Vision boards work… do they? 😅 In this episode, Jess (the believer) and Claude (the skeptic) make vision boards for 2026 and unpack what vision boards really are: not magic, not toxic positivity, but a clarity tool that helps you focus your decisions and take real action.

We share the 3 questions that guide everything, how to avoid turning your board into a fantasy board, and a simple way to keep your goals visible all year.

What You’ll Learn / Key Takeaways:

• The 3 questions to ask before you cut a single picture
• Why “vision board” is really a clarity board
• How to avoid a “fantasy board” (and keep goals tangible)
• What it means when you don’t hit a goal… but you’re still on track
• Why consistency is the real secret ingredient
• Physical vs digital vision boards: pick what works for your brain
• The easiest way to actually use your board (phone wallpaper hack)

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Recording from Podfest in Orlando (yes, we’re literally on the floor 😄)
• Canva vs magazines + scissors + glue
• Building community + growing the podcast ecosystem

Action Challenge (for listeners):
Answer these three questions today:

1. How do I want work to feel in 2026?
2. What do I want less of?
3. What am I willing to do differently?

Then share ONE word, phrase, or image that represents your 2026 direction.

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Work Besties! Theme Song Written by Ralph Lentini @therallyband

“New Year, New You” can feel inspiring… until your life takes a turn you didn’t plan. In this episode, Rosamaria Mancini—author of SOS Podcasts—joins us to explore what it really means to reinvent yourself when your path changes, and how to meet that deviation with grace, empathy, and connection.

Rosamaria shares her story of leaving New York and rebuilding her identity through major transitions in Italy and later Germany. From culture shock and learning new rhythms of daily life to loneliness, motherhood, and the challenge of making friends later in adulthood, she offers an honest look at what it takes to start over—without losing yourself in the process.

A standout theme: podcasts as connection. For Rosamaria, podcast voices became a lifeline during isolated seasons—helping her feel less alone, more grounded, and still connected to the world she came from.

If your “future plan” doesn’t look the way you expected this year, this conversation is a reminder: different doesn’t mean wrong—your path can deviate and still be yours.

In this episode, we talk about:

• When Rosamaria realized she was truly an expat
• Italy vs. Germany: the emotional whiplash of switching cultures
• How slowing down can be the key to belonging
• Friendship abroad + building “chosen family”
• The “emergency contact” moment that hits expats hard
• Podcasts as a tool for comfort, learning, and connection
• The mindset shift: staying true to yourself when plans change

Guest: Rosamaria Mancini

• Website: [https://rosamariamancini.com]
• Book: SOS Podcasts

Resources mentioned

• NPR Life Kit
• The Daily (The New York Times)
• Wiser Than Me (Julia Louis-Dreyfus)

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You can watch the full episode on Youtube
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Please rate, comment and provide suggestions for upcoming episodes

Work Besties! Theme Song Written by Ralph Lentini @therallyband

Jess + Claude are back to kick off Season 3: Work Besties Who Grow—a realistic, micro-intentions approach to career glow-ups with fewer breakdowns (hopefully). You’ll get the full year roadmap by quarter + month, plus practical micro intentions you can start this week.

In This Episode

• Why Season 3 is about tiny steps → big change
• How we’re structuring every month: Kickoff → Guests → Work Bestie Lens
• January theme: New Year, New You (soft resets, not reinvention)
• Micro intentions you can actually stick to (with examples)
• The 5-minute weekly Work Bestie check-in (3 questions)
• Small digital detox boundaries that don’t require quitting your phone
• What’s coming up next + how to send us topic/guest requests

Episode Highlights / Key Takeaways

Micro intention ideas (pick ONE for 7 days):

1. One tiny career move (send the email, update the resume, book the coffee chat)
2. One boundary sentence (“I can get that to you by tomorrow at 3pm—unless you want me to reprioritize.”)
3. One visibility moment (speak once in a meeting, share a win with your manager, post one insight)
4. One reset ritual (1–3 minutes) (end-of-day prep, short walk between meetings, quick list rewrite)

Weekly 5-minute Work Bestie check-in (use these 3 questions):

• What felt heavy today?
• What was a win?
• How can I support you?

Small tech boundaries (choose one):

• No email before 9am or after 6pm
• No screens during meals
• Swap bedtime scrolling for a reset (book, water, short walk)

Q1: Reset + Direction (New Year, New You)

• January: Reset & Micro Intentions (tiny steps that stick)
• February: Authenticity + Personal Branding (how you want to show up)
• March: Career Clarity + Pivoting (where you are vs. where you want to go)

Q2: Skills + Confidence Building

• April: Money Moves (pay confidence, negotiation, value)
• May: Mentorship & Sponsorship (finding advocates, being one)
• June: Communication (hard convos, clarity, influence)

Q3: Boundaries + Energy Resetting

• July: Boundaries (protect your peace without the guilt)
• August: Burnout Prevention + Energy Management (systems for sustainability)
• September: Reset Rituals + Digital Detox (recharge habits that actually work)

Q4: Leadership + Systems + Mental Wellness (Finish Strong, Not Fried)

• October: Leadership (leading with or without the title)
• November: Systems (workflows, prioritization, repeatable routines)
• December: Mental Wellness + Reflection (close the year strong—not crispy)

Work Bestie Community Challenge: Pick one micro intention and co

Send us a text

You can watch the full episode on Youtube
Follow us on IG , TikTok, Threads and LinkedIn
Please rate, comment and provide suggestions for upcoming episodes

Work Besties! Theme Song Written by Ralph Lentini @therallyband