The Final Episode (and New Beginning)

After three years away, I’m back behind the mic - and this conversation is different.

In this episode, I share what led me to step away so suddenly, what was happening in my life during that time, and what it took to return. This is a personal story about loss, resilience, and finding your way forward when everything feels uncertain.

It’s also a turning point.

This episode marks the close of CareerSequel and the beginning of something new: The Potentialist Podcast. A space for deeper conversations about clarity, confidence, and how to move forward with intention.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, off-track, or unsure what’s next, this episode will meet you there—and help you begin again.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why I stepped away from the podcast and what was happening behind the scenes
• The impact of loss, grief, and time on perspective and purpose
• What it means to be a “Potentialist” and how that shapes the work ahead
• What you can expect from this new chapter of the podcast
• How to start reconnecting with clarity and direction

This is your home for science-backed strategies to unlock your potential. You already have everything you need inside you. I’m just here to help you unlock it.

Transcript

Hello, Everyone! 

Welcome to a special, new episode after a long time away. I’m your host, Dr. Lee Koles, and this episode is going to be very different from anything else you’ve heard from me. I’m going to get really personal with you here. It has been a while since we’ve talked and I want to let you know what has been going on with me.

Also, today isn’t just another episode; it’s a farewell… but also a new beginning.

Just over three years ago, I hit pause on this podcast. 

One of my mantras has always been that your job should fit your life. And at that time, I had some big developments that changed my life. My dad had been battling Alzheimer’s for years and the love of his life, my mom, was caring for him and keeping him engaged and thriving. Dad also had a blood cancer, which was being monitored and was holding steady - until three years ago.

I was at the doctor’s appointment in January 2023 when the doctor said that Dad’s cancer was going full force and that his time was up.

So I started traveling to Nebraska (from Ohio) every three weeks to help my mom and be there for my dad. And this took a toll. Something had to give - and I knew it wasn’t going to be my clients, or my family, or the work that grounds me. 

So, I stepped away from social media. I stopped posting on LinkedIn. And, in February of 2023, I stopped recording the podcast.

I didn’t plan a graceful exit. I didn’t record a heartfelt goodbye episode like this one. I just… stopped. I just didn’t have the bandwidth. And that made me feel like crap. I missed showing up here. I missed you—the listener on the other side of this mic. I missed having the opportunity to share insights and help you feel just a little more confident, a little more clear, a little more ready to take on what’s next.

Instead, I focused on my family and I focused on my clients. Many of my clients who I met with over Zoom got to see the inside of my childhood bedroom in Nebraska. I’d coach them and then I’d help my mom and soak up all the time I could with my dad. 

Dad died a little over two years ago - two Decembers ago. 

And for two years I’ve thought of all of you and I’ve wanted to get back to the mic and talk to you - and I just couldn’t. I felt lost. Destroyed, actually. I couldn’t pick myself up - or pick that microphone up - until now. Today. 

And I want to thank you. Every week, for the past 3 years, I’d get my podcast data report and see that you've been downloading, listening to and sharing my podcast episodes. You put in your airpods and took me on walks with your dog. You reached out to me on LinkedIn; you shared your stories. It has meant so much to me to be able to keep that connection with you.

And, finally, I’d like to share some good news: I’m back. Kind of. I’m not returning to CareerSequel. Instead, I’m stepping into something new, something that feels even more aligned with where I am now and where I believe we can go together.

You may have noticed that this episode was released under a different name. Now, when you see me pop up on your phone and in your car, it will be as The Potentialist Podcast.

My friends, I am so excited about this. It has taken me three years of healing, researching, learning and growing - not just for me, but for you. This isn’t just a rebrand. It’s a renewal. It’s our sequel. This is a fresh chapter where we dive even deeper into the power of possibility—how to unlock your strengths, lean into your purpose, and create a life and career that lights you up.

I’ll still be here, your same host—Dr. Lee Koles—with the same voice in your ear. But the conversations will be bigger. The tools will be sharper. And the impact? It’s going to reach even further.

So, consider this episode both a thank you and an invitation.

First of all, you may be wondering, “Lee, what exactly is a Potentialist?” 

You mean you haven’t heard of a Potentialist? I’m just kidding. If you haven’t heard of a Potentialist, that’s not surprising - because…l made it up! It’s a descriptor - a title - that fits me to a tee. Let me explain. 

I define a Potentialist as someone who sees possibility —in people, in situations, in challenges. It’s someone who understands that each of us has untapped talent waiting to be discovered and leveraged. 

As an industrial/organizational psychologist, an ICF-certified coach and Gallup CliftonStrengths coach, this is what I love to do— my passion is helping people uncover their strengths, move past roadblocks, and create fulfilling and meaningful lives. What I mean is: Your potential is my passion. All I want is to help you succeed in doing all the things you are meant to do.

Since this is the very first episode of The Potentialist podcast, I want to set the stage for what’s to come: 

You can expect conversations about gaining confidence, clarity, and courage. We’ll talk about how to identify and amplify your unique talents - and use them as a foundation to achieve purpose, fulfillment, and success. 

You’re going to learn how to pick yourself up after being knocked down, how to stop procrastinating and how to get yourself on the right path - the one that leads to exactly where you want to be. 

You’ll also meet some inspiring guests—experts in their fields who are doing meaningful, impactful work and have so much to share. These are people I admire, people I learn from, and people I’m genuinely excited for you to get to know. They’re going to challenge you and expand what you believe is possible.

But most of all, I want this podcast to feel like a conversation between friends—like a check-in where you finish each episode feeling a little more seen, a little more supported, and a little more uplifted as you go about this life.

So, hit that ‘follow’ button, share this podcast with someone who needs it, and join me here as we explore what’s possible for you.

Thank you for being here and thank you for investing in your own future. It’s going to be beautiful and I’ll be with you every step of the way.