Podcasts about messy middle

Stuck writing your novel? Wherever your draft stalls out—chapter one, 20,000 words, the messy middle—that spot isn't random. It's a clue that tells you exactly what your story is missing.Almost every writer who gets stuck while drafting a novel assumes the same thing: that hitting a wall means something about them. That they're not disciplined enough, they're not a "real" writer, or they simply don't have what it takes to finish a book.But getting stuck isn't a verdict on you as a writer. In fact, it's valuable information you can use to your advantage. Because the exact place where you lose momentum may just reveal the missing piece in your story's foundation. And the good news is that those gaps are fixable.In this episode, I'm breaking down the three most common places writers get stuck while drafting a novel, what each one reveals about your story, and how to fix the underlying issue so you can move forward without anything holding you back. You'll hear me talk about things like:[00:54] Why getting stuck doesn't mean you're a bad writer (and how your stall gives you valuable information about your story).[02:27] Why writers get stuck in chapter one and how to tell when you have a situation instead of a fully developed story.[05:16] The real reason many writers hit a wall around 20,000 words (and the missing piece that keeps Act 1 from moving into Act 2).[08:32] Why the messy middle feels impossible to write when your antagonist isn't creating enough pressure and conflict.[13:42] How Stefanie, Cheryl, and Gina found the missing pieces in their stories, broke through their sticking points, and went on to finish and publish their novels.Getting stuck isn't proof that you're not meant to write your book. It's a sign that your story is asking you to strengthen something underneath the surface. And when you know what's missing, you can go back, build the foundation, and move forward with a story that can actually support a full-length novel.

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Title: The Perils of Pride and FrustrationMain Passage: Numbers 20Moses was described as the most humble man on earth during his life. But no one is perfect. Towards the end of Moses' life he will give in to pride and frustration as he strikes a rock to provide water. It may have seemed like a little thing but it wasn't. Regardless of how long we have followed and served the Lord we must always be alive to these dangers as no one is immune.

From Big Tech Burnout to Land Flipping Freedom: Mike Deaton's “DIRT” Framework Host John Duffin interviews Mike Deaton, who spent over 20 years in big tech supply chain roles before being laid off in 2016 on the same day as his wife, Ligia. Imagine the feeling when both partners endure a serious career change on the same day!! Instead of returning to corporate work, they mapped their values and “perfect day,” hired a coach, and used a land-flipping toolkit Mike had previously purchased to build a business focused on buying vacant land at deep discounts and reselling without renovations. Mike explains the simplicity of land compared to other real estate models, early challenges around mindset and sales, and the importance of combining systems with soft skills. He outlines his coaching approach and DIRT framework—Define strategy, Identify markets, Reach out to owners, and perform Transactions—anchored in each person's “why,” celebrating small wins and leveraging different forms of capital, such as relationships, time, and know-how.The impact of pivoting and change, especially when forced, is difficult. But what I got from Mike was the clarity that when a new situation presents itself, and it feels true to you, you have to seize that moment. To learn more about Mike Deaton and purchase his book, click the links below. https://flippingdirt.us/https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbdeaton/00:00 Love of Transformation00:36 Podcast Intro and Guest03:06 From Big Tech to Layoffs05:33 Choosing Freedom Over Following the Herd5:57 Discovering Land Flipping09:03 Career Highs and Burnout15:14 Resisting the Safe Default17:27 Building a Life Together19:44 Coaching and Mindset Shift21:18 Land Flipping Explained22:09 Messy Middle and First Win22:50 First Deal Momentum23:14 Coaching Done Differently24:43 Soft Skills Origins29:14 Transformation Through Wins31:34 Land Business Basics34:17 Capital Time Matrix39:01 Network As Capital41:56 Values Then Action46:55 Outro And Resources

Is the "messy middle" actually where the magic happens? In this episode, Coach Sarah joins Fatima and Danika to discuss why lasting health and fitness rarely live in the extremes. They dive into breaking free from the all-or-nothing mindset, why balance can feel surprisingly uncomfortable, and how doing just enough to support your goals-while still fully living your life-is often the most sustainable path to success.

Get in Touch! Send us a message.Install day. 8:31 AM. Your phone buzzes.Your client has been texting since the crew arrived at seven — excited updates, a photo of the gutted kitchen, a thumbs-up emoji. But this one is different."Something looks off with the upper left corner. The doors look crooked? Is this normal? Should I be worried?"It's an overlay door before hinge adjustment. It always looks like that at this stage. You've seen it a hundred times. Completely normal.You type the explanation. Send. Three minutes later: "Okay but the gap on the right side looks bigger than the left? I'm trying not to panic but I'm panicking a little."Your client has never watched a kitchen installation before. She has no frame of reference for what "in progress" looks like — the open face frames, the doors that aren't flush, the hardware still in a bag on the floor. All of it looks unfinished. Because it is. That's what midway through looks like.Fielding each worry as it arrives doesn't fix the anxiety. It trains the client that texting you produces immediate attention. You'll spend the entire install day managing panic instead of anything else.In this episode, we walk through the Messy Middle message: the one text sent the night before that keeps your phone in your pocket all day.What you'll hear:Why reactive reassurance makes the problem worse, not betterThe thirty-second personalization that transforms a generic template into something that actually landsWhat happens when clients arrive at install day with a frame instead of silenceGet the AI Note-taking Guide → cabinetnotes.com

Title: Who's the Boss?Main Passage: Numbers 12,16Moses was a revered leader. But no one is universally loved. During the wilderness wandering there were at least two major challenges to Moses' authority. How do we deal with disagreements with leadership? And how should we respond when we are in Moses' shoes?

This week's rewind takes us back to one of my favorite conversations, with watercolor artist, live wedding painter, and podcaster Paige Lindsey. Paige got laid off in March 2020 and turned that gut-punch into Paige Lindsey Design, but the real story starts years earlier, with a BFA program that left her feeling like a failure and a paint-and-sip studio that taught her more about running a business than art school ever did. We get into all of it. The scholarship trip to Italy that gave her the confidence to come home and start over. How markets, workshops, and a wildly successful bridal bouquet giveaway during lockdown built the foundation for the business she runs today, one that now spans commissions, live wedding painting, workshops both online and in person, and her own podcast. Paige is also refreshingly honest about the parts nobody posts about: therapy, an early labor she suspects was brought on by overdoing it, and the ongoing work of unlearning hustle culture now that she's a mom. If you've ever felt like your path has to look tidy to count, or like you need a mentor to show up before you're allowed to start, this one's for you. Paige's advice, plus her plans for teaching other artists how to build corporate and small-business partnerships, might be the nudge you need this Friday. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Everything is Logistics, Blythe talks with Sarit Tamir, CEO and co-founder of Seeteria, about how computer vision is helping warehouse teams find lost time inside their operations.SeeTeria is a software-only company that connects to existing CCTV cameras inside warehouses, distribution centers, fulfillment centers, and 3PL facilities. The platform watches floor activity, detects operational friction, and sends real-time alerts to teams before small problems turn into bigger delays.They cover:Why warehouse teams still miss what happens between system scansHow existing CCTV cameras can become an operational visibility toolWhat dock queues, idle doors, dwell time, staging congestion, and near-misses revealWhy the “messy middle” of warehouse operations adds up quicklyHow real-time alerts help floor teams act fasterHow managers can use shift summaries to find recurring patternsWhy the goal is to support warehouse workers, not replace themThis conversation is part of the CargoRex AI Use Cases in Logistics guide, featuring real examples of how logistics companies are using AI across freight, warehousing, procurement, visibility, and operations.Read the full guide here:https://cargorex.io/research/ai-use-cases-in-logistics/LINKS:SeeTeria:https://seeteria.comCargoRex AI Use Cases in Logistics Guide:https://cargorex.io/research/ai-use-cases-in-logistics/ -----------------------------------------THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why.CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.Digital Dispatch maximizes and manages your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers. 

Send us Fan MailWhat does it really take to build a successful practice when you are already excellent at what you do? In this episode of the Serve First, Sell Later Marketing podcast, Sylvia Garibaldi explores the “messy middle” — the uncomfortable stage where high-performing professionals are doing the work, improving their marketing and business development, building relationships, following up, and refining their practice, but may not yet be seeing obvious results.For lawyers, mediators, financial and divorce professionals,  this stage can feel frustrating because professional excellence does not automatically make practice growth easy. Sylvia explains why the most successful professionals do not quit too early, chase every shiny tactic, or assume slow progress means failure. Instead, they stay strategic, seek the right guidance, remain consistent, and keep building before the proof is obvious.What you'll learn:01:51 Why Success Stories Skip This03:17 Defining the Messy Middle05:00 When Results Stay Quiet07:17 High Performers Hit Doubt13:34 Guidance Over Shiny Tactics17:47 What the Messy Middle Requires21:54 Keep Going Before ProofResources:Sign up for our next FREE Workshop on August 12th, 2026. Feeling stuck about how to grow your practice, book a free strategy call here.#129 Only 6 Months Left: The 3 Marketing Priorities That Matter Most #123 Why Top Lawyers & Mediators Are Quietly Building Media Companies #111 You Don't Attract Clients by Accident: Design a Practice for Ideal ClientsClick here and don't forget to hit the "Follow" button so you never miss a new episode!Download Free Guide: How Lawyers and Mediators Can Attract More Ideal ClientsWant more insights like this?  Sign up for our newsletter.Sign up for our free LinkedIn newsletter on marketing your professional practice Connect with me on LinkedInJoin our online communitySubscribe to my YouTube channel  

Kea Nonyana from PrimeXBT unpacks South32's $5.6 billion sale of its Richards Bay aluminium smelter to Alcoa, before looking back at the first half of the year, with the JSE and gold under pressure while US equities, South Korea and oil emerged as the standout winners. David Crosoer from PPS Investments explains why he's rethinking the traditional equity-heavy portfolio. John Taylor from Liberty discusses the firm's Messy Middle research, focusing on the financial realities facing professionals aged 35 to 55.

In this live call-in episode of Stay Paid, Josh, Luke, and Stephen answer real questions from real estate professionals across the country. Lainie (Texas) leads a 35-agent team doing $85M and wants to know: does the future belong to boutique brokerages or large-scale recruiting operations? Luke and Stephen break down why she may be stuck in the "messy middle" — and what her two options actually are. Lisa is a solo luxury agent doing 30+ transactions and $350K/year entirely on referrals — and she wants to scale strategically without chaos or burnout. Luke and Stephen walk her through how to audit her lead sources, delegate smartly, and fix one thing at a time. Beth has two businesses — real estate and a professional document service — and asks how to cross-market them to the same client base. Luke explains the concept of trigger events in a buyer's journey and how to use them to introduce a second service naturally. Whether you're managing a team, flying solo, or juggling more than one business, this episode has something for you.

You're not at the beginning anymore. You know something has to change — and honestly, you've already started. But you're nowhere near the finish line either. You're just in it. The messy middle. Tired, unsure, not certain what your next step even is. If that's where you are, this episode is a gentle hand on your shoulder. Lindsey shares the truth that reshaped how she sees recovery and coaching — the quality of your life is a reflection of the quality of the questions you ask yourself — and in today's episode she walks through four questions she recently sat with alongside the women in her support group program: the Recovery Collective. Not questions that fix you. Questions that get to the root. Why you feel stuck in the middle... In the messy middle, we start asking ourselves the same draining questions on a loop: Why can't I get this right? What's wrong with me? Why am I still struggling? Here's the thing — your mind answers whatever you ask it. Ask what's wrong with you, and it will go find evidence and hand you a list. That's not the truth; that's just your brain doing its job with a bad question. So sometimes being stuck isn't a sign you're failing. It's a sign you're asking questions that can only ever pull up weeds. The way through isn't a better answer. It's a better question. The four questions (and why each one matters).... What would you do if you couldn't fail? The messy middle is ruled by fear of failure — you hold back because what if it doesn't work? Take failure off the table, even just in your imagination, and your real desire floats to the surface. Your honest answer is a clue. It points straight at the step you've been afraid to take. How are you, really? That one word — really — changes everything. You're so practiced at "I'm fine" you can say it in your sleep. In the middle, we numb out and stop checking in because we're afraid of what we'll find. This question is an invitation to tell yourself the truth, even if you're the only one listening. Why are you worth knowing? Not what you do. Not what you accomplish, provide, or hold together — why you, underneath all of it, are worth knowing. This is the one that undoes people, because so many women have been valued for their output for so long they've forgotten they're worth knowing just as they are. Learning to finish the sentence "I'm worth knowing because…" is some of the most important work there is. What does freedom mean to you? Not freedom in the abstract — yours. You can't walk toward something you can't picture. For one woman it's a quiet mind. For another, being fully present at her kid's party. For another, peace at the table. Naming yours, specifically, turns freedom from a someday fantasy into a real destination you can start moving toward. What these four have in common.... Notice that not one of them is about fixing you. Not one is a rule or a behavior. They go underneath all of that — to desire, honesty, worth, and vision. That's the difference between pulling a weed and getting to the root. And it's the heart of why being coached, and being held by other women, can move you further in one honest night than months of white-knuckling alone. A good question, asked by someone who cares, changes things. A few lines from the episode "The quality of your life is a reflection of the quality of the questions you ask yourself." "Your brain will answer whatever you ask it. Ask what's wrong with you, and it hands you a list." "The way out of the messy middle isn't a better answer. It's a better question." "You are worth knowing — just as you are." "The messy middle isn't where you're stuck. It's where you're becoming." Your reflection this week: Take the four into the middle with you. Don't rush them — let them work on you over a few days: What would you do if you couldn't fail? How are you, really? Why are you worth knowing? What does freedom mean to you? If it helps, journal one each day and notice what surfaces. The point isn't a tidy answer. It's the honesty the question pulls up. Come be held in the Recovery Collective!! Every other Wednesday night, a circle of women gathers in the space Lindsey holds — and they go to the root together. They ask the brave questions, sit in the real answers, carry them between sessions, and carry each other through the messy middle. If you're tired of doing this alone and something in you just leaned forward, there's a seat here for you. Find everything at www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective  Connect with Lindsey:

Hitting your biggest revenue milestone and feeling like it still isn't enough doesn't mean something's wrong with you. It usually means you've outgrown the version of you that got you here.In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on what's actually been happening behind the scenes — a huge rebrand dropping in July, a personal identity shift I'm still in the middle of right now, and why becoming a new version of yourself is messy by design.I'm getting raw about the part most people hide: the conflicting launch emails that went out to hundreds of people, the cringe of building in public, and what scaling to multiple six figures actually required me to become — not just do.Whether you're a massage therapist taking your work online for the first time, a physical therapist building your first group program, or a seasoned practitioner ready to scale, consider this your permission slip to be a work in progress and a success story at the same time.In this episode:The behind-the-scenes of my rebrand — new name, new feel, new eraWhat hitting multiple six figures actually required me to becomeThe launch mistake that sent conflicting emails to hundreds of people (and what happened next)Why your credentials, your personality, your sensitivity don't disappear as you grow — they just get freedHow to build safety in the messiness so you can keep showing up, even when it feels cringe-worthyIf you've been waiting to feel "ready" before you grow, this one's for you. Ready was never the requirement.Follow me on Instagram →  igniteyourwellnessbusinessGet the free guide to going online- decide your offer and use IG to fill it! https://workshop-to-create-workshops.pages.ontraport.net/online-offerReady to work with me? Book a consultation call on my website!→ https://igniteurwellness.com/business-coach-for-health-coaches/

In this episode, Steph gets real about a stage of business that almost nobody talks about, but nearly every coach and entrepreneur has lived through it: the messy middle.If you've ever felt like you're doing 80% of the right things and still can't break through, this episode names exactly what's going on, and what to do about it._____________________Free Training on July 8th: $100K Group ProgramsRegister here: https://stephcrowder.com/workshopSold Out Group ProgramsJoin the waitlist: https://stephcrowder.com/sogpConnect with StephInstagram: @heystephcrowder

What happens when you've achieved everything you thought would make you happy… but something still feels missing? In this episode of Leading You, Julie Hyde sits down with Saru Gupta to explore a reality many high-achieving leaders experience but rarely talk about openly: emotional flatness. On paper, life looks successful. The career is progressing. Relationships are intact. Goals are being achieved. Yet underneath it all sits a quiet sense of disconnection that many leaders struggle to explain. Drawing on her own journey through corporate leadership, burnout, grief, divorce and personal transformation, Saru shares why mindset alone is not always enough. Together, Julie and Saru explore the connection between nervous system health, emotional regulation and embodied leadership, and why reconnecting with ourselves may be the missing piece many ambitious people are searching for. This conversation challenges the belief that the answer is always another promotion, another goal or another achievement. Instead, it offers a different perspective: that sustainable leadership starts by understanding what your body, emotions and nervous system have been trying to communicate all along. In this episode, we discuss: Why high achievers often mistake emotional flatness for burnout The difference between mindset work and nervous system regulation Why constantly chasing the next achievement doesn't create lasting fulfilment How emotional awareness helps us become stronger leaders The signs you may be disconnected from yourself without realising it Why curiosity is more powerful than self-criticism The role of embodied leadership in sustainable success How nervous system health influences performance and wellbeing Practical ways to reconnect with yourself Three powerful questions to help you slow down and listen If you've ever felt successful on paper but disconnected on the inside, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on what it really means to thrive. Timestamps 00:00 Nervous System First00:22 Podcast Introduction & Meet Saru Gupta01:56 Success on the Outside, Disconnection on the Inside03:38 Chasing the Next High05:28 Leaving Corporate and the Crash That Followed06:24 The Whole Self Method Explained09:12 Why We Avoid Difficult Feelings12:11 What Emotional Flatness Really Feels Like14:21 Clarity Compass Break15:13 Mindset vs Nervous System Regulation18:22 Why Internal Safety Matters More Than Strategy18:40 The Whole Self Method Pillars19:46 Rewiring the Nervous System21:58 The Ordinary Signs You're Reconnecting23:19 The Messy Middle and Burnout Recovery24:20 The Self-Criticism and Burnout Cycle25:52 Starting with Curiosity28:14 The Two-Minute Daily Practice30:34 Three Questions to Ask Yourself Daily31:46 Closing Reflections and Farewell Links:Learn more about my group coaching program hereGet the Clarity Compass here Connect with Julie:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/Instagram: @juliehydeleadsWebsite: https://juliehyde.com.au Connect with Saru:Website: https://sarugupta.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saru-gupta/Instagram: @iamsaruguptaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we move into the book of Numbers. The Israelites had been led to the edge of the Promised Land but they were hesitant to enter it. After the report of the spies the choose their fear over faith in the Lord. The result was a diversion back into the wilderness for the next 40 years. Failing to follow the Lord in faith has consequences.

Most SaaS founders in the messy middle are making the same expensive mistake — building first and validating never. In this episode, Jeff Mains sits down with Corinne Kavanagh, founder of CAC Media & Publishing and former Microsoft Azure Data team contributor (part of a team that drove $500M+ in revenue with 76% YoY growth), to unpack what it actually takes to scale past the growth plateau.Corinne shares why your top-of-funnel obsession may be quietly killing your growth, how to validate demand before writing a single line of code, and why a fractional CMO may be the smartest hire you're not making. She also introduces her CARE re-engagement method, her SaaS Marketing Playbook, and the SCALE framework for building an AI-first marketing department without homogenizing your brand.If your business is growing and suffocating at the same time, this episode is for you.Key Takeaways0:24 — Welcome & episode framing: Why the messy middle is where most SaaS companies stall out3:22 — Guest intro: Corinne Kavanagh, founder of CAC Media, fractional CMO firm for SaaS & tech companies4:10 — Startups vs. enterprise: What big companies do differently — and what smaller companies can learn from retail validation models5:12 — Feature prioritization trap: Why founders rush to build before validating demand, and how to use micro-testing ($5–$10 ad spend) to validate before committing resources15:30 — Pre-development checklist: ICP study → messaging tests → distribution partner conversations → pricing research → competitive analysis17:09 — Competitor vs. customer time allocation: Why founders should be "in all channels" — and how AI tools can automate competitive monitoring23:04 — AI modernization in marketing: Efficiency gains without sacrificing brand authenticity — plus the importance of an AI use policy23:49 — Early churn warning systems: The retention play most SaaS teams ignore — and how to re-engage customers before they leave24:24 — The CARE Method: Corinne's re-engagement framework for growing lifetime value and sealing the leaky bucket25:08 — Account-based marketing (ABM): Why a focused list of 100 ideal accounts beats a massive TAM for execution27:01 — Growth plateaus: How to read your revenue chart — what "bubbles" mean vs. a flat line, and what each signals about your acquisition and retention engines29:48 — Aligning marketing, product & sales: Breaking down the wall between sales and marketing through co-invention, shared messaging, and CMO-level integration40:38 — The SCALE Framework: How to build an AI-first marketing department without producing brand slop45:24 — #1 marketing shift for 2026: Stop running your company — start building systems that run it for youTweetable Quotes"You can beat everyone else to market — but if your customer is not ready and chomping at the bit to buy it, it doesn't matter." — Corinne Kavanagh"Stop thinking about top of funnel only. Retention is half the story, and most SaaS companies are ignoring it." — Corinne Kavanagh"A consultant does a drive-by. They drop strategy and leave. That's not how you actually scale." — Corinne Kavanagh"If you're in the feature rat race, step back. Ask yourself: am I creating a category, or just chasing competitors?" — Corinne Kavanagh"Your marketing team should feel responsible for the P&L — not just the pipeline." — Corinne Kavanagh"Don't give sales a playbook and say 'go sell it.' Alignment has to be co-invention, or no one buys in." — Corinne Kavanagh"The most dangerous thing you can do with your runway right now might be shipping the next great feature." — Jeff Mains"Pretend you have a $200M company. What would you stop doing that you're doing right now?" — Corinne KavanaghSaaS Leadership Lessons1. Validate demand before you build — always. Retail companies won't spin up a new product line without marketplace testing. SaaS founders should apply the same discipline. Run micro-ads ($5–$10), talk to a pre-engagement cohort, and confirm that desire is "fiery enough to click the buy button" before writing a line of code.2. Your leaky bucket is as dangerous as an empty funnel. Pouring money into top-of-funnel while ignoring churn is a losing strategy. Build early churn warning systems using platform data (login frequency, monthly active users) and re-engage customers proactively before they silently leave out the back door.3. Bring marketing into R&D — not just into launch. Marketing shouldn't receive a finished product and be told to "figure out how to message it." A CMO-level voice in early R&D conversations means better competitive analysis, more relevant feature decisions, and messaging that actually lands in the marketplace.4. Break down the wall between sales and marketing. The old grudge match — "sales can't close our leads" vs. "marketing gives us garbage" — is a systems failure. Solve it through collaborative co-invention: shared meetings, shared messaging, and shared accountability for what's working.5. Category creation beats feature competition. If you're in a feature rat race with competitors, you've already lost the game. Step back and ask: how do we position ourselves so far apart from the competition that comparison becomes irrelevant? Companies like WooCommerce and GoDaddy didn't win by having more features — they won by creating new categories.6. Systems are your most important 2026 marketing investment. The #1 shift every SaaS founder needs to make: stop running the machine manually. Build systems around what's consuming your time, project forward to what a 100X customer base would require, and install those systems now. That's what gets you out of the messy middle for good.Guest Resourcescc@cac-media.comhttps://cac-media.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/corinnefss/https://www.instagram.com/corinnecava/https://twitter.com/Corinne_C_WAEpisode SponsorThe Futureproof Series - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfkXKUPZ5xuOqMPR7_gzGybncTtavyR1NThe Captain's KeysSmall Fish, Big Pond – https://smallfishbigpond.com/ Use the promo code ‘SaaSFuel'Champion Leadership Group – https://championleadership.com/SaaS Fuel ResourcesWebsite - https://championleadership.com/Jeff Mains on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkmains/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jeffkmainsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/thesaasguy/Instagram - https://instagram.com/jeffkmains

Day 16 of The 30 Day Walking Challenge. This is the hardest part! During today's ten-minute walk, Dave talks about how to navigate the Messy Middle.Download your FREE 30 Day Fitness Chain Tracker for this challengeSupport the mission of Walking is Fitness and buy Dave a coffeeCheck out the sponsors of Walking is FitnessRythm Health is the world's easiest blood test to help you learn what's happening inside your body. They are offering you 15% off your first month and free shipping at rythmhealth.com/walkingI've been using Warby Parker glasses for nine years I love them! Buy one pair of glasses and get 20% off any additional pairs at warbyparker.com/walkingSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of the Pyllon Ultra Pod, Paul sits down with Pyllon coach John Connolly for a more informal conversation about training, racing and the things that often sit beneath the surface for endurance athletes. This is not a polished lecture or a neat list of training tips. It is more of a coach-to-coach conversation about what we notice in athletes, what people often struggle with, and how easy it can be to overthink the process when training starts to feel uncertain. We talk about the messy middle of training, the gap between what athletes think they should be feeling and what they are actually experiencing, and why honesty is such an important part of long-term development. A quick note on the audio: we had some technical issues during the recording, so Paul's side of the conversation is not quite where we would normally want it to be. We have cleaned it up as best we can, and decided to share the episode because the conversation felt worth putting out. In this episode we cover: The uncertainty athletes often carry into race season The value of honest conversations between coach and athlete The importance of staying connected to the bigger picture What we are noticing in runners at this point in the year This one is a little more relaxed, a little less polished, and hopefully useful if you are somewhere in the middle of your own training process. Thanks for listening. You can find more from Pyllon here: Substack: https://pyllon.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pyllon and https://www.instagram.com/pyllonultra YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/pyllon Website: https://www.pyllonultra.com

The Messy Middle | Digging Deeper 212Sometimes the hardest seasons aren't the ones where you've walked away from God — they're the ones where you've been faithful, you've been obedient, and life still feels difficult.This week, Bobby and Jen continue the conversation around Sunday's message in Matthew 14 and unpack what it looks like to trust God through difficult seasons. They talk about why we're often tempted to retreat when life gets hard, why Jesus meets us in the middle of the storm, and how keeping our eyes fixed on Him changes the way we walk through it.They also celebrate this week's baptisms and share stories of obedience happening throughout our church.

In this episode, I'm joined by intuitive guide and spiritual teacher Sean Nicole for a conversation about authenticity, self-trust, anxiety, control, and what it really means to reconnect with yourself.Sean shares her journey from living a life that looked successful on paper to building a life that feels deeply aligned from the inside out. Together, we explore how anxiety can sometimes serve as information rather than something to simply fix, why so many of us become disconnected from our true selves, and how Human Design, spirituality, travel, and life experiences can help us come back home to who we are.We also talk about:the difference between a life that looks good and a life that feels goodhow anxiety can signal disconnection from yourselfreleasing control and learning to trust lifewhy growth often requires moving through the messy middlethe challenge of letting go of old identities and expectationsfollowing your soul before you know the outcomeusing Human Design as a tool for self-trust and authenticitywhat it means to become your most essential selfIf you've ever felt like you've outgrown the life you've built, questioned whether you're on the right path, or struggled to trust yourself through periods of change, this conversation is for you.About Sean:Sean Nicole is an intuitive guide and spiritual teacher based in Mexico City, and the host of the podcast Getting Essence-ial. Through her signature Essence Reading, group programs, and Essence-ial Immersions, she helps high-achievers who've outgrown the life they built reconnect to who they truly are and become their most essential selves.Connect with Sean:Website: https://www.seannicolem.comInstagram: @_seannicole _✨ Take the Over-Functioning Archetypes Quiz✨ Ready to explore your patterns on a deeper level?Pattern Readings help uncover the subconscious beliefs and relational dynamics shaping the way you move through life, work, and relationships.Learn more or book here: Pattern Reading.Any questions? You can always email me at nicole@nicoleguenaconsulting.com

The freight industry's transition to alternative power is firmly in the “messy middle”This week, Chris Caplice is joined by Mike Roeth, Executive Director of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency, to unpack what that actually means for carriers, shippers, and the broader supply chain.Mike has been leading NACFE since its early days and brings insights from years of work plus the latest “Run on Less” demonstration and cost analysis on how fleets are navigating this evolving landscape.In this conversation, they cover:Why diesel, BEV, hydrogen, natural gas, and biodiesel will continue to coexistWhere battery electric vehicles are gaining traction first (regional + drayage)What NACFE's latest “Run on Less” data reveals about real-world adoptionWhy there's no single “winner” in the near-term transitionHow carriers and shippers can make practical decisions amid uncertaintyIf you're trying to make sense of where freight energy is headed next, this one's worth a listen.For previous episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter, visit: dat.com/podcast/freightvine

A recent trip to Texas gave John a front-row seat to two powerful examples of growth. One was a day spent learning alongside experienced business leaders. The other was a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating a husband-and-wife team's dream becoming reality. In this episode, John shares the surprising lesson connecting both experiences and explains why the most successful business owners never stop seeking wisdom, perspective, and guidance from others. Episode Links: Apple Podcast Listeners- Copy and paste the links below into your browser. Upcoming Events: Profit Accelerator LIVE (June 26–27, 2026, Richmond, VA):An intensive experience designed to help lawn and landscape business owners dial in their numbers, increase profitability, and build a scalable business with clear strategy and execution. Sign up and learn more: https://Profitacceleratorlive.com   Lawn & Landscape Technology Conference (July 22–24, Scottsdale, AZ) :A hands-on event focused on AI, software, and systems to help you run a more efficient and profitable green industry business. Sign up and learn more: https://www.lltechconference.com/ Equip Expo (October 20–23, 2026, Louisville, KY): The largest trade show in the green industry, bringing together contractors, equipment manufacturers, and business leaders for four days of equipment demos, networking, and real-world strategies to help you grow and scale your business. Tickets are just $15.00 with promo code PAJAK through September 10, then prices go up. Lock in your ticket now and take advantage of the discount. Sign up and learn more:  https://plus.mcievents.com/EquipExpo2026?RefId=PAJAK Show Partners: Yardbook Simplify your business and be more profitable. Please visit www.Yardbook.com  Get 30 days of Premium Business level of Yardbook for FREE with promo code PAJAK Relay Relay is small business banking that puts you in complete control of what you are earning, spending, and saving. Click here to sign up for Relay and get $50.00 cash bonus!http://join.relayfi.com/promo/get-50-ulumkswykjzwi4dqsm?referralcode=profitswithpajak&utm_source=influencer&utm_medium=podcast 

Title: The Need for HolinessMain passage: Leviticus 17-27God did not arbitrarily put all of the rules in place for the Israelites. He was teaching them that He is holy. And for good reason! They were to be holy as He is holy. The same is true for us today. We may not be bound by all of the statutes in Leviticus anymore. But we are still called to be holy as God is holy.

In this episode, Meg and Heather discuss burnout for women, especially the mental load in this space of life. Meg reference a book on burnout written by twins as well as a TED talk they did on recognizing burnout and what to do about it. They also discuss some natural tools you could use - Adaptiv and Motivate. Meg also stresses the value of community - she hosts an online community called "Balance in the Messy Middle" which is perfect for walking through this stage of life with others and some wonderful coaching as well. doTERRA Adaptiv supplements for when you are overwhelmed. To see the whole Adaptiv product line, or purchase, click here: ⁠https://link.doterra.com/9TGPDQdoTERRA Motivate oils for when you need to get moving. To see the whole Motivate product line, or purchase, click here: https://link.doterra.com/xyuTwGTED talk - https://youtu.be/PrJAX-iQ-O4?si=wWynQOGrEXqr0YVMBurnout, the Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle https://amzn.to/423wuioFor more about the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠www.perimenopausalconversations.com⁠⁠⁠To join a community of like minded women who meet bimonthly to question and get challenged, check out ⁠⁠https://balanceredeemed.myflodesk.com/bimm⁠⁠To learn more about Heather Skold, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Juggling SimplicityTo learn more about Meg Fittsgill, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.balanceredeemed.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This monthly series features an episode sharing my recent highs and lows, how my habits are going, a Do Something List update, plus what I'm loving lately and my commitments for the upcoming month. I hope this glimpse into my life, my family, my work, and my own self development encourages you in your own journey. Around here the goal is never perfection, just to keep trying, even if in very simple ways. I think you'll see that with all of the big changes going on for me, taking the smallest of steps has helped to keep me afloat and feeling like myself. As always, I encourage you to get messy, too!  Get 50% off last year's More for Moms All-Access Pass with code LISTENER at checkout. Preorder Sticky Habits book today! Join the Book Launch Committee for behind-the-scenes and first peeks at all things book. Join the Supporters Club to keep About Progress around for good. Get the free DSL Training. Get your AirDoctorPro air purifier with the discount code “MONICA.”  Get your teen Knix with code “PROGRESS.” Go to Quince for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Economics of AGI episode w Alex Imas and Phil Trammell.There's a bunch of important questions about how we deal with AI that only economics can answer.What is the optimal way to tax and redistribute the wealth that will be generated? How should countries not in the AI supply chain index into the gains? Is there any world where inequality doesn't explode?It might seem like these questions have obvious answers, but the first thing economics teaches you is that your intuitions can often be entirely wrong.It was very helpful to chat through these things with Alex and Phil.Watch on YouTube; read the transcript.SponsorsJane Street invests heavily in turning smart people into exceptional researchers and engineers. In addition to their apprenticeship model, Jane Street runs lectures and bootcamps in their in-office classrooms -- managers clear their teams' schedules to encourage attendance. If you'd like to work at a place that takes learning this seriously, Jane Street is hiring. Check out their open roles at janestreet.com/dwarkeshGoogle's Gemini Omni has incredible video editing capabilities -- you can upload a video and have Omni change the background, adjust lighting, or add specific elements. But Omni is also a preview of how future frontier models will be trained -- fully multimodal on both input and output. You can try it yourself in the Gemini app at gemini.google or in Flow at flow.googleCursor used targeted RL with textual feedback to help train their Composer 2.5 model. One of their researchers, Sasha Rush, gave me an impromptu blackboard lecture to explain how this form of on-policy self-distillation works -- I posted the full thing on X. If you want to try Composer 2.5, go to cursor.com/dwarkeshTimestamps(00:00:00) – Will capital share increase?(00:19:36) – Messy Middle scenario(00:25:57) – How to tax and redistribute AI wealth(00:30:02) – Why demand collapse is unlikely(00:39:26) – Human employees would be hard to integrate into the machine economy(00:43:08) – What if some humans (or AIs) value wealth accumulation intrinsically?(01:01:28) – What should developing countries do? Get full access to Dwarkesh Podcast at www.dwarkesh.com/subscribe

This episode is for you if you've been telling yourself "business is just hard"... and wondering if that's actually true, or if maybe you're making it harder than it has to be (doh).There's a real difference between the natural messiness that comes with growth (and yes, success is messy; no that's not the problem!) and the kind of hard that happens when you're taking 30 steps when 3 would do. Today we're talking about how to tell which one you're in.I'm sharing four common ways business owners turn the messy middle into an uphill battle:The role your expectations are secretly playingThe gap between your plan and your actions (and what's actually creating it)What connection — or the lack of it — is doing to your momentumThe confidence disconnect that makes selling feel way harder than it needs toThe question I keep coming back to - one I learned from a colleague at Encyclopedia Britannica, of all places - is: what's the problem you're actually trying to solve? Because when you can answer? Everything else gets a lot simpler.You don't need to berate yourself to success. You don't need to be shoving yourself uphill. But you do need someone willing to ask you the hard question - because trust me, we are ALL very good at ducking it. Join the Uncomplicating Business Lab Community:  https://www.torpeycoaching.com/thelabGrab your free masterclass here: https://torpeycoaching.kit.com/freemasterclass

This is the second episode of [comebacks], and the guest is Liz Tran. I'm a huge fan of her work, so I loved getting to speak with her again in this new format, where we walk through a specific comeback in someone's life and focus on the messy middle of it. In this episode, Liz talks about divorce, reinvention, dating, and what it actually takes to rebuild your life after the version you planned for falls apart. We talk about how loneliness can change you when you stop trying to outrun it, how avoidance can look productive, as well as AQ (adaptability quotient), timelines, and learning to trust that your life can expand in ways you couldn't have planned for.   SHOW NOTES: Explore more from Katie Dalebout: Katie Dalebout Substack + Let It Out Lists Katie's Instagram: @letitouttt + @katiedalebout My Zine Shop and My Creative Clinic Find Liz on the Web | Instagram | Podcast Order Liz's book, The Karma of Success If you liked this episode, try this one from the archive: Karma Success with Liz Tran, Founder of Reset NYC

We say "I've got nothing to wear" standing in front of a full wardrobe. Samantha Harman's argument is that the sentence has nothing to do with clothes — it's about not knowing who we're supposed to be. In this episode I talk to best-selling author, stylist and former journalist Samantha Harman about her book Just Get Dressed: Why You Have Nothing to Wear and What to Do About It — a styling book with no pictures and no body-shape rules, built instead around the inner work most of us avoid. It's a conversation about generational trauma, the prehistoric brain, the martyrdom of the women in the squeezed middle, and why getting dressed in the morning is so flipping hard. What we cover: Why "nothing to wear" is never about a lack of clothes... and what your wardrobe is actually a manifestation of (beliefs, identity, class, politics, generational trauma) The problem with the personal styling industry: more rules, more prescription, more exhaustion Epigenetics and the prehistoric brain — why being a visible woman registers as dangerous, and why the fabulous outfit stays on the hanger Clothing as a business tool — and why men have always been allowed to use it while women get judged for it The "bag of potatoes" meeting: how an ill-fitting supermarket shirt quietly costs you authority, presence and opportunity The compare-and-despair cycle and the social-media misery machine: and the reminder that all of it, even "authentic" personal brands, is marketing Enclothed cognition: why what you wear changes the actions you take (and how you handle Barry from accounts) Midlife as an opportunity, not a decline — finances, time, intelligence, and finding the rooms with brilliant women in them Two exercises from the book: meeting the 5-year-old who's really running your wardrobe, and the letter from your 90-year-old self Emotional spending, scarcity tactics and how retailers weaponise your feelings — plus the fast-fashion harm hiding behind "retail therapy" The wardrobe edit as a non-negotiable business activity — and the one thing to do first: get rid of what you hate Find Samantha here: Just Get Dressed: Why You Have Nothing to Wear and What to Do About It - available on Amaz*n, or justgetdressed.com https://www.instagram.com/styleeditoruk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-harman-style-editor/ Enjoyed this episode?  Follow Middling Along wherever you listen, and consider leaving a review — it genuinely helps other midlife women find the show. For weekly research and commentary on midlife wellbeing, subscribe to Emma's Substack, The Messy Middle: https://middlingalong.substack.com/

Love the podcast? Send us a text!What happens when you give yourself one year to “get through breast cancer” — only to realize that the timeline is much longer and more complicated than you imagined?In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, I'm joined by Jessica Thomas, who was diagnosed with ER/PR-positive, stage 2B breast cancer with lymph node involvement. After finding a lump herself, Jessica moved through the overwhelming sequence of imaging, biopsies, chemotherapy, double mastectomy, radiation, reconstruction delays, implant complications, DIEP flap reconstruction, tamoxifen, and Verzenio.But as Jessica shares so honestly, one of the hardest parts was not only the treatment itself. It was the waiting: waiting for results, waiting for a plan, waiting to know what came next, and trying to live inside the uncertainty.This conversation is for anyone who has ever thought, “I just need a plan.” It is for anyone who has felt overwhelmed by the number of medications, appointments, side effects, and decisions that come with breast cancer. And it is especially for anyone who has reached the end of active treatment only to realize there is still so much more to navigate.Support the showListener FeedbackIf this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback.Messages are completely anonymous.If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond.Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work. 

The Messy Middle: The Need for Sacrifice

There are seasons in life where the old version of you no longer fits… but the next version of you hasn't fully taken shape yet.In this reflective episode, Melissa explores the concept of liminality — the in-between space between who you were and who you're becoming.What started as frustration while rewriting the OTs Gone Rogue website eventually became a much deeper realization that sometimes we're not lost or unclear… We're simply in transition.Through stories from her evolving work, her Master of Adult Education journey, international travel, and a powerful future-self reflection exercise, Melissa reflects on identity shifts, professional evolution, and what it means to move forward before you have everything fully figured out.This episode is an invitation to stop treating the “messy middle” like a problem to solve — and instead begin seeing it as part of the work itself.In this episode, Melissa explores:The concept of liminality — and why it resonated so deeplyThe tension between clarity and action in leadership, entrepreneurship, and professional identityWhy the “messy middle” can feel uncomfortable, even when you know you're moving in the right directionThe role of adult learning and reflective practice in personal and professional evolutionA future-self exercise that shifted Melissa's perspective on legacy, work, and long-term directionThe difference between being “stuck” and being emergentExplore current programs and ways to work together:https://www.otsgonerogue.com/workwithusConnect & ExploreIf this episode resonated with you, share it with another OT, entrepreneur, or leader navigating their own in-between season. Better yet, tag us on @otsgonerogue and let us know what you think!

I've ended every episode of Clemenz With a 'Z' with the same line for years:  'thanks for being a part of this messy middle with me.' It became such a reflex that I stopped asking myself what I actually meant by it. This episode is my honest answer. And if you've ever left a system, a church, a belief structure, a tribe and found yourself wondering why you can't seem to land anywhere clean, this one is for you. The messy middle isn't a problem to solve. It might actually be the most honest place you've ever lived. If something in this conversation resonated with you, I'd love to hear from you. You can email me at clemenzwithaz@gmail.com, or send me a DM over on Instagram at @clemenzwithazpodcast. If you want to support the podcast financially, you can head over to ClemenzWithAZ.com, there's a merch store there with shirts, stickers, all kinds of stuff.  And if you're looking for something a little more regular, check out my Substack: Devotions for the Disillusioned & Deconstructing. That's where I share short reflections, devotionals, and some extra behind-the-scenes thoughts that don't always make it onto the podcast. And of course, the best way you can support the show is by subscribing, rating, and leaving a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Share it with a friend, post it on your socials, drop it in a group chat, it all helps more than you know. This podcast keeps going because of listeners like you showing up, engaging, and passing it on. So thank you for being here, for listening, and for being part of this messy middle with me. Until next time, take care of yourselves, and each other.

Send us Fan MailYou had the vision. You built the thing! And somewhere between starting and scaling, the message got muddier, the team got busier, and the gap between what you meant to build and what's actually being delivered started to widen.This week's guest knows exactly how to close the gap.I sat down with Kaitlyn David— brand strategist, fractional CMO, and an all-around grounded, human-centered marketing thinker. Kaitlyn looks at marketing from the inside out, and she has some fantastic insight on keeping your vision alive (and simplified) while scaling. ✨ Episode Highlights

Send us a message!My guest today is Lisa Lewis Daniels.Lisa is a returning guest and you can hear my first conversation with her on episode 265.Lisa is the founder and CEO of Lionheart Society.  She helps her clients find their identity, purpose during life transitions.  Today, Lisa shares more about her own transition, more about her time in what she calls the Messy Middle (a phrase I know I relate to!), and what can happen when the messy middle extends for longer than we might want and/or have anticipated!Lisa, thank you for sharing more of your story and journey today.  Thank you for your courage and strength to stay in the messy middle of this life transition and inviting us to be encouraged by your experience along the way.You'll find links below to be in touch with Lisa and learn more about her and her work:Lisa's Website: https://www.thelionheartsociety.com/Lisa on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelionheartsocietyllc/Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisalewisdaniels/Support the showMake Life Less Difficult~   Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

These episodes of #thePOZcast, live from Transform 2026 in Las Vegas, are proudly brought to you by our friends at PIN. AI recruiting tools that automate candidate sourcing, screening, and scheduling across 850M+ profiles. Built for recruiters, agencies, and hiring teams. Learn more and check out a demo:  https://www.pin.com/book-a-demo?via=adam-posner Thanks for listening, and please follow us on Insta @NHPTalent and www.youtube.com/thePOZcast For all episodes, please check out www.thePOZcast.com CHAPTERS: 00:00 – The Witching Hour: An Impromptu Stop-and-Chat Day 10, final afternoon, luggage everywhere — Adam spots Mike Johnson at the Onboarded booth and pulls him into an unscripted conversation that delivers more insight than most prepared interviews. 02:00 – Meet Onboarded: The Messy Middle of HR Tech What Onboarded actually does: orchestrating the compliance-heavy gap between recruiter technology and back-office HRIS — federal, state, local obligations, background checks, integrations — built elegantly for high-volume hirers. 04:30 – From Checkr to Onboarded: The Origin Story Mike's background building trust and safety infrastructure for the gig economy at Checkr, why that exposed the far greater complexity of W-2 hiring, and what made him want to solve it. 07:00 – Building With People You Know, Love & Trust The team that followed Mike from his previous life — people whose kids and spouses he knows, who've gone on trips together — and why that trust foundation is the real secret ingredient behind Onboarded's early traction. 10:00 – Family First as a Company Value — Not Just a Talking Point Offsites where spouses and kids are invited, a hiring philosophy that prioritizes family relationships above work, and why Mike believes that's not a soft value — it's a performance strategy. 13:00 – The White Space Nobody Else Was Solving Every HR software product has its own onboarding experience. Nobody had built the orchestration layer that unifies the end-to-end worker experience across all of them. 15:30 – Enterprise Software Re-Architecture: 5 Months, Not 5 Years The speed at which AI is upending enterprise software is being radically underestimated. Not a five-year transformation — a five-month one. What Claude and coding agents are making possible right now. 18:00 – Compliance Is Not Vibable Federal, state, and local compliance obligations are discrete, black and white, and non-negotiable. That's Onboarded's moat — and why no amount of AI creativity replaces domain expertise in this space. 21:00 – Enabling Builders on Top of the Compliance Foundation How Onboarded balances compliance rigidity with entrepreneurial flexibility: partners and independent builders using the platform to build their own products on top of a compliance-ready foundation. 24:00 – The Founder Philosophy: Say Stupid Stuff to the Right People Finding people you trust enough to say your dumbest ideas to — who will push back hard and still be with you when the dust settles. That's the real engine of innovation. 27:00 – Where to Find Onboarded onboardr.com — a freshly launched website with a free trial and direct scheduling available.   TAKEAWAYS: 1. The Messy Middle Is the Most Underserved Layer in HR Tech Every recruiting tool has onboarding. Every HRIS has onboarding. But nobody built the orchestration layer that connects them elegantly for the worker and for the operators managing it all. That's the gap Onboarded identified — and it's larger and more painful than most people outside high-volume hiring environments realize. 2. W-2 Hiring Is 10x More Complex Than Contractor Onboarding The gig economy built an enormous amount of infrastructure for contractor trust and safety. But the W-2 world — with its federal, state, and local compliance obligations, background check requirements, I-9 verification, and benefits enrollment — is a fundamentally different problem. Mike learned this at Checkr and built Onboarded to solve it. 3. Enterprise Software Is Being Re-Architected in Months, Not Years Mike's view on AI's pace is one of the most direct in the series: people are underestimating how fast the change is coming. Not a five-year transformation curve — a five-month one. The coding agents available today, powered by tools like Claude, are already capable of building enterprise- grade software. Every software company needs to be honest about what that means for their product. 4. Compliance Is the One Category AI Cannot Vibe Away The federal, state, and local obligations governing W-2 hiring are not ambiguous, interpretable, or creatively solvable. They are discrete, binary, and non-negotiable. That is Onboarded's defensibility. No vibe coding tool can build compliance infrastructure. That requires domain expertise, legal knowledge, and years of working inside the problem — and that's exactly what the Onboarded team brings. 5. The Right Moat Is Domain Expertise, Not Just Technology In a world where building software is getting cheaper and faster, the companies with genuine defensibility are those with deep domain expertise that can't be replicated with a good prompt. Mike's background at Checkr building trust and safety infrastructure for the gig economy is the foundation that makes Onboarded's compliance product credible — and the reason partners trust it enough to build on top of it. 6. Build With People You Know — Especially Your First Team Mike's intentional choice to build Onboarded with people from his past — people whose families he knows, who've traveled together, who have real relational history — wasn't nostalgia. It was strategy. Trust that's pre-built from shared experience is the fastest path to a high-functioning founding team. You spend zero time establishing credibility and all your time solving problems. 7. Family First Is a Performance Strategy, Not Just a Value Onboarded invites families to offsites. They prioritize the spousal and parental relationships of their employees as an explicit part of their culture. Mike's reasoning: companies that ask people to choose between family and work get less from both. Companies that make space for the whole person get more output, more loyalty, and more resilience when things get hard. 8. The Best Founding Teams Can Say Stupid Things to Each Other Mike's counterintuitive founder philosophy: the most important feature of a great founding team isn't complementary skills or market knowledge — it's the psychological safety to say your worst ideas out loud without losing credibility. When you can argue, disagree, say the dumb thing, and still trust each other completely, you can work through anything. That's the trust foundation that makes the rest possible. 9. Enabling Others to Build on Your Foundation Is a Growth Strategy Onboarded isn't just a product — it's a platform. Partners and independent entrepreneurs are building compliance-ready applications on top of the Onboarded foundation, extending its reach and value without the company having to build everything itself. In an era of rapid AI-enabled building, making your core defensible and your surface area open to builders is a powerful combination.

After a few chaotic weeks away from the mic, Katie is back and catching up with Leah on everything that's unfolded lately, from her son's type 1 diabetes diagnosis to the emotional whiplash of balancing family crisis with training, racing, and everyday life. It's an honest conversation about what happens when running suddenly takes a backseat, and how both of them are navigating UTMB build-up while life keeps throwing curveballs.They also get into local race wins, steep Salt Lake climbs, late-night mountain runs, Western States pacing plans, Broken Arrow prep, and the momentum women's trail running is carrying right now after huge performances from Rachel Entrekin, Tove Alexandersson, and more. Through all of it, this episode comes back to the same idea: running can be part of your life without being your entire identity.This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.A big shout out to our new sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.

In this episode, John sits down with Lisa Begley, author of The Sock Drawer Philosophy and host of the Sock Drawer Podcast, to talk about navigating life's messy middle. Lisa shares how major life transitions, career changes, and a few hard lessons helped shape her perspective on growth, resilience, and moving forward even when things feel unclear. She explains the “sock drawer” metaphor for life's chaos and walks through her D-R-A-W-E-R™ Method for making progress without needing everything to be perfect first. Tune into The Sock Drawer Podcast Want a free book copy of The Sock Drawer Philosophy? Text the CandorPath team at 407-904-8414! 00:00 Meet Lisa Begley 01:32 Real Life Messy Middle 02:51 Retirement Reinvention 05:41 Authenticity Over Perfection 07:14 Sock Drawer Philosophy 09:27 Signs and Sock Stories 12:53 Trauma and Feeling Stuck 15:31 Decide to Move Forward 19:56 Tiny Dare Accountability 21:07 Money Mindset Parallels 24:56 Introducing the D-R-A-W-E-R Method 29:43 Apply What You Know 41:49 Why Mentors Matter 45:39 Book Giveaway

Learn how to write the lead-up and reaction scenes between your key romance plot points so your story flows naturally from meet-cute to HEA without stalling in the middle.You know what your meet-cute looks like. You know there's a breakup coming. You can already feel the happily ever after. So why does everything in between feel impossible to write? That's exactly what we're digging into today. I'm joined by Kristina Stanley, CEO of Fictionary and author of the brand new Secrets to Writing Romance, for a masterclass on the lead-up and reaction scenes that hold every romance together. Kristina breaks down what to write before and after each key plot point, how your external plot does more work than you think, and how to give your characters real agency in the messy middle of Act 2. If you've been winging it between your big scenes and hoping for the best, this one's for you.What You'll Learn:[03:57] The 5 key scenes every romance novel is built around and the one non-negotiable rule that sets romance apart from every other genre.[10:55] Why every key scene needs a lead-up and a reaction, and how those surrounding scenes are where your character's flaw, motivation, and growth actually live.[21:42] When your meet-cute should actually happen in your romance novel and what the lead-up scene needs to do before your characters ever cross paths.[29:30] How to give your characters real agency in the Messy Middle of Act 2 (even when your story doesn't have a strong external plot driving it forward).[38:03] What to do after the climax, why the reaction to the HEA is trickier than it looks, and how epilogues can save you from cutting your ending too short.And so much more…Whether you're plotting your first romance novel or you're stuck somewhere in the middle of a draft, wondering why your story isn't clicking, this episode will give you a clear framework for what every scene between your key moments actually needs to do. 

What if the Book of Job is not primarily about explaining suffering—but about surviving trauma? In this episode of The Biblical Mind Podcast, Dru Johnson sits down with Old Testament scholar and licensed therapist Michelle Keener to explore the Book of Job through the lens of trauma, PTSD, lament, and healing. Drawing from her book Comfort from the Ashes, Keener argues that the long poetic sections of Job—often skipped by modern readers—may actually portray the slow process of trauma recovery rather than abstract theological debate. Together, Dru and Michelle discuss why Job's friends sound so much like modern Christian clichés, how churches often rush people past suffering toward “victory,” and why lament is essential to spiritual health. The conversation also explores the neuroscience of trauma, the body's involuntary survival responses, repetition in trauma processing, and how God's presence—not simplistic answers—brings healing in Job. They also examine the church's discomfort with anger, grief, and unresolved pain, asking whether modern Christians have lost the biblical language of lament found in Job and the Psalms. This episode is a thoughtful and deeply pastoral conversation for anyone wrestling with suffering, trauma, faith, or the meaning of the Book of Job. For Michelle Keener's latest book, buy it here: https://www.ivpress.com/comfort-in-the-ashes We are listener supported. Give to the cause here: https://hebraicthought.org/give For more articles: https://thebiblicalmind.org/ Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThought Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthought Threads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthought X: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThought Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Job and Common Misunderstandings 02:08 The Movie Tree of Life as an Exposition of Job 04:07 Is Job the Oldest Book in the Bible? 05:23 The Significance of the Middle Poetry in Job 06:22 Trauma and the Messy Middle of Job 08:17 Sitting with Suffering: The Role of Lament and Honesty 09:42 Job as a Trauma Survivor and Its Modern Relevance 11:55 The Process of Healing and God's Presence 14:07 Physiological Responses to Trauma and Divine Design 16:50 Reintegration of Trauma and the Role of Narrative 19:44 The Encounter with God as Resolution 22:40 Creating Trauma-Informed Church Spaces 24:37 The Power of Honest Testimony and Lament 26:42 The Ubiquity of Trauma Talk and Its Nuances 29:48 Language of Trauma: Distress, Wounded, and Healing 33:40 Ripple Effects of Trauma on Families and Communities 36:11 How to Approach Reading Job for Deep Understanding 38:18 Interpreting Job's Final Resolution and God's Response 40:20 Theological Insights: God's Goodness and Human Suffering 41:18 Conclusion: Healing and Hope in the Biblical Narrative

Self Confidence For Entrepreneurs In this episode, we dive into the "Messy Middle" to answer a listener's struggle with feeling stuck. Using the legendary stories of Steve Jobs and Walt Disney, David Ralph explores how "insignificant" dots—like a penniless dropout's calligraphy class or a devastating contract betrayal—became the foundations for global empires. If you feel like you're wasting time on hobbies or reeling from a setback, this is your wake-up call. You can't connect the dots looking forward; you have to trust they'll join up in your future. Stop looking for the destination and start drawing your dots. #JoinUpDots #SteveJobs #WaltDisney #EntrepreneurMindset #TimeWealth #SuccessStories #TrustTheProcess

In this week's episode, I'm sharing a few things that have brought me back to myself lately — a color analysis rabbit hole, a solo yoga class on Mother's Day, and wandering through an art fair alone. All of them felt like gentle reminders to step outside the usual flow and routine of life and make space for what truly fills me up. More importantly, I dive into one core topic: the duality of being human. How it's possible to feel deeply grateful for your life while also feeling unsettled, uncertain, or hungry for more at the exact same time. I share about the grief I still feel after our move to Georgia, the strange in-between season I'm navigating professionally, and why I think so many of us are quietly holding conflicting emotions beneath the surface. So if you've been feeling the tension of two seemingly opposing emotions at once, this episode is for you. MENTIONS My Substack, This Season You can find more of my writing and reflections on Substack, where I share weekly notes on presence, attention, and living more intentionally. Color Analysis

Luke (29) and Anna (30) have a $342K net worth, but they're stuck in the messy middle with three kids under seven and completely different money philosophies. Luke tracks every dollar across dozens of budget categories while Anna feels micromanaged and exhausted by the rigidity. Financial Advisors, Brian Preston and Bo Hanson, walk them through restructuring their budget, creating wins for both spouses, and building a plan that funds both today's happiness and their even more beautiful tomorrow. With big dreams for their family and a passion project for scaling Luke's sports camp business, they need to get on the same page fast. This episode shows how to bridge the gap between the analytical spouse and the experiential spouse, why a new budgeting strategy might be the key to saving their financial harmony, and how a 14% savings rate can still build an $8 million portfolio by age 65 when you have a better plan and a united vision. ⁠Jump start your journey with our FREE financial resources⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reach your goals faster with our products⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take the relationship to the next level: become a client⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube for early access and go beyond the podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with us on social media for more content⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bring confidence to your wealth building with simplified strategies from The Money Guy. Learn how to apply financial tactics that go beyond common sense and help you reach your money goals faster. Make your assets do the heavy lifting so you can quit worrying and start living a more fulfilled life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This monthly series features an episode sharing my recent highs and lows, how my habits are going, a Do Something List update, plus what I'm loving lately and my commitments for the upcoming month. I hope this glimpse into my life, my family, my work, and my own self development encourages you in your own journey. Around here the goal is never perfection, just to keep trying, even if in very simple ways. I think you'll see that with all of the big changes going on for me, taking the smallest of steps has helped to keep me afloat and feeling like myself. As always, I encourage you to get messy, too!  Get the Best Summer Ever Workshop at half-off old pricing! Preorder Sticky Habits book today! Join the Book Launch Committee for behind-the-scenes and first peeks at all things book. Join the Supporters Club to keep About Progress around for good. Get the free DSL Training. Get your AirDoctorPro air purifier with the discount code “MONICA.”  Get your teen Knix with code “PROGRESS.” Go to Quince for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Margo is joined by artist, author, and educator Nicki Traikos for a conversation on creativity, perfectionism, and building a life rooted in art. Known for her approachable watercolor teaching style and the global community she's built through life i design, Nicki shares the winding journey that took her from a corporate career and makeup artistry into the world of watercolor, online education, and publishing. Margo and Nicki explore the realities of creative growth—the messy middle, the pivots, the comparison traps, and the courage it takes to keep showing up for your art. Nicki opens up about balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, the pressure artists face in the age of social media, and why embracing imperfection is often where the real breakthroughs happen. They also discuss her newest book, Watercolor Made Simple Workbook, and how approachable creativity can transform not only artistic confidence, but overall wellbeing. Margo and Nicki discuss: Nicki's unexpected path from corporate work and makeup artistry to becoming a full-time artist and educator The importance of embracing a "twisty, turny" creative journey instead of chasing overnight success How comparison and curated social media can hold artists back from starting Why messy sketchbooks and imperfect practice are essential to creative growth Letting go of perfectionism and learning to enjoy the tactile experience of making art The evolution from artist to teacher and building an online creative community during COVID The pressure to "find your style" and why multi-passionate creativity deserves space Practical ways to restart a creative practice and make art feel approachable again Connect with Nicki: Website: https://www.lifeidesign.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeidesign Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lifeidesign Substack: https://lifeidesign.substack.com  

The “messy middle” is the longest—and hardest—phase of the financial independence (FIRE) journey. It's where progress feels slow, motivation dips, and burnout can creep in. In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, Mindy Jensen and Carl Jensen (our guest host for today) break down how to stay consistent, avoid over-optimization, and actually enjoy life while building wealth. From increasing income and investing smarter to designing the life you want before you retire, this is your guide to getting through the messy middle without losing momentum. If your FIRE journey feels stuck, this episode will help you reset and keep going. To go beyond the podcast: Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/ Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney  Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney Connect with Carl Jensen: https://www.1500days.com/ We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you're starting. Let's get your financial house in order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices