The Change Effect - Inspiration and Strategies for Creating Success on Your Own Terms

Noelle Van

The Change Effect helps you turn life transitions into powerful new beginnings one story, one shift, one breakthrough at a time. Your host, Noelle Van – a leadership coach and change strategist, spent years in corporate America helping innovators and leaders break through barriers to create success on their own terms – she now works with women to step into change to create a life they love.   Whether you're putting yourself at the center of your own story, redefining success or making a power pivot in your life, career or business - you're in the right place. Each week, we dive into conversations with trailblazers, change-makers, and everyday women experiencing the ripple effects that come from overcoming the fear and doing it anyway. Providing actionable steps, practical strategies, and a whole lot of fun along the way.

  1. Why You Can't Move Forward: The Cost of Unprocessed Grief

    1D AGO

    Why You Can't Move Forward: The Cost of Unprocessed Grief

    There’s a kind of grief nobody prepares you for. The grief that comes from outgrowing a version of yourself.  A career you built your identity around. A relationship that slowly stopped feeling like home. A future you pictured so clearly,  until life moved in a different direction. In this episode of The Change Effect, we explore the quiet grief that often hides underneath major life and work transitions especially for high-achieving women who are used to moving quickly into “what’s next” without stopping to process what was lost along the way. This conversation is about the emotional middle most people skip over. The flatness that can follow a big decision. The strange guilt that comes with moving on. The way unprocessed grief can quietly keep you tethered to an old version of yourself long after you’ve left it behind. If you’ve been feeling restless, emotionally stuck, disconnected from your next chapter, or quietly mourning something you can’t fully explain… this episode is for you. In this episode: Why grief often shows up during reinvention and identity shiftsThe hidden ways unprocessed grief impacts your ability to move forwardSigns you may be carrying grief you haven’t acknowledged yetPractical ways to process transition without getting stuck in the pastWe've attached a powerful reflective exercise below called The Letter You Never Wrote designed to help you process the version of your life you thought you’d have, and begin making space for what comes next.  🖊️ The Letter You Never Wrote — a guided reflective writing exercise to help you process unspoken grief and release the version of life you thought you’d have. Worksheet + Exercise Link: Listener Exercise Worksheet STAY CONNECTED WITH NOELLE: IG: Noelle Van IG: daybyday Facebook: Day by Day Pinterest Support the show

    11 min
  2. Announcement + Encore Episode | Carly Catherine: Exploring EFT Tapping for Stress, Burnout and Inner Peace

    MAY 19

    Announcement + Encore Episode | Carly Catherine: Exploring EFT Tapping for Stress, Burnout and Inner Peace

    In this week's Encore Episode, we bring back one of our listener favorites - Carly Catherine who guides us into the world of tapping to help calm anxiety and overwhelm. When life feels like an endless list of demands, how do you find peace and safety in your own body?  Carly shares how nervous system regulation and EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) tapping helped her move from exhaustion and hyper-independence to a life of emotional expansion, creative joy, and authentic self-trust. Get 20% off your Day by Daybook®  with the discount code NEW20 here.  Carly is an Ontario Certified Teacher and EFT Practitioner who helps women and educators move from survival mode to emotional expansion through nervous system regulation and EFT tapping.  After years of people-pleasing, over-functioning, and pouring everything into her students, family, and work, Carly hit a breaking point—realizing she’d built a life that looked “successful,” but left nothing for her.  Through the practice of EFT tapping and nervous system work, she began unwinding patterns of hyper-independence and self-abandonment, learning to feel safe in her body, express her emotions, and reclaim joy, creativity, and purpose. Now, she teaches others to do the same, bridging science and soul to help women and educators regulate stress, build emotional capacity, and lead from self-trust instead of burnout.  Carly is the founder of The Healing Hive, a global EFT tapping membership and community for women, and she also leads workshops in schools and organizations focused on emotional regulation, well-being, and embodied leadership. In this episode, Carly and I discuss: Carly’s journey from chronic people-pleasing and burnout to reclaiming her voice and joy with nervous system regulation.The science and practice of EFT tappingPractical ways to use tapping in everyday lifeHow modeling nervous system regulation in the classroom helps students (and teachers) break cycles of dysregulation and discover emotional safety early.Why asking for help and setting boundaries aren’t signs of weakness, but the ultimate acts of strength and self-honor.Whether you’re new to EFT tapping or searching for real tools to navigate stress, anxiety, or burnout, Carly’s story offers practical insights and encouragement to find safety and possibility within. CONNECT WITH CARLY: Website Instagram STAY CONNECTED WITH NOELLE: IG: Noelle Van IG: daybyday Facebook: Day by Day  Support the show

    33 min
  3. Encore Episode | Lorna York: Living Her Dream by Creating a Beautiful Space for Art and Inspiration

    MAY 5

    Encore Episode | Lorna York: Living Her Dream by Creating a Beautiful Space for Art and Inspiration

    In this Encore Episode of The Change Effect, I selected this little treasure because of the tenacity and strength Lorna York had in moving to San Diego post divorce and starting her own studio.  When we think about reinventing ourselves or starting over, especially later in life, it can feel daunting like stepping into a world of unknowns with nothing but a dream to guide us.  Lorna talks about her incredible journey from humble beginnings and personal upheaval to becoming a powerhouse in the contemporary art scene.  At 65, Lorna is the owner of Madison Gallery, a globally recognized art space in Solana Beach, California. Her story is one of passion, resilience, and the power of betting on yourself, even when you have to do it without a safety net. As owner of Madison Gallery, a Solana Beach-based contemporary art gallery known for introducing global artists to the Southern California art scene for the first time, Lorna built a $50 million business from scratch - no small feat in the ultra-competitive and male-dominated art industry.  Proudly woman-owned and operated, Madison Gallery is globally renowned for their curatorial vision and personalized collector experience. As a leading voice in SoCal's contemporary art scene, Lorna's gallery has an established track-record as a platform for budding talent to launch their careers. In this episode, Lorna and I discuss: How Lorna built a $50 million business and became a leading authority in contemporary art starting with nothing but determined passion.The challenges Lorna faced breaking into and rising within the male-dominated art industryThe importance of pursuing work that is driven by joy and passion rather than fearEmbracing reinvention at any age, and why Lorna believes the “golden years” are the perfect time to be creative, energetic, and committed to making a difference.The role of mentorship, intuition, and believing in your vision even when success isn’t guaranteed.Whether you’re on the brink of a major life change or simply looking for inspiration to fuel your own passions, Lorna’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, community, and the willingness to step boldly into the unknown. If you enjoyed this episode don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me what resonated with you. CONNECT WITH GUEST: FB: Madison Art Gallery  IG: Madison Gallery CONNECT WITH ART: RETNA “Carta de Amor” Exhibit STAY CONNECTED WITH NOELLE: IG: Noelle Van IG: daybyday Facebook: Day by Day Pinterest Support the show

    33 min
  4. Strike Stephens: Mental Health, Leadership & Leading Through Change

    APR 28

    Strike Stephens: Mental Health, Leadership & Leading Through Change

    In this episode of The Change Effect, I sit down with Angelina "Strike" Stephens, a former Air Force officer, speaker, leadership coach, and advisor whose career has been defined by both high-performance leadership and the courage to speak openly about mental health. Strike spent over two decades in the military, rising through the ranks in aircraft maintenance and global leadership roles. But alongside that professional trajectory, she was quietly navigating something deeply personal. After the birth of her first son, she experienced severe postpartum anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts, and struggled for nearly a year before recognizing what she was going through. We talk about why high performers often struggle harder, how stigma breaking creates real institutional change, and what it looks like to lead with clarity, courage, and grounded self-trust, especially in environments where identity and performance are tightly intertwined. In this episode, we discuss: Why high performers and leaders often struggle harder, and carry it more silently, than anyone around them realizesWhat it actually takes to break the silence inside a highly structured system, and how honesty can deepen rather than diminish your leadershipHow to navigate a major career transition when you don't yet have the answers, and why treating it like a research project changes everythingThe connection between mental health, leadership, and team culture, and why these conversations belong together, not apartThis episode is a reminder that real leadership isn't built on having it all together. It's built on the courage to be honest, the willingness to be supported, and the conviction to let your lived experience, not just your achievements, lead the way. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me what resonated with you. Connect with Angela Strikes Stephens: Website: www.strikestephens.com  Instagram: www.instagram.com/strikestephens  LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/angelinastephens  Victory Strategies Webiste: www.victory-strategies.com Stay Connected With Noelle: IG: Noelle Van IG: daybyday Facebook: Day by Day  Support the show

    35 min
  5. Cat Climaco: The Quiet Signs of Control: Recognizing Narcissistic Abuse and Finding Your Way Out

    APR 14

    Cat Climaco: The Quiet Signs of Control: Recognizing Narcissistic Abuse and Finding Your Way Out

    In episode three of the Pros Who Pivot Series, we get into something very real,  how personal trauma can crack a career wide open and point you somewhere you never expected to go. Cat Climaco is a high-conflict divorce, custody, and co-parenting coach who built a successful marketing career, worked alongside her husband in a thriving company, and from the outside appeared to have it all. But behind the image, she was quietly losing access to her family, her autonomy, and her sense of reality. Cat shares the patterns she lived through, how the pandemic became the turning point that blew the lid off the control she had been experiencing, and after filing for divorce how she found herself navigating one of the most complex legal systems imaginable, family court, while still deep in survival mode. Her story doesn't end with leaving. It continues into a two-and-a-half-year battle to protect her son, earn sole decision-making rights, and eventually transform everything she went through into purpose-driven work that is now helping other protective parents find their footing, their voice, and their way forward. In this episode, I discuss: The early warning signs of narcissistic abuse that are easy to miss or rationalize.How leaving the work she loved led her to find her purpose in a powerful new career. How Cat's helps clients combine nervous system regulation and legal strategy to build a winning case.Why the abuse often intensifies after separation, not before.This episode is a reminder that the hardest chapters of our lives don't have to be the end of the story. Sometimes they become the very thing we were meant to share. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me what resonated with you. Connect with Cat: Website: www.peacefulpresencedivorcecoaching.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/peacefulpresencedivorcecoaching Instagram: www.instagram.com/peacefulpresencedivorcecoach LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/catclimaco STAY CONNECTED WITH NOELLE: IG: Noelle Van IG: daybyday Facebook: Day by Day  Support the show

    44 min
  6. The Hidden Cost of Hustle: Three Things That Come Back When You Finally Slow Down

    APR 7

    The Hidden Cost of Hustle: Three Things That Come Back When You Finally Slow Down

    You worked hard. You proved yourself. And success arrived exactly the way you planned it. So why does it still feel like something is missing? In this solo episode, I take a candid look at hustle culture, what it really is, why ambitious women are especially vulnerable to it, and the quiet but significant price they pay over time.  I walk through three archetypes I see repeatedly in my coaching work: the corporate high performer , the entrepreneur and the life hustler.   But this episode isn't just a diagnosis, it's an invitation. I share what I've personally learned about stepping out of hustle mode, and the three powerful things that return when you give yourself permission to slow down. In this episode, I discuss: What hustle culture actually is and why it's fundamentally different from simply working hard.Why ambitious women have been particularly vulnerable to hustle culture's messaging.Three archetypes I see in my coaching: the overworked high performer, the entrepreneur recreating the pattern and the life hustler who can't stop doing. The uncomfortable truth about success: why reaching your goals doesn't automatically bring ease, fulfillment or freedom.Below is a free Hustle Audit, a slowdown challenge and journal exercise designed to help you identify where hustle culture has taken hold in your life, and what might open up when you give yourself permission to slow down. 👉 Download the Hustle Audit here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jx4U8T4G2WdkcURNZZtZyLT73ag46SUO1nE0S4aOHZQ/edit?usp=sharing If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me what resonated with you. STAY CONNECTED WITH NOELLE: IG: Noelle Van IG: daybyday Facebook: Day by Day  Support the show

    6 min
5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

The Change Effect helps you turn life transitions into powerful new beginnings one story, one shift, one breakthrough at a time. Your host, Noelle Van – a leadership coach and change strategist, spent years in corporate America helping innovators and leaders break through barriers to create success on their own terms – she now works with women to step into change to create a life they love.   Whether you're putting yourself at the center of your own story, redefining success or making a power pivot in your life, career or business - you're in the right place. Each week, we dive into conversations with trailblazers, change-makers, and everyday women experiencing the ripple effects that come from overcoming the fear and doing it anyway. Providing actionable steps, practical strategies, and a whole lot of fun along the way.