👉 Start Your Second Act Strategy Call with Shannon here.

What if retirement didn’t have to wait until you were 65?

In this episode of the Second Act Success Podcast, Shannon Russell dives into the growing trend of mini retirements and why more women are choosing to take intentional career breaks to reset, recharge, and rethink their next chapter.

A recent study shows that more professionals are planning career breaks of 3 to 12 months, especially during midlife, to combat burnout, explore new business ideas, and realign their lives with what truly matters.

If you’ve ever felt exhausted, stuck in your 9–5, or unsure what your next move should be, this episode will open your eyes to a powerful alternative.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What a mini retirement really is and why it’s becoming more popular
• How to take a career break without falling behind financially
• The connection between burnout, career transition, and second act careers
• How a mini retirement can help you start a business or pivot your career
• Practical steps to plan your own sabbatical or reset period

Whether you’re dreaming of starting a business, navigating a midlife career transition, or simply craving space to breathe, this episode will help you explore what’s possible.

Your second act doesn’t have to wait. Sometimes, it starts with a pause.

🔗 Get the full show notes here!

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👉 Start Your Second Act Strategy Call with Shannon here.

What would you do if you were laid off tomorrow?

In this episode of the Second Act Success Podcast, Shannon Russell sits down with Kelly Schuknecht to talk about turning an unexpected layoff into a powerful second act career.

After years climbing the corporate ladder in publishing and marketing, Kelly found herself at a crossroads when her company was acquired and her role was eliminated. Instead of panicking, she leaned into the idea she had been quietly building on the side and launched her own business almost overnight.

Today, Kelly runs a thriving marketing and thought leadership company, helping entrepreneurs grow their visibility through speaking, content, podcast interviews, and book publishing.

In this conversation, we cover:

• How to turn a layoff into a business opportunity
• Why building your personal brand now is critical for career security
• The power of saying yes and figuring it out as you go
• How to create a thought leadership platform that attracts clients
• What it really takes to go from employee to entrepreneur

Kelly’s story is proof that your next chapter can begin when you least expect it, and that your experience is never wasted, it’s the foundation for your second act.

If you’ve been thinking about starting a business, navigating a career transition, or building a personal brand, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to take action.

🔗 Get the full show notes here!

Subscribe now for actionable insights on how to shift your mindset, take control of your career, and build a thriving business.

--------

Book a free Strategy Call with Shannon

Download Free Resources

➡️ Let's Connect: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok

More resources & discounts:

Home Chef Meal Delivery - (free shipping & $4.99/serving)

Flodesk Email Marketing - (25% off 1st year)

Stitch Fix Personal Stylist - ($25 off 1st order)

Buzzsprout Podcast Hosting - ($20 off)

Podmatch Guesting

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In this special episode of the Second Act Success Podcast, Shannon Russell participates in Podcastathon 2026, a global initiative where podcasters dedicate an episode to highlight a charity that matters deeply to them.

The organization Shannon chose to spotlight is Big Brothers Big Sisters, specifically Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal and Northern New Jersey.

Before becoming a business coach for women, Shannon spent years running a Snapology STEM and robotics franchise, where she partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters to bring hands-on LEGO and robotics programs to their mentorship events. Through those experiences, she saw firsthand how powerful mentorship can be.

Big Brothers Big Sisters pairs children, known as “Littles,” with caring mentors called “Bigs.” These relationships help young people build confidence, develop strong life skills, and see new possibilities for their future.

In this episode, Shannon shares:

• Why mentorship can change the trajectory of a child’s life
• How the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentorship program builds confidence and opportunity
• The connection between mentorship and personal growth
• How one supportive relationship can create a lifelong ripple effect
• Ways you can support Big Brothers Big Sisters in your own community

This conversation ties directly into the mission of Second Act Success, because whether you are a child learning to believe in yourself or an adult building a new chapter in life, having someone who believes in you can change everything.

If you’ve ever had a mentor who shaped your life, or if you believe in supporting the next generation, this episode will inspire you to take action.

You can make a difference by supporting the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Donate nationally:
donate.bbbs.org

Support Shannon’s local chapter:
mentornj.org

You can also volunteer to become a mentor, share this episode, or simply spread awareness about the impact of mentorship.

One caring adult can truly change the life of a child.

🔗 Get the full show notes here!

Subscribe now for actionable insights on how to shift your mindset, take control of your career, and build a thriving business.

--------

Book a free Strategy Call with Shannon

Download Free Resources

➡️ Let's Connect: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok

More resources & discounts:

Home Chef Meal Delivery - (free shipping & $4.99/serving)

Flodesk Email Marketing - (25% off 1st year)

Stitch Fix Personal Stylist - ($25 off 1st order)

Buzzsprout Podcast Hosting - ($20 off)

Podmatch Guesting

(*Some affiliate links)

👉 Start Your Second Act Strategy Call with Shannon here.

If you have a business idea you're excited about, it can be tempting to jump straight into building it. But before you invest your time, energy, and money, there's one critical step you shouldn't skip.

In this episode of the Second Act Success Podcast, Shannon Russell walks you through how to research and validate your business idea so you can confidently move from employee to entrepreneur.

Doing market research helps you avoid costly mistakes and ensures there is real demand for the product or service you want to offer. Instead of guessing, you'll learn how to gather valuable insights about your target audience, competitors, and market demand.

If you're considering starting a business during a career transition or exploring ideas for your second act career, this episode will give you practical steps to test your idea before launching.

You'll also learn how to gather feedback from potential customers, test your offer, and make adjustments early so you can build a sustainable and profitable business.

• Why market research is essential before starting a business
• How to define your ideal customer avatar
• Why niching down helps you attract the right clients
• How to analyze competitors and identify opportunities in your market
• Ways to validate your business idea using surveys and interviews
• How to create a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to test your idea
• Why presales and early offers can help prove market demand
• How feedback from potential customers can strengthen your business idea

🔗 Get the full show notes here!

Subscribe now for actionable insights on how to shift your mindset, take control of your career, and build a thriving business.

--------

Book a free Strategy Call with Shannon

Download Free Resources

➡️ Let's Connect: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok

More resources & discounts:

Home Chef Meal Delivery - (free shipping & $4.99/serving)

Flodesk Email Marketing - (25% off 1st year)

Stitch Fix Personal Stylist - ($25 off 1st order)

Buzzsprout Podcast Hosting - ($20 off)

Podmatch Guesting

(*Some affiliate links)

👉 Start Your Second Act Strategy Call with Shannon here.

Have you ever worried that changing careers means everything you’ve done up to this point was a waste?

In this episode of the Second Act Success Podcast, Shannon Russell sits down with Kayla Sweet, a transformational life coach and founder of Internally Guided Leadership Consulting, to talk about transformation, alignment, burnout, and career transitions.

Kayla shares how she started in community mental health, hit burnout, and used that turning point to rebuild her path in a way that honors both purpose and wellness. Together, Shannon and Kayla unpack why your past experience is never purposeless. The skills you’ve built, the lessons you’ve learned, and the work you’ve done all tie together in ways you can use to create your second act career.

If you’re navigating a midlife career transition, feeling stuck in burnout, or wondering what’s next, this episode will help you rethink the story you’re telling yourself and start moving toward work that feels more like you.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why your previous career experience is never wasted
• The truth about burnout and the warning signs most women ignore
• How to set boundaries and protect your energy during a career transition
• Why “alignment” matters more than a perfect plan
• How to follow the breadcrumbs toward a second act career that fits your life now
• Building a fulfilling path that blends stability, creativity, and purpose
• The mindset shift that helps you stop saying “I can’t” and start asking “Why not me?”

🔗 Get the full show notes here!

Subscribe now for actionable insights on how to shift your mindset, take control of your career, and build a thriving business.

--------

Book a free Strategy Call with Shannon

Download Free Resources

➡️ Let's Connect: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok

More resources & discounts:

Home Chef Meal Delivery - (free shipping & $4.99/serving)

Flodesk Email Marketing - (25% off 1st year)

Stitch Fix Personal Stylist - ($25 off 1st order)

Buzzsprout Podcast Hosting - ($20 off)

Podmatch Guesting

(*Some affiliate links)

👉 Start Your Second Act Strategy Call with Shannon here.

I missed my son’s first birthday. And that moment changed everything in my career.

In this deeply personal episode of the Second Act Success Podcast, Shannon Russell shares the story of the day she was producing a major MTV shoot at South by Southwest while her baby celebrated his first birthday without her.

On paper, it looked like success. Behind the scenes, it felt like heartbreak.

If you are a working mom feeling stretched thin...
If you love your career but are not where it’s taking you...
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Is this really the life I want?”...

Then this episode #245 will resonate with you.

This episode dives into:

• Working mom guilt and career pressure
• The emotional pull between ambition and family
• Recognizing when your career no longer fits your life
• Early signs it may be time for a midlife career transition
• How one moment can plant the seeds for your second act

Shannon shares how that moment became the catalyst for leaving television, starting a business, and eventually becoming a business coach for women navigating career transitions.

Your turning point might not look dramatic. It might be quiet. It might be emotional. But it matters.

And it might be the beginning of your second act career.

🔗 Get the full show notes here!

Subscribe now for actionable insights on how to shift your mindset, take control of your career, and build a thriving business.

--------

Book a free Strategy Call with Shannon

Download Free Resources

➡️ Let's Connect: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok

More resources & discounts:

Home Chef Meal Delivery - (free shipping & $4.99/serving)

Flodesk Email Marketing - (25% off 1st year)

Stitch Fix Personal Stylist - ($25 off 1st order)

Buzzsprout Podcast Hosting - ($20 off)

Podmatch Guesting

(*Some affiliate links)

👉 Start Your Second Act Strategy Call with Shannon here.

Have you ever been more afraid of your dream coming true than of it failing?

Fear of failure is real, but what about the fear of success?

In this episode of the Second Act Success Podcast, Shannon Russell, business coach for women and author of Start Your Second Act, dives into one of the most overlooked blocks in entrepreneurship and career transitions: the fear of actually succeeding.

If you’ve been procrastinating launching your business, stalling on finishing your website, or quietly holding back from fully going all in, this episode is for you.

Inside, we unpack:

• What fear of success really is and why it shows up during a career transition
• Why achieving your dream business can feel scarier than failing
• The hidden identity shift that happens when you become your own boss
• How fear of change keeps women stuck in corporate roles
• Practical ways to reframe fear and step into your second act with confidence

For women navigating a midlife career transition, leaving a 9 to 5 job, or starting a business after years in corporate, this conversation will help you understand why you may be subconsciously holding yourself back.

Success is not an ending. It is the beginning of your next chapter.

If you’re ready to move past fear and build a business aligned with your life, this episode will help you step into the next version of you.

🔗 Get the full show notes here!

Subscribe now for actionable insights on how to shift your mindset, take control of your career, and build a thriving business.

--------

Book a free Strategy Call with Shannon

Download Free Resources

➡️ Let's Connect: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok

More resources & discounts:

Home Chef Meal Delivery - (free shipping & $4.99/serving)

Flodesk Email Marketing - (25% off 1st year)

Stitch Fix Personal Stylist - ($25 off 1st order)

Buzzsprout Podcast Hosting - ($20 off)

Podmatch Guesting

(*Some affiliate links)

👉 Start Your Second Act Strategy Call with Shannon here.

Are you struggling to get your resume noticed in today’s competitive job market? Wondering how to get past AI resume screeners and actually land an interview?

In this episode of the Second Act Success Podcast, Shannon Russell sits down with former recruiter turned career strategist Sindy Thomas, host of The Insider Career Club Podcast. With over 25 years of experience in talent acquisition across biotech, pharmaceuticals, IT, and corporate industries, Sindy shares insider hiring secrets that every job seeker needs to know.

From applicant tracking systems (ATS) and AI resume bots to LinkedIn networking strategies and researching companies before you apply, Sindy breaks down how the hiring process really works, and what you can do to stand out.

Whether you're navigating a career change, re-entering the workforce, or facing layoffs in today’s shifting economy, this episode gives you practical strategies to help you get seen, get connected, and get hired.

If you’re ready to stop blindly applying online and start networking strategically, this conversation is a must-listen.

*Get the full show notes here!

Subscribe now for actionable insights on how to shift your mindset, take control of your career, and build a thriving business.

🔗 For more inspiration and resources, visit https://secondactsuccess.co.

--------

Book a free Strategy Call with Shannon

Download Free Resources

➡️ Let's Connect: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok

More resources & discounts:

Home Chef Meal Delivery - (free shipping & $4.99/serving)

Flodesk Email Marketing - (25% off 1st year)

Stitch Fix Personal Stylist - ($25 off 1st order)

Buzzsprout Podcast Hosting - ($20 off)

Podmatch Guesting

(*Some affiliate links)