Journey to Wellbeing - with Ana Stefan

What does it really mean to live life on your own terms, especially now that so much of our day runs through a screen?
In this episode I’m joined by Lindsay Brady, founder of The Big Life Project. Lindsay spent 13 years at LinkedIn as a tech leader, managing a global team of up to 200 people, before burning out and walking away without a plan. We talk about what recovery really looked like, from acupuncture to yoga, baking and a choir. We also get into why AI can’t replace human connection, and how coaching helps people find options they didn’t know they had, ideally before they reach crisis point.
Lindsay also explains some playful coaching tools, including Play-Doh, drawing your inner gremlins and Lego Serious Play. We finish on the idea of “tiny experiments” and taking one small step forward.
Lindsay runs a free one-hour workshop every month https://www.thebiglifeproject.ie/turn-fear-into-fuel
Join us in Malahide on 30th December for a morning reflection movement and dreaming big for 2027 https://www.vitera.ie/imagine

In this episode, I chat with Michelle McCarthy, a Dublin-based life and career coach who specialises in helping women navigate professional transitions with confidence.
Michelle shares her journey from being a "high-achieving perfectionist" in the corporate marketing world to finding her true purpose through coaching.
After overcoming personal struggles with body image and self-worth, she realised that the traditional corporate ladder didn't align with her new perspective on life. Now, she helps other women advocate for themselves, set boundaries, and find roles that bring them genuine fulfilment

About the guest:
Michelle McCarthy is a qualified Life and Career Coach who helps women land their next job move, navigate career transitions and build lasting confidence at work. She is deeply passionate about the importance of being happy at work - whether that means doing something you truly enjoy, learning to advocate for yourself, or setting healthier boundaries.
Michelle began her career in the corporate world before training as a life coach and later as a career coach. She brings to her clients both a mindset-driven approach and a practical, real-world perspective, empowering them to create careers that feel fulfilling and aligned.

Connect with Michelle:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/michelleamccarthy_/
Website: https://michelleamccarthy.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellemccarthy-coach/.

In this episode, I reconnect with Hannah, who first joined me in the very first episode of this podcast to talk about her mysterious symptoms, endless medical tests, and the search for answers.
After three years of struggle, countless appointments, and being told it was “just stress,” Hannah finally received a Lyme disease diagnosis , a diagnosis that brought her both relief and new challenges.
Hannah opens up about what it’s really like to live with an invisible illness, how she’s completely changed her lifestyle, and why she’s passionate about raising awareness for Lyme disease, a condition that remains under-recognised and often difficult to diagnose.
She also shares an important message for anyone navigating health uncertainty: trust your body, keep going, and advocate for yourself , even when the system makes it hard. You can self-refer, you can ask questions, and you deserve to be heard.
🎙️ If you haven’t already, listen back to Season 1 Episode 1 to hear Hannah’s story from the beginning.

In this episode, I chat with Bex Brame, a Health and Wellbeing Life Coach who helps women through life's expected and unexpected changes, twists, and transformations. Bex is no stranger to transformations; she has moved countries numerous times, started a family, changed careers, and experienced well-being in a unique way.

We talk about her journey, her work and how wellbeing is more than your physical body. I hope you enjoy this episode.
Her website is www.bexbrame.com, 
IG handle is @bexbrame (here). 

Sign up to her mailing list here with "'Sort your sh*t out for the week ahead' journaling prompts & audio guide here

In this episode, I chat with Celine, a nutritional therapist specializing in women’s health, hormones, and reproductive well-being. We talk about the importance of educating women about their bodies, cycles, and hormonal health, teaching young women and men about reproductive health early on, how to stand up for yourself during GP visits and medical appointments, the role of both partners in fertility challenges, balancing estrogen and progesterone for a healthy menstrual cycle, simple self-care practices like forest bathing and mindful movement, breaking free from the quick-fix wellness culture, embracing consistency over perfection, and the value of personalized approaches to health and well-being.
Celine brings a wealth of expertise and a refreshing perspective to these topics, making this episode both empowering and deeply insightful.

You can reach out to Celine at https://www.celinenellinutrition.com