Curveball: A podcast about possibility

Heather Campbell
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

Welcome to Curveball, the podcast that’s all about life’s “Wait, what?” moments – those twists that come out of nowhere, flip your plans upside down, and leave you wondering what the heck just happened. Every episode, we dive into stories from people who’ve been thrown some serious curveballs. We’re talking about career 180s, relationship shake-ups, unexpected wake-up calls, and those messy moments that feel like the end of the world – until you realize they were actually the beginning of something better. Think of Curveball as your reminder that those “What now?” moments don’t have to be breakdowns. They can be breakthroughs. You’ll hear from guests who’ve faced the chaos, come out the other side, and found strength, purpose, and sometimes a brand-new life direction. So, if you’re going through your own “Didn’t see that coming” phase, or just love a good story of resilience, self-discovery, and transformation, Curveball is here to show you how life’s messiest moments can actually make the best stories – and maybe even the best lives.

  1. She Lost What Defined Her Then Built a Better Rhythm with Amy Jo Esser | 060

    May 1

    She Lost What Defined Her Then Built a Better Rhythm with Amy Jo Esser | 060

    What happens when life rips away the identities you thought were permanent? For Amy Jo Esser, the hits came fast: losing her brother way too soon, then losing not one but two jobs she loved. The kind of one-two punch that makes you stare at your life like… wait, who am I now? She could’ve stayed stuck there. Instead, she did something quietly powerful: she built structure where everything else felt shaky. Amy Jo doubled down on her health, her faith, and the small daily habits that kept her steady when life wasn’t. What started as survival turned into something bigger – a framework she now teaches as Winning Rhythms. Today, she helps people trade motivation (flaky, unreliable) for consistency (boring, life-changing). In this episode, she shares how grief reshaped her priorities, why she’s worked out almost every day for decades, and how missing one habit can spiral into months of “I’ll start again Monday.” We also get into her 1111 Winning Rhythm Formula, making goals non-negotiable (yes, like brushing your teeth), and why one bold move a day can change your identity faster than waiting around to “feel ready.” And get this - using her own methodology, Amy Jo has not missed a day of working out in like a thousand years. Not one day. Amazing.  It’s practical. It’s honest. And it’s the kind of wisdom that actually works – especially on the days when you’d rather do literally anything else. Quote: “If you want to cross your finish lines, you must master your winning rhythms.” Guest Links: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/amyjoesser Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy_jo_esser Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyjoesser

    56 min
  2. The Plan That Flopped – And the Awakening That Changed Everything with Sadia Hameed | 059

    Apr 17

    The Plan That Flopped – And the Awakening That Changed Everything with Sadia Hameed | 059

    Sadia Hameed had a plan. A really good one. After 25 years leading in the nonprofit and philanthropic world – building a globally respected organization from the ground up – she walked away with a vision for something bigger, more aligned, and deeply needed. There was just one problem. No one bought it. What followed wasn’t just a business pivot. It was a full-body, soul-level collapse that forced Sadia to confront something most high-achieving women never stop to question: What if the way you’ve been taught to succeed… isn’t actually meant for you? In this conversation, Sadia shares how burnout, perfectionism, and “doing everything right” led her straight into a breaking point – and how that breaking point became the doorway into a completely different way of living, working, and leading. We talk nervous systems, identity, intuition, cycles, and what it really means to come back to yourself after years of performing. This one doesn’t just make you think – it makes you feel. Quote: “Suffering is a chosen state of being… and we can choose something different.” Guest Links: Website: https://www.sadiahameed.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadiahameed/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sadia.hameed.co/

    58 min
  3. Why Success Isn’t the Same as Thriving (And What to do Instead) with Jon Rosemberg | 058

    Apr 10

    Why Success Isn’t the Same as Thriving (And What to do Instead) with Jon Rosemberg | 058

    On paper, Jon Rosenberg had it all. Big roles. Big companies. Big funding rounds. The kind of career that makes people nod approvingly and say, “Wow, you’ve really made it.” And then one day… he came home from a “successful” business trip, completely wiped, sat down on the floor to play Legos with his kids – and had a realization that stopped him cold: He had built a life he wasn’t sure he even wanted. Not exactly the kind of thought you can un-think. That moment didn’t spark a dramatic, movie-style exit. (Wouldn’t that be nice?) It started something slower. Messier. More honest. A shift from chasing success… to actually questioning what thriving looks like. In this conversation, Jon breaks down the difference between success (external, shiny, applause-worthy) and thriving (internal, grounded, yours), and introduces his AIR Method – a simple but powerful way to move out of survival mode and back into your own life. We also get into burnout, identity, the trap of tying your worth to your title, and why so many of us are walking around with just enough success to look fine… and just enough disconnection to feel anything but. If you’ve ever thought, “I should be happier than this,” this episode might hit a little close – in the best way. Quote: “We often trade our thriving for success – and that comes at a cost.”  Guest Links: Website: https://www.jonrosemberg.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonrosemberg/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonrosemberg/

    46 min
  4. She Lost Everything Overnight – Then Rebuilt a Life on Her Own Terms with DeAnna Crawford | 057

    Apr 3

    She Lost Everything Overnight – Then Rebuilt a Life on Her Own Terms with DeAnna Crawford | 057

    This one doesn’t start with a gentle nudge. It starts with everything… disappearing. In a matter of hours. DeAnna Crawford went from stable, hopeful, and building a life for her kids to broke, in debt, and wondering how she was going to put food on the table. Not because she made a reckless decision – but because trust was broken in the worst possible way. And if that wasn’t enough? Add in single motherhood, three jobs, school, and the kind of shame that makes you want to disappear. Cool, cool, cool. What happens next is where this story shifts. Because Deanna didn’t stay there. She rebuilt. Not overnight. Not magically. But step by step, job by job, decision by decision – until she created a completely different life and now helps other women do the same. We talk about what rock bottom actually feels like (hint: lonely, humbling, and weirdly clarifying), why mindset matters but isn’t the whole story, and how to start rebuilding when you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and not exactly in the mood to “manifest your dream life.” If you’ve ever felt stuck, drained, or like life knocked you flat on your back – this one’s for you. Quote: “No one’s coming to save you. And that’s where your power is.” Guest Links: Website: https://deannacrawford.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/renewcoach/

    34 min
  5. When The Dream Job Becomes The Wrong Life with Molly Smith | 056

    Mar 27

    When The Dream Job Becomes The Wrong Life with Molly Smith | 056

    She did everything right. Climbed the ladder. Put in the years. Landed the title. The paycheck. The “you made it” moment. And then… realized she hated it. In this episode, Molly Smith shares what happens when the version of success you worked 15 years for suddenly feels completely misaligned – and what it takes to walk away from it on purpose. We get into the quiet burnout that builds over time, the coping habits that sneak in when something’s off, and the moment Molly said the scariest sentence of her life out loud. Spoiler: it didn’t ruin everything. It changed everything. From stepping down in title and salary (yes, really) to redefining what success actually feels like in your body, this conversation is for anyone who’s ever thought, “I should be happy… so why am I not?” Also discussed: emotional chaos, “the funk,” quitting wine (temporarily or otherwise), and why trying to control the how and when of your life will drive you slightly bananas. Quote: “Sometimes what feels like a setback is actually the exact setup you asked for.” Guest Links: Website: https://nextbeststep.co/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mollypositivepants

    38 min
  6. From Fiction to Fractured Truth: Danielle Blum’s Unexpected Dive into Dissociative Identity Disorder | 055

    Mar 20

    From Fiction to Fractured Truth: Danielle Blum’s Unexpected Dive into Dissociative Identity Disorder | 055

    Danielle Blum sat down to write a thriller. What she didn’t plan on? Interviewing over 100 people with dissociative identity disorder (DID), scrapping the story she thought she was telling, and becoming an advocate for mental health and misunderstood diagnoses in the process. In this Curveball episode, Danie shares how a novel idea turned into something much deeper  –  a calling. We talk about her journey from curiosity to compassion, what it means to hold other people’s stories with care, and how her research changed her  –  not just as a writer, but as a human. We also talk about:  – How the brain protects us by splitting identity  – Why integration isn't always the goal (even if therapy says it is)  – What it’s like to hold secrets that aren’t yours  –  but feel like they could be  – The “inner worlds” of people living with DID (think pirate ships, schools, and yes, Gollum)  – Trusting your gut, even when it leads to a completely different life in Portugal If you’re a writer, a feeler, or someone who’s been underestimated  –  this one’s for you. Quote: "Some people build pirate ships or schoolhouses in their inner world. That’s not delusion  –  that’s protection." Guest Links: Website: https://www.danielleblum.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563532341257       https://www.facebook.com/daniestarfish/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamdanielleblum/?hl=en       https://www.instagram.com/daniestarfish/?hl=en

    47 min
  7. What It Takes to Adapt – David Jarvis on Reinvention, Recovery, and Winning Anyway | 054

    Mar 13

    What It Takes to Adapt – David Jarvis on Reinvention, Recovery, and Winning Anyway | 054

    If resilience had a face, it might look a lot like David Jarvis. After more than two decades of service in the British Army, David was abruptly and medically discharged – navigating permanent injury, PTSD, and the jarring loss of identity that comes with removing the uniform for the last time.  And just when he was about to compete in the Invictus Games for Team UK, life handed him one more curveball – a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis so severe, doctors told him he’d be dead in days if he hadn’t shown up when he did. Did he quit? Not a chance. Instead, David learned how to jab himself nine times a day, recalibrate his entire life, and still brought home a gold medal. This episode is an adrenaline shot of humility, perspective, and radical accountability – with one of the most inspiring stories we’ve ever heard on Curveball. Quote: “You don’t get resilience handed to you. You build it by learning to adapt.” Guest Links: Website: https://speakingsbc.com/

    44 min
  8. The Truth About Solo Entrepreneurship Nobody Warned You About with Enel Soeson | 053

    Mar 6

    The Truth About Solo Entrepreneurship Nobody Warned You About with Enel Soeson | 053

    If your business has become a 24/7 hustle factory run by your inner control freak, take a breath. This episode might just change everything. Most entrepreneurs are not built for burnout  –  but we’re really good at walking straight into it with open arms. In this episode, Enel Soeson (co-founder of Denk B2B) serves up a truth sandwich about why most solo entrepreneurs are overworked, underpaid, and running on fumes. Spoiler: It’s not because you’re not good enough. It’s because you’re chasing the wrong clients. Enel is on a mission to help coaches, creatives, and healers stop playing small in the private client hamster wheel  –  and start packaging what they already do for businesses with real budgets. We’re talking B2B clarity, positioning, confidence, and sanity. If you’ve ever stared at your to-do list and wondered, “Why am I working harder than ever and still broke?”  –  this episode is your new Bible. Quote: “You don’t need to work harder. You need to reposition what you already do.” Guest Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enelsoeson/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/enelsoeson/

    35 min
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About

Welcome to Curveball, the podcast that’s all about life’s “Wait, what?” moments – those twists that come out of nowhere, flip your plans upside down, and leave you wondering what the heck just happened. Every episode, we dive into stories from people who’ve been thrown some serious curveballs. We’re talking about career 180s, relationship shake-ups, unexpected wake-up calls, and those messy moments that feel like the end of the world – until you realize they were actually the beginning of something better. Think of Curveball as your reminder that those “What now?” moments don’t have to be breakdowns. They can be breakthroughs. You’ll hear from guests who’ve faced the chaos, come out the other side, and found strength, purpose, and sometimes a brand-new life direction. So, if you’re going through your own “Didn’t see that coming” phase, or just love a good story of resilience, self-discovery, and transformation, Curveball is here to show you how life’s messiest moments can actually make the best stories – and maybe even the best lives.

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