The Next Best Thing

"Maybe it is time to stop pushing through."

In this episode, host Aundrea Cline-Thomas sits down with award-winning psychologist and author Dr. Charmaine Jackman to unpack the heavy reality of career grief and burnout. Whether you’ve recently lost a job or you’re still "armored up" in a toxic environment, this conversation is a reminder that you don't have to carry the weight of your workspace alone.
Dr. Jackman shares her personal journey from a driven 9-to-5 career to "choosing herself" through entrepreneurship, and why even a therapist needs therapy when the environment becomes exploitative. 

We dive deep into:

1. The 5 Stages of Career Grief: Why losing a job (or a dream) feels like losing a loved one.
2. The Body Keeps the Score: How to recognize the physical triggers of being "out of alignment" before the breakdown comes.
3. Survival Mode vs. Safety: Why we keep working like we're being chased, even after we've escaped.
4. The ACT Framework: A step-by-step process to Assess, Choose, and Tackle your well-being.

📩 Stay Connected with the Next Best Thing: Don’t navigate your transitions alone. Subscribe to Next Nuggets, my weekly newsletter helping you navigate career and life transitions with purpose and clarity. https://link.therewritecourse.com/widget/form/yFBDlj7mHmblPa028xyd


As Dr. Jackman says, our environments are often designed to exploit us, but we can choose a different path. It's time to stop giving work your "best" while your family and health get the "scraps."
Connect with Dr. Charmaine Jackman:

1. Book: The Black Therapist's Guide to Private Practice and Entrepreneurship
2. Website: InnoPsych.com
3. Instagram: @AskDrCharmain

In this week’s Nuggets Voice Note, Aundrea explores the liberating power of Jill Scott’s new album title, "To Whom This May Concern." Reflecting on her transition from the "appeal to everyone" world of journalism to the "find your tribe" reality of life and business, she shares why your worth isn't defined by your palatability. Whether you're navigating a career shift or dealing with "keyboard courage" critics, this is your reminder to focus on the people who actually need what you have to offer.

Join the tribe: If you're navigating your own career transition, sign up for The NEXT Nuggets newsletter. It’s where I share the raw, unpolished tools and resources (grammar mistakes and all) to help you find your lane and own your story:  http://aundreact.com/NEWSLETTER


Music by Elysium Audio Labs 
Track: “Let It Flow” www.elysiumaudiolabs.com
License: https://bit.ly/3wR1UKp
YouTube:  • Funky Upbeat Hip Hop Background Music For ...  
Spotify: http://spoti.fi/3as7DLr

Is the "American Dream" actually a math problem that doesn't add up? In this episode, I'm joined by Stephanie Perry and Roshida Dowe, the founders of the Exodus Summit. We’re breaking down the literal cost of freedom, like how one woman they coached traded a $2,700 daycare bill in the US for $550 in Panama.

Stephanie and Roshida aren't just "retired," they are working, living, and bopping around the world on their own terms. We discuss why that jealousy you feel when looking at their lives is actually a map to your own future, and how to stop making rich people richer with your labor.

Stay in touch:
Exodus Summit: https://www.instagram.com/exodussummit/
Stephanie Perry: https://stephanie-perry.mykajabi.com/site/about
Roshida Dowe: https://www.roshidadowe.com/

Get these gems directly in your inbox: http://aundreact.com/NEWSLETTER

Follow The NEXT Best Thing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextbestthingpod/

Companies that demand 110% loyalty are the same ones that can pivot their entire strategy in an 18-minute Zoom call. If you’re still following rules for a market that doesn’t exist anymore, you aren't moving the needle, you’re just standing still. It’s time to stop serving a job description and start serving your future self.

Shift your focus from being "The Best Employee" to being "The Best Asset." Your value isn't the name on your badge. It's the skills you take with you and the leverage you create for your NEXT. Stop building someone else’s dream for 40 hours a week without spending at least 4 hours building your own.

Need help on your journey? Sign up to get tools and resources sent straight to your inbox: http://aundreact.com/NEWSLETTER

"The math isn't mathing anymore."
 
January's job market just flashed warning signs we haven't seen since 2009. While everyone else is hitting snooze, I'm asking: what's YOUR plan if everything changes tomorrow?
 
This week, I'm breaking down the 4 things you need to do RIGHT NOW to protect yourself. This is about knowing your options, your resources, and your next move before you are forced to figure it out under pressure.
 
Disruption does not have to derail your life. Plot twists make for the best chapters. 
 
Want resources sent directly to your inbox? Sign up for the NEXT Nuggets voice note: http://aundreact.com/NEWSLETTER 

Getting laid off while being six months pregnant wasn't in the plan. But that devastating moment forced her to completely rethink her relationship with money, work, and financial security. What started as survival mode turned into discovering a skill that would eventually make her more in a single week than her entire monthly salary.

This isn't about quitting your job or getting rich quick. It's about what happens when you stop relying on the false security of corporate loyalty and start building real options for yourself.

Stay In Touch with Arielle: https://arielledeane.com/
Sign up for The NEXT Nuggets Newsletter: https://aundreact.com/NEWSLETTER/

Feeling the weight of pushing forward when no one's cheering yet? This week's voice note is about what happens when you're still in the arena and the applause hasn't arrived. We're talking about the gap between doing the work and getting the recognition, also known as the exact place where your strength gets built. This is your reminder that your best work often gets recognized in hindsight. Press play, find your footing, and keep swinging.

Therapist Minaa B breaks down why most people get boundaries completely wrong, and what actually works. If you've tried setting boundaries but still feel drained, taken advantage of, or guilty, this conversation will change how you approach relationships.

We discuss the difference between boundaries and walls, why emotional caretaking leaves you depleted, and how to stop abandoning yourself while trying to meet everyone else's needs. Minaa shares practical strategies for navigating difficult family dynamics, addressing burnout, and actually scheduling joy into your life the same way you'd schedule a meeting, because if it's not on the calendar, it's not happening.

This isn't about cutting people off or being selfish. It's about learning to show up whole for yourself and for the people who matter most.

About Minaa B: Minaa B is a licensed therapist, author of "Owning Our Struggles," creator of the Siblinghood Theory, and host of the Mindful with Minaa podcast. She specializes in helping people understand how their early relationships shape their adult connections and emotional wellness. https://www.minaab.com/

Sign up for The NEXT Nuggets Newsletter: https://aundreact.com/NEWSLETTER/

If bullies rely on silence to win, what changes when you decide to make noise?
 
Audacity is a necessary skill, not a character flaw or something reserved for bullies. Audacity can be deployed to push back, take up space, and stop letting other people dominate the room. Using the rise of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as a real-world example, Aundrea shows how momentum is built by refusing to shrink, choosing the right allies, and moving before you feel ready.
 
If you're done waiting to be picked and watching less qualified people get ahead, this is your reminder that confidence is created through action and power begins the moment you decide to speak.

Feeling pressure to become a completely different version of yourself to move ahead? In this episode of The Next Best Thing Podcast, Aundrea explains why success in 2026 isn’t about doing more. It’s about leveraging what you already have. She shares her EMPOWER framework, lessons from career transitions, and practical strategies to build momentum, set boundaries, and design a career that supports both your goals and your well-being.

Download the EMPOWER Framework worksheet: Ready, Set, NEXT https://aundreact.com/NEWSLETTER

More about the EMPOWER framework: https://youtu.be/6QFFEmwGslc

NEXT Best Thing Membership: https://nextbestthingcommunity.com/sign-up

NEXT Level Accelerator: https://link.therewritecourse.com/widget/form/IGlPJXvMjqHxJkBHOyNP