Lauren Lewis sits down with Darnell Epps, founder of Thurgood, for a conversation that is both inspiring and incredibly real.

Darnell shares his journey from growing up in New York City, facing early challenges, and eventually working his way to Cornell and Yale Law School. But what makes his story stand out is what happened next. Instead of following a traditional legal path, he made a decision most people would never consider. He enrolled in trade school while still in law school.

That experience opened his eyes to a much bigger problem. There is a huge gap between skilled workers and the opportunities available to them, and not enough tools to connect the two.

That is where Thurgood comes in.

Together, Lauren and Darnell talk about:

• Why more people are starting to take careers in the trades seriously

• The gap between education, training, and real job opportunities

• What made him step outside the traditional path and take a risk

• The challenges of building a tech platform from scratch

• Why exposure and awareness matter for younger students

• How Thurgood helps people actually show their skills, not just list them

• The importance of community, mentorship, and second chances

• What it really looks like to build something while learning on the fly

Darnell also shares how Thurgood is helping students create portfolios, connect with employers, and build real career paths in industries that are in high demand.

This episode is a great reminder that success does not always follow a straight line. Sometimes the best opportunities come from doing something completely different.

• Connect with Darnell Epps & Thurgood

Website: thurgood.work
Email: darnell@thurgood.work
LinkedIn: Darnell Epps

• Connect with StaffBuffalo & Pain Points Podcast

Website: staffbuffalo.com
More Episodes: staffbuffalo.com/painpoints

In this episode, Lauren Lewis sits down with Christine Mathieu, B. Msc., CMC®, Wealth Coach and Certified Money Coach at Note Advisors, for a conversation that goes way beyond numbers and into how we actually think and feel about money.

Christine shares her journey from spending 20 years as a financial advisor to shifting into wealth coaching after realizing something important – logic alone does not drive financial decisions. A lot of the time, fear is what takes over.

Together, Lauren and Christine talk through:

• Why our relationship with money starts earlier than we think

• How fear and past experiences shape financial decisions

• The difference between financial planning and wealth coaching

• Why mindset plays such a big role in how we handle money

• What scarcity vs. abundance really looks like in everyday life

• How slowing down decisions can lead to better outcomes

• The connection between money, identity, and self-worth

• Why money is not just about numbers, but about behavior

Christine also explains how she works alongside financial advisors to support clients in a different way. While advisors focus on the numbers, her focus is on the person behind them and what is driving their decisions.

This episode is a reminder that money is not just a financial topic. It is personal, emotional, and often tied to experiences we may not even realize are influencing us.

If you have ever felt stressed, unsure, or stuck when it comes to money, this conversation will give you a different perspective.

💼 Connect with Christine Mathieu

Website: noteadvisor.com
LinkedIn: Christine Mathieu

🤝 Connect with StaffBuffalo & Pain Points Podcast

Website: staffbuffalo.com
More Episodes: staffbuffalo.com/painpoints

In this episode, Lauren Lewis sits down with Sheri Scavone, CEO of the WNY Women’s Foundation, for a conversation that is honest, eye-opening, and incredibly relevant right now.

Sheri shares her journey from healthcare and public health into nonprofit leadership, and how that path led her to focus on advocacy, data, and driving real change for women and families across Western New York.

They get into some big topics, including:

• Why childcare is one of the biggest barriers facing working families

• How the current system is failing both parents and providers

• The reality of women leaving the workforce at higher rates

• What the data actually shows about pay gaps and opportunity

• How policy, culture, and systems all play a role in equity

• The impact of programs like education-to-employment pathways

• Why representation and leadership still matter more than ever

Sheri also talks about how the WNY Women’s Foundation uses data to guide everything they do, from advocacy to program development, and why pairing real stories with real numbers is what drives change.

This conversation touches on work, family, leadership, and the everyday decisions people are forced to make just to keep moving forward.

If you are a business leader, a working parent, or just someone trying to understand what is really going on in today’s workforce, this episode is worth your time.

💼 Connect with WNY Women’s Foundation

Website: wnywomensfoundation.org

🤝 Connect with StaffBuffalo & Pain Points Podcast

Website: staffbuffalo.com
More Episodes: staffbuffalo.com/painpoints