Ep. 2 - Beyond Apologizing: Redefining Success and Security with Sandra Soriano
Release Date: 11/27/2024
Ep. 18 - Beyond Hating Your Body: True Leadership Starts With Self Leadership with Elizabeth Sherman
Beyond The Quo
What if your “safe problem” is secretly holding you back from your next breakthrough? That weight, that exhaustion, that story you’ve been telling yourself—what if it’s just a distraction from the bigger leap you're meant to take? Welcome to Beyond the Quo with your host, Stacey Luces. In this insightful episode, we explore the critical importance of self-leadership with Elizabeth Sherman, a master certified life and health coach. Elizabeth shares her journey into health coaching, sparked by a personal mission following her mother's battle with breast cancer. Stacey and...
info_outline
Ep. 17 - Beyond Regrets: Your Power To Decide with Julie Allyson
Beyond The Quo
What If I Told You A Harsh Truth: No One Is Coming to Save You—It’s Time to Decide! In this episode of Beyond the Quo, host Stacey Luces welcomes Julie Allyson, a decision strategist with over 30 years of experience in healthcare and leadership. They discuss the importance of making bold choices and living without regrets, leveraging Julie's 'You Decide' framework for self-awareness, intentional goal setting, and transformative action. Julie shares insights from her own life, including becoming a mother at 16 and overcoming significant challenges. They emphasize the power of perspective,...
info_outline
Ep. 16 - Beyond the Chalkboard: How Daniel Wakefield Turned a Passion into a Powerful Personal Brand
Beyond The Quo
What if I told you the job you thought was your forever was just your starting point? Learn how this former teacher went from shaping young minds to shaping personal brands—proving that success is meant to evolve. In this episode of Beyond the Quo, host Stacey Luces interviews Daniel Wakefield, a former high school science teacher turned headshot photographer, coach, and entrepreneur. Daniel shares his inspiring journey and how the skills he acquired in his previous career laid the foundation for his new ventures. They discuss the challenges and rewards of navigating such a significant...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
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