What if you’re not broken—you’re just waiting for permission you can only give yourself?
Stephanie and Maren sit down with Jillian Riley, author of The Ten Permissions, to rethink how we lead, parent, and make choices in a world where old formulas no longer fit. Instead of chasing the “right” answer, they explore how to
- use experiments over equations
- build the capacity to choose
- recover quickly when things don’t go as planned
We were all taught to “ask before you act”, which follows many of us into adulthood, slowing decisions and shrinking our sense of agency.
Jillian offers practical ways to shift our old programs and assumptions and shows how permission unlocks creativity, collaboration, and momentum
This conversation is equal parts candid and hopeful.
If you’re navigating career pivots, raising teens in a fast-changing world, or leading teams that feel stuck, you’ll walk away with tools to act, learn, and iterate—without waiting for someone else to say it’s okay.
Listen, share with a friend who needs a nudge, and if this resonates, subscribe and leave a review to help more people find the show.
Find The Ten Permissions at 10permissions.com, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Reach out to Jillian to join her community and explore these practices together.
About Jillian Reilly
Jillian Reilly is a founder, author, and keynote speaker. Having spent her 30-year career working in social, organizational, and individual change across Africa, Asia, and Central Europe, Jillian’s focus is on helping people unlock their ability to navigate change and accelerate growth and learning. Jillian’s book, The Ten Permissions, guides readers in permitting themselves to update how they operate in the 21st century and design lives that fully leverage the possibilities of this disruptive world.
Jillian is a TEDX speaker and podcast host who has been published on international affairs in the Washington Post, Newsweek and the LA Times. Her memoir, Shame: Confessions of an Aid Worker in Africa, chronicles her early career in international development and the profound lessons it offered on the failings of the aid industry to drive growth across the developing world.
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