Women Inspired! | Weekly Interviews With Some Of The World's Most Inspiring Women!

When someone asks you, “How are you feeling today?” How do you typically answer?   If you’re like many of us, you answer with a simple, “Good.” But, that doesn’t convey nearly the entire story, does it?  The fact is, we experience incredibly complex emotions, and our ability to recognize our own emotions and the emotions of others is called emotional intelligence, and it’s what we’re focusing on with this week’s guest.  This week, we’re speaking with Dan Hill. He’s an internationally recognized expert on the role of emotions in politics, business, sports, and pop culture. He’s spoken to audiences in over 25 countries, and to capture and quantify emotions, Dan pioneered the use of facial coding (the analysis of facial expressions) with his company Sensory Logic.  Dan is also the author of the book “Famous Faces Decoded: A Guidebook for Reading Others,” which we dive into during our conversation.  We also talk about:  What emotional intelligence is and how it relates to many facets of life  Facial coding and t

Have you ever wondered how some of the best mental well-being apps came to be? Apps like Happify, Headspace, and Muse. How did they come to be, and how did they scale to the point that they’ve touched over 100 million people?  Today we’re getting a little glimpse behind that curtain as we speak with Charlie Hartwell. Charlie is a partner within the influential investor group, Bridge Builders Collaborative. This group was the first to see, understand, and invest in startups within the consumer technological health market. They are now pioneers in the new arena of health and well-being centered around human consciousness.  Charlie also works alongside his wife in the ShiftIt Institute, an organization aimed at raising the consciousness of the world.   During our conversation we talk about:  The importance of mental health and well-being and how the science behind it is becoming so much more available, making it an area that people are willing to invest their time and energy in.  Charlie’s own personal story of

Today we’re going deep. Into the depths of our minds to talk about the fundamental processes that govern more of our behavior and more of the results and outcomes in our lives than we even realize. We’re sifting through the core of our psychological profiles that makes up the basis or the foundation for most of our lives. And we’re showing how this core, these fundamental processes, can be used to both better our lives and to navigate through some of the most difficult days that life will throw at us.  Today, we’re speaking with Elizabeth Benton. During our conversation, Elizabeth shares how she was depressed, deeply in debt, and obese. As a nutrition expert and educator who binged on junk food every time she put gas in her car, she felt like a fraud and a failure. Desperate to start her life, she decided to believe in her potential rather than her past. She lost 150 pounds, paid off $130,000, and remains debt-free as a successful entrepreneur.  What I love most about this episode is that it wasn’t the surfac

There are a few topics that just feel….”yucky” to talk about sometimes, and money is one of them.  Think about it, we don’t talk about how much money we make, nor do we ask other people how much money they make. We have a tough time asking for what we’re worth, or even knowing what we’re worth in the first place.  We’ve all heard dozens of sayings that portray people who are trying to build wealth as greedy people.   No wonder why this topic is so off-limits!  Not today! Today, we’re speaking with Shannon Foreman, founder of Forethought Planning. Shannon founded Forethought Planning with the dream to radically change how people consume their financial education and feel financially empowered! Shannon strongly believes that money is personal and the physical, mental, relational and financial aspects of your life need to work in harmony.  In her personal time, Shannon enjoys fitness and personal development— self-care is a huge topic of conversation throughout the client experience at Forethought and Shannon w

Stop. Stop right now. Consider for a moment the opportunity that stands before each and every one of us.  Life is about to go back to “normal” after COVID. We’re about to go back to our jobs, begin shopping, interacting, and living in a way that is closer to the way we lived before COVID.   However, we’ve been through a formative experience, and if you’re like me, you’ve learned a few things over the past few months.  There are things you want to change.  Alignments to be made.  You’re ready to live the next chapter of your life by DESIGN, and not by DEFAULT.  Friends, the time is NOW to do just that, and this episode will help you do it.  This episode is the audio from a recent workshop we hosted for the members of our Starter Pack. Specifically, we walked through a 60-minute, hands on exercise to align the next chapter of your life with your unique values system.  Now this exercise is just scratching the surface of what Life Design can actually do, but it’ll get you a heck of a lot closer to an aligned life

As many of us are either reemerging after the pandemic or contemplating what our lives will be like as we go “back to normal,” many of us are thinking through the aspects of our “normal” lives that are worth going back to.  Yes, the situation we’ve all been through has been difficult. We’ve endured tremendous hardship as a globe, but this adversity has likely illuminated changes you want to make in your life as you move forward.  Effectively making those changes requires knowing exactly what you want…and asking for it in an effective way.  Because of this, I’m so excited to welcome AmyK Hutchens back to the podcast.   AmyK is an international award-winning speaker, Amazon bestselling author, and has over 10 years’ experience training, coaching, and consulting. With over 75+ speaking events per year for some of the biggest global brands. AmyK travels the world helping leaders become Master Communicators so they can lead, innovate, sell, and collaborate more effectively. One. Conversation. At. A. Time.  In this

Today’s episode is a deep one. We’re diving straight to the heart of a set of topics that are responsible for more suffering, stress, and anxiety in people’s lives than any others.  Today we’re speaking with Dr. Nima Rahmany. Dr. Rahmany is a chiropractor turned educator whose goal is to help people locate, understand, and heal their own inner suffering and trauma so that they might live better and connect to others on a deeper level.  In this episode we talk about:  Radical responsibility and how we all must take 100% responsibility for 100% of the situations we find ourselves in  Intergenerational suffering and the ways in which our past trauma and experience dictate the ways we relate to our children and other close relationships around us, perpetuating unhelpful patterns.  The involuntary or unconscious way many of us live – So much of our life is spent on auto-pilot, and Dr. Rahmany gives us tactical tools for breaking that cycle  Triggers – What they are, the role they serve in our lives, and how we

If you’re like me, you’re a “doer.” When something needs to be done, you do it. When someone needs help, you’re there. When you see something that can be improved, you’re on it.  There’s a shadow side to all that “doing.”  Many times, we take on more and more at our own expense. We feel obligated to tend to others’ needs at the expense of our own. We try to control and manage things that are in actuality not ours to control and manage.   This is called “over-functioning,” and it’s one of the key topics we’re talking about in today’s episode.  Today, we’re speaking with Mandy Barbee. Mandy is a hypnotherapist, the founder of Palladium Mind, and perhaps more importantly, a recovered over-functioner.   Mandy brings her personal transformation and her expertise to this episode to talk about a number of important topics that are likely influencing us right now:  We talk about the committee of voices we all have in our mind that drives us to over-function  We talk about self-sabotage. What causes it and how we can

We’re in an unprecedented time of “social distancing.” Many of us are experiencing the effects of spending time away from family and friends, and loneliness is one feeling so many of us are having.  Because of this, I’m thrilled to welcome Peter Montoya back to the podcast. Peter was actually with us for a past episode that you can access here. Peter is a best-selling author, a keynote speaker, and the CEO of Thrive Union. Most importantly for today’s conversation, he’s an expert on social connection.  In this very candid conversation, we talk about some important topics and share our own personal experiences:  The importance of social connection and how much we actually need  The different levels of social connection and how they influence our well-being  How we can meet our social needs during this time of “distancing”  What the silver lining of the pandemic has been  No matter what your circumstances, I want you to know that I’m thinking about you and this community often. Please don’t be a stranger. Rea

This episode was created for and is dedicated to our front-line healthcare workers.    The responsibility you are being asked to shoulder amidst a time of incredible uncertainty and rapid change is overwhelming. We see you. We see the sacrifice you’re making. We can attempt to empathize with the emotional toll this must all be taking.    When you play such an important role supporting others, it’s important that others support you. We support you.  This week, I’m speaking with Lisa Wimberger, the founder of the Neuroscultping Institute. Lisa created neurosculpting using a combination of meditation and brain science to develop a hands-on technique that can reset and retrain your brain and your nervous system to down-regulate during times of stress.  She originally created neurosculpting in 2007 to help first-responders cope with the incredible intensity of their jobs. Too many first-responders suffer emotional trauma and PTSD from simply doing their jobs, and the neurosculpting technique can help gu

If you’re a parent, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that these are very difficult times. During this global pandemic, parents are being asked to simultaneously do multiple different jobs at the same time, and the expectations and evaluations we’re placing on ourselves can be crushing.  I recently stumbled upon a meme on Facebook, of all things, and I knew that I had to reach out to its author to ask her to come on the podcast.   Here’s an excerpt from that meme:  Working, parenting, and teaching are three different jobs that cannot be done at the same time. It’s not hard because you’re doing it wrong. It’s hard because it’s too much. Do the best you can.  Such compassionate words that so many of us need to hear right now. Words written by this week’s guest, Dr. Emily King.   Dr. Emily King is a Licensed Psychologist and Heath Services Provider in private practice in Raleigh, North Carolina. She specializes in working with children and adolescents with anxiety, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Dr. King r

Peak mind is currently offering bi-weekly (2 / week) psych strength building workshops absolutely FREE. Sign up for the Peak Mind Starter Pack at www.peakmindpsychology.com/start to get all the details about how you can join us and to access the replays from past calls.  If you’re searching for tools and techniques to help you maintain resilience in the face of the uncertain times we’re in, this episode is for you.  A few months back, I had the pleasure of speaking with Ariel Garten, mindfulness expert, and Founder of the company Muse. Muse makes a brain-sensing headband that helps people meditate more effectively.  Through my connection with Ariel, I was able to get an interview with this week’s guest. Patricia Karpas is a former media executive, the Head of Content for Muse, and the founder of Meditation Studio, a 5-star meditation app. She’s with us this week to help us understand the power of mindfulness during uncertain times like these and, more importantly, to help us get started.   During this episode

As we move through these uncertain times together, I want to do everything I can to help you build and maintain the psychological strength you’ll need to thrive through this adversity.   We founded Peak Mind to help you navigate times exactly like this.   Life is not always perfect. Sometimes gratitude is more difficult to find. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is do our best to remain calm and keep a balanced mindset.  Psychological strength can help you do just that.  This episode is the first of a series of episodes that I plan to do to help you navigate the complex thoughts and feelings that might be coming up as we face the coming weeks and months.  In today’s episode, I discuss a few things:  First, we discuss the brain science behind why we all feel so anxious as our day-to-day lives are so different from the way they once were. You are not alone in your feelings. They are very normal and quite natural and adaptive.  I talk about how our natural response to uncertainty is to try to control our circ

What if I told you that it is literally possible for you to choose the way you’re going to feel in nearly every situation in life?  As it turns out, decades of research into the connection between thoughts and emotions shows us that it is, and we’re digging deep into it this week.   This week, we’re speaking with Dr. Sasha Heinz. Dr. Heinz is a Developmental Psychologist and Life Coach, is an expert in Positive Psychology, lasting behavioral change, and the science of getting unstuck. She is a graduate of Harvard University, a former faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania’s Master of Applied Positive Psychology program, a working mom, and she has lived life on the frontline of the battle with perfectionism.  This episode is such a powerful one because it has the ability to change your day-to-day life experience.  We dig into:  The link between situations, thoughts, emotions, and actions, and the order in which they happen  We talk about the importance of cultivating emotional fluency  We dive DEEP

Unless you’ve been living so far off the grid that a global pandemic can’t reach you anyways, you’ve heard about the coronavirus. You’ve probably also been affected in some way. Events have been cancelled. Businesses and schools have closed or shifted to remote options. Supplies at grocery stores have sold out in places, and the stock market has plummeted. With organizations like the WHO and CDC issuing the need for safety precautions and various levels of government calling various states of emergency, it’s hard not to worry…or worry that you’re not worrying enough. For more than a decade, Ashley's day job as a clinical psychologist has been helping people learn to manage anxiety effectively. Because so many people are feeling anxiety and worry, we wanted to share a few tips to help you keep your cool while staying safe. Relevant Links: Here are some more credible resources about dealing with the coronavirus: https://adaa.org/finding-help/coronavirus-anxiety-helpful-resources Here are other episodes of

Pop quiz! On a scale from 1-10, how uncomfortable does it make you feel to think about negotiating on your own behalf?  Now, on a scale from 1-10, how uncomfortable does it make you feel to think about negotiating on someone else’s behalf?   For a lot of us, the thought of asking for something for ourselves is TERRIFYING. The self-doubt kicks in so fast. “Am I being fair?” “Is my performance really worth that much?” “What if they think I’m difficult to work with?”  So many of us have that experience, and that’s why we’re diving into the topic this week.   This week we’re speaking with Ruzana Glaeser. co-founder of brightmeetsbrave.com, a website aimed to empower women to ask on their own behalf.   Ruzana has experience negotiating for manufacturing and retail companies, in the US and abroad, for large corporations as well as small privately held firms. She has a direct yet collaborative approach to negotiations, enjoys working with women and speaking about how women can find confidence to negotiate on their o

Help us create our next core program by participating in our survey: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/survey   Have you ever had to persist even though you wanted to give up?   Have you ever had to admit to yourself that you have a limited capacity of energy or bandwidth and had to be strategic about how you spend your time and energy?   Have you ever had to transition into a new identity and felt sadness at the identity and lifestyle you’re leaving behind?  If you said ‘yes’ to any of those questions, this week’s interview is for you. This week, we’re speaking with Brian Weaver, entrepreneur, father, husband, and former elite amateur IronMan athlete.  Brian spent years in the sport of IronMan, ranking as high as No. 1 in the world for his class. He knows exactly what it feels like to have to persist when you want to quit. He intimately understands the strategy it takes to work within your limited amount of energy, and he’s masterful at setting up the strategies, systems, and supportive environments to help

Some of you might know that I recently turned 40! Beyond the typical celebration, cake, and candles that come with any birthday, something stood out as unique about this one.  The reactions of people around me when I told them the age I was turning.  Some people were very positive. They wished me a “happy birthday,” and that was the end of it.  But many people seemed conflicted about the number 40. Their reactions felt as though they knew that the number 40 means something for woman. An indication that I was growing old…and all that comes with that in our society.  We’re digging right into the heart of that topic in this week’s episode with Stephanie Raffelock. Stephanie is an advocate for the positive potential of aging. She proves that women aren’t finished living their best lives at 50, 60 and beyond, but instead, hold to the promise to become the wise elders of our culture. Stephanie celebrates age and shows how it’s a privilege to grow old -- how every single day is a gift.   We talk about some powerful

I stumbled upon this week’s guest on Lewis Howes’ podcast, ‘The School of Greatness,’ and I was only about 5 minutes into that episode when I realized that she needed to be on our show as well.   This week, we’re speaking with Dr. Margaret Rutherford, clinical psychologist and author of the new book “Perfectly Hidden Depression: How to Break Free from the Perfectionism that Masks Your Depression.”   This is such a powerful episode because Dr. Rutherford’s work hits on some of the basic things we can all do to foster self-compassion and self-acceptance.    In this episode, Margaret shares with us:  Three different types of perfectionism and how they link to and mask depression  The link between perfectly hidden depression and where we place our value as a human being  The role that shame plays in perpetuating this cycle  How to accept ourselves and develop self-compassion for our whole selves, not just our strengths   Margaret also gives us a peek into the methodology she teaches in her book by offering 3 ac

Sometimes, the most difficult issues to work on are the ones that are in our blind spots. The ones that are masked by external factors or achievements that make us believe that we’re ok….when we aren’t.  This week, we’re talking about one of those potential blind spots: high-functioning anxiety.  This week we’re speaking with Nancy Jane Smith. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor with eleven years in private practice and has spent 20+ years working as a counselor/coach. She has written three books on living happier, most notably The Happier Approach: Be Kind to Yourself, Feel Happier and Still Accomplish Your Goals.  Much of Nancy’s work involves working with people who have high-functioning anxiety, which is an incredibly sneaky form of anxiety, and it’s not what you think.    In this episode, you’ll learn:  What high-functioning anxiety is. HINT: It’s not what you think!  The role that achievement can play in masking it for so many of us.  The ways in which high-functioning anxiety can cause problems i