Today's guest found a transformation after burnout and chronic illness.

From founding a groundbreaking incubator for musicians and artists in the Bay Area to finding her own healing and then becoming a Depth Hypnosis practitioner, Vinitha Watson finds her way. 

Vinitha Watson is a certified Hypnotherapist, Depth Hypnosis Practitioner, and the Founder of Zoo Labs, an arts entrepreneurship organization dedicated to empowering people of color. With over two decades of experience, Vinitha has focused on helping individuals overcome internal obstacles, empowering them to heal and thrive, and creating transformative spaces for healers to deepen their own journeys.

Previously, she led a pioneering wellness initiative at Johns Hopkins Medical Residency, introducing wellness tools for medical doctors—a program that has since influenced residency programs nationwide. Vinitha integrates energy medicine, shamanic practices, Buddhist psychology, a degree in Sociology, and training in Psychology with South Indian knowledge systems. This unique perspective helps provide a safe, supportive space for her clients to explore their inner worlds, interpret subconscious patterns, and transform their suffering into greater awareness. Her mission is to help clients uncover the unseen, foster healing through deeper consciousness and understanding, and empower them to reclaim their own agency.

InnerAgency: Vinitha's healing practice

ZooLabs: supporting music creators  – empowering them to fully own and expand their creative paths. We bridge the worlds of music and business by providing artist-tailored entrepreneurial training.

Sacred Stream: A School for Consciousness Studies in Berkeley, CA

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EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconic_owl

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan 

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)

Jeremy Loughnot is the founder of Consilio, a search practice placing senior and founding designers at venture-backed companies. Before that he spent eleven years building design recruiting at Meta, where the design team went from twenty five people to more than three thousand. He now runs portfolio reviews for designers and writes about what the hiring market is actually asking for.

The Portfolio Guide: Reads 114 live design requisitions. Here is what they actually ask for, what you can already evidence, and the questions you will be asked about it. About four minutes, and nothing is stored.

Learn more about Consilio: A boutique design search practice. We work with VC-backed startups on Design: people managers, principal designers, and specialized hires like design engineering.

Connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn

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EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconic_owl

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan 

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)

Hey! It's me. I've got some great episodes in the works coming to you very soon. But after almost two years of making the podcast, I have some reflections about what I've learned and how this project has changed me. And bonus! Some updates on past guests that are doing amazing things.

Check it out.

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EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconic_owl

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan 

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)

Ella Taylor a financial planner and is the CEO of Ella Financial Advising. She spends her days talking to people all about their money - and more importantly how they are using their money to create the life they want.

Ella Financial Advising's mission is to make financial planning more inclusive and to use investing as a force for planetary wellbeing.

At the core of her work is the belief that money is one of the most powerful tools we have to not only to provide freedom and stability for ourselves, but also to shape the future of our planet.

She believes sustainable investing is not just about avoiding harm, but about actively participating in the transition toward healthier systems—financial, social, and ecological. Through steady, values‑aligned action, Ella Financial Advising supports clients in using their money to care for both themselves and the world they are part of.

Website: ellafinancialadvising.com

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EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconic_owl

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan 

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)

Cory Gerlach is a writer and ocean sailor currently living on a sailboat in Guatemala. With a Harvard PhD in  biomedical science and years of government work, he decided to pivot towards a life filled with self-discovery.

He wasn't a sailor when he started. In fact, Cory Gerlach was on a successful path in a stable, government job. But 10 years in, his question was not just about his career choices, but about redefining success and embracing an adventurous life. 

He wanted to live a life aligned with his values. And he knew it wouldn't be easy.

In this episode, we’ll explore Cory’s journey from a secure federal job to sailing across the seas, uncovering insights on courage, resilience, and the beauty of living authentically. 

He shares how he planned his exit ramp, what went wrong, and how he's resiliant because he expects things to be hard. 

His essays on Substack, "Radical Paths," explore the challenges and joys of living a life true to oneself.

Substack: @RadicalPaths

LinkedIn: @CoryVGerlach

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EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconic_owl

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan 

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)

Mary-Lynne Williams is the CEO & Founder of Buffalo Firefly in NYC and Richmond VA. Buffalo Firefly is an Energy Wellness Company whose core mission is to bring the power of sound & energy medicine to the masses, allowing us to recalibrate and elevate from surviving to thriving. Energy medicine and sound healing allow us to regulate our nervous systems as a regular practice, encourage mindful presence, & invite people to achieve more abundance in all aspects of life — resulting in a deeper connection with their soul, the universe & their infinite potential.

Before stepping into this work, she spent over two decades in the tech industry as a product design leader, including roles at Microsoft, Meta, and Zillow, where she shaped complex digital products, led teams, and worked at the intersection of systems thinking, user experience, and human behavior. She left her career in 2019 at the age of 48 to pursue peace & purpose. She evolved her leadership & coaching skills, reiki master training & general ability to do whatever the f*ck she wants to build a strong, successful brand.

Her career in tech was successful by every external measure. Yet over time, Mary-Lynne began to recognize a growing disconnect between the work she was doing and the way she wanted to live in her purpose. She increasingly found herself in a chronic physical & mental health crisis and bravely chose to pivot. 
Her story is not about leaving ambition behind, but about redefining success—trusting discernment, and choosing work that feels sustainable not just intellectually, but physically, emotionally, and spiritually as well.

Instagram: @buffalofirefly or @buffalofirefly.nyc

Shop & book appointments: www.buffalofirefly.com 

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EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconic_owl

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan 

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)

Stacey Gordon wanted to be a novelist since she was a kid. She loved reading and writing. 

However, as an adult she was juggling a demanding career in tech, parenting, work travel, and life...with nothing left over for her own creative pursuits. 

Stacey shares how she gave herself the space for writing and creating without sitting down to type or put pen to paper. How she continued her path through Covid, putting down a few hundred words a day in a small shed outside her house. 

In this episode, she talks about how she’s building a life of a fiction writer. And she's now working on her fourth book. (And, yes, she still has a 9 - 5 job).

She reveals the power of community and the importance of protecting your creative space — especially in the early, vulnerable stages.

Patience and persistence really pays off: her book The Pearl Farmers is out this fall, and she’s building her author brand and helping other writers alongside her day job.

Maybe your creative dream is just an idea now — but with small steps, it can become real.

Website: https://www.staceygordonauthor.com/

Her book: thepearlfarmers.com

IG: @staceygordonauthor

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EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconic_owl

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan 

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)

After 20 years in tech consulting and leadership, Danielle was laid off. She knew it was time for a change. But what? Tech didn't seem like a path forward anymore.

She made the unexpected but extremely gratifying shift into housing, becoming a housing provider for people challenged by the Bay Area rental market. Her company, Rising Tide Residences offers room rentals for men, women and families from diverse backgrounds, looking for stability and a chance to level up. These are people who have just come out of prison, have aged out of foster care, or have another  difficult situation that makes it hard to find housing. She's found success in making buildings into stable homes. 

Hear her story and what she plans to do next. 

To connect, learn more about their offerings, or to apply for housing, visit www.risingtideresidences.org

Link: www.risingtideresidences.org

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EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconic_owl

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan 

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)

"I think the journey that most of us are on with work really has to do with a process of self discovery that has followed us our whole lives.”

When Erin Wade was fired from her job as a lawyer, she decided it was time to take on a big project - creating a restaurant space that prioritized purpose, culture, and  hospitality.

Erin is the founder of Homeroom, a restaurant with a cult following in Oakland, California, focused on delivering the absolute best mac and cheese. 

She bootstrapped her restaurant, starting by investing her own money (no investors) and worked tirelessly in every corner—from building furniture to training staff. She was committed to launch a restaurant that was counter to typical dining culture. She designed systems rooted in transparency, employee engagement, and values that resonate beyond just serving mac and cheese.

Our conversation unpacks some of the lessons learned as well as her advice to others hoping to build something meaningful.

Erin Wade: https://www.erinwade.co/

Erin's Book: The Mac and Cheese Millionaire

Homeroom: https://www.homeroom510.com/

2018 WaPo Editorial Link 

Chapters

00:00 - From Lawyer to Mac and Cheese Entrepreneur
03:38 - Childhood Influences and Entrepreneurial Spirit
06:13 - The Journey to Homeroom: A New Vision for Restaurants
09:12 - Building a Unique Restaurant Culture
12:24 - The Financial Risks and DIY Approach
15:15 - The First Weeks of Homeroom: Success and Challenges
18:04 - Hiring and Team Building: Lessons Learned
21:04 - Creating a Transparent and Engaging Workplace
23:52 - Values-Based Decision Making in Business
27:02 - Support Systems for Entrepreneurs

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EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconic_owl

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan 

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)

In this conversation, Courtney Kaplan interviews Tina Santiago-Keenan, co-founder of Secret City, a creative design and production studio that creates immersive experiences. Tina shares her journey from working in tech at Facebook and Uber Eats to launching Secret City, which combines elements of escape rooms and immersive theater. The discussion covers the challenges of entrepreneurship, the impact of the pandemic, and the importance of community and in-person experiences. Tina also offers insights on career transitions, balancing work and family, and the future of Secret City.

Links:

Website: https://secretcity.studio/

Social Links: https://www.instagram.com/secretcityadventures/

Learn More: https://www.secretcityadventures.com/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Tina Santiago-Keenan and Secret City
05:35 Tina's Career Journey and Transition to Secret City
10:53 Challenges in the Early Days of Secret City
21:48 Navigating Challenges During COVID-19
27:08 The Importance of In-Person Connections
32:04 Advice for Career Transitions
36:29 Balancing Parenthood and Entrepreneurship
40:21 Introduction to Tina's Journey
42:53 The Importance of Patience and Testing Ideas
44:18 Leveraging Existing Skills and Collaboration

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EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconic_owl

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan 

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)