Great Life Experiment Podcast

DJ DiDonna defines a sabbatical as "intentional extended leave from your job." DJ is a Harvard Business School senior lecturer and the author of Big Time Off: The Transformative Power of Sabbaticals and How to Take One, out now.

Planning one, on leave, heading back, leaving to build something new, or facing a re-org you didn't ask for? Monique and DJ talk about sabbatical vs. vacation, regret insurance, and what to do if time off finds you first.

Ideas to try

• Journal before, during, and after your time away.
• Spend 30 to 60 minutes alone, no phone, no music, writing what your life wouldn't feel complete without. Then ask: am I making time for this?
• Picture yourself five to ten years from now. What would you regret not doing? What story do you want to tell your grandkids?
• Find someone who has taken extended leave.

Timestamps

• (00:00) - Welcome and DJ's background
• (02:24) - What is a sabbatical, and how is it different from a vacation?
• (03:53) - What does DJ want to debunk about sabbaticals?
• (06:04) - Why is a sabbatical "regret insurance"?
• (09:54) - What are the common catalysts that lead people to step away?
• (11:27) - When time off is forced on you, how do you reframe it?
• (14:40) - Monique's 12 weeks off: was that a sabbatical?
• (18:02) - DJ's answer: functional workaholism and the power of exemplars
• (21:25) - Why do people resist time off for themselves, even when sabbaticals are normalized?
• (24:09) - Can you work on a sabbatical, and what counts as work?
• (27:28) - What if you're driven and need to go now? Do you still need time off?
• (32:13) - Type A and the gift of time: getting out of your head and into your body
• (37:41) - Quiet reflection or community: what did the research find?
• (39:23) - What has evolved in DJ's thinking since writing the book?
• (44:50) - What first steps can people try?

Links

• Get the book, Big Time Off: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1668060892
• DJ DiDonna: https://www.djdidonna.com/
• The Sabbatical Project: https://www.thesabbaticalproject.org/
• Ask Monique: https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8
• Connect with Monique on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniqueschafer
• The Great Life Experiment: https://greatlifeexperiment.com/

There's no one right way. Let's experiment together.

"You are too old to hire and too young to retire."

That's the line a friend used with Monique that sparked this week's episode, recorded (as always) from the car. It's a worry a lot of people in their 40s and 50s are starting to have. If you're feeling caught in that in-between - too experienced for more junior roles or ones that consume your whole life, yet you are not ready (or not able) to stop working - then this one's for you.

Monique unpacks where that feeling comes from, why it's more common than you'd think among people with 15-20+ years of experience, and shares one practical exercise you can start today to reconnect with the value you already bring with no resume rewrite required today.

In this episode:

• The real story behind "too old to hire, too young to retire" conversation
• Why feeling stuck hits hardest right when you're most experienced
• How to face the market reality (skills, industries changing) without spiraling
• Why you're not actually "behind" on AI, even though it feels that way
• One tactical daily exercise to reconnect with your value
• Why your soft skills — and being multi-passionate — aren't a liability

If this resonates, share it with a friend who's in the thick of it, and subscribe so you never miss an episode.

PART 3 OF "NAVIGATING CAREER CHANGES": This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the messy middle of career transitions, whether you're contemplating leaving a job or grappling with identity loss after a layoff.

Dr. Fishman, a psychologist and former tech researcher, shares his personal journey of grappling with his identity after being laid off from Facebook and his decision to walk away for another 'successful' career that was no longer fulfilling.

He emphasizes the importance of embracing your emotions without judgment and recognizing that feeling unfulfilled is a common human experience. You’ll discover how to confront your fears about leaving a stable job, and why prioritizing your happiness is crucial not just for you, but for those you care about.

In this enlightening conversation, you’ll gain insights on:

- The psychological implications of career transitions and how they affect your identity.

- Strategies for navigating feelings of grief and loss associated with leaving a job.

- The importance of experiencing joy in the ordinary and redefining what fulfillment looks like.

- How to shift your mindset and recognize that your current life may already hold the happiness you seek.

Dr. Evan Fishman is a psychologist, former Meta researcher, and founder of The Beloved Institute. After years studying motivation—from academia to Silicon Valley—he realized that many of the world's highest achievers weren't searching for another strategy, they were searching for themselves.

Connect with Dr. Evan Fishman

LinkedIn | TikTok | Website

Connect with Monique Schafer:

LinkedIn | Instagram| YouTube| Website

In this week's episode of the Great Life Experiment, Monique interviews

Keri-Lynne (KL) Shaw who shares her journey from corporate CHRO to entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of proactive negotiation, understanding total compensation, and strategic exit planning. This episode offers practical insights for high performers and anyone looking to maximize their career and financial potential.

Key discussions in this episode:

• The importance of negotiation at every career stage
• How to assess and maximize total compensation
• Strategies for proactive exit planning and negotiations
• Lessons from corporate leadership on salary and equity
• Overcoming fears and limiting beliefs around money and career
• The role of coaching and community in career success
• The impact of market disruptions on career trajectories
• Building a business after leaving corporate roles

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Keri-Lynne Shaw and her mission

01:56 Keri-Lynne's career journey from HR to founder of The Salary Bump

03:30 A pivotal moment during the pandemic: realizing her salary was undervalued

05:56 How to have a conversation about salary and equity with confidence

08:06 The importance of understanding total compensation and benefits

11:50 Debunking myths about negotiating later in your career

17:09 Practical steps to prepare for salary negotiations

22:10 Questions to ask during the interview to gauge compensation

26:58 Strategies for proactively exiting a role with a package

32:56 The differences between proactive exits, reorganizations, and layoffs

36:55 Overcoming fears and mindset blocks around negotiation

40:05 Building a community and support system for career growth

44:08 The power of sharing behind-the-scenes and authentic stories

48:04 Final advice for high performers feeling stuck or undervalued

Connect with KL

• LinkedIn | TikTok | Instagram | Website | Youtube | Podcast | TV Show

Connect with Monique:

• LinkedIn | Instagram| YouTube| Website

Ask Monique

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

Many of us move through life believing our future has already been decided—by our upbringing, our circumstances, our career path, or the rules we’ve been taught not to question.

But what if those limitations aren’t fixed at all?

In this episode, Monique sits down with Jacob Warwick, known as the “Billion Dollar Man,” to explore how negotiation is really about changing the way we think. Together, they unpack why curiosity is more powerful than confrontation, how challenging predetermined beliefs opens doors to new possibilities, and why the stories we tell ourselves often become the biggest obstacle to creating the life we truly want.

Whether you’re navigating compensation negotiation, a career transition, advocating for yourself, or simply wondering what’s possible beyond the limits you’ve accepted, this conversation will inspire you to rethink what’s negotiable—not just in business, but in life.

In this episode:

(00:00) – Introduction

(01:05) – Meet Jacob Warwick: The Billion Dollar Man

(04:32) – Why Jacob wants to teach negotiation without using the word "negotiation"

(13:39) – The biggest mistakes people make before negotiating

(18:45) – Internal promotions, confidence, and advocating for your value

(24:54) – The "Predetermined" mindset and challenging invisible rules

(26:15) – Curiosity as your greatest negotiation advantage

(32:30) – Why "No" is often where the real negotiation begins

(35:57) – The hidden cost of success and redefining wealth

(39:48) – Jacob's extraordinary personal story and rewriting his own future

(48:04) – Responsibility, resilience, and choosing your own path

Connect with Jacob:

• Substack Publication | https://www.predetermined.com/
• Website | https://www.thinkwarwick.com/

Connect with Monique:

• Website | https://greatlifeexperiment.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Ask Monique

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

A quick look at what's coming on the Great Life Experiment Podcast.

After weeks of conversations with executives and leaders navigating change—at a breakfast with 40 SVP and C-suite folks in San Francisco, connecting with her network, and a tech and media industry council event—Monique kept hearing the same theme: careers, businesses, and personal lives are all in transition, and none of it is linear.

This preview introduces an upcoming series digging into that messy, exciting, exhausting reality. Here's the lineup:

• Negotiation & Influence — with Jacob Warwick (out August 6th)
• Career Pivots — reinventing and changing direction
• Exits — what happens when you transition out of a company
• New Careers — branching out and building something of your own
• Time Off — sabbaticals, breaks, and the space in between

No one's story is linear. They're all messy, full of a wide range of emotions—and this series brings together the tactical, the personal, and the mental models to meet you wherever you are.

Have a topic you keep wrestling with, a guest suggestion, or a book recommendation? Reach out at info@greatlifeexperiment.com or find Monique on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Connect with Monique:

• Website | https://www.greatlifeexperiment.com
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Burnout doesn’t happen overnight.

Long before we reach exhaustion, our emotions, our relationships, and even our bodies begin telling us that something is out of alignment. The question is: are we paying attention?

In this episode, Monique welcomes multi-time CEO, Six Sigma Black Belt, and Heartnomics founder Hanna Bauer to explore a new way of thinking about leadership - one that builds resilience before burnout even takes hold.

Drawing from her experience surviving childhood heart diseases, leading organizations through constant transformation, and helping teams thrive through change, Hanna introduces Hearnomics — a leadership philosophy that brings heart and execution together. Rather than seeing emotions as distractions, she explains why they’re some of the most valuable data leaders have, and how learning to listen to them can create healthier people, stronger teams, and more resilient organizations.

Together, Monique and Hanna unpack why sustainable leadership isn’t about pushing harder. It’s about building the kind of resilience that allows both people and performance to flourish long before burnout becomes the cost of success.

Whether you’re leading a business, a team, or simply navigating a demanding season of life, this conversation will challenge the way you think about success and what it truly means to lead well. Because the strongest leaders aren’t the ones who wait until they’re burned out to change. They’re the ones who build a life and a leadership that make burnout far less likely in the first place.

In this episode:

(03:16) - Understanding Heartnomics: The Intersection of Emotion and Execution (06:53) - Emotions as Data in Business (09:30) - The Role of Emotions in Organizational Health (14:24) - Identifying Signals of Disengagement and Burnout (17:38) - The Importance of Human Connection in Leadership (21:45) - Why Self-Care Is One of Your Greatest Leadership Responsibilities (23:29) - The Power of Deceleration (35:15) - The Heart Framework: How Heartnomics Turns Values Into High-Performing Teams (36:10) - The BEAT Method: Turning Awareness into Action (39:11) - How Resilient Leaders Turn Failure Into Forward Momentum (42:01) - How to Lead with Purpose Instead of Constant Presence

Links and Resources:

• The HEARTnomics CORE Alignment Diagnostic - Free Audit | https://heartnomics.com/#audit

Connect with Hanna:

• Website | https://heartnomics.com/
• LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/bauerhanna/

Connect with Monique:

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast/
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Ask Monique

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

You don’t always need more discipline to find your creative spark again. Sometimes, all you need is one conversation.

In this episode, Monique reflects on what happens when creative energy begins to fade under the weight of a full, demanding life, and how, unexpectedly, one conversation can shift everything.

What starts as a reflection on corporate pressure, survival mode, and creative depletion becomes a powerful reminder: creativity is often reawakened through connection, not isolation. And the real shift happens when you stop trying to push through alone, and instead start paying attention to the people, conversations, and environments that bring you back into alignment with your energy, clarity, and creative spark.

In this episode:

(01:31) - The Tension Between Corporate Demands and Creative Energy (02:11) - The Subtle Signs You’re Becoming Disconnected (03:18) - The Power of One Conversation (04:08) - Why Community and Connection Matter More Than You Think (04:51) - Simple Ways to Reconnect with Your Creative Spark

Connect with Monique:

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast/
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Ask Monique

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

AI is moving fast, and the pressure to keep up can feel even faster.

In this episode, Monique unpacks the quiet guilt many professionals are experiencing as AI reshapes workflows, product strategy, and the future of work. From internal company initiatives to the endless stream of LinkedIn hot takes, it’s easy to feel like everyone else has already figured out the tools, the language, and the pace of change.

But the reality is far more nuanced.

Monique shares what teams are actually seeing inside product and business environments — the gap between compelling demos and scalable execution, the tension between speed and business value, and why the real differentiator is not fluency alone but clarity on the outcomes you’re solving for.

In this episode:

(00:53) - March catch-up, full seasons, and operating through personal and professional intensity (03:15) - The growing pressure professionals feel around AI fluency (05:12) - The truth about AI adoption: everyone is still learning (07:11) - The difference between compelling demos and scalable enterprise execution (08:13) - Governance, trust, collaboration, and the reality of implementation (10:33) - Why outcomes and business value matter more than the tools themselves (11:41) - How leaders can build confidence through experimentation (12:43) - Progress not perfection

Links and Resources:

• AI Daily Podcast | https://open.spotify.com/show/32wqFTVolFKfKZ6kPVmHoD

Connect with Monique:

• Website | https://www.greatlifeexperiment.com
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast/
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Ask Monique

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

So often we find ourselves frustrated at work, in teams, in family, or in friendships, because someone else isn’t showing up the way we think they should. We get stuck waiting for them to act, to decide, and to fix things. And in that waiting, we surrender the control that’s always been ours.

In this episode, Monique dives deep into the concept of reclaiming your agency, emphasizing the importance of reclaiming personal power in various aspects of life, including relationships and workplace dynamics. Whether it’s navigating constant urgent requests at work, negotiating expectations with a team, or stepping back from relationships that no longer align with your values, this episode is a reminder that you always have a choice, and real change comes when you take action.

In this episode:

(01:16) - Understanding “Agency”: The Power of Choice (02:18) - Waiting for Others to Change (And Why That Fails) (03:13) - Identifying and Addressing Agency in Group Dynamics (05:43) - Protecting Your Energy and Structuring Your Time (06:29) - Negotiation as a Leadership Tool (07:17) - Resentment as a Signal You’ve Lost Control (09:00) - When Values Are Fundamentally Misaligned (10:32) - Taking Action: Your Right to Change

Links and Resources:

• Book - Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself | https://a.co/d/01s96IQB

Connect with Monique:

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast/
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Ask Monique

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

Leadership isn’t about doing it all. It’s about making clear decisions, defining accountability, and protecting your team’s energy.

In this episode, Monique draws insights from a quarterly business review to explore how leaders can prevent cognitive overload while maximizing team performance. She highlights the power of clear roles, well-defined accountability, and strategic prioritization - not just to keep projects on track, but to protect people, sustain productivity, and drive meaningful outcomes.

In this episode:

(00:54) - Quarterly Business Review and Leadership Accountability (02:21) - Too Many Ideas, Not Enough Boundaries (03:52) - Action Steps for Clarity & Accountability (06:25) - Delegation and Ruthless Prioritization

Connect with Monique:

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast/
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Ask Monique

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

Life doesn’t slow down when you’re overwhelmed.

In this episode, Monique explores what it’s like when all aspects of life demand attention at once - work, parenting, health, leadership, and personal projects. She examines how to stay present and effective without letting overwhelm take control.

Monique reframes difficulty as an opportunity rather than a failure. She shares practical strategies for navigating busy seasons with clarity, intention, and self-compassion. Through stories and reflections from her own life, she demonstrates how to use friction as a signal, make strategic decisions about what truly matters, and how to protect energy while still showing up fully.

In this episode:

(00:51) - How Are You, Really? (03:12) - The Reality of Full Seasons (05:22) - Using Difficult Moments to Your Advantage (06:50) - Acknowledging Frustration Without Paralysis (08:51) - Brain Dumps & Clearing Mental Overload (11:37) - Glass Balls vs Rubber Balls Framework (13:42) - Protecting Your Team & Shielding Priorities (15:24) - Delegation, AI, Virtual Assistants, and Family Advisors

Connect with Monique:

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Ask Monique

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

In this episode, Monique gets honest about breaking her own consistency streak and why giving ourselves grace matters in a messy, overwhelming world. She talks about holding space for real feelings at work and at home, and shares practical, down‑to‑earth ways she’s using AI in real life—from planning a family trip to synthesizing feedback and even learning to build with AI through a product boot camp. Take what resonates, leave the rest, and keep experimenting.

In this episode:

(01:36) - Consistency, Priorities, and Starting Again (04:24) - When the World Feels Heavy (05:39) - Permission to Pause and Give Yourself Grace (07:30) - Holding Safe Spaces at Work (10:47) - Planning a Family Spring Break with AI (Practical Trip-Planning Use Case) (15:27) - Using AI to Synthesize Performance Review Data Responsibly (18:19) - Building a Front-End Using Natural Language (20:00) - APIs and Backend Learning (22:01) - Why Experimenting Builds Better Product Leaders

Connect with Monique:

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast/
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Ask Monique

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

At the start of every year, we quietly hope that this will be the one where we finally feel in control of our time. We imagine a calendar that feels calm, a life that feels balanced, and a year that feels ours.

But the truth is, most of us aren’t overwhelmed because we lack discipline. We’re overwhelmed because we’re trying to keep every option open, and the pressure of possibility quietly becomes a weight to carry.

In this episode, Monique shares the exact vision-planning framework her family uses to design their year with intention - without burnout, guilt, or decision fatigue. It’s not about doing more, but choosing with clarity. It’s a grounded, realistic method that turns broad dreams into a clear calendar, while still leaving room for life’s unpredictability. You’ll learn how to prioritize outcomes, reduce mental load, and make big decisions early so your year can flow with purpose.

In this episode:

(00:54) - The Family Vision Planning Tradition (02:27) - The 4000 Weeks Reminder (03:11) - Why You’ll Never Do Everything - And Why It’s OK (07:03) - Defining the Outcomes (08:46) - Planning in Order of Priority (10:47) - The Regret-Minimization Test (11:48) - Locking In Priorities to Eliminate Decision Fatigue (12:40) - Staying Flexible Without Losing Structure

Links and Resources:

• Book - Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman | https://a.co/d/iFhCsrC

Connect with Monique:

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast/
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Ask Monique

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

If 2026 is going to be your year, the secret isn’t doing more. It’s doing the small things consistently.

In this episode, Monique reflects on the power of showing up for yourself, even when life is busy or messy. Drawing from her experience of launching The Great Life Experiment Podcast, she shares why repeated small actions, not perfect execution, are the key to building identity, momentum, and meaningful results.

Whether you’re growing a business, experimenting personal habits, or building long-term routines, this episode offers a simple but powerful framework to make 2026 a year defined by consistency and results.

In this episode:

(02:11) - Starting the New Year with reflection and goals (03:44) - Consistency as a central goal for 2026 (04:38) - Lessons from recording 40 episodes last year (06:11) - The “Don’t Miss Twice” Rule (06:49) - When to adjust goals that no longer fit (07:46) - Setting realistic goals (08:30) - Applying consistency across life, work, and personal growth

Connect with Monique:

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast/
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Ask Monique

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

Have you ever been in a meeting when someone proposes an idea, and your first thought is, “That will never work”? Maybe you hesitated to speak up because you didn’t want to come across as negative, or worse, shut down creativity. But what if that gut reaction could actually become your most powerful tool?

In this episode, Monique explores how diverse experiences, expertise, and biases can shape the way we respond to new ideas. She shares a practical framework for turning a “hard NO” into curiosity-driven questions that guide collaboration, uncover hidden opportunities, and help others think through their solutions.

Whether it’s at work, in your side projects, or even in your home life, this episode shows you how to influence outcomes without dominating the conversation, how to walk through scenarios constructively, and how to create space for breakthroughs that might never have happened otherwise. Let’s dive in!

In this episode:

(00:54) - Reflections from an off-site activity with the team (01:50) - The challenge of diverse experiences and solution bias (02:52) - How to say “No” without shutting down the conversation (04:13) - Finding a common ground and aligning on the problem (06:35) - Walking through solutions with curiosity-driven questions (08:22) - Holiday reflections and sneak peek into 2026

Connect with Monique:

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast/
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Ask Monique

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

Thanksgiving is more than just gratitude. It’s a mirror for what’s next.

In this Thanksgiving episode, Monique invites you to reflect on your life in a way that honors what’s really good, while listening to the whispers of your next chapter. She offers a grounded, compassionate perspective on gratitude that goes beyond the usual “be thankful for what you have.” It’s an invitation to listen to the quiet nudges that often come up while we’re gathered around tables, traveling, missing people we love, or simply taking a breath between holidays.

Whether it’s a small nudge towards better health, a new career challenge, or a subtle idea that keeps surfacing, Monique unpacks why the desire for a new chapter doesn’t mean you’re ungrateful, how to distinguish passing thoughts from meaningful whispers, and why December is one of the most powerful months to plant the seeds for your next evolution.

In this episode:

(01:42) - Holiday reflections, stress, and opportunities (02:28) - Understanding gratitude beyond “being thankful” (03:31) - Loving your life while stepping toward growth (04:54) - Being grateful yet ready for more (05:45) - From overthinking to brave decisions (06:02) - Long-term results of starting today

Connect with Monique:

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast/
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Missed the live workshop? Here’s everything you need to know to catch up and move your ideas forward.

In this episode, Monique recaps the Great Life Experiment Sprint, sharing key lessons, breakthroughs, and exercises from the two-day workshop. From uncovering your real “why” to experimenting with new ideas and using AI thoughtfully, she distills the most important takeaways to help listeners move forward with clarity, purpose, and curiosity - experimenting in ways that actually create results.

In this episode:

(00:53) - Great Life Experiment Sprint: Workshop Overview (02:38) - Uncovering your true WHY (05:27) - Turning ideas into small, testable experiments (08:44) - Using AI to amplify creativity without losing human insight (11:37) - Community and accountability (12:24) - Five Whys Technique

Missed the Workshop Live?

• Access the Replay and Workbook Now | https://greatlifeexperiment.com/sprint

The Great Life Experiment: Collective:

• Join the waitlist | https://greatlifeexperiment.com/Collective

Connect with Monique:

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast/
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Ask Monique

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

What if the same principles that build great products could help you build a life that feels more aligned, intentional, and alive?

In this episode, Monique reflects on the unexpected ways product thinking has shaped the way she creates, leads, and makes decisions that matter. She shares how the principles of discovery and design apply not just to business, but to family rhythms, unfinished ideas, and the quiet callings that never seem to fade.

Through honest insight and practical wisdom, Monique invites you to rethink how you approach your own “soulful idea” and to start designing a life that can actually hold it. Because sometimes the difference between stuck and starting again isn’t more time or talent, but learning to see your life as the most important thing you’ll ever build. Let’s dive in!

In this episode:

(01:28) - The intersection of product and life (02:09) - Defining the problem you are solving for (02:52) - Applying product thinking to home projects and priorities (05:31) - Using AI wisely: how prompts shape your outcome (07:10) - Discovery and Design - why iteration matters (09:01) - The “Soulful Idea” and the struggle with capacity (12:09) - Sneak Peek of The Great Life Experiment Sprint (13:50) - Progress, not perfection - embracing constraints

Ready to move your “soulful idea" forward? Join The Great Life Experiment Sprint

• Learn more and reserve your spot | https://greatlifexperiment.com/sprint

Connect with Monique:

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast/
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Ask Monique

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

There will always be more time to do than the time we have to do it.

In this intimate birthday reflection, Monique invites you into the truth most high-achievers avoid: There will always be more ideas, more ambition, more responsibility than there will ever be time. And strangely, accepting that might be the most liberating shift of your life.

Monique explores the transition between seasons, the grace required, the courage to slow down, and the deep wisdom of listening to the whisper before it becomes a roar. This episode is for the person who is grateful and grounded, yet quietly overwhelmed with the weight of everything he carries, for the leader who cheers others on to rest but can’t give himself the same permission, and for the mother who can hold the world together but rarely has a moment to breathe.

This isn’t about abandoning ambition. It’s about creating capacity for what your soul is actually asking for next.

In this episode:

(00:00) - Introduction to the Great Life Experiment (00:44) - Reflections on Birthdays and Seasons (02:38) - The Importance of Health and Self-Care (06:35) - Taking Time Off for Health (08:50) - Creating Capacity for Personal Growth (11:37) - Prioritizing What Matters Most (15:20) - Invitation to reimagine capacity for the next season

Connect with Monique:

• Website | https://www.thegreatlifeexperimentpodcast.com/
• Instagram - thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/thegreatlifeexperiment_podcast/
• Instagram - @itsmoniqueschafer | https://www.instagram.com/itsmoniqueschafer
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@GreatLifeExperiment

Ask Monique

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem?

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together.

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8