Pockets of Knowledge

In this empowering episode of Pockets of Knowledge, host Desiree Stanley welcomes career strategist and coach Rachel Spekman for a grounded and inspiring conversation about redefining work, purpose, and what it means to build a soul-aligned career. As the founder of Made For More Coaching—with a background in both startups and therapy—Rachel shares her unique approach to helping high-performing professionals move from “soul-sucking” jobs to careers that light them up.Rachel and Desiree explore the emotional and practical realities of navigating career transitions, especially for women in midlife who feel stuck, burned out, or disconnected from their work. Rachel offers tangible tools like the “three Cs” framework (community, contribution, and challenge), career audits, and a fresh take on how to balance financial needs with emotional fulfillment. They also discuss the value of clarity, the myths around income and success, and why quitting with a plan is more powerful than just walking away.Whether you're feeling disconnected in your current role, considering a major pivot, or simply seeking more meaning in your professional life, this episode is filled with thoughtful insights, practical strategies, and soul-level encouragement to help you step into a career that feels aligned, sustainable, and truly your own.Bio:Rachel Spekman is a veteran coach who helps professionals who are unfulfilled in their careers identify how to tap into their unique potential. After 15 years in marketing brands, 10 years helping startup founders, and 5 years as a therapist, she has helped hundreds of people to reinvent themselves and their careers. Rachel now focuses all of her time and energies on helping high-performing professionals go from high pay, miserable, and unhealthy in their careers to applying their gifts and talents in ways that make them great incomes by aligning with their values and purpose.Connect with Rachel:Email: [email protected]: https://www.rachelspekman.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelSpekmanCareerConsultingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelspekman/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MadeforMoreCoachResources:https://www.rachelspekman.com/high-stakes-career-auditBooks mentioned:Meaningful Work How to Ignite Passion and Performance in Every Employee By Wes Adams, Tamara Myles  - https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9781541704534https://amzn.to/49y4UOZPodcasts mentioned: The Midlife Chrysalis with Chip Conley - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-midlife-chrysalis/id1817695682———Enjoy this Podcast? If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your friends so that they can be educated, informed, inspired and empowered!Questions? Contact me through my website, www.PocketsofKnowledge.com, or find me on Instagram @desireedstanley. Thanks for listening!———This podcast is intended to educate, inspire, and empower you on your personal journey. Please note that individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

If you've ever felt behind with money, overwhelmed by financial jargon, or unsure how to prioritize yourself without guilt, this episode is your permission slip to start fresh. Host Desiree Stanley welcomes certified financial planner, educator, and speaker Linda Grizly—creator of the ME Money Method—for a powerful, down-to-earth conversation about building confidence and clarity with your finances. With no shame, no judgment, and plenty of real talk, Linda shares her journey from teen mom to successful financial expert, opening up about the moments that shaped her relationship with money and inspired her mission to help others—especially women—feel seen, supported, and empowered.Throughout the conversation, Linda explains how understanding your money personality type—whether you’re a spender, saver, avoider, security seeker, or risk taker—can shift the way you manage and feel about your finances. She also emphasizes that it’s possible to build a life you love without following a budget you hate. Desiree and Linda explore how to start feeling in control of your money, why mindset and emotional clarity matter just as much as the math, and how setting aside guilt-free “ME money” can lead to joyful, intentional spending. Whether you're rebuilding after a life change, starting from scratch, or just ready to think differently about wealth, this inspiring episode offers practical insight, heartfelt encouragement, and a reminder that it’s never too late to reconnect with your power and invest in yourself—one small step at a time.Bio:I’ve always had a strong pull to help people feel seen, supported, and capable. From a young age, I could tell when someone needed extra encouragement,  and it became the heart of everything I do.I’ve blended a career in financial planning with my passion for personal growth and a deep love of speaking to inspire to do one thing:Help you feel confident and in control of your money and your life - without lecture or judgment.Whether you’re rebuilding, just getting started, or ready to rise, I’m here to help you:    Break through limiting beliefs    Learn how money actually works    Understand the power of mindset    Build wealth your way    Think bigger about what’s possibleI’m a people enthusiast who thrives on deep conversations, big visions, and helping others reconnect with their power.Connect with Linda:Website: https://www.lindagriz.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizelyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizelyResources:Money Personality Quiz: https://bit.ly/MonPersQuizBooks mentioned:Think and Grow Rick by Napoleon Hill - https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9781585424337https://amzn.to/4aUbd0921 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell - https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9781400236169https://amzn.to/4qNKqHp Lessons from Thought Leaders - https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9781735742861https://amzn.to/4qaJLQwBecoming Your Best Self: Lessons on Resilience, Attitude and Personal Growth - https://amzn.to/49j9Y9OPodcasts mentioned:Real Money, Real life with Linda Grizely – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-money-real-life/id1831822405———Enjoy this Podcast? If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your friends so that they can be educated, informed, inspired and empowered!Questions? Contact me through my website, www.PocketsofKnowledge.com, or find me on Instagram @desireedstanley. Thanks for listening!———This podcast is intended to educate, inspire, and empower you on your personal journey. Please note that individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

In this empowering episode of Pockets of Knowledge, host Desiree Stanley sits down with Jodi Vandenberg-Daves—leadership strategist, historian, and author of Leading With Courage: A Career-Long Guide for Idealistic Women—for a thought-provoking conversation about redefining leadership, navigating career transitions, and owning your influence at every stage of life.Drawing from her background as a professor, social justice advocate, and founder of JVD Consulting, Jodi shares how our earliest messages about gender and visibility shape perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and our willingness to lead. She explains how women can begin to rewrite those narratives by aligning with their values, setting internal and external boundaries, and embracing the unique strengths they bring to leadership—like emotional agility, collaboration, and cultural humility.Desiree and Jodi also explore the power of intergenerational wisdom, why courage is more of a daily practice than a grand gesture, and how journaling and storytelling can be healing tools for reclaiming our voices. You’ll learn practical strategies to manage triggers, reframe "missed opportunities," and give yourself permission to lead boldly in work and life—even without a formal title.Whether you’re a rising professional, a mid-career leader juggling caregiving, or a seasoned woman reflecting on your legacy, this episode is a generous invitation to see yourself as a change-maker with something meaningful to contribute.Bio:I grew up in the exurbs of Chicago, a union electrician dad, and an at-home-mom-turned-realtor. I learned about solidarity at a young age, and then had my world opened by the curiosity-inducing adventures of academia, especially its winding paths through history. Got my PhD in History, and fell in love with stories of how people have made meaning out of their lives in all kinds of different circumstances. Intertwined with history has been social justice advocacy. And intertwined with that, my life passions of being a mother and a mentor. Through feminist and anti-racist lenses, I’ve helped nurture generations of leadership anchored in care and courage. I didn’t have a lot of mentoring when I was emerging in my career, but I really try to be the person I needed when I was younger.I love conversations about empowering diverse women’s voices and talents, career balancing acts, bold leadership anchored in progressive and humane values, and authenticity in the work we do in the world. I also love to talk about how, no matter who we are or what we’re doing, we can understand ourselves in the flow of history. We can learn from those who came before us, and from the young people who challenge and inspire us. I’m here for thoughtful conversations and surprising ideas.Connect with Jodi:WebsiteFacebookInstagramLinkedInResource:https://www.jodivandenberg-daves.com/onlineleadershipcourseBooks mentioned:Leading With Courage:  A Career-Long Guide for Idealistic Women by Jodi Vandenberg-Daveshttps://amzn.to/4pr3ytI  Poems in the Mother Tongue  by Jodi Vandenberg-Daveshttps://amzn.to/4pr2lmcUntapped Leadership Harnessing the Power of Underrepresented Leaders by Jenny Vazquez-Newsumhttps://amzn.to/4qa0pQhWhen We're in Charge The Next Generation’s Guide to Leadership by Amanda Litmanhttps://amzn.to/4su7Za3Podcasts mentioned:Brene Brown - Dare To LeadUnlocking Us———Enjoy this Podcast? If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your friends so that they can be educated, informed, inspired and empowered!Questions? Contact me through my website, www.PocketsofKnowledge.com, or find me on Instagram @desireedstanley. Thanks for listening!———This podcast is intended to educate, inspire, and empower you on your personal journey. Please note that individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

In this soulful and empowering episode of Pockets of Knowledge, host Desiree Stanley sits down with Keri Nola—former psychotherapist turned spiritual mentor and healer—to explore the transformative power of shadow work, mature manifestation, and receiving with grace. Known as the Shadow Mama and Receptivity Queen, Keri brings her signature blend of wisdom and warmth to a conversation that invites us to drop the hustle, tune into our soul’s calling, and embrace the parts of ourselves we’ve long hidden away.Together, Keri and Desiree dive into why personal winters—those quiet, uncertain seasons of life—often hold the richest seeds of transformation. Keri shares how her own leap from a successful therapy practice into a more spiritually aligned business was not only terrifying but also deeply healing. They discuss what it means to engage in mature manifestation (hint: it’s not just about asking the universe for stuff) and how embracing receptivity is a radical, feminine act of abundance.You’ll also hear how grief can serve as a sacred portal for spiritual growth, and how tracking the everyday expressions of abundance—from compliments to creative ideas—can shift us out of scarcity and into expansion. Keri opens up about her intuitive process behind creating the Messages from Shadow oracle deck, offering listeners a glimpse into how shadow work can become a daily practice of self-trust, clarity, and empowerment.If you’re navigating a life transition, feeling stuck in old patterns, or simply ready to remember the truth of who you are, this conversation is your invitation to return to your inner wisdom—and receive what’s always been yours.Bio:Keri Nola, known as the Shadow Mama and Receptivity Queen, specializes in transforming scarcity consciousness and guiding Givers to receive and serve abundantly. With over a decade of experience as a Licensed Psychotherapist, Keri retired in 2017 and transitioned to a global mentor, guide, author, and podcaster. She now supports therapists, healers, and spiritually aware entrepreneurs in transmuting fear, activating their purpose, and harmonizing giving and receiving in alignment with Divine Will.Connect with Keri:Email: [email protected]: https://kerinola.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keri_nola/Resources: Messagesfromshadow.comBooks mentioned:The Serviceberry Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer - https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9781668072240https://amzn.to/3MZPJF2The Wisdom of Menopause (4th Edition) Creating Physical and Emotional Health During the Change by Christiane Northrup M.D. - https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9780525486138https://amzn.to/4q7eJIOExistential Kink Unmask Your Shadow and Embrace Your Power (a Method for Getting What You Want by Getting Off on What You Don't) by Carolyn Elliott PhD - https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9781578636471https://amzn.to/4pAKUAuPodcasts mentioned:The Telepathy Tapes by Ky Dickens - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-telepathy-tapes/id1766382649———Enjoy this Podcast? If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your friends so that they can be educated, informed, inspired and empowered!Questions? Contact me through my website, www.PocketsofKnowledge.com, or find me on Instagram @desireedstanley. Thanks for listening!———This podcast is intended to educate, inspire, and empower you on your personal journey. Please note that individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.This is not intended to treat any medical condition. I am not a medical doctor and do not offer any professional health or medical advice. If you are suffering from any medical conditions, please seek help from a qualified health professional.

In this deeply supportive episode of Pockets of Knowledge, host Desiree Stanley sits down with Dr. Sue McCreadie—holistic pediatrician and midlife transformation guide—for an honest conversation about healing and navigating the beautifully complicated season of midlife. Drawing from her own journey through gut and hormonal imbalances, miscarriages, and spiritual awakening, Dr. Sue shares how midlife can be more than just a transition—it can be a powerful portal to joy, clarity, and deeper self-connection.Dr. Sue opens up about her shift from conventional medicine to a more integrative, spiritually grounded approach that blends science, psychology, and soulful tools like tarot and numerology. You’ll also hear why joy is not a luxury but a form of medicine, and how embracing your quirks and questions can lead to true transformation.Whether you're navigating midlife heartbreak, curious about the deeper meaning behind your symptoms, or simply craving more joy and connection, this episode will leave you feeling seen, supported, and inspired to reclaim the vibrant woman you’ve always been.Bio:Dr. Sue is a holistic pediatrician and midlife transformation expert who helps women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s navigate hormones, heartbreak, and healing — so they can stop settling and start living with joy. Her mission: to make transformation simple, soulful, and even fun — because when women rise, we raise the vibration of the world for our children.Her journey from medical doctor to midlife transformation guide winds through years of gut and hormonal imbalances, miscarriages, relationship turning points, and the whole messy-beautiful process of becoming who she really is. What has she learned? The best medicine is your Soulfull Medicine — your own inner compass that always knows who you are and where you're meant to go.At Soulfull Medicine, we support wise, wondering midlife women who are ready to make this season of life count. Whether they feel lonely in marriage, lost in the daily grind, or just know deep down they were made for more — we help them shift. Gently. Powerfully. Permanently.We blend grounded tools (think: psychology, coaching, real-life science) with soulful ones (hello, tarot numerology!) to help women feel safe, seen, and spiritually supported. Whether it’s decoding emotional patterns, reigniting intimacy, or embracing faith during change, we guide women to discover their own version of freedom and fulfillment.I believe every path is divinely perfect, quirks are sacred, and joy is medicine.Connect with Dr. Sue:Email: [email protected]: https://www.drsuemccreadie.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drsuemccreadieInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsuemccreadieResources:https://www.drsuemccreadie.com/soulfull-medicine-quiz-abundantBooks mentioned:What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey (Author), Bruce D. Perry - https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9781250223180https://amzn.to/4nBZd6HPodcasts mentioned:The Telepathy Tapes by Ky Dickens - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-telepathy-tapes/id1766382649