Randi Kest shares her journey from media professional to coach and writer, navigating layoff, divorce, and perimenopause, plus how staying open to possibility and community support shaped her midlife reinvention.
Check Out These Highlights:
Randi Kest’s story is about resilience, identity, and the courage to pivot midlife. After a layoff from her media career, she faced the challenge of redefining her path while navigating perimenopause, divorce, and self‑doubt. What began as uncertainty turned into a calling: supporting women through coaching, writing, and connection.
In this episode, Randi shares how mentors and communities helped her see strengths she couldn’t recognize on her own, why she views her layoff as both painful and liberating, and how she reframed shame into possibility. We talk about the winding path of career pivots, the importance of routines and community, and the power of staying open to what comes next.
About Randi Kest:
Randi Kest is a writer, coach, and former media professional who helps women navigate midlife transitions with purpose and connection. She blends her background in media with her passion for coaching to support identity shifts, resilience, and reinvention.
Connect with Randi:
🌐 Website: https://www.randikest.com/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randi-kest/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/randikest/
💬 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/randi.k.wheeler.9
📑 Substack: https://randikest.substack.com/
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My guest today is Randi Kest, a writer, coach, and former media professional who's navigating a powerful midlife pivot. After a layoff, Randi had to reevaluate what she truly wanted, and she found herself drawn toward work centered on women, connection, and purpose. In this conversation, we talk about career pivots, identity shifts, perimenopause, and the winding path of figuring out what comes next. Randi shares about divorce, self-doubt, and the importance of staying open to possibilities. We also talk about the role mentors, coaches, and our communities can play in helping us see things in ourselves we may not recognize on our own.
Toby Myles: Hey, Randi. Welcome to the podcast.
Randi Kest: Hi. It's great to be here.
Toby Myles: I'm excited to have you. As these things go, uh, we usually hop on a few minutes before we hit record, and we start talking, we catch up, we talk about weather. Um, it's very cold here today on the East Coast. And, um, there's always a part of me that says, "Oh, I should record these, like, before the podcast, podcast conversations," 'cause lots of times some really good stuff comes up, and it did a- as I suspected it would.
Um, so maybe we'll circle back to some of the things that we were talking about. Not the weather, 'cause no one cares about that. But, um, I usually like to share, um, how we know each other, and that is one of the things we were talking about before, which is super interesting how the, the dots kinda connect.
But you were introduced to me by Chrissy Liu, who I have had on my show, um, who just released her book. We're recording this in May, and her book just came out at the beginning of the month, um, Eating Nails for Breakfast. So for anyone who's listening, please check out Chrissy's book. It's amazing. Um, so, so she introduced us, and I've said this probably hundreds of times before on this podcast and just in life in general that, um, I love it when someone that I really connect with introduces me to someone else, because I usually have a good feeling that I'm gonna connect with that person as well.
Um, I, I can't explain exactly what it is. Um, you know, maybe we're, like, vibrating on the same level or whatever. But almost always, like, good people connect me with other good people, and that usually turns into a podcast or a collaboration or, or something like that. So that's how we know each other. Um, and I'm super grateful to Chrissy and to all the women who have introduced me to other amazing women.
So, um, I would love for you to, um, kick us off by taking us back to a moment, or maybe it's, like, more than one moment, that you feel like really kinda put you on the path that you're on right now.
Randi Kest: Oh, goodness. Um, I feel like-- I'm glad you said there could be more than one moment because there are. Um, the current path that I'm on professionally was kicked off, um, about two and a half years ago when I was laid off.
Um, you know, I think this happens for a lot of us. A lot of women in midlife find their way, um, out of a corporate, corporate, corporate America, um, by way of layoff. That is just fact, unfortunately. Um, and at the time of my layoff, um, you know, thankfully, I'd been with my organization for a while, so I had some runway in terms of, um, uh, severance to kind of really sit in the, the question and then the subsequent decision of what do I wanna do.
Um, and what kept bubbling up for me was I gotta get out of media, um, the media world I was in. I was in the streaming world. Um, and feel like I had more purpose. Um, I've been on a winding journey ever since.
Toby Myles: Well, that is not unusual. Um, I, I feel like did you, um, before the layoff, had you, were you already feeling dissatisfied?
Like, "I wanna do something, I just don't know what"?
Randi Kest: Yes, and in fact, um, as I said, I was in the streaming side of, uh, media, and prior to that I was in, um, pr- uh, digital production. And the digital production part of my career was really, there was a lot of meat to it, it was a lot of fun. We, I, great collaboration.
Um, really a pivotal point of my career. And then the streaming side, obviously that portion of my career was, was incredibly fulfilling at first as well. Um, but I knew that there was gonna be a ceiling, and I knew... I always kinda felt like, um, an imposter, which I know many of us feel like- Mm-hmm ... uh, in the industry.
And then I was also just grappling with fulfillment and purpose and that sort of stuff. So I had, I had wanted to leave multiple times, but as life happens, um, you know, I wa- wanted to leave in 2018 but my mom got sick, uh, and subse- subsequently passed away. And then I was ready to go again in 2020, and then the pandemic hit.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: So on and so on. So, um, I do look at the, uh, in hindsight I do look at the layoff as a, as a gift in many ways. Um, but yeah, I, I, there were some, there was some t- at, at the end there, there was definitely like a, a whisper in my ear that was like, "It's time." And it was coming by way of some, uh, things that had happened, uh, some decisions that had been made, uh, that I, that didn't sit well with me.
So from an, from a values standpoint, even though I didn't have that word yet, like I understood values, but I learned a lot about personal values, um, subsequently. But I knew that something wasn't aligning for me. Um- Mm ... so I had decided at the end of 2023 that '24 was gonna be the year I, I officially left.
And before I could choose that for myself, it was chosen for me.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm. That feels like the universe is- Yeah ... right there beside you. Or, uh, people like to say universe has your back, or the universe is gonna show you the way. Um, I had some similar things happen around the time that I was making my decision to leave.
Um, and so y- you had shared with me before, um, understanding that, um- That because of the layoff, um, you had some security and you recognized that you, that that was privileged to have that security. Not everybody has that. Um, and so what was, what was that time like initially once you got laid off where you're not worried like, "Oh my God, I need to figure out-- I need to make money," right?
Like, "I need to pay the bills. I need..." Like, obviously I'm sure that was in the back of your mind, but it wasn't initially. So what were, what was that first, you know, few weeks, months, um, like for you?
Randi Kest: Well, it's interesting you say that because y- yeah, I had, my runway was like 10 months of severance. Mm-hmm.
And, um, while that, looking back, that was like a li- it felt like a lifetime, and looking back it looks like it feels like a lifetime because severance, then unemployment after that, which was, you know, really nice. And I do call that a privilege. I mean, that is, thank God. Um, I was still, because I'm single and I'm, uh, I, the, everything around me is on my own responsibility, that was constantly like, holy shit.
Pardon my language, but holy shit, like, uh, uh, that, tho- those 10 months are gonna go like this. I gotta make the most of it. I gotta be smart about it. Do I find another job, um, in media and, uh, stay the course just so I could, you know, maybe double up, save money, plan, plan, plan for the future?
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: But it was w- I think I shared with you when we first chatted that a month before I got laid off, I met my current boyfriend.
I'm go- I've gone through a divorce, had dated for 12 years, um, which could be a whole other podcast
Toby Myles: episode.
Randi Kest: Yeah. Um, and I met a great, a great guy. Um, and when I met him, it was December of '23, and I kinda... I said to him, like, "I, I think I might get laid off. Like, I think that might, might be coming." He was like, "No way.
There's no way." And then, um, I got laid off. It was a Friday morning, and, uh, he called me on his way to work right after I got laid off. I was like, "I just got laid off." He was like... And I was, "Yeah." And so he came over on his way to work, and we sat there, and now he's like, "How do you feel?" I'm like, "I don't know how to feel."
It's such a bizarre moment because there's elation, there's f- there, for me there was freedom, but then there was embarrassment. Mm. There was shame. There was ego. You know, I'm not good enough. It was a s- it was a solo layoff too. It wasn't like I was swept up in a whole-
Toby Myles: Oh, wow ...
Randi Kest: it was a role elimination. So I took that over the course of the next, the following months very personally.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm. And,
Randi Kest: and in fact, um, I've said, and I may have said this to you, that, uh, that layoff hit me harder than my divorce did emotionally.
Toby Myles: Wow.
Randi Kest: Um, looking back, and this is part of the, the pivot into the women's midlife space, which I'm in now, um, I realize it was because I was in the throes of perimenopause, that it was, that was, everything was amplified.
Toby Myles: Mm.
Randi Kest: That im- initial moment, um, I feel like I need to paint that picture, um, that it was, it was early J- it was mid J- or mid-January. My boyfriend came over on the way to work. I was like, "Oh my God, what..." And I had to be offline, like, that day. It wasn't like a two-week notice. It was-
Toby Myles: Mm ... "
Randi Kest: You're done," you know, basically.
And the funniest thing was is I had had a party planned for the next day, that Saturday.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm. But
Randi Kest: it was, like, an o- I ha- I had planned an old school house party. Like, for, uh, it was three m- I, I, I... The party was in progress longer than I had known my new boyfriend. Made the plan, like, months before, and I had, like, 20 or 30 people coming over the next day, and I was like, "I have to..."
My immediate instinct was, "I have to cancel the party."
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: And he was like, "Oh, no. Like, hell you're canceling that party. We are going to party. It's your emancipation party," basically.
Toby Myles: Yeah, yeah.
Randi Kest: So, um, then I, so I, I was like, okay. So I went straight into- celebr- I went into a celebration mode. Mm-hmm. Like, I, you know, I have, I don't have a care in the world.
We had this party. It was hilariously fun. My whole house was moving 'cause we were all, like, dancing in the kitchen. And then Sunday came, and I was like, "Oh, what do I do now? What do I do now?" And I think our instinct, um, as mine was as a single person who was supporting herself for the, the previous 12 years on my own, was I need to get into action.
I need to get into action. I need to figure out what's next. Um, and that, that lasted a little while. Then I was like, "Okay, I need to take a breath. I need to make sure this is methodical." Um, and I, I spent some time, um, kind of, as I said, letting something bubble up to the surface, which was I know I wanna get out of corporate media, um, and I know I wanna be, I wanna make a, make a, uh, a difference of some kind.
Mm-hmm. Uh, whether it's on an individual level, a larger level, and it felt I was getting the pull towards the women's midlife space.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm. Yeah. That's, all of that is just so fascinating. I mean, it's almost like, um Like, you had this runway, but you couldn't really fully enjoy that runway and really to the full extent that someone might think like, "Oh my God, that would be amazing," right?
But you, you knew, you know, enough to know that that time's gonna go by fast, and starting something new, whether you are starting a business or looking for a job, like, it takes time, right? It takes time to get those assets together and, you know, start figuring out really h- who is your audience and how you're gonna talk to them, and that's just the business route.
Like, never mind looking for a job, which, you know, can be a year, 18 months.
Randi Kest: Yeah.
Toby Myles: You know? And
Randi Kest: I, I did that for a minute. I was like, "Okay, the smart thing would d- to do would be, yes, I wanna pivot, but I should really have another job," you know? Mm-hmm. And so let's look into the, let me stay in the industry and look, and it was just brutal.
I mean, two years ago... It's brutal now, but two, even two years ago it was really tough, that whole media industry. That landscape is changing rapidly, especially the streaming space.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm. Um,
Randi Kest: and, uh, what I was doing specifically was quality assurance, editorial and technical d- uh, quality assurance to ensure that, um, the, the streamers were getting their content accurately.
Mm. And a lot of that is being AI'd away, um-
Toby Myles: Yeah ...
Randi Kest: you know, and systems'd away. So, uh, that, that was tough as well. Mm-hmm.
Toby Myles: Mm. That was r-
Randi Kest: but yeah, I d- I didn't, I wasn't able to enjoy it. I enjoyed, trust me, I enjoyed moments, like-
Toby Myles: Yeah ...
Randi Kest: for a summer when I was like, "Okay, I'm all right," and I lived with-
Toby Myles: Yes.
Randi Kest: "Beach on a Tuesday," you know? Um, so I did enjoy moments of it, but it was always, there was al- it's like grief, you know? There was this- Mm-hmm ... always buzzing in the back of my head, like you gotta, you gotta figure it out. You gotta figure it out.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm. I remember when I left my job to start my business, and this was planned.
I had planned it for quite some time the year leading up to it. Um, but I also do remember, um, because my last official day at my job after 15 years at this particular job was December 31st, right? So January hit, and I do remember thinking and feeling like- I have no structure and I'm sitting here having coffee with my husband until like 9:00 AM, where in my job I was, I was an early bird.
You know, I was usually s- online by 7:00, 7:30 because I chose to be online that early. And I just remember like really s- that was like an adjustment for me. It's like, oh, like I'm s- shouldn't I be working? Shouldn't I be at work? Shouldn't I be answering emails right now?
Randi Kest: Yeah. It's, and you bring up a great point because I think, you know, we become so regimented, especially when we're working hours for another company.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: Yeah, I always had to be on, you know, we had to be online XYZ, and I had that same moment. So what I, thankfully, I always, I had the habit of going to the gym first thing in the morning. Mm-hmm. So I, I maintained that. Mm-hmm. And that, I credit that, not just that routine, but that community with so many things, but not the least of which was keeping me up and out the door at 6:00 AM.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: Going, you know, and like I s- I kept that schedule. I could've easily, I could've... Did I want to sleep till 9:00 every day?
Toby Myles: Yeah. '
Randi Kest: Cause I know there were probably some days in there that I did, but- Yeah ... um, I kept that, that regimen for that very reason. Like I had that, but then still I'd get home and I'd be like, I sit at my computer, like just staring at my computer, like, what, what, no one's waiting for me to get on a call-
Toby Myles: Right.
or,
Randi Kest: you know, I don't have to put a presentation together. Like, there's nothing to do.
Toby Myles: Yeah.
Randi Kest: Well, you know, I, I tried to find ways to fill my time, um, in productive ways, but it is, that is, it's a tough shift after so many years.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm. I think that's so interesting you said that. Maybe we talked about this too, but I also work out in the morning and I have for, oh my gosh, it's probably 30 years.
And I would always say to people, people say, "Oh my God, I don't even know how you can do that, get up," and whatever. But when I started working out in the morning, it was when my kids were little and I was married to my first husband, and I would get up before anyone was awake and I'd go and get to the gym, get my workout in, get home, and then start getting the kids ready for their day and for school.
And the reason why I did it then was because I knew I could fit it in. Nobody really needed me. They're all still asleep, and I knew that I could be consistent. Like, there was nothing else, no other obligations I had at, at that moment. And it's a habit that I developed years ago that I still, like you said, even, like always, forever, no matter where I was working, what my schedule was, the workout always came first.
And yeah, like I don't always feel like it, but I, you know, I get up before I have time to talk myself out of it. Yeah. I'm doing it before I'm even like, "Ooh, I would really rather be in bed."
Randi Kest: And do you find that if you don't go, your whole day is thrown off?
Toby Myles: Oh, absolutely. I find myself sometimes, like if for whatever reason, it's so rare, but if for whatever reason, you know, I miss it or I realize, ooh, I have an early call so probably can't fit it in, I will...
I'll be like walking around, like I have no idea what I'm even supposed to be doing. It's so regimented. It's so part of my routine that this comes first before anything else, and I can be standing in the kitchen like I don't even know what I'm doing.
Randi Kest: Totally. And I'm motivated by three things. That, that routine.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: The second thing is by the women. I, it, it, I just... The seven... I, I go, I get up at 6:00, a bunch of us meet and we walk for, you know, 40, 40 minutes before the workout.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: We take the 7:30 class. And it's by nature of the type of gym I go to, the same people tend to show up at the s- you know, at the same class.
So you get to know-
Toby Myles: Yes. Yeah, yeah
Randi Kest: So it's that community- Mm-hmm ... that is also the reason I show up, 'cause if you don't show up, it's like you know you're gonna get shit for it from somebody, or someone's gonna be like, "What? Are you okay?"
Toby Myles: Absolutely.
Randi Kest: And then the third thing is, is if I, if I were just to say, "I'm, I'm gonna take a month off," the fear of what it's gonna feel like to restart the, this whole process that I've been, you know, working on for a year is so great in me.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. I know
Randi Kest: how horrible I can feel during a workout when I'm fully conditioned and, like, prepared.
Toby Myles: Yeah.
Randi Kest: I, I mean, I, it's always a struggle, but you know what I mean. Right. I'm in decent, decent enough shape where I can- Mm-hmm ... suffer through the workout. The fear of, of what it would feel like if I took time off is a, such a huge motivator for me.
Mm-hmm. I'm like,
Toby Myles: I have
Randi Kest: to restart.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Yeah. Plus, people expect you, right? You talk about that morning group. I didn't take a class, I just went and worked out, but we were like the Breakfast Club. We always referred to ourselves that way, and it was the same people every morning, and we would always laugh how we were the only crazy people, you know, people crazy enough to show up at the gym when it opened at 5:00 AM.
Um, but if you didn't show up for a day or two or you went on vacation, everyone was like, "Where, where have you been?" You know? And they'd kind of give you shit for it. So...
Randi Kest: And by the way, I, anyone who can, can be self-motivated, like it sounds like you're self-motivated, you don't take a class, I give you... I feel like that's 10 times harder than I just show up and I do what's on the board.
Yeah. And black out usually halfway through, and, you know, I, I could never get up and go to a gym solo. And maybe I, I would adapt, I don't know. But it, that is, I, that impresses me on a level that, uh, I can't even articulate because it is, to be able, to be self-motivated to do that and to figure out what you're gonna do when you get to the gym, I'd be wandering around aimlessly.
Toby Myles: Well, I have to be honest, right? Like, uh, um, in the beginning, you know, I was in my 30s, early 30s back then. Um, you know, when you join a, a new gym they give you a few free personal training sessions, and the personal trainer that I worked with, his name was Tony. I'm sure he's not listening to my podcast, so he probably doesn't care.
Yeah. But he was so cute. Like, that was my motivation initially. Like, when I didn't have other motivation, it was like, "Oh, I get to get up and go see T- Tony." And even when I wasn't working with him one-on-one, he was there. I could check in with him and say, "Hey, I think it's time to, you know, change up, change things up."
And so initially that was my motivation until it became a habit, right? So it's like whatever gets you out of bed. Whatever. It
Randi Kest: doesn't matter. It doesn't matter.
Toby Myles: Exactly.
Randi Kest: Back to connecting the dots, Chrissy, I, I met Chrissy at the gym when we were- Okay ... on
Toby Myles: our journey.
Randi Kest: Yes. We worked out with the same personal trainer.
She, we worked out before, if I remember correctly, she'd have to correct me, she worked out with him right before my friend Amy and I worked out with him. Mm-hmm. And so we got to know each other in passing, and that was, my gosh, thir- almost 30 years ago.
Toby Myles: Yeah, that's crazy.
Randi Kest: Yes.
Toby Myles: Yeah. So okay, so you, so you had your gym routine.
What, um- Like what were the things you started to do? Because I think we talked about this before, and I'm very much this way where, um, I, I kind of lean on my, um, intuition about things until something tells me otherwise. I call it following the breadcrumbs. It's like I, I just-- what is the next right thing?
Like what feels like the next right thing? And it doesn't matter if somewhere along the way I, I pivot again. Like what's the thing I need to do in this moment to kind of like take the next step? So can you talk a little bit about like o- once you settled on, um, working with midlife women And I know that that had to do with you being in perimenopause, so you felt a, a deep connection to that.
W- what happened next?
Randi Kest: You know, it's, uh, it's a great question, and it was the injustice of perimenopause that is what kind of drove me into it. Because I didn't know. I was like, "Why did anyone tell me what was going on?" Mm-hmm. And
Toby Myles: why didn't
Randi Kest: my doctor say, "Hey, 10 years prior, this is what you should be looking out for.
Let's get some baseline, you know, tests and all this kind of stuff"? And, um, so it was kind of an... I was like, "Wait, what? What, what is going on?" And that's when I started to kind of di- dig into it. Now, originally I tried to, um... What I was doing in that timeframe, um, was I was like, "Okay, let me take the skill set I have and see if I can shoehorn it into the women's midlife space."
Mm-hmm. So are there editorial and, editorial or creative needs inside the women's midlife space that I could fulfill? Mm-hmm. So I was kind of looking for those roles in the media, health, cinema alleys, and at the time I wasn't finding much by way of editorial. It was very much, um, you know, clinical stuff was being posted and that sort of thing.
Um, so for a while I would, you know, spend my, spend part of my day, 'cause I had to have that kind of routine. Um, I'd spend part of my day trying to, like, figure it out, you know, looking into what's out there, uh, working on my N- my LinkedIn, which I'd never touched, um, at
Toby Myles: all,
Randi Kest: and then networking. That was, that was and still is, even in this new world, this new world that I'm in, um, that is the key to everything, especially in mid-career or, like, late...
I guess I am mid-career, um, and career pivots, leaning into the community, your, your professional community, and having conversations. 'Cause the chances of finding a job on LinkedIn, um, and applying to it blindly are so slim in my experience-
Toby Myles: Yep ...
Randi Kest: that, um, it's about who you know, talking to people-
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm
Randi Kest: being open to, to convers- to conversations, to networks, to, "Oh, have a conversation with this person, this person," and that's basically how you and I met too.
Toby Myles: Yeah. Yep.
Randi Kest: And, um, I've met so many wonderful people. So it was a, it was definitely an iterative process. So at first I was like, "Okay, I'm gonna, I'm gonna work.
I'm gonna take what I know and apply it to this midlife space."
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: And it wasn't until that summer... So I was laid off in January, and that first summer, um, a couple things kind of happened. I was, I was, I'm in, I'm very open about being in therapy. Mm-hmm. I started therapy when my mom got sick in 2018, um, and has, have just remained because I, I find it to be incredibly helpful and useful.
Toby Myles: Yep.
Randi Kest: Um, and my therapist is she said to me, she, she kind of reminded me of a path, uh, in my past that I'd taken. So, um- In, in college, I considered going down the psychology route, and I was not good in science and math and stuff like that. So I was encouraged to stay away from those and go more the creative space.
So that's why I found my way into journalism and then started newspapers and found my way into media In 2010, um, I started, uh, I went into the, uh, uh, counseling program. I was like, "Ooh, I wanna become a counselor." So I did a year towards a master's in counseling, um, and then left to go back to my previous company.
An opportunity showed up, and I was like, I really miss the creativity and- Mm-hmm ... uh, so I, uh, I went back to, to what I, what I'd been doing. And then, um, fast-forward, you know, then I got divorced, and then moved from Maryland to Jersey and s- you know, went, you know, w- I mean, all these things. Um, as I said, I was gonna leave in 2018.
I was gonna leave in 2020. And so, um, it wasn't until I was speaking to my counsel- my therapist. She was like, "You did a year in, towards your counseling degree," and I thought the a- the avenue she was taking me down was, "Why don't you pick that back up?" And- Mm-hmm ... and I said, "Let me stop you there. Money and time.
I don't have the money to pay for an, a master's degree right now, and I don't have the time." And she's like, "No, no, no, no. What about coaching?" And I rolled my eyes, right? Fully honest with her. I was like, "Oh, you mean like a life coach?" And she said, "Yeah." And I, I was like, that was really ignorant of me to roll my eyes at that.
I'm like, I, I get coached every day at the gym, and it's so impactful. Right. Um, the recipient of really good coaching, uh, when you, when you're motivated to do something or motivated to make a change or try something new. And I was like, yeah, life coaches have so much to offer. So that, she planted that seed and that, and that was in, uh, July of 2024, and the minute we got off the phone, um, or off, off of Zoom, I started looking into coaching- Mm-hmm
um, as
Toby Myles: a
Randi Kest: career. Um, and that kinda led me into this, where I am now. Now, it's changed a few times, as I mentioned before our call, but I went, uh, I signed up for a menopause coaching certification first. Um, but before that started, I also started, um... I went through Co-Active Institute and got my, um, my, like, professional coaching schooling under my belt.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: So, um, I was, I was really feeling... And I was like, if I marry the two, then I can make a difference in this women's midlife space. It's outside of the media. So it, it was, you know, those first couple months were kinda, like, exploratory, so to speak.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: And the minute the idea was planted that felt, that resonated, I, I went straight into action.
It was from July until I started Co-Active s- like, in September.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: And then that was, that took up a lot of time. Um- Mm-hmm ... then I started, right after, when I finished that-- No, I'm sorry. Before I even finished that, I started the menopause certification. That took me a couple more months, and then, um- And then so that brings us into 2025.
The early '25 I finished both of those, um, and then I kind of hung my shingle out and started coaching, and then also freelancing in my old world of editorial.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. So multiple income streams, I think, which is common for, um... It's funny because, you know, I, I might, um, piss some people off, right, about this, but, like, this is the reality of entrepreneurship, right?
It's, it's not always, you know, you have this idea, you find something that you're suited for, and it just, that's it. That's all you ever do, right? There's always gonna be, um- opportunities, I guess, outside of that realm of what we do, um, that it's okay to say yes to, right? Like, I take custom clients now even though I have, um, Core Eight Story Hub is my course, and I have a community called Her Story Authority, and I work with women to help them tell their stories and so that they have a library of stories that they can share with their audiences.
But I still have people come to me and say, "Hey, do you still, um, do website copy? Do you still write emails?" I'm like, "In, in the right situation I will," right? Like, if it's, it's somebody that I wanna work with and it's something interesting, absolutely, I'll do it. Why not? You know, I don't necessarily tell the whole world.
Um, but you know, I got bills to pay too, just like everybody else.
Randi Kest: Yeah, and also someone once, uh, someone once, somebody introduced me to the, um, to the term pro- a portfolio life. Mm-hmm. And I really like that because it scratches many itches, you know? Yeah. You know, you get to do all the things you love to do, but then you also, you know, are paying the bills or taking in extra income, side income.
Um- Mm-hmm ... that, that helps. All of it helps, and that's kind of, I'm at that inflection point now where I'm kind of like, okay, I'm coaching a little bit, and I enjoy it very much, but my freelance world, um, I'm, I'm now trying to shift that, um, that kind of focus kind of into the women's midlife space.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: Up to now my freelance has been focused kind of in the hospitality space.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm. Uh,
Randi Kest: by nature of h- you know, my contacts and, you know, who I knew.
Toby Myles: Yeah.
Randi Kest: And now I'm thinking about, okay, now I have a year of, more than a year of that under my belt.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: Um, how do I marry, how do I align the two, the two things in my portfolio, the freelance world and the coaching menopause midlife space?
Toby Myles: Yeah.
Randi Kest: So I think that goes to s- though speaking, we spoke about this before, keeping your options open and-
Toby Myles: Yeah ...
Randi Kest: being open to opportunities.
Toby Myles: Yeah. Yeah, for sure. And I, from where I sit, I see that, like, naturally because you already have the freelance writing editorial piece that now you just start writing about the things that you are also now an expert in, which will, you know, lead more into now people can find you.
Like, oh, you know, she's, she's a, a subject matter expert in, um, menopause, perimenopause, and she's a coach. But you're writing an article for, I don't know-
Randi Kest: A random, yeah, and I'm, yeah, I'm doing, uh, I'm doing, like, you know, AI, uh, kind of QA and that kind of thing, but also editorial for- Mm-hmm ... for, as I said, companies in the, um, in the hospitality space, which has
I, I love it. I absolutely
Toby Myles: love it. Yeah,
Randi Kest: yeah. Yeah, it's like as I, as I maybe transition into this women's midlife space a little bit more, as I get more comfortable in it, and so on and so forth, hopefully- Mm-hmm ... hopefully I become a subject matter expert. Right now it's just personal subject matter expert on what
Toby Myles: I- It's the best way to learn about it, right?
Randi Kest: Oh, man, it's fascinating, isn't it? It's, it's a fascinating journey. It really, really is.
Toby Myles: Mm, mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, it's funny because I am the second oldest. Um, uh, there, uh, my brother has passed, but there's three girls in my family, and, um, but we're i- in range. My oldest sister is three years older than me. My youngest sister is eight years younger than me, and so she's in that perimenopause stage, and it, for a while it felt like almost every week she'd, like- When you were here, were you having, you know
Were you feeling anxious? Were you getting headaches? Were you ..." You know, and she would list all these things, and I'm like, "Yep, yep, yep." And it, that goes back to what you were talking about, like our doctors are not telling us these things, and some of the symptoms are not anything that you would even think of.
Like, we, we know, pe- we hear all the time about, like, you know, hot flashes. Like, that's the thing- Yeah ... everybody knows about hot flashes, but there's so many other things that happen leading up to menopause.
Randi Kest: My c- my core symptom, it's so crazy, um, is, uh, my legs, my, just my calves, not my upper, get so itchy.
Toby Myles: Oh.
Randi Kest: I, like, I rake at them. It's, like, unbelievable. It's a histamine thing, 'cause estrogen-
Toby Myles: Ah ...
Randi Kest: blocker or something. Mm-hmm. And it's when I'm, my s- 'cause I'm still getting my period, so at my cy- at different times, times of my cycle, I am, like, literally ripping the skin off of my legs.
Toby Myles: Yeah.
Randi Kest: And that's my, that's my core symptom.
And also, I've discovered, um, I have had some GI issues that have, that have plagued me for the last three years- Mm-hmm ... and I was sent to a gastroenterologist, diagnosed with this one thing, medicated for this one thing, and then I was having all these other issues. And now I'm working with a functional medicine person on my- Mm-hmm
GI, and I have never felt better. Mm. And my cycle has gotten regular. It's- Mm-hmm ... and the itching has gotten better, like, all- Mm-hmm ... so it's all ti- everything's tied, but, you know, because of the nature of women's health, um- Yeah ... there's been research into how ... I mean, uh, there is thankfully m- a lot more thanks to the heavy hitters in the space right now that are- Mm-hmm
screaming from the rooftops, you know, to our benefit, to get answers and get, uh, funding and so on and so forth pushed through. But, um, you know, the, the connection between GI, perimenopause symptoms, all these things, it's like, it's all tied up. It's all, it's systemic.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: You know, I think we so f- we so, uh
So many people are thinking of it so myopically- Mm-hmm ...
Toby Myles: um,
Randi Kest: that they're, you know, they're, they're thinking about just the hot flashes, or just the this, just the that, when it truly is a whole body experience for most of us.
Toby Myles: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. And I do think that there is s- so much, um, validity in learning about something as you're going through the experience, right?
Because I'm sure you're reading all the time, and maybe learning about things that aren't necessarily symptoms that you're experiencing, but some of your clients might be, and so now you know because, uh, because you've, you've researched it yourself.
Randi Kest: Yeah, and how, how it impacts different societies, you know, different women.
People with trauma experience m- perimenopause, menopause very differently. Um, different societal groups experience it differently. It's not, it's a, it's a- Mm ... universal experience, but it's incredibly individualized.
Toby Myles: Yeah. Yeah, which I think also, you know, not that I wanna defend the medical communi- community, but I think that's part of it, it's not so black and white like so many other things, right?
Randi Kest: Absolutely. 100%.
Toby Myles: Yeah. Yeah. So, um- I do wanna kind of talk a little bit about, um, what shape your business is taking now. But before we do that, I wanna, like, rewind. I wanna go back to, like, little girl Randi-
Randi Kest: Mm-hmm ...
Toby Myles: and ask you if you knew back then what you wanted to be when you grew up?
Randi Kest: I don't think I did.
Um, I just said the other day, I've always been... I've never been a person with a plan. Mm-hmm. I've never been a person with a vision about what my life was gonna look like. I never had the, "Oh, when I wanna be married by 25, and kids by 30." I just... It always just kinda happened.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: Um, and I kind of fol- as I said, I fol- kind of followed the bumblebee.
Mm-hmm. And very lucky in that, um, I had opportunities. Like, I was had the opportunity to go to college. Uh, I did- I wasn't going to, which was funny. All through high school I had, I worked at a Chinese restaurant and an art studio.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm. Um,
Randi Kest: and the two women that ran, the woman who was the artist and the, um, woman who ran the Chinese restaurant were badasses.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: They were, um, and are, um, very im- they influenced me quite a bit, uh-
Toby Myles: Mm ...
Randi Kest: of being a very strong woman.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: And I'm, I'm eternally grateful for, for them. And I thought because I, you know, I was like, "Oh, I have two jobs," and my, you know, graduation was coming. And back then in the '90s it was like you applied to a couple schools.
You didn't have to have all the internships that now, you know, kids have to have. It's unbelievable.
Toby Myles: Yes. Yeah.
Randi Kest: And I was like, "I'm not, I'm just gonna hang out in Jersey and work at these restaurants." I didn't know. My brother and sister, I have an older brother and sister, they went off to college and, um, I remember my mom going, "Oh, no, no, no, you're going to college."
Mm-hmm. And I was
Toby Myles: like, "
Randi Kest: Oh, I guess I gotta do that." And so, you know, um, I think that I, I always loved writing. I always loved, um, communication. Mm-hmm. Uh, and I had a really, really good teacher in high school, uh, a creative writing teacher who in, in- impacted me and influenced me.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: Coached me, if you will.
Toby Myles: Yeah.
Randi Kest: As did my two bosses in, in those, at those two jobs. They were coaches really. I mean, it all comes down to mentorship and coaching. Um, and then I got to college, and as I said, it was like, okay, psychology's interesting, and then I had a guidance counselor who was like, "No, you're not really great at that, so-
do this," and, uh, I had a really good journalism professor and, um, then I had an opportunity to internship at the Baltimore, to intern at the Baltimore Sun. And then I had a mentor there that was like, "Oh, you should get..." She sh- wise beyond her years, she said, "You need to get out of print journalism because it's changing."
Mm-hmm. It's like what it is now, it's not gonna be- Yeah ... what it is five, 10 years.
Toby Myles: Yep.
Randi Kest: Like, "I know somebody who's starting the digital division at Discovery Channel, and can I pass your resume, your, your paper resume on to
Toby Myles: them?" Yeah. I know. The good old days.
Randi Kest: Yeah. And so I, it just kinda all, that, uh, life... I don't wanna say life happened to me.
That's, that doesn't sound, that's not right, 'cause I m- I was making decisions.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: I had people in my life that were helping me along the way.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm. Uh,
Randi Kest: my ex-husband was very instrumental about me getting the, going for the interview at Discovery and, and get- taking the job there.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm. I had
Randi Kest: the people at Discovery who then, you know, I had a great group of people that I worked, that I came up with, you know, back in the early days and- You know, I, I don't know that I had any clear idea.
I remember my dad saying to me, um, "You know, I think you're, I think you're writing. Like, I think you're com-" something about communications. I can't remember exactly what he said, but it was a very... It impacted me in a way that made me feel confident that, um, I was good at communicating, whatever the- Yeah
medium it was.
Toby Myles: Yeah.
Randi Kest: And so yeah, I don't, I, you know, it's funny 'cause like, you know, some friends are like, "I knew, I knew I wanted to be a doctor. I knew I wanted to do this," and I never really had that.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Um- It's, it's funny, and you're right about that because, um, I have asked many women about that, and sometimes there is a very direct through line and correlation, either something they were interested in or something they experienced as a child, um, happy, sad, trauma, whatever.
It could be anything. Um, and so I'm always curious, um, to know, like, was there, you know, anything that, you know, like you wanted to be i- in broadcast or, or what have you. Um, so I always like to know, you know, is there some connection? I, in, I did a, a recent interview to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the podcast, um, and my friend Christy, who also has her own podcast, interviewed me for my podcast, and one of the things I talked about was when I was little, I wanted to be a ventriloquist, which is so weird and so bizarre I don't actually know why, because I f- I'm, you know, now I look at the, like, the little dolls or whatever, I always think they're a little bit creepy, and I don't really remember what I was thinking as a kid.
But I remember very specifically telling my mom I was either gonna be a ventriloquist or I was gonna be a drummer in a band, and I've never liked, picked up a set of drumsticks. So I think I just thought it was cool. But, but one of the things that I love about what you said is, like, no, you didn't know what you wanted to do, but you did back then what you already talked about doing now, and that's, like, networking.
That was, like, a form of networking, right? It's like relationships and talking to people, and this person connects you to this person. And, you know, to this day I still believe what you already said. It's, it's, it's really who you know, right? And I don't mean, like, people in high places. I just mean, like, the more people you can talk to and, you know, with an open mind and curiosity and share about what you're doing, the more people connect, can connect you, and vice versa.
Randi Kest: Yeah. And I mean, the more open you are to, to, to someone seeing some- shining a sh- throwing the, you know, throw, not throwing, but not throwing a mirror, but sh- holding a mirror up and saying, "This is what I see in you." Which is what-
Toby Myles: Yeah ...
Randi Kest: I love about coaching people, is like- Mm-hmm ... is, oh, and what I loved about managing a team.
I was like, "I see this in you."
Toby Myles: Yes.
Randi Kest: And I've been on the receiving end of it. I'll never forget, um, the year I turned 39, um, I decided as a gift to myself, my, a 40th birthday gift to myself, I wanted to add a one-on-one training session, uh, each week with one of the owners of my old gym. Uh, she's- Mm-hmm
actually the owner of my new g- my current gym. Um, her name's Emmy. And, um, when I started working out with her, she had, I remember her doing, asked me to do something crazy. And I was like, "There's no way I can do that." She goes, "I beg to differ." And very ki- very, you know, calmly, "I beg to differ." I was like, "There's no way I can get myself up over that thing," that she wanted me.
And she said- Mm-hmm ... "Oh, I've seen you do things that tell me that you can do it."
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm. She's like, "
Randi Kest: Just try. Just try. What's the worst thing to happen? You're not gonna fall on your head, you're not gonna break your neck."
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: And I did it. Mm-hmm. And so if, if, I think we, you know, I know for me personally, I let my, um, self-doubt lead a lot of the time.
Mm-hmm. Especially with things like that. It's always ta- like, the safer route of not doing that thing, not leaping over that thing. It's safer.
Toby Myles: Yeah.
Randi Kest: One of the things I've learned through men- uh, managing a team, and then now coaching people, is shining a light on something that they don't see in themselves.
Yeah.
Toby Myles: And
Randi Kest: it could change their path, just like these things have changed my path.
Toby Myles: Yeah. Yeah, for sure. And I think that is the, um, the beauty and the gift of having a coach. Um, things are hard anyway, right? S- life, business, all of it, it's hard, right? So why- Why go it alone when you don't have to when there can be somebody there to help you along?
It made me think about when you were talking about like shining a light. I have this happen all the time, every week, where I'm talking to somebody, a woman, she's telling me something that happened or whatever, just conversation. I'm like, "That's a story you need to tell." And it could be something, like, really tiny, something small that happened.
Um, and I all of a sudden I see their whole expression change, and they're like, "Wow, I didn't even think about that." You know? So I jokingly say I'm the story whisperer because I hear things, I'm like, "That's a really interesting story. You need to tell that story." Because
Randi Kest: I think some people self-diminish, you know?
Yeah. It's like, "It doesn't really matter."
Toby Myles: Yeah. Like,
Randi Kest: you know, I, I, th- I- there's been a few times in my life where, um, I've been ashamed of something like being divorced at 35 years old. I'm like- Mm-hmm ... "Oh, my God, this is so embarrassing." Mm-hmm. Or dating, date stories. And then you share it with somebody, and they're like, "Oh, my God, you too?"
You know what I mean? Like, it- Mm-hmm ... and so you, you never know what sharing your story, how it might impact somebody. And, and- Yeah ... embolden them to share or embolden them to make the change or take the step or make the call or whatever, you know? Yeah. Whatever it is. And, and being able to, as, as you just said, like being a story, a, a story whisperer and seeing someone- Mm-hmm
just making somebody feel seen.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: That's your, that's a huge gift of yours.
Toby Myles: I think, and I posted something about this today on LinkedIn, that it goes beyond... Like, it's, it's, we know that it's great for our content and our business and how we show up, especially in the age of AI with everything sort of sounding like, we know that it's important to share our stories, but it's, it's good for humanity, right?
It's, it's-
Randi Kest: Yeah, and we're, we're lived stories, you
Toby Myles: know? Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. That's
Randi Kest: why you're so-
Toby Myles: Yeah ...
Randi Kest: glad you're doing this kind of work and-
Toby Myles: Yeah ...
Randi Kest: tell stories.
Toby Myles: Well, like you, you have found, I think, the work that you're meant to be doing. It's, it's the same for me, and it's taken me many iterations and pivots to, to finally get here, even though storytelling has always been a part of my work as a writer.
Um, now it's really at the forefront, and, um, i- in this, you know, what is probably my last chapter of work in my life, that this is what I'm meant to be doing. Um, it's, it feels pretty amazing.
Randi Kest: And it's one of the, one of the such, you know, getting older is frowned upon for, especially for us women in so many ways.
Toby Myles: Yeah.
Randi Kest: But is, one of that is one of the, the, that clarity is one of the greatest things that comes out of getting older.
Toby Myles: Yeah.
Randi Kest: Now I know what I'm here for.
Toby Myles: Yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm. So, um, can you share with us, with me, with the listeners, what's, what does it look like to work with you inside your coaching business?
Randi Kest: Um, it's interesting 'cause I'm, I'm still relatively, I would say, new in the coaching space. Um- Mm-hmm ... and what I set out to do, uh, as I've shared with you, is like I'm gonna be a menopause coach. I'm gonna help women through this experience. And really what it is, is menopause is a byline, you know, to a lot of these midlife transitions, divorces, career changes, so on and so forth.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: Um, so what I'm finding most is working with clients w- in career shifts that are, that are, uh, generally, you know, midlife driven, so I'm no longer feeling- like I have purpose in this or I no longer feel like I have purpose or fulfillment.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm. Um,
Randi Kest: so what I really, o- one of the things I love to do is peel everything back and talk about values, 'cause that was one of the things I mentioned early on in our conversation.
Toby Myles: Yep.
Randi Kest: I didn't have the word for it when I s- when I had this gut reaction, like something's not right. Something- Yeah ... is
Toby Myles: not
Randi Kest: right. Um, it was through my coaching certification or a certification program, um, that, uh, I learned what values were. And granted, I always knew what a value was. Right. But like deep, personal values.
Mm-hmm. And so in, in the work that I've been doing, uh, mainly is sitting with people and really delving into what their value, what at their core, what is valuable, what is meaningful to them.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: And then taking, okay, here's all, here's what you're really, really good at- Mm-hmm ... at your career. Here are your, here's your value structure.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: Here's your pa- here are your passions. How do we then, you know, bring all these things together and find a viable next step for you?
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: It's so much fun because you, I think we, people get s- they're surprised by like Oh, I didn't even think there was a career in that.
Toby Myles: Yeah.
Randi Kest: Um, and in fact, just yesterday, I, I, um, I met up with an old, a client, a previous client of mine who's total- she shifted her career.
She was a, a nurse at Sloan Kettering, which is not easy work. Yeah. And she knew she, um, she knew she wanted to, to st- stay with nursing, but not in that realm. Mm-hmm. And in the values work and what mattered work, she's like, "I lo-" I was like, "Okay, what do you love?" She's like, "I love spending time with my kids and their friends."
Mm-hmm. And they were, they're all college age.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: So in the course of our work together, um, she left Sloan and got a job at, um, a college as their N- NP. So her-
Toby Myles: Oh,
Randi Kest: wow ... her focus is now that, that demographic. Yeah. But in addition, she was like, "But I love learning, and I've always been really interested in, in like the psychology side."
So I'm like, "Okay, great. Well, you're at a university. How about looking to see if they have tuition remission and-"
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm ... "
Randi Kest: get that degree?" Sure enough, she's starting that program in a couple weeks. But to, and actually, and to touch back to something you and I talked about, um, from both of us, I, when I was talking to her yesterday, she said, you know, "I just, I don't know anymore if that's the direction I wanna go in."
I was like, um... She's like, "I don't know if, like, one-on-one practice is what I wanna do, but I have to figure it out." And I was like, "Well, you never know where that one class might lead you." Right. It might, might unlock, illuminate, shine a light on- Mm-hmm ... something we didn't even think about.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm. So
Randi Kest: she's starting that program, I think, in the fall.
And I, it was a moment where I was kinda like, that's what it's about. Yeah. It's not, it's not that knowing what the end of the story is.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm.
Randi Kest: It's, it's being open to the path that may, you may go on in the process.
Toby Myles: Yeah. Yeah. Well, my next question was going to be, what advice would you have for listeners maybe thinking about making a pivot?
I feel like what you just said is probably really good advice, being open. Is there anything that you would add to that?
Randi Kest: I mean, being open and pursuing, if you're interested in coaching, be ready for it. Mm-hmm. Be ready to be challenged. You have to be open to being challenged, in my, in my opinion. Yeah. Um, and ready to dig in, and, and do- Yeah
hard work. Um, because what you might, uh, unveil in yourself is, it's n- it's not easy. It's not easy work, but it's highly illuminating work-
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm ... uh,
Randi Kest: that you would do individually, 'cause really the, the coaches, you know, just kind of lead, leading you on the journey.
Toby Myles: Yeah. The
Randi Kest: client's doing all the work.
Toby Myles: Yeah.
Randi Kest: I think that, that and, and leaning into your community and your network, I think- Mm-hmm ... especially for us women, is so important.
Toby Myles: Yeah.
Randi Kest: Lean into those around you, um, and, and trust them. You know, that hopefully they have their, their best interests at heart.
Toby Myles: Yeah. Yeah, for sure. So, um, where can people find you, either online or social media?
Randi Kest: Um, I'm on LinkedIn, Randi Kest. Um, and then I do have a website, uh, randiKest.com.
Toby Myles: That's easy. Just Randi Kest.
Randi Kest: Yeah. So I actually also have a, a Substack, um- Oh,
Toby Myles: yeah ...
Randi Kest: the title of which might be a little off-putting to some- ... but it's called The Mindfuck of Midlife.
Toby Myles: Oh my gosh. It's not off-putting to me. It sounds like exactly something I would wanna read.
Randi Kest: Yeah. It's a, it's, you know, it's a little glimpse into, um... And some of it makes it onto my LinkedIn, but um, you know, it's about these moments that we all find ourselves in and, um, that, you know, it's observations of thi- what people I'm watching change their lives for the better. Um- Yeah ... and, and taking big leaps, and that's what it's all about.
Like, but big leaps start with big s- the first steps, you know? Mm-hmm.
Toby Myles: Mm-hmm. So that
Randi Kest: step is sometimes the hardest. But if there's one thing that I've learned that is so certain is if, i- i- nothing's gonna happen if nothing changes, you
Toby Myles: know? Absolutely.
Randi Kest: Be willing to, to take that step, whether it's a step towards the gym in the morning, whether it's a step towards a career change.
Um, if you stay in your apartment, um, and don't do anything and don't leave, nothing's gonna happen.
Toby Myles: Yeah. Yeah, it goes back to that whole comfort zone thing, and if you start something new, inevitably it's gonna feel a little bit uncomfortable. You're gonna feel like a beginner, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't do it.
Mm-hmm. Well, thank you, Randi. This has been so much fun, as I knew it would. I feel like we could keep talking for, you know, another hour or so. Um, maybe there's a part two to this somewhere in our future. But I appreciate your time. I appreciate you being here and, and imparting all your, um, wisdom on our listeners.
Randi Kest: Thank you so much for having me. I'm so grateful to Christy for introducing us, and-
Toby Myles: Same here ...
Randi Kest: and enjoy. Thank you