Coherence Podcast

Tired of hearing conflicting content advice that leaves you overwhelmed in inaction? When your livelihood feels tied to getting the word out about your work, it can feel like your only option is to show up on every platform and to force yourself to post all the time. But people feel tension around social media, not wanting to add to the noise or not knowing how to show up in a way that feels not… icky. 

In this reflective solo episode, host Melissa Wong unpacks the concept of "authentic sharing style," offering a personalized framework for sharing your work without burnout or vulnerability hangovers. She guides you through understanding your core motivations, addressing common fears like judgment and imposter syndrome, and identifying which communication mediums help you naturally show up with more ease.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by social media "shoulds" or wondered which content approach would actually feel sustainable, this conversation provides practical wisdom on finding the sweet spot where your strengths, audience needs, and unique voice converge.

Myisha Battle is a certified clinical sexologist and sex and dating coach, educator, and speaker. She is the author of This is Supposed to Be Fun: How to Find Joy in Hooking Up, Settling Down, and Everything in Between.

In this episode, Myisha takes us through her evolution from middle school peer counselor to psychology graduate student to working four jobs while trying to grow her business to today as a respected sexologist, author, and Time Magazine columnist. 

Myisha talks about how the business philosophy of "form follows function" allows her to create a coaching business that really works for her not just in theory but in practice. 

If you've ever wondered how to build a thriving practice around taboo topics, this conversation just might inspire you to have the courage to speak about issues that really matter. 

You can find Myisha at:

website: https://myishabattle.com/

IG: @myishabattle

What happens when you trade corporate success for creative pursuit? For Janet Wong (Melissa’s cousin!), leaving her role as director of labor relations to write children's books wasn't just a career change—it was a return to the artistic spirit she'd never been encouraged to take seriously. 

In this episode, Janet takes us behind the scenes of her 30-year journey in children's literature, from her early days of doubt to becoming an award-winning author and independent publisher. Through family artifacts, rejection letters, and pivotal moments of mentorship, she illustrates how our professional lives can become richer when we stop trying to fit into others' expectations.

If you've ever felt torn between practicality and passion, or wondered how to maintain longevity in a creative field, this conversation offers wisdom on embracing your quirks, finding your voice, and remembering that there's always "room for me" in spaces that matter to you.

You can find Janet at: 

Website: https://janet-wong.com/

IG: @janetwongauthor

Ever catch yourself daydreaming about breaking free from the 9-to-5 grind, but wonder if you're actually ready to take that leap? You're not alone in this, and today's episode walks you through an exploration of what's really possible.

I'm diving deep into what it truly means to be ready for self-employment—beyond business plans and savings accounts. I'll share my own journey of questioning, planning, and finally making the switch, along with the inner work that made all the difference.

We're getting real about the emotional rollercoaster of creating your own path and I'm breaking down both the mindset shifts and practical steps that will help you move from "someday" to "day one." Whether you're feeling that gentle nudge or a full-on push toward self-employment, this episode will help you understand if you're ready to write your own rules.

If you've ever looked at your career and thought "there has to be more than this," consider this episode your guide to figuring out if going solo is your next right move. I truly believe that creating a career that truly fits you is possible when you know what to look for and how to prepare.

Get the "Are you ready to work for yourself?" Quiz here.

Adam “Smiley” Poswolsky is a keynote speaker, workplace belonging & future of work expert and a bestselling author of four books that have been translated into multiple languages, including The Quarter-Life Breakthrough, Friendship in the Age of Loneliness, and The Workplace Belonging Toolkit. Melissa and Smiley used to live together in a 13 person co-living house in Oakland, CA. 

In this conversation they talk about the secret ingredient to his success getting his first book published and building the fulfilling and dynamic speaking career that he has today. Listen in to learn the classic and often overlooked tactic to growing a business that you love.

You can find Smiley at:

Website:https://www.smileyposwolsky.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/whatsupsmiley/

Substack: https://substack.com/@friendswithsmiley

Your host Melissa Wong shares about her zig zagging career journey and how she found her work calling.

It's a very personal episode that kicks off a new season of episodes all about people who have designed work that is custom tailored to their unique skills, stories, and sensibilities.

Hear how Melissa went from crying in the career counselors office to becoming a career coach herself.

Stella Gold (they/them) is a Rebirth + Wealth Coach for changemakers and comes from a lineage of activists. They are the founder of My Gold Standard, providing financial education and business coaching as well as grief, death, and end of life planning support. 

In our conversation Stella shares about how we can use business as an ecosystem for financial solidarity for ourselves AND the collective. We also face the hard fact that while entrepreneurship does give you more control in some ways, it also gives you less control in other ways. 

You can find Stella at: 

Website: mygoldstandard.co

IG: @mygoldstandard

Laura Patterson currently works as an associate partner at Promise Venture Studio, a nonprofit accelerator for social entrepreneurs in early childhood. Melissa asks her about the common thread between her past work: her mission to increase access to high quality education for all students. 

Laura shares her personal experience navigating different educational environments and the disparities she observed. She emphasizes the importance of community engagement and the role of catalyzers in fostering connections and how we might actually have reason to be optimistic about our collective future if we just look at what’s happening around us locally. 

Fun Fact: Melissa was a member of a giving circle that Laura started in 2020 in response to the pandemic. What started as a six month commitment ended up lasting three years! 

You can find Laura at: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraepatterson

Ilana Lipsett is a civic designer who has built her career around helping communities and cities become more resilient when preparing for the future. As a participatory futures design strategist she facilitates challenging conversations with the goal of arriving at innovative solutions, and creating more empathy along the way. 

In this conversation, Ilana presents a hopeful and grounded perspective of how we begin to come together at every level of human relationship. 

You can find Ilana at: 

Website: www.ilanalipsett.com

LinkedIn: @ilanalipsett

Jenny Gottstein is a play designer who knows how to make activism fun. She understands that fun and joy are mission critical to social change.

From zombie apocalypse disaster preparedness games to voting education parties to climate action game shows, Jenny has built her career helping organizations harness the infectious power of a good time to support missions like disaster resilience, textile recycling, financial literacy, civic engagement, environmental stewardship.

Tune in to hear how Jenny has stayed true to her guiding mission and for tips on how to create your own 'sparkle map'. 

You can find Jenny at: