Podcast
What The Shift
Hosted by gia lacqua · EN
The Podcast for Your 2am Thoughts
What the Shift is a podcast for women navigating the thoughts, questions, and quiet realizations that show up when everything finally gets quiet.
The ones about exhaustion you can’t quite explain.
Success that no longer fits.
Boundaries you know you need—but feel guilty setting.
And the feeling that something is shifting, even if you don’t have words for it yet.
No one taught us how to stop people-pleasing.
Or overfunctioning.
Or holding our feelings without apologizing for them.
They just assumed we’d figure it out.
This show creates space for the conversations women are having with themselves at 2am, but rarely out loud. Through honest, no-BS conversations, we interrupt the patterns behind quiet burnout, self-silencing, and the pressure to “handle it all.”
This isn’t therapy.
It’s not fixing.
And it’s definitely not another productivity strategy.
It’s context.
Clarity.
And the relief of realizing you’re not broken, you’re conditioned.
Hosted by Gia Lacqua, What the Shift is where late-night thoughts turn into real conversations—and real shifts.
36episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
You Didn’t Fail. You Outgrew It. What It Takes to Walk Away from ‘Success’ in Pursuit of Greater Impact
Feb 600:32:18Tap to summarizeWhat happens when the life you worked relentlessly to build… no longer fits? In this episode of What the Shift, Gia sits down with leadership advisor and executive coach Whitney Faires to unpack the rarely discussed reality high-achieving women face: realizing that “success” isn’t the same as fulfillment, and having the courage to pivot anyway. Together, they explore: Why so many accomplished women feel successful and unsettled The internal battle of choosing alignment over approval How lateral moves and strategic pivots can expand—not diminish—career impact The fear, guilt, and identity disruption that keep women stuck in roles they’ve outgrown What it actually takes to walk away from security without burning everything down Why the real risk isn’t leaving success—it’s staying too long This conversation is for the woman questioning at 2am: Is this really it? Not because she’s ungrateful, but because she’s evolving. Whether you’re navigating a career pivot, leadership transition, or personal reinvention, this episode offers grounded strategy, lived wisdom, and permission to redefine success on your own terms. 🎧 Perfect for listeners interested in: Women in leadership Career pivots & executive transitions Identity shifts and reinvention Burnout, alignment, and purpose-driven work High-achieving women navigating change Leadership development and personal strategy 📍 Recorded for a global audience of ambitious women navigating career and life transitions across the U.S. and beyond.
Transcribe →
The 3 Strategies Women Default To - And Why They’re Quietly Costing You Everything
Jan 3000:08:50Tap to summarizeIf you’ve been lying awake at 2 am questioning why the strategies that once made you successful now feel exhausting, this episode is for you. In this follow-up conversation on What the Shift, host Gia and Shannon McGorry break down the three outdated strategies high-achieving women default to, and why they no longer fit the woman you are today. These strategies once helped you succeed. Now, they’re quietly draining your energy, clarity, and sense of self. In this episode, we unpack: Why “being reliable” turns capable women into bottlenecks How the “prove yourself” strategy ties identity to output, and leads to burnout The hidden cost of “keeping the peace” and losing your voice in the process What "strategy" actually means How to recognize when your current strategy has expired, and what to do next This conversation is especially for high-achieving women, leaders, working moms, and purpose-driven professionals who feel successful on paper, but misaligned in real life. If your life feels heavier than it should, it’s not because you’re doing it wrong. It’s because you’ve outgrown the strategy that once worked. Does your strategy still fit the woman you are today? Find out at yourstrategyreset.com
Transcribe →
When Your Strategy Worked - And Why It’s Exhausting You Now
Jan 2300:13:07Tap to summarizeThere’s a specific kind of exhaustion that doesn’t come from doing too much. It comes from living inside a strategy that used to work, but no longer fits the life you’re actually living. In this episode of What the Shift, Gia is joined by returning guest, Founder of Love, Strength & Grace, Shannon McGorry, to name the truth high-performing women quietly carry. 👉 You’re not failing. 👉 You’re not broken. 👉 Your strategy is just outdated. Together, they unpack: Why capable, successful women feel like they’re “doing everything right” and still falling apart inside How over-functioning becomes a survival strategy, and when it quietly turns against you The difference between treating symptoms (boundaries, self-care, time off) and actually updating the way you run your life Why motivation disappears, resentment builds, and exhaustion sets in when your strategy no longer matches your current chapter The three pillars every modern strategy must be built on: clarity, confidence, and aligned action This is a conversation for the woman who doesn’t want a new life, she just wants this one to fit. If you’ve been waking up at 2am thinking “Why does this feel so heavy?” This episode is your answer. Learn more at yourstrategyreset.com
Transcribe →
Nothing Is Wrong With You: The Truth About Perimenopause No One Told Women
Jan 1500:29:41Tap to summarizeIf you’ve been asking yourself “Why do I feel this way?”—this episode is for you. Brain fog. Anxiety. Irritability. Weight gain. Exhaustion. A quiet sense that you don’t recognize yourself anymore. High-achieving women are being told it’s stress, burnout, motherhood, aging, or that they just need to try harder. But for many women in midlife, that explanation is flat-out wrong. In this episode of What the Shift, I sit down with Dana Culp, founder of Thrive Midlife Medicine, to expose the massive blind spot in women’s healthcare—and the cost of ignoring it. We talk about: Why so many women feel “off” long before menopause—and why it’s missed How perimenopause is misdiagnosed as anxiety, burnout, or personal failure The real reason “pushing through” stops working in midlife What the science actually says about hormones and long-term health Why nothing is wrong with you—and what your body is asking for instead This isn’t about fixing women. It’s about telling the truth. Because when women understand what’s happening in their bodies, they stop blaming themselves—and start making powerful, informed choices about what comes next. If this episode lands, share it with the woman who’s Googling her symptoms at 2am and wondering if she’s broken. She’s not. She was never told the whole story. Learn more about Dana and at take the quiz at thrivemidlifemed.com/quiz
Transcribe →
Balance Is the Lie That Keeps High-Achieving Women Functioning in Lives That No Longer Fit
Jan 900:09:30Tap to summarizeThere was a time when balance made sense. When life was simpler. Fewer roles. Fewer demands. Less constant access. But that’s not the world high-achieving women are living in now. In today’s reality, balance doesn’t create freedom—it creates containment. In this episode, I unpack why balance may have worked once, but quietly fails women whose lives, responsibilities, and expectations have outgrown the strategy meant to manage them. You’ll hear: Why balance becomes a trap How women are trained to overfunction—and systems learn to rely on it Why “equal distribution of weight” is laughable in real life And what it takes to redesign a life around who you are now, not who you had to be This isn’t about doing less. It’s about choosing differently. If you’ve been managing a life that looks successful but feels heavy, this episode will put words to what you’ve been living—and point to a more honest way forward. I’m also inviting a small group of women to apply for the PowerShift Launch Team to help carry this message into the world. Balance had its moment. This is what comes next. Visit www.gialacqua.com for more information.
Transcribe →
When Life Forces the Shift: Cancer, Control, and Choosing Yourself with Cara Lockwood
Jan 200:31:42Tap to summarizeWhat happens when life rips the illusion of control straight out of your hands? In this episode of What the Shift, Gia sits down with Cara Lockwood — USA Today bestselling novelist turned cancer truth-teller—for a raw, honest conversation about what breast cancer really takes… and what it gives back. Diagnosed with stage 1 HER2-positive breast cancer during a routine mammogram, Cara was thrust into a reality she never chose: fear, uncertainty, loss of control—and a complete identity reckoning. What followed wasn’t a polished “warrior” narrative, but a messy, human shift from terror to agency. Together, Gia and Cara unpack: Why toxic positivity fails women facing real fear How humor can be defiance—not denial The identity shift that happens when the “doer” becomes the one who needs care What control actually looks like when everything feels out of control Why choosing yourself isn’t selfish—it’s survival Cara also shares why she wrote There’s No Good Book for This (But I Wrote One Anyway)—the irreverent, laugh-out-loud guide she wished she had—and how laughter became one of her most powerful tools for reclaiming agency. This episode isn’t about “staying positive.” It’s about telling the truth. Choosing yourself. And learning—at the deepest level—that you can do hard things. 🎧 Listen if you’re navigating a life-altering diagnosis, a forced pivot, or a moment where everything you thought you controlled… disappeared. Learn more about Cara: caratheauthor.com
Transcribe →
Get Out of Your Own Way: How to Stop Playing Small and Start Rising
Oct 400:32:42Tap to summarizeWhat if the only thing standing between you and your next level… is you? In this powerful episode of What the Shift, Gia sits down with Nada Lena Nasserdeen, founder and CEO of Rise Up For You, bestselling author, and two-time TEDx speaker, to talk about the confidence gap no one’s addressing—and the nine hidden “confidence crushers” silently holding high-achieving women back. From rebuilding her life after losing everything to building a global leadership movement, Nada shares what it really takes to stop performing success and start embodying it. We talk about: The difference between self-confidence and skill-confidence (and why most women get it wrong) Why people pleasing, perfectionism, and overachievement are not personality traits—they're protective strategies What’s really keeping you from making the ask, setting the boundary, or saying the hard thing How to rise—even when it feels like you’ve hit rock bottom This isn’t about learning to seem confident. It’s about becoming unshakable from the inside out. Learn more about Nada: riseupforyou.com
Transcribe →
Healing Starts with One Hard Truth: I Can't Do This Anymore
Sep 2600:34:29Tap to summarizeWhat if the first step to healing wasn’t more effort—but more honesty? In this raw and redemptive episode of What the Shift, Gia sits down with award-winning TV host, author, and mental health advocate Marci Hopkins to uncover the truth behind the high-functioning mask. Now 10 years sober, Marci shares the moment that shattered her façade—and the hard truth that saved her life. From growing up in chaos and surviving childhood trauma to navigating perfectionism, people-pleasing, and addiction as a high-achieving woman, Marci reveals the painful patterns that kept her stuck… and the daily practices that set her free. Together, Gia and Marci unpack: The hidden cost of “having it all together” Why high-functioning doesn’t mean healthy The subconscious programming that drives our self-abandonment How to rewire your worth and reclaim your peace If you’ve ever thought, “I can’t do this anymore”—this episode is your lifeline. You are not broken. You are not alone. And it is never too late to choose a different story. Learn more at wakeupwithmarci.com
Transcribe →
Relaunch Your Life: The Internal Upgrade Every High Achieving Woman Needs
Sep 1900:38:31Tap to summarizeYou’ve reinvented your career. You’ve survived life’s pivots. But have you reprogrammed the internal wiring that keeps you stuck? In this bold and illuminating episode of What the Shift, Gia sits down with 3x bestselling author and peak performance coach Hilary DeCesare—named one of Success Magazine’s Top 10 Coaches of 2025—for a conversation that redefines what it really takes to relaunch your life from the inside out. Hilary shares how her signature 3HQ™ framework—aligning your Head, Heart, and Highest Self—helps high-achieving women ditch survival mode and unlock the next level of fulfillment, power, and impact. Inside, you’ll learn: Why getting “stuck” isn’t a dead-end—it’s outdated programming The real reason success doesn’t feel satisfying anymore How to shift your emotional state in under 2 minutes (yes, really) Why your beliefs are shaping your reality—and how to break free The one question to ask before your next big move Plus: Hilary walks Gia through her signature “Tune-In” method live on air. If you’re ready to upgrade your identity, not just your goals, this is the relaunch you didn’t know you needed.
Transcribe →
Stop Hiding: The Power of Undoing What Isn't You
Sep 1200:34:20Tap to summarizeWhat if your greatest power isn’t in adding more—but in undoing what was never you to begin with? In this episode of What the Shift, Gia sits down with powerhouse speaker, CEO, and relationship strategist Barb Betts, whose journey from hiding to healing is nothing short of transformational. From childhood disconnection and hair loss to reclaiming her voice and confidence, Barb shares how the very parts of herself she once tried to hide became the foundation of her impact and success. Together, they dive into: Why most people misunderstand authenticity—and what it actually means The hidden cost of “fitting in” at work and in life The four permissions every woman needs to stop hiding Why your relationship with yourself is the most important one you’ll ever build How real connection—not performance—creates trust and long-term growth This conversation will challenge everything you think you need to do to be seen, heard, and successful. It’s not about becoming more—it’s about becoming you. Learn more about Barb: www.barbbetts.com
Transcribe →