Like it or not, we live in a capitalist society– so, what can we do to benefit ourselves and the world?

Mel Strong started her career as a first grade teacher and journalist. A fateful interview with her long-time running hero Joan Benoit Samuelson led to a long-shot interview for an entry level job at Nike — a process that included running twice around Nike campus with her future manager.

Mel spent 17 years at Nike, working on the Running, Soccer, Women’s, Snow and Skateboarding businesses. In 2017, she started angel investing and advising early stage founders, and in 2019, Mel co-founded venture capital firm Next Ventures.

We talk about…

• Mel’s childhood and early career leading to a personal mission to increase access to health resources for communities that need them
• 17 years at Nike: the ups and the downs and the self-identity of working for the brand
• The wealth creation gap: Historical female disempowerment around wealth and finances
• Are women holding themselves back financially, or is it the system?
• Three things women can do in the next month to become more financially empowered
• “Soft skills,” “breadwinner,” “wearing the pants…” EWWW, these terms suck!
• Convincing Angie why she should invest and care about retirement funds
• Short and long term visioning and planning around wealth in order to maximize your positive impact on the world
• Leaving Nike and co-founding a venture capital firm
• When Mel realized she had to examine diversity in her investment base
• The trade-offs of being your own boss: when things go sideways, that’s on you– which is terrifying but wonderful

How to connect with Mel:

• Next Ventures (Mel's VC firm)
• Hood River Mountain Bike Adventures (Mel and her husband's business)
• YouTube video to inspire you from Mel

👋How to connect with Jeni and Angie:

• Jeni on Instagram
• Angie on Instagram
• Angie’s website
• Angie on LinkedIn
• FTLO on Instagram

⭐Please rate and review For The Love Of:

• On Apple Podcasts
• On Spotify

Shout-Outs:

• Music: The Kind of Sandwich Island by Shut-ins
• Thank you to The Ruins, the best wedding venue in Oregon, for supporting the show.

Follow FTLO on IG: https://www.instagram.com/for.the.love.of.podcast/

For full show notes and more: https://fortheloveofpod.com

💕

We want your stories! (Yes, you.) We're collecting emails and voice memos about your own tradeoffs that you’ve made around your career.

Go to fortheloveofpod.com/submit to share your written or spoken story about the pivots you've made in your career, work, gigs, or jobby jobs.

This former MLB pitcher discovered that he has more meaning and impact behind the scenes of sports than when standing on the mound himself.

Adam Bernero works in the field of sport psychology and is currently a mental performance coach with the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball.

Adam started his pro career as a pitcher with the Detroit Tigers in 1999 and played in the major leagues until 2006. After leaving the big leagues due to injury, Adam was a fishing guide in Alaska for six summers among odd jobs and time for self-reflection. Now, he’s enjoying life more than ever helping other athletes fulfill their dreams.

Content note: from minute 29:20-30:55, Adam alludes to suicide ideation.

We talk about…

- Moving from college to the minor leagues to the MLB in a year

- How much Adam struggled after he had to quit pitching in the MLB due to injury

- From $2,000/day to $7.25/hour and having to scrape together odd jobs at 31

- Briefly considering what it would be like to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge before realizing he didn’t want to end his life

- How Adam began to find happiness after depression

- How Adam is “triage for the mind” for players on the Seattle Mariners

- Tools Adam shares with his athletes: mindset, focus, breathwork, and mind-body connection for nervous system regulation

- How Adam’s sweet spot is guiding athletes behind the scenes, rather than standing on the mound himself

- The trade-offs of being on the road for sports: inconsistency in relationships, the desire to have a dog, and how summers don’t exist

PSST! If you like this episode, you’ll love these two:

How Dave Watson Navigates Relationships and Fatherhood as an Everest Mountain Guide

How Dancing Transformed Nika Kermani's Mental Health After Depression

👋How to connect with Jeni and Angie:

• Jeni on Instagram
• Angie on Instagram
• Angie’s website
• Angie on LinkedIn
• FTLO on Instagram

⭐Please rate and review For The Love Of:

• On Apple Podcasts
• On Spotify

Shout-Outs:

• Music: The Kind of Sandwich Island by Shut-ins
• Thank you to The Ruins, the best wedding venue in Oregon, for supporting the show.

Follow FTLO on IG: https://www.instagram.com/for.the.love.of.podcast/

For full show notes and more: https://fortheloveofpod.com

💕

We want your stories! (Yes, you.) We're collecting emails and voice memos about your own tradeoffs that you’ve made around your career.

Go to fortheloveofpod.com/submit to share your written or spoken story about the pivots you've made in your career, work, gigs, or jobby jobs.

Emily Holland is a podcast consultant and strategist in Boulder, CO. In a previous life, Emily was a corporate girlie, working with Fortune 500 companies as an account manager. In 2021, she left the corporate world and set out on the path of self employment, working primarily with podcasters to help build, grow, and monetize their shows.

Outside of working with creatives in the outdoor industry, she loves being outside, climbing or trail running, preferably with a great female crew and some pups.

We talk about…

- The identity crisis of leaving a full time job

- Knowing that the conventional path wasn’t for her or her partner after trying to follow it

- Moving from the northeast to Colorado to be closer to outdoor passions

- How your income doesn’t equate to your worth (but that’s hard to not feel!)

- Openness with a partner about money and financial goals, including having money dates (cute!)

- Sobriety and the decision to stop drinking

- The “So you’re not fun anymore?” reaction from loved ones when you stop drinking

- How you can support people in your life who are considering sobriety

- How self-employment is a constant experiment with ups and downs

- Being your own boss through the wins and challenges

How to connect with Emily:

• Emily on LinkedIn
• Wild Poppy Creative Consulting

👋How to connect with Jeni and Angie:

• Jeni on Instagram
• Angie on Instagram
• Angie’s website
• Angie on LinkedIn
• FTLO on Instagram

⭐Please rate and review For The Love Of:

• On Apple Podcasts
• On Spotify

Shout-Outs:

• Music: The Kind of Sandwich Island by Shut-ins
• Thank you to The Ruins, the best wedding venue in Oregon, for supporting the show.

Follow FTLO on IG: https://www.instagram.com/for.the.love.of.podcast/

For full show notes and more: https://fortheloveofpod.com

💕