Have you ever been told you can't do something, and it fueled you even more? Good. That's the story of Erin Berube's life. You can't. Ok, I will prove you wrong. Erin Hatzikostas sits down to interview her old friend and colleague, Erin Berube.  Erin Berube talks about her difficult start, and how it fueled her to get more from life than what she had experienced growing up. She talks about coming out of an abusive relationship, and how she met (our) Erin, who inspired her to tell her story and lead more authentically. Erin H. recalls how they first hired Erin B. and why she was drawn to her style of work and character. Erin B. discusses struggling with an illness - how she found out about it and how it affected her. At one point it was so bad she was in a wheelchair, with a high chance she would struggle to walk again, and possibly never have kids. But she walked again. And hiked Mount Kilimanjaro! After hiking the peaks of Kilimanjaro, she discusses combatting the odds yet again to start a family, even after doctors told her it would likely be very challenging to get pregnant.  Erin B then discusses her second pregnancy, and the unfortunate situation of losing the child due to complications, and how difficult it is to continue to go to work and have back-to-back meetings in an environment where most of your colleagues wouldn't understand the struggle or the pain you're experiencing.  Erin H. opens up about some of her miscarriages, and how it's easy to assume no one will understand or no one will relate, so you take the burden on alone, but how she thinks the stigma os miscarriages is shifting and people are more open to discuss and understand.  Erin H. asks Erin B. what she has a leader would suggest other leaders can do to help people in difficult situations and any kind of hidden pain. Her advice: kindness and positive intent. Erin B. talks about the company she's recently launched - LACUNA - which she runs alongside her corporate job (she calls herself a "paralapreneur"). She talks about what spurred her to make the change, and how the journey has gone so far. She avails that Erin H's journey away from the corporate world inspired a lot of that for her. Erin B. talks about wanting to plant seeds for the future, so that at a later stage in life she can step away from the corporate world (like Erin H.) and have the life she wants - working where she wants, with more time for herself and her family. Erin H. asks Erin B. what is coming up next for her career, her company, and her journey overall. She has two retreats in the fall with spaces still open. Insta @ lacunaleaders FB @ Lacuna Leaders Linkedin: Erin Berube If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Here are some options... Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @   b Cause Podcast Facebook group @ We share even more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible).  Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to  We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @  Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @ We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsuitable for younger audiences.  Tweetable Comments: "You grow up in that environment and you think 'it's all my fault'." "For me, it was about focusing on things I could control, and I learned that at an early age." "There's always been this spark, this fire, burning inside of me that makes me want to do more and be more." "Humour comes from trauma." "Doctors told me I was never going to hike again, run again, any type of competitive cycling...I'm going to prove them wrong." "This is a disease that hits 70-year-old men, this is not a disease a lot of young people get." "I think the stigma of miscarriages is changing, but we have so far to go." "I think the number one thing any leader can do is have a positive intent." "Leading with kindness is super important." "There's no greater time to just mix it up." "you love to travel. I love to teach yoga. We both love to lead. What if we pool it all together and make something?" "It's all about planting the seeds so I can do what I want to in the future." "I have no other response other than 'I want to eat him for dinner'."