Introduction

From Prima Ballerina to Student Midwife

Overcoming the "Too Strong" Label

Embracing Vulnerability and Strength

The Battle with Perfectionism

Transitioning into Midwifery

Navigating Mature-Age Study

Balancing Motherhood and Reinvention

Knowing When to Leave a Career

Letting Go of the First Love

Seeking Professional Support

Starting Fresh in a High-Pressure Role

Lessons from the Delivery Room

The Power of Control and Support

Pride in the Career Journey

Advice for Aspiring Career Changers

For almost two decades, Lana Jones was a principal dancer at the Australian Ballet, celebrated for lead roles in Swan Lake, Giselle, and The Sleeping Beauty. And still, she was told she was “too strong”. After an illustrious career, Jones stepped away from the spotlight to retrain as a midwife. In this episode, Lana joins Briana Blackett to discuss how being “too strong” has helped her soar – from the stage to the delivery room.
Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and explore a career with Victoria Police.
Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.
Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

For almost two decades, Lana Jones was a principal dancer at the Australian Ballet, celebrated for lead roles in Swan Lake, Giselle, and The Sleeping Beauty. And still, she was told she was &ldquo;too strong&rdquo;. After an illustrious career, Jones stepped away from the spotlight to retrain as a midwife. In this episode, Lana joins Briana Blackett to discuss how being &ldquo;too strong&rdquo; has helped her soar &ndash; from the stage to the delivery room.
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and <a href="https://www.police.vic.gov.au/police-officer-careers?utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_source=fw_au&amp;utm_campaign=rec-jan_2025-mfm">explore a career with Victoria Police</a>.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Become an<a href="http://futurewomen.com/"> FW member</a> to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Keep up with @futurewomen on<a href="https://instagram.com/futurewomen"> Instagram</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FutureWomen"> Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://au.linkedin.com/company/future-women">LinkedIn</a>.</li>
</ul>

Ask any woman and she'll tell you about a time when she was too something. At work, women are suffocated by stereotypes about who we should be and how we should behave.

Join Helen McCabe as she speaks with high-achieving women who bucked trends, disrupted systems and refused to quit. Women who built careers by forging their own paths.
Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Explore a career with Victoria Police.
Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development. 
Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads and X

Ask any woman and she'll tell you about a time when she was too something. At work, women are suffocated by stereotypes about who we should be and how we should behave.
Join Helen McCabe as she speaks with high-achieving women who bucked trends, disrupted systems and refused to quit. Women who built careers by forging their own paths.
<ul>
<li>Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. <a href="https://www.police.vic.gov.au/police-officer-careers">Explore a career with Victoria Police</a>.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Become an <a href="http://futurewomen.com/">FW member</a> to join the movement and fast-track your professional development. </li>
<li>Keep up with @futurewomen on<a href="https://instagram.com/futurewomen"> Instagram</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FutureWomen"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://au.linkedin.com/company/future-women"> LinkedIn</a>,<a href="https://www.threads.net/@futurewomen"> Threads</a> and<a href="https://twitter.com/futurewomen?lang=en"> X</a></li>
</ul>

Too Much: The Switch by Future Women

Too Much is back with a twist - or should we say, a pivot - for its third season: The Switch. This time, eight women share how they overcame their doubts to take the ultimate leap of faith from one profession to another. Hear about the success they found and the lessons they’d give to women following in their footsteps.
Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Explore a career with Victoria Police.
Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development. 
Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads and X

Too Much is back with a twist - or should we say, a pivot - for its third season: The Switch. This time, eight women share how they overcame their doubts to take the ultimate leap of faith from one profession to another. Hear about the success they found and the lessons they&rsquo;d give to women following in their footsteps.
<ul>
<li>Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. <a href="https://www.police.vic.gov.au/police-officer-careers">Explore a career with Victoria Police</a>.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Become an <a href="http://futurewomen.com/">FW member</a> to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Keep up with @futurewomen on<a href="https://instagram.com/futurewomen"> Instagram</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FutureWomen"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://au.linkedin.com/company/future-women"> LinkedIn</a>,<a href="https://www.threads.net/@futurewomen"> Threads</a> and<a href="https://twitter.com/futurewomen?lang=en"> X</a></li>
</ul>

Too Much by Future Women

2. Lana Jones was "too strong": from prima ballerina to delivering babies

Introduction: The Step-by-Step of The Switch

Building Your Board of Advice

Identifying Your "Why" and "Where"

Navigating Redundancy and Career Shocks

Turning Uncertainty into Clarity

The Power of Sitting in the Discomfort

Future-Proofing with AI and Soft Skills

Financial Readiness for a Pivot

Planning for the 10-Year Horizon

The Opportunity Cost of Staying Put

Transitioning into Action

Addressing the Ego During Transitions

In this season of Too Much: The Switch, we’ve met a cast of women who succeeded in the face of workplace stereotypes – and did so whilst making some major career pivots. Now, we’re turning our focus to YOUR next move. In our last bonus episode, FW founder Helen McCabe helped us figure out when it's time to make a career pivot. Today, she's talking with host Briana Blackett about the HOW. The actual steps you take when you're standing on the edge, ready to leap into something new.
Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and explore a career with Victoria Police.
Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.
Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

In this season of Too Much: The Switch, we&rsquo;ve met a cast of women who succeeded in the face of workplace stereotypes &ndash; and did so whilst making some major career pivots. Now, we&rsquo;re turning our focus to YOUR next move.&nbsp;In our last bonus episode, FW founder Helen McCabe helped us figure out when it's time to make a career pivot. Today, she's talking with host Briana Blackett about the HOW. The actual steps you take when you're standing on the edge, ready to leap into something new.
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and <a href="https://www.police.vic.gov.au/police-officer-careers?utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_source=fw_au&amp;utm_campaign=rec-jan_2025-mfm">explore a career with Victoria Police</a>.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Become an<a href="http://futurewomen.com/"> FW member</a> to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Keep up with @futurewomen on<a href="https://instagram.com/futurewomen"> Instagram</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FutureWomen"> Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://au.linkedin.com/company/future-women">LinkedIn</a>.</li>
</ul>

BONUS: Career pivot playbook – Taking the leap

Signs It’s Time to Leave

Building Your Advice Network

Managing Forced Career Transitions

The Psychology of the Leap

Shifting Identity and Research

Navigating Redundancy and Self-Worth

Future-Proofing with Adaptability

The AI and Technology Shift

The Power of Soft Skills

Knowing When to Jump

Final Advice: Looking 10 Years Ahead

In this season of Too Much: The Switch, we’ve met a cast of women who succeeded in the face of workplace stereotypes – and did so whilst making some major career pivots. Now, we’re turning our focus to YOUR next move. In the first of two bonus episodes, host Briana Blackett gets advice from Helen McCabe, founder of FW and Jobs Academy, to help you figure out when to go, where to go, and how to know if you're ready to make the switch.
Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and explore a career with Victoria Police.
Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.
Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

In this season of Too Much: The Switch, we&rsquo;ve met a cast of women who succeeded in the face of workplace stereotypes &ndash; and did so whilst making some major career pivots. Now, we&rsquo;re turning our focus to YOUR next move. In the first of two bonus episodes, host Briana Blackett gets advice from Helen McCabe, founder of FW and Jobs Academy, to help you figure out when to go, where to go, and how to know if you're ready to make the switch.
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and <a href="https://www.police.vic.gov.au/police-officer-careers?utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_source=fw_au&amp;utm_campaign=rec-jan_2025-mfm">explore a career with Victoria Police</a>.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Become an<a href="http://futurewomen.com/"> FW member</a> to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Keep up with @futurewomen on<a href="https://instagram.com/futurewomen"> Instagram</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FutureWomen"> Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://au.linkedin.com/company/future-women">LinkedIn</a>.</li>
</ul>

BONUS: Career pivot playbook: To jump or not to jump?

For years, in every performance review, Melanie Silva was told she was “too excited”. Too passionate. Not serious enough. Then she joined Google and, suddenly, that enthusiasm was exactly what was wanted. In this episode, Briana Blackett speaks with Mel – now the Vice President and Managing Director of Google Australia and New Zealand – about taking pay cuts to chase opportunities and why she's grateful she didn't get her dream job the first time around. This is a conversation about pivoting sideways and, even, backward. Because sometimes the best way up is not straight ahead.
Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and explore a career with Victoria Police.
Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.
Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

For years, in every performance review, Melanie Silva was told she was &ldquo;too excited&rdquo;. Too passionate. Not serious enough. Then she joined Google and, suddenly, that enthusiasm was exactly what was wanted. In this episode, Briana Blackett speaks with Mel &ndash; now the Vice President and Managing Director of Google Australia and New Zealand &ndash; about taking pay cuts to chase opportunities and why she's grateful she didn't get her dream job the first time around.&nbsp;This is a conversation about pivoting sideways and, even, backward. Because sometimes the best way up is not straight ahead.
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and <a href="https://www.police.vic.gov.au/police-officer-careers?utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_source=fw_au&amp;utm_campaign=rec-jan_2025-mfm">explore a career with Victoria Police</a>.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Become an<a href="http://futurewomen.com/"> FW member</a> to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Keep up with @futurewomen on<a href="https://instagram.com/futurewomen"> Instagram</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FutureWomen"> Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://au.linkedin.com/company/future-women">LinkedIn</a>.</li>
</ul>

2. Lana Jones was "too strong": from prima ballerina to delivering babies

Too Much: The Switch by Future Women

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Too Much by Future Women

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