Welcome back to The Grey Areas Podcast! Today’s guest is Danielle Stead-Blanton, attorney, business strategist, and founder of DSB, a modern legal and consulting firm for creatives, wellness professionals, and female founders. Danielle’s no-fluff approach helps entrepreneurs build protected, scalable businesses without the intimidation of traditional law firms.

In this episode, Danielle shares how she left Big Law burnout behind to create a business rooted in strategy and structure. We dive into hiring pitfalls, contract myths, and how to finally step into your CEO role with confidence, clarity, and a whole lot less chaos.

Highlights Include:
• 03:44 – Danielle shares the jaw-dropping comment from a managing partner that made her realize corporate law was never going to be a safe space.
• 08:32 – What burnout really looked like, and the personal moment that sparked Danielle’s decision to leave it all behind.
• 12:45 – From fitness instructor to founder: how Danielle used her legal background to build a thriving business that meets founders where they are.
• 19:28 – Why you’re never too early for legal help, and how one hour with the right attorney can save you 10+ hours, and thousands of dollars, later.
• 27:09 – The real risks of hiring contractors vs. employees, and the legal missteps that can sink a small business.
• 42:43 – Danielle’s approach to helping clients find their voice, stand in their power, and navigate hard conversations like a CEO.
• 54:09 – Cubicle Confession: Danielle advises a social media consultant struggling with slow sales and offers a game plan to make her offers more sustainable.

This episode is packed with practical advice and powerful encouragement to help you run your business with more structure, more confidence, and way less fear.

Danielle’s Links:
Instagram: @danielle.stead
TikTok: @daniellesteadblanton

Kelsey's Links For You:
Website
Grey Areas Instagram
Kelsey's Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok

Welcome back to The Grey Areas Podcast! In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Kay Costa, former attorney, first-gen professional, and the creator behind In Lieu of Laundry, where she documents her real-time recovery from corporate burnout. After five years of practicing law and realizing her career was no longer aligned with her values or well-being, Kay made the courageous decision to step away and start fresh.

Kay opens up about the emotional and physical toll of her legal career, how burnout quietly creeps in, and what it truly means to heal without a roadmap. We dive deep into identity loss, societal pressure, and the courage it takes to rewrite your story. Now, through honest storytelling and an unfiltered online presence, Kay’s redefining success and helping others feel less alone along the way. This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt stuck in a “dream job,” burned out by expectations, or scared to pivot. Kay’s story will remind you that walking away is sometimes the bravest thing you can do, and it’s just the beginning.

Highlights include:
• 02:15 – Kay shares how her career in law began at 19 and when she first started to feel out of alignment.
• 12:19 – The challenge of detaching identity from career after years of being “the lawyer girl.”
• 19:08 – Why Kay chose to document her burnout recovery online and how it’s helping others do the same.
• 25:38 – What healing from burnout really looks like day-to-day, from joy to panic.
• 36:34 – Redefining rest and refusing hustle culture: Kay’s approach to true recovery.
• 47:33 – Cubicle Confession: Advice for a lawyer feeling stuck, burnt out, and scared to leave it all behind.

Kay Costa’s Links:
TikTok: @inlieuoflaundry
Instagram: @inlieuoflaundry

Kelsey's Links For You:
Website
Grey Areas Instagram
Kelsey's Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok

Welcome back to The Grey Areas Podcast! This week, I’m joined by Colin Rocker, executive coach, keynote speaker, and the founder of For The First, a vibrant community built to support ambitious, first-generation professionals. Colin’s journey from corporate consulting to creating a multi-platform brand is filled with intentional pivots, candid lessons, and powerful insights for anyone rethinking the traditional path to success.

In this episode, Colin breaks down what it truly means to design a career on your own terms. We discuss the importance of authenticity, how to network with purpose, and the art of using storytelling as a professional tool. Colin shares strategies for overcoming the fear of visibility, navigating layoffs with confidence, and becoming impossible to overlook, even in systems not designed for you.

Highlights include:
• 02:51 – Colin reflects on the moment that sparked his transition from consulting to full-time creator.
• 05:38 – What it means to be a “career creator” and how to build a working life that works for you.
• 08:21 – How Colin navigated being laid off one week before his son was born and used it as fuel for reinvention.
• 11:49 – The “Monkey Bar Method” for turning networking conversations into meaningful opportunities.
• 18:55 – The three major hurdles first-gen professionals face: scarcity mindset, self-promotion, and leverage.
• 24:21 – Why young professionals fear self-promotion and how to overcome internal and external barriers.
• 47:21 – Cubicle Confession: A dependable employee feels invisible, Colin’s advice on how to go from overlooked to seen.

Whether you’re a creator, first-gen professional, or just feeling stuck in a career that doesn’t fit, this episode offers both practical strategies and empowering mindset shifts to help you reclaim your career on your own terms.

Colin Rocker’s Links:
TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn: @Careercolin
Community: For The First – Instagram @forthefirsts

Kelsey's Links For You:
Website
Grey Areas Instagram
Kelsey's Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok