Episodes

Ever wonder what it's like to build a tech startup with zero traditional business background? In this episode, we dive deep with Jereme Holiman, a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Urban Stems, who stumbled into the startup world from a fine arts background. Jereme shares his gripping journey from imagining a new floral gifting service with friends to navigating the highs and terrifying lows of running a VC-funded startup. He candidly discusses the humbling experience of failing spectacularl...

What if you're not riding the highs or drowning in the lows—but just kind of... here? In this minisode, I talk about a feeling I’ve been sitting with lately: something that looks like calm but sometimes feels like avoidance, something that might be peace but also feels a little weird. I’m calling it neutral. I’ll walk through how it’s been showing up in my life, why it felt so unfamiliar at first, and what I learned when I went down a rabbit hole of psychology, Buddhism, and my own messy reflec...

Entrepreneur and Navy vet David Franklin joins me to talk about grief, burnout, and what happens when purpose and passion start to drift. We dive into career pivots, mindful leadership, building healthtech with meaning, and the hard work of reconnecting with your why—especially after loss. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maricellaherrera.substack.com

Michelle Moffitt spent 25 years as a pastor’s wife in a conservative church, doing everything “right” — until the system she trusted told her to repent for telling the truth. The conversation delves into her battle with spiritual disillusionment, burnout, and the complex process of finding her voice after years of living within an oppressive system. Michelle discusses her book 'Cracked Open,' which combines her personal story with scientific methods to help readers overcome limiting beliefs. The...

It’s been a minute. In this solo minisode, I talk about what it means to feel stuck, to lose momentum, and to find your way back—imperfectly, honestly, and without a grand plan. From burnout and overwhelm to the tiny, radical act of just trying , this is an unfiltered reflection on showing up when everything feels like too much. Also: shoutout to my inner critic, lovingly nicknamed “brain bitch.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access...

Leah Farmer returned from her Christmas break to find herself inexplicably viewed as an outsider—a shift that led her to question her role, her relationships with her colleagues, and what she truly wanted. In this episode, Leah shares her journey from accounting to a successful career as a product leader at some of the world’s top companies. In this episode, Leah opens up about the painful realization that it was time to leave a job she loved (sound familiar?). She shares how that experience le...

Do you ever feel that creeping sense of dread on Sunday afternoon, knowing Monday is just around the corner? What if that feeling extended beyond Sundays—what if it filled your whole week? Would you have the courage to walk away, or would you stay, hoping things will improve? My guest today asked herself these very hard questions. In today’s episode, I chat with Suguna Chunduri, a thought leader, advocate, nonprofit founder and generally great human being. Suguna walked away from a successful c...

Sh*t Curly Hair Is My Canvas In this episode, I sit down with Nicolle Lemonds, an incredibly talented hair colorist known for her expertise in working with curls (even if she doesn't have curls herself). After walking into a curly hair salon almost 14 years ago, Nicolle knew she’d found her calling and never looked back. For Nicolle, her work isn’t about having the same experience as her clients; it’s about understanding the power of individuality and helping others bring out their uniqueness. ...

In this minisode, Maricella Herrera reflects on the unexpected lessons she learned from spending a week with her two-year-old nephew. What started as a playful getaway turned into a deeper exploration of the importance of play, imagination, and living in the moment. Maricella challenges the conventional wisdom of what adults should teach children and flips the script—what can we learn from them? Drawing from her own experiences and backed by research on the benefits of play, Maricella invites li...

We all have moments when we question the path we’re on, but how do you know when it’s time to take the leap into something entirely different? Is there a downside to turning a passion into a career? This episode dives into that moment of clarity when you realize it's time to pivot, and what happens when you trust your gut to pursue what truly lights you up. Ken Stanek shares his journey of leaving a stable career in design to embrace his passion for art—despite all the uncertainty that comes wi...

In this episode, host Maricella Herrera sits down with Lan Phan, a leadership educator and author, who helps us explore the true meaning of success and purpose. Lan's story is a testament to resilience, discovery, and the transformative power of community. She shares insights from her book Do This Daily: Secrets for Finding Success, Happiness, and Purpose in Work and Life, guiding us through the process of identifying and ranking our values, and introducing us to Ikigai—a Japanese concept for fi...

Quitting your job, starting a business, or making any major life change comes with its fair share of fear and uncertainty. Trust me, I know. As I've been on my journey of self-reflection, one dominant emotion that's continually surfaced is fear. Whether it's fear of failure, fear of being judged, or fear of the unknown, it's something we all face. But how do we manage this fear, and more importantly, how do we distinguish it from that subtle whisper of intuition? In today's episode, I sit down ...

People say silence is golden, and it can indeed be a powerful tool. But like many tools, it can be used for harm as much as for good. Have you ever felt like you have to dim your light to accommodate others? That you need to hold your tongue to keep the peace? Or that your opinion doesn’t matter, not because it isn’t valid but because nobody will listen? Silence. We’ve learned to silence ourselves and others, intentionally or not. The consequences of silence can be deeply harmful—from lonelines...

In this episode, host Maricella Herrera sits down with Lesley Jane Seymour, former editor-in-chief of More Magazine and founder of Covey Club. Lesley shares her journey of reinventing herself after the magazine's closure and her passion for helping women navigate midlife transitions. They discuss the challenges of working in a rapidly changing industry, the importance of having a reinvention plan, and the necessity for women to invest in themselves. Lesley highlights how communities like Covey C...

Remember during COVID when everyone kept saying, “Shakespeare wrote King Lear during the plague” or “now’s the time to start that new hobby!”? If you were, like me, more focused on maintaining your sanity rather than creating a masterpiece, those comments might have been a bit annoying but not quite motivating. Lately, I’ve been feeling a bit of déjà vu. Now that I don’t have a job, I keep telling myself that I should be using my time wisely and productively. But what does that even mean? I’ve...

Host Maricella Herrera introduces her podcast, 'Sh*t I Just Quit My Job,' where she shares meaningful and inspiring conversations to help navigate career transitions. In this episode, Maricella talks with Jacqueline Oliveira Cella, who shares her 'midlife awakening' journey. Jacqueline, with over 15 years of experience in global health, wealth, and wellbeing sectors, discusses how she realigned her life and career purpose. They cover topics such as imposter syndrome, authenticity in leadership, ...

In this episode of 'Sh*t I Just Quit My Job?', host Maricella Herrera talks about the emotional and practical aspects of taking a career break. She reflects on her breakiversary and discusses her journey with career coach Katrina McGhee, author of 'Taking a Career Break for Dummies.' Maricella asks listeners to share their own career change stories and emphasizes the importance of community in navigating job transitions. Katrina shares her own experience of leaving corporate life, overcoming fin...

In this episode of 'Sh*t I Just Quit My Job,' host Maricella Herrera converses with Minette Norman, a leadership coach and consultant, focusing on psychological safety in the workplace. Maricella, who has a deep-rooted passion for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, discusses how leadership and organizational culture are pivotal for fostering environments where employees feel safe to express themselves. Minette shares her extensive 30-year journey in tech, the politics that led her to l...

Reflecting on a Year-Long Career Break: Insights and Lessons Learned In this special mini-sode, host Maricella Herrera marks her one-year 'Breakiversary' since leaving her job. She shares personal reflections on taking a career break without a clear purpose, the challenges she faced, and the realizations she came to during this period. Maricella explores themes of creativity, joy, and reconnection, and discusses the importance of giving oneself grace and having regular self-check-ins. She expre...

Entrepreneurship is more than just a career choice; it's a spiritual journey that demands vulnerability, resilience, and a complete shift in mindset. In this episode, I sit down with Deb Boulanger, the inspiring CEO of Life After Corporate and founder of The Launch Lab for Women Entrepreneurs. Together, we dive deep into the emotional and psychological challenges faced by entrepreneurs, particularly women transitioning from corporate life. Deb’s story, takes us from her beginnings as a special ...

Ever feel like you’re running out of time, or maybe just not using it the best way? That’s been on my mind a lot lately. This week, I sit down with Aubria Ralph, a phenomenal woman whose relationship with time and planning left me both inspired (so much so that I decided to make this one a video) and a bit in awe. Aubria, who has worn many hats from professor to lawyer, and even author of seven children’s books, shares her unique approach to life, planning, and dreaming big. Our conversation div...

Ever felt like you wanted to walk away but there was something holding you back? Almost like if you were frozen? In this episode, I chat with Carla Matero, who has navigated a fascinating career journey from academia to government to her own consulting practice. We dive into the challenge of staying too long in situations that don’t serve us and the importance of recognizing when it’s time to move on. Carla’s story highlights how fear and obligation can hold us back, eroding our confidence and ...

I’ve always considered myself an ambitious person, constantly chasing more recognition, more education, more success. But what happens when you get everything you thought you wanted and it still doesn’t feel right? This past year, I’ve been re-evaluating my relationship with ambition and success, and I’ve found that I’m not alone. In this episode, I sit down with Sheela Subramanian, who landed her dream job in 2020 but realized it wasn’t enough. She embarked on a "year of no," a period of intro...

Have you ever wondered why, despite ticking off every self-care task on your list, you still feel like you're barely scratching the surface of feeling good? Maybe it’s time to change your self-care routine for a dose of self-compassion. In today’s episode I sit down with Esther Boykin, we dive deep into the transformative power of self-compassion—a vital tool that might just be the missing piece in your mental wellness puzzle. Esther not only defines self-compassion but also breaks down actiona...