Hi everyone! This week, instead of an episode, we’re bringing you a brief announcement about some upcoming PTO for the podcast for the holiday season. We’ll be back in January 2025! Email us: [email protected] IG: @pilotingpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many people (including us) proudly wear the label of overachiever and enjoy being the kind of people to go above and beyond – in work and in other parts of life. But that’s not always a good thing. Sometimes, it can actually create more problems than it solves. This week, we unravel the downsides of being an overachiever, including: - the challenge of setting unrealistic (and unsustainable) expectations about your capacity - knowing where to put your extra energy and effort - the pros and...

We often hear that we should choose collaboration over competition, but we think there’s a lot of positives that come from competition. A healthy relationship with competition can actually create community when done right – plus, we think everyone deserves to know what it feels like to be a winner. We discuss: - whether we identify as “competitive” people - learning from negative emotions like jealousy - why it’s sometimes harder for women to be seen chasing wins - raising kids with a healthy...

It might be a taboo topic for some, but this week we’re talking about money. Specifically, how money can hold us back or set us free when we’re trying to chase our dreams and the lives we want. We chat about how money can bring up feelings of shame or anxiety, how we can use it to motivate us, why it’s normal to go through seasons of ups and downs with your financial wellness, and why sometimes you can’t put a price on happiness or peace of mind. Also, we are not financial professionals and...

There’s no shortage of seriousness in our lives, especially when you’re adulting and dealing with things like finances, work, and all of our many responsibilities – but being silly and making moments for play is important. We don’t think we should lose or forget that, no matter what age. So this week, we’re talking about reconnecting with our younger, playful selves, including: - what play means to us, and how it changes over time - the difference between venting and being a chronic...

We’re often taught in school to aspire to work in Corporate America if we want to achieve professional and financial success. But should we still put a corporate career on a pedestal in 2024 as the only (or most guaranteed path) to getting what we want out of our work lives? Do we all need to experience a corporate job at least once in our working lives? Our hosts argue opposite sides of the coin – for and against needing a corporate girl era. In this episode, we get into the pros and cons of...

The New York Times bestseller, “Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle,” is for women (or anyone) who has felt overwhelmed and exhausted by everything they have to do, yet still worried they weren’t doing enough. The book explains why women experience burnout differently than men—and provides a roadmap to minimizing stress, managing emotions, and living more joyfully. For this book club episode, we dive into our own experiences with burnout and research from the book, including: -...

Few things in life feel better than clocking out, turning on your Out of Office email responder, and knowing you’re taking time off work. Whether it’s a luxurious vacation or laidback staycation, taking time off is good for your health and your company, but many of us (especially Americans) are reluctant to take those days off – even when they’re paid! This week, we get into: - the reasons we’re afraid to take time off from work - why it’s important for your well-being (and productivity) -...

“Keep your eye on the prize.” “Go after what you want.” We’ve all heard these maxims encouraging us to persevere, be resilient, and chase our dreams. But how do you know it’s time to give up the race and stop chasing? This week, we’re unpacking this tough question (and all the emotions that come with it). We’re diving into: - giving yourself permission to chase new dreams or change your mind - avoiding a life of regret - understanding triggers and flickers - playing the numbers game and...

Maybe it’s because we both work in communications fields, but we believe that good communication is the foundation of a happy workplace! Whether you’re moving into a new industry or working with a partner or customer who’s a little more formal, we think it’s important to know some of the fundamental dos & don’ts of professional communications to avoid misunderstandings and leave a good impression. A few of the rules we discuss include: - what should (and should NOT) be put in writing -...

Rachel Meyer is the founder of Botanical Bones, which is celebrating its four-year anniversary this month. Botanical Bones is a small business based in Asheville, NC that creates dog treats made with the same healthy, nourishing ingredients many of us use in our own wellness routines, such as adaptogens, superfoods, and organic ingredients. This episode, Rachel shares the backstory on starting and growing her business – inspired after she adopted a pandemic puppy – and all the lessons she’s...

Our podcast is all about celebrating fresh starts, or piloting journeys, and sometimes part of trying something new or starting over is learning to be a beginner again. Whether you’re picking up a new hobby or career, or just trying to stay at the top of your game for something you’ve been doing for years, having a beginner’s mindset is crucial. We discuss: - leading with curiosity and an open mind - getting comfortable trying new things and failing - the pitfalls of overpreparation - the...

We all appreciate the fruits of others’ creative endeavors, but not everyone feels comfortable identifying as creative. And that’s a shame because we believe that everyone can be creative – whether you work in art or nuclear physics. Creativity impacts everything from your personal fulfillment and professional development to even your physical health. This week we’re chatting about how to bring more creativity into your life – and how to keep the creative juices flowing! Our conversation...

Brad Stulberg is a sustainable excellence expert, coach and bestselling author. Brad’s books have collectively sold more than 500,000 copies in 20 languages to help people attain their full potential.  “Master of Change” is his latest book that introduces the concept of rugged flexibility, which promotes a combination of toughness and a willingness to bend without breaking, allowing you to not only withstand change but thrive in its midst. We unpack what this means and also chat about:  - why...

We often talk a lot about how we work, finding passion and balance in work, and why we value hard work. But, this week, we want to talk about where we work – specifically the workspace and environment that helps us feel most comfortable, creative, and productive! We cover everything from: - The downsides of too much desk clutter - Must-have investments for your workspace (from furniture to accessories to tech) - Our passion for ergonomics and standing desks - How much personalization we like...

Lizzie Hanes is an esthetician and the owner of Lizzie Hanes skincare studio in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her journey to finding her career took her from pre-med to midwifery and customer service at a beauty brand before finally landing on esthetics. Lizzie shares her entrepreneurial journey and lessons about growing a business, including: - Juggling both a full-time job and esthetics night school - Working inside mega beauty brand Glossier - Creating your own opportunities – including...

It’s human nature to appreciate security and stability, but can you have too much of a good thing? Is playing it safe more dangerous than taking risks? We chatted about several things this week, including: - Our personal comfort levels with risks and change - Navigating risks as a fun-chaser or Type A personality - How playing it safe gives you a FALSE sense of control and limits your growth - Red flags that show you’ve been playing it too safe - Ignoring people who try to anchor you too...

We’ve all heard the saying, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.” But is chasing a job you love always the best path for everyone? Can you achieve as much, if not more, fulfillment by chasing a dream life instead? And what are the trade-offs of prioritizing one over the other? This week, we discuss all of these questions, along with: - The difference between loving and obsessing over work - How to fall in love (or like) with your job - Learning to compromise and...

You’ve got a host chit-chat with just Renée and Melissa this week! Today, we’re having a fun time talking about tough conversations: why they’re difficult, getting more comfortable with them, and how avoiding them can keep you stuck on autopilot and further away from your goals. We’re sharing some personal anecdotes and advice from professionals (because we need it) on: - How avoiding tough conversations is harmful to your health - The 4Ds for navigating difficult convos: discover, define,...

Raejean and Curt Stewart are spouses, entrepreneurs, outdoor enthusiasts, and budding real estate moguls. After dabbling in a few long-term rentals, the couple purchased land in Ohio during the pandemic and set out to build their first vacation cabin rental (from scratch)! Their cabin is available to book on Airbnb and they’re currently growing what they hope will become a sprawling real estate portfolio… all while maintaining full-time jobs. Raejean and Curt share many business and life...

“Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things” is the latest bestseller by Adam Grant, who is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of books that have sold millions of copies and been translated into 35 languages. In a world obsessed with talent – gifted students, natural athletes, and child prodigies – Hidden Potential offers a new framework for learning so we can raise our aspirations and exceed expectations.  We couldn’t cover everything, but some of the big takeaways about...

Jacob-Bao Nguyen is a New York-based chef who is passionate about Vietnamese culture and food. With a background in printmaking and horticulture, Jacob made a career change into cooking (spoiler alert: without going to culinary school), where he quickly began training at some of the culinary world’s top restaurants. Today he is a freelance private chef and the host of an ongoing Viet-centric pop-up dinner series called Thần Thái. Jacob shares insights about his career pivot and a peek...

This week, we’re taking a look back at our twenties – which aren’t that long ago for the record ;) – and reflecting on some of the things we’d do differently in our work/career lives. (We’ll spare you the gory details of our personal life learnings from that decade…) We chat about so many lessons learned, including:  - The danger of keeping up with the Joneses - Learning to manage stress earlier and speak up sooner - Not allowing money to drive so many of our decisions - Releasing the idea of...

Erica Laws is a dating and relationship coach, and the founder of Laws of Attraction, one of the UK’s leading dating consultancies offering personalized dating and relationship coaching and professional matchmaking services. After over a decade working in corporate HR, where she matched candidates with positions, she decided to pivot and start matchmaking people in the world of love and romance. Erica shares so many great insights about her piloting journey – plus some modern dating advice...