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You Deserve a Happy Life
Holly is finally back on the mic! After nearly a year away from podcasting, she’s catching listeners up on what’s been happening personally and professionally—from grief and family to leaving jobs, navigating the L&D job market, and figuring out what she actually wants next.
This episode is a real-talk reflection on career, identity, and the reminder that your job is only one part of your life. Most importantly, Holly wants you to remember one thing: you deserve a happy life.
Holly’s return to podcasting and what kept her away
Navigating grief and putting family first
Leaving jobs without having the next one lined up
What Holly has learned from being back in the L&D job market
Why your career shouldn't become your entire identity
Figuring out what brings you joy and fulfillment
Why you shouldn't wait for the “perfect” time to make a change
You Deserve a Happy Life
Holly is finally back on the mic! After nearly a year away from podcasting, she’s catching listeners up on what’s been happening personally and professionally—from grief and family to leaving jobs, navigating the L&D job market, and figuring out what she actually wants next.
This episode is a real-talk reflection on career, identity, and the reminder that your job is only one part of your life. Most importantly, Holly wants you to remember one thing: you deserve a happy life.
-
Holly’s return to podcasting and what kept her away
-
Navigating grief and putting family first
-
Leaving jobs without having the next one lined up
-
What Holly has learned from being back in the L&D job market
-
Why your career shouldn't become your entire identity
-
Figuring out what brings you joy and fulfillment
-
Why you shouldn't wait for the “perfect” time to make a change
“You deserve to have a happy life.”
Holly challenges you to think beyond your job title and ask yourself: What do you actually want? What brings you joy? And what are you waiting for?
Episode Sections
00:00 — Holly is back!
02:19 — Touro Graduate School of Technology spotlight
04:41 — Holly’s career journey since 2024
07:04 — Family, grief, and difficult career decisions
09:27 — The reality of being in the job market
11:55 — Who are you outside of your career?
14:17 — “You’re going to die” and why that hit differently
16:35 — Rejections, L&D, and figuring out what’s next
19:00 — You deserve a happy life
21:18 — What’s coming in Season 7
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EdUp L&D
LinkedIn: Follow me on LinkedIn
TikTok: @ihollyo
Email: Holly@eduplnd.com
Want to be featured in Holly’s upcoming “Hire This Person” content? Reach out via LinkedIn or email.
Your career matters—but so does your life outside of work.
So Holly’s question for you is: What are you waiting for?
RSVP to my upcoming LinkedIn Live event
Thanks for tuning in! 🎧
Founder and Host
Holly Owens is the Director of Growth Marketing at Yellowdig where she leads strategic marketing initiatives to drive brand awareness, engagement, and customer acquisition. With over 17 years of experience in education, instructional technology, and marketing, Holly specializes in creating inclusive and engaging learning experiences that leverage technology to solve complex challenges.
Before joining Yellowdig, Holly built an extensive career in eLearning and instructional design, transitioning from teaching to instructional technology in 2011. She held roles at Northern Virginia Community College, Coppin State University, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore Countybefore serving as a Senior Instructional Designer at RisePoint (formerly Academic Partnerships). She also worked as an Instructional Designer at Touro University, where she remains an Adjunct Instructor in the Graduate School of Technology, teaching instructional design courses since 2012.
Holly holds two master’s degrees from the University of Maryland, Global Campus—one in Instructional Technology and another in Distance Education—along with a certificate in Distance Education Leadership. Her passion for education extends beyond the classroom as the host of the EdUp L&D podcast, where she explores emerging trends in learning and development, featuring industry experts who share insights on the future of education and workforce training.
Recognized for her expertise in marketing, UX, and project management, Holly has worked closely with executive leaders, including CEOs… Read More