The group chat is back, and we’re kicking off Season 3 with the realest catch-up yet. 

Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down to unpack a summer filled with unplanned pivots, unexpected lessons, and major perspective shifts.

From navigating a painful career rejection to juggling pregnancy timelines, family expectations, media burnout and motherhood pressure, this episode is for anyone feeling like their life plan just got flipped. You’re not behind. You’re being redirected. Jeannette shares how a missed promotion turned into a deeper awakening, while Mona opens up about raising her daughter to be bilingual, vlogging fails, and writing her first e-book, Primed to Pivot.

This conversation is full of laughter, clarity, and the reminder that your pivot isn’t a fallback. It’s your next level.

KEYPOINTS: 

0:00 – Kicking off Season 3 with chaos and clarity

1:07 – What one year of podcasting taught us

2:30 – When your “rest era” becomes a burnout spiral

5:49 – The vacation vlog that went completely left

9:28 – The job we thought was a lock… wasn’t

11:59 – How to handle rejection when it hits deep

13:15 – Cheesecake vs cupcake: the ego check we needed

16:40 – “I think I’ve peaked” - the lie we tell ourselves

18:25 – Jeannette's e-book reveal: Primed to Pivot

23:51 – Why your job should be a lease, not a mortgage

25:00 – Career moves vs baby timelines - can we talk?!

31:40 – What to expect this season on Awf The Record

QUOTES 

“You end up playing small when things always go your way.” – Mona Kosar Abdi

“You should treat your job like a lease, not a mortgage.” – Jeannette Reyes

“I want people to be excited and more optimistic and more encouraged when a door does close, or when someone says: ‘Hey, you know…’ whether it’s laying you off or the position has been eliminated.” – Mona Kosar Abdi

“The best thing you can do is to prepare to pivot; and pivot from a position of power and leverage.” – Mona Kosar Abdi

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