Getting fired. Letting people go. Staying behind after it happens. This episode holds all of it.

Joined by Brie Kluytenaar, an employment lawyer of over 15 years, we walk through what to do, what to avoid, and what it really looks like to handle layoffs in a way that is both clear AND human.

Jenn Mahlik shares her experience of being let go in a way that lacked empathy, thoughtfulness, and intention and the lasting impact that kind of moment can have.

Because being let go is already hard. But when it’s handled without humanity, it can feel deeply personal… even like a betrayal.

In this conversation, we explore what happens after that. The choice between being hardened or being changed. And how Jenn chose to take one of the hardest moments in her career and turn it into something that now impacts so many others.

In this episode of Fired AND Free, Meghann shares her journey of finding a company that is deeply aligned with her values. One that redefined what it meant to support working parents, build community, and lead with humanity. When the company faced a necessary restructuring, her experience stood in stark contrast to many layoff stories. It was handled with care, transparency, and respect.

Instead of searching for something similar, Meghann chose a different path: she built her own company, carrying forward the lessons, values, and leadership she experienced firsthand.

After being pushed into a leadership path that didn’t align, and ultimately getting fired, Rebecca found herself with something unexpected: the space to pause and get honest. Instead of rushing into the next role, she took the time to reflect on what truly worked for her and what didn’t. In this episode, she shares how that moment of disruption became a turning point, leading her to intentionally design a career around her strengths. It’s a powerful reminder that success doesn’t have to follow a prescribed path. And that we often have more control over our direction than we think.

When Daniel Huerta was fired, it opened a door. But the real turning point in his story came earlier, when he lost his best friend far too soon. In this episode, Daniel shares how grief reshaped his perspective, how a side project slowly became Modern People Leader, and what it looks like to build a life and career that feels more aligned, meaningful, and fully your own. This is a conversation about loss, risk, reinvention, and the freedom that can come after everything changes.

In the first episode of our Fired AND Free series, April and Ivy go first, sharing their own deeply personal stories of being fired, and what came after.

They unpack the fear, shame, and loss that often come with being fired… and the unexpected freedom, clarity, and redirection on the other side. From navigating identity and confidence hits to rebuilding, reimagining, and ultimately stepping into something more aligned...this conversation holds both the hard and the hopeful.

This series is about removing the stigma, reminding you that you’re not alone, and showing what’s possible beyond the moment that feels like everything just fell apart.

Because sometimes getting fired is what finally sets you free.

In this Wellness AND Performance resource round-up, April reflects on the biggest lessons from the series where ambition meets alignment, and performance becomes sustainable.

From redefining success and shifting environments, to building habits, community, and leadership practices that actually support well-being, this episode brings the patterns together.

Because when wellness is integrated, not added on, everything changes.

In this final episode of the Wellness AND Performance series, April sits down with Vaishali Jadhav, Founder of Mandalight Learning, to explore how great leadership drives both performance and well-being.

From Gallup to Whole Foods Market, Vaishali shares how small shifts, like creating space, managing energy, and empowering teams, can unlock better thinking, stronger cultures, and more sustainable success.

In this episode of the Wellness AND Performance series, April and Ivy sit down with Alex, Co-Founder of 4Ocean, to explore the connection between discipline, mindset, and sustainable performance.

From pushing physical limits to redefining mental resilience, Alex shares how consistency, self-awareness, and intentional habits are the foundation for both personal growth and long-term success.

In this episode, we go inside Bonde with founders Meg Gold and Parnian Emami. A space built on intention, connection, and aligned ambition. Discover how wellness AND performance can coexist, and what becomes possible when community is the catalyst for change.