What if curiosity isn’t just a personality trait? In fact, it could be the compass that points us toward who we’re meant to become.

In this special 5-year, podversary episode of "Women With Cool Jobs," my amazing friend and award-winning musician and filmmaker, Jillian Speece, joins me for a  deeply personal conversation about how this podcast came to life...and how curiosity has acted as an unexpected guide along the way.

Inside this celebratory episode, Julie and Jillian explore:

•  How curiosity undeniably ties every woman featured on the show together  —  from smokejumper and cheesemonger to 3-D printing scientist, lipstick artist, general contractor, and butter maker
•  The argument for “doing it scared,” and why some of the most important leaps in life feel the most terrifying
•  Visibility, vulnerability, and courage to let go of being liked and allowing yourself to be seen 
•  Why curiosity makes us better humans and why we don't have to all agree to navigate differences with grace, compassion, and genuine interest

What began as a spark of curiosity and a leap into the unknown turned into 5 years of celebrating remarkable women doing the work that lights them up. 

Thank you to all the incredible, inspiring women who have been guests during these past 5 years. I am so, so grateful!

Contact Info:

Jillian Speece
thebergamot.com
@jillianspeece (Instagram)
@thebergamot (Instagram)

Julie Berman - Host
www.womenwithcooljobs.com
@womencooljobs (Instagram)
Julie Berman (LinkedIn)

Send Julie a text!!

Hey, thanks so much for listening to the podcast. I don't know if you know this, but I work with female small-business owners and entrepreneurs who are in a season of evolution and need help with their words, visuals, and story telling for their new direction! If that's you, send me a message at www.pivotzz.com or DM me on Instagram @shepivotzz

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I absolutely LOVE being the host and producer of "Women with Cool Jobs", where I interview women who have unique, trailblazing, and innovative careers. It has been such a blessing to share stories of incredible, inspiring women since I started in 2020.

If you have benefitted from this work, or simply appreciate that I do it, please consider buying me a $5 coffee. ☕️

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/julieberman

Thank you so much for supporting me -- whether by sharing an episode with a friend, attending a LIVE WWCJ event in Phoenix, connecting with me on Instagram @womencooljobs or LinkedIn, sending me a note on my website (www.womenwithcooljobs.com), or by buying me a coffee! It all means so much. <3

If you’re questioning your next career move, feeling stuck in your job search, or wondering what else is possible for you… this episode is for you. 

I’m sharing a widely overlooked (yet totally awesome!) career strategy that has changed the trajectory of my own life: Informational Interviews. 

You’ll learn:

✨ Why informational interviews open doors traditional networking may not
 ✨ How a simple 15–20 minute conversation can help you quickly determine if a career is actually right for you
 ✨ The questions to ask so you get honest, real-world insight beyond what job descriptions or Google can tell you
 ✨ Why curiosity becomes your internal compass when you’re exploring new possibilities
 ✨ How to reach out without feeling awkward or like you’re asking for a job (because you're not)
 ✨ Why these conversations naturally build meaningful, deeper connections

I also share how informational interviews completely changed my career trajectory and how they can help you discover what career opportunities best align with the future you want to create.

If you’re exploring, pivoting, or dreaming about what might be your next cool job, this episode will give you a roadmap with tactics and practical steps to move forward.

Send Julie a text!!

Hey, thanks so much for listening to the podcast. I don't know if you know this, but I work with female small-business owners and entrepreneurs who are in a season of evolution and need help with their words, visuals, and story telling for their new direction! If that's you, send me a message at www.pivotzz.com or DM me on Instagram @shepivotzz

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I absolutely LOVE being the host and producer of "Women with Cool Jobs", where I interview women who have unique, trailblazing, and innovative careers. It has been such a blessing to share stories of incredible, inspiring women since I started in 2020.

If you have benefitted from this work, or simply appreciate that I do it, please consider buying me a $5 coffee. ☕️

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/julieberman

Thank you so much for supporting me -- whether by sharing an episode with a friend, attending a LIVE WWCJ event in Phoenix, connecting with me on Instagram @womencooljobs or LinkedIn, sending me a note on my website (www.womenwithcooljobs.com), or by buying me a coffee! It all means so much. <3

I went to a great women’s event and was fine talking to everyone EXCEPT for one woman, who was intimidating to me because she did such cool things. She was empowering women by helping share their stories.

When I got home, I reflected on why I felt so awkward and why the conversation didn’t flow as easily as with the other cool ladies I chatted with previously (whom I also admired.) 

I came up with The Power of “Too” Thinking to help me and you flip feelings of being intimidated or feeling like an imposter when you’re in spaces and places with super cool, impressive people you admire! 

Rephrasing the sentence into a positive, affirming statement PLUS adding “too” allows you to create a bridge for your brain to see how it’s possible for you as well. 

I’m cool, too.

I can figure it out, too.  

I can be that, too.

I can do that, too.

Once we realize that what we see and admire in others is often a reflection of the characteristics and traits we have ourselves, we can use this tool to create more possibilities in our own life and be kinder to ourselves.

[Note. Please excuse the low-quality audio in this episode. It was not my intention. I was editing it while still sick, pushed an incorrect button, and voila...it is not my normal goal and I realized upon upload. I do love this content and concept and have chosen to keep it for that reason until I can re-record. Thank you for your understanding!! ~~ Julie] 

Julie Berman - Host
www.womenwithcooljobs.com

www.pivotzz.com

@womencooljobs (Instagram)

Julie Berman (LinkedIn)

Send Julie a text!!

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I absolutely LOVE being the host and producer of "Women with Cool Jobs", where I interview women who have unique, trailblazing, and innovative careers. It has been such a blessing to share stories of incredible, inspiring women since I started in 2020.

If you have benefitted from this work, or simply appreciate that I do it, please consider buying me a $5 coffee. ☕️

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/julieberman

Thank you so much for supporting me -- whether by sharing an episode with a friend, attending a LIVE WWCJ event in Phoenix, connecting with me on Instagram @womencooljobs or LinkedIn, sending me a note on my website (www.womenwithcooljobs.com), or by buying me a coffee! It all means so much. <3

Chelsea Ross is the founder of Goddess Retreats, an award-winning
wellness sanctuary in Bali that is a safe and supportive community for women seeking self-discovery and connection. 

She launched the world's first luxury, women-only surf and yoga retreat in 2003, long before it became mainstream. At that time, men and boys were often the only ones participating in the sport of surfing. She proved that women of all ages, shapes, sizes, and abilities can surf -- and that you don't need to fit the media’s image of a ‘surfer girl’ to be part of the ocean’s magic. 

Over the years, she expanded her offerings to include wellness, healing, and cultural experiences, too. The sanctuary blends personal growth with cultural immersion, pairing private villa stays with unlimited indulgent spa treatments, daily yoga, and holistic healing. There are also now two locations: the rice paddies of Ubud and the peaceful coastline of Seminyak. 

Chelsea has lived all over the world -- in southeast Asia, Australia, and Canada. She also has had very diverse work experience, including in hospitality, sales and marketing, as a life coach, salon owner, and more.

Contact Info:
Chelsea Ross - Guest
Goddes Retreats (Instagram)

Goddess Retreats website

Julie Berman - Host
www.womenwithcooljobs.com
@womencooljobs (Instagram)
Julie Berman (LinkedIn)

Send Julie a text!!

Hey, thanks so much for listening to the podcast. I don't know if you know this, but I work with female small-business owners and entrepreneurs who are in a season of evolution and need help with their words, visuals, and story telling for their new direction! If that's you, send me a message at www.pivotzz.com or DM me on Instagram @shepivotzz

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I absolutely LOVE being the host and producer of "Women with Cool Jobs", where I interview women who have unique, trailblazing, and innovative careers. It has been such a blessing to share stories of incredible, inspiring women since I started in 2020.

If you have benefitted from this work, or simply appreciate that I do it, please consider buying me a $5 coffee. ☕️

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/julieberman

Thank you so much for supporting me -- whether by sharing an episode with a friend, attending a LIVE WWCJ event in Phoenix, connecting with me on Instagram @womencooljobs or LinkedIn, sending me a note on my website (www.womenwithcooljobs.com), or by buying me a coffee! It all means so much. <3

Civilian Operational Psychologist, Dr. Amanda Alexander, is part of the U.S. Air Force 57th Rescue Squadron based in Italy where her job is to help these high-performing service members mentally prepare for missions. 

The pararescue team's mission priorities are to conduct day and night personnel recovery operations in combat environments. The military personnel also support civil search and rescue and humanitarian efforts.

Dr. Alexander does everything from yoga classes and counseling, to team workshops helping the squadron build comradery, resilience to stress, emotional intelligence, as well as resolving trauma, stress mitigation, and suicide prevention.

Specifically, the 57th Rescue Squadron hosts both pararescue men, combat rescue officers, communications airmen, air crew, flight equipment personnel, supply personnel and other supporting individuals for the pararescue mission.

At the beginning of her educational journey and career, Dr. Alexander got really into understanding human potential and how to support and facilitate people in their journey to be able to stretch their own potential. Her education includes: 

•  An undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Tennessee
• A PhD from the University of Tennessee in counseling psychology, with a specialization in sport and performance psychology
  
  
  

Contact Info:
Dr. Amanda Alexander - Guest

Julie Berman - Host
www.womenwithcooljobs.com
@womencooljobs (Instagram)
Julie Berman (LinkedIn)

Send Julie a text!!

Hey, thanks so much for listening to the podcast. I don't know if you know this, but I work with female small-business owners and entrepreneurs who are in a season of evolution and need help with their words, visuals, and story telling for their new direction! If that's you, send me a message at www.pivotzz.com or DM me on Instagram @shepivotzz

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I absolutely LOVE being the host and producer of "Women with Cool Jobs", where I interview women who have unique, trailblazing, and innovative careers. It has been such a blessing to share stories of incredible, inspiring women since I started in 2020.

If you have benefitted from this work, or simply appreciate that I do it, please consider buying me a $5 coffee. ☕️

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/julieberman

Thank you so much for supporting me -- whether by sharing an episode with a friend, attending a LIVE WWCJ event in Phoenix, connecting with me on Instagram @womencooljobs or LinkedIn, sending me a note on my website (www.womenwithcooljobs.com), or by buying me a coffee! It all means so much. <3

Dr. Cory Russo is the Chief Medical Examiner Investigator of the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner (OME). This means she supervises all of the OME investigations for the entire state of Utah, which is an almost 85,000-mile area. 

She combines investigative medical, and legal skills to improve public health and also (Perhaps surprisingly!) to help the living.

Dr. Russo manages a team of approximately 120 investigators who gather information for the medical examiner to use when determining the cause and manner of death. Her team is the first to get to the scene. 

Her job includes: 

• Going to the scene of the death to examine the scene, gather evidence, and take pictures. 
• Talking with the deceased’s friends and family to learn more about the deceased and what they experienced before their death. 
• Gathering records such as medical or law enforcement records

She has immense experience in this field, both in education and on the job. 

She has a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the fields of forensic science, psychology, medical health sciences, and business administration. Her doctorate is in medical health sciences from Eastern Virginia Medical School. She worked in hospital emergency departments and newborn intensive care units (NICUs); conducted research about HIV drug targets, child homicides, and suicide; and was a medical examiner investigator in multiple states.

Send Julie a text!!

Hey, thanks so much for listening to the podcast. I don't know if you know this, but I work with female small-business owners and entrepreneurs who are in a season of evolution and need help with their words, visuals, and story telling for their new direction! If that's you, send me a message at www.pivotzz.com or DM me on Instagram @shepivotzz

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I absolutely LOVE being the host and producer of "Women with Cool Jobs", where I interview women who have unique, trailblazing, and innovative careers. It has been such a blessing to share stories of incredible, inspiring women since I started in 2020.

If you have benefitted from this work, or simply appreciate that I do it, please consider buying me a $5 coffee. ☕️

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/julieberman

Thank you so much for supporting me -- whether by sharing an episode with a friend, attending a LIVE WWCJ event in Phoenix, connecting with me on Instagram @womencooljobs or LinkedIn, sending me a note on my website (www.womenwithcooljobs.com), or by buying me a coffee! It all means so much. <3

Our decisions and pivotzz (spelling intended! *wink*) create our life. And as women, we are always evolving! We do it so innately that we don't always notice or give ourselves credit. 

I share about my new business "Pivotzz" where I help 6- and 7-figure female entrepreneurs or small-business owners who know it's time for something new with words, visuals, and storytelling.

Curious about Pivotzz? 

Here's more info:

www.pivotzz.com

@shepivotzz

Send Julie a text!!

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I absolutely LOVE being the host and producer of "Women with Cool Jobs", where I interview women who have unique, trailblazing, and innovative careers. It has been such a blessing to share stories of incredible, inspiring women since I started in 2020.

If you have benefitted from this work, or simply appreciate that I do it, please consider buying me a $5 coffee. ☕️

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/julieberman

Thank you so much for supporting me -- whether by sharing an episode with a friend, attending a LIVE WWCJ event in Phoenix, connecting with me on Instagram @womencooljobs or LinkedIn, sending me a note on my website (www.womenwithcooljobs.com), or by buying me a coffee! It all means so much. <3

London Times best-selling author and poet, Jess Urlichs, captures the essence of motherhood in the most poignant, soul-filling ways that speak to the every-day experiences that are so hard to iterate in words. 

Learn how she goes from realizing this is a childhood passion and talent to later sharing her heart with the world as she enters into motherhood and captures all of the beautiful nuances of the joys, challenges, dualities, and more.

Her books have collectively sold over 300,000 copies worldwide. She lives in New Zealand with her husband, three children and fur babies. Her newest book "May You Always Know" is coming out soon, plus her next poetry book will be out in March 2026! 

Contact Info:
Jess Urlichs - Guest
Jess Urlichs (Instagram)

Jess Urlichs website

Julie Berman - Host
www.womenwithcooljobs.com
@womencooljobs (Instagram)
Julie Berman (LinkedIn)

Send Julie a text!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I absolutely LOVE being the host and producer of "Women with Cool Jobs", where I interview women who have unique, trailblazing, and innovative careers. It has been such a blessing to share stories of incredible, inspiring women since I started in 2020.

If you have benefitted from this work, or simply appreciate that I do it, please consider buying me a $5 coffee. ☕️

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/julieberman

Thank you so much for supporting me -- whether by sharing an episode with a friend, attending a LIVE WWCJ event in Phoenix, connecting with me on Instagram @womencooljobs or LinkedIn, sending me a note on my website (www.womenwithcooljobs.com), or by buying me a coffee! It all means so much. <3

If you're in a season of change and find yourself wanting to try new things, the idea of possible rejection and failure can stop you before you start.

As I'm in a season of evolution myself, I've been thinking a lot about what it takes to start something new. I've also been reading Worthy by IT Cosmetics founder and entrepreneur, Jamie Kern Lima. 

One of my absolute favorite learnings she shares from her experience building a business that started in her living room to then selling it for $1.2 billion to L'Oréal is that rejection is a  reminder that you're one of the brave ones. 

If you're feeling called to start something new or you're in the midst of doing so now, know that I'm cheering you on!

Send Julie a text!!

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I absolutely LOVE being the host and producer of "Women with Cool Jobs", where I interview women who have unique, trailblazing, and innovative careers. It has been such a blessing to share stories of incredible, inspiring women since I started in 2020.

If you have benefitted from this work, or simply appreciate that I do it, please consider buying me a $5 coffee. ☕️

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/julieberman

Thank you so much for supporting me -- whether by sharing an episode with a friend, attending a LIVE WWCJ event in Phoenix, connecting with me on Instagram @womencooljobs or LinkedIn, sending me a note on my website (www.womenwithcooljobs.com), or by buying me a coffee! It all means so much. <3

Beauty brand founder, Priyanka Ganjoo, created Kulfi Beauty with a mission to celebrate South-Asian culture and allowing room for embracing diversity, community, and joy. 

In just a few years, Priyanka went from being on the corporate side of the beauty industry to launching the first South Asian-owned makeup brand in all Sephora stores across North America. She is driven by a mission to celebrate individuality, and the result is that Kulfi has cultivated a thriving, engaged community while also tying in to her original purpose of filling a major gap in the beauty market. Her company is successfully bridging South Asian beauty with mainstream appeal, which is easily demonstrated by looking at their social media, models, branding, and more.

Priyanka worked on the corporate side of the beauty industry for 5 years and saw first-hand how South Asians were underrepresented. After constantly searching for products that matched her skin tone and feeling like an outsider in the industry, she wanted to create more inclusive products. 

She launched Kulfi in 2021. Shortly afterwards, Kulfi’s cult-favorite kajal eyeliners, concealers, and eyeshadows won awards from Allure and Byrdie. 

Contact Info:
Priyanka Ganjoo - Guest
Priyanka Ganjoo (Instagram)

Kulfi Beauty website

Julie Berman - Host
www.womenwithcooljobs.com
@womencooljobs (Instagram)
Julie Berman (LinkedIn)

Send Julie a text!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I absolutely LOVE being the host and producer of "Women with Cool Jobs", where I interview women who have unique, trailblazing, and innovative careers. It has been such a blessing to share stories of incredible, inspiring women since I started in 2020.

If you have benefitted from this work, or simply appreciate that I do it, please consider buying me a $5 coffee. ☕️

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/julieberman

Thank you so much for supporting me -- whether by sharing an episode with a friend, attending a LIVE WWCJ event in Phoenix, connecting with me on Instagram @womencooljobs or LinkedIn, sending me a note on my website (www.womenwithcooljobs.com), or by buying me a coffee! It all means so much. <3