What Deserves Your Time? Fran Hauser on her new book "Twenty Minutes is the New Hour"

She Said/She Said Podcast with Laura Cox Kaplan, Episode 372What if the answer to feeling overwhelmed isn’t finding more time, but becoming much more intentional about the time we already have?This week on She Said/She Said Podcast, host Laura Cox Kaplan welcomes back longtime media executive, startup investor, bestselling author, and entrepreneur Fran Hauser to talk about her new book, Twenty Minutes Is the New Hour: The Ambitious Woman’s Guide to Doing Less and Achieving More.It’s a perfect follow-up to Episode 371, where Laura explored the difference between intention and architecture, and why our goals need structures, habits, and choices that actually support the life we say we want.Fran takes that idea one step further by challenging a belief many ambitious women have absorbed: that meaningful progress requires more time, more productivity, and more pushing. Fran shares why 20 minutes can often be enough to move something meaningful forward, and why giving ourselves less time can actually create greater clarity and focus. She learned that lesson firsthand when she decided to open Bedford Books in just eight weeks—a process that forced her to distinguish between what was truly essential and what could wait.Laura and Fran also dig into:The four Ps that steal our time: perfectionism, people-pleasing, procrastination, and “padding”Why we often expand tasks and meetings simply because we’ve given ourselves more time to complete themKronos vs. Kairos: the difference between measuring time and experiencing itWhy white space, deep work, walking, thinking, and even doing “nothing” can be surprisingly productiveHow to create more space for creativity and better thinkingFran’s simple rule for deciding what belongs on her calendar versus her to-do listWhy meetings don’t automatically deserve an hourHow to be more intentional about the time we spend on social mediaFran’s idea of balancing “vibe and value” when creating contentLaura’s HHH social media guardrailsWhy a to-don’t list can be even more powerful than a to-do listHow to recognize when kindness has quietly slipped into people-pleasingWhy protecting our time is ultimately about protecting our energy, attention, and agencyUnderlying the entire conversation is a bigger idea: thriving isn’t necessarily about squeezing more into every available minute. Sometimes it’s about becoming much clearer about what deserves those minutes in the first place.Fran’s new book, Twenty Minutes Is the New Hour, is filled with practical strategies for doing exactly that.Find Fran through FranHauser.com, Bedford Books, Instagram, LinkedIn, and SubstackMORE SPECIAL OFFERS FOR SHE SAID/SHE SAID PODCAST LISTENERS: Use the link below to shop all of our special offers and receive exclusive She Said listener discounts:Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/1w7dBe sure to use our Promo Code: SHESAID at checkoutFEEDBACK & COMMUNITY:Which part of this episode resonated with you most? We’d love to hear! Contact us using the links below.LOOKING FOR MORE SHE SAID/SHE SAID? You’ll find all our episodes & lots more content: shesaidshesaidpodcast.comLET’S CONNECT!Instagram: @lauracoxkaplanLinkedIn: Laura Cox KaplanContact: shesaidshesaidpodcast.comEmail: [email protected] RATE AND REVIEW SHE SAID/SHE SAID PODCASTLove the show? Please consider leaving a review on Spotify, iTunes, GooglePlay, YouTube, or wherever you listen. Your feedback helps shape the podcast and brings more amazing content your way!Note: She Said/She Said Podcast is a weekly production of She Said/She Said Media.

She Said/She Said Podcast with Laura Cox KaplanEpisode 371:September has a way of feeling like a second January. Summer winds down, calendars fill up, work gets busy fast, and suddenly we’re looking at everything we want to accomplish before the end of the year.But what if the more useful question isn’t simply, What do I want to accomplish?What if it’s: What do I need to build around me to make it easier to thrive?In this solo episode, host Laura Cox Kaplan explores the difference between intention and architecture: the routines, relationships, boundaries, defaults, calendar decisions, and environments that shape or daily existence and how we actually live.Most of us already know what matters to us, and the list often includes: taking care of our health, investing in our relationships, doing meaningful work, continuing to learn, creating space to think, and having enough energy, resources, and flexibility to handle the unexpected.The challenge is creating the conditions that make those things easier to sustain.As Laura puts it, “Good intentions tell us what we value and where we want to go. Architecture helps translate what matters into the way we actually live.”In this episode:Why September can be the perfect time for a different kind of resetThe difference between intention and architectureWhy a lack of discipline may not actually be the biggest problemHow small structural changes can make good choices easierWhy relationships, health, learning, rest, and even white space build resilienceFive practical ways to create more supportive architectureWhy the goal isn’t simply greater productivity; it’s greater capacity to thriveHow to prepare for a future we can’t perfectly predictSo this fall, instead of only asking what you want to accomplish, consider asking:What do I need to build now to create the conditions that will help me to thrive? FEEDBACK & COMMUNITY:Which part of this episode resonated with you most? We’d love to hear! Contact us using the links below.LOOKING FOR MORE SHE SAID/SHE SAID? You’ll find all our episodes & lots more content: shesaidshesaidpodcast.comLET’S CONNECT!Instagram: @lauracoxkaplanLinkedIn: Laura Cox KaplanContact: shesaidshesaidpodcast.comEmail: [email protected] SPECIAL OFFERS FOR SHE SAID/SHE SAID PODCAST LISTENERS: Use the link below to shop all of our special offers and receive exclusive She Said listener discounts:Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/1w7dBe sure to use our Promo Code: SHESAID at checkoutPLEASE RATE AND REVIEW SHE SAID/SHE SAID PODCAST Love the show? Please consider leaving a review on Spotify, iTunes, GooglePlay, YouTube, or wherever you listen. Your feedback helps shape the podcast and brings more amazing content your way!Note: She Said/She Said Podcast is a weekly production of SheSaid/She Said Media.

She Said/She Said Podcast Episode 370:When Was the Last Time You Asked Yourself, What Am I Ambitious For? with guest Anne WelshTHIS WEEK'S TOPIC:When was the last time you asked yourself what you're actually ambitious for? Not what you were ambitious for at 25, or what everyone around you assumes you still want?It's a question host Laura Cox Kaplan has often reflected on since she left her corporate job and found that the definition of ambition she'd carried for three decades no longer fit. This week she's joined by clinical psychologist, executive coach, and repeat guest Anne Welsh, author of the new book Ambitious Mother: From Surviving to Thriving in Your Career and Life, out August 6, 2026.Anne makes the case that ambition was never a ladder. The ladder limits us to power, title, and money, and why so many folks think motherhood is where ambition goes to die. It doesn't! Anne offers an alternative: move in any direction, be ambitious for impact or connection or peace or play, change course without falling off. Laura shares what Sheryl Sandberg told her when she asked the same question thirteen years after Lean In, an answer that lands squarely inside Anne's framework. And Anne offers a reframe worth the whole episode: what we call mom guilt is often grief. Guilt implies wrongdoing. Grief simply acknowledges you can't be in two places at once.If you've ever wondered whether you're still ambitious after your life changed shape, this conversation is for you.ABOUT THIS WEEK'S GUEST:Anne Welsh is a clinical psychologist, executive coach, and mother of four. A former Harvard psychologist, she left to build her own practice and has spent 20 years working with women navigating career, motherhood, and identity. Her new book, Ambitious Mother: From Surviving to Thriving in Your Career and Life, publishes August 6 and includes a chapter written for workplaces on the changes that make careers more sustainable for working parents, and for everyone else. Anne first joined Laura on She Said/She Said in Episode 324.KEY TOPICS AND WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:AMBITION AS A WEB, NOT A LADDER: Why the ladder model limits ambition to power, title, and money, and how the web lets you change direction without falling off.MOTHERHOOD AS AN AMBITION CLARIFIER: Anne's central argument, drawn from 20 years of clinical practice: motherhood changes ambition's shape and direction, but it doesn't end it.MOM GUILT VS. GRIEF: Guilt signals wrongdoing. What we're often feeling is grief about limited time, which carries none of the shame.THE THREE PS — PERFECTIONISM, PEOPLE PLEASING, AND PRETENDING: How these behaviors are socialized and rewarded in girls, and why they stop working as careers and families grow.THE CLOSET CLEAN-OUT: Anne's exercise for naming every role you carry and examining what still fits in this season.LINKS FOR ANNE WELSH:Book: Ambitious Mother: From Surviving to Thriving in Your Career and Life (available August 6)LinkedIn: Dr. Anne WelshWebsite: drannewelsh.comRELATED EPISODES YOU'LL LIKE:Episode 360: Sheryl Sandberg on how she defines ambition todayMORE SPECIAL OFFERS FOR SHE SAID/SHE SAID PODCAST LISTENERS: Use the link below to shop all of our special offers and receive exclusive She Said listener discounts:Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/1w7dBe sure to use our Promo Code: SHESAID at checkoutFEEDBACK & COMMUNITY:Which part of this episode resonated with you most? We’d love to hear! Contact us using the links below.LOOKING FOR MORE SHE SAID/SHE SAID? You’ll find all our episodes & lots more content: shesaidshesaidpodcast.comLET’S CONNECT!Instagram: @lauracoxkaplanLinkedIn: Laura Cox KaplanContact: shesaidshesaidpodcast.comEmail: [email protected] RATE AND REVIEW SHE SAID/SHE SAID PODCASTLove the show? Please consider leaving a review on Spotify, iTunes, GooglePlay, YouTube, or wherever you listen. Your feedback helps shape the podcast and brings more amazing content your way!Note: She Said/She Said Podcast is a weekly production of She Said/She Said Media.

She Said/She Said Podcast with Laura Cox KaplanEpisode 369Guest: Ashley Elston, author "First Lie Wins" and Anatomy of an Alibi"Author Ashley Elston joins host Laura Cox Kaplan for this episode of the She Said/She Said Podcast Summer Reads Series to discuss the unlikely career journey that led from wedding photography to becoming a New York Times bestselling author twice over.Before First Lie Wins became a Reese's Book Club pick and a runaway bestseller, Ashley spent years teaching herself how to write, collecting more than 80 rejections from literary agents, and learning to trust a creative path she never imagined for herself.In this conversation, Ashley and Laura explore the power of reinvention, why success can make the next project even more challenging, and how experiences that may seem unrelated often become the foundation for our greatest work. Ashley also shares the surprising storytelling lessons she learned while photographing weddings, the visual process she uses to build intricate psychological thrillers, and why she believes one simple mindset has shaped her entire career: "Just assume you can."Whether you're navigating a career pivot, building something new, or looking for the confidence to begin before you feel ready, this conversation offers practical wisdom and an encouraging reminder that meaningful reinvention can happen at any stage of life.In this episode, Laura and Ashley discuss:Ashley's journey from wedding photographer to bestselling authorThe 85 rejections that never convinced her to quitWhy being self-taught became one of her greatest strengthsThe unexpected connection between photography and storytellingWriting First Lie Wins and Anatomy of an AlibiManaging self-doubt after major successAshley's unique visual process for organizing complex plotsCreativity, curiosity, and learning new skillsWhy reinvention is available at every stage of lifeThe advice Ashley gives anyone considering a big career or life changeBooks MentionedFirst Lie WinsAnatomy of an AlibiIf this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may be considering a new chapter of their own.MORE SPECIAL OFFERS FOR SHE SAID/SHE SAID PODCAST LISTENERS: Use the link below to shop all of our special offers and receive exclusive She Said listener discounts:Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/1w7dBe sure to use our Promo Code: SHESAID at checkoutFEEDBACK & COMMUNITY:Which part of this episode resonated with you most? We’d love to hear! Contact us using the links below.LOOKING FOR MORE SHE SAID/SHE SAID? You’ll find all our episodes & lots more content: shesaidshesaidpodcast.comLET’S CONNECT!Instagram: @lauracoxkaplanLinkedIn: Laura Cox KaplanContact: shesaidshesaidpodcast.comEmail: [email protected]PLEASE RATE AND REVIEW SHE SAID/SHE SAID PODCASTLove the show? Please consider leaving a review on Spotify, iTunes, GooglePlay, YouTube, or wherever you listen. Your feedback helps shape the podcast and brings more amazing content your way!Note: She Said/She Said Podcast is a weekly production of She Said/She Said Media.

Episode 368: Dana Perino on her new book Purple State, Creative Vulnerability, Values Alignment & The Power of ListeningPart of our She Said/She Said Podcast Summer Beach Reads Series for 2026Dana Perino, bestselling author of multiple books including Everything Will Be Okay, host of Fox News's The Five, and author of the debut novel Purple State, joins Laura to discuss her creative leap into fiction—and what that vulnerability unlocks about character, choice, and personal growth.In this episode:Why a veteran journalist and multi-time bestselling nonfiction author chose to write fiction—and what the creative leap teaches you about risk and vulnerabilityThe difference between political alignment and values alignment (and why it matters in love and leadership)Listening as the most undervalued skill in leadership todayHow non-linear career paths become the raw material for meaningful character workMORE SPECIAL OFFERS FOR SHE SAID/SHE SAID PODCAST LISTENERS: Use the link below to shop all of our special offers and receive exclusive She Said listener discounts:Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/1w7dBe sure to use our Promo Code: SHESAID at checkoutFEEDBACK & COMMUNITY:Which part of this episode resonated with you most? We’d love to hear! Contact us using the links below.LET’S CONNECT!Instagram: @lauracoxkaplanLinkedIn: Laura Cox KaplanContact: shesaidshesaidpodcast.comEmail: [email protected] FOR MORE SHE SAID/SHE SAID? You’ll find all our episodes & lots more content: shesaidshesaidpodcast.comPLEASE RATE AND REVIEW SHE SAID/SHE SAID PODCASTLove the show? Please consider leaving a review on Spotify, iTunes, GooglePlay, YouTube, or wherever you listen. Your feedback helps shape the podcast and brings more amazing content your way!Note: She Said/She Said Podcast is a weekly production of She Said/She Said Media.

SHOW NOTESEpisode 367: Alexandra Andrews on Reinvention, Creativity, and The Fine Art of LyingWhat happens when a dream refuses to stay tucked away?In Episode 367 of She Said/She Said, part of our Summer Beach Read Series, Laura sits down with bestselling novelist Alexandra Andrews, author of “The Fine Art of Lying,” Reese's Book Club's May selection, and the acclaimed, bestselling thriller “Who Is Maud Dixon?”While this conversation begins with Alexandra's irresistible, twist-filled novel set in the art world, it quickly becomes something more. Together, Laura and Alexandra explore the questions that resonate far beyond the pages of a great beach read: What do we do with ambitions we've postponed or outgrown? How do creativity and identity evolve through motherhood, career pivots, and life's unexpected detours? And what happens when the thing we once dreamed of becoming won't stop calling us back?Alexandra shares her winding path from journalism and copywriting to becoming a bestselling novelist, the perfectionism she had to overcome, and the practical habits that helped her finally finish the book she'd always wanted to write.In this conversation, you'll hear:• Why Alexandra gave herself an ultimatum that ultimately changed her life• The surprising connection between creativity, identity, and fulfillment• How motherhood and the pandemic helped shape The Fine Art of Lying• Practical advice for anyone struggling to make time for a dream they've put on hold• Why finishing something may matter even more than succeeding at itThe Summer Beach Read Series isn't just about great books. It's about the women behind them: their reinventions, pivots, risks, and lessons learned along the way. Whether you're looking for your next page-turner or contemplating a dream of your own, this conversation will leave you inspired to take the next step.FEEDBACK & COMMUNITY:Which part of this episode resonated with you most? We’d love to hear! Contact us using the links below.LOOKING FOR MORE SHE SAID/SHE SAID? You’ll find all our episodes & lots more content: shesaidshesaidpodcast.comLET’S CONNECT!Instagram: @lauracoxkaplanLinkedIn: Laura Cox KaplanContact: shesaidshesaidpodcast.comEmail: [email protected] SPECIAL OFFERS FOR SHE SAID/SHE SAID PODCAST LISTENERS: Use the link below to shop all of our special offers and receive exclusive She Said listener discounts:Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/1w7dBe sure to use our Promo Code: SHESAID at checkoutPLEASE RATE AND REVIEW SHE SAID/SHE SAID PODCASTLove the show? Please consider leaving a review on Spotify, iTunes, GooglePlay, YouTube, or wherever you listen. Your feedback helps shape the podcast and brings more amazing content your way!Note: She Said/She Said Podcast is a weekly production of She Said/She Said Media

Episode 366: Graduation Advice That Actually Works at Every Career StageSolo episode with host Laura Cox KaplanTHIS WEEK'S TOPIC:Graduation season is here! Inspired by her own high school senior’s big milestone, Laura Cox Kaplan revisits the most valuable lessons for graduates—but emphasizes that these lessons matter at any life stage. In this solo episode, Laura shares advice on how to approach the unknown next chapter, build what she calls “experience equity,” and cultivate the mindset and habits that create success and meaning, even (and especially) when the road ahead isn’t clear.KEY TOPICS AND WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:MINDSET MATTERS MOST: Discover why your mindset, and how you respond to setbacks or challenges, is the single most important thing you can control. Laura contrasts the “fixed” versus “growth” mindset and gives examples of how your outlook determines gained value (and skills!) including from tough experiences 03:54.THE POWER OF INTENTION: Before setting your direction, set your intention. Laura shares a daily habit of deciding how to show up, and why this tiny but powerful practice changes what you notice and how open you are to opportunities 06:20.ASK YOURSELF THE RIGHT QUESTIONS: Instead of only asking “What should I do with my life?”ask “How do I want to show up?”and why this framing is crucial for new grads and anyone starting a new chapter 08:22.BUILD EXPERIENCE EQUITY: Learn why the best jobs, especially early in your career, aren’t always the highest-paying ones but can be investments in your experience equity account 10:05.EVERY CHAPTER COUNTS: From failures to unexpected connections and even detours add “interest” to your personal and professional growth account. No single experience needs to define everything; it’s the accumulation and diversity of experiences that eventually pay dividends 14:24.THE NON-LINEAR JOURNEY: Drawing from both personal experience and recent podcast interviews with authors, Laura Cox Kaplan explains why careers are not ladders, but accounts that grow as long as you stay curious and lean in 17:49.Whether you’re fresh out of school or navigating your third career pivot, you’ll walk away with a new way to think about progress, value, and building a meaningful life. We love hearing from you! What resonated most in this episode? Share your thoughts with us!LET’S CONNECT!Instagram: @lauracoxkaplanLinkedIn: Laura Cox KaplanContact: shesaidshesaidpodcast.comEmail: [email protected] RATE AND REVIEW SHE SAID/SHE SAID PODCASTLove the show? Please consider leaving a review on Spotify, iTunes, GooglePlay, YouTube, or wherever you listen. Your feedback helps shape the podcast and brings more amazing content your way!MORE SPECIAL OFFERS FOR SHE SAID/SHE SAID PODCAST LISTENERS: Use the link below to shop all of our special offers and receive exclusive She Said listener discounts:Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/1w7dBe sure to use our Promo Code: SHESAID at checkoutFEEDBACK & COMMUNITY:Which part of this episode resonated with you most? We’d love to hear! Contact us using the links below.LOOKING FOR MORE SHE SAID/SHE SAID? You’ll find all our episodes & lots more content: shesaidshesaidpodcast.comNote: She Said/She Said Podcast is a weekly production of She Said/She Said Media.

SHOW NOTESEpisode 365: Deborah Goodrich Royce on Reinvention, Identity, and the 41-Year Arc to Best BoyTHIS WEEK’S TOPIC:This week, as part of our Summer Beach Read Series, host Laura Cox Kaplan welcomes one of her favorite authors, Deborah Goodrich Royce, to explore the layered, twisty world of identity thrillers, a genre uniquely her own. From Deborah’s career pivots (including acting and editorial film work) to her personal stories of pain, growth, and reinvention, Deborah brings real-life inspiration to every page she writes.This rich and candid conversation covers the themes at the heart of Deborah’s newest novel, Best Boy, and reveals how our personal stories and secrets, big and small, shape who we are, and who we become. Whether you love behind-the-scenes creative stories, are navigating a pivot of your own, or simply crave a great beach read, you’ll find wisdom, encouragement, and plenty of surprises in this episode.ABOUT THIS WEEK’S GUEST:Deborah Goodrich Royce is the best-selling author of four novels, including her latest, Best Boy. Deborah’s own journey, which spans acting (including a role on All My Children), film development, motherhood, and literary success, infuses her writing with authenticity and depth. Her books have captivated readers with the nuanced, evolving stories of women’s identity, secrets, and transformation across the decades.KEY TOPICS AND WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:GENESIS OF AN “IDENTITY THRILLER”:Deborah Goodrich Royce shares the origins of her fascination with female identity and how she developed the genre of identity thrillers. From the influence of classic works like Reviving Ophelia to personal observations of generational change, she unpacks why questions of “who am I?” and the secrets we all carry are central to her fiction.CAREER PIVOTS & THE MESSY MIDDLE:Deborah’s own nonlinear path, from suburban Detroit to the soap opera world of New York and LA, and later to Paris and Connecticut, is a lesson in resilience, reinvention, and the beauty of not knowing exactly where life might lead next. Her story includes hard-won insights about grieving the end of one chapter, embracing what’s next, and advice for enjoying the journey, even in the “messy middle.”NAVIGATING LOSS, CHANGE & RESILIENCE:The conversation delves into both chosen and unchosen pivots (including her experience with divorce and single parenting), and how such experiences become both stumbling blocks and story material.HOW PERSONAL EXPERIENCE FUELS FICTION:Deborah reveals which elements of her life, including family trauma, generational secrets, and even a home burglary, infiltrate her narratives, making them feel lived-in and relatable.CREATING & PRESERVING STORIES (AND SPACES):Beyond the page, Deborah is devoted to preserving historic spaces and nurturing community. Her stewardship of a beloved cinema, and commitment to supporting fellow writers, speaks to a belief that the stories we choose, about the places we live and the lives we build, matter deeply.ADVICE FOR WRITERS & WOMEN AT THE CROSSROADS:Insightful advice for anyone facing a crossroads: keep moving forward, find small joys every day, study what fascinates you, and trust that even if the path isn’t clear now, you’re always writing your own story.There’s so much to love in this thoughtful, wide-ranging episode. What resonates most with you? We’d love your feedback!You can reach Laura and the team via the website: shesaidshesaidpodcast.com or by emailing: [email protected] SPECIAL OFFERS FOR SHE SAID/SHE SAID PODCAST LISTENERS: Use the link below to shop all of our special offers and receive exclusive She Said listener discounts:Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/1w7dBe sure to use our Promo Code: SHESAID at checkoutLOOKING FOR MORE SHE SAID/SHE SAID? You’ll find all our episodes & lots more content: shesaidshesaidpodcast.comLET’S CONNECT!Instagram: @lauracoxkaplanLinkedIn: Laura Cox KaplanContact: shesaidshesaidpodcast.comEmail: [email protected] RATE AND REVIEW SHE SAID/SHE SAID PODCASTLove the show? Please consider leaving a review on Spotify, iTunes, GooglePlay, YouTube, or wherever you listen. Your feedback helps shape the podcast and brings more amazing content your way!Note: She Said/She Said Podcast is a weekly production of She Said/She Said Media.

SHOW NOTES EPISODE 364GUEST: Virginia HumeTITLE: Virginia Hume on Becoming an Author Mid-Career: Identity, Place, and the Stories We InheritEpisode Summary:USA Today bestselling author Virginia Hume joins Laura Cox Kaplan on the She Said/She Said Podcast to talk about mid-career reinvention, the nine-year side hustle that transformed her into a novelist, and the powerful difference between what we're trying to do and what we're trying to be. Her debut novel Haven Point, and her brand-new book Liberty Island (St. Martin's Press, May 5, 2026) are sweeping multigenerational stories about identity, place, family, and the women who shape us across generations.Why You'll Love This Episode:If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to start something new and whether the chapter you're writing in your head will ever make it onto the page, this conversation will stay with you. Virginia is proof that every season of your life is building toward what comes next. Her path from political PR to corporate communications to college essay consultant to bestselling novelist is a real-time illustration of Experience Equity™, the idea that everything you've already lived, learned, and survived is exactly what makes your next chapter possible.This episode is for you if you're navigating a mid-career pivot, sitting with a creative dream you haven't told anyone about, or simply need a reminder that the work itself (not the title and not the outcome) is where the magic truly lives.What You'll Take Away:Why Virginia kept Haven Point a near-secret for nine years, and the science of "social reward" that explains why talking about your dream can quietly drain itThe mindset shift that lets you write, build, or create without ego so that you can focus on what you're trying to do instead of who you're trying to beHow to recognize when one chapter of your career is quietly preparing you for the nextWhat Virginia means by "give without counting the time", and why this single phrase may change how you approach any meaningful projectHow writing about misunderstood mothers, inherited silences, and the love of community gave Virginia a deeper understanding of her own storyAbout Virginia Hume:Virginia Hume is the USA Today bestselling author of Haven Point (St. Martin's Press, 2021) and Liberty Island (St. Martin's Press, May 5, 2026). A Vanderbilt graduate, she spent more than two decades in political and corporate communications before turning mid-career to fiction. She lives in the Washington, D.C. area. Books & Links:Haven Point by Virginia HumeLiberty Island by Virginia Hume, releases May 5, 2026Connect With Laura & She Said/She Said:Website: LauraCoxKaplan.com Instagram: @lauracoxkaplanLinkedIn: @LauraCoxKaplanEmail: [email protected] Discounts: Shop exclusive She Said/She Said offers at https://MyDeals.Page/1w7d with promo code SHESAID at checkout.Loved this episode? Please leave a review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you listen — it helps more women find conversations like this one.She Said/She Said Podcast is a weekly production of She Said/She Said Media

SHOW NOTES Title: Beyond the Beach Read: Chassity Evans on Reinvention, Resilience & the Compounding Power of Showing Up Episode 363 Guest: Chassity Evans A Special She Said/She Said Beach Reads EpisodeTHIS WEEK'S TOPIC:Welcome to the kickoff of our Summer Beach Reads series! But friend, if you're expecting a light conversation about your next poolside pick, this one is going to surprise you. Because while content creator and professional influencer Chassity Evans did just publish her debut novel, Pink Sand Summer, the real story is how she got there: fifteen-plus years of showing up, building trust, evolving her voice, and quietly accumulating the kind of experience equity that makes a bold creative pivot possible in the first place.In this conversation, Laura Cox Kaplan sits down with the Charleston-based content creator, entrepreneur, and now novelist to talk about what it really looks like to reinvent (and evolve) in the public eye. You'll hear how Chassity navigated the messy middle of writing a novel with no formal training, how years of vulnerability online prepared her (and didn't) for the exposure of authorship, and why she believes the "off-the-resume" chapters of your life are often the ones that set up your biggest leaps.This is an episode about creative courage, compounding returns, community over competition, and what happens when you trust your own voice long enough to let it carry you somewhere new.ABOUT THIS WEEK'S GUEST:Chassity Evans is a Charleston, South Carolina–based content creator, entrepreneur, and now debut novelist. Previously known to her loyal community through her popular blog Look Linger Love, she now shares her work, her world, and her writing at chassityevans.com and on Instagram.KEY THEMES & WHAT YOU'LL TAKE AWAY:FROM BLOGGER TO NOVELIST—THE NON-LINEAR PATH [12:30] How Chassity turned fifteen years as a trusted content creator into the foundation for her first novel—without a writing degree, a publisher, or a plan. A real-time case study in why the long arc of your career is more strategic than it looks.THE MESSY MIDDLE & THE ROLE OF JOY [14:04, 37:20] Honest wisdom on pushing through self-doubt, uncertainty, and the stretch of any big goal where nothing feels clear yet. Why joy isn't a luxury in the messy middle—it's the fuel.EXPERIENCE EQUITY IN ACTION [21:14] Laura and Chassity unpack how every chapter of your life—the visible wins and the detours, side projects, and quiet reps—compounds into creative and professional capital you can draw on later. Chassity's pivot is a textbook example.AUTHENTICITY AS INFRASTRUCTURE [22:10] Fifteen-plus years of sharing publicly built something that turned out to be essential for authorship: earned confidence and a thicker skin. A conversation about why vulnerability, practiced over time, becomes a competency.HANDLING CRITICISM WITHOUT LOSING YOUR VOICE [24:25] Practical strategies for navigating online negativity—finding your tribe, deciding when (and when not) to engage with trolls, and trusting your own instincts when the noise gets loud.COMMUNITY OVER COMPETITION [08:47] Inside Charleston's unusually collaborative creator community, and why Chassity believes generosity—sharing resources, wins, and introductions—builds stronger businesses than guarding territory ever could.THE BUSINESS OF SELF-PUBLISHING [29:25] A candid, strategy-packed look at why Chassity chose to self-publish, how she navigated Amazon KDP and IngramSpark, and what she's learned about ownership, royalties, and creative control.CHARACTER, PLACE & PERSONAL STORYTELLING [38:38] How Chassity built the world of Pink Sand Summer—and why her love of community and place infuses every page.WHAT'S NEXT [39:30] A look ahead at novel number two, set in the same universe, and the particular challenge of building on a debut success.Whether you're feeling the pull toward a creative pivot, sitting squarely in your own messy middle, or just looking for a summer read with a story behind it, this conversation will meet you where you are.I'd love to hear what resonates. Reach out through the links below. Your reflections help to shape where we go next.FEEDBACK & COMMUNITY:Which part of this episode resonated with you most? We’d love to hear! Contact us using the links below.LOOKING FOR MORE SHE SAID/SHE SAID? You’ll find all our episodes & lots more content: shesaidshesaidpodcast.comLET’S CONNECT!Instagram: @lauracoxkaplanLinkedIn: Laura Cox KaplanContact: shesaidshesaidpodcast.comEmail: [email protected] RATE AND REVIEW SHE SAID/SHE SAID PODCASTLove the show? Please consider leaving a review on Spotify, iTunes, GooglePlay, YouTube, or wherever you listen. Your feedback helps shape the podcast and brings more amazing content your way!MORE SPECIAL OFFERS FOR SHE SAID/SHE SAID PODCAST LISTENERS: Use the link below to shop all of our special offers and receive exclusive She Said listener discounts:Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/1w7dBe sure to use our Promo Code: SHESAID at checkoutNote: She Said/She Said Podcast is a weekly production of She Said/She Said Media.