In this episode, I’m joined by Mel Storey - corporate legal leader turned creator, speaker, and founder of Counsel Media, a modern digital media company helping lawyers and ambitious young professionals design careers on their own terms. Known as the “career big sis” of the legal world, Mel shares what shaped her mission, why she walked away from a stable corporate role, and what she’s building now to make sure the next generation doesn’t have to figure it out alone. We dive into the realities of the legal profession that often go unspoken - toxic workplace culture, isolation, and the “I had to do it tough, so you do too” mindset - and why Mel believes our generation has a responsibility to be the circuit breaker. She also unpacks the creator side of leadership: showing up online with warmth and honesty, navigating boundaries, and why founders need to “pay the cringe tax” if they want to be known for what they’re here to do. If you’ve ever felt called to create something bigger than your job title, this conversation is equal parts permission slip and practical guidance, with a powerful final takeaway from Mel’s “85-year-old you” future-trip exercise. [00:00:00] – Introduction: Meet Mel Storey — corporate lawyer turned creator and founder of Counsel Media [00:00:42] – Icebreaker: The “limitless credit card” question [00:01:44] – Career Big Sis Origins: First in family to go to uni/law school, small-town Dubbo to corporate law [00:03:18] – Passing It On: Why the next generation deserves better (not “I suffered so you should too”) [00:05:31] – Being the Circuit Breaker: “This ends with us” — generational trauma in the legal profession [00:07:32] – Purpose vs Being Good At It: Awards, competence, and why that wasn’t the point anymore [00:08:20] – The Problems She Couldn’t Ignore: Loneliness, isolation, toxic cultures, and a lack of connection [00:10:21] – normal doesn't mean normalised, and helping early career professionals navigate toxic workplaces [00:11:25] – Translating Between Generations: “It’s not entitlement, it’s boundaries” (and the balance required) [00:13:15] – Filling the Market Gap: Making career support accessible beyond high-ticket executive coaching [00:16:07] – What Makes Counsel Media Different: Fun, warm, inclusive, and meeting lawyers where they are [00:19:42] – Vulnerability + Boundaries: Oversharing, parasocial relationships, and “share from the scar, not the wound” [00:26:17] – Advice for Founders: Paying the cringe tax, climbing cringe mountain, and doing the reps publicly [00:31:08] – Quality Over Virality: Why 50 ideal people beats 50,000 random views [00:33:07] – Results That Matter: Relief, expansion, and showing people the “menu” of legal career options [00:36:13] – The Future of Law: A safer, more inclusive industry — led by internal truth, not stale stereotypes [00:39:18] – Final Advice: Future-trip with your 85-year-old self — let future-you call the shots Find Mel on Instagram @theinhouselawyer and on LinkedIn at Mel Storey. To get in touch, DM us via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boldideas_au/
