Second Act Success Podcast: Career Change, Business Coaching & Entrepreneurship for Women Over 40

Shannon Russell
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Welcome to the Second Act Success Career Podcast, a top 2% globally ranked show designed for ambitious women ready to change careers, start a business, and create a life they love.  Hosted by Shannon Russell, business coach, author, and exit strategy expert, this podcast helps you transition from employee to entrepreneur with clarity and confidence. ✨ What You’ll Learn: - How to quit your 9-5 job and start a business that lights you up - Strategies for career change at 40+ and designing your second act - Business planning, marketing, and personal branding tips for women - How to validate your business idea and find your ideal clients - How to use your career experience in your role as a female entrepreneur - Success stories from women who’ve turned their side hustles into thriving businesses Whether you’re planning an exit strategy, exploring midlife career pivots, or ready to become your own boss, you’ll find actionable steps, real-life inspiration, and expert guidance here. Is this podcast for you? - Are you dreaming of quitting your corporate job to start your own business? - Do you want advice on marketing a business, designing your personal brand, and build entrepreneurial strategies? - Are you ready to overcome fear and turn your skills and experience from the corporate world into your second act business? - Do you crave a flexible lifestyle that allows you to focus on your passions and your family? - Ready to become your own boss and build a business you love? - Is it time to turn your side hustle into a full-time business? If so, you’re in the right place! 🎧 New episodes every week — subscribe now to start building your second act business and designing a life you love! 🔗 For more inspiration and resources, visit https://secondactsuccess.co. 📖 Read Shannon's book Start Your Second Act:  How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life at https://startyoursecondact.com. Subscribe now and embark on a transformative journey towards career fulfillment and success in your second act!

  1. 4D AGO

    Qualified Isn't Enough: How to Stand Out in Your Job Search with Career Transition Coach Gina Riley | #212

    Tell us what you want to hear on the show! Are you applying to dozens of jobs but not hearing back, even though you're highly qualified? You're not alone. In this episode of the Second Act Success® Podcast, host Shannon Russell sits down with career transition coach Gina Riley, author of Qualified Isn’t Enough and founder of Gina Riley Consulting, to uncover what CEOs, hiring managers, and recruiters really look for when evaluating candidates. Gina shares her Career Velocity Framework, a nine-step proven process to help you get noticed, land interviews, and secure your next role. Whether you’ve been recently laid off, want to level up to an executive position, or are considering a career pivot, this episode is packed with actionable advice on personal branding, LinkedIn strategy, networking tips, and interview prep. If you’ve ever wondered why your resume isn’t getting callbacks or how to stand out in today’s competitive job market, this conversation is your ultimate job search guide. Key Takeaways: Why being qualified isn’t enough in today’s job marketHow to create a unique value proposition (UVP) that gets you noticedGina’s Career Velocity Framework for accelerating your job searchThe LinkedIn strategies hiring managers actually pay attention toWhy your resume, LinkedIn, and personal brand must all alignHow to network effectively and ask for referrals the right wayInsider tips from the boardroom and executive searches that could change your career strategyConnect with Gina Riley: https://ginarileyconsulting.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginariley/ Book - https://a.co/d/4yiHrCx Listen to Gina's first appearance on the Second Act Success Career Podcast Episode #37 - https://secondactsuccess.co/2022/11/08/lets-talk-career-transition-with-gina-riley-37/ ----------- You are listening to the Top 2% globally ranked podcast Second Act Success! CONTACT Shannon and share your feedback about what you'd like to hear on the podcast! https://secondactsuccess.co/contact Book a FREE Strategy Call with host and business coach Shannon Russell - https://www.calendly.com/second-act-success/coaching-strategy FREE Resources https://secondactsuccess.co/resources READ Shannon's Book - Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life at https://startyoursecondact.com. LISTEN to the How To Quit Your Job and Start A Business Podcast! https://secondactsuccess.co/listen LET’S CONNECT! Instagram - https://instagram.com/secondactsuccess LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonrussellcoach

    29 min

  2. SEP 8

    Use Your Severance Package to Start a Business and Invest in Yourself | #211

    Tell us what you want to hear on the show! Were you recently laid off and handed a severance check... but no clear plan for what’s next? Don’t just spend it—flip it. In this powerful episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast, business coach Shannon Russell shares how your severance package can become the startup capital you need to finally launch your dream business. What you'll learn in this episode: How to reframe a layoff as a business opportunityBudgeting your severance to cover essentials and business investmentsHow to create a side business with flexibility and freedomThe benefits of hiring a coach to fast-track your entrepreneurial journeyWhy investing in yourself is the smartest move after a career shakeupIf you’ve ever dreamed of being your own boss, your severance could be your springboard. Let this episode inspire you to start building something that belongs to you—and only you. 👉 Ready to take the leap? Explore the Second Act Accelerator program: secondactsuccess.co/course --------- You are listening to the Top 2% globally ranked podcast Second Act Success! CONTACT Shannon and share your feedback about what you'd like to hear on the podcast! https://secondactsuccess.co/contact Book a FREE Strategy Call with host and business coach Shannon Russell - https://www.calendly.com/second-act-success/coaching-strategy FREE Resources https://secondactsuccess.co/resources READ Shannon's Book - Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life at https://startyoursecondact.com. LISTEN to the How To Quit Your Job and Start A Business Podcast! https://secondactsuccess.co/listen LET’S CONNECT! Instagram - https://instagram.com/secondactsuccess LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonrussellcoach

    10 min

  3. SEP 1

    Betting on Paradise: How One Couple Left Corporate Careers, Moved to Costa Rica, and Built Their Dream Life | #210

    Tell us what you want to hear on the show! Ever dreamed of quitting your 9–5, moving somewhere tropical, and starting fresh as your second act? 🌴  On this episode #210 of the Second Act Success Podcast, Shannon Russell sits down with HGTV’s Betting on Paradise stars, Steph Sitt and Luke Shantz, to share their incredible journey from corporate life in Canada to renovating a rundown hotel in Costa Rica, all while raising two young daughters and filming their adventure for national television. Steph and Luke open up about: How they knew it was time to leave their stable corporate careersSelling everything and taking the leap to move their family abroad ✈️The behind-the-scenes story of filming HGTV’s Betting on ParadiseThe challenges (and wins!) of running a boutique hotel in Costa RicaStarting over and creating a business — plus what they’re building next, including transformational Costa Rica retreatsIf you’ve been dreaming about a second act, this conversation will inspire you to bet on yourself and take bold steps toward a life you love. 📺 Watch Betting on Paradise now on HBO Max and Discovery+ https://www.hgtv.com/profiles/talent/steph-sitt-and-luke-shantz 🌐 Connect with Steph & Luke on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/steph.and.luke 🎧 Subscribe to the Second Act Success Podcast for more stories like this! ---------- You are listening to the Top 2% globally ranked podcast Second Act Success! CONTACT Shannon and share your feedback about what you'd like to hear on the podcast! https://secondactsuccess.co/contact Book a FREE Strategy Call with host and business coach Shannon Russell - https://www.calendly.com/second-act-success/coaching-strategy FREE Resources https://secondactsuccess.co/resources READ Shannon's Book - Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life at https://startyoursecondact.com. LISTEN to the How To Quit Your Job and Start A Business Podcast! https://secondactsuccess.co/listen LET’S CONNECT! Instagram - https://instagram.com/secondactsuccess LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonrussellcoach

    28 min

  4. AUG 25

    Don’t Wait to Be Pushed Out: Build a Business on Your Terms and Take Back Control | #209

    Tell us what you want to hear on the show! Are you waiting for a layoff, burnout, or bad boss to make the next move for you? In this episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast, host and business coach Shannon Russell challenges you to stop waiting and start building a business that puts you in charge. Shannon walks you through how to: Create an exit strategy from your 9–5 jobStart a side hustle using your existing skillsBuild a bridge from employee to entrepreneurReclaim your purpose after a career setbackSet goals and take action toward your Second Act successIf you're a midlife woman who feels undervalued at work or fears being pushed out, this is your wake-up call to future-proof your income and finally create something that no one can take away from you. 🎯 It’s not about starting over. It’s about starting forward—with clarity, confidence, and control. 👉 Learn more about Shannon’s Second Act Accelerator program: secondactsuccess.co/course SHOW NOTES: https://secondactsuccess.co/209 -------- You are listening to the Top 2% globally ranked podcast Second Act Success! CONTACT Shannon and share your feedback about what you'd like to hear on the podcast! https://secondactsuccess.co/contact Book a FREE Strategy Call with host and business coach Shannon Russell - https://www.calendly.com/second-act-success/coaching-strategy FREE Resources https://secondactsuccess.co/resources READ Shannon's Book - Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life at https://startyoursecondact.com. LISTEN to the How To Quit Your Job and Start A Business Podcast! https://secondactsuccess.co/listen LET’S CONNECT! Instagram - https://instagram.com/secondactsuccess LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonrussellcoach

    11 min

  5. AUG 18

    "I'll Never Fire Myself!" - Losing Her Job Was the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Her - Meet Betsy Pepine | #208

    Tell us what you want to hear on the show! What happens when you get laid off, divorced, and find yourself at rock bottom all at once? For serial entrepreneur and real estate powerhouse Betsy Pepine, it sparked a second act that changed everything. In this inspiring episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast, host Shannon Russell chats with Betsy about how she went from being a single mom with two toddlers and no job to building a thriving real estate empire, including a brokerage, title company, mortgage business, property management firm, and a nonprofit. Betsy shares how losing control in her corporate job pushed her to build a life she could own...literally. She opens up about her “boxes” metaphor from her book Breaking Boxes, finding purpose through her nonprofit Pepine Gives, and her lessons from mentor Barbara Corcoran of Shark Tank. If you're a woman ready to quit your 9-5 and start a business, this episode is your sign to take control of your future. SHOW NOTES: https://secondactsuccess.co/208 Connect with Betsy Pepine: https://www.pepinerealty.com/about/betsy-pepine/ https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Boxes-Dismantling-Metaphorical-That-ebook/dp/B0D6CM2JSL -------- You are listening to the Top 2% globally ranked podcast Second Act Success! CONTACT Shannon and share your feedback about what you'd like to hear on the podcast! https://secondactsuccess.co/contact Book a FREE Strategy Call with host and business coach Shannon Russell - https://www.calendly.com/second-act-success/coaching-strategy FREE Resources https://secondactsuccess.co/resources READ Shannon's Book - Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life at https://startyoursecondact.com. LISTEN to the How To Quit Your Job and Start A Business Podcast! https://secondactsuccess.co/listen LET’S CONNECT! Instagram - https://instagram.com/secondactsuccess LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonrussellcoach

    24 min

  6. AUG 18

    Turning a Side Hustle into a Business with Gym Hooky Founder Ariel Belgrave | Ep #8

    Tell us what you want to hear on the show! From a corporate career in Investment Banking on Wall Street and HR at Facebook to launching the wellness brand Gym Hooky, our guest Ariel Belgrave is a powerful woman entrepreneur with words of wisdom to share. On this episode of the Second Act Success Podcast, Ariel explains how she turned “pain into purpose” as she grew her side hustle from a blog about skipping the gym into the mega popular wellness empire Gym Hooky.  CONNECT with Ariel Belgrave: Instagram - @gymhooky Gym Hooky - www.gymhooky.com Thailand Retreat - https://www.gymhooky.com/retreat/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielbelgrave/ SHOW NOTES FOR THIS EPISODE: https://secondactsuccess.co/episode8 REVIEW THE PODCAST: Your review would mean the world to us! REVIEW THE PODCAST. (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/second-act-success/id1617274364) WHAT’S YOUR SECOND ACT STORY? If you would like to share your story with our listeners or recommend a guest for the show, please fill out our Guest Application Form at https://bit.ly/SecondActSuccessGuest or email info@secondactsuccess.co. SHARE THE INSPIRATION: Share the podcast with friends to help spread the inspiration! secondactsuccess.co/podcast  LEARN MORE AND SUBSCRIBE: To learn more about the show visit http://www.secondactsuccess.co, and please subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss an episode. *Originally aired May 31, 2022 You are listening to the Top 2% globally ranked podcast Second Act Success! CONTACT Shannon and share your feedback about what you'd like to hear on the podcast! https://secondactsuccess.co/contact Book a FREE Strategy Call with host and business coach Shannon Russell - https://www.calendly.com/second-act-success/coaching-strategy FREE Resources https://secondactsuccess.co/resources READ Shannon's Book - Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life at https://startyoursecondact.com. LISTEN to the How To Quit Your Job and Start A Business Podcast! https://secondactsuccess.co/listen LET’S CONNECT! Instagram - https://instagram.com/secondactsuccess LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonrussellcoach

    46 min

  7. AUG 11

    Back to Business: How Moms Can Start a Business While the Kids Are in Class | #207

    Tell us what you want to hear on the show! No distractions, no excuses! How you can start your business, while the kids are back to school.  In this episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast, host and business coach Shannon Russell shares actionable tips for moms and working women who want to start a business while the kids are in school. Whether you're a stay-at-home mom or juggling a 9–5, this episode will show you how to maximize your time, create a 90-day business plan, and build a business that fits your life. You’ll learn how to: Set up your CEO schedule during school hoursUse your career experience to guide your business ideaCreate a simple business plan without the overwhelmSet realistic 90-day business goals before the holidaysGet the support you need to go from employee to entrepreneurNow is the perfect season to launch your second act and start building your dream business—one school day at a time. 👉 Learn more about Shannon’s Second Act Accelerator program to help you get your business built and launched in 90 days: secondactsuccess.co/course SHOW NOTES: https://secondactsuccess.co/207 ------- You are listening to the Top 2% globally ranked podcast Second Act Success! CONTACT Shannon and share your feedback about what you'd like to hear on the podcast! https://secondactsuccess.co/contact Book a FREE Strategy Call with host and business coach Shannon Russell - https://www.calendly.com/second-act-success/coaching-strategy FREE Resources https://secondactsuccess.co/resources READ Shannon's Book - Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life at https://startyoursecondact.com. LISTEN to the How To Quit Your Job and Start A Business Podcast! https://secondactsuccess.co/listen LET’S CONNECT! Instagram - https://instagram.com/secondactsuccess LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonrussellcoach

    9 min

  8. AUG 4

    Midlife, Menopause & Momentum: How Jenny Waters Helps Women Thrive With Wellness | #206

    Tell us what you want to hear on the show! Are you struggling with energy, brain fog, or feeling stuck in midlife? This episode is for you. In this powerful episode #206 of the Second Act Success Career Podcast, host Shannon Russell chats with Jenny Waters, a former engineer who turned a family health crisis into a mission-driven wellness business. Jenny shares her raw and relatable story of perimenopause, her husband’s autoimmune diagnosis, and how she reclaimed her health—and her confidence—through transformational nutrition. Now a certified Transformational Nutrition Coach and founder of Jenny Waters Wellness, she helps women in midlife reduce inflammation, balance hormones, and build a second act filled with energy, purpose, and passion. 🎧 Tune in to learn: The signs of hormone imbalance and how to advocate for your healthWhy midlife is the perfect time to launch a business or second actHow Jenny went from engineer and youth director to YouTube wellness coachPractical ways to fight fatigue, manage stress, and feel like yourself againThe small changes that can lead to lasting transformationThis episode is packed with hope, practical tips, and proof that it’s never too late to rewrite your story—and thrive in your next chapter. SHOW NOTES: https://secondactsuccess.co/206 Connect with Jenny Waters: https://www.youtube.com/@jennywaterswellness https://www.jennywaterswellness.com/ https://www.jennywaterswellness.com/thrive https://www.instagram.com/jennywaterswellness/ _____ You are listening to the Top 2% globally ranked podcast Second Act Success! CONTACT Shannon and share your feedback about what you'd like to hear on the podcast! https://secondactsuccess.co/contact Book a FREE Strategy Call with host and business coach Shannon Russell - https://www.calendly.com/second-act-success/coaching-strategy FREE Resources https://secondactsuccess.co/resources READ Shannon's Book - Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life at https://startyoursecondact.com. LISTEN to the How To Quit Your Job and Start A Business Podcast! https://secondactsuccess.co/listen LET’S CONNECT! Instagram - https://instagram.com/secondactsuccess LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonrussellcoach

    26 min
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About

Welcome to the Second Act Success Career Podcast, a top 2% globally ranked show designed for ambitious women ready to change careers, start a business, and create a life they love.  Hosted by Shannon Russell, business coach, author, and exit strategy expert, this podcast helps you transition from employee to entrepreneur with clarity and confidence. ✨ What You’ll Learn: - How to quit your 9-5 job and start a business that lights you up - Strategies for career change at 40+ and designing your second act - Business planning, marketing, and personal branding tips for women - How to validate your business idea and find your ideal clients - How to use your career experience in your role as a female entrepreneur - Success stories from women who’ve turned their side hustles into thriving businesses Whether you’re planning an exit strategy, exploring midlife career pivots, or ready to become your own boss, you’ll find actionable steps, real-life inspiration, and expert guidance here. Is this podcast for you? - Are you dreaming of quitting your corporate job to start your own business? - Do you want advice on marketing a business, designing your personal brand, and build entrepreneurial strategies? - Are you ready to overcome fear and turn your skills and experience from the corporate world into your second act business? - Do you crave a flexible lifestyle that allows you to focus on your passions and your family? - Ready to become your own boss and build a business you love? - Is it time to turn your side hustle into a full-time business? If so, you’re in the right place! 🎧 New episodes every week — subscribe now to start building your second act business and designing a life you love! 🔗 For more inspiration and resources, visit https://secondactsuccess.co. 📖 Read Shannon's book Start Your Second Act:  How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life at https://startyoursecondact.com. Subscribe now and embark on a transformative journey towards career fulfillment and success in your second act!

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