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Beyond The Quo

Stacey Luces

If you’ve felt that restlessness—that feeling like there’s more than the midlife crisis or navigating a never-ending To do List - something beyond the status quo…. you’re in the right place.

Beyond The Quo isn’t about following the script; it’s about tearing it up. I’m Stacey Luces, and each week, I invite you to join me and our extraordinary guests - leaders, innovators, disruptors, and dreamers who’ve dared to challenge “the quo.”

This podcast is where we go past the expected, beyond the ‘shoulds’ and ‘musts,’– we break down old narratives about success, purpose, and authenticity.

In each episode we explore raw and honest stories filled with profound insights, strategies and practical advice that leads to bold transformation.

So, if you’re ready to claim your next chapter on your terms, If you’re done with the limits, the labels, and you’re ready to redefine success, and build a life that goes beyond the ordinary, hit that subscribe button and Join us each week for Beyond The Quo.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to shows that inspire change…you’ve already done ‘the quo’—now let’s go beyond.”

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#101
Friday · 36 min
Ep. 100 - Beyond the Quo Turns 100: Still Ambitious, Still Messy, Still Me with Stacey Luces
**100 episodes. Two years. One hell of a journey.** Beyond the Quo is officially celebrating its 100th episode, and Stacey Luces is taking us back to where it all began. From flatlining twice during emergency surgery to leaving a 25-year federal career, moving her family, building businesses, and rediscovering parts of herself she'd left behind, Stacey has spent years challenging what success is supposed to look like. But here's the uncomfortable truth: **You can change your entire life and still bring the same old habits with you.** In this candid, funny, and deeply personal milestone episode, Stacey revisits her very first recording and asks herself a question: *After 100 episodes about redefining success, living authentically, and leading courageously, am I actually living what I preach?* She reflects on the conversations that changed her thinking, the immigrant drive to achieve, the trap of living a "level five" life, and why even the most accomplished people struggle with boundaries, self-abandonment, and knowing when enough is enough. Now in her late 40's, with another business, new adventures, and a whole lot more perspective, Stacey is learning that reinvention isn't always about making bigger moves. Sometimes it's about the tiny decisions that bring you closer to the life you actually want. And yes, two years later, she's still worrying about laundry. **This one's a birthday celebration, a reality check, and an invitation to look at your own life differently.** So here's the question: *If you were recording episode 100 of your own life tomorrow, what would you be proud of, what would you laugh about, and what would you finally admit needs to change?* You've already done the quo. Now it's time to go beyond. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#99
October 28 · 43 min
EP. 99 - Beyond Expectations: The Freedom to Stop Being Who Everyone Wants With Gaby Viteri
What happens when the life you've spent decades building no longer feels like yours? In this episode of Beyond the Quo, host Stacey Luces sits down with artist, curator, and cultural advocate Gaby Viteri for a refreshingly candid conversation about midlife reinvention, grief, divorce, motherhood, creativity, and the freedom to become someone new. Gaby married young, became a mother at 21, and spent much of her adult life identifying as a wife, mother, and businesswoman. Today, approaching 50, she's divorced, navigating an evolving relationship with motherhood, and finally comfortable calling herself an artist. But getting here wasn't exactly a smooth transition. The loss of her mother, the end of her marriage, career changes, and a series of personal challenges forced Gaby to question who she was and what she actually wanted. Along the way, she discovered how uncomfortable other people can become when you stop being the person they've always known. Stacey and Gaby explore what happens when we stop seeking permission to change, why grief doesn't need a neat inspirational ending, and how creativity can help us reconnect with parts of ourselves we've spent years neglecting. In this episode, we get into: • Why midlife can feel like starting over, even when you've built a successful life • Divorce, motherhood, empty nesting, and the identities women outgrow • Sobriety, boundaries, and dealing with other people's opinions • Why we sometimes abandon ourselves to keep everyone else comfortable • The stories behind her exhibitions SPEED KILLS and All My Friends Are Birds • Finding freedom, authenticity, and peace in the next chapter of life We also discover that Stacey and Gaby share an October 13 birthday, discuss the unexpected connections art can create, and have a few laughs about the wonderfully strange business of becoming ourselves. Gaby Viteri is the founder of Women's Art Week Palm Beach and First Female, creating opportunities for artists and expanding access to the arts. Connect with Gaby: Website: https://gabyviteri.com Instagram: @gaby_viteri Connect with Stacey Luces: Website: https://staceyluces.com YouTube: @staceyluces 🎙️ About Beyond the Quo Hosted by Stacey Luces, Beyond the Quo explores what it means to redefine success, live authentically, and lead courageously, especially in the messy, exciting, sometimes uncomfortable middle chapters of life. If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share it with someone navigating their own reinvention, and join the conversation below. Here's a question worth sitting with: What part of who you used to be are you still holding on to, even though it no longer fits who you're becoming? You've already done the quo. Now it's time to go beyond. #BeyondTheQuo #StaceyLuces #GabyViteri #MidlifeReinvention #PersonalTransformation #WomenOver40 #GriefAndHealing #AuthenticLiving See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#98
October 21 · 46 min
Ep. 98 - Beyond Mental Stamina: Protect Your Prime Time, Recover Better, Stop Proving with Stacey Luces
Stacey Luces reflects on feeling mentally exhausted after ordinary days and, as she approaches 50, explores why midlife mental stamina matters beyond simply handling pressure. She distinguishes mental stamina (sustaining attention, judgment, emotional regulation, and purposeful effort) from mental toughness (pushing through), noting how nonstop demands, overstimulation, sleep and hormonal changes, and inadequate support systems can erode decision quality and strain relationships. Citing APA stress findings, Gallup burnout data, and National Institute on Aging notes on aging and menopause-related sleep disruption, she argues the goal isn’t just physical longevity but having patience and presence for what matters. She offers three strategies: protect your cognitive prime time for high-value thinking, build real recovery and transitions between demands, and stop proving your worth by carrying everything alone through clearer roles, boundaries, and delegation. 01:03 Ordinary Day Mental Exhaustion 04:36 Why Mental Stamina Matters 08:25 Beyond Overwhelm Context 09:31 Mental Stamina vs Toughness 14:52 Aging Changes and Advantages 21:34 Three Midlife Observations 26:41 The Real Consequences 32:20 Strategy One Protect Prime Time 36:11 Strategy Two Build Recovery 38:52 Strategy Three Stop Proving ABOUT BEYOND THE QUO Hosted by Stacey Luces, *Beyond the Quo* explores what it means to redefine success, live authentically and lead courageously. You've already done the quo. Now it's time to go beyond. 🌐 staceyluces.com 📸 Instagram: @stacey.luces See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
October 13 · 40 min
Ep. 97 - Beyond Overwhelmed: Why Doing More Isn't the Answer in Midlife
Feeling overwhelmed in midlife? What if the problem isn't your time management, but the number of responsibilities you're carrying? Between careers, entrepreneurship, family, aging parents, health, finances and building a legacy, life gets complicated. And the advice to "just prioritize" isn't cutting it anymore. In this candid solo episode of Beyond the Quo, Stacey challenges the productivity advice we've heard a thousand times and introduces the capability trap: when being the person who always figures things out becomes the reason everyone depends on you. Drawing on 25+ years in leadership and transformation, Stacey explores why success creates more responsibility, why asking for help doesn't always lighten the load, and why entrepreneurship doesn't automatically mean freedom. You'll learn how to: - Transfer ownership instead of simply delegating tasks. - Recognize the hidden mental load of being everyone's go-to person. - Put a price on your YES and protect your time. - Have better conversations about support at home and work. - Conduct a simple 7-day life audit to identify what needs to change. CHAPTERS 00:58 Midlife Overwhelm Season 04:39 Rethinking Overwhelm 10:46 Life Mirrors Organizations 13:28 Success Adds Maintenance 18:45 The Capability Trap 24:24 Transfer Ownership, Not Tasks 27:54 Put a Price on Your Yes 31:11 The Founder Freedom Myth 34:50 Support Agreements That Work 37:54 The 7-Day Life Audit ABOUT BEYOND THE QUO Hosted by Stacey Luces, *Beyond the Quo* explores what it means to redefine success, live authentically and lead courageously. You've already done the quo. Now it's time to go beyond. staceyluces.com Instagram: @stacey.luces See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
October 7 · 34 min
Ep. 96 - Beyond Proving Yourself: Who Are You When You Have Nothing Left to Prove?
What happens when the fuel that got you here starts poisoning your experience of being here? For many high achievers, proving yourself works. Prove you’re smart enough. Prove you belong. Build the career. Make the money. Raise the kids. Survive the setback. Walk into rooms that weren’t designed for you and show that you deserve to be there. But what happens when you already have the evidence? In this solo episode of Beyond the Quo, Stacey Luces, founder, leadership and transformation strategist, entrepreneur and Co-Founder of WE WHISTLE Global, explores a question she’s confronting in her own evolution: If I stop proving, will I stop achieving? Drawing from her immigrant story, career, burnout and life redesign, Stacey examines why proving can become such a powerful fuel source and why, eventually, it can become expensive. Pasted text Because proving requires an audience. A boss. A parent. An industry. Someone who underestimated you. Sometimes someone who hasn’t been in your life for decades. And if you never decide what “enough” looks like, the goalpost keeps moving. This episode explores the identity of the strong one, the hidden costs of constantly proving your worth, and what it means to enter a chapter where ambition comes from somewhere different. From proving to purpose. From fear to curiosity. From validation to conviction. From “I’ll show you” to “I want to see what I’m capable of creating.” Pasted text In This Episode 02:16 When Success Turns Toxic 06:00 The Immigrant Drive to Achieve 08:06 The Audience Problem 09:27 The Red-Stick Goalpost 11:31 Midlife + Enoughness 15:36 The Identity of “The Strong One” 19:19 The Real Costs of Proving 24:08 Changing Your Fuel Source Maybe the question is no longer, “What else do I need to prove?” Maybe it’s: “I know what I’m capable of. What do I want to do with it now?” Pasted text You’ve already done the quo. Now it’s time to go beyond. Connect with Stacey Luces: staceyluces.com | Instagram: @stacey.luces | LinkedIn: @StaceyLuces See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
September 22 · 39 min
Ep. 95 - When Good Finally Arrives: Why We Self-Sabotage Success
You did the work, the business is growing, someone said yes, and the calendar is full of things you once prayed for. So why are you procrastinating, picking fights, overthinking, and saying yes to everything except what matters? In this episode, Stacey Lucis takes on a different side of self-sabotage: not what happens when you're failing, but what happens when things finally go right. She explores why high achievers who are great at the chase can struggle with the arrival, and why the skills that got you here aren't always the ones that keep you here. Stacey unpacks: Identity lag, when your circumstances change faster than the story you tell about yourself The "upper limit" idea and why we manufacture problems to get back to a familiar baseline Why busyness, struggle, and urgency feel safe, and peace doesn't How self-sabotage often looks responsible: more research, one more version of the deck, underpricing your work How success reshapes relationships, boundaries, and belonging Why the real question may be capacity: can the life you've built hold the life you're asking for? She closes with three things to experiment with: catch yourself restoring the familiar, identify what your new reality requires (not what it took to get here), and practice tolerating the good thing. Maybe you're not afraid of success. Maybe you're just inexperienced at having this much of what you wanted, and that is a skill you can build. This is Beyond the Quo. We've done the quo. Now it's time to go beyond. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
September 16 · 56 min
Ep. 94 - Beyond the Mask: Why a ‘5 out of 10’ Life Isn’t Enough with Stacey Luces
What if I told you... you’re allowed to outgrow the life you once prayed for? You’ve checked every box—but now you’re asking, Is this really it? What do I want now? Join Stacey Luces—Executive Coach, Reinvention Strategist, and Founder of the Living Beyond Movement—for a powerful solo episode of Beyond the Quo as she shares lessons from 20 Visionary Leaders on Living and Leading Unapologetically. After hosting over 20 dynamic conversations with visionary leaders from around the globe, Stacey distills the most profound lessons on what it really means to redefine success, live authentically, and lead courageously. Drawing from both her guests' wisdom and her own journey—from burnout to building global communities—Stacey explores the critical role of community, courage, and personal reinvention. This episode is a call to action for anyone tired of performing at life’s ‘5 out of 10’—an invitation to question the metrics you’ve inherited, align with your core values, and take the lead in your own transformation. If you’re ready to rise beyond the status quo and live on your own terms, this one’s for you. 🎧 In this episode: • 01:38 Three Pillars of Purposeful Living • 06:35 Redefining Success • 07:40 Community and Courage • 19:20 The Essence of Wealth • 26:09 Living Authentically: The Struggle and the Reward • 28:55 The Necessity of Reinvention • 31:16 Outgrowing Relationships and Embracing Change • 32:59 The Battle of Authenticity • 47:16 Living Beyond the Status Quo 💡 Key Takeaways: • You’re Allowed to Outgrow the Life You Once Prayed For: You’re not ungrateful for wanting more—you’re evolving. Stacey reminds us that we don’t need to justify our growth. Whether it’s relationships, careers, or roles you’ve outgrown, it’s okay to say: “This no longer fits who I am becoming.” That awareness is not weakness—it’s wisdom. • Redefining Success Means Choosing Alignment Over Achievement: Success is no longer about titles, money, or how “together” you look. Every guest affirmed that true success is about alignment—with your values, your peace, and your purpose. Stacey challenges us to ask, “What does peace look like for me?” because success without soul is just survival. • Living Authentically Is a Daily Act of Courage: Authenticity isn’t a vibe—it’s a battle. It’s choosing yourself even when it’s easier to wear the mask. Stacey vulnerably shares how hard it still is, as a woman of color and immigrant, to shed old identities and show up as her full, true self. But doing so makes space for others to do the same—and that’s leadership. • Leading Courageously Begins With You: Courageous leadership doesn’t require permission, applause, or a platform. It requires ownership. Stacey defines it as “building a stage under your own feet,” moving forward even when you’re scared, broke, or misunderstood. It’s not about having all the answers—it’s about having better questions. You’ve already done the quo—now it’s time to go beyond. 🔥 Feeling inspired? Don’t keep it to yourself! • Subscribe, share and follow Beyond the Quo and I’d deeply appreciate your five-star rating so more people can listen and learn! ✨ Connect with Stacey Luces: • Free Global Community - Rising Beyond Power Collective: https://www.skool.com/risingbeyondglobalcommunity/about See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
September 9 · 21 min
Ep. 93 - Beyond Achievement: What Will You Do With Everything You’ve Earned? with Stacey Luces
You spent decades becoming successful. Now what are you going to do with all of it? We spend much of our lives accumulating: degrees, promotions, money, relationships, credentials, influence, experience and access. But eventually, the more interesting question may not be "What can I achieve next?" It may be: "What becomes possible because of what I've already achieved?" Welcome to Beyond the Quo, the podcast for accomplished people who have done many of the things they were "supposed" to do and are now asking bigger questions about how they want to live, lead and contribute in the next chapter. Hosted by Stacey Luces, founder, leadership and transformation strategist, executive coach and entrepreneur, Beyond the Quo explores what happens when the definition of success that got you here is no longer enough for where you want to go next. In this solo episode, Stacey explores the second act of ambition: after decades building yourself and your life, what are you going to do with everything you've earned? And she isn't just talking about money. There's experience capital: what you've learned from decades of living, leading, building, succeeding and getting things spectacularly wrong. There's relationship capital: the people who trust you, take your call, value your judgment or can help open a door. And there's scar-tissue capital: the lessons you paid for through failure, loss, difficult relationships, career mistakes, health challenges and experiences no classroom could have taught you. But what happens to all that capital if it simply stops with you? Stacey explores why achievement eventually loses its emotional charge, how networks can become transactional, and why an introduction, honest conversation, mentorship or opened door can create more lasting impact than another trophy on the shelf. She also challenges the shadow side of contribution: performative generosity, martyrdom, gatekeeping and turning "giving back" into another way to prove our worth. Real stewardship means being intentional about where your experience, access and influence can genuinely create value. Maybe the second half of ambition isn't about proving you can become somebody. Maybe it's deciding what to do with everything it took to become who you already are. 🎧 In This Episode 01:06 Beyond Achievement: What Happens After Success? 02:38 The Second Act of Ambition 03:11 When Self-Development Has to Become Action 04:36 The Capital You May Not Realize You Have 07:26 Achievement vs. Contribution 10:49 Authenticity, Performative Giving & Stewardship 14:22 Legacy Doesn't Start When You're Gone 17:12 Three Questions for Your Second Act 💡 Key Takeaways You may be wealthier than you realize. Achievement and contribution ask different questions. Your network is more than a contact list. Contribution isn't martyrdom. Legacy happens while you're alive. Three Questions to Ask Yourself What have I accumulated that I don't fully recognize as an asset? Where could that asset create immense value if I put it to work? What am I still accumulating for myself that I'm finally ready to put into circulation? Sometimes the next level isn't about acquiring more. It's about putting what you already have to work. You've already done the quo. Now it's time to go beyond. 🔥 Subscribe, share and follow Beyond the Quo. If the show makes you think, challenge something or take action, leave a five-star rating so more people can find the conversation. ✨ Connect with Stacey Luces: staceyluces.com | Instagram: @stacey.luces | LinkedIn: @StaceyLuces See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
September 2 · 33 min
Ep. 92 - Beyond "Knowing Better": Why You're Unable To Do What You're Supposed To Do with Stacey Luces
You know what you need to do. So why aren't you doing it? Better boundaries. Delegating. The hard conversation. The idea you keep sitting on. You know — so why the gap? In this solo episode, Stacey Luces explores why we can be deeply self-aware and still repeat the same patterns. Knowing isn't the problem — living what you know is. She unpacks the hidden payoffs behind behaviors we say we want to change: overworking gives significance, people-pleasing gives belonging, rescuing others makes us feel needed, keeping a dream in your head protects you from trying and failing. In midlife, "eventually" stops feeling infinite. Stacey covers how self-awareness becomes an alibi, how broken self-promises erode self-trust, and how unrealized potential curdles into a story about what could've been — then offers three ways forward: name the payoff, shrink the gap between truth and action, rebuild trust one promise at a time. Growth stops being about discovering more truths about yourself. It becomes about whether you'll live the ones you already have. 🎧 In This Episode 01:48 Why We're Exhausted 04:08 Why Knowing Isn't Enough 08:03 The Hidden Payoff 13:32 Midlife's Changing Math 15:57 Self-Awareness as Alibi 18:00 Eroding Self-Trust 20:00 Potential as Just a Story 21:54 Turning Insight Into Action 28:17 The 48-Hour Challenge Key Takeaways Awareness isn't transformation. History can explain you without governing you. The behavior may still be serving you. Every pattern has a payoff. Self-trust is built through evidence — following through, not just believing you can. Know. Decide. Act. Repeat. Close the gap while the truth's still warm. Midlife makes "eventually" expensive. Some futures need different choices now. Your 48-Hour Challenge Name one truth you've sat on for 3–6+ months. Ask: What am I getting from not changing it? What's it costing me? What can I do in 48 hours to prove I'm serious? Not a fix. Just proof you're moving. You've done the quo. Now go beyond. 🔥 If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, share it with someone who's been waiting too long to bet on themselves, and leave a five-star review so more leaders can join the conversation. ✨ Connect with Stacey Website: staceyluces.com Instagram: @stacey.luces LinkedIn: Stacey Luces See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
August 26 · 49 min
Ep. 91 - Beyond the Followers: Own Your Story, Build Wealth & Have Creative Freedom with Dr. Sheena Howard
We're bringing back one of our favorite conversations! What if everything you've been told about visibility and success is wrong? You don't need millions of followers. You don't need to wait for a publisher, platform, or gatekeeper. And you certainly don't need to water down your brilliance to fit someone else's mold. In this episode of Beyond the Quo, host Stacey Luces—executive coach, reinvention strategist, and founder of the Living Beyond Movement—sits down with award-winning author, filmmaker, professor, and creative powerhouse Dr. Sheena C. Howard. Dr. Howard was the first Black woman to win an Eisner Award at San Diego Comic-Con. But her success didn't come from playing the game—it came from rewriting the rules. Through her platforms Nerdworks and Power Your Research, she teaches creatives, scholars, and entrepreneurs how to own their voice, monetize their genius, and build six-figure brands without waiting for permission. Together, they unpack the emotional labor of representation, the myth of perfection, and what it really takes to thrive as a culturally-rooted entrepreneur in spaces that weren't built for you. Whether you're an academic, a creator, or a leader building something bold—this episode will remind you: your story is your power. And if you missed it the first time (or just want to hear it again), this one's worth the replay. 🎧 In This Episode 01:53 – Authenticity and Social Media 06:32 – Embracing Imperfection in Leadership 12:48 – The Emotional Labor of Representation 24:58 – Commitment Over Motivation 26:26 – Setting Honest Goals (Not Just Impressive Ones) 32:03 – Empowering the Next Generation 36:07 – Rediscovering Identity Mid-Journey 39:33 – Nerdworks and Owning the Creative Lane 💡 Key Takeaways Visibility Is Power Being seen isn't about vanity—it's about creating space for others to rise. Representation shifts culture, not just algorithms. Start Small, Then Scale A massive audience is not a requirement. Offer value, listen deeply, and grow from there. Wealth is built in the refinement. You Don't Need Permission The publishing and media world is evolving. Now more than ever, creators can publish, platform, and profit—on their own terms. Nerd Culture Is Not a Niche From comic books to cosplay, pop culture is a battleground for equity, identity, and imagination. Claiming that space matters. 🔁 You've already done the quo. Now it's time to go beyond. 🔥 Feeling seen? Here's how you keep the momentum going: Hit subscribe to Beyond the Quo so you never miss a conversation that challenges the status quo. Leave a five-star review and share this episode with that friend who's sitting on their genius. 📱 Connect with Dr. Sheena C. Howard IG/LinkedIn: @drsheenahoward Website: sheenachoward.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
August 19 · 56 min
Ep. 90 - Beyond the Treadmill: Crafting a Life Where Movement Meets Meaning with Paul Christopher
80 percent of us skip the bare-minimum workout—and pay for it in boardrooms, bedrooms, and bank accounts. Welcome to Beyond the Quo, the show that dismantles “good-enough” living. I’m Stacey Luces, transformation & leadership strategist and founder of the Living Beyond Movement. Each week we explore courageous self-leadership and practical ways to rise above burnout. Today’s guest is Paul “PC” Christopher, founder of Gravity + Oxygen. For 20 years he’s helped clients reclaim vitality through functional training, mindset shifts, and holistic wellness. Together we unpack what it takes to lead yourself first, juggle the sandwich-generation squeeze, and design routines that stick. ⏰ Episode Roadmap • 02:32 The Sandwich Generation & Invisible Burnout • 07:02 Micro-Strategies for Busy Lives • 09:02 Building Sustainable Health Habits • 23:14 Fitness on Any Budget • 29:50 Reverse-Parenting Your Parents • 30:55 Keeping Kids Active & Engaged • 35:42 The 4 Pillars of Nutrition • 41:07 Why Community Beats Willpower • 46:25 Linking Health, Happiness, and High Performance 💡 4 Rapid-Fire Takeaways 1. Command the Day Own the early hours—hydrate, walk, or lift before anyone else’s demands hit. Morning momentum kills the “too busy” excuse. 2. Health Is Your Bullseye Sleep, water, whole foods, strength work, and cardio are non-negotiable. Nail the center, and every outer ring—family, career, community—levels up. 3. Make Movement Playful Bake joy into your workouts: dance, beach walks, Zumba, surf camp with the kids. Culture and community turn exercise from chore to lifestyle. 4. Fuse Body, Mind, and Purpose Peak leadership depends on physical energy + mental clarity + mission. Micro-shifts (meal prep, 10 K steps, resistance sessions) keep you humming in the 8-9 zone—far beyond “fine.” You’ve mastered the quo; now it’s time to live beyond. 🔥 Ready to Turn Inspiration into Action? Claim your free “Break Free from Burnout” micro-masterclass—a 30-minute power reset packed with the exact exercises and mindset prompts PC and I swear by. Grab it here ➜ stacey-luces.com/masterclass. ✨ Stay Connected • Join my free global community: Rising Beyond Power Collective → https://www.skool.com/risingbeyondglobalcommunity • Follow Beyond the Quo: Subscribe, share, and drop a 5-star review so more leaders can rise beyond. 📩 Connect with Paul • IG & LinkedIn: @pcology | @gravityandoxygen_fitness • Web: gravityandoxygen.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
August 12 · 33 min
Ep. 89 - Beyond Parenting: Gen X - Did We Make Life Too Easy for Our Kids? with Stacey Luces
Here's a trimmed version, under 4000 characters: We worked incredibly hard to give our kids what we didn't have. Now, how do we make sure we didn't also remove some of what made us capable? We wanted better for our children: better schools, more opportunities, greater security, more choices, less struggle. For many Gen X parents, especially those who grew up with less, providing those things became part of how we measured our success. But now, as our teenagers become young adults, an uncomfortable question is surfacing: Did we accidentally remove the very experiences that taught us how to handle life? In this solo episode of Beyond the Quo, Stacey Luces gets personal about raising a 16- and 19-year-old, the conversations she's having with other midlife parents, and the tension between protecting our children and preparing them to stand on their own. Drawing on research around The Anxious Generation, anti-fragility, independence, free play, and the shift from a play-based to a phone-based childhood, Stacey explores why today's young adults may have fewer chances to navigate manageable risk, resolve conflict, recover from mistakes, and build confidence through experience. But this isn't another conversation about what's wrong with "kids today." Stacey argues they don't necessarily have it easier — they have it different. Gen X compared themselves with classmates and neighbors; today's young adults compare themselves with the entire internet. We feared failure. They can experience failure publicly and permanently. Then comes the plot twist: maybe this episode isn't really about them. Maybe it's about us. Our instinct to help can become rescuing. Protection can become interference. And sometimes our own discomfort with watching the people we love struggle prevents them from developing the confidence that only comes from discovering, I can handle this myself. So how do we rewire? Stacey offers practical shifts: move from rescuing to coaching, let young adults carry appropriate weight, normalize failure and recovery, teach stewardship rather than entitlement, and model the courage, growth, risk-taking, and reinvention we hope to see in them. Maybe the goal isn't simply to help our children survive or succeed. Maybe the better question is: Who are we helping them become? 🎧 Episode Highlights 01:49 The Parenting Tension Nobody Warned Us About 02:52 Did We Overcorrect? 06:13 What The Anxious Generation Research Tells Us 11:12 Anti-Fragility: Why Some Struggle Is Necessary 12:12 How Phones Changed Childhood 14:28 They Don't Have It Easier. They Have It Different. 18:19 Signs We May Be Overprotecting 22:45 The Plot Twist 3 Key Takeaways Confidence isn't something we can give our children. It's earned through experience: solving problems, navigating discomfort, making mistakes, recovering, and realizing, I handled that. Our children don't necessarily have it easier; they have it different. We have to understand the world they're actually entering, not just recreate how we were raised. Sometimes the parent has to rewire first. Moving from rescuer to coach requires us to tolerate our own discomfort, allow appropriate struggle, ask better questions, and model resilience. The goal isn't to remove every obstacle from their path. It's to walk beside them long enough that one day they look back and realize they're walking on their own. You've already done the quo. Now it's time to go beyond. 🔥 If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, share it with someone who's been waiting too long to bet on themselves, and leave a five-star review so more leaders can join the conversation. ✨ Connect with Stacey Website: staceyluces.com Instagram: @stacey.luces LinkedIn: Stacey Luces See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
August 5 · 36 min
Ep. 88 - Beyond The Life You Didn't Choose with Stacey Luces
What if the greatest risk in life isn't failure...but becoming incredibly successful at a life you never intentionally chose? In this episode of Beyond the Quo, Stacey Luces explores one of the hardest transformations we'll ever face—not changing careers, organizations, or relationships, but becoming the fullest expression of who we're capable of becoming. Drawing from her own journey, decades of executive leadership, and research from Bronnie Ware, Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert, Gallup, the Harvard Study of Adult Development, and Angela Duckworth, Stacey examines why so many high achievers quietly settle into lives that no longer reflect who they are. She explores the hidden consequences of unrealized potential—from becoming competent at the wrong life, to allowing comfort to become a beautiful cage, to confusing responsibility with fear. Most importantly, she shares practical strategies to close the gap through small, consistent acts of courage, integrity, and alignment. Because potential isn't realized through one extraordinary decision. It's realized through thousands of ordinary ones. In this episode: • Why self-respect begins with telling yourself the truth • The hidden cost of living someone else's definition of success • Bronnie Ware's powerful lessons from people at the end of life • Why comfort can quietly become your prison • Research on fulfillment, regret, and human potential • Five practical strategies to close the gap between who you are and who you're capable of becoming • Five daily reflection questions to help you live with greater courage and intention Key Takeaways • Self-respect begins with self-honesty. Integrity isn't just telling the truth to others—it's telling yourself the truth about the life you're living. • Unrealized potential changes more than your career. It shapes your identity, relationships, leadership, and ultimately the legacy you leave behind. • Comfort can become a beautiful cage. The greatest barriers to growth often arrive disguised as stability, responsibility, and "maybe next year." • The life we regret is rarely the one we failed. More often, it's the one where we slowly settled for less than we knew was possible. • Potential isn't built through dramatic reinvention. It's built through small, repeated acts of courage, integrity, and alignment that compound over time. 🎧 Chapters 02:05 The Question of Self-Respect 06:20 The Hidden Cost of Settling 11:10 Becoming Competent at the Wrong Life 18:40 Comfort as a Beautiful Cage 24:10 What the Research Reveals About Regret 33:45 Five Strategies to Close the Gap 42:20 Five Daily Questions for a More Courageous Life You've already done the quo. Now it's time to go beyond. 🔥 If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, share it with someone who's been waiting too long to bet on themselves, and leave a five-star review so more leaders can join the conversation. ✨ Connect with Stacey Website: staceyluces.com Instagram: @stacey.luces LinkedIn: Stacey Luces See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
July 29 · 30 min
Ep. 87 - Beyond Waiting for Permission: Why You're Stuck (And How to Finally Choose Yourself)
Who are you waiting for? For so many high achievers, the biggest obstacle isn't a lack of talent, experience, or ambition. It's an invisible habit we've carried for decades: waiting for permission. Permission to ask for the promotion, to leave the job, to start the business, to set boundaries….to finally choose ourselves. In this episode of Beyond the Quo, Stacey Luces explores why so many successful leaders, especially Gen X professionals, women in leadership, and recovering overachievers, remain stuck despite being more than capable. She unpacks how years of grades, promotions, performance reviews, and external validation quietly condition us to wait for someone else to decide when we're "ready." Drawing from her own journey of leaving a successful federal executive career after a life-changing health crisis, Stacey challenges listeners to stop confusing preparation with progress and to recognize that no one is coming to hand them permission for the life they want. Backed by research from Herminia Ibarra, Ellen Langer, and Gallup, this conversation explores why action creates clarity, how invisible rules keep us stuck, and why choosing yourself is one of the greatest acts of leadership. If you've been waiting for the "right time," this episode is your reminder that there isn't one. There is only your next decision. 🎧 In This Episode 00:00 Why We Wait for Permission 02:41 How We Learn to Seek External Validation 04:30 Redefining Success, Authenticity & Courageous Leadership 10:02 My Reinvention After Burnout and Leaving Government 12:44 Why Gen X Still Waits to Be Chosen 13:53 The Research Behind the Permission Trap 16:13 The Hidden Costs of Waiting 21:14 Stop Auditioning. Start Deciding. 27:25 Practical Exercises to Choose Yourself 💡 Key Takeaways • Success can become a trap when you're still waiting for someone else to validate your next move. • Confidence doesn't come before action. It grows because of action. • Preparation can become another form of procrastination when it replaces progress. • The invisible rules that once helped you succeed may now be limiting your future. • Leadership begins the moment you stop waiting to be chosen and choose yourself. You don't need another certification. You don't need another permission slip. You need one courageous decision. You've already done the quo. Now it's time to go beyond. 🔥 If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, share it with someone who's been waiting too long to bet on themselves, and leave a five-star review so more leaders can join the conversation. ✨ Connect with Stacey Website: staceyluces.com Instagram: @stacey.luces LinkedIn: Stacey Luces See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
July 22 · 24 min
Ep. 86 - Beyond Comfort: Why the People Who Love You Should Expect More with Stacey Luces
"The people who love you shouldn't just celebrate your potential. They should expect you to live up to it." In this episode of Beyond the Quo, executive coach and founder Stacey Luces challenges one of the biggest myths about healthy relationships: that love means never making each other uncomfortable. She argues that the strongest friendships, partnerships, and leadership relationships aren't built on constant encouragement—they're built on shared accountability and a commitment to helping each other become who we said we wanted to be. Drawing on research from the Harvard Study of Adult Development and the American Society of Training and Development, Stacey explores why so many Gen X leaders quietly settle into comfortable patterns despite having enormous potential. She reflects on her own relationship with her co-founder, the tension between support and challenge, and why excuses often become the greatest threat to growth. She also shares practical strategies for creating a personal "board of directors," asking deeper questions in your relationships, giving trusted people permission to challenge you, and building a culture where accountability is an act of love rather than criticism. If you're in midlife, leading a business, raising a family, caring for aging parents, or simply trying to become the next version of yourself, this episode is a reminder that the people closest to you shouldn't just cheer you on—they should help you grow. 🎧 In This Episode 00:00 Why support without challenge isn't enough 03:45 The Gen X trap: carrying everything alone 08:20 What the Harvard longevity study teaches us about relationships 12:40 Why accountability changes behavior more than intention 18:30 The danger of comfortable excuses 23:10 How to build your personal Board of Directors 27:45 Better questions that deepen friendships and leadership 32:20 Why the people you love deserve your honesty 36:45 The challenge: stop letting each other settle 💡 Key Takeaways Real love isn't passive—it calls people forward. The healthiest relationships don't simply validate who you are today; they remind you of the person you said you wanted to become. Excuses compound just like good habits do. Left unchallenged, small compromises become comfortable patterns that quietly shape the life you never intended to build. Accountability is one of the greatest gifts you can give—or receive. Give a few trusted people permission to interrupt your excuses, challenge your thinking, and help keep you aligned with your values and goals. You've already done the quo. Now it's time to go beyond. 🔥 Feeling inspired? Don't keep it to yourself! Subscribe, share, and follow Beyond the Quo Leave a five-star review to help more leaders discover the show. ✨ Connect with Stacey Website: staceyluces.com Instagram: @stacey.luces LinkedIn: Stacey Luces See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
July 15 · 31 min
Ep. 85 - Beyond Wellness: Why Your Health Is Your Greatest Leadership Strategy with Stacey Luces
I flatlined ten years ago. Most people don't get a second chance to rethink their life. I did. And if there's one thing I know now that I didn't know then, it's this: Success means very little if your body can't come with you. Today we're talking about wellness—not as self-care—but as one of the most strategic leadership decisions you'll ever make. “What if the shame you feel in midlife is not failure, but evidence that something deeper in you is waking up?” In the episode of Beyond the Quo, host Stacey Luces discusses longevity and argues that a key competitive advantage is recovering better rather than just working harder. Drawing on her burnout, autoimmune challenges, and a near-death medical episode, she reframes wellness as a leadership and business issue tied to decision quality and nervous system health. She cites statistics from WHO, Gallup, APA, McKinsey, and Deloitte to highlight widespread stress, burnout, and midlife pressures, especially for Gen X and the sandwich generation. Stacey outlines consequences of neglecting recovery—decision fatigue, emptiness despite achievement, and leaders normalizing exhaustion—and offers strategies: redefine wellness as capacity, protect energy like money by tracking what drains/restores you, and design your life so your calendar reflects your values. She closes with reflective questions and shares her own struggles with fatigue and sleep while building We Whistle Global. 01:35 Burnout Wake Up Call 03:32 Why Wellness Is Leadership 06:24 The Data Behind Burnout 07:27 Midlife Sandwich Squeeze 12:11 When Success Feels Hollow 13:54 Leaders Normalize Exhaustion 19:50 Protect Energy Like Money 22:47 Gen X Conditioning And Rest 24:07 Women And Men In Midlife 💡 Key Takeaways: 1. Wellness is no longer a personal goal. It's a leadership strategy. The quality of your decisions, relationships, creativity, and resilience is directly connected to the health of your mind and body. In today's world, your capacity may be your greatest competitive advantage. 2. Success that costs your health is not sustainable success. Many high performers spend years building careers, businesses, and families while quietly depleting themselves. Midlife isn't about working harder—it's about redefining success in a way that allows you to enjoy the life you've built. 3. Small, intentional shifts create extraordinary change. You don't need a complete life overhaul. Protect your energy, design your calendar around your values, and build simple daily habits that restore your capacity. Wellness isn't something you earn after the work is done—it's what makes your best work possible. You’ve already done the quo—now it’s time to go beyond. 🔥 Feeling inspired? Don’t keep it to yourself! • Subscribe, share and follow Beyond the Quo and I’d deeply appreciate your five-star rating so more people can listen and learn! ✨ Connect with Stacey: staceyluces.com IG @ Stacey.Luces LinkedIn @StaceyLuces See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
July 8 · 27 min
Ep. 84 - Beyond "I'll Be Happy When...” with Stacey Luces
What if somewhere between building a successful life and carrying everyone else, you quietly lost your joy? Executive coach Stacey Luces explores why joy often disappears as people take on more responsibility, stress, and constant stimulation, leaving nervous systems rarely returning to baseline and life feeling “fine” but emotionally flat. She distinguishes joy from curated happiness and argues joy requires space - time to breathe, be bored, create, and connect - yet many postpone it for “later,” which never arrives. Stacey outlines three consequences of joylessness: emotional flatness, reduced creativity (which she says comes from curiosity, play, and rest), and relationships becoming purely functional. She offers three practical strategies: conduct a one-week “joy audit” by tracking what energizes vs. drains you, schedule joy like any other commitment, and “borrow joy” by spending time with joyful people or environments until your own returns. She closes with a challenge to interrupt patterns and do something purposeless that makes you feel alive. Highlights: • 02:38 Joy vs Busy Success • 04:49 The Big Joy Question • 05:29 Overstimulation and Stress • 08:31 The Myth of Later • 10:27 Three Consequences • 14:51 Strategies • 22:58 Final Challenge and Wrap Key Takeaways 1. Success without joy eventually becomes survival: Many high performers don't lose joy overnight. They slowly trade it for responsibility, achievement, and the belief that they'll enjoy life "once things settle down." The problem is... they rarely do. 2. Joy doesn't just improve your life - it improves your leadership: When joy disappears, creativity shrinks, relationships become transactional, and life begins to feel emotionally flat. Joy isn't a reward for success; it's one of the things that sustains it. 3. You don't have to reinvent your life - you simply have to interrupt it: Small, intentional moments of delight compound over time. By auditing what gives you energy, scheduling joy like any important meeting, and surrounding yourself with joyful people, you begin reconnecting with the version of yourself that feels most alive. You've already done the quo. Now it's time to go beyond. Feeling inspired? Don't keep it to yourself! • Subscribe, share, and follow Beyond the Quo. • If this episode resonated with you, I'd be grateful for a five-star review. It helps more leaders discover these conversations. Connect with Stacey Website: staceyluces.com Instagram: @stacey.luces LinkedIn: Stacey Luces See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
July 1 · 25 min
Ep. 83 - Small Acts, Epic Impact – Reclaim Your Power with Stacey Luces
Why saying ‘yes’ makes you powerless—and how one four-word habit changes everything. In this episode of Beyond the Quo, Stacey Luces steps in solo to discuss a crucial and recurrent theme among leaders, particularly women: owning your power. While addressing unexpected challenges, Stacey dives deep into personal experiences and client stories to outline the importance of self-leadership, authentic living, and courageous leading from within. Drawing from workshops, coaching, and personal anecdotes, she explores the costs of powerlessness, strategies to reclaim one’s power, and the significance of building supportive power circles. With actionable tips and a 7-day power audit challenge, Stacey empowers listeners to set boundaries, make clear decisions, and prioritize their well-being. Join this transformative discussion and learn how to redefine success on your own terms. 🎧 In this episode: • 01:12 The Concept of Owning Your Power • 02:25 Diverse Perspectives on Power • 05:46 The Cost of Powerlessness • 15:05 Signs of Leaking Power • 20:34 Strategies to Reclaim Your Power • 28:42 Non-Negotiables for Owning Your Power • 33:29 Building Your Inner Power Circle 💡 Key Takeaways: • Owning Your Power Isn’t Optional - Power is something you reclaim, not wait for—and if it’s left unclaimed, it leaks through over-apologizing, decision delay, and saying “yes” out of guilt. • Boundaries Build Confidence - Respecting your body, time, and energy—like saying no without explanation or carving out solo thinking time—is how you reinforce integrity and reclaim authority. • Small Shifts = Big Gains - Progress starts with tiny actions: a weekly “power audit” of what you’re saying yes to (or avoiding) and small boundary experiments recalibrate your entire life. • Cultivate a Core Power Circle - Surround yourself with a small group: a mirror (truth-teller), a firestarter (encourager), and a strategist (planner). They fuel accountability and keep you aligned. • Legacy Requires Guarding Your Light - When you own your power, you inspire others to do the same—leading courageously doesn’t just change your life; it creates ripple effects across your family, work, and community. You’ve already done the quo—now it’s time to go beyond. 🔥 Feeling inspired? Don’t keep it to yourself! Subscribe, share and follow Beyond the Quo and I’d deeply appreciate your five-star rating so more people can listen and learn! ✨ Connect with Stacey Luces: Free Global Community - Rising Beyond Power Collective: https://www.skool.com/risingbeyondglobalcommunity/about See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
June 24 · 49 min
Ep. 82 - Beyond the Followers: Own Your Story, Build Wealth & Have Creative Freedom with Dr. Sheena Howard
If you missed it the first time — consider this your sign. And if you've already heard it? Good. You're ready to hear it differently. What if everything you've been told about visibility and success is wrong? You don't need millions of followers. You don't need to wait for a publisher, platform, or gatekeeper. And you certainly don't need to water down your brilliance to fit someone else's mold. In this encore episode of Beyond the Quo, host Stacey Luces sits down with the award-winning author, filmmaker, professor, and creative powerhouse Dr. Sheena C. Howard — the first Black woman to win an Eisner Award at San Diego Comic-Con. Her success didn't come from playing the game. It came from rewriting the rules. Through her platforms Nerdworks and Power Your Research, she teaches creatives, scholars, and entrepreneurs how to own their voice, monetize their genius, and build six-figure brands — without waiting for permission. Together, they unpack the emotional labor of representation, the myth of perfection, and what it really takes to thrive as a culturally-rooted entrepreneur in spaces that weren't built for you. Whether you're an academic, a creator, or a leader building something bold — this episode will remind you: your story is your power. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
June 17 · 1 hr 3 min
Ep. 81 - Beyond 2025: Intentions, Not Resolutions Revisited with Yulimar Trumbo
"Grownups can be dream killers." This one stopped listeners in their tracks when it first aired — and it's just as relevant now. We're bringing it back because some conversations don't have an expiration date. Stacey Luces sits down with Yulimar Trumbo — investor in the future of entrepreneurs and world-class sales facilitator who has worked across 40+ countries with Fortune 500 companies, NGOs, and government sectors — for a conversation about courage, safety, and choosing possibility again. Together they explore why intentions create alignment while resolutions create pressure, why authentic connection matters more than proximity, and how protecting your time is really about protecting your life. Through personal stories about family, entrepreneurship, partnership, and change, they dig into leading yourself first, trusting what your body knows, and building "a new same page" in relationships and communities. 🎧 In this episode: 02:39 Intentions vs. resolutions 05:06 Decisions that shaped the last decade 10:47 Protecting your time and saying no 26:24 Dreams, courage, and refusing to shrink 29:07 Youth, innovation, and social entrepreneurship 39:36 Relationships, loneliness, and real connection 💡 Key takeaways worth revisiting: Intentions create alignment. Resolutions create pressure. This episode reframes goal-setting as an invitation to rise — not a demand for compliance. "No" is autonomy in motion. Self-betrayal starts small. Boundaries are built in the everyday. Courage must be protected or it will be negotiated away. When safety becomes the goal, imagination shrinks. Transformation begins with a new internal language. Swap sacrifice, balance, and guilt for integration, equanimity, and surrender — and watch how you lead, love, and choose differently. You've already done the quo — now it's time to go beyond. 🔥 Loved this episode? Subscribe, share, and leave a five-star rating so more people can listen and learn. ✨ Connect with Stacey staceyluces.com · IG @Stacey.Luces · LinkedIn @StaceyLuces ✨ Connect with Yuli LinkedIn @yulimar-trumbo See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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