Before We Get It Right

Rachael Stark has spent most of her adult life in public service. Nine years in the Army National Guard, public safety policy, reserve police work, law enforcement spouse. She got really good at showing up, staying capable, and keeping everything moving. She also got really good at functioning when she was not actually fine. And for a long time she did not know those were two different things.In this episode Rachael talks about the identity crisis that came from leaving her role at the Medical Examiner's Office, what it is teaching her now as she prepares to transition out of the Army, and why people in high responsibility roles are often the last ones to admit when something is wrong. She also talks about sustaining a TBI a couple of years ago and how that forced her to look honestly at what she had been calling okay.This is a conversation about identity, transitions, burnout, and what it actually means to know who you are when the role that defined you is no longer part of your everyday life. And it is for every woman who has ever kept everything moving on the outside while quietly wondering if she is actually okay on the inside.Topics covered: identity and work, big life transitions, burnout in high performance roles, first responder wellness, military transition, functioning vs being okay, women and identity, losing a job that defined you, Rachael Stark Media, before we get it right podcast

When Erin Fahs from La Forme Pilates tells us we need to have someone on the podcast, we listen. And she was right.Yvette Pelikan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist, ADHD Clinical Specialist, and has spent 23 years working with children, teens, and families in her private practice. She believes every child has the right to feel loved, safe, and heard — and she has dedicated her career to making that happen.In this episode we talk about how she built her practice from the ground up, what children are actually trying to communicate through their behavior, what parents get wrong even when they're trying hard, and what play therapy really is. We also get deeply practical — what to say when your child is dysregulated, how to connect before you correct, what phrases are accidentally shutting your child down, and how to know when it's time to get professional support.This one is for every mom who is doing her best and wondering if it's enough. Spoiler: Yvette has some really important things to say about that.Topics covered: child therapy, play therapy, ADHD in children, executive functioning, emotional regulation kids, parenting tips, children's mental health, how to talk to kids about feelings, when to get therapy for your child, social work, private practice, mom podcast, parenting podcast

Just put yourself out there. Simple, right? Not even a little bit. In this episode it is just Leah and Katherine getting honest about what putting yourself out there actually feels like from the inside. The embarrassment when something you worked hard on lands with almost nobody. The waiting for validation that does not come the way you expected. The wondering why people are not finding you yet. The gap between what you imagined and what actually happened.Leah also gets into something she has been talking about more lately, the de-influencing side of starting a business. The stuff that does not make it into the highlight reel. The real timeline, the real uncertainty, and why she would rather you go in with your eyes open than sprint out of the gate because the internet made it look easy.They also share six tangible takeaways for anyone who is thinking about putting themselves out there or who is already in that hard early phase and wondering if they should keep going.And at the end they mean it when they say it: if you have an idea or you are building something and you want to talk to someone who has been through it and will be honest with you, reach out. They actually want to hear from you.This one is for the woman who has been sitting on something. It is time.Topics covered: putting yourself out there, starting a business, imposter syndrome, social media for small business, building an audience from zero, de-influencing entrepreneurship, validation and self worth, showing up before you are ready, women entrepreneurs, before we get it right podcast, starting a side hustle, mom entrepreneur

In 2015, Ali Reff walked away from eight years in agency PR, including her dream client, her dream agency, and the position she had spent years working toward, and launched an online boutique from her bedroom in Chicago with 13 products. Today, Alice & Wonder is a full Chicago lifestyle brand with multiple storefronts, a children's boutique called Mini Wonder, original apparel lines, a warehouse operation, pop-ups, and collaborations with the Cubs, White Sox, and Blackhawks.But before we even get into all of that, we have to tell you something. Katherine and I actually met because of Alice & Wonder. Katherine found Polished Prints through products Ali carried, reached out to Leah, and the rest is history. So Ali, without ever knowing it, is partially responsible for this podcast existing. Which felt like exactly the right way to start this conversation.In this episode we talk about what it actually took to build something that looks this polished from the outside. The season when growth outpaced the systems behind it. What the pandemic broke and what it built. What nobody tells you about working with your spouse. How motherhood changed her ambition. What goes into landing a major sports team collaboration. And so many other tangible takeaways.We also ask her the question we ask everyone: what is the current messy middle? Because even at this level, there still is one.This one is for every woman who has ever wondered if walking away from something that looks good on paper to build something that feels right is worth the risk. Ali's answer is a resounding yes. And she shows you exactly what it costs.

Check out Sustainable Haus HERE* and use code PODCAST10 for 10% off.What if the secret to building a loyal business was talking customers out of buying things? Janette Filbert Spiezio is the founder of Sustainable Haus, one of America's largest independent refill and zero-waste retailers- and she built it on a radical idea: trust is more powerful than a sale.After 30 years in corporate America, Janette walked away and built something completely on her own terms. In this episode she talks about why lasting change doesn't start with guilt or perfection, how to spot greenwashing, what one small product swap can actually do for your family and your community, and why the most overlooked business strategy is simply telling the truth.She also shares her top practical starter swaps for moms who want to live more sustainably without overhauling their entire life: real, affordable, doable changes that actually stick.If you've ever felt overwhelmed by sustainability, talked yourself out of trying, or just want to make smarter choices for your family without the guilt trip.. this one is for you.*affiliate link above which means we may earn a small comission if you purchase through them- no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting us!Topics covered: sustainable living for moms, non-toxic home products, zero waste beginner, plastic free swaps, greenwashing explained, refill stores, building a business after 40, women entrepreneurs, corporate to founder, consumer behavior, trust in business, Chris Voss lead with empathy, sustainable haus

What happens when you study one thing and build something completely different? Serena Cavallo graduated with a nutrition degree and is now going into her seventh year running Cavallo Creative Co. - a full-service creative marketing agency helping local businesses come to life through branding, websites, social media, photography, design, and advertising. And she built it almost entirely by teaching herself as she went.In this episode we talk about what it actually means to become an expert before you feel ready, how to trust your instincts when nobody has officially handed you permission, and what separates women who launch from women who keep preparing to launch. We also get into the real stuff about marketing and social media, what small business owners overcomplicate, what actually makes content work, what going viral really does for a business, and the simplest realistic marketing plan for someone with limited time and money.This one is for the woman who keeps learning, tweaking, and planning, but hasn't quite let herself claim the title yet.CONNECT WITH SERENA: Instagram: cavallocreativecoE-book: Social Media 101Topics covered: building a business from scratch, self-taught entrepreneur, creative agency owner, marketing for small business, social media strategy, going viral, branding for local business, women in business, imposter syndrome, trusting yourself, before we get it right podcast, Cavallo Creative Co.

What do you do when the life you planned isn't the life you're living? In this episode Leah and Katherine get honest about the universal feeling of watching your plan unravel — and the question nobody tells you how to answer: how do you know when to keep pushing and when it's time to pivot?This is a conversation about grieving the dream you had, releasing the guilt of changing your mind, navigating the uncomfortable in-between, and learning to trust the version of yourself that's still becoming. Plus five tangible takeaways for anyone sitting with a scary decision right now.For the woman questioning her career, her relationship, her identity, or all three at once — this one is for you.Topics covered: life transitions, identity in motherhood, when to quit vs when to push through, career pivots for moms, letting go of the plan, grieving who you thought you'd be, women and perfectionism, personal growth for moms, navigating uncertainty, messy middle of life

We're back with another round of Messy Middle Confessions and this batch might be the most honest one yet. Four anonymous submissions from real women about the things that live quietly in the back of your mind but rarely make it out of your mouth. The woman who misses liking her husband and doesn't know if it's a season or something more. The one who realized somewhere along the way her entire personality became "getting things done." The one who doesn't know how to make real friends anymore, not acquaintances, not people she texts, but the kind of friends who just know. And the one who has a life that looks completely fine from the outside while quietly wondering if she's actually happy or just really good at functioning.No fixing. No silver linings. Just two moms reading your confessions out loud, reacting honestly, and reminding you... you are not the only one.If you've been carrying something quietly, this one's for you.Submit your messy middle confession HERE completely anonymously for a future episode! Find us on IG and YouTube @beforewegetitright