Way Out #8: From High-Tech Success to Micro-School Magic: How Lauren Tarpley Found Her "Ikigai"
After a 20-year career in tech strategy and customer success, a breast cancer diagnosis at 34, and 11 surgeries, Lauren Tarpley reached a moment of clarity. When corporate culture revealed itself in the wake of her medical leave, she chose not to double down — she chose to redesign. Today, she’s building a micro-nature school on six acres of raw land, running The Farmacy CHS, and living what she calls 97% her dream. Lauren’s Way Out isn’t about escape. It’s about reclamation.
Way Out #7: From Emmy-Winning Producer to Entrepreneur and Puppeteer with Lisa Weiss
She spent years at the pinnacle of television as an Emmy-winning producer for Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday. But when a layoff coincided with a high-risk pregnancy, Lisa Weiss was forced to reimagine her identity without the safety net of a "dream job." In this episode, Lisa reveals how she escaped the trap of the "unlived life," why she turned down venture capital advice to follow her gut, and how a 7-minute puppet show about mansplaining unlocked more business confidence than any boardroom meeting.
Way Out #3: From a 6,000 Sq Ft House to Worldschooling in Spain with Jane Hermstedt
After climbing the corporate ladder and buying the dream home, Jane realized she was spending her weekends managing a house instead of living a life. Tired of the guilt she felt sneaking out of the office at 5 PM just to see her son, Jane shares in this adventurous yet deeply practical conversation how she combined a concrete vision with math to trade the American Dream for a life of travel.