Empowered & Out
t’s Never Too Late to Start Over: Identity, Grief & Reinvention with Joshlyn Peace
What happens when the life you planned no longer fits the person you are becoming? In this episode of Empowered & Out: The Career Coaching Podcast , Coach Jon sits down with Joshlyn Peace—a multidisciplinary artist, writer, sculptor, published author, model, and creative leader—for an honest conversation about identity, grief, workplace leadership, creativity, and starting over. Joshlyn shares how stepping away from constant motion helped them process a season of profound change, including a corporate layoff, the loss of loved ones, changes within the modeling industry, and their evolving understanding of their bisexual and non-binary identity. They also reflect on leading an LGBTQ+ business resource group, finding their voice through leadership, refusing to reshape themselves to fit someone else’s mold, and redefining success beyond traditional expectations. This conversation is a reminder that reinvention does not have to mean becoming someone completely different. Sometimes it means releasing the expectations that no longer belong to you and becoming more fully who you have always been. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why stillness can be essential when life has changed faster than you can process What Joshlyn’s identity journey taught them about self-discovery and belonging How LGBTQ+ employee resource groups can create language, education, and connection What leadership taught Joshlyn about listening, advocacy, and finding their voice How creativity can support healing through grief, loss, and uncertainty Why authenticity and financial preparation both matter during a career transition Joshlyn’s message for anyone wondering whether it is too late to begin again Chapters 00:00 — Welcome and introduction to Joshlyn Peace 01:36 — Energy check-in and finding places of peace 03:24 — The road trip that created space for healing 05:13 — Releasing expectations and living for yourself 09:21 — Coming out as bisexual and embracing a non-binary identity 14:03 — The moment Joshlyn truly saw themself 16:17 — What workplaces need to understand about gender identity 18:06 — Leadership lessons from running an LGBTQ+ business resource group 20:40 — How leadership helped Joshlyn find their creative voice 22:19 — Navigating grief, a layoff, loss, and major change 26:02 — Rebuilding confidence when life feels uncertain 28:26 — Redefining success beyond society’s expectations 29:51 — Discovering purpose by embracing what makes you different 31:03 — What makes the next chapter exciting 31:59 — Choosing authenticity while considering financial security 35:28 — Rapid-fire questions 44:57 — Joshlyn’s advice when everything feels uncertain 48:52 — Final reflections and episode call to action If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe to Empowered & Out: The Career Coaching Podcast , share this episode with someone navigating change, loss, identity, or a career transition, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show. Feeling stuck, burned out, disconnected, or uncertain about your next career move? Connect with Coach Jon at Empowered & Out Coaching here: https://linktr.ee/empoweredandout and schedule a complimentary Career Clarity Call. You do not need to have your entire future figured out—you only need to be willing to take the next authentic step.
