Wait - What Do You Do Again?

Meghan DeFord
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Hosted by Meghan DeFord, the show blends solo episodes and candid conversations to help women stop performing their lives instead of living them, make clearer decisions, build confidence, and follow through on what they actually want to create lives that feel as good on the inside as they look on paper. Follow along on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube @megdeford More at: www.megdeford.com

  1. 5d ago

    Doing Hard Things: Marathon Running, Type 1 Diabetes & Building Resilience with Brooke Kaplan

    Brooke Kaplan has run seven marathons and is training for her eighth in Berlin this September, while managing Type 1 diabetes on every single mile. For Brooke, that means constantly reading her body mid-run: is she spiking, dropping, fueling too early, too late, running too hot, too cold. Some runs end with her sitting on a curb for twenty minutes, waiting for a low blood sugar to pass before she can take another step. In this conversation, Brooke, Director of HR Compliance at Worldwide Clinical Trials and a running coach with Team RunRun, talks about what it actually takes to keep showing up when the challenge isn't hypothetical. We get into her Boston qualifier at the Philadelphia Marathon, beating Diplo at his 5K, why she avoided racing for years after her first marathon, and what she tells her own athletes when a training run goes sideways. We also talk about the discomfort women are taught to avoid, the difference between "I can't" and "I haven't yet," and why Brooke defines failure as data instead of a verdict. You start where you are, you build capacity, and the thing that once felt impossible becomes something you know how to do. In this episode: - Managing Type 1 diabetes mid-marathon, real-time blood sugar decisions - Her Boston qualifier at the Philadelphia Marathon - Why she quit racing after COVID, and what brought her back - Coaching first-time marathoners through self-doubt - Reframing failure: "first attempt in learning" - Why women underestimate what they're capable of - Starting small and building capacity for bigger goals - Berlin Marathon prep and the six World Majors ahead Connect with Brooke Kaplan on Instagram @Brooke_M_Kaplan, and find her for run coaching through Team RunRun, and on LinkedIn.

  2. Aug 13

    Stop Hinting, Start Asking: 6 Lessons From 20 Years in Philanthropy

    After 20 years in philanthropy, I learned that asking for what you want isn't just about the ask. It’s about finding the right people, listening well, building real relationships, knowing the value you bring, being clear about why you’re there, and then actually saying what you want out loud. In this solo episode, I’m sharing six lessons from two decades of asking people for money that apply far beyond fundraising, whether you’re asking for a promotion, an introduction, a client, support for an idea, or your next opportunity. Because when you keep hinting, waiting to be noticed, or hoping someone connects the dots for you, you’re outsourcing your autonomy. We’ll talk about how to make a clear ask without negotiating against yourself, what to do when someone objects, why a no can be useful information, and how strong relationships are built long before and long after the actual request. Plus, I’ll leave you with one question to help you put this into practice immediately: What are you waiting for someone else to offer you that you could actually ask for? Follow along at Instagram @megdeford, YouTube @megdeford, and visit www.megdeford.com

  3. Aug 6

    From Courtroom to Calm: Charla Stevens, JD on Burnout, Boundaries & Building Healthier Workplaces

    After nearly 40 years as one of New England's top employment attorneys, Charla Stevens knew exactly what burnout looked like from the inside because she lived it. In this episode, Charla joins the show to unpack what it really takes to build a healthier workplace, from why so many wellness programs miss the mark to what happens after an HR investigation closes. We talk about: Why "leave your problems at home" was always bad advice — and what actually changes workplace cultureThe generational shift in how people talk about mental health, boundaries, and burnout at workWhy employee assistance programs are so underused, and what leaders can do about itThe double bind women still face between "not assertive enough" and "too much"How Charla knew it was time to leave a 40-year legal career at the top of her gameWhat restorative work looks like after a workplace conflict or investigation Charla now runs Charla Stevens Consulting, where she leads workplace investigations, leadership training, mediation, and HR strategy for organizations who want to do better by their people. If you've ever wondered what it takes to have the hard conversation you've been avoiding, this one's for you. Connect with Charla:Website: charlastevensconsulting.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/charlastevens

  4. Jul 30

    Real vs. Perceived Roadblocks: How to Tell the Difference

    Some obstacles are real; money, time, health, caregiving. Others only feel real. In this episode, I break down an exercise I use with my coaching clients to separate the two: write down every roadblock standing between you and your goal, then sort them into real and perceived. Real roadblocks need real responses - more resources, more support, a longer timeline. Perceived roadblocks need something different: discernment. Is this a stop sign, or a speed bump? I dig into why our brains are so good at building a case against the thing we actually want to do, what The Odyssey (yes, really) can teach us about self-sabotage, and how to tell whether you truly lack what you need or you just lack certainty. Ready is not the absence of roadblocks. Ready is deciding you trust yourself to meet them. Coaching & speaking: megdeford.comInstagram & TikTok: @megdeford

  5. Jul 24

    From Cleaning Bathrooms to the Pro Football Hall of Fame | Following Your Curiosity with Jeremy Swick

    Jeremy Swick was born in Guatemala City during the country's 36-year civil war, raised in Wisconsin, and went on to work at both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame before founding his own media company, Swick Media. He's been a historian, archivist, museum curator, podcast host, entrepreneur, rugby player, and social media strategist — somehow, every chapter makes perfect sense. In this episode, Jeremy shares his path from a childhood shaped by identity and curiosity to a career built on following interest rather than convention. We talk about imposter syndrome, museums, sports, entrepreneurship, and why the most meaningful careers are often the ones you never could have planned. Whether you're considering a career pivot or just wondering how all the pieces of your own story fit together, this conversation is a reminder that there's more than one way to build a meaningful life. Jeremy hosts the podcast Into the Unknown and runs Swick Media, a podcast production and social media company. Find Jeremy at swickmedia.com Instagram: @swickmedia414 | @theaveragehistorian

  6. Jul 16

    The Life You Built vs. the Life You Actually Want

    You've done everything "right." The degree. The career. The promotions. The relationships. The house. The life that looks great on paper. So why does it sometimes feel like you didn't choose all of this? In this solo episode, Meghan explores the difference between the life we build and the life we actually want. Drawing on the work of Jane Fonda, Brené Brown, and her own experience coaching women through major life transitions, we explore: • Why checking every box doesn't always lead to fulfillment • The hidden "checklist" women inherit from society • Don't call it a midlife crisis, call it a developmental stage • Jane Fonda's powerful "Third Act" philosophy • Brené Brown's research on midlife as an unraveling toward authenticity • The difference between renovating your life and burning it down • A simple exercise to help you reconnect with what you actually want If you've been feeling restless, disconnected, or like there's something more waiting for you, this episode is for you. Show Notes / References/Resources MentionedMeghan DeFord is a women's leadership strategist, coach, speaker, and host of Wait - What Do You Do Again? She helps ambitious women stop waiting to feel ready, reconnect with what they actually want, and build intentional lives grounded in their values instead of everyone else's expectations. www.megdeford.comInstagram: @megdefordTikTok: @megdeford Jane Fonda Life's Third Act (TED Talk)Jane Fonda on Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus discussing aging, purpose, and the "third act" of life.Brené Brown The Gifts of ImperfectionAtlas of the HeartDaring GreatlyAdditional References: Carl Jung's work on individuation and the second half of life.The Talking Heads song Once in a Lifetime

  7. Jul 9

    Redefining Success After Crisis: Kristin Gallatin on Values, Freedom, and Starting From Experience

    You did everything right. The career, the promotions, the money in the bank. So why does it still feel misaligned? Kristin Gallatin used to measure success in dollars — until her husband's motorcycle crash and later cancer diagnosis forced her to rebuild her entire definition of a good life. She went from running three businesses, full-time caregiving, no time to stop — to selling the house, giving away almost everything, and hitting the road full-time in an RV, volunteering at national parks along the way. In this episode, Kristin and Meghan talk about what actually happens when you stop performing success and start building your life around your real values: the freedom, the isolation, the courage it takes to ask for help, and why "starting over" is the wrong frame entirely. Expect zero vision-board energy, real talk about money and self-worth, and one seriously good hiking-trail metaphor for finding your way back to yourself. If you've ever felt like nothing is technically wrong but something still feels off, this conversation is for you. Topics covered: redefining success after crisis, values-based living, burnout recovery, courage and self-trust, life after caregiving, the myth of starting over. You can find Kristin at https://savvylivingnetwork.com/

  8. Jul 2

    Setting Goals: You Don't Need More Discipline, You Need Better Systems

    Ever wonder why the goal you were SO excited about three weeks ago is now sitting untouched in your notes app? You're not lazy. You're not undisciplined. You just built a system for a version of you that doesn't exist yet. In this episode, Meghan unpacks the difference between goals built in isolation and goals built around your real, current life. She shares the coaching questions she uses with clients to figure out what's actually possible (versus what's just perceived as impossible), plus a simple 48-hour action exercise to help you stop negotiating with reality and start building momentum today.

See All (93)

Trailer

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Hosted by Meghan DeFord, the show blends solo episodes and candid conversations to help women stop performing their lives instead of living them, make clearer decisions, build confidence, and follow through on what they actually want to create lives that feel as good on the inside as they look on paper. Follow along on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube @megdeford More at: www.megdeford.com

Information