What if rejecting the top job was your power move?

Vicky Brown never planned to be an entrepreneur—and definitely never wanted to be “the CEO.” But when a former boss nudged her into consulting (read: tricked her lovingly), she found herself building Idomeneo Enterprises, an HR firm that’s now almost 25 years strong. Oh—and did we mention she’s a former opera singer?

In this conversation, Vicky opens up about leaving corporate, leading from the shadows, and why some of the best leaders aren’t hunting for the spotlight. She shares how she grew from solopreneur to business owner, built a legacy of leadership, and turned her insider HR knowledge into a movement of radically clear, radically human support for founders.

You’ll hear stories about:

1. The moment that changed everything (spoiler: she got fired into her purpose)
2. Why not everyone should—or wants to—be “number one”
3. The humanity missing from traditional HR (and how Vicky brings it back)
4. Her journey from soprano to CEO (and the aria that sparked her company’s name)
5. How she helps leaders develop emotional fluency and self-trust

And you’ll walk away with:

1. Why leadership isn’t a title—it’s a relationship
2. How to manage people without losing your mind (or your power)
3. The surprising secret to coaching both superstars and strugglers
4. How to build systems that run without you (so you can breathe again)
5. What makes a workplace magnetic, not just compliant

Every founder was an accidental beginner once. Vicky’s story is permission to crave clarity over chaos—and sing at full strength.

Send this to your favorite business buddy who needs an HR hug in disguise—and subscribe if you haven’t yet. Real talk, on repeat.

Most lawyers keep the personal out of the professional. But for Alreen Haeggquist, sharing her own story was the most powerful thing she could do—not just for herself, but for the clients she fights for every single day.

As a successful employment attorney representing survivors of sexual harassment, assault, and gender discrimination, Alreen spent years advocating for justice from within the courtroom. But quietly, she was carrying a truth she hadn’t spoken aloud: she was a survivor, too. And for a long time, she believed that to be successful—a lawyer, a leader, a founder—meant hiding the most difficult parts of herself.

Until something shifted.

It started with her clients. With every brave woman who stepped into her office, terrified but ready to speak out. And as Alreen guided them from silence to strength, something inside her changed too. “I saw how powerful it was for my clients to share their stories. If I’m really going to do this work, I have to do it too.”

That decision led her to write her bestselling book, Fired Up: Fueling Triumph from Trauma, and to speak publicly about her own experience of childhood sexual abuse—even when it meant confronting deep fear, family dynamics, and the shame she’d carried for years. Today, she leads a team of 20 legal advocates at her San Diego law firm, coaches survivors on reclaiming their power, and reminds women everywhere: you deserved better. And you are not alone.

In this episode of Fearless and Flawed, we dive deep into Alreen’s journey from secrecy to strength. You’ll hear how she turned her pain into purpose, how she balances fierce advocacy with deep empathy, and why building trust is the first—and bravest—step toward reclaiming your story. This conversation isn’t about trauma alone—it’s about rising from it. It’s about building bold, joy-filled lives, even after the unthinkable.

Inside, you’ll hear:

• How sharing her story helped Alreen finally feel “good in her own skin”
• What justice actually looks like beyond the courtroom
• The three predictable (and infuriating) tactics abusers use to protect power
• How to advocate for yourself—even when you’re scared
• The behind-the-scenes of running a mission-driven law firm with heart
• Why surrounding yourself with the right people changes everything

Whether you’re healing, speaking up, or supporting someone who is, this episode is a reminder that bravery doesn’t require perfection. It starts with telling the truth—and trusting that it won’t break you, it will remake you.

Want to connect with Alreen Haeggquist?

Head to alreen.com for guest links, extras, and more.

Wendy Meadows had one of those split-screen moments—where her two lives couldn't have been more different. At 6 a.m., she was pouring belief into women as a health coach. By 10 a.m., she was cross-examining a woman on the witness stand, picking apart her credit card purchases. It was soul-splitting—and it was the spark that made Wendy say, “This isn’t who I’m meant to be.”

A high-achieving family law litigator, Wendy climbed the traditional ladder for years—but a growing wellness side hustle and deepening sense of misalignment nudged her toward something more. Over time (and with plenty of grit), she tuned in to her intuition, slowly turned down the volume on litigation, and built a new business on her own terms. Now a coach, consultant, speaker, and author of Sparkle and Grit, Wendy helps burned-out female professionals find balance, redefine success, and create lives that actually feel joyful.

As Wendy says: “I didn’t like crash and burn my old life—I followed the sparkles. I turned the volume down on what wasn’t working and turned it up on what made me feel alive.”

In this conversation, you’ll hear Wendy’s evolution from courtroom powerhouse to sparkly, soulful entrepreneur—and the real talk behind that journey. From workaholic culture and burnout to boundary-setting and self-reinvention, we go there (but without the trauma spiral).

Inside, you’ll hear:

• How Wendy made a major career pivot—without burning it all down
• The power of “sparkle moments” to guide your next step
• Why burnout isn’t a badge…and what actually helps
• Real talk on identity shifts, ego, and giving yourself permission
• The behind-the-scenes of writing her book (and the next one it inspired)

This episode is a masterclass in evolving with intention—and letting joy lead. Wendy’s story is proof that reinvention isn’t always a crash; sometimes it’s a quiet course correction. And even in your most raw and real seasons, you don’t have to lose your shine.

Want to connect with Wendy Meadows? Head to wendysmeadows.com