Success is Subjective: Real People. Raw Stories. Embracing a Non-Linear Life!

Joanna Lilley, MA, NCC
  • 5.0 (62)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Interviews of people who took a break from life at one point or another to get help, grow up, or just to reassess their life direction. Some guests struggled with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, a death in the family, or just decided college was not the place for them. These stories are all-to-real, and yet we don't talk enough about how common it is for those who took a gap year to defer college, went to college and took a break, or those who struggled launching into the workforce post-college graduation. This goes out to all the young adults and parents of young adults who are struggling and contemplating what will happen if they walk away right now. 

  1. 4D AGO

    Episode 346: Running on Empty - Burnout, Boundaries, and a More Sustainable Way Forward with Dana Skaggs

    In this episode, Dana Skaggs—a psychotherapist, keynote speaker, and podcast host known as the “Queen of Boundaries”—joins Joanna to explore burnout, boundaries, and sustainable success. With over 17 years of clinical experience, Dana shares how stepping away from external expectations led her into work that now helps high performers create more aligned, sustainable lives. She also hosts the top 5% globally ranked Phoenix and Flame podcast and is a regular contributor on her local ABC/CBS affiliate. Together, they unpack how burnout often builds quietly—through ignored limits and internal pressure—and why boundaries start with the relationship we have with ourselves. With humor and no-BS honesty, Dana offers a more sustainable way to keep going without losing yourself in the process. Dana's Resources:  Website: Dana Skaggs Boundaries Quiz Instagram: @dana.b.skaggs Facebook: Dana Bates Skaggs LinkedIn: Dana Skaggs Dana’s Podcast: Website: Phoenix and Flame Podcast Connect with Joanna Lilley   Therapeutic Consulting Association Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #DanaSkaggs #Boundaries #LetNoBeNo #ProfessionalGrowth #BurnoutPrevention

    27 min

  2. APR 21

    Episode 345: Chasing Money, Finding Meaning: A Different Kind of Return with Rebecca Guez

    Rebecca Guez’s journey challenges the traditional definition of success, moving far beyond the high-pressure expectations she grew up with on the Upper East Side of New York City. Raised in an environment that prioritized elite education, financial success, and status, she initially followed the expected path into business school and the finance world—only to realize it was deeply misaligned with who she truly was. In this episode, Rebecca shares how stepping away from that path led her into a much more meaningful and expansive journey of self-discovery, motherhood, and healing. From navigating the challenges of parenting to exploring spirituality and emotional growth, she ultimately built a career as an intuitive coach and emotional healer, helping others unpack limiting beliefs and reconnect with themselves. This conversation speaks directly to young adults who feel torn between external expectations and internal knowing, offering reassurance that it’s not only okay—but necessary—to question the path you were given. Rebecca reminds us that success isn’t something you arrive at once and for all, but something that evolves as you grow, heal, and choose alignment over approval. Rebecca's Resources:  Website: Rebecca Guez Instagram: @rebeccaguez Facebook: Rebecca Guez Connect with Joanna Lilley   Therapeutic Consulting Association Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #SpiritualGrowth #MindsetShift #PersonalDevelopment #SpiritualHealing #RebeccaGuez

    21 min

  3. APR 14

    Episode 344: Running, Numbing, Rebuilding: The Life I Didn’t Plan with Clay Cross

    Clay Cross grew up in a high-achieving environment that looked stable on the outside, but behind the scenes was shaped by addiction, secrecy, and a lack of emotional safety. From an early age, he learned to suppress anything beyond success or anger—carrying that mindset into boarding school and eventually into young adulthood. As expectations around achievement grew, so did his substance use. What followed was a pattern of expulsions, broken trust, and increasing distance from the life he was “supposed” to be building. After a turning point, Clay stepped away from everything familiar to pursue recovery—eventually becoming the owner and CEO of the very program where he once sought help. But his story isn’t just about sobriety—it’s about redefining success, rebuilding identity, and what it really takes to feel at home in your own life. Clay's Resources:  Website: Ascend Recovery Instagram: @ascendrecovery Facebook: Ascend Recovery Connect with Joanna Lilley   Therapeutic Consulting Association Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #AscendRecovery #OutdoorTherapy #LifeInRecovery #RecoveryWorks

    29 min

  4. APR 7

    Episode 343: 30 Years in Death Care: What Grief Taught Me About Living and Listening with Dr. Chris Putnam

    Dr. Chris Putnam spent 30 years as a funeral director, building a career rooted in grief, service, and showing up for people in their hardest moments. With no clear direction after high school, he found his own path—one that eventually led him back to school, earning multiple degrees and transitioning into work as a therapist, professor, and parent coach. In this episode, Chris reflects on the pressure to prove himself, the unexpected reality of achievement, and the personal cost of building a life around it. He shares the tension between being a “fixer” and learning to step back, listen, and guide others toward their own answers. This conversation explores nonlinear paths, identity shifts, and how parents can support young adults through uncertainty with curiosity, safety, and connection instead of pressure.    Chris's Resources:  Therapy Services Connect with Joanna Lilley   Therapeutic Consulting Association Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #ParentCoaching #TherapyWorks #RedefiningSuccess #DrChrisPutnam

    21 min

  5. MAR 31

    Episode 342: Beyond Motivation - Why Regulation Is the Key to Lasting Change with Jennifer Loehding

    Jennifer Loehding built a successful career in leadership before a rare nerve condition disrupted everything, forcing her into a prolonged state of pain and survival. What followed was a deeper process of unpacking the patterns, beliefs, and behaviors that had been driving her long before her diagnosis. In this episode, Jennifer shares how cycles of overachievement and “crash and burn” began showing up across her health, relationships, and overall well-being. Through her healing journey, she developed a framework for understanding success across four key areas—relationships, career, health, and finances—and how imbalance in one affects them all. This conversation offers a grounded look at why so many people feel stuck or overwhelmed, and what it actually takes to create lasting, sustainable change—for both young adults and the parents supporting them. Jennifer's Resources:  Website: Jennifer Loehding Podcast: Starter Girlz Instagram: @jenniferloehding Connect with Joanna Lilley   Therapeutic Consulting Association Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #PersonalDevelopment #LifeCoaching #EmotionalWellness #SelfImprovement #JenniferLoehding

    26 min

  6. MAR 24

    Episode 341: Delayed Independence - Understanding the Patterns That Keep Young Adults Stuck with Dr. Eric Beaudoin

    Dr. Eric Beaudoin’s story challenges everything we assume about motivation, intelligence, and what it really means to “apply yourself.” Growing up labeled as lazy and underperforming, Eric internalized the belief that something was fundamentally wrong with him—despite clear signs of potential. What no one recognized at the time was the deeper issue driving it all: disconnection, loneliness, and a lack of meaningful support. In this episode, Eric shares the unfiltered reality of his nonlinear path—from failing classes, self-sabotage, and repeated second chances, to eventually confronting the patterns that were holding him back. Through pivotal moments, honest feedback, and finally being forced to take ownership, he began to rebuild both his academic life and his sense of self. Now a licensed psychologist and executive director of two young adult transitional programs, Eric uses his lived experience to support others navigating delayed independence and “failure to launch.” This conversation is a powerful reminder that what looks like laziness is often something much deeper—and that real change begins when someone is willing to look beyond the surface. Dr. Eric’s Resources:  Website: Cornerstones of Maine Instagram: @cornerstonesofmaine Facebook: Cornerstones of Maine Connect with Joanna Lilley   Therapeutic Consulting Association Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #CornerstonesOfMaine #TransitionalLiving #ResidentialTreatment #Neurodiverse #Neurodivergent #FailureToLaunch

    27 min

  7. MAR 17

    Episode 340: Tough Love in Recovery - The Boundary That Changed Everything with Neill Timmons

    In this episode, Joanna sits down with Neill Timmons, CEO and founder of Arch to Freedom, an extended care recovery program supporting individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. But Neill’s path to leading a program that helps others rebuild their lives was anything but straightforward. After being asked to leave multiple schools, struggling with addiction during college, and eventually facing felony drug charges, Neill found himself at a turning point that would ultimately lead him toward recovery. One of the most pivotal moments came when his father set a firm boundary that forced Neill to confront the consequences of his choices. That experience became a powerful lesson about the role of accountability, support, and tough love in recovery. Today, Neill uses his lived experience to guide the work he does with young adults and families navigating similar challenges. In this conversation, he shares how boundaries can change the trajectory of a life, why enabling often keeps people stuck, and how recovery can become the foundation for building a life of purpose and impact. Neill’s Resources: Website: Arch to Freedom Instagram: @archtofreedom Facebook: Arch to Freedom LinkedIn: Arch to Freedom LinkedIn: Neill Timmons Website: PIVOTPoint Connect with Joanna Lilley   Therapeutic Consulting Association Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #RecoveryCommunity #RecoverySupport #ArchToFreedom #BehavioralHealthCommunity

    23 min

  8. MAR 10

    Episode 339: From the Field to the Front Lines - Turning Personal Adversity Into Purpose with Brian McDonald

    Brian McDonald grew up in Southern California as a self-described “beach bum at heart,” with sports—especially football—shaping much of his identity. After earning the opportunity to play running back at BYU, a season-ending injury forced him to confront who he was beyond the game and reconsider the path he thought his life would take. What followed was a journey through faith, service, and unexpected career pivots that ultimately led him to working with adolescents and families navigating mental health challenges. In this episode, Brian shares how adversity, spiritual growth, and mentorship helped him redefine success—not as a destination, but as a lifelong process of becoming better each day.  Brian’s Resources:  Website: Oasis Ascent Instagram: @oasisascentrtc Facebook: Oasis Ascent Connect with Joanna Lilley   Therapeutic Consulting Association Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #OasisAscentRtc #OasisAscent #TeenHelp #FamilyCrisis #ASDTeen

    27 min
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5
out of 5
62 Ratings

About

Interviews of people who took a break from life at one point or another to get help, grow up, or just to reassess their life direction. Some guests struggled with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, a death in the family, or just decided college was not the place for them. These stories are all-to-real, and yet we don't talk enough about how common it is for those who took a gap year to defer college, went to college and took a break, or those who struggled launching into the workforce post-college graduation. This goes out to all the young adults and parents of young adults who are struggling and contemplating what will happen if they walk away right now. 

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