You're Not Qualified - A Podcast

College has been in the headlines a lot lately, mostly because of the $10k student loan forgiveness plan that President Biden announced. I think it should be in the headlines a lot more with a philisophical tone: Should you or should you not go to college? The answer: NO.

Kidding. The answer is, it depends on what you want to do with your life and your career. And if you have already commited to college and finished or almost finished and are not sure you want to stay in the field of study you chose, that is okay and you are not stuck. Trust Dr. Zakiya Akerele - she wrote a book on it. And we created this podcast episode to help you understand your options after, before, and during college. So listen up, and then go read "Dump Your Degree: How to Repurpose Your Education, Control Your Career, and Gain Financial Freedom". Then go do that thing.

Find Dr. Zakiya:

Book

IG

Website

TikTok

About Dr. Zakiya: Dr. Zakiya Akerele is an Atlanta-based educator, author, and speaker who found an early passion in academic pursuits hoping to use them to improve herself and the world around her. She sought higher education with full force, obtaining degrees from Florida A&M University (B.A.), Columbia University (Ed.M.), and Fordham University (M.A. and Ph.D.) in International Education, Philosophy, and Religious Studies. Dr. Akerele has served in various capacities at higher education institutions and at social justice, political, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) both in the U.S. and abroad.

Find Courtney:

Email: [email protected]

IG

Website

Twitter

Well if it isn't the shorter episode I've been promising and never delivering on...

Welcome back, Imposters! Once a month, myself and a guest will read one, two or maybe even three of 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.

Today's minisode features my good friend Steph Chinn, with whom I worked with at a startup in Seattle for a couple of years. After this interview about her experience navigating the tech world I am pretty confident there is nothing that this badass woman cannot do.

Along with Steph's journey, we chat about navigating the world of corporate cannabis, and how taboo and misconceptions can unfairly shape someone's journey while navigating growth in the industry.

I hope you're inspired by these stories. Listen first, then go do that thing.

"Women Grow - Jane West: Cannabis Cured My Imposter Syndrome" talk: YouTube

Find Steph:

IG

LinkedIn

Find Courtney:

Email: [email protected]

IG

Website

Twitter

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

For this second episode of Season 2 Courtney chats with Jesse Butts about his two pursuits he is very much so qualified and unqualified for: Director level of Content Marketing and Podcast founder and host of the The Work Seminar, a podcast for people with liberal arts advanced degrees (MAs, MFAs, and PhDs, mostly) considering work outside of their fields of study without any career coaching experience or certifications. (does that sound at all familiar... Bueller?)

Make a niche for yourself. Know your North Star. Develop a career that serves you and GO FOR IT even if you don't have the traditional background to do "it".

Find Jesse:

The Work Seminar Podcast

LinkedIn

Website

Find Courtney:

Email: [email protected]

IG

Website

Twitter

Season 2, we are here! Welcome back, Imposters, to the You're Not Qualified podcast.

Season 2 will be very fun and I can't think of a better way to kick it off than talking about toxicology, science and science-fiction writing, mad cow disease, writing to fuflill your needs, and so much more.

Join Courtney as she chats with Alan Kolok, PhD Professor with a toxicology discipline and wealth of knowledge on all things pandemic, biology, and very famous American singer-songwriters. Yea, we cover it all.

You are more than welcome to reinvent yourself whenever you want. In fact, it's encouraged.

Find Alan:

Alan's first science fiction novel, Twist: https://www.amazon.com/Twist-Alan-S-Kolok/dp/1643071645

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-kolok-08657a29/

Find Courtney:

Website: https://www.yourenotqualifiedpodcast.com/

IG: @ynqpod

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @ynqpodcast

LAST EPISODE OF SEASON 1!

Friends, the day is upon us - the 25th episode of the You're Not Qualified podcast. 25 hours (ish) of inspirational stories of overcoming imposter syndrome; way more info than you ever wanted to know about my life; fun, heavy, light, encouraging and engaging conversation -- 25 hours of talking with incredible humans who will forever be an inspiration to me and I hope to you as well. This week's human is no exception to that class of inspiration.

Join Courtney as she chats with Adam Koren, a financial and productivity coach with a Liberal Arts and far-from financial background. He discovered a niche of the financial industry that is not as populated as it should be, grasped onto it to grow a business, and found immense passion and happiness. He has so much wisdom to share with the world, and I am stoked that we captured a sliver of it here.

Don't wait for the life you want to happen to you. Grasp it and lead it.

Find Adam:

WEB: https://adamkoren.com/

Find Courtney:

WEB: https://www.yourenotqualifiedpodcast.com/

IG: @ynqpod

Twitter: @ynqpodcast

Email: [email protected]

Life can be very tough sometimes, eh? None of us are immune to struggle and it impacts each of us in differing ways. There are many different tools you can store in your toolbox to pull out when you are in an anxiety spiral, depressive episode, or overall funk. These tools range from licensed therapists (yay!), psychiatrists (yay!), friends (<3) and... books. (oh yes.) Brian Sachetta joins Courtney on the pod today. He is a Software Developer by trade who refused to let his background be static - he has created a brand around mental health awareness. He is the creator and author of Get Out Of Your Head- A No Bullsh*t Approach To Mental Health.

Brian has been through very difficult times and has struggled with his mental health in the past. He turned these difficult, dark times into fuel for helping other people who are currently, or have in the past, struggled with mental health. This episode gets into the details of what his brand and books are about, and we chat about mental health on a societal and personal level. As well as some Game Of Thrones and Harry Potter, of course. It fits I promise.

I hope you listen and walk away more confident in your strengths to pursue your dreams, more confident in your ability to love yourself deeply, and passion to treat your brain with kindness.

Find Brian:

WEB: https://getoutofyourhead.com/

IG:@getoutofyourhead

Find Courtney:

WEB: https://www.yourenotqualifiedpodcast.com/

IG: @ynqpod

TikTok: @ynqpod

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @ynqpodcast

Audio dramas have been around for decades (you will have to listen to this episode to know exactly how long.. or Google it but I would rather you listen just saying) but they haven't been done quite like this before. The Icarus Complex audio drama is the story of a young black man's journey through life and [mostly] love. It is set in the 90's, so expect that sweet, sweet nostalgia of simpler times that we just had no clue were simpler but I promise if I can go back I will appreciate them more. Promise! Take me back!

Courtney chats with Linden, the master mind behind this episodic, raw tale of Liam - a sometimes all-too-familiar young man making his way definitely not unscathed through love. Linden was turned away, a lot, when shopping his idea for this story. He forged ahead and believed in himself, which has paid off and landed him on UK Audio Drama Billboards. We are here to tell you - you should believe in yourself, too.

Let's go make history.

Find Linden:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/icaruscomplexpodcast/

Podcast: (wherever you get your podcasts, but here's a couple links):
Spotify

Amazon Music

Find Courtney:

IG: @ynqpod

Twitter: @ynqpodcast

TikTok: @ynqpod

WEB: https://www.yourenotqualifiedpodcast.com/

Email: [email protected]

I have a little secret for you: talent, skills, and success are not defined by a college degree - they aren't even always formed by a college degree. Let that sink in. But before you throw your $100k plus degree paper out the window and scream at me, hear me out. A degree can absolutely help you. If college isn't the path for you, you can still be successful without it. Kevin Palmieri joins Courtney today on the 22nd episode of the You're Not Qualified podcast. He is co host, founder, and CFO (Chief Financial Officer) of Next Level University, a multi 6-figure, global top 100 podcast. He developed his business and his business presence from the ground up; he helps others do the same on their own podcast journeys.

The topics in this episode are poignant and really cut to the heart. Kevin gives a no bullshit love approach to coaching, and to his advice in this episode.

Let's see if you really have what it takes. (you probably do, trust.)

Find Kevin:

WEB: https://www.nextleveluniverse.com/about/

IG: @neverquitkid

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-palmieri-5b7736160/

Find Courtney:

WEB: https://www.yourenotqualifiedpodcast.com/

IG: @ynqpod

Twitter: @ynqpodcast

Email: [email protected]

Artificial Intelligence (Ai) is making waves in the world and marine life is in a better situation because of it (not because of the 'waves' but also because of the waves, ya know?) Terrestrial life is pretty happy about it, too. Are you sitting there thinking that Ai seems like a pretty cool industry to be in but you have no business being there? Well then this is the episode for you because you're wrong.

Fact: we can't afford to filter out ideas in Ai or Conservation from people of non-traditional backgrounds. Let's talk about it. Join Courtney as she chats with Jason Holmberg, Executive Director and Director of Engineering at WildMe, where conservation meets machine learning and holy cow it is COOL.

Chase your dreams and open those doors you think are locked to you.

Find Jason:

EMAIL: [email protected]

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/holmbergius

Find Courtney:

EMAIL: [email protected]

IG and TikTok: @ynqpod

Twitter: @ynqpodcast

WEB: https://www.yourenotqualifiedpodcast.com/

Artificial Intelligence, or as the cool kids say - AI - is a big part of our present and an even bigger part of our future in the world. Let's talk about it.

Join Courtney and Tanya Stere for the 20th (!!!) episode of the You're Not Qualified Podcast. Tanya does not have an AI background - she has a technical writing background and is definitely traditionally not qualified and we get deep into that. Tanya works at WildMe, an AI Tech Conservation company focused on helping those studying species' conservation work more efficiently and effectively together, and work quicker on their respective passions. This leads to faster evolution in the world of conservation and consequently more animals saved. Win win, win - eh?

Find Tanya:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-stere-2ab25510b/

WildMe Team Page: https://www.wildme.org/#/team

Email: [email protected]

Find Courtney:

IG: @ynqpod

TikTok: @ynqpod

Twitter: @ynqpodcast

Email: [email protected]

Website: yourenotqualifiedpodcast.com