Follow Your Joy Podcast by Marla Diann

Hosted by Marla Diann

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110

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Oct 2026

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About the show

I'm your host, Marla Diann! I've been transforming creative entrepreneurs' lives for over 26 years through two businesses. As a success coach and business strategist, I am passionate about helping entrepreneurs collapse the time frame of achieving their desires and goals. It's time to make joy your inner GPS for life and business decisions rather than lean on your logic and reason, first. You'll not only be following what is most authentic to you and for you, but you will live the beautiful life meant just for you. Here at Follow Your Joy Podcast, I aspire for you, the highly talented and passionate creative entrepreneur, to do what brings you joy more often …because you learned to listen to your intuition and take action on that guidance. This is where you'll find inspiring entrepreneurial stories and solocasts that prove listening to your intuition is certainly the doorway to your wisdom, your genius and your joy. Joy is not to be relegated to a good feeling. It's a life & business strategy. When we follow our joy and stay tuned into it, we will live a more authentic life. Not sure how to access, use or trust your intuition living in a logical, intellectual world? Join me in the conversation to find out how!

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60 recent

October 6, 202659 min

You Don't Have to Choose Between Intuition and Strategy: Knowing What to Trust—and When

Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @marladiann What happens when the life you've built looks completely right on paper—but something inside you knows better? My guest on this episode of Follow Your Joy, Sydney Campos, has built her life and career by learning to recognize—and act on—what she knows internally. Sydney works at a unique intersection: business strategy, leadership, intuition and human transformation. For more than 15 years, she's built and advised companies, founded three of her own, advised 100+ founders and executives, and worked through a $20M acquisition. Alongside that career, she's spent more than a decade studying and facilitating human transformation as a master clairvoyant, energy facilitator, bestselling author and global retreat leader. For years, Sydney thought she had to choose between those worlds. Business or intuition. Strategy or consciousness. Ambition or inner development. Today, she sees their integration as the work. Sydney doesn't think of intuition as separate from intelligence. She sees it as another form of information. Data tells us what has happened. Strategy helps us anticipate what could happen. Intuition can help us notice what hasn't become explicit yet—an opportunity, a disconnect, something unspoken, or the sense that a seemingly perfect decision isn't actually right. But there's an important distinction: Not every strong feeling is intuition. Fear, attachment, projection and ego can masquerade as inner knowing. Sydney and I explore why discernment may be one of the most valuable abilities we can develop—especially in a world overflowing with experts, algorithms, AI and other people's opinions. ep110 Sydney Campos Transformat… Inside our conversation: • When the life that looks right on paper no longer feels right • Intuition as another form of intelligence • How to distinguish intuition from fear, ego and attachment • Why more information isn't necessarily what we need • How discernment changes decision-making • Why intuition rarely gives us the entire plan • The courage to act on the next honest step Our responsibility is to become discerning enough to recognize the signal—and courageous enough to act on it. If you're at a crossroads in your life, career or business wondering what comes next, this conversation may help you listen differently. Resources + Links: Facebook.com/sydneycamposmagic Instagram: @sydneycampos LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sydneycampos Visionary Souls Podcast Books: The Empath Experience and I'm Ascending, Now What? PORTAL OF JOY - Sydney's free resources for Follow Your Joy community include guided meditations and practices for grounding, healing, intuitive development, energetic awareness and reconnecting with your own inner guidance. You'll find her resources along with dozens of hand-selected gifts from Follow Your Joy guests inside the Portal of Joy: https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal/ Marla's Current Mentoring: The Elegant Way Forward Salon. Her methodology integrates all of you—body, intuition, beliefs, spirituality, identity, money, work, relationships, creativity and joy. Because the life you want now requires more than another strategy or mindset shift. It requires an evolved, embodied identity. The Elegant Way Forward Mentorship Salon begins October 21. Get yourself registered: https://conta.cc/4xLTYWK -Marla's Amazon Lifestyle Influencer Store – shop for favorites! https://www.amazon.com/shop/marla_diann

September 16, 202639 min

What Brings You Joy and What Might That Joy Be Trying to Tell You?

Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @marladiann What brings you joy—and what might that joy be trying to tell you? We tend to think of joy as something we experience when life is going well. A reward. A vacation. A beautiful dinner. Time with people we love. But what if joy is much more useful than that? What if joy is information? In this solo episode of Follow Your Joy, I'm taking you deeper into the philosophy behind the podcast and a life and business strategy I've personally relied on for years: Joy is not simply the reward. Joy is your compass. An unexpected invitation to speak to a Kiwanis group about the meaning of Follow Your Joy caused me to look at my own platform with fresh eyes. I realized that underneath more than 100 conversations about entrepreneurship, reinvention, intuition, creativity, and life change is one consistent thread: People change the trajectory of their lives when they're willing to listen to what lights them up—and become curious about where it might be leading them. In this personal conversation, I explore: • Why joy can become a compass for life, work, and reinvention • The difference between happiness and a deeper commitment to joy • Why curiosity may be your intuition tapping you on the shoulder • How to recognize when something you've tolerated is no longer working • Why intuition and body wisdom need a voice alongside logic and reasoning • My own experience with burnout and the journey to Italy that changed how I live and work • Why our culture's devotion to productivity can quietly disconnect us from ourselves • The feminine and masculine energies available to all of us—and why we need both • Why choosing joy during difficult times isn't irresponsible or disloyal • What more than 100 Follow Your Joy conversations have taught me about the human spirit I also share why I believe meaningful change asks something very different of us than simply thinking harder. Heart. Belief. Courage. Trust. Faith. Our rational brains want predictability, evidence, and certainty. But our evolution doesn't always make logical sense at first. Sometimes we need to listen to our body and intuition first—and then invite that beautiful brain back in to help us execute. I also take you inside the burnout that became one of the most important turning points of my life. It eventually led me to Italy, where I experienced a very different relationship with work, quality of life, pleasure, connection, and joy. That experience became the foundation of the feminine-masculine blend I teach today: integrating intuition, creativity, spirituality, play, imagination, receiving and vision with the equally valuable strengths of structure, logic, execution, planning, and action. And I share what's unfolding now with Reverie + Velvet, my reinvention after 18 years of Marla Diann Mentoring International, and my upcoming appearance at the Transformation Gap Virtual Summit, September 24–29, alongside more than 100 experts from around the world. As we close, I leave you with something to sit with, journal about, or simply notice: What brings me joy—and what might that joy be trying to tell me? Because joy is much more than a feeling. It may be pointing you toward your Elegant Way Forward. Resources + Links: The Transformation Gap Virtual Summit | September 24–29 Free registration: https://tinyurl.com/gap-summit The Portal of Joy Explore hand-selected downloads, journals, courses, special offers, resources and gifts from Follow Your Joy guests: https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal/ Kicking off the fall and final quarter of the year, I have several private spots for a 90-minute Identity + Next Chapter Strategy Session 90 – minutes ($100 savings) for women ready to explore where their current identity may—or may not—be supporting the next chapter they desire. It includes preparation before our session, a 30-minute progress session two weeks later, and as a bonus, my Feminine Power Feelings Journal, with prompts designed to help you begin reconnecting with and expressing emotions you've habitually suppressed. Use my Calendly link to have a chat about your identity that is creating your next chapter. https://calendly.com/successcoach-marladiann/connection -Marla's Amazon Lifestyle Influencer Store – shop for favorites https://www.amazon.com/shop/marla_diann

August 26, 202648 min

Beyond Survival Mode: What Happens When You Choose Courageously to Rebuild? Tammy Gibson

Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @marladiann What happens when life changes so dramatically that you barely recognize the person—or the life—you had before? And once you've survived it… how do you find your way back to yourself? My fascinating guest on this episode of Follow Your Joy, Tammy Gibson, knows that experience in a way few of us can imagine. After more than two decades in fashion and business, Tammy became critically ill. She spent months in the hospital and ultimately lost her right leg. Her life changed completely. How she worked. How she showed up. Even how she saw herself. But what emerged on the other side wasn't simply survival. It was clarity. Today, Tammy is a speaker, writer, and founder of Tough Like Tammy, using what she lived through to help women move beyond survival mode and make intentional choices about who they are now and how they want to live. Inside this deeply moving conversation, we explore: • What happens to your identity when life changes without your permission • Why resilience isn't simply surviving something difficult—it's how you choose to rebuild afterward • The difference between functioning in survival mode and truly living again • How Tammy found her way back to herself after months in the hospital and losing her leg • Why intuition became an important guide in her life and business • The quiet inner nudge that told her, "This isn't just for you" • How sharing the story she initially wanted to keep private opened an entirely new chapter of purpose, speaking, writing, and impact • How small, intentional choices can help us move forward without blowing up our lives or starting over One of the things I love most about Tammy's story is that her comeback wasn't about returning to the woman she used to be. Life had changed her. The opportunity was to discover who she had become. Tammy describes the process as "editing forward"—getting honest about what no longer works and making one intentional decision at a time based on who you are now, rather than who you used to be. And there's another beautiful part of her story. After everything she'd been through, Tammy could have quietly rebuilt her life and kept the experience private. Instead, she kept hearing a persistent inner message: "This isn't just for you." She listened. That decision ultimately led to speaking opportunities, meaningful relationships, a new career, and the realization that her experience could help other women see what was possible in their own lives. Tammy is generously sharing her gift: The Comeback Blueprint: Pause. Reflect. Refine. Rebuild. with the Follow Your Joy community. It's a complimentary guide for anyone navigating a season when life has shifted and you're not quite sure what comes next. Rather than pushing harder or pretending everything is fine, Tammy offers a four-step approach for slowing down, getting clear, and rebuilding from strength instead of survival mode. You'll find Tammy's gift inside the Portal of Joy, along with dozens of carefully selected resources from Follow Your Joy guests: https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal/ If life has changed you—or you're simply realizing that the way you've been living no longer fits the woman you've become—Tammy's story is a powerful reminder: You don't have to go back to who you were. You get to decide how you move forward from here. Resources + Links: https://www.toughliketammy.com/ https://www.instagram.com/toughliketammy/ https://www.facebook.com/ToughLikeTammy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/toughliketammy -Kicking off the fall and final quarter of the year, I have several private spots for a 90-minute Identity + Next Chapter Strategy Session 90 – minutes ($100 savings good through Sept 10) for women ready to explore where their current identity may—or may not—be supporting the next chapter they desire. It includes preparation before our session, a 30-minute progress session two weeks later, and as a bonus, my Feminine Power Feelings Journal, with prompts designed to help you begin reconnecting with and expressing emotions you've habitually suppressed. Use my Calendly link to have a chat about your identity that is creating your next chapter. https://calendly.com/successcoach-marladiann/connection -Marla's Amazon Lifestyle Influencer Store – shop for favorites! Jen's book is inside my store in the travel section https://www.amazon.com/shop/marla_diann Loved this episode? Don't stop here, unlock the tools, resources, and free downloads mentioned during the episode. Click here to access the portal of joy. https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal/

August 4, 20261 hr 6 min

When Your Presence Finally Matches Your Power

Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @marladiann Have you ever wondered why two equally talented women can walk into the same room—or appear online—and one is immediately perceived as the authority? It's probably not what you think. In this fascinating episode of Follow Your Joy, I'm joined by Kerrianne Cartmer-Edwards, Signature Style Strategist, former fashion designer, and expert in visual authority, for a conversation that goes far beyond clothes or personal branding. It's about congruence. It's about closing the gap between who you truly are and how the world experiences you. Kerrianne believes that when your presence, imagery, and energy finally align with your expertise, something remarkable happens: people begin responding to the real you. Inside this conversation, we explore: • Why so many brilliant women are unintentionally being overlooked • The surprising role visual presence plays in trust, credibility, and opportunity • Why "likable" and "forgettable" often go hand in hand • Kerrianne's journey from fashion designer to helping women embody their true authority • How a business retreat in Marrakech completely reshaped her business—and her life • Why intuition isn't dramatic, but directional • How following what feels expansive instead of simply logical changed everything One of my favorite insights from Kerrianne is this: Powerful women don't need to become someone else. They simply need to become more fully themselves. That philosophy resonated deeply with me because it echoes so much of what we explore here on Follow Your Joy and in my mentoring of accomplished women entrepreneurs. When your outer presence finally reflects your inner confidence, your message becomes clearer, your decisions become easier, and people naturally begin to trust what you bring to the world. Kerrianne is generously sharing her complimentary video training, "Seen. Wanted. Chosen.," where she reveals the three non-negotiable laws of visual authority and why so many capable women unknowingly hit invisible income ceilings because of how they're perceived online. You'll find her gift inside the Portal of Joy, along with dozens of thoughtfully curated resources from Follow Your Joy guests. 👉 https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal/ If you've ever felt that your experience, wisdom, and expertise deserve to be seen at the level they've earned, this conversation will leave you looking at yourself—and your presence—in a whole new way. Because sometimes the greatest transformation isn't becoming someone new. It's allowing the world to finally see the woman you've already become. Resources + Links: FB & IG: @kerrianne.cartmer.edwards https://unforgettableimpact.com -Marla's Amazon Lifestyle Influencer Store – shop for favorites! Jen's book is inside my store in the travel section https://www.amazon.com/shop/marla_diann -If your own midlife (40+) reinvention is knocking, let's explore it. What does freedom look and feel like for you? More travel? More creative expression? We begin our connection with a Freedom Chat. Use my Calendly link to get on the calendar. https://calendly.com/successcoach-marladiann/connection Loved this episode? Don't stop here, unlock the tools, resources, and free downloads mentioned during the episode. Click here to access the portal of joy. https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal/

July 14, 202653 min

When You Already Know the Answer… Why Do We Still Doubt Ourselves? with Dina Berrin, intuitive guide, certified life coach, and author

Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @marladiann You know that quiet inner knowing that nudges you toward something? Only to talk yourself out of it or second-guess yourself? (That's your beautiful brain trying to protect you—even when your intuition already knows the way.) In this thoughtful episode of Follow Your Joy, I'm joined by intuitive guide, author, and certified coach Dina Berrin for a conversation about one of my favorite subjects—intuition. Not as something mysterious or reserved for a select few. But as a natural part of being human that we've simply forgotten how to trust. Dina believes we don't lack intuition—we've just gotten out of the habit of listening to it. And when we begin paying attention to that quiet inner knowing, even in small ways, life begins to shift. Inside this conversation, we explore: • Why so many people second-guess themselves despite knowing what feels right • How intuition quietly guides our everyday decisions—in business, relationships, and life • The surprising connection between self-honesty and lasting change • Dina's personal journey from a demanding corporate career to intuitive coaching • Why COVID became the unexpected pause that changed everything for her • How tools like tarot, numerology, and astrology can become mirrors for self-discovery rather than sources of answers • Practical ways to begin trusting your own inner wisdom with greater confidence One of my favorite insights from Dina is this: The work isn't learning how to access your intuition. The work is learning to stop talking yourself out of what you already know. That simple shift has the power to change everything. Dina is generously sharing her free guide, The Tarot Coach Approach, introducing a thoughtful way to use tarot as a reflective tool for gaining clarity and strengthening your intuition. You'll find her gift inside the Portal of Joy, along with dozens of carefully curated resources from Follow Your Joy guests. https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal/ If you've been standing at a crossroads, overthinking a decision, or sensing that life is asking something new of you, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that the wisdom you're searching for may already be within you. Sometimes the greatest act of courage isn't finding the answer. It's trusting the one you already have. Resources + Links: www.dinaberrin.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinaberrin YouTube: www.youtube.com/@dinaberrin5975 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dina-perlmutter-berrin-cpcc-pcc-5b812022 Book: The Way Within: Igniting Your Intuition with Sacred Tools https://a.co/d/08Jr79AL -Marla's Amazon Lifestyle Influencer Store – shop for favorites. Marla Diann's Amazon Page Take a virtual seat in my NEW year-round community: The Elegant Way Forward Salon. A place where accomplished women gather twice each month for thoughtful conversation, meaningful mentoring, and practical guidance as they shape the next chapter of their lives together. Details: https://marladiann.com/ig/ Loved this episode? Don't stop here, unlock the tools, resources, and free downloads mentioned during the episode. Click here to access the portal of joy. https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal/

June 24, 202655 min

Beyond the Bucket List: Why More Midlife Women Are Choosing Solo Travel

Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @marladiann For many midlife women, solo travel isn't about checking destinations off a list. It's about friendship, confidence, curiosity, and remembering that life can surprise you in a good way when you least expect it. In this relatable episode, I'm joined by Gina Cambridge, ICF Certified Travel Coach, retreat host, and founder of Wanderlust Solo Women Tours and Wanderlust Travel Coaching. After experiencing her own season of reinvention later in life, Gina discovered how transformational travel helped her rebuild confidence, create meaningful friendships, and reconnect with herself. Today, she's helped hundreds of women experience the same through her curated retreats, tours, and purposeful adventures around the world. From New Zealand to Bali, Cuba and beyond, Gina's work is centered around helping women embrace freedom, courage, and the joy that comes from stepping outside their comfort zones. Inside this conversation, we explore: • Why traveling with fewer expectations can lead to richer experiences • How women in midlife are discovering new freedom, joy, and confidence through solo travel • How travel can become a catalyst for healing and reinvention • Why meaningful friendships often begin outside our comfort zones • The role intuition plays when planning journeys and creating experiences • How Gina navigated the uncertainty of the pandemic without giving up on her dream • The serendipities of life that emerged for Gina from local retreats and unexpected pivots What I love most about Gina's philosophy is that travel isn't simply about checking destinations off a bucket list. It's about saying yes to yourself. It's about remembering that life can still surprise you. And potentially, a plane ticket becomes the beginning of an entirely new chapter. Gina is generously sharing her free guide, Travel Solo with Confidence, filled with practical tips, confidence-building hacks, and encouragement for women dreaming about their own adventures. You can access her gift inside the Portal of Joy. It's an easy free sign up to have access to our selected high value podcast guest's gifts! Downloads, discount codes, journals, audios, and courses, and so much more. https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal/ If you've been longing for more freedom, more adventure, or wondering whether it's too late to reinvent yourself, let this conversation be your reminder: You never want to miss answering to the call of wanderlust regardless of age or season in your life. Because following your joy starts with the courage to say yes to yourself and the magic of travel. Resources + Links: https://wanderlustsolowomentours.com/ https://www.facebook.com/WanderlustSoloWomenTours/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/wanderlust_momentum/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/wanderlust_travel_coach/ -Marla's Amazon Lifestyle Influencer Store – shop for favorites! Gifts for yourself and others inside my store in the travel section https://www.amazon.com/shop/marla_diann -If your own midlife (40+) reinvention is knocking, let's explore it. What does freedom look and feel like for you? More travel? More creative expression? We begin our connection with a Freedom Chat. Use my Calendly link to get on the calendar. https://calendly.com/successcoach-marladiann/connection -To request the Reverie + Velvet overview and details for an introductory consideration, email: support@marladiann.com Loved this episode? Don't stop here, unlock the tools, resources, and free downloads mentioned during the episode. Click here to access the portal of joy. https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal/

June 2, 202633 min

The Reinvention I Never Saw Coming: How Following My Joy Led Me Home

What happens when everything you've built after 18 years no longer feels aligned—and the future is a mystery? In this deeply personal solo episode of Follow Your Joy, I share the story behind my most significant reinvention in nearly two decades and the unexpected birth of my new company, Reverie + Velvet. For months, I felt caught between worlds. My intuition kept telling me something needed to change. The coaching industry was changing in a big way. Technology and AI were disrupting how we work and connect. And despite countless pivots, new ideas, and attempts to find clarity, nothing seemed to really fit. What looked like an unraveling on the outside was actually making way for something very different. It was transformation and my "real" next identity. In this vulnerable conversation, I take you behind the scenes of a season marked by uncertainty, loss, grief, identity shifts, and the search for a more authentic way to express who I am at this stage of life. You'll hear: • How a chance meeting at a local chamber event became the catalyst for an entirely new business • Why I reached a breaking point after years of working primarily online • The profound losses I experienced that quietly reshaped my life and perspective • What I learned about the "world between worlds" when an old identity is dissolving but the new one hasn't fully emerged • How intuition guided me when logic could not • The surprising way my entire three decade long career finally integrated into one unified mission I also share the story and meaning behind Reverie + Velvet—a creative house devoted to women artists, founders, and visionaries expanding into greater visibility, success, and self-expression. This episode is a reminder that what feels like unraveling is actually an evolution. Oftentimes the next chapter doesn't arrive when we're trying our darndest to figure things out. I believe it arrives when we stop thinking our way through it and instead listen very carefully to our intuition and our higher power, and allow life to reveal what has been waiting for us all along. For me, it was a God thing. God had been trying to show me and lead me where to land, but I was too busy in the weeds trying to figure it out! This episode isn't really about launching Reverie + Velvet, although I am very excited about this! It's about a woman who spent months searching, pivoting, grieving, questioning, praying, listening, and ultimately surrendering. It was a return to my: Creativity Entertainment roots Love of artistry A gift for storytelling A passion for visibility and personal branding The intuitive way of guiding women + men creatives even more deeply Desire for beauty, artistry, music, conversation, and meaningful connection If you're navigating uncertainty, craving reinvention, or sensing that a new chapter is calling your name, this conversation is for you. The truth is, when you follow your joy, you eventually find your way home. Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @marladiann Resources + Links: -Reverie + Velvet is now accepting a limited number of inquiries for artist representation and founder mentorship consideration. If something in this story spoke to you deeply, perhaps that's where the conversation begins. -To request the Reverie + Velvet overview and details for an introductory consideration, email: support@marladiann.com IG: marla_diann TT: Marla Diann FB: Marla Diann LI Marla Diann Dennis Shop Marla's Amazon Lifestyle Store for her favorites – https://www.amazon.com/shop/marla_diann Loved this episode? Don't stop here, unlock the tools, resources, and free downloads mentioned during the episode. Click here to access the portal of joy. https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal/

May 13, 202643 min

The Next Chapter of Women's Health: Intuition, Hormones & Feeling Alive Again

Today we're exploring a topic impacting millions of women—yet one that is often misunderstood, overlooked, or quietly endured: women's health, weight struggles, hormones, and the emotional toll that comes with feeling disconnected from your body. In this episode of Follow Your Joy, I'm joined by entrepreneur and MyStart Health founder, Matt Stern, for a candid conversation about the future of women's healthcare, personalized wellness, and the intuition it takes to build something meaningful in a crowded industry. Matt's story is one of resilience, reinvention, and trusting his gut instincts against the odds. From being homeless at 17 and living in a pool house… to building multiple businesses and helping generate over $300M in growth…his entrepreneurial journey has been anything but conventional. Today, through MyStart Health, Matt and his team are focused on expanding access and affordability to life-changing medications—beginning with GLP-1 weight loss treatments and now strongly expanding into personalized hormone health programs for women over 50. Inside this conversation, we explore: • The growing health concerns impacting women today • Why women's hormones, metabolism, and wellness need more personalized support • Matt's personal story from hardship to entrepreneurial success • How intuition helped him go "all in" on MyStart Health despite industry skepticism • Why impact and personalization matter more than simply scaling a business • The emotional and physical realities women face with weight, aging, and health changes • What true success feels like when your work genuinely changes lives What I appreciated most about this conversation is that it's not just about medications or healthcare trends. It's about listening—to your body, your instincts, your health, and the deeper knowing that you deserve support, vitality, and solutions that honor your life stage. Matt is offering Follow Your Joy listeners a special lifetime savings of 25% off all MyStart Health plans. You can access Matt's savings code details inside the Portal of Joy. Please sign up for access to all of the podcast guest's gifts: https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal/ If you've been navigating changes in your health, energy, hormones, weight, or overall well-being—or simply want a more hopeful conversation around women's health—this episode is for you. Resources + Links: www.mystarthealth.com https://www.instagram.com/ mattsternsf www.linkedin.com/company/ thesterngroup -Marla's Amazon Store – shop for favorites. Summer specials & savings https://www.amazon.com/shop/marla_diann -If your own midlife (40+) reinvention is asking to be revealed or supported, let's explore it. What does freedom, more creative expression, success look and feel like for you at this stage of your life? We begin our connection with a reinvention conversation. Use my Calendly link to get on the calendar. https://calendly.com/successcoach-marladiann/connection Loved this episode? Don't stop here, unlock the tools, resources, and free downloads mentioned during the episode. Click here to access the portal of joy. https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal/

April 21, 202645 min

From Dream to Vineyard. What It Really Takes to Build a Legacy Wine Brand

Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @marladiann What does it really take to turn a dream into a living, breathing reality? In this episode of Follow Your Joy, we explore the journey of desire, intuition, resilience, and timing through the story of building a vineyard from the ground up. My guest, Sarah Lyons, co-founder of Lyons Vineyard in the Los Olivos District of Santa Barbara County, shares the behind-the-scenes truth of what it takes to create a wine business rooted in legacy, passion, patience, and purpose. What began as a shared dream between Sarah and her husband evolved over years—from corporate careers in the entertainment industry… to planting vines… to producing and finally launching their own wine label. This is not a story of overnight success. It's a story of: • Listening to a long-held desire • Trusting intuitive nudges • Navigating uncertainty, loss, and unexpected timing • And continuing forward—even when the outcome isn't guaranteed Inside this conversation, we explore: • What it takes to build a vineyard and wine business from scratch • The emotional and financial realities behind winemaking • How intuition guides both creative and strategic decisions • The power of timing—and recognizing when life is inviting you to act • Why meaningful work often unfolds in nonlinear, unpredictable ways • The blend of feminine desire and masculine structure required to bring a dream to life Sarah also shares the deeper joy behind her work—creating something tangible, building community, and watching her wine become part of meaningful moments in people's lives. Because in the end… Wine isn't just something you drink. It's something you experience, share, and remember. This conversation is a reminder that the dreams placed in your heart are invitations. And when you follow them, step by step, something beautiful begins to take shape. If you've ever felt called toward a dream that won't leave you alone, this episode will speak directly to you. Listener Gift: Sarah is offering Follow Your Joy listeners a $15 credit to her online wine shop. Access details inside the Portal of Joy: 👉 https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal/ Listen on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, YouTube and iHeart or www.marladiann.com/ep102 Resources + Links: https://www.lyonsvineyard.com https://www.instagram.com/lyonsvineyard https://www.tiktok/lyonsvineyard ----------------------------------------- Join Follow Your Joy Private FB Community Group -> https://marladiann.com/ig/ -Marla's Amazon Lifestyle Influencer Store – shop for favorites! https://www.amazon.com/shop/marla_diann -If your own midlife (40+) reinvention is knocking, let's explore it. What does freedom look and feel like for you? More travel? More creative expression? We begin our connection with a Freedom Chat. Use my Calendly link to get on the calendar. https://calendly.com/successcoach-marladiann/connection Loved this episode? Don't stop here, unlock the tools, resources, and free downloads mentioned during the episode. Click here to access the portal of joy. https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal/

April 1, 20261 hr 1 min

When Wanderlust Becomes a Calling: The Season You Choose Yourself

Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @marladiann What if the very thing you've been taught defines success… is the reason you burned out? In this inspiring episode of Follow Your Joy, we explore the powerful intersection of travel, intuition, and redefining success for women who have achieved — yet know there's much more. My guest's story is a prime example of how a NEW CHAPTER begins with discontent, uncertainty, a defining moment, and then burnout. If her journey of being pulled toward something different… more freedom, more adventure, more aliveness… then this conversation will surely resonate deeply. I'm joined by global travel journalist, author, and entrepreneur Jen Ruiz, whose story is a brilliant example of what happens when you stop following the expected path — and start following your joy. Jen went from practicing law to taking a bold leap: 12 trips in 12 months before her 30th birthday — a decision that completely transformed her life and career. Sometimes… the most powerful next step isn't more strategy — it's a plane ticket, a yes to yourself, and the courage to follow what feels true. Inside this episode, we talk about: • Why traditional "success metrics" rooted in hustle and logic often lead to burnout • Jen's personal story of heartbreak, solo travel, and unexpected magic that led to her newest memoir • How travel becomes a catalyst for clarity, healing, and reinvention • The importance of blending feminine intuition with masculine structure for true alignment • The role intuition plays in making bold life and business decisions • Why women don't need to wait for the "perfect time" to start living fully Jen shares how she now uses her platform to amplify local and women-owned businesses around the world — combining her background in law with storytelling, advocacy, and global impact. This conversation is a reminder that: Success isn't just what you build. It's how you feel while living your life. Jen is offering a free 5-Day Travel Writing Challenge to help you craft compelling pitches and land your first paid travel assignment. You can access it inside the Portal of Joy. www.marladiann.com/podcast/portal If you're in a season of transition, craving more freedom, or ready to redefine what success looks like for you — this episode will open something within you. Resources + Links: @jenonajetplane across all socials, jenonajetplane.com, https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jen-Ruiz/author/B07B7GSVSL -Marla's Amazon Lifestyle Influencer Store – shop for favorites! Jen's book is inside my store in the travel section https://www.amazon.com/shop/marla_diann -If your own midlife (40+) reinvention is knocking, let's explore it. What does freedom look and feel like for you? More travel? More creative expression? We begin our connection with a Freedom Chat. Use my Calendly link to get on the calendar. https://calendly.com/successcoach-marladiann/connection Loved this episode? Don't stop here, unlock the tools, resources, and free downloads mentioned during the episode. Click here to access the portal of joy. https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal/