it's cool, us too

What happens when you've climbed the corporate ladder, landed the impressive job, earned the good salary... and realized you don't actually want any of it?

This week, we're joined by Lisa, who did what so many of us have fantasized about: she walked away from a successful corporate career without having her next move figured out. Then she posted about it on Instagram, accidentally went viral, and found herself connecting with thousands of women asking the same question: Is this really what I want my life to look like?

We're getting into the messy, exciting and occasionally terrifying reality of choosing yourself. From financial safety nets and identity crises to corporate boundaries (it's PR, not ER, people!), Lisa shares what it actually takes to step away from the life you thought you were supposed to want.

We also talk about grief, gratitude, redefining ambition, and why sometimes the bravest thing you can do is admit you want something different.

And because figuring out your next chapter is a lot easier when you're not doing it alone, Lisa shares her newest venture, The Common Club, a community bringing together women who are questioning what's next and looking for connection along the way.

Whether you're ready to hand in your notice or just quietly wondering if there's more out there, this one's for you.

Find Lisa: @lisamfil

Follow along with it's cool, us too for more conversations about figuring out life, one questionable decision at a time.

This week, we're catching up. And somewhere between weddings, travel, dating updates, career changes and everything else happening in our lives, we ended up talking about something we think a lot of people in their 30s are feeling: friendship looks different now.

As our lives get fuller and everyone moves through different seasons, maintaining friendships isn't as automatic as it once was. Sometimes months go by without seeing someone you love. Some friendships survive almost entirely through Instagram. Others quietly fade without anyone ever really acknowledging what happened.

We talk about how our own friendships have evolved as we've gotten older, what it means to actually show up for people when life is busy, navigating friendships when one person is single and another is in a relationship, friendship breakups, and whether "we need to get together soon" actually means anything anymore.

And we ask ourselves a question that gets a little more emotional than expected: Who would you call at 2 a.m., and who would call you?

Plus, lots of life updates, because apparently a lot can happen when we don't properly catch up.

What if the life you've been working so hard to build isn't actually the life you want?

This week on It's Cool Us Too, we're joined by Kiki in Sicily, who traded life in LA for a €27,000 historic home in a small Sicilian town. With no renovation experience and plenty of uncertainty ahead, Kiki took a chance on building a completely different kind of life.

We talk about what it really takes to start over, the unexpected challenges of renovating a home abroad, and the difference between having a busy social life and finding a genuine sense of community.

Kiki shares how life in Mussomeli has changed her relationship with work, money and success, and why creating financial security can sometimes mean needing less rather than earning more. We also get into cultural differences, taking risks when you don't have everything figured out, and what happens when you stop chasing the milestones everyone expects you to hit.

Whether you've dreamed of moving abroad, changing careers or simply slowing down, this conversation is about giving yourself permission to question the status quo and build a life that feels like your own.

Follow Kiki on TikTok: Kiki in Sicily

Follow Kiki on Instagram: @kikiinsicily

Everyone has an opinion on what's "worth the money." Some people swear by expensive skincare. Others will die on the hill that direct flights, quality luggage, or a cleaning service are life-changing.

This week, we're putting the viral TikTok trend to the test and sharing the purchases we'd happily buy again and again.

From beauty and wellness to travel, home, and the little luxuries that make everyday life easier, we're breaking down what we think is actually worth the investment, what isn't, and why spending more isn't always about being extravagant. Sometimes it's about buying back your time, protecting your peace, or simply making your day a little better.

As always, we go off on a few tangents along the way, including dating app updates, cottage weekends, apartment chaos, and the random things that have brought us joy lately.

In this episode, we cover:

• The beauty products and treatments we think actually live up to the hype
• Wellness investments that genuinely improved our lives
• Home upgrades that make everyday routines feel more enjoyable
• Travel purchases we'll never travel without again
• The small luxuries that consistently make us happier
• Where we think it's worth spending more—and where we'd save our money instead

Whether you're looking to make smarter purchases, justify something that's been sitting in your cart, or simply love hearing people's strong opinions on everyday products, this episode is for you.

Let us know: What's one purchase you'll defend forever? We'd love to hear your "worth every penny" recommendations.

When you've spent years chasing promotions, titles, and bigger paycheques, what happens when you finally get there... and still feel empty?

This week we're joined by Adrianne Largo, executive career coach and former senior marketing executive, who knows exactly what that feels like.

After building a successful career with companies like Kraft Foods and Coca-Cola, Adrianne realized that everything looked right on paper, but something was missing. The promotions kept coming, but so did the exhaustion, burnout, and the quiet question so many high achievers are afraid to ask:

"Is this really it?"

Instead of pushing that feeling aside, Adrianne got curious. She invested in understanding herself, became an executive coach, and built a career that's aligned with who she is, not just who she thought she was supposed to become.

Whether you're questioning your career, feeling stuck despite your success, or wondering if the next promotion is really the answer, this conversation is an honest look at redefining ambition and building a career on your own terms.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why career success doesn't always lead to fulfillment
• The difference between burnout and simply outgrowing your career
• How to tell whether it's time to stay, pivot, or leave
• The identity crisis that can come when your title no longer defines you
• Why so many high achievers feel guilty for wanting something different
• Building a business at the right pace instead of chasing constant growth
• How motherhood reshaped Adrianne's perspective on work and ambition
• Why coaches need coaches, too
• What success looks like when you stop measuring it by promotions and paycheques

Connect with Adrianne:

https://www.largocoaching.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriannelargo/ 

We've all had the thought:

Maybe I'd be happier if I moved.
If I changed jobs.
Started over.
Became a different version of myself.

But what if the thing we're chasing isn't actually a new city, relationship, career, or routine?

This week, we're talking about destination addiction: the belief that the life we want is always one move away.

Inspired by Kiki's essay, Why Do I Always Want to Be Somewhere Else?, we unpack why so many of us fall into the trap of believing the next chapter will finally make us feel fulfilled. We explore the psychology behind hedonic adaptation (why the excitement of achieving our goals fades so quickly), the difference between moving toward something versus running away from something, and how to tell whether you're truly outgrowing your life or simply craving a clean slate.

We also share where this shows up in our own lives, from careers and relationships to the pressure to constantly reinvent ourselves.

In this episode, we cover:

• What destination addiction actually is and why so many of us experience it
• The psychology of hedonic adaptation and why "the next thing" rarely satisfies us for long
• How to recognize the difference between healthy growth and disguised escapism
• Why belonging, confidence, and fulfillment often take longer to build than we'd like
• The questions to ask yourself before making your next big move or life change

This episode was inspired by Kiki's thoughtful essay, Why Do I Always Want to Be Somewhere Else? You can read it here:
https://storieswithkiki.substack.com/p/why-do-i-always-want-to-be-somewhere

If this episode resonated with you, we'd love to hear from you. Send us a DM or share the episode with someone who's been wondering if happiness is waiting somewhere else.

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok: @itscool.ustoo

We grew up believing there was one formula for success: work harder than everyone else, climb the ladder, collect the promotions, become the girlboss... and then you'd finally feel fulfilled.

Except a lot of millennials got there and realized they didn't.

This week we're joined by Colleen Bordeaux, founder of Growth Inc. and the creator behind some of TikTok's most painfully accurate takes on corporate life. After spending more than 12 years building multi-million-dollar businesses at Deloitte, Colleen made the leap into entrepreneurship while pregnant with her first child. We talk about ambition, identity, leadership, and what happens when you stop chasing the version of success you thought you were supposed to want.

Whether you're questioning your career, trying to become a better leader, or simply wondering if success is supposed to feel different than this, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Millennial Girlboss Hangover and why so many high achievers are questioning the careers they worked so hard to build
• Why Colleen would rather be respected than liked, and how that mindset changed her career
• The pressure women face to make themselves smaller, quieter, and more "palatable" at work
• What leaders are getting wrong about Gen Z and how we can bridge the gap
• Leaving Deloitte while pregnant and betting on herself when the timing made absolutely no sense on paper
• The urgent vs. important exercise that completely changed how she prioritizes her time
• Why the habits that make you an incredible individual contributor can quietly hold you back as a leader
• Becoming a new mom while building a business from scratch
• Her idea of "Cringe Mountain" and why being willing to look a little ridiculous is often the price of doing something extraordinary

If this episode resonates with you, we'd love for you to share it with a friend, colleague, or fellow recovering millennial girlboss who needs to hear it. Don't forget to subscribe, leave us a rating or review, and tag us on social. We love hearing what conversations are resonating with you and your support helps more people discover it's cool, us too.

Follow Colleen:
Instagram (@growthincubator): https://www.instagram.com/growthincubator

TikTok (@growthincubator): https://www.tiktok.com/@growthincubator

Website: www.growth-inc.org

Summer is officially approaching, and we’re treating it like a full strategy session.

In this episode, Cole and Meag sit down to define their “summer brands” — the energy, habits, boundaries, goals, and experiences they actually want to bring into this season. From routines and wellness to friendships, dating, work, money, travel, and protecting your peace, this conversation is all about creating a summer that feels intentional instead of chaotic.

We talk about:

• What last summer taught us
• The habits we’re locking in before June
• Balancing fun with structure
• Protecting our energy and saying no more confidently
• Summer spending, ambition, and realistic goals
• Dating and relationships with more intention
• What a “good summer” actually looks like in this stage of life
• The internal and external glow-ups we’re prioritizing

This episode feels like sitting down with your friends to map out the kind of summer you actually want — not the one social media tells you to have.

Because maybe your best summer isn’t about doing the most. Maybe it’s about feeling the most like yourself.

In this episode, we sit down with our longtime friend Sarah McLaren for a deeply honest conversation about chronic illness, identity, ambition, and what happens when your body changes the direction of your life.

After getting COVID in 2021, Sarah began experiencing debilitating symptoms including vertigo, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive challenges, and sensory overload. What followed was years of searching for answers, navigating the realities of long COVID, and grieving the version of herself she thought she’d always be.

Together, we talk about the emotional side of invisible illness, the pressure to remain “high functioning,” and the fear of being perceived differently when your capacity changes. We also explore how health challenges can reshape your relationship with work, success, ambition, and self-worth.

This episode is for anyone who has ever felt disconnected from the person they used to be, struggled to ask for help, or realized they can’t simply “push through” anymore.

Topics discussed:

• Long COVID and invisible illness
• Grief and identity shifts
• Redefining ambition in your 30s
• Corporate culture and chronic health challenges
• The emotional toll of being “high capacity”
• Recovery, resilience, and rebuilding your life

If you’ve ever felt disconnected from the version of yourself you used to be, we hope this conversation reminds you that you’re not alone in the rebuilding.

In this episode, we’re getting honest about something a lot of us don’t want to admit… work isn’t just what we do, it’s who we are.

As women in our 30s who have spent years building careers we’re proud of, we’ve also built lives where everything else seems to revolve around them. Our time, our energy, our relationships, even how we see ourselves. And at some point, you start to ask… is this actually working?

We dive into the idea of “decentering work” and what it really means to untangle your identity from your career without losing your ambition. Because it’s not as simple as just caring less. For many of us, work sits at the centre of everything.

We also explore the concept of the Wheel of Life and how, in reality, it often looks less like a balanced circle and more like a life where work dictates every other category. From love and friendships to health, fun, and personal growth, we talk about what gets left behind when work takes over.

And then we ask the question that stayed with us long after we stopped recording:

If you were offered a soft life, would you actually take it?

This is a conversation about identity, ambition, burnout, and redefining success on your own terms. It’s messy, honest, and very much something we’re still figuring out in real time.

If you’ve ever felt like your worth is tied to your productivity, or wondered who you are outside of what you achieve, this one’s for you.