The Sock Drawer

Have you ever felt a quiet pull to create something that honors where you’ve been — and who you’re still becoming?

In this heart-centered episode of The Sock Drawer Podcast, Lisa Begley sits down with Odemaris Mendoza, author and founder of Blue Maris Creative, whose debut novel The Gifts of El Jíbaro celebrates Puerto Rican heritage, courage, and the power of starting over at any age.

After 34 years as an educator, Odemaris followed her creative calling — blending business, purpose, and art into a new chapter of meaning.

When your money and meaning feel out of sync, reinvention isn’t about burning it all down—it’s about realigning who you are with what you have.
In this episode, Melissa Joy, CFP®, founder of Pearl Planning, shares how she left a comfortable path to build a purpose-driven firm—and the simple steps you can take today to move from money stress to financial confidence.

In this episode of The Sock Drawer Podcast, host Lisa Begley talks with Sabeen Abbas, Founder of Hatch Line Consulting and Fractional Chief Product & Commercial Officer, about her inspiring journey from corporate innovation to entrepreneurship.

Sabeen shares how 24 years in engineering, product development, and brand leadership at Honda, Coca-Cola, and Baby Einstein shaped her approach to human-centered innovation — and what led her to start Hatch Line Consulting.

Together, Lisa and Sabeen explore: How fractional leadership is reshaping the modern workplace

What it really means to connect creativity with commercial success

The courage it takes to leave corporate life and build something of your own

Why innovation always starts with asking “why?” Sabeen also opens up about her passion for business anthropology, staying grounded as a founder, and the one mindset shift that helps her clients grow from ideas to execution to impact.

Tune in to hear how embracing change, curiosity, and collaboration can help you take your own next brave step toward reinvention.

Have you ever felt stuck solving problems but never rising above them? Anthony “Tony” Boquet—author of The Bloodline of Wisdom—shares how to become a Modern Solutionary: a leader who elevates solutions above the noise. We get into the real price of leadership, Solomon’s blueprint for wise decisions, and Tony’s 3-question Tiny Dare journaling habit you can start tonight.

Alex Vigilante — founder of Vigilante Rising and leader of the Charlotte Men’s Wellness Club — explains how breathwork, somatic practices and honest conversation help high-performing men drop the mask, heal old wounds, and step into clearer purpose. He walks listeners through a quick breathing exercise, shares his personal story, and invites men to build connection and lasting change.

On this episode of the Sock Drawer Podcast, Lisa chats with Megan Dale, a dedicated elementary teacher with 16 years of experience. Megan shares her journey into teaching, the challenges and rewards of the profession, and the incredible impact teachers have on students’ lives. From inspiring stories of students learning to read to advice for those considering a teaching career, this episode highlights why teaching truly matters.

In this episode, Lisa sits down with her cousin Cynthia Slavens, a Pixar post-production veteran with over 30 years in the entertainment industry. Cynthia shares her journey from small-town beginnings in New York, to working on sets as a stand-in and production assistant, to eventually joining Pixar. She discusses the importance of embracing unexpected opportunities, building meaningful professional relationships, and navigating the challenges of the industry. Along the way, she reflects on personal growth, resilience, and finding balance in life while pursuing a passion for storytelling.

In this episode of the Sock Door Podcast, Lisa chats with Trent Begley, a roofing expert with nearly 40 years of experience in the industry. Trent shares his journey from apprentice to regional manager, insights on problem-solving, leadership, and the value of trades as a career. He also offers advice for anyone at a crossroads between college and the trades, and leaves listeners with a simple dare: get outside, walk, and enjoy nature for five minutes.