spent nearly 13 years as a focus group moderator for media companies. I traveled the country testing television shows, talent, websites, advertising campaigns, and the like, with consumers from all walks of life. And while I learned a lot about those things, some of my biggest takeaways were actually major life lessons that have shaped who I am. In today's episode, I'm giving you a behind-the-scenes look at my time as a focus group moderator and sharing some of those valuable life lessons.

Life Lessons I Learned as a Focus Group Moderator

Courtney: Beyond the Cake, stories that inspire, uplift and fill your soul with joy, much like cake! In this new lifestyle podcast, Courtney Rich of the popular Instagram account, Cake by Courtney, puts the cake aside for a moment each week as she returns to her roots in journalism to share inspiring stories of everyday people, as well as well-known celebrities. New episodes each Wednesday morning!

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Best friends and business partners, Mare and Jess are two of the most genuine women you’ll cross paths with. I wish you could have been in this interview in person to see the admiration these two have for each other, but I think you’ll get a good glimpse of it as we talk. You’ll also get a great sense of their passion and commitment to what they do.  As founders of the company, Gathre, Mare and Jess created a brand that doesn’t just sell a product. Nope - these girls are on a mission to remind us all to live with intention and purpose and to clear out the clutter that distracts us from being our best selves.  And yes, we’ll talk all things leather mats and home, but what you’re also going to hear is a truly wonderful example of what it means to find strength in other women AND how impactful it is to look for and lean into one another’s strengths. Sponsors:Get 10% off your first month by going to betterhelp.com/beyondcakeTake your FREE in-depth hair consulation and get 15% off you first order by going to Prose.com/beyondthecake

Finding Strength and Strengths in Each Other with Marilee Killpack and Jessica Eraso of Gathre

She grew up on the basketball court, following her dad’s career as a college men’s basketball coach. She knew the game like the back of her hand. Still does. Learning from her dad as they watched his players, went on recruiting trips and just spent time together at the dinner table, were some of Lee Anne Pope’s fondest memories with her dad, Lynn Archibald. It was years of moving from state to state, years of wins, and years of losses that taught Lee Anne and her family what it really means to be part of a team, on and off the court. What she didn’t know in her youth, however, was that her experiences as the coach’s daughter would be preparing her for a future as a coach’s wife. But it was certainly not planned or expected. Lee Anne actually graduated with a Broadcast Journalism degree from Brigham Young University and landed a job at ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut right out of college. The job of her dreams, or so she thought.It wasn’t long after she started at ESPN that a friend encouraged her to move down to Manhattan and take a job with her as David Letterman’s assistant - a job that would change her life forever and actually help get her back on the basketball court. Lee Anne Pope is the wife of BYU Men’s Basketball Head Coach, Mark Pope, she’s a mother of four girls, and she’s helping to build the best locker room in America! (I’m only a little biased - wink wink). Today, Lee Anne shares with us the lessons she learned from her parents during the ups and downs of her dad’s career, as well as how her childhood experience shaped her and prepared her for her career, for marriage and for motherhood.

Navigating Life's Wins and Losses to Better Strengthen the Family On and Off the Court with Lee Anne Pope

Today’s guest is a long-time friend and a name you’ll no doubt recognize if you’re a Food Network and Cooking Channel fan - Kelsey Nixon. Kelsey has had a passion for food for as long as I can remember… and that goes back to our college years! Kelsey launched her career in food on season 4 of Food Network Star just as she was wrapping up her undergraduate degree in Broadcast Journalism at BYU, where she also created and hosted a college cooking show called Kelsey’s Kitchen that focused on fast, fun, and affordable meals for college students.Food Network Star was just the beginning for Kelsey. She later hosted Kelsey’s Essentials, executive produced by Bobby Flay and one of the first pieces of original programming on Cooking Channel - which earned Kelsey a daytime Emmy nomination.Kelsey’s Essentials eventually grew to Kelsey’s Homemade, a cookbook, “Kitchen Confidence,” and a line of kitchen tools and small appliances featured on HSN. She’s been part of the Food Network family since 2008 with appearances on Iron Chef America, Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay, Guy’s Grocery Games, and Cutthroat Kitchen. Kelsey also regularly appears on the Today Show, Rachel Ray and Access Hollywood. More recently, Kelsey executive produced and hosted the hit family meets food game show, Dinner Takes All. Kelsey lives in Southern California with her husband, Robby, and her kids, Ollie, Nora and Penny. Today Kelsey shares with us the ups and downs of this incredible journey, along with what it was like taking a step back from a booming career to focus on family, and what she’s doing now to help you focus on dinnertime and family time. Sponsor:Get 10% off your first month by going to betterhelp.com/beyondcake

Family First with Kelsey Nixon

As she finished her college degree in broadcast journalism at Brigham Young University, Diana Pace was ready to take the broadcast world by storm. Her insatiable curiosity and endless appetite for learning fueled a passion for finding, however, Diana found herself faced with a “Course Correction”, as she calls it, the first of many in the career and life path landing her where she is today.In today’s episode, we follow Diana’s journey and learn the invaluable lessons her course corrections taught her and ultimately, how they shaped her into the woman she knew she was always meant to be.Sponsors:Take your FREE in-depth hair consulation and get 15% off you first order by going to Prose.com/beyondthecakeGet 10% off your first month by visiting our sponsor at BetterHelp.com/beyondcake

Embracing Life’s Course Corrections with Faith and Resilience with Diana Pace

After years of battling an eating disorder, Tiffany Roe started her life-changing recovery and has since dedicated her life to empowering other women to live in line with their calling and purpose. Tiffany is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, an award winning psychology teacher, the host of Therapy Thoughts Podcast, speaker, OG Therapy is Cool merch creator and owner of Mindful Counseling in Orem, Utah. Tiffany is here to change the mental health game and help women make peace with mind, body and food.Today on “Courtney, Beyond the Cake,” we’re diving into the trends Tiffany is seeing in mental health, why therapy is something all of us should be doing, and how affirmations can transform your life.

Life Lessons I Learned as a Focus Group Moderator

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