What if you're not broken—just misaligned? In this conversation, host Desiree Stanley sits down with Stefanie Carlstedt, a Certified Human Design Business Coach who helps entrepreneurs and teams ditch one-size-fits-all strategies and build success that actually fits. After 13 years of entrepreneurial trial-and-error, Stef discovered Human Design and everything changed. Now she helps others build businesses and lives that honor who they truly are—without the burnout and confusion.

Stef shares her personal journey from corporate burnout to building a six-figure business that left her feeling empty. When her father was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's, she walked away from her social work career to be with him and started fresh. After his passing, a text from her sister-in-law about Human Design finally gave her the clarity she'd been searching for—and transformed her business, her relationships, and her understanding of herself.

So what is Human Design? Unlike personality tests that rely on a conditioned mind, Human Design uses your birth date, time, and location to create a personalized chart showing how you're meant to move through the world. Stef breaks down the five energy types and explains why some people thrive with hustle while others burn out, why following someone else's blueprint rarely works, and how understanding your unique decision-making process can help you stop saying yes when your body is screaming no.

Whether you're an entrepreneur struggling to find your footing, a leader trying to support your team, or someone who's tired of feeling like life has to be so hard, this episode offers practical tools and a refreshing reminder: when you align with your true design, everything shifts.

Bio:

Stefanie Carlstedt is a Certified Human Design Business Coach for Entrepreneurs and Teams. After 13 years of trial-and-error in entrepreneurship, she discovered the power of Human Design to turn burnout and confusion into clarity and sustainable growth. Today she helps business owners and teams ditch one-size-fits-all strategies and build success that actually fits, by design.

Connect with Stefanie:

Website: http://stefcarlstedt.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stefanie.carlstedt.2025

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stefaniecarlstedt/

Resources:

http://stefcarlstedt.com/hdreport

https://www.stefcarlstedt.com/magneticbusiness

Books mentioned:

Outlive - The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia MD - https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9780593236598

https://amzn.to/4trX2qa

The Gene Keys Embracing Your Higher Purpose by Richard Rudd - https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9781780285429

https://amzn.to/46sPtFB

Podcasts mentioned:

The Human Design Advantage with Stefanie Carlstedt - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-human-design-advantage/id1818861491

Be Magnetic Podcast with Tara Fischer - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-magnetic-podcast/id1660554761

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Enjoy this Podcast? If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your friends so that they can be educated, informed, inspired and empowered!

Questions? Contact me through my website, www.PocketsofKnowledge.com, or find me on Instagram @desireedstanley. Thanks for listening!

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This podcast is intended to educate, inspire, and empower you on your personal journey. Please note that individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

 Next Level Soul Podcast with Alex Ferrari - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-soul-podcast-with-alex-ferrari/id1560904383

In this expansive and energizing episode of Pockets of Knowledge, host Desiree Stanley sits down with award-winning author, speaker, and high-performance coach Cortney McDermott for a conversation that blends science, soul, and strategy. With a career that spans executive roles in global corporations, bestselling books, and appearances on stages like TEDx and Mindvalley, Cortney shares how real transformation starts from within—and how we can all access deeper alignment, joy, and purpose by tuning into our own innate wisdom.

Cortney opens up about her personal journey from being miserably successful to becoming a conscious creator of a more aligned life and business. She and Desiree explore topics like intuitive decision-making, rewiring subconscious beliefs, and why “hustle culture” often leads us away from the very success we’re chasing. Cortney introduces the neuroscience behind change, the power of permission, and how curiosity can be a guiding force when we're stuck or in transition.

Throughout the conversation, Cortney encourages listeners to stop outsourcing their power and start designing a life that actually feels good—not just looks good on paper. Whether you're a high-achieving professional, a curious seeker, or someone craving more clarity and calm in your life, this episode offers practical tools and soulful insights to help you return to your center, trust your inner voice, and create from a place of true alignment.

Bio:

Cortney McDermott is an award-winning author and speaker and celebrity coach. Her work in self-development and business strategy has been featured in Inc., Women’s Health, NBC, The Huffington Post, MindBodyGreen, and SUCCESS, and her talks on human potential have been shared on stages including TEDx, Mindvalley, Oxford Saïd Business School, and Richard Branson’s private island, Necker.

With a Master of Science from the London School of Economics, Cortney blends academic rigor with real-world experience to help individuals and organizations reach their highest potential. Her career highlights include executive roles at Vanity Fair Corporation, Vice President at Sustainability Partners Inc., and successfully running her own businesses, where she has worked with brands such as Universal Music Group, Nike, Kickstarter, and Google.

Connect with Cortney:

Website: https://www.cortneymcdermott.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortneymcdermott/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cortneymcdermott/

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@cortinc

Resources:

https://youtu.be/L2f8w1v-Hzo?si=e_Pu3GFB5w9YXGLS

Books mentioned:

Give Yourself Permission. Be Confident. Be Happy. Be You. Cortney McDermott - https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9781736357019

https://amzn.to/3ZS7Vnf

 Change Starts Within You: Unlock the Confidence to Lead with Intuition

Cortney McDermott - https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9780998955209

https://amzn.to/4qi10Pl

 Think and Grow Rich Napoleon Hill - https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9781585424337

https://amzn.to/4rqn1w5

Books by:

Alan Watts

Wallace Wattles

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Enjoy this Podcast? If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your friends so that they can be educated, informed, inspired and empowered!

Questions? Contact me through my website, www.PocketsofKnowledge.com, or find me on Instagram @desireedstanley. Thanks for listening!

———

This podcast is intended to educate, inspire, and empower you on your personal journey. Please note that individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

This is not intended to treat any medical condition. I am not a medical doctor and do not offer any professional health or medical advice. If you are suffering from any medical conditions, please seek help from a qualified health professional.