The last couple of months have been busy ones for Starter Girlz—with new conversations, new experiences, and quite a bit happening behind the scenes.

So this month’s Empowerment Digest is a little fuller than usual.

We’re catching up on a few conversations we didn’t get a chance to feature in the last edition, along with September’s episodes. And while these conversations cover everything from cybersecurity and entrepreneurship to reinvention, resilience, and what it really means to win, they each offer something worth taking with us.

Consider this one a chance to catch up on anything you may have missed—and maybe discover a conversation you didn’t know you needed.

— Jennifer

Podcast Recap

Your Home May Be Affecting You More Than You Realize | Loren Ng

The spaces we live in may be influencing us more than we realize. Loren Ng explores how our surroundings can affect everything from stress and focus to our overall sense of well-being—and why good design isn't simply about how a space looks, but how it supports the people living in it. The conversation is a reminder that sometimes the small sources of friction in our environment are worth paying attention to.

Listen to the Episode →

Why You’re Easier to Manipulate Than You Think | Robert Siciliano

Robert Siciliano has spent more than 30 years studying risk, deception, and human behavior—and one of the biggest vulnerabilities he identifies isn't technology, but us. In this conversation, Robert explains how trust, urgency, emotion, and distraction can override our better judgment, why even smart and security-conscious people can fall for scams, and how greater awareness can help us become harder targets.

Listen to the Episode →

The Hidden Cost of Being the One Who Carries Everything | Jasper Calcara

Jasper Calcara’s story explores what can happen when the path you thought you were supposed to follow no longer fits. Through his own experiences with change, uncertainty, and redefining what success meant for him, Jasper shares why moving forward sometimes requires letting go of expectations, trusting yourself, and being willing to build a life that feels more aligned with who you’ve become.

Listen to the Episode →

How to Win When You Lose the Trophy | Dr. Angela Kerek

Dr. Angela Kerek challenges the idea that winning is defined by trophies, titles, or recognition. Drawing from her experience in competitive sports and beyond, she explores what happens when the outcome you worked for doesn’t go your way—and how resilience, identity, and the lessons gained along the way can ultimately matter more than the win itself.

Listen to the Episode →\

Why Your Humanity Matters More in an AI-Driven Job Market | Mae Schaefer & Deborah Wheatman

As AI continues to reshape the workplace, Debra Wheatman and Mae Schaefer explore why the qualities that make us human may become more valuable, not less. From emotional intelligence and communication to judgment, adaptability, and genuine connection, they unpack what technology can’t easily replicate—and why developing those human skills may be one of the smartest ways to stay relevant in an AI-driven job market.

Listen to the Episode →

You Don’t Have to Start Over to Reinvent Yourself — Debbi DiMaggio

Debbie DiMaggio challenges the idea that reinvention means throwing everything away and starting from scratch. Drawing from her own experiences navigating change, she explores how the skills, relationships, and experiences we’ve already built can become the foundation for what comes next—and why sometimes reinvention is less about becoming someone new and more about recognizing what you’re ready to do differently.

Listen to the Episode →

What $1 Million in Debt Taught Him About the Messy Middle | Brent Garrett

Brent Garrett knows firsthand that building a successful business rarely follows a straight line. After finding himself nearly $1 million in debt, he had to navigate what he calls the “messy middle”—the difficult stretch between where you are and where you’re trying to go. His story is a reminder that setbacks don’t necessarily mean you’re failing; sometimes they’re part of figuring out what has to change in order to move forward.

Listen to the Episode →

What Are You Not Seeing?

Sometimes the biggest shift doesn’t come from learning something new. It comes from seeing something familiar differently.

Across these conversations, that showed up in very different ways—from recognizing how our surroundings affect us and understanding our own vulnerabilities, to rethinking what it means to win, what makes us valuable in an AI-driven world, and what reinvention and resilience can actually look like.

The circumstances may be different, but there’s a common reminder in all of them: what we overlook can sometimes have just as much influence as what we see clearly.

Maybe the answer isn’t always to work harder, start over, or find something new.

Sometimes it begins by asking:

What am I not seeing yet?

Take It With You

What might I be overlooking because I’ve become so accustomed to the way things are?

Where am I assuming I need to start over when I may already have more to build on than I realize?

What could change if I looked at my current challenge from a different perspective??

A Simple Reset: The 3-Question Check-In

When we’re close to a problem, it can be difficult to see anything beyond what we’ve already tried. Before pushing harder or assuming you need a completely new plan, take a few minutes to ask yourself:

What’s working that I may be taking for granted?

What keeps creating friction that I’ve learned to tolerate?

What would I see differently if I stopped trying to solve this the same way?

You don’t necessarily need an immediate answer. Sometimes creating enough space to ask a different question is what allows a different answer to show up.

Stay Connected

The conversations don’t have to end when the episode does. Stay connected with Starter Girlz for new episodes, fresh insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and more from the people and ideas we’re bringing into the conversation.

Watch Starter Girlz on YouTube →

Explore the Latest Insights →

Visit StarterGirlz.com →

In this episode of Starter Girlz, Jennifer Loehding sits down with retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major TJ Baird, founder of Warrior Dad Stories. Drawing on 32 years of military leadership and a pivotal conversation with his daughter, TJ examines how anger, self-awareness, and our actions shape our businesses and relationships.

His “two warriors within” philosophy invites us to look at the person behind the position. They discuss why actions must match words, how presence builds trust, and why sharing the struggle behind success matters as much as sharing the outcome.

The conversation moves through TJ’s four principles for life and leadership, the human side of leading others, storytelling, and building a business through strategic planning, adaptation, and thoughtful use of AI.

What You’ll Take Away

• Why managing yourself affects how others experience your leadership.

• How matching your actions to your words helps build trust.

• Why presence matters when leading people through difficult situations.

• What the unfinished journey can teach us that a polished success story cannot.

• Why complex human problems sometimes require more than a logical solution.

• How strategic planning and AI can support the work of building a storytelling platform.

• Why your story can offer value before you feel completely ready to share it.

About TJ Baird

TJ Baird is an author, retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major, and founder of Warrior Dad Stories. Through books, poetry, videos, and speaking, he shares lessons from military service, fatherhood, and personal growth to help others learn from their own experiences.

Connect with TJ Baird

Website:

https://warriordadstories.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warriordadstories

Want to Be a Guest on Starter Girlz?

Have a story, perspective, or expertise that could help others grow, think differently, or move forward?

Apply to be a guest through PodMatch:
https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17044863446695017c1879d7b

Keep Watching

Looking for more conversations? Visit All Episodes above to explore previous Starter Girlz episodes and watch or listen on your preferred platform.

Subscribe here on Substack to get new Starter Girlz video episodes and updates as they’re released.

In this episode of Starter Girlz, Jennifer Loehding sits down with business owner and coach Brent Garrett. After facing $1 million in business debt, Brent had to change how he led his company. Now he helps skilled trades business owners recognize the patterns that keep them stuck and build businesses that can grow beyond them.

Brent describes the “messy middle” as the point where working harder is no longer enough to handle a growing business’s complexity. His experience taught him to pay attention to the financials, take responsibility for the culture, and become more intentional about the people and systems around him.

Their conversation explores the stages of entrepreneurship, sales, core values, delegation, emotional intelligence, and the shift from being the person who does everything to becoming an owner who can lead.

What You’ll Take Away

• How to recognize when your business has reached a ceiling of complexity.

• Why growth can create more work without creating more profit.

• What Brent learned from facing $1 million in business debt.

• Why owners need to stay engaged with their financials and company culture.

• How values and emotional intelligence shape leadership and sales.

• Why delegation is part of moving from operator to owner.

About Brent Garrett

Brent Garrett is a business owner, coach, and author of 30 Days to Be a Better Business. He is the founder of The Skilled Trades Coach and president of Serious Plumbing & Air Conditioning. He draws on his experience building a company and navigating significant debt to help skilled trades owners lead and grow their businesses.

Connect with Brent Garrett

Website: brentgarrett.com

Connect with Starter Girlz

Starter Girlz features conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, creators, and thought leaders about what they’ve built, what they’ve learned, and the ideas that can help others grow in business and life.

Visit StarterGirlz.com to explore more conversations and episodes.

Want to Be a Guest on Starter Girlz?

Have a story, perspective, or expertise that could help others grow, think differently, or move forward?

Apply to be a guest through PodMatch.

Keep Watching

Looking for more conversations? Visit All Episodes above to explore previous Starter Girlz episodes and watch or listen on your preferred platform.

Subscribe here on Substack to get new Starter Girlz video episodes and updates as they’re released.

In this episode of Starter Girlz, Jennifer Loehding sits down with top real estate professional, author, podcast host, and mindset coach Debbi DiMaggio to explore how resilience, action, and a willingness to embrace change can help us move confidently into what comes next.

After her children began leaving home, a friend asked Debbi a simple question: “What do you want to do?” That question launched a decade of reinvention—not by walking away from her successful real estate career, but by building upon it through writing, podcasting, coaching, marathon running, philanthropy, and preparing for her TEDx talk.

Jennifer and Debbi discuss why people struggle with change, how accountability helps turn intentions into action, the mindset behind Debbi’s marathon journey and Great World Race initiative, her support for Girls on the Run, and the grit, resilience, and tenacity that shape her approach to success.

What You’ll Take Away

• Why reinvention doesn’t require abandoning the life or career you’ve already built

• How to move forward when you don’t have every step figured out

• Why sharing your goals can create greater accountability

• How reframing a challenge can change the way you respond to it

• What marathon training taught Debbi about resilience, grit, and mental strength

• Why action and momentum matter more than waiting until you feel completely ready

• How our definition of success can evolve as we enter new seasons of life

About Debbi DiMaggio

Debbi DiMaggio is a top 1% real estate professional, six-time author, TEDx speaker, mindset coach, philanthropist, and host of the Mastering the Art of Success podcast. With more than 35 years in real estate, she has built her career around helping people navigate meaningful transitions and move confidently into their next chapter.

Her work extends beyond real estate through writing, speaking, coaching, and her Mindset in Motion philosophy, which encourages people to build confidence, clarity, and momentum through intentional action. She is also leading Debbi Runs the World, an initiative supporting Girls on the Run while inspiring others to identify, share, and pursue meaningful goals of their own.

Connect with Debbi DiMaggio

Website: https://debbidimaggio.com

Debbi Runs the World: https://debbirunstheworld.com

Referral Network: https://networkdebbi.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbidimaggio

Connect with Starter Girlz

Starter Girlz features conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, creators, and thought leaders about what they’ve built, what they’ve learned, and the ideas that can help others grow in business and life.

Visit https://StarterGirlz.com to explore more conversations and episodes.

Want to Be a Guest on Starter Girlz?

Have a story, perspective, or expertise that could help others grow, think differently, or move forward?

Apply to be a guest through PodMatch:

https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17044863446695017c1879d7b

Keep Watching

Looking for more conversations? Visit All Episodes above to explore previous Starter Girlz episodes and watch or listen on your preferred platform.

Subscribe here on Substack to get new Starter Girlz video episodes and updates as they’re released.

We are aware of the jobs we have had, of the responsibilities we have undertaken, and of how hard we have worked. Yet when it comes to putting all this experience on a resume, a great many of us end up summarising years of experience into a list of duties which could apply to almost anybody.

That was one of the biggest takeaways from my recent Starter Girlz conversation with Mae Schaefer and Debra Wheatman, co-founders of Craft Career Studio.

We talked about career transitions, AI’s growing role in the hiring process, and why the human story behind your experience matters more than ever.

I’m not a resume expert, but I do understand what it feels like to look at your own life and struggle to connect the dots. Sometimes it takes another set of eyes to help you recognize the value, skills, and experience you’ve stopped noticing because they’ve become so familiar.

Your Resume Is More Than a List of Responsibilities

Many resumes are built around job titles and responsibilities:

Managed a team.
Handled client accounts.
Oversaw marketing projects.

That may explain what you were assigned to do, but it doesn’t tell anyone what happened because you were there.

What did you improve? What problem did you solve? What did you build, change, or move forward?

There is a significant difference between saying you managed marketing projects and explaining that you led a campaign that increased lead generation. One describes a responsibility. The other demonstrates an outcome.

That is the story employers need to see.

A strong resume shouldn’t only document where you’ve been. It should help someone understand where you can go next.

Aspiration and Outcome

One idea Debra shared was that a resume needs to communicate both aspiration and outcome.

Aspiration is where you want to go.

Outcome is the evidence that shows you can get there.

That stood out to me because so often you see resumes written entirely from the past. Job seekers list everything they’ve done but never clearly connect it to what they want to do next.

It leaves the hiring manager trying to figure out how all the pieces fit together.

Your experience matters, but how you position it matters too. The goal is to create a clear line between what you’ve already accomplished and the opportunity you’re pursuing now.

You May Be Underselling Yourself

We also talked about how easily people can minimize their qualifications. Anyone can undervalue their skills or experience, but this can be especially true for women.

A woman may look at eight job requirements, meet seven, and decide she shouldn’t apply. She may dismiss relevant experience because it didn’t happen in the exact same position or industry.

But transferable skills are still real skills.

Leadership doesn’t stop being leadership because it happened in a different environment. Problem-solving, communication, relationship-building, strategy, and the ability to deliver results don’t disappear just because you’re moving into something new.

This doesn’t mean exaggerating your experience or claiming something that isn’t true. It means not making yourself smaller on paper.

Your resume is a marketing document. If you don’t clearly communicate what you’ve contributed, the reader may never see it.

AI Can Help—But It Shouldn’t Replace You

AI is becoming part of nearly every stage of the hiring process. Employers use automated systems to sort applications, scan for keywords, and sometimes reject candidates before a human ever sees their information.

Job seekers are also using AI to write resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles. For example, you can use an AI tool to quickly generate a first draft or brainstorm keywords that match your target role. This can help you get started when you’re feeling stuck or need inspiration.

There is nothing wrong with using technology to help organize your thoughts or improve your structure. The problem comes when the finished product no longer sounds like you.

AI-generated language can be polished while still feeling empty. It can produce the same vague words and phrases for thousands of people, making everyone sound remarkably similar.

That creates a real risk: the more we rely on AI to speak for us, the easier it becomes to lose what distinguishes us.

Your experience has context. It has challenges, decisions, lessons, and results. Those details are what make your professional story yours.

Before using something AI has written, ask yourself:

• Is it accurate?

• Does it sound like me?

• Is it specific to my experience?

• Could this same sentence appear on anyone else’s resume?

If it could describe almost anyone, it probably isn’t communicating enough about you.

Sometimes You Need Another Set of Eyes

This may have been the most important part of the conversation for me.

We can become so attached to how we think something should be presented that we stop seeing other possibilities. We repeat the same language, focus on the same details, and continue approaching the problem from the same angle.

Sometimes we’re too close to see what’s missing.

Another person may recognize a pattern in your career that you’ve never noticed. They may see value in an experience you dismissed or identify a strength that feels ordinary to you because you’ve been using it for years. Consider reaching out to a trusted colleague, mentor, or career coach for feedback on your resume. Their perspective can often reveal insights or opportunities you might overlook on your own.

That doesn’t only apply to resumes. It applies to business, relationships, leadership, and almost every transition we navigate.

Sometimes progress requires more information. Other times, it requires a fresh perspective.

Rejection Is Not a Final Verdict

Job searching can be discouraging, especially when applications are repeatedly rejected without any meaningful explanation.

But rejection doesn’t always tell you what you think it does.

A hiring decision can be influenced by timing, competition, an internal candidate, organizational changes, specific experience, or someone’s perception of fit. It doesn’t automatically mean you were incapable of doing the job.

You may need to refine your resume. You may need to clarify your direction or communicate your results more effectively. But you don’t need to allow every rejection to become a judgment about your value.

Treat rejection as information—not identity.

Show Them Where You’re Going

If you’re updating your resume or LinkedIn profile, start with these questions:

1. What kind of role do I want next?

2. What have I already done that shows I can succeed there?

3. What changed because of my contribution?

4. Does the way I’m describing myself actually sound like me?

Don’t simply list your past. Show how your experience connects to your future.

And if you’re struggling to see that connection, it may not be because it isn’t there. You may simply be too close to see it clearly.

To hear my full conversation with Mae Schaefer and Debra Wheatman of Craft Career Studio:

Watch on YouTube
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Spotify

Editor’s note: This article was developed from my Starter Girlz conversation with Mae Schaefer and Debra Wheatman and prepared with AI-assisted drafting and editorial review.

AI job search tools can be helpful, but relying on them alone can make your resume sound like everyone else’s. Human experts can help uncover the experiences, accomplishments, and unique value that automated hiring systems and generic AI-generated language often miss.

Jennifer Loehding sits down with Mae Schaefer and Deborah Wheatman, co-founders of Craft Career Studio, to discuss how hiring automation is changing the job search and why an effective career strategy requires more than keywords. They explain how to communicate your value, own your accomplishments, and build a personal brand that connects with the people making hiring decisions.

You’ll also hear why resume writing should focus on outcomes rather than responsibilities, how authentic storytelling can strengthen your resume and LinkedIn profile, and how to navigate job search rejection in a competitive market.

What You’ll Take Away

• Why your humanity matters in an increasingly AI-driven job market

• How authentic storytelling can help your resume stand out

• Why career materials should emphasize outcomes instead of responsibilities

• How to communicate your accomplishments and unique value more confidently

• Why effective personal branding requires more than keywords

• How human expertise can uncover what automated tools often miss

About Mae Schaefer & Deborah Wheatman

Mae Schaefer and Deborah Wheatman are the co-founders of Craft Career Studio, where they combine their backgrounds in marketing, research, career strategy, and professional writing to help people navigate career transitions. Through a personalized, high-touch approach, they help professionals clarify their value, strengthen their personal brands, and tell career stories that connect with real people.

Connect with Mae Schaefer & Deborah Wheatman

Website: https://craftcareerstudio.com

Connect with Starter Girlz

Starter Girlz features conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, creators, and thought leaders about what they’ve built, what they’ve learned, and the ideas that can help others grow in business and life.

Visit https://startergirlz.com to explore more conversations and episodes.

Want to Be a Guest on Starter Girlz?

Have a story, perspective, or expertise that could help others grow, think differently, or move forward?

Apply to be a guest through PodMatch:

https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17044863446695017c1879d7b

Stay Connected with Starter Girlz

Looking for more conversations? Visit All Episodes above to explore previous Starter Girlz episodes and watch or listen on your preferred platform.

Subscribe here on Substack to get new Starter Girlz video episodes and updates as they’re released.

August was a month of evolution for Starter Girlz.

Behind the scenes, we’ve been making some changes—including bringing the Empowerment Digest here to Substack and creating a new home for the ideas, conversations, and insights that extend beyond the podcast.

But while the platform may be changing, the heart of the Digest isn’t. It’s still a chance to look back at the conversations that stayed with us, pull out the ideas worth carrying forward, and make a little space for reflection along the way.

In this edition, we’re looking back at July’s conversations with Danielle Adams Johnson, Becca Eve Young, Tiffanie Janowicz, and Daniel Linares—four very different conversations with plenty to take away from each.

As we head into September, I’m excited about where Starter Girlz is going—and even more excited to have you along for it.

— Jennifer

Podcast Recap

She Didn’t Heal by Talking. She Healed by Moving | Danielle Adams Johnson

Danielle Adams Johnson’s story shows us that healing doesn’t always happen the way we expect it to. Through movement, creativity, and eventually serving others, Danielle found ways to move through painful experiences and transform them into purpose—showing that our past may shape us, but it doesn’t have to define where we go next.

Listen to the Episode →

She Followed the Script for Success—Then She Found Her Own | Becca Eve Young

Becca Eve Young spent years following the version of success she thought she was supposed to pursue—until she realized it wasn’t necessarily the one she wanted. Her story is a reminder that sometimes growth means questioning the path you’re on, trusting yourself enough to change direction, and defining success on your own terms.

Listen to the Episode →

The Moment She Stopped Being Fine and Started Living | Tiffanie Janowitz

Tiffanie Janowitz reached a point where simply appearing “fine” was no longer enough. Her story explores what can happen when we stop pushing through, start paying attention to what we actually need, and give ourselves permission to build a life that feels as good on the inside as it may look on the outside.

Listen to the Episode →

When Crisis Becomes Your Biggest Opportunity | Daniel Linares

When the pandemic brought Daniel Linares’s live-events business to a standstill, he had to decide whether to wait for circumstances to change or find a new way forward. Daniel’s experience shows what can happen when we stop waiting for perfect, take imperfect action, and recognize that a crisis can sometimes become the catalyst for our next level.

Listen to the Episode →

When the Old Way Stops Working

Growth doesn’t always begin with a big opportunity. Sometimes it begins when something that once worked for us simply doesn’t anymore.

Across this month’s conversations, that showed up in very different ways—through healing, redefining success, choosing to stop pretending everything is fine, and finding opportunity in the middle of crisis.

The circumstances were different, but the underlying lesson was remarkably similar: the moment something stops working can also be the moment something new becomes possible.

The challenge is recognizing it. We can spend a lot of energy trying to get back to what was, when the better question might be:

What is this asking me to do differently now?

Take It With You

What am I holding onto simply because it used to work?

Where might I be trying to return to an old version of success instead of creating a new one?

What could become possible if I stopped asking, “How do I fix this?” and started asking, “What is this asking me to change?

Starter Girlz Is Heading to the W Dallas

Starter Girlz is excited to be a media partner for What She Said at the W Dallas on Friday, September 18, an evening of intimate conversations, fashion, pop-ups, and community connection.

I’ll be sitting down for a series of conversations with event sponsors, bringing you more of the stories, ideas, and people behind the brands helping bring the event to life.

Want a peek inside the Modern Day Wife experience?

It’s another opportunity to take Starter Girlz beyond the studio—and I’m excited to see where these conversations lead.

Learn More About What She Said →

Stay Connected

The conversations don’t have to end when the episode does. Stay connected with Starter Girlz for new episodes, fresh insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and more from the people and ideas we’re bringing into the conversation.

Watch Starter Girlz on YouTube →

Explore the Latest Insights →

Visit StarterGirlz.com →

For founders, entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders, achievement can easily become part of your identity. But what happens when reaching the next goal no longer delivers the fulfillment you expected—or when the trophy disappears?

In this episode of Starter Girlz, Jennifer Loehding sits down with former professional tennis player, Big Law partner, Active Giving co-founder, author, and executive coach Dr. Angela Kerek to explore how high achievers can redefine what it truly means to win.

After leaving Eastern Europe at 16 with one bag, Angela built a life around ambitious goals—from competing professionally in tennis to advising on billion-euro legal transactions. Yet each achievement brought happiness only briefly before she found herself pursuing the next one. Angela shares how she stepped away from that cycle and began building a version of success that wasn’t dependent on titles, rankings, or external validation.

Their conversation explores identity transitions, the difference between winning outside and winning inside, the hidden cost of constant execution, and why high performers need something within themselves that can hold them steady—even when the trophy is no longer there.

What You’ll Take Away

• Why achieving an important goal doesn’t always create lasting fulfillment

• How identities built around performance can make transitions more difficult

• What “winning inside” means when a title, prize, or trophy disappears

• Why high performers need an internal foundation that can hold them steady

• How redefining your personal measures of success can create a more sustainable way forward

• Why replacing an endless to-do list with a weekly “win list” can change how you recognize progress

About Dr. Angela Kerek

Dr. Angela Kerek is a former professional tennis player and Big Law partner, co-founder of Active Giving, author of Winning Inside, and an executive coach. Drawing from her experience on the tennis court and in the boardroom, she helps executives, leaders, consultants, and other high performers navigate career transitions, strengthen their mindset, and define success on their own terms.

Connect with Dr. Angela Kerek

Website: angelakerek.com

Connect with Starter Girlz

Starter Girlz features conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, creators, and thought leaders about what they’ve built, what they’ve learned, and the ideas that can help others grow in business and life.

Visit StarterGirlz.com to explore more conversations and episodes.

Want to Be a Guest on Starter Girlz?

Have a story, perspective, or expertise that could help others grow, think differently, or move forward?

Apply to be a guest through PodMatch:

podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17044863446695017c1879d7b

Stay Connected with Starter Girlz

Looking for more conversations? Visit All Episodes above to explore previous Starter Girlz episodes and watch or listen on your preferred platform.

Subscribe here on Substack to get new Starter Girlz video episodes and updates as they’re released.

In this episode of Starter Girlz, Jennifer Loehding sits down with structural engineer, entrepreneur, and speaker Jasper Calcara to explore what nearly three decades of building businesses, leading teams, and solving structural problems taught him about personal growth, self-worth, resilience, and the pressure to be the one who carries everything.

Jasper shares how his “Superman complex” helped fuel his ambition and professional success while also masking anxiety, perfectionism, control, and struggles with self-worth. He explains how learning to recognize those internal cracks changed the way he approached his personal life—and why the same drive that helps us achieve can eventually cost us if we don’t understand what’s underneath it.

The conversation explores Jasper’s Be Good, Do Good, Evolve framework, emotional healing, self-awareness, getting unstuck, asking for help, managing anxiety, resilience, and redefining success. Using lessons from structural engineering and bridges, Jasper explains how becoming more flexible and addressing our weak spots can help us withstand the inevitable “earthquakes” of life without collapsing.

WHAT YOU’LL TAKE AWAY

• Why the traits that drive achievement can sometimes mask deeper struggles

• How the pressure to be the strong one can affect your personal life and relationships

• Why self-worth can show up through perfectionism, control, stubbornness, and overachievement

• How the Be Good, Do Good, Evolve framework connects personal growth, action, and adaptability

• Why understanding the healthy and unhealthy drivers behind success matters

• How space and intentional discomfort can help you evolve when you feel stuck

• Why sharing what you’ve been carrying can begin to lessen its weight

• How processing mistakes, learning from them, and moving forward builds resilience

• What structural engineering and bridges can teach us about handling pressure and building a stronger life

• Why fulfillment and purpose can change the way we define success

ABOUT JASPER CALCARA

Jasper Calcara is a structural engineer, entrepreneur, speaker, and creator of the Be Good, Do Good, Evolve framework.

After years of building a successful business and leading teams, Jasper began recognizing a disconnect between the way he addressed weaknesses in his professional life and the internal cracks he had been carrying personally. Anxiety, perfectionism, control, and struggles with self-worth had helped fuel his drive while also creating patterns he eventually had to confront.

Today, Jasper brings an engineering perspective to personal growth, using lessons from structures, bridges, adaptability, and resilience to help people better understand what they’re carrying, strengthen the areas that need attention, and build lives with greater stability, fulfillment, and purpose.

CONNECT WITH JASPER CALCARA

Website: jaspercalcara.com

WANT TO BE A GUEST ON STARTER GIRLZ?

Have a story, perspective, or expertise that could help others grow, think differently, or move forward?

Apply to be a guest through PodMatch:
podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17044863446695017c1879d7b

STAY CONNECTED WITH STARTER GIRLZ

Looking for more conversations? Visit All Episodes above to explore previous Starter Girlz episodes and watch or listen on your preferred platform.

Subscribe here on Substack to get new Starter Girlz video episodes and updates as they’re released.

In this episode of Starter Girlz, Jennifer Loehding sits down with cybersecurity expert Robert Siciliano to explore what more than 30 years of studying risk, deception, and human behavior has taught him about why we’re easier to manipulate than we think—and how becoming more aware can make us harder targets.

Robert explains what he calls the Human Blind Spot, how scammers manufacture urgency to bypass better judgment, and why even intelligent, security-conscious people can get caught in the moment.

The conversation moves from human behavior and decision-making into cybersecurity awareness, online scams, identity protection, password security, two-factor authentication, credit freezes, and fraud prevention.

WHAT YOU’LL TAKE AWAY

• Why distraction and urgency make us more vulnerable to manipulation

• How the Human Blind Spot affects judgment and decision-making

• Why intelligence alone doesn’t protect us from deception

• How scammers use human behavior and social engineering to create opportunities

• Practical ways to strengthen your online security and protect your identity

• Why awareness is one of your strongest defenses against fraud

ABOUT ROBERT SICILIANO

Robert Siciliano is a cybersecurity expert, bestselling author, and founder of Protect Now. With more than 30 years of experience studying risk, fraud, identity theft, and human behavior, his work focuses on helping people and organizations recognize vulnerabilities and become harder targets.

CONNECT WITH ROBERT SICILIANO

Website: protectnowllc.com

Book: Identity Security, Identity Protection and Fraud Prevention — available on Amazon by searching Robert Siciliano.

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In this episode of Starter Girlz, Jennifer Loehding sits down with interior designer Loren Ng, founder and principal designer of Loren Ng Designs, to explore how psychology-led design considers both the conscious and subconscious needs of the people using a space—and why good design starts with understanding the person, not just the room.

Loren takes a holistic approach to design, looking at how people actually experience their environments and identifying needs they may not even know how to articulate.

The conversation explores visual clutter, the small everyday frustrations Loren calls “quiet friction,” nervous system regulation, functionality, and how thoughtful design can create spaces that better support the way we live, work, and feel.

What You’ll Take Away

• How visual clutter can affect the way we feel and function

• What “quiet friction” is—and why seemingly small frustrations in our environment matter

• The connection between interior design and nervous system regulation

• Why understanding how someone actually lives matters more than simply creating a beautiful room

• How conscious and subconscious needs shape what makes a space feel comfortable

• Why thoughtful design balances beauty, functionality, and everyday life

About Loren Ng

Loren Ng is the founder and principal designer of Loren Ng Designs. Her holistic approach goes beyond aesthetics to understand how people interact with and experience the spaces around them.

Through her design process, Loren works to uncover conscious and subconscious needs, identify pain points and “quiet friction,” and create environments that support the way people actually live. Her work extends beyond residential design into commercial spaces, where she also considers how an environment shapes the customer experience and supports a business’s brand.

Connect with Loren Ng

Instagram: @loren_ng_designs
Website: lorenngdesigns.com

Connect with Starter Girlz

Starter Girlz features conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, creators, and thought leaders about what they’ve built, what they’ve learned, and the ideas that can help others grow in business and life.

Visit StarterGirlz.com to explore more conversations and episodes.

Want to Be a Guest on Starter Girlz?

Have a story, perspective, or expertise that could help others grow, think differently, or move forward?

Apply to be a guest through PodMatch:
podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17044863446695017c1879d7b

Stay Connected with Starter Girlz

Looking for more conversations? Visit All Episodes above to explore previous Starter Girlz episodes and watch or listen on your preferred platform.

Subscribe here on Substack to get new Starter Girlz video episodes and updates as they’re released.

Starter Girlz is about conversations that help us think differently, grow intentionally, and become better—in business, in life, and in the way we show up in the world.

New video episodes of Starter Girlz will be shared here on Substack.

Looking for earlier episodes? Visit All Episodes above to explore the full Starter Girlz catalog and watch or listen on your preferred platform.

Subscribe to stay connected and get new episodes as they’re released.

— Jennifer Loehding
Founder & Host, Starter Girlz