Shows
The GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#24 Returning to Work After a Break - How to Keep Thriving and Not Start All OverYou’ve returned to work after a necessary break—maybe it was for your health, family, or just life. But now you’re wondering… why does it feel like you’re starting from scratch?
In this episode, Monique offers a grounded, strategic take on what it really looks like to return to work after a career pause and the quiet courage it takes to advocate for yourself in the process. Drawing from a real-life conversation, she shares the story of a professional who came back to work only to feel like she had lost her place.
Through t...2025-07-1715 min
The GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#23 Roots and Rediscovery: Reconnecting with Familiar SpacesDo you ever feel a mix of emotions when revisiting places connected to your family history? Whether it's a relative's home, a cherished childhood vacation spot, or a community where you spent a lot of time steeped in memories, sometimes these "family spaces" can feel complicated. We evolve, these places change, and the history can be heavy. But what if these complicated places offered an unexpected opportunity for personal growth and creating new, meaningful connections?
In this personal episode, Monique shares her journey back to her family's farm in the rural Midwest. This isn't where she grew...2025-07-1013 min
The GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#22 Case Study: Using Google NotebookLM to Catch Up on The Great Life Experiment PodcastIn this special case study episode, Monique takes listeners inside an experiment of her own — using Google’s AI tool, Google NotebookLM, to analyze the first 20 episodes of this podcast.
Part recap, part reflection, this episode blends AI with insight and gently explores how technology can help us see our evolution more clearly. Monique shares surprising themes that emerged and offers a simple invitation: What might you discover if you used a tool like this on your work… or your own life?
Whether you’re new to this podcast or have been here from the start, th...2025-07-0325 min
The GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#21 The Internal Struggle with Social Media: A Conversation with Mary Robb, Social Practice CEOWhat if your next professional breakthrough isn’t about doing more but showing up differently?
In this episode, Monique Schafer sits down with powerhouse entrepreneur and social media strategist, Mary Robb. As the founder and CEO of Social Practice, Mary brings the kind of clarity and warmth that cuts through the noise and reminds us what social media was always meant to be: connection, storytelling, and service.
Together, Mary and Monique unpack the messy, beautiful, and often emotional process of showing up online, not just as a business, but as a whole human. They talk ab...2025-06-2645 min
The GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#20 It's OK to Feel Quiet & Still For AwhileThis episode is a little different. No guest. No perfectly mapped-out lesson. Just me — showing up in the middle of a quiet, in-between season.
You know those times when the words don’t come? When everything feels a little slower, a little foggier… and you’re not quite sure what’s next, but you know you’re not where you used to be? That’s where I’ve been.
Today, I’m inviting you into the pause. The space between clarity and action. The soft unraveling that happens when you finally let your nervous system breathe. This isn’t...2025-06-1909 min
The GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#19 Transform Your Leadership, Network, and Influence One Intentional Step at a Time ft. Katie KrugerIn this episode, Monique Schafer welcomes powerhouse executive Katie Kruger for a raw, riveting, and deeply relatable conversation on transformation, grit, and redefining what success looks like.
Raised in rural Alaska, dreaming of skyscrapers while hauling firewood and joining an exclusive male workforce in the oil fields, Katie now leads in the C-suite of a $35B company and has become a sought-after policy influencer and mentor. Her story is a masterclass in reinvention — not the loud, flashy kind, but the kind that happens when no one is watching, when you say “yes” to growth, over and over again...2025-06-1045 min
The GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#18 Pivoting with Purpose: From Marketing Leader to Stay-at-Home-Mom to Fractional CMO and then Franchise Owner ft. Kelsey Murray ft. Kelsey MurrayMonique reconnects with her college roommate and lifelong friend, Kelsey Murray, a former ad agency director with a deep background in marketing and digital strategy. After more than a decade climbing the corporate ladder, she made the bold decision to step away in pursuit of motherhood and a more intentional way of living.
Her career journey has included becoming a stay-at-home mom, launching a photography business, consulting as a fractional CMO, and ultimately stepping into franchise ownership. Each pivot was less about chasing titles and more about rediscovering what truly lights her up.
Together, Monique a...2025-06-0339 min
The GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#17 Legit Overwhelm vs. Lifestyle Overwhelm—And What to Do About ItIn this insightful episode, Monique expands on one of the key themes from Episode 15, Foundation Not Fumes, diving deeper into the nuanced and often misunderstood topic of overwhelm. More importantly, the critical difference between legitimate temporary overwhelm and lifestyle overwhelm.
Drawing inspiration from Mel Robbins and her own lived experience as a parent and a business leader, Monique provides listeners clear, actionable strategies for regaining clarity, presence, and momentum in both life and business.
Whether you’re managing a business, a household, or both, this episode offers practical, compassionate guidance for reclaiming mental clarity and capa...2025-05-2710 min
The GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#16 Training 1000 Women for Corporate Boards ft. Michele AshbyIn this episode, Monique Schafer sits down with Michele Ashby, a trailblazing executive, board director, and founder of ACE LLC. With over three decades of experience in finance and capital markets, and eight board seats under her belt, Michelle is on a mission to train 1,000 women to step into corporate boardrooms with confidence, clarity, and impact.
Together, Monique and Michelle dive into the real path to board leadership — from mastering governance and financial acumen to navigating the unspoken dynamics of the good old boys’ network. They also explore the mindset shifts women need to own their value, silen...2025-05-2354 min
The GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#15: Foundations Not Fumes: Surviving Parenthood and Burnout with Crystal Rose Harvey & Danielle DeannaIn this first fireside chat, Monique Schafer brings together three dynamic women - Crystal Harvey, Danielle Deanna, and herself - to explore the critical theme of building strong foundations in life. Though their paths and experiences differ, they share a common thread: the importance of intentionality, self-awareness, and purposeful growth across personal, professional, and family domains.
As mothers, entrepreneurs, and individuals navigating complex life transitions, they dive deep into how we can create resilient foundations that support us through challenges. From parenting and marriage to business and personal development, this conversation offers raw, honest insights into maintaining...2025-05-161h 06
The GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#14: High-Powered Love for High-Performance Couples ft. Heather ClarkWhat happens when two driven, high-achieving people fall in love and try to do life — careers, kids, dreams — together? You get high-powered love, with all the magic and the mess that comes with it.
In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant and deeply grounded Heather Clark, a licensed therapist and expert trained in trauma reprocessing and EDMR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). She works specifically with high-performing couples who are navigating success, stress, and the sacredness of their relationships. Think of powerhouses who are crushing it at work but are feeling disconnected at home! Heather is th...2025-05-1339 min
The GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#13: After Hours Advice: What to Do When You Are Already Overloaded & Something New Is Added?Picture this: It’s late. The day’s been a lot, and we’re in post-bedtime haze when big thoughts come out. The ones when something from work is still swirling in your head, and you just need to say it out loud to someone who gets it.
That’s exactly where this episode begins.
In this episode, you’ll hear a real-time conversation between me and my husband, Ben, as we talk through a super common leadership challenge — what to do when you’re already maxed out and someone adds another priority to your plate? How do y...2025-05-0930 min
The GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#12: Ask Monique: You’ve Done Everything “Right” But It’s Still Not Working? Let’s Talk Decision-MakingThere are moments in life when you’re doing all the “right” things — you’re showing up, you followed the plan, you played by the rules — and somehow, it’s still not working. It’s frustrating. It’s heartbreaking. And it can leave you questioning everything.
In this episode, I’m opening up about those exact moments — the ones that test your patience, your plans, and your belief in what’s possible. We’ll also explore what it really takes to make decisions when clarity feels far away, and you’re craving direction but getting silence. Whether it’s showing up in your busin...2025-05-0625 min
The GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#11: Ask Monique: Top 5 Human Skills for the Future in the Age of AILet’s be real: AI is here, and it’s flipping the script on how we work, lead, and connect. But here’s the thing they don’t tell you — the most valuable thing in the age of AI is still YOU. Your humanness, your intuition, your vibe, and your ability to make meaning out of a mess.
In this episode, I’m spilling the tea on the top 5 human skills that research says will actually matter as AI continues to evolve. These are not just fluffy soft skills. These are power tools for your career, your creativity, y...2025-05-0231 min
The GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#10: Navigating Life's Flow: Tools for Clarity ft. Cathy HawkYou know that moment when something feels “off” — you can’t quite name it, but you know you’re not where you’re meant to be? Maybe you’re over-functioning. Maybe you’re burned out. Or maybe life just feels muddy, and you’re ready to gain clarity, lit up, and be aligned again.
Today, I’m joined by my mentor and one of the original voices in the coaching space, Cathy Hawk. Cathy is the founding director of Clarity International™ and the co-creator of the groundbreaking Choice Point Map and Clarity River frameworks that have helped thousands reconnect wit...2025-04-2849 minThe GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#09: Ask Monique: How Do You Make Your Voice Heard When You're the New Person?Ever walked into a room, a new team, a class, or a board meeting and thought, “Should I say something? Or just listen and blend in? Yeah, me too.
In this episode of Ask Monique, I’m sharing the conversations I’ve had with real friends and clients who were navigating those few uncertain steps in new spaces. Whether you’re stepping into a new job, joining a leadership team, or just trying to figure out your role in a new community, this one’s for you!
Because here’s the truth: your voice matters. So let’s tal...2025-04-2509 min
The GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#08: Career Pivots, Purposeful Work, and Human-Centered Research — Real Talk with Chelsea OttavianoWhat if the thing that breaks you is also the thing that builds you?
In this episode, I sit down with my jiu-jitsu training bestie, Chelsea Ottaviano, to talk about career pivots, job loss, and what really happens when your career path doesn’t go as planned.
If you’ve ever felt blindsided by your career, sat in your Banana Republic slacks questioning your purpose, or wondered how to actually show up human in a world inching toward AI — this episode is a must-listen.
Chelsea shares her evolution from a deeply unfulfilled techie at a phar...2025-04-2243 min
The GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#07: Ask Monique: How to Talk to Your Boss About a PromotionHello everyone! Today, I’m so excited to bring you the very first episode of the “Ask Monique” series here on The Great Life Experiment Podcast — this is where I take your real questions—the messy, nuanced, “what do I even say or do right now?” kind of moments—and give you practical tools, honest language, and a little pep talk so you can show up with confidence in your work and life.
And we’re kicking this off with a big one: How do I talk to my boss about a promotion?
Not in a vague, wishful wa...2025-04-1812 min
The GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#06: Change Happened... Now What?Let’s talk about something we all go through — change. Whether it’s a career shift, a relationship ending, a big move, or just stepping into a new season of life, change is inevitable. But here’s the thing: change is not just about the ending or the new beginning — it’s also about the “in-between”, where things feel uncertain, uncomfortable, and sometimes downright chaotic.
In this episode, I break down what really happens when things shift in our lives and how to move through uncertainty without getting stuck. We’ll talk about why you don’t need to have it all f...2025-04-1526 min
The GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#05: Navigating Life's Changes, Prioritizing Friendships, and Quarterly Resets ft. Sarah NormanLife’s a series of plot twists, right? One moment, you’ve got everything figured out, and then you’re wondering what’s next, who’s coming along for the ride, and how to even begin recalibrating. If you’ve ever felt the weight of big life transitions, shifting friendships, or just a need for a reset, this episode is for you!
In this episode, I sit down with my bestie, Sarah Norman, who is also the founder of 4610 Wealth Management, to talk about embracing life’s pivots, making space for personal growth, and keeping friendships and our relationsh...2025-04-0849 min
The GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#01: The Unexpected Path — How I Built a Career by Betting on MyselfIf we were sitting across from each other right now, you might ask, “How did you get into tech?” And I probably would have laughed because the truth is — I never planned for any of this.
I didn’t dream of working in a billion-dollar company. I didn’t go to school for product management. I didn’t even know this career existed when I was younger. I’ve taken some wild pivots in my career — from dreaming of running an international non-profit to taking six figures in student loans, to finding myself in tech — building products, leading teams, and...2025-04-0122 minThe GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#02: Season of Fullness: How to Thrive (Not Just Survive) in Life’s Biggest MomentsLet’s get real — how are you feeling right now? Are you running on caffeine and sheer willpower trying to keep up with work, relationships, family, and maybe—just maybe—your own sanity? Does life feel like a chaotic circus act where you’re juggling responsibilities, dodging curveballs, and hoping something does not crash—trust me, you are not alone.
I call it the Season of Fullness — those moments when life is brimming with responsibilities, challenges and maybe a little too much chaos. But here’s the kicker: the Season of Fullness isn’t just about feeling overwhelmed. It’s a...2025-04-0120 minThe GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#03: Getting Stuff Done by Building Trust in TeamsGetting groups of people to work together, especially on big, complex, high-stakes projects, is one of the hardest things in business. And guess what? AI isn’t going to solve this for us. We still have to figure out how to align different personalities, priorities, and working styles to make progress.
In this episode, we’re diving exactly into that: why group projects get stuck, how to break through the gridlock, and what actually works when leading teams through tough, messy challenges. Whether it’s a cross-functional project at work, a startup team, or even just trying to plan...2025-04-0127 min
The GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#04: Being Brave For Yourself: Two Female Besties Chatting About Jiu-Jitsu Experience ft. Chelsea OttavianoYou know that moment when you’re starting something new, heart pounding, wondering, “Can I actually do this?” Yeah, we’ve been there — on the mat, in life, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
In this episode, I am joined by my Jiu-Jitsu bestie, Chelsea Ottaviano, to talk about what it’s really like to start Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a woman. Just so we’re clear — we are not experts; we’re just two blue belts figuring it out as we go. But what we do know is what it feels like to push past the fear, the injuries, and the “Am I even cut...2025-04-0146 minThe GREAT LIFE Experiment Podcast#00: Welcome to The Great Life Experiment PodcastWelcome to The Great Life Experiment Podcast! I’m your host, Monique Schafer, and together, we’ll grapple with the messy and beautiful, and ever-changing world of business and life.
There is no one right way to do life. That’s why we’re here — to test, try, and experiment. Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder, building your own things, or just trying to make sense of all the change happening around you, this is the space where we navigate it all. Expect solo deep dives, dynamic roundtables, and conversations that will challenge your thinking, stretch your perspect...2025-03-3106 min
The Hockey Think Tank PodcastEPISODE 300!On this week’s episode, Topher and Jeff are celebrating 300 episodes of the podcast! Like Toph says at the start of each episode - "a little bit of education, a little bit of inspiration," and an unbelievable experience for us each and every week for over five years!Vechs also has a HUGE announcement at the beginning and we couldn’t be more excited for him!In this episode we talk about some of the amazing guests we have had the opportunity to have on the podcast over the years, how they’ve impacted us, and th...2024-02-191h 11
ThinkTech HawaiiCarbon in Soil, Not in Atmosphere (Code Green)Carbon Sequestration, Reduce CO2, Soil. The hosts for this show are Howard Wiig and Monique Schafer. The guest is Susan Crow.
Dr. Crow's $40 million grant will a) combat climate change through nature-based solutions in natural and working lands, b) reduce and reuse waste for fertilizer and soil amendment, c) create a resilient and abundant local food supply, and d) provide healthier food options that will ultimately create a healthier state population.
The ThinkTech YouTube Playlist for this show is https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQpkwcNJny6nMw4RxJwoYzhZyXl8mz7hp
Please visit our Thi...2022-10-2534 min
Der Online Business Podcast mit Caroline Preuss | Unternehmertum, Marketing & Social Media*Die ersten 1.000 Follower* So gelingt dein Business-Start auf InstagramMeine Content-Managerin Beate verrät dir den 6-Schritte-Fahrplan
In der heutigen Podcast-Folge schaut sich meine Content-Managerin Beate gemeinsam mit dir den größten Frust-Faktor auf Instagram an: Die Anfangsphase, in der man sich 24/7 um neue Follower bemüht, aber der Stein noch nicht wirklich ins Rollen gekommen ist.
Außerdem erfährst du, welche 6 Schritte in dieser Phase für dich wichtig sind und wie du auch mit wenigen Followern schon erfolgreich verkaufen kannst!
Du willst dir auf Instagram eine aktive, kaufkräftige Community aufbauen?
→ Melde dich für Planbar Sichtbar an:
https://carolinepreuss.de/planbar-sic...2022-08-2920 min
Por*Ass Podcast#14 - Monique H. - Race & Recovery on a BudgetRace & Recovery on a budget. Monique and I have a candid convo on the recovery process while being a person of color in our recovery community. How we can be of service to other POCs (Persons of Color) as a resource that recovery is accessible while healing from our own personal trauma.
Support our Artists! - Intro music - The Mick Schafer Band - Tear of Joy
Other 12 step Recovery Resources for the Friends and Family affected by alcoholism/addiction/family dysfunction. There is hope.
Al-Anon/Alateen - Help and Hope for the family and friends of alcoholics
Nar-Anon...2020-05-0348 min
Aufwachen!Polemisch & PolitischDonnerstag, 10. August 2017, 16:26 UhrMartin Schäfer, Sprecher des Auswärtigen Amts, ist ein Profi. Er weiß, dass er nicht alles sagen darf. Er weiß aber nicht immer, wie er das Viele hinter dem Wenigen versteckt lassen kann. Also trickst er und erklärt alles abseits des politisch Sagbaren zur Polemik, über die man ohnehin nicht sprechen würde. Der Fragesteller wird so zum polemisierenden Kollateralschaden erklärt: Was erlaube er sich? Wir wollten lediglich wissen, wo das Wissen herkomme, die Taliban seien Terroristen 1. Klasse, die zivile Opfer in Kauf nähmen, aber nicht provozierten: Verschlusssache!
Wir danke...2017-08-102h 57Aufwachen!Polemisch & PolitischDonnerstag, 10. August 2017, 16:26 UhrMartin Schäfer, Sprecher des Auswärtigen Amts, ist ein Profi. Er weiß, dass er nicht alles sagen darf. Er weiß aber nicht immer, wie er das Viele hinter dem Wenigen versteckt lassen kann. Also trickst er und erklärt alles abseits des politisch Sagbaren zur Polemik, über die man ohnehin nicht sprechen würde. Der Fragesteller wird so zum polemisierenden Kollateralschaden erklärt: Was erlaube er sich? Wir wollten lediglich wissen, wo das Wissen herkomme, die Taliban seien Terroristen 1. Klasse, die zivile Opfer in Kauf nähmen, aber nicht provozierten: Verschlusssache!
Wir danke...2017-08-102h 57