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Most early retirement advice is about spreadsheets and savings rates. This episode is about the part no one puts in a spreadsheet: what happens when the life you planned doesn’t happen, and you build a different one.

On this episode of What I Expected, host Holly Bohn Pittman talks with a friend she calls World Traveler Friend, who retired at 38 and now travels the world full-time, living off dividend income from her investments. Her life didn’t turn out the way she pictured in her 20s. But she was great at saving, and that gave her a choice most people don’t have.

Questions we answer in this episode:

• How is life different from what she pictured in her 20s?
• When did she decide to stop working, and how long did the plan take?
• How did she build a savings habit early, and what did she give up?
• How does living off dividends actually work, in plain terms?
• What surprised her most in the first year of not working?
• What does a normal month look like, financially and day-to-day?
• What do people assume about early retirement that isn’t true?
• What would she tell a woman in her 30s or 40s whose life isn’t going as planned?

Because sometimes the life you didn’t expect turns out to be one worth living.

Why a nickname? So many podcasts are on video now, and I think that keeps a lot of important stories from ever being told. Some of the women with the most useful experiences have no interest in being on social media or having their face and name online. That shouldn’t mean we don’t get to learn from them. So when a guest would rather stay private, I give her a nickname. You get her honest story, and she keeps her privacy.

This episode reflects one person’s experience and is for general educational purposes only. It is not financial advice. Talk with a qualified financial professional about what makes sense for you.

What I Expected is about knowing what to expect before you buy it, try it, book it, or live through it. Some conversations are about the things we choose. Others are about the things we never expected to face.

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Cosmetic dentistry can mean anything from whitening strips to veneers—and the difference in cost, maintenance, and commitment can be significant.

In Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Michelle DeFelice Hucke, owner of Jax Beaches Family Dentistry, we talk about what to know before you change your smile.

We cover what actually works for whitening, the difference between at-home and professional treatments, when bonding may be a better option than veneers, and what really happens when you get veneers—including how much natural tooth structure may be changed, how long they last, what maintenance is involved, and what future replacement can look like.

We also cover cost, how to know if you’re a good candidate, alternatives to consider before altering healthy teeth, and what to look for in a cosmetic dentist.

Because the before-and-after photo is only part of the story. You also need to know what happens after the “after.”

This episode is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized dental or medical advice.

What I Expected is about knowing what to expect before you buy it, try it, book it, or live through it. Some conversations are about the things we choose. Others are about the things we never expected to face.

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What happens after you hear the words “You have breast cancer”? And how can the people who love you actually help?

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I'm welcoming back Amy Ulmer. Last time, we talked about Pilates. This time, we're having a much more serious conversation.

Amy is a breast cancer survivor, and she's sharing what her experience was really like, from discovering something was wrong and receiving her diagnosis to chemotherapy, losing her hair, navigating relationships, and learning to live with the uncertainty that can remain long after treatment ends.

We talk about what surprised her, what she wishes she'd known, and what friends and family did that genuinely helped (and what didn't). We also discuss something that doesn't always get enough attention: the emotional side of surviving cancer when everyone else assumes life has gone back to normal.

I hope you never need this episode because you've received a breast cancer diagnosis. But if you do, hearing from someone who's been through it may make the unknown a little less frightening. And if someone you love is facing cancer, Amy's experience may help you better understand how to support them.

A few things we cover:

• How Amy's breast cancer was discovered and what happened after her diagnosis
• What chemotherapy and treatment were actually like
• Hair loss, physical changes, and the emotional impact of cancer
• What friends and family did that helped—and what didn't
• Life after treatment, follow-up appointments, and fear of recurrence
• Whether there's an Amy before breast cancer and an Amy after

A note: This episode shares one woman's personal experience, not medical advice. Every diagnosis, treatment, and recovery is different. So is what each person finds comforting. If someone you love is going through cancer, ask what they need rather than assuming. For questions about your own breast health, screening, or treatment, consult your healthcare provider.

What I Expected is about knowing what to expect before you buy it, try it, book it, or live through it. Some conversations are about the things we choose. Others are about the things we never expected to face.

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As we get older, our teeth and gums change too, but most of us know far less about what to expect from our mouths than we do about our skin, hair, or hormones.

In Part 1 of my conversation with Dr. Michelle DeFelice Hucke, owner of Jax Beaches Family Dentistry, we cover the basics of oral health after 40: what changes with age, the oral-health issues she sees most often in perimenopausal and menopausal women, and why things may suddenly seem to stick to your teeth more than they used to.

We also cover fluoride versus hydroxyapatite, “clean” toothpaste, whitening and abrasivity, manual versus electric toothbrushes, and flossing and mouthwash.

Because dental products and technology are changing so quickly, we cover how to find a good dentist, what red flags to watch for, when a second opinion makes sense, and which advances in dental technology actually matter.

If you’ve ever stood in the toothpaste aisle wondering when brushing your teeth became this complicated, this episode is for you.

This episode is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized dental or medical advice.

What I Expected is about knowing what to expect before you buy it, try it, book it, or live through it. Some conversations are about the things we choose. Others are about the things we never expected to face.

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In Part 1, Kristie and I talked about how I went from starting See Jane Work to nearly losing everything during the financial crisis, moving into corporate America, becoming a CMO and CEO, and eventually deciding at 52 to take another leap of faith.

In Part 2, we get into why I started What I Expected.

After decades spent developing products and brands, working with major retailers, sitting inside marketing organizations, and watching people make buying decisions, I see shopping very differently than I did when I started.

And maybe more importantly, I think differently about expectations.

In this episode, we talk about:

• what marketing should actually do—and why I don’t believe its job is to convince you to buy something you don’t need
• the disconnect that can happen between product, marketing and sales teams
• explicit expectations versus the expectations created by price, positioning, environment and brand reputation
• why an expensive product isn’t automatically a better one
• why customer service and what happens after something goes wrong are part of the product experience
• how MISS / MEET / EXCEED evolved, and why a MISS doesn’t necessarily mean something is a bad product
• why I created the Goldilocks Guides for categories where there isn’t one universal “best”
• why I care so much about quality over quantity, and have since long before I had the budget to support the preference
• what happens when a brand you trust gets acquired or starts changing
• why I continue to follow products and brands even after I review them
• what it actually takes to earn an EXCEED from me
• and why reducing decision fatigue has become such a big goal for me at What I Expected

We also talk about something bigger than shopping.

By your 50s, you’ve lived long enough to know that life rarely turns out exactly the way you expected. You’ve also learned that there is a lot you cannot control.

But you can be more intentional about some things—particularly how you spend your time and how you spend your money.

That’s really what What I Expected is about.

I’m not here to tell you what you should buy or convince you that you need more stuff. I want to help you understand what you’re getting, what questions to ask, what the brand actually promised, and whether the reality lives up to it.

Hopefully that means fewer bad purchases, a little less decision fatigue, and more confidence walking into everything from a skincare aisle to a jewelry store to a Rolex boutique.

Because you have more important things to do.

Know what to expect before you buy it, try it, book it, or live through it.

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Have you ever looked at a piece of jewelry online and thought, “Okay…but what am I actually buying?”

Waterproof. Hypoallergenic. Gold vermeil. Gold-plated. 14k. 18k. Sterling silver. Platinum. Jewelry descriptions can start to feel like their own language—and the words on the product page don’t always tell you what to expect once you actually wear the piece.

In Part 2 of Buying Fine Jewelry, I’m back with Nicole Nettles and Kashmirr Elkin of Blue Water Jewelers to translate the jewelry lingo into plain English.

We get into:

• what “waterproof” and “anti-tarnish” claims may actually mean
• gold vermeil vs. gold-plated jewelry
• what to consider if you have sensitive skin or see “hypoallergenic”
• 14k vs. 18k gold, white gold and platinum
• why some jewelry needs more maintenance than you might expect
• what chlorine, pools and hot tubs can do to your jewelry
• why the durability of the gemstone matters too—not just the metal
• buying designer costume jewelry
• choosing jewelry based on your actual lifestyle, not just how it looks
• and why knowing who you’re buying from can matter long after the sale.

Two pieces can look almost identical online but have very different prices, materials, durability, and (of course) expectations.

If you missed Part 1, start there for lab-grown vs. natural diamonds, sparkle, size, settings, and what to know before making a diamond purchase.

Part 2 is about understanding the language so you know what you’re getting before you spend the money.

Know what to expect before you buy it, try it, book it, or live through it.

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A few people have asked me the obvious question: Who am I, how did I get here, and why should anyone care what I think about shampoo, jeans, skincare or anything else I’m reviewing?

So for this episode, I’m switching seats. Instead of asking the questions, I asked my friend Kristie (AKA Petite & Powerful) to interview me.

On paper, my career makes very little sense. I started as an entrepreneur, built and sold a brand, designed products for major retailers, lost almost everything during the financial crisis, moved into corporate America, became a CMO and eventually a CEO. Then, at 52, walked away to start something new again.

But when I look back, there is a thread running through all of it: curiosity.

In Part 1, we talk about:

• how my first business became See Jane Work
• why observing how people actually shop taught me more than surveys ever could
• building products and brands without formal training in either
• what success, and losing nearly everything, taught me about luck, control and failure
• the very different lessons I learned as an entrepreneur and inside corporate America
• why titles and career paths matter less to me now than the people and purpose behind the work
• and why I ultimately left the corporate world and started What I Expected at 52.

This isn’t really a story about having a perfectly mapped-out career. Mine certainly wasn’t.

It’s about staying curious, learning as you go, knowing when to ask for help, and realizing that sometimes the experiences that make the least sense while you’re living them are the ones that prepare you for whatever comes next.

In Part 2, we’ll get into how decades spent designing products, watching people shop, working with major retailers and sitting inside marketing teams changed the way I evaluate what we buy, and ultimately became the foundation for What I Expected.

Know what to expect before you buy it, try it, book it, or live through it.

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Have you ever wanted to buy a diamond or another piece of fine jewelry, but felt like you should already know what you’re doing before you walk into the store? This episode is for you.

I sit down with Nicole Nettles, owner of Blue Water Jewelers, and Kashmir Elkin, an engagement ring specialist, to talk through the questions people actually have before making a significant jewelry purchase. We’re keeping it practical: no gemology degree required.

We get into lab-grown vs. natural diamonds, what really affects sparkle, why cut matters, how carat weight can be misleading, what to know about resale and upgrade policies, choosing a setting that fits your lifestyle, and why seeing a diamond in person can matter more than the grading report alone. We also talk about self-purchasing, traveling with valuable jewelry, and a few expensive mistakes buyers make when they don’t know what questions to ask.

This is Part 1 of Buying Fine Jewelry, because as with watches, there was far too much to fit into one conversation.

In Part 2, we’ll get into buying jewelry online, metals, and why having a relationship with a jeweler can matter more than you might think.

Know what to expect before you buy it, try it, book it, or live through it.

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