Debi Wimberley is a survivor of decades of chronic pain and lung disease who turned her challenges into entrepreneurship and quality health advocacy. With a background in medical technology, oncology, and hospital work, as well as experience at Digital Equipment helping develop networking technology, she now empowers individuals and professionals through education, collaboration, and resilience — showing how limitations can be transformed into meaningful work and impact.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to reclaim your health, your identity, and your purpose by embracing curiosity and collaboration.

Debi and I discuss:

1. How Debi's career journey led to her health crisis [02:20]
2. Why curiosity is the key to making pivots in life and work [04:01]
3. How listening to your body improves decision-making [07:07]
4. The role of the endocannabinoid system in health and well-being [07:32]
5. How collaboration shapes Debi's work and business [10:00]
6. What the Effective Cannabis Newsletter is and how it started [11:21]
7. How Debi built a business despite significant health limitations [12:35]
8. How to find and vet the right thinking partners [17:03]
9. Advice for corporate refugees on finding collaborators [19:40]

Learn more about Debi at:

https://Effectivecannabis.com

https://Effectivecannabisnewsletter.com

https://www.instagram.com/debiwimberley

https://www.brainzmagazine.com/executive-contributor/debi-wimberley

www.youtube.com/@effectivecannabis

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About Smashing the Plateau

Smashing the Plateau shares stories and strategies from corporate refugees: mid-career professionals who’ve left corporate life to build something of their own.

Each episode features a candid conversation with someone who has walked this path or supports those who do. Guests offer real strategies to help you build a sustainable, fulfilling business on your terms, with practical insights on positioning, growth, marketing, decision-making, and mindset.

Woven throughout are powerful reminders of how community can accelerate your success.

______________________________________________________________

Take the Next Step

• Experience the power of community.

Join a live guest session and connect with peers who understand the journey:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest

• Not ready to join live yet? Stay connected.

Get practical strategies, stories, and invitations delivered to your inbox:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/news

Gary Ireland is a New York City–based employment attorney representing executives in transition, start-ups, and small businesses, with a particular focus on women leaders. He serves as outside general counsel to Maxus Systems, whose founder patented "virtual reality," recognized by Popular Mechanics as one of the "15 Patents That Changed the World."

He advises innovative companies on protecting their interests while pursuing strategic growth. Gary has secured impactful civil rights and discrimination victories, including a jury verdict with punitive damages against a municipality for repeated police beatings and a federal age discrimination win affirmed by the Second Circuit. He also led a $25 million beach renourishment initiative protecting public shoreline and private homes. Beyond the courtroom, Gary developed, and alongside the Ireland family and a broad coalition of supporters, helped lead the successful campaign to open the Boy Scouts of America — now the gender-neutral Scouting America — to girls, expanding opportunities to more than 170,000 young women.

The Ireland family story, featured in the Daily Mail, is now being developed into a feature film. Gary welcomes introductions to filmmakers and producers interested in creating an impactful and commercially successful project.

A graduate of Columbia University and New York Law School, Gary serves on the board of the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute, where he teaches a program he developed, Relentless Advocacy. He also coaches in the leadership program at Columbia Law School.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to build a coalition around a cause, stay relentless in the face of obstacles, and lead with purpose in both business and life.

Gary and I discuss:

1. Gary's mission as an attorney and advocate [02:57]
2. How his daughter Sydney's scouting journey began [03:52]
3. The obstacle Sydney faced in joining the Boy Scouts [06:10]
4. How they built a coalition to create change [14:43]
5. The role of community and elected officials in their advocacy [15:41]
6. What it takes to sustain resilience over the long term [10:48]
7. Advice for leaders facing complex decisions and heavy obstacles [22:25]

Learn more about Gary at https://www.dailymail.co.uk/lifestyle/article-12907335/amp/sydney-ireland-fought-nine-years-boy-scouts-movie.html

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About Smashing the Plateau

Smashing the Plateau is a podcast for experienced independent leaders who have left corporate roles to build sustainable, expertise-based businesses.

Each episode features a thoughtful, experience-driven conversation about what changes when you no longer have the infrastructure of an organization behind you.

We explore judgment, decision-making under uncertainty, growth plateaus, identity shifts, and the role of trusted thinking partners in sustaining long-term success.

______________________________________________________________

Take the Next Step

• Experience the power of peer perspective.

Join a live guest session and connect with experienced professionals navigating similar challenges:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest

• Stay connected to the conversation.

Get new episodes, reflections, and invitations delivered to your inbox:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/news

Joe brings over 20 years of experience in technology and specializes in cybersecurity awareness for small businesses.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to protect your small business from cyber threats and how to transition from corporate employee to entrepreneur.

Joe and I discuss:

1. Joe's career journey in technology [01:41]
2. Why Joe started his own business [02:42]
3. How Joe decided on his business model [04:52]
4. What Joe knew about courses and community [05:30]
5. Surprises when rolling out courses and community [06:24]
6. How to know when a course is good enough to release [07:34]
7. Decision making as an entrepreneur vs. employee [08:55]
8. Lessons learned from choosing the wrong platform [10:16]
9. Finding support resources for decision making [11:27]
10. Navigating the ups and downs of business [13:12]
11. How Joe defines success as an entrepreneur [15:23]
12. How to identify and avoid phishing attacks [18:23]
13. How to find your community as an entrepreneur [19:53]

Learn more about Joe at https://www.cybersmartresource.com.

______________________________________________________________

About Smashing the Plateau

Smashing the Plateau is a podcast for experienced independent leaders who have left corporate roles to build sustainable, expertise-based businesses.

Each episode features a thoughtful, experience-driven conversation about what changes when you no longer have the infrastructure of an organization behind you.

We explore judgment, decision-making under uncertainty, growth plateaus, identity shifts, and the role of trusted thinking partners in sustaining long-term success.

______________________________________________________________

Take the Next Step

• Experience the power of peer perspective.

Join a live guest session and connect with experienced professionals navigating similar challenges:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest

• Stay connected to the conversation.

Get new episodes, reflections, and invitations delivered to your inbox:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/news

Jane Wesman, founder of Jane Wesman Public Relations, Inc., is one of the country's top experts in book publicity and marketing with an impressive track record of creating national bestsellers, particularly in the areas of business, leadership, and personal growth. The author of Dive Right In - The Sharks Won't Bite, Jane is also a mentor and advisor to entrepreneurs and startups. A strong believer in giving back, Jane currently serves as co-president of the nonprofit organization Women's Media Group.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to build an authentic marketing foundation that attracts clients without draining your energy.

Jane and I discuss:

1. Jane's involvement with NAWBO and Women's Media Group [03:02]
2. Why marketing feels like an energy leak for many entrepreneurs [03:41]
3. The importance of building an authentic website as your foundation [05:25]
4. Why you can't do everything in marketing and must choose strategically [06:06]
5. The problem with trying to be something for everyone [07:01]
6. Why LinkedIn and newsletters are essential for consultants [08:08]
7. How to integrate your website, LinkedIn, and newsletter [08:39]
8. Why you need to go narrow and go deep with your expertise [09:41]
9. How Jane stayed focused on book marketing and said no to other opportunities [11:17]
10. Using outside services and building a team for marketing [13:06]
11. Other marketing channels: speaking, podcasts, and guest articles [14:58]
12. The importance of consistency in marketing [15:36]
13. Why everyone needs a team, even solopreneurs [16:23]
14. The value of being involved in nonprofit organizations [20:09]
15. Leadership lessons Jane learned from volunteer work [21:00]
16. Why being a member isn't enough—you need to join committees or boards [23:31]
17. Jane's key message: start with your website and be consistent [25:23]

______________________________________________________________

About Smashing the Plateau

Smashing the Plateau shares stories and strategies from corporate refugees: mid-career professionals who’ve left corporate life to build something of their own.

Each episode features a candid conversation with someone who has walked this path or supports those who do. Guests offer real strategies to help you build a sustainable, fulfilling business on your terms, with practical insights on positioning, growth, marketing, decision-making, and mindset.

Woven throughout are powerful reminders of how community can accelerate your success.

______________________________________________________________

Take the Next Step

• Experience the power of community.

Join a live guest session and connect with peers who understand the journey:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest

• Not ready to join live yet? Stay connected.

Get practical strategies, stories, and invitations delivered to your inbox:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/news

Nina is a LinkedIn™️ Brand Builder and Content and Engagement Strategist for Creators, Coaches, and Consultants. She works with service-based entrepreneurs and visual artists to develop strategies and create digital content that helps them grow their businesses organically on LinkedIn.

Nina is a "recovering" film producer and documentary filmmaker. She has worked on Emmy award-winning documentaries, including one she produced, Abraham's Children.

Nina is a visual artist and loves spending time in her native Switzerland with her owner, Tigger, an 11-pound Dachshund mix who has her well-trained.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to use LinkedIn Live to build your brand and grow your business without the weekly commitment of a podcast.

Nina and I discuss:

1. What is LinkedIn Live [04:04]
2. The technical setup process for LinkedIn Live [05:47]
3. What format to use for your LinkedIn Live shows [08:37]
4. What doesn't work as a LinkedIn Live strategy [10:00]
5. The differences between LinkedIn Live and podcasts [13:18]
6. Strategies for interacting with your audience [17:21]
7. How to foster community interaction during LinkedIn Live [20:15]
8. Repurposing LinkedIn Live content into conversation highlights [22:04]

Learn more about Nina at https://clockwiseproductions.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/nina-froriep/.

______________________________________________________________

About Smashing the Plateau

Smashing the Plateau shares stories and strategies from corporate refugees: mid-career professionals who’ve left corporate life to build something of their own.

Each episode features a candid conversation with someone who has walked this path or supports those who do. Guests offer real strategies to help you build a sustainable, fulfilling business on your terms, with practical insights on positioning, growth, marketing, decision-making, and mindset.

Woven throughout are powerful reminders of how community can accelerate your success.

______________________________________________________________

Take the Next Step

• Experience the power of community.

Join a live guest session and connect with peers who understand the journey:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest

• Not ready to join live yet? Stay connected.

Get practical strategies, stories, and invitations delivered to your inbox:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/news

Curtis McCullom helps CEOs, founders, and entrepreneurs eliminate the blind spots that have silently held them back since childhood—unlocking greater income, confidence, and personal freedom. Through his LGET Mindset™ framework (Learn, Grow, Expand, Transform) and powerful modalities like NLP, Mental Emotional Release® (MER), and Hypnotherapy, he facilitates reprogramming subconscious blocks for deep, lasting transformation.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to break through invisible ceilings by reprogramming subconscious blocks for deep, lasting transformation.

Curtis and I discuss:

1. Curtis's career journey from financial services to mindset coaching [02:22]
2. What triggered his transition from financial services [04:02]
3. Why executive coaching wasn't enough [05:09]
4. The difference between conscious and subconscious behavior [05:20]
5. How the LGET framework was created [06:55]
6. Curtis's ideal client and invisible ceilings [08:26]
7. An example of breaking through relationship blocks [09:15]
8. How to acknowledge problems without identifying with them [11:00]
9. The importance of diaphragmatic breathing [12:20]
10. The one-day mindset reset process [14:00]
11. The mindset shift from employee to entrepreneur [15:22]
12. Why undervaluing your worth is common [17:25]
13. The biggest blocks people face [18:44]
14. Curtis's personal story about sabotaging success [19:36]
15. How peers and community help overcome blocks [22:30]

Curtis would love to offer your audience two powerful resources at a special rate:

From Anxious to Aligned: The Anxiety Reframe Kit — normally $297, but available to your listeners for just $27. This proven system helps flip anxiety into clarity, confidence, and focus in minutes. Bespokehpcanxietyreframe.bespokehpc.com/home

Discover & Align: 60-Minute Breakthrough Session — normally $500, but available to your listeners for only $97. In this personalized session, Curtis helps uncover core values, reveal hidden blind spots, and realign mindset so you can move forward with clarity and confidence. Bespokehpcvaluesdiscovery.bespokehpc.com/home

______________________________________________________________

About Smashing the Plateau

Smashing the Plateau shares stories and strategies from corporate refugees: mid-career professionals who’ve left corporate life to build something of their own.

Each episode features a candid conversation with someone who has walked this path or supports those who do. Guests offer real strategies to help you build a sustainable, fulfilling business on your terms, with practical insights on positioning, growth, marketing, decision-making, and mindset.

Woven throughout are powerful reminders of how community can accelerate your success.

______________________________________________________________

Take the Next Step

• Experience the power of community.

Join a live guest session and connect with peers who understand the journey:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest

• Not ready to join live yet? Stay connected.

Get practical strategies, stories, and invitations delivered to your inbox:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/news

Madeleine Niebauer is a seasoned executive with two decades of experience across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Madeleine spent five years as a Chief of Staff at Teach For America. She loved the fast-paced, ever-changing nature of the work and the ability to truly leverage a leader's time so they could be more productive and successful. She knew many leaders could benefit from this service on a part-time basis, which inspired her to launch VChief.

Prior to joining TFA, Madeleine was a strategy consultant for foundations and nonprofit organizations at The Bridgespan Group. Earlier in her career, Madeleine managed a tutoring center with SCORE! Educational Centers and served in the Peace Corps in Ivory Coast.

Madeleine earned a BA with honors from Stanford University and an MBA from Columbia Business School. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her three children, who all share her love of globetrotting, camping, and family fun.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to build a scalable service business that doesn't depend on you doing all the work.

Madeleine and I discuss:

1. Madeleine's career journey and what prompted her to start VChief [02:28]
2. How she experienced product market fit in real time [03:57]
3. The decision to not take on more clients herself [05:01]
4. Shifting from technician to CEO [06:41]
5. When she decided to build a company instead of being a solopreneur [09:02]
6. How long it took to reach financial sustainability [10:23]
7. Her approach to marketing beyond her network [11:27]
8. The support she brought on along the way [13:29]
9. Hiring fractional and part-time help strategically [14:25]
10. The trigger for rapid growth after COVID [18:46]
11. Her experience with community and peer groups [20:19]
12. How to stop being the bottleneck in your business [23:32]

Learn more about Madeleine at https://www.vchiefs.com

______________________________________________________________

About Smashing the Plateau

Smashing the Plateau shares stories and strategies from corporate refugees: mid-career professionals who’ve left corporate life to build something of their own.

Each episode features a candid conversation with someone who has walked this path or supports those who do. Guests offer real strategies to help you build a sustainable, fulfilling business on your terms, with practical insights on positioning, growth, marketing, decision-making, and mindset.

Woven throughout are powerful reminders of how community can accelerate your success.

______________________________________________________________

Take the Next Step

• Experience the power of community.

Join a live guest session and connect with peers who understand the journey:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest

• Not ready to join live yet? Stay connected.

Get practical strategies, stories, and invitations delivered to your inbox:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/news