Powerful Ladies® Podcast

Episode 288: Goldie Chan | Branding Expert, Writer & Speaker

When you’re sharing branding, marketing, and leadership gold while rocking bright green hair, I’m definitely going to want to talk to you. Goldie Chan is a writer, speaker, and founder of a branding agency, often referred to as the 'Oprah of LinkedIn,' and so much more. In this conversation, we dive into branding tips, the debate over being trendy vs. not trendy, and how being diagnosed with cancer changed her business trajectory.

Episode 287: Staci Gray | Founder, Organize to Scale

Changing the world is impossible to do alone and often overwhelming for those of us who feel a pull to make a difference of magnitude. Especially when we have solutions that we know work. That’s why it is so joyful to find people who it seems are aligned with you in transforming your niche. When we found Staci Gray, founder of Organize to Scale, my heart kept growing in size as I saw key words and phrases she uses in her business. “Calendars”, “SOPs”, “Radical Honesty” were just a few words that jumped out. I knew I had to have her as a podcast guest to learn all about how she’s transforming business owners and growing their business and of course share her wisdom with all of you. 

Episode 286: Maddie Chapman | Founder Live Sunny

When I stumbled upon Maddie Chapman’s Instagram, filled with pictures of beautiful blue water, surfing, scuba diving, and living the sea life, I was instantly inspired. I began daydreaming about living on a boat and island hopping. Then I learned she created her own skincare brand to have sunscreen that’s safe for her, the planet, and coral reefs. It’s amazing the ideas that come when you’re doing what you love. It’s even more amazing when you bring that idea to life and see how excited others are for it, too. Maddie is proof that following your passions can lead to your purpose. From surfing to horses to running a skincare brand, we talk about it all.

Episode 285: Michelle Garabito | Founder of Lux Nomad

So many of us dream of selling everything and traveling the world while building our businesses, yet so few of us actually do it! That's why we've invited digital nomad expert Michelle Garabito to share how she manages three businesses while traveling the world with her partner and dog—and how you can do it too. From getting started to knowing what to expect, we cover everything. Are you ready to find the location that lights you up?

Episode 284: Cat Pope | Fashion Stylist

We often think of fashion as a form of self-expression. However, for people like Cat Pope, a NYC-based fashion stylist, fashion is a tool to reshape how her clients are perceived. Great styling can transform your career, open up new opportunities, and allow you to craft the narrative you want, all to your advantage. In our conversation, we not only discuss her styling tips but we also talk about the business side of fashion styling—the spreadsheets, the challenges, and what it takes to build a dream business.

Episode 283: Caroline Heer & Katherine Boucher of the Women in the Wilderness Film

If you’ve ever encountered wild horses in person, you know it’s an unforgettable and magical experience. These majestic creatures roam freely across America, but with no natural predators, their increasing numbers have sparked controversy. In response, three fearless female cowboys set out to create the film Women in the Wilderness. They document their journey, from riding alongside these wild horses to engaging with ranchers, revealing the complex challenges surrounding these animals. How can we cherish wild horses while responsibly managing the land? What’s it like to create a film with no prior experience? And what do wild horses symbolize for the U.S. and the people of the West? We cover all these questions and more in today’s episode. 

Episode 282: Maggie Doyne | Blink Now & Between the Mountain & the Sky

This year at the Mountain Film Festival, the first movie I saw, Between the Mountain & the Sky, profoundly shifted my perspective and left a lasting impact on my life. I knew immediately that I wanted to support anything Maggie Doyne, the subject of the film, was up to. I also knew right away that I wanted to have her as a guest on the Powerful Ladies Podcast. I am so excited to introduce this incredible woman to all of you and to share her remarkable story. Maggie is the co-founder of BlinkNow, an adoptive mom to 93 children (and counting) in Nepal, a wife, a biological mother, and a humanitarian who is truly moving mountains to ensure that children receive the love and opportunities they deserve. And yes, there’s nothing cooler than meeting and genuinely connecting with your heroes.

Episode 281: Mylea Hardy | Founder Forager’s Goods

Loving fashion, your wallet, and the planet are often in conflict. Luckily for us, Mylea Hardy has created Forager’s Goods, where she and her team custom-find and curate vintage styling bundles just for you. This is yet another example of how we can have it all. She’s our latest guest on the Powerful Ladies Podcast. Mylea shares how the business started, why it’s no surprise to her that this is what she’s created, and how she’s balancing life, the entrepreneurial roller coaster, and being an intentional human doing great work.

Episode 280: Whitney Aronoff | Chef, Podcaster, Starseed Kitchen Founder

In the past couple of decades, food has become complicated. What is okay to eat and what is bad to eat seems to change every day. Chef Whitney Aronoff is on a mission to bring our relationship with food back to its origin as a source of energy and healing. She’s a personal chef, the founder of Starseed Kitchen, and the creator of the High Vibration Living Podcast. She understands that food is our fuel and impacts everything. I also love that she’s incorporating other modalities, such as astrology and blood type, to create menus that are truly customized for each individual.

Episode 279: Re-Release of Reb Masel | Lawyer, TikTok Creator, Podcast Host of Rebuttal

In this re-released episode, we dive into a critical conversation about the gap in our understanding of constitutional and legal rights. Many of us feel intimidated and frightened by the law, especially when it impacts our lives. That's where Reb Masel comes in! As a smart, savvy, and badass attorney, Reb uses her TikTok and Instagram channels to break down complex legal concepts with a blend of sass and humor, making them accessible to everyone. By day, she's a practicing attorney; by night, she's a social media sensation. In this episode, we explore how the law truly works, who really holds the power, and the surprising and often wild things that can happen in court. Reb Masel's insights make the legal world less daunting and more understandable for all. Tune in for an engaging and enlightening discussion!

Episode 278: Waymakers | A Powerful Conversation Series

Welcome to a special Powerful Ladies Podcast. This episode was recorded live with the incredible women from the nonprofit organization Waymakers: Heather Benjamin, Lita Mercado, and Ronnetta Johnson. They discuss the mission and impact of Waymakers, which provides essential services to support youth development, crisis intervention, and victim assistance, particularly in Orange County, California. This episode highlights the organization's history, beginning as a pilot project from UCI, and its innovative efforts to address issues such as mental health, human trafficking, and domestic violence. The guests emphasize the importance of support services, the challenges of funding, the significant positive impacts made on the community, and ways the public can help through donations and volunteering.

Episode 277: Tobey Lynn | Musician, Writer, Film Maker

So many women I have invited to be a part of Powerful Ladies have declined, saying “I’m not powerful” or “I’m not powerful yet,” which is why it’s so rewarding when a young woman just about to graduate college says YES. Being powerful is not about age but a way of being. Tobey Lynn is a musician, writer, and filmmaker who possesses wisdom beyond her years. We dive into being limited in the TV and film world, the importance of therapy, and why her parents' support of her artistic endeavors is a breath of fresh air in the context of Asian-American stereotypes.

Episode 276: Tara Joseph | Communications Consultant & ex-International Correspondent

When I think of cool jobs, I think of international correspondents. That’s why I was so excited to sit down with Tara Joseph. She has traveled the world, sharing important stories and giving a voice to others. After leaving Hong Kong due to the shift in freedom of speech there, she settled in California, where she now shares her expertise as a communications consultant. Today, she helps others find their voice and step into their authentic, powerful selves.

Episode 275: June Reese | NAACP Image Nominee & Interior Designer

When you follow your heart and talents, roads lead to success and soon thereafter to supporting your community. June Reese is an NAACP Image Award nominee, author of Iconic Homes: Interiors, Advice, and Stories from 50 Amazing Black Designers, and an interior designer herself. In this episode, we talk about the honor of celebrating your community, the importance of representation in interior design spaces, and what’s possible when everyone comes together to celebrate each other.

Episode 274: Sarah Rhoads of We Are The Rhoads + Commbi Footwear

I love power couples, and when I saw Sarah and her husband Chris, the duo behind We Are the Rhoads, featured in Santa Barbara Magazine, I instantly knew I wanted to meet them. Successful commercial photographers, married, and raising three boys, Sarah has had to choose her own path to make it all work, and she’s never been happier. I loved this conversation about her journey, what brings her joy, and how to make it in Los Angeles. I’m sure you will, too!

Episode 273: The Have It All Method™ Live from NeueHouse

Welcome to a special edition of the Powerful Ladies Podcast. This episode was recorded live in Venice, California, on April 25th, 2024, at NeueHouse. It’s an amazing discussion about my Have It All Method™ featuring myself and three of my favorite entrepreneurs: Maurice Philogen, who flew in all the way from Lebanon; KJ Atlas, whose solo Powerful Ladies episode you may have heard (if not, go back and listen!); and Chris Grubisa, one of my favorite humans and the founder of the production company Chrilleks and his new venture, Let’s Cook, all about video editing and community. All the ways to follow and support this panel are in our show notes on the website. Enjoy the episode!

Episode 272: Jacqueline Lavitt Michaelsen | Creative Director

Often, we think that once we go freelance or become business owners, we can’t go back to corporate life. That’s simply not true, and it doesn’t allow you to have the freedom to chase your dreams or say yes to incredible opportunities when they come your way. Jacqueline Lavitt Michaelsen confidently flows between corporate and freelance work by keeping herself aligned with her north star: working on amazing creative projects to elevate brands and tell their stories.

Episode 271: Sandra Soskic | Founder of Humanoid

The world has gone beige. There is more homogeneity in human culture today than ever before. And yet, we all have a craving to be different, to express ourselves in unique ways, and a desire to have the freedom and bravery to express our unique style. Burning Man, Comic-Con, and similar events are currently among the few places where it's expected to look outrageous or however you feel like showing up. Enter Humanoid. Sandra Soskic created Humanoid to blend technology, self-expression, makeup, tattoos, and fashion to give us more options for self-expression. How do you create a new product segment? How do we step into knowing what our true self-expression is?

Episode 270: Melissa Skeet | Skating Across America for MMIP

There are many creative ways to combine your passions with your activism. After finding her own power in a pair of roller skates, Melissa Skeet, Diné from the Navajo Nation, is now roller skating across America from Washington State to Washington D.C. to raise awareness about Missing & Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) and to collect donations to support Native youth. The statistics on MMIP are startling. Native American rates of murder, rape, and violent crime are all higher than the national averages—some quoting rates as much as ten times higher. It’s truly an epidemic that very few are paying attention to. In this episode, we discuss her experience, the realities of trauma and crime for Indigenous peoples, and what we can all do to change this for our Indigenous communities.

Episode 269: Three Generations of Powerful Women

Not all of us are lucky enough to come from a great family or a lineage of Powerful Ladies. So when you encounter three generations of women who are all being powerful, taking up their space, and working hard to expand into new levels of living extraordinary lives, you take notice. Grandma Donna, Nancy Eaton, and Kendra Laine are such an example. They love their communities, and they put a lot of work and effort into areas of life that matter to them. They make a difference and run their own businesses. In this episode, we discuss the level of intentionality and awareness they bring to being powerful across generations, what they wish for each other, and how other families can make being powerful the norm.