Second Act Success Blog

If you’re ready to make 2026 the year you start a business, grow your business, or finally bring those long-held dreams to life, you’re in the right place, my friend. Because guess what? success doesn’t come from big goals alone. It comes from the tiny steps you take every single month to bring those goals […]

What if you could start a profitable podcast and personal brand before you ever quit your 9–5? In this inspiring episode of the Second Act Success podcast, Shannon Russell talks with Francesca (Fran) Stone, founder of 9 to 5 Mom with a Pod—a podcast and consulting platform that helps mom content creators launch personal brands and grow with purpose.   Listen on Apple […]

Play-based learning for businesses helps employees reconnect with creativity. In boardrooms and Zoom meetings around the world, teams are struggling with the same challenges: communication breakdowns, creative fatigue, and strategic misalignment. Employees are craving connection, purpose, and a little fun. Leaders are searching for new ways to inspire innovation and collaboration in a workplace that […]

Ready for your sign that now is the time to write that book? In this special episode of the Second Act Success Podcast, business coach, author, and host Shannon Russell celebrates an incredible wave of second act authors who published books in 2025—right alongside her own book, Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a […]

You can absolutely build a successful business on your own… but you’ll grow faster and stronger when you work alongside other supportive women. Trust me, as a mom and a business coach, I know firsthand how lonely entrepreneurship can be when you’re trying to grow a business from your kitchen table, pitching clients during your […]

If you’re a mom who feels like you’ve lost yourself in motherhood, I see you! Join the Second Act Success Podcast host Shannon Russell, business coach for women and author of Start Your Second Act, sits down with former teacher turned stay-at-home mom and community builder Michelle DeKeyser, founder of Mama Genius and the Mama […]

What I’m Grateful For This Year: Business Wins, Family Moments & Second Act Transformations In this special Thanksgiving episode of the Second Act Success Podcast, host Shannon Russell, business coach, author, and mom of two, reflects on the incredible milestones, personal growth, and business breakthroughs that made 2025 a transformational year.   Listen on Apple | […]

Have you ever considered opening a franchise business? If you’ve ever dreamed of being your own boss, but still want the structure, branding, and support of an established business…owning a franchise might be the perfect second act for you. As a former franchisee, I think of a franchise as a “business in a box.” When […]

Ready to trade burnout for a life that actually fits? In this empowering episode, Shannon Russell talks with Dani Cee, a former Chief Marketing Officer who walked away from a 20-year corporate career to launch the Happy Life Agenda and work as an empowerment consultant. Dani shares the moment she knew the 9–5 was costing […]