The Performer || The Rule Breaker || The Wisdom Weaver with Jennifer Bates
Jennifer Bates is a life coach whose journey has zigzagged through military service, psychology, parenthood, and creative pursuits. As a military child who moved frequently, she developed adaptability while masking vulnerabilities behind perfectionism and achievement. Her early experiences taught her that only certain aspects of herself were acceptable to share, forming patterns she would later need to unlearn.
Motherhood marked a profound turning point, challenging every aspect of Jennifer's identity despite extensive preparation. This experience forced her to relinquish the illusion of control and develop deeper empathy for both her children and herself. Through parenting, she discovered that big feelings aren't to be controlled but acknowledged and accepted.
After earning her psychology degree through a military scholarship, Jennifer pursued a master's in social work. Her clinical work with veterans proved particularly meaningful due to their shared military background, though frequent relocations and family responsibilities interrupted her professional trajectory.
Seeking creative fulfillment amid the isolation of parenthood, Jennifer returned to her childhood passion for performing arts. When the pandemic limited in-person opportunities, she explored audiobook narration as a family-compatible outlet.
A connection formed during an audiobook course led Jennifer to discover her calling as a coach. Now she creates space for others navigating life's uncertainties, emphasizing radical self-compassion in challenging times. Jennifer believes we never truly "figure it out" completely—learning and growth continue throughout life's non-linear journey.
Find out more about JenniferPodcast
https://creatingspace.captivate.fm/
Social Media
@lifecoachjen.bsky.social
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-bates-creatingspacecoaching
If this conversation inspired you, please leave me a Rating & Review! Here are some instructions on how: https://podcast.notastraightline.life/rate.
And share the episode with a friend.
Would you like to be a guest, or know someone who should be? Visit https://podcast.notastraightline.life/guest.
And thanks to Matthew Blissfor his audio engineering excellence
You can find out more about his services at https://www.mbpod.com/.
not a straight line
Every Wednesday, join your host, actor, producer, and former tech entrepreneur Peter Daly-Dickson, for a deep dive into the zig zag journeys through the lives of entrepreneurs and artists. And entrepreneurial artists! Together, we want to shatter the myth that it's ever too late to be who you want to be, and give you hope, inspiration and self-belief that the journey from where you are to where you want to get to is possible. It's just not a straight line!
NEW: Thursday through Tuesday, tune in for daily bite-sized episodes where Peter shares his raw, unfiltered thoughts on intuitive action, personal growth, and the art of articulating who you are. Join him for this [initial 30-day] experiment in real-time self-discovery as he navigates his own non-straight line journey - exploring everything from creative practices and non-negotiable commitments to human design and the power of daily ritual.
About your host: After 30+ years working first as an actor and then a career in IT culminating as the CEO of a software company, I walked away from everything at the end of 2021 close to burnout and in a poor state of mental health. I ended up driving luxury cars around the UK, delivering them to dealerships and customers, and relished the space it gave me to think and simply BE. 2.5 years later I returned to the 22 year old Pete, sitting on the top deck of a bus wondering what his life would be like if he went to drama school, and reestablished myself in a creative career as an actor and producer. Oh, and as a podcast host too!
- No. of episodes: 84
- Latest episode: 2025-06-04
- Education Business Self-Improvement Entrepreneurship
Where can you listen?
