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A single journal Natalie Valmary carried on a family trip through Asia sparked one of the most beautiful brands I’ve ever encountered, and reminded me how important it is not to wait on your dreams.

In this episode, I sit down with Natalie, the founder of Louise Carmen, to talk about creativity, reinvention, and what it looks like to build a business that’s deeply personal. Natalie shares how her idea took shape during a year of ...

Feeling stuck might have less to do with your circumstances and more to do with only seeing one version of who you are.

As May rolled in, I realized I hadn’t made the progress I hoped for this year, and that left me feeling stuck. I’ve heard the same thing from so many smart, accomplished women in business who are committed to personal development but still feel like something’s missing.

I started asking myself: are we stuck, o...

Writing cracked open a new version of me that reshaped my identity, my community and my business.

For years, I didn’t think of myself as a writer. But when I started journaling, just a few sentences each morning, it became one of the most important tools in my self-development. Writing helped me make sense of what I was feeling, especially during hard times. It reminded me of the strength I’d already shown and helped me reconnect...

Building a business that actually feels like you starts with knowing the season you’re in and letting go of who you think you’re supposed to be.

I had the absolute joy of sitting down with Molly Balint for a conversation that felt equal parts grounding and eye-opening. Molly is the founder of the SOFT business movement, and someone I’ve admired for years, not just for the work she does, but for how she does it. From her family fa...

We contain multitudes, and learning to honor every version of ourselves might be the most honest kind of authenticity.

After living in Paris for more than 20 years, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about identity, why we feel different in certain places, how we show up in different roles, and what it really means to find your voice.

In this episode, I’m sharing some of my own reflections, what it’s like to be an introvert who ...

We often wait for big moments to feel joyful. But what if the magic is actually in the small ones?

In this episode, I reflect on how living in Paris has taught me to find beauty in the everyday. While my life might sound glamorous from the outside, the truth is it’s quiet, simple, and wonderfully routine. And yet, something about the way Parisians move through the world has shifted how I see my own day-to-day.

From how they int...

A French dinner party has taught me more than I ever expected about French culture, personal discovery, and the way we connect with each other.

After two decades of living in Paris, I’ve come to see these dinners as so much more than a meal. What strikes me most is how much thought goes into who’s invited, where they sit, and how the evening unfolds. Why does that matter? Because conversation is the heart of it all. And sometimes...

The boldest move I’ve seen isn’t building a dream life. It’s walking away from one when it no longer feels like yours.

When I met Eugenie Lambert Buckstein, I knew I wanted to share her story. She started in law, built a career in journalism, landed a job at CNN, and then walked away from all of it. Not because she failed, but because she started listening to herself more than anyone else.

In our conversation, Eugenie opens up ...

As I celebrate the one-year anniversary of “The French Ingredient,” I’ve been reflecting on how book writing became an unexpected tool for personal development. What started as a guide to doing business in France turned into something much bigger: a memoire of reinvention, resilience, and the lessons hidden in life’s detours.

Writing through the uncertainty of the pandemic helped me process past experiences and recognize my own g...

Strength is built in life’s toughest moments, but I’ve learned that those moments can also reveal something beautiful. Challenges shape us, resilience grows, and meaning can be found even in adversity.

March has always been a month of change for me. It’s a time of renewal, but it also carries reminders of hardship. Five years ago, the world changed in ways we never expected. That experience made me reflect on how joy and struggle...

Your dreams are a secret garden; how you care for them shapes what flourishes and what fades.

I’ve learned that personal growth and transformation are a lot like tending a garden. After leaving Chicago and building a new life in Paris, I realized that our inner dreams need patience, care, and the right environment to thrive. In this episode, I share the idea of a jardin secret, a secret garden where we plant our hopes and nurture...

Rethinking success starts with a simple shift: experiment, stay curious, and let learning lead the way.

I’m sitting down with neuroscientist and entrepreneur Anne-Laure Le Cunff to talk about neuroscience, creativity, and personal transformation. What happens when we stop chasing a predefined version of success and start treating life as a series of experiments? Anne-Laure shares how a health scare pushed her to leave corporate l...

What does it really mean to “be French”? Is it about the way I tie my scarf, the handbag I carry, or how I order my coffee? Or is there something deeper?

After more than two decades of living in Paris, I’ve wrestled with these questions myself. As an American woman running a business here, I’ve felt the pressure to fit in. But over time, I realized something surprising—my strength came from not trying to.

In this episode, I’m s...

Success isn’t a finish line. It’s a long, unpredictable road filled with setbacks, small wins, and lessons along the way.

After completing a long-awaited renovation for my business, La Cuisine, I felt uneasy with the word success as people congratulated me. The glossy finish doesn’t tell the full story. This journey took seven years of struggles, delays, and setbacks that tested my patience and perseverance. I see this milestone ...

Creativity isn’t reserved for artists—it’s how we solve problems, express ourselves, and reimagine what’s possible. But what happens when self-doubt creeps in or inspiration feels out of reach?

Jane Bertch sits down with illustrator and author Jessie Kanelos Weiner to talk about the creative process, embracing imperfection, and the unexpected paths that shape our work. Jessie shares her journey from Chicago to Paris, where she arri...

Role models shape how we see ourselves and who we become, yet many women hesitate to claim that title. Why do young women confidently identify their role models while seasoned professionals shy away from the idea?

Jane Bertch unpacks this disconnect, sharing insights from her research and personal experience. She breaks down the difference between mentors, sponsors, and role models, explaining why all three play a role in persona...

Taking risks and embracing change are essential for personal transformation, and in this episode, Jane Bertch shares how curiosity, creativity, courage, and community serve as powerful tools for personal development. 

Drawing on her own leap from Chicago to Paris and her journey of building a business, Jane offers her view on what it really takes to embrace change. How does curiosity help you take that first step? Why does creati...

Thoughtfully asking for help isn’t just about solving problems, but also about building meaningful relationships. For Jane Bertch, this practice has been a cornerstone of her personal and professional growth. Drawing from her years as a business owner in France, Jane contrasts the shallow, one-sided act of “picking people’s brains” with the enriching experience of fostering reciprocal relationships that allow both parties to grow a...

Building trust and thriving in France means embracing patience, cultivating meaningful relationships, and balancing confidence with humility. Drawing from 20 years of life in France, Jane Bertch shares insights and life lessons that show the unique cultural values shaping her experience. 

Jane reflects on the deep investment required to build relationships, where trust and understanding take precedence over quick connections, and...