I'm thinking about changing things up on the podcast. Here's why...

I've been thinking a lot about where my work is going recently... and I'd like to bring you into the conversation.

One of the things I've been working on behind the scenes is developing Career Identity Expansion™ (CIE) beyond an idea I talk about on the podcast.

I'm interested in understanding how it actually unfolds in people's lives, i.e. what happens internally when someone begins to question whether their professional identity captures everything they're capable of, what experiences expand their sense of what's possible, and why do some people find ways to bring different dimensions of their interests, abilities, and aspirations into their careers, while others feel compelled to choose just one?

These are questions I'm increasingly exploring through my writing and conversations with people whose career journeys don't fit neatly into conventional career narratives.

And that's where my latest thought comes in.

What if we brought more voices into the same conversation?

The podcast has traditionally alternated between solo episodes, where I explore ideas, and individual interviews, where we delve into someone's story.

But I'm considering changing things up a little.

What if we brought two or three people together to explore a shared question about career identity and expansion?

People with different backgrounds. Different experiences. Different interpretations.

People who might agree on some things, challenge one another on others, and bring perspectives to the conversation that I wouldn't necessarily uncover through an individual interview.

Because here's what I'm increasingly discovering:

Career Identity Expansion doesn't look the same for everyone.

For one person, it might mean leaving a profession they've invested years in.

For another, it might mean finding a way to bring seemingly unrelated interests into their existing career.

There isn't necessarily one path, one trigger, or one outcome.

And if I'm going to develop CIE into a meaningful framework, I want to understand those differences, not smooth them over.

I want to explore the theory through real experiences, challenge my own assumptions, and allow the framework to evolve through what we discover together.

That's the thinking behind this possible change-up on the podcast.

But before I take it any further, I'd like to hear from you.

As someone on my email list, you're part of the community I'm building around these conversations.

And I don't want to make assumptions about what you find most valuable - or what perspectives might be missing.

So, I'd love to hear your thoughts, and invite you to drop me an email at [email protected] and tell me:

→ What perspectives or experiences would you love to hear more of on the podcast?

→ What questions about career identity, professional possibility, or expanding beyond the roles we've trained for do you think deserve a deeper conversation?

→ Have you experienced something in your own career that has changed how you see yourself professionally or what's possible for you?

It doesn't have to be a dramatic career change. It might be a subtle shift in how you see your professional identity, or a new interest you've started exploring. Or simply a realisation that you don't have to choose between different parts of yourself after all.

Those experiences matter. And they may hold insights that help us understand Career Identity Expansion in ways that theory alone cannot.

I'm still thinking this through. There isn't yet a finished format or a predetermined outcome and that's precisely why I want to invite you into the process.

Because the most valuable conversations aren't always the ones where we already know the answers.

Sometimes, they're the ones where we bring different experiences to the table, ask better questions, and discover something none of us could have arrived at alone.

Until next time, I'd love to hear from you so please consider sharing your thoughts and help shape the conversations ahead.

Dr Diane