Most of us go through summer feeling like we're just "getting through" instead of intentionally designing a season of growth and renewal.

What if this summer could be your mid-year reset, a chance to realign goals, build new habits, and create memorable moments before the year ends? In this energetic episode of the After Call, Nina, Jo, and Laurelle challenge the notion that summer is just for relaxation, and reveal how it's actually one of the best times to strategically boost your personal and professional life.

Jo shares how a mid-year "reality check" with his vision board keeps him on track when workloads lighten and days stretch longer.

Laurelle talks about intentionally structuring her summer to balance family, friends, and career goals, including specific tactics like weekly networking lunches and outdoor team building to stay connected.

Nina discusses how summer's lighter pace can be perfect for rethinking boundaries, taking advantage of leadership vacuum to elevate your voice, and making space for wonder and spontaneity in your life.

You'll discover: how to leverage the summer slowdown to reset your goals, strengthen your network, and boost your mental clarity. We break down simple yet powerful strategies for maintaining work-life harmony without overcommitting, from scheduling walking meetings to organizing casual outdoor hangouts. Plus, the episode reveals surprising insights about company culture during the summer and how you can seize leadership opportunities when others are out of the office. Why does this matter? Because avoiding summer as a strategic season risks missing a crucial window for growth, reflection, and connection. But when you approach it intentionally, summer can transform from a lazy season into a springboard for the rest of your year.

Whether you're a busy professional or a parent juggling multiple roles, this episode is your manual to making summer your most productive, rejuvenating season yet.Ready to make this summer truly count? Tune in, get inspired, and start designing a season that leaves you feeling accomplished and energized. Let’s flip the script on summer, it’s your opportunity to reset, reconnect, and wonder.

Ready to unlock the secret sauce to earning your next promotion, without relying on luck or waiting for the "right" moment?

In this eye-opening episode, Jo, Nina, and Laurelle dismantle the myth that the best person automatically advances. Instead, they reveal how visibility, strategic self-promotion, and savvy feedback collection are your ultimate career superpowers. Most people focus solely on doing great work, but neglect the critical element of marketing themselves within their organization.

You'll discover why demonstrating your unique strengths, owning your achievements, and proactively managing relationships are key to standing out, and why your company's existing promotion pathways might leave you stranded if you don’t take control.

The hosts break down exactly how to ask for the right feedback, tap into hidden advocates, and build a career plan that aligns with your true potential, even if that means creating a role that doesn't currently exist.

This episode dives into tactical advice on filling leadership gaps, navigating horizontal moves, and leveraging your unique superpowers. You’ll learn how to articulate your value, approach tough conversations, and position yourself as the inevitable choice for leadership.

Whether you're mid-cycle and eyeing that promotion or feeling overlooked in your current role, this episode is your guide to taking ownership of your career growth.Why does it matter? Because without strategic visibility and self-advocacy, you risk remaining invisible, while others are climbing the ladder.

Conversely, those who master these tactics unlock opportunities to shape their career trajectory, even in unpredictable markets or organizational shifts. The takeaway? The power to leap into your next role is in your hands. Perfect for professionals determined to accelerate their careers, aspiring leaders, and anyone tired of waiting for their moment.

Tune in to learn proven strategies that will make you unforgettable, and unstoppable, in your organization.

What if your relationship could be redefined by a simple contract?
Forget traditional notions of lifelong commitment, what if a five-year renewable relationship agreement is the future of love? In this provocative episode of The After Call, Nina, Laurel, and Jo challenge the status quo, exploring the idea that relationships don't have to be forever to be meaningful and that honesty, boundaries, and flexibility might be the keys to lasting happiness.Imagine consciously choosing to renegotiate your relationship terms every few years, much like a mortgage. Could this approach reduce pressure, eliminate stagnation, and keep the spark alive? Or does it risk minimizing commitment altogether? Join us as we unpack the surprising statistics, like 23% of Canadians open to renewable relationship contracts, and explore the boundary-pushing conversations around love, divorce, and authenticity.You'll discover:

• Why traditional marriage might not be the only way to build a fulfilling partnership
• How to define what you truly want from love and how to communicate it effectively
• The importance of having separate outlets, hobbies, and independence within a relationship
• Why "finding the one" might be less important than understanding who elevates and challenges you
• Plus, debated concepts like "relationship contracts" and thought-provoking reflections on modern love

Whether you're single, dating, or in a long-term partnership, ignoring these ideas could mean missed opportunities for genuine connection and personal growth. This episode is perfect for anyone questioning societal expectations, exploring non-traditional relationship models, or simply seeking to understand contemporary love in a chaotic world.Dive into the innovative mindset that challenges old paradigms and opens the door to more flexible, honest, and empowering relationships.
If you're ready for a fresh perspective on love, one that’s less about fairy tales and more about real-world honesty, press play now and join the conversation.

The truth about modern relationships, divorce, and redefining success, all from a candid conversation that could change how you see love and commitment.

Imagine navigating midlife romances with fresh honesty, understanding what truly supports lasting partnership, and learning why most people get it all wrong.

The episode kicks off with Jo's reflection on 25 years since high school, setting the stage for a deep dive into the messy, beautiful realities of dating, divorce, and self-discovery. Whether you're single, divorced, or in a long-term relationship, this episode challenges conventional wisdom and sparks new ways of thinking about love, ambition, and self-worth.You'll discover:

• The surprising reasons why many successful women are reconsidering marriage and what it truly takes to find a supportive partner.
• How career ambitions, personal values, and relationship dynamics intertwine and how often they clash.
• The common pitfalls women face when trying to balance nurturing and self-assertion without losing themselves.
• Why commitment and honesty are more crucial than ever in a society where "exit" strategies seem easier than working through challenges.
• The vital importance of shared ambition and support in making long-term relationships thrive, especially for women who are driven and independent.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to understand the new landscape of love in their 30s and 40s and learn how to build relationships that support your best self.

If you’re tired of being sold surface-level advice or feeling like your value diminishes when you succeed, this honest chat will leave you inspired and maybe even ready to rewrite your own relationship script.

Whether you're navigating the dating scene or reflecting on your long-term partnership, the insights shared here will empower you to prioritize self-awareness, set high standards, and embrace vulnerability as the path to true connection.

Perfect for single women, divorced women, or anyone re-evaluating what love really means. Hit play and get ready to challenge everything you thought you knew about relationships.

In this episode, Nina and Alexia introduce a new series focused on women entrepreneurs, featuring Bruna Talotta, a seasoned hairstylist. Bruna shares her journey from opening her own salon at a young age to navigating personal challenges, including health issues and motherhood. The conversation delves into the realities of entrepreneurship, the pressures of being your own boss, and the importance of work-life balance. Bruna discusses her experience with maternity leave, the challenges of maintaining client relationships, and strategies to avoid burnout while managing a business and family life. In this engaging conversation, the speakers discuss the importance of setting personal boundaries, especially for mothers balancing work and family life. They share humorous and challenging client stories from the beauty industry, highlighting the unpredictable nature of client relationships. The discussion then shifts to the realities of entrepreneurship, debunking myths and emphasizing the need for resilience and adaptability in business.

Women Supporting Women: Breaking the Cycle of Competition and Creating True Sisterhood

What if women tearing each other down isn't cattiness, it's a survival tactic nobody taught us to unlearn?

This episode gets uncomfortably honest about the dynamics most of us have lived but rarely name out loud. Jealousy. Queen Bee syndrome. The colleague who smiled to your face and sharpened her knife behind your back. The mentor who never showed up. We've been there...and we're talking about it.

Here's what nobody tells you: the competition isn't personal. It's conditioned. From the playground to the boardroom, women have been pitted against each other in systems that reward scarcity thinking and the result is a cycle that's exhausting, isolating, and completely unnecessary.

We break down why women sabotage each other in subtle (and not so subtle) ways, where it starts, and more importantly, how to stop it. We talk about what real mentorship looks like, why celebrating other women's wins is genuinely revolutionary, and how shifting from "women vs. women" to "women and women" changes everything from team culture to mental health.

This isn't a lecture. It's a permission slip, to lead differently, support harder, and stop performing competition you never signed up for.

If you've ever been burned by a woman in power, been that woman, or just want something better, this one's for you.

Four high-achieving women (us, yes talking about us, your hosts) get uncomfortably honest about burnout, including the moment their bodies stopped responding to the constant grind and stress. We're talking hospital visits, fainting, falling down stairs while pregnant, and yes, 30 firemen (you'll have to listen). Oh, and IBS that knows about your board meeting before you do.

Here's the uncomfortable truth: burnout doesn't always feel like burnout. It feels like Tuesday. It disguises itself as "just work" and "I'm fine" while quietly dismantling your nervous system, your gut, and your sleep, until it doesn't.

We break down how stress shows up differently for everyone, why high performers are often the last to see it coming, and why your body has been sending you memos you've been ignoring for years.

This isn't about bubble baths and boundaries. It's about recognizing that unchecked stress can — and does — kill people. And that pulling back isn't weakness. It's the job.

If you're a leader, a high performer, a mom, woman trying to do it all or someone who just said "I'm not even stressed" while your eye twitched, this one's for you.

Are perfectionism and high standards always the enemy? Not necessarily. This episode uncovers the nuanced truth about perfectionism: how it can propel success or hold you back. If you've ever second-guessed yourself because things weren’t ‘perfect enough,’ this conversation will challenge what you think you know.

Discover the five types of perfectionists, from the relentless achiever to the romantic dreamer, and learn how each can be both a superpower and a stumbling block. We break down practical strategies for managing perfectionism at work and in life, including how AI tools can both amplify and combat perfectionist tendencies. You'll hear candid stories about decision-making, procrastination, and credibility, plus how high standards influence your relationships and career growth.

We dive into the hidden costs of perfectionism, like decision paralysis and fear of rejection, and share how to harness your traits for better progress, not perfection. If you’ve ever felt stuck in detail paralysis or avoided tackling big projects, this episode will give you clarity on recognizing and overcoming those barriers. Perfect for high-achievers, perfectionists, or anyone craving more decisive action, this conversation offers powerful insights on turning a ‘red flag’ into your greatest strength.

Get inspired to shift from fearing imperfection to embracing progress because sometimes, 90% done is better than 0%. Whether you're a seasoned professional, just starting out, or navigating the complexities of AI’s role in work, this episode is packed with practical tips and real talk.

The group shares five types of perfectionists and how understanding your style can unlock greater freedom and effectiveness. This isn't just about avoiding pitfalls: the real ROI comes when you leverage your perfectionism to elevate your work and life.

If you're ready to break free from perfectionist pitfalls, join us for a thought-provoking, actionable episode that will change how you see your greatest strengths and your biggest challenges.

Great leaders aren't born, they're forged, and the qualities that separate the truly great ones from everyone else are rarely the ones on any performance review. #sadtruth

In this episode, Jo breaks down the five archetypes that define effective leadership: the Protector who shields the team from chaos, the Builder who invests in others' growth, the Energizer who rallies momentum, the Human Leader who leads with empathy, and the Communicator who drives clarity.

The central argument is one most management culture resists: results are downstream of how you treat people. Leadership isn't about owning outcomes, it's about creating the conditions for others to thrive.

We get into the stories that prove it: reward systems that spark initiative, the unexpected loneliness at the top, and the small moments that reveal what kind of leader you actually are. You'll walk away with a clearer picture of how emotional intelligence, behavioral self-awareness, and transparent communication aren't soft skills, they're the whole job.

Whether you're chasing a promotion, navigating burnout, or simply wondering if you're making a real difference, or actually wondering whether or not you're a good leader (we hope you are), this conversation gives you the honest, practical perspective you need.

Oh and remember, leadership isn't a destination. It's a practice and practice makes perfect.

"We Were Conditioned to Say Yes & We're Unlearning That"

"No" is a complete sentence, so why does saying it feel like a full-body crisis?

In this episode, Jo, Laurelle, Nina, and Alexia get into the real reason women struggle to set boundaries, and it's not weakness, it's conditioning.

They unpack the science behind people-pleasing, the career penalty women face for simply being assertive, and why your childhood might still be running the show.

Plus, real strategies that actually work: how to pause before you people-please, protect your calendar like it's sacred, and finally say no without the guilt spiral. If you're exhausted from saying yes to everything and everyone but yourself, this one's for you.