This episode is a little different. No guest. No perfectly mapped-out lesson. Just me — showing up in the middle of a quiet, in-between season.

You know those times when the words don’t come? When everything feels a little slower, a little foggier… and you’re not quite sure what’s next, but you know you’re not where you used to be? That’s where I’ve been.

Today, I’m inviting you into the pause. The space between clarity and action. The soft unraveling that happens when you finally let your nervous system breathe. This isn’t an episode with big “aha” moments — it’s one that meets you exactly where you are, especially if you’ve been craving permission to slow down, feel more, and do a little less.

If you’re in a season of reflection, reset, or just needing a little more quiet in a loud world — you are not alone.

(01:33) - Reflections on a Week of Uncertainty (02:51) - The In-Between Season (03:53) - There Is Power in Not Knowing Yet (05:00) - Embracing the Stillness (05:36) - Finding Clarity and Wisdom in Waiting

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

In this episode, Monique Schafer welcomes powerhouse executive Katie Kruger for a raw, riveting, and deeply relatable conversation on transformation, grit, and redefining what success looks like.

Raised in rural Alaska, dreaming of skyscrapers while hauling firewood and joining an exclusive male workforce in the oil fields, Katie now leads in the C-suite of a $35B company and has become a sought-after policy influencer and mentor. Her story is a masterclass in reinvention — not the loud, flashy kind, but the kind that happens when no one is watching, when you say “yes” to growth, over and over again, even when it’s hard.

She shares what it was like being one of the only women in the oil fields, how she taught herself policy in a coffee shop, and why her version of success has nothing to do with titles — and everything to do with relationships, service, and staying grounded.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a version of yourself that no longer fits, if you think you’re too late to pivot, or that your past defines your ceiling, you need to hear this one.

(08:38) - Katie’s Early Years in Rural Alaska (10:46) - Incremental Transformation (11:11) - Strategic Career Pivots: Katie’s Journey to Becoming a Policy Expert (12:27) - Katie’s Rigorous Self-Study Routine (15:55) - The Power of Building Relationships and Adding Value to Others (27:09) - The ROI of Giving Without Expecting (35:57) - Balancing Work and Personal Life, Especially for Working Parents (40:56) - The Importance of Taking Risks and Being Curious in Personal & Professional Growth (41:25) - The Role of Policy in Supporting Working Parents (43:48) - Believing You Can Become Something New

• Linkedin | https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-kruger-colorado/

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

In this heartwarming episode, Monique reconnects with her college roommate and lifelong friend, Kelsey Murray, a former ad agency director with a deep background in marketing and digital strategy. After more than a decade climbing the corporate ladder, she made the bold decision to step away in pursuit of motherhood and a more intentional way of living.

Her career journey has included becoming a stay-at-home mom, launching a photography business, consulting as a fractional CMO, and ultimately stepping into franchise ownership. Each pivot was less about chasing titles and more about rediscovering what truly lights her up.

Together, Monique and Kelsey explore how ambition can evolve, how motherhood can feel both sacred and stiffling, and how we can integrate every season of our lives into a more whole version of who we are becoming. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a season that was supposed to fulfill you or if you’re currently navigating a pivot, this episode will remind you that it’s not too late to begin again. Let’s dive in!

((05:19) - Kelsey’s Unexpected Pivot (07:00) - Motherhood and the Guilt That No One Talks About (10:20) - Finding Community and the Power of Shared Experiences (13:04) - The Season of Self-Discovery (21:33) - Beyond the Resume: Redefining Your Personal Brand (22:43) - Legacy, Family, and the Story Behind Kelley Blue Book (29:19) - Releasing the Need for Perfection and External Validation (32:45) - The Importance of Staying Open to What’s Next (34:14) - God Whispers and Soul Alignment

• Book - The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav | https://a.co/d/byYJUm9

• Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/mrsmurray923/

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8