Leaving Corporate Life: Finding Clarity as Creators in 2026

Welcome to 2026! Renée left corporate to become a full-time creator (lowest bank account ever, highest life satisfaction), and Mara moved to the Florida Keys. In this season premiere, we're getting real about what entrepreneurship actually looks like when you strip away the Instagram highlights.

We talk about the unglamorous parts no one mentions, financial conversations with partners, the pressure to "hit the ground running" in January, why expectations always miss the mark, and how consistency beats perfection every time. 

Plus, Content Club, mindful paddleboarding in the Keys, and why we're done suffering as a ticket to entry.

No bullshit, just two friends navigating the messy middle of building something real.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Content Club by Courtney Johnson
• Shes On Edge (women's skate & surf collective)
• The Burnt Peanut 
• Paddlin Madeleine (mindful paddle series in the Keys)

Until next time, see you on the flip side! 

Transcript

Renée Adams (00:02)
And we're back. ⁓ Yeah, you guys, technical difficulties are just so fucking fun. Like this is like another dream of mine in 2026 that maybe somehow we will get some kind of like studio or like we can record in person, although all the troubleshooting that goes along with doing shit in person too is like a whole nother learning curve. But ⁓ yeah, so I was just kind of saying that like

Mara (00:26)
Yeah.

Renée Adams (00:31)
just reclaiming the fact that I'm a creator is so new and still a little cringe, but like, it feels really good to be able to say that. And like, this is the lowest my bank account has ever been, but my life bank account is like at an all time high. So, and I just like trust that these elements of like,

Mara (00:46)
Mm.

You

Mm.

Renée Adams (01:00)
you know, growing up, I used to get in trouble for talking a lot. And so I feel like it was like a punishment to talk as much as I do. And so really like leaning in and doing the opposite and just and trusting that like, this is going to be ample opportunity building. So we'll see.

Mara (01:05)
Mmm.

Yeah, okay, I I want to dive into the creator part but before we do that I'm just like curious what that looked like when you say you used to get in trouble for talking too much like what kind of messages were you told?

Renée Adams (01:32)
being disruptive, I think, like distracting other people. ⁓ And I don't know if it was like, I wasn't necessarily like put in a corner or anything, but like, I would basically be told to stop talking and like be quiet because we're starting the lesson or like now's time to focus or like.

Mara (01:55)
Mm.

Renée Adams (01:55)
you know, stop distracting other students when I just wanted to sit there and fucking gab all day, I guess. I don't know. I just wanted to like talk to my classmates. Like, what are you guys doing today? Yeah. Which is also funny because my my dad, so how do you say that paternal grandfather was kind of known for that also. Like he could sit and talk to a wall and get along with anybody and like

Mara (02:00)
Hahaha

Time to yap. Yap.

Hmm.

Hmph.

Renée Adams (02:25)
that was his kind of thing. So just like, I guess reclaiming that too, like, yeah, maybe it is fucking weird. And maybe I actually do like talking to strangers, even though like more recently or like before this, I'd be like, I don't trust anybody. I'm not talking to anybody, you know, like get the fuck away from me.

Mara (02:33)
Yeah. Yes.

Mm-hmm.

Right. Yeah, that's so interesting. ⁓ I feel like that's my favorite part about just like running errands or something is just chatting with whoever comes across my path. Like yesterday, it was so fucking funny. I was at Publix and I get in line and there's like two, they're like definitely like older teenager, maybe super early 20s. And one dude's the cashier and one dude's the bagger.

And they were cracking me up. They were having the best fucking time. Like, so he was like, got any big plans this weekend? And I was like, nope. And he's like, he's like, do you want to trade places? And I was like, I was like, no, I'm good with my no plans. And the other guy goes, we can make plans. I'll beat you at Mario Kart. And I was like, what? And then they start talking. They start like impersonating Trump.

Renée Adams (03:20)
Yeah.

⁓ my god.

Mara (03:43)
And they were like, no one beats me. No one beats me. I'm the best one at Mario Kart. They're going on and on and on. And then the other guy starts impersonating Obama. Like it was hilarious. because they there was like no filter. They can fuck. They're just like having a good time while they're like checking people out, like pure entertainment. And the guy finally the guy's like, yeah, sometimes we get in trouble for having too much fun. And I was like, never like no such thing.

Renée Adams (03:55)
Yeah.

Yeah.

Dude, and that's so fucked up too,

isn't it? It's like, you know, you, I mean, I get there's like a time and place and like not everybody wants to sit and chit chat and like they've got things to do or whatever, but it's like this whole kind of thought process of like, shh, like, no, like you're gonna get in trouble for, like, what?

Mara (04:12)
I know.

Yeah. Lock it up, lock it up. I know. And I was like, damn, this

just made my day. Cause this is fucking comedic as fuck. Like, my God, it was great. But anyway, ⁓ yeah. So that's really exciting that you've claimed full-time creator and what, cause like when I hear that, I'm just like, my gosh, creator is just, I love that word because it is so expansive. Like you can be a creator of.

Renée Adams (04:36)
Yeah.

Mara (04:58)
anything. So I feel like it's very open ended. But what are you specifically like thinking about when you claim that?

Renée Adams (04:59)
Exactly. Yeah.

Right. mean, mainly the podcast, think that's like number one on my list ⁓ is like creating this space and avenue for us to connect, for us to connect with other people. And then through connecting with other people, it's like our stories and their stories then connect like the ripple effect that comes from creating this space. But then also just like physically creating things like

Mara (05:30)
Hmm.

Renée Adams (05:37)
content or the newsletters or writing or like the actual like physical part of creating something and building something ⁓ is kind of like where my mindset is. ⁓ And just mainly like this connection piece, you know, like through the creating, there are so many different like, I see this like ball of energy with like

Mara (05:40)
Hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Renée Adams (06:04)
pendrills coming out. There's like so many different ways that you can create that's not in like the quote unquote like creative like painting or like drawing, even though those things do come into play too. Like I want to be more playful and go skateboarding and have more time like playtime.

Mara (06:05)
Mmm.

Right. Right.

Yeah. Yeah. Creating playtime. Yeah. Like literally anything can, everything is creation. Everything. Yeah. So, yay. That's so exciting. ⁓ I also love the like content club. Maybe I should join this because God knows I need it.

Renée Adams (06:32)
Yeah.

Anything goes. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah.

Dude, you

should, you totally, totally should. I will, like for those of you who have listened to the podcast before, we had Courtney Johnson on. She is the creator of Content Club. And it's such a fucking cool like premise. Like there's no ⁓ pressure. It's five days a week at 9 a.m. Eastern. You come in, you have a prompt, and there's so many different ways that you can like

create this content, but it's mainly about showing up, being consistent. And then also, I think it really just helps shape your own voice and get a little clearer around what you're actually saying and what you're creating. ⁓ Even though creating just to create can just be fun, I think it really just helps you hone in on...

Mara (07:31)
Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Renée Adams (07:41)
your voice and like what you want to say and why do you want to say it and then having the space to do it. And then there's like a shit ton of other people who are doing the same thing. And it's just like this one hour of focused energy to create. Yeah. Power hour. Which is so fun. I think it's like 900 maybe for a year. And they're

Mara (07:55)
Power Hour.

Yeah. What's investment on that?

For a year? Okay. So what is that?

Renée Adams (08:10)
And it's like ⁓ facilitated. So a lot of the times it'll be like Courtney on there. ⁓ She also shares her like insights or new softwares or like her hacks around things. But then she also has like assistants who it's always facilitated. So there's always going to be someone on there. It's not just like, you come on with a shit ton of other people and like, okay, here it is. It's like, it's very intentional and focused.

Mara (08:21)
Mm-hmm.

Yeah, that's really cool. 75. Yeah, yeah.

Renée Adams (08:38)
⁓ Yeah, I wonder what that breaks down to. I think it's like, okay, yeah. So,

and it's like all recorded. So if you can't make it for that one day, they send out the recording. So it's like, you can also do it on your own time. Yeah, worth it.

Mara (08:51)
Yeah.

Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah, that's really cool. Such a good idea. ⁓ Like, business-wise. Yeah.

Renée Adams (09:03)
Yeah, I know, totally. It's like very

low, like low entry point. ⁓ But I think that the in corporate terms, the ROI on it is, is like 10 folds, I think. ⁓ Because then of course, like, I think you'll get to a point to where you could probably start doing it on your own and then you get faster and then you can use that time to like cross

Mara (09:09)
Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Renée Adams (09:33)
⁓ i would say cross-pollinate

Mara (09:36)
Pfft!

Renée Adams (09:40)
Like, like use that content across like all different platforms. Like you just get quicker and it becomes easier to like use it like multi-purposely. So. ⁓

Mara (09:45)
Yeah.

Yeah. Well,

yeah, it's a container to build the discipline. Like, and, ⁓ that's can, that can be priceless at times. So very cool.

Renée Adams (09:54)
Yes. Yeah.

Yes, totally. Totally. What about

you though, Mara? mean, I feel like you've had the biggest. So like, yeah, for me in a nutshell, 2025 was like, you know, we started this podcast a year ago, which is so cool. Started the podcast. We started our businesses. I left corporate and now I'm like fucking full send into this creator atmosphere. ⁓ For you, it's more of like

Mara (10:15)
Mmm.

Wow.

Renée Adams (10:30)
not only internal, like spiritual transformation, but also like physical moving of the elements.

Mara (10:39)
Yeah, yeah, no, dude, your energy is just like on fire and I love it. Like this generator energy, you're just in it and it's so contagious. I'm fucking hype on the content. No, it's amazing. ⁓ Truly, yeah, and.

Renée Adams (10:49)
Yeah. Content club, it makes me like fucking buzz, dude.

I'm so hype, I'm so hype right now.

Mara (11:06)
I know we're, it's so funny kind of when we record because sometimes I feel like I'm repeating things that I've already said to you like offline, you know? ⁓ But it's so true, like I'm so grateful to have this connection and to see where we are now. ⁓ It's just so, so cool and really special and.

Renée Adams (11:16)
Yeah.

Mara (11:31)
that had, I think my friendships and connections and relationships with people have just been probably one of my most favorite parts of this year. And yeah, I, you left corporate, which I'm like, hell yeah. Like, cause I know not because I'm like necessarily anti-corporate, there are people that that's great for, you know, and.

Renée Adams (11:56)
Right.

Mara (11:59)
⁓ That's okay, but I know for you, it was like something in that specific role itself was very draining for you. And so you finally like allowed yourself to step away. And I'm just like, yes, yes, yes, yes. The year of, ⁓ what is it? The snake shedding. Yeah, yeah.

Renée Adams (12:16)
Hahaha.

The snakes, yeah, shedding, mm-hmm,

yeah.

Mara (12:24)
So

if you're into that shit, ⁓ and apparently this is the year of the horse, 2026, and it's like full steam ahead. So, giddy up babies. ⁓ Yeah, I...

Renée Adams (12:32)
Totally.

Mara (12:38)
have mentioned previously how much I hate being cold and how much of my ⁓ soul and love lives in the Florida Keys. And so I basically ended the year with coming down to Key West ⁓ area. And I don't know for how long. I still have my place in Charleston. And honestly, I'm just trying not.

Renée Adams (13:00)
Yeah.

Mara (13:07)
I'm saying this and by saying this I am therefore doing it, which is like such a fucking conundrum, but I'm like trying not to ruminate on like, am I gonna wanna stay here or am I gonna wanna go back? ⁓ And the reason why that's problematic is because it keeps you in limbo instead of allowing myself to just like fully be here in this moment. ⁓ So just trying to be mindful of that. ⁓

Renée Adams (13:32)
Exactly.

Mara (13:37)
It's just hard because they're just totally two different places and there are two different versions of me who really come out when I'm in those spaces. And so it's kind of like having to part ways with a version of myself no matter where I am. ⁓ So that's, I feel like, what's on my mind. ⁓

Renée Adams (13:58)
Yeah.

Mara (14:04)
I feel like the lifestyle here is just, if anyone has ever visited, it's a very, very different, very slow, like you're driving down the main road and you got one coffee shop and you got one ice cream shop for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles, you know, like, and I love that simplicity. And for the most part, ⁓ and then sometimes it's like, okay.

Renée Adams (14:23)
Yeah.

Mara (14:33)
I need a little scenery change, you know? And I think that's...

Renée Adams (14:35)
Right? Like you crave a

little more like the buzzing of New York City. You crave maybe not that extreme, but...

Mara (14:43)
Yeah, no, I like to visit. It's definitely not somewhere I want to be by any means not even every month I would say I prefer like the lifestyle of where I am right now in the Keys But I also absolutely love like culture and the arts which Key West does have but I'm in Big Pine Key, which is a little bit more like country country and Yeah, I don't know

Renée Adams (15:08)
Country. Yeah.

Mara (15:14)
⁓ So that's kind of where I am. don't, I'm just like.

I feel like I have to have this big New Year's, aha, this is what I'm doing. And I'm like, I still have no idea what I'm doing, where I'm going, where I wanna be. ⁓ you know, yeah, the gray. So if anyone else is in that space, you're not alone because it can be a sometimes frustrating place to be.

Renée Adams (15:35)
Yeah, the gray. Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Mara (15:50)
⁓

you know, just being like, I don't know. ⁓

Renée Adams (15:53)
Well, it's like

the fucking like this vortex gap between Christmas and New Year's where you're like, you don't really know what day it is. And when was the last time I showered or like wash my hair? mean, and like, you know, constantly in PJs and kind of like in this sort of like confusing vortex conundrum area. And it's like, it's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's like,

Mara (16:01)
Mmm.

You

Renée Adams (16:23)
well, what are the next steps? And I think that can be kind of difficult for some people going into like a new year. It's like, okay, there's like a refresh that happens because you're so rested, but like, what do I actually do? Like, how do I actually do that? ⁓ And I think too, like to kind of what you're saying of maybe not dwelling on the fact of like, okay, how do I get there? What do I need to do? ⁓

Mara (16:25)
Mm-hmm.

Renée Adams (16:52)
but instead relishing in the presence of however you're feeling in that moment and like reflecting and just being in it instead of like, okay, well, what do I like? Cause I can like, dude, before recording, was like, I didn't sleep last night because I was like over analyzing, I think how much stuff is on my to-do list because I prepped myself for the holidays to be able to have some like really good downtime.

Mara (17:17)
Hmm.

Mm-hmm

Renée Adams (17:22)
Um,

and now it's like, okay, momentum, get the things up and running. And then I'm like, hold on a second. Like, you don't have to fucking hit the ground running. Like you don't have to do that. You don't have to, cause I feel like there's like that sense of pressure that comes from that. And then you like go to automatic burnout mode when it's like, we can actually kind of just coast into 2026. Like it doesn't have to be.

Mara (17:26)
Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Right.

Right. Right.

Renée Adams (17:51)
this like euphoric, ⁓ let's start again, but like a continuation.

Mara (18:00)
Yeah, which feels a little bit more sustainable than just like diving in, especially like in, that's something I'm trying to be aware of. How many fucking times I say like, it's so annoying. Okay, so. ⁓ Yes, so I read something somewhere how it's, I almost said it, it's winter time and most people are in a place where

Renée Adams (18:11)
Mmm.

Mara (18:29)
you go through changes or seasonal changes. And winter is really not a time where you're like you like systematically, you just don't really have like the, yeah, like it's cold. It still gets dark early. You know, I'm in a little bit. I'm in a very sunny tropical area, which I love so much. So I'm not feeling that. But most people are in a place where that's not really like, it's not like.

meant for you to hit the ground running and do all this stuff. You're still like in rest mode and like reflection mode. And then as spring comes, you start to really wake up. I and it's I think that's why the seasons are so cool, because it naturally guides you. But for some reason, we've created this whole like New Year, you know, that grind it out, that and your your body's literally like, but no, I'm not ready. Yeah.

Renée Adams (19:25)
Still waking up. Yeah, it's

still waking up. Was it Liz's post from She's On Edge?

Mara (19:31)
⁓

It might have been. mean, I've seen it. I've seen this message like several places. ⁓ but I...

Renée Adams (19:37)
Yeah. I just wonder because

she's like writing every day. And I think our first post of the year was something like, I still am in my PJs. I'm still pale. I'm still like, you know, hibernating, essentially, like, let me be here. And I'm like, fuck. Yeah, like, same. Like we got to it takes a little while to it's like it's like being in the gym. OK, you got to like warm up.

Mara (19:41)
Mm.

Mmm.

Yes, yes, yes. Yes. Yeah, my God.

Mm-hmm. Okay.

Renée Adams (20:05)
the joints, you gotta kind of like warm up to the full on workout of the day. like, give yourself the time and space to like warm up to these things.

Mara (20:10)
Right. Right.

Yeah, exactly. And I think too, coming down here, you know what they say, like expectations. I just said it. ⁓ Expectations create resentment or something like that. ⁓ And I came down here with like, all right, I'm gonna, it's gonna be great. I'm gonna find a job straight away, blah, And there was just a lot of upheaval.

Renée Adams (20:31)
Mmm. Yeah, yeah.

Mara (20:46)
and and

Renée Adams (20:59)
Yeah.

Mara (21:16)
I probably say this all the time, but I guess it must be a life lesson for me, but just really trying to understand.

what action I want to take in response to how I feel. that for me requires a lot of, gosh, like a lot of honesty, but even before honesty is just like, I don't know if energy is the right word, but a lot of awareness and like space to be able to have that clarity for myself. So.

Renée Adams (21:30)
Mmm.

Yeah.

Mara (21:54)
I kind of feel like that's going to be a big theme this year. Wow, dude, I'm looking out the window. I wish you could see this right now. I basically live in Jurassic Park. There is a giant fucking. A guana as probably 10 feet big. Crawling out of the tree. Oh, my God, dude, it's. Yeah. Yeah.

Renée Adams (22:15)
my God. Holy shit. It's a sign. What do iguanas

represent?

Mara (22:25)
that up later. Yeah. Okay, okay. Okay.

Renée Adams (22:25)
Look it up. Yeah, hold on. I'm going to look it up. I'm looking it up right now. I wonder if

I can how quickly I can do this. Iguana spiritual. my God. What does it say? OK, it symbolizes transformation, adaptability, wisdom and good fortune, often linked to sun gods and powerful feminine strength.

Mara (22:40)
Shit.

Wow.

Wow, I love that.

Renée Adams (22:55)
representing resilience and the ability to shed the old for new growth, but can also signify challenges like sin or impurity in some religious context.

Mara (23:05)
you

Sinful. Wow. No, there are a lot of people here like can't stand them because they're everywhere and they just kind of.

Renée Adams (23:08)
Sinfall. ⁓ shit, that's funny. ⁓

Are they kind of like

parasite or not parasites, but pests? Like, you know how like over deer, like deer population, whatever. Yeah. Yeah. Hmm.

Mara (23:23)
Pests or whatever. Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, mm-hmm. Yeah, they

can be like that. And there's like, my brother was telling me that there are these iguana hunting charters here or something, people, literally pay to go around shooting iguanas, which is like really fucking weird in my opinion, but okay. ⁓

Renée Adams (23:47)
That's like boars. That's like boars

in like Texas and stuff. like, they go and there's like teams and like, like ⁓ companies that like go out and take care of it.

Mara (23:51)
Mm.

Yeah.

Right? I know, I know. just like, woof. I know, I know. I mean, I'm not educated enough to make a statement on that, but I just, I think it's just kind of funny. okay, boars are a little different. Not in like value, but like physically different from like ⁓ a lizard. Yeah, yeah, exactly.

Renée Adams (24:02)
I don't know how I feel about that. I don't know. Me neither.

Yeah, they like kill humans. Yeah, yeah. Dude, did you

know that pigs, if they are like left in the elements, they like become feral and they become boars?

Mara (24:37)
What?

Renée Adams (24:38)
Yeah, like regular pigs become boars. Boars are like feral pigs.

Mara (24:45)
I'm kind of like, I'm kind of grossed out. I'm sorry. Like it's fucked up. Like I, of course I have eaten pork and I like pork, but like lately I'm grossed out by like, like just cause they can be so nasty.

Renée Adams (24:59)
Gross out.

Well, dude, for me, it's more of

like the like, like pigs are the closest things to like they're smarter than dogs. So like that element of it is kind of. You know. Merp.

Mara (25:16)
Hmm. Yeah.

Yeah, I know. Yeah. And ⁓

my gosh, I just love like baby animals so much, like little piglets on. I know.

Renée Adams (25:27)
I know where she-

Mara (25:33)
Oh shit. Anyway, um, yeah.

Renée Adams (25:36)
Oh, yeah. So we we digress. But yeah,

I there is something to you. I wanted to say about like leaving corporate because you were saying how like expectations how you were going to the keys and had expectations and not to say that they were fulfilled or not. But there was sort of an expectation to when I left corporate that there was going to be some big

revelation or opportunity that would come from me leaving corporate and not to say that there hasn't been, I think there definitely has been, but not in the way that I maybe anticipated it to be. ⁓ And navigating that has been very interesting. Like having more conversations with my husband around finances and just like building the safety around

Mara (26:17)
Mm-hmm.

Renée Adams (26:35)
being in this unknown has been really challenging. It's been a lot harder than I thought it was going to be, not in a good way or a bad way, but just unexpectedly. And I think too, we've talked about this whole entrepreneurship route about when people come on podcasts and they tell their story and it's like...

Mara (26:40)
Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah.

Renée Adams (27:01)
you know, it's very inspiring and I think it's you can take pieces on parts of people's stories, but it's like it's so glamorized this idea of like leaving the quote unquote safety and like going out on your own. And I think there is something picturesque and like ⁓ euphoric about doing that. ⁓ But there's also like you don't hear that

Mara (27:10)
Mm-hmm.

Hmm

Renée Adams (27:29)
a lot of entrepreneurs in the beginning have two to three side jobs because this shit's not bringing in money or like hearing about how just like the nitty gritty on the backside of that journey that you've decided to take. like, for example, for me, like I'm able to do this because my partner makes a certain amount of money so that I don't have to have the two to three jobs, at least not yet. So it's like,

Mara (27:36)
Mm-hmm.

Right, right.

Renée Adams (27:57)
That's something that we talked about at the end of last year too is like.

I don't know, there's just like the expectations that come from taking this route is so rewarding, I think in general, but like the steps that you have to take to get there, it just takes a lot longer.

Mara (28:19)
Mm-hmm.

Mm hmm. Yeah, a hundred percent. And I think it's so refreshing when people are fucking honest about this, because like you said, it is so glamorized. And. Also, the part that I feel like is glamorized and potentially I'm putting words in your mouth, so don't know. Correct me if you're wrong, if I'm wrong. That. Part of like. I believe in.

Renée Adams (28:29)
Yes.

Mara (28:52)
being imaginative and being open to receiving things that are great and quote unquote manifesting and all of these things and changing your mindset to create a new reality for yourself. I believe in those things. And also, I think sometimes we hear the message of, know, leave, you know, either leave that relationship or leave that job so that something else better can just show up for you.

Renée Adams (29:22)
Mm-hmm.

Mara (29:23)
And it's not that I don't believe that that can't happen, but I don't think it's just as simple as snapping your fingers, walking away from that job or walking away from that relationship or whatever it is. And then that new job that you thought was going to be amazing was just going to be all lined up for you, you know? And so it takes time. It's in and who knows, like just life circumstances. No one really knows. So we're.

Renée Adams (29:37)
it happening.

Yeah.

No, no, it's all fucking

made up. It's like all made up, but I do think that there is an element of like regulation that you can do ahead of time to kind of prepare yourself for this type of uncertainty to be able to stay consistent. Because I think that's a difference too, is that like, just like you said, people leave, they think something is gonna like come immediately.

Mara (29:53)
Yeah.

Yeah.

Renée Adams (30:18)
And then that's when like the fear sets in and the limiting belief sets in and you're like, shit. And then you go back. Cause like, I did that the first time I was like, ⁓ fuck. Like nothing's happening. Like what the fuck? And I definitely wasn't in a like state of mind to want to or like believe that if I stay consistent that something will come from it. So I think there are things that you can do to kind of like

Mara (30:24)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. ⁓ fuck.

Renée Adams (30:47)
semi prepare yourself or at least like get yourself in a better mindset ⁓ to be able to continue because like that 1 % of these entrepreneurs who do make this shit happen is because they did not give up. But it's all circumstantial. Everybody's circumstances are so different and the environment's different. But I do think one constant is that like you're passionate about it. You keep showing up and you don't give up.

Mara (30:57)
Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Exactly.

Renée Adams (31:17)
⁓ and remember to keep going in those, in those times. Like I think that is something that sets people apart, but there's definitely stuff you could do to like prep. Like, you know, this to be magnetic work, this neural manifestation stuff, like, and I know that's also like very buzzword still like neural manifestation and the subconscious. ⁓ but I think there's an element of truth to it. Like that's why so many people talk about it. ⁓

Mara (31:24)
Yep.

Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Right.

Renée Adams (31:44)
And I think it really is true, but I also think that people get very frustrated ⁓ because it's not instant. Shit in our life is so instant. It's like this shit actually takes work and time and grit and not necessarily like suffering. ⁓ But like it just, I don't know. It's never what you expect it to like turn out to be. So.

Mara (31:49)
Mm-hmm. Right. Right.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah. No. Yeah.

Renée Adams (32:13)
That's something too, like I'm bringing into 2026 is like, I don't have to suffer. putting that pressure on myself of like, no, I need to work like from sunup to sundown. And I've got to like, you know, this is my story and my grit and my dah, dah, dah. it's like, why do I feel like I have to?

Mara (32:21)
Mm-hmm.

Mm.

Renée Adams (32:42)
suffer as like a ticket to entry.

Mara (32:46)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Renée Adams (32:49)
I've had plenty. It's okay to just receive it, receive the support, receive the good things without being like, oh, well, I suffered for this, so now I deserve it.

Mara (32:53)
Yeah, no, know, humans are f-

Mm-hmm.

Right. Yeah, human mind is fucking weird. It's very just bizarre to me. So. Yeah, just turn it down, just turn it down or a little loud. ⁓ Man. ⁓ It's funny, you know, I just met. OK, so there's this girl who also was involved with She's on Edge in Charleston.

Renée Adams (33:12)
God, I know it's like, will you just like shut the like brain shut the fuck up sometimes? Yeah. Right.

Mm-hmm.

Mara (33:35)
The

for those of you listening who may not know it's a women's skate and surf collective and they have also been on our show and Anyway, her name is Sid and she's like a fucking sick ass ⁓ What is it called ⁓ What is it called cut not kite surfing ⁓ like wait wind God, I don't kite boarding kite boarding kite boarding. Yeah kite

Renée Adams (33:57)
Wind surfing?

Kiteboarding. Okay. Yeah.

Yeah. Wait, so what's the difference?

Mara (34:03)
kite boarder, kite boarder, okay. So,

she was explaining, I don't know. It's like the different thing that you're standing on. Like some you have like a boot you're strapped in, some it's just like a slide, some of it is like an actual surfboard, so there's different, whatever. So she...

Renée Adams (34:08)
They just say, ⁓ Look it up.

⁓ okay.

Mara (34:26)
also lives in the Keys now. And so I reached out to her and was like, my gosh, because we've never actually met in person. I've only learned about her because she's like super into film and she has like a media company and she's super cool and very entrepreneurial. And she actually dropped out of college to like start her own thing. And she is like, yeah, it's just really, really cool. She's young, she's 22. And I'm just like.

Renée Adams (34:31)
No way. Cool.

Mara (34:53)
I know. And I'm like, this is so interesting to me. how, and I know it's not a race and we're all in our own different timelines and stuff, but I was so far from that at that age, you know what I mean? Of going against the norm per se, you know? Yeah, yeah. I'm just like, that's really, really, really cool. And she,

Renée Adams (34:54)
Shut the fuck up.

You have a different appreciation for it. Yeah.

Mara (35:22)
I mean, she knows that she's very confident in what she's doing. also looks, she said she's a lacrosse player. Yeah.

Renée Adams (35:28)
Ooh,

I wonder where she went. Do you know where she grew up?

Mara (35:32)
Minnesota. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, but anyway, yeah, she anyway, it's just cool to meet other people synchronistically as first and foremost. And then also just learning again about her journey. I was like, it'd be kind of cool to have her on here at some point to potentially. ⁓

Renée Adams (35:34)
So no, I'm like, maybe I played against her or something.

Absolutely.

Mara (35:59)
But yeah, just so young with that entrepreneurial spirit. And I'm just really curious and excited to see where her journey is gonna take her. someone who, yeah, I'm just curious. Like who knows? Like that's the thing. We're talking about no one really knows and it's not what you expect. like, shit, she could end up being a CEO for a corporate company. You know what I mean? Or she could end up, yeah, CEO of her own company. But just.

Renée Adams (36:22)
Yeah, right.

Right.

Mara (36:28)
just like so curious about where everyone's like little path is gonna lead them, because you never know. But she had such a really cool energy and what's it Like a fire for life, aliveness, which was really refreshing. So it was cool.

Renée Adams (36:30)
Yeah.

Mmm.

Yeah,

I mean, I think that's something that like, we're both really excited about too, for the show in general. Like not only like we want to give insights in our own lives too and like start sharing maybe a little more about what we're going through and because I think that's just like how we connect with people. ⁓ But also like we're super stoked to have people like that on people who are going against the status quo who are like, I don't know.

normal fucking people doing like cool shit, ⁓ who are choosing to numb less go against the status quo, do something different with their life and really like, take life by the horns again, or whatever that fucking saying is. ⁓ Like live life and like be excited and be happy about it and like how they go about doing that. And like we're excited to to just bring

Mara (37:16)
Mm-hmm.

Renée Adams (37:42)
maybe some new segments on, maybe give a little bit of advice. We want to hear from you guys too. So it's like, it's just like the sky is the limit for Nosedive. yeah, that's a song, isn't it? Shit. Yeah. Yeah.

Mara (37:45)
Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

The sky is the limit. Lil Wayne, turn up. ⁓

man. Yeah, I'm excited to see what this year brings ⁓ and open. And yeah, is there anything else that...

Renée Adams (38:17)
Trying to think of what I've been into lately. I'm stoked to see what new non-alc brands are out there. I've been connecting with so many new brands. Actually, I was super excited. Richard and I went to World of Beer over the weekend. they, Wobb? I know, used to go like...

Mara (38:38)
⁓ wow, I forgot about World of Beer. Yeah!

Renée Adams (38:45)
every Sunday religiously for brunch, bottomless mimosas, and we had not been there for quite some time. ⁓ But they had probably one of the most in-depth non-alcoholic ⁓ cocktails and lists available in the pool area. So I was very, very pleasantly surprised because I was like, wob they have their standard beers or whatever. ⁓ But they're offering

Mara (39:02)
Wow.

Wow.

Right?

Renée Adams (39:15)
a depth of non-alch spirits of like ritual and like some other ⁓ gardening beverages. So I'm like, this is fucking cool. And I'm just like super stoked to see where that goes and understanding new brands and kind of where those trends are going. I'm super stoked for that. ⁓ I still have the welding thing in my back pocket. I still don't know like where that's going to take me, but I

Mara (39:19)
Hmph.

⁓ yeah.

Renée Adams (39:44)
maybe buying a weld pack or taking another workshop. I really want to continue with that, however that looks. ⁓ Maybe motorcycle. Maybe take... I don't know either. I don't know, dude. It just seems so cool. Maybe it's just more of the camaraderie around it. It's like...

Mara (39:47)
Cool.

I don't know, Nay. I don't know if I can allow you to do that.

Yeah. Yeah.

Renée Adams (40:11)
There's a club here in Savannah and it's like all female and it just seems really fucking cool. And ⁓ the one time that I got on the back of Richard's motorcycle, I was scared for my life, but also the most alive of them at the same exact time. Yeah, because he took the back seat off. It was the first time that he's ever ridden with someone on the back also.

Mara (40:15)
Cool.

Wait, you've only been one time? What?!

⁓ my gosh.

Renée Adams (40:40)
So he's

only been like a solo rider forever. So it was like his first time too. Yeah. So, and I don't think I would want, I don't think I would want to like, I'm like too much of a control freak to ride on the back, I think. But before he took the seat off, I went like once with him and it was so fucking cool. It was like.

Mara (40:45)
No shot.

⁓ my gosh. Dude, I love it.

Renée Adams (41:07)
Really really fun. So I don't know that's kind of like

Mara (41:09)
Yeah.

Renée Adams (41:13)
in the in the background. I don't know. I don't know. But the Harley Davidson is like right down the street and they have two classes a week. So I don't know. Maybe. And then the last thing I would say is like just continue like writing, showing up, doing cool shit, like letting my corporate side of myself like really melt away and be fucking weird. ⁓ And I've been watching a lot of

Mara (41:15)
Yeah, yeah.

Cool. Okay.

Mm.

Hmm.

Renée Adams (41:42)
The Burnt Peanut. He's like that streamer. Yeah, which like he's been one of the ones that like, and I've watched other streamers with Richard too, like, know, Tim the Tap Man and some other ones or whatever. ⁓ But the Burnt Peanut is like the fucking coolest. I think it's so cool. So I'm like taking notes from his streams just because it's like he's so fucking

Mara (41:44)
and sat.

right, yes.

Hmm.

Renée Adams (42:13)
outrageous but like fun and just really seems like himself not to like overanalyze a fucking streamer. But I'm like anything is fucking possible if someone can can get on and stream and play video games as a virtual fucking peanut.

Mara (42:18)
Wow. Yeah.

Renée Adams (42:32)
Who's to say that Nosedive can't fucking?

Can't do something, okay? So...

Mara (42:38)
Dude, dude, truly,

truly, truly, truly. I can't even keep my eyes on.

Renée Adams (42:46)
my god, I mean, what is this fucking world we live in? I'm telling you it's not it's like a virtual reality like shit. It's just you whatever you make it. So yeah Let's fucking go. What about you? What are you looking forward to? Like what kind of stuff are you into? right now

Mara (42:47)
Wow.

Mmm. Mmm.

100 % 100 % Let's fucking go.

⁓

I'm looking forward to ⁓ Madeline here in the Keys. She's an incredible realtor as well as she has a paddleboard business called Paddle and Madeline. She's one of my really great friends too. Her name is Padmad. I call her Padmad. ⁓ She and I have partnered and we are doing a mindful paddle series.

So we got a group of, I think like five or six women. And I know, I know. Like I have so many friends that I'm like, I wish you were here for this. ⁓ And you're definitely one of them. But yeah, we are gonna co-host this meetup and we're gonna do four paddle sessions at, you know, every other week we'll meet. And we did that intentionally so that.

Renée Adams (43:33)
I wish I was down there to do that. Yeah.

Yeah.

Mara (43:54)
It's not just like a one-off paddle. People have the opportunity to come back again and again and again to get to know each other, create more of a community feel to it, as well as people who they have never paddleboarded before. So we're going to teach them how and get on the water. We're going to have some full moon sesh. We're going to have a new moon sesh, an eco cleanup, some mocktails, some journaling and reflecting.

the water here and the sunsets here are fucking unmatched. So I'm really, really excited to to do that. ⁓ That feels really good. And I'm excited to I'm looking for some jobs here and just kind of being a little bit more like playful and open to like whatever it is. Like it doesn't it doesn't matter. Like I just need to make money, you know, and

Renée Adams (44:48)
Yeah. Right. Right.

Mara (44:51)
things will continue to unfold and opportunities will come and no worries. ⁓ They kind of make a joke around here like, there's a little, you can find a job because ⁓ if you just show up sober, you're already ahead of the game. Because people come down here and get like the quote unquote, the Keys disease. Yeah, exactly. And I'm like, ⁓ sure, no problem. You need me to show up sober?

Renée Adams (45:09)
Thanks

Litty-titty.

Damn dude. Well, you're already above and beyond on that front. So good to go.

Mara (45:20)
Perfect. right. But

yeah, I'm just kind of doing that and like excited to move into my little studio. It's super, super small. the smallest. It will be the smallest place I've ever lived. And I have two little dogs. ⁓ yay. Yay. I started this weekend moving stuff in there. Yeah. Yeah.

Renée Adams (45:40)
So you're, you gotta go ahead. You're, you're moving into that one. ⁓ Cool.

Mara (45:50)
Yeah, it's super cute. It's cute. It'll just take some adjusting and I think like releasing, like I for some reason I'm like, my dogs are, it's too small for my dogs. But like, it's not like they're running laps around my house anyway, you know? Like.

Renée Adams (45:51)
It's gonna be good. It's gonna be good. Yeah.

Well, ⁓

you take them for, like, you are, I have never seen anybody be so consistent and frequent of taking their dogs out on a walk other than you and my girlfriend Alyssa. Like, light clockwork, multiple times a day, like, they are, they're good. They are spoiled dogs, in my opinion. So, yeah.

Mara (46:19)
Mmm. Mmm.

⁓

Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, they definitely

get their walks and when they're not, they're just sleeping and they're just happy when I get home. So it's it'll be perfect. ⁓ Yeah, I can't wait to show you. So, yeah. Yes.

Renée Adams (46:36)
Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, I know I'll have to come down for sure. Like make

it a trip. And I'm also calling that in too. Thanks for the reminder. It's some kind of job, some kind of job because, you know, I need a little something. So we'll see.

Mara (46:49)
Same.

Yeah, yeah.

Yes. Amazing. I love it. I'm yeah, I, I, the reason why I'm so in between like whether or not I'm going to want to stay here or go back to Charleston is because the place that I found to live in is like very affordable. And I'm like, Ooh, if I stay here then, and I have a job that like, you know, it's fine. I can have more money to take trips.

Renée Adams (46:59)
Yeah.

Mm.

Mara (47:25)
where if I'm in Charleston, yeah, I have a bigger apartment and I have quote unquote more stuff around, but I'm more confined to that spot, you know? So it's like so, it's so trippy to make a decision, I guess. I'm like, damn it, just split me in half. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, but.

Renée Adams (47:39)
Yeah.

I know, like, half me can stay here, half me can stay in Charleston, and just live a reality life. Yeah.

Mara (47:53)
Anyway, so that's it. We're having fun stuff happening all around.

Renée Adams (47:56)
Yeah,

yeah dude, think it's like, I just feel really good ⁓ in general. think mentally, physically, there's always gonna be shit, but like, I think going into this year, like, it's definitely the clearest vision-wise I've been, ⁓ probably in my like, entire adult life. So that feels pretty fucking good.

Mara (48:06)
Yeah.

Mmm.

Yeah, yeah.

Let's save that clip right there and let's revisit it every fucking week. Not even kidding. yeah.

Renée Adams (48:28)
Yeah! Put that shit on repeat and just like

write it everywhere on my mirrors and my... everything.

Mara (48:35)
Yes. Yes.

I mean, it will be interesting to. Yeah, I don't think I've had a full, well, technically last year we could go back to our podcast from our episodes from the beginning of last year, but like this episode specifically at the end of this year, you bet. I want to come back and like, look at this and just be like, whoa, what, what is this? ⁓ how fun. Yeah. Yes. Pew, pew.

Renée Adams (48:54)
Let's go back. Yeah.

Yeah, agreed. Pact has been made.

Pew, pew, pew. All right, guys. Well, until next time, see you on the flip side.

Mara (49:11)
Ciao!