What happens when the work that once gave your life meaning suddenly disappears?

In this powerful return conversation, leadership coach, mindfulness practitioner, yoga teacher, and host of the ThriveMind Podcast, Courtney Finstad, joins us to explore the deep connection between purpose, identity, grief, and healing. Over the past year, Courtney has supported individuals impacted by the dismantling of humanitarian and mission-driven organizations, helping people navigate career loss, identity disruption, and the search for meaning during uncertain times.

Together, we discuss why losing purpose-driven work can feel like losing a part of yourself, how hope can become an anchor during periods of transition, and why genuine healing begins not with fixing ourselves, but with creating space for rest, reflection, and connection.

Courtney also shares insights from her work with communities like My Career Pivot, her growing ThriveMind Podcast, and The Soft Rebellion, a movement encouraging people to push back against hustle culture, constant productivity, and the pressure to optimize every moment.

In a world increasingly driven by AI, speed, and achievement, this conversation is a reminder that our humanity, presence, creativity, and capacity for connection may be our greatest strengths.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why purpose and identity are so deeply connected
• How to navigate grief after major life or career disruptions
• The role of rest, nervous system regulation, and community in healing
• Why presence may be more valuable than productivity
• How to trust intuition, ease, and the "wise agent within"
• Simple ways to reconnect with meaning right where you are

Whether you're facing a career transition, questioning what's next, or simply craving a slower, more intentional way of living, this episode offers wisdom, hope, and practical reminders for the journey.

Connect with Courtney:
Host of the ThriveMind Podcast, leadership coach, mindfulness practitioner, and advocate for creating spaces where people can feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.

In this episode of Better Understanding, Sarah and Marcy sit down with Dr. Sherry Deckman, Professor of Education at Lehman College, Executive Officer of the PhD Program in Urban Education at the CUNY Graduate Center, author, researcher, and lifelong educator.

Sherry shares her deeply personal and mission-driven journey, reflecting on how her multiracial upbringing, early conversations about racism and social justice, and teaching experiences around the globe have shaped her worldview and career path.

Together, they explore:
• What students and adults alike truly need in order to grow and thrive
• Why integrity, humility, and listening are essential qualities in leadership
• How leadership becomes more meaningful when it is relational and reciprocal
• How mindfulness, compassion, and curiosity help her navigate difficult conversations and systemic challenges

This episode is an honest, grounding, and hopeful conversation about education, leadership, identity, kindness, and the power of making people feel seen, valued, and heard.

Whether you’re an educator, leader, parent, student, or simply someone trying to navigate the world with more intention and humanity, this conversation offers wisdom that will stay with you long after listening.

What if the thing you’re most afraid to share… is the very thing someone else needs to hear?

In this raw and powerful episode, Drew Sullivan opens up about his 17-year battle with addiction—and the unexpected mindset shift that finally helped him choose a different path.

But this isn’t just a story about recovery.

It’s about identity. Honesty. And what happens when you stop hiding and start showing up fully as yourself.

Drew shares the moment that changed everything, how going public with his journey became a turning point, and why he now sees his story as a responsibility not just a reflection of his past.

We also dive into:

• Why “small steps” are more powerful than big overhauls
• The surprising role attention and accountability played in his sobriety
• How community can form in the most unexpected ways
• Why addiction isn’t always what we think it is
• And how to know when it’s time to make a change

Today, Drew helps bring some of the world’s most impactful voices to stages around the world, but in this conversation, he reminds us that our own voice might be the one that matters most.

If you’ve ever struggled, felt stuck, or wondered whether change is really possible, then this episode is for you.

Are you feeling stuck in your career—even though you’ve achieved success on paper? Wondering what’s next, but unsure where to start?

In this episode, co-hosts Sarah and Marcy sit down with Carolyn Regan, former Chief People Officer turned leadership coach and creator of The Vital Shift, to explore how high achievers can reinvent their work and life for more meaning, alignment, and fulfillment.

After a successful corporate career, Carolyn took a “power pause” and discovered that many accomplished professionals feel burned out, disconnected, and unclear about their next chapter. This conversation offers a practical path forward.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

•  How to recognize the difference between burnout and lack of fulfillment 
•  Why traditional success (money, titles) stops feeling meaningful—and what comes next 
•  The concept of “enough” and how it reshapes your career decisions 
•  The 4 key freedoms: time, relationships, purpose, and wealth 
•  Simple micro-actions to help you get unstuck and start your next chapter 

If you’re navigating a career transition or craving more meaningful work, this episode will help you reset and move forward with clarity.

Connect with Carolyn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynregan/ 

Subscribe to The Vital Shift: https://thecarolynregan.substack.com/

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Mischa Geracoulis, Senior-level media professional, human rights advocate, and Outreach & Engagement Officer at Project Censored, for a conversation about truth, press freedom, and the personal convictions that shape a life’s work.

Mischa shares how her career — which may have looked nonlinear from the outside — was deeply connected by a consistent thread: a commitment to justice, ethical journalism, and elevating underreported stories. From her early work in coalition building and policy to reporting on Capitol Hill and eventually teaching and pursuing graduate studies in media, each chapter built toward her current role at the intersection of education, academia, and watchdog journalism.

A defining influence in her life was her Armenian heritage and her grandfather’s lived experience of genocide — stories that shaped her understanding of truth, historical erasure, and the power of naming what has happened. She reflects on pivotal global moments, including 9/11, that solidified her commitment to becoming what she calls a “truthteller,” even when the landscape feels dark or overwhelming.

We also explore the current state of journalism: media monopolization, partisan divides, the growing influence of PR over investigative reporting, and the risks of journalism drifting toward influencer culture. Mischa offers thoughtful insight into the urgent need for historical context, ethical grounding, and collaborative efforts to rebuild public trust in the press.

Beyond the headlines, Mischa speaks candidly about what sustains her: a growth mindset, the joy of continual learning, meaningful collaboration, and staying grounded in difficult times. She shares the inspiration behind her book, Media Framing and the Destruction of Cultural Heritage, and leaves listeners with a powerful reminder: when facing uncertainty or disinformation, return to the basics, stay steady, and act from a place of clarity and stability.

This episode is a compelling reflection on courage, media literacy, and the enduring belief that truth, even when challenged, ultimately finds its way forward.

Project Censored: https://www.projectcensored.org/

Connect with Mischa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/m-geracoulis/

Season Four of the Better Understanding Podcast opens with a candid, grounding conversation between Sarah and Marcy—one that meets leaders exactly where many find themselves right now: coming out of the holidays, stepping into a new year, and feeling both anticipation and overwhelm.

Together, they explore the emotional complexity of transitions—why January can feel disorienting, how expectations (especially around the holidays) shape our energy, and what it really means to reset when life feels off-center. Through personal stories—from pauses forced by injury, to moments of stillness, to noticing what the body is asking for—they reflect on the power of small, daily resets and giving ourselves permission to manage differently.

The conversation also turns toward intention-setting for 2026, not through rigid goals, but through guiding words. Sarah shares her word Action—a commitment to move out of rumination and into lived experience. Marcy’s word, Explore, reflects a desire to follow curiosity, creativity, and the things that spark joy, even (and especially) after decades in familiar routines.

This episode is a reminder that leadership—and life—doesn’t require having everything mapped out. Sometimes growth comes from pausing, listening inward, and allowing space for what’s next to reveal itself.

Season Four kicks off with honesty, humanity, and an invitation: to reset, reimagine, and reconnect with what matters most.

In this special 2025 season closer, Sarah and Marcy take the mic—no guests, just reflection. Celebrating three years of podcasting, 36 episodes, and 25 years of friendship, they look back on the conversations, themes, and moments that shaped Happy Beyond 40 this year. From reinvention and the courage to pivot, to heart-centered leadership, service, voice, and vulnerability, they reflect on how guests’ stories (and their own) reinforced a powerful truth: life after 40 is not about having it all figured out—it’s about staying open, curious, and connected.

Sarah and Marcy also revisit their “words of the year”—joy and surrender—sharing honestly how those intentions challenged and stretched them in different ways. They talk about presence, gratitude, trusting the process, and learning to be comfortable with discomfort. As they look ahead to Season 4, they name an exciting intention to bring in more diverse perspectives, explore topics outside their comfort zones, and continue creating a space that fosters community, growth, and meaningful connection. Here’s to what’s next—and to continuing to follow what lights us up. 🎙️✨

In this episode, special guest Brandon Mastrangelo—business coach, facilitator, and in-house advisor at Inspyre, New York State’s largest business incubator. Brandon helps founders identify the behaviors and mindset shifts needed to move a business from survival to sustainable growth, with a deep commitment to supporting entrepreneurs in underserved communities.

Brandon shares his unexpected and very human career path—from working in a Pennsylvania fiber mill and learning Spanish on the factory floor, to HR roles, economic development work in Boston, financial literacy education, refugee support, and ultimately business advising. His throughline? A belief that people deserve kindness, fairness, and access to the tools they need to succeed.

We explore:

• The behavior shifts entrepreneurs must make to scale (communication, strategic clarity, trust, delegation, and identity work).
• Why innovation matters for small businesses—and how Brandon’s team supports it through accelerators, intrapreneurship programs, and a new venture studio.
• The realities of serving minority-owned and underserved entrepreneurs, and the profound relationships built along the way.
• Brandon’s personal story of burnout, being laid off, launching his own coaching practice, landscaping to bridge income gaps, and finding meaning through resilience.
• The health and lifestyle changes that now anchor him.

Brandon’s journey is a powerful reminder that careers aren’t always linear, leadership requires identity shifts, and communities thrive when entrepreneurs are supported with dignity and care.

Connect with Brandon:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brandonmastrangelo
Website: bmastrangelo.com

In this inspiring episode, Marcy and Sarah sit down with Teresa Dillon, who made a bold leap from a 20-year corporate career in sales and business development to pursue her lifelong passion for style and empowerment.

Teresa shares the story behind Reluctantly Styled, her mission to help everyday people feel confident through color analysis, personal styling, and creative expression. She reflects on the challenges of leaving a stable paycheck, trusting herself, and redefining success while stepping fully into her authentic self.

This episode is for anyone ready to take a courageous leap, embrace creativity, and live a purpose-driven life—proof that it’s never too late to pivot and follow your passion.

More about Teresa:

• Connect: LinkedIn 
• Instagram: @thereluctant_influencer
• The Color Edit Co: thecoloreditco.com

What does it really take for leaders to create change that sticks? In this inspiring conversation, Laura Stone—leadership strategist, executive coach, and purpose pioneer—shares how she helps “wicked smaaat leaders lead smarter.” 

With a career spanning work with 10,000+ leaders, Laura dives into why purpose is the cornerstone of leadership, how emerging leaders can build their blueprint for impact, and what it means to align clarity, connection, and strategy in today’s fast-moving world.

From tackling burnout and micromanagement to redefining success and self-worth, Laura brings practical insights, personal stories, and energizing wisdom that will leave you thinking differently about what’s possible for your leadership.

More about Laura: www.laurastone.com | TikTok: @laurastoneleadership