We’re living through one of the most uncertain moments in modern work. Layoffs, AI, burnout, fear — and Gen X is feeling it all.
In this episode, Nicole and Ann Marie talk with Jason Greer, national labor expert, former NLRB board agent, and “Employee Whisperer,” about what’s really happening inside corporate America — and what Gen X professionals can do about it.
Jason has spent his career advocating for employees, mediating labor disputes, and helping companies reimagine inclusion and engagement. But his insights hit deeper than headlines — they’re human, honest, and full of hope.
✨ In this episode:
The truth behind “AI layoffs” (and what’s really driving them)
How fear is shaping the modern workplace — and how to name it before it owns you
Why imagination and intuition are Gen X’s untapped superpowers
How to rebuild autonomy and purpose in your career
Jason reminds us that we grew up resilient — but we were also built to dream. The future of work isn’t just AI. It’s human imagination, multiplied by experience.
🎧 Tune in to hear how Gen X can lead the next era of work — not get left behind in it.
In 1986, the Pet Shop Boys sang, “I’ve got the brains, you’ve got the looks — let’s make lots of money.”
Decades later, that line feels less like pop irony and more like a wake-up call for GenX professionals staring down a shifting economy.
In this episode, Ann Marie breaks down what it really takes to build financial security and meaning in midlife — beyond the corporate ladder.
You’ll hear:
The real retirement number no one talks about — and why the old plan no longer works
How AI, layoffs, and burnout are rewriting the rules of stability
The three new opportunities for GenX professionals: Fractional work, Coaching & Advisory, and Passion Projects
It’s about building a life where money supports meaning — not the other way around.
There comes a point in every successful career when the words that once opened doors start to feel… off.
They’re polished. Professional. Perfectly acceptable.
But they no longer sound like you.
For years, you’ve spoken through systems — boardrooms, brands, and expectations.
You’ve learned how to communicate what’s needed.
Now, you’re being invited to communicate what’s true.
This episode explores what it really means to find your voice again —
after decades of being rewarded for saying things the right way.
Because when you stop waiting for permission to speak your truth,
your entire energy shifts.
Your confidence rises.
Your message lands deeper.
And your voice — the one that’s always been there, waiting — finally catches up to who you’ve become.
🎙 Episode: Everybody Hurts (with Janelle Miller Moravek)
Mental health isn’t just personal—it’s generational.
In this powerful episode, Nicole and Ann Marie sit down with Janelle Miller Moravek, Executive Director of Youth & Family Counseling and longtime leader in community mental health. For 25+ years, Janelle has been breaking down barriers, making counseling more accessible, and helping families navigate challenges with compassion and clarity.
Together, they explore what it means to be Gen X—the “just keep pushing” generation—and why ignoring mental health has cost us in careers, families, and communities. Janelle shares her own journey as both a leader and a mom, plus the tools that can help us stop keeping struggles in the shadows.
✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why mental health care is still a “baby field”—and how far it’s come since our parents’ generation
How vocabulary (finally) gives us language for what we’ve always felt but didn’t know how to name
Why therapy isn’t just for crisis—it’s a tool for growth, connection, and prevention
How technology (like 988 and virtual counseling) is transforming access
Why loyalty to others shouldn’t come at the expense of loyalty to yourself
Janelle also introduces her new project, ATLAS, a digital behavioral health atlas designed to help people find the right level of care at the right time.
🎧 If you’ve ever whispered “I’ll just push through,” this episode is your reminder: tending to your mental health isn’t selfish—it’s how you create ripple effects of strength in your family, work, and community.
You can find Janelle at CounselingForAll.org
Building something new doesn’t happen in one clean leap—it happens through iteration.
In this special episode, Ann Marie flips the script and interviews her co-host, Nicole Gray, about her journey from corporate tech leader to confidence coach and founder of Shine AF. Nicole shares how being laid off became the unexpected push that set her in motion, and why iteration—not perfection—is the real key to creating a business that feels authentic.
✨ In this episode, Nicole reveals:
How her first version of coaching looked “corporate-y” and misaligned—and why that was okay
The difference between pivoting and simply uncovering the next version of you
Why every website, package, and program is just one draft toward your true voice
How confidence is a muscle, and iteration is how you strengthen it
The freedom that comes from giving yourself permission to evolve again (and again)
Nicole reminds us that nobody strikes it perfect out of the gate—and nobody cares if you change directions. What matters is starting, iterating, and keeping on moving.
🎧 If you’ve been waiting until everything is “perfect” to launch your next chapter, this episode is your permission slip to start messy, adjust as you go, and shine brighter with every iteration.
Follow Nicole at THENicoleGray on Instagram and Linkedin
Our guest, Adele Curran, is a relationship and communication coach helping smart, successful people navigate major turning points in love and life. After going through her own divorce, she turned that season of growth into her purpose: guiding others to build the clarity, skills, and resilience to either rebuild their relationships or end them with respect and dignity.
✨ In this episode, Adele shares three powerful takeaways from her coaching practice:
Be ready to make real changes. Coaching isn’t just about venting — it’s about learning new skills, practicing them, and taking consistent action.
Shift from blame to self-awareness. Lasting change starts when you examine your own patterns, not just your partner’s.
Address the subconscious. When the same conflicts keep repeating, deeper patterns are at play — and transformation comes from uncovering and reshaping them.
With a background as a nurse, integrative health coach, and certified Conscious Uncoupling and RTT practitioner, Adele blends structured coaching, subconscious healing, and communication tools.
🎧 Whether you’re in a marriage, partnership, or rebuilding after divorce, Adele’s story and approach prove it’s never too late to reset your patterns and create relationships rooted in honesty, intention, and connection.
Connect with Adele on her website at adelecurrin.com and over on Instagram @adelecurrin
What if leaving corporate didn’t mean walking away from security—but walking toward freedom? In this episode, Nicole and Ann Marie talk with Tania P. Brown, financial planner and job exit strategist, about how to design a corporate exit that doesn’t require a vow of poverty.
Tania shares her own story of climbing the corporate ladder, hitting a breaking point, and creating a plan that gave her both choice and confidence. From the “performance review from hell” to the realities of year one in business, she gets real about what it takes to shift your mindset, face the numbers, and stop shrinking your dreams.
Here are her three biggest takeaways:
Know what you’re going to, not just what you’re leaving. Paint a picture of your best life—what you’re doing, where you’re living, and what “success” looks like—so you have something concrete to plan for.
Get real about your numbers. Review your actual spending down to the penny. That number is your baseline for building a realistic plan that balances responsibility with joy.
Build your bridge. Life keeps happening after you quit. Create a financial safety net and consider a bridge job to cover the gaps. It’s not failure—it’s smart strategy.
If you’ve ever whispered, “I can’t do this anymore,” but don’t know where to start, this conversation will help you see that you’re not stuck—you’re just in the middle of your pivot story.
What happens when you realize the corporate map you’ve been following no longer leads where you want to go? In this episode, Nicole and Ann Marie sit down with coach and truth-teller Shelly McIntyre, founder of Burn the Map, to talk about why so many Gen Xers are waking up to the reality that the system is broken—and they’re not.
Shelly shares why loyalty isn’t rewarded the way it used to be, the layers of grief that come with leaving corporate, and how to rediscover your creativity and core identity after burnout. Together, they explore why so many Gen Xers whisper their true dreams, how to protect that sacred spark, and the importance of taking inspired action—one small step at a time.
You can learn more about Shelley at: https://burnthemapcoaching.com/
If you’ve ever felt stuck in the wrong story, over-giving at work and at home, or secretly craving something different, this episode is your call to reclaim joy, possibility, and choice.
Listen in to hear:
Why Gen Xers are done “paying dues” and ready for more
How to separate grief from creation and find your sacred whisper
Why creativity isn’t about art—it’s about problem-solving and reinvention
The surprising difference between how men and women approach identity shifts
Practical steps to start small, build confidence, and move forward
Rihanna said it best: “Work, work, work.” In this real-talk episode, Nicole and Ann Marie tackle Gen X’s #1 question: how to keep crushing it at your day job while quietly building your next chapter.
You’ll hear why staying excellent at work protects your reputation (and your options), how to reframe your paycheck as “bridge funding,” smart ways to keep your side project discreet, what to check in your company policies, and why slow, iterative progress beats perfection. You don’t have to choose between stability and possibility—you can do both, on purpose.
Top Takeaways
Do your job: your performance is your safety net and future pipeline.
Reframe your mindset: your salary = your Series A for what’s next.
Keep it on the DL: separate pages/handles, scheduling tools, separate devices.
Know the rules: review non-competes, conflicts, and moonlighting policies.
Build slow, iterate smart: 3–5 focused hours in micro-sprints add up.
Are Gen Xers playing it too safe with their dreams—just because we think time is running out?
In this episode, we dig into the fears, excuses, and “what ifs” that keep so many professionals from starting something new in their 40s and 50s. From side hustles like baking or bookstores to full-on pivots like Pilates studios and coffee companies, they show how your corporate skills are more transferable than you realize—and why waiting for the “perfect time” is just another trap.
💡 In this episode:
Why killing your dream inside slowly kills your soul
How to start small and smart—even while working full-time
The myth of competition (your unique spin is the differentiator)
Breaking free from the perfection trap and excuses around time
Why your age is not a liability—it’s actually your superpower
This is your reminder: the only regret is not starting. Whether it’s three hours a week or one bold step forward, your dream still matters—and it’s not too late.
👉 What dream have you been putting off? Tell us on LinkedIn—we’d love to hear it.
Trying to teach your 20-something about money without sounding like a lecture?
Start here: Julia Cancro (@jcancro on Instagram).
Julia shares modern, judgment-free money lessons that actually land with your adult kids—especially if they’re just starting out.
If you're a GenX parent who wants to pass on smart financial habits, but your kid rolls their eyes when you say “budget,” send them her way.
She breaks down money in a way that’s clear, empowering, and actually relevant to this next generation. Think:
What to do with that first real paycheck
How to build credit (without ruining it)
How to set goals that feel worth saving for
Let them hear it from someone who’s not mom or dad… but who’s saying exactly what you’d hope they learn.
What if your next chapter wasn’t about starting over—but finally starting aligned?
In this powerful conversation, we sit down with Cindee Williams, business lifestyle coach, DISC consultant, and founder of Lead My Life. After running a successful family business for over 30 years, Cindee found herself asking the same question so many Gen X women do: Who am I now?
From empty nest awakening to legacy-driven leadership, Cindee shares how she rebuilt her identity, rediscovered her voice, and now helps women create businesses that bless them back instead of burning them out.
We talk about:
What burnout really looks like for seasoned women leaders
How the DISC assessment can reveal your superpowers (yes, really)
Why “starting over” is a myth—and how to stack your experience instead
The real shift from business owner to legacy leader
Creating space to think, dream, and lead your life again
💡 If you've been asking what now?—this episode is your answer.
🔗 Connect with Cindee at leadmylife.com
What if your biggest breakdown was actually the start of your next breakthrough?
In this powerful episode, Dr. David Hooper joins Nicole and AnnMarie to share his deeply personal journey from elite athlete to burnout, depression, and redundancy—and how he used rock bottom as a launchpad for purpose, performance, and reinvention.
From rebuilding his body to running ultra marathons, starting a business, and mastering AI-driven brand clarity, David’s story is a masterclass in the power of mental resilience and pivoting with purpose.
We cover:
The moment David decided to rewrite his life (hint: it involves a XXXL t-shirt)
How Gen X can build resilience while juggling teams, teens, and tough transitions
Why burnout doesn’t mean broken—and how clarity can be your next superpower
How to use AI without fear (and why it might just save you time, money, and your sanity)
The mindset shift every midlife professional needs when the world feels chaotic
Whether you’re facing a layoff, a pivot, or just craving something more—this episode is your reminder that your next chapter can be the most powerful one yet.
Learn more about David here: https://www.lunarla.co.uk/
One Year In: What We’ve Learned (and Loved) from Building What’s Next? GenX
We can’t believe it’s been a full year.
In this special anniversary episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on how What’s Next? GenX went from an idea to a growing movement—with weekly episodes that have inspired thousands of mid-career professionals to finally ask: What else is out there for me?
We talk candidly about:
– What we’ve learned from a year of consistent episodes (even when life got busy)
– Why this podcast works without fancy edits or filters
– The ripple effect we’ve seen as Gen Xers launch their next chapters—from side businesses to passion projects
– How we’re building real connection, community, and momentum for 2025 and beyond
Plus, we throw in some '80s/'90s nostalgia (because of course we do), and leave you with the advice we wish we’d heard sooner: You don’t have to wait until it’s perfect. Just start.
What You’ll Hear:
✅ What it really takes to stay consistent and build trust
✅ How others like you are creating bold, aligned next steps
✅ The power of showing up—messy, real, and in motion
Come celebrate with us—and if you’ve been listening quietly, let this be your sign to step into your next.
Work-life balance isn’t a myth.
You just haven’t seen it done like this.
In this episode, we sit down with Kym Insana, founder of Always On Digital, who traded the grind of NYC ad life for something smarter—and saner. She didn’t just reinvent her own career… she built a company that supports real life, for everyone on her team. Kids, commutes, baseball games, caregiving—this is a workplace designed to flex with the humans inside it.
🎯 Inside this conversation:
The moment Kym realized the hustle wasn't worth the tradeoffs anymore
How she rebuilt success around flexibility, family, and freedom
The invisible cost of being the only woman in leadership—and the flippant “just hire a nanny” moments
What work-life balance actually looks like when the culture supports it
Why Gen X professionals (and younger generations, too) are craving new models—and how Kym’s team makes it work
💡 If you're stuck in a job where your calendar owns you, this episode proves there’s another way.
You can still lead. Still grow. Still thrive.
Just not at the cost of everything else that matters.
Connect with Kym Insana on Linkedin or at https://getalwayson.com/
🎙️ Riding to Work in 2025: What Time Has Taught Us About What’s Next
In this solo episode, AnnMarie gets real about the silent urgency many Gen X professionals feel but rarely name: time is passing—and your current role may no longer fit who you’ve become.
Inspired by the 1997 Flaming Lips song "Riding to Work in the Year 2025", AnnMarie draws a sharp line from past to present to ask: Are you still commuting, still grinding, still waiting… while your real dreams stay parked?
Inside this episode:
Why 1997 feels like a lifetime ago—and how 2030 will be here faster than you think
The quiet crisis no one talks about: "This isn’t who I am anymore"
How one nurse practitioner is building her exit plan, 2 clients at a time
The high cost of “just two more years” when it’s eroding your energy, edge, and identity
Why your whisper isn’t a midlife crisis — it’s clarity
Plus: 3 low-risk steps to start exploring your “next” without quitting or going public.
If you've been telling yourself “I’ll get to it later,” this is your sign to stop waiting.
Because the truth is —
You’re not who you were in 1997.
Your career shouldn’t pretend you are.
🎧 Listen now and start designing what’s next — before another year rides by.
This episode is a wake-up call for Gen X women who’ve spent years keeping the peace, downplaying their wins, and staying quiet to make others comfortable.
If you’ve ever felt overlooked, underestimated, or just plain tired of shrinking to fit—this conversation is for you.
You’ll walk away with:
A clear understanding of the subtle traps Gen X women fall into at work—and how to spot them
Practical strategies for speaking up without burning out
A reframe on self-promotion (hint: it’s not bragging, it’s positioning)
A reminder that you don’t need permission to lead—you just need a plan
You don’t need to change who you are.
You just need to stop editing the best parts.
Freedom isn’t the fantasy of walking away.
It’s the strategy of deciding what you’re no longer available for.
In this episode, we explore how high-performing Gen X professionals can redefine freedom—not as reinvention, but as elevation. Not as quitting, but as quietly reclaiming control over your time, energy, and vision.
Because staying in your role isn’t the issue.
Staying stuck is.
Together, we break down:
Why “freedom” has been misdefined—and what it actually looks like at this stage
The invisible conditioning Gen X inherited around loyalty, gratitude, and sacrifice
The mental loops that keep us stuck (“I’m too old.” “It’s too late.”)
How to reframe those stories into intelligent momentum
Why claiming your next chapter is self-leadership—not selfishness
You don’t age out of dreaming. You evolve into it.
If you’re still in the room—but already thinking beyond it—this conversation is your permission slip to stop circling the loop and start designing what’s next.
Summer School (For You)
Remember when summer meant freedom? No alarm clocks, riding your bike until the streetlights came on, and actual breaks?
This week, we’re throwing it back — not with nostalgia, but with intention.
If your summer schedule feels like just another round of deadlines, obligations, and saying yes to everything but yourself… this episode is your permission slip.
We’re breaking down how GenX professionals can reclaim summer with small, practical shifts — even if you're still juggling work, kids, and everything else. It’s not about disappearing for two weeks. It’s about making space for clarity, rest, and joy (even if it's just 15 minutes at a time).
🎧 In this episode:
Why you can’t pour from your empty Stanley cup
The myth of the “perfect summer” (and why you need to stop chasing it)
How to create your own summer rituals — without quitting your job or booking a flight
What to say no to so you can say yes to yourself
Spoiler: You're not falling behind — you're just due for a reset.
This summer, forget the hustle. Enroll in something better: summer school for you.
The Busy Trap: Why GenX Professionals Stay Overwhelmed — and What to Do About It
You say you’re busy — because you are. And it's causing you to live "la vida loca"
But what if all that busy is covering up something deeper?
This episode explores how busyness becomes a default for high-achieving GenX professionals who’ve spent decades doing what’s expected — and are now starting to wonder if it’s all still working.
Inside, you’ll discover:
Why “I’m just so busy” has become the new version of “I’m fine”
7 hidden reasons your calendar is full — but your energy is low
How to set better boundaries and reclaim time for what matters
The mindset shift that helps you move from obligation to intention
If your days are full but your future feels unclear, this episode is for you.
🎧 Tune in to The Busy Trap — and start making space for what’s next.