Beyond Brunch

Rebecca Cooley
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Beyond Brunch is where ambitious women gather for real talk about what it means to live, love, and lead on their own terms. It’s a judgment-free space for high-achieving women who don’t always have it all figured out — and are finally okay admitting it. Hosted by Rebecca Cooley, each conversation blends honesty, humor, and heart as guests explore how to redefine success, purpose, rest, and joy in every season of life.

  1. Sep 26

    Brunch with Ashley - Making It Look Easy

    Ashley has always been one of my most sane friends, which is probably why I needed her at the brunch table. In this episode, we catch up on life, friendship, family and the choices that shape us along the way. Ashley shares what gave her the confidence to start her own firm at a young age, what it’s really like building a business alongside her sister, and how she has navigated career, marriage, motherhood and a full life without completely losing herself in the process. We also talk about raising girls today, the lessons we wish we knew sooner, what we’d tell our 30-year-old selves and, of course, a few stories from many years of friendship. It’s thoughtful, funny and refreshingly real. A conversation about trusting yourself, building a life that works for you and realizing that even the friend who seems to have it all together is figuring it out along the way. Grab a mimosa and join us for brunch with Ashley. Cheers, y’all! 🥂

  2. Sep 19

    Brunch with Olivia M - Putting yourself out there

    Absolutely. Here’s a Spotify description that keeps the same warm, conversational feel as your other Beyond Brunch episodes: Olivia Matthews is the kind of person who brings energy into a room and somehow leaves everyone feeling a little better than she found them. In this episode of Beyond Brunch, we talk about finding your place in the AEC world, building brands that actually feel human, taking chances, and the relationships that shape a career along the way. Olivia shares what she’s learned from helping firms tell their stories, giving back to an industry she loves, and stepping into an entirely new chapter as a mom. We also dig into optimism, ambition, community, and what happens when the person who is usually helping tell everyone else’s story finally gets to tell a little of her own. It’s warm, funny, thoughtful and very Olivia. Pour a mimosa and join us for brunch. Cheers, y’all! 🥂

  3. Aug 29

    Brunch with Margaret - Trust Your Gut & Read the Room

    Absolutely. I’d lean into the mix of family, career, relationships, curiosity, and her unexpected DJ era. The episode has a really warm, fun energy while still landing some great lessons about confidence and growth. Brunch with Margaret: Trust Your Gut & Read the Room Family brought Margaret into my life, but friendship is what made her stick. In this episode of Beyond Brunch, Margaret and I talk about the winding path that brought her into healthcare sales, building a career through relationships, learning to trust your gut, and finding the confidence to speak up when you know you have something to bring to the table. We also get into marriage, family, why simply showing up matters, and the power of listening more than you talk. Margaret shares how she has learned to meet people where they are, let go of the need to fix everything, and stay curious about what might come next. And because life cannot be all work, we talk about her latest chapter: helping her husband open a restaurant, taking DJ lessons, playing her first gigs, and discovering that reading a dance floor isn't all that different from reading a room in sales. It's a conversation about working hard, staying humble, trying things that scare you, and remembering to have a little fun along the way. Grab a mimosa and join us for brunch. Cheers, y'all! 🥂

  4. Aug 23

    Brunch with Nicole - Leading, Learning & Leaving Room for Wine

    Nicole is proof that ambition and a life well lived don’t have to compete. In this episode of Beyond Brunch, I sit down with my friend Nicole to talk about leadership, curiosity, and what she’s learned managing teams of more than 200 people during an 18+ year career in management consulting. We dig into vulnerability as a leader, creating a culture where feedback actually works, and learning to give yourself permission to turn off productivity mode every once in a while. But Nicole’s story goes well beyond the corporate world. She’s turned a love of wine into a serious pursuit, working toward her Level 4 WSET diploma, while she and her husband experiment with Italian food pop-ups and dream about opening a wine bar of their own. We talk wine, food, travel, New Orleans, creative outlets, working with your spouse, and what happens when the path toward a dream takes a little longer than expected. It’s a conversation about staying curious, finding new sources of inspiration, and building a life with room for ambition, community, creativity, and really good wine. Grab a mimosa and join us for brunch with Nicole. 🥂

  5. Aug 15

    Brunch with Jana - Curiosity, Confidence & Cold Beer

    Some people have a way of making you feel like you've known them forever. Jana Brady is one of those people. A fellow Mississippi girl, Jana has built a career in the arts while building a life that doesn't necessarily follow the traditional script. She's curious, direct, adventurous, and completely comfortable being herself. And perhaps my favorite Jana quote of the entire episode: "I'm my favorite person." Over mimosas, we talk about female friendships and the winding paths that bring people into our lives, her career telling the stories of Mississippi artists, saying yes to adventure (and occasionally saying no), relationships that don't need to fit into a box, financial independence, and learning to support the life someone else chooses even when it looks nothing like your own. We also settle some very important matters: who you should travel internationally with, why New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is apparently "basic," and what actually qualifies as brunch. This one is about curiosity, confidence, and creating a life that feels like yours. Cheers, Y'all!

  6. Aug 8

    Brunch with Amanda R - More Than the Blueprint

    Amanda is one of those people who makes the world more beautiful, whether she's designing award-winning buildings or creating Mardi Gras costumes as the costume architect for the Nawlins Nymphs. But beneath the creativity is a thoughtful, intentional woman whose story is shaped by curiosity, culture, and community. In this episode, we talk about how Legos and a Barbie Dream House sparked a career in architecture, what it was like growing up with Guatemalan roots in South Louisiana, the value of stepping outside your comfort zone, and why understanding how people think can completely change the way we work together. We also dive into adult friendships, taking care of ourselves before taking care of everyone else, family traditions, meaningful heirlooms, and why sometimes the smallest conversations leave the biggest impact. Pour yourself a mimosa and join us for a conversation about designing not just buildings, but a life filled with purpose, connection, and creativity.

  7. Season 2 Trailer

    Welcome to Season 2 of Beyond Brunch!

    What if the best conversations didn't happen in a boardroom... or on social media... but over brunch? Welcome back to Beyond Brunch. This season, we're pulling up a chair with women who are building businesses, leading teams, creating art, raising families, reinventing themselves, and figuring it all out one chapter at a time. We'll talk about ambition and anxiety. Identity and friendship. Career pivots, creativity, confidence, and the moments that changed everything. You'll meet an architect who designs buildings and Mardi Gras costumes, a museum leader who knows exactly how to draw people out, a corporate executive who believes the best ideas start around the kitchen island with a great bottle of wine, a healthcare leader whose quiet confidence speaks volumes, and a friend who reminds us that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is simply be yourself. No scripts. No perfect answers. Just honest conversations with remarkable women. So pour yourself a mimosa—or whatever's in your cup—and join us. I'm Rebecca Cooley, and this is Beyond Brunch. Because life is better when we slow down, pull up another chair, and have the conversations that matter. Season 2 starts now.

  8. Aug 1

    Brunch with Brittany - Built to Adapt with Ambition, Community, and Staying True to Yourself

    Brittany is a firecracker in the best way. She is accomplished, deeply involved in her community, and has an incredible ability to connect with people across generations, industries, and backgrounds. In this episode, Brittany and Rebecca talk about ambition, resilience, and the experiences that shape us during our most formative years. After leaving Houston for New Orleans one month before Hurricane Katrina, Brittany had to adjust to a new city, culture, and way of life. Rebecca relates through her own move from a small Mississippi town to Dallas as a teenager. They also explore what it means to build community, show up fully as yourself, and move through different rooms without losing who you are. Brittany shares the energy, confidence, and fresh perspective that have helped her build a successful career and bring people together along the way. Grab a mimosa and join us for a conversation about growth, connection, and the story behind the accomplishments.

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About

Beyond Brunch is where ambitious women gather for real talk about what it means to live, love, and lead on their own terms. It’s a judgment-free space for high-achieving women who don’t always have it all figured out — and are finally okay admitting it. Hosted by Rebecca Cooley, each conversation blends honesty, humor, and heart as guests explore how to redefine success, purpose, rest, and joy in every season of life.

Information

  • Creator
    Rebecca Cooley
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Rebecca Cooley
  • Show Website
    Beyond Brunch