What if you spent seven years knowing something was wrong with your body — and every doctor told you nothing was?

Risa August is a two-time Ironman athlete, cyclist, author, and one of the most quietly compelling people I've ever spoken to. For seven years, her body was changing in ways she couldn't explain. She was dismissed, minimised, and told to drink more water — while completing Ironman triathlons. It was only when Risa demanded her own MRI that doctors discovered a large tumour on her pituitary gland and a rare condition called acromegaly that had been reshaping her body for years.

What followed was brain surgery, radiation, lifelong medication — and six months later, Risa had signed up to cycle from Meixco to Canada, cycling 1,845 miles down the Pacific Coast Highway to Mexico. She had injections shipped to remote locations along the route. Because that's just who she is.

But this isn't really a story about physical feats. It's about what happens to your identity when the version of yourself you've built everything around is no longer available to you — and who you find when you stop trying to get her back.

In this episode, you'll discover:

✨ How to advocate for your own health when medical professionals aren't listening (and why women are disproportionately dismissed) 

✨ What identity collapse really feels like — and the surprising first step Risa took toward recovery (spoiler: it wasn't getting back on the bike) 

✨ Why receiving help used to feel like weakness — and the mindset shift that changed everything 

✨ How to find forward motion when you can barely get to the front door 

✨ What success feels like when you stop measuring it in achievements and start measuring it in days that just flow 

This episode is for you if:

• You've been dismissed by doctors and are looking for validation that you know your own body
• You're a high-achiever going through a health crisis, burnout, or major life disruption
• Your identity is deeply tied to what you do — and that's starting to feel fragile
• You're rebuilding after loss and wondering what the first step looks like
• You want to redefine success on your own terms, not someone else's

About Risa August:

Risa August is an athlete, author, and speaker who has competed in two Ironman triathlons, completed a 1,845-mile Pacific Coast cycle six months after brain surgery, and channelled her experience of acromegaly and pituitary tumour diagnosis into her debut book, The Road Unpaved: Border to Border with a Brain Tumour and a Bike. You can find Risa at risaaugust.com.

Love this episode? Hit subscribe and leave us a review! And if you know someone who's redefining success on their own terms, nominate them at [email protected] - we're always looking for incredible people to feature.

Connect with Jess:

Instagram: @kalicoaching.co

Website: www.kalicoaching.co.uk

Marcella spent years feeling invisible—so she built a business where everyone is seen, heard, and valued.
Marcella's story is one you'll want to listen to twice.

She grew up speaking only Spanish after moving from Columbia to the UK at the age of 2, struggling to find her voice in a system that didn't see her. Picked on by classmates, dismissed by teachers who accused her of cheating when she excelled. Fast forward to motherhood—postnatal depression, isolation, mistaken for a nanny by other mums who wouldn't give her the time of day.

But instead of staying small, Marcella taught herself to sew. And then she built On A Sew—a sewing school where adults and children don't just learn a craft, they find their voice, their confidence, and their community.

In this episode, you'll discover:
✨ How to build a business from lived experience (not credentials or formal education)
✨ Why taking it slow actually accelerated Marcella's growth (she went from one class a week to a thriving school without burning out)
✨ The real difference between teaching a skill and creating transformation
✨ How Marcella uses her past pain to heal others—including apologising to children on behalf of adults who failed to listen
✨ Why surrounding yourself with people who see you is non-negotiable for success
✨ The non-negotiable boundary that protects her from burnout (and why saying no became her superpower)

This conversation is for you if:

You've built something meaningful, but still feel invisible
You're starting a business without traditional qualifications and wonder if you're "enough"
You've experienced loneliness, isolation, or postnatal depression and want to channel it into purpose
You're a creative entrepreneur looking to build community, not just customers
You want to see what sustainable, slow-but-steady business growth actually looks like

About Marcella:
Marcella is the founder of On A Sew, a sewing school in London where she teaches adults and children the art of sewing—but more importantly, helps them find confidence, community, and creative expression. A self-taught sewist with no formal education past age 16, Marcella has built her thriving business purely from lived experience, patience, and an unshakeable belief that everyone deserves to be seen and heard.

Connect with Marcella:
Instagram: @on.a.sew
Website: onasew.co.uk

Connect with Jess:
Instagram: @successfulafpod
Website: kalicoaching.co.uk

Love this episode?
If Marcella's story resonated with you, screenshot your favourite moment and tag us on Instagram @successfulafpod and @on.a.sew. I'd love to hear what landed for you.
And if you're ready to build something meaningful without burning out, subscribe to Successful AF so you never miss a conversation that might just change everything.

How to build a business without a degree
Creative business ideas
Self-taught entrepreneur success story
Postnatal depression and entrepreneurship
Building community in business

Love this episode? Hit subscribe and leave us a review! And if you know someone who's redefining success on their own terms, nominate them at [email protected] - we're always looking for incredible people to feature.

Connect with Jess:

Instagram: @kalicoaching.co

Website: www.kalicoaching.co.uk

Clara Ho crossed international borders with a passport every day just to get to school. Six hours round trip on the worst days. She was raised on the "Singapore Dream"—five C's that defined success: cash, credit card, condo, country club, and car.

This episode of Successful AF is about what happens when you stop asking for permission.

Host Jess West sits down with Clara, now a strategy consultant at Roland Berger in Dubai, for a conversation about breaking cultural expectations and career transitions. From selling Louis Vuitton whilst studying pre-law, to becoming head of operations in Bangkok at 27, to taking a career sabbatical in Cambodia and Central America that horrified her grandmother—Clara's journey is about doing the hard things.

Clara's unflinching honesty about toxic conditioning hits hard. Being taught to suppress every feeling. The favouritism towards boys. The narrow success markers that left no room for being human. But she also shares how she unlearned it all through solo backpacking, therapy, and building the muscle of being different.

She redefined success entirely: breaking through self-imposed limitations whilst maintaining integrity. No permission needed.

Perfect for listeners navigating career pivots, cultural expectations, or anyone tired of asking permission to live their own life.

About Clara Ho

Clara Ho is a strategy consultant at Roland Berger in Dubai. Born in Malaysia, raised between Malaysia and Singapore, she studied law in Wales before pivoting into education and eventually strategy consulting. She spent a transformative year teaching at the Harpswell Foundation in Cambodia and learning Spanish in Central America before her career change into consulting, whilst her family questioned why she wasn't earning money.

Key Takeaways

1. Your body is wiser than your brain - Listen to every signal you've been taught to suppress
2. Success needs two pillars - Breaking self-imposed limitations AND doing it with integrity
3. You don't need permission - If you feel you do, ask whose voice is in your head
4. Do hard things constantly - Comfort breeds complacency; discomfort drives success
5. Face your fear gremlins daily - Even small, uncomfortable things count
6. Being different is a muscle - You build tolerance for being the odd one out

Reflection Questions

• Whose voice is in your head when you think you need permission?
• What cultural expectations are you carrying that don't belong to you?
• Are you honouring how far you've come, or only measuring where you think you should be?

Love this episode? Hit subscribe and leave us a review! And if you know someone who's redefining success on their own terms, nominate them at [email protected] - we're always looking for incredible people to feature.

Connect with Jess:

Instagram: @kalicoaching.co

Website: www.kalicoaching.co.uk

Maria Caballero moved to London in 2013 with a thousand euros in cash, one friend, and a vision. She walked down Regent Street handing out CVs to every shop until someone gave her a chance. Fast forward to 2025, and she's built one of the most vibrant yoga communities in London—retreats that sell out in days, students who laugh so hard they get stomach aches, and a teaching method centred entirely on accessible yoga for every body type.

This episode of Successful AF is about what happens when you stop hiding who you are and start building the life you actually want to live. Host Jess West sits down with Maria for a conversation about body positive yoga, career transitions from fashion to teaching, and why making yoga available for all bodies—regardless of size, age, or ability—became her mission.

As a former ballet dancer who never looked like anyone else in the room, Maria knows what it feels like to be the biggest, curviest person in a space that wasn't designed for you. Now she's rewriting the rules. Her inclusive yoga method works backwards from complicated poses to create pathways everyone can walk, not just modifications for people who "can't keep up."

Maria's definition of success? Freedom. Freedom in your body, freedom in your relationships, freedom in your work. And the freedom to show up as your authentic self—purple Crocs and all.

Perfect for listeners interested in yoga business, female entrepreneurship, career change stories, or anyone tired of fitness spaces that weren't built with them in mind.

About Maria 

Maria Caballero is the founder of Maria Peace Yoga and creator of an accessible yoga method that makes every pose available for all body types. Born in South America, raised in Spain, she moved to London in 2013 and built a career in fashion before transitioning to teaching yoga full-time during the pandemic. She runs sold-out retreats, teaches at East of Eden and More Yoga in London, and mentors new yoga teachers through her six-month Evolve programme. Maria's approach to yoga is rooted in her experience as a ballet dancer with curves in a room full of people who looked nothing like her—and her determination to create something different.

Connect with Maria:

• Instagram: @mariapeaceyoga
• Classes: East of Eden (Walthamstow) & More Yoga

Key Takeaways

1. Accessibility over perfection - Working backwards from complicated poses to create pathways everyone can walk
2. Your body is not the problem - Yoga spaces should adapt to bodies, not the other way round
3. If you can see it, it will happen - Closing your eyes and truly visualising yourself doing something is the first step to making it real
4. Create the life you want to live - Give yourself permission to build something different, even if it means walking away from what looks good on paper
5. Authenticity builds community - Showing up as your rawest self is what makes people gravitate towards you
6. Confidence comes from knowing yourself - You can't be truly confident whilst wearing a mask or pretending to be someone else
7. Success is freedom - The ability to be fully yourself across all areas of your life

Reflection Questions

• What would change if the spaces you entered were designed with your body in mind?
• Are you building the life you want to live, or the life you think you should want?
• Who would you be if yo

Love this episode? Hit subscribe and leave us a review! And if you know someone who's redefining success on their own terms, nominate them at [email protected] - we're always looking for incredible people to feature.

Connect with Jess:

Instagram: @kalicoaching.co

Website: www.kalicoaching.co.uk

Love this episode? Hit subscribe and leave us a review! And if you know someone who's redefining success on their own terms, nominate them at [email protected] - we're always looking for incredible people to feature.

Connect with Jess:

Instagram: @kalicoaching.co

Website: www.kalicoaching.co.uk

What does success really mean when you've climbed the ladder but still feel unfulfilled? In this raw and honest conversation, Jess West sits down with her friend of 15 years, Abi Schoenheimer, to explore the messy reality of redefining success in midlife.

Abi's career has been anything but linear—from Big Four consulting to investment banking, across continents from Sydney to London to South Africa. But her journey reveals a deeper truth: sometimes the hardest thing isn't moving forward, it's staying still and figuring things out.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why being the "outsider" became Abi's comfort zone across continents and careers
• The two competing definitions of success and why letting go of conditioning is so hard
• How your manager impacts your wellbeing as much as your therapist
• Why Abi owns her failures but struggles to claim her wins
• The "infinity fun loop" philosophy: having fun, taking a break, then returning to fun
• Why bath time with her daughter is her current success metric—and why that's not "naff"
• The difference between knowing you're successful and actually feeling it
• First thought is conditioning, second thought is choice

Key quote: "Success is being in the driver's seat of life's trade-offs—making sure what's important to you at any given stage is reflected in how you've set up your life."

This episode is for anyone wrestling with imposter syndrome, struggling to own their achievements, or questioning whether the traditional definition of success is actually what they want.

Love this episode? Hit subscribe and leave us a review! And if you know someone who's redefining success on their own terms, nominate them at [email protected] - we're always looking for incredible people to feature.

Connect with Jess:

Instagram: @kalicoaching.co

Website: www.kalicoaching.co.uk

Trigger Warning: This episode contains mentions of suicide and self-harm. If you're struggling with these issues, please reach out to a trusted professional or contact a crisis support service in your area.

In this episode, host Jess West sits down with Ifey Ihonor, founder of 8 Within, who walked away from one of the most coveted medical positions in the UK to embark on a fifteen-year journey of self-discovery. From four degrees to plant medicine work across India, Bali, and Costa Rica, Ifey's story is a masterclass in refusing to accept walking a path that doesn't feel true to you and trusting your inner knowing.

They explore what it really means to be your own guru, why failure only exists when you give up, and how plants like cacao can help quiet the external noise enough to hear yourself think. Ifey shares a powerful "Australia analogy" about finding direction in life, why waiting is the secret sauce of life, and how she's turned "I'm magical" into a genuine philosophy.

This conversation will challenge listeners to examine whose definition of success they're chasing, remind them that literally no one is thinking about them (which is liberating), and give them permission to do whatever the hell they want. If you're exhausted from proving yourself and ready to redefine success on your own terms, this episode is for you.

Key Takeaways:

• Why knowing where you want to go matters more than how you'll get there
• The difference between self-exploration and "working on yourself"
• How to stop reacting to life and start directing it
• Why you're fine exactly as you are (and who benefits from telling you otherwise)

Connect with Ifey: Instagram: @8within Website: https://8within.com/

Love this episode? Hit subscribe and leave us a review! And if you know someone who's redefining success on their own terms, nominate them at [email protected] - we're always looking for incredible people to feature.

Connect with Jess:

Instagram: @kalicoaching.co

Website: www.kalicoaching.co.uk

What happens when you realise success isn't about climbing the ladder, but about aligning your life with your values? 

In this Season 2 premiere, host Jess West sits down with Lyndsey Gormley, a therapist whose career transformation from burnt-out senior teacher to psychologist showcases resilience and professional reinvention.

As a first-generation university student from Yorkshire, Lyndsey moved to Hong Kong at 23, eventually becoming head of department before experiencing burnout. Her story of earning two master's degrees whilst working full-time and ultimately leaving teaching for psychology is a masterclass in career courage.

Perfect for listeners experiencing career burnout, seeking career change inspiration, or learning to prioritise mental health over external validation.

About Lyndsey Gormley

Lyndsey is a therapist at Mind n Life Psychology practice in Hong Kong, specialising in teenagers and families. Her journey from senior leadership to stepping down to pursue her calling demonstrates radical career change courage. 

Key Episode Themes

• Teacher burnout whilst pursuing graduate education and advocating for yourself when exhausted
• Redefining success from salary and titles to values-based goals
• Psychological flexibility: Learning to bend without breaking through career setbacks
• Why "good enough is good enough" and resilience comes from failing safely
• Navigating imposter syndrome as a first-generation student

Workshop Announcement

Lyndsey and Jess are hosting a FREE workshop: Find Your Balance Blueprint

• October 23rd: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM GMT / 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Hong Kong Time
• Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/find-your-balance-blueprint-tickets-1769636543539?aff=oddtdtcreator

Connect with Lyndsey

Instagram: @lyndseygormleypsych Website: http://mindnlife.com/lyndsey-gormley/

Key Takeaways

You cannot hate yourself into success. Lyndsey's journey from perfectionist burnout to embracing "good enough" shows that career fulfilment comes from aligning behaviours with values, not chasing validation. Career paths don't have to be linear - stepping down can be stepping forward.

Values worksheet from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: https://farms.extension.wisc.edu/files/2020/11/Core-Values-Exercise.pdf 

https://youtu.be/cCCSpOtDPV0?si=7POZQRlK0NvjV3eR

Love this episode? Hit subscribe and leave us a review! And if you know someone who's redefining success on their own terms, nominate them at [email protected] - we're always looking for incredible people to feature.

Connect with Jess:

Instagram: @kalicoaching.co

Website: www.kalicoaching.co.uk

What does it really mean to walk away from everything you've worked for to chase a dream that others don't understand?

In this episode, Jess is joined by Charlotte de Wouters, who made the courageous career transition from a high-stress legal career to becoming a full-time yoga teacher and breathwork facilitator in Indonesia. Charlotte's story perfectly embodies what it means to choose alignment over approval and redefine career success.

For six years, Charlotte was trapped in perfectionist burnout - working weekends and nights, constantly stressed, and despite helping others as a family lawyer, never feeling truly successful. The turning point came at 30 during a "complete freakout moment," realizing she could see exactly how her life would unfold if she stayed on that path.

Perfect for listeners experiencing career burnout, seeking career change inspiration, considering a wellness career, or learning to prioritize authentic living over external expectations.

About Charlotte de Wouters

Charlotte is a yoga and breathwork teacher based in Lombok, Indonesia, who transformed from stressed-out lawyer to aligned wellness entrepreneur. Her journey represents career courage and the power of choosing work-life alignment over traditional success markers. She now helps others find peace through yoga and breathwork, embodying the change she wished to create.

In This Conversation, We Explore

Career Transformation

• How Charlotte redefined success from climbing the corporate ladder to waking up excited every day
• Overcoming career burnout in a demanding legal profession
• The courage to make a career pivot at 30

Authentic Living and Family Dynamics

• The fear of disappointing family and the moment her dad understood after three years
• Choosing personal fulfillment over external approval
• Work-life alignment versus work-life balance

Wellness Career Insights

• Why energy management is more valuable than time management
• The difference between helping through fighting versus helping find peace
• Trusting your intuition when the world offers external answers

Following Your Heart

• The magic that happens when you trust yourself and follow your passion
• How career alignment creates unexpected opportunities
• Living authentically despite others' expectations

Key Takeaways

Charlotte's advice? Trust. When you're aligned and doing something you love, things unfold almost magically. Her story proves that sometimes the universe conspires to help you when you're living from your heart.

If you've ever felt successful on paper but empty inside, or if you're wrestling with the courage to disappoint others to honor yourself, this episode offers career change courage and authentic success inspiration.

Connect with Charlotte

Teaching yoga and breathwork in Lombok, Indonesia, with online sessions available. Instagram: @chachadewou

Love this episode? Hit subscribe and leave us a review! And if you know someone who's redefining success on their own terms, nominate them at [email protected] - we're always looking for incredible people to feature.

Connect with Jess:

Instagram: @kalicoaching.co

Website: www.kalicoaching.co.uk

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of suicidal ideation, chronic illness, and sexual assault. Please take care of yourself while listening.

What happens when you've climbed all the ladders, ticked all the boxes, and still feel like success is miles away? This week, we dive deep with life coach and hypnotherapist Katrina Burke, whose mental health recovery journey from heartbreak to healing offers profound insights into redefining success.

After leaving a long-term relationship at 24, Katrina found herself in a situationship for nearly a decade, developing chronic illness that left doctors baffled, and eventually hitting rock bottom with suicidal ideation. Rather than staying stuck, she turned her pain into purpose through personal transformation and healing work.

Perfect for listeners seeking mental health recovery strategies, chronic illness management, life coaching inspiration, and guidance on healing from trauma.

About Katrina Burke

Katrina is a coach and hypnotherapist specializing in helping people transform chaos into wisdom. Her personal development journey from rock bottom to thriving demonstrates resilience strategies and the power of radical personal responsibility. She combines coaching with hypnotherapy to help clients move from survival mode to authentic living.

In This Episode, We Explore

Mental Wellness and Success

• The myth of perfectionism - why waiting for everything to be perfect prevents happiness now
• Finding emotional stability - creating calm without eliminating life's inevitable storms
• Work-life balance between masculine survival mode and feminine flow

Healing and Personal Growth

• Why "heal yourself first" advice might not be as helpful as we think
• Radical personal responsibility - examining your role in every situation for personal transformation
• Redefining wealth as wellbeing rather than just financial accumulation

Success Redefined

• The power of specificity in defining what authentic success actually means to you
• Career fulfillment through turning pain into purpose
• Building a coaching business while prioritizing mental health

Key Takeaways

Katrina's story is a masterclass in resilience and mental health recovery, showing us how to transform chaos into wisdom while still having fun. Her honest take on healing, business building, and modern dating offers hope for anyone feeling stuck between where they are and where they want to be. Her journey proves that overcoming mental health challenges can lead to profound personal growth and meaningful work.

Connect with Katrina

Instagram: @katrinaburke__ Facebook: Katrina Burke

Love this episode? Hit subscribe and leave us a review! Nominate someone redefining success at [email protected].

Connect with Jess: Instagram: @compasscoaching.co Website: www.kalicoaching.co.uk

Love this episode? Hit subscribe and leave us a review! And if you know someone who's redefining success on their own terms, nominate them at [email protected] - we're always looking for incredible people to feature.

Connect with Jess:

Instagram: @kalicoaching.co

Website: www.kalicoaching.co.uk