Embrace the Squiggle: Change happens. Growth is a choice.

Hosted by Colleen DelVecchio & Ashleigh Beadle

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Episodes

128

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Embrace the Squiggle is the podcast about navigating change in work, identity, leadership, and life with intention. Because change happens. Growth is a choice. This show explores the honest, human stories behind reinvention. From career pivots and leadership shifts to identity crises, mindset shifts, and unexpected detours, each episode dives into what it really looks like to move through uncertainty instead of waiting for clarity. Our guests share candid stories of obstacles, failures, breakthroughs, and hard-earned lessons. Not because they had it all figured out but because they chose growth in the middle of the mess. Each week, Colleen DelVecchio and Ashleigh Beadle unpack the pivots, pauses, leaps of faith, and “what am I even doing?” moments that shape a non-linear life. This isn’t about chasing a straight line. It’s about building the mindset and courage to evolve on purpose.

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60 recent

June 10, 2026Episode 12840 min

What Happens After the Pressure Gets to You: Leadership in the Face of Crisis with Savio P. Clemente

What do you learn when you face cancer, not once but twice?Savio P. Clemente has done it and came out the other side to share the squiggly lessons we all need. This episode of Embrace the Squiggle, Colleen and Ashleigh speak with keynote and TEDx speaker, board-certified wellness coach, journalist, and two-time cancer survivor Savio P. Clemente about pressure and post-crisis leadership.Savio recounts being diagnosed in 2014 with stage three non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, undergoing six rounds of R-CHOP, and being cancer-free for a decade before a relapse. His experience fighting cancer tought him the importance of integrative healing, compassion, and the power of silence and stillness.👋 This is Embrace the Squiggle, the podcast that takes you behind the scenes and into the authentic stories of professionals from all walks of life. Each episode offers unflinching honesty, meaningful insights, and inspiration for listeners navigating their own career squiggles.Connect with Savio: https://www.saviopclemente.com/Follow Savio: https://www.instagram.com/thehumanresolve/Work with Maxady Ready to take your next career step? Maxady helps you find the role that actually fits — your skills, your life, your squiggle.Connect with Your HostsColleen DelVecchio → LinkedInAshleigh Beadle → LinkedInSubscribe & Leave a Review If this episode resonated, please leave us a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it. It helps more people find the show. 🎙️

June 3, 2026Episode 12737 min

Finding Your Next Squiggle: Career Moves After a Pause with Renee Ketels

Whether you left the workforce by choice or the decision was made for you, knowing what to actually do next is a whole different challenge. In this episode, we're doing something a little different. Instead of hearing about a squiggle in hindsight, we're in it with Renee Ketels in real time.Renee spent years as a Senior Manager of Design Communications at General Motors before stepping away to raise her kids. Now she's ready for her next chapter — and she's targeting a move into philanthropy and nonprofits focused on women, family, and education. She's networking, doing informational interviews, joining groups, volunteering with United Way. She's doing everything right. So why does the next step still feel unclear?Colleen and Ashleigh sit down with Renee to map out the actual next moves. If you've been out of the job market for a few years (or more), this episode is the honest conversation you didn't know you needed. If you're job hunting, career pivoting, or trying to figure out what comes after the pause — this one's for you.About Renee Ketels Renee is a former Senior Manager of Design Communications at General Motors, now navigating her return to the workforce with a focus on philanthropy and nonprofits in the women, family, and education space.Connect with Renee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reneeketels/Work with Maxady Ready to take your next career step? Maxady helps you find the role that actually fits — your skills, your life, your squiggle.Connect with Your HostsColleen DelVecchio → LinkedInAshleigh Beadle → LinkedInSubscribe & Leave a Review If this episode resonated, please leave us a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it. It helps more people find the show. 🎙️

May 27, 2026Episode 12641 min

Crafting Your Million Dollar Message: How to Launch Yourself as a Thought Leader and Turn Words Into Wealth with Aurora Winter

What if the words you use (and the stories you tell) are the currency of your career and business? Aurora Winter has built multiple 7-figure companies, won awards for her books, and been featured everywhere from ABC-TV to Oprah Radio. And her thesis is: communication isn't a soft skill. It's the foundation of everything!In this episode, Colleen and Ashleigh sit down with Aurora to dig into the neuroscience of communication, why your words are quite literally triggering (or killing) buying decisions, and what Steve Jobs knew about storytelling that most people don't. Whether you're trying to grow a business, launch a book, or just get people to actually listen to you, this one's packed!We talk about why thought leaders need to be authors (even in an AI world), how to turn one idea into multiple streams of income and impact, and why Aurora finally sat down to write the YA fantasy series she's been thinking about since she was nine.Aurora Winter🌐 aurorawinter.com 💼 LinkedIn 🎯Free Quiz — Ready to Launch as a Thought Leader? thoughtleaderlaunch.comBooks & Resources MentionedTurn Words Into Wealth by Aurora WinterMagic, Mystery and the Multiverse by Aurora WinterWork with Maxady Ready to take your next career step? Maxady helps you find the role that actually fits — your skills, your life, your squiggle.Connect with Your HostsColleen DelVecchio → LinkedInAshleigh Beadle → LinkedInSubscribe & Leave a Review If this episode resonated, please leave us a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it. It helps more people find the show. 🎙️

May 20, 202638 min

Career Growth and Visibility When You Work From Home: Is There a Remote Work Trap?

You got the flexibility you asked for. But now you're wondering… is working from home actually holding you back?You're showing up, but you're not in the room where it happens. And when promotion season comes around, out of sight might just mean out of mind!In this episode, Colleen and Ashleigh ( just our lovely co-hosts this week with no guest!) get real about the remote work dilemma: the freedom it offers and the specific strategies you need to keep your career moving forward when you're not in the office. From closing the visibility gap with leadership to knowing when hybrid is actually the smarter career move, this conversation is practical and can be implemented to your career squiggle ASAP. 🎯 Want accountability while navigating your career pivot? Maxady's coaching services help you navigate uncertainty, embrace your strengths, and build a career you love. 👉 https://www.maxady.com/coachingStay in Touch with Your HostsColleen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/comara/Ashleigh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleigh-beadle/🎙️ Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts for more conversations on squiggly career paths, mindset shifts, and the courage it takes to evolve on purpose.

May 13, 202637 min

What Teens Can Teach Us About Our Own Squiggly Careers with Kristen Peterson

What if the career you never planned for turned out to be exactly the one you were meant to have? And what if the teens in your life — the ones navigating big decisions about their futures — can actually teach you everything you need to know about squiggly careers?We've all had moments where the path we're on suddenly stops making sense. Where the bravest thing we can do is admit it and change course. That's exactly what Kristen Peters-Peterson did, more than once, before finding work that truly aligned with her purpose.In this episode of Embrace the Squiggle, Colleen and Ashleigh sit down with Kristen Peterson, founder of AWren Advisors, an educational consulting practice supporting teens, families, and schools through some of the most pivotal decisions of adolescence. Kristen's career journey — from aspiring wildlife vet to cultural anthropology student to ESPN to boarding school educator to entrepreneur — is an epic squiggle that will resonate with every squiggler listening.Website: http://www.awrenadvisors.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/awrenadvisors/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/AWren-Advisors-LLC/61574810956686/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-h-peterson/ | https://www.linkedin.com/company/awren-advisorsBooks & Resources Mentioned 📖 Untangled — Lisa Damour (essential reading for anyone raising or working with teenage girls)🎯 Want accountability while navigating your career pivot? Maxady's coaching services help you navigate uncertainty, embrace your strengths, and build a career you love. 👉 https://www.maxady.com/coachingStay in Touch with Your Hosts Colleen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/comara/ Ashleigh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleigh-beadle/🎙️ Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts for more conversations on squiggly career paths, mindset shifts, and the courage it takes to evolve on purpose.

May 6, 2026Episode 12338 min

The Importance of Brand Photography That Actually Reflects Your Squiggly Career with Heike Delmore

Your brand photos might be the most vulnerable thing you'll ever do for your business. And that's exactly the point.Most women entrepreneurs are walking around with headshots that no longer reflect who they are but images that show who they were three pivots ago. But your photos aren't just marketing assets. They're a signal to the world about who you're becoming, and they have the power to accelerate opportunities before you even open your mouth.In this episode of Embrace the Squiggle, Colleen and Ashleigh sit down with Heike Delmore, personal branding photographer and educator, who helps women entrepreneurs translate their evolving identity into images that actually reflect where they're headed. With a background in international advertising (MasterCard, GM) and a deep study of human behavior and psychology, Heike brings a uniquely intentional approach to the camera.Heike Delmore is the founder of Delmore Personal Brand Photography. She helps women entrepreneurs capture not just where they are, but who they are becoming — combining her background in international advertising and psychology to coach clients through the vulnerability of being seen and translate their evolving identity into powerful visual stories.Website: http://delmorephotography.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heikedelmore/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heike-delmore-personal-branding-photographer/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heikedelmorecoaching/Books & Resources Mentioned 📖 The War of Art — Steven Pressfield: https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Through-Creative-Battles/dp/1936891026/ 🎵 Dallylama Playlists on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/ngegi5hi7kn571q5q6phekih8🎯 Want accountability while navigating your career pivot? Maxady's coaching services help you navigate uncertainty, embrace your strengths, and build a career you love. 👉 https://www.maxady.com/coachingStay in Touch with Your Hosts Colleen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/comara/🎙️ Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts for more conversations on squiggly career paths, mindset shifts, and the courage it takes to evolve on purpose.

April 29, 2026Episode 12238 min

Taking the Leap: Making Bold Decisions as an Entrepreneur and Finding Purpose After the Pivot with Kelly Rochelle Thadison

Entrepreneurship is not for everyone. But for some, its exactly the place you need to be.For over 18 years, Kelly Rochelle Thadison ran Simply Divine Beauty Lounge, learning the hard lessons of entrepreneurship firsthand — cash flow, financial planning, and what it really costs to keep a dream alive. If you're an entrepreneur (or just curious about what it takes), this episode will scratch that itch and leave you with lessons to institute in your business. In this episode of Embrace the Squiggle, Colleen and Jen sit down with Kelly, speaker, author, and founder of The Kelly Rochelle Experience. Kelly shares the raw, honest story of building a business from the ground up, hitting her lowest points, and choosing growth anyways. Kelly Rochelle Thadison is a speaker, author, and business leader with over 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur and community leader. She is the founder of The Kelly Rochelle Experience, a platform rooted in personal development, wellness, and leadership. Her self-published book, Becoming After the Breaking, is a testament to her journey of resilience and reinvention.Follow Kelly: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekellyrochelle/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-thadison21Becoming After Breaking Book Launch on May 31 in Western Massachusetts: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/becoming-after-the-breaking-tickets-1986717106346?aff=oddtdtcreator🎯 Want accountability while navigating your career pivot? Maxady's coaching services help you navigate uncertainty, embrace your strengths, and build a career you love. 👉 https://www.maxady.com/coachingStay in Touch with Your HostsColleen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/comara/Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-pasquale/Work with Jen: https://www.leadwithcuriosity.co/🎙️ Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts for more conversations on squiggly career paths, mindset shifts, and the courage it takes to evolve on purpose.

April 22, 2026Episode 12136 min

When It’s Time to Take Your Side Gig Full Time: Speaking Your Truth at Work with Meghan Rothschild

Stuck in an unhappy career? Wondering if your side gig could become something bigger?Many professionals stay in jobs that drain them because the leap into something new feels too risky. But sometimes toxic workplaces, mean bosses, and being undervalued become the very push needed to create change.In this episode of Embrace the Squiggle, Colleen welcomes Meghan Rothschild, President of Chikmedia, a full-service marketing and PR firm focused on women entrepreneurs and nonprofits.Meghan shares her squiggly career path—from navigating toxic workplaces, sexual harassment, and not being taken seriously, to turning a long-running side hustle into a successful full-time business.If you’ve ever questioned whether to stay, speak up, or start over, this episode will help you think differently about change.About Meghan RothschildMeghan Rothschild is the President of Chikmedia, a marketing and PR agency supporting women entrepreneurs and nonprofits. She is a business owner, advocate, and speaker known for helping others communicate boldly and build brands with purpose.Follow Her on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanrothschild/Website: https://www.meghanrothschild.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outwithmeghan/🎯 Want accountability while navigating your career pivot?Maxady’s coaching services help you navigate uncertainty, embrace your strengths, and build a career you love.👉 https://www.maxady.com/coachingStay in Touch with Your HostsColleen on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/comara/🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations on squiggly career paths, mindset shifts, and turning career complexity into your competitive advantage.

April 15, 2026Episode 12039 min

The High-Achiever’s Guide to Energy, Sleep & Avoiding Burnout with Tanessa Shears

What if the thing holding your career back… isn’t your ambition but your energy?In this episode of Embrace the Squiggle, Colleen and Jen dive into a topic every high-achiever needs but often ignores: sleep, energy, and sustainable performance.They’re joined by Tanessa Shears, a sleep and performance specialist who has spent over a decade helping entrepreneurs and leaders eliminate brain fog, prevent burnout, and build the physical and cognitive capacity to perform at a high level without running themselves into the ground.But this conversation goes beyond optimization.After reaching financial independence at 35, Tanessa stepped away from her business and spent 18 months traveling the world with her family. She returned not just rested—but with a completely reset nervous system, a new perspective on hustle culture, and clarity on what sustainable success actually looks like.We unpack why so many ambitious professionals are unknowingly burning themselves out, how to recognize the early warning signs (even when everything looks “fine” on the outside), and what small shifts can dramatically improve your energy, focus, and long-term performance.If you’ve been feeling constantly tired, stuck in brain fog, or questioning whether success has to come at the cost of your wellbeing—this episode is your permission to do things differently.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why high-achievers are especially prone to burnout (and how to spot it early)What’s actually happening in your body when you experience brain fogThe hidden cost of hustle culture—and why it stops workingWhat a “reset nervous system” really feels like in real lifeSimple, science-backed habits to improve your sleep, energy, and focusHow to sustain high performance without sacrificing your healthConnect with Tanessa:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanessashears/Follow her on Substack: https://imbecomingresilient.substack.com/🎯 Want accountability while navigating your career pivot?Maxady’s coaching services help you navigate uncertainty, embrace your strengths, and build a career you love.👉 https://www.maxady.com/coachingStay in Touch with Your Hosts:Colleen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/comara/Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-pasquale/Work with Jen: https://www.leadwithcuriosity.co/Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts for more conversations that transform career complexity into your competitive advantage!

April 8, 202636 min

Wired This Way: Intrinsic Motivation is Key to a Squiggly Career with Shawn Thornton

What actually counts as an “untraditional” career?At Embrace the Squiggle, that definition is constantly evolving—and this episode is proof that there’s no one way to build a meaningful career.This week, Colleen and Ashleigh sit down with Shawn Thornton, founder and CEO of SmartBiz IT, to explore what it really looks like to follow a non-linear path fueled by intrinsic motivation and continuous learning.Shawn’s career isn’t built on a rigid plan—it’s driven by curiosity, growth, and a mindset he describes as simply being “wired this way.” That internal drive has shaped his journey into entrepreneurship and continues to influence how he leads and scales his business today.From navigating career moves to launching SmartBiz IT, Shawn shares honest insights into what it takes to build something from the ground up—and why being naturally motivated to learn might be one of the most powerful (and underrated) career advantages.Whether you’re considering entrepreneurship, pivoting careers, or questioning the traditional path, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on what it means to grow on your own terms.In this episode, you’ll learn:What defines an “untraditional” or squiggly career pathHow intrinsic motivation can shape long-term career successWhy continuous learning is a key driver for entrepreneursThe realities of starting and running a businessHow to navigate career growth without a linear planAbout Shawn & SmartBiz IT:Shawn Thornton is the founder and CEO of SmartBiz IT https://www.smartbizit.com/ where he helps companies navigate complex challenges like SOC 2 and HIPAA readiness, enterprise security reviews, and cloud modernization. His work sits at the intersection of technology, security, and business growth—helping organizations scale with confidence.🎯 Want accountability while navigating your career pivot?Join the Squiggle Huddle with Colleen—a monthly accountability space designed to help you stay focused, aligned, and moving forward in 2026.👉 https://www.maxady.com/workshops/p/the-squiggle-huddle-monthly-accountability-for-2026-goals🤝 Stay Connected:Colleen on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/comara/Ashleigh on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleigh-beadle/🎙️ Love squiggly careers, mindset shifts, and real talk about building a career on your terms?Hit follow/subscribe and don’t miss future episodes designed to help you turn uncertainty into your competitive advantage.