Switchbacks 02: The Side Quest That Became the Career: Building Success Through Curiosity and Courage

Switchbacks 02: The Side Quest That Became the Career: Building Success Through Curiosity and Courage

What if the thing you love most isn't a distraction from your career—but the foundation of it? In this episode of Switchbacks, Michelle sits down with Kyle Richardson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-richardson-89a49b1/], President of Royal Talens North America [https://www.royaltalensnorthamerica.com/], to explore a career path that was anything but conventional. From dropping out of college and moving across the country with no clear plan, to leading a successful international business in the art materials industry, Kyle shares how curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty shaped his journey. Together they discuss why failure isn't something to fear, how empathy can become a leadership advantage, and why chasing fulfillment often leads to greater success than chasing a title or paycheck. If you're early in your career and wondering whether you have everything figured out yet, this conversation is a reminder that some of the best opportunities come from staying open to the unexpected. You'll learn: * Why career paths rarely follow a straight line * How to build confidence by embracing failure * The leadership power of empathy and vulnerability * Why curiosity may be more valuable than expertise * How to recognize opportunities hiding in your "side interests"

23 Purposeful Opportunities

In this episode of the Aleutian Trail Talks Podcast, we discuss “Purposeful Opportunities” — developing the mindset and skill to recognize opportunities, create value, and turn ideas into meaningful outcomes. Using real-world examples from companies like Airbnb, Netflix, and TOMS, we explore how initiative, creativity, and collaboration can lead to growth, innovation, and impact. Whether you are early in your career, leading a team, or looking to grow professionally, this episode offers practical insight into becoming someone who not only notices opportunities — but purposefully acts on them. Listen now and consider: what opportunities might already exist around you waiting to be developed? Join us as we talk about identifying overlooked opportunities, building strategic partnerships, and taking purposeful action in your career and community. Links to other resources discussed in this episode: How I Built This : NPR [https://www.npr.org/series/490248027/how-i-built-this] Podcast — The Tim Ferriss Show - The Blog of Author Tim Ferriss [https://tim.blog/podcast/]

New Terrain 01: Conversation with Dr. Noah Myers: AI Isn’t Replacing You—It’s Rewriting the First 10 Years of Your Career

Welcome to the first episode in Aleutian Trail Talk’s New Terrain series—where we explore how AI is reshaping work, skills, and career growth for early- to mid-career professionals. Right now, everyone’s talking about AI—but what does it actually mean for your career? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Noah Myers, an expert in AI and data analytics, to move beyond the hype and tackle the real questions: * Are you building the right skills for the future?  * What happens as AI takes supplements entry-level work?  * How do you learn if you’re no longer “doing” the work the same way?  Together, we unpack how AI is compressing traditional career paths, shifting value from execution to oversight, and redefining what it means to grow professionally.

22 Finding Your Edge with Aria Taylor: Leveraging Unexpected Skills in Your Career

Not every career path is linear—and not every valuable skill comes from a traditional background. The skills you think don’t count might be the ones that set you apart In this episode, we talk with Aria Taylor, who transitioned from a career in vocal performance to accounting (recently going back to school and completing her master’s degree) and initially questioned whether she belonged in a field where she didn’t have the “typical” background. What she discovered is something many professionals overlook: the skills you gain outside your career path may be the ones that set you apart. We explore how to identify transferable skills, build confidence in nontraditional paths, and reframe your experience as a strength rather than a limitation. If you’ve ever felt behind, different, or unsure how your past fits into your future—this conversation is for you.

21 Active Questioning: Don't have the Answers? Ask Better Questions

Most early-career professionals think they need to have the right answers to stand out. But the truth is—your impact isn’t defined by what you know. It’s shaped by the questions you ask. In this episode of Aleutian Trail Talks, we break down the skill of Active Questioning—how asking thoughtful, open questions can deepen understanding, spark better conversations, and elevate the ideas around you. If you’re in your first 10 years of your career, this is a game-changer. You may not have authority yet—but the right questions can help you build influence, accelerate your learning, and establish credibility faster than you think. Because the professionals who grow fastest aren’t the ones with all the answers—they’re the ones asking the questions others aren’t.