Tune in for grounded, step-by-step guidance on finding work that aligns with your real strengths and authentic interests, while exploring the deeper inner journey of self-discovery.
We're not just here to figure out what to do, but also who we are.
Our career is a mirror: the world we see outside reflects the world within.
Website: www.jessnessrequired.com
Instagram: @hellojessness
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jsmith161/
Tune in for grounded, step-by-step guidance on finding work that aligns with your real strengths and authentic interests, while exploring the deeper inner journey of self-discovery.
We're not just here to figure out what to do, but also who we are.
Our career is a mirror: the world we see outside reflects the world within.
Website: www.jessnessrequired.com
Instagram: @hellojessness
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jsmith161/
In this episode, I share my end-of-year rituals that help me wrap up 2025 and how I look forward with intention every new year, hello 2026!
We'll touch on my Radiant Life Framework, year-in-review/vision-casting practice, and how I incorporate feng shui.
We're gearing up to birth our baby girl come this Jan, but the pod will still rock on. What's to come?
Jan: Interview Strategies / The Art of Interviewing
Feb: AI and how to partner with it to be a better employee / More efficient
Mar: Career Advancement Strategies
April: Maternity Insights, Reflections and the Corporate World
I also share, here for the first time ever, my latest creation, the "Self-Discovery Journal" full of 30 life-experiments to support you in connecting to your inner voice of wisdom. I've been secretly working on this and it's currently in review with my publisher. So excited to share this with you! Stay tuned.
00:00 Reflecting on the Year: A Personal Journey
00:00 Setting Intentions for the New Year
00:22 Reflecting on 2025: A Year-End Wrap-Up
02:11 The Year in Review: Collage of Memories
05:36 Vision Casting: Setting Intentions for 2026
11:18 Rituals and Symbols: Feng Shui and Amulets
13:39 Looking Ahead: Upcoming Podcast Themes and Projects
Access my Career Success Guides & Monthly Work in Progress Bulletin: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/links
Q for you: What end of year rituals / practices do you enjoy?
DM me your answer: https://instagram.com/hellojessness/
Connect:
This episode is brought to you by my book ‘Thank You for Dumping Me’ — a book about a blindsided breakup turned personal growth opportunity. It’s raw and real, with witty humor and a lot of heart! Let’s rebrand breakups from something to be feared to opportunities for growth and self-discovery. Get yourself a copy today: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/order
My books:
If you are not asking questions to hiring managers, recruiters, or team members you are interviewing with for a new job...you are missing out. Let's talk about it.
Hit the Highlights
Access my Career Success Guides & Monthly Work in Progress Bulletin: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/links
Q for you: What's your fav question to ask a hiring manager during an interview?
DM me your answer: https://instagram.com/hellojessness/
Connect:
This episode is brought to you by my book ‘Thank You for Dumping Me’ — a book about a blindsided breakup turned personal growth opportunity. It’s raw and real, with witty humor and a lot of heart! Let’s rebrand breakups from something to be feared to opportunities for growth and self-discovery. Get yourself a copy today: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/order
My books:
In this episode, I share how I prepped for my promotion before heading out on mat leave. This step-by-step strategy applies to you if you are navigating a promotion as your next career step or looking to advance your career to the next level...whether maternity leave is on your horizon or not.
Disclaimer: I haven't landed the promotion and don't know the outcome...fingers crossed ;)
Tune in to this episode for practical tips for setting yourself up for a promotion. I also touch on the importance of somatic practices to build confidence and manage stress during times of transition.
Hit the Highlights
00:00 Navigating Transitions and Career Growth
03:24 Preparing for Promotion During Maternity Leave
08:58 Advocating for Yourself in the Workplace
12:14 Documenting Achievements for Career Advancement
16:37 Building Visibility
19:28 Proactive Promotion Strategies
21:53 Understanding Managerial Mindsets
24:15 Embracing Visibility and Confidence
26:40 Final Thoughts on Self-Advocacy
Access my Career Success Guides & Monthly Work in Progress Bulletin: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/links
Q for you: Share a takeaway from this episode.
Answer: DM me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/hellojessness/
Connect:
This episode is brought to you by my book ‘Thank You for Dumping Me’ — a book about a blindsided breakup turned personal growth opportunity. It’s raw and real, with witty humor and a lot of heart! Let’s rebrand breakups from something to be feared to opportunities for growth and self-discovery. Get yourself a copy today: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/order
My books:
This week, we talk writing, self-discovery, the power of partnership, my next big leap in life, and a special gift for you...all through the lens of gratitude. Thank you for being here. I am grateful for you!
Hit the Highlights
Access my Career Success Guides & Monthly Work in Progress Bulletin: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/links
Q for you: What are you grateful for?
Answer: DM me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/hellojessness/
Connect for more Content:
This episode is brought to you by my book ‘Thank You for Dumping Me’ — a book about a blindsided breakup turned personal growth opportunity. It’s raw and real, with witty humor and a lot of heart! Let’s rebrand breakups from something to be feared to opportunities for growth and self-discovery. Get yourself a copy today: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/order
My books:
This conversation is designed to help you feel empowered during your year-end performance evaluation.
You’ll learn how to build a strong relationship with your manager and turn any fear or anxiety into a positive, productive experience.
I share specific tips for navigating your evaluation effectively, improving your communication, and making the process smoother and more rewarding for both you and your manager.
Hit the highlights:
Acces my Career Success Guides & Monthly Work in Progress Bulletin: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/links
Q for you: What's your best tip for prepping for year-end reviews?
Answer: DM me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/hellojessness/
Connect:
This episode is brought to you by my ‘Brain Dates’ — where we figure out your next move together on a variety of topics. You can learn more on her website: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/work-with-me
My books:
Worried AI will replace you? Think again. Learn what humans will always do better, how to team up with AI, and why your human edge is here to stay.
This episode is brought to you by my ‘Brain Dates’ — where we figure out your next move together on a variety of topics. You can learn more on her website: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/work-with-me
Access my free career success guides here: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/lovemyjob
Signed copies can be ordered directly from my website: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/books
Connect:
Instagram: @hellojessess
LinkedIn: Jessica Gazay
Career growth, self-discovery, and the lessons life throws at us—today, three women across three decades share how loss, change, and the in-between shaped who we are.
About Patty, Author of Beyond Widow
Patty McGuigan is a successful commercial real estate agent turned author. Patty has co-authored three children’s books, a book of essays about widowhood, and a memoir on her commercial real estate career.
All Patty's books are available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
Patty's Website: https://www.beyondwidow.com/authors
About Samantha, Author of Giving Up the Ghost
Samantha Rose is an Emmy award-winning television producer and a New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling ghostwriter of nearly twenty titles, some that have been selected as Reese’s Book Club and Target Bookmarked Picks and featured in the Wall Street Journal, Oprah and Harper’s Bazaar. She is the principal of Yellow Sky Media, a boutique editorial agency in Petaluma, California, where she lives with her son. Her newest release, Giving Up the Ghost that was awarded “Best Memoir” at the 2025 San Francisco Book Festival, is her first title written under her own name.
Samantha's Website: https://www.yellowskymedia.com/
Samantha's Instagram: Samantharose_writer
Buy Samantha's Book: Amazon
About Jessica's book, Thank You for Dumping Me
Thank You for Dumping Me is a book about a blindsided breakup turned personal growth opportunity, learning to love yourself after heartache, and the challenging transitions that help us get to know ourselves more deeply. It’s raw and real, with witty humor and a lot of heart!
At the end of every chapter, you will find self-discovery activities as an invitation to reflect on how your own experiences shape your journey.
Jess is on a mission to rebrand breakups from something to be feared, dreaded, and full of sorrow to opportunities for growth, self-discovery, and life course redirects.
Shop Jessica's books: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/books
Jessica's Instagram: @hellojessess
Jessica's LinkedIn: Jessica Gazay
In this episode I’ll show you just how messy a prompt can be and still get results with 3 real (and practical) examples I’ve used at work. Stop waiting for the “perfect prompt” or copying the top 10 prompt lists for your job. Use AI to be faster, smarter, and actually better at your job.
This episode is brought to you by my ‘Brain Dates’ — where we figure out your next move together on a variety of topics. You can learn more on her website: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/work-with-me
Access my free career success guides here: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/lovemyjob
Signed copies can be ordered directly from my website: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/books
Connect:
Instagram: @hellojessess
LinkedIn: Jessica Gazay
Not sure what direction to go or where to start? Learn how to uncover how your natural interests connect to real job roles and career paths you can start exploring and applying for today.
This episode is brought to you by my ‘Brain Dates’ — where we figure out your next move together on a variety of topics. You can learn more on her website: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/work-with-me
Access my free career success guides here: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/lovemyjob
Signed copies can be ordered directly from my website: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/books
Connect:
Instagram: @hellojessess
LinkedIn: Jessica Gazay
Learn what “culture fit” really means and how to navigate it during interviews.
This episode is brought to you by my ‘Brain Dates’ — where we figure out your next move together on a variety of topics. You can learn more on her website: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/work-with-me
Access my free career success guides here: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/lovemyjob
Signed copies can be ordered directly from my website: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/books
Connect:
Instagram: @hellojessess
LinkedIn: Jessica Gazay
Learn how to make your answers relevant to each person you are interviewing with and show you’re the right fit for the role. Help them connect the dots!
Resource handout available in my Career Success Guides: www.jessnessrequired.com/lovemyjob
This episode is brought to you by my ‘Brain Dates’ — where we figure out your next move together on a variety of topics. You can learn more on her website: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/work-with-me
Signed copies can be ordered directly from my website: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/books
Connect:
Instagram: @hellojessess
LinkedIn: Jessica Gazay
Before you say yes to that job offer, make sure the company will support the career growth you want. This ep will share how to spot real upward career potential during the interview process.
This episode is brought to you by my ‘Brain Dates’ — where we figure out your next move together on a variety of topics. You can learn more on her website: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/work-with-me
Access my free career success guides here: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/lovemyjob
Signed copies can be ordered directly from my website: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/books
Connect:
Instagram: @hellojessess
LinkedIn: Jessica Gazay
Just graduated and job hunting? Tune in for 3 strategies on where to start and how to use your time and energy to your advantage.
This episode is brought to you by my ‘Brain Dates’ — where we figure out your next move together on a variety of topics. You can learn more on her website: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/work-with-me
Access my free career success guides here: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/lovemyjob
Signed copies can be ordered directly from my website: https://www.jessnessrequired.com/books
Connect:
Instagram: @hellojessess
LinkedIn: Jessica Gazay
In this final episode of this 4-part series, I reflect on what fall teaches us about release, wisdom, and surrender. Just like nature lets go of what it no longer needs, this episode is an invitation to consider what you're ready to shed in your own life...whether it's old patterns, expectations, or timelines.
I share the lessons I’ve learned from years of navigating uncertainty, the beauty that’s come from not having all the answers, and why I now believe the unknown isn’t something to fear, but something to trust. This will be a life lesson I carry with me forever, but I’m open to embracing it, practicing it, and looking for evidence of it everywhere. (When we pay attention, it's everywhere.)
Because as we brace for our next personal Winter, we know this: spring always follows.
If you're rounding out the last season of your personal Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter, or if you're in a season of transition, this episode is for you. Each person's season is unique to their own journey.
In this 4-part mini-series we will dive into how nature’s seasons mirror our own personal growth.
Just like nature, we all experience seasons in life. Some quiet, some turbulent, but all with purpose. When we open ourselves to explore them, we uncover lessons that shape who we are. Join me as I dive into a journey of transformation, resilience, and the powerful wisdom nature has to offer.
At the end of each episode, I share a self-discovery prompt from my second book, Thank You for Dumping Me.
Jessica’s books (print, kindle, audio): rebrand.ly/JSbooks
Website: www.jessnessrequired.com/
Book RECS: rebrand.ly/bookrecs
Instagram: rebrand.ly/hellojessnessIG
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Thank You for Dumping Me is a book about a blindsided breakup turned personal growth opportunity, learning to love yourself after heartache, and the challenging transitions that help us get to know ourselves more deeply. It’s raw and real, with witty humor and a lot of heart! Readers have described Thank You for Dumping Me as a genre of its own—memoir-meets-novel—and a book they “couldn’t put down,” a “real page-turner.”
I am on a mission to rebrand breakups from something to be feared, dreaded, and full of sorrow to opportunities for growth, self-discovery, and life course redirects.
Jessica's Books: rebrand.ly/JSbooks
Aww yes, finally, radiant summer has arrived! Doesn't mean life is dandy and perfect but it can be when life finally starts to feel like it’s catching up with the seeds planted long ago. I share the story of saying yes to love again.
As hinted in the last episode, Spring, I share more about reconnecting with my ex in 2022 and how it's unfolded.
You'll also hear about:
- Writing my book 'Thank You for Dumping Me' in real time…while being back with the man whose breakup planted the seed for it in the first place
- The parallels and plot twists between my first book and what really happened
- Why summer is about celebrating the bloom and honoring the messy path it took to get here
Whether you're basking in your own season of bloom or still waiting for the sun to break through, this episode is a reminder that growth is always happening. Often in ways we can't yet see.
In this 4-part mini-series we will dive into how nature’s seasons mirror our own personal growth.
Just like nature, we all experience seasons in life. Some quiet, some turbulent, but all with purpose. When we open ourselves to explore them, we uncover lessons that shape who we are. Join me as I dive into a journey of transformation, resilience, and the powerful wisdom nature has to offer.
At the end of each episode, I share a self-discovery prompt from my second book, Thank You for Dumping Me.
Jessica’s books (print, kindle, audio): rebrand.ly/JSbooks
Website: www.jessnessrequired.com/
Book RECS: rebrand.ly/bookrecs
Instagram: rebrand.ly/hellojessnessIG
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Thank You for Dumping Me is a book about a blindsided breakup turned personal growth opportunity, learning to love yourself after heartache, and the challenging transitions that help us get to know ourselves more deeply. It’s raw and real, with witty humor and a lot of heart!
Readers have described Thank You for Dumping Me as a genre of its own—memoir-meets-novel—and a book they “couldn’t put down,” a “real page-turner.”
I am on a mission to rebrand breakups from something to be feared, dreaded, and full of sorrow to opportunities for growth, self-discovery, and life course redirects.
Jessica's Books: rebrand.ly/JSbooks
A couple weeks ago I shared the first episode in this mini series, Winter. Now it’s Springs turn. Just when I think I’m super comfy sharing my guts to the world…**cough cough** my book 'Thank You for Dumping Me' here I am posting this ep with that nervous feeling fluttering in my stomach.
Tune in to take a time machine back to 2020 where I was packing my stuff up in a moving truck, healing from grief, navigating toxic relationships, to 2022 and the biggest plot twist of my life…reconnecting with my ex (now fiancé!). This season of rebirth reminds me that growth is messy, but so beautiful. 🌸
In this 4-part mini-series we will dive into how nature’s seasons mirror our own personal growth.
Just like nature, we all experience seasons in life. Some quiet, some turbulent, but all with purpose. When we open ourselves to explore them, we uncover lessons that shape who we are. Join me as I dive into a journey of transformation, resilience, and the powerful wisdom nature has to offer.
At the end of each episode, I share a self-discovery prompt from my second book, Thank You for Dumping Me.
Jessica’s books (print, kindle, audio): rebrand.ly/JSbooks
Website: www.jessnessrequired.com/
Book RECS: rebrand.ly/bookrecs
Instagram: rebrand.ly/hellojessnessIG
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Thank You for Dumping Me is a book about a blindsided breakup turned personal growth opportunity, learning to love yourself after heartache, and the challenging transitions that help us get to know ourselves more deeply. It’s raw and real, with witty humor and a lot of heart! Readers have described Thank You for Dumping Me as a genre of its own—memoir-meets-novel—and a book they “couldn’t put down,” a “real page-turner.”
I am on a mission to rebrand breakups from something to be feared, dreaded, and full of sorrow to opportunities for growth, self-discovery, and life course redirects.
Jessica's Books: rebrand.ly/JSbooks
In this ep we explore the themes of self-discovery and personal growth through the lens of nature's seasons. I reflect on my own experiences during a prolonged winter phase in my life, and share about the importance of embracing stillness, reassessing one's life, and using nature as a guide for personal transformation. This episode includes a self-discovery activity designed to help listeners connect with their true selves and understand their motivations.
Takeaways
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Self-Discovery Through Nature
02:53 Embracing the Winter Season
24:20 Looking Ahead to Spring
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Thank You for Dumping Me is a book about a blindsided breakup turned personal growth opportunity, learning to love yourself after heartache, and the challenging transitions that help us get to know ourselves more deeply. It’s raw and real, with witty humor and a lot of heart! Readers have described Thank You for Dumping Me as a genre of its own—memoir-meets-novel—and a book they “couldn’t put down,” a “real page-turner.”
I am on a mission to rebrand breakups from something to be feared, dreaded, and full of sorrow to opportunities for growth, self-discovery, and life course redirects.
Get the book, Thank You for Dumping Me: https://rebrand.ly/JSbooks