Ep. 2 - Beyond Apologizing: Redefining Success and Security with Sandra Soriano
Release Date: 11/27/2024
Ep. 15 - Beyond Self-Abandonment: Rewiring Health with Dr. Kelly Kessler
Beyond The Quo
What if your need for perfectionism and self-abandonment go hand in hand? Many high-achievers have built their success by prioritizing everyone else’s needs over their own. But what happens when the validation fades? Burnout, chronic stress, and a feeling of emptiness that no promotion or paycheck can fill. In this episode of Beyond the Quo, host Stacey Luces sits down with Dr. Kelly Kessler, a licensed physical therapist and transformation coach, to explore how self-abandonment and perfectionism sabotage success. Through Kelly's personal journey and professional expertise, discover how to...
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Ep. 14 - Beyond the Surface: Leadership, Courage and Advocacy Against Human Trafficking with Alex Ortiz
Beyond The Quo
What if your past experiences—no matter how painful—were preparing you for your true purpose? In this episode of Beyond the Quo, host Stacey Luces delves into the type of courage, leadership and authenticity it takes to tackle the alarming issue of human trafficking, a $150 billion criminal industry affecting over 27.6 million people globally. Stacey is joined by Alex Ortiz, the Director of Development and Human Trafficking Regional Advocacy at the FLITE Center, a transformative organization providing education, housing, and employment resources to vulnerable youth. Alex’s...
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Ep. 13 - Beyond Permission: Rising Stronger and Leading Louder with Takeata King Pang
Beyond The Quo
What if I told you that resilience isn’t just about bouncing back—it’s about rising stronger, leading louder, and showing up unapologetically? In this inspiring episode, Stacey Luces welcomes special guest Takeata King Pang, the powerhouse Executive Director of the Women's Foundation of Florida. Together, they delve into themes of overcoming adversity, leading with courage, and redefining success. Takeata candidly shares her journey navigating dyslexia, ADHD, severe asthma, and breaking barriers in politics and advocacy. Discover insights on how to thrive despite setbacks, the...
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Ep. 12 - Beyond Grief: How To Lead with Heart, Take the Leap, and Trust with Lisa Murphy
Beyond The Quo
What if the greatest purpose of your life was born from your deepest pain? In this episode of Beyond the Quo, host Stacey Luces dives into the power of purpose, authenticity, and courageous leadership. Special guest Lisa Murphy, founder of Open Hearts for Orphans, shares her poignant story of resilience, love, and the transformative power of community. Lisa Murphy never planned to build a nonprofit. She never expected to adopt five children. And she certainly didn’t anticipate the heartbreak that would change everything. But when faced with loss, she had a choice: let it define...
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Ep. 11 - Beyond A Ripple: Creating Leadership, Connection, and Impact with Arielle Leavitt
Beyond The Quo
What if I told you that loneliness is a silent epidemic—even in a world that’s hyper-connected? Here’s how to create real, human connections that go beyond the status quo. In this episode of 'Beyond the Quo,' host Stacey Luces sits down with Arielle Leavitt, an inspiring leader who turned her family's struggling business into a thriving success and is now revolutionizing how we connect with her Ripple Networking App. We explored some powerful truths about leadership, resilience, and the human need for connection. Arielle shared her journey—starting at just 22 years old—to take on her...
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Ep. 10 - Beyond “One-Size-Fits-All” Leadership: Transforming Cities with Former Mayor Dr. Jeri Muoio
Beyond The Quo
What if I told you that only 26% of U.S. mayors are women—and today’s guest is one of them? Get ready for a masterclass in leading with authenticity and purpose. In this episode of Beyond the Quo, host Stacey Luces interviews Dr. Jeri Muoio, founder and CEO of Great Cities for All, and former two-term mayor of West Palm Beach, Florida. They explore themes of authentic and servant leadership, emphasizing trust, purpose, and community involvement. Dr. Muoio shares insights from her extensive career in public service and education, stressing the importance of listening, building...
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Ep. 9 - Beyond The Matrix: Transforming Exits into Opportunities, Legacy and Purpose with Jerome Myers.
Beyond The Quo
What happens when the chapter you’ve built your life around comes to an end? In this episode of Beyond the Quo, host Stacey Luces is joined by Jerome Myers—a visionary entrepreneur, exit strategist, and founder of Exodus. Jerome is known for helping leaders navigate life’s pivotal transitions, overcome self-doubt, and align their work with their purpose. From building a $20M division for a Fortune 550 company to creating impactful tools like the 2C Matrix and NEO Navigator, Jerome brings unmatched insights into leading through change. Jerome shares how the concept of “taking the red...
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Ep. 8 - Beyond the Brand: Crafting Stories, Building Dreams, and Redefining Success with Samdra Rodriguez-Pabon
Beyond The Quo
What if fear could fuel your success? In this episode of Beyond the Quo, host Stacey Luces explores how embracing fear, crafting your unique story, and aligning your life with passion can lead to profound transformation. Joining Stacey is Samdra Rodriguez-Pabon, a creative brand strategist, entrepreneur, and founder of Samdraland Studio, where she partners with businesses globally to create thoughtful branding, marketing strategies, and compelling stories that resonate with their audiences and also runs Bloomera, a home bakery in Puerto Rico. Sandra shares her journey of balancing two...
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Ep. 7 - Beyond The Mic – Your Authentic Voice Leads To Breakthroughs in Love, Leadership, and Life - with Brian Howie
Beyond The Quo
What if your “Yes” lives in the land of “No” and stepping into the unknown leads to breakthroughs in love, leadership, and life? In this compelling episode of Beyond the Quo, Stacey Luces sits down with someone who truly goes beyond the quo in every sense of the word - Brian Howie! He’s an award-winning director, America’s Number 1 Dating Enthusiast, and the creative force behind The Great Love Debate, a nationally-touring series of live shows that’s challenged the way we think about love, connection, and relationships. He’s also the CEO of PodPopuli, a community-driven...
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Ep. 6 - Beyond Others' Judgment: Redefining Movements, Beauty, and Authenticity with Violette de Ayala
Beyond The Quo
What if redefining success means embracing imperfection, challenging societal expectations, and building a legacy of connection, empowerment, and purpose? In this episode of Beyond the Quo, host Stacey Luces sits down with Violette de Ayala, Cuban-American serial entrepreneur, founder of FemCity®, international best-selling author, and advocate for women’s empowerment. Together, they explore the transformative power of authenticity, the challenges of stepping into leadership as a woman of color, and the evolution of beauty, identity, and legacy. Stacey and Violette dive into what it means...
info_outlineHook: What if everything you’ve been told about success is actually keeping you stuck? In a world where 70% of midlifers feel trapped in roles that don’t align with their true selves, it’s time to rewrite the rules. In this inaugural guest episode of Beyond the Quo, host Stacey Luces sits down with Sandra Soriano, founder of the lifestyle brand Unapologetic, for an honest and powerful conversation about breaking free from societal expectations and redefining what success looks like in midlife.
For too many midlifers, the stats speak volumes: over 70% of adults feel stuck in roles that don’t align with their true selves, more than 50% of single parents cite financial independence as their biggest challenge, and nearly 60% of women in midlife feel pressured to conform to outdated definitions of success and stability.
Together, Stacey and Sandra explore themes that resonate deeply with anyone questioning the status quo—feeling stuck, navigating major life transitions, and balancing personal growth with external pressures. Sandra shares her transformative journey from a 23-year marriage to becoming a single parent and entrepreneur, offering raw insights into resilience, authenticity, and building a life that truly feels like your own. Sandra’s story, rooted in her personal experiences and her mission through Unapologetic, inspires midlifers to take small, meaningful steps toward creating a life of freedom, empowerment, and joy.
This conversation is more than just inspiration—it’s a roadmap for midlifers who are ready to break free from the constraints of “should” and “must.” Sandra’s story reminds us that transformation doesn’t happen all at once; it’s built through courage, small decisions, and unapologetic living.
In this episode:
• 00:24 | Common Midlife Concerns: Why so many feel stuck and disconnected in midlife.
• 02:45 | Challenging Traditional Success: Breaking free from external definitions of success.
• 05:47 | Financial Confidence and Single Parenting: Sandra’s journey to independence and building a business.
• 16:17 | Embracing Self-Care and Empowerment: The crucial role of boundaries and self-love.
• 27:48 | Living Unapologetically: How Sandra’s brand and philosophy inspire resilience.
• 30:00 | The Importance of Support Networks: Building communities that lift us up.
• 31:37 | Defining Friendship Tiers: Rethinking relationships and priorities.
• 42:04 | Challenging the Status Quo: A call to redefine life on your own terms.
Feeling inspired? Don’t keep it to yourself!
• Subscribe to Beyond the Quo and leave a five star review.
• Share this episode with someone who’s ready to redefine success and embrace their next chapter.
• Join the conversation on social media and connect with Stacey and Sandra.
You’ve already done the quo—now let’s go beyond.
Connect with Stacey:
• Website: www.staceyluces.com
• YouTube: staceyluces/podcasts
• Instagram: @Stacey.Luces @beyondthequopodcast
• Disclaimer: staceyluces.com/disclaimer
Connect with Sandra:
• Website: https://unapologetic808.myshopify.com/
• Instagram: @808unapologetic