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

One of my very favorite quotes is by Henry Ford: Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently. Now, that all sounds nice, right? Sure, April, failure is the opportunity to begin again. That sounds lovely. However, when the rubber hits the road, most of us enjoy failing about as much as we enjoy having dental work done. But here’s the thing, the longer I’ve been an entrepreneur, the more I have come to truly understand how necessary and inevitable failure is in this journey. And that’s what we’re focusing on this week with my interview with Sophia Sunwoo. Sophia is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in Social Entrepreneurship, a Forbes 30U30 All-Star Alumni, an ELLE Magazine Impact2 Awards Pitch finalist, and a Fred Alger Finance Award winner. Sophia built her first company when she was 19 years old and sold it before her 23rd birthday. (Yes, you read that right.) She also co-founded Water Collective, a non-profit founded to fix and prevent broken water projects in the developing

How well do you know yourself? I mean, truly know yourself? How well do you know the innermost aspects of your true self, including the things that subconsciously influence you? This week, we’re talking all about self-awareness…how to develop it, and what it means to live in a self-aware state. We’re also talking about what that self-awareness allows you to do: LIVE AS YOUR TRUE SELF! This week, I’m chatting with Ginni Saraswati, and if you can find a brighter light in the world, I’ll…I don’t know…do something gross. I’ll eat a bug. l Truly, Ginni is an incredible woman, and you’re not going to want to miss our conversation. Ginni is the founder of Ginni Media, a boutique podcast production company, and she is the host of The Ginni Show. Here’s what we chatted about: How can we be our true selves? Ginni and I had a really deep conversation about her experience as a lesbian and coming out to her family. In the end, it was fear that kept her from telling her family who she really was so that she could live au

Fill in the blank: I’m the type of person who __________. Are you the type of person who takes risks? Makes a lot of money? Needs the support of other people? Is brave? The way you instinctively answer these questions can tell you a lot about your self-identity, and this is what we’re zeroing in on for this special mini episode of the podcast. Here’s what we’re digging into: What is our self-identity? From a Cognitive Psych perspective, we’re digging into what our self-identity actually is and how it was formed. As it turns out, our minds are powerful, but not that sophisticated. How our self-identity shapes our behavior. Your self-identity is one of the things that draws a line around your comfort zone. It keeps you safe, but it also holds you back. We’re digging into how that happens. How to reach your true potential, in spite of your self-identity. The self-limiting parts of our identities can keep us from reaching our true potential, but there is hope! This is why I’ve created a free download you ca

This week, I’m covering a topic that I’ve never talked about on the podcast before: divorce. Specifically, I’m chatting with Anna Shpilsher, a woman who focuses on helping people rebuild their lives after divorce. Anna says that her life began after her divorce. Before then, life was pretty awful. She suddenly found herself 30, divorced, and a single mom to 2 small children. She hated her new identity. And, to make matters worse, she was stuck… stuck thinking about what once was and not being able to move past it.  All things were becoming a burden, including parenting, and she was longing for normalcy and adult connection like never before. Anna found her way out of those feelings and has gone on to live an incredibly aligned, happy life, and she’s passionate about helping other people do the same. This is why she does the work she does today. We had such an intimate conversation, and we hit on some important topics: Radical responsibility - Anna took responsibility for the situation she found herself

Imagine this: you make a contribution at work, or you score a big win. What do you do next? Do you tell people about what you achieved? Or, do you wait for other people to recognize you and leave your fate in their hands? This week, we’re chatting with Carla Howard. Carla helps women become more Influential and promotable so they can rise with confidence and grace! Carla was catalyzed to do this work after she asked her daughter and granddaughter to draw a picture of a leader. She was shocked to see that both of them drew pictures of men. She knew she had to do something to help women rise to their own potential, and we’re so fortunate to have her here on the podcast this week! Here’s what you’ll learn about in this episode: Personal brand - Knowing your personal brand means knowing who YOU ARE AT YOUR CORE. Knowing your values, strengths, weaknesses, and what you look like when you’re at your best will set you up to create a strong, meaningful personal brand that serves to shout to the world who you are an

What is your biggest goal? Nope, I mean your BIGGEST GOAL? The one that is so big that it scares you? That’s the one I want you to have in mind as you listen to this week’s episode. This week, I have the incredible honor of chatting with a powerhouse friend of mine, Bri Seeley. Like many of us, Bri once lived in the land of 'should.' After completing two degree’s in fashion design, she built her own fashion label from the ground up and was convinced fashion was her path. Except, it didn't feel right. Bri took the leap to close her fashion brand and follow her soul’s calling: to become a business and transformational coach. Since then, she has coached thousands of people around the world, has been featured on the Today Show, in Forbes, and in so many other media outlets. Bri is the author of the book “Permission to Leap,” and her passion is helping people reach their goals and live their truth, unapologetically. You’re going to love this one! We hit so many powerful topics: How identity can hol

Every once in a while, we get to meet someone so multifaceted and interesting that they shift the way we think about the number of paths we can take during our lifetime. This week’s interview was one of those conversations for me. This week, you’re going to meet Sheira Brayer. Sheira is an empowerment speaker, an award-winning songwriter, the author of the book “Motiv8: 8 Ways to Rock Your Own World,” and a mom. Sheira is on a mission to educate, guide, and inspire mothers and their young daughters with the tools and skills they need to feel better in their own skin! Imagine that! Focusing on one of the most important relationships we’ll ever have - the one we have with ourselves! Imagine if every single person in the world made it their mission to understand, support, and love themselves as fully as they possibly could. Imagine how different our world would be?! I absolutely adored this conversation! Not only is Sheira so entertaining to chat with, but she takes such a creative approach toward the empowermen

Today’s episode could very likely change your financial life. I’m serious. Today, you’re going to hear from Tess Wicks, a financial expert, and the founder of Wander Wealthy. Periodically in past episodes of the podcast, I’ve focused on the important topic of focusing on building wealth to create financial stability, opportunity, flexibility, and options. But, here’s the thing. Many times, talking about, wanting, and trying to create wealth can feel GROSS. It can just feel uncomfortable. Why is that?! So many of us have beliefs around money that, quite frankly, hold us back from earning at the level that we can and should be earning at, and today’s episode is meant to squash all of those. Today, my interview with Tess is your permission slip to unapologetically build wealth in your own life, and she even gives some practical tips about how to do it. I can’t wait for you to hear these incredible topics: Why one of the riskiest things you can do is stay out of the wealth-building game. Contrary to some beli

Wow, I actually had a really tough time putting a title on this week’s podcast episode because we discussed so many amazing topics! How do you pick just one to highlight?! This week, I had the chance to sit down with Monica Zimmerman. Monica is a life and success coach who helps people elevate their emotional intelligence at work and in their relationships. She has a special place in her heart for women returning back to work after having a baby, and she draws from her past experience as a midwife to help women through that important transition. Monica and I got into some incredible topics! In this episode, we cover: The power of self-awareness - Being able to understand yourself and the situations, people, and events that impact your emotions is such an important skill. It’s one that many people believe they have, when in reality, they don’t. It takes intentional work to cultivate this skill, and Monica and I talk all about it. The massive impact of small changes - Our lives are comprised of the thousand

How many times have you felt the urge to try something new, but you stopped short because you felt like you weren’t qualified? For example, maybe you want to write a book, but you didn’t go to school to be a writer. Have you ever considered that the qualification doesn’t precede action? Rather, it is through action that you become qualified. Also, it is through action that we literally become the person we need to be in order to stretch outside of our comfort zone. In this episode, we cover: That you don’t have to be perfectly qualified to try something new How your identity dictates the size of the goals you’ll go after This episode is your permission to pivot. Recently, I announced my partnership with Ashley Smith to form Peak Mind: The Center for Psychological Strength. Think of it as a gym membership for your mind! We’re so excited about this new venture that we’re offering a FREE 4-part Achieve Your Peak video series. Sign up now at www.peakmindpsychology.com/webinar. The doors won’t be open for lo

Pop quiz: Tell me the things people should be doing to keep their bodies strong and help them avoid illness and injury! You got it: Exercise, sleep, diet, water Now, what about the things you should be doing to keep you mind strong? What are the things you should be doing to cultivate psychological strength so you have the mental resilience to weather the ups and downs of life? That’s harder, isn’t it? Well, as it turns out, the fields of Psychology and Design Thinking are brimming with evidence-based tools and techniques that can help you build the psychological strength and life alignment that will help you THRIVE in your life! But, until now, those tools have really only been available in academic journals or behind the doors of therapists’ offices. I’m thrilled to announce a new partnership with my friend Ashley Smith! Together, we have created Peak Mind: The Center for Psychological Strength, and in this episode, we’ll tell you all about it. In this episode, you’ll learn: What psychological strength is

Think back to when you were a little kid. How excited were you when you got a new box of crayons or some Play Doh or water color paints? Inside of each of us is an inner child who is inherently creative. Every single one of us had a time in our lives when we created simply for the joy of the process. Why don’t we do that as adults? This week, you’ll meet Kirsie Schwender. She is the founder of the company Love & Drishti and the transformational Meditate and Create event. She makes the most beautiful jewelry, and she had a profound impact on my own life. Kirsie has had such a powerful journey to become the centered, grounded, creative woman that she is today, and we talk about that in her interview. We also cover some other incredible topics: You only get one life. Don’t get to the end of it and regret that you didn’t live as your true self. Who is your inner child? What does she love doing? What does she do, simply for the sake of doing it? What makes her happy? How can you give her what she needs?

Stop. Take one moment and do me a favor. Take the next 30 seconds to think about how your life feels right now, and rate it on a scale from 1 to 10. Are you closer to the low end? Are things feeling difficult? Are you having to white-knuckle too many situations? Are your relationships, your job, your hobbies, your health out of alignment? Or, are you closer to a 10? Are things feeling light, joyful, aligned? Do you regularly feel in flow? Are you spending your time in a way that fills you up, rather than spending it in a way that drains you? This is exactly what we’re talking about this week with my guest, Mary Shores. Mary Shores is the international bestselling author of Conscious Communications: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Harnessing the Power of Your Words to Change Your Mind, Your Choices, and Your Life. As an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and CEO, Mary Shores teaches individuals and businesses to fearlessly create their own realities by using scientific methods and practical personal development. Our co

This week’s episode is POWERFUL. This week, you are going to meet Lydia Slaby. Lydia is an advocate, speaker, and writer focused on empowering people, communities, and organizations faced with daunting change. She is also the author of the brand new book, “Wait, It Gets Worse.” In this book, she shares her story of battling non-Hodgkins lymphoma and the clarity and life lessons she gained from that experience. You are not going to want to miss these amazing conversations: The importance of knowing what is and isn’t important to you, and the simplicity it brings to your intentional decisions about how to spend your time and who to spend it with. What radical responsibility looks like when you’re battling cancer. Does it still apply? The importance of nurturing your body, mind, and soul. How we all can approach life in a more intentional, straight-forward way. This is such an impactful episode, and I can’t wait for you to meet Lydia. It’s time to live like your lives depend on it, friends, because the

Have you ever stopped to think about the impact that your upbringing has on your adult relationships? No? I hadn’t either. That is, I hadn’t thought about it until I began hitting bumps in the road in the early days of dating my husband. I didn’t realize that the avoidant attachment style I had developed as a child (after losing my dad to cancer when I was younger), was manifesting itself in this relationship. It didn’t occur to me that the last man I loved and was extremely close to was suddenly gone one day. It didn’t occur to me that I was afraid of that same thing happening to me in my relationship with my husband. Today we’re talking to an attachment expert, and wow is it an eye-opening interview. Today, you’ll meet Silvy Khoucasian. Silvy has a Master’s Degree in Psychology (Marriage and Family Therapy) and has dedicated herself to helping individuals and couples heal from trauma, create healthy emotional boundaries and establish real and lasting connection within their relationships. We hit 2 incredibl

Have you ever thought about the number of decisions you make on a daily basis and the impact they have on your happiness? The decision to light a candle at dinner, bake cookies with your kids, or share a meal with family and friends. These decisions add up and can have an incredibly meaningful impact on your happiness. That is exactly what we’re talking about this week with Alexandra Amarotico, the author of the book The Secret Joy of Hygge (pronounced HOO-GAH). Alex learned about the notion of Hygge after traveling to Denmark and seeing how they intentionally make small decisions and changes in their day to cultivate this cozy feeling. She’s bringing the notion of hygge to the U.S. with this incredible book. We talk so much about happiness in this episode, which I LOVE. We also talk about chasing big, life-long goals like writing a book and how to fit that into a busy life. This episode is so wonderful, and I can’t wait for you to meet Alex Amarotico. Listen to it next to a cozy candle under your favorite bl

When was the last time you made a truly bold move? A move where failure was a distinct possibility….but so was success? This week, we’re talking all about making bold moves with none other than Jenna Redfield, the head honcho over at Twin Cities Collective. The Twin Cities Collective was created to help Twin Cities bloggers and creatives connect with other like-minded individuals in the area. They come together to teach, learn, connect and support - all with the purpose of helping you grow your business and brand! In her interview, we hit such valuable topics: The importance of making BOLD moves and how they can catapult your success. The connection that comes from community…real, in person connection. How a commitment to self-directed learning can open doors you didn’t think were available to you. Not only that, but Jenna is a social media marketing EXPERT. If you want to know how to grow your social media channels and use them effectively to market your business, you won’t want to miss this episode.

Friends, meet Genecia Alluora! Genecia is the former Miss Singapore, the founder of Soul Rich Woman, South East Asia’s largest network of female entrepreneurs, and a literal powerhouse who is empowering other women to step into their own power and become entrepreneurs with such a unique business model. Occasionally, I interview someone who is so confident that she gives me a boost in my own confidence, simply through osmosis. This was one of those interviews. Genecia shared with us her incredible rise from having to financially support her family and being bullied as a child to becoming Miss Singapore! We also talked about some incredibly powerful topics that we can all learn from: The importance of personal development How critical it is to set boundaries and hold sacred certain portions of your life The power in shedding a victim mindset and moving beyond what has happened to you in your past. This one is going to make you pound on the table, friends. I can’t wait for you to meet Genecia!Advertising

This week, we’re speaking with Jennifer Longmore, a Leading Authority on Soul Purpose, and Elite Business Coach to enlightened entrepreneurs. For more than 15 years, she has served clients in permanently shifting the limiting beliefs and patterns that prevent them from being who they really are so that they can live their most abundant, aligned and accelerated soul’s journey. It was such an interesting interview because Jennifer and I teach a lot of the same constructs, but she comes at it from a very different perspective. I loved having her on the show because she brings a different point of view to the same powerful topics we focus on so much. During this interview we hit some amazing topics! Monkey brains! The ‘old’ part of our brain can be easy to fool. The information we feed it (intentionally or not), will impact the way it shapes our experience in life. Our mindset will truly shape the experience we have, and we get to decide what that is. Not only that, but whatever beliefs we hold (beliefs about o

Many of you know that I recently had a baby. Woah, nothing throws you in the middle of a women’s health journey like being pregnant and having a baby. Wanna know the craziest thing? I was SHOCKED about how little my doctors could tell me when I would ask questions about different aspects of pregnancy. Simple questions like, “Can I eat this?” or “How much of this should I have?” or “Is this supplement ok?” were always met with the same answer, “Weeeeeellll, we don’t really know.” That’s insane! How is it that there are so many unknowns about women’s health?! And how is it that we run into so much misinformation about our own bodies?! This week, we’re diving deep into the topic of women’s health with Dr. Kelly Culwell. Dr. Culwell is an OBGYN and former Medical Officer for the World Health Organization. She is so passionate about helping women take responsibility for their own health and get the most out of their appointments with their own doctors. Dr. Culwell and I hit on so many valuable topics: Why the wo