147. A Decade of Failing Forward Into Faith: Paola Soares on Overcoming Fear and Finding Purpose with Johanna Mäkilä-Manninen
Release Date: 10/22/2025
154. How Limiting Beliefs Quietly Affect Your Career and Business (REWIND)
BUT FIRST, SHE FAILED - Career Growth, Women Entrepreneurs, Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, Growth Mindset, Confidence
In this REWIND episode of the But First, She Failed podcast, host Paola Soares explores how limiting beliefs quietly influence your career, business, mindset, and confidence—often without you being fully aware of it. Limiting beliefs don’t always show up as obvious fear or self-sabotage. More often, they appear subtly in your thought patterns, decision-making, career choices, and business actions. In this episode, Paola breaks down five common ways limiting beliefs show up in your career and business, especially for high-achieving women who feel capable yet stuck. If you’ve ever...
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153. Growth Mindset: What It Is and Why You Need It This Year (REWIND)
BUT FIRST, SHE FAILED - Career Growth, Women Entrepreneurs, Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, Growth Mindset, Confidence
In this episode, Host Paola Soares breaks down what a growth mindset really is — and why embracing it can change the entire trajectory of your year. Paola opens up about her own struggles with operating from a fixed mindset in the past and how learning to shift her thinking became a complete game changer in her career, confidence, and purpose. Now, she’s sharing the mindset tools and perspective shifts that can help you experience that same transformation. Inside this conversation, Paola explores: What a growth mindset actually means The key differences between a growth mindset and a...
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152. Holiday Boundaries: 5 Steps to Protect Your Peace (REWIND)
BUT FIRST, SHE FAILED - Career Growth, Women Entrepreneurs, Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, Growth Mindset, Confidence
In this episode, Host Paola Soares explores how to start setting healthy boundaries—especially during the busy holiday season when stress, expectations, and overcommitment can easily take over. Many women don’t realize how poor boundaries quietly impact their careers, businesses, relationships, and emotional well-being. If you’re feeling stretched thin, overwhelmed, or drained, this conversation will help you recognize where your limits are being crossed and how to confidently reclaim your time, energy, and peace. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, career-driven woman, college student, or...
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154. Feeling Stuck? How to Turn a Midlife or Identity Crisis Into a Powerful Rebirth
BUT FIRST, SHE FAILED - Career Growth, Women Entrepreneurs, Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, Growth Mindset, Confidence
In this episode, Host Paola Soares explores what really happens when life feels “off,” and why what many people call a midlife crisis or identity crisis is often something far healthier — a midlife readjustment, a season of reflection, realignment, and personal rebirth. Paola breaks down the difference between an unhealthy midlife crisis (reactive, fear-driven, impulsive) and a healthy midlife awakening (intentional, reflective, and aligned), and shares why research shows that only 10–20% of adultsactually experience a true midlife crisis. For most people, feeling stuck, restless, or...
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153. On the Verge of Quitting? Listen to This First
BUT FIRST, SHE FAILED - Career Growth, Women Entrepreneurs, Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, Growth Mindset, Confidence
In this episode Host Paola Soares shares encouragement and practical insight for the moments when you’re on the verge of quitting—whether it’s your career, a dream you’ve been working toward, a business you’ve been building, or a calling that suddenly feels heavy. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, burned out, discouraged, or uncertain about your next step, this conversation will help you pause, breathe, and regain clarity before making any big decisions. Paola breaks down what’s actually happening beneath the “I want to quit” feeling and offers guidance to help you reset...
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152. Master Your Time & Stop Overwhelm: Productivity Tips with Time Management Coach Anna Dearmon Kornick (REWIND)
BUT FIRST, SHE FAILED - Career Growth, Women Entrepreneurs, Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, Growth Mindset, Confidence
In this REWIND previously aired episode, Host Paola Soares speaks with well regarded Time Management Coach, Anna Dearmon Kornick. Anna helps busy professionals master time management so they can stop feeling overwhelmed and start spending time on what matters most. Anna knows a thing or two about managing time— with a long career trajectory in high level roles where time management is crucial from being a former scheduler for a U.S. Congressman to a former Chief Spokesperson for a LT. Governor to working in the high stakes world of Crisis Communications, Public Relations. Anna...
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151. Need a Reset? Journal Prompts to Slow Down, Reflect & Get Grateful
BUT FIRST, SHE FAILED - Career Growth, Women Entrepreneurs, Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, Growth Mindset, Confidence
In this Thanksgiving-themed episode, host Paola Soares guides listeners through a powerful “heart reset” using reflective gratitude journal prompts designed to help you slow down, breathe, and reconnect with what truly matters this season. Whether you’re navigating uncertainty, feeling stretched thin, or craving clarity about your next step, this episode will help you pause, reflect, and tap into a deeper sense of peace and purpose. These prompts are perfect for your morning routine, your quiet time, or anytime you need to reconnect with yourself and God in the middle of a busy season....
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150. 40 Lessons at 40: Mindset, Purpose & Confidence for Your Next Chapter (Birthday Episode + Giveaway
BUT FIRST, SHE FAILED - Career Growth, Women Entrepreneurs, Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, Growth Mindset, Confidence
Birthday Episode + Giveaway on the But First, She Failed podcast. In this powerful conversation, Paola shares 40 Lessons at 40, offering the mindset shifts, purpose insights, calling breakthroughs, and growth lessons that have shaped her over the last decade. Through career pivots, moments of fear, seasons of uncertainty, motherhood, identity work, faith, and building a top 1% podcast, Paola has gathered wisdom she now pours back into her community — especially women navigating purpose, clarity, and reinvention. This episode is designed for anyone who feels stuck, behind, or on the edge of a...
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149. 3 Ways Worrying Is Sabotaging Your Growth (and What to Do Instead)
BUT FIRST, SHE FAILED - Career Growth, Women Entrepreneurs, Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, Growth Mindset, Confidence
Are you overthinking, spiraling in “what ifs,” or feeling stuck because worry is draining your energy? In this powerful mindset-reset episode, Paola shares the exact reality check she had to give herself this week—one she knows many faith-driven, purpose-seeking women need to hear too. If you’ve been feeling unfulfilled in your current job, sensing you’re meant for more, or trying to build a dream on the side while juggling all the things, this episode will help you understand how worry might be quietly sabotaging your growth, clarity, and purpose. Inside the episode, Paola breaks...
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148. 3 Types of Burnout (and What They’re Really Telling You)
BUT FIRST, SHE FAILED - Career Growth, Women Entrepreneurs, Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, Growth Mindset, Confidence
Feeling drained, unmotivated, or disconnected — even though you’re “doing all the right things”? You might be facing burnout… but not the kind you think. In this episode, host Paola Soares breaks down the three hidden types of burnout that ambitious, purpose-driven women often overlook. These are the kinds that sneak up on you when you’re checking every box, chasing growth, and still feeling empty inside. Paola shares the subtle signs you may be missing — and what burnout might actually be trying to tell you about your work, your mindset, and the season you’re in. 💡 You’ll...
info_outline✨ Special Episode: From Failure to Faith — Paola’s Interview on The Vibrant Flow Podcast ✨
This week on But First, She Failed, host Paola Soares shares something a little different. Recently, she was invited to be a guest on 🎙️ The Vibrant Flow Podcast with Johanna Mäkilä-Manninen —a friend of But First, She Failed.
Paola loved Johanna’s thoughtful questions and the authentic flow of their conversation so much that she asked if she could share it here with you. 💛
In this inspiring interview, Paola opens up about her decade-long journey of overcoming fear of failure, healing from shame, and learning to fail forward into faith. She shares behind-the-scenes moments from her career in national news, the painful season of being let go, and how God used that experience to redirect her toward her true calling—helping women step boldly into the purpose He designed for them. 🌿
🌸 About The Vibrant Flow Podcast:
Hosted by Johanna Mäkilä-Manninen—a multi-passionate artist, women’s coach, English MA graduate, mama, and wife—The Vibrant Flow Podcast is for the ambitious, faith-led woman ready to step fully into her calling, unapologetically and in full feminine flow. The show blends faith-based coaching, feminine leadership, and creative personal branding to help women break free from shame, self-sabotage, and comparison while elevating their God-given expression.
🎧 Go listen: The Vibrant Flow Podcast for the full interview! In this episode only part of the full episode is shared so if you enjoyed make sure to go to The Vibrant Flow Podcast to listen to the rest of the convesation! Johanna is also about to launch her 12-Week Personal Branding Incubator—links to both below!
💬 Community Update:
The next Community Accountability Call is happening in early November! 🙌
It’s designed for women who feel unfulfilled professionally and sense God calling them to step into something new—whether that’s launching a business, starting a brand, or pursuing a deeper sense of purpose. You’ll receive live coaching, feedback, and encouragement from Paola and a circle of like-minded women who will cheer you on every step of the way. (Sign-up link in the show notes!)
🌿 In This Episode:
• Overcoming fear of failure and redefining success through faith
• Healing from shame and finding identity in God
• Navigating comparison and imposter syndrome
• Feminine strength, calling, and purpose
• Learning to pause, trust God’s timing, and walk in your unique assignment
✨ Connect with Johanna:
🎧 Listen to the full interview on The Vibrant Flow Podcast:
👉 From Head to Heart: Feminine Embodiment and Magnetic Presence (Spotify)
💖 Follow Johanna on Instagram:
👉 @thevibrantflowwithjo
🌸 Learn more about Johanna’s 12-Week Personal Branding Incubator:
👉 thevibrantflowpodcast.com/beta-group-2025
💻 Let’s Connect:
👯♀️ Join the FREE BFSF Accountability Community Call!
If you’re ready to get out of your head and finally start walking in the purpose God has for you, this is your chance to do it with community. During this 1-hour session, you’ll connect with like-minded women, share what you’re working on, get live coaching and encouragement, and gain clarity around your calling so you can take bold next steps.
💡 Spots are limited — and this may be one of the last times I offer this call for free before transitioning into a membership community. Don’t miss the chance to be part of it!
📲 Instagram: @butfirstshefailed
🌐 Website: Paolasoares.com
🎙 Book a Mentorship Session: Click Here
📩 Join the Weekly Newsletter + Take the Boss Woman Profile Quiz: Sign Up
▶️ Follow on YouTube: Watch Here
✨ FREE RESOURCE: 6 SIGNS YOU ARE OR AREN'T WALKING IN YOUR GOD-GIVEN CALLING --> paolasoares.com/calling