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In this episode of The She Lift Project Podcast, host Cynthia Kirkpatrick sits down with Johanna Schuessler, co-owner and co-creator of Adventure Unknown. Johanna shares the inspiration behind her unique co-working and social club, which combines professional networking with curated travel experiences. She delves into how a life-changing trip to Africa with her husband sparked the idea for Adventure Unknown, aiming to connect like-minded individuals through transformative journeys.
Johanna opens up about her multifaceted career as a physician’s assistant and travel agent, discussing the challenges and rewards of balancing these roles. She recounts personal stories of overcoming significant losses, including the tragic passing of her mother and brother-in-law, and how these experiences shaped her resilience and empathy. Johanna’s journey highlights the importance of being authentic, building meaningful connections, and supporting one another in both personal and professional spheres.
Listeners will also hear about the future aspirations for Adventure Unknown, including plans for expansion and the launch of the Adventure Unknown Travel Club. Johanna’s advice for advocating for oneself in healthcare, as well as her encouragement for women to pursue their passions and take chances, provides valuable insights for anyone seeking inspiration and growth. Don’t miss this empowering and heartfelt episode filled with wisdom and practical advice.
Podcast Introduction (00:00 – 01:07)
Adventure Unknown Club Overview (01:10 – 02:26)
Inspiration Behind Adventure Unknown (02:27 – 06:11)
Unique Travel Experiences (06:12 – 08:55)
Balancing Careers and Travel (08:56 – 10:30)
Johanna’s Background (10:31 – 13:41)
Personal Loss and Resilience (13:42 – 22:08)
Career in Medicine (22:09 – 31:20)
COVID-19 Impact and Career Shift (31:21 – 39:23)
Building Community and Connections (39:24 – 49:31)
Advice and Future Plans (49:32 – 01:00:16)
Content Notice
This podcast and all She Lift Project content represents the opinions of Cynthia Kirkpatrick and her guests. The content here is for informational purposes only, and should not be taken as professional advice – financial, legal, medical, or otherwise.
Views and opinions expressed in the podcast and across all She Lift Project media channels are our own and do not represent that of our places of work. While we make every effort to ensure that the information we are sharing is accurate, we welcome any comments, suggestions, or correction of errors.
“You have to be cautious and mindful of the board of directors you invite into your head. And we as women especially listen terribly to that board of directors. And if you have one bad seat on there, one bad teacher, one bad classmate, one whatever from your history that you are listening to, it can really sabotage you.”
“You just have to do it, come back and face what is new and different and learn and grow. You can’t stop thinking. You have to keep thinking, how can I go forward with this. Nothing has to be the way it is. It isn’t going to be a straight line, it’s going to take its own path, and you have to be ready to follow that path and move forward.”
“Everybody has a light inside of them, and you have a choice. You can either use lighter fluid or an extinguisher. Same thing goes with everything. Same with people’s talents. You can either light it up or you can extinguish it.”
“If you follow this methodology, if you follow the pattern, the outcome is inevitable. You cannot mess it up because it’s just calculated moves that are in writing.”
One of the things I love to do if the opportunity presents itself as coach people, because I feel like that is the most, wow, fun, enriching thing that you can do for people. Because what happens is I believe that people behave for reasons, and you got to figure out what’s the root cause. So if someone reacts in a certain way, whether it’s anger, emotion, or whatever, there’s a reason why they’re reacting that way. And so I don’t think that people really want to react that way. They want to be their best self.
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