Angela Cope & Jaime Waterfield

Unlearning in Progress

A Careers , Business and Education podcast

About the show

A podcast for women rising - not just in title, but in self. Unlearning in Progress is a podcast for women who did everything “right” - earned the titles, checked the boxes, read the books, took the trainings, and did what they were told. But there’s now a feeling that they can’t shake and are now left wondering, “So why doesn’t this feel like success?” Hosted by two recovering perfectionists and corporate veterans, Jaime Waterfield and Angela Cope unpack the parts of leadership no one puts on LinkedIn: the doubts behind the confidence, the burnout behind the ambition, the growth that doesn’t come with a promotion, and the exploration of self. Each episode explores what it looks like to rise, not just in title, but in self. Through real talk, lived experience, and lessons learned the hard way. Jaime and Angela are on a mission to keep learning, growing, and teaching others how to lead with more self-trust, less performance pressure, and zero apology for wanting a career and a life. If you’re an aspiring or emerging leader who wants to succeed without losing yourself in the process, you’re in the right place.

Newest episodes

Why Your Nervous System May Be Keeping You Stuck Financially

Nov 9, 2026 32 min

The Money Series | Part 3 Knowing where our money beliefs come from doesn't necessarily mean we've changed them. We can understand our patterns, believe we're worthy of more, and still find ourselves overworking, undercharging, deflecting, or pulling back when more actually arrives In this episode of Unlearning in Progress, Angela and Jaime sit down with Anureet Kaur, sustainability leader, professor, writer, and keynote speaker, to explore the connection between nervous system regulation, money mindset, self-worth, and our capacity to receive abundance. Together, we explore what may be happening beneath those familiar patterns. Anureet Kaur helps us look beyond what we intellectually understand about ourselves and consider how our bodies respond to money, success, visibility, and receiving, and what it takes to begin creating a different response. In this conversation, we explore: How your nervous system may influence your relationship with money and successThe difference between understanding your limiting beliefs and actually changing your patternsWhy receiving more money, recognition, or opportunity can sometimes feel uncomfortableHow scarcity beliefs and self-worth show up in our financial decisionsWhy building the capacity to receive more requires practice, not just positive affirmationsSmall, practical ways to recognize your patterns and begin responding differentlyAnureet reminds us that awareness alone doesn't create change. Sometimes, we need to move beyond what we intellectually understand and begin experiencing something different. The question we're exploring: What if receiving more isn't just about believing we deserve it, but building the capacity to actually hold it? Subscribe to Unlearning in Progress for honest conversations about money, careers, personal growth, and the beliefs we're ready to unlearn. Connect with Anureet: https://anureetkaur.com/ https://www.instagram.com/sustainabilitytoronto/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/anureet/

The Psychology of Money: Why Women Struggle with Financial Confidence

Nov 2, 2026 29 min

Money Series | Part 2 In Part 2 of our Money Series, we sit down with Dr. Johanna Peetz, a professor of psychology at Carleton University whose research has explored personal spending, financial decision-making, financial confidence, and the psychology behind our everyday money behaviors. Her work helps explain something many women experience: the gap between how financially capable we actually are and how confident we feel. Johanna Peetz takes us beneath the numbers to explore how family, culture, identity, and societal expectations shape our relationship with money. We unpack how the meaning we attach to money can influence our behavior, why women may be more likely to question what they know, and why talking about money can be an important part of building confidence. In this episode: Why financial confidence and financial capability aren't always the same thingHow family, culture, identity, and societal expectations shape our beliefs about moneyWhat money can represent beyond the numbers, from security and freedom to status and self-worthWhy talking about money and understanding financial language can help build confidenceHow to become more engaged with your money without needing to become an expert This conversation offers a different way to think about financial confidence, and a reminder that we may know more than we give ourselves credit for.

Money, Shame & Self-Worth: Unlearning Our Financial Beliefs

Oct 26, 2026 36 min

What if your relationship with money was shaped long before you earned your first paycheck? Welcome to Season 3 of Unlearning in Progress, where we're exploring one of life's most emotional and often taboo topics: money. Recording together in person from Nova Scotia, Angela and Jaime kick off the season by reflecting on their very different financial upbringings and the money beliefs they've carried into adulthood. From growing up with financial scarcity to being raised in a household focused on saving and financial security, they discover surprising similarities in how money has shaped their identities, careers, and sense of self-worth. In this episode, they explore: How childhood experiences shape our money mindset.The connection between money, success, and self-worth.Why we feel guilt or shame around spending money.How career transitions challenge our financial identity.The importance of questioning inherited money beliefs.They also preview what's ahead this season, including conversations about the psychology of money, investing, financial confidence, and what it really means to have enough. Join us as we kick off a season of honest conversations about women, money, and redefining success. Sometimes developing a healthier relationship with money isn't about earning more. It's about unlearning what we've been taught to believe about it.

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All episodes

Why Your Nervous System May Be Keeping You Stuck Financially

Nov 9, 2026 32 min

The Psychology of Money: Why Women Struggle with Financial Confidence

Nov 2, 2026 29 min

Money, Shame & Self-Worth: Unlearning Our Financial Beliefs

Oct 26, 2026 36 min

Purpose, Passion, and Values: The Throughline in Life & Work

Oct 5, 2026 29 min

Career Series | Part 11 Purpose, passion and values are words we hear often when talking about career fulfillment. But what do they actually mean, and how do they work together? For the final episode of Season 2 and our Career Series, we sit down with Suchitra Davies-Webb, a leadership development coach, facilitator, entrepreneur and co-founder of One Degree Shift. For more than 25 years, she has worked with emerging leaders across industries, helping leaders grow from the inside out and organizations build more intentional cultures. Suchitra challenges us to think of purpose as our North Star, the enduring contribution and impact that runs through our lives, while our passions, roles and values can evolve with the seasons we're in. Together, we explore how looking beyond your current job can reveal the through line that's been there all along. In this episode: The difference between purpose and passion, and why it mattersWhy your purpose is bigger than your current jobHow strengths, energy and values contribute to career alignmentWhat depletion can tell you about misalignmentWhy purpose needs to include something fulfilling for youHow to start uncovering your own through lineWhy getting comfortable with not knowing can be part of finding what comes nextEpisode 30, our 11th Career Series conversation and the Season 2 finale. Next up: Season 3 and an entirely new conversation about money. Connect with Suchitra https://www.suchitradw.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/suchitradw/

Stop Checking the Box: Rethinking Mentorship

Sep 28, 2026 24 min

Career Series | Part 10 What if the person who could change the course of your career is already willing to help, but you're the one talking yourself out of asking? In this episode of our Career Series, we're joined by Alexis Meruelo, founder of Business of Her and author of Getting You Ready for Power: A Woman's Guide to Building Confidence, Community, and Career Success. Together, we unpack the beliefs that keep women from building the relationships that could help them grow. We talk about why asking for mentorship can feel so uncomfortable, what makes a mentoring relationship actually useful, how to know when the fit isn't right, and why one mentor was never supposed to be everything. Alexis Meruelo also shares how a mentor who discouraged one of her biggest ideas ultimately shaped the kind of mentor she wanted to become. The bigger unlearning? Mentorship isn't a box to check. It's a support system to build. Because careers have ups, downs, pivots and moments when we question everything. And we were never meant to navigate all of them alone. In this episode: Why we talk ourselves out of asking for mentorshipHow to make mentorship specific and usefulWhy your mentor network should span ages, industries and perspectivesWhen it's okay to let a mentoring relationship goHow to build your own career support team before you need it

Starting Over Doesn't Mean Starting From Scratch

Sep 21, 2026 31 min

Career Series | Part 9 What do you do when the path you planned suddenly disappears? Jaime and Angela sit down with product-development strategist, entrepreneur, and mentor Cydney Mar, whose 45+ year career has been shaped by resilience, reinvention, and a belief that we never truly start from zero. After a life-changing accident ended her career as a Canadian National figure skater, Cydney rebuilt around design, eventually selling her collections on live television across eight countries and generating more than $300 million in global sales. Decades later, a near-death illness forced another unexpected pivot, leading her to found Cydney Mar Wellness and a proudly Indigenous-owned consulting practice that now mentors product founders around the world. But this conversation isn't about titles or accomplishments. It's about how we navigate the moments when life takes an unexpected turn, how we recognize the value of the skills we've already earned, and why starting over doesn't mean starting from scratch. Together, we explore: • Recognizing the experience and strengths you already have • Moving forward when the path you planned disappears • Turning setbacks into opportunities for growth • The power of reflection, journaling, and asking for help • Building your next chapter with the skills you've carried all along Whether you're considering a career change, navigating a setback, or wondering what's next, Cydney offers a powerful reminder that every chapter of your life has prepared you for the one you're about to write. Connect with Cydney: https://www.cydneymarwellness.com/ https://www.facebook.com/cydneymarwellness/ https://www.instagram.com/cydneymarwellness

Failure Is What I Did, Not Who I Am

Sep 14, 2026 24 min

Career Series | Part 8 What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't failure itself, but what you've been taught to believe about failure? In this episode of the Career Series, we sit down with Rachel Franco, founder of Fail Smarter, to explore how our relationship with failure shapes our careers, confidence, decisions, and willingness to pursue meaningful change. Drawing from her work in innovation enablement, leadership development, and organizational transformation, Rachel shares what she observed time and again: people often leave workshops, coaching sessions, and planning meetings energized and equipped with new skills, but when it's time to take a risk, try something new, or admit something isn't working, fear takes over. Together, we unpack why so many of us see failure as something to avoid at all costs, how those beliefs become embedded through our experiences and workplaces, and what it means to build a healthier, more productive relationship with failure. Rachel also shares the principles behind her Fail Smarter Framework, a practical approach that helps individuals and teams move beyond blame, reflect more intentionally, capture lessons learned, and turn setbacks into opportunities for growth and innovation. One of the most powerful ideas from the conversation: "Failure is what I did, not who I am." Whether you're considering a career pivot, pursuing a dream you've been putting off, recovering from a setback, or simply trying to build more resilience, this episode offers a refreshing perspective: failure isn't something to fear. When approached thoughtfully, it becomes one of our greatest sources of learning, courage, and forward momentum. In This Episode We Discuss: Why fear of failure keeps us stuckHow our beliefs about failure are formedThe difference between failure and identityPsychological safety and smart risk-takingRachel's Fail Smarter FrameworkTurning reflection into learning and actionCareer pivots, experimentation, and self-trustHo...

Sitting in the Unknown: Redefining Career, Purpose, and What Comes Next

Sep 7, 2026 31 min

Career Series | Part 7 In this mid-series check-in, Angela and Jaime get vulnerable about their own career transitions and what they’re learning when there is no clear roadmap for what comes next. One year after leaving the corporate world, Jaime reflects on building a coaching business, rediscovering parts of herself outside of work, and realizing that the next chapter may look different than she expected. She opens up about missing collaboration and being part of a team, questioning what she actually wants from work, and redefining ambition so that her career fits into her life instead of her life fitting around her career. Angela shares what the first five months outside of corporate have revealed about identity, purpose and the masks we wear at work. After years of defining herself through “corporate Angela,” she’s reconnecting with a part of herself she thought she had failed at decades ago: storytelling. Together, they explore career change, purpose, identity, ambition, fear and the uncomfortable unknown between one chapter and the next. Because maybe figuring out your next career move isn't always about finding the perfect job or creating the perfect plan. Maybe it starts with asking a different question: Who am I now and what do I actually want my life to feel like?

When Survival Patterns Become Career Strengths: Knowing When to Let Go

Aug 24, 2026 27 min

Career Series | Part 6 You’re driven, capable, and the person people can count on. But you feel stressed, burned out, disconnected, or just generally off. In this episode of our Career Series, Jaime and Angela sit down with Lauren Golen, founder and strategic advisor, to explore the survival patterns and identities we carry into our career. From people-pleasing and perfectionism to control, overfunctioning, pushing through, and feeling like everything depends on us. These patterns aren’t necessarily weaknesses. In fact, they may be part of the reason you’ve been so successful. They can make you dependable, ambitious, hardworking, and someone who always gets the job done. But when those same patterns begin driving how you work, lead, and make career decisions, success can start to come at a cost. Lauren shares how to recognize when an old survival identity is still “running the show,” why feeling off or burned out at work may be telling us something deeper, and how we can begin letting go of the versions of ourselves we no longer need. We also explore the role of intuition in our careers: how to reconnect with your body when you’ve spent years pushing through what you feel, how to rebuild trust in yourself, and what it means to move toward your next chapter before you have the entire plan figured out. In this conversation: How survival identities like people-pleasing, control, and “if I don’t do it, it won’t get done” can fuel career success, until they start costing usWhy Lauren asks women to thank the identity they’re ready to let go of and how separating who you are from who you learned to be creates space for something newWhat it means to move from the constant hum of striving, proving, and earning your seat to leading from freedom, trust, and creative expressionHow to “feel into the vision in the dark” by trusting your intuition and taking the next step in your career even when you can’t see where it will leadIf you’ve been successful in your career but late...

The Job Changed, But You Didn’t: The Patterns that Follow Us

Aug 10, 2026 26 min

Career Series | Part 5 You can change jobs, change companies, earn the promotion, or step into an entirely different chapter, and still find yourself facing the same patterns. In this episode of Unlearning in Progress, Angela and Jaime sit down with executive coach Michelle Scott to explore why career alignment isn’t only about changing what’s happening around us. Sometimes, the most important shift is the one happening within us. Michelle shares her own experience with burnout, first in the corporate world and later as a stay-at-home mom, and the realization that changing her circumstances didn’t change the patterns she carried with her. As she puts it, without doing the inner work, the pushing simply followed her into a new role. Together, they explore what it actually means to feel aligned in your career, why white space and true rest matter, how to recognize the subtle nudges telling you something needs to change, and why solving career dissatisfaction requires looking at both the external realities of work and our internal beliefs, habits, and expectations. In this conversation: * Why changing jobs doesn’t always solve what feels wrong * How our patterns can follow us from one role to the next * What career alignment actually looks and feels like * Why white space is necessary, not indulgent * How to recognize the “nudge” before it becomes a steamroller * The relationship between inner work and practical career strategy * How slowing down can help you hear your own intuition again If you’ve been wondering whether you need a new job, a new career, or simply a different way of showing up in the one you already have, this conversation might help you ask a different question. Connect with Michelle: https://michellescottcoaching.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-scott-coaching/ https://www.facebook.com/michellescottcoaching/ https://www.instagram.com/coachmichellescott/

Beyond the Dream Job: Finding Purpose in Your Next Chapter

Aug 3, 2026 21 min

Career Series | Part 4 Over the last few episodes, we've explored career crossroads, the factors that influence career growth, and how to identify work that energizes you. In this episode, we bring those concepts to life through the story of Amy Peterson, co-founder and CEO of Rebel Nell. Amy spent years pursuing a childhood dream of working in professional baseball. After building a successful career with the Detroit Tigers, she found herself wrestling with an internal tug toward something different, one that became increasingly difficult to ignore. Together, we explore what it feels like when your passions evolve, how to distinguish between running away from something and being called toward something new, and why passion is often what sustains us through the hardest parts of building a career or business. Amy shares her experience navigating uncertainty, identity shifts, and the decision to pursue work that felt deeply aligned with what mattered most to her. Whether you're questioning your next move or simply feeling pulled toward something you can't quite explain, this conversation offers a thoughtful framework for understanding what that tug might be trying to tell you. In This Episode, We Discuss: What happens when a long-held career path no longer feels aligned How to evaluate the "internal tug" toward something new The difference between escaping a situation and following a calling Why passion is essential when taking a career risk The reality that passions can evolve throughout different seasons of life Amy's advice for anyone considering a major career shift Learn more about Rebel Nell: Rebel Nell Instagram (@rebelnell)

Beyond Job Titles: Finding What Energizes You

Jul 27, 2026 25 min

Career Series | Part 3 You've updated your résumé. Scrolled through job postings. Considered a promotion, a pivot, or even a completely different path. But what if the answer isn't found in a job title at all? In Part 3 of our Career Series, Jaime introduces the Career Alignment Matrix, a practical framework designed to help you identify the work that energizes you, the growth you're excited to pursue, the responsibilities you've outgrown, and the tasks that consistently drain your energy. Through a live coaching conversation, Angela works through the exercise in real time, uncovering patterns that offer new clarity about what she wants from the next chapter of her career. Together, they explore why career decisions become easier when you stop focusing on titles and start paying attention to the environments, activities, and experiences that bring out your best work. If you've ever found yourself wondering,"What's next for me?" this conversation is for you. In this episode: Why career clarity often comes from patterns, not perfectly mapped-out plans How to identify what energizes you and what consistently drains you The difference between growth you choose and growth you feel pressured into pursuing Why being good at something doesn't mean you should keep doing it foreverHow work environments and team culture influence career alignmentA practical framework for designing your next career move with greater intention Whether you're considering a promotion, exploring a career pivot, or simply feeling disconnected from your current work, this episode offers a different way to think about what's next: not by chasing titles, but by finding what energizes you.

Beyond Hard Work: The Currency of Career Growth

Jul 20, 2026 27 min

Career Series | Part 2 You've exceeded expectations. Delivered exceptional work. Said yes to every opportunity. So why does it still feel like your career isn't moving forward? In Part 2 of our Career Series, Jaime & Angela unpack one of the biggest misconceptions women are taught at work: that hard work alone leads to promotion. Together, they explore why exceptional performance isn't always enough, what leaders are actually looking for when they make promotion decisions, and why visibility, influence, and strategic leadership often matter just as much as results. They also share personal stories of missed promotions, lessons learned from leadership roles, and practical ways to build your reputation without feeling like you're bragging or becoming someone you're not. If you've ever found yourself wondering, "Why wasn't I chosen?" this conversation is for you. In this episode:Why doing more isn't always moving you forwardThe difference between performance and promotionHow to build visibility without self-promotion feeling awkwardThe leadership "game" no one teaches women to playWhy promotions are about your future potential, not just your past performancePractical ways to build influence and career momentum Whether you're aiming for your next promotion, feeling overlooked, or simply rethinking what career growth looks like, this episode offers a fresh perspective on how to stop waiting to be recognized and start positioning yourself for what's next.

Career Crossroads: Stay, Leave, or Pivot?

Jul 13, 2026 22 min

Career Series | Part 1 We're back! And we're kicking off a brand-new season of Unlearning in Progress with a series on one of the biggest topics showing up in conversations everywhere: our careers. If you've ever found yourself wondering, Is this really what I want?, Should I leave?, Am I burned out?, or Why doesn't success feel the way I thought it would? then this series is for you. In the first episode of our Career Series, Angela Cope and Jaime Waterfield explore what many are calling the great career crisis, while challenging whether it's really a crisis at all. Instead, they unpack why so many women are feeling exhausted, disconnected from their work, questioning their next move, and wondering whether they should stay, leave, pivot, or start over. Together, they discuss: The hidden signs that your career may no longer be aligned with who you're becoming.How burnout, stress, and even your body can reveal when something needs to change.Why chasing titles, promotions, and external success doesn't always create fulfillment.The difference between craving relief and craving real change.How to stop looking outside yourself for career answers and begin asking better questions.This conversation is the foundation for the entire series to come. Over the next several episodes, Jaime & Angela dive deeper into feeling stuck, navigating promotions, redefining success, building meaningful careers, and creating work that feels aligned with the life you're actually trying to build. Whether you're considering a career change, feeling stuck in your current role, navigating leadership, or simply questioning what success means now, this episode offers thoughtful reflection - not quick fixes. Because sometimes the next step isn't quitting your job. Sometimes it's unlearning the story you've been told about what your career is supposed to look like.

Season One in Review: The Lessons We Learned While Unlearning

Jun 1, 2026 17 min

In our Season One finale, we look back on five months, nineteen episodes, and a whole lot of unlearning. From letting go of perfectionism to finding our rhythm as co‑hosts, this season stretched us, grounded us, and reminded us why these conversations matter. We talk about what surprised us, what challenged us, and what changed us, including the moments that felt like therapy, the guests who held up a mirror, and the stories that stayed with us long after we hit “stop.” We also share the behind‑the‑scenes growth you didn’t hear: trusting our voices, releasing control, embracing collaboration, and learning to be in the being instead of the constant doing. And because we practice what we preach, we’re taking a pause, a power‑in‑the‑pause moment, before we return with Season Two. When we’re back, we’re kicking things off with a focused series on career: identity, growth, alignment, and the messy middle of figuring out what’s next. If you have topics you want us to explore or guests you’d love to hear from, send us a message on Instagram or Facebook at @unlearninginprogress. Season One was just the beginning. Season Two is going to be something special.

Beneath the Burnout: Rebalancing Masculine and Feminine Leadership

May 25, 2026 27 min

What happens when the very traits that helped you succeed start to work against you? In this episode of Unlearning in Progress, Julie Santiago, former Wall Street executive turned founder of We Are the Women, explores the tension between doing and being, and why so many high-achieving women feel exhausted, unfulfilled, and out of alignment, even when things look successful on the outside. Julie helps us to unpack a nuanced and frequently misunderstood topic: masculine and feminine leadership. Drawing from her own experience in high-performance corporate environments, Julie shares how many women learn to succeed by overdeveloping “doing” energy focused on output, control, and performance while suppressing equally important qualities like intuition, presence, and connection. This conversation is an invitation to reconnect with who you are beneath the achievement and to explore what becomes possible when you stop leading the way you were taught, and start leading as the woman you actually are. Connect with Julie: https://wearethewomen.com/ https://www.instagram.com/iamjuliesantiago/ https://www.facebook.com/JulieSantiago/

Beyond Overthinking: Getting Off the Thought Train

May 18, 2026 29 min

In this episode of Unlearning in Progress, Angela and Jaime sit down with transformational coach and guide Karen Brar for a conversation about the connection between the mind, the body, and the stories we carry through life. Together, they explore why so many of us live disconnected from ourselves, constantly operating from overthinking, achievement, survival mode, and the “thought train” of the mind. Karen shares how ancient teachings rooted in the Vedic tradition can help us better understand our nervous systems, our emotional patterns, and the whispers our bodies often give us long before burnout, anxiety, or disconnection fully take hold. The conversation dives into nervous system regulation, subconscious beliefs, corporate conditioning, self-worth, and the practice of returning to yourself in a world that constantly pulls your attention elsewhere. This episode is for anyone who has ever felt exhausted by their own thoughts, disconnected from their body, or quietly wondered: Why does life feel this hard when I’m doing everything “right”? Connect with Karen: https://anayawithin.com/

When Your Body Knows: Unlearning the Logic-Only Path

May 11, 2026 24 min

What if your body has been trying to tell you something… and you’ve just been too used to pushing through to hear it? In this episode of Unlearning in Progress, we’re joined by Dr. Carly Hunt, a sport and health psychologist, former Division I golfer, and author of Train Your Brain to Beat Chronic Pain, to explore what it means to listen when your body starts signaling that something isn’t right. Carly shares her journey through academia, high achievement, and perfectionism, and how years of overworking, people-pleasing, and ignoring her internal signals eventually showed up physically through chronic pain. What started as a whisper became impossible to ignore. Together, we unpack the science behind the “gut brain” and why intuition isn’t just a feeling, it’s information. Carly walks us through how pain functions as the brain’s alarm system, what happens when that system gets stuck on high alert, and why healing requires more than just a purely logical, problem-solving approach. We also explore how these ideas extend far beyond chronic pain to burnout, stress, and the everyday ways we override what we actually need. If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your body, dismissed your intuition, or believed that pushing harder was the answer, this conversation offers a powerful reframe: your body isn’t working against you, it may be the most honest signal you have. Learn more and connect with Carly: https://www.thinkbettergolf.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thinkbettergolf/

The Stories We Carry: Breaking the Silence on Mental Health

May 4, 2026 26 min

It’s Mental Health Awareness Month, but beyond the advice and resources, real stories are also needed. In this episode, Angela and Jaime share their own experiences openly and honestly. Not to offer advice or solutions, but to create space for honesty and to help anyone listening feel a little less alone in what they may be carrying. They also discuss the role we play in supporting mental health in their everyday lives, at work, in friendships, and within their communities. Sometimes, it starts with something as simple as noticing a change, asking a question, or taking a few minutes to check in. They hope that speaking openly encourages more honest conversations. If you take anything from this conversation, let it be this: you’re not alone and your presence in someone else’s life matters more than you think.

From Performance to Purpose: Unlearning Perfectionism

Apr 27, 2026 27 min

What happens when the mindset that helped you succeed starts working against you? In this episode of Unlearning in Progress, we’re joined by Katie Virtue, former Division I hockey player, corporate leader, and self‑described recovering perfectionist. Katie shares her journey from elite athletics to the corporate world, where busyness became a status symbol and performance was measured by constant output. We unpack the physical, emotional, and relational signals that something wasn’t sustainable, and the pivotal moment when a leader encouraged her to stop operating at 100% and try 70% instead. In our conversation, we examine why high performers often equate exhaustion with effectiveness, how identity becomes tied to titles and productivity, and what redefining performance around purpose, energy, and sustainability looks like. Katie also introduces her Energy Eval framework and explains how small, intentional shifts can create space for clearer thinking, stronger relationships, and long‑term impact. If you’ve ever felt stuck in overdrive, tied your worth to productivity, or struggled to slow down without guilt, this conversation offers a thoughtful reminder: sustainable growth often begins when we question what we were taught to believe about success.

Trust the Season: What Nature Teaches Us About Leadership

Apr 20, 2026 22 min

In honour of Earth Day this week, we’re taking the conversation outside. In this episode, Angela and Jaime explore the leadership lessons hidden in nature and what happens when we slow down enough to actually notice them. From the changing of seasons to the invisible growth of a planted seed, nature offers a powerful reminder: not everything is meant to happen all at once. Growth takes time. Rest has a purpose. And sometimes, what feels like falling apart is actually making space for something new. Together, we unpack what it looks like to: Recognize and trust the season you’re inLet go of the need to rush resultsEmbrace the unseen work happening beneath the surfaceMove from control to flow in how we lead and live This episode is a little different and maybe exactly the reminder you didn’t know you needed. Because just like nature… you’re not behind. You’re becoming.

Starting Before You’re Ready: Confidence Built Through Reps

Apr 13, 2026 22 min

Jaime and Angela unpack the belief that you have to be prepared and fully qualified before you begin something or apply for that job. They discuss how mindset quietly keeps women opting out of opportunities they’ve earned the right to pursue. Using golf, job applications, leadership moments, and even the podcast itself, they explore why men often treat early attempts as practice while women can experience the beginning as proof, and why being “visibly bad” can feel so risky. They talk through perfectionism, fear of rejection, worthiness, and the inner voice that tries to keep us safe by keeping us small. This conversation is a reminder that confidence doesn’t come first, it comes from reps, exposure, and starting before you feel ready. Takeaways Permission is not required to participate and practice; trying is how skills and confidence are earned.Fear of failure and external validation can hinder participation and confidence.Challenging early beliefs and reframing self-perception are essential for personal growth.

From Climbing to Choosing: Stepping Off the Corporate Ladder

Apr 6, 2026 29 min

In this episode, Angela opens up to Jaime about the deeply personal journey behind her decision to step off the corporate ladder. What looked like a successful leadership path from the outside slowly became a life that no longer fit on the inside. After years of overfunctioning, burnout, and carrying the weight of other people’s expectations, a moment of clarity made one truth impossible to ignore - it was time to choose herself. This conversation explores the unlearning required to walk away from a familiar identity and into a more aligned one. Angela and Jaime dive into inner knowing, financial readiness, self‑leadership, and the courage it takes to build a life rooted in thriving rather than surviving. It’s an honest look at what happens when climbing no longer feels like success and what becomes possible when you finally decide to choose yourself.

From External Validation to Inner Knowing: Reclaiming Self-Trust

Mar 30, 2026 25 min

Jaime and Angela sit down with Jessica Berg, a somatic and inner child coach helping high-achieving women stop living against themselves and start building lives that feel aligned. After nearly two decades in corporate, including close to eight years at Adobe, Jess reached a breaking point. Despite building a successful career and life on paper, she found herself burned out, disconnected, and unable to fully enjoy the life she had worked so hard to create. Through two defining catalyst moments, Jess began to question everything she believed about success, productivity, and self-worth. In this conversation, we explore the unlearning required to step away from external validation and into self-trust. Jess shares her journey of leaving corporate, navigating the loss of identity that followed, and redefining success beyond a paycheck or title. A powerful reminder that the life you’re working so hard for… is meant to be felt. Connect with Jessica https://www.jessbergcoaching.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicalynneberg/ https://www.instagram.com/jessbergcoaching

From Proving Yourself to Choosing Yourself: Becoming Intentional

Mar 23, 2026 24 min

In this episode, Angela and Jaime sit down with Sara Onyschuk, a seasoned leader in enterprise sales and partner strategy, to explore what happens when a career built on proving yourself no longer feels aligned. Sara shares her journey from confidently saying yes to every opportunity, to stepping away from corporate life to focus on creativity and family, to returning to corporate with a clearer understanding of what truly fuels her. Together, they unpack the shift from reactive career growth to intentional design, and the courage it takes to stop doing what you can do and start choosing what you want to do. This conversation is an invitation to pause, reflect, and consider what might change if you stopped proving and started choosing with intention.

Betting on Yourself: Choosing Alignment Over the Expected Path

Mar 16, 2026 23 min

In our first guest episode of Unlearning in Progress, Angela and Jaime sit down with Deanna Christiansen, a seasoned leader with over three decades of experience, to explore what happens when the career you worked decades to build no longer reflects who you are becoming. Deanna shares her journey of working toward a long-held leadership goal, only to realize that in the process, she had been shrinking herself to fit expectations that were never fully hers. Through health signals, deep reflection, and a whole lot of courage, she began to unlearn the pressure to perform and started choosing alignment instead. Deanna, Jaime, and Angela unpack the courage it takes to unlearn traditional definitions of success and reconnect with purpose, authenticity, and self‑trust. This conversation is an invitation to pause, listen inward, and consider what might be possible when you start choosing yourself.

From Competition to Collaboration: Reimagining Women Supporting Women

Mar 2, 2026 24 min

In this episode, Angela and Jaime examine how societal pressures, comparison, and scarcity mindsets often turn connection into competition. Through candid and vulnerable storytelling, they share moments of being hurt by other women, as well as the uncomfortable truth of times they themselves contributed to that harm. Together, they explore what it takes to unlearn these patterns, build authentic relationships, and create safer spaces where women can be honest, supportive, and collaborative. This conversation is an invitation to reflect, take responsibility, and reimagine what’s possible when women choose connection over comparison.

Crying Without Shame: A Leadership Conversation

Feb 23, 2026 29 min

Jaime and Angela discuss an often-taboo subject of crying in the workplace. They explore personal experiences, societal expectations, and the emotional intelligence associated with crying. Angela shares her journey of unlearning the shame associated with crying, while Jaime emphasizes the importance of emotional awareness and authenticity in leadership. The conversation highlights strategies for managing emotions in professional settings and normalizes the act of crying as a natural human experience. They also share tips on what to do when you find yourself crying in your workday, and how to show up for others who may be shedding tears.

Unlocking Potential: The Power of Coaching

Feb 16, 2026 30 min

This week, Angela invites Jaime to share the heart behind her work as a leadership coach and why so many of us misunderstand what coaching is meant to do. They unpack why coaching isn’t about fixing, but about thriving, partnership, presence, and seeing yourself more clearly. Through honest conversation, they explore how coaching supports boundary‑setting, burnout recovery, confidence building, and the move toward your “next level” self. They also address common barriers to coaching, such as time and money, and provide insights on how to overcome these challenges. Connect with Jaime LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmwaterfield/ Aspire Consulting LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspire-consulting-llc-mi/ Aspire Consulting Website: https://aspireconsultingllc.my.canva.site/

Breaking Free from the Grind: Choosing a Life of Harmony

Feb 9, 2026 25 min

In this conversation, Jaime and Angela discuss the concepts of hustle and grind, exploring the implications of grinding at work on mental health and productivity. They delve into the importance of recognizing burnout, setting boundaries, and the necessity of rest in a fast-paced work culture. The dialogue emphasizes the need to redefine work-life balance as harmony, focusing on the choices we make daily to align our work with our values and passions. The conversation concludes with reflections on finding purpose in work and the significance of taking micro-rests to enhance overall well-being.

From Performance to Authenticity: Redefining Leadership

Feb 2, 2026 30 min

In this conversation, Angela and Jaime explore the critical distinction between performance-based leadership and leading from a place of self-trust and authenticity. They discuss the importance of being aware of one's feelings and the impact of external pressures on decision-making. The dialogue emphasizes the journey towards authentic leadership, the significance of micro-decisions in building self-trust, and practical strategies for rewiring one's mindset to foster a more genuine leadership style. The episode concludes with actionable insights for listeners to cultivate self-trust and authenticity in their leadership roles.

Success, Detours, and the Career Path Forward

Jan 26, 2026 24 min

In this episode, Angela and Jaime delve into their non-linear career paths, sharing personal stories of resilience and growth. Angela recounts her journey from a passionate high school student in film and television to facing significant personal challenges, including homelessness, before ultimately finding her footing in marketing. Jaime shares her own experiences, illustrating how she navigated various roles in technology and sales, and the strategic decisions that led to her success. Both speakers reflect on the value of networking, mentorship, and the courage to seize opportunities, providing listeners with actionable insights for their own career development.

Why ‘Doing Everything Right’ Feels Wrong

Jan 19, 2026 23 min

In the inaugural episode of "Unlearning in Progress," co-hosts Jaime Waterfield and Angela Cope delve into the complexities of success, particularly for women who have achieved traditional markers of success yet feel unfulfilled. They explore the societal narratives surrounding ambition and worth, emphasizing that true success often diverges from external validation. The conversation highlights the importance of internal alignment and personal growth, suggesting that success should be redefined as a feeling rather than a checklist of accomplishments. Jaime shares her journey of realizing that despite her professional achievements, she felt unhappy and disconnected, prompting her to seek mindfulness and self-awareness. Angela echoes this sentiment, discussing how childhood conditioning shapes our perceptions of success and the necessity of unlearning these ingrained beliefs to find genuine fulfillment.

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Podcast details

Created by: Angela Cope & Jaime Waterfield
Status: Active
Latest episode: Nov 9, 2026
Episodes: 33
Release period: Weekly
Avg. episode length: 26 min
Explicit: No
Language: English

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