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Some say life will knock you down. Sometimes it knocks you down twice.

Dan MacQueen’s story began with persistent headaches that seemed like an annoying problem, until they became impossible to ignore. An optometrist visit led to a sealed envelope and a direct trip to the hospital. What followed was emergency brain surgery, a brain hemorrhage, weeks in a coma, and months of rehab where Dan had to relearn how to walk, talk, and smile.

Today, Dan is a keynote speaker and storyteller who helps teams reframe setbacks, shift perspective, and become better than yesterday through practical, action oriented life hacks.

In this episode, Dan shares the mindset shifts that helped him rebuild after two brain surgeries—and how you can apply them right now.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How a “minor” symptom turned into a sealed envelope, a hospital, and a life changing medical crisis
• The mindset shift that helped him move from shock to forward motion
• A perspective reframe that changed his experience of recovery without changing the environment
• Practical life hacks he uses to protect energy, stay organized, and keep momentum building

If you have ever wondered how people rebuild after the unthinkable, this episode is for you.

Visit https://www.macqueendan.com/ to learn more about Dan.

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We're adding some short episodes to help you start your week taking action towards your next success!

Buzzsprout sent me my 2025 podcast recap—31 episodes, 1,336 minutes, listeners in 47 countries and 376 cities, with 2,081 audio downloads. The numbers are fun… and they don’t tell the real story.

In this short solo episode, I share how I committed to an internet radio show in late 2024—invested, planned, lined up 13 guests—and then a business sale changed the trajectory. The platform shifted, the “network” restarted from zero, and I had to decide what to do next. That detour became the reason Your Next Success exists as a podcast today.

Reflection questions:

• What “didn’t work out” but created space for something better-aligned to emerge?
• If you treated the reroute as information, what is it telling you?
• What is one next right thing you can do in the next 24 hours that restores momentum?

If you’re in a reroute and want clarity on your next move, book a call with me at nextsuccesscareers.com. If this episode helped you, follow/subscribe and share it with someone who needs it.

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Watch full video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextSuccessMethod/

Learn more about Next Success www.nextsuccesscareers.com

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What happens when your life looks incredibly successful on paper, but inside, something feels off?

In this episode, Dr. Caroline Sangal talks with Alan Lazaros, Founder and CEO of Next Level University, a global top 100 podcast with more than 2,200 episodes. Alan opens up about the patterns that shaped him as a young high achiever, the instability that drove his early ambition, and the wake-up call that shifted everything.

We explore:

• How early loss and upheaval shaped his drive
• The quiet exhaustion of being a “chameleon” achiever
• The head-on collision that became his turning point
• The three major phases of his journey
• How he now structures his days around clarity and purpose

If you’re a high achiever who looks successful but feels misaligned, this episode offers language, perspective, and hope for your next chapter.

To learn more about Alan and his work check out https://www.nextleveluniverse.com/ They offer everything from a free book club and monthly masterclass to paid group and individual coaching programs.

And, of course, remember to subscribe, share, and explore more at nextsuccesscareers.com.

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Subscribe to Your Next Success so you never miss an episode.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextSuccessMethod/

Learn more about Next Success www.nextsuccesscareers.com

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What if the things you do “just for fun” are actually clues to your calling?

In this episode of Your Next Success, Dr. Caroline Sangal talks with Adam Torres, Co-Founder of Mission Matters and host of the Mission Matters series of shows, ranked in the top 2.5% of podcasts worldwide.

Adam grew up in southwest Detroit, where survival and possibility lived side by side. As a kid, he turned hobbies into small businesses: selling comic books, keeping action figures sealed as collectibles, and airbrushing Wu-Tang sweatshirts for classmates. Later, he built a successful career in financial services, eventually managing relationships for more than 400 families with a cumulative net worth over $500 million.

Then a flooded office, a pile of ruined certificates, and a persistent inner nudge led him to walk away from finance and step fully into media. Today, Mission Matters is a media, branding, and book publishing agency with a catalogue of more than 100,000 pieces of content and over 6,000 interviews recorded.

In this conversation, we explore:

• How Adam’s childhood in Detroit formed his relationship with money, risk, and responsibility
• The recurring pattern where “this started as fun” turns into real revenue and impact
• The night his licenses and certificates were destroyed and why he saw it as confirmation
• How Mission Matters grew from a podcast into publishing, PR, and events by simply saying “yes” to what people asked for

If you’re a high achiever who senses there is more in you than your current title, this episode offers encouragement, perspective, and a practical example of what it looks like to build a mission from the ground up.

To connect with Adam and follow his content, tips and advice follow him on instagram at @AskAdamTorres

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Watch full video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextSuccessMethod/

Learn more about Next Success www.nextsuccesscareers.com

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When your career suddenly shifts in a direction you didn’t choose, it can shake everything: your confidence, your identity, and your sense of what’s possible next. Dr. Caroline Sangal is joined by Kelly Schuknecht, a marketing strategist who rebuilt her professional path with honesty, clarity, and a commitment to leading authentically.

In this conversation, you'll hear:

• The emotions that show up when a job ends before you're ready
• How Kelly began reimagining her work and her role in a new way
• What authentic leadership looks like day-to-day
• The connection between visibility, clarity, and confidence
• Encouragement for anyone in the middle of their own “What now?” moment

Whether you’re navigating a transition or sensing one on the horizon, Kelly’s story will give you perspective, steadiness, and hope for your own next success.

Connect with Kelly:
Website: kellyschuknecht.com
Podcast: Beyond the Bestseller
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kellyschuknecht

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Subscribe to Your Next Success so you never miss an episode.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextSuccessMethod/

Learn more about Next Success www.nextsuccesscareers.com

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What if your next career step isn’t about certainty — but curiosity?

In this episode of Your Next Success, Dr. Caroline Sangal speaks with Carlee Wolfe, a leadership strategist, talent advisor, and coach whose career has woven through Olympic and Paralympic programs, Under Armour, Hyatt Hotels, and purpose-driven nonprofit work.

Carlee’s story is rooted in connection, movement, and a willingness to explore what’s possible — from childhood adventures in Chicago to marching band at Arizona State, to working inside world-class athletic programs, to leading learning and transformation inside global organizations.

You’ll hear:

✨ How curiosity guided Carlee’s biggest career moves
✨ What adults really need to learn and grow at work
✨ The role AI can play in developing skills and confidence
✨ Why community and connection matter for every career stage
✨ How to think about your next step when you feel ready for more

Carlee’s perspective is grounded, human, and refreshingly real — and this conversation will inspire you to explore what’s possible in your own journey.

🎧 Connect with Carlee → https://www.linkedin.com/in/carleeawolfe

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Watch full video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextSuccessMethod/

Learn more about Next Success www.nextsuccesscareers.com

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In this episode of Your Next Success, Dr. Caroline Sangal talks with Dr. Danny Brassell, affectionately known as “Jim Carrey with a Ph.D.”—a globally recognized speaker, author, and coach who’s helped thousands of leaders and entrepreneurs turn communication into connection.

Danny’s journey spans journalism, teaching, speaking, and coaching. He shares his path from overcoming a childhood stutter to building a career that empowers others to lead with purpose and joy.

You’ll hear:
How setbacks can lead to your purpose

Why storytelling is your most powerful leadership skill

How to speak with authenticity instead of perfection

Practical ways to turn your message into impact

🌐 Learn more about Danny → https://wellcraftedstoryworkshop.com/workshop

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Subscribe to Your Next Success so you never miss an episode.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextSuccessMethod/

Learn more about Next Success www.nextsuccesscareers.com

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In this episode of Your Next Success, Caroline sits down with Steve Jaffe, author of The Layoff Journey: From Dismissal to Discovery. Steve has lived through four layoffs in 25 years, and each one reshaped his understanding of identity, work, and worth.

Together, they explore the emotional reality of job loss — the grief, the shock, the shame, the pause, and the rebuilding.

If you are navigating a layoff, still processing one, or supporting someone who is, this conversation will bring clarity, grounding, and compassion.

In this episode we explore:

• The emotional stages of a layoff
• Why shame after job loss feels so heavy
• How identity becomes tied to your work
• What helped Steve move from grief to renewal
• How to re-enter the job search with confidence

Connect with Steve Jaffe:

Website: thestevejaffe.com
Book: The Layoff Journey (Amazon)
LinkedIn: Steve Jaffe
Instagram: @stevejaffe
Substack: The Layoff Journey Blog

Resources Mentioned:

• The Layoff Journey by Steve Jaffe
• Your Next Success: After the Layoff series

Support the show

Subscribe to Your Next Success so you never miss an episode.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextSuccessMethod/

Learn more about Next Success www.nextsuccesscareers.com