We’ve all heard, “You're the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” We know that surrounding ourselves with the right friends can improve our health and give us the encouragement we need to achieve our goals and actualize our dreams. But, what if your friends aren’t growing with you…or, worse, holding you back from becoming the best version of yourself?

This week, we’re chatting about conscious connection, how to build rich relationships, and navigate friendships that aren’t fulfilling in that way without cutting someone out. (But you do you if that’s what’s best!) We’re also celebrating Renée’s favorite fruit in season, Melissa’s #CozyGamerGirl era, Neopets nostalgia, and surpassing 1,000 downloads of the podcast. (Thanks for the support, everyone!)

Finally, we have a surprise pick for our next book club episode, so mark your calendars for October 11!

Mentioned in this episode:

“Necessary Endings” by Dr. Henry Cloud: https://www.drcloud.com/books/necessary-endings 

Friendships: Enrich Your Life and Improve Your Health: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/friendships/art-20044860

Are Your Friends Making You Fat?: https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/magazine/13contagion-t.html 

“A Friend Of A Friend: Understanding the Hidden Networks That Can Transform Your Life and Your Career” by David Burkus: https://davidburkus.com/books/friend-of-a-friend 

I Spent 5 Years Studying Self-made Millionaires and Found There's an Easy Way to Tell If Your Closest Friends are Holding You Back from Becoming Rich: https://www.businessinsider.com/is-your-inner-circle-holding-you-back-from-becoming-rich-2019-7 

Zespri Sungold Kiwi: https://www.zespri.com/en-US/product 

Disney Dreamlight Valley: https://disneydreamlightvalley.com

Morgan Harper Nichols: https://www.instagram.com/morganharpernichols 

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Question. Why does the prospect of making new friendships and connections give us the ick once we brand it as networking? This week we’re talking about expanding our personal and professional circles and how to nurture your network to make it work for you. We explore making meaningful connections online, maintaining a “say yes” philosophy to meeting new people, and sharing your story with the world! We’re also recapping our recent vacations and when (or if) it’s appropriate to bother us at the grocery store.

Mentioned in this episode:

“Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success One Relationship at a Time” by Keith Ferrazzi: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/227558/never-eat-alone-expanded-and-updated-by-keith-ferrazzi-and-tahl-raz/ 

How to Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones: https://www.netflix.com/title/81214929 

“Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest” by Dan Buettner: https://www.bluezones.com/books 

La Valise Tulum: https://www.lavalisetulum.com 

Karleen Roy: https://www.instagram.com/karleenroy 

Jules Acree’s Slow Brew Sunday newsletter: https://julesacree.ck.page/b9789442a2 

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Whether you spell it imposter or impostor — this is driving us crazy! — we can safely assume that most people have experienced imposter syndrome at some point in their lives. Even our role models, some of the most well-known and accomplished people, feel like frauds sometimes and struggle with confidence. 

So this week we’re chatting about dealing with and working through imposter syndrome. We explore how to practice building self-confidence, tips for managing self-doubt — fake it till you make it, babe! — and whether being delusional is the ultimate life hack. We also discuss “boodle fights” and make the case for why Mindy Kaling could be our ultimate confidence queen.

Mentioned in this episode:

International Journal of Behavioral Science, ‘The Impostor Phenomenon’: https://so06.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/IJBS/article/view/521/pdf 

The Stigma of the Singleton with Mindy Kaling (Archetypes): https://open.spotify.com/episode/6neuBm0vVeeawV5eYNnm4p 

Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome: https://hbr.org/2021/02/stop-telling-women-they-have-imposter-syndrome 

2018 Commencement Address by Mindy Kaling ’01: https://home.dartmouth.edu/news/2018/06/2018-commencement-address-mindy-kaling-01

25 Famous Women on Impostor Syndrome and Self-Doubt: https://www.thecut.com/article/25-famous-women-on-impostor-syndrome-and-self-doubt.html 

What is a Boodle Fight?: https://www.angsarap.net/2015/05/21/what-is-a-boodle-fight 

Maude: https://getmaude.com

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“Everything is Figureoutable” is the New York Times #1 bestselling book by Marie Forleo, host of the award-winning MarieTV and The Marie Forleo Podcast, that details her empowering philosophy that there’s no challenge or dream that’s too big to be tackled with the right mindset. 

We’re both huge fans of Marie (and her mantra)! Sadly, we didn’t have time to dive into all the gems in this book, which is why we highly recommend grabbing a copy! But a few of the (many!) things we explore include how to stop excuses from holding you back, why fear is usually pointing you in the direction your soul wants to go, and getting comfortable with starting before you’re ready.

In Marie’s words, “Clarity comes from engagement, not thought.” So we’re giving you permission to try and throw yourself into new things (even if you don’t know where it will lead). 

Mentioned in this episode:

“Everything is Figureoutable” by Marie Forleo: https://everythingisfigureoutable.com 

“Heart of Life” by John Mayer: https://open.spotify.com/track/78DwRIo6Vj6wqteyerGetr 

“Mindset” by Carol S. Dweck: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/44330/mindset-by-carol-s-dweck-phd 

Brown Noise Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX4hpot8sYudB?si=3ae4668e94de4412 

Sakara: https://www.sakara.com 

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Side hustles have been a hot topic for a while now – does everyone have one? Do I have to tell my boss? Also, why is my company all up in my business – literally and figuratively? This week, we’re chatting about whether you need to disclose your side hustle, whether encouraging side gigs will be the next big employee retention strategy, and why we should just let people be interesting. We also get a weekly reminder that your hosts do not understand basic science. Photosynthesis!

Mentioned in this episode:

Survey: 39% Have a Side Hustle, and 44% Believe They’ll Always Need One: https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/side-hustle-survey/

Japan Trading House Says Workers Can Be YouTubers to Top Up $100,000 Salaries: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-01/workers-at-japan-s-mitsui-can-now-pursue-side-jobs-youtuber-careers

Got a Thriving Side Job? Here’s How and When to Tell Your Boss About It — And Why You Probably Should: https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-tell-your-boss-about-your-side-hustle-2022-8 

Montone Sauce & Co.: https://www.montonesauceco.com/ 

Erin on Demand: https://erinondemand.com 

“How to MASTER an EMPIRE with Master P” on The Ed Mylett Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WMVXxDCXh8 

@withrubina: https://www.instagram.com/withrubina 

@wetheurban: https://www.instagram.com/wetheurban 

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This week, we’re joined by Michelle Chu. Michelle is the Founder & CEO of KONOS, a brand of sleek and functional dog training gear with a mission to empower dog owners to build deeper relationships with their dogs. She was inspired by her own adopted dog, Kono, an American Staffy mix who struggles with dog reactivity and whose legacy she is currently building. 

Honestly, Michelle is a badass! She shared so much honesty and transparency about her journey, from bootstrapping her company (formerly Kono’s Kitchen) on her own and launching during the pandemic in 2020 to building an online community with authenticity and wearing all the hats as a solopreneur. We cover so much ground in this conversation, including making the decision to quit your full-time job (or pick up additional side income), pivoting your business while staying true to your mission, navigating the experience of going one step forward and two steps back, and what advice Michelle would give anyone starting a company today.

On August 31, KONOS is launching its first leash product, as the company pivots from high-value single-ingredient training treats to focus more on dog training gear. If you want to stay connected to Michelle’s community, follow her on Instagram at @shopkonos, send her an email at [email protected], or join her Discord!

Mentioned in this episode:

KONOS: www.shopkonos.com 

Michelle’s Discord: https://discord.com/channels/1070470709098319952

Space to Fail Episode 6, “Adopting and Adapting with Melissa Vega-Magbitang: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Wuw3XKxKPnjvLxqbpHjlT

Estamos: https://drinkestamos.com 

Trade Street Jam Co: https://tradestjamco.com

Bright Black Candles: https://brightblackcandles.com 

Duolingo: https://www.duolingo.com

Michelle’s KONOS Season 2 Brand Reps (follow on Instagram!): @mikathemixedlab, @leo_fouzoul, @charlie_bernadette_corgi, @capnroux, @milo.pnw.aussie, @akirasibe

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Real talk: most of us have resigned from a job or two already. And we’ll all likely quit several more jobs over the course of our lives as we get closer to finding the right opportunities that fulfill us, excite us, and meet our needs. But is quitting always a bad thing? This week, we dig into this hot topic – and excavate some of our personal experiences – to explore when quitting is good for both you and the company, knowing when you need to quit vs. taking a step back to reevaluate, and managing any feelings of guilt that arise when you say goodbye to something to which you were once loyal.

One of our core beliefs is that you deserve to wake up feeling excited about your life every day. And, when that’s no longer the case, you should feel empowered to walk away with dignity and quit on a good note, but also an honest one.

Gratitude > grudges.

Mentioned in this episode:

For Younger Workers, Job Hopping Has Lost Its Stigma. Should It?: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/09/business/job-hopping-young-workers-gen-z.html 

WTF is Toxic Resiliency?: https://www.worklife.news/culture/toxic-resiliency 

Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett podcast: https://stevenbartlett.com/the-diary-of-a-ceo-podcast 

Natalie Borton newsletter: https://natalieborton.com/newsletter 

“Set Boundaries, Find Peace” by Nedra Glover Tawwab: https://www.nedratawwab.com/set-boundaries-find-peace-1 

Cotopaxi: https://www.cotopaxi.com 

byAVA: https://www.byava.co 

How Beauty Editor Linda Wells Gets It Done: https://www.thecut.com/2023/07/how-linda-wells-gets-it-done.html 

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This week, we’re talking about another hot topic in the workforce: layoffs. So many talented employees have already been laid off this year and, unfortunately, most of us will likely be caught up in “restructurings” or “redundancies” at some point in our careers. Our co-host Melissa shares her recent personal experience with being laid off and what that journey has been like the past month. We dive into giving yourself time to process the multitude of emotions, why a layoff doesn’t define you (or your worth), and how ‘career cushioning’ can help you stay one step ahead of potential setbacks or involuntary job loss.

We also discover that Wilmington, North Carolina is (allegedly) known as “Hollywood East” (or “Wilmywood”) as a hot spot for film and TV production. Someone please fact check this!

Mentioned in this episode:

How to Manage the Emotional Impact of Getting Laid Off: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/21/smarter-living/coronavirus-laid-off-career-advice.html  

Stressed About Potential Layoffs? You Should Practice ‘Career Cushioning’: https://www.fastcompany.com/90815813/stressed-potential-layoffs-practice-career-cushioning 

“Necessary Endings” by Dr. Henry Cloud: https://www.drcloud.com/books/necessary-endings 

How to Cope with Being Laid Off: https://www.talkspace.com/blog/how-to-deal-with-being-laid-off 

We’re Opening A Talent Pool — Here’s What To Do If You’re Interested: https://buffer.com/resources/buffer-talent-pool/ 

70 Layoff Statistics for 2023 (Updated Figures): https://www.demandsage.com/layoff-statistics/ 

Petit Pot: https://petitpot.com 

PLANTA: https://www.plantarestaurants.com 

“Why Not” by Hilary Duff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeOKlQC9yyM 

“Everything is Figureoutable” by Marie Forleo: https://everythingisfigureoutable.com 

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IG: @pilotingpod

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We go to back to basics for our book club pick this week with the worldwide #1 bestseller “Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones” by James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation. After reading this, we can see why it’s a classic! From implementation intentions and habit stacking to mastering the Law of Least Effort, we learned so much about how the human brain works and helpful tools to help you create systems to achieve your dreams. This book is so empowering for anyone looking to shift their identity with small, manageable steps and shows there’s power (and progress!) in becoming just 1% better each day.

In James’s words, “If nothing changes, nothing is going to change,” and we’re excited to have a better understanding of how to introduce better habits that actually stick!

Mentioned in this episode:

“Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones” by James Clear: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits 

Duolingo: https://www.duolingo.com 

Dear Duolingo: Are Some People Just Better at Learning Languages Than Others?: https://blog.duolingo.com/are-some-people-better-at-learning-languages/ 

Petfolk: https://petfolk.com 

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Email us: [email protected]

IG: @pilotingpod

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This week, we’re joined by Emily Grochowski. Emily is a certified Life & Career coach, focused on helping others redefine what success means to them. She has spent the last 10 years of her career on Wall Street helping some of the world’s largest companies change through business & change strategy consulting. She is now working with individual clients to do the same – designing their target future state and creating a plan to get them where they want to go.

Emily shares her personal piloting journey of launching a coaching business alongside a full-time job…and drops some amazing insights from working with clients navigating their own changes. She walks us through the process of creating a “change roadmap” to design your dream life, empowers us not to be afraid of claiming what we want, and reminds us that negative emotions and missteps can be tools in figuring out what we actually desire. 

Emily has also offered our listeners a complimentary coaching session to learn more about coaching, so visit her website at EmilyGrochowski.com or DM her on Instagram at @EmilyGroCoaching to learn more!

Mentioned in this episode: 

Emily Gro Coaching: https://www.emilygrochowski.com 

“Everything is Figureoutable” by Marie Forleo: https://everythingisfigureoutable.com 

Armchair Expert: https://armchairexpertpod.com 

We Need to Talk About This newsletter: https://www.wntta.co 

Barbie: https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/barbie 

FOND Bone Broth: https://fondbonebroth.com 

Love Island UK: https://www.hulu.com/series/love-island-uk 

‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Is the Best Teen Drama Since ‘Dawson’s Creek’: https://variety.com/2023/tv/features/the-summer-i-turned-pretty-teen-drama-dawsons-creek-1235670277/ 

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