In this inspiring episode of Avoiding Average, host Susan Gates sits down with Lindsey Lightner, an Air Force veteran and founder of The WanderHer, to explore her incredible transformation from military life to van life and homesteading.

Lindsay shares how leaving a toxic relationship, embracing nature, and living on the road became catalysts for deep healing and self-discovery. Together, they discuss the importance of community, vulnerability, and following your intuition when stepping into an authentic life.

This conversation is perfect for anyone seeking freedom, healing, and purpose through travel and connection with the earth.

Listen in to discover:

• How van life became Lindsay’s path to healing and freedom

• Tips for solo travel and staying safe on the road

• How nature and community can guide personal transformation

• What it means to choose yourself and trust your intuition

Connect with Lindsey:

thewanderher.com

Instagram: @lefthandedteacher

Connect with Susan Gates:
Explore astrocartography and transformational coaching at www.avoidingaverage.comConnect on Instagram: @susan.a.gates

In this deeply inspiring episode of Avoiding Average, host Susan Gates sits down with Joie (formerly Brittany Dobbs) — an Inner Evolution Coach who shares her profound story of transformation, healing, and rebirth.

After surviving a life-changing brain injury, Joy embarked on a journey of self-love, ancestral healing, and spiritual awakening that took her from corporate America to the sacred lands of Tanzania, Bali, and Ireland. Through travel, yoga, and embodiment practices, she discovered the true meaning of empowerment and purpose.

Tune in as Susan and Joie explore:
🌿 Healing the nervous system after trauma
🧘 The power of yoga and embodiment for inner evolution
🌍 How travel catalyzes personal and ancestral healing
💫 The ongoing journey of self-love and compassion
🔥 The identity shift from corporate success to soulful service

Whether you’re on your own healing journey or simply craving deeper meaning, this conversation will remind you that transformation is not about becoming someone new — it’s about remembering who you truly are.

More about Joie:

Since this conversation was recorded, Brittany now goes by Joie (pronounced Joy), and she has moved her Inner Evolution Coaching over to www.theultimatejoie.com.

The expression of Joie, the Inner Evolution Coach, that you are meeting here is one that has been through many cycles of death and rebirth in order to move through life as the truest authentic version of herself. She is a visionary that co-creates expansive and vibrant lives with her clients through Inpowerment, a process of inner evolution that uncovers the truth of who you are that resides beneath the layers of conditioning and allows you to stand in your own power sourced from within. Whether you are on a healing journey, going through a big life transition, seeking a deeper meaning and purpose in life, or just alive in the chaos of this time, Joie is passionate about working with you because of her own experience of moving through the depths of her suffering in order to embrace a life filled with more alignment, freedom, abundance, safety, and love. In her “previous lives,” she worked for Disney and HBO in NYC, founded a non-profit in Tanzania and healed herself from a brain injury. She has over 1,000+ hours in trainings and certifications in yoga, meditation, energy healing, coaching, and more.

Ways to work/connect with Joie:

Website: www.theultimatejoie.com

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TheUltimateJoie

FB: www.facebook.com/Joie.InnerEvolutionCoach

IG: www.instagram.com/ultimatejoie

Connect with Susan:
www.avoidingaverage.com | @soulcoachsusan

Keywords: inner evolution, coaching, self-love, healing, travel, yoga, brain injury, ancestral healing, personal growth, empowerment

In this episode of the Avoiding Average podcast, host Susan Gates sits down with confidence coach and spiritual leader Nicole Rogers, the creator of the Zen Red Method. Nicole shares her powerful story of losing everything, rediscovering her authentic self, and rebuilding her life through confidence, presence, and nervous system regulation.

Nicole dives into why confidence isn’t about faking it until you make it—it’s about embodying your wholeness. She explains how tools for nervous system regulation, emotional awareness, and forgiveness unlock the ability to manifest your goals and step into your true power.

From embracing anger as a teacher to learning self-forgiveness, Nicole offers a roadmap for self-discovery and personal growth. If you’re ready to break free from self-doubt and step into a more confident, authentic version of yourself, this conversation is for you.Nikól Rogers is a confidence coach, best-selling author, spiritual teacher and speaker who founded The ZenRed Method in 2015 to teach Influencers, professional artists, speakers, and presenters how to be fearless and ​embody a Powerful Presence, connect deeply with their audience, and stand out from the crowd. As a result, her clients create free of stress in their projects, and feel confident and secure in their work. Her clients have published books, sold out events and concerts, created Solo shows, spoken on large stages, and created award winning businesses that feed and nourish them. She can be found at nikolrogers.com and on Instagram at @Nikol_Rogers

Her book, 13, can be found at 13thebook.com. If you'd like her free video training, Reclaim Your Confidence, find it at www.nikolrogers.com/how-to-reclaim-your-confidence/

Learn more about Susan Gates and Avoiding Average at www.avoidingaverage.com

In this episode of the Avoiding Average podcast, host Susan Gates guides Rebecca (Bex) Jones through an in-depth astrocartography and astrology reading. Together, they uncover how her Libra Sun, Libra Rising, and Gemini Moon shape her communication, relationships, and creative path.

Susan highlights the impact of stelliums in Bex’s chart, family dynamics on self-expression, and how Chiron’s placement reveals wounds around trust and relationships. The conversation explores themes of fairness, personal growth, and the importance of community support on the journey of self-discovery.

Bex shares her spiritual awakening in London, insights from her relationships, and the ways different locations have influenced her career, creativity, and emotional intelligence. This episode is a powerful demonstration of how astrocartography can illuminate your soul’s path and guide your personal and spiritual evolution.

If you’re curious about how astrology and astrocartography can support your own transformation, this episode is a must-listen.

Bex Jones is a tarot reader and psychic medium based in London, England. She also hosts the Confessions of a Tarot Reader podcast. She can be found at www.instagram.com/bex_tarot

About Susan Gates:
Susan Gates is a certified Life & Soul Coach, Astrologer, and Travel Astrology expert helping clients navigate life transitions, align with their authentic selves, and create a life of freedom and fulfillment. Through her transformational coaching and astrocartography readings, she guides people to places—both within and in the world—that awaken their soul’s potential.

Work with Susan:
✨ Book your astrocartography consultation www.avoidingaverage.com/travel-astrology⁠✨ Learn more and apply for the Soulo Pilgrimage www.avoidingaverage.com/soulo-pilgrimage✨Follow Susan on Instagram www.instagram.com/soulcoachsusan

A business marketing coach will often use social media as a strategy for expanding reach - but what about using podcasts, and more specifically, podcast guesting for lead generation?

In this episode of the Avoiding Average podcast, host Susan Gates speaks with Candace Dudley, a podcast guest coach who helps entrepreneurs grow their influence through guesting and podcasting. Candace shares her journey from teaching to entrepreneurship, highlighting how podcasting became a tool for networking, business growth, and authentic connection.

Together, they explore the importance of mindset in podcasting, how to avoid burnout, and why authenticity is key when showing up as a podcast guest or host. Listeners will learn practical strategies for landing aligned guest spots, preparing for interviews, building trust with audiences, and maintaining consistency without sacrificing energy.

If you’re ready to use podcasting to grow your business, strengthen your personal brand, or expand your network, this conversation is packed with actionable insights.

Candace can be reached through her website or social media. Her podcast, Podcasting Mentor: Better Brave can be found on Apple Podcasts, linked below. https://www.candacedudley.com/https://www.instagram.com/candacedudley/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-mentor-better-brave/id1580454311Free Resource: Podcast Setup Guide: https://stan.store/CandaceDudley/p/get-my-podcast-setup-guide-free-now

Learn more about Susan Gates and book astrocartography readings at www.avoidingaverage.com.

In this inspiring episode of the Avoiding Average podcast, Susan Gates sits down with Candace Evalenko to share the deeply personal and transformational story of her Soulo Pilgrimage — a journey guided by the wisdom of astrocartography.

Candace opens up about her shift from working as a nurse during the COVID pandemic to embarking on a healing journey that reconnected her to her power, joy, and purpose. She reveals how traveling to a specific place connected to her astrocartography map, recommended through Susan's Soulo Pilgrimage, allowed her to revisit old wounds, transform past trauma, and experience the freedom of reclaiming her own power.

They discuss the courage it takes to embrace vulnerability, the surprising joy that comes with self-discovery, and how solo travel can become a profound act of reclamation. If you’ve ever felt the pull to break free from old patterns, heal deeply, and step into your most empowered self — this conversation will show you that your journey is possible too.

✨ If Candace’s story resonates with you, explore how The Soulo Pilgrimage can guide your own path of transformation, healing, and empowerment.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How astrocartography can guide your transformational travels

• Why revisiting places of past trauma can lead to powerful healing

• The connection between energy and location

• How to reclaim your story and inner power

• The joy, nostalgia, and spiritual growth found in a Soulo Pilgrimage

• Why trusting the universe is essential in your healing journey

Resources & Links:
🌍 Begin your own Soulo Pilgrimage → www.avoiding-average.com/soulo-pilgrimage
🌟 Book an Astrocartography Reading with Susan → www.avoiding-average.com/travel-astrology
📸 Follow Susan on Instagram or Tiktok → @soulcoachsusan
🎧 Listen to more episodes of the Avoiding Average podcast → Avoiding Average Podcast

Connect with Candace's purpose → www.thefireunleashed.com

thefire.circle.co

youtube.com/@thefireunleashed

Watch the YouTube video about Candace's experience with Wilmington → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHmS0BmKLQg

In this episode of the Avoiding Average podcast, host Susan Gates explores what it truly means to live authentically and in alignment with your personal values. Susan shares powerful insights on how your values shape your decisions, relationships, and overall fulfillment — and why self-discovery is the foundation for creating a meaningful life.

You’ll learn how to uncover your deepest values, the role they play in reclaiming your power, and why honoring them can lead to more clarity, confidence, and purpose. Susan also offers practical exercises to help you pinpoint what matters most.

Whether you’re seeking personal growth, navigating a life transition, or simply want to feel more aligned in your daily choices, this episode will guide you toward living in a way that’s true to your soul.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The real meaning of authenticity

• How to reclaim your power through value alignment

• Practical tools for identifying your personal values

• Why it can be difficult to identify your own values

• How to make hard decisions with more ease

• Resources & Links:
  ✨ Book an Astrocartography Consultation with Susan: www.avoiding-average.com/travel-astrology
  

• ✨ Learn more about Susan's signature coaching program, the Soulo Pilgrimage: www.avoidingaverage.com/soulo-pilgrimage✨ Follow Susan on Instagram: @soulcoachsusan @avoiding.average
  

  
  

  
  

✨ Episode Summary:
In this special astrocartography episode of Avoiding Average, spiritual coach and astrologer Susan Gates shares the astrology behind the journey Carla Maldonado, a spirit baby channel, took from Germany to California. From overcoming postpartum challenges to rediscovering her soul purpose, Carla shares how moving across continents shifted her energy, supported her healing, and activated a deeper spiritual calling.

They dive into astrology’s role in motherhood, career, family dynamics, and creative purpose — as well as the astrological signatures (like Pluto and Uranus) that shaped Carla’s decision to live non-traditionally. Whether you're called to move, create, or reconnect with your spiritual path, this episode is a deeply validating and expansive conversation.

Susan Gates is a transformational coach, astrologer, and host of the Avoiding Average podcast. She blends strategy and soul to help clients break free from burnout, reconnect with purpose, and embody radical authenticity through astrology, coaching, and conscious self-discovery. Connect with her on Instagram/Threads/TikTok @soulcoachsusan

Explore your own soul-aligned geography:
🌍 Book an Astrocartography Reading with Susan → www.avoidingaverage.com/travel-astrology

✨ Sign up for the email list to be the first to know about pop-up mini readings -> www.avoidingaverage.com
📖 Connect with Carla Maldonado and learn about her Spirit Baby Deck → @iamcarlamaldonado