You're Not Qualified - A Podcast

Welcome back, Imposters, to the second minisode of the pod! Once a month, the last Tuesday of the month during the YNQ Pod season, myself and a guest will read your stories about imposter syndrome in your own life and how you've overcome obstacles. Maybe you were once actually told you're not good enough or qualified enough for a job or project, or passion you were trying to pursue. I want to hear about your experiences and celebrate you - you can and will overcome anything set in front of you. If you would like to have your email read, please reach out! [email protected] is the place.

Today's minisode features one of my closest friends, Maria Xu. Maria is trained in classical music and was a cellist since the YOUNG age of six years old. She has navigated many a leaps into different avenues of careers, including a layoff, and has landed in tech. Maria and I read an email from a listener who took a layoff and turned it into a 6-figure business venture and she is absolutely killing it.

There's a theme here - layoffs derail your life in many ways. To say they can be an opportunity to grow is a cliche and undermines the impact they have on a person's mental health. But they can be a jumping point to pick the pieces up and become a better version of yourself, and there is possibility in the midst of chaos.

You write the story.

Find Maria:

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Find Courtney:

Email: [email protected]

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Submit your listener stories about navigating imposter syndrome! DM me, or shoot me an email - links above

Have you considered leaving your cushy, comfortable 9-5 job for a lifestyle you yearn for, but you just aren't quite sure you're capable of taking the leap? This is the episode for you. And take this as your sign - BUT, don't leap into the darkness without a flashlight. That is how you get lost or fall off a cliff - things we don't want. What we DO want is success after that leap. If you're nodding your head, then you should press "play".

I encourage you to take that leap, and do it wisely. What do I mean by wisely? You just have to listen to find out what this week's guest, Andrew Zhimer, has to say, and sage advice he has to share about leaping and kicking ass in your new endeavor. Trust the process and move forward.

Find Andrew:

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Find Courtney:

Email: [email protected]

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We are back on it, Imposters - another episode about whales. While the topic of whales warms my heart on its own, nonprofit work warms my heart like a furnace and we are here to talk all about it (especially if that nonprofit is focused on conservation...)

Courtney chats with Whitney Neugebauer - nonprofit founder of an organization called Whale Scout. They chat about the obstacles faced in starting a nonprofit, the amazing engineering ability of beavers, hiring interns, Lower Snake River Dam removal, surviving on nonprofit income, the plight of the Southern Resident Killer Whales, and much more.

This will be Part 1 of a two-parter covering founding nonprofits - buckle up and let's save some animals.

Find Whitney and Whale Scout:

whalescout.org

Facebook

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TikTok

Find Courtney:

Email: [email protected]

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Website

Twitter

Take action for Lower Snake River Dam removal:

change.org

Columbia River Keeper

Alexandra Morton - has dedicated 30 years of her life to the whales

- Alexandra's book - Not On My Watch

I advocate for jumping to a company that will give you the raise you deserve - a raise that might be very hard to come by if you stay in the company you are currently at. Though, there is a flip side to that, and advantage to actually staying and working your way up at the company you are at. That discussion deserves its own episode, so here we are!

Join Courtney as she chats with Lindsay Abila about staying at a company and working your way up to your ideal position. Lindsay did it - and she SLAYED. It is hard, it is a long road, it is grueling, BUT it is rewarding for many reasons. And doable for many reasons. We talk about it all. Plus hot sauce. And dogs. JOIN US. And then go do that thing.

Find Lindsay:

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Find Courtney:

Email: [email protected]

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College has been in the headlines a lot lately, mostly because of the $10k student loan forgiveness plan that President Biden announced. I think it should be in the headlines a lot more with a philisophical tone: Should you or should you not go to college? The answer: NO.

Kidding. The answer is, it depends on what you want to do with your life and your career. And if you have already commited to college and finished or almost finished and are not sure you want to stay in the field of study you chose, that is okay and you are not stuck. Trust Dr. Zakiya Akerele - she wrote a book on it. And we created this podcast episode to help you understand your options after, before, and during college. So listen up, and then go read "Dump Your Degree: How to Repurpose Your Education, Control Your Career, and Gain Financial Freedom". Then go do that thing.

Find Dr. Zakiya:

Book

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About Dr. Zakiya: Dr. Zakiya Akerele is an Atlanta-based educator, author, and speaker who found an early passion in academic pursuits hoping to use them to improve herself and the world around her. She sought higher education with full force, obtaining degrees from Florida A&M University (B.A.), Columbia University (Ed.M.), and Fordham University (M.A. and Ph.D.) in International Education, Philosophy, and Religious Studies. Dr. Akerele has served in various capacities at higher education institutions and at social justice, political, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) both in the U.S. and abroad.

Her new book, Dump Your Degree, is a timely and invaluable resource for anyone seeking guidance on navigating higher education, developing their career, and having financial security.

Find Courtney:

Email: [email protected]

IG

Website

Twitter

Well if it isn't the shorter episode I've been promising and never delivering on...

Welcome back, Imposters! Once a month, myself and a guest will read one, two or maybe even three of your stories about imposter syndrome in your own life and how you've overcome obstacles. Maybe you were once actually told you're not good enough or qualified enough for a job or project, or passion you were trying to pursue. I want to hear about your experiences and celebrate you - you can and will overcome anything set in front of you.

Today's minisode features my good friend Steph Chinn, with whom I worked with at a startup in Seattle for a couple of years. After this interview about her experience navigating the tech world I am pretty confident there is nothing that this badass woman cannot do.

Along with Steph's journey, we chat about navigating the world of corporate cannabis, and how taboo and misconceptions can unfairly shape someone's journey while navigating growth in the industry.

I hope you're inspired by these stories. Listen first, then go do that thing.

"Women Grow - Jane West: Cannabis Cured My Imposter Syndrome" talk: YouTube

Find Steph:

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Find Courtney:

Email: [email protected]

IG

Website

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Submit your listener stories about navigating imposter syndrome! DM me, or shoot me an email - links above

For this second episode of Season 2 Courtney chats with Jesse Butts about his two pursuits he is very much so qualified and unqualified for: Director level of Content Marketing and Podcast founder and host of the The Work Seminar, a podcast for people with liberal arts advanced degrees (MAs, MFAs, and PhDs, mostly) considering work outside of their fields of study without any career coaching experience or certifications. (does that sound at all familiar... Bueller?)

Make a niche for yourself. Know your North Star. Develop a career that serves you and GO FOR IT even if you don't have the traditional background to do "it".

Find Jesse:

The Work Seminar Podcast

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Website

Find Courtney:

Email: [email protected]

IG

Website

Twitter

Season 2, we are here! Welcome back, Imposters, to the You're Not Qualified podcast.

Season 2 will be very fun and I can't think of a better way to kick it off than talking about toxicology, science and science-fiction writing, mad cow disease, writing to fuflill your needs, and so much more.

Join Courtney as she chats with Alan Kolok, PhD Professor with a toxicology discipline and wealth of knowledge on all things pandemic, biology, and very famous American singer-songwriters. Yea, we cover it all.

You are more than welcome to reinvent yourself whenever you want. In fact, it's encouraged.

Find Alan:

Alan's first science fiction novel, Twist: https://www.amazon.com/Twist-Alan-S-Kolok/dp/1643071645

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-kolok-08657a29/

Find Courtney:

Website: https://www.yourenotqualifiedpodcast.com/

IG: @ynqpod

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @ynqpodcast

LAST EPISODE OF SEASON 1!

Friends, the day is upon us - the 25th episode of the You're Not Qualified podcast. 25 hours (ish) of inspirational stories of overcoming imposter syndrome; way more info than you ever wanted to know about my life; fun, heavy, light, encouraging and engaging conversation -- 25 hours of talking with incredible humans who will forever be an inspiration to me and I hope to you as well. This week's human is no exception to that class of inspiration.

Join Courtney as she chats with Adam Koren, a financial and productivity coach with a Liberal Arts and far-from financial background. He discovered a niche of the financial industry that is not as populated as it should be, grasped onto it to grow a business, and found immense passion and happiness. He has so much wisdom to share with the world, and I am stoked that we captured a sliver of it here.

Don't wait for the life you want to happen to you. Grasp it and lead it.

Find Adam:

WEB: https://adamkoren.com/

Find Courtney:

WEB: https://www.yourenotqualifiedpodcast.com/

IG: @ynqpod

Twitter: @ynqpodcast

Email: [email protected]

Life can be very tough sometimes, eh? None of us are immune to struggle and it impacts each of us in differing ways. There are many different tools you can store in your toolbox to pull out when you are in an anxiety spiral, depressive episode, or overall funk. These tools range from licensed therapists (yay!), psychiatrists (yay!), friends (<3) and... books. (oh yes.) Brian Sachetta joins Courtney on the pod today. He is a Software Developer by trade who refused to let his background be static - he has created a brand around mental health awareness. He is the creator and author of Get Out Of Your Head- A No Bullsh*t Approach To Mental Health.

Brian has been through very difficult times and has struggled with his mental health in the past. He turned these difficult, dark times into fuel for helping other people who are currently, or have in the past, struggled with mental health. This episode gets into the details of what his brand and books are about, and we chat about mental health on a societal and personal level. As well as some Game Of Thrones and Harry Potter, of course. It fits I promise.

I hope you listen and walk away more confident in your strengths to pursue your dreams, more confident in your ability to love yourself deeply, and passion to treat your brain with kindness.

Find Brian:

WEB: https://getoutofyourhead.com/

IG:@getoutofyourhead

Find Courtney:

WEB: https://www.yourenotqualifiedpodcast.com/

IG: @ynqpod

TikTok: @ynqpod

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @ynqpodcast