She’s So Lucky – Episode Summary

Episode Title:

How to Pivot Without Losing Yourself with Jeannette Reyes and Mona Abdi

Air Date:

January 13, 2026

Host:

Les Alfred

Guests:

Jeannette Reyes and Mona Abdi ("Off the Record" podcast)

Brief Overview

In this New Year’s episode, host Les Alfred sits down with Jeannette Reyes and Mona Abdi for an honest, practical, and vulnerable conversation about how women can make bold life and career pivots without sacrificing their identity or well-being. They dig into themes of "breaking the rules," building resilience, supporting each other, and creating fulfilling lives beyond external measures of success. The conversation is full of insight for anyone feeling the urge to make a change, with real talk about fear, practical strategies, and the importance of community.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Breaking the Rules and Challenging Norms

(Starts ~01:20)

• Les sets the tone by framing 2026 as the year to “break the rules”—not literally, but by pushing societal norms and challenging limiting beliefs.

• Jeannette shares her aim to break the rule of “always having to monetize” hobbies, focusing instead on joy for its own sake:

  “I'm embracing doing things with no other goal than to just be joyful… It's really tempting when you get into a hobby to turn it into a side hustle. So that's a rule that I'm looking to break.” – Jeannette [01:46]

• Mona talks about stopping self-policing and surrendering the drive to be palatable and universally liked, especially as a woman of color in the public eye:

  “I want to show up unapologetically myself and connect not because of similarities, but just of differences and know that no matter how I show up, that I add value to a room…” – Mona [02:27]

Notable Discussion: The trio reflect on how public-facing women (especially Black women) face heightened consequences for being “unlikable” or diverging from norms. They agree that part of rule-breaking is building distress tolerance for the backlash.

2. The “Pivot” Process: Knowing When & How to Leap

(Starts ~07:23)

• Mona describes her journey as driven by a “nagging feeling of misalignment.” Fear of leaving behind a hard-won title and what others would think initially held her back until her sister reframed the fear:

  “The biggest fear you haven't mentioned is if you stay and what that looks like and what that means.” – Mona [08:29]

• Jeannette’s pivot came not from hating her job, but craving more freedom and flexibility. She offered a “litmus test” to her employer seeking a compromise, and when it was rejected, clarity followed:

  “A pivot starts when you make the quiet decision with yourself that you want something different. And the rest is just logistics.” – Jeannette [10:51]

• Both stress how much identity and others’ opinions complicate pivots, especially when immigrant backgrounds or cultural expectations are layered in. The importance of community, accountability, and resisting the urge to “betray” one’s upbringing by wanting more than just security or status, is highlighted.

3. Handling Fear and the Unknown

(Starts ~18:29)

• All three discuss the universal fear of stepping into the unknown when pivoting, and the mental hurdles involved.

• Mona on mindset:

  “We think of every worst case scenario possible… but we never think of the what if? It all works out. What if good things come from this?... We are programmed to fight or flight. But… what's scary is looking up 10 years later and realizing that like, you've done nothing that you've wanted to do.” – Mona [18:52]

• Jeannette advocates for balancing practicality (“combat your fear with knowledge and receipts”) with self-belief, reminding listeners that it’s natural (even a “birthright”) to evolve:

  “You don’t owe the old version of you a lifetime subscription. … You are doing what I think is, like, your birthright. This is what it is to be human.” – Jeannette [20:12]

• Les adds that critical safety nets and pragmatic planning (financial and otherwise) made her pivot possible:

  “What makes me feel safe, and how can I put as much of that in place as possible?” [22:16]

4. The Importance of Support Systems & “Board of Advisors”

(Starts ~24:53)

• Mona describes an important pep talk from Carrie Champion, whose blunt confidence (“Are you crazy? Of course that's a right.”) helped tip the scales.

• Jeannette recommends having a personal “board of advisors”:

  “It’s basically people that you consciously and intentionally select to form the group of people that will pour into you and guide you and give you advice.” – Jeannette [27:51]

• The trio emphasizes knowing whose opinion genuinely matters, differentiating between well-intentioned but limiting advice, and support that expands your vision.

• Mona reflects that even mentors can give fear-based or limiting advice—seek inspiration from people who’ve achieved what you want to achieve.

5. What Happens After the Pivot: Twists, Challenges, and Joys

(Starts ~32:02)

• Both Mona and Jeannette acknowledge post-pivot “twists:” humility, unexpected hard days, and imposter syndrome as they started new in unfamiliar territory.

  “The pressure of it now being a business, and it needs strategy and what's the vision?… I never had any aspirations to be an entrepreneur. I appreciated how difficult it was...” – Jeannette [33:58]

• They stress the value of documenting your journey—even just through private journals or old spreadsheets—to see growth:

  “One day you'll look back and realize you had a story worth documenting… you owe it to yourself to document your journey, the good and the bad.” – Jeanette [37:05]

• Mona notes the importance of finding joy in small wins and developing humility about what you don’t know, especially as you switch careers.

6. Building and Sustaining Their Own Podcast

(Starts ~41:41)

• Les congratulates Mona and Jeannette on their first anniversary as podcast hosts. Both discuss the learning curve—from building everything themselves to the vulnerability of self-promotion.

• Jeannette on imposter syndrome and self-promotion:

  “We are used to being the messengers, not the message… there's a vulnerability that comes with it. There's a humility that comes with it, and there's a bit of a risk because people can love it or not like it.” – Jeannette [44:24]

• Both agree strong work ethic, mutual respect, and relying on each other have been key to avoiding conflict.

7. The Power of Showing Up, Consistency, and Being Seen

(Starts ~49:29)

• Mona shares the rewarding feeling of people connecting with their podcast in real life:

  “People walking up to us and saying that they listen… if I could bottle that little feeling of just gratitude and gratefulness and joy to know that somebody took the time to listen…” – Mona [49:29]

• Les talks about her own commitment to consistency:

  “Come hell or high water, every Tuesday, an episode is going to happen.” – Les [52:00]

• The guests agree—the only way to make pivots “stick” is to show up and commit, even when it's hard.

8. Practical Advice and Takeaways for Listeners

(Starts ~52:32)

• On pivoting:

  “Be kind to yourself. It is difficult. We're all scared. Nobody knows what's on the other side.” – Mona [52:54] “Do it scared, but prepared… fear is only a signal that this really, really matters to you and that you're invested... but you owe it to yourself to have a plan. We're not just gonna pivot on vibes.” – Jeannette [53:15]

• On embracing luck and habit change for the New Year:

  Jeannette: “Hack your habit. Find a way to get yourself to do something. Be creative. … Probably the most successful New Year’s resolution I’ve ever had.” [54:13] Mona: “For me, I think it’s about showing up intentionally… being able to look forward to things, and that was missing in 2025.” [54:51] Les: “I’m trying to get back into hobbies and enjoying things outside of work and being really intentional about carving enjoyment outside of work.” [55:56]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “A pivot starts when you make the quiet decision with yourself that you want something different. And the rest is just logistics.” – Jeannette [10:51]
• “You don’t owe the old version of you a lifetime subscription.” – Jeannette [20:12]
• “What’s scary is looking up 10 years later and realizing that like you’ve done nothing that you’ve wanted to do…” – Mona [18:52]
• "Document your journey, the good and the bad. ... one day you'll look back and realize you had a story worth documenting." – Jeanette [37:05]
• “People walking up to us and saying that they listen… if I could bottle that little feeling of just gratitude and gratefulness and joy…” – Mona [49:40]
• “Be kind to yourself. It is difficult. We're all scared. Nobody knows what's on the other side.” – Mona [52:54]
• “Do it scared, but prepared. ... fear is only a signal that this really, really matters to you and that you're invested.” – Jeannette [53:15]

Section Timestamps

• Breaking the Rules & Self-Policing: 01:20 – 06:50
• How to Know When to Pivot: 07:23 – 13:39
• Handling Fear of the Unknown: 18:29 – 22:57
• The Role of Support Systems: 24:53 – 31:46
• Twists After Pivoting (Challenges & Growth): 32:02 – 38:28
• Podcasting as a New Venture: 41:41 – 48:14
• Joy in Being Seen & Consistency: 49:29 – 52:29
• Advice & Habits for a Lucky Year: 52:32 – End

Tone & Atmosphere

The conversation is candid, sometimes funny, always supportive—and unafraid to name the unique challenges women (especially women of color) face when pivoting or stepping into the unknown. Les, Mona, and Jeanette balance encouragement with practical advice, making the episode both inspiring and actionable.

Summary Takeaways

• Pivots are not just about logistics—they’re about identity, community, and courage.
• Preparing for change, seeking support, and documenting your journey turn pivots into empowering experiences.
• Consistency, kindness toward yourself, and intentionally finding joy are crucial for thriving in change.

Whether you’re contemplating a major career change or simply seeking more joy in your routine, this episode offers insights and encouragement to help you create your own luck in 2026 and beyond.