You're Not Qualified - A Podcast

Have you ever wanted to travel the world? Have you ever wanted to put a 9-5 aside for years and travel with your significant other and your dog, or maybe even solo with your dog? Here is your sign to do it. Figure out some logistics, sure, but go ahead and drive off into the sunset without looking back (except to pass safely, that is).

On this episode we chat with Jess Stone. Jess is traveling all over the world to raise money for "Girl Up", with her German Shepherd, Moxie, and her husband. She is the definition of 'badass' and pursuing your goals and dreams, even if they scare you and even if you want to give up sometimes. Focus on where you want to go and strap (your dog) in... let's go. Keep your eyes on what you want to achieve.

Find Jess:

Web (to donate to Girl Up and to purchase Ruffly gear)

Ruffly-specific donate LINK for Girl Up (can also donate from website above)

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Find Courtney:

Email: [email protected]

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Welcome to Season 3, Imposters!

Wowza it is great to be back. I hope you did all sorts of things you were afraid to do while this pod was on a break.

We are ringing in Season 3 with a talented and incredible artist - the owner of S.T.CAO Ceramics, Steph Cao. Steph left her 9-5 job a few years ago to pursue her ceramic art full time and hasn't looked back. She didn't study art, and though she loved playing with clay as a young human, she didn't find her way to it full time until she was an adult. There were many reasons for this, but one lesson reigns true: believe you can and just do it.

Find Steph:

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Find Courtney:

Email: [email protected]

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Website

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Friends, Imposters -- this is the episode of all episodes to end a season. Resume writing, job applying, confidence building for said resume writing and job applying, are nerve-wracking endeavors. But I'll let you in on a secret: we are all nervous and it is just a game that you can learn to play. Julie Mendelson is here to prove that to you and offer sage advice. Julie is a corporate senior recruiter and freelance career advisor. She has been in these roles for years and knows her way around a great resume and interview experience, so I think we can trust her advice.

We chat about what makes a great resume, debunk some TikTok myths, the importance of highlighing transferable skills (there it is again!), how being open and confident will get you SO far, and much more. Also that anxiety just rules our lives so let's embrace it, yea?

It's all a game. Let's learn how to play it.

Find Julie:

IG - professional

IG - personal

LinkedIn

Find "Skills- The Common Denominator"

Find Courtney:

Email: [email protected]

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Website

Twitter

You know that narrative you were taught about yourself, probably when you were really young, that you now know is false but you still hold onto? Get rid of it. Yes, that one. Get it out of here, it has no place with you now. You can reinvent yourself and become a version of yourself that better serves the life you want to lead. Don't let anyone tell you differently.

Join Courtney as she chats with Trina Wilcox, the founder and owner of RunRadio.net - an internet radio station that highlights independent artists and their work. Musicians, authors, entrepreneurs, you name it. Trina and Courtney chat about the boom of computers, leaning into fear and at times uncomfortable growth, transferrable skills (there it is again!), and so much more.

Be it until you see it.

Find Trina:

Run Radio

Website

Find Courtney:

Email: [email protected]

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Website

Twitter

Look, I am not saying an MBA might be a waste of your time and an egregious waste of your money... well.. MAYBE - BUT I know it is the best choice for many people. BUT on the other side, it is NOT the best choice for a great many other people who want to grow in business, especially as a Product Manager. This episode explores the depths of why this is true, and why a degree may also be valuable - it depends on what it is you want.

Join Courtney as she chats with Richard Dyer, a law student turned Product Manager. He taught himself SQL, and pivoted that into analytics, and that into product. You can learn and work hard and get where you want to go. Promise. And if you don't believe me, believe Richard. No hard feelings.

Psst.. don't believe everything you think.

Find Richard:

LinkedIn

Find Courtney:

Email: [email protected]

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Website

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Did you know that you can train dogs to be used as conservation detectives? That's right - dogs that are trained to find endangered species, whether that be from the scat or actual parts of the animal. We know dogs are amazing, but I feel like I haven't even scratched the surface of their capabilities.

Join Courtney as she chats with Kayla Fratt for the second and final episode of the "Nonprofit Founder" series - she trains dogs for K9 Conservationists, a nonprofit organization she founded and now runs with two other women. We talk about how competetive conservation is, being fired and turning that into an opportunity to start your own business, the parallels between nonprofits and for-profit startups, thinking like a man to help you succeed (yes I cringed too, but we talk about why this is true), and so much more.

Get outside of your comfort zone.

Find Kayla:

k9conservationists.org

Podcast: k9conservationists - where you get your podcasts

FB

IG

Collies Without Borders IG and YouTube

Twitter (just Kayla)

Find Courtney

Email: [email protected]

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Website

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Welcome back, Imposters, to the second minisode of the pod! Once a month, the last Tuesday of the month during the YNQ Pod season, myself and a guest will read your stories about imposter syndrome in your own life and how you've overcome obstacles. Maybe you were once actually told you're not good enough or qualified enough for a job or project, or passion you were trying to pursue. I want to hear about your experiences and celebrate you - you can and will overcome anything set in front of you. If you would like to have your email read, please reach out! [email protected] is the place.

Today's minisode features one of my closest friends, Maria Xu. Maria is trained in classical music and was a cellist since the YOUNG age of six years old. She has navigated many a leaps into different avenues of careers, including a layoff, and has landed in tech. Maria and I read an email from a listener who took a layoff and turned it into a 6-figure business venture and she is absolutely killing it.

There's a theme here - layoffs derail your life in many ways. To say they can be an opportunity to grow is a cliche and undermines the impact they have on a person's mental health. But they can be a jumping point to pick the pieces up and become a better version of yourself, and there is possibility in the midst of chaos.

You write the story.

Find Maria:

LinkedIn

Find Courtney:

Find Courtney:

Email: [email protected]

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Submit your listener stories about navigating imposter syndrome! DM me, or shoot me an email - links above

Have you considered leaving your cushy, comfortable 9-5 job for a lifestyle you yearn for, but you just aren't quite sure you're capable of taking the leap? This is the episode for you. And take this as your sign - BUT, don't leap into the darkness without a flashlight. That is how you get lost or fall off a cliff - things we don't want. What we DO want is success after that leap. If you're nodding your head, then you should press "play".

I encourage you to take that leap, and do it wisely. What do I mean by wisely? You just have to listen to find out what this week's guest, Andrew Zhimer, has to say, and sage advice he has to share about leaping and kicking ass in your new endeavor. Trust the process and move forward.

Find Andrew:

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Find Courtney:

Email: [email protected]

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We are back on it, Imposters - another episode about whales. While the topic of whales warms my heart on its own, nonprofit work warms my heart like a furnace and we are here to talk all about it (especially if that nonprofit is focused on conservation...)

Courtney chats with Whitney Neugebauer - nonprofit founder of an organization called Whale Scout. They chat about the obstacles faced in starting a nonprofit, the amazing engineering ability of beavers, hiring interns, Lower Snake River Dam removal, surviving on nonprofit income, the plight of the Southern Resident Killer Whales, and much more.

This will be Part 1 of a two-parter covering founding nonprofits - buckle up and let's save some animals.

Find Whitney and Whale Scout:

whalescout.org

Facebook

IG

TikTok

Find Courtney:

Email: [email protected]

IG

Website

Twitter

Take action for Lower Snake River Dam removal:

change.org

Columbia River Keeper

Alexandra Morton - has dedicated 30 years of her life to the whales

- Alexandra's book - Not On My Watch

I advocate for jumping to a company that will give you the raise you deserve - a raise that might be very hard to come by if you stay in the company you are currently at. Though, there is a flip side to that, and advantage to actually staying and working your way up at the company you are at. That discussion deserves its own episode, so here we are!

Join Courtney as she chats with Lindsay Abila about staying at a company and working your way up to your ideal position. Lindsay did it - and she SLAYED. It is hard, it is a long road, it is grueling, BUT it is rewarding for many reasons. And doable for many reasons. We talk about it all. Plus hot sauce. And dogs. JOIN US. And then go do that thing.

Find Lindsay:

LinkedIn

Find Courtney:

Email: [email protected]

IG

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