Listen "The Courage to Choose Family Over Fame with Shannon Russel"
Episode Synopsis
"What would you do if you had to choose between interviewing Taylor Swift and picking up your child from daycare?"Art welcomes Shannon Russell, who reveals the moment that changed everything. Eight months pregnant in a Times Square subway station, she chose family over interviewing Taylor Swift - a decision that crystallized her shifting priorities. What followed was a courageous journey of reinvention. From Hollywood television producer to successful entrepreneur and career coach, Shannon's story explores the profound impact of motherhood on identity and purpose. She shares her experience with postpartum depression, the isolation of losing her social circle, and the bold decision to uproot her family across the country.Shannon's transition wasn't linear. After leaving entertainment, she tried various paths - a toxic nine-to-five job, graduate school for teaching, before finally discovering entrepreneurship through a STEM education franchise. Her coaching business grew organically when clients began asking how she made such dramatic life changes. Now she helps women recognize their worthiness of pursuing aligned careers. "Give yourself grace," she advises, "and remind yourself that you're worthy of changing your current situation." Her story proves that sometimes the biggest disruptions lead to the most meaningful destinations.Shannon Russell is a Career Transition and Business Coach empowering women to leave unfulfilling careers and build joyful, purpose-driven businesses. She is the Author of Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life, a Speaker, and Host of the Second Act Success Career Podcast. Through her company, Second Act Success®, Shannon shares her journey as a television executive turned business owner. She spent over 16 years as a Television Producer working for MTV, E!, Yahoo!, PopSugar, A&E, and TLC before opening her own STEM education franchise. Her motto is "produce your best life." About The Show: The Life in Transition, hosted by Art Blanchford focuses on making the most of the changes we’re given every week. Art has been through hundreds of transitions in his life. Many have been difficult, but all have led to a depth and richness he could never have imagined. On the podcast Art explores how to create more love and joy in life, no matter what transitions we go through. Art is married to his lifelong partner, a proud father of three and a long-time adventurer and global business executive. He is the founder and leader of the Midlife Transition Mastery Community. Learn more about the MLTM Community here: www.lifeintransition.online.In This Episode: (00:00) Opening: The Times Square Epiphany(02:20) Becoming a Mom: The Most Meaningful Transition(07:06) Learning from Children: A Two-Way Street(14:26) Postpartum Depression and Lost Friendships(18:00) Midlife Transition Mastery Ad(23:33) The Taylor Swift Moment and Career Pivot(35:26) Transition Mastery Coaching Ad(40:51) Tools for Transition: Grace and WorthinessLike, subscribe, and send us your comments and feedback.Resources:Website: https://secondactsuccess.co/Free resources: Career change tools and business-building guidesBook: Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best LifeSecond Act Success Career PodcastEmail Art BlanchfordLife in Transition WebsiteLife in Transition on IGLife in Transition on FBJoin Our Community: https://www.lifeintransition.online/My new book PURPOSEFUL LIVING is out now. Order it now: https://www.amazon.com/PURPOSEFUL-LIVING-Wisdom-Coming-Complex/dp/1963913922Explore our website https://lifeintransitionpodcast.com/ for more in-depth information and resources, and to download the 8-step guide to mastering mid-life transitions. The views and opinions expressed on the Life In Transition podcast are solely those of the author and guests and should not be attributed to any other individual or entity. This podcast is an independent production of Life In Transition Podcast, and the podcast production is an original work of the author. All rights of ownership and reproduction are retained—copyright 2025.
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