When leadership coach Jen Dary discovered she had a massive brain tumor in 2016, she was an eight-month-old baby's mom, running her coaching business Plucky, and just trying to survive the chaos of early motherhood. What she didn't expect was that surviving brain surgery would crack open an entirely different kind of survival guide—one that involved conversations with "the bigness," mystical experiences, and a nine-year journey to write a book that refused to be anything but honest.In this conversation, Jen and I dive deep into: * The terrifying moment of diagnosis and what happens when you're forced to receive help instead of give it * How writing letters to her children "just in case" became an act of love and release * Why the publishing industry's gatekeeping almost kept this book from existing * The uncomfortable truth about being "naked" when your memoir goes public * What 92-year-old women buying fabric can teach us about the divine * Why she believes in everything now—from science to spirits to serendipityJen's new memoir "I Believe in Everything: A Memoir of Illness, Motherhood, and Magic" releases January 13, 2025 (her birthday).This isn't a "warrior" story or a tale of crushing it through adversity. It's an honest, funny, heartbreaking exploration of what happens when life forces you to slow down enough to notice what else is there.About Jen Dary:Jen is a leadership coach, founder of Plucky, and teacher of the "So Now You're a Manager" training. She works with stressed-out leaders who need someone who understands both business jargon and the messy human parts of work. She lives in Arlington, Virginia with her husband, two sons, and a side-eyeing dog.Get the book: beplucky.com/shopConnect with Jen: * Plucky: beplucky.com * Book info: [add link]Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction 02:25 - The diagnosis that changed everything 08:00 - From helper to patient: identity crisis 17:30 - Writing goodbye letters to her children 25:15 - "The bigness" and spiritual awakening 40:15 - The nine-year journey to finish the book 52:00 - Why self-publishing was the only way 1:04:00 - What makes writing "great" 1:12:00 - Finding God in a 92-year-old's fabric shopping trip 1:30:00 - Creative process: caves, burning art, and airplane ideas 1:43:00 - "Go have a good life" - the tattoo storyABOUT ESCAPE VELOCITY PODCASTEscape Velocity explores creativity, leadership, entrepreneurship, and building meaningful lives. Hosted by Tracey Halvorsen—CEO, painter, agency founder and creative strategist—this podcast dives into real conversations with founders, artists, and leaders who aren't afraid to talk about the messy, magical parts of the journey.

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