Development Nerds with Candice Mitchell

Candice Mitchell
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Honest conversations about career growth, resilience, and the messy middle of success. Hosted by Candice Mitchell, this podcast dives deep into what it really takes to build a career, and a Talent Development function, that makes an impact. Many solo episodes are tailored for high-level, strategic Talent Development professionals, offering the kind of depth you won’t find anywhere else. Whether it’s building and nurturing a Talent Development function, truly partnering with the business to become business critical, or navigating your own career growth, this podcast gives you the practical insights and unfiltered conversations you actually need. 🎧 Listen in for: ✔ Strategic insights for senior L&D professionals ✔ Actionable career strategies you can actually use ✔ Unfiltered conversations on leadership, growth, and business impact ✔ Lessons from setbacks, pivots, and defining career moments Because career growth, and Talent Development itself, is never-ending and I love that for all of us! Subscribe now and let’s nerd out on all things development!

  1. You Don’t Have a Work Brain and a Life Brain — And That’s the Problem

    3 DAYS AGO

    You Don’t Have a Work Brain and a Life Brain — And That’s the Problem

    What if the reason your career feels misaligned isn’t your role, your company, or your industry but the way you’ve been taught to separate work from life? In this episode, Candice Mitchell sits down with Mel Fox Dhar for an honest conversation about career alignment, burnout, and navigating transitions especially in big tech. Mel shares her journey from retail and customer-facing roles to Microsoft, Amazon, and ultimately into career coaching. Along the way, she explains why alignment doesn’t come from optimizing your resume alone but from understanding who you are as a whole person. This conversation is practical, grounded, and deeply human. No hustle talk. No “just push through it.” Just real insight into how people actually build careers that fit their lives. What you’ll get from this episode Why separating “work life” and “real life” creates misalignmentHow career clarity starts with understanding what lights you upWhat to do when you’re burnt out, laid off, or stuck in a transition you didn’t chooseHow early career experiences quietly shape long-term successWhy telling your story clearly matters more than having the perfect resume If you’re questioning what’s next or why what you’re doing no longer fits, this episode will help you think differently about alignment and direction. Get to Know Mel: Mel Fox Dhar is a career coach and former Big Tech leader who helps experienced professionals make more intentional career moves. After a decade at Amazon and Microsoft, she knows what it’s like to be successful on paper while feeling misaligned underneath. Today, Mel works with senior and mid-career leaders to clarify their personal brand, identify the right next step, and navigate job transitions with confidence—so they can do meaningful work and actually thrive. Connect with Mel: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melfoxdhar/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCdDreU78e0fRAEhp4w8mX-w Website: https://www.melfoxdhar.com Your host, Candice Mitchell, can be found online at:Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerd Talent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tda Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven pauldehavenmusic.com

    54 min
  2. You’re Not Broken — You’re Just Being Too Hard on Yourself

    9 JAN

    You’re Not Broken — You’re Just Being Too Hard on Yourself

    In this episode, I sat down with Rosie for a very honest conversation about self-judgment, shame, and the quiet emotional weight many people carry especially when life doesn’t unfold the way they expected. Rosie shares what helped her move through a deeply difficult season, including the jealousy, resentment, and guilt that often stay unspoken. Candice adds context from her coaching work, where she sees these same patterns show up again and again in capable, driven people. This isn’t a conversation about “fixing yourself.” It’s about understanding yourself with more honesty and less cruelty. What you'll get from this episode: • Why shame and self-judgment often show up during hard seasons • How curiosity and compassion create more progress than criticism • Why jealousy and resentment are usually signals of hurt, not failure • How worthiness (not time or skill) is often the real thing holding people back If you’ve been telling yourself something is “wrong” with you, this episode offers a different perspective, one that feels a lot more human. Get to know Rosie: Rosie Milsom is a Self-Worth & Confidence Coach for purpose-driven women who know they’re meant for more. She helps founders, changemakers, and ambitious doers stop getting in their own way so they can finally build the confidence, clarity, impact and income they’re truly capable of - without burnout, self-doubt, or constant second-guessing. Her mission is simple: when a woman’s self-worth catches up with her potential, everything rises Connect with Rosie: Facebook: www.facebook.com/rosiemilsomcoaching Instagram: @rosie_milsom_coaching Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@self-worthschool LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosie-milsom-36667a5a/ Website: https://www.rosiemilsom.com/ Your host, Candice Mitchell, can be found online at:Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerd Talent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tda Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven pauldehavenmusic.com

    56 min

  3. 26/12/2025

    Top 10 Funniest Development Nerds Moments

    Behind every confident leader is a collection of awkward, funny, and deeply formative moments, and many of them start in our very first jobs. This episode brings together some of the most memorable, laugh-out-loud stories from past guests as they reflect on their earliest working experiences. From misunderstood presentations and customer blow-ups to first paychecks, first mistakes, and first lessons in responsibility, these moments are as funny as they are meaningful. What begins as humor quickly turns into insight: How early jobs quietly shape our work ethic and confidenceWhy mistakes often become the doorway to growthThe leadership lessons we learn long before we ever manage a teamHow being defended—or defending others—can leave a lifelong impact Featuring moments from Mike Pacchione, Jo Watson, and others, this episode is a reminder that leadership doesn’t start with a title, it starts with experience. If you’ve ever felt awkward, out of place, or unsure early in your career, this conversation will make you laugh, reflect, and maybe see your own journey a little differently. Your host, Candice Mitchell, can be found online at:Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerd Talent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tda Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven pauldehavenmusic.com

    51 min

  4. 19/12/2025

    Top 12 Most Impactful Moments of the Year | Development Nerds Compilation

    What were the most impactful moments from Development Nerds this year? This special Top 12 compilation episode pulls together the clips that stopped me mid-sentence, rewired a belief, or made me sit in silence for a second. You’ll hear powerful takeaways on future readiness, confidence and self-worth, burnout, career pivots, mentorship, resilience, experimentation, and what real impact looks like beyond the workplace. Featured guests and their moments: Allister Frost: Make time to be future-ready, or the future will happen to you.Amber Anderson: The story we tell ourselves, plus the missing accountability after training.Chris Taylor: The turning point: knowledge doesn’t change anything until you apply it.David James: You’re building skills, even when it feels like you’re not.Dr. Sarah Nichols: Burnout hides in plain sight, and it quietly steals your confidence.Elena Agaragimova: The courage to pivot, and the ache of trying to prove you belong.Heather Burright: When learning saves a life, it changes how you see your work forever.Jen Recla: “Think like a scientist.” Experiments, not identity. Data, not drama.Kelsea Warren: Stop waiting for “when.” Live in your values, today.Tara Rynders: Let yourself receive care. It can change everything.Yogi Mueller: Don’t outsource your value. Find your strengths, your people, your mentors.Lorie Jones: “It’s not going to get better” and the brave choice to change the story. 🎧 This episode is a highlight reel, but it’s also a nudge: if one clip hits you, go listen to the full episode for the context and the full conversation. Your host, Candice Mitchell, can be found online at:Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerd Talent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tda Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven pauldehavenmusic.com

    51 min

  5. 12/12/2025

    The Top 10 Relatable Moments We Heard This Season — All in One Place (with 2 bonuses)

    To wrap up the year, I’m bringing you something special — the most relatable moments shared by a curated group of incredible guests from the show. Not all of this year’s guests appear in this episode. These were specifically chosen because they shared something deeply human, honest, and universally felt. This episode is part of our BEST Moments of the Year series, and this one is all about the moments that made us say: “Wait… I’ve felt that too.” “Oh wow, I thought I was the only one.” “Yep. That’s exactly my life right now.” In this compilation you will hear stories about: Losing jobs unexpectedlyMental health and the moments things fell apartSquiggly, non-linear careers that make sense only in hindsightBeing brave enough to start before you’re readyCarrying pressure, expectations, and self-doubtWanting to give up, and choosing not toReinventing yourself at any ageBuilding a life and career that actually feels like yours These are the conversations listeners wrote to me about — the lines that stuck with you, the moments you sent to friends, the truths that made you breathe out and whisper: “Finally. Someone said it.” ⭐ FEATURED GUESTS IN THIS SPECIAL EPISODE A curated selection of guests from across the year: AJ LauerAndy StorchBrenda Noon-SchmidtDanny DelvecchioDavid GilbertJB RyanJess AlmieJessica SchloempLauren EvansMatt GjestsenStacey Oliver-KnappeClay Gill Sponsored by Your360 AI This episode is sponsored by Your360 AI — developmental 360 feedback turned into actionable growth. The world of work is changing fast, and teams that don’t share honest feedback get left behind. Your360 uses Voice AI to deliver 360s that uncover what surveys miss — for just a couple hundred dollars. Real conversations turned into real growth. Stop guessing — start growing. Your host, Candice Mitchell, can be found online at:Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerd Talent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tda Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven pauldehavenmusic.com Visit Your360.ai today.

    32 min

  6. 05/12/2025

    The Top 10 Learning Moments We Heard This Season — All in One Place (with 1 bonus)

    This episode is special. Across dozens of conversations this season, certain moments made me stop, scribble notes, replay the audio, or just sit back and breathe for a second. These weren’t just good insights — they were the best learning moments shared by a handful of guests whose wisdom hit differently. Today, I’m bringing them together for the first time. You’ll hear the strongest, sharpest, most transformative moments from: Dr. Alaina SzlachtaAlyssa WilletAndrew JacobsAnna LudwinowskiBianca Baumann & Mike TaylorBrianna JohnstonDesiree PetrichKevin M. YatesLavinia MehedințuPaul MatthewsSusanne Biro These moments are practical. Human. Career-shaping. Whether you’re an L&D professional, a leader, or someone who simply wants to build a career (and life) you love — this episode is a “bookmark it, save it, replay it” kind of experience. Grab your notebook, your coffee, or the dog’s leash if you’re listening on your walk — and enjoy the best of the best. 🌟 Sponsored by Your360 AIThis episode is sponsored by Your360 AI — developmental 360 feedback turned into actionable growth. The world of work is changing fast, and teams that don’t share honest feedback get left behind. Your360 uses Voice AI to deliver 360s that uncover what surveys miss — for just a couple hundred dollars. Real conversations turned into real growth. Stop guessing — start growing. Visit Your360.ai today. Your host, Candice Mitchell, can be found online at:Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerd Talent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tda Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven pauldehavenmusic.com

    27 min
  7. Fearless Finances: Lorie Jones on Mentorship, Money Confidence & Building a Multi-Million Practice

    21/11/2025

    Fearless Finances: Lorie Jones on Mentorship, Money Confidence & Building a Multi-Million Practice

    What does it look like to take ownership of your money, and your career, when the world told you not to? In this episode, Lorie Jones (CFP®, MBA), owner of Fearless Financial Advisors, shares how she went from McDonald’s Hamburger University to helping grow an RIA from ~$30M to ~$230M, all while raising five kids, earning her licenses, and fighting imposter syndrome in a male-dominated industry. We dig into servant leadership, building systems when life is full, why “balance” is measured over years (not days), and how women can start feeling fear-less about their finances, today. You’ll learn: The mindset shift from “finance isn’t for me” → “I can do this.” How Lorie organized the “bejesus” out of life to get her MBA + CFP while parenting five kids. Why mentorship matters (and how to find a woman who’s in your corner). Practical first steps for women who want to confidently participate in money decisions. What “fearless” really means: taking one small brave step, even while scared. Get to know Lorie: Lorie Jones, MBA, CFP®, is a fourth-generation Wyoming rancher turned financial advisor with over thirteen years of experience in the industry. After raising five children, she found her calling at a small RIA in South Denver, driven by a passion to support women navigating financial transitions with clarity and confidence. She holds a History degree from the University of Wyoming, an MBA from Colorado State University, and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, currently pursuing both CFA and CDFA credentials. Lorie’s mission is to transform financial chaos into peace of mind through practical, empowering plans. She hosts the Fearless Females podcast, mentors young women, and volunteers with groups like Leadership Douglas County. Married to David, with five grown children and two grand dogs, Lorie blends her love of storytelling, crafting, and spreadsheets into both her travel adventures and her holistic approach to financial planning. Connect with Lorie: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lorie.jones.505 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571028827696 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loriejones_7/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loriejones/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UC0oqApmg_k_QvSzbhP_pUyA Your host, Candice Mitchell, can be found online at:Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerd Talent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tda Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven pauldehavenmusic.com

    55 min
  8. Allister Frost on Becoming Future-Ready: How to Stay Relevant When Everything Is Changing

    14/11/2025

    Allister Frost on Becoming Future-Ready: How to Stay Relevant When Everything Is Changing

    What if everything you do today is already out of date? In this episode of Development Nerds, Candice sits down with Allister Frost — former Microsoft marketing leader, global keynote speaker, and author of Ready Already — to talk about developing a future-ready mindset in a world that won’t stop changing. From wiping tables at 11 to leading marketing at Microsoft, Allister shares how curiosity, empathy, and continuous learning shaped his career. He unpacks his 5-step Ready Already Growth Cycle — Follow, React, Open, Surprise, Tell — a simple but powerful framework for staying adaptable, creative, and human in the age of AI. 💡 You’ll learn: Why “if it works, it’s obsolete” is the mindset every modern professional needs How to keep learning without burning out The one question to ask every Friday to check if you’re still growing Why your personal mission is the fuel that keeps you future-ready How to replace fear of change with curiosity and action This conversation is equal parts inspiration and practicality — perfect for anyone who wants to stay relevant, keep learning, and shape the future instead of reacting to it. Get to know Allister: Allister Frost is a business transformation and growth expert, known for his energy and passion for helping others to embrace change. As a former Microsoft leader, his highly acclaimed Future-Ready Mindset talks and workshops inspire greater curiosity, imagination, and courageous collaboration to unlock daily improvements, strengthen resiliency, and fuel high-performance teamwork. He is the author of ReadyAlready and an award-winning speaker and marketer. His mission each day is to help busy people transform their lives with the positive mindset needed to become—and remain—future-ready for life. Connect with Allister: https://www.instagram.com/allisterspeaks/ https://www.youtube.com/@allisterfrost https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisterspeaks/ Your host, Candice Mitchell, can be found online at:Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerd Talent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tda Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven pauldehavenmusic.com

    55 min
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About

Honest conversations about career growth, resilience, and the messy middle of success. Hosted by Candice Mitchell, this podcast dives deep into what it really takes to build a career, and a Talent Development function, that makes an impact. Many solo episodes are tailored for high-level, strategic Talent Development professionals, offering the kind of depth you won’t find anywhere else. Whether it’s building and nurturing a Talent Development function, truly partnering with the business to become business critical, or navigating your own career growth, this podcast gives you the practical insights and unfiltered conversations you actually need. 🎧 Listen in for: ✔ Strategic insights for senior L&D professionals ✔ Actionable career strategies you can actually use ✔ Unfiltered conversations on leadership, growth, and business impact ✔ Lessons from setbacks, pivots, and defining career moments Because career growth, and Talent Development itself, is never-ending and I love that for all of us! Subscribe now and let’s nerd out on all things development!

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