This episode of Start Before You’re Ready is a heartfelt, funny, and deeply inspiring conversation with one of the biggest gifts of my life, my dear friend since high school, event planner and creative powerhouse, Jen (Rivera) Newman. We go all the way back to where it started, from basketball, big hair, and being mistaken for each other in college, and trace Jen’s journey from ad agency prodigy working on iconic campaigns and helping launch a major digital firm to co-founding The Joy Standard, a thriving boutique event company built on rolling up your sleeves, serving others, and intentionally creating joy. Jen shares how she helped name both Kelly’s Bootcamp and Start Before You’re Ready, why “everything is figure-outable” has become a family mantra, and the simple questions she wants you to ask before you overspend or over-stress on any big celebration.

We also go into the hardest chapters of Jen’s story, including a terrifying health crisis and rare biliary condition that led to massive surgery and a long, humbling recovery. This conversation is packed with honest wisdom, laugh-til-you-cry memories, and a powerful reminder to seek joy, lean on your people, and start before you feel ready.

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Let’s connect!
IG: @kellys_bootcamp
My website: https://kellysbootcamp.net/