Stepping Off The Path - Stories of courage and truth from women who finally chose themselves

About Stepping Off The Path - Stories of courage and truth from women who finally chose themselves

You did everything right - built life, the career, kept the peace, met everyone else’s expectations. But somewhere along the way, you lost the sound of your own voice. Hosted by Kelly Quiney, Stepping Off the Path shares real, unfiltered conversations with women who stopped living by “should” and started choosing themselves. These are stories of courage, truth and the messy, magnificent process of coming home to who you really are. If you’ve ever looked around your life and thought, something has to change - this is where your next beginning starts.

Publisher

Kelly Quiney

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Nov 2025

Latest episode

6 May 2026

Latest episodes

11 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 May 2026

   Ep 10 | When the Performance Stops Working: From Borrowed Power to Self-Trust

   Melissa Scialfa spent over 25 years leading inside Fortune 100 companies. From the outside, she looked successful, ambitious, and unstoppable. But underneath the performance was a growing sense that something wasn’t right. In this conversation, Melissa shares what it really looked like to build a life around achievement, external validation and what she calls “borrowed power.” We talk about ambition, imposter syndrome, burnout, the pressure to perform and the moment everything started to crack. Melissa opens up about the coughing fit moment, during a senior leadership introduction, the breakdown that forced her to stop and the process of rebuilding her life from the inside out. This is a conversation about identity, self-trust, midlife recalibration and learning how to hear your own voice underneath all the noise. If you’ve ever looked successful on the outside while quietly struggling on the inside, this episode will resonate deeply. Find Melissa on: Substack (https://melissascialfa.substack.com) Book Your Power-Up Leadership Energy Audit (https://coaching.melissascialfa.com/home) Special offer for Stepping Off the Path listeners: Take the Leadership Energy Assessment ELI diagnostic + 90-minute personal debrief at the exclusive listener rate of $197 (https://coaching.melissascialfa.com/offers/eli-welcome) 🧭 Chapters Melissa’s Childhood & The Briefcase Story Performance, Ambition & Feeling Safe Wall Street, Leadership & High Achievement The Hidden Imposter Behind Success The Coughing Fit Moment What ‘Borrowed Power’ Really Means Burnout, Relationships & Losing Herself The Nike Move & Hitting the Wall Leaving Everything & Starting Again Grace, Patterns & Rebuilding Self-Trust Midlife Recalibration & Finding Her Voice Love, Worthiness & What’s Possible Now

2. 

   22 Apr 2026

   Ep 09 | Between the Conversations: Why I Want to be a Slow Coach

   Something's different about this episode. This is the first of a new format: one guest episode and one shorter solo episode from me each month. This is the solo one. I'm talking about something I've been genuinely fed up with - the way women are being sold change right now. The 30/60/90 day promises. The social media posting plans. The endless noise that leaves women questioning themselves rather than the system when it doesn't work. Then I'm talking about why I want to be a slow coach and why I actually believe change can happen in an instant, but only once we've slowed down enough to see what's been holding us back. That's the part nobody's talking about. If this resonates, I write more about it over on Substack - Notes from the Slow Path. Link below: Kelly's Substack (https://kellyquiney.substack.com/)

3. 

   24 Feb 2026

   Ep 08 | When Knowing Isn’t Enough: Phyllis Leon on The Health Gap Many Women Live In

   In this episode of Stepping Off The Path, I speak with Phyllis Leon about what happens when the way we’ve been taught to approach health stops working and what becomes possible when we begin to listen more deeply. Phyllis Leon is a Woman-Centered Transformational Coach who helps high-functioning women align their health with the level of success they already embody in other areas of their lives. After a 36-year career as a senior technology executive, she experienced firsthand the quiet frustration many capable women carry - knowing what supports their wellbeing, yet struggling to live it consistently. That realisation became her turning point. Today, Phyllis helps women navigate what she calls the knowing–doing gap. The invisible middle where informed, accomplished women often feel stuck. Through coach-supported partnerships, she supports clients to move beyond self-blame, understand the hidden barriers shaping their choices and reconnect with their bodies, self-trust, and agency. In this conversation, Phyllis introduces the concept of Pill-itics - not as a judgement of personal medical choices, but as a way of naming the wider cultural and systemic narratives that can keep women focused on symptom management rather than deeper understanding. Together, we explore how self-trust gets eroded, why real change isn’t about willpower, and how Phyllis’s Plate–Power–Potential framework helps women move from insight into sustainable action. If you’ve ever felt like you’re coping, pushing through, and quietly overriding yourself, this conversation will meet you with compassion, clarity and hope. 🎧 Chapters 00:00 — Introduction Stepping Off The Path theme and episode framing 01:50 — When the old way stops working Phyllis’s story and recognising survival mode 10:15 — The knowing–doing gap and the invisible middle Why insight doesn’t always lead to change 13:24 — Naming pill-itics Understanding the system shaping women’s health experiences 22:04 — Plate, Power, Potential Phyllis’s framework for closing the gap 28:07 — What becomes possible beyond survival mode Energy, clarity, purpose, and possibility 34:31 — A message of hope for women feeling stuck What Phyllis wants listeners to hear 39:18 — Closing reflections Wholeness and outro Find Phyllis: Phyllis Leon - Website (https://phyllisleon.com/) Phyllis Leon - LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/phyllis-leon-848217190/) Are You Caught in the pill-itics Trap? (https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/68716209c4a307001565a235)

4. 

   6 Feb 2026

   Ep 07 | When the Story Becomes Yours - Suzanne Spencer on illness, identity & choosing what's next

   Suzanne Spencer spent over a decade as a broadcast journalist - the person on the other end of the phone, telling other people’s stories and reporting on moments that changed lives. Then, in 2021, she received a phone call that changed the trajectory of her own life: a brain tumour diagnosis. In this episode of Stepping Off The Path, Suzanne shares what it’s like to go from reporting the news to becoming the story and how that moment reshaped her identity, her pace, and what mattered most. We talk about the power of mindset, the role of support and community and the quiet bravery of advocating for yourself when you know something isn’t right. Suzanne also shares the second wave of her journey -navigating debilitating migraines during pregnancy, giving birth to her daughter Jane and undergoing a second brain surgery just two weeks later and how that experience ultimately led her to step away from TV news and launch Suzanne Speaks, a writing and speaking business rooted in impact. This is a conversation about uncertainty, mortality and meaning and the question we all reach eventually: when you look ahead now… what feels possible? Content note: This episode includes conversation about serious illness, brain surgery, pregnancy, and the emotional reality of navigating uncertainty. We don’t go into graphic medical detail, but some listeners may find parts of this episode tender. Chapters 01:20 — Content note 01:53 — Becoming the story 03:10 — Life before the diagnosis 07:44 — The phone call that changed everything 11:19 — Choosing mindset over fear 18:59 — Perspective, gratitude, and uncertainty 21:39 — Community and connection 24:50 — Listening to intuition and self-advocacy 30:11 — Pregnancy, relapse, and a second surgery 33:33 — Returning to work — and realizing it no longer fits 37:38 — Leaving TV and starting again 42:00 — Finding purpose through impact 44:28 — Advice for anyone in an intolerable season 46:12 — What feels possible now 50:01 — Closing reflection Find Suzanne: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/suzannespencer/) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/suzannespencertv/) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzannespeaks/) www.suzannespeaks.com (https://www.suzannespeaks.com/)

5. 

   18 Dec 2025

   Ep 06 | When the Life that Looked Fine was Quietly Breaking Me - Kelly Quiney

   n this deeply personal episode of Stepping Off The Path, the roles are reversed as host Kelly Quiney is interviewed by her close friend and fellow coach, Nicky Gibbs. Kelly shares her own story - from a well-paid, well-respected career that looked impressive from the outside, to quietly falling apart on the inside. She speaks honestly about fear, burnout, losing her sense of belonging after returning to work following her second child and the moment her body finally said no. This episode is about the freeze that keeps so many women stuck, the cost of staying silent and the power of small, honest steps when you don’t yet know what comes next. If you’ve ever thought “I can’t keep doing it like this… but I don’t know how to change” - this conversation is for you. Find Kelly: Website: kellyquineycoaching.com (http://kellyquineycoaching.com) LinkedIn: Kelly Quiney Coaching (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-quiney-coaching/) IG: Kelly Quiney Coaching IG (https://www.instagram.com/kellyquineycoaching/) FB: Kelly Quiney Coaching FB (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559947017418) Chapters 00:01 – Introduction: When the roles are reversed 01:42 – Why this podcast exists 03:02 – Who this podcast is really for 04:04 – The career that looked perfect on paper 05:31 – Fear, “shoulds,” and staying too long 07:39 – Returning to work after children & losing your place 08:41 – When the body finally says no 10:29 – Fear, uncertainty, and the sofa season 12:26 – Learning how to ask for help 13:21 – The caretaker pattern 14:33 – Burnout, imposter beliefs & freeze 16:32 – Shame, silence & speaking the truth 18:40 – Freeze, small steps & breaking the silence 21:06 – What matters now 23:30 – A message for the woman who’s scared to change 26:17 – Closing reflection Note: This podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only and does not replace professional medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. Closing: If this episode resonated, please subscribe, follow, or share it with a woman who might need to hear it. You’re not behind. You’re not broken. And you’re allowed to change.

6. 

   4 Dec 2025

   Ep 05 | Stop Outsourcing Your Happiness - Julie Ciardi on Courage, Self-Responsibility & Freedom

   In this episode, I’m joined by Julie Ciardi - founder of Ignite Her, author of 50 Not Finished, Human Design for Business expert and a woman who wakes up at 4 a.m. on purpose! We talk about the moment she realised she couldn’t keep living a life that looked perfect on the outside but felt wrong on the inside and how she moved from guilt and external validation to true freedom and self-responsibility. This episode is for the woman who is tired, overwhelmed or quietly falling apart… and needs hope, compassion and a path forward. We explore: Why women outsource their happiness (and how to stop) How Julie navigated guilt, financial strain and staying true to her vision What self-responsibility actually means and how to avoid turning it into self-blame Discovering Human Design and moving from “this is nonsense” to “this is my work” How courage feels before it looks What “raising your frequency” means in real life, not woo woo Redefining success in the Era of the Individual And the one thing future-you will thank you for starting today 🎧 Chapters 00:00 — Intro Chapters 01:08 — Success on paper, restless inside 05:42 — The nursery moment & what had been building 10:55 — Staying with the dream when life gets messy 15:10 — Outsourcing happiness vs owning it 20:48 — Self-responsibility without self-blame 25:51 — Discovering Human Design (and thinking it was nonsense) 32:30 — From personal tool to global mission 36:12 — What “raising your frequency” actually means 41:09 — Courage in real life, not theory 46:53 — The Era of the Individual 52:05 — Hope for the woman in non-possibility 56:12 — What future Julie will thank her for 58:03 — Closing Find Julie: 🟣 Website: julieciardi.com (https://www.julieciardi.com/) 🟣 Instagram: @julieciardi (https://www.instagram.com/julieciardi/) 🟣 Book: 50 Not Finished (https://www.amazon.com/50-Not-Finished-Manifesto-Re-IGNITE-ebook/dp/B0F92SKQN9?ref_=ast_author_dp&th=1&psc=1) Find Kelly: 🟣 Website: kellyquineycoaching.com (https://www.kellyquineycoaching.com/) 🟣 Instagram: @kellyquiney (https://www.instagram.com/kellyquineycoaching/) 🟣 LinkedIn: Kelly Quiney Coaching (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-quiney-coaching/)

7. 

   20 Nov 2025

   Ep 04 | From Surviving to Serving - Lisa Tregenza's Deep Healing Journey Beyond Trauma

   This isn’t a story about leaving - it’s a story about rising. A woman who went from surviving trauma to helping others reclaim their power. In this powerful episode, mindset and movement coach Lisa Tregenza shares her journey from an unhealthy and unsafe relationship marked by coercive control, financial abuse, and years navigating the family court system - to rebuilding a life rooted in deep healing, embodiment and service. This is not the simplified story of “she should just leave.” It’s the truth - the cost, the grief, the time lost and the nervous system toll. And it’s also the story of the moment everything began to shift: a yoga mat, her breath and a single question -“How am I going to do this?” We explore: How yoga, somatic movement and affirmations became Lisa’s lifeline The real emotional, financial and relational cost of leaving Why “just leave” is a harmful and uninformed narrative The difference between red flags and the “orange flags” that quietly shrink you How Lisa now supports women through trauma-informed somatic work The tiny daily decisions that kept her going - breath, gratitude, journaling What it means to take your power back after everything has been taken from you The one truth every woman needs to remember: you are enough If you’re in that in-between place, wondering how to take the next step, Lisa’s story is a reminder that you’re not broken and you’re not alone. Chapters 00:00 – Welcome & podcast intro 00:41 – Content note: domestic violence & trauma disclaimer 01:31 – Introducing Lisa & the shape of today’s conversation 02:47 – Motherhood, identity & the work Lisa does now 06:40 – Yoga, trauma & finding safety on the mat 15:13 – The real cost of leaving: money, courts, friendships & nervous system 20:27 – “Why doesn’t she just leave?” Being believed & orange flags 30:23 – Beginning her own healing: coaching, energetic cords & trauma training 37:07 – Tiny practices that kept her going: breath, gratitude & journaling 47:48 – Holding space differently & one truth every woman needs to remember 👩💼 Lisa Tregenza – Contact Details Website: lisatregenza.com (http://lisatregenza.com) Instagram: @lisatregenza.coach (https://www.instagram.com/lisatregenza.coach/) Facebook: Lisa Tregenza – Movement & Mindset Coach (https://www.facebook.com/lisatregenzayoga) Offerings: Intune Yoga Daily (https://intune.yoga/), The Intune Circle, 1:1 coaching and women’s retreats Support Agency Numbers (New Zealand) In an emergency: Call 111 24/7 Domestic/Family Violence support: Are You OK (Family Violence Info Line): 0800 456 450 - 24/7 Women’s Refuge Crisis Line: 0800 733 843 Shine Helpline: 0508 744 633 (24/7) 0800 LIFELINE: 0800 54 33 54

8. 

   6 Nov 2025

   Ep 01 | An Awful Diagnosis at 24 & the Brand Born From It

   At 24, Anna Kempt’s body fell apart overnight. The diagnosis: psoriatic arthritis. The prescription: meds for life. Instead, Anna followed an inner "no" - pursuing food, environment, herbal support and stress reduction practices while navigating the very real fear and fatigue of chronic illness. In this conversation, we talk about refusing stories that don’t fit, the kitchen-floor moment that sparked a mission and how Olympia & Orla - her natural skincare brand was born from a promise to make beauty that is truly natural, indulgent and functional. Find Anna Website: olympiaandorla.com (http://olympiaandorla.com) LinkedIn: Anna Kempt (https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-kempt-2055649b?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app) Instagram: olympiaandorla (https://www.instagram.com/olympiaandorla) tiktok: @olympiaandorla (https://www.tiktok.com/@olympiaandorla?_r=1&_t=ZS-918TRBsF0Dd) Chapters 00:00 - Opening & content note 01:38 - Meet Anna: life before symptoms 02:46 - The diagnosis: psoriatic arthritis 05:30 - When pain spreads & life shrinks 09:54 - “Incurable” and the decision to refuse 12:14 - Food, genes and pushback from the system 15:28 - Heat therapy, TCM and fixing environment 22:50 - The shower-floor moment → brand spark 34:36 - Ingredients philosophy 41:05 - Reviews, what’s next and health today Disclaimer This episode includes discussion of health, medication and personal healing choices. These are personal experiences, not medical advice. Please seek guidance from a qualified professional for your own health decisions. End note: If this episode helped you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review - it helps more women find these conversations. For resources and ways to work with me visit: kellyquineycoaching (https://www.kellyquineycoaching.com/clarity-blueprint)

9. 

   6 Nov 2025

   Ep 03 | Turning Pain into Purpose - Trauma, Addiction, Motherhood & the Power of Healing

   When your situation becomes intolerable, change isn’t optional, it’s the only way forward. In this powerful episode, Abby Teixeira, woman-centered trauma recovery coach, author, speaker and founder of the Reclaim & Rise movement - shares how she turned years of addiction, shame and generational pain into a legacy of healing and hope. We talk about what it means to be a cycle-breaker, how colonisation shapes identity and self-worth, the intersection of addiction and trauma and how community, culture and motherhood became her medicine. If you’ve ever whispered “there has to be more than this,” this conversation is proof that a different life is possible. Find Abby: Instagram - @uh.vee (https://www.instagram.com/uh.vee) LinkedIn - Abigail Teixeira (https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigail-teixeira-40269123b?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app) Book with Abby - complimentary leadership breakthrough & lead by design mini analysis session (https://calendly.com/abbyteixeira/connect-call?month=2024-11) Chapters: 00:00 – Intro + content note 01:29 – Meet Abby 06:00 – Early years: migration, war, and generational trauma 24:32 – Survival mode and self-medication 29:18 – The wake-up call: jail and surrender 33:19 – Recovery in community; relapse as a lesson 42:31 – Motherhood, rage and re-parenting the inner child 51:59 – What’s possible now + smallest next step 57:26 – Reclaim & Rise + outro Content note: This episode discusses trauma, complex PTSD, addiction and recovery, colonisation and racism, grief and anger. Please listen with care. Support (NZ): 1737 | Alcohol Drug Helpline 0800 787 797 | Lifeline 0800 543 354 If you’re in immediate danger, please contact emergency services. For resources and ways to work with me visit: kellyquineycoaching (https://www.kellyquineycoaching.com/clarity-blueprint)

10. 

    6 Nov 2025

    Ep 02 | Stepping Off the Path Twice: Dianna Hanken on Listening, Trusting & Acting

    When the life that looks perfect no longer feels right, change isn’t rebellion, it’s remembering who you are. In this episode, travel blogger, certified coach, TEDx speaker and author - Dianna Hanken shares how she walked away from a 20 year marriage and successful real estate career and later, sold everything to follow spirit across the Americas. We talk about what it means to listen, trust and act when everything familiar falls away, the difference between stepping off the path to escape versus expand and how learning to surrender turned loss into freedom. Find Dianna: Website - www.diannahanken.com (http://www.diannahanken.com) TEDx talk - Dianna Hanken TEDx (https://youtu.be/qGNhjNMEv6o) Travel with me - Dianna Hanken Travel (https://www.diannahanken.com/travel) Instagram - @diannahanken (https://www.instagram.com/diannahanken/) Substack - Dianna Hanken Substack (https://diannahanken.substack.com) Youtube Travel channel -  @diannahankenyoutube (https://www.youtube.com/@diannahanken) Book: The Destiny Path (https://www.amazon.com/Destiny-Path-Dianna-Hanken/dp/1504379888/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1498494744&sr=8-1) Chapters 00:00 – Intro + content note 01:39 – Meet Dianna & episode setup 02:29 – The moment she knew she couldn’t keep living that way 04:32 – Finding courage and community after walking away 07:45 – Listening to spirit and learning to trust 13:19 – The aftermath of leaving a “perfect” life 15:43 – Writing a book in one day & stepping onto the TEDx stage 20:23 – The second leap: selling everything and travelling the Americas 24:43 – Losing her job and choosing faith over fear 33:00 – What Listen • Trust • Act™ really means in practice 44:22 – Small steps to begin again + outro Content note: This episode includes discussion of divorce, burnout and job loss. Please listen with care. For resources and ways to work with me visit: kellyquineycoaching (https://www.kellyquineycoaching.com/clarity-blueprint)

11. 

    2 Nov 2025

    Stepping off the Path - Trailer

    There comes a moment when you can’t keep pretending everything’s fine - when something inside you whispers, “this isn’t it.” Stepping off the Path is a podcast about what happens next. Hosted by transformational life coach Kelly Quiney, these are real conversations with women who’ve faced burnout, big decisions and brave changes and found the courage to begin again. Through honest stories of self-discovery, purpose and possibility, each episode is a reminder that even when you can’t see the way forward, it’s still there - waiting. For anyone who’s ever wondered, “there has to be more than this.”

Contact Stepping Off The Path - Stories of courage and truth from women who finally chose themselves

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.