The In-Between Podcast with Kassidy Lynne Social

If you've ever felt like you're carrying the weight of your business, your family, and your future all at the same time, this conversation is for you.
This week, I'm sitting down with Ashley Mastowski, founder of First Choice Insurance Group, entrepreneur, leader, mom, and someone who knows a thing or two about navigating life's longest seasons of waiting.
Ashley has spent nearly two decades in the insurance industry, building a business rooted in education, trust, and protecting families. But her story goes far beyond entrepreneurship. After eight years of infertility, five rounds of IVF, a heartbreaking miscarriage, and countless moments of uncertainty, Ashley and her husband welcomed miracle twins into their family.
In this conversation, we talk about building a business from the ground up, leading with trust, finding community during difficult seasons, and what it really looks like to keep moving forward when life doesn't go according to plan.
 
What You'll Hear:
The leap from employee to business owner and what seven years of entrepreneurship has taught her
Why collaboration beats competition and how community has shaped her success
The leadership philosophy that's helped her build a loyal, empowered team
How to trust your instincts when making big business and hiring decisions
The reality of building a company while navigating major personal challenges
Ashley's eight-year infertility journey, including five rounds of IVF and a miscarriage
The emotional moment she learned her final two embryos had become twins
Navigating motherhood, entrepreneurship, and leadership all at the same time
Why creating a business that supports your life—not the other way around—matters so much
The power of vulnerability and sharing your story, even when it's difficult
Why high-achieving women struggle to slow down and what Ashley is learning about taking care of herself
How community, masterminds, and mentorship can help you through every stage of growth
 
Connect with Ashley: Website: https://yourfirstchoice.agency/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstchoiceinsgroup/

What do you do when the life you're living no longer feels aligned, but the next chapter hasn't revealed itself yet?
Meka Livingston is the host of Talk Her To Me, a podcast dedicated to the conversations women are already having in their heads but rarely say out loud. Through honest reflections on self-trust, intuition, identity shifts, and personal growth, Meka helps women find language for what they're experiencing and permission to trust themselves through it.
In this episode, Meka introduces the powerful concept of the "hallway season" — that uncomfortable space between who you've been and who you're becoming. Together, we explore why so many women struggle to trust their own instincts, how to reconnect with your inner voice in a world full of noise, and why growth often requires choosing the inconvenient path.
This conversation feels like sitting down with a wise friend who reminds you that you're not lost — you're simply in transition.
 
What You'll Hear:
The story behind Meka's podcast and why her daughters inspired her to start having these conversations out loud
What a "hallway season" really is and why almost every major life transition begins there
Why so many women have stopped trusting themselves and how to reconnect with your intuition
The simple practice Meka uses to separate fear, overthinking, and truth
How to recognize when you've outgrown a relationship, career, mindset, or version of yourself
Why personal growth often feels uncomfortable, inconvenient, and deeply uncertain
The difference between listening to outside opinions and listening to your own discernment
How healing your younger self creates space for your future self to emerge
Why self-trust isn't built in one big moment, but through small choices every day
The reminder every woman needs when she's standing in the hallway, unsure of what comes next
 
Connect with Meka: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_talkhertomeka/?hl=enPodcast: https://www.youtube.com/@talkhertomeka

What happens when someone tells you you'll never make it in the career you've dreamed about your entire life?
Emily Climer knew she wanted to be a hairstylist at just 10 years old. But only months into her career, a salon owner told her she'd never color hair again. Most people would have walked away. Instead, Emily turned that moment into fuel, building a thriving salon, leading a team of more than 80 employees throughout her career, and becoming an educator dedicated to helping others succeed.
But this conversation goes far beyond hair. It's about resilience, leadership, grief, entrepreneurship, and learning how to navigate life's highest highs and lowest lows at the exact same time.
 
What You'll Hear:
• The moment a salon owner told Emily she'd never color hair again—and how it changed the trajectory of her career• Why mistakes became one of the core values inside her salon culture• The role mentors, coaches, and community have played in Emily's growth• How she handled losing key employees the day before her wedding• Navigating grief, motherhood, business ownership, and a salon relocation all at the same time• The mindset practices that keep her grounded through uncertainty and challenges• Why tomorrow can always be a fresh start, no matter what happened today
 
Connect with Emily: Website: https://aperfecthue.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyclimer/Salon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aperfecthue/
 
Let's Connect:https://www.instagram.com/kassidylynnesocial

What if success isn't about working harder, but learning how to stop doing it all alone?
Cathey Kuo is a commercial real estate broker, investor, entrepreneur, and community builder on a mission to help more women create wealth and financial freedom. After decades of operating in hustle mode, building businesses, and chasing success, she hit a point that forced her to rethink everything.
In this conversation, Cathey shares the lessons that transformed her life—from overcoming scarcity mindset and hyper-independence to embracing community, alignment, and sustainable success. We talk about wealth, entrepreneurship, personal growth, and why the biggest breakthroughs often happen when you finally ask for help.
If you've ever felt like you're carrying everything on your own, this episode is for you.
What You'll Hear:• The hidden downside of hyper-independence• The mindset shifts that changed her business and life• How community can accelerate growth and open unexpected doors• The role mentorship has played in her success• Simple habits that help her stay grounded and focused• What it really takes to build something that lasts• Why "action breeds confidence" is the advice everyone needs
 
Connect with Cathey:Website: https://beacons.ai/catheykuoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/catheykuo/
 
Let's Connect:https://www.instagram.com/kassidylynnesocial

What if the worst moment of your life was actually preparing you for your purpose?
Alexis Meruelo is an author, speaker, founder of the Business of Her conference, and Chief Vision and Purpose Officer of the Meruelo Group, overseeing corporate social responsibility across companies, including SAHARA Las Vegas and the Grand Sierra Resort. But her path to power didn't come from playing it safe. It came from a devastating breakup that forced her to redefine what success actually meant.
In this conversation, Alexis shares her three-phase framework from her new book Getting You Ready for Power: believe in yourself, build your team, and rise to lead. We talk about why self-worth is the foundation of authentic leadership, how to find mentors who actually support your growth (and avoid the ones who don't), and why the in-between moments are where we discover who we're meant to become.
If you're navigating a transition, questioning your worth, or wondering how to step into something bigger, this conversation is your permission slip.
 
What You'll Hear:
The breakup that became Alexis's wake-up call and forced her to sit with herself
Why hiring a career coach was the best investment she ever made
The three-phase framework for stepping into power
Why women who skip the self-worth work will never lead authentically
What self-worth actually means and why it has nothing to do with your achievements
How to separate your identity from your accomplishments (especially if you're a high achiever)
 
Connect with Alexis:Website: https://alexismeruelo.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexismeruelo/
 
Let's Connect:https://www.instagram.com/kassidylynnesocial

What if the reason your business isn't getting leads has nothing to do with your offer, and everything to do with your website?
Victoria Marcouillier is the founder of Brand Well Designs, an all-female branding and web design agency that's built a reputation for creating websites that don't just look beautiful, they convert. She's worked with six and seven-figure entrepreneurs, and she's built her entire business while raising three kids, proving that you can have both a thriving career and be present in motherhood.
But here's what makes Victoria different: she'll tell you the hard truth that being liked on social media is not the same as being chosen by paying clients. And that your pretty website is doing nothing for you if it's not strategically positioned to answer the questions your ideal client is asking in the first 2 seconds.
This episode is about so much more than web design. It's about brand positioning, knowing your differentiators, building capacity in the in-between, and why entrepreneurship is really just a test of your tolerance.
What You'll Hear:
The moment Victoria realized being an all-female team was actually her biggest differentiator (and how a client's question changed her positioning forever)
The difference between being liked and being chosen, and why vanity metrics don't pay your bills
What your brain decides in 2 seconds when someone lands on your website (and why most entrepreneurs are losing people before they ever scroll)
The 3-part ecosystem every service-based business needs
How Brand Well's Prep Well process changed everything, and why strategy has to come before design
Why you need to stop trying to speak to everyone and start speaking to the 90%
Why 2026 Victoria can handle challenges that would've broken 2023 Victoria
How entrepreneurship became more about personal and spiritual development than business growth
Why the ones who can tolerate the most will go the furthest
Connect with Victoria: Website: https://www.brandwelldesigns.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandwelldesigns
 
Let's Connect:https://www.instagram.com/kassidylynnesocial

If you've ever felt frustrated by the healthcare system, waiting weeks for an appointment, spending 5 rushed minutes with your doctor, or fighting with insurance companies, this conversation is for you.
This week, I'm sitting down with Dr. Jade Norris, a board-certified family medicine physician and founder of NSPIRE Primary Care here in Las Vegas. Dr. Jade is changing the game when it comes to primary care, and honestly? She's sold me on a completely different way to think about healthcare.
Dr. Jade knew at four years old that she wanted to be a doctor. Even when her preschool teacher told her to "think about something else," she kept going. And now, she's not just practicing medicine, she's building a healthcare home for her community, proving that quality care doesn't have to mean conveyor-belt appointments and copay collections.
 
What You'll Hear:
 
What it really means to create a "healthcare home" vs. a transactional medical experience
How Dr. Jade pushed through imposter syndrome in medical school as one of few Black students in a predominantly white, rural program
Why your doctor should embody the healthy lifestyle they're recommending (and how Dr. Jade prioritizes fitness even with a packed schedule)
How the membership model works: Think gym membership, but for primary care
Real talk on navigating healthcare costs, HSAs, health shares, and finding what actually works for YOUR situation
Dr. Jade's approach to managing chronic conditions like asthma without the runaround
The importance of curiosity: Why you should question your healthcare experience instead of just accepting what you're given
 
Connect with Dr. Jade:
Website: https://nspireprimarycare.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjademd/?hl=en
 
Let's Connect:https://www.instagram.com/kassidylynnesocial

What does it take to go from daily drinking and cocaine use to building a thriving business that helps thousands of people rewrite their relationship with food? Shenelle Coplien knows because she's lived it.
Shenelle is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict who got sober in December 2020, underwent gastric sleeve surgery in 2022, and built The Bariatric Rewrite, a program that teaches people how to stop blaming everyone else and start taking radical responsibility for their lives. This isn't about diets, quick fixes, or sugar-coating the hard stuff. It's about doing the real work of healing from the inside out.
If you're tired of making excuses, ready to stop playing the victim, and prepared to hear some hard truths about what it actually takes to change your life, this conversation is for you.
What You'll Hear:
The day Shenelle decided she was done drinking
The six-month journey to gastric sleeve surgery and the post-op discovery that changed everything
The overlapping patterns between alcohol addiction, cocaine use, and food addiction
Getting scammed out of $20,000 by someone in her recovery community, and how betrayal became her biggest catalyst
Why 60% of bariatric patients regain their weight, and what traditional post-op care is missing
How to stop blaming your husband, kids, job, and past for your choices
Building a business organically on social media
The truth about GLP-1 medications, lifetime costs, and what nobody tells you about diet
Why the first 6-12 months post-surgery are your blank slate and how to protect it
Connect with Shenelle:Website: https://bariatricrewrite.com/home
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebariatricrewrite/
 
Let's Connect:https://www.instagram.com/kassidylynnesocial

Why are so many social media managers overworked, underpaid, and stuck in the client grind while others are building scalable, profitable businesses? Sam Schmidt breaks it down because she’s seen both sides.
After starting her career as a teacher, Sam transitioned into social media management, built a successful agency, and went on to mentor hundreds of social media managers on how to grow beyond just “doing the work” and start running real businesses.
This episode challenges the industry norms from underpricing and overdelivering to the pressure of doing everything, and replaces them with a smarter, more sustainable way to grow.
If you’re ready to stop guessing, start charging appropriately, and build a business that actually supports your life, this conversation will shift how you see everything.
What You’ll Hear:
Sam’s transition from teaching to social media entrepreneurship
 Why most social media managers are undercharging (and how to fix it)
The truth about the “$500 social media manager” and why it’s hurting the industry
Why social media management should be treated as a premium service
The difference between social media management vs. support (and when to offer each)
How to confidently talk about pricing without second-guessing yoursel
The biggest reason social media managers burn out
How to balance client work with actually growing your business
The role of specialization (and why it matters more than niching)
What separates the social media managers who succeed from the ones who quit
How to build a personal brand that attracts better clients
Simple, actionable shifts to improve your social media strategy today
Connect with Sam: Website: https://www.samschmidtsocial.com/home
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samschmidtsocial/?hl=en
 
Let's Connect:https://www.instagram.com/kassidylynnesocial

What does it actually take to walk away from everything you’ve built and start over? Caroline Ciocca has done it more than once.
She’s the former CEO of Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada turned executive leadership coach, and in this conversation, she shares what it really looks like to navigate life’s in-between seasons from major career pivots to selling everything she owned and moving across the country.
This episode isn’t just about change. It’s about courage, identity, and giving yourself permission to evolve even when it doesn’t make sense to anyone else.
If you’ve been feeling stuck, questioning your next move, or wondering if it’s too late to start over, this is the conversation you need.
What You'll Hear:
The power of building your own personal "board of directors" and who should be on it
How Caroline went from a 28-year-old executive director to CEO of Make-A-Wish and what she learned about leadership along the way
The truth about the nonprofit sector: why we need more minds and less heart
Kassidy's personal story about her brother's Make-A-Wish trip before he passed from leukemia
Why Caroline sold her house, reduced her life to six boxes, and gave herself a year to explore
How to know when it's time to change your mind (and why that's not a lack of integrity)
Building space into your day and protecting slow mornings with a "kung fu grip"
Trusting your intuition and recognizing the "winks from the universe"
Why there's no wrong decision and how to give yourself permission to try
Connect with Caroline: Website: https://www.carolineciocca.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolineciocca
Let's Connect:https://www.instagram.com/kassidylynnesocial