When She Pivots
You have the degree(s), the career, and maybe the family, but is something missing? Have you been ticking all the boxes but find yourself asking, “Now what” or “What’s next”? Do you wish you had a community to support you in figuring out how to take things to the next level (or figure out what the next level is)? Welcome to When She Pivots! We’re two mamas navigating professional, personal, and perspective shifts hoping to give ourselves and others the permission to think and dream bigger. With Cassie’s experience as a lawyer currently in the non-profit space, and Laur...
When the Plan Runs Out
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In this solo episode, Cassie reflects on a season in her life when everything looked stable on the outside—but internally, something wasn’t working.
Inspired by recent conversations with friends and guests on the podcast, she explores what happens when you reach a point where there’s no clear next step. No script. No box to check.
For many women, it’s the first time they’re really asking: What do I actually want?
This episode is a reflection on:
losing connection to yourself within a life tha...Trusting Yourself: Whitney Newman on Intuition, Motherhood, and Courage
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In this episode of When She Pivots, Cassie sits down one-on-one with friend, salon owner, and mother Whitney Newman for a deeply honest conversation about intuition, courage, and navigating life’s unexpected turns.
Whitney shares what it was like to open her own salon while raising young children, build that business through the uncertainty of the pandemic, and later navigate the personal upheaval of divorce—all while continuing to show up for her family, her clients, and herself.
Cassie and Whitney talk about the tension many women feel between moth...
The Seasons of Work, Motherhood, and Meaning with Bre Smith
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What happens when priorities shift — but the desire to help others remains?
In this episode of When She Pivots, we talk with Bre Smith, a licensed clinical social worker who left her job as an LCSW after becoming a parent in order to be home with her kids.
Bre shares how she approached that transition, something she had long imagined doing when she started her family, and the identity shifts that can come with stepping away from a traditional career path.
But her work helping others didn’t en...
The Pivot She Never Planned: Motherhood, Stigma & Building a Business with Samantha Davis
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In this episode of When She Pivots, we sit down with Samantha Davis — CEO of NuHealth Placenta — to talk about the pivot she never expected: motherhood.
For Samantha, children weren’t part of the original plan. Neither was building a business in maternal health. But as so often happens in life, one chapter reshaped the next.
What began as personal curiosity during her own postpartum experience became something bigger — a commitment to education, transparency, and informed choice in a space many people still whisper about.
We talk about:<...
Simply More: Power in What the World Tries to Diminish
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What if the parts of you the world labeled “too much” were never the problem?
In this episode of When She Pivots, Cassie and Lauren reflect on Cynthia Erivo’s Simply More — and the deeper thesis running beneath her story: The qualities that made you feel othered, silenced, or unsafe… may be the very source of your power.
This isn’t about embracing something “quirky.” It’s about reclaiming:
The ambition you were told to softenThe voice you were told to quietThe emotion you were told was excessiveThe identity that made...Through the Fire, She Walks — with Emily-Jane Sarroff
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What happens when you realize you can build something bigger — but you no longer want to?
In this episode, Emily-Jane Sarroff opens up about closing her multi-six-figure branding and marketing business, confronting financial missteps and accumulated debt, and choosing not to scale her way out — even though she knew she could.
Her crisis wasn’t capability. It was clarity.
After walking away from an architecture career to build a successful company and chasing traditional markers of achievement, Emily-Jane found herself returning to a deeper question:
“If I am...
Building a Life That Fits with Dr. Shara Downey
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In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Shara Downey to talk about what it looks like to build a life guided by values rather than certainty.
Shara reflects on her journey as a chiropractor, entrepreneur, and mother, and the courage it takes to make big transitions — including relocating internationally — without having every step mapped out. She shares how lived experience has shaped the way she leads, makes decisions, and builds a business that supports the life she wants.
This conversation explores embodied leadership, trusting yourself through change, and choo...
Some Seasons Aren’t Meant for the Gas
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In this deeply personal episode of When She Pivots, Lauren turns the microphone toward Cassie for a conversation about living through a year that required everything—and asked for very little certainty in return.
Cassie reflects on a season marked by profound loss, medical challenges with her daughter, welcoming a new baby, and navigating a home build—all at the same time. Rather than forcing clarity or rushing toward a reinvention, she shares how she learned to surrender to what the season was asking of her.
Through this conversation, the...
Season 3 Kickoff: Life Updates and Pivoting in Real Time
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Season 3 of When She Pivots is officially here, and we could not be more excited to be back!
In this first episode of the season, Cassie turns the mic around and interviews Lauren for an honest life update. From career shifts and evolving dreams to motherhood, identity, and the quiet pivots happening behind the scenes, this conversation sets the tone for what this season is all about.
We talk about what it looks like to grow and change in real time, how life doesn’t always pivot in one bi...
Season 2 Close Out — Trust Yourself First
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Season 2 has been a journey of powerful stories about courage, reinvention, and what it really means to trust yourself — especially when life calls you to pivot.
In this finale, it’s just the two of us reflecting on the themes that came up again and again:
💪 Persistence & Resilience
🌱 Redefining Success
🔥 Self-Determination
💛 Deep Self-Belief
We explore how self-belief can come from two places:
✨ A natural, deep-rooted confidence shaped by childhood experiences
✨ Or intention...
Seasons of Motherhood & Redefining Independence with Jacquie Ciccone
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Jacquie Ciccone (@healthiermotherhood) is back on When She Pivots — this time for a one-on-one deep dive.
A former oncology nurse turned stay-at-home mom of two, Jacquie first connected with listeners during our live audience conversation at Sarah Wells’ Book Tour. In this episode, she opens up about what it really looks like to step away from a professional career in order to be home with her babies.
Jacquie shares candidly about the beauty and the challenges of this season: the loneliness, the overstimulation, and the comp...
Reinvention & Recovery with Naha Pandya of The Recovery Method
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Naha Pandya has mastered the art of the pivot. From building a successful wedding planning business, to becoming a licensed physical therapist, and now launching The Recovery Method — a provider community supporting pregnant and postpartum moms — Naha’s journey is a powerful reminder that reinvention isn’t just possible — it’s an essential part of how we grow, shift, and step into the next version of ourselves.
In this episode, we chat about trusting your gut, evolving through different life seasons, and how excellence in one chapter doesn’t limit what you can create...
Magda Lasota – Building a Business in the Margins
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In this episode, we're joined by Magda Lasota, founder & CEO of MLM Brand, whose story is a beautiful example of building from lived experience. Inspired by her own pregnancy and early motherhood, Magda created the clothing line she wished existed—designed for comfort, beauty, and dignity during a time when many women feel disconnected from their changing bodies.
What stood out most in our conversation was Magda’s honesty about the myth of “having it all.” She shares openly about building her business in the margins of her days—while raising her kids a...
The Mountain Is You: Facing Yourself in the Middle of a Pivot
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In this special solo(ish) episode, Cassie and Lauren shake things up with a powerful book review of The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest — a guide that hits right at the heart of what it means to change, grow, and face yourself honestly.
Instead of our usual guest conversation, we're unpacking the deeply personal (and sometimes uncomfortable) truths that emerge when we confront our own patterns, self-sabotage, and internal resistance — especially during a major life pivot.
This episode is for the women in the messy middle — high-achieving, driven, consta...
✨ Mahvish on Persistence, Self-Belief, and Redefining What’s Possible
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A mom of two with an unstoppable vision, Mahvish opens up about the grit, clarity, and courage it takes to keep rewriting your story — and redefining what’s possible.
What’s possible if you fully believe in yourself — without hesitation?
In this solo episode, Cassie sits down with her cousin-in-law, Mahvish — a mom of two whose life has been defined by bold pivots and unwavering self-belief.
Mahvish grew up without a clear template for the kind of life she envisioned. But even as a young girl, she knew she w...
Jillian Rothe on Surrendering the Plan, Scaling with Intention, and Creating a Life That Fits (Part 2)
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In Part 2 of our conversation with Jillian Rothe, we pick up at the unexpected moment her corporate career came to a halt—sooner than she anticipated—and how that unplanned exit became the catalyst for full-time entrepreneurship.
Jillian shares what it looked like to move forward from uncertainty, rebuilding her path with trust, creativity, and intentionality. Now the founder of two thriving businesses, Jillian opens up about the mindset and choices guiding her in this next season:
Navigating the shock of a sudden career shiftLetting go of rigid timelines and embr...Jillian Rothe on Courageous Pivots, Building with Purpose, and Trusting the Leap (Part 1)
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In the first part of a two-part series on When She Pivots, co-hosts Cassie and Lauren sit down with Jillian Rothe—engineer, former corporate executive, mom of three kids, and founder of MilkWorx, a lay it flat breast milk storage product, as well as a women-focused warehouse, fulfillment, and coaching business.
Jillian opens up about her journey balancing a high-level engineering career abroad and family life, all while quietly building MilkWorx—born from her own challenges as a new mom seeking better breast milk storage solutions.
She also touches on a...
Lauren’s Return to the Classroom (Sort Of)
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In this episode, Cassie interviews Lauren about what it was like to briefly return to the classroom after stepping away from teaching — a career that once felt like her whole identity. Lauren opens up about the fear, the joy, and the unexpected clarity that came with revisiting a chapter she thought might be closed.
They talk about:
The emotional tug of returning to work you once lovedWhat it means to evolve beyond a former identityMotherhood, work-life balance, and trusting your next stepWhy you don’t have to “pick a lane” — and how gr...Cassie’s Year of Change: House, Baby, Career (and Creativity)
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This time, Lauren interviews Cassie — and it’s a wide-ranging conversation about a year marked by deep change, big stress, and surprising creative discovery.
Cassie shares candidly about:
Building a house (while pregnant and living with family)
Giving birth, moving, grieving a loss, and starting a new job — all at once
The marriage work and mindset shifts that helped her stay grounded
Her evolving identity — as a mom, a professional, and a creative
Finding a passion for interior design, and letting creativi...
Season 2 Teaser: The Pivots Get Deeper (and So Do We)
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We’re back — and we’re bringing the real with us!
Season 2 of When She Pivots launches this week, and we’re kicking things off with a short teaser to give you a glimpse into the conversations ahead.
This season, we’re talking to women who’ve made bold, brave life changes — not with a perfectly laid-out plan, but right in the middle of messy, complicated lives. These are not headline stories — they’re real stories. The kind that stay with you
✨ You’ll hear from:
— An oncology nurse...
Season 1 Wrap-Up: Reflections, Insights, and Gratitude
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🎉 As we wrap up Season 1 of "When She Pivots," Lauren and Cassie take a moment to reflect on their incredible journey together, the amazing women they’ve interviewed, and the invaluable lessons learned along the way. From unexpected live events to candid discussions about motherhood and career pivots, this episode encapsulates the heart and soul of their podcast!
Key Highlights:
End of an Era: Cassie and Lauren express their disbelief at reaching the end of the first season and share their excitement about the connections made through their interviews.Live Event...Empowering Pivots and Building Villages in Motherhood
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In this special live recording of "When She Pivots," Lauren and Cassie bring together an inspiring panel of women who have navigated significant personal and professional changes. This episode dives deep into the challenges and triumphs of motherhood, entrepreneurship, and intentional living. Join us as we explore the power of building communities and redefining success on our own terms.
Key Topics Include:
Personal Introductions and Backgrounds: Meet our hosts and panelists—moms and professionals from diverse backgrounds—who share their journeys of pivoting careers and embracing new paths.Navigating Major Life...Navigating Career Shifts: Insights from Katie Riess
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Hosts: Lauren & Cassie
Guest: Katie Riess, Marketing and PR Extraordinaire
Episode Overview:
In this episode of When She Pivots, Lauren and Cassie welcome Katie Riess, a dynamic marketing and PR professional with a rich career in journalism. Katie shares her personal journey of career transitions, especially the pivotal moments following the birth of her first son. She discusses the challenges of balancing motherhood with her professional ambitions and how she has successfully navigated these complexities.
Key Topics Discussed:
The journey of transitioning from journalism to...Navigating Stress and Embracing Change with Carolyn Barnwell
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In this episode of When She Pivots, we're thrilled to chat with the inspiring Carolyn Barnwell! 💫 Carolyn is a mom, creative producer, life coach, and stress resilience guide, wearing multiple hats with grace and passion. Join us as we explore Carolyn's journey of balancing creativity, motherhood, and wellness while embracing life's many pivots. 💪✨
🎙️ In This Episode, We Discuss:
Carolyn's Multifaceted Journey: From global documentary producer to coach, Carolyn shares her path of embracing multiple passions and roles. 🎥🌍Embracing Imperfect Action: How Carolyn overcame perfectionism to pursue her vision and dreams. 🌿Tools for Stress Relie...Embracing Financial Empowerment and Career Pivots with Brittney Durbin
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Join us as we chat with the incredibly dynamic Brittney Durbin, a financial strategist who helps women take control of their financial futures! In this episode, we explore Brittney's fascinating journey from hairstylist to entrepreneur and financial advisor, highlighting her passion for empowering women through financial literacy.
Key Topics Discussed:
Brittney’s Inspiring Journey: From hairstylist to wellness entrepreneur to financial advisor, Brittney shares her path of pivots and personal growth.Empowering Women with Financial Literacy: Discover how Brittney is helping women become financially bulletproof.The Importance of Intuition and Fl...Getting Financially Savvy with Tiffany Aliche, The Budgetnista
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Join us for our very first book club discussion on "Get Good with Money" by the incredible Tiffany Aliche, also known as The Budgetnista! 💰📚 In this episode, we dive deep into Tiffany's practical financial strategies that are designed to empower women to navigate their financial journeys with confidence and clarity.
Key Topics Discussed:
Tiffany’s Inspiring Journey: Discover her transition from financial setbacks to becoming a renowned personal finance educator.Financial Wholeness: Learn about the 10-step plan to achieve financial well-being and stability.Mindset and Money: Explore the psychological and emotiona...Navigating Motherhood and Entrepreneurship with Mariah Stockman
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Get ready for an inspiring and relatable chat with Mariah Stockman, the powerhouse behind Made for Mothers! 💪👶 Discover how Mariah transitioned from running a marketing agency to building a vibrant community for moms in business. She shares candid insights into balancing the beautiful chaos of motherhood with the hustle of entrepreneurship and how mindset plays a crucial role in chasing down those big dreams. 🚀
🎙️ In This Episode, We Dive Into:
The creation of Made for Mothers and the magic of community for mompreneurs 🤝Conquering mental health challenges while juggling motherhood and work 🧠💫Redefi...Amplifying Voices and Empowering Change with Sarah Wells
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In this inspiring fourth episode, we welcome Sarah Wells, the dynamic founder behind Sarah Wells Bags and author of the forthcoming book "Go Ask Your Mothers." Tune in to hear Sarah's journey from public policy advocate to small business owner and author, navigating the intersection of motherhood, entrepreneurship, and societal change.
Key topics include:
Sarah's Journey: Discover how Sarah transitioned from leading a nonprofit in Washington D.C. to founding Sarah Wells Bags, a company dedicated to supporting breastfeeding moms with stylish and functional products.Mission-Driven Business: Learn about Sarah’s...Embracing Vulnerability and Finding Balance with Kim Guiley
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Join us for an enlightening conversation with Kim Guiley, our very first guest on the podcast, as she shares her unique journey of balancing multiple roles, including being a mom, a birth doula, and the co-founder of both a nonprofit and a business, The Circle Family Center. In this episode, Kim opens up about the pivotal moments and decisions that have shaped her life, and how she navigates the challenges of doing it all!
Key topics include:
Introduction to Kim: Discover the many facets of Kim's life—from being a se...Getting to Know Us Part 2: Lauren
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Now that you know Cassie, it’s time to meet Lauren!
In this episode, we discuss L’s career as an educator and how teaching and entering motherhood during a global pandemic shifted her perspective.
Along with chatting about Lauren’s journey into entrepreneurship, we talk about the importance of boundary setting, prioritizing self-care, and asserting your self-worth (especially in the context of societal expectations).
We end this episode discussing the value of embracing change and letting go of old patterns in favor of taking big leaps of faith...
Getting to Know Us Part 1: Cassie
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We thought we’d kick the podcast off by sharing parts of our own stories and where we each are in our current pivots. The two of us chat about Cassie's career path, how she’s found meaning in her work as a lawyer, AND how she is feeling called to make a shift. We also talk about juggling family/kids and a career, and about the importance of mindset work before a big leap.
Join us as we discuss:
Cassie's transition and the courage it takes to embrace changeStrategies for p...Welcome to When She Pivots!
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Welcome to When She Pivots, the podcast where we explore the dynamic lives of women—especially mothers and caregivers—who are navigating the challenges of balancing demanding careers with the complexities of daily life.
Join your hosts, Cassie and Lauren, as we embark on a journey to share stories of resilience, inspiration, and courage. In this teaser episode, we'll give you a sneak peek into what to expect in our upcoming episodes:
Real Conversations: We’ll be hosting inspiring interviews with women who have made significant pivots in their professional...
