No Longer an Island: On Friendship, Burnout & Social Justice | Miranda McDaniel and Noelle DeLaCruz

What happens when two friends, former co-hosts, andjustice-driven leaders sit down to reflect on the evolution of their work, their identities, and their boundaries? Miranda McDaniel, founder of The Social Content Lab, and Noelle DeLaCruz, a school psychologist and LGBTQ+ advocate,share how their friendship shaped their podcast, The Unpacked Project, and how setting boundaries helped them navigate burnout, identity shifts, and a changing social justice landscape.

 

We talk entrepreneurship, self-trust, the weight of advocacywork, and how joy, rest, and aligned values can transform how we show up in the world.

🎧 Highlights:

• The physical toll of mission-driven work
• Pivoting careers without losing purpose
• Building spaces that reflect your values
• Friendship as a source of growth and accountability 

👯‍♀️ Fun fact: Miranda and Noelle met on a brew bus and bonded over the Cowboys and kayaking misadventures. Their chemistry is as real as their commitment to justice.

 

🔗 Mentioned:

1. The Unpacked Project: https://www.instagram.com/the_unpackedproject/  
2. The Social Content Lab:https://www.instagram.com/thesocialcontentlab/
3. Black Girl Bosses:https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15kXKfgFfg/

Keywords

self-care, work-life balance, personal growth, podcast, mental health, conversation, engagement, learning, support, community

 

📂 Section Markers

01:35 Section 1: Friendship, Fatigue, and the Weight of Work

19:58 Section 2: Identity, Belonging, and Radical Self-Trust

 

📌Episode Chapters/Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Initial Thoughts

03:05 The Importance of Boundaries in Work

05:38 Friendship and Collaboration: The Podcast Journey

08:38 Navigating Social Justice Work

11:05 Evolving Perspectives on Advocacy

13:39 Setting Intentional Boundaries

15:25 Growing and Shifting with Intention

22:47 Radical Self-Trust and Energy Awareness

25:31 Navigating Career Transitions and Self-Trust

30:38 Values and Identity in Professional Life

34:08 The Impact of Friendship on Personal Growth

39:28 Joy, Rest, and Intentional Living

39:34 Finding Joy in Conversations and Community

 

💬 Quotes to hold on to:

•  "I had to learn radical self-trust. Listening to my body—and trusting what it’s telling me."– Miranda McDaniel
• "We box ourselves in all the time. Even when we know better, we still forget we have choices."– Noelle DeLaCruz
• "You don’t have to be at the protest to be in the movement. There are so many ways to do the work."– Miranda McDaniel
• "Our boundaries don’t have to be perfect to be powerful. We’re allowed to keep growing."– Noelle DeLaCruz
• "Why aren’t we creating community at work? That’s what makes people stay."– Miranda McDaniel

Let’s Stay Connected

🎧 Follow the show on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app

📬 Subscribe to The Better Boundaries Brief @ www.thedawnlab.com

📸 Instagram: @workisthirdlife