Summary

In this episode, Courtney interviews Natalie Pointe about her journey from working in big tech to opening a teeny tiny bookstore called Schmendricks. They talk about her journey from her internship at Facebook right out of college; the importance of finding your community and (of course) supporting indie bookstores. She shares how she took steps forward that were the right size for her.

After Facebook, Google and various start ups, Natalie Pointe felt big tech wasn't creating a future she wanted to be part of anymore. So, she found a tech company she felt aligned with - Libro.fm.

Then, she fulfilled a lifelong dream of working the book industry. She rented a space and opened a tiny bookshop in Wilton, CT called Schmendricks.

Listen in as we talk about how she decided to take the leap, when she knew it was the right time and how it's all coming together today.

Recommendations:

• I Cheerfully Refuse: Print and Audio
• The Last Unicorn: Print and Audio
• An Immaculate Deception: Print and Audio
• Libro.fm, Bookshop.org and Libby
  
  

Links:

Instagram: @schmendricks

Website: https://www.schmendricks.shop/

Key Topics

• Natalie Ponte's career transition from tech to books
• The significance of supporting indie bookstores
• How small businesses impact local communities
• The role of books in fostering community and empathy
• Challenges and joys of running a tiny bookstore
• The meaning behind the name Schmendrix and its symbolism
• Balancing a full-time job with a passion project
• The importance of community events and collaborations
• Reflections on personal growth and following passions

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EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconic_owl

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)

Do you have a creative project that you dream about but that never quite gets any time or attention? After all, after work there's not much energy, time or attention left.

You'll like Sheila's story.

During the day, Sheila Kazan creates programs and experiences designed to help teams thrive at Slack. She's really good at what she does. It's a demanding full-time role.

But, Sheila is a storyteller at heart. She's the creator and host of Small Talk with Sheila, where she explores the messy, funny, and very human parts of life. She produces a YouTube channel, podcast and more. Her commitment to this creative expression has caused her to better understand herself, build confidence and make a personal commitment not to quit.

Listen to hear more about building a creative life outside of work.

In the episode, I talk about (and recommend) The Perfectionists Guide to Losing Control, by Katherine Morgan Schafler.

YOUTUBE: @SmallTalkWithSheila

POD: Small Talk with Sheila (links to Spotify)

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EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconic_owl

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)

Today's guest found a transformation after burnout and chronic illness.

From founding a groundbreaking incubator for musicians and artists in the Bay Area to finding her own healing and then becoming a Depth Hypnosis practitioner, Vinitha Watson finds her way.

Vinitha Watson is a certified Hypnotherapist, Depth Hypnosis Practitioner, and the Founder of Zoo Labs, an arts entrepreneurship organization dedicated to empowering people of color. With over two decades of experience, Vinitha has focused on helping individuals overcome internal obstacles, empowering them to heal and thrive, and creating transformative spaces for healers to deepen their own journeys.

Previously, she led a pioneering wellness initiative at Johns Hopkins Medical Residency, introducing wellness tools for medical doctors—a program that has since influenced residency programs nationwide. Vinitha integrates energy medicine, shamanic practices, Buddhist psychology, a degree in Sociology, and training in Psychology with South Indian knowledge systems. This unique perspective helps provide a safe, supportive space for her clients to explore their inner worlds, interpret subconscious patterns, and transform their suffering into greater awareness. Her mission is to help clients uncover the unseen, foster healing through deeper consciousness and understanding, and empower them to reclaim their own agency.

InnerAgency: Vinitha's healing practice

ZooLabs: supporting music creators – empowering them to fully own and expand their creative paths. We bridge the worlds of music and business by providing artist-tailored entrepreneurial training.

Sacred Stream: A School for Consciousness Studies in Berkeley, CA

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EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconic_owl

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)

Jeremy Loughnot is the founder of Consilio, a search practice placing senior and founding designers at venture-backed companies. Before that he spent eleven years building design recruiting at Meta, where the design team went from twenty five people to more than three thousand. He now runs portfolio reviews for designers and writes about what the hiring market is actually asking for.

The Portfolio Guide: Reads 114 live design requisitions. Here is what they actually ask for, what you can already evidence, and the questions you will be asked about it. About four minutes, and nothing is stored.

Learn more about Consilio: A boutique design search practice. We work with VC-backed startups on Design: people managers, principal designers, and specialized hires like design engineering.

Connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail

EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconic_owl

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)

Hey! It's me. I've got some great episodes in the works coming to you very soon. But after almost two years of making the podcast, I have some reflections about what I've learned and how this project has changed me. And bonus! Some updates on past guests that are doing amazing things.

Check it out.

Send us Fan Mail

EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconic_owl

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)

Ella Taylor a financial planner and is the CEO of Ella Financial Advising. She spends her days talking to people all about their money - and more importantly how they are using their money to create the life they want.

Ella Financial Advising's mission is to make financial planning more inclusive and to use investing as a force for planetary wellbeing.

At the core of her work is the belief that money is one of the most powerful tools we have to not only to provide freedom and stability for ourselves, but also to shape the future of our planet.

She believes sustainable investing is not just about avoiding harm, but about actively participating in the transition toward healthier systems—financial, social, and ecological. Through steady, values‑aligned action, Ella Financial Advising supports clients in using their money to care for both themselves and the world they are part of.

Website: ellafinancialadvising.com

Send us Fan Mail

EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconic_owl

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)

Cory Gerlach is a writer and ocean sailor currently living on a sailboat in Guatemala. With a Harvard PhD in biomedical science and years of government work, he decided to pivot towards a life filled with self-discovery.

He wasn't a sailor when he started. In fact, Cory Gerlach was on a successful path in a stable, government job. But 10 years in, his question was not just about his career choices, but about redefining success and embracing an adventurous life.

He wanted to live a life aligned with his values. And he knew it wouldn't be easy.

In this episode, we’ll explore Cory’s journey from a secure federal job to sailing across the seas, uncovering insights on courage, resilience, and the beauty of living authentically.

He shares how he planned his exit ramp, what went wrong, and how he's resiliant because he expects things to be hard.

His essays on Substack, "Radical Paths," explore the challenges and joys of living a life true to oneself.

Substack: @RadicalPaths

LinkedIn: @CoryVGerlach

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EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconic_owl

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)

Mary-Lynne Williams is the CEO & Founder of Buffalo Firefly in NYC and Richmond VA. Buffalo Firefly is an Energy Wellness Company whose core mission is to bring the power of sound & energy medicine to the masses, allowing us to recalibrate and elevate from surviving to thriving. Energy medicine and sound healing allow us to regulate our nervous systems as a regular practice, encourage mindful presence, & invite people to achieve more abundance in all aspects of life — resulting in a deeper connection with their soul, the universe & their infinite potential.

Before stepping into this work, she spent over two decades in the tech industry as a product design leader, including roles at Microsoft, Meta, and Zillow, where she shaped complex digital products, led teams, and worked at the intersection of systems thinking, user experience, and human behavior. She left her career in 2019 at the age of 48 to pursue peace & purpose. She evolved her leadership & coaching skills, reiki master training & general ability to do whatever the f*ck she wants to build a strong, successful brand.

Her career in tech was successful by every external measure. Yet over time, Mary-Lynne began to recognize a growing disconnect between the work she was doing and the way she wanted to live in her purpose. She increasingly found herself in a chronic physical & mental health crisis and bravely chose to pivot.
Her story is not about leaving ambition behind, but about redefining success—trusting discernment, and choosing work that feels sustainable not just intellectually, but physically, emotionally, and spiritually as well.

Instagram: @buffalofirefly or @buffalofirefly.nyc

Shop & book appointments: www.buffalofirefly.com

Send us Fan Mail

EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconic_owl

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)