In this continuation from Part 1 of this series, I share the raw, nuanced journey of identity transition that so many women in healthcare face. Whether you're still in the clinic, halfway out, or building your own path from scratch, I hope this episode reminds you that your transition isn’t a detour—it’s the work.

This episode doesn't offer quick fixes—it offers permission to be in process, question everything & find your voice even when it shakes.

I unpack what it really takes to leave behind the white coat identity & embrace a more expansive, integrated version of yourself.

From the slow burn of transition to the internal friction of choosing a new path, this conversation is a balm for anyone navigating the messy middle.

I talk about the patterns I had to unlearn for more capacity and presence & how honoring every past version of yourself becomes a portal to greater wholeness.

I explore how my body signaled threat long before my mind caught up, and how tracking sensation & building capacity for discomfort support deeper transformation.

I also get real about the final 3 reasons I won't go back to healthcare - which I believe are keeping many women from showing up authentically in their work.

03:47 – The Journey of Identity Transition
Leaving the white coat isn’t a single decision—it’s a slow, layered unraveling. This chapter explores the discomfort of not knowing who you are without the title, and why that in-between is where the real work begins

10:06 – The Challenges of Choosing a Lane
For multi-passionate women, "niching down" can feel like soul-compression. I explore how trying to fit into one box often leads to hiding parts of yourself that hold real power

12:52 – Integrating Past Experiences into New Identities
You don’t have to discard the old you to become the new you. This chapter is about composting past skills, titles, and patterns so they can actually nourish your next evolution

18:54 – The Role of the Nervous System in Change
Here, I reflect on how building capacity for sensation—not just pushing through—was essential in my transition. It's not just about courage; it's about learning to feel safe in new territory

25:02 – The Hidden Truths of Leaving Healthcare
Leaving a profession you worked so hard for can feel like betrayal. I name the grief, anger, and reckoning that come with stepping away—and why we need more honesty about it

45:45 – Reasons 4-6 for Not Returning to Healthcare
I talk about why I’ve chosen not to go back, even when I could, and how honoring this gave me access to a more authentic version of leadership and service

01:06:31 – The Identity Shift: From Healthcare to Coach
It’s more than a business model shift—it’s an identity recalibration. I unpack what it meant to become responsible for my own safety, rhythm, and expression

If you haven't listened to Part 1 of this 2 part series -- make sure to check it out now!

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Ashley Sterken is the founder of Hive Ambition, a community that supports women in business to grow with clarity, confidence, and intention, most importantly, without burning out.

This is a topic that’s really near and dear to my heart, having mentored women in business, especially women in healthcare business, for nearly 10 years now. Ashley has a background in speech pathology, and her long, bumpy and curvy path has brought her to leading and mentoring other women entrepreneurs.

And one really cool thing we discussed that I think more women need to feel safe and have permission to say out loud is the true inherent isolation that comes with entrepreneurship and our drive and desire for friends; we talked about how it’s really okay to say, “I need more friends” or “The friends I currently have aren’t working for me anymore.”

We talk about her unexpected leap to full‑time entrepreneurship and leading Hive Ambition—she knew all along it was coming, but then was pushed unexpectedly by the universe before her picture‑perfect timeline fell into place—and about balancing the masculine and feminine energies in your business and why it’s not a 50‑50 split for most people.

We talked about why you can’t “spreadsheet your way through” everything and also why you can’t simply dream, manifest, and work on mindset stuff—you need both.

We also highlighted the importance of conveying vulnerability as a leader and mentor, the brave act of listening to your inner voice before you’re in crisis and have no choice but to listen, and Internal Family Systems, something that’s really benefited Ashley as a woman in business and informs my own work with my clients and, of course, with myself!

06:49 – From Speech Pathology to CEO: Ashley’s Journey
Ashley shares her winding path from clinical work to leadership and entrepreneurship—and how Hive Ambition was born

13:02 – The Power (and Pain) of Community

How connection heals the inherent isolation women feel in entrepreneurship, and the realities of navigating big transitions and unexpected pivots as a leader in community

21:52 – When Life Says “Pivot” … and you gotta go whether you’re ready or not

From building a nonprofit after Hurricane Helene to realignment and learning to put it on pause—how Ashley took a brave step back even when what she was building was a good thing

35:51 – Inner Guidance & The Loud Nudge

How and why to recognize your internal cues before a crisis hits, and the magic of checking in with yourself regularly

48:44 – Building with Soul: Strategy Meets Spirituality

Merging masculine structure with feminine flow, redefining success, and reclaiming self-worth in leadership

01:20:23 – Play, People & Personal Truths

Connect with Ashley and learn more:

Instagram: @hiveambition

Website: https://www.hiveambition.com/

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I interview Dr. Kelsea Cannon, who shares her journey from physical therapy to coaching, emphasizing the importance of bridging the gap between medicine and spirituality.

We discuss the significance of emotional and energetic healing, the complexities of navigating the dark parts of personal growth – those “oh snap!” moments when you realize you’ve been carrying shame and guilt that’s been weighing you down.

But the thing we discuss about shame and guilt is not what you might expect – instead of obstacles to be overcome, we discuss how they these often hidden and cast out parts of ourselves are actually “golden doorways” to full authentic self-expression.

A true sink AND swim opportunity.

Kelsea beautifully discusses the importance of inward and outward connection and support, both in the physical realm and through your unseen team’s intuitive, spiritual, and personal connections.

We discussed the constant need to be present to receive messages from the universe, the significance of navigating the tension of life's liminal phases, and the lessons learned from past relationships.

Kelsea is such a beautiful model for how and why to let go of white knuckle gripping control and instead reveal the joy that can be found by trusting the process.

Highlights:

04:01 The personal and professional journey to bridge the gap between physical and spiritual healing

18:32 The “Oh snap” moments: discovering the strength and golden doorways of your hidden and cast out parts in healing

33:31 Navigating Vulnerability Hangovers and Authenticity in Self Expression

42:54 How women don’t heal alone: engaging with both your Seen and Unseen Teams

55:35 Navigating the tension in relationships and the liminal spaces of life using intuition

Learn more about and follow Kelsea at @kelseacannondpt on instagram and check out her website at www.kelseacannon.com

If this episode speaks to you, hit subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend

Looking for more of where this came from?

Subscribe and watch full video episodes on Youtube

Follow Julie on Instagram @drjuliegranger for clips, bonus content, and updates throughout the week

Get a deeper dive on Sink and Swim topics by joining the email club

Find out more about Julie's coaching programs at her website