Wait - What Do You Do Again? | Careers, Life, and the Surprising Paths We Take

Meghan DeFord
  • 5.0 (6)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Ever ask someone what they do and end up in a surprisingly fascinating conversation? Think of this podcast as a cocktail party, minus the small talk and bad appetizers. Wait - What Do You Do Again? explores career pivots, passion projects, and the unexpected twists that shape people’s lives. From creatives to CEOs, scientists to storytellers, we dig into what they actually do and what they’ve learned. If you like learning something new just for the heck of it, subscribe and join in the conversation! More at www.megdeford.com.

  1. 3D AGO

    Getting LIT Without Substances: Sober Raves, Nervous Systems & Real Joy with Pearl Cicci

    In this episode, we meet Pearl Cicci, somatic health coach and founder of The LIT Rave, for a conversation that completely redefines what it means to feel good. Pearl shares how she incorporates her work as a dietitian and nervous system educator to help people get “LIT” from the inside out by building the capacity to feel, move, and create in a way that actually feels aligned in the body. We dive into Pearl’s sober rave movement - guided dance experiences designed to create the same feelings of connection, joy, and “high” that people often chase through substances… using only what the body can naturally produce. In this episode, you’ll learn: What your nervous system actually does (and how it shapes your behavior)The difference between regulation and capacity and why it mattersSimple tools to shift your state in real time (even in a meeting or grocery store)How movement, breath, and somatic work help you feel and process emotionsWhy feeling “lit” has nothing to do with substances and everything to do with your bodyIf you’ve been doing all the “right” things but still don’t feel like yourself, this conversation will give you a new way to understand what’s going on and how to start shifting it. Because feeling good isn’t something you earn. It’s something your body already knows how to do. Connect with Pearl at: https://www.instagram.com/pearlcicci/

    51 min

  2. APR 3

    Stop “Bad Date Marketing”: How to Build a Brand People Trust

    What do bad dates and bad marketing have in common? More than you think! In this episode, Meghan sits down with brand strategist Hunter Myers, founder of Verdure Design Co., to unpack why so much marketing today feels transactional, pushy, and disconnected… and what to do instead. From “bro marketing” tactics to customer experience breakdowns, this conversation explores why businesses that focus only on selling are losing trust, and how a human-centered approach to branding creates long-term loyalty, stronger relationships, and sustainable growth. They cover: The concept of “bad date marketing” and how it shows up in your businessWhy customer experience is the real competitive advantageHow to build trust in a world of consumer fatigueThe role of values, boundaries, and alignment in business growthWhy small businesses have a unique opportunity right nowIf your marketing feels forced, inconsistent, or just not working, this episode will shift how you think about connecting with your audience. You can find Hunter on her website and YouTube

    1h 13m

  3. MAR 19

    Why Burnout Isn’t a Workload Problem: Coco Rogers on Leadership, Care, and Crumb Culture

    What does leadership look like in a world obsessed with productivity, performance, and perks? In this episode, Meghan talks with Coco Rogers about her journey from naval officer to entrepreneur, the leadership lessons she kept from the military, and the toxic workplace patterns she had to unlearn. Coco shares her CARE framework, which stands for Clarity, Authenticity, Recognition, and Empathy, and explains why so many organizations are still offering “crumb culture” instead of real trust, support, and sustainable leadership. This conversation explores burnout, boundaries, middle management, community, nervous system regulation, self-worth, and how caring for yourself changes the way you lead others. You can find Coco at https://www.coroconsulting.co/about Books mentioned: Quit Like A Woman, Holly WhitakerRest Is Resistance, Tricia HerseyThe Sugar Jar, Yasmine CheyenneThe Book of Boundaries, Melissa Hartwig Urban

    1h 18m

  4. MAR 5

    Gladys DeClouet on A Layered Life: Breaking Barriers, Leading With Integrity

    In this episode, we meet retired corporate executive and author Gladys DeClouet, whose memoir A Layered Life: Breaking Barriers as a Trailblazing Black Woman in Corporate America shares the truth behind visible success—adversity, resilience, and the pressure of being “the first” in rooms never designed for you. Gladys reflects on leading multi-billion-dollar businesses across the oil and restaurant industries, what it took to stand her ground as the only woman (or only Black woman) in technical and executive spaces, and why inclusive leadership builds higher-performing teams when it’s backed by clear vision, trust, and respect. You’ll also hear her practical “engineering mindset” for navigating challenges, her non-negotiable commitment to integrity, and the lessons she hopes the next generation carries forward. You can learn more about Gladys and get her book at: https://gladysdeclouet.com/

    55 min

  5. FEB 26

    Clarity Is the Culture: Heather Lacy On How Leaders Create Buy-In That Lasts

    What happens when leaders create beautiful strategic plans… but the frontline can’t execute them? Heather Lacy has lived this at scale, leading customer service and patient experience in complex, regulated healthcare environments. In this conversation, Heather breaks down the real reason strategy fails: the execution gap created by unclear expectations, false buy-in, and leadership cultures that rely on pressure instead of clarity. We also talk about how layoffs disrupt identity (and why that disruption can be a turning point), how to challenge unrealistic goals without losing credibility, and why empowerment, NOT micromanagement, is the fastest path to stable performance. If you manage people, build culture, or are personally rebuilding after a career shakeup, this episode is a practical reset: clarity, ownership, and humanity without corporate word salad. You can reach Heather at: http://heatherlacy.com/

    52 min

  6. FEB 5

    Why Smart Leaders Do Stupid Things with Michael Krumpak

    In this episode, Michael Krumpak, CEO of L4 Learning Solutions and author of Why Smart Leaders Do Stupid Things, joins Meghan and Richard Taliaferro, Career Coach, to unpack why even experienced, high-performing leaders can quietly derail under pressure. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why leadership breakdowns often happen slowly and silentlyHow stress and overwhelm trigger blind spots in decision-makingWhat “liberation” means in leadership and why it fuels innovationThe early warning signs that trust and workplace culture are erodingHow empathy and accountability can coexist in strong leadershipPractical ways leaders can rebuild trust and credibility with their teams We explore how today’s fast-paced, resource-strained workplaces create conditions where smart leaders rely on past success instead of curiosity, reflection, and adaptability. Michael breaks down the difference between smart and legendary leadership — and why the ability to pause, ask better questions, and recalibrate is now a critical leadership skill. This episode is for leaders, managers, founders, and anyone navigating leadership in a rapidly changing workplace. You can find Michael at https://l4learningsolutions.com/about/

    1h 11m

  7. JAN 29

    Beyond Good Intentions: Supporting LGBTQIA+ Mental Health

    In this episode, we meet KaRon Spriggs-Bethea, therapist, educator, and founder of Let’s Talk Solutions, for a conversation about affirming therapy, cultural humility, and what it actually takes to create safe, welcoming spaces for LGBTQIA+ clients and other marginalized communities. KaRon shares the story behind building his own practice, why autonomy matters in mental health care, and how therapists can show up with curiosity instead of assumptions. We also dig into the questions many of us quietly wonder about: how therapists protect their emotional energy between sessions, how they stay human without making the work about themselves, and how to know when it might be time to find a new therapist as your life and needs change. KaRon offers thoughtful, practical ways to think about allyship, advocacy, and empathy, including how to sit with discomfort, challenge dominant narratives, and focus on what is within our control. This episode is for anyone thinking about therapy, identity, community, or how to stay values-aligned in a complicated, loud world without pretending things aren’t hard. If you’d like to learn more about KaRon’s work or reach out for services, you can find him at https://letstalksolutions.org/

    56 min

  8. JAN 15

    Comedy Is a Cultural Force with Lynn Harris of GOLD Comedy

    Lynn Harris, founder and CEO of GOLD Comedy, joins the conversation to talk about comedy as both a craft and a cultural force. We unpack what a working comedian’s life actually looks like (beyond SNL & Netflix specials), why the argument “no one can be funny anymore” is usually just a refusal to write better jokes, and how punchlines work when the target is power, not marginalized people. Lynn also shares how Gold Comedy supports women, non-binary creators, and other underrepresented comics through classes, community, and real opportunities to get their work produced and seen. Plus: why you don’t need “crazy stories” to be funny, how to start noticing material in everyday life, and the biggest mistake beginners make (hint: you don’t need brand-new material every time). You can learn more about GOLD here. If you follow GOLD Comedy on social and DM that you listened to the podcast, she'll send you a discount code for membership. How cool is that?! Thank you, Lynn ❤️

    1h 19m
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About

Ever ask someone what they do and end up in a surprisingly fascinating conversation? Think of this podcast as a cocktail party, minus the small talk and bad appetizers. Wait - What Do You Do Again? explores career pivots, passion projects, and the unexpected twists that shape people’s lives. From creatives to CEOs, scientists to storytellers, we dig into what they actually do and what they’ve learned. If you like learning something new just for the heck of it, subscribe and join in the conversation! More at www.megdeford.com.

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