The side hustles that became real businesses. The exits. The wrong partnerships. And the moment in Austin, Texas, when he slid down against a wall, went into something like a fetal position, and genuinely thought it was over. This is not a highlight reel. This is the real thing. 🔑 What you'll get from this conversation: → How Ryan turned a teenager's side hustle into real businesses with employees — before he could drive → Why his university campus store shut him down (and what he did next) → The wrong partnership that killed a business that could have been massive → How he became SVP by pitching the board a revenue stream they didn't know they needed → The $100K phone call that came the second he hit rock bottom → Why he says "businesses don't die unless you kill them" → What the SaaS apocalypse looks like from inside a company going fully AI-native → His advice for anyone in L&D or corporate training who is job searching right now → What he'd tell his younger self — including the childhood stuff he rarely shares Whether you're building a business from scratch, navigating a career pivot, working in learning and development, or sharpening your entrepreneur mindset — this one's for you. MEET RYAN AUSTIN: Ryan Austin is a serial entrepreneur and thought leader in talent development with nearly 20 years of experience. As CEO of Cognota, the leading LearnOps platform, he's building a new software category focused on the operational effectiveness of corporate L&D, Talent, and HR teams. Cognota's patent-pending technology is trusted by global enterprises and recognized by Brandon Hall Group. Ryan is also host of the LearnOps Leadership Series and a contributor to Forbes Business Council, ATD, and Training Journal. CONNECT WITH RYAN: IG: @ryanwhyyy LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanaustin3 MEET YOUR HOST, CANDICE MITCHELL Candice Mitchell is a Talent Development Strategist, CEO of Talent Collective, and USA Today bestselling author of Choose You: For the People Who Refuse to Disappear. With nearly two decades of experience building and leading capability functions inside global and Fortune 500 organizations, she founded Talent Collective, a premium capability-building firm for L&D, HR, Change, and People leaders in high-growth companies. YOUR HOST, CANDICE MITCHELL, CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT: Website: https://talentcollective.org/ [https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltc/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candice_mitchell_msc/ [https://www.instagram.com/candice_mitchell_msc/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candice_mitchell_msc [https://www.youtube.com/@candice_mitchell_msc] Talent Development Academy: https://courses.talentcollective.org/bundles/talent-development-academy [https://courses.talentcollective.org/bundles/talent-development-academy] Choose You book: https://chooseyoubook.com/ [https://chooseyoubook.com/] Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven pauldehavenmusic.com [http://pauldehavenmusic.com/]

Why your manager impacts your life more than you think

What if your manager has more impact on your emotional wellbeing than almost anyone else in your life? Ryan shares the career journey that took him from industrial-organizational psychology into leadership development, talent strategy, people analytics, and executive coaching. From building HR systems from the ground up to leading talent development strategies across major organizations, Ryan brings both the human and commercial side of leadership into one powerful conversation. This episode dives into what makes great leaders, why workplace culture starts with management, and how leadership decisions shape not only business outcomes, but people’s lives far beyond work. A must-listen for leaders, managers, HR professionals, and anyone building teams. What you’ll get from this episode * Why managers deeply affect emotional wellbeing * How leadership shapes workplace culture * Lessons from talent development and people analytics * What great leadership looks like in practice * How to think commercially as a people leader * Why development starts with self-awareness Get to know Ryan: Ryan McCrea is a senior talent and leadership development leader known for building practical, high-impact strategies that help organizations grow stronger leaders, better teams, and healthier cultures. With more than two decades of experience across talent management, leadership development, organizational effectiveness, mentoring, and culture transformation, Ryan brings a science-practitioner approach to helping people and businesses perform at their best. He is also the author of Quick Bites of Insight, a book that offers practical, real-world leadership lessons for managers and professionals looking to grow in the flow of work. Most recently, Ryan served as Head of Learning and Leadership Development at Ameren, where he led enterprise-wide learning and leadership development strategy and oversaw a team responsible for building scalable solutions that supported leaders and employees across the organization. He currently serves as President of the Saint Louis Organization Development Network (STL-ODN), reflecting his continued commitment to advancing the field of organizational development and leadership practice. Previously, Ryan served as Vice President, Talent Development at Commerce Bank, where he launched a company-wide professional development program and led strategic initiatives to strengthen leadership capability, employee growth, and organizational effectiveness. Ryan is certified in Situational Leadership®, The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety™, DiSC®, and MBTI®, and is also a certified Social and Emotional Intelligence Coach. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Southern Indiana and a Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Based in St. Louis, Ryan lives with his wife, Susan, and their two cats, Zooey and Coco. Outside of work, he is passionate about music, movies, fashion, pop culture, and art, and is always up for a lively conversation about any of them. Connect with Ryan: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rmccrea/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rmccrea/] Website: www.quickbitesofinsight.com [http://www.quickbitesofinsight.com] Buy his book here: https://a.co/d/01WVNkb0 [https://a.co/d/01WVNkb0] MEET YOUR HOST, CANDICE MITCHELL Candice Mitchell is a Talent Development Strategist, CEO of Talent Collective, and USA Today bestselling author of Choose You: For the People Who Refuse to Disappear. With nearly two decades of experience building and leading capability functions inside global and Fortune 500 organizations, she founded Talent Collective, a premium capability-building firm for L&D, HR, Change, and People leaders in high-growth companies. YOUR HOST, CANDICE MITCHELL, CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT: Website: https://talentcollective.org/ [https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltc/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candice_mitchell_msc/ [https://www.instagram.com/candice_mitchell_msc/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candice_mitchell_msc [https://www.youtube.com/@candice_mitchell_msc] Talent Development Academy: https://courses.talentcollective.org/bundles/talent-development-academy [https://courses.talentcollective.org/bundles/talent-development-academy] Choose You book: https://chooseyoubook.com/ [https://chooseyoubook.com/] Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven pauldehavenmusic.com [http://pauldehavenmusic.com/]

From corporate leader to extraordinary entrepreneur

Adrienne Weimer’s career path did not follow a straight line and that is exactly what makes this conversation so powerful. From nearly becoming a doctor, to building a career in consulting and leadership development, to moving alone across the world to Thailand, to leaving LinkedIn and building a million-dollar business, Adrienne shares the real story behind what it takes to trust yourself through uncertainty. This episode is a deeply honest conversation about identity shifts, career pivots, resilience, entrepreneurship, and what success really looks like when you define it on your own terms. If you are navigating change, questioning your next step, or building something that asks you to believe in yourself before the proof exists, this conversation will stay with you. What you’ll get from this episode: * How to know when it’s time to pivot * The courage it takes to trust yourself without proof * Lessons from corporate leadership and entrepreneurship * What building a business really feels like behind the scenes * How moving abroad changed Adrienne’s perspective * Why success should be defined by freedom, not titles Get to know Adrienne: Adrienne Weimer is a business mentor and former LinkedIn Sales Consultant who helps conscious women entrepreneurs build businesses where visibility feels safe, sales feel aligned, and wealth feels natural. With over four years of experience at LinkedIn and more than 3,000 entrepreneurs, coaches, and sales professionals mentored, Adrienne brings both insider strategy and deep coaching expertise to her work. Through her signature coaching programs and masterminds, she helps women become visible with confidence, sell through self-trust instead of pressure, and build sustainable financial freedom without burnout or bro tactics. Her mission is to empower women to own their brilliance, lead with presence, and create meaningful impact while working less. Connect with Adrienne: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachadrienneweimer/ Website: https://www.adrienneweimer.com/ MEET YOUR HOST, CANDICE MITCHELL Candice Mitchell is a Talent Development Strategist, CEO of Talent Collective, and USA Today bestselling author of Choose You: For the People Who Refuse to Disappear. With nearly two decades of experience building and leading capability functions inside global and Fortune 500 organizations, she founded Talent Collective, a premium capability-building firm for L&D, HR, Change, and People leaders in high-growth companies. YOUR HOST, CANDICE MITCHELL, CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT: Website: https://talentcollective.org/ [https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltc/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candice_mitchell_msc/ [https://www.instagram.com/candice_mitchell_msc/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candice_mitchell_msc [https://www.youtube.com/@candice_mitchell_msc] Talent Development Academy: https://courses.talentcollective.org/bundles/talent-development-academy [https://courses.talentcollective.org/bundles/talent-development-academy] Choose You book: https://chooseyoubook.com/ [https://chooseyoubook.com/] Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven pauldehavenmusic.com [http://pauldehavenmusic.com/]