In this episode, I sit down with my former clients Sarah and Brendon Hamlin, the husband-and-wife team behind Hamlin Creative, to talk about what it really takes to evolve an established business in the digital age. After more than a decade of running their video production company, they decided to push beyond referrals and their reputation to experiment with growing their reputation on a new channel—LinkedIn. We explore what it’s been like translating years of behind-the-scenes expertise into a public voice, learning to engage their ideal audience through authentic storytelling. Sarah and Brendon share how they’ve navigated imposter syndrome, opened up to vulnerability, and turned transparency into a growth strategy. We also talk about the power of their partnership—how their complementary strengths fuel both creativity and trust—and how building a business together has deepened not just their storytelling, but their marriage.

In this episode, I sit down with Geoffrey Colon to talk about how professionals can move through the stages of grief after job loss and channel that uncertainty into creativity and new beginnings. We dig into how the world of work is shifting toward smaller, more independent ecosystems—and the need for new support systems and policies to match. We also explore the erosion of loyalty in corporate culture, the ripple effects of layoffs on both employees and customers, and why short-term thinking is eroding long-term resilience. Geoffrey warns of a “slow erosion” inside companies that undervalue builders and overvalue managers—a pattern that feels eerily familiar in the age of AI. We wrap with a hopeful look at the next era of the creator economy: one grounded in depth, direct connection, and creative sovereignty.

In this episode, poet and truth-teller Sarah Hanson joins me to talk about leaving a successful 15-year run in corporate to write her debut memoir-in-verse, Conjuring the Hurricane. Sarah opens up about surviving domestic violence, living through and processing profound grief, and choosing to write about these experiences with both honesty and gentleness.

In this episode, Bree Groff joins me to talk about ways we can make work feel more human and joyful. As the author of the recently published book Today Was Fun and a seasoned change strategist, Bree brings a fresh perspective to the show regarding how both individuals and organizations can embrace ambiguity, build resilience, and actually enjoy the process of transformation.

In this conversation, I chat with writer, photographer, and community builder Lindsey Lerner to explore the launch of her year-long project Field Notes from the Work and the Wild. Lindsey shares how her background in anthropology, photography, and storytelling informs her work documenting the often-overlooked processes that power our creativity.

In this episode of The Portfolio Career Lab, I sit down with author and change strategist Jillian Reilly to explore what it really means to give yourself permission to architect a career on your terms at any age. Jillian shares a bit about her new book The 10 Permissions: Redefining the Rules of Adulting for the 21st Century and chats with me about why so many of us are still waiting for a “green light” before pursuing our deepest desires. Together, we discuss: * Why permission is a lifelong practice, not a one-time decision * How our conditioning to conform keeps us stuck * The radical act of listening to your “pesky inner voice” * Redefining success, and * Preparing the next generation of adults to thrive in a world without a template And if you enjoyed listening to this episode, go support Jill by buying her book over on Amazon!

And.. we’re back for season two! In this season’s opener of The Portfolio Career Lab, filmmaker, writer, and mother Shaina Feinberg joins me for a conversation about creating art inside the chaos of motherhood, the unlikely mentorship she found with legendary actor and director Joan Darling, and her upcoming documentary None of This Matters. I hope this conversation moves you the same way it moved me!

Are you a regular listener of the show? Do you want to shape the conversation for season 2? Fill out this quick survey and help me and the production team ideate for next season’s guests and episode lineup. (And if you can, leave a review of the show on Apple or Spotify too!) In this final episode of the first season, I sit down with my friend Anna Mackenzie. Anna has built a portfolio career that blends digital products, global mentoring, writing, and fractional advisory work. We talk about how she transitioned out of her first business and into portfolio life post-COVID, the tension between freedom and burnout, and why structure is a non-negotiable for sustainable autonomy as a portfolio careerist. We also dig into the emotional side of this path — the grief of leaving our old identities behind, how the global conversation around job security is shifting, and what it means to build a career that’s rooted in self-expression, not just monetization. Link to survey: https://tally.so/r/mZL7pV

In this episode I sit down with Alex Huhn, a marketing strategist who’s built a portfolio career that blends the stability of a W2  with a growing marketing studio of real estate clients. We talk about how he navigated the messy middle following a layoff,  the Dream 100 strategy w, and what shifted once he stopped chasing the content treadmill and started building a “minimum viable brand.”

In this episode I sit down with Shaina Anderson, a former Chief of Staff at Yelp and startup operator, as she shares her journey into the world of portfolio careers and the genesis of her business Hello Generalist. We chat the rise of fractional work, the difference between executive advisors and hands-on generalists, and why not every generalist is created equal. Go check out Shaina’s program  Manual Override which starts this Summer!: https://www.manualoverride.co/

In this episode of the pod, I sit down with Jamie Lee, founder of JME Lab, to unpack the evolution of her portfolio career and the strategic framework she’s built around her business around (Jumpstart, Mobilize, and Elevate!). Jamie shares how she’s scaled her business through a thoughtful mix of consulting, fractional advisory, teaching, and one-on-one coaching engagements. From her early days at companies like Sony, EA, Walmart, and Nike to supporting scale-up brands like Everlane and Vital Proteins, Jamie reflects on how her corporate experience shapes her current business building mindset. She dives into how her time is now structured and how she thinks about AI adoption for leaner startups.

In this episode, I sit down with Harry Siggins, a former Chief of Staff turned workshop facilitator helping growth-stage companies. After five years acting as the strategic Swiss Army knife for startup CEOs, Harry stepped off the always-on hamster wheel and into a portfolio career focused on what gives him the most energy: designing high-trust, high-impact workshops! We unpack what the Chief of Staff role really entails, why the role has exploded in the growth-stage tech world, and how Harry discovered that the real value wasn’t in “doing it all,” but in helping leadership teams actually get aligned and make decisions that stick. Harry shares why he’s betting big on workshops as the human antidote to AI overload—and how even non-tech companies are hungry for them. We also talk candidly about the limits of fractional Chief of Staff work and what it takes to design a portfolio career around the role. If you’re considering the COS role or a founder craving a business strategy reset without another bloated offsite, this episode is for you! Check out Harry’s work at one two growth

In this episode, I sit down with career coach, speaker, and future of work thought leader Janel Abrahami whose thought leadership has been featured in CNBC, Business Insider, Girlboss, and more. Janelle shares how a career crisis in 2020 led her to create a portfolio career—one that combines coaching, content creation, speaking, and more. We unpack how she navigated the ‘messy middle’ of career transitions, how she leveraged content to build a powerful personal brand, and why layering income streams is key to portfolio career success. Janelle also gives a candid take on the personal brand debate—do you really need one?—and how she strategically approaches TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn to drive opportunities. Plus, she shares an exciting preview of her revamped career transition course Pivot with Purpose and her journey toward publishing her first book. If you’ve been wondering how to make content work for your career (without burning out) or whether a personal brand is truly necessary, this episode is for you. Check out Janel’s course here: janelabrahami.com/pwp

In this conversation, I sit down with Jori Bell, a product coach whose product experience includes companies like SoundCloud, Spotify, and Audible. Jori chats with me about her transition from consumer tech. We discuss the challenges of personal branding, imposter syndrome, and balancing multiple roles while trying to maintain focus. We also explore experimentation, lifelong learning, and how small steps lead to bigger impacts in an unconventional career.  For more information on Jori, check out her website: https://www.joribell.com/

In this episode, I sit down with Danielle Rogers, founder of Cleverly Corporate and SVP at Truist, to discuss her journey through a turbulent 2024—navigating an engagement breakup, a near-layoff, and personal loss—all while writing her very first book, The Job is Yours: Seven Steps to Land Your Next Role After a Layoff. Danielle shares how this experience led her to embrace a portfolio career, start her own business, and help professionals successful advance in corporate. We also dive into her self-publishing journey, balancing a demanding career with motherhood and writing, and her goals for 2025: slowing down and focusing on what truly energizes her. You can connect with Danielle via her website @ CleverlyCorporate.com and/or support her by purchasing her book on Amazon!

In this episode, I sit down with Bryon Majusiak, a mechanical engineer turned conservation advocate, to discuss how his passion project, Rally for Rangers, has shaped his portfolio career. Bryon shares how donating motorcycles to park rangers worldwide has transformed their ability to protect critical ecosystems and how balancing meaningful volunteer work with a tech career provides fulfillment. We explore the power of blending passion projects into your portfolio career and how to protect space for more purpose-driven work as a tech professional. Link to Donate: Learn more about Rally for Rangers or donate at RallyForRangers.org.

In this conversation, I sit down with Oana Leonte, founder of Unmatched and a seasoned marketer with over 20 years of marketing experience, to discuss her journey from working with iconic brands like Disney and Puma to launching a platform that redefines branding and marketing. Oana shares how her early exposure to entrepreneurship in post-communist Romania and her corporate career inspired her vision for Unmatched—a platform focused on long-term brand strategy and IP-driven growth. We explore the evolution of branding, including the need to connect marketing efforts with product strategy, the challenges of building credibility in the social media era, and how resource constraints can drive innovation. Oana also dives into the concept of IP stacking, explaining how solopreneurs and businesses can create scalable ecosystems by layering offerings, refining their brand identity, and evolving alongside their audience. This episode is packed with actionable insights on leveraging authenticity, focusing on your strengths, and building a sustainable, future-ready brand.

In this conversation, I sit down with Coach Ellen, a former scientist turned burnout expert, to explore her journey from academia to entrepreneurship and her mission to help others navigate the challenges of modern work. Ellen shares how her personal experience with burnout during her PhD program led her to research and develop practical strategies for recovery, ultimately inspiring her transition into coaching. We dive into the roots of burnout, including the societal pressures of high achievement, the myths of work-life balance, and how emotional misalignment often manifests as burnout. Ellen unpacks her proactive approach to stress management, emphasizing the power of systems, self-awareness, and sustainable self-care practices. She also reflects on the unique challenges faced by portfolio careerists and high achievers, offering actionable insights for thriving in unconventional work models.

In this conversation, I sit down with Dave Kang, entrepreneur and brand strategist, to explore his bold experiment in building an “octopus-style” portfolio career. Dave shares how his journey began with a corporate layoff and a transformative sabbatical, leading him to embrace generalism and launch multiple ”tentacles” of work—from brand strategy consulting to e-commerce and even ambient music production. We dive into the philosophy behind his unique approach, including the importance of integrating work and life, the challenges of balancing multiple revenue streams, and the criteria he uses to decide which projects to pursue. Dave also discusses his vision for a future where generalists are valued, sharing his goal to create a community of portfolio careerists and, ultimately, innovation teams built entirely from generalists. From redefining work-life integration to challenging the specialist-driven job market, we cover why portfolio careers offer a compelling alternative for those seeking fulfillment, variety, and purpose in a fast-evolving world of work. P.S. - Check out Dave’s Life-at-a-Glance motivational calendar

Through a short and sweet guided moment of stillness, Brie invites you to reset, recharge, and reconnect with yourself while inviting in the change of the seasons. Let this be your permission slip to step back and step into 2025 with renewed clarity and intention after some R&R for the remainder of the year. Take a deep breath and join us. You deserve it.