Getting laid off sucks. But it turns out that most people say it's the best thing that ever happened to them. Stefanie's story is proof.

Stefanie Beach never planned to start a business. She fell into it after getting laid off and then trying to find a job that allowed her to be home more for her daughter. Nine years later, she's built something on her own terms and learned what it takes to keep going when things get really hard.

This week, host Lauren Douglass sits down with Stefanie, Founder & CEO of The Marketeer Group, to talk about resilience, consistency, and why everything worth doing has a difficult season where most people quit. They dig into motherhood, imposter syndrome, knowing your capacity, and why you need to trust yourself even when nobody else is listening yet.

This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, life stages, and showing up for yourself. If you're thinking about starting something, navigating setbacks, or just trying to figure out how to keep going, this one's for you. Let's get into it.

He's never been the quietest person in the room, and that's exactly why we wanted him here. Lou Paskalis has spent three decades at the intersection of marketing, media, and accountability. He's launched Small Business Saturday at American Express, pioneered brand safety models at Bank of America, and now runs his own consultancy advising two dozen clients on go-to-market strategy.

This week, host Lauren Douglass sits down with Lou for a conversation that cuts through the noise and industry BS. They talk about why marketing is broken, how CFOs gutted brand budgets and now realize they made a mistake, and why artificial scarcity in the tech stack is holding everyone back.

Lou also gets real about journalism, news deserts, and why brands are leaving money on the table by not advertising in news. He shares an optimistic take on AI, and what young people getting into this industry right now should be excited about.

This is a conversation with someone who has strong opinions and isn't afraid to say what he thinks. If you're in marketing, media, or just want to understand how things got so messy, this one's for you.

Courage isn't the absence of fear. It's conquering it anyway. Carolina Cespedes Virguez is the SVP General Manager of GoGo squeeZ in the U.S., running a $650 million business with the mission of taking it to $1 billion. But getting here was a journey. It meant learning new languages, navigating unfamiliar cultures, and saying yes to things before she felt ready. All while dealing with imposter syndrome and going home at night wondering if she could pull it all off. This week, host Lauren Douglass sits down with Carolina to talk about confidence, courage, and how leadership gets built by being willing to step into rooms where you're not sure you belong in. They dig into the moments when you question yourself, managing energy instead of time, and why you need to define what "having it all" means for you personally. This is a conversation about growth, identity, and figuring things out in real time. If you're navigating something uncomfortable or just trying to show up as yourself, this one's for you. Let's get into it.