Work Recovery Journal

Welcome to The WR Journal — your curated destination for insights, special features, and podcast conversations designed for the midlife woman navigating the intersection of career, money, and joy.

Whether you're quietly questioning what success actually costs you, rebuilding after burnout, or simply ready to stop waiting for permission to live differently, you've found your people. We explore the work you do, the wealth you build, and the wellbeing you deserve — without asking you to blow up the life you've worked so hard to create.

WORK

WEALTH

WELLBEING

WORK ⁘ WEALTH ⁘ WELLBEING ⁘


Bree J Bree J

Ep. 95 Breaking the Cycle of Anxiety with Guest Sabrina Trobak

Bree and Sabrina Trobak delve into the intricacies of core beliefs, particularly the pervasive feeling of 'not good enough' and its impact on anxiety and emotional well-being. Sabrina shares her journey from education to counseling, emphasizing the importance of understanding and challenging core beliefs to foster healthier coping mechanisms

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Bree J Bree J

Ep. 94 The Grit of Entrepreneurship with Guest Ann Carden

Bree talks with Ann Carden, a dynamic entrepreneur and business growth strategist. Ann shares her inspiring journey from corporate management to successful entrepreneurship, highlighting the resilience and dedication required to thrive. She discusses how to innovate within your existing business, turn your expertise into a consulting practice, and overcome the fear that often accompanies entrepreneurship.

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Bree J Bree J

Ep. 93 How the Body Reveals Trauma in Layers with Guest Chris Wasko

The body reveals trauma in layers, shares guest Chris Wasko, an energy healer and spiritual counselor. She talks about the intricate connections between trauma recovery, energy healing, and personal growth. Chris shares his journey from a challenging upbringing in a narcissistic environment to becoming a healer, emphasizing the importance of understanding the mind-body connection and the layers of trauma held within the body.

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Bree J Bree J

Ep. 92 The Power of a Personal Brand with Guest Caroline Pennington

Guest Caroline Pennington, a LinkedIn marketing expert, shares insights on personal branding and effective strategies for leveraging LinkedIn. Caroline emphasizes the importance of building a personal brand, engaging authentically, and optimizing LinkedIn profiles to attract opportunities.

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Five Lessons for Healing After a painful Job Exit or Buyout

Fear doesn’t disappear when life changes—it just stops being in charge. This reflection explores how self-trust, resilience, and inner safety are built through experience, allowing you to take action even when things feel uncertain, scary, or out of control.

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Bree J Bree J

Ep. 91 Stop Self Criticism Now

Bree shares her personal journey of navigating change and the challenges of self-criticism. She discusses the importance of reframing our inner critic and recognizing that the traits we often judge ourselves for can actually be our superpowers.

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Fear Still Shows Up—But It Doesn’t Run the Show Anymore

Fear doesn’t disappear when life changes—it just stops being in charge. This reflection explores how self-trust, resilience, and inner safety are built through experience, allowing you to take action even when things feel uncertain, scary, or out of control.

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Bree J Bree J

Ep. 90 How to Be Memorable in Building Your Network with Guest Giselle Marcus

In this episode, host Bree Johnson welcomes Gisele Marcus, a TEDx speaker specializing in networking and relationship building. Giselle shares her journey from a corporate consultant to an operations executive with an MBA from Harvard Business School, underscoring the importance of networking over merely hard work. She offers practical advice for both extroverts and introverts on how to effectively network, even in digital settings.

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When Your Values Change, Your Life Has to Change Too

Sometimes the life that once felt like success quietly drifts out of alignment. This reflection explores what happens when your values evolve—and how letting go of old habits, identities, and definitions of success can create more freedom, presence, and meaning.

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Bree J Bree J

Ep. 89 How Human Centric Leadership Drives Profits with Guest Rachel Anderson

Bree Johnson is joined by Rachel Anderson, a fractional chief marketing officer, keynote speaker, leadership coach, and author of the upcoming book 'Being Human Centric, a Leader's Guide to Culture, People and Profits.' They delve into the concept of human-centric leadership, which prioritizes the development and growth of individuals over the organization to achieve business results.

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From Breakdown to Breakthrough: Finding Possibility in Work Disruption

Unexpected career disruptions can feel disorienting, unfair, and deeply painful. This reflection explores how layoffs, pivots, and unwanted changes—while hard—can create space for more intentional, aligned work when we learn to hold grief and possibility at the same time.

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The Power of Pausing: Creating Mindful Transitions in a Rushing World

We slow down for big moments, but rush through the small transitions that shape our days. This reflection explores how mindful pauses—between work and rest, focus and connection—can regulate your nervous system, reduce stress, and help you actually feel present in your life.

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Bree J Bree J

Ep. 86 The Myth of Speed: Is Faster Always Better?

Bree explores the pervasive myth that faster is always better, particularly in the context of work and personal productivity. She reflects on her own conditioning towards efficiency and the detrimental effects of urgency culture on creativity and well-being.

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Meeting the Moment Differently: How Growth Shows Up in Life’s Transitions

Some transitions are marked by celebration, others by uncertainty—but both reveal who we’ve become. This reflection explores how real growth shows up when we meet familiar challenges with greater capacity, steadiness, and self-trust than we once had.

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Bree J Bree J

Ep. 85 Bold Belief - There Are No Coincidences

Bree recounts a significant meditation experience that led her to make bold decisions, highlighting the synchronicities and healing moments that followed. She emphasizes the need for self-discovery and the power of inner guidance in navigating life's challenges

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Listening to Your Body: A Simple Way to Regulate Stress and Restore Energy

Your body is constantly communicating—but most of us have learned to override its signals. This reflection explores how listening to your nervous system, honoring intuition, and making small, analog shifts can restore energy, reduce burnout, and help you reconnect with what you actually need.

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Bree J Bree J

Ep. 84 Your Body Has Clues to Wellbeing

Bree emphasizes the importance of listening to our body's cues, especially during high-stress periods. She discusses the impact of chronic stress on health, the significance of recognizing bodily signals, and introduces a simple 60-second exercise to reconnect with our bodies.

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What I’d Tell My Younger Self About Work, Worth, and Wholeness

Sometimes healing begins by looking back with compassion. This reflection explores how stress, burnout, and work wounds often start when we abandon ourselves—and how choosing rest, regulation, and self-trust can change everything.

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