Halesite’s Hidden Gem: Coastal Creative with Janelle Brooke

Halesite’s Hidden Gem: Coastal Creative with Janelle Brooke

There’s a hidden gem tucked away in Huntington, NY — Halesite, to be exact, a small waterfront area nestled right between Huntington Village and Huntington Bay. It’s part creative studio, part gathering space, part podcast room, part wedding morning prep space, and part community hub. But this conversation is not just about the space. It’s about the woman behind it. In this episode of Beyond Fine: The Other F-Word, I’m joined by Janelle Brooke, founder of Coastal Creative Studios, to talk about how what started as a search for an office became something much bigger — a place where people come to create, gather, celebrate, connect, and make their ideas feel real. Janelle shares the story behind Coastal Creative, including the pivots, uncertainty, personal loss, faith, motherhood, business growth, and the leap of expanding before she felt fully ready. We also talk about why in-person community matters, what it means to build something before you fully know what it will become, and how sometimes the thing you are creating becomes bigger than the original plan. If you’ve ever been in a season of building, pivoting, starting over, or wondering what something in your life is becoming, this conversation will meet you there. In this episode, we talk about: • How Coastal Creative Studios began• Why the space became more than an office• Taking a leap before you feel ready• Wedding morning prep and why space matters• Creativity, motherhood, business, and wearing many hats• Faith, loss, and finding community• Why rhythm may matter more than balance• Building your own roadmap when no one hands you one Learn more about Coastal Creative Studios [www.coastalcreativestudios.com] Follow Coastal Creative Studios: @coastalcreative.studios [https://www.instagram.com/coastalcreative.studios/] Follow Janelle :@janellebrookephotography [https://www.instagram.com/janellebrookephotography/] https://www.instagram.com/p/DZYurwCCe1b/ Follow Beyond Fine: @beyondfinepod [https://www.instagram.com/beyondfinepod/] If you know someone who is building something, starting over, or trying to trust the next step, share it with them.

Stop Counting What You Didn't Do: How to Reclaim Your Rhythm When Life Gets in the Way

This week, I almost didn't record. After a few days away, I came home feeling completely out of rhythm. The podcast wasn't recorded. Social media wasn't posted. My to-do list felt endless. And before I knew it, I had turned a temporary disruption into a much bigger story. In this episode, I'm sharing a pattern I know all too well: losing my rhythm, slipping into productive procrastination, and convincing myself that being behind on one thing means I'm behind on everything. We'll talk about: • Why interruptions to our routines hit harder than we expect• The difference between losing momentum and losing rhythm• How "productive procrastination" keeps us stuck• Why we focus on what we didn't do instead of what we did• A simple mindset shift that can help you find your footing again If you've ever felt overwhelmed after time away, struggled to get back into your routine, or found yourself counting everything you didn't accomplish, this conversation is for you. Because failing at one thing doesn't make you a failure. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend who might need the reminder. And if you're looking for more conversations like this, follow the podcast and connect with me on Instagram @beyondfinepod.

Sure, I’m Fine… No, She Is Not Fine.

You know that moment when someone asks, “What can I help you with?” ...and you draw a total blank? Not because you don’t need help Because it never even dawned on you to think about it. You’re so used to carrying it, figuring it out, making it work, and holding everything together that even help feels like one more thing you have to organize. This episode is about that kind of tired. The kind that sounds like, “I’m fine,” but underneath feels like, “I just want some peace.” If you’ve been craving quiet, connection, relief, or just a little room to breathe, this one is for you. Mentioned in this episode:Katherine Flechaus — licensed social worker turned coach For local listeners:Over the next few months, I’ll be creating Beyond Fine gatherings for women who want real conversation, connection, and a place to feel a little more like themselves. Interested? Let me know here:https://forms.gle/27HimPBYwvV1gEH76 [https://forms.gle/27HimPBYwvV1gEH76]

When You’re Done Banging Your Head Against the Wall Katherine Flechaus on identity, career ceilings, and realizing you may not need to keep fighting what no longer fits.

What happens when the thing that looks fine on paper does not feel like you anymore? In this episode of Beyond Fine, Stephanie talks with Katherine Flechaus, LCSW, founder of Aligned Core Life Coaching Katherine shares her story of career ceilings, identity shifts, caregiving, resentment, choice, and the moment she realized she did not need to keep forcing herself into a space that no longer fit. We talk about work, identity, self-trust, and the quiet realization that somewhere along the way you grew and — you are finally noticing what no longer aligns with who you are now. Katherine works with high-achieving women who are done managing the pattern and ready to change it. Connect with Katherine: www.alignedcorelifecoaching.com [http://www.alignedcorelifecoaching.com]LinkedIn: Katherine FlechausFacebook Group: Aligned Leadership Lounge And Stay Tuned..... There is more coming — more conversations, more ways to connect, and especially if you are local, something I am really excited about. Beyond Fine Live is coming soon — a place to come as you are and leave feeling a little more like yourself. Join the local interest list here: https://forms.gle/3QWnww1gxYdfENNF6 [https://forms.gle/3QWnww1gxYdfENNF6]

Volunteering: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

This episode is a little different—and a stretch for me in the best way. Instead of a solo or one-on-one conversation, this is a roundtable on volunteering—the good, the bad, and the part most people don’t see. Because while volunteering looks like connection and community on the outside…It also comes with pressure, expectations, and a lot of invisible work behind the scenes. In this conversation, we talk about: * What it actually feels like to be the one people come to * The reality of being “in the middle.” * Why is it often the same group carrying the load * And how something meaningful can still ask a lot of you But this isn’t just about volunteering. It’s about what happens when you keep showing up for everything and everyone…and slowly lose connection with yourself in the process. If you’ve ever felt that tension—this one will hit. If you’re local and want to be in the room for conversations like this,I’m starting to host small, in-person gatherings—you can sign up for an invite below. https://forms.gle/KoPYqpyXsUNSEchVA