Trapped by Success: Escaping the Golden Handcuffs
The Amanda Dake Podcast
After 25 years in a high-paying pharmaceutical sales career, Kathleen Chabus had everything that looks like success on paper: income, status, stability. But inside, it felt like being on the wrong bus and never getting off. Safety became a cage. In this conversation, Kathleen shares how “golden handcuffs” kept her in a role that didn’t fit, why the “condition trap” (“once X happens, then I’ll finally…”) almost cost her the life she actually wanted, and what shifted as she approached 50 and realized: You cannot course correct without starting the course. We talk about: ➡️...
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Corporate Dumpster Fires: How Hard Conversations Fix Broken Teams
The Amanda Dake Podcast
Most corporate dumpster fires do not start as crises. They start as conversations that never happen. In this episode, Amanda Dake sits down with leadership communications expert Heather Lisle, the person organizations call when internal issues quietly escalate into full scale problems. This conversation follows a clear how it started, how it’s going arc. Heather shares her early career inside government and corporate leadership, the pivot forced by COVID, and how avoided conversations, indecision, and miscommunication often sit underneath profit loss, employee churn, and leadership...
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From Surgeon to Federal Prison Camp, What Every Doctor Must Know About “Kickbacks”
The Amanda Dake Podcast
How it started: A respected surgeon signing what looked like a standard contract. How it’s going: A federal prison consultant warning others about the "Kickback Trap" that cost him his freedom. Dr. Alap Shah’s story is the ultimate "how it started vs. how it's going" cautionary tale. In this episode, we trace the full arc of his journey- from the height of his medical career to the day he reported to federal prison, and how he is rebuilding his life today. This conversation isn't just about the law; it's about the unexpected turns life takes and the clarity you find when everything falls...
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Insane Courage: Leaving Security to Build With Alignment
The Amanda Dake Podcast
In this episode of the Amanda Dake Podcast, Amanda joins Lia Dunlap on the Oracle On Purpose Podcast for a conversation about making a decision before everything is figured out. Amanda shares a personal story from early in her career, the moment she walked into her administrator’s office and said she wouldn’t be returning to teaching the next year. There was no plan and no safety net. Just a clear knowing that what she was doing no longer fit. That one decision changed the direction of her life. Together, they talk about: Why most meaningful changes start with a single decision, not...
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You Don’t Have to Burn It Down to Build Something Better
The Amanda Dake Podcast
Most people believe growth requires destruction. Quit the job. Start over. Burn the bridge. That is not always true. In this episode, Amanda Dake sits down with Julie Rowlett, a mathematics professor whose work spans theoretical math, physics, game theory, and entrepreneurship. Julie shares how a lifelong career in abstract mathematics expanded into building Kluero, an AI-driven platform designed to help teams understand how they actually function together. Rather than pivoting away from academia, Julie stayed with her work long enough for it to evolve. Her research into cooperation and...
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Demand or Disaster? How to Test If Your Offer Will Sell
The Amanda Dake Podcast
Stop creating offers nobody wants. Learn how to validate demand BEFORE you launch so you can build profitable offers that actually sell. Former teacher turned ClickFunnels certified partner reveals the exact framework for testing if your offer will convert. Discover why most entrepreneurs waste months building offers that flop and how to align your business with what the market actually wants. Plus, learn how to use AI tools like ChatGPT to discover your unique strengths and create offers that feel effortless to deliver. 📘 FREE BOOK: 6 Moves To Your Next 6 Figures Get the complete roadmap:...
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What Happens When You Choose GROWTH Over Stability?
The Amanda Dake Podcast
Jay Larson followed a traditional path for most of his life. College, career, family, stability. He could have stayed a few more years and retired comfortably. Instead, he made a different choice. In this episode, Jay and Amanda talk about what it really looks like to choose growth later in life, without blowing up everything you’ve built. This is an honest conversation about work, identity, time, family, and what changes when you decide you’re not finished yet. They discuss: Why retirement didn’t feel like the finish line Leaving a traditional path by choice, not crisis Creating...
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How to Choose the Right Idea to Pursue
The Amanda Dake Podcast
Choosing the right idea is the part most people overthink, especially if you’ve been in your career for 20 or 30 years and have a lifetime of experience to pull from. The truth is, you don’t start with the offer. You start with the decision. In this episode, I walk through how to choose the idea that actually fits your life, your goals, and the way you want to work. If you’ve been spinning between multiple options or waiting for the “right moment,” this will help you move forward with clarity. If you want help sorting through your ideas, you can use my free AI guide here: Key...
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How To Write With Humanity In An AI World
The Amanda Dake Podcast
What makes good copy actually work? In this episode, I talk with Sani Nielsen, a copywriter and marketing strategist who believes that great copywriting isn’t just about words, but connection. We dig into how understanding your audience, their awareness level, and their journey can completely change the way you write and sell. Sani shares why she sees the traditional sales funnel differently, explaining how her “ladder” approach helps business owners guide their audience toward each small “yes.” We also talk about where AI tools like ChatGPT fit in, and why they’ll never replace...
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From PTSD To Peace: A Veteran’s Journey Through Healing and Purpose
The Amanda Dake Podcast
This episode goes beyond recovery, it’s about rebuilding life and business from the inside out. Amy Charlesworth, a veteran and mental health advocate, shares her powerful story of overcoming PTSD, rediscovering purpose, and helping others find healing after trauma. We talk about healing, awareness, purpose, and what it really means to step back into who you were always meant to be — even after life knocks you down. 🎧 Watch if you’re interested in: • Veteran healing stories • Mental health and trauma recovery • Purpose-driven entrepreneurship • Finding peace and fulfillment...
info_outlineSometimes, the best way forward is to pause, breathe, and create.
In this episode, I sit down with Rubina Chadha, a mindfulness and creative
transformation coach, to talk about how to use simple practices like
breathwork, meditation, and creative expression to find calm again.
We also dig into Human Design and how knowing how you’re wired can make
decisions feel lighter instead of forced.
Rubina brings such a refreshing take on slowing down, showing how even
tools like AI can support your clarity without losing what makes us human.
This one is for you if life has been noisy and you want a practical way to feel
more like yourself again.
Key Points:
01:01 Understanding mindfulness and creative coaching.
01:51 Doodling as a form of meditation.
02:31 Supporting students and creatives under pressure.
04:18 The simplest entry point into mindfulness.
05:01 How AI is helping teachers and creatives.
06:12 Understanding Human Design.
07:50 A custom GPT for alignment and attracting clients.
11:14 AI is not a replacement for connection.
13:19 Rubina’s path from creative to mindfulness work.
14:53 Where to connect with Rubina.