We dive into the different types of relationships in our lives and how we certainly don’t know how to balance all of them. We talk about the bicycle spoke analogy: when you put yourself at the center, the relationships around you can keep moving, but when you put someone else at the center, the wheel can start to break down.

So, how are you doing it? How are you balancing the people you love, the people you work with, and yourself somewhere in the middle of all of it? Come join the conversation. Find us on Instagram @Naxpertpod or send us an email at [email protected]

Do you ever feel like everyone else has it figured out while you're just trying to keep up?

This week on Not an Expert, we're unpacking imposter syndrome and the different ways it shows up in our lives. From careers and appearance to the pressure of trying to measure up, we share our own experiences and explore where those feelings come from.

We also talk about how practicing self-compassion can help quiet that inner critic and remind ourselves that confidence isn't about being perfect. It's about trusting that you'll be okay, even when you don't have it all figured out.

Episode 1: What Is a Third Space?

Before we dive into topics we definitely don’t have the credentials for, we figured we’d start with the place that brought us together.

In this first episode, Jackie, Micah, and Shannon explore the idea of a third place—the spaces outside of home and work where community happens. For Shannon, that place was Old Chicago. For Jackie and Micah, it started as work but became something much more: a second home and eventually a third space filled with friendships, familiar faces, and countless memories.

We talk about what made that community so special, why protecting our third spaces matters (maybe with a little more passion than we expected), and what happens when the place that connected everyone suddenly disappears.

As we reflect on the closure of our Old Chicago, we also talk about where life has taken each of us and the challenge of finding new places to belong.

Whether you’ve lost a favorite gathering spot or you’re still searching for your people, we hope this conversation reminds you that community is worth finding—and worth protecting.

Thanks for joining us in the Third Space.