Your Career Journey Podcast
Welcome to ‘Your Career Journey,’ the podcast designed to be your compass through the twists and turns of career development.
Whether you're a seasoned professional navigating a career transition, climbing the corporate ladder, looking to return to work after some time away, or just taking your first steps, this show is for you.
Each episode dives into real stories from people who have made their mark. We cover career challenges, triumphs, and everything in between, offering practical insights, inspiration and giving you valuable takeaways for your journey.
Expect candid conversations with industry experts and thought leaders who've embraced the highs, weathered the lows and emerged with wisdom worth sharing.
Join me and let’s explore the multifaceted landscapes of career development, leadership, and growth together.
You can listen to and watch the episodes below ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
Or find them on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
New episodes are released fortnightly.
Surviving A Toxic Workplace: An HR Leader’s Framework for Self-Awareness, Self-Care & Empowerment
In this episode, I’m joined by HR leader and author Teri Chilcoat to talk about the realities of toxic workplace cultures, why so many people stay longer than they should, and what you can do to protect yourself when you find yourself in one.
Teri shares her own career journey, unexpectedly finding her way into HR through a temp role, to experiencing severe workplace bullying as the sole HR person inside a toxic leadership environment. That experience ultimately inspired her to write a book designed to help others recognise toxic dynamics earlier and navigate them more effectively.
Throughout our conversation, we explore:
✅ The signs and symptoms of toxic workplaces
✅ Why dysfunction often becomes normalised
✅ How toxic environments impact both physical and mental health
✅ The “toxicity triangle” and how unhealthy cultures are sustained
✅ Why high performers are often protected despite poor behaviour
✅ How COVID and remote work changed workplace culture
Teri also shares her practical framework around self-awareness, self-control, self-care and self-empowerment
We talk about the importance of focusing on what you can control, building healthier coping mechanisms, recognising red flags earlier, and creating more agency for yourself, even in difficult environments.
If you’ve ever questioned whether a workplace was healthy, struggled with burnout, or felt trapped in a difficult environment, there’s a lot in this episode that will resonate. And, give you some practical advice and guidance on what to do.
To connect with Teri:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teri-chilcoat-phr/
Website: innerauthoritycompany.com
What if the opportunity you wanted didn’t exist yet and you had to create it yourself?
In this episode, I’m joined by social media and content agency founder Kim James to talk about the power of initiative, visibility, and backing yourself before you feel fully ready.
Kim shares how she went from growing up on a macadamia farm and starting out in operations at Reece, to pitching her way into the first content marketing role for one of Australia’s biggest brands at just 24.
At a time when the business had almost no social media presence, Kim identified an opportunity, pitched a strategy directly to leadership, and created her own pathway into marketing.
We also talk about:
• Building confidence through action, not before it
• Reframing rejection, fear, and imposter syndrome
• Why visibility matters for career growth
• Learning through doing and backing your ideas
• The realities of redundancy, reinvention, and starting again
• AI’s real impact on marketing careers
• Why “closed mouths don’t get fed”
Kim also shares her experience moving into AI and data work after the 2022 redundancies. Before realising she wanted to focus on people, creativity, and strategic thinking, ultimately buying out her co-founder and building a business more aligned with her strengths and values.
This conversation is a great reminder that careers are rarely linear, and that some of the biggest opportunities come from putting yourself forward before you feel fully ready.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-elizabeth-james-19216376/
Website: buildwedge.com
How to Pitch Your Way Into Your Dream Job | Career Confidence, Visibility & Taking Initiative
Initiative, Responsibility, and Owning Your Career: Leadership Lessons From A Veteran CEO
In this episode, I’m joined by Barry Moline, who shares the story behind his 29-year career as a CEO and the experiences that shaped his approach to leadership.
Barry didn’t follow a conventional path. He started as a high school teacher, where he developed the foundations of clear communication and patience, before leaving the profession due to structural changes. From there, he moved into energy engineering during the 1980s energy crisis, and later joined the Peace Corps in Guatemala with his wife.
That experience became a defining moment. Building programs from scratch, navigating uncertainty, and learning resilience all played a role in shaping his leadership style and ultimately opened doors to opportunities in Washington, DC and beyond.
Throughout our conversation, one theme comes up again and again, initiative.
From unexpectedly refereeing a major hockey game as a teenager to “raising his hand” for opportunities throughout his career, Barry shares how taking responsibility and stepping forward, even when you don’t feel fully ready, can shape your trajectory in ways you don’t expect.
We talk about:
✅ How “raising your hand” creates visibility and opportunity
✅ The mindset shift from employee to leader
✅ Why persistence and ownership matter more than having a perfect plan
✅ How to run effective brainstorming sessions and encourage honest input
✅ The importance of developing future leaders and thinking beyond yourself
✅ Simple but powerful communication techniques (including better listening)
✅ Why you need to take ownership of your career, not wait for it to happen
To connect with Barry:
Website: barrymoline.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-moline/
Navigating Burnout: The Journey from Corporate Overload to Reinvention
Marketing Me: Personal Branding, Visibility, and Authenticity with Nina Christian
Why Sales & Marketing Still Aren’t Aligned (And How to Fix It) with Michelle Michaux
From Overwhelmed to Organised: Reducing the Mental Load & Creating Systems That Actually Work
Migrating to Australia in Your 30s: Career Change, Loneliness & Job Market Truths with Ana Asanovic
How To Build an International Marketing Career with Adam Lavrentiadis
How to Become a Fractional CMO (Career Path, Skills & Lessons) with Laura Zahariou
Building a life you love - not just a career - with Briony Cullin
Rethinking Success Through Career and Life Transitions with Caroline Patrick
All previous episodes from 2025 & 2024 are available here:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube