Meant For It - SoundSage

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Alyssa Rosenheck was one of the only Jewish kids in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when a classmate stood up in class, pointed at her, and said, "The Jew took it." She pushed the girl down. Her dad's response: "My daughter has my permission to deck anyone who offends her family or faith."

That courage runs hrough everything that followed: a tennis scholarship, a decade in corporate medical sales, a thyroid cancer diagnosis that scared her into finally living, a camera she picked up to heal, and a divorce that hinged on one line from her husband she "can't unhear." After October 7th, Alyssa lost a book deal, got labeled part of a literary boycott, and co-founded Artists Against Antisemitism instead of going quiet. Her new book, White Blonde Jew, is what she wrote instead.

In this episode:

(02:00) Growing up one of the only Jews in Tulsa — and the classmate who pointed at her and said, "The Jew took it"
(08:55) Chasing financial security after an unstable, alcoholic childhood — tennis scholarship to 3M to spine sales
(11:15) The thyroid cancer scare that became her first real "life pivot"
(13:33) Picking up a camera as therapy — and building a 14-year photography career from it
(15:55) Her advice for anyone raised by an alcoholic parent
(18:15) The marriage, and the line from her husband she "can't unhear": "He did not want to have Jewish children"
(22:43) The New Southern — accidentally writing the most inclusive design book in the industry
(24:45) Her 2021 "light bulb moment" on Israel, BDS, and October 7th
(27:00) Losing a book deal 10 days into speaking out — and co-founding Artists Against Antisemitism
(29:08) Fighting BDS resolutions in Nashville
(31:26) Inside White Blonde Jew — out August 18
(40:15) The Kashariyot, and why being underestimated is a weapon

Quotes

"I really allowed my haters to title the book. If it offends you, great, I wrote it for you. And if it doesn't, and you feel seen by it, I also wrote it for you."
"Cancer gave me so much more than it took away."
"When you get pushed down, you have to double down in the very thing that they don't want you to do."
"It was a little bit like digital Ozempic." — on losing friends and followers after speaking out
"My skin color would not have insulated me or protected me on October seventh, nor would it have protected me against the Nazis."
"This project serves as historical insurance."
"You can't create when you're stressed. You can't create when you're in chaos. You can't create when you're in fear."

About the book: White Blonde Jew (BenBella Books / Geffen Books) releases August 18 — pre-order now. Three sections, White / Blonde / Jewish, each chapter closing with a book-club discussion prompt.

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James Lindsay led the 2018 Grievance Studies Affair, a hoax so effective it got a chapter of Mein Kampf rewritten as feminist theory accepted into a peer-reviewed journal. Since then he's built New Discourses around defining the woke formula of critical theory plus Leninist tactics, and how the formula appears on the left and the right. In this conversation, Lindsay traces "woke" back through Lenin's vanguard model and a 1937 Nazi corporate law that literally invented the word "stakeholder," then applies the same framework to Tucker Carlson, breaking down why he meets every box on the definition.

James connects totalitarian ideology to clinical narcissism, explains why government incentive structures guarantee corruption regardless of who's in charge, and shares firsthand accounts from parents whose teenage sons are being radicalized into neo-Nazi forums. The conversation closes on JD Vance and his documented ties to post-liberal, Catholic integralist thinkers.

Lindsay's books:

The Marxification of Education
Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything About Race, Gender, and Identity - and Why This Harms Everybody
Race Marxism

Timestamps:

03:07 Who is James Lindsay: anti-totalitarian researcher 04:18 The Grievance Studies Affair, explained 07:08 Cynical Theories and writing from a left-wing perspective on purpose 10:42 Defining "woke" begins 12:06 Critical theory's roots, back to Marx 13:53 The two components of woke: critical theory + Leninist behavior 19:20 Woke left vs. woke right, and the "Animal Farm" stakeholder model 25:33 The Nazi Shareholder Act of 1937 — the real birth of "stakeholder" 29:54 Do people actually understand this system? 31:17 Why everyone should listen to people who escaped communism 32:08 Totalitarianism as institutionalized narcissism 35:25 Why government incentive structures guarantee corruption 40:15 Bill Gates and the "Messiah complex" 43:01 Marx's Communist Manifesto, reread through narcissism 45:16 What happened to Tucker Carlson? 46:09 The case for why Tucker Carlson is "woke right" 50:15 Tucker's 2019 shift and Elizabeth Warren's Accountable Capitalism Act 53:06 How much of Tucker's audience is bots? 54:00 How much real power does Tucker actually have? 58:13 Hitler's "My Secret Book" and the targeting of youth 59:59 Parents' stories: kids radicalized into neo-Nazi forums 1:03:48 Where does JD Vance fall in the "woke right"? 1:05:53 Patrick Deneen's Regime Change and replacing the Constitution 1:06:16 Catholic integralism and Vance's economic worldview 1:08:42 The Iran MOU controversy and the operation against Vance

The Marxification of Education: Paulo Freire's Critical Marxism and the Theft of Education

Race Marxism: The Truth About Critical Race Theory and Praxis

Cynical Theories: How Universities Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identity - And Why this Harms Everybody

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Dr. Joseph Moore is a historian who spent a decade testing every financial strategy Americans have ever tried: he Airbnb'd every room in his house, bought land on the moon, founded a cryptocurrency, and invested in a startup that went to zero — to write How to Get Rich in American History: 300 Years of Financial Advice That Worked and Didn't. He started the project as a "lefty humanities professor" trying to prove the American Dream was a myth. Ten years of evidence later, he'd changed his mind completely. We're all about changing your mind when you know better.

We get into why the boomer playbook of saving 10% for 40 years would have failed almost half the time since the American Revolution, why health insurance companies run under 3% margins while funeral homes and self-storage run 10-15%, and the five things that actually predict getting ahead. Joseph also tells the real story of how he got rich — including the tenant who turned out to be running a human trafficking operation out of his first rental property, and the two-block real estate bet that nearly bankrupted him before it made him a multimillionaire.

The opportunity was never gone, it just takes longer to find than the get-rich-quick books tell you, and it won't be easy or passive. This is an optimistic view of America from a historian who did the research in books and in his own life.

Order the book: https://www.amazon.com/How-Get-Rich-American-History/dp/0063464586

Subscribe to Joe's Substack: https://www.josephmoorebooks.com

Quotes

"You can make five to seven times as much money holding people's junk, throwing it away, or putting them in the ground than you can keeping them healthy." — Joseph Moore

"Nothing will change your political opinion so much as having to make payroll." — Joseph Moore

"The rungs on the ladder to success were sawed off by the people who went ahead of you." — Joseph Moore, on 19th-century complaints about opportunity in America

"It's a despair industrial complex — there's no clicks for a journalist, no votes for a politician, and no tenure for academics like me if we tell you the world is getting better." — Joseph Moore

02:14 — Where Joseph starts when people ask him how to get rich, and why most finance books say the same thing in one page
04:19 — The famous "$10,000 in 1929 becomes $10 million" chart, and why it's a lie
06:39 — Becoming a historian: the musket that hooked him at 10, and the 2005 housing bubble he didn't see coming
08:46 — Selling the house right before 2008: "the last two people off the Titanic," and the decision to write the book
11:04 — Confession: "I'm a lefty humanities professor," and why making payroll changes your politics
13:14 — What changed his mind: the American Dream "myth" as unquestioned academic dogma
15:22 — Health insurance runs under 3% margins. Funeral homes and self-storage run 10-15%
17:33 — People have said "you can't get ahead anymore" since 1676 — and a 1984 bestseller predicting the middle class would vanish by 1990
19:52 — The "despair industrial complex"
22:03 — The five things that actually predict getting rich
24:26 — Marriage confounds everything
26:44 — Risk vs. gamble - how do you know the difference?
29:00 — Why index funds are for saving, not getting rich
31:10 — The first investment is in yourself
33:23 — Corporate career vs. entrepreneurship, and the P.T. Barnum quote about dentists
35:11 — Should you "buy a boomer's business
37:33 — Passive income as "financial pornography"
39:45 — How inflation killed real passive income
42:01 — Slow time vs. fast time, and the most boring year in American financial history (1953)
44:06 — Kim Basinger bought an entire Georgia town to build a movie studio. It happened — just decades late
48:45 — Entitlement culture: wages are up 30-50% since the 1970s and nobody believes it
50:56 — The question that stops academics cold: "Where'd you go to high school?"
53:16 — How Joseph actually got rich
1:00:15 — Practical advice if you're 45-55 with $100,000 and feel behind

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Marissa Streit, CEO of PragerU, is back! Last time, she told us serving your country can mean enlisting as an educator, a line we still bring up constantly. We cover a lot of ground in this conversation: why personal responsibility beats collective grievance, how socialism and communism sell real problems with fake solutions, a teacher's union resolution instructing teachers not to tell parents when a student is transitioning, intersectionality as what Marissa calls "victim bingo," and why PragerU ended up on the Southern Poverty Law Center's hate map alongside Charlie Kirk.

Summarized timestamps

02:42 – The founding principle: personal responsibility vs. collective grievance, and "the bigger the government, the smaller the citizens
07:13 – Why socialism keeps winning young people over — real problems, fake solutions
15:57 – Case study: why a young family can't afford to raise kids in New York (rent control, tort law, regulation)
20:15 – The "education industrial complex": inside the books training teachers — Lessons in Liberation and Cultivating Genius
22:31 – The term "adultism" defined, and what it does to parental authority
24:52 – The AFT resolution: teachers told not to tell parents when a student is transitioning
27:11 – The California law letting a 12-year-old consent to gender-affirming care without parental notice
33:59 – Why parents look away: "it's not my child" and the cost of that thinking
38:34 – Intersectionality as "victim bingo" — how kids get recruited into causes that have nothing to do with their lives
45:18 – PragerU as a target: the Southern Poverty Law Center's hate map, Charlie Kirk, and repeated platform takedowns
49:36 – Is PragerU "right-wing propaganda"? Marissa's answer, and the story of the $1 million donor who set out to expose them

Quotes:

"The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen." — Marissa Streit
"Socialism, I oftentimes say, is communism with lipstick. It's the same thing — the government's going to fix things for you by stealing everything from you, and then everybody ends up equally poor." — Marissa Streit
"God wanted the Israelites who made it to the promised land to be a people who recognized that freedom isn't free. It comes with a sacrifice, but it's a sacrifice worth making." — Marissa Streit
"A socialist and a communist will take a truth we all recognize, but they'll give you a solution that is a lie." — Marissa Streit
"They're defining adultism as adults having power and rights to decide what young people's boundaries should be — and young people should go along with what adults say. They're defining it as tyranny." — Marissa Streit, on the term found in Lessons in Liberation
"See the connection, how the unions are breaking the relationship with parents? The word 'outing' — you out somebody, you snitch on somebody. They know it's a negative thing, but they're saying the parent shouldn't know." — Marissa Streit, on the AFT resolution
"It's getting worse because good people are not fighting against it." — Marissa Streit
"Essentially that's what intersectionality does — it says find the victim within yourself, and now you can join the group. Once you join, there is no tolerance for diversity of ideas, only an expectation that you abide by communist and socialist values." — Marissa Streit
"It's 100% a political cult. It's a cult and it has different tentacles." — Polina on intersectionality
"Van Jones said recently the DSA is on the ground knocking on doors, and we're not gonna fix this until people commit." — Polina
"Go to PragerU and make your own opinion. We're not in an era where you have to rely on the AFT, the NEA, or the New York Times to tell you what to think." — Marissa Streit

https://www.prageru.com

Books referenced: Lessons in Liberation: An Abolitionist Toolkit for Educators; Cultivating Genius (Scholastic)

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Liza Libes is defending literature like it's under siege, and after this conversation, you will understand why.

Liza went to Columbia wanting to study Tolstoy and came out having read more Edward Said and Sartre she signed up for. We got into how her English degree turned into a theory degree overnight, why Anna Karenina isn't the feminist manifesto her professors taught it as, and why so much of what gets published now has had the backstory and the beauty edited right out of it by agents chasing a formula.

Liza's family fled the Soviet Union, and her grandfather was imprisoned for being Jewish. Watching that same ideology resurface in new packaging on American campuses is terrifying.

Find Liza at PensandPoison.org She also runs Advictus Prep and is shopping her first novel, which is basically a love letter to beauty written in spite of a literary world that's decided beauty is suspect. If you've been meaning to finally pick up that classic on your shelf, this is your sign!

Memorable Quotes:

"I don't think I met anyone in the English department who had the same reaction... A lot of people I think were actively trying to push this agenda because it had been sold to them." — Liza

"Good fiction is inherently moral. That's not to say moral in one specific restricted sense, but good fiction should teach us something about the way to live our lives." — Liza

"A lot of our art today is ironic, nihilistic, cynical, and just downright amoral." — Liza

"If your response to [boredom in a marriage] is I'm just going to abandon this whole thing that gives everyone meaning, then that is going to lead you to a dark place." — Liza, on Anna Karenina

"People will hold onto their identity more than the truth." — Polina, paraphrasing Chase Hughes

"My family kind of went through horrific examples of antisemitism twice, just in our personal lives... and it's horrific that it's happening again." — Liza

"If you're going to make one change in your life to lead a more full and fulfilling life, read classic literature." — Liza

Follow us on Instagram @thecuriousmiddlepod
Our Website: https://curiousmiddlepod.com
Email us: thecuriousmiddlepod@gmail.com
Substack: https://curiousmiddle.substack.com

Episode Time Stamps

04:32 — Arriving at Columbia expecting to study literature, getting Edward Said and postcolonial theory on Jane Austen instead
06:36 — Same pattern outside the English department — a philosophy class teaching Hegel through the lens of BLM, and why she eventually stepped back from academia
08:46 — How Pens and Poison started, and the slow, stuck-at-20K-followers climb before it took off
11:05 — The daily messages from silenced students and aspiring writers — and how the same ideological capture spread into publishing
13:15 — Columbia's Core Curriculum as a partial exception, and why STEM friends noticed the politicization more than English majors did
15:29 — Pausing to unpack just how deep this runs — you can't study literature today without studying Marx
17:39 — Edward Said and the "settler colonist" framing; Sartre's introduction to The Wretched of the Earth
19:57 — More on Sartre's radicalization, Simone de Beauvoir, and the ideas of theirs still taught as fact
22:10 — Derrida, deconstruction, and the postmodern claim that literature has no objective meaning
24:21 — Paulo Freire and how "social justice as the point of education" filtered into every subject, not just humanities
28:55 — Why you don't need to be a humanities major to benefit from literature — it as a stand-in for religious meaning
31:19 — Anna Karenina as a case study: Tolstoy's actual argument vs. balancing tradition with modern life
33:37 — T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land, the cost of losing ritual, and the case for reading fiction (not just nonfiction)
38:12 — My Year of Rest and Relaxation as an example of fiction that critiques without offering anything — the retreat from beauty and sincerity in "serious" art
40:14 — Does bleak fiction reflect a bleak culture or create one? Introducing her novel-in-progress, inspired by Mann's Doctor Faustus
44:44 — The same pattern in music, art, and publishing; does fiction need a moral lesson, or is beauty enough?
47:06 — Noticing beauty as the theme of her novel, and the one contemporary book she's excited to read — Theo of Golden, rejected by publishers, self-published, then sold millions
49:12 — Why contemporary fiction gets rejected or forced into a formula: word counts, no backstory, action on page one
51:37 — What's lost without backstory or physical description — fiction that never lets you rest with an idea
53:39 — Her own reading habits: rereading Dostoevsky in the original Russian, and why she's wary of new bestsellers
55:44 — Life-changing book #1: Mann's The Magic Mountain and how it reshaped her sense of time
58:06 — Life-changing book #2: Zweig's The World of Yesterday and the loss of creative freedom
1:00:29 — Why so many young people can't name their own values
1:02:41 — How literature classrooms swap out "morality" for ideology without saying so (Anna Karenina as "anti-feminism")
1:04:58 — Othello and The Merchant of Venice taught through one narrow lens instead of the whole picture
1:07:08 — Social justice as a stand-in religion, and the Columbia encampments
1:09:25 — Her family's history: fleeing the USSR on political asylum, her father imprisoned and her great-grandfather killed for being Jewish, and where to find her — Pens and Poison (pensandpoison.org)

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What if you could name the thing tearing America apart? Benedict Beckeld joined us to trace a pattern that has played out in every great civilization in history: ancient Greece, Rome, Enlightenment France, Britain, and now America. The more successful a society becomes, the more its own people turn against it. Wealth, safety, and open intellectual space create the exact conditions for a culture to start eating itself alive.

Benedict is a writer and philosopher whose work spans contemporary culture, political philosophy, and the philosophy of history. He holds a master's in ancient Greek, Latin, and German, and a PhD in philosophy. His book Western Self-Contempt: Oikophobia and the Decline of Civilizations is the only full-length study of the subject, and the work that brought the term into mainstream conversation.

We get into all of it: why universities are ground zero, why intellectuals are the most susceptible, what October 7th has to do with it, whether religion is the antidote, and the uncomfortable historical truth about whether oikophobia has ever actually been reversed.

The good news, America is different. The bad news, the odd are not good. Uderstanding what we're up against is the first step to fighting back.

https://www.benedictbeckeld.com/

Key Quotes

"The fact that we until recently only had a word for hating foreigners is itself a sign of oikophobia — it means it's only the hatred of the foreign that we consider worthy of condemning." — Benedict Beckeld
"There is nothing so human as taking a good idea too far. We take the potential positive of self-criticism and it becomes a competition about who can be the most self-hating." — Benedict Beckeld
"Historically, it has never been reversed. Which is not to say we shouldn't try — and I mean this, because America is unique." — Benedict Beckeld
"Imagine if you were sick and didn't know what was going on — you'd be panicked. But if a doctor gave you a diagnosis, you'd say: okay, I know what this is, this is how I treat it. Before this, we were very sick and had no word for it. Now we do." — Polina Rubin
"There is a spirit of freedom in America that is unmatched in the world. You say an idea in Europe and people say, are you sure that's wise? You say the same thing here and people say, that's amazing, what can I do to help?" — Benedict Beckeld

More Podcasts on Culture:

Alll the News that's Fit to Spin with Ashley Rindsberg
From Foster Care to Yale with Rob Henderson
From America is Evil to American Exceptionalism with Lucy Biggers
Why so Many Gen Z's Cant Take a Joke or a Different Opinion
Follow @thecuriousmiddlepod
Contact us: thecuriousmiddlepod@gmail.com

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Adam Louis Klein is a PhD student in anthropology at McGill who became one of the leading voices against antizionism after October 7. He was in the Amazon jungle doing fieldwork when the attacks happened. When he returned and refused to stay silent, he was immediately labeled a Zionist and told he had no future in his field. Instead of backing down, he built a movement.

In this episode, Adam explains why antizionism is its own category of bigotry, distinct from antisemitism but equally harmful, and why naming it matters more than debunking individual claims. He lays out a practical framework for how to respond when you're hit with terms like "colonial," "apartheid," or "genocide," and why the key is boundary-setting rather than fact-checking.

We cover:

Real-time role play: what to say when someone claims Israel is colonial, genocidal, or apartheid
Why calling something antisemitism often backfires and what to say instead
How antizonism functions as a moral identity, not just a political position
What Jewish antizionism actually is and where it comes from
The role of legacy institutions, philanthropy, and academia in changing the narrative

Adam's movement, MAAZ Action (mazaction.org), offers free trainings — 1 to 2 hours — that communities, synagogues, and corporations can access right now.

Know someone who needs to hear this? Send it. Share it in your community. Especially with people who think you can be anti-Zionist and still be a friend to the Jewish people. https://www.movementagainstantizionism.org

About Adam Louis Klein

Follow Adam on IG

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What if pursuing wealth isn't greedy, it's morally good?

Rabbi Daniel Lapin has spent decades making that case, and in this conversation he makes it clearly. He's the bestselling author of Thou Shall Prosper, founder of the American Alliance of Jews and Christians, and one of the most practical thinkers on money, character, and how to live well.

We get into his Five F's framework: Family, Finance, Friendship, Fitness, and Faith, and why these five areas, arranged in a circle, are the clearest measure of whether someone has their life together. Rabbi Lapin breaks down which F matters most at different life stages, why your relationship with money says more about your character than almost anything else, and how ancient biblical wisdom maps directly onto the way the world actually works.

We also talk about why socialism keeps spreading, what the fall of empires has to do with America right now, and why AI is being overhyped in exactly the same way the internet and the automobile were.

90% of Rabbi Lapin's listeners are not Jewish. These are universal principles — and this is one of those conversations you'll want to share.

A few of our favorite lines from this episode. It's full of transformative life advice, but you'll have to listen for the rest:

"I ask people on planes: what do you do for your fellow human beings? Not what do you do for a living, that's a very self-centered way of looking at it."
"Empires end not because of outside invasion — but because of internal collapse. The breaking apart of a common moral shared outlook."

If this episode made you think of someone , that's your sign. Stop and share it with them!

Follow us on Instagram at @thecuriousmiddlepod
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Email us thecuriousmiddlepod@gmail.com

Timestamps:

0:00 — Intro: why Polina and Yelena are obsessed with Rabbi Lapin and what to expect
3:43 — The Five F's introduced: Family, Finance, Friendship, Fitness, Faith
6:03 — Family defined: all relationships that flow from male-female connection
7:30 — Finance defined: money, ownership, and your professional relationships
8:29 — Faith explained: anything that can't be measured in a lab — including why you paid $64 for jeans
10:43 — Why the Five F's live on a circle, not a ranked list
11:50 — Which F matters most by life stage — counterintuitive advice for men and women
13:45 — Why society is conditioned to see wealth as greedy — and why that's wrong
15:17 — What a man's relationship with money reveals about his character
19:46 — Jewish tradition views the pursuit of profit as morally good
20:45 — Why socialism spreads and why it's dangerous
22:04 — Freedom vs. equality: you can't have both
24:25 — The 250-year empire cycle — and America turns 250 this year
28:43 — Money and God: gold is the eighth thing God calls "good" in Genesis
31:01 — Why half the guests at a Jewish wedding are business connections, not family
33:11 — Yelena's personal question: how do you measure worth when you've stepped away from a career?
35:20 — Why having children above 2.1 is one of the most important contributions to society
37:44 — Abundance vs. scarcity mindset — and why you can't will money into existence
40:05 — The Screw Magazine story: why everyone needs to believe they're doing something of lasting value
42:26 — Whale oil, copper wire, and the pattern of false scarcity throughout history
43:45 — AI is being overhyped — same pattern as the internet and the automobile
47:02 — People need people: why AI won't replace human connection
49:27 — How media has brainwashed us to see business as villainous
51:00 — Perspective check: 1930, 1941 — things have been worse and we got through it
53:45 — What to actually do right now: build your Five F's
56:16 — Closing: happiness is a decision

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How much power does The New York Times really have , and what happens when that power is used to shape narrative instead of pursue truth?

In this episode of The Curious Middle, we speak with Ashley Rindsberg, author of The Gray Lady Winked, about the Times' reporting on some of the most important stories of the last century: the Nazi invasion of Poland, Stalin's Soviet Union, the Holocaust, Israel, the 1619 Project nd more.

Ashley Rindsberg is an investigative journalist and author focused on media malfeasance, information warfare, and the hidden systems influencing public discourse.

Ashley joins us to explain why he believes the paper has repeatedly protected power, buried inconvenient truths, and helped shape public opinion in ways that changed history. We also talk about the Sulzberger family, the culture inside elite newsrooms, the collapse of trust in journalism, and how listeners can build a healthier media diet today.

Follow Ashley's Substack

In this episode: * What first inspired Ashley to write The Gray Lady Winked * Why the New York Times is unlike any other media institution * The Times' Holocaust coverage and what was buried * How tne NYT Created a Narrative on the Soviet Unioo, Hitler, Cuba, Iraq, Israel and the Intifada, * The 1619 Project and narrative-driven reporting * The Tom Cotton op-ed controversy, safe spaces, silencing dissent and newsroom ideology * How to find better journalism in a fractured media environment

Other Topics Discussed:

The Unlikely Lavender Queen: A Memoir of Unexpected Blosssoming

Tamara De Lempicka Art Exhibit at the SF De Young Museum

The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin

The Thing About Jellyfish at Berkeley Rep

Limperatrice

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This conversation is about reversing the trend of cynicism and erosion of trust in our government through education. Lindsay Cormack, an associate professor of political science and author of "How to Raise a Citizen”, joins us to discuss the state of US Government education in our schools. You may be surprised to learn that every state decides how much time to devote to this topic, and how to test students. Due to the inconsistent and often insufficient government education for millions, our students are leaving high school without a solid knowledge of our government functions and how to be a part of it. How will there be social changes if our young adults don’t understand our government, opt out and believe that the system is rigged?

Our government was designed to change slowly to ensure stability. We need to ensure our students understand how they can be forces of change through their votes and by joining coalitions and groups that they believe in. Today, many high school graduates have not read the constitution, aren’t aware of who represents them , and they lack the most basic understanding of the division of responsibilities in our government. If our students don’t understand the brilliance of our constitution, we can see why they would take it for granted and not do their part as active citizens. Lindsey’s book gives parents a framework for having discussions about government and politics with their children. In this conversation, Lindsey shares recommendations for how parents can teach their kids to be good citizens with easy to follow tips for every age group. This episode is an urgent call to action for all parents to prioritize civic education and to help their children learn how to make a difference in their communities. We want to thank all teeachers who dedicate themsevlves to our students. *****

PLEASE HELP US OUT BY SHARING THIS EPISODE WITH A FRIEND!

Visit our website at www.meantforit.com,

email us directly at contact@meantforit.com

We want to hear from you! Guest suggestions? Partner with us? Drop us a note.

+ a special shout out to Mr. Armstrong, an extraordinday 8th grade History teacher from the SF Bay Area, for teaching students to become good citizens and changing lives every day. We wish for every student to have their own Mr. Armstrong!

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If you have ever felt insecure about your education, or if your lack of a degree has held you back from pursuing the life you wanted, this conversation is for you. Christopher Zara, Senior Editor at Fast Company and author of "Uneducated: A Memoir of Flunking Out, Falling Apart, and Finding My Worth", is proof that traditional paths aren't the only routes to success. Despite dropping out of high school, Christopher defied the odds and carved out a successful career in journalism without a college degree.

We discuss the educational requirements that prevent many from pursuing work they meant for, and the unattainable, and often unnecessary expectations of higher education. In addition to the absurd costs of college degrees, the extreme competition is making college out of reach for the majority of students. Although a college degree is almost always a hiring requirement for a top media organization, this was not always the case. Earlier in our country’s history, journalists came from a variety of blue collar backgrounds. While no one is arguing against the value of a college education, there are also unfortunate trade-offs to the public when journalists don’t represent the majority of Americans.

Christopher was lucky that his teachers noticed and encouraged his skills in writing. At age 35 when Corstoopher realized he wanted more from his life, he pitched his first article to a magazine, which was accepted. This pivotal moment set him on a path that would eventually lead to his role at Fast Company. Christopher’s story is an example of following the path that feels right to you even when you dont fit into the conventional path.

Don't miss Christopher's inspiring story and join us in rethinking the role of education in our lives. Whether you're a student, a parent, or someone considering a career change, this episode will encourage you to forge your own path.

https://www.fastcompany.com/user/christopher-zara

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email us directly at contact@meantforit.com

We want to hear from you! Guest suggestions? Partner with us? Drop us a note.

Timestamps:

6:21 Christopher Zara says teachers encouraged him to pursue journalism
7:22 About 10% of working journalists at that time did not go to college
13:53 How did you, how did you know writing was your thing
21:47 In the past, journalists typically were not highly educated
28:13 If you're an overtly conservative person in a newsroom, you might feel inhibited
31:35 over imposter syndrome after writing a book
35:36 What do you read to stay up to date on current events
39:05 Do you think the value of education is going to start declining in near future
45:29 What advice would you give to aspiring journalists without a college degree
47:47 Christopher Zara: A lot of hiring managers are relying on resume filters

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Kat Timpf ,a writer and comedian, is best know for her appearances on the Gutfeld show. 14 years ago, Kat was working at Boston Market when she told her friend she would be on Fox’s Red Eye show (and that is one hell of an example of manifestation combined with hard work and focus). Through her writing, Kat scored an appearance on Redeye, which eventually led to a recurring role on Gutfeld.

In her new book, "I Used to Like You Until, How Binary Thinking Divides Us”, Kat seeks to break down the mental barriers that lead to binary thinking. Kat shares many of her personal struggles, including mental health challenges and an abusive relationship. Although Kat was scared about sharing so much, she decided that if sharing her vulnerability helped people relate to her, then the cringe and fear was worth it. Kat’s goal with her book, and with sharing her personal stories is to bridge the divides created by political partisanship, encouraging readers to look beyond assumptions and engage with others one on one.

Kat also explains her libertarian views and the significance of being intentional about having meaningful conversations across ideological lines. Kat challenges binary thinking and inspires us to approach people with curiosity rather than judgment. Don't miss this important discussion about the dangers of binary thinking and the opportunities that open when people stop judging each other on party lines. We also discuss research that shows how people often have incorrect assumptions about the opposite party.

https://www.therealkattimpf.com

Notable Quotes:

"Binary thinking is the enemy of critical thinking."

"Politics makes us fight with people we know in our real lives over these politicians who don't even know or care that we exist."

"I approach people with curiosity instead of with preconceived notions or judgments."

"Vulnerability is going to be a huge way for us to get out of this mess that we're in."

"I'm a writer who wound up on TV and not the other way around."

PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH A FRIEND

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email us directly at contact@meantforit.com

We want to hear from you! Guest suggestions? Partner with us? Drop us a note.

Zoom in:

6:45 Kat shares a lot of vulnerable things in her new book
11:42 You write about the radical partisanship that we're experiencing in American politics
15:00 What does it mean to be a libertarian with less government
20:01 You talk about how some theaters won't host you if you're on Fox
25:48 You write about how politics makes people fight with their relatives over elections
28:49 How to reduce partisanship
33:14 Kat hopes people open up hearts to people with different political opinions

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Ron Alvarez, a CNN Hero finalist, musician and educator is transforming lives through teaching kids to play music in The Dream Orchestra.. Ron shares he went from a childhood in Caracas, Venezuela to changing the lives of refugee children in Sweden. Ron’s story begins when he joined El Sistema, a musical and social program in Venezuela, set the course of his life.

Ron realized he wanted to pay it forward by becoming a music teacher. Eventually, Ron grabbed an opportunity to teach music to kids in an orphanage in Greenland (yes, we talk about what it’s like to actually live in Greenland). After the incredible experience in Greenland, Ron moved to Sweden for a teaching job. Witnessing the influx of unaccompanied minors from Syria and Afghanistan, Ron felt compelled to make a difference with the most powerful tool he had to change lives, the power of music. The lack of funding and language barriers did not keep Ron from starting Dream Orchestra, a sanctuary for young refugees and asylum seekers, offering them a sense of community and belonging through music. Over 400 children have had their lives transformed but also enriched through the magic and language of music.

Ron is an example of the ways following what you were meant to do

CNN Hero video and article

Quotable Moments:

"Music and food always bring you back to your place and to your family."

"Music can transform the life of people. When you feel completely lost or alone, music can empower you."

"I always wanted to make good music. But I also remember... I didn't want to do this the rest of my life. I really wanted to make change."

"We scientifically know that music can provide more oxytocin to your brain and to your body. It makes you more happy."

Visit our website at www.meantforit.com,

email us directly at contact@meantforit.com - we want to hear from you! Guest suggestions? Partner with us? Drop us a note.

12:54 " Dream Orchestra started in January 2015 with unaccompanied minors from Syria and Afghanistan
23:02 How often did the orchestra practice and how is it evolved today
23:57 How Dream orchestras is changing lives through music
30:45 Music brings an emotion unique compared to other things in life
35:55 " Dream Orchestra has grown from 13 kids originally to over 400 members now
42:04 What is it like to live in Greenland

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Since October 7, we have added more political content with a focus on the war in Israel. We didn’t plan on making our podcast political but we couldnt be authentic without having the conversations we feel are so important, As we think about leading the lives that were meant for us, alongside careers, purpose, relationships and the things that make up a good life, polticis is a part of our daily lives. Some weeks it's the appetizer and someitmes it is the main course.

As we share in this episode, the war in Israel and the tsunami of lies and hatred towards Jewish people galvanized thousands of activists, including us. In this episode, we spoke with Jonah Platt and Dr. Logan Levkoff about their advocacy stories. We discussed challenging conversations about the war and the impact of activism on our personal and professional lives. As Sharon McMahon reminded us in a previous episode, no effort toward liberty is ever lost. Whatever contribution we can make towards the truth is worth every effort. We hope this conversation will encourage you to advocate for the cause closest to your soul.

https://www.jonahplatt.com

Listen to Jonah's podcast

Dr. Logan Levkoff

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In this episode, we are honored to speak with Dumisani Washington, the founder and CEO of the Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel Dumisani Washington is a gifted Pastor, musician, author, speaker and a passionate advocate for the unity and solidarity between the Church and Israel. His book, "Zionism & the Black Church: Why Standing with Israel Will be a Defining Issue for Christians of Color in the 21st Century," has sparked important conversations and inspired countless individuals to explore the connections between these communities.

Dumisani shares his story, from a devout Christian upbringing in Little Rock, Arkansas, to becoming a prominent voice in the intersection of Black and Jewish communities. Dumisan’s transformative experience during his first trip to Israel in 2012, which inspired him to establish his organization. This conversation reminds us of the historical and spiritual ties between African American churches and Zionism, highlighting the deep-rooted connections through scripture, civil rights and music.

We discuss the historical alliances between Black and Jewish communities, particularly during the civil rights movement, and the current state of these relationships. Dumisani emphasizes the importance of education and dialogue in bridging gaps and fostering mutual understanding.

We dip into the geopolitical landscape, examining the overwhelming influence of Soviet propaganda that led to the avalanche of misinformation and anti-Semitic rhetoric we are seeing today across most media platforms and our college campuses.. Dumisani passionately advocates for a renewed sense of patriotism and unity among Americans.

Follow Dumisani here and on Instagram

Visit our website at www.meantforit.com,

email us directly at contact@meantforit.com - we want to hear from you! Guest suggestions? Partner with us? Drop us a note.

Quotes from our converation:

"The less we know, the more bondage we actually walk into."

"The spiritual nature of things remains alive, even long after the Pharaohs and Hitlers have passed."

"We are in a fight for global religious freedom."

"The immediacy of the hour is what really brought the whole black Jewish synergy to light."

"Our national security is at stake. Our religious freedom is at stake."

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Sharon McMahon, America's favorite government teacher and bestselling author of "The Small and the Mighty." shares how she went from a classroom government teacher to a social media success with over a million followers on Instagram. Once you hear this episode you will understand why Shaon’s nonpartisan videos on the electoral college and other political processes captured the hearts and attention of her followers and mass media.

You may not know that there is currently a lack of standardized civic education across the United States. Each state decides how much time to allocate within their schools to teach about US Government and Civics. Yes, read that again and stop for a minute to consider the consequences of inconsistent and insufficient government education for American students. If students are not taught how to make change locally, statewide or nationally, or that their vote and participation matters, perhaps that explains a lot including why so many of us complain that the system is not representing us?

We talk about Sharon’s brilliant book, "The Small and the Mighty," which profiles twelve unsung American heroes who made extraordinary impacts on history. One of the heroes is Clara Brown, an enslaved woman who became a pioneer in Colorado, through sacrifice, faith and decades of hard work.

We also discuss the current election and why the majority of Americans feel they are not represented by either candidate. Sharon offers suggestions for electoral reforms and a multi-party system that would drastically change election outcomes. Sharon recommends FairVote, an organization working to improve election systems at the state level. Do not miss this episode that will challenge you to think critically about your role in democracy and we guarantee will inspire you to get poltically engaged in what matters most to you.

https://sharonmcmahon.com

Sharon's Podcast

Sharon's newsletter

Visit our website at www.meantforit.com,

email us directly at contact@meantforit.com

Favorite Quotes from this episode:

"I think that you can love something while also knowing the truth about it."

"No work for liberty is lost; it changes the fabric of what the country is."

"Just do the next needed thing."

"We are reaping the harvest of what we have sown."

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Practicing Judaism was the last thing Miriam Racquel Feldman ever wanted. In fact, it was something she denied, preferring instead to be a free spirit, and a citizen of the world. After repeatedly rejecting her Jewish roots, Mriam found herself reluctantly following the love of her life to retrieve him from an “orthodox cult”. But that is not the fate that awaited Miriam.

In Miriam’s memoir, “God Said What?!", you will follow the story of how a letter from a former boyfriend, who had joined a religious community in Israel, set Miriam on her life’s path. Miriam shares the day-to-day stories and moments during her studies at a women's yeshiva, as she was slowly captivated and drawn towards the beauty of an orthodox Jewish life.

Miriam also addresses some common misconceptions about the role and treatment of women in orthodox Judaism as was portrayed in several popular Netflix dramas over the last couple of years. We discuss meanings behind some of the Jewish laws and traditions she practices, and the universal message of peace and kindness that transcends religious boundaries. Whether you're Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, or of any other faith, Miriam's story offers encouragement for anyone seeking a deeper connection to their spiritual path.

Drop in and say hello to us on Instagram @meantforit.

Sign up for our free newsletter here on substack. to get a curated list of things we loved during the week to read, watch or listen to.

Email us directly at contact@meantforit.com - we do a happy dance when we get listener emails .

Visit our website at www.meantforit.com

Top quotes from Interview:

"I went to a rabbi and showed him this letter. The rabbi looked at it and said, "Your boyfriend's in a cult.""

"I had totally rejected my Judaism. I thought if Jews blend in with non-Jews, there won't be antisemitism."

"I love having this spiritual way of looking at the world that is just beyond what I see with my physical eyes."

"Jewish prophecy says there will come a time of peace, and I believe we are evolving towards that."

"Chabad is very not insular. It's very out there, out there, out there all the time."

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In our part 2 of our conversation with Tracy, we discuss the 7 emotional clutter blocks people us to avoid their emotions or problems. We discuss some of the ways our society is rigged against our desire to buy less and how your home can become a more peaceful and joyful place when you remove the things that you don’t need. Whether you are hanging on to the past, creating a fantasy life, feeling guilty about your purchases or feeling shame for not using the stuff you bought, Tracy can help. After 18 years helping people declutter their homes, Tracy has seen it all and can help people move past common emotional mistakes.

Tracy's book, Making Space Clutter Free: The Last Book on Decluttering You Will Ever Need

Making Space, Clutter Free: The Last Book on Decluttering You'll Ever Need

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Hear how Tracy McCubbin took her biggest pyschic wound and turned it into her life's work. Tracy helps people destress, save money and. precious time.. If you want to focus on what you can control, buying less stuff is something you can immediately start doing to mprove your life. We aren't saying you shoudn't buy those shoes, or that item that makes you happy (yes, buy the shoes) but be intentional about the things you buy so you can free up more of you precious time and money for things you will enjoy. That means don't get things you don't need because they are on sale, learn about the common clutter and shopping traps most of use to avoid loneliness, boredom or to seek joy in the wrong places. Also, on a macro level, when we buy less junk, or things that we don't realy need, we add less garbage to our planet. Collectively, we can shift how we spend our resources! 💪 We also discuss the most common emotional clutter blocks that trap people into buying more stuff , like when you buy a ton of gear for the fantasy life of being a biker, photgrapher, runner , but never even start the hobby or take the trip. Sound familar? 1 in 4 Americans has a clutter problem, so if this episode isn't for you please send it to a friend. We also talk about how decluttering is a greatr small business or side job. Since 25% of Americans can't park in their garages due to their stuff, you will have job secucity. Tracy is a decluttering queen! https://www.instagram.com/tracy_mccubbin/

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In one of the most important and timely conversations on our podcast, Izabella Tabarovsky shares her research in tracing the roots of anti-zionism rhetoric to the Soviet Union. Izabella’s article, “Zombie Anti-Semitism” for Tablet magazine shares the striking similarities between today's anti-Israel language and Soviet propaganda from the 1960s to the 1980s, revealing a dangerous connection that many are unaware of. Izabella explains how this rhetoric, which demonizes Zionism and Israel, has been meticulously and expertly transmitted to the West and passionately adopted by the global left.

We discuss Izabella’s process of tracing the origins of anti-zionism to the communist party of the Soviet Union and cover some of the channels, major players, publications and methods that allowed it to infiltrate American society. Izabella’s research shows the explosive growth of this rhetoric after the 1967 Six day Arab-Israeli war. When Israel won the war, the Soviet Union started to see that there was an Israeli and US alliance, with Zionists firmly aligned with the West against the USSR and its allies. Izabella shares the significant influence of Soviet propaganda, the role of third-world publications, and the geopolitical chess moves that led to the widespread, and highly successful adoption of anti-Zionist rhetoric as a “peace movement”.

Similarly to the discredited and fraudulent Protocols of the Elders of Zion, the anti-zionist rhetoric coming from the modern left, is an echo of Soviet led propaganda that equated zionism with fascism, colonialism, and portrayed zionists as traitors to their homeland.

If you want to know the historical context of the propaganda around the Israel-Gaza war, and the origins of today’s anti-Israel, anti-zionist movements, do NOT miss this conversation, and please share it with a friend.

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/zombie-anti-zionism

(08:26) Why did the Soviets invest such an incredible amount of resources into propaganda

(14:23) More people from the former Soviet Union know about Angela Davis than Americans do

(19:30) Mahmoud M. Abbas and the Soviet Union Connection

(24:21) How Anti zionist language came from the Soviet Union

(31:51) Today's language is even more radical than we had in the seventies and eighties

Please stop by and say hello to us on Instagram @meantforit.

Visit our website at www.meantforit.com,

and sign up for our newsletter here on substack. or email us directly at contact@meantforit.com - we do a happy dance when we get listener emails .

Quotes:

"What we hear on college campuses is not criticism, it's demonization of Zionism in Israel."

"The Soviets invested an incredible amount of resources into this propaganda."

"The Soviets had geopolitical interests in targeting Israel, and in targeting Zionism as an ideology."

"So today, essentially, the dividing line is that Zionists are people who believe that Israel has a right to exist."

"The Soviets completely redefined the word Zionism."

"For us, the United States most certainly was a force for good."

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Jessica Tarlov, the co-host and only democratic voice on Fox News Channel’’s 🌟The Five ( a brave role to take on!) is back on our podcast to share her insights om Kamala's campaign and key issues most important to voters. Whether you agree with her or not, Jessica’s informed, moderate and balanced perspective is rejuvenating. Join us as we cover everything from foreign policy to domestic issues and the future of American politics. We think you will love Jessica as much as we do!

Our first podcast with Jessica from April 2024

Watch Jessica on The Five

Can you please share our podcast with a friend?

Please stop by and say hello to us on Instagram @meantforit.

visit our website at www.meantforit.com,

and sign up for our newsletter here on substack. or email us directly at contact@meantforit.com - we do a happy dance when we get listener emails .

A few topics we covered:

(03:53) Democrats are feeling relief about the candidate switch
(16:01) It feels like the entire election is really a personality vote
(22:37) “Baruch” Shapiro came out early for Obama in 2008
(25:37) How big money is corrupting democracy
(32:16) Immigration issues
(37:36) How Kamala is injecting optimism into the Democratic presidential campaign

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In this life deeply soulful conversation we speak with Nicole Avant to discuss her tribute to her mom in her new book "Think You'll Be Happy." We explore themes from Nicole’s book including living a life centered around love of family, community, the arts, gratitude and serving others.

Nicole's mindset is an example of the power of positive energy and the importance of being a blessing to others, no matter the circumstances. Nicole talks about her upbringing in a household filled with love, wisdom, and how she learned from so many wonderful people that were friends with her parents. Nicole’s parents, Clarence Avant and Jacqueline Avant were both extraordinary leaders in the music industry and in their communities. The Avant home was a meeting place for some of America’s greatest artists and leaders such as Ella Fitzgerald, Maya Angelou, the Clintons and the Obamas. Despite her glamorous and successful life, Nicole remains humble and grounded, attributes she credits to her mother's teachings.

We discuss how Nicole intentionally turned a tragedy into a source of inspiration, the importance of traditional values and the impact of small acts of kindness.

We know you will not forget the lessons Nicole shares on being good, spreading good, supporting people who are grieving and choosing to be the blessing every day of your life.

Nicole Avant https://thinkyoullbehappy.com

Nicole's father Clarence Avant

Clarence Avant, Mighty Engine Behind Black Superstars, Dies at 92 Zoom in:

(00:00) Nicole Avant's new book is about love and gratitude

(05:22) The book is focused on grit, grace, and gratitude

(09:10) How your mother taught you to be the blessing

(16:20) This book really made me want to be a better friend

(22:13) You left your ambassadorship in the Bahamas to support your family

(27:08) In your book, you talk about bullying among children in today's society

(34:00) Your mom taught you to always be grateful. What are some of your favorite life lessons

(38:26) You talk a lot about energy and intuition in the book

(42:27) You talk about learning from your ancestors, and your father had incredible life story

(46:11) Investment in the arts

(51:35) Lessons from Nicole’s mom

(55:25) Paying it forward

(59:47) Lead with generosity. Really is the message out of this book

Please stop by and say hello on Instagram @meantforit. visit our website at www.meantforit.com, and sign up for our newsletter here on substack.

or email directly at contact@meantforit.com.

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Are you tired of the constant stream of bad news? Angus Hervey shares his story of being a depressed news junkie overwhelmed by negativity to a source of hope through his good news site, Fix the News. Angus discusses the negativity bias in the media and how it skews our perception of the world. He explains that while the news often focuses on what's wrong, there's a wealth of positive progress happening globally that goes unreported.

Angus's Ted Talk

We discuss the importance of shifting the narrative from problems to solutions, particularly in areas like climate change, where positive developments are often overlooked. Angus explains how a deliberate pursuit of good news changed his outlook on the world, improved his mental well-being and his approach to parenting. Teachers and parents are using his newsletter to have more balanced and hopeful conversations with children. Angus' work is filing overwhelming gap in mass media. Since most people don’t have the time to search for good news, buy subscribing to Fix the News newsletter, you can also have a more accurate picture of the world. When you balance the negative with the positive it is more likely to inspire action since the world doesn’t seem so hopeless.

Subscribe to Fix the News here

Memorable Quotes

"Optimism isn't a reaction to the world around me. It's a choice by which you can navigate the world around you."

"For every story of death, disaster, and destruction, I can very easily tell a story of kindness, connection, and hope."

"The future is going to be messy and unpredictable and chaotic, but I don't think that we're all doomed."

"We need to shift our focus now and start talking about the solutions as a way to get more action."

(00:00) Introduction and the concept of Fix the News

(05:20) The negativity bias in media

(10:45) Finding good news: sources and strategies

(15:30) Personal transformation through positive news

(20:15) Impact of positive news on society

(25:50) Challenges of running a good news media outlet

(30:10) The role of good news in education and parenting

(35:00) Angus' early influences and personal background

(40:15) Final thoughts and future goals for Fix the News

Find us on Instagram @meantforit. You can also visit our website at www.meantforit.com, and sign up for our newsletter here or email us at contact@meantforit.com.

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Sophia Khalifa, an engineer, working on AI at Amazon AWS, has a story we need to hear. Sophia is a muslim Bedouin Arab, born and raised in Israel. In Sophia's culture and community, girls traditionally do not receive an education, but Israeli policies mandating schooling for all children, changed her entire life. Sophia graduated from Tel Aviv University with a BS in Electrical Engineering, moved to the US, worked as an engineer for Intel, received her MBA from Stanford, and started working at Amazon leading trust and safety for generative AI. SInce October 7, Sophia’s life changed again when she added activism to areas where she excels.

Sophia says, “ if Israel was not established, I probably would be, illiterate, married to my cousin and herding sheep, somewhere in Galilee. Because that was generation after generation. That's the culture that we had but Israel actually up leveled the field for the Arabs. And if you look at the number of like 20% of the population of citizens and the population in Israel are Arabs. Most of them are Muslims. And in universities today, the percent of Arabs pursuing bachelor degree is 20%, same as their percent of the population.”

As a muslim Arab who grew up in Israel straddling two cultures, Sophia speaks from first hand experience about the cultural divisions in Israel. In our conversation, Sophia dispels the damaging lies against Israel as an apartheid state guilty of genocide and oppressing Arabs. Sophia breaks down how each of these lies is absurdly false and how the repulsive jew hatred that is poisoning our society and hijacking the social justice movement should concern all of us. Sophia tells us that the real problem is not Israel vs Hamas, it is the western world vs. radical Islam.

Sophia emphasizes the importance of identifying Islamist antisemitism, and the need for honest conversation about this global threat. Sophia says, “The second part of the medina and the jihad is actually a political movement that has ideology, and all ideologies have some utopia of what the society should be. And according to the islamist utopia is you should have the Sharia law. All should be abiding by the Sharia law. You're either muslim or you're an infidel. And if you're infidel, you don't deserve to live. So we really need to understand what's happening here.”

When we talked about those who try to attack Sophia’s honesty because her experience doesn’t match up with the story they believe about Israel, Sophia had wise words, “first they try to spread lies. And then when you're able to fight against it because you're sharing the facts, the truth, then they try to discredit you.”

Must Read Quotes from this episode:

“And then I think that as long as you're using this social justice language, you are kind of like protected, you are righteous, and then that gives you the legitimacy to say anything. But no one comes and tries to question what you're saying. And what is happening is that we have the, •, islamist, anti Semitism. And I'm not saying Muslim. I'm saying islamist, extreme Islam, antisemitism that is exploiting that language and using that”

“They try to be for the oppressed, for women's rights, for LGBTQ rights and all that they're trying to be on the right side of history. So they hear that social justice lingo about like, ah, genocide, colonialism, white supremacy Which is like, if you went to Israel, you would laugh to think that this is like white supremacy. You cannot tell the difference between a Jew and Arab in Israel.”

“But all of a sudden, your teacher, someone that you look up to, come to you and tells you you don't have a future. I felt like so helpless in those moments. But then luckily, I have this critical thinking that today is missing from our college students and I saw that my experience with the jewish people is different. It's not what he's saying. So he probably doesn't know what he's talking about, or maybe he knows, but he's like lying to us. And I just, just ignored it.”

"The hate to the Jews is more important and stronger than the love for their own future."

"We need to understand that this is the thing that is going to take our liberty, in the name of being liberal or tolerating other people."

"The problem here, it’s not Israel versus Palestine. It’s really about extreme Islam, who is trying to take power and control all over the world."

"I stand for my truth, and I don’t care what people think about it."

(00:00) Sophia is grateful that Israel made education mandatory for all children

(05:55) People are using this word to label Israel as an apartheid state

(08:34) I think that antisemitism is not something that ever disappeared

(17:57) Sophia: Americans have a lack of understanding of fundamentalism

(19:37) Sophia’s growing up in Israel

(25:21) Sophia’s experiences in Israel on 9/11 happened

(29:25) A turning point for Sopha when your friend told you she wanted to a suicide bomber

(57:29) Arab Israelis support of a two state solution

(01:00:37) Israel disengaged from Gaza in 2005

(01:03:19) Everyone should be united against Hamas

(01:05:31) First step in solving problem is being explicit about what the problem is

Find us on Instagram @meantforit. You can also visit our website at www.meantforit.com, and sign up for our newsletter here or email us contact@meantforit.com.

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In this episode, Susan Griffin-Black, co-founder of EO Products, shares her story. Susan tells us about her path from her early days in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to becoming a pioneer in the natural products industry. Raised by a father who was an early feminist and advocate for women's economic empowerment, Susan's entrepreneurial spirit was nurtured from a young age. She recounts her experiences in the fashion industry, opening her first retail store in San Francisco, and eventually co-founding EO Products.

In 1995, Susan founded EO Essential Oils, starting with a few essential oil blends. Her vision was to create a company that she would want to work for, one that prioritized sustainability, community, and holistic well-being. Over the years, EO has grown significantly, becoming a trusted name in the natural products industry.

Susan's story is one of intentional living. Susan's dedication to holistic, sustainable practices has been unwavering. "Our premise was we wanted to create a company that we would want to work for. And so what does that look like?” Susan’s Buddhist spiritual practice has also been a guiding force, helping her navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Susan has always believed in meeting people not for what they can do for you, but to understand their journey and learn from their experiences.

As EO Essential Oils approaches its 30th anniversary, Susan is optimistic about the future. She plans to continue growing the business while staying true to its core values. New products are in the pipeline, and there are exciting plans to celebrate this milestone with the community.

Susan Griffin's journey is a reminder and model that success is not just about financial achievements but about values based living. We hope Susan’s story inspires you to stay committed to your dreams. We also discuss the months when it was a struggle for Susan to make payroll and a living wage. It was not easy, but the alignment of values, purpose, great products and smart business decisions led to EO’s success. Susan says, “You just have to collectively aim for the highest good for the most amount of people. Always, always, always."

Memorable Quotes

"I've had a Buddhist spiritual practice for 30 years. This is, I don't care what all of the external voices are saying, but if I go down this path, it's just not aligned with my values."

"Our premise was we wanted to create a company that we would want to work for. And so what does that look like?

"Essential oils are like very, very distilled flowers and plants and bark and, you know, all sorts of plant material, but they have so much vitality."

“You just have to collectively aim for the highest good for the most amount of people. Always, always, always."

EO Products

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Steve Leder, Head Rabbi of Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles, is one of the country’s most influential rabbis and the author of 5 life changing books, joins us for second podcast to discuss topics such as the foundations of Jewish faith, fascinating historical anecdotes, the problems within DEI, the role of education in Judaism, mental health and addiction,

Did you know that the founding fathers of the United States considered adopting Hebrew as the official language? Or that Napoleon played a pivotal role in the emancipation of European Jews?

Whether you're deeply religious, spiritually curious, or simply a lover of history, there will be something for you in this discussion.

Topics Discussed:

The Jewish emphasis on ethical behavior
Significance of education within Jewish tradition, the resilience of the Jewish people, and the challenges faced by modern organized religion.
Anxiety is genetic for many Jewish people
Rabbi Leder candidly shares his personal struggle with anxiety and the way meds can enrich and save lives

(01:01) Differences between Judaism and Christianity

(09:00) The idea that Jews are white eastern european colonizers is absurd

(18:23) The problem with diversity, equality and inclusion

(31:14) Hate of Jews subordinates the rest of their entire identity

(36:32) The democratic party no longer represents the working class

(38:40) As it relates to God and religion, how much do you think our country has veered

(56:13) I was not capable of balancing it, which is why I'm stepping aside

(01:04:41) Painkiller addiction and how it changed your life

(01:16:45) Spirituality is the sanctification of the ordinary

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Join us as Joan Barnes, the founder of Gymboree, she shares her journey from a young woman seeking community into a powerhouse businesswoman. Gymboree started as a mommy and me play center in Marin County, California that eventually Joan led to a successful franchise business and chain of international children’s clothing stores. At the time of Gymboree’s blockbuster IPO in 1993, the company had annual revenue of $86.3M. In 2010, Bain Capital acquired the company for $1.8 billion! In this truthful conversation, Joan shares her unorthodox approach to business, motherhood, domestic life, her struggles with bulimia, and the personal sacrifices she made when putting her work first.

Joan's insights on the challenges of balancing professional ambition with personal happiness are as relevant today as they were during her time with Gymboree. This episode and Joan’s book, Pay it Forward, will be fascinating for entrepreneurs who like to hear behind the scenes stories about companies that made it to the exhilarating day of a successful IPO. Joan shares the challenges of accepting VC funding and balancing a family life with a growing franchise This is not the story about having it all, partially because Joan knew she didn’t want it all, and also because a complete focus on her business, resulted in sacrificing her marriage and spiraling deeper into bulimia.

Today, Joan has found peace with her family, friends and knowing that she made bold choices and stayed true to herself. So, sit down or take this podcast for a walk as we have a real conversation with a woman who despite the odds, always knew she was meant to be a trailblazer.

Notable Quotes from Joan Barnes:

"Professional friendships are not the same when you don't have that job anymore."

"I'm a cheerleader, not a caretaker."

"We all know what to do. It sometimes takes us a while to, you know, uncover it all."

"I wouldn't do anything differently because you kind of are who you are."

Topics Discussed:

(00:00) Joan's early life and her path to entrepreneurship
(09:29) The societal pressures and personal challenges of motherhood
(13:40) The inception and global success of Gymboree
(25:20) Joan's battle with bulimia and her road to recovery
(44:00) Life after Gymboree: Embracing spirituality and letting go
(49:33) The importance of listening to your heart and making conscious choices

Find us on Instagram @meantforit. You can also visit our website at www.meantforit.com, and sign up for our newsletter here or email us contact@meantforit.com

We jump with joy when we hear from you. Unless it's negative, then we may stomp a bit..

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In this short podcast, we talk about how to shift your perspective about making a difference in the world. It is so easy to compare ourselves with others and to feel that we aren' doing enough in our lives to make a difference in the world. What if we consider that the way we choose to live our day-to-day life is our personal activism / impact. Making a difference isn't only about huge professional achievements, it is also about the daily interactions and the kindness we share with our family, our friends and the people who cross our path.

From opening a door, complimenting someone, be gentle and thoughtful with your family, to getting to know the people in our communities, let these micro-acts of positivity fill you up. If you also fall into the loops of feeling bad about your day job,, this is a reminder that our jobs don't define our impact on the world—it's the type of person we are from dawn till dusk that matters.

If you are uncertain about your influence in the world, we hope this is a gentle nudge to feel good about the power and importance of your everyday actions

Connect with us on Instagram @meantforit and share your thoughts via email at contact@meantforit.com. Don't forget to visit www.meantforit.com for more episodes that inspire, challenge, and celebrate the small yet significant victories of daily life.

Want to contiune ths convesation? Find us on Instagram @meantforit. You can also visit our website at www.meantforit.com, and sign up for our newsletter here or email us contact@meantforit.com

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If you decide to divorce a narcissist this is a must-listen episode. Dr. Ramani, the world’s leading expert on narcissism, joins us for a third episode to discuss what you can expect during a divorce. We cover the emotional landmines, legal traps and issues you are likely to struggle with even long after your divorce. Your ex may start to behave in ways you never expected, like suddenly becoming a father who is completely devoted to sharing custody. We cover the best and worst-case scenarios of ending a marriage with a narcissist, including a quick settlement to the torture of vindictive custody battles.

Dr. Ramani also offers valuable guidelines for getting through the divorce. We cover the importance of choosing a divorce attorney who understands narcissism and why you must be prepared to be meticulous in your activities and always document your communication with your ex. Dr. Ramani suggest you use an app such as My Family Wizard to communicate so it is documented and admissible in court.

We also discuss the emotional impact on children and the long-term consequences of growing up with a narcissistic parent. Doctor Ramani shares invaluable advice on supporting your children and there is a hopeful reminder: Every child needs just one truly loving and supportive adult to thrive, and the suffering they endure in a divorce can be transformed into strength and resilience.

Previous Episodes with Dr. Ramani

Dr. Ramani's Guide to Dealing with Narcissists at Work
Dr. Ramani on Dealing with the Narcissists in Your Life

Notable Quotes from Doctor Ramani

"You're going to war, and you have to be prepared for that."

"Narcissistic people are novelty seekers. They do tend to lose interest in situations, but as long as the kids represent a place of power, they will fight that right to the end."

"Be present, be attuned, be loving, be all the things you want to be with that child."

"The courts are about parental rights. It's not about child's rights."

Topics Discussed:

(00:00) Doctor Ramani offers advice on dealing with a narcissist during a divorce (09:29) You need to document everything that happens with your children (13:40) There are two mistakes people make when going through divorce proceedings (25:20) When you have a child with a narcissistic person, your kids are carrying legacy burden (44:00) Legal system for divorces involving children (49:33) Do narcissistic parents ever stop fighting over children?

Connect with us on Instagram @meantforit and share your thoughts via email at contact@meantforit.com. Visit www.meantforit.com for more episodes that offer guidance, light and community.

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In this episode we discuss all things femtech with Healthcare Law Lawyer, Advisor and Portfolia FemTech Fund Partner Delphine O’Rourke. We get into what FemTech is, why it’s so important for women to invest and support this sector, and how you can help. In case you haven’t noticed, in the past, VCs have overlooked products designed for women primarily because they don’t understand the needs or the market

When you invest in or support FemTech, your contributions help the market develop innovations that address issues like osteoporosis, menopause, fertility and many more opportunities that will help women live better and longer lives.. According to Market.us, the Global FemTech Market size is projected to surpass around USD 127.1 Billion by 2033! For example, have you ever considered why the dreaded speculum used in annual ob-gyn exams has not been updated since the 1800’s? Neither did we until Delphine mentioned it.

Whether you're an experienced investor or just curious about how to get started, this episode may cause a paradigm shift in how you think about investing. As a Fund Partner at Portfolia, Delphine is part of a team that decides what start-ups to invest in. We discuss how you can also join a Portfolia fund with a minimum $10k if you are an accredited investor.

if you enjoy this topic, don’t miss our podcast with Portfolia founder and venture capital pioneer, Trish Costello, and our podcast with Ida Tin, the woman who coined the term Femtech!

Want to talk more about this? Find us on Instagram @meantforit. You can also visit our website at www.meantforit.com, and sign up for our newsletter here or email us. contact@meantforit.com.

Notable Quotes from Delphine:

"We need to move medicine for women out of the 1900’s, 1800’s into modern medicine."

"We make 92% of consumer decisions, 82% of healthcare decisions."

"Shifting the contraceptive burden is highly impactful and that's what we look for."

"We want to make our money work for us and it's just sitting in a checking account. The financial gap, the pay gap, will just continue and compound."

Podcast Chapters:

(03:48) Femtech is where technology intersects with women's health (07:35) The stark reality of women's health innovation and the need for change

(15:10) The potential of wearable bone technology and its impact on osteoporosis

(18:59) Portfolia invested in a male contraceptive that is reversible

(22:55) Maven's success story and the shifting role of employers in healthcare

(29:29) Why investment education is critical for women

(32:53) Exploring why men haven't invested in women's health historically

(37:35) Every woman will go through menopause unless she dies

(43:03) An accredited investor is someone who is eligible to invest in credit funds

(49:56) We know we have a loneliness crisis in the United States

(53:03) Maven provides women's health remotely through telemedicine

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Head Rabbi of Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles ( rabbi for a large congregation incuding many stars) is our guest for this episode. Rabbi Leder, one of the country’s most influential rabbis and the author of 5 life changing books, joins us to discuss the radicalization and chaos on university campuses. We invited Rabb Leder to discuss his latest book, For You When I am Gone, but first wanted to address the Jew hatred inflaming US universities so we have split our conversation in two parts. In this episode, Rabbi Leder breaks down the rise of Jew hatred on college campuses, tracing its roots back to a decades-long campaign of indoctrination. There was a very organized and well funded campaign leading to today's moment.

But, it's not all doom and gloom and there are huge reasons to be optimistic. Rabbi Leder shares how peace with Saudi Arabia can transform the world and shift the power away from the regimes choosing to make war and hatred their top priority. If you doubt that is possible, consider Israel’s peace treaty with Jordan, Egypt and normalized relations with the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. Despite the desperate attempts of Iran to keep the world inflamed with hate and war, we need to unite and stay focused on peace.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand what the f&^(&( is happening across the US. And remember, in the words of Rabbi Leder, "Peace is an environment in which conflict can be addressed with civility and respect."

Connect with us on Instagram @meantforit and reach out via email at contact@meantforit.com with your thoughts or suggestions for future episodes. Visit www.meantforit.com for more episodes that challenge, inspire, and drive us towards a world where understanding wins over division. If you leave us a review on iTunes, we'll be overjoyed with gratitude!

Topics Discussed:

(03:22) The origins of campus protests and the 25-year groundwork (09:15) How economic disparity and victim identity fuel current unrest

(17:40) The hope for peace in the Middle East and its implications (26:50) Addressing the conflation of Palestinian rights and extremist agendas (31:10) The importance of fighting for the rational middle ground in society

Notable Quotes:

Today's college anti-Israel protests are "The bearing of fruit of a tree planted 25 years ago."

"This is straight up Jew hatred, and Jew hatred has been inculcated into this community to the degree that hatred subordinates every other value these people claim to live by."

"Peace is an environment in which conflict can be addressed with civility and respect."

"The greatest threat and the greatest enemy to a better life for Palestinians is Hamas and Hezbollah and Iran and Qatar and the Islamic brotherhood."

"The news is not the world. The news is just the collection of stories that will sell the most commercials. It's entertainment."

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Have you ever wondered why scandals slide off certain politicians like water? Jessica Tarlov, co-host of Fox News Channel’s The Five, cable’s highest-rated program, actually did her PHD dissertation examining how scandals impact politicians' careers. As the lone, democratic voice on The Five, Jessica shares how she handles the daily debates and how she decides to pick her battles. Given our upcoming elections, Jessica has a lot of thoughts on this topic including the phenomena of teflon Don. Jessica loves her job on The Five and feels fortunate for the opportunity to bring alternative opinions and analysis to the most important news stories.

Topics Discussed

(04:10) Political economy professor says none of Trump's scandals have affected his popularity
(10:32) People reject the direction that the Democratic Party is going
(19:29) 40% of Americans now identify as an independent
(21:00) Thoughts on how Fox is covering the Israel war compared to other networks
(24:49) What's going on on college campuses
(40:25) What it’s like to work on The Five

Connect with us on Instagram @meantforit and reach out via email at contact@meantforit.com with your thoughts or suggestions for future episodes. Visit www.meantforit.com for more inspiring stories, and if you leave us a review on iTunes, we'll do a little dance of joy.

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Jared Armstrong, a professional basketball player, is using his love for sports as a tool for uniting, educating, and creating social change in our kids and communities.

Growing up in the vastly different environments of the Maryland suburbs and the inner city of Philadelphia, Jared learned to move between different cultures, ethnicities and religions. Jared’s love for basketball, led him to play professionally in Israel, and Jared’s desire to help others led to starting Jab Camp, a sports camp with a goal of connecting kids of different religions and backgrounds.

We love Jared’s passion and commitment to using sports as a tool for positive change. We discuss the importance of introducing kids to diversity early on. While it’s easier to send your kids to the same local camp where their friends are going, getting uncomfortable, and stretching yourself to be around people different than you is where the magic happens.

https://www.jaredarmstrong.net/about-jared

Connect with us on Instagram @meantforit and reach out via email at contact@meantforit.com with your thoughts or suggestions for future episodes. Visit www.meantforit.com for more inspiring stories, and if you leave us a review on iTunes, we'll celebrate with a happy dance!

Favorite Quotes from the Podcast:

"I'm just looking to try to make a difference, make a change. I think, you know, where we're at in society, not just jab camp, but any type of sports camp that can help bridge the gap between communities."

"I think the biggest, I would say fault that I see in my experience so far is more so parents than kids. You know, so many parents are afraid or, they're just used to being in that comfort zone of sending their kids to the same camp with the same kids, same people."

"So it's kind of just of a bigger picture here, you know, to show kids, you know, that number one, basketball and or any sport can take you all around the globe, but also can introduce you to so many different people from so many different walks of life, you know, that you never thought you would meet and you may one day, you know, end up doing business with them or, you know, becoming close friends or marrying someone, you never know. So I'm just trying to use basketball as a tool."

Topics: (09:57) How did you end up wanting to apply for Israeli citizenship (14:23) Fell in love with Israel on birthright trip (19:17) What does it feel like to be black and living in Israel (21:16) You were there on October 7 - what happened? (30:32) Sarted a nonprofit to bring kids from different backgrounds together

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Grit, resilience, strong values and a work ethic instilled in her from a young age propelled Jane from her dirt poor Iowa upbringing to an executive role at Microsoft where she was one of the top 10 women at Microsoft at 40. By 52, Jane had launched three billion-dollar businesses. We discuss Jane’s new book, "Worthy: From Cornfields to Corner Office of Microsoft," and the story that led her to a life she never could have imagined.

When a door opened, Jane leapt through it and went all in. When she felt like a fraud, and was flooded with fear and insecurity, she kept going. When she felt like she didn't belong among the upper middle ivy leaguers, she kept going. Jane wants you to know that your background does not define your future. If you find it hard to relate to people who have all the answers, and don’t have major issues they are struggling with, this is the book for you. Jane doesn;t shy away from the uncomforable memories, including her recovery from the bulimia that nearly destroyed her.

From the Jane's Gottman Institute bio:

"Unwilling to let circumstances, fear or others define her, Jane was penniless and married at 20, earned an MBA at 24, saw the ocean at 25, commuted to South America each week at 31, brought two sons into the world by 35, was a millionaire at 37, and one of the top 10 women at Microsoft at 40. By 52, Jane had launched three billion-dollar businesses, been VP of the largest merger in the history of the US, forged global alliances, won lots of awards and left a legacy of strong leaders in her wake.

Along the way to the corner office, Jane was hit on, spit on, shot at, yelled at, a zero and a hero. She’s been called a bulldog, a bitch, an idiot and brilliant, all in the same week.

Married to her high school sweetheart, Jane lives in Washington state and works to make a difference, serving on boards including Boys & Girls Clubs, writing, speaking, and consulting.

Connect with us on Instagram @meantforit and reach out via email at contact@meantforit.com with your thoughts or suggestions for future episodes. Visit www.meantforit.com for more inspiring stories, and if you leave us a review on iTunes, we'll celebrate with a happy dance!

Favorite Quotes from the Podcast:

"I never look at a no as a no. I always think of it as a not yet."

"I'm no longer afraid to be afraid. And that being afraid means that I am stretching, I am growing, I am trying to do something I've never done before."

"Nobody has the full meal deal. Know what you're good at, embrace that and own it."

"In sharing your secrets and having the courage to share your secrets, that's when you heal."

"Everybody has a secret. And it's the secrets that kill."

"I worked my heine off and I took jobs that required me to travel overseas when my child was one and a half years old and commute."

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If you have ever dreaded going to work because of a nightmare colleague or manager you are not alone. Dr. Ramani joins us again to discuss a topic rarely discussed in corporate environments: narcissism in the workplace.

Did you know narcissists are more likely to be found in certain professions and certain high-status jobs within competitive, elitist environments, such as finance, law, media, entertainment, and even certain medical fields.

From extreme competitiveness to gaslighting, Dr Ramani gives examples and discusses the subtle tactics narcissistic bosses use to keep talented employees from advancing and creating a 'frozen talent' scenario that keeps high performers stuck in the same roles. Hiding information, stealing ideas, gaslighting, colluding behind your back are all examples of narcissistic behavior at work.

What can you do if you find yourself in a toxic environment? Dr. Ramani has a few suggestions. If you've ever felt alone in your workplace struggles or unsure how to handle a narcissistic colleague or boss, this episode is a must-listen.

Quotes:

"Narcissistic bosses absolutely sap people's talent."
"Workplace bullying is actually not against the law."
"Me Too was not a women's movement. Me Too was a narcissism movement."
“It's almost like corporations are almost like cults, right? They have their messaging, they have their programming, they have their leader."

Topics Discussed

Introduction to the podcast discussion on dealing with narcissism in the corporate workforce.
Dr. Ramani highlights the industries where narcissistic behavior is prevalent.
Identifying narcissistic traits in the workplace, such as lack of empathy and secretive communication, gaslighting, colluding.
Importance of documenting interactions for protection in toxic work environments.
Strategies for setting boundaries and handling confrontations with narcissistic individuals.
Leveraging documentation to address HR concerns and ensure psychological safety in the workplace.
Encouragement to find allies and mentors within and outside the organization.
Seeking reality checks from mentors on industry standards and strategic decision-making support.
Naricssism in other countries
Why The Devil Wears Prada movie does not reperesent a narcissist

Connect with us on Instagram @meantforit and reach out via email at contact@meantforit.com with your thoughts or suggestions for future episodes. Visit www.meantforit.com for more inspiring stories, and if you leave us a review on iTunes, we'll celebrate with a happy dance!

We use Fireflies.Ai to transcribe our podcasts and we love the accuracy of the transcripts, the summary, outline and chapters help us find key highlighs. If you need an AI notetaker to 5x your efficiency give it a try. Sign up here! (we promise that we only promote products we love)

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Dr. Stanger works with families to help them recover and get their loved ones back from substance addiction. Dr. Stanger is also the mother of a previous guest, Shelby Stanger who shared how outdoor adventures shaped her life. Dr. Louise Stanger and Shelley Stanger are also our first mother and daughter guests on the podcast (how cool is that?!)

In this episode, we discuss what an introductory call with Dr. Stanger is like and how to pay for interventions or how to find other resource options through SAHMSA for people who can’t afford an interventionist. Dr. Stanger has helped thousands of families with interventions and speaks with passion about her work,"I love it. Love it. I absolutely love it”, says Dr. Stanger.

Dr. Stanger's own family history with anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and suicide allows her to understand the pain families are feeling. Dr. Stanger's expertise and dedication remind us that even in life’s darkest moments, there are people who have devoted their lives to helping others recover.

To learn more about Dr. Stanger's work, visit her website and sign up for her blog. And if you know a family in need of an intervention, you can confidently refer them to Dr. Stanger.

Dr. Stanger

Shelby Stanger

SAMHSA

Dr. Stanger's Books on Amazon

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When Graham Cochrane had to choose between his lifelong dream of being in a rock band or supporting his new family, he made the biggest pivot of his life. Newly married, on food stamps and between jobs, Graham had an idea to help musicians by sharing his knowledge of audio engineering and music. Shortly after Graham started creating online courses and videos to help people with audio engineering, his new career as an online sales rockstar was launched.

We love that even during Graham’s most challenging times on food stamps, he and his wife committed to donating a portion of their income to charity. They have kept that practice and these days are ,giving an astonishing 50% of their earnings to charity. Graham says,"we committed to increase our standard of giving every year, not just our standard of living.".

If you want to capitalize and earn money in your online business or by sharing what you know. Listen in for tips on how to make it happen.

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Dana Perino, Fox News, Co-anchor America’s Newsroom, Co-host The Five, host of Perino on Politics, Former Press Secretary to George W. Bush returns to Meant For It. In addition to learning about Dana’s early influences and her career path, we touch on several issues of the day including news on social media, the Israel war and the time Dana met Putin. Dana also gives us the scoop on what hobby has been keeping her busy in the evenings. We’re hoping Dana’s new hobby leads her to a certain reality TV show for celebrities that has been on TV for over twenty seasons…

Most importantly, Dana reminds us that there have been times in US history when the country has been just as or even more divided and we pulled through to greater days. So if you find yourself in a panic about domestic politics, remember these words from Dana, "our system is the best system of an imperfect set of possibilities, and it does correct itself."

Dana Perino’s advice on where to go for news:

“So that's all to say that I don't know how people are going to get their news. All I can advise people is that I still think there are trusted news sources by the brands that you recognize. And even though you might say, I feel like they're biased one way or the other, thinking people can factor that in, maybe read both types of papers if you have time.”

Our first podcast with Dana is here where Dana shares the story of her career path, early infiences and why she loved her job as White House Press Secretary.

Topics covered::

Dana’s Attributes leading to success
The power of gratitude and discipline in achieving success.
Perspectives on national division and the role of social media.
The disproportionate media focus on the Middle East.
Dana shared experiences meeting Putin and interactions with President Bush.

If you're inspired by Dana's journey and insights, please share this episode with a friend and click “follow” https://www.instagram.com/meantforit/

Dana’s Podcast Recommendations:

Call me back with Dan Senior

Podcasts Dana listens to:

Three Martini Lunch Podcast
Three Commentary Podcast
Tim Dillon Podcast

Connect with us on Instagram @meantforit and reach out via email at contact@meantforit.com with your thoughts or suggestions for future episodes. Visit www.meantforit.com for more inspiring stories, and if you leave us a review on iTunes, we'll celebrate with a happy dance!

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Ashira Solomon is an international Public Speaker and Member of The Quad, an Israeli show with 4 co-hosts covering everything Israel and Jewish from the unique female perspective. In this episode Ashira a native of Livermore, California, takes us through her transformative journey that led her to embrace a new religion and to become an advocate of independent political thought in a world where identity politics seems to be the norm.

Ashira's story begins with her grandmother's dream to visit Israel. This dream, deeply rooted in family heritage, was the reason for Ashira's life-changing decision to move to Israel and study at the University of Haifa. We discuss Ashira's experiences of studying terrorism, peace psychology, and her eventual conversion to Judaism.

Listeners will be inspired by the ways Ashira challenges the assumptions placed upon her by academic advisors and peers alike. Her defiance against low expectations due to her race, and her refusal to conform to political ideologies simply based on her ethnicity, shows how Ashira is fiercely independent and intellectually curious.

We discuss what it is like to live as a black woman today in Israel, Ashira's conservative stance in a liberal state like California, and the misconceptions Ashira is fighting to correct among her American peers. Ashira shares what it really feels like to live and study in Israel and how political discourse between citizens varies in Israel and the US.

Zoom in to a topic you want tp hear first:

00:30-4:41 Childhood, conversion to Judaism, and decision to study in Israel. Experience studying terrorism, peace psychology, and learning Hebrew.

4:41-6:51 Deepening connection to Israel, language, and people. The start of the conversion process and sense of homecoming.

06:51-10:05 Influences and Evolution. Influence of family, advisors, and educational experiences. Struggles with beliefs and identity.

10:05-14:50 Reflections on creating unity amidst diverse perspectives. Importance of international experiences and understanding.

14:50-37:19 Efforts to unite black and Jewish communities. Participation in events, discussions, and initiatives for impact and dialogue.

43:2Ω Final thoughts and call to action for building bridges and creating a better world.

If you enjoy this podcast, please share it with a friend and follow us wherever you get your podcasts.

We are on Instagram @meantforit

Reach out to us anytime: contact@meanforit.com to say hello or recommend someone for a future episode. We are impatiently waiting to hear from you...!
Go to our website www.meantforit.com for past episodes.
If you leave us a review on itunes we'l do a little happy dance ( maybe on video)

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We are thrilled to share part 2 of our podcast with Tough Titties author Laura Belgray. If you have years of your life you would prefer to forget, relationships or lifestyle choices that make you cringe when you look back at them, Laura will empower you to reframe your life story, and possibly share it with others. Tough Tittie is the stealth self-help book you didn't konw you needed. As Laura says, what is the fun in reading about other people’s success, when you can read about the juicy details of their struggles before they finally made it. After laughing your way through the chapters of Laura’s life, go to Talkingshrimp.com, where Laura will teach you how to write copy that people actually want to read. Laura has classes and online materials that teach you how to write email lines that people want to open, and how to stop boring people with your writing. If your writing is already dazzling and witty, then you will still appreciate reading a memoir from someone who is truly a master at sharing just about everything.

Discussion Topics:

Laura's ability to reframe embarrassing stories (00:25-1:20) - Laura's skill in turning embarrassing stories into something hilarious - The value of reframing personal history
Laura's book as stealth self-help (1:20-7:22) - The impact of Laura's book on personal development - Laura's intention to write a non-traditional personal development book - Strategies for promoting the book and building an audience
Laura's journey as a writer and her voice (08:09-19:36) - Laura's transition from writing in television to creating her own courses - Finding and utilizing one's unique voice in writing - Importance of using contractions to write conversationally
Writing the tough chapters (20:05-21:28) - Challenges faced while writing certain chapters - Personal growth and self-reflection through writing
Laura's measurement of success (26:08-27:33) - Rethinking success beyond measurable factors - The significance of personality and individuality
Tips for writing engaging email subject lines (27:33 - 33:51)
Part 1 of our conversation with Laura
Laura’s website
Buy Toughtitties

A few of our favorite quotes from Laura in this episode:

"Don't we all find ourselves saying, "I'm sorry, I'm the worst," like five times a day?"

"Most people I know who are successful are also a mess in some way or another."

"I can't imagine writing a book that's not honest. It feels like no fun at all to try to be perfect in your writing."

"I've always felt like a late bloomer and taken a long time to do things."

If you enjoy this podcast, please share it with a friend and follow us wherever you get your podcasts.

We are on Instagram @meantforit

Reach out to us anytime: contact@meanforit.com to say hello or recommend someone for a future episode. We would seriously love to hear from you!
Go to our website www.meantforit.com for past episodes.
If you leave us a review on itunes we'l do a little happy dance

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Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a licensed clinical psychologist, Founder and CEO of LUNA Education and author of several books, joins us to share her wisdom and expertise on the topic of narcissism. You may not know it, but chances are high that there is a narcissistic personality somewhere in your life. In our conversation, we discuss ways to identify narcissists, common personality traits and the need to accept that narcisists don't change. We also delve into discussing the ideas that society benefits from narcissists that drive innovation, and the emotional pain that is highly likely in close relationships with narcissists.

Dr. Ramani has millions of followers on social media and her work has been featured at SXSW, TEDx, The Today Show, and Investigation Discovery. On YouTube, Dr. Ramani's short and informative videos have millions of views . The focus of Dr. Ramani's clinical, academic and consultative work is the impact of narcissism and high-conflict, entitled personality styles on human relationships, mental health, and societal expectations.

Get Dr. Ramani's new Book: It's Not You

Follow Dr. Ramani here:

Instragram

Youtube

If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with a friend!

Topics Discussed:

Does society need narcissists? Advantages and disadvantages.
Understanding, naming,and addressing narcisstic behavior, toxic relationships, and healing from narcisstic abuse.
Challenges faced by individuals dealing with narcissistic parents or partners in family court systems that may not prioritize child welfare over parental rights. Dr.Ramani recommends support groups as well as self-education through reading books about the subject.
Making excuses for toxic behavior.
Being careful about to to share your experiences because others may not believe them or undermine your feelings.
Teaching children and adults about unhealthy behaviors and giving them permission to step away from uncomfortable situations.
How empathy can sometimes enable toxic behavior.
Integrating naricissim education into curricula and in gender-based violence, domestic abuse, etc. education.

We use Fireflies.Ai to transcribe our podcasts and we love the accuracy of the transcripts, the summary, outline and chapters help us find key highlighs. If you need an AI notetaker to 5x your efficiency give it a try by signing up here! We promise that we only promote products we love.

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The Zibbyverse, founded by Zibby Owens, includes the podcast Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books, and Zibby Media, which includes a publishing house, online magazine, Zibby’s Bookshop in Santa Monica, CA, retreats, classes, and events. As a lifelong book lover who dreamed of becoming a writer, Zibby was over the moon excited when she was dubbed “NYC’s Most Powerful Book-fluencer”. In our conversation, Zibby shares why she believes books have the to power to connect us and why Zibby fell in love with writing and publishing. We discuss events from Zibby’s life that are shared in Zibby’s memoir, Bookends: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Literature, and we hear about Zibby’s debut novel “Blank” that comes out in March of 2024. And if all that is not enough, Zibby is also the mom of 4! How did she do it? Listen in to hear how not having time to read led to everything else in the Zibbyverse.

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Sally Wolf is one of the most inspiring people we have talked to. If you don’t believe us you can ask her classmates from her Stanford MBA program who voted her the "most inspiring" member of their class or her nephew who said she was the most positive person he knows. Sally spent two decades rising in the corporate sector in the media industry working at NBCUniversal and Time Warner before a series of cancer diagnoses changed her life and career focus. Today, Sally is the Founder and CEO of LightWorks, and a stage IV cancer thriver providing wellbeing consulting to corporate clients. After listening to this conversation, we think you will agree that Sally excels at positive psychology and making people feel like they can overcome all their challenges. We are in awe of Sally’s ability to live with tremendous gratitude, to make meaning of her cancer struggle and to live with an abundance of joy and determination to help others. In addition to everything above, Sally is also an expert pole dancer. Bet you didn’t expect that to be Sally’s hobby.

Sally's Career Milestones 04:07-07:19
Positive Psychology and Gratitude 10:30-13:34
Connecting Dots and Finding Meaning 13:42-15:08
Embracing Emotions and Storytelling 22:04-25:28
Amplifying Messages and Writing a Book 40:58-46:20
Navigating Obstacles and Gratitude Journaling : 53:47-59:20
Conclusion and Reflection 59:21-1:01:37

Don’t miss this unforgettable conversation with a beautiful woman.

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Shelby Stanger’s formula is living life with adventure. When Shelby realized that adventure gave her energy, joy and confidence, she intentionally scheduled and prioritized adventure into her life. By choosing adventure, Shelby found love, a career she loved and a way to bring other people the same gifts. Shelby’s book, Will to Wild, Adventures Great and Small to Change Your Life, shares what she has learned in her years covering adventurers. Shelby reveals the stories of adventure seekers such as hikers, surfers, runners, on how they faced their fears, got unstuck and found meaning and life guidance through their adventures. What we love about Shelby’s story is how her life transformed and her life path emerged with each leap and decision Shelby made to choose authenticity and happiness. Shelby’s advice for those who want to have their own adventure is to put down the deposit, and get ready for your world to expand.

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For Giving Tuesday we are reposting our podcast with the founder of One Simple Wish.

After fostering and then adopting a newborn, Danielle found her life calling. A 2013 CNN Hero, Danielle has devoted herself to finding ways to help more than 400,000 children in foster care. Danielle founded One Simple Wish in 2008 with the goal of granting wishes to children in foster care across the country and those who've aged out of foster care. On One Simple Wish, people can view wishes from foster children and make contributions that make those wishes come true. Wishes range from toys to school supplies, music lessons or trips to a theater or pool.

In our conversation, Danielle shares the deeply personal story that led her to foster care, her experiences with the foster system and why children in the foster system need our attention and support. If you have been thinking of ways to contribute and help others One Simple Wish was started with the goal of giving people an opportunity to connect with foster kids and easily make meaningful contributions.

Danielle is asking us to go to One Simple Wish and read the stories. She says, “just by you acknowledging their existence and their journey and maybe sharing it with somebody else, or becoming more aware, you then become part of their village.” Research studies have shown a strong correlation between foster care and so many other critical issues in our society. Danielle’s vision is to connect people with foster kids while bringing light and awareness to the system, that in turn will hopefully lead to positive change. Danielle says, “We need more people recognizing that our foster system is incredibly broken and it is all of our problem.“ If you enjoy this conversation, please share it with a friend and help us share Danielle’s message and goal of helping kids in foster care.

Topics Discussed:

Danielle shares the story of how she started One Simple Wish, discussing the moment or series of events that led her to start the organization. She talks about the challenges faced and the goal of making a positive impact on the lives of children in foster care.

16:43 - 34:38: Danielle explains the importance of understanding the needs of foster children and young adults. She discusses the process of learning about their needs, collaborating with other agencies, and architecting the database to facilitate support and collaboration.

41:12 - 47:52 Danielle talks about the importance of creating personal connections with foster children and young adults. She discusses the organization's efforts to connect volunteers with young people in a deeper way through mentoring opportunities or advice and guidance. 52:52 - 56:47 Danielle encourages people to read the stories of the young people they support. She highlights the power of storytelling and invites people to ask questions and engage with the organization to become part of the community effort to help foster children. 56:53 - 1:04:38 Danielle shares insights into her day-to-day life running One Simple Wish. She discusses reading emails, granting wishes, and engaging in conversations with donors and young people. She emphasizes the importance of open communication and sharing her own story.

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Lindsay Pinchuk was meant to be a marketer and community builder. Listen to hear how Lindsay used her marketing experience to build her own 7-figure company, Bump Club and Beyond, that reached over 3 million users per month. Lindsay has experience working with and creating activations for brands such as Target, Nordstrom, The Honest Company, ULTA, Huggies, Unilever, and hundreds more.

Today, Lindsay uses her 25 years of experience in creating and growing brands to help others. As the CEO of Lindsay Pinchuk Marketing + Consulting, Lindsay’s company offers consulting, coaching, and speaking services to businesses of all sizes and stages. Lindsay also started Dear FoundHer, a top 2% podcast that helps female entrepreneurs build, scale, and sell their businesses.

In our conversation we discuss some of Lindsay’s signature marketing strategies, her startup story and why Lindsay is so committed to helping other businesses and entrepreneurs. What I love most about Lindsay is her authenticity. When you speak with Lindsay what you see and hear is what you get, and what are you are getting is decades of marketing experience and and a force energy for getting things fearlessly,

https://www.lindsaypinchuk.com/

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Topics Discussed:

Lindsay's approach to community building through events and speakers
The importance of personal connection and building relationships with the community
The significance of hosting events for marketing purposes
Engaging the community through knowledge sharing and small group interactions
Addressing Anti-Semitism
Lindsay uses an email management system called Flow Desk for targeted communication.
Lindsay cautions against relying too much on AI-generated content and encourages personalization.

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Meet Lauren McGoodwin, the founder of Career Contessa. Lauren generously shares the story of how she started her business, her motivation and how she built Career Contessa from an idea to the leading career site for millennials offering career tips, career advice, job listings and career coaching.

Lauren shares her story of how she struggled to find her place after graduating from college, and how a role in recruiting gave her the idea for Career Contessa. From day one, Lauren has been driven to help people find the opportunities she could not find and to have the career advice so many of us are missing. For those of us who lack connections or career mentorship, Career Contessa wants to be your trusted advisor.

In our conversation we discuss topics ranging from Lauren’s book Power Moves, to common career mistakes, “watering your own grass”, entitlement, and how a false narrative of the perfect job can hurt your future. This is the advice we wish we had when we started our careers.

https://www.careercontessa.com/

Power Moves by Lauren McGoodwin

The Career Contessa Podcast

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Topics Discussed:

Lauren shares the story of how she started Career Contessa and its purpose as a leading career site for millennials, offering career advice, job listings, career coaching, and job resources.
Lauren discusses her struggle to find a job after college and how her experience in recruiting gave her the idea for Career Contessa. She emphasizes her drive to help others find opportunities that she had difficulty finding herself.
Lauren explains her motivation for writing the book, "Power Moves," which aims to help people build fulfilling careers. She describes it as a comprehensive guide to building a healthy, successful, and fulfilling career on one's own terms.
Lauren discusses the importance of reframing our perception of our careers and provides examples from her book on how to do so.
Lauren explores the concept of the ambition trap and the feeling of entitlement that can hinder progress and success in careers. She highlights the challenges millennials face in managing their expectations and adjusting their narratives.
Lauren shares the timeline of how Career Contessa grew, from its start as a school project to offering career coaching, creating online courses, and expanding through various media platforms.
Lauren discusses the challenges she faced in transitioning from a predictable work environment to running a startup. She also offers advice on staying organized, establishing processes, and maintaining consistency.
Lauren envisions the future of Career Contessa, aiming to provide the best resources and adapt to changing trends and preferences, such as creating content in different formats to reach a wider audience.
Lauren provides advice for individuals building their own businesses, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing an email list, marketing strategies, and consistency.

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As a lifelong book lover, author and book publisher, Andy Hunter knew he wanted to keep independent bookstores alive and thriving. Using his experience in the publishing industry, Andy had the audacity to come up with a successful idea for taking on Amazon. Andy’s idea was Bookshop.org, an online platform that gives independent bookstores an easy to use, full service platform for selling books online. Bookshop handles the distribution marketing, and shipping of online book sales, and doesn’t take a cut so bookstores keep all the profits. Since the majority of book stores cannot afford an online storefront, they can partner with Bookshop for online sales to add profits to their stores.

Since independent bookstores already have small margins, being able to sell online can be the difference between staying open or shutting down. Independent bookstores add so much value to communities. Research shows bookstores attract more business to other commerce and the property values rise since bookstore are a community gathering spots that bring people together. In our conversation, Andy shares how the challenges and adversities of his childhood fostered his love for books, and how his career in publishing led him to the path he was meant to pursue. We hope you will be inspired to shop from Bookshop and to encourage your local bookstore to sign up for Bookshop.org. We wish for every community to have their own beloved local bookstore!

https://bookshop.org/

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Benjamin Percy is an author, screenwriter, and Marvel Comics writer for Wolverine and X-Force. Ben joins us to share his path to becoming a writer. We discuss how Ben's upbringing and work ethic led him to his dream job of spending the day with his imaginary friends. If you are curious about what it takes to be become a writer including the tradeoffs and work required to make it happen, you will love this conversation. Ben is currently working with Paramount Plus, where they are adapting Urban Cowboy into a series, Ben co-wrote the feature film, Summering, with director James Ponsoldt, has taught extensively, including at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, the Breadloaf Writers’ Conference, the Tin House Writers’ Workshop, Aspen Summer Words, and the Paris Writing Workshop. Ben's class is on Skillshare at this link: http://skl.sh/benpercy

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Can you imagine a world where you never have to take notes again because you had a personal assistant who transcribed and summarized each meeting with notes including who was speaking and the follow up action items? This assistant would also let you easily search, review and find clips of the meeting conversation? This assistant is named Fred from Fireflies.ai When you add Fireflies to a recorded meeting it will be your best friend and let you focus on the meeting vs capturing what was said. In our conversation, we speak with Krish Ramineni, Fireflies co-founder about how Fireflies can help you improve your productivity in any area of your life. Krish shares his background, early influences, and why getting yourself a Fireflies free trial today will change the way you have any future meeting.

Check out https://fireflies.ai/

Connect with Krish, follow Krish on Instragram

Gartner's Top 25 Enterprise Software Startups Krish was featured on the cover of Entrepreneur Magazine: 12 Founders Changing Business 2020

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Go to our website www.meantforit.com for past episodes.

Topics Discussed:

Overview of Fireflies (03:02-06:47)
Fireflies as an AI notetaker that works with major video conferencing platforms (03:16-03:24)
Vision of perfect recall and capturing all meeting information (03:34-03:49)
Transcription, summarization, and analysis of calls (03:56-04:02)
Krish's favorite features: high accuracy transcription, customizable notes, and Ask Fred functionality (04:16-05:38)
Potential future of notetaking and its impact on handwritten notes (06:42-07:00)
Description of the free trial and business tier features (10:59-11:12)
Krish's Background and Inspiration (15:12-21:58)
Education system influences and interest in improving communication (16:06-20:49)
Potential impact of AI on mundane tasks and the importance of critical reasoning and communication skills (21:57-23:46)
Accessibility and the potential for education outside of traditional classrooms (30:39-31:58)
Advice to validate ideas quickly and pursue passions (34:51-35:26)

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Valerie June is a force of beauty and a rising music star. In our conversation, Valerie shares when she started to sing and walks us through her song writing process. Valerie explains how songs mysteriously come to her through humming and chanting while she is living her life , washing dishes or simply walking in nature. We discuss Valerie’s new book, Light Beams: A Workbook for Being Your Badass Self, dedicated to helping people connect to themselves and the earth through various exercises. Listen to hear how Valerie’s creative soul experiences tree bathing and connecting to water. Twenty years ago, when Valerie was cleaning houses, she had a vision of herself as a musician that included how she would spend each day. Today, that vision is her reality. After listening to this conversation, you may be inspired to give yourself permission to follow the ideas that come to you in your sacred moments.

Reviews for Valerie:

“This stunning song cycle of redemption and reclamation adds an orchestral-pop sheen to June’s gorgeous blend of astral folk and meditative R&B.” - Rolling Stone

“Most intriguing, fully formed new talents.” -New York Times

https://www.valeriejune.com/

Topics Discussed:

Tree bathing
The ancient wisdom of trees
How the water connect us
The earth is crying
The exercises in Valerie’s book to help you to connect and reflect
What would it look like if we designed AI from a place of positivity and beauty
Beauty is a political force
Talking to the other side
Valerie’s new book Light Beams
Valerie’s upbringing

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Honestly, do you wish you could write copy for a website or email that people actually wanted to read? Imagine a future where you triple your earnings by learning how to write non sucky copy. In this future you, Laura Belgray is someone you want to know.

Laura’s new book, Tough Titties, is a hilarious memoir where Laura shares her story, from her awkward teenage years to every major milestone in her life. Luckily for the reader, Laura believes in TMI. We gaurantee you will laugh out loud and maybe feel better about the embarrassing moments in your life. In our conversation, Laura shares how she teaches people to write better through her online courses. Yes, it is possible to learn the skill of writing! And, if you think you have nothing to write about, Laura has a course for that also. Laura says, "your everyday, boring, mundane life is full of stories."

Meet Laura, go to her site for freebies, sign up for her email and join the after hours party.

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How does Michaell Kawaja dance with the light in others? Through Michell’s “Joy lab” journey, participants experience a dance class that is a journey of self expression and releasing the creative energy within their body. Michell danced ballet professionally and was a Nia dance teacher for 17 years. Michell’s goal is to guide bodies while creating immersive dance experiences. Michell was blessed with an abundance of joy and her goal is to share her joy and passion for dance with others. We think you will love this authentic conversation about dancing and releasing positive energy. We also discuss Michell’s dance journey and delve into a side conversation on death and past lives.

Michell Kawaja

Follow Michell on IG

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This is a reposted episode with Alisha Gaddis because there is so much good advice and Alisha is just a delightful human.

Alisha is an EMMY Winning Actress, 6x EMMY Nominated Actress & Producer, 2x Latin GRAMMY Award Winning Performer & Producer, Best-Selling Author, and endless source of creativiity.

Alisha has a lust for living life to its fullest. Next month, we will catch up with Alisha in a new episode.

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Lindsey Williams was meant for a career in healthcare and urology. You might think this is an odd choice but when you listen to this episode, you will understand why as a co-founder of FemTech start-up MyUTI, Lindsey is perfectly in her zone. Lindsey's sense of humor, (that of a 14 year old boy), intellect, work ethic and southern charm led her to a successful career working in start-ups focused on urology and cancer.

MyUTI is an online service that allows people to quickly and easily test at home if they have a urinary tract infection and within 24 hours know the best antibiotic to take. Antibiotic resistance is a common problem that results in recurrent, often painful, and sometimes very serious urinary tract infections. When you have a UTI, you want immediate relief. If you have had one, then you are probably nodding your head or taking a deep breath as you recall the unpleasant memory.

According to UCSF, around 40 percent of women will have a UTI at some time in their lives. UTI's are the second most conmon infection in the US. A UTI occurs when bacteria enter the bladder, usually through the urethra (urine tube), and begin to multiply.

In our conversation, Lindsey shares how she met her co-founder and launched MyUTI. If you are interested in the healthcare sector, FemTech and early stage start-ups, you will love this story about how Lindsey found the path she was meant to live. And, if you or someone close to you gets a recurring UTI, give MyUTI a try!

MyUTI

MyUTI Founder Story

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We are certain that Kathy Caprino’s authenticity about finding a career that feels right will resonate with your personal story and we guarantee you will be soothed by her advice and caring voice. Kathy is an internationally-recognized career, executive and leadership coach, trainer, writer, and speaker dedicated to supporting the advancement and success of women in business. In her role as a Senior Forbes contributor and host of the Finding Brave podcast, Kathy helps listeners explore ways to be brave. Most importantly, Kathy is deeply committed to heaping women find their calling.

In our conversation, Kathy shares why her previous experience as a corporate executive left her feeling empty and how she pivoted first to becoming a marriage and family therapist and then how she found her calling in career coaching and writing. We discuss Kathy’s path in detail and the ways Kathy has found meaning in helping women thrive.

If you enjoy this episode, then you have to check out Kathy’s book, The Most Powerful You: 7 Bravery-Boosting Paths To Career Bliss, where Kathy explores the 7 damaging power gaps that negatively affect 98% of professional women and 90% of men today. Kathy’s book teaches you how to overcome these gaps to reach your highest potential.

Kathy's website

Kathy on LinkedIn

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This is a rebroadcast episode with Dona Sarkar, Director of Technology for Accessibility at Microsoft. This was the first podcast I ever did and also one of my favorites. This conversation with Dona is as relevant today as it was in 2015. I hope you enjoy it and it encourages you to see that having a portfolio career such as technologist, fashion designer and author is actually possible.

At the time we recorded this episode, Dona was an Engineering Lead for Microsoft’s HoloLens I talked to Dona about her career in technology and how following your interests on the side can enhance your career.

Growing up in Detroit, Dona didn’t have a lot of money or resources, so she made up her own stories and characters. Dona talked about how writing and the benefits of growing up with a need to constantly use her own creativity to entertain herself. Dona says “when you don’t have very much, consider it your superpower”. Dona also explained how a lack of resources can help you understand the billions of undeserved people in the market today. “We keep going after the same 2 billion people over and over again in tech, but why, lets go after 5 billion.”

Dona's Blog

Topics discussed:

Tips for getting started in technology
Coding is just building things for people and how not to be scared when trying to learn technical skills
If you don’t succeed at something, Dona suggests “do it again!”
Resources to learn new skills (skillfeed, udemy, youtube, Lynda, codeacademy)
Dona’s time management secret
Dona talks about her book on eating disorders in minority women
How growing up with less can be your superpower
Dona’s philosophy on staying away from non believers and negativity

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If you want to expand the possibility of the type of work you can do beyond your day job, then you must listen to this episode and learn about refugee advocate Dr. Michelle Dimasi. Michelle has worked on economic empowerment of women, unaccompanied asylum seeker minors and human rights for over a decade while living in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and on Christmas Island, off the coast of Australia. In this podcast , Michelle shares how her work found her. Listen to hear about the clues the universe kept sending Michelle until they were too numerous and obvious to miss. We discuss how to follow the clues you receive and do work or volunteering that brings you joy and purpose. Michelle shares why she is pulled to helping refugees and how this is the work she will do her entire life. We also discuss a few simple ways you can get involved in your own community.

Learn more about Michelle

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Kristien Carbone's idea for Brilliantly Warm came from a deeply personal experience of having a preventative mastectomy. After the surgery, Kristen was surprised that she was always cold due to the implants. When Kristen realized she wasn’t alone, and 75% of women face the coldness issue, she looked for a solution. Hand warmers didn’t solve the problem, and there was nothing on the market that came close. As a true entrepreneur, Kristen became determined to solve the problem. Kristen shares how she found the courage and community that allowed her to build the product for Brilliantly Warm, a small heating device that could be placed into a bra. We discuss how Kristen found investors to grow her business, the challenges along the way and how Kristen is building Brilliantly step by step. The market size for Brilliantly Warm has expanded since Kristen realized it could be used by breastfeeding moms and for menstrual cramps or simply to stay warm.

We discuss how Kristen's art history background and work experience helped her as a start-up founder and how Kristen’s upbringing gave her the risk tolerance to boldly pursue her business idea despite the risks. Kristen has just enough crazy in her to follow her dream. Kristen has an art history background without technical experience and is a busy divorced mom with two teenage children. This conversation may inspire you to go after the business dream that is on your mind. If you see Brilliantly Warm at your local Target one day, we hope you will remember this conversation with a smile.

Learn about Brilliantly Warm

Follow Brilliantly Warm on Instagram

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If you have ever struggled with negotiations, this episode with Mori Taheripour a globally recognized negotiation expert is for you. Mori is an award-winning faculty member at the Wharton School and the author of Bring Yourself: How to Harness the Power of Connection to Negotiate Fearlessly.

In our conversation, Mori shares the decisions and career choices that led to her path and we discuss ways to improve your negotiation skills.

Topics Discussed:

-Everything is negotiable

-Negotiation is a skill you can learn. The more you practice, the better you get

-Knowing your worth is critical in improving your negotiation skills

-Belief in abundance and comfort with risk will help you become a better negotiator

Mori’s clients includes Fortune 100 companies, major sports leagues, and government agencies including Goldman Sachs Foundation, Google, the National Basketball Players Association, Wells Fargo, and the White House Fellows Program.

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Bring Yourself: How to Harness the Power of Connection to Negotiate Fearlessly

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Diane Kahn is a teacher and co-founder of Humans of San Quentin, an organization seeking to break down the walls and stereotypes of prison life and to humanize the lives behind the bars. Diane was teaching inside San Quentin to help prisoners receive their high school diplomas when the idea for Humans of San Quentin was born. In our conversation, Diane shares the story of starting the organization and why she is so passionate about sharing the stories of people in jail. When you visit the Humans of San Quentin site, you will find moving stories, art and poetry from prisoners around across the US and other countries. Listen to our conversation to hear how the people Diane has met in San Quentin and around the world have transformed her, and they ways they can transform you.

Visit the Humans of San Quentin Website

Connect with Diane

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Janelle Kellman, Esq. is the Mayor of Sausalito, CA. In our conversation, we discuss Janelle’s path from private practice as an environmental attorney in San Francisco to launching a successful e-commerce company and launching the Center for Sea Rise Solutions in 2021 to support the localization of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Janelle’s passion for teamwork was ignited and nurtured by a lifetime of sports including playing two Division I sports at Yale. Janelle says, “Sports taught me hard work, collaboration and team work”.

Janelle grew up in a small coal mining town in Pennsylvania. When Janelle’s mom developed asthma, Janelle became passionate about the environment and about working to find the balance between how we live in the natural environment. Janelle credits her father’s volunteering and involvement with community organizations as an early inspiration. The Jewish philosophy of Tikkum Olam (Repair of the world) has also guided Janelle’s motivation for environmental work and public service.

Listen in to hear why Janelle recommends people have a yes mindset, why removing expectations is the key to happiness and why the Japanese concept of ikigai is the recipe for success.

Reach out to us at: contact@meanforit.com to say hello or recommend somone for a future episode.

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We will do a dozen cartwheels (wherever we are) if you leave us a review on iTunes.

Until next time,

Polina and Amber

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During 2019 - 2017, Sarah Hurwitz was a White House speechwriter starting out as a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama and then serving as head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama. In our conversation, Sarah shares what it was like to write speeches for the Obamas and the career path that led her to speechwriting. We also discuss how a decision to take a beginner's class on Judaism led Sarah down a transformational journey.

Sarah grew up culturally Jewish and didn’t fully understand or connect to her religion until a class on Judaism changed everything. In Sarah’s book, Here All Along, Sarah shares what inspired her to continue learning about Jewish wisdom ranging from holidays, rituals, and prayer to Jewish conceptions of God, death, and social justice. If you are a cultural Jew or just interested in learning about Judaism, we think you will love the wisdom in Sarah’s book and how accessible it is to help you understand the history of Jewish wisdom and values that have been carried forward for thousands of years. We also discuss Sara’s latest part time job as a hospital chaplain and the meaning it has brought to her life. We loved this deeply spiritual conversation with Sarah!

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If you want to learn more about how venture capital investing can change your life and the world, this episode is for you. Trish Costello is the founder and CEO of Portfolia, the leading venture investing platform designed for women. Prior to Portfolia, Trish was a pioneer in creating programs to educate and prepare people for venture capital investing in the Kaufman Fellows Program. She led the Kaufman Fellows program for 10 years as the CEO of Venture Education. Trish was also Founding President of CVE Capital Corp, the holding company of a $1.7 billion Fund of Funds.

In our conversation, Trish shares the arc of her career and the milestones and decisions that led her to starting Portfolia. We discuss Trish’s motivations, how she invests and the reasons why Trish believes Portfolia will change investing. We guarantee you will be blown away by how much Trish has done throughout her career and her goals to make the world a better place. Trish’s goal is is over 100,000 women (and their colleagues and friends) investing in Portfolia Funds in five years, and we have no doubt, she will make this vision a reality.

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Learn about Porfolia here

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Laura Garnett came to performance strategy after a career crisis with a job that left her sick and depressed. Instead of staying on a path that Laura didn't care about and where she could not perform at a high level, Laura had the confidence to make a change. Laura used her curiosity, work ethic and unique set of talents to study what makes people happiest at work, eventually writing books on this topic and becoming a performance strategist consultant. Today, "Laura guides CEOs, Executives, Entrepreneurs, and teams to new heights of success by shining a light on their unique purpose, values, and abilities, transforming the way they work." Laura also writes extensively and has been published in Fast Company, Time, and The Muse, with recurring columns in Inc. and Forbes.

In Part 1 of our conversation, Laura shares how she got on her career path, why she is so passionate about helping people find careers they were meant for and offers tips for how you can find your personal zone of genius. We hope you remember this nugget of golden advice from Laura as you consider your life path, "Your purpose is your impact on others or the world that is most meaningful to you." Learn more aboua Laura Find us at www.meantforit.com

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From news reporting to Capitol Hill in various roles, then making a very intentional switch to working in San Diego where Holly Smithson ran CleanTECH San Diego and today as CEO of Athena, Holly has thrived in every role. As Holly shares in this podcast, everything that Holly has done and her success in each role comes from her intention, her desire to mobilize people toward a cause, and her intention to make a meaningful impact.

After realizing Capitol Hill was not right for her, Holly made an intentional decison to move to San Diego. In San Diego, Holly found the business culture with metrics, accountability and cooperation a place where she felt she belonged and could fulfill her vision. While Holly didn’t have any connections in San Diego she had the vision and knew what she had to offer. Holly’s skills and experience combined with her unstoppable confidence and work ethic came together in a way that led to Holly’s amazing success in her roles. As Holly says, “anytime I put my mind to it I will manifest the hell out of it.”

Holly wants others to know that it doesn't make sense to stay too long in roles that make you unhappy. In the podcast, we discuss why Holly is so committed to Athena and why she is so inspired by the women she works with. Recently, Holly’s breast cancer diagnosis and treatment made her aware of how she could help other women going though cancer. Holly’s newest intention is empowering women to demand the medical care they deserve and to be fierce advocates for themselves. We have no doubt that when Holly decides something, you can’t go wrong jumping on her team or investing in her vision.

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Lindsay Tjepkema was a professional in the B2B marketing space for more than 15 years when she realized there was an opportunity to change how companies tracked and measured the impact of their podcast audio and video content so she jumped on the ideas and co- founded Casted.

Casted has an impressive list of customers, including Salesforce, PayPal, HubSpot, Drift, Gong and ZoomInfo. Casted’s platform is also “the system of record” for Salesforce’s 25+ podcasting shows!

In our conversation, Lindsay shares how she got the idea for Casted, the research she did to plan for the first MVP, her founder story and why she is so enthusiastic about growing Casted’s future. If you are interested in B2B marketing and the future of podcasting, we think you will enjoy this conversation with its CEO . Casted claims it has the ability to analyze content data and turn it into intelligence for sales and marketing. Casted’s platform allows a “fully searchable content archive” with transcription services and tagging.

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When Christine Marsh was younger she wanted to change the world. If you consider high school teachers who change the lives of their students through their passion, enthusiasm and dedication to their work as people who have changed the world, Christine succeeded. Christine has taught high school English in Arizona for 30 years, and was named Arizona's Teacher of the Year in 2016. After a repeated number of colleagues and friends encouraged Christine to run for state senate, about 7 different times, Christine decided to go for it. Since teaching is Christine's first love, Christine is passionate about reducing class sizes and increasing teacher salaries. While serving in the state senate, Christine faced one of the most difficult tragedies any parent can face, Christine's beloved son died two years ago after purchasing a percocet pill that was laced with fentanyl. Despite her overwhelming grief, Christine has committed to speaking about the dangers of fentanyl whenever possible, and put forth a bill that legalized fentanyl test strips and removed the product from the state’s definition of prohibited drug paraphernalia. Christine is committed to raising awareness on the dangers of counterfeit drugs. As if she didn't have enough to handle in the last few years, Christine also recently finished treatment for colon cancer, and encourages others to ask their doctors about when to get screened. In our candid conversation, Christine shares how she has endured losing her son, and some of her hopes and goals for the future. We discuss how getting through the next minute, the next hour, and the day was a coping strategy for unimaginable grief. If you want to be blown away by a woman who is unstoppable, and changing the world through her courage and commitment to serving Arizona's citizens, we think you will enjoy this conversation with Christine Marsh.

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Alex Otte is Mother's Against Drunk Driving youngest National President. Alex got involved with MADD when she was hit by a boat driven by a drunk driver. Alex’s injuries were life-threatening, severe and long lasting. Today, Alex is using her voice, her story and her passion to advocate for an end to drunk driving. While there is good news coming in 2026 about an almost complete reduction in drunk driving due to new technologies that will be implemented in all new cars, with an estimated 9,400 lives saved and countless injuries prevented annually from the new technologies once all cars on the road are equipped, there is still so much we can do today. An estimated 10,000 people die per year due to drunk driving and more than 300,000 are injured annually. With several years left before the new technology makes it to new cars, there are still going to be tens of thousands of lives lost. Think about that for a minute - tens of thousands of preventable deaths, and hundreds of thousands of preventable injuries caused by drunk driving. If you want to be a part of preventing drunk driving deaths and injuries, you can get involved with your local MADD chapter. Listen in to hear how Alex endured a horrible tragedy and has made it her mission to prevent future deaths and injuries and to support victims and survivors. This is a more serious topic, but it is one we must pay attention to. Next time you think you can make a difference to prevent the next drunk driving incident, take the action. Your future will thank you.

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Ari Memar, the CEO and Co-founder of Tract, the world's first peer-to-peer learning community, shares the story of starting Tract with his former high school teacher, Esther Wojcicki. Ari was inspired by his time working as a camp counselor and by Esther Wojcicki’s nourishing, project based style of teaching, to create a platform that would inspire kids to develop a love for learning. Ari had a vision for a curated, safe learning community where kids explored what they actually enjoyed learning. When you join Tract.app, you will find videos your kids will actually want to watch. Since everything is created by kids for kids, the content really appeals to kids ages 8-13. Listen to Ari’s founder story and then go to Tract.app to explore Ari’s big vision for inspiring kids to love learning.

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Don't forget to listen to episdoe #96 with Esther Wojcicki

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Katie Hood knows how to follow her instincts and heart when making major life decisions. Today, Katie is CEO of the One Love Foundation, the nation’s leading educator of young people on the topic of healthy and unhealthy relationships. Katie shares the reasons why she joined One Love and her ambitious goals for reducing abusive relationships. We discuss how One Love was founded by Sharon Love to honor the memory of her daughter, Yeardley Love, who was beaten to death by her ex-boyfriend three weeks before her graduation from the University of Virginia. Sharon never imagined relationship abuse was something she needed to consider for her daughter, “I didn’t know then what I know now, that relationship abuse is a public health epidemic and that young women in Yeardley’s age group are at three times greater risk than any other demographic.” In our conversation, Katie shares how she left the world of finance and consulting and landed a job at the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, eventually advancing to become CEO of the organization. When Katie had doubts about her ability to lead as CEO of the Michael J. Fox Foundation, her path crossed with leadership guru Andy Grove, former CEO of Intel Corporation, who gave her the push she needed to take the role. Katie shares some of the lessons and skills she learned at the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and how her upbringing, faith and desire to help others has put her on the path she was meant to live. If you want to be inspired to follow a calling, you will never forget this conversation with Katie.

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10 Signs of an Unhealthy Relationship

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Vanessa Rivera, Product Programs Lead for DoorDash, shares the unconventional path she took to get her dream job and some of the bold moves she made along the way. When Vanessa decided she wanted to be in the tech world, she was living in Guatemala. Although she didn't know anyone in tech, Vanessa made the leap and moved to San Francisco.

In our conversation, Vanessa shares how being focused on problem solving, combined with a passion for learning, can open doors and opportunities. We also discuss how thinking differently can be your superpower and how having dyslexia can create a more empathetic approach to working with others.

We dive into Vanessa’s Guatemalan roots and Vanessa shares how her upbringing in an entrepreneurial environment and welcoming culture, has shaped not only who she is today but also how she approaches her work and life.

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In Laurie Segall’s new book, Special Characters, Laurie shares how she first started covering the tech scene for CNN in the early days of Facebook and Twitter, to the rise of some of today’s most popular apps. Laurie was immediately drawn to the tech scene, and blazed her own path by doing what she loved, often without permission and without an official role. If you are ambitious and hungry to move up in your role, there is much to learn from the way Laurie forged her own path and consistently said yes to ambitious ideas and opportunities.

We discuss Laurie’s early influences, career highlights, how she pitched her role as CNN’s first multi platform journalist and a series on CNN called Almost Human. We discuss memories from some of Laurie’s most meaningful interviews covering the Ashley Madison scandal, the QAnon community and much more. Laurie also shares why she left CNN and what lobsters have to do with some of her biggest life decisions.

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BJ Miller is a physician, author, speaker, practicing hospice and palliative medicine physician. In his current role, BJ sees patients and caregivers through Mettle Health, an online palliative care service. Previously,, BJ was the Executive Director of San Francisco’s Zen Hospice Project.

Most importantly, BJ is a deep, soulful thinker with extraordinary compassion and a true desire to help ease and reduce suffering in our world. BJ is also someone who fully appreciates the beauty, connectedness and mystery of our existence so we are thrilled to have BJ as our first male guest on the podcast!

BJ shares how he got on his career path and we discuss the ways his family and upbringing shaped his character. We discuss the sources of BJ resilience, what BJ has learned about death and the ways society can make dying a better process. Listen in to hear BJ reveal what people who are able to deal with death peacefully have in common. This is an extraordinary conversation with an extraordinary human. We are honored to share BJ’s story and hope this conversation gives you new insights and maybe a little more peace in talkihng about death.

Watch BJs famous Ted Talk Here

Mettle Health

BJ NYT One Man's Quest to Change the Way We Die

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Paume founder Amy Welsman openly shares the story of starting Paume, a luxury hand care product brand made with sustainably produced, bio-degradable and plant-based ingredients. Although Amy got the idea for a luxury hand sanitizer as a new mother in 2019, Covid gave her the nudge she needed to quickly and boldly enter the hand sanitizer market. In our conversation Amy shares how she went from idea to product, spanning areas such as sourcing, sales channels, funding, wholesale, selling directly to consumers, pitching to buyers, PR, design, operations, marketing and the importance of an advisory group. If you are curious about what it takes to start a product based business, we think you will love Amy’s candor and how generously she shares her entire journey. This conversation is guaranteed to bring you new insights and and inspiration. If you enjoyed this conversation please subscribe, leave us a review, follow us on IG @meantforit.

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Jaime Rich, Program Specialist at Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) shares how she works to reduce underage drinking and driving through education and advocacy. Jaime shares some sobering stats about drunk driving that hopefully inspire you to listen in to the conversation, and find a way to get involved:

“In 2019, 10,142 people died in drunk driving crashes so that is one person every 51 minutes. Every two minutes a person is injured in a drunk driving crash, and 2 out of 3 people will be involved in a drunk driving crash.”

Staggering statistics for a problem that is completely preventable. Prior to her role at MADD, Jaime spent 12 years working on policies to reduce underage substance abuse with the Center for Human Development. Jaimie shares some of the wins in her career, how she stays optimistic, and ways you can get involved in this important issue. The passion from teenagers who are energized to help prevent substance abuse, keeps Jaime motivated and focused on the work, even when progress seems slow and limited. Listen in to hear some of the ways MADD is working on reducing drunk driving and how you can get involved.

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In our conversation Paige shares the inspiration for starting Naborforce and the lightbulb moment that gave her the idea for a business model and the confidence to make her idea a reality. Naborforce is an online platform that connects “nabors” to seniors requesting help for everyday tasks such as household chores, groceries and driving. “Nabors” get extra income and a meaningful way to connect to people in their community. Paige’s finance experience gave her the skills to research the market and create a business model that fit the varying market needs by region. Today, NaborForce offers standard hourly pricing or monthly plans and packages so seniors can get assistance from a trusted network of care providers. Naborforce is also signing up partnerships with employers so employees can get help balancing work with the type of caregiving activities that often push stretched employees to leave their jobs.

In our conversation, Paige shares the milestones in getting Naborforce started, how she is building her business and her expansion plans. We love Naborforce’s mission and are thrilled to share this conversation with you!

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If you are interested in investing, specifically in early stage investment funds, you will love this conversation with Leslie Goldman, Co-Founder of The Artemis Fund. Leslie shares how her 20 year legal career as General Counsel led her down a path to board advising, investing and then to finding two co-founders who were the perfect partners for Artemis. The Artemis Fund’s vision is to invest in companies democratizing access to wealth, encouraging sustainability, and reducing friction in the care economy.

We discuss how Leslie and her partners raised their first fund,”one check at a time”. Leslie predicts between her partners and their networks they probably had 1000 meetings and talked to any accredited investors who were willing to listen. Leslie shares how her partners decide on investments, their diligence process and Leslie tells us about a few of their exciting current investments, including unest, Dressx and Hop Skip Drive. Leslie shares the biggest challenges in managing an investment fund and how her responsibilities are growing as their portfolio companies grow. If you listen to this episode and start to dream about working for an investment fund, Leslie shares how she learned about the space and how she started her first investments. For those considering angel investing, Leslie suggests tiny bets with sites like Seedinvest and to be aware, “If you are going to start investing in this asset class - first of all you need to have money you can lose.” Leslie suggests you learn how to do diligence and analyze companies, and then you can start making bigger bets or invest in a fund. This is a fascinating conversation with a woman who is so clearly meant for her career path, her role and the impact she is making for female founders and the world.

The Artemis Fund

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Sofia Ramirez Shares How Tend, a Digital Personal Finance Platform that Just Launched in the USA and Mexico, is Modernizing and Simplifying finances While Building Community.

In our conversation, Sofia shares how Tend plans to make banking easier for young people through transparency, debit banking with cash back services and less costly international transfers coming soon. Tend launched recently in the USA and Mexico with plans to expand further internationally. We also discuss Sofia’a career milestones that led her to Tend, her career in marketing and finance, and her advice for others who are interested in similar paths. If you are interested in how to disrupt established industries with modernized and enhanced services based on community needs, we think you will love this conversation.

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Rachel Praetorius shares the career path that led to her dream job as the Director of Sustainability for Amazon Devices and Services. Rachel started as employee number 1 at Amazon's Lab 126 Program Management Office and eventually moved into her current role. If you are interested in sustainability programs at Amazon, or what it is like to work as a sustainability lead for a tech company, this conversation is for you!

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Dr. Leana Wen, emergency physician, former health commissioner for Baltimore, professor of health policy and management, contributing columnist for The Washington Post,CNN medical analyst, and author shares stories from her new memoir, Lifelines: A Doctor's Journey in the Fight for Public Health. Dr. Wen has an incredibly inspiring immigrant story of struggle, sacrifice and tremendous achievement. In our conversation, Dr. Wen shares how the early hardships she experienced shaped her character and her career goals. If you are looking for an inspiring career story, Dr. Wen’s path is guaranteed to lift your spirits. We also discuss some of the innovative programs Dr. Wen led during her time serving as Baltimore's Health Commissioner.

This is a must listen episode!

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There is no doubt that Christina Dorr Drake was meant to be a co-founder of Willa’s Oat Milk. Christina grew up drinking her grandmother’s special recipe of oat milk. When Christina and her sister, Elena Dorr Zienda, realized the market was missing an oat milk that was both delicious and nutritious, like the one they had as kids, they saw the opportunity and went for it. Christina and Elena decided they had the recipe, experience and complementary skills to launch their own brand and they lovingly named it after their grandmother. Christina’s background in marketing and strategy for food brands combined with Elena’s experience in food manufacturing and distribution gave them the skills and confidence to launch Wila’s Oat Milk.

In our conversation, Christina walks us through how they actually started Willa’s. We discuss how they handled packaging, manufacturing, distribution channels and the ways Willa’s has committed to creating organic, nutritious products with sustainable practices. We also discuss the quick sales channel changes the co-founders had to make when their launch coincided with Covid. Today, Willa’s future is looking very bright. Oat milk is currently the second most popular plant based dairy product, and demand continues to grow. Listen to hear an inspiring startup story and you may be inspired to start something new in your life.

Willa's Oat Milk

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Claire Bidwell Smith is a grief counselor and author. Claire’s path to her current profession came from losing both her parents to cancer while Claire was still young. At first, Claire was in shock and tried to run from the overwhelming grief and anxiety she was feeling. Eventually, Claire decided to become a therapist and worked in private practice for over a decade. Claire went on to write three books about dealing with grief, anxiety and loss. Today, Claire is continuing her work to help people with grief by speaking widely and working with organizations devoted to helping people find end of life and grief support.

In our conversation, we discuss how Claire found her way to becoming a therapist and writer. Claire shares the experiences that changed her and we talk about some of Clarie’s adventures while researching for her book, After This, an exploration of what happens when we die. If you have faced grief, or want to prepare yourself for dealing with grief that eventually reaches all of us, you don’t want to miss this conversation.

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Cheryl Saban’s extraordinary life is a beautiful tapestry of diverse experiences, different careers, and helping others. In the latest chapter of her life, Cheryl is focused on her glass blowing business and her philanthropy work. Through the Saban Family Foundation, Cheryl and her husband have donated $420 million to 1000 organizations and causes focused mainly on children, education and women's health including the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, The Rape Treatment Center and Birthright Israel. At Saban Glass, Cheryl fulfils her artistic calling by immersing herself into the process of creating exquisite glassware. Cheryl has published books, written for television and holds a doctorate in psychology.

Life was not always easy for Cheryl. In her early twenties, when Cheryl was a single mom struggling financially, she went to a free clinic in Los Angeles. In our conversation, Cheryl recalls being moved by the kind treatment she received there, and also convinced of a need for free community clinics. Through the Saban Foundation, Cheryl has donated $10 million to the Los Angeles Free Clinic, currently named the Saban Community Clinic due to the generous support of the Saban Foundation. In our conversation, we discuss some of the full circle moments in Cheryl’s life, major milestones and Cheryl shares advice on making major life choices.

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#168 How Kristen Berman is Helping Companies Understand the Psychology of Consumer Behavior

Kristen Berman, Co-Founder of Irrational Labs, fell in love with behavioral economics instantly. While Kristen was a Product Manager at Intuit, she met behavioral economist Dan Ariely and knew she was meant for this type of work. Kristen emailed Dan to offer help on projects. Dan agreed and they worked on several projects together including building Google’s behavioral economics team. Today, they are partners in Irrational Labs taking on a variety of projects that help companies design strategies and tactics that encourage consumers to change their behavior and improve habits. A recent project involved helping Tik Tok design nudges that decreased the sharing of misinformation by about 24%.

In our conversation we discuss the type of work Kristen does, the field of behavioral economics and how Kristen is living her own behavioral change experiment by sharing a home with a group of friends in a community living arrangement. If you are curious about human behavior and behavioral change, you will love this conversation.

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After going through breast cancer at 42, Dara Kurtz gained the courage and insight to completely change her life and career. Dara started the Crazy Perfect Life blog and self published her first book, Crush Cancer. Today, Dara continues to blog to her 195k followers on Facebook, write and take on a growing number of speaking engagements. Dara’s second book, I am My Mother’s Daughter, is a love letter to her mother who she lost to cancer too early, when Dara was only 28.

In our conversation, Dara shares her story and the milestones along her path to creating a job and lifestyle that feels like a ‘joyful playground’. It was not an easy path. Losing her mother shattered Dara's world, and then getting diagnosed with breast cancer while her two daughters were still young was Dara's greatest nightmare. Dara bravely made it through to the other side, and along the way, she learned how gratitude and mindset can change everything. If you need inspiration to overcome a challenge, or get the courage to start on working on a career switch, this conversation is for you.

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Aundrea Cline-Thomas was meant to tell stories. An award winning journalist, Aundrea’s dedication, integrity, humility and work ethic has already paid off. Aundrea received the 2017 Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists Broadcast Journalist of the Year Award and has won two regional Emmy awards for her reporting. We think Aundrea is just getting started.

In our conversation, we discuss how Aundrea landed her first job, advice for people interested in jobs within broadcast journalism and the major career decisions that led to Aundrea's current role as a reporter for CBS NY. We also discuss how Aundrea’s cultural background as the daughter of African immigrants, has influenced everything about the way she lives her life.

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Eve Rodsky’s goal is to change how families think about the distribution of household and care work. In other words, Eve’s work revolves around reversing thousands of years of cultural norms that expect women to manage almost all the childcare and housework. It started one day when Eve was crazy busy juggling a new born, a toddler, an exhausting to-do list, and a demanding job. On that fateful day, Eve’s husband sent a text message, "I'm suprised you didn't get blueberries." The blueberry request is this moment, now frozen in time, that eventually led to what Eve did next. Eve decided to start the “Sh*t I Do” spreadsheet to understand the scope of work that most women manage; which includes an enormous amount of “cognitive labor”. As a Harvard Law School graduate and organizational consultant, Eve addressed this household problem with the same intensity, and using the same set of skills she used in her day job as a mediator. Eve started to ask around and collected thousands of tasks and responsibilities women manage in their homes.

Eve’s research eventually led to “Fair Play”, a book devoted to helping partners divide the 100 most common household and caretaking responsibilities. Today, Eve is leading a movement devoted to advocating for policy and cultural changes related to who owns the cognitive labor for the housework and childcare responsibilities in a family.

In our conversation, Eve shares her story and what she has learned during the last 9 years while researching the gender division of labor. We have a lively discussion on why it is so important to shift cultural expectations for care and housework. We also learn about Eve’s early influences and why men, women and society devalue women's time.

Learn more about Eve

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If you enjoy this episode, download our conversation with Caitlyn Collins on Making Motherhood Work.

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Today I Noticed is a creative mindfulness practice started by Willow Older and Deborah Huber. On their Instagram feed you’ll find their often whimsical, sometimes touching observations—which combine words and sketches—that capture the ordinary, yet magical, moments of daily life. In our conversation, Willow and Deborah share how Today I Noticed started unexpectedly during a day trip to San Francisco. They talk about how their lives have changed—for the better!— since they started noticing and recording what’s happening around them and within them.

Turns out the prompt, “Today I noticed” is a simple yet powerful reminder to slow down and appreciate the sweet, silly, everyday moments we all experience but rarely notice. Willow and Deborah have discovered that doing so helps us feel happier, nourished, and grateful. Today, nearly three years into their noticing adventure, the "partners in creative crime" are leading corporate workshops, building a global online community, and pursuing a variety of publishing projects to inspire others to dial-up their joy by strengthening their own noticing muscles.

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Growing up in Catalonia, Spain with parents who exposed Anna Schlegel to engineering and art infused Anna with an adventurous spirit and a strong work ethic. Anna’s graduate studies in languages led her to a translation job in Silicon Valley where Anna started her own translation company in San Francisco when she saw a gap in the market. Eventually, Anna’s translation skills led to a job in localization for Cisco. After several jobs in high tech, Anna landed at NetApp.

At NetApp, Anna’s skills blossomed and she was offered more responsibilities and promotions due to her growing abilities and commitment to constant learning. As you will hear in our conversation, Anna is a true believer and practitioner of immersing and training herself in new fields such as management, technology and innovation. Based on Anna's performance and growing responsibilities, her mindset and career strategy is working. Anna's job success led to her current role as VP of Global Portfolio to Market where Anna is managing four different teams. In our conversation, we discuss Anna’s career path and how her international perspective and early influences shaped her work ethic. We also discuss Anna's drive to learn, how Anna is contributing through volunteer work and how to put yourself in a place where the opportunities find you.

Learn more about Anna here

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Shelley Zalis is the definition of a trailblazer. As the founder of OTX, a pioneer in the online market research space, and a founder of The Female Quotient, Shelley has consistently led with innovation and courage. In our conversation, Shelley walks us through her career milestones and the “heartbeat moments” that guided the most important decisions in her career.

While most people conform to the status quo or find ways to work around traditional norms, Shelley’s character and life experiences blended in ways that gave her the courage and wisdom to follow her instincts, question the norms and eventually successfully strike out on her own. Shelley shares the story of her first jobs in the market research space, her biggest milestones and we talk about the two mentors who were the biggest influences in Shelley’s career.

Shelley tells us the story of how a visit to the CES Conference with a group of friends gave her the idea that evolved into Shelley’s current role as founder of The Female Quotient. There are people in this world who are forces of energy that inspire you to act boldly and follow your heart. Shelley is one of those people.

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If you want to hear more conversations about ways to improve our workplaces download these episodes:

Making Motherhood work with Caitlyn Collins

Brigid Schulte, Writer, Director Better Life Lab

You can reach us at contact@meantforit.com

For guest ideas: pr@meantforit.com

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Solving the problem of food waste and creating new products based on upcycled food was the type of project Caroline Cotto was meant to work on. As someone who has intentionally sought out challenging experiences since high school, Caroline is determined to live on the side of impact and adventure. Today, Caroline is the COO of Renewal Mill, a next generation ingredients company that's reducing food waste by upcycling the byproducts of food manufacturing into high quality ingredients and products. In our conversation, Caroline shares how her career decisions, family influences, traveling and love of food led her to Renewal Mill.

Renewal Mill
Whole Foods names upcycled foods and Renewal Mills' upcycled flours a Top 10 Food Trend for 2021
Named World Changing Idea by Fast Company
Featured on PBS Newshour

You can reach us at contact@meantforit

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Podcast co-hosts Polina and Amber

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Annette Ross was meant for love. After overcoming a tragic accident during the birth of her second child that left Anette unable to walk, Annette went on to create a beautiful life with five daughters and the love of her life. In our conversation, we discuss how Annette adjusted to life and how her love for her family has always carried her forward.

Annette shares advice on navigating through life in a way that keeps joy and gratitude at the forefront, while also being open to opportunities and accepting challenges.

You can learn more about Annette by reading her memoir, Where Fairytales Go or by watching the HBO documentary, Any One of Us.

We were honored to host Annette and inspired by her beauty and strength.

Reach out to us: contact@meantforit.com

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Dr. Vijayeta Sinh, a Clinical Psychologist and founder of TherapyCouchNYC, shares how her background and love for psychology led her to pursue a doctorate and career focused on helping people live their best lives. Vijayeta is motivated by using her training to help her clients understand how their patterns may be holding them back and limiting the quallity yof their relationships. Listen in to hear Vijayeta’s perspective on the ways therapy can enhance our lives.

Dr. Vijayeta Sinh has 15 years of experience, a Ph.D. from Columbia University and is a Supervising Psychologist at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, and Teachers College at Columbia University. Born and raised in India, she is fluent in Hindi and has a deep understanding of the ways cultural and social issues relate to work, career, marriage, and parenthood.

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Hannah Davis has a dream job as the Program Director for the Techstars Sustainability Accelerator, a three-way partnership between Techstars, The Nature Conservancy, and mission-aligned investors.

The startups accepted into the Techstars program are able to access the mentorship and expertise from the Nature Conversancy, alongside the Techstars network of over 7,000 mentors and 2,500 portfolio companies.

In our conversation, Hannah shares the day-to-day responsibilities in her role, how Techstars operates and how Hannah got on the path of community-building roles. If you are interested in similar career roles, Hannah shares advice on how to dive in and get involved. We also discuss the tradeoffs with dream jobs, the value of vulnerability when resolving conflicts and why Hannah is optimistic about the future of our world.

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Adventure and people lover, Laura Fravel had a dream job producing television broadcasts and digital content for National Geographic, and later, after moving West, as an independent producer for outlets such as Discovery Channel, The New York Time and Amazon. In our conversation, we discuss Laura’s second shift from storytelling for media and brands, to helping solopreneurs, entrepreneurs and thought-leaders tell theirstory. While Laura loved the first half of her career, personal circumstances and new priorities led her on a different (more fulfilling) path. Reflecting on her career, Laura commented, “I think at different points in our life we might be meant to do different things for different people.”

We discuss the turning point that led Laura to becoming a brand strategist and the story of how Laura created her business. We also cover Laura’s favorite business resources, a few lessons Laura has learned while building her own brand and Laura’s advice for outsourcing housework and technical support.

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Dr. Eliza Nemser is an earth scientist working on climate solutions at the intersection of science, policy, and politics. In our conversation we discuss how Eliza fell in love with earth science and the path that led her to becoming a co-founder of Climate Changemakers. If you are curious about what it is like to be a geoscientist or how to start an organization focused on community organizing, this episode is for you.

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If you have had issues receiving or giving performance feedback (who hasn't?), this conversation is for you. Therese Huston’s role as a Cognitive Scientist at Seattle University involves finding ways to help professionals do their best work. Therese’s third book, Let's Talk, focuses on how to deliver feedback and create conversations that lead to growth and stronger relationships.

Although you have probably read about this topic before, ‘Let’s Talk’ is different because Therese’s unique style of writing and communicating her findings is truly easy to understand, remember, and apply. ‘Let’s Talk’ could be an excellent handbook for every manager interested in delivering feedback in ways that create psychological safety, propose constructive solutions, and instill a collaborative framework. In our conversation we discuss different feedback styles, how to listen and set good intentions, how to set up two-way conversations, tips for creating psychological safety, best practices for frequency of feedback, and surprising research about the praise to criticism ratio.

This conversation is filled with actionable tips and advice for managers, parents or anyone who wants to get better at sharing feedback. We also recommend our podcast conversation with Therese Huston from 2016 on her book How Women Decide: What’s True, What’s Not, and What Strategies Spark the Best Choices. In podcast episode 21, we discussed high-pressure decision making, the gender myth, and tactical advice that may help you when you’re stuck trying to make your own decisions.

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Kelley Higney, Founder & CEO of Bug Bite Thing, is an unstoppable force also known as a "mom on a mission." When a relocation to South Florida, led to constant mosquito bites for Kelley and her daughter, Kelley started searching for solutions. After many failed attempts to help her daughter with the bites, Kelley discovered a little-known tool that uses suction to help remove insect saliva/venom from under the skin. Kelley was amazed to find that the product worked and quickly realized it was an opportunity for a business. Kelley secured the exclusive distribution rights for the product in the U.S. and started her company, Bug Bite Thing. Then, Kelley made a bold and strategic decision to sell her house and move into a rental so she could afford to start her business. In the early days, Kelley started by selling her product at bake sales, school events, online and through Amazon. Eventually, word of mouth created buzz around the product and Kelley was featured on the local news. As sales expanded and Kelley’s marketing skills evolved, one of Bug Bite Thing's social media posts caught the attention of a producer of the hit show 'Shark Tank.' This led to a successful appearance on the show and Kelley and her mother, Ellen McAlister, partnered with inventor and entrepreneur Lori Greiner. Then, things really took off. Kelley leaped into a new level of sales and took on the challenges of quick growth.

In our conversation, we discuss Kelley’s path from discovering the product now known as Bug Bite Thing, to early sales and how Kelley is managing her business today. If you are interested in entrepreneurial stories, you will love this episode and Kelley’s advice for people who want to pursue their own entrepreneurial dream. If you enjoy this episode please share it with a friend and follow us on Instagram @meantforit.

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Brigid Schulte is the Director, of the Better Life Lab, ”working to change policy, practice and culture so that all people can make real choices about how to combine their work, life and caregiving responsibilities - and have time for joy.”

Previously, Brigid worked as a Staff Reporter for the Washington Post for 16 years where she was part of the team that won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize. Brigid is also the author of Overwhelmed: Work, Love & Play when No One has the Time.

In our conversation we discuss Brigid’s career path, affordable childcare options and paid family leave that can help families that are drowning from the costs of and demands of managing full time jobs and raising children.

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This is the story of two friends with a vision for a business and an ability to get things done. Inspired by entrepreneurship and motivated to empower women and girls, Edwina Govindsamy and Ariel Gough started Bailly, an eco and health conscious fragrance line. With backgrounds in marketing and healthy ambition, Edwina and Ariel dove in and started figuring things out. In our conversation, Ariel generously shares the roadmap of how Baily progressed from idea to reality. We discuss what Ariel learned about sourcing ingredients, packaging, sales growth, managing finances and other strategies for growing and managing Bailly.

Learn more about Bailly

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In her new book, Edge of the Map, Johanna Garton tells the story of Christine Boskoff, the first American woman to summit six of the world’s fourteen 8,000-meter-plus peaks, and one of the only woman expedition leaders on Mt. Everest.

In our conversation, Johanna shares the personal story that led her to writing about Christine's extraordinary life and the ways Christine’s story transformed Johanna.

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Erica Liu Williams is the founder of Gr8nola, a “delicious, low sugar superfood granola.” A two-time Olympic time-trial swimmer who’s married to a former-NFL football player named “Tank” Williams, Erica first created gr8nola as a crunchy snack during their annual food cleanse. Erica shares how she started her business as a “cottage food operator,” baking trays and trays of gr8nola in her kitchen and selling at a local farmer’s market. As sales grew, there was a lot that she needed to learn in order to grow her business. “Once I started doing my second farmer’s market and selling online, I needed other certifications and of course, an official nutrition label. It took me tons and tons of phone calls and networking with other food entrepreneurs to figure it all out. There’s no step-by-step guide.”

In our conversation, Erica shares the story of growing gr8nola, pivoting during Covid, and expanding her sales channels. Erica offers advice on how to start your own business, from the earliest stages of kitchen production and hiring to figuring out how to scale and build brand awareness. We also discuss Erica’s early influences and the decisions that led her to a career she loves. Plus, we find our what led Halle Berry to share her love of gr8nola on her IG page!

Episode co-hosts: Willow Older and Polina Selyutin

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Jenn Donahue is a Navy veteran, civil engineer, teacher and business founder. Jenn has been in charge of 1400 Navy personnel and 3 battalions, managed high profile projects as an operations engineer. Jenn has taken her education to the highest levels including a bachelors in ocean engineering, a masters and PHD in civil engineering from UC Berkeley.

In our conversation, we discuss the early origins of Jenn’s passion for building and the decisions she made that led her to becoming an engineer and joining the navy. We talk about some of Jenn’s projects, places where Jenn has worked while serving in the navy and Jenn’s advice for others who have a deep love for building and engineering.

You will be blown away by Jenn’s accomplishments and her desire to offer mentoring to those who dream of similar career paths.

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Episode co-hosts: Amber Greene and Polina Selyutin

Learn more about Jenn

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Elizabeth Rusch is the award-winning author of more than 20 books and more than a hundred articles in publications such as The New York Times, Smithsonian, and Harper's. Elizabeth also speaks at schools and organizations across the country about writing, teen activism, science heroes, and the state of our democracy.

In our conversation, we discuss Elizabeth’s new book, You Call This Democracy, a dive into the shortcomings in our political system and possible solutions for each problem. We also talk about the unique ways Elizabeth is creating interactive digital content to share her research with a wider audience, including the 50 State Report Card and Flash Course on Democracy.

Elizabeth shares how her passion for public policy began when she was just a kid and how she has built a career that lets her explore her endless curiosity, share knowledge, and inspire countless young people.

Elizabeth has a bachelors in economics from Duke University, a masters in public policy from the University of California, Berkeley, and has served as a Jacob K. Javits Fellow in the U.S. Senate.

Writer, editor, co-founder of Today I noticed and friend of the podcast Willow Older joins as a co-host for this special conversation.

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We often hear that volunteering can lead you to places that will change your life. For Jessica Goudeau, volunteering led to starting a nonprofit that provided supplemental income for Burmese refugee artisans for seven years and then to writing After the Last Border: Two Families and the Story of Refuge in America, which was named a New York Times Editors’ Choice book.

Jessica has a PHD n literature from the University of Texas and has spent over 10 years working with refugees in Austin. In our conversation, we discuss how Jessica’s friendships with “Mu Naw” and “Hasna” , inspired her to devote two years to writing her first book, and the ways her experiences helping refugees has transformed her life. We also discuss how the sentiment towards towards refugee resettlement in the USA has changed, and a few ways the refugee resettlement program is evolving.

Jessica’s book recommendations:

Kao Kalia Yang, Somewhere in the Unknown World

Dina Nayeri, The Ungrateful Refugee

Ahmed Badr, While the Earth Sleeps We Travel

Viet Thanh Nguyen, The Displaced

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We’ve all been through heartache and heartbreak, but Amy Chan has made a career of it. Amy is the founder of Renew Breakup Bootcamp, a retreat that takes a scientific and spiritual approach to healing the heart. If you or someone you know is reeling from the pain of a breakup, attending one of these workshops can be transformative. During Covid, the bootcamps are going strong with online sessions. Amy was a guest on the podcast in episode 100 to discuss her career path and how she started Renew Breakup Bootcamp.

In our latest conversation, Amy joins us to discuss her new book, Breakup Bootcamp. Amy shares highlights from her book and we discuss some of the book’s themes such as recognizing love addiction, tools for getting over breakups and understanding our love compass. Amy shares how the many breaks ups she endured gave her an understanding of common dating patterns and the different ways we can sabotage ourselves in love or get stuck in suffering during breakups. Amy has poured all the research and learnings from her career and fours years of break up bootcamps into this must-read book on dealing with dating and breakups.

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Gianna Stanley made a huge career pivot when she realized her post college dream job for a boutique marketing and consulting agency was not the the path she wanted for the rest of her career. Instead of staying stuck and unhappy, Gianna made a bold move to leave her job, and then another bold move by deciding to go to the Institute of Culinary Education in NYC. The decision to go to culinary school actually came out of Gianna’s volunteering at the St Francis House Day shelter. After leaving her job, Gianna increased her volunteer hours at the shelter and soon realized the work of cooking and feeding people gave her the joy and purpose she was craving.

At the Institute of Culinary Education, Gianna fully embraced the intensity of the cooking program and took advantage of various internships and opportunities to learn. After finishing the program, Gianna got an externship at Blue Hill and then accepted a position as a private chef along with a side job as a chef with a pop-up event company called The Underground Kitchen. In addition to her cooking jobs, Covid led Gianna to another side gig as a food photographer. In our conversation, Gianna shares her career story and how she started and grew her food photography business. If you have a career switch on your mind or are curious about starting a new side hustle, you will love learning how Gianna has followed her heart to a create her own recipe for a meaningful career.

Follow Gianna @sustainablygia

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Jung Lee’s vision, creativity and work ethic has made her one of the top event architects in the world. Jung understands how to create breathtakingly unique events that are personalized to the smallest detail. In our conversation, Jung shares what drive her creativity, the roots of her work ethic, and walks us through the evolution of her portfolio career. In addition to managing Fête, Jung’s full service event planning business, Jung also opened Jung Lee NY, a home decor store in NYC, and recently launched Slowdance, a bridal registry.

Jung credits much of her success and work ethic to her upbringing and family. Jung was born in South Korea, raised in New York City and lived a lifestyle centered around hard work and business. Jung worked in her family food stores while growing up, allowing her to gain invaluable experience in running a business, alongside exposure to designing stores. Today, Jung is managing her thriving businesses and planning future projects such as a boutique hotel and hosting events on her property in Connecticut. Listen to hear how Jung created multiple dream jobs for herself through the force of her creativity and relentless work values.

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Have you ever thought about what it’s like to work as a financial advisor? Kristin O’Keeffe Merrick, a money expert with 19 years of professional experience in the financial industry, is a financial advisor at her family-run firm, O'Keeffe Financial Partners. Kristin shares her career path story and why more women should consider financial advising as a career option. We discuss the challenges Kristin faced when transitioning to a financial advisor role and advice on how to get started in this field.

We also discuss the project Kristin started with her close friend, Lindsay Shookus, Women Work F#cking Hard, a networking group that is bringing together women with the goal of helping women business owners. Kristin also writes about money for leading publications such as Forbes, NY Magazine and she is a frequent guest on Today Show, the NBC Nightly News and Yahoo Finance Kristin was recently named as 2020 Badass 50 by InStyle Magazine.

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Quilt is a new type of social media platform for real time audio connections. Quilt users can choose to join a variety of audio discussions topics such as “How do I raise capital” or “What to cook for dinner tonight”. Quilt was designed to be a safe and supportive community for women to build connections and create meaningful conversations.

In this conversation, Ashley Sumner shares the career and life path that led her to the idea for Quilt. Before starting Quilt, Ashley spent 12 year in community building including roles at Wanderlust and NeueHouse. If you are curious how someone without a technical background can start an app, Ashley shares how she found her technical co-founder and grew the app, including making some major pivots during Covid.

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Grief Warrior was born out of Leslie Barber’s tragic personal experience—the sudden death of her husband, Steve, at 46 years old. This life-changing event, and the grief Leslie has since endured, led her to found Grief Warrior. The company is dedicated to changing how individuals, companies, and our society at large thinks about and handles grief.

Grief Warrior is both a mission and a movement. What began as a thoughtful gift box for grievers has evolved into a comprehensive selection of offerings including a training series for managers and HR, a Grief Squad crisis response team, 1:1 coaching and counseling, digital courses, and keynote presentations.

In this conversation, Leslie shares why it’s so important for leaders to learn how to be compassionate, empathetic, and supportive during an employee’s most difficult time. Such efforts include learning what we shouldn’t say to someone who’s grieving. (For example, never start a sentence with “At least …” or suggest that, “God needed another angel.”) Leslie points out that mastering such so-called “soft” skills to support grievers can directly improve things like productivity, morale, and retention. In other words, learning how to help people “feel human at work” (as one Grief Warrior participant put it), is fundamentally good for business.

With an impressive NPS score of 85, it’s clear that Grief Warrior’s services are effective—and essential. Leslie explains how she has grown Grief Warrior to a team of 20 and how she’s continuing to expand her business. As she tells us about her mission to become the “Brene Brown of grief,” Leslie says, “We can’t make grief better, but maybe we can make it less awful.”

Willow Older, a friend of the podcast, is a co-host on this episode. Willow is writer, editor, and co-founder of the must-follow Instagram account called Today I Noticed (@today.i.noticed).

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Jenny Rustemeyer, a writer and producer with Peg Leg Films, shares her career path story and how she ended up as a documentary film producer. Jenny has produced This Mountain Life, The Clean Bin Project, and Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story which won multiple festival awards and took home the Leo for Best Feature Length Documentary. If you want to learn and be entertained at the same time without being overwhelmed, Jenny’s films are infused with humor and information about a variety of environmental issues. When you want to watch a documentary but are not ready for a heavy dose of reality, Jenny’s films are a perfect blend of documentary style information combined with reality based storytelling. In our conversation, Jenny shares how her film partnership with her husband, Grant Baldwin, evolved, and how they have turned their love for each other and the environment into entertaining, thought provoking films. Add these films to your must watch queue today!

Topics Discussed:

Clean Bin Project
Just Eat It
Chris Jordan’s art
How Jenny made her first and second films: funding, filming distribution
The problem of food waste

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Esther Wojcicki joins I want Her Job for a third time to discuss her latest project, Tract.app, a new student directed online resource for peer to peer learning where teenagers create content for children 8+.

The Tract leaning pathways contain courses that your kids will actually want to learn. Courses such as The Science and Ethics of Junk Food Engineering, How Cheetahs Run as Fast as a Car, What does it take to become a comic book artist, What Makes a Great Soccer Player, Pokémon Plant & Animal Biology are created by teenagers and have a project based approach. This learning community supports Esther’s core belief in giving kids 20% of their time to independently pursue their interests.

Esther Wojcicki has experienced tremendous success as a mother and a teacher. Each of her daughters have impressive career achievements. Daughter Susan Wojcicki, is the CEO of YouTube, Janet Wojcicki, is a professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco; and Anne Wokcicki is the founder and CEO of genetic testing company 23andMe.

Esther has been squarely at the center of Silicon Valley for her entire career as an influential, deeply loved and respected teacher. Thousands of students who went through the journalism program Esther created at Palo Alto High School (and later on to pivotal roles in the tech industry and others) often consider the experience life-changing both for the work they did, and for the respect, autonomy and the bar set by Esther.

Given her wisdom and experience as a mother and teacher, we spoke with Esther in May 2020, in episode 117, about her thoughts on opportunities for the K-12 education system to evolve throughout the COVID-19 crisis. As Esther shared in our conversation, the current education system is operating at a model that is 100 years old. Esther shared ideas for modernizing education through a hybrid model that encourages students to practice creativity, while also spending a portion of their time on projects they are interested in pursuing. Esther shared tips for parents on how to inspire younger, and older, students during homeschooling. The new Tract.app is a perfect extension of Esther’s goals to help students thrive.

Once you listen to episode #117, we recommend you go back and download episode #96, recorded in 2019. In that conversation Esther shared the guiding principles she has used to raise her wildly successful daughters, as well as empower students through her journalism program. We discussed Esther’s best-selling book, How To Raise Successful People: Simple Lessons For Radical Results, and the parenting philosophy Esther uses called TRICK: trust, respect, independence, collaboration and kindness.

If you want to be a part of the Tract.app pilot group, sign up with the code “WOJSPECIAL” and receive free access for a year. As a. Member of the pilot group, you will be asked to offer your feedback on the tract.app and courses.

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When Brooke Shannon realized the smartphone decision was coming for her three daughters, she felt she needed to wait, and she also suspected she was not aloe in dealing with the mounting pressures and questions surrounding kids and smartphones. Brooke created a website dedicated to waiting on smartphones and support from other families was instant. Today, the Wait until 8th organization, is a place where families can sign a pledge to wait until 8th grade until giving their kids a smartphone. By signing the pledge as a group of 10 families, both kids and families gain community support in their decision. Considering the peer pressure kids feel to get a smartphone, and the instantly addictive nature of a phone, this is likely one of the top decisions families are facing. In our conversation, Brooke shares her personal story and we discuss some of the reasons for deciding to wait on smartphones until 8th grade.

if you enjoy this episode, please share it with a friend , follow us @meantforit and leave us a review on iTunes.

You can you reach us at: contact@meantforit.com

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When Alexandra Kenin realized her job was not allowing her to fully thrive, she found a way to combine her love of outdoor exploration with writing and crafted herself a dream career. Alexandra is the founder of Urban Hiker SF, Studio Chief and Senior Editor at Wordsmithie, and author of Urban Trails: San Francisco and Urban Trails: East Bay.

In our conversation, Alexandra shares how she made her career transition and the strategies she used to get her tour business started. Alexandra also shares the steps she took to quickly and successfully publish her first book. If you have considered trying an entrepreneurial idea, or if you are in the middle of a career transition, this conversation may give you the boost and tips you need for taking the next steps towards your dream career path.

Topics Discussed:

Career transitions
Hiking and exploring San Francisco
The power of business school networks
Marketing strategies for an outdoor tour business
Tips for publishing a non-fiction book: Unconventional Guide to Publishing by David Fugate

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Prior to joining Lyft, Sara El-Amine had an extraordinary career in community organizing; ranging from an entry level role, to an executive director role, for the Obama campaign. After reading Obama’s book, The Audacity of Hope, Sara quit her job, drove to the Iowa headquarters in 2008, and offered to help. It was a bold decision that paid off. With time, Sara rose to the National Director role of Obama’s reelection campaign and served as executive director of Organizing for Action (OFA), leading Obama’s citizen-led movement for change across the U.S.

Today, as Head of Community Engagement at Lyft, Sara has jumped into the business world with the same enthusiasm she had for her organizing work. Sara really, really believes in the power of the gig economy. In this conversation, Sara shares why she made the switch to the business world and why she believes gig work has so much potential to help communities across the US and the people working in the industry. We discuss the emerging field of community engagement and what Sara and her team focus on day-to-day. Sara shares what she looks for when hiring, and the background or experience that is useful in a community engagement role.

Sara also shares some of the deeply personal reasons that motivated her to pursue a career in organizing and social change. We talk about the ways Sara’s family and personal experiences were the origin of her early passion for social impact, and how her desire to help people and improve communities continues to be the primary inspiration for her work.

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Jennifer Dulski has had a dream career in senior technology roles including executive leadership roles at Facebook, Google, Yahoo!, and as a founder, CEO and president for early stage startups. Jennifer’s latest project is Rising Team, where she is CEO and founder. Rising Team provides tools, data and community to turn managers into successful coaches, a role Jennifer has mastered throughout her impressive career.

A few highlights from Jennifer’s career path include: leading Facebook Groups, where her team was responsible building and growing the Groups product. While Jennifer was president & COO of change.org, the organization grew 10x, from 18 million users to 180 million and developed a profitable business model. Jennifer left a senior level role at Yahoo! to become co-founder and CEO of The Dealmap, a location-based deals app that Google acquired in 2011.

In this conversation, Jennifer walks us through several milestones on her career path, the decision making framework she has used throughout her roles and the mindset that has helped her succeed and actively seek new challenges. We also discuss Jennifer’s early influences and the confidence she gained from being a coxswain for the boy’s high school crew team. After this conversation, you may be persuaded to say yes to more opportunities that come your way and to try Jennifer’s “IICDTICDA” principle towards your next project. If you want to learn more about Jennifer, order her book, Purposeful: Are You a Manager or a Movement Starter, where Jennifer shares stories about her own experiences, inspiring stories of social change leaders and what she has learned about starting movements.

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If you have ever wondered why motherhood in the US is so difficult, you don’t want to miss this conversation with Caitlyn Collins, Assistant Professor of Sociology a Washington University and author of Making Motherhood Work: How Women Manage Careers and Caregiving. In her book, Caitlyn dives into the ways public policy shapes the lives of mothers in the USA, Germany, Italy and Sweden. By examining the different policies in each country, and through detailed interviews with 135 women, the book shows how public policy decisions deeply influence culture and drastically shapes the lives of parents.

This conversation is likely to leave you shocked, and, hopefully inspired by the possibility to reimagine options for supporting mothers and children with benefits such as paid parental leave and universal affordable, high quality childcare. As Caitlyn says, instead of blaming themselves, mothers in the US should consider that the current system isn’t working.

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When the Covid lockdown started, Stella Delp was a sophomore at Stanford and determined to find a way to help. News stations were showing lines for food that were miles long, while some farms were in situations where they needed to destroy enormous amounts of food. Stella joined two friends, co-founders James Kanoff and Aidan Reilly as the third employee at newly formed Farmlink Project with the goal of reducing food waste and helping to get fresh produce to food banks. Five months later, Farmlink Project has delivered 12 millions pounds of fresh produce to food banks across the country and is currently delivering up to 1M pounds per week! Stella’s current role is Chief of Staff for a fully volunteer staff that has reached 50 full time volunteers and 140 part time volunteers.

In this conversation, Stella shares her Farmlink Project journey and insights into the food industry. Famlink Project’s latest goal is to keep growing and to create a platform that farms, food banks, and other organizations looking to feed people & reduce food waste will be able to easily access. This story will leave you feeling inspired by the possibilities for a small group of people to make a huge difference and start a movement.

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Jennifer Justice started The Justice Dept. with a goal of making women as rich as men. The company is a female-focused advisory, consulting and law firm advocating for female founders, talent, execs and brands. Its vision is, “To accelerate the success of women, women-owned businesses and women -ocused brands to achieve equality and diversity in the market, workforce and workplace as it should be.”

In this episode, Jennifer shares her path to entertainment law and the thought process behind some of the biggest decisions she’s made in her life. As the first in her family to attend college, Jennifer had no help, financial assistance, or connections to aide in her career. She made it on her own. If you’ve ever doubted your abilities, or felt like reaching her level of success seems impossible, Jennifer is here with her story to boldly declare that it’s possible. She knows. Because she did it.

Listen in to hear Jennifer share how her background has given her an edge in connecting with musicians and making independent, unconventional choices. And the same plays into her personal life – from having kids on her own to launching The Justice Dept. Named a “Game Changer” by Goop, as one of the “50 Badass Women Changing the World in 2020” by InStyle, and as one of Billboard’s “Women in Power” list-makers three times, Jennifer is known for her expertise in entertainment law. Her client list has included Jay-Z, Beyonce, Outkast, Slipknot and Mark Ronson. She later worked as EVP and general counsel at Jay-Z’s Roc Nation – helping it grow new avenues for revenue streams – from TV and film, to sports, branding and partnerships. She then worked as the president of corporate development at Superfly, a live experience company, and helped it grow revenue and raise more capital.

Jennifer understands how to structure and build successful businesses, and how to negotiate deals at the highest levels. Today’s episode of I Want Her Job The Podcast will give you a taste of how she sees the world, her advice for growing your own revenue stream, and negotiating tips to consider for your next role.

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If you are spending more time on LinkedIn these days to look for a new job, take a break from zoom or connect with your network, you may have wondered what it's like to work as a Linkedin News Editor. In this conversation, Riva Gold, Linkedin News Editor for USA/Canada, joins us to walk through a day in her life. Riva shares her career milestones and the creative push she made to land her current job. We discuss Riva’s role in creating and curating a wide range of content on LinkedIn and how Riva transitioned from a traditional journalism role.

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In our part 2 of our conversation with Tracy, we discuss the 7 emotional clutter blocks Tracy discovered while running her business. Tracy walks us through each emotional block and offers examples of how people use shopping or holding on to excess stuff as a way of avoiding their emotions or problems. We discuss some of the ways our society is rigged against our desire to buy less and how your home can become a more peaceful and joyful place when you remove the things that you don’t need. Whether you are hanging on to the past, creating a fantasy life, feeling guilty about your purchases or feeling shame for not using the stuff you bought, Tracy can help. After 14 years helping people declutter their homes, Tracy has seen it all and can help people move past common emotional mistakes related to the things we own.

Tracy's book, Making Space Clutter Free: The Last Book on Decluttering You Will Ever Need

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Tracy McCubbin is a professional declutterer, but what she really does is help people manage their relationship to stuff. When Tracy realized she had a talent for helping people organize their stuff, she turned it into dCluttefly, a thriving business. Recently, Tracy decided to start a service that will help others start their own decluttering and organizing businesses. The $22B storage industry, Tracy’s waiting list for her services, and the fact that most Americans cannot park in their garages due to exceed stuff, is an indicator of the market size and need for people who can help us manage what we buy.

It is easy to feel overwhelmed with the problems of the world and unable to help, but there is a way to help by making conscious choices to buy less things. In our conversation, we discuss the mental and financial impact to our health, our finances, the environment and our homes when we buy too much. In Tracy’s book, Making Space, Clutter Free: The Last Book on Decluttering You'll Ever Need, Tracy outlines a range of 7 emotional blocks that people have related to stuff and offers advice on how to move past emotional blockers such as hanging on to the past or creating a fantasy lite. Listen in to this conversation and read Tracy’s book if you are feeling overwhelmed with the stuff in your home or if you want change your buying habits. Tracy breaks down the emotional triggers that create the urge to buy and hold on to the things that don't serve our needs.

To contact the show reach out to: iwantherjobpodcast@gmail.com

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Our guest today Katie Fogarty is the founder of LinkedIn Reboot and Reboot for Business, Katie Fogarty’s work helps people transform their LinkedIn profiles, personal brands and career opportunities. Katie's background writing for morning TV news, working for a global PR firm and even for a U.S. Senator has given her a perfect combination of skills to help others summarize their personal stories on their LinkedIn pages.

In our second conversation with Katie, we discuss key tips for helping job seekers update their profiles and make the most of out LinkedIn’s latest features.

Our podcast with Katie fron 2019

To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com Follow us @iwantherjob

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Laura Vanderkam is a Nationally-recognized time management expert, author, podcast host and a mother of five. Laura’s latest book, The New Corner Office: How the Most Successful People Work From Home offers advice for remote work based on Laura’s 18 years of experience working remotely. In our conversation, Laura shares top tips on working remotely, engineering serendipity into your days, and ideas for trying side projects that can lead to new ways of thinking or unexpected opportunities.

If you enjoy this conversation, listen in to our conversation with Laura in 2017 where we discussed Laura’s book, I Know How She Does It: What the Most Successful People do Before Breakfast.

A few topics discussed:

Setting up your remote work day
Making effective to do lists
Engineering serendipity while working remotely
Pitching a book proposal

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Lily Tung Crystal worked for two decades while pursuing her passion on the side until she landed her dream job. Today, Lily is doing her life's work as Artistic Director of Theater Mu, a theater devoted to celebrating and empowering Asian Americans through storytelling.

Lily shares her journey of pursuing her love of theater and acting on the side while working as a freelance writer and producer. At Theater Mu, Lily is using her skills in acting, writing, producing and leadership training to bring audiences great performances rooted in equity, justice and the Asian American experience. We discuss Lily's passion for bringing diversity to the arts and the evolution of Liily's love for theater and storytelling. Lily also shares tips for pursuing your passion while keeping a day job and building a portfolio career.

To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com Follow us @iwantherjob

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If you want to learn how to tell your career or life stories in ways that will make you memorable and help others, then you will love this conversation with Bofta Yimam. Bofta is an Emmy® & Murrow Award-Winning Journalist, DC-based National TV Correspondent, TV Anchor, International Speaker, CEO and Executive Coach.

Bofta is a self-made woman and the first Ethiopian American newscaster to receive an Emmy® for her work. Bofta started her own executive coaching business with the goal of helping people improve their lives and careers by learning how to tell their stories. We discuss the bold moves that shaped Bofta’s career path and how she dealt with adversity.

As Bofta shares in this conversation, when you are telling your story, look for the transformational moments in your life and think about the lessons you learned. Listen in to hear how your transformational experiences can help help you advance with your professional and personal goals while also helping others.

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A one-time whimsical art project to turn her daughter’s drawing into a dress, changed Jaimiee Newberry’s carefully designed life. After Jaimee saw the joy her daughter felt from wearing her imagination and the comments from people who noticed the dress, Jamie and her partner, Ken, realized they had something special.

Jaimee and Ken used their design skills and tech background to test the idea and create a working prototype. Within 24 hours after launching picturethisclothing, their idea went viral with a write-up in TechCrunch. By the end of the first week, they had mentions on multiple sites and a video with 3 million views that made their site crash. As Jaimee shares in our conversation, everything broke, and when they caught up, things broke again.

In episode #124 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Jaimee shares her start-up journey and the lessons she’s learned along the way. She offers listeners advice and industry tips for pursuing an e-commerce business idea on a low budget. She also tells us about the latest exciting service from Picturethisclothing that will allow your kids to sell their own designs.

If you are looking for a creative project or gift idea for the kid in your life or if you want to be inspired by an entrepreneurial story, this conversation is for you.

To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com Follow us @iwantherjob

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Jessica Jackson is the Chief Advocacy Officer for Reform Alliance, an organization working to reduce the number of people in the criminal justice system by focusing on probation and parole. Jessica previously served as a Human Rights Attorney, Mayor of Mill Valley, California and National Director of #Cut50. Jessica is also getting attention for mentoring and helping Kim Kardashian with her law studies and advocacy for criminal justice reform. Kim has been studying 18 hours a week under Jessica’s guidance as she pursues a legal degree.

In our third conversation with Jessica, we discuss the progress that has been made in reducing national incarceration rates and Jessica’s current role with the Reform Alliance. Jessica’s path to criminal justice reform came from a deeply personal story that impacted her family. Shortly after she was married and had a newborn, her husband was sentenced to almost 10 years in prison for a non violent offense. This experience completely changed Jessica’s life and set her down a path to fixing the problems she witnessed in the criminal justice system. Listen to our conversation in episode #18 where Jessica shares her personal story of completing her law degree as a single mom, representing clients on death row and running for public office.

As someone who believes in turning anger into action, Jessica has devoted her career to public service. Listen in to hear her story and get insight into recent progress and work being done to improve our criminal justice system.

Listen to episode #18 where Jessica shares her career story.

Listen to episode #78 where Jessica Jackson shares how to get involved in your community and public office.

To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com Follow us @iwantherjob

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A random act of kindness to help furnish an apartment for someone who aged out of foster care altered the course of Georgie Smith’s life. Georgie started receiving requests from others who needed the same type of assistance. When Georgie realized there were no organizations providing this help to set up homes for kids coming out of the foster system, Georgie decided to create a Sense of Home with a model that could be repeated by other non-profits. In our conversation, Georgie shares how furnishing an apartment can help to change the future for kids coming out of foster care. We discuss the story of starting a Sense of Home, its impact and the super hero resilience Georgie finds among those she is helping. Growing up Georgie’s dad would ask her ‘What are you doing to do about it’ when she read stories of people struggling. This mindset and the example of generosity from her parents shaped Georgie’s career and life path. This story will leave you hopeful, inspired and may encourage you to ask yourself what you are going to do about the problems that move you.

Jazmine’s story and home creation
Testimonials capturing the love of strangers
A Sense of Home warehouse tour

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Danielle Gletow was destined to grant wishes. After fostering and then adopting a newborn, Danielle found her life calling. A 2013 CNN Hero, Danielle has devoted herself to finding ways to help more than 400,000 children in foster care. Danielle founded One Simple Wish in 2008 with the goal of granting wishes to children in foster care across the country and those who've aged out of foster care. On One Simple Wish, people can view wishes from foster children and make contributions that make those wish come true. Wishes range from toys to school supplies, music lessons or trips to a theater or pool. Last year, One Simple Wish reached 20,000 youth.

In our conversation, Danielle shares the deeply personal story that led her to foster care, her experiences with the foster system and why the children in the foster system need our attention and support. If you have been thinking of ways to contribute and help others during these challenging times, One Simple Wish was started with the goal of giving people an opportunity to connect with foster kids and easily make meaningful contributions.

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How often during your college years did you wonder: How are these classes going to help me? What will do I with the information I’m learning? But, what if you had the chance to discover your “why” during a yearlong opportunity — before you kicked off your career? That’s exactly what Abby Falik has created with Global Citizen Year, a program that helps students stretch themselves during a gap year between high school graduation and college.

Abby is the founder of the organization, which also helps students learn about cultures and languages, and gain experiences and memories, while staying with host families in Brazil, Ecuador, India and Senegal, and work as apprentices in local organizations.

In our previous conversation with Abby (during 2018 and featured episode #82), Abby shared the roots of her passion and what made her determined to make the gap year part of every student’s college experience. In our latest conversation, Abby shares the story of the launch of Global Citizen Academy, a new program bringing together high school students worldwide for the opportunity to explore topics like effective communication, systems thinking and ethical decision-making. Global Citizen Academy is seizing this historic moment to help high school graduates find ways they can help their communities within an organization that has proven leadership training.

Abby was once the type of student she hopes to inspire. She was attending college at Stanford when she realized that she was longing for more than simply listening to professors in lecture halls. Abby took a break and spent a year in Brazil working and traveling. After coming back to Stanford after this life-changing journey, she noticed she gained confidence and maturity, which she credits with altering the course of her life. But before Abby realized her vision, she worked in a nonprofit — managing, building and creating ideas — and then attended Harvard to obtain an MBA that would help her create Global Citizen Year.

If you like today’s episode, we recommend you scroll back through our podcast archives to our conversation with Abby in episode #82.

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Heidi Kühn, CEO and founder of Roots of Peace, was raised with a pioneer spirit, love for the earth and humanity. Heidi’s commitment to peace was further strengthened during her time attending University of California Berkeley in the 1970’s.

After a cancer diagnosis, Heidi made a promise to God to help others. Inspired by Princess Diana’s commitment to the removal of landmines, Heidi recovered, and lived up to her promise by founding Roots of Peace with a vision of turning “Mines to Vines” – replacing the remnants of war with bountiful vineyards and orchards of peace around the world. Heidi saw the landmines as a cancer of the earth, and devoted herself to saving lives while preventing people and children from tragic death or crippling injuries.

In Heidi’s new book, Breaking Ground: From Landmines to Grapevines, One Woman's Mission to Heal the World, Heidi shares the story of starting Roots of Peace 22 years ago from the basement of her home in Marin County, California. For two decades, Heidi straddled her role as a mother to four children, while growing support for the Roots of Peace vision. With help from local Napa Valley Vintners, her friends, a community of supporters, the United States Government, the United Nations, World Bank and other organizations, Roots of Peace has planted seeds of hope and peace in eight countries around the world.

In our conversation, Heidi shares the faith and mindset that gave her the courage and resilience that helped Roots of Peace thrive and allowed Heidi to overcome her fears. “Faith not fear” was the belief that allowed Heidi to walk through live minefields, make difficult decisions and keep Roots of Peace alive through multiple hardships.

Heidi has been recognized for her work by numerous world leaders, including Kofi Annan, H.H. Pope Benedict XVI, H.H. Pope Francis and many heads of state and government.

Heidi’s faith, vision and personal story is likely to give you inspiration to pursue the goals that are calling you. Heidi says, “I believe that once we commit ourselves wholeheartedly to a noble cause, there are higher forces that steer us in a certain direction and that come to our aid when we are in need.” After listening to Heidi’s story, and reading her book, you may decide it’s time to pursue your calling, and this is exactly what Heidi is seeking with her book. Heidi’s unwavering belief in a world where children are free to walk without fear of death or injury is a mission we can all support. We hope you enjoy this conversation, read Heidi’s book and join her on the mission of restoring mines to vines.

To contact the show reach out to: contact@meantforit.com Follow us @meantforit

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As President George W. Bush’s White House Press Secretary, Dana Perino has mastered the art of handling stress. And, if this were a game of superlatives, you could also say she’s most likely to be the most prepared person in any room. She also broke a glass ceiling during her time working in the White House, as during her tenure as White House Press Secretary, she was the first female to serve as a spokesperson in a Republican administration.

Respected across the aisle, Dana was appointed to the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors by President Barack Obama after departing the White House.

In 2009, she joined FOX News Channel as a contributor. And in just 11 years at FOX News, she is appearing on two hours of national television on the channel each day. Dana anchors FOX News Channel's afternoon news program, The Daily Briefing and is one of the co-hosts of The Five a weekday roundtable discussion program where different voices across the spectrum break down the biggest issues of the day.

Dana also leads the 2020 election coverage and has anchored special events for the primary and Iowa caucuses. She also made news herself when she nabbed an exclusive interview with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to discuss the state of social media and political advertising, which also was his first interview with the network.

In episode #118, Dana shares some of her career defining moments, advice for pursuing career goals and managing fear. We speak about her passion for guiding the future female leaders as the founder of Minute Mentoring. We also talk about her book, And the Good News Is... Lessons and Advice from the Bright Side, which shares career advice from lessons Dana has learned along her path.

Dana also shares one of her get-ahead secrets – her ability to transfer her energy to an audience. She says, “If you are not amped up a little bit, your audience is going to be bored.” Dana also shares other insights about nabbing your dream job. She advises that even if you are offered the second-in-command role, you should still grab the opportunity to learn as much as you can, so that when your time comes, you know how to be in charge. We also talk with Dana about how her parents and grandparents, ranchers in Colorado, gave her the values and mindset that have shaped her path, love of news and work ethic.

To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com Sign up for our newsletter and find more interviews: www.iwantherjob.com

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Esther Wojcicki has experienced tremendous success as a mother and a teacher. Each of her daughters have impressive career achievements. Daughter Susan Wojcicki, is the CEO of YouTube; Janet Wojcicki, is a professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco; and Anne Wojcicki, is the founder and CEO of genetic testing company 23andMe.

Esther has been squarely at the center of Silicon Valley for her entire career as an influential, loved and respected teacher. Similar to Forest Gump living through pivotal moments in history, Susan has witnessed tech history firsthand. Google famously began its empire in daughter Susan’s garage. Susan and Ann lead disruptive tech companies. Plus, thousands of students who went through the journalism program Esther created at Palo Alto High School (and later on to pivotal roles in the tech industry and others) often consider the experience life-changing – both for the work they did, and for the respect, autonomy and the bar set by Esther.

Given her wisdom and experience as a mother and teacher, we were excited to speak with Esther once again about her thoughts on opportunities for the K-12 education system to evolve throughout the COVID-19 crisis. As Esther shares in our conversation, the current education system is operating at a model that is 100 years old. In today’s episode she shares ideas for modernizing education through a hybrid model that encourages students to practice creativity, while also spending a portion of their time on projects they are interested in pursuing. Esther suggests we see this time as an opportunity to set up systems that encourage students to focus on critical thinking skills vs. the standard memorization model. She also shares tips for parents on how to inspire younger, and older, students during homeschooling.

Once you listen to episode #117, we recommend you go back and download episode #96, recorded in 2019. In that conversation Esther shared the guiding principles she has used to raise her wildly successful daughters, as well as empower students through her journalism program. In that show, we discussed Esther’s book, How To Raise Successful People: Simple Lessons For Radical Results, and the parenting philosophy Esther uses called TRICK — trust, respect, independence, collaboration and kindness. You can also sign up for Esther’s new newsletter, wojway, for guidance on navigating the COVID-19 world of remote learning.

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There is something you can do one day a week that has the potential to change your life, and it I s a practice thousands of years old with proven wisdom from the beginning of civilization. In this conversation, Tiffany Shlain shares how starting a Technology Shabbat has transformed and enriched her life.

Tiffany's new book, 24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week, explores how unplugging for 24 hours a week has actually increased her productivity, creativity, presence and connection with her family. Tiffany's book is also a guide for how to start a Technology break in your life, with research and wisdom to support why this day of rest can be so deeply transformative.

In our conversation, we discuss why taking a day off allows your brain to process the information and experiences from the week, while creating space for doing things you love. A tech free day also creates the space and time for connecting more deeply with your friends and family. Tiffany is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, speaker and Webby Awards Founder with over 80 awards and distinctions for her films and work. If you are curious and enjoy exploring topics related to neuroscience, gender equality, technology or character, check out some of Tfffany's short films.

For a quick introduction to Tiffany's work, her two minute films Dear Parent and Dear Student may drastically change how often and when you choose to use your phone and other technology throughout the day.

To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com Sign up for our newsletter and find more interviews: www.iwantherjob.com

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Imagine you wrote your first book in your senior year of college, found an agent, and sold the publishing and film rights before graduating. Imagine a few years later, you wrote two more novels that sold over 5 million copies and went to the premiere of the film based on your first book. This is actually the way Veronica Roth’s career started.

As the best-selling author of the Divergent series, Veronica has hard-earned advice to share on starting to write and nurturing your writing practice. With her latest book, Chosen Ones, Veronica is moving into a new phase of her writing career. In the book, the five characters from the Divergent series deal with prior trauma while adjusting to the expectations and responsibilities of their adult lives.

In this episode of I Want Her Job The Podcast, we discuss where Veronica finds inspiration and why she finds science fiction an easier and more interesting world for writing. Veronica shares how she discovered and learned to manage her anxiety disorder, including her experience with exposure therapy of which she says, “It’s the kind of uncomfortable that makes you better.” We talk about ways she moves through life while managing anxiety and fear. “Discomfort can be endured, and it has to be for your life to be rich,” she says.

Join us in episode #115 for this conversation, and get to know the wildly creative Veronica Roth.

To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com Sign up for our newsletter and find more interviews: www.iwantherjob.com

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Today’s job market feels uncertain. How long will it be this way? We caught up with Tara Sinclair, an associate professor at The George Washington University and a senior fellow at Indeed, the #1 job site worldwide. During our conversation, Tara shares her thoughts on the current labor market and interprets what it can mean for your future job planning. Her research focuses on recessions, so her insights on labor market trends can help you think through your career options and goals during and after the COVID-19 crisis.

In episode #114 of I Want Her Job The Podcast, we discuss industries where job growth is strong, ways to pivot your career and possible economic scenarios within the labor market. We also talk about the continued job strength within the technology and health care sectors, as well as options to pursue certificates, training and degrees for jobs in those sectors. Tara also shares insights into the great divide between job seekers.

If you like today’s episode, we recommend you scroll back through our podcast archives to our October 2016 conversation with Tara in episode #25.

To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com Sign up for our newsletter and find more interviews: www.iwantherjob.com

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If you’re a parent, educator or someone interested in exploring parenting topics, today’s episode is for you. Deana Thayer and Kira Dorrian, founders of the Future Focused Parenting Podcast, offer their tips and advice for parenting through this unique season of life.

Deana is a childbirth educator, birth doula and has expertise in sleep consulting, parent coaching and blended family support. Kira is a mental health professional with a private practice. She’s passionate about mental health and wellness of a whole family as a key to a positive parenting experience.

In episode #113, we talk to Deana and Kira about how to check in with our kids during the COVID-19 crisis, home schooling and parenting to raise adults. Deana reminds us to, “Keep in mind, as upside down your world feels right now, that is how upside down their world feels too.” We talk about questions you can ask your kids and warning signs that indicate when kids need may need extra support.

The Future Focused Parenting approach, according to Deana and Kira, suggests that as parents we should check in, and communicate often, with out kids so that we can identify and prevent issues from getting bigger. We also discuss the Future Focused Parenting philosophy pillars, including how to parent with a strong why, setting intentions and being proactive.

Deana and Kira bring different backgrounds to their work. Deana is a practicing Christian, and Kira defines herself as a liberal agnostic Jew. These different viewpoints help the two lean in, learn from each other and genuinely listen to different perspectives. Through their podcast, the pair have created a welcome space for exploring different approaches to family life, while revealing we often have more in common than we assumed. And that’s something we could all use more of right now.

Kira and Deanna share details about their upcoming projects including a group coaching course and an online course for helping kids with anxiety.

If you enjoy this show, please share it with a friend! To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com Sign up for our newsletter and find more interviews: www.iwantherjob.com

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Lynn Perkins was in a situation parents everywhere face. She was in need of a baby-sitter. It dawned on her that she could leverage her social network to find a sitter for her twin boys. It was during this moment that she realized the opportunity to leverage one’s social networks for finding short- and long-term childcare. A natural matchmaker, Lynn recruited three co-founders to join her in this initiative. Each had complementary strengths — in engineering, product and marketing. The business idea became UrbanSitter, a network that offers background-checked sitters and nannies nearby. Even better, it shows the baby-sitters and nannies who take care of the children of other parents in your social network. After signing up and paying a monthly or annual membership fee, you’ll gain access to 120,000+ active sitters and nannies in the company’s database. And, the site averages a response time of under three minutes.

In this conversation, Lynn shares how UrbanSitter is helping to find childcare for the more than 12,000+ health care workers during the COVID-19 crisis. Lynn also shares her story of navigating the 2008 financial crisis, and she offers advice for people who may need to seek career changes due to COVID-19 related impacts. The two also discuss two groups that are using UrbanSitter for the flexibility and income streams it provides — college students and retirees.

Whether you’re looking for childcare, or you’re a kiddo-loving individual looking for a job that can provide more income, listen to this episode to learn about this new way of connecting kids with care.

UrbanSitter is offering a free month of membership to parents working to help them find childcare. Register for an account at UrbanSitter.com and enter code: HEALTH on your My Account / Credits page to redeem your free month. If you enjoy this show, please share it with a friend. To contact the show reach out to: contact@meantforit.com Follow us on @meantforit.com

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We hope you and your family are safe. And for those of you struggling right now, or for those of you who are scared, we hope you are finding the support you need. With the events all around us right now you may be wondering, “Will I still have my job a week from now?” Or, maybe with this extra time to reflect you’ve been thinking your current role no longer fills your heart.

If a career switch is on your mind, start creating your own career pivot plan. But first, download our ‘Career Quickie’ I Want Her Job The Podcast episode with Dr. Dawn Graham. Dr. Dawn is the author of, of Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Careers and Seize Success and a coach for the Wharton School’s Executive MBA program. You also might have heard her on Sirius XM channel 132 where she hosts Career Talk.

An expert on career switching, Dr. Dawn’s advice is among the best we’ve ever heard. And although recent events can make our lives feel wildly out of control, we hope you’ll listen to this episode to get solid advice for working on the things you can control. In this curated mini-podcast featuring some of our best moments from our interview in episode #104 with Dr. Dawn, we share advice for questions such as: Should I go back to school? How do I interview for a job in a new career track? How do I know if my job switch is worth it? How can I prove my fit to the hiring manager?

Download and listen on for advice on all of the following …

What you need to demonstrate to the hiring manager in an interview
Why you need to be really clear on what you want to do
What you need to demonstrate to the hiring manager

To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com

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Colombian-born Renata Black lost both of her parents in an airplane accident when she was a toddler. A tragedy of this type could devastate and stunt a life. But that is not Renata’s story.

Instead, Renata shares how the loss of her parents, and her knowledge of the precious nature of life, became her competitive advantage. Renata was adopted by her aunt and uncle and was raised in Miami. She dropped out of school at 15 and returned to Colombia to stay with her grandmother. After moving back, she saw the differences between living in the United States and the poorest areas of Colombia. It gave her an early understanding of the vast differences in how people live.

Later in her 20’s, when a dream job with MTV didn’t work out, Renata purchased a ticket to travel the world. In doing so, she expanded her perspectives regarding how fellow women live in various areas of the world. It was Renata’s world travels that gave her a deep motivation and burning desire to find ways to help other women rise through microfinance. And, it was while she was volunteering in India that she had a moment of inspiration after a woman came up to her and said, “I don’t want your money, but can you teach me how to make it?” So, Renata studied under Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize Winner, for three months and then launched a microfinance program in India – the Seven Bar Foundation.

In 2016 Renata met Modern Family’s Sofia Vergara though a mutual friend. The two launched EBY, a direct to consumer size inclusive seamless underwear membership program. Their products are for “women who kick ass every day and who want to empower other women to kick ass, too.” Through the online subscription, you can share your style profile. Then, boxes of selected-for-you underwear will arrive every 1, 3 or 6 months. And to support other women while you support your best assets, 10% of net sales are directed to the Seven Bar Foundation– to empower women in business around the world through microfinance. In their first year they’ve helped 1,800 women and children rise out of poverty.

Renata lives her life by asking herself every morning, “What can be possible if I live outside of fear?” After listening to Renata’s story, you may be inspired to ask yourself the same question, and then take the first steps toward the living the in the answer.

To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com

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Bethany Hamilton is unstoppable. Since losing her left arm at the age of 13 to a tiger shark, nothing has stopped her from living her life to the fullest. When Bethany returned to surfing just one month after losing her arm -- and two years later won a national surf title -- she became an inspiration for millions. The move Soul Surfer released in 2011, starring AnnaSophia Robb, shares that story. Bethany’s latest documentary, Unstoppable, offers a deeper, wider and more personal view into her life -- including her early childhood, competitive surfing career, marriage and motherhood. It also follows her into magnificent waves while she surfs Jaws and other breathtaking locations.

In episode #109 of I Want Her Job The Podcast, Bethany shares how her values, family, faith and love for the ocean have guided her life path. If you need the courage to go after your deepest desires, you’ll be blown away by Bethany's mindset. Hearing about her life, and everything she has achieved, can seem impossible and too distant to be relatable. But that is precisely why you have to listen to this conversation and put Unstoppable on your must-watch list. Bethany's kind, compassionate and unassuming nature makes her relatable as an athlete, mother and friend. Hearing her describe how her faith and passion are her source of energy to pursue her goals, is likely to give you a boost toward turning what is possible into a reality.

In our conversation we also discuss Bethany's other pursuits including her organization, Friends of Bethany; her new yearlong Unstoppable course; and her books, Soul Surfer, Be Unstoppable, Body & Soul and Unstoppable Me.

To contact the show reach out to: iwantherjobpodcast@gmail.com

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When was the last time you were uncomfortable … purposefully uncomfortable? If you dread the feeling at all costs, then you have to hear our conversation today with Tania Katan, author of Creative Tresspassing.

Tania believes in mavericks. She’s a fan of getting messy. She believes you should face your fears. She wants you to be okay with being weird and unique. In the book, and in our conversation today, Tania shares her career story. She discusses the weight she felt in some of her previous jobs, and shares the moments that left her stifled and feeling alone. Tania also talks about how she began to flip those feelings upside down and by leaning in to her creativity to drive more value in her work.

In episode #108 of I Want Her Job The Podcast Tania also talks about the viral women’s empowerment campaign she co-created called #ItWasNeveraDress. In the campaign, the classic female bathroom symbol was reimagined as a cape-wearing power woman. The campaign went global and was featured in Time, New York Times, and CNN.

Learn how you can turn your job into a creative revolution. Consider today’s conversation your Cliff’s Notes on doing just that.

To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com

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Robyn Fisher really loves ice cream. As a kid, she and her family would have ice cream for those special moments in life – to bond, recover and really savor life. Fast forward to college. Robyn was in the middle of her studies and couldn’t find a decent ice cream in NYC. She recalled the fresh gelato she experienced in Italy and realized that while gourmet coffee was taking off, there was a gap in the market for fresh ice cream. This realization set her life path toward the founding of Smitten Ice Cream.

After graduating from business school, Robyn found an engineer willing to work for equity for two years on creating a better ice cream machine, Brrr, a liquid nitrogen machine with six patents and a secret formula for gourmet ice cream.

This led to the creation of the Today Smitten makes every ice cream batch to order. You read that right – nothing is frozen until the customer orders it.

In this episode of I Want Her Job The Podcast, Robyn shares her motivations that led to Smitten and discusses how starting Smitten gave her a life purpose and a job she truly loves. You also will hear Robyn’s unforgettable story of selling her first batch of ice cream in 2009 in a San Francisco park while using a Radio Flyer Wagon attached to a nitrogen machine and motorcycle battery held together with a bungee cord. After spending two years on the idea and her entire savings, Robyn gave herself two weeks to test if there was a market for her product. It was the depth of the recession, but instead of giving up or finding reasons why her idea wouldn't work, Robyn tried her idea on a serious budget, tweeting the location of her Radio Flyer ice cream. Robyn's experiment worked, and people showed up, a lot of people. That experiment changed Robyn's life and showed her there was a market for authentic food made with passion.

Today, you can experience Smitten ice cream in five stores in the Bay Area. Beginning in March 2020, wherever you are in the U.S., you will able to give your loved ones the sweetest surprise by making them a unique ice cream flavor. "Spoon me" and "You dumped his ass" are examples of custom ice cream flavors.

Robyn's story is the perfect example of having the courage and passion to follow an idea despite the odds or large competitors. Robyn innovated on an existing product, created a unique experience and built a business based on passion, integrity and smiles. If you have dreams of starting your own business, Robyn's story offers plenty inspiration to get you thinking differently about the possibilities.

To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com

Guest Co-Host Willow Older, Co-Founder of @today.i.noticed

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Need some inspiration about getting involved with an issue you’re passionate about? You’ll find plenty in today’s interview with Shannon Watts. After the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Shannon was devastated. Like many of us, she assumed the horrific tragedy would provoke outrage and change. When legislative and social change didn’t appear, and the status quo remained solidly in place, Shannon channeled her outrage and grief by starting a Facebook page for her few dozen online friends. Almost 7 years later, that single page has evolved into Moms Demand Action – a political powerhouse and one of the largest grassroots organizations in the country.

In today’s conversation, I Want Her Job The Podcast Host Polina Selyutin and Guest Co-Host Willow Older discuss Shannon’s new book, Fight Like a Mother, which is part memoir, part manual, and part manifesto. We talk about Shannon’s journey as an accidental activist and find out how Moms Demand Action is changing perceptions and creating unlikely allies in the battle for common sense gun safety legislation.

Shannon also shares how she manages to rise above cynicism, despite unprecedented rates of gun violence. We learn why “losing forward” is a crucial part of reaching big, long-term goals. And we find out how Moms Demand Action is developing volunteer leaders across the nation.

To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com

Guest Co-Host Willow Older, Co-Founder of @today.i.noticed

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 Sometimes we know from the moment we’re young people, just *exactly* what job we want to have when we grow up. When she was only 6-years-old, Jenni Kayne attended a fashion show with her mom. It was love at first catwalk spin. While still young, Jenni learned to sew. She continued to follow her heart throughout her years in a creative high school, and at only 19-years-old, Jenni launched her own design label, Jenni Kayne.

Now, her California-inspired design line of effortless staples crafted to stand the test of time.

  Sometimes we know from the moment we’re young people, just *exactly* what job we want to have when we grow up. When she was only 6-years-old, Jenni Kayne attended a fashion show with her mom. It was love at first catwalk spin. While still young, Jenni learned to sew. She continued to follow her heart throughout her years in a creative high school, and at only 19-years-old, Jenni launched her own design label, Jenni Kayne.

Now, her California-inspired design line of effortless staples crafted to stand the test of time, can be found in seven cities, online and at Nordstrom, She's also out with a new home line, new knits for kids, and a new book – Pacific Natural: Simple Seasonal Entertaining. Next year, Jenni has five more store openings planned and revenue that proves her brand continues to shine bright.

In today’s conversation, I Want Her Job Podcast Co-Founder Polina talks to Jenni about her brand that aims to “simplify and elevate the everyday.” Jenni shares how she elevates her everyday life, and offers tips for how you can do the same – even when on a budget. Her line, which promises style and quality season after season, is beautiful. And it reminds us that a thoughtful approach to living is within reach to all who believe that details matter.

To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com

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Have you ever wondered what it takes to make a career switch? Or, have you wondered what to do to make that career switch successful – and not a complete disaster? We sat down with a woman who wrote the book on the art of a career transition – literally. Dr. Dawn Graham is author of Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Careers and Seize Success. She’s also a coach for the Wharton School’s Executive MBA program and host of Career Talk on SiriusXM channel 132. In today’s episode of I Want Her Job The Podcast Dawn answers your top career transition questions.

Questions discussed include:

Should I go back to school?

How do I pass an interview in a new career track?

How do I know if my job switch is worth it?

Today’s episode shares advice from Dawn that is practical and will help you think through your career switch. And with advanced degrees in counseling psychology, her training allows her to understand the fears, doubts or mistakes that can often block us from making the career switch our souls want us to make.

Clarity comes through action, Dawn tells I Want Her Job The Podcast Co-Founder Polina. Learn how Dawn’s advice can help you test out the new career role you are considering. Then, hear guidance from Dawn about what to do when you get an interview, how to show your dedication for a new role, and more.

To contact the show reach out to: contact@meantforit.com

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Making decisions is critical for any CEO. But today’s Leading Lady has a Master’s in the art.

In this episode of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Denyelle Bruno, CEO of Los-Angeles based health-conscious restaurant Tender Greens talks to us about the importance of ensuring that senior leaders understand how vital it is to ensure that decisions are received and understood throughout multiple levels of an organization. And, she would know a thing or two about this, because in addition to her current role, she previously served as president of retail operations for Drybar, where she led the opening of 55 locations. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, in addition to that, Denyelle also was one of only seven people who worked with Steve Jobs to open the first 25 Apple stores. Her career experience also includes roles as vice president of retail for PUREBEAUTY and at Peet’s Coffee & Tea in vice president roles focused on retail strategy and market expansion, as well as retail marketing and operations.

The advice that comes from a career tenure like Denyelle’s is gold. And, after all of her experience, one of the most important pieces of advice she has for all of us is simple, yet gutsy:

Ask for the role you want. As Denyelle shares in our conversation, almost every role in her successful career has resulted from her asking for it.

It’s an important lesson to remember, especially as many of us often think that if we just work hard enough, and broaden our skill set and experience, then the offers will come directly to us. And while this happens sometimes, what we’ve been reminded of during our chat with Denyelle is that if you really want the job, ask for it. But first, listen to today’s episode for tips on how to ask for it from the expert herself. After all, you never know if this could be the move that changes the course of your career … forever.

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Ever since she was younger, Laura Rutledge has been the living embodiment of the mentality “Can’t stop, won’t stop.” Growing up, she was a serious ballet dancer and focused on music. And, in a way, she says ballet and music were almost like her first job, because through them she was always working so hard to get to that next opportunity. Whether it was a scholarship or a professional job as a ballet dancer, they were her goals, so working toward them became her job.

Ballet requires a level of perfection, Laura tells us in today’s conversation. And it was a level that required her to stay focused on one goal at a time. She credits this thought process for benefitting her career today at ESPN. At the network, Laura is the co-anchor of morning show Get Up!, one of the lead reporters for the network’s college sports coverage, and the host of SEC Nation every fall on SEC Network. And, in August she debuted The Moment with Laura Rutledge, a new show on SEC Network about making sports fans’ dreams come true.

Laura also is one of ESPN’s College Football Playoff reporters, and was assigned to the CFP semi-finals the past two seasons. She is a reporter for the network’s marquee Super Tuesday college basketball games and serves as the network’s lead reporter for the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament. Elsewhere in the world of college spots, Laura also covered the SEC Softball Tournament and NCAA Women’s College World Series. She’s also ESPN’s lead reporter for the SEC Baseball Tournament and NCAA College World Series. In addition, Laura has anchored many episodes of SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight, and she’s worked as a red carpet host at the ESPYS last year and this year. Last fall, she made her NFL reporting debut on Monday Night Football.

Just a week ago Laura received a new title – Mom – giving birth to her first baby, a daughter named Reese Katherine Rutledge. It was the perfect birthday gift for a mom, who will now forever share her birthday with her daughter.

Read on to learn how one of the hardest working women in sports organizes her day, fights off sick days, prepares for a handful of shows, and manages to look incredibly chic and classy in the process.

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Lydia Fenet undoubtedly has a dream job. In her role as managing director and global director of strategic partnerships at the famed auction house Christie's. Lydia’s role combines travel, strategy, art and social impact. In addition to living a life full of art and adventure, Lydia has raised more than half a billion dollars for over 400 non-profits worldwide as the leading benefit auctioneer in the country. In our conversation, Lydia reveals how she has used her work ethic and her unique skills of humor and persuasion to become a leading auctioneer. We also talk about her first book, The Most Powerful Women in The Room is You, where she shares the mindset and day-to-day tactics she used to land her first dream job as an intern. We also talk about the time Matt Damon accidentally called her Lindsey … and how one could possibly navigate that situation?! (With a classic response, of course.) Lydia also discusses one of her favorite events she’s worked on – leading a benefit with Bruce Springsteen at Madison Square Garden in front of an audience of 6,000. Dream job? Check. Most powerful women in the room? Double check. If you have your heart set on a dream job, Lydia’s entire career path is a roadmap that can be transferred toward any big career goal.

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We've all been through heartache and heartbreak, but today's guest on I Want Her Job: The Podcast has made a career of it. Amy Chan is the Founder of Renew Breakup Bootcamp, a retreat that takes a scientific and spiritual approach to healing the heart. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of JustMyType.ca an online magazine that focuses on the psychology behind love, lust and desire. In our conversation, Amy shares how a painful break up led her to the idea for starting her thriving business focused on love and healing. We discuss how Amy’s research on love dating changed her life and set her on a mission to help others, while running a successful business. You will love this episode if you are curious about different dating attachment styles, common mistakes, and the single most important thing each of us can do to get on a happier, and more loving path. After listening to Amy’s passion for how love and psychology are connected, it will be obvious why Marie Claire calls Amy, "A relationship expert whose work is like that of a scientific Carrie Bradshaw." Her company has been featured across national media including Good Morning America, Vogue, Glamour, Nightline and the front page of The New York Times. We can’t wait for you to listen and to have Amy back on our show to discuss her upcoming book, Breakup Bootcamp – The Science to Rewiring Your Heart. Sign up for our newsletter and find more interviews: www.iwantherjob.com

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The mission of Megan O’Connor’s company is empowering: We build educators into entrepreneurs. The company she co-founded, Clark, gives tutors and educators an online platform with tools for opening and managing an education business. For example, if you decided you wanted to start a side business tutoring, you could join Clark to automate scheduling, payment management, monitor student progress, find client leads, and get support from others with similar businesses. Clark also has added a content platform that facilitates sharing and collaboration among tutors on content ideas. Clark is the perfect example of technology enabling business owners to improve where they spend their time, and increase their revenue, impact and reach. Clark was even featured on Apple's Planet of the Apps, and as a result received venture funding and the opportunity to work with Gary Vaynerchuk to perfect their platform.

Some of the best startups are created when the founders are passionate about solving a problem. While growing up, Megan watched her mother – a school teacher – struggle with the demands of her personal tutoring business. When Megan realized there wasn’t a solution on the market to help her mom reduce time spent on administrative tasks with her tutoring business, the seed for Clark was planted. Today, Clark has 11 full-time employees, funding from leading venture investors, and ambitious plans to continue its work of creating powerful tools that empower the people doing some of the most important work there is, our educators.

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Imagine that you are in a room in Silicon Valley. You think of your electrical engineering degree from Stanford, but you also think of the time you immigrated to the United States with only $43 to your name. Everywhere you look there’s men, but you’re a woman. And although setbacks are the norm for females in your industry, you’re proving yourself to be a force in venture capital. After all, you’re on the inside helping Marc Benioff build Salesforce – from the ground up.

This is the story of Magdalena Yesil. Magdalena and three other extraordinarily strong, ambitious women share their stories in Alpha Girls, the latest book from acclaimed New York Times best-selling author and Pulitzer Prize nominee Julian Guthrie. In Alpha Girls, Julian takes the reader into the rooms where deals, risks and decisions shaped some of Silicon Valley’s biggest industries.

The Alpha Girls story is so damn, jaw-dropping good that there was a bidding war for the film and TV rights that included the likes of Amazon, Universal and Brett Ratner, among others. The winner? Female-founded Welle Entertainment. And, with a TV series on the horizon, we can’t wait to be taken into the girls’ world in a completely new way. But, as always, we recommend you read the book first. It will help you truly savor and dive into the awe-inspiring lives of the Alpha Girls.

In episode 98 of I Want Her Job The Podcast, Host Polina Selyutin talks to Julian about her book. We discuss how the four women featured got on their respective paths and worked their way to becoming “the only” in their venture firms. We also discuss how Alpha Girls has opened a door into venture capital as a path of opportunity for other women. Although it is a highly intense, high-stakes, high-stress and super-competitive space, for those ready and prepared for the challenge, the women known as the Alpha Girls have offered four roadmaps to tremendous success and a chance to shape the future.

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As the director of audience strategy and entertainment at HarpersBAZAAR.com, Julie Kosin oversees the news team, as well as topics ranging from movie and TV, to books, music and art. She’s been with the publication since graduating from Syracuse in 2014 as a magazine journalism major. Prior to her role at the publication she was an editor for College Fashionista.

When Julie was younger and growing up in Scranton, Pa. – home of yes, The Office – visiting New York City was a special treat. She would look forward to seeing shows on Broadway with her family and visiting the Empire State Building. Now, with NYC as her new home, Julie gets the opportunity to interview A-list celebrities in her office, watch popular TV shows like Game of Thrones (and call it work!), and also plan website content that goes up every half hour on the site for the legendary fashion publication.

Julie always loved magazines and English classes and realized when she was a senior in high school that it could be a job for her. “I loved getting my ideas on paper, and something clicked for me when I realized I could potentially turn that into a career,” she shares. “Then I started actively researching what that would look like and how journalism could be an option.”

In today’s conversation we discuss how Julie got her start working in the industry, her advice for others who want her job, what it’s like to interview celebrities and more. We also talk about her ability to work across brands with other Hearst magazines like Elle and Marie Claire and talk about one of her favorite video projects she’s ever worked on for HarpersBAZAAR.com

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Esther Wojcicki is asked about parenting advice – sometimes over 10 times a day! In How to Raise Successful People: Simple Lessons for Radical Results, Esther shares the guiding principles she has used to raise her wildly successful daughters, as well as in her teaching of journalism to students at Palo Alto High School who affectionately call her Woj. Her parenting philosophy can be distilled into a combination of values and practices within an acronym called TRICK, which stands for trust, respect, independence, collaboration and kindness. In her book, Esther drills into each area, explaining why she believes each component to TRICK is critical. She also offers ideas for utilizing her TRICK philosophy with your children, and shares dozens of memorable stories.

There is no doubt the book will be a best seller since Esther has had such tremendous success as a mother and teacher. Each of Esther’s daughters have phenomenal career achievements. Daughter, Susan Wojcicki is the CEO of YouTube; Janet Wojcicki is a professor of pediatrics at University of California, San Francisco; and Anne Wojcicki, is the founder and CEO of genetic testing company 23andMe. At the center of Silicon Valley for her entire career as an influential teacher, Esther also is a dedicated community member. With Google famously beginning its empire in daughter Susan’s garage, Esther has truly been surrounded by the tech revolution.

Hundreds of Esther’s students still keep in touch with her, and as her daughters say in the book’s foreword, they often meet former students who say, “You know, your mom really changed my life. She believed in me.” Esther has been nominated for national awards for her teaching and thousands of students who went through her program often consider the experience life changing – both for the work they did, and for the respect, autonomy and the bar set by Esther.

In addition to sharing her philosophy for raising independent, kind and community-oriented children, Esther’s book feels like a handbook for global citizenship. She firmly believes that kindness, finding ways to help others and the quality of our relationships are at the forefront of a happy life.

In our conversation, Esther shares how tragedy and other intense difficulties during her childhood influenced her parenting philosophy. We discuss why using TRICK with children and in schools leads to radical results and learn hands-on tactics for using TRICK in your family. Esther is a brilliant example of the impact one teacher can have, and the joy of living a life of purpose.

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When Casey Clark’s national tour of Les Misérables ended after nearly two years, and it was time to find a new job, Casey realized she tired of living the ups and downs that come with professional acting. As she shares in today’s show, professional actors often face long stretches of unemployment – filling in gaps with survival jobs and temping in various roles to pay the bills, sometimes for months, or even years.

One fateful day, Casey went on an interview that she thought was about singing coaching, and ended up being asked to teach speaking voice instead. Casey quickly fell in love with voice coaching and the opportunity to help women amplify their own voices. This session eventually led her to co-found Vital Voice Training.

Around the same time Casey started voice coaching, she read a book called Half the Sky, which left her feeling angry at the depth and enormity of problems facing women in our world. The combination of entering the voice coaching world, and wanting to help women, convinced Casey her mission was to help amplify the voices of women who were helping other women. In the 95th episode of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Host and Podcast Co-Founder Polina Selyutin discusses with Casey how voice coaching works, tips for improving public speaking skills and much more.

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To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com

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Elisabeth Leonard was living in New York City and had her dream job working at Rebecca Minkoff. She’d worked her way up the company, from a position as a receptionist, to a job in the PR department. Then her life changed dramatically. And for the better! If you think it can’t get better than what Elisabeth had going for her in New York then keep listening.

She moved to Santiago, Chile, a little over three years ago to be closer to her long-term boyfriend who had been living and working down there himself for a handful of years. Taking a leap from leaving the only city she had ever known, Elisabeth moved to Chile! And it gets better yet, because she still had the opportunity to work for Rebecca Minkoff, but this time on a remote basis leading special projects.

Last fall, one of those special projects involved helping Rebecca launch the Female Founder Collective– a network of businesses led by women, supporting women. Its mission is to enable and empower female-owned and led businesses to positively impact our community both socially and economically. Businesses that are part of the Collective have the opportunity to share a special FFC seal on their storefront or website that signifies by shopping there a consumer is supporting a female-founded business.

Today in episode 94 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Elisabeth joins I Want Her Job Founder Brianne, to discuss making major moves, the importance of kindness in career advancement and why working as a receptionist is a job with a lot of benefits. We also discuss her mindset working remotely, the importance of routine when working at home and why a dog named Ziggy was one of the greatest beings to ever come into her life.

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At the age of 23 while serving in the Israeli army Adi Arezzini was feeling bloated, constipated and had a stomach that looked like she was carrying around a bowling ball inside. She was active and training soldiers, yet she had a very angry digestive system that left her feeling terrible with her own wellness and health. And eating the food the army provided wasn’t exactly helping …

So, Adi tried a new avenue and got a colonic. It helped her for a while, but served more as a band-aide approach. It wasn’t until she got back to the United States and moved to Florida that she was able to cook her own healthy foods and finally help her stomach heal. And though her healthy eating approach was helping, it still didn’t fix her problem 100 percent.

At a fateful meeting at a friend’s house Adi met the person who would become her co-founder. With his background in coffee and tea, and her background in health and wellness, the two started to combine different loose leaf tea blends to find one that would help her stomach’s health and, as a perk, actually taste good at the same time. It was through this process that Teami Blends was born.

Offering teas made of herbs and natural ingredients, Teami Blends strives to create a product that provides a truly effective plant-based solution. The company is now a multi-million dollar brand with a massive following and community of Teami loyalists. And, just last year, Teami’s line of tea-infused skincare made it to the shelves of more than 1,000 Ulta retail stores.

In today’s episode of I Want Her Job: The Podcast we talk to Adi about how she grew Teami from a company built out of her mom’s house into the behemoth it is today. We also discuss her motivations, talk about that extremely uncomfortable time living in Israel with digestive issues and explore her mindset for success.

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Fran Hauser’s career history makes one thing very clear: She’s a powerhouse. Having served as president of digital for the Style and Entertainment Group at Time Inc., Fran oversaw digital business for PEOPLE, InStyle, Entertainment Weekly and others. She also served in other senior roles at Time Inc., including as general manager of Time Inc. Interactive. And before that worked at AOL as vice president and general manager of AOL Movies and Moviefone.

Now, Fran serves as a startup investor and advisor for companies including HelloGiggles, Meditation Studio and The Wing. Impressively, 18 of the 20 companies in her portfolio are founded by women. Fran’s passion for empowering female businesswomen can also be seen in her volunteer activities. She serves on the board of directors for GlobalGiving; as a special advisor to Girl Be Heard; and as an advisory board member of 92Y Women inPower and Rent the Runway’s Project Entrepreneur.

Last year Fran published a book every modern career woman needs on her bookshelf, The Myth of the Nice Girl. In it, she guides females to believe and understand that it’s possible to me ambitious and likeable; that you can make decisions firmly and collaboratively; and that you can give feedback directly and kindly. In short, it offers advice for getting the career you love, without becoming a person you hate.

“After years of self-discovery, building a successful career, and paying close attention to what worked – and most importantly – what felt right for me, I ultimately came to see that I didn’t have to sacrifice my values or hide my authentic personality in the name of achieving success,” Fran writes in her book.

In today’s episode of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Fran joins hosts Polina and Brianne to discuss the disease to please, her model for setting boundaries, strategies for speaking up more in meetings, and the importance of including men in your network. We also discuss ways to add fences around your time, some of her favorite sources for inspiration and exciting trends in the digital landscape. We hope this interview leaves you feeling empowered and emboldened to achieve the career you love, that also allows for you to be the truest version of yourself.

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Sharon Coleman is on a mission to bring comfort to those going through cancer treatment. The inspiration for her business came through her own struggle with cancer. She endured extensive treatments when she was diagnosed, and two years later had undergone surgery, radiation and many, many hours of chemotherapy treatments.

The experience inspired her to create a curated care package gift box business called Lemon and Honey Gifts. Each box is made with love and an understanding of what people going through treatments need and want. If you’ve ever been in the position of not knowing what to do or say when a friend or family member is diagnosed, Sharon’s packages packed with comfort are a place to start.

In today’s episode of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Sharon shares how she started her business and opened her Shopify store, without any previous technical e-commerce skills, as well as how she learned to navigate the dozens of new issues that would pop up each week. She also shares the resources that helped her start and grow her e-commerce business, which is helpful for anyone looking to launch her own business. Plus, Willow Older, a writer/editor and friend of the I Want Her Job team, joins Polina Selyutin as co-host on this very special show.

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Advance warning, Lori Gottlieb’s new book, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, is very likely to send you to therapy to deal with issues that may be holding you back. The book combines Lori’s own relationship crisis – a surprise break up, which sends her to a therapist– along with the lives of four of her clients who are also dealing with a range of personal issues. And while each person in her book has their own challenges, from dealing with a terminal cancer diagnosis to pursuing only toxic relationships, Lori emphasizes that we should not minimize our struggles just because we feel they don’t compare. She suggests that we should not apply a hierarchy of pain. While not always immediately life-threatening, when layers of pain are revealed it likely connects to one of the four concerns we all must face at some point – death, isolation, freedom and feeling meaningless.

The way Lori threads together the stories of her clients and herself, will leave you fully absorbed as you turn each page. At times the book feels like a TV series, which shouldn’t come as a surprise considering her career path began in film when she worked as a writer on ER. And now, bringing her career full circle, Eva Longoria recently optioned Maybe You Should Talk To Someone as a television series.

In today’s episode of I Want Her Job: The Podcast it will become evident to you that Lori has found a profession that combines her clinical psychology degree, along with her knack for helping clients. Through her book and her writing, we hope you will find that Lori also can help you! And if you can’t afford a therapist, or find the time to see one, we also discuss with Lori other ways to identify patterns and thoughts that could be holding you back.

For more on Lori Gottlieb, be sure to follow her “Dear Therapist” advice column for The Atlantic. In each piece she shares gripping stories of people dealing with difficult situations to drive home fundamentals of identifying negative patterns, as well as tips for how you can make life changes that stick. She expertly breaks down concepts in a way that can make it much easier to remember and apply her advice to your own life.

To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com

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As the founder of LinkedIn Reboot and Reboot for Business, Katie Fogarty’s work has helped people transform their LinkedIn profiles, personal brands and career opportunities. And with a background writing for morning TV news, working for a global PR firm and even for a U.S. Senator, Katie’s experience in public relations and journalism has given her a perfect combination of skills to help others summarize their personal stories on their LinkedIn pages.

In today’s episode of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Katie shares the benefits of making a LinkedIn profile page that displays the best of what you have to offer and explains why you should give your presence on the social network more attention.

Topics discussed:

Easy ways to start engaging on LinkedIn
Ideas to build stronger connections via the platform
Ways to improve your visibility.
Three mistakes people make on LinkedIn
Future trends on the platform, why LinkedIn is “a conversation” and Katy's favorite tools for running her personal business.

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To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com

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Christina Ramirez was on an assignment at UC Santa Barbara 13 years ago when she came up with the idea for eco-conscious toothbrushes. Today her Plus Ultra Bamboo Toothbrushes are sold in more than 320 retail stores in 22 states, including Whole Foods and Amazon. She also has her sights set on expanding into other eco-conscious products.

In our conversation Christina shares how wise advice from her stepmom encouraged her to leave a job that had left her feeling miserable for an out-of-the-mold job that would bring her long-term happiness. The wise push, Christina says, gave her the confidence to walk toward her ultimate business dream. But her dream didn’t come without a lot of hard work and tough lessons. We talk about the ups and downs she faced when starting a new business – from flying to China to find manufacturers, to a tough lesson in quality control when her first lot of 5,000 toothbrushes were damaged.

We also talk about all the steps Christina took even before facing the production hurdles to bring her idea for a bamboo toothbrush to life. She had a goal: She wanted to create a product sold at Whole Foods. So, she applied for, and was hired for, a job as a cashier. Then, for 6 years she did everything she could to move up in the company. And although she says she didn’t make enough money to even buy a car, she was happy to be working among like-minded peers while learning about the business. Christina shares how she pitched her idea for bamboo toothbrushes to Whole Foods, and how she got the green light from the company’s buyers on a category call. And then, since she didn’t even have a product yet, she shares the day-and-night hours it took to research, develop and manufacture the product shed dreamed about.

If you’ve ever wanted to build a business, we think you will love Christina’s inspiring story. And we’ve got a good feeling it will give you that boost you need to pursue your very own business dreams.

Other Topics Discussed:

Finding a job that serves your soul
Manufacturing in foreign countries
The reality of the time commitment in starting a company
Outsourcing
The problem with old school toothbrushes. (In 2018, more than 50 million pounds of toothbrushes ended up in landfills.)

To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com

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f you’re like us, you love wearing fashion that makes you feel confident and stylish. Today’s Leading Lady creates fashion just like that, and she also takes it a step further by infusing a female empowerment theme into her brand as well.

Who are we talking about? If you guessed Rebecca Minkoff you are right on. Rebecca has the ultimate girl-moves-to-big-city, girl-works-hard and girl-makes-it story. At only 18 years old she moved to NYC to chase her dream of making it as a fashion designer. Many hit pieces, like the Morning After Bag, helped catapulted her accessories line to bold-faced name status. And in 2009, she introduced her first ready-to-wear collection.

Now the Rebecca Minkoff brand has domestic and international retail locations and is distributed in more than 900 stores worldwide. Additionally, as the woman behind the brand, Rebecca was named as a member of the New York State Council on Women and Girls, and in fall of last year she established the Female Founder Collective, which features a network of businesses led by women that invests in female-owned businesses. She’s also the founder and host of Superwomen with Rebecca Minkoff.

Listen in as we talk to Rebecca about her design inspirations, her business and her new podcast. Then, visit us at IWantHerJob.com for show notes and a link to our previous interview with Rebecca from 2016.

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Frida Polli is the founder of Pymetrics, a startup that uses algorithms to reduce hiring bias through software. The software uses neuroscience-based games and cutting-edge AI to reinvent the way companies attract, select and retain talent. It also helps job seekers match to jobs best suited for their strengths, personalities and capabilities.

Companies utilizing Pymetrics during the hiring process include Unilever, LinkedIn, Tesla and Accenture. The organization has received press from The New York Times to The Economist and Wall Street Journal. And it works. Data from Pymetrics is showing that job offers and retention rates have increased for the organizations using its services.

From a job seeker standpoint, many of us have started jobs that, in hindsight, weren’t the best fit for our personality types. With Pymetrics, applicants are tested through a series of online games for a certain set of cognitive and emotional traits. The games are put together to help a candidate find a job that’s a great fit! And, this is all done through a common application, removing hiring bias from the hiring equation.

Frida talks about how AI and new approaches to hiring can transform how candidates apply to – and are accepted to – jobs. AI also improves the job application and matching process in a massive way. She also shares how observing the candidate hiring process while earning her MBA at Harvard gave her the idea for Pymetrics. We also have an honest conversation about her early influences, strengths and weaknesses. Listen in to hear how Frida is boldly leading a massively exciting hiring shift in our society.

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In today's episode of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, we check back in with Anna Lambert, director of talent acquisition at Shopify. An e-commerce platform that handles marketing, payments and shipping, Shopify empowers entrepreneurs all over the world. With more than $82 billion of transactions made on the platform, it powers more than 600,000 businesses.    Our original interview with Anna was one of our top 10 most-downloaded shows, and so we decided to get an update on her job and company for this week's Career Quickie. We ask her about how Shopify hires differently, how the company's open-mined approach attracts a wide variety of candidates and advice for how you can reach out and pitch yourself for a job.   Listen to our conversation to hear more about what recruiters want to see when you reach out to them. Also learn more about why your story, your interest in a job and your path can make you a strong candidate, with or without a traditional background. Shopify, Anna says, believes in the potential of passion, skills and transferable experience.

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When it comes to leadership, Debbie Madden has the experience. Currently the fearless co-founder and CEO of Stride Consulting, an agile software development consultancy for companies and startups, Stride is her fifth company and the role marks her third time as CEO. The organization's clients include The Daily Beast, casper and Equinox, and has been named to the 2018 Inc. 500 list, as well as designations for Crain's Best Places to Work In NYC — twice! In today's episode of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, we talk to Debbie about her culture-first philosophy, discuss what has fueled Stride's growth and delve into her top leadership strategies. We also talk about performance review techniques applied at the company, job opportunities that exist in agile software development and why the company is such a magnet for former teachers and those who love to teach in various ways. Debbie also opens up to us about the brave decisions she made after her breast cancer diagnosis. While the phrase "great leader" can be thrown around so often it can feel like a cliche, Debbie truly embodies the definition of leadership. We feel confident that once you hear Debbie's story of pursuing a dream — despite extreme difficulty — it will inspire you to push yourself further.

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Jessica Honegger is the founder of Noonday Collection, a soaring business that designs and sells fair trade jewelry and accessories made by artisans around the world. She's also the author of Imperfect Courage. In the book, released in August, Jessica she shares her story about how she launched Noonday Collection as an inspired side hustle and provides guidance on soul searching, collaborating and broadening your circle of passion. In today's episode of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, we talk to Jessica about how she pushed through fear to create a global organization that is changing the world. We also talk about the book's theme: You will be scared when doing new things and stretching outside of your comfort zone. But, you need to go forward anyway. You need to run scared toward a life of purpose and adventure. "We avoid real issues, fear of the world, and it leads to a life of boredom, a lack of impact, spiritual death," as she describes it in her book. There is a certain power in being scared, and going forward anyway. There is a beautiful world waiting for you on the other side. Jessica's personal story is a case study for the extraordinary joy and fulfillment that comes from using your unique talents to help others, while also stretching and growing yourself into higher levels of living. She encourages to view your life path with vulnerability, adding empathy for yourself and others. Listen in and hear how she turned her fear into fortune for herself and others, and you might just get an idea for how you can make a major impact, too!

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How often have you wondered: Why am I doing this? Why do I want this? Why am I experiencing this?

What if you had the chance to discover your "why" during a yearlong opportunity — before you kicked off your career? That's exactly what Abby Falik has created for individuals during a gap year between high school graduation and college entrance with Global Citizen Year. She is the founder of the organization, which also helps students stretch themselves, learn about new cultures and languages, and also gain priceless experiences and memories. Students of Global Citizen Year stay with host families in Brazil, Ecuador, India and Senegal, and work as apprentices in local organizations.

Abby was once the type of student she hopes to inspire. She was attending college at Stanford when she realized that she was longing for more than the life that a traditional model of education provides. She wanted more out of her education that simply listening to professors in lecture halls. Taking action, Abby left traditional education behind and spent a year in Brazil working and traveling. After coming back to Stanford after this life-changing journey, she noticed she gained confidence and maturity, which she credits as an advantage that altered the course of her life. On this trip Abby had discovered her own "why" and her vision for her lifelong work was born.

But before Abby realized her vision, she worked in a nonprofit — managing, building and creating ideas — and then attended Harvard to obtain an MBA that would help her create Global Citizen Year.

In today's episode, we discuss the exciting trends in education and how our perceptions and expectations of higher education can (and should) change to create better accommodations for how we live. We also learn what inspires Abby's work and why she hopes the model of taking a "bridge year" will soon become the norm for most students in the United States. Then again, maybe we should all consider a bridge year — whether we're entering college or beginning year 15 of our careers.

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In our latest episode of I Want Her Job The Podcast, I Want Her Job Founder Brianne Perleberg, and I Want Her Job The Podcast Co-founder Polina Selyutin turn the mics on each other. Listen in as they describe how the podcast came to life, how it was launched, the steps they took to create it and how they bring in the amazing guests you hear each week. Additionally, Brianne and Polina talk about their respective careers. Brianne talks about how she launched I Want Her Job in 2010, how she came up with the idea for the site and the jobs she's had during the day along the way. (I Want Her Job is a side hustle for the duo at this point.) Polina shares what inspired her to reach out to Brianne with the idea to collaborate on the podcast, how she learned to edit podcasts, her early influences and why it's sometimes okay not to listen to your parents -- even if you love them dearly! We hope you enjoy the special twist in today's episode as you get two know the two women behind this podcast.

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Ashley Eckstein is a force, which isn’t surprising considering she’s a strong believer in The Force Star Wars brought to life. As the voice of Star Wars’ Ashsoka Tano, Ashley brings to life a strong character who always wants to do the right thing. And in real life, she isn’t much different from that character.

She strives to empower young girls and women everywhere through Her Universe, an online community where female fangirls can be themselves and also find merchandise featuring their favorite Lucas Film, Disney characters and more. And like the Disney characters she loves, Ashely had to persist to make her dream come true. Why? The industry simply wasn’t welcoming to creating sci-fi and fantasy focused clothing exclusively for a female fan base.

But like any heroine, Ashley found a way to turn a negative into a positive. Because other major companies didn’t want licenses for merchandise this space or didn’t use the ones they had, she was able to prove a fan base and a market without any competition. Of course, a few years later when Her Universe began proving sales, other companies began to pay attention. It has grown so much in size that it’s now a subsidiary of Hot Topic.

Now, in addition to her role with Her Universe and as the voice of Ahsoka Tano, she can add author to her list of accomplishments. This summer she released It’s Your Universe, an interactive book that guides its reader on making their dreams happen. Listen in for a sneak peek of our interview with Ashley in today's Career Quickie, and then read the interview in its entirety on IWantHerJob.com.

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Beth Comstock is the former vice chair of GE and a corporate director of Nike. Her accomplishments include building GE’s Business Innovations and GE Ventures, as well as overseeing the reinvention of GE Lighting. Prior to her role as vice chair she served as chief marketing officer of the company. And before that she had another dream job as the president of integrated media at NBC Universal, overseeing the company’s digital efforts, including the early formation of Hulu.

While Beth has built an incredible career, she’s also made some tough decisions in the process of doing so. We’re all lucky enough live vicariously through her, with the opportunity to learn more about her journey and the decisions that led her to career success in her new book out today called Imagine It Forward.

In it, Beth shares her story, documenting the ups and downs of working at GE and NBC during a time of tremendous growth. But, Beth will tell you she also wrote this book to help those out in the middle of their career. It’s for those who want to make change happen, but feel they need permission to do so, whether through others or from themselves.

In today’s episode I am joined by I Want Her Job founder Brianne. Together, we talk to Beth about inspiring change, the importance of embracing tension and conflict, how to navigate gatekeepers and more.

We hope you enjoy today’s conversation. You can also visit I Want Her Job dot com for an online version of today’s interview.We rely on word-of-mouth to help our community grow and would love if left a review of our podcast on iTunes and subscribe to future episodes. You can read more interviews on I Want Her Job dot com, where you can also sign up for our newsletter. And if you have ideas for future guests, we’re just an email away.

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Jessica Jackson Sloan is currently serving as council member for Mill Valley and as the National Director of Cut50, a bipartisan organization working to reduce incarceration rates and to make communities safer. Previously she served as Mayor and Vice Mayor of Mill Valley. Jessica was the 18th guest on I Want Her Job The Podcast, and her episode was one of our top 10 most-downloaded shows. Today, we check back in with Jessica to hear what she's been working on since we last talked. And in today's episode she shares ways to get involved today in your local government. While most of us aren't going to run for mayor -- thought it's worth considering! -- there are usually dozens of local opportunities within your city. They can bring a great sense of fulfillment and community spirit that can enrich your life as you help your neighbors. Also with today's show, we are adding a new series format called our Career Quickie. Of course, we will still bring in-depth, thought-provoking conversations with our Leading Ladies, but we will also add in these short shows -- up to only 15 minutes -- that either check-in with a former interviewee, provide an actionable tip you can apply to your life, or provide a sneak peek at some of the best advice in our series of website interviews. We'd love to hear from you. Let us know what you think of our new format by reaching out to us at podcast@iwantherjob.com, and as always, you can visit IWantHerJob.com for more inspiring interviews. Now let's check in with Jessica.

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Emily Benson is a retail consultant, author, writer and mobile boutique expert on a mission. She wants to help empower retail entrepreneurs to make more money in their businesses. In today's episode of I Want Her Job The Podcast Emily shares her story of opening a mobile boutique, challenges she's encountered along the way, lessons she's learned and some of the business strategies that have helped her succeed. If you're looking for creative inspiration for your wild idea, we think Emily's fearless ambition, joi de vivre and strong business skills will inspire you to go for it. If you are looking to go deeper into operating retail boutiques, check out Emily's book, The Ultimate Boutique Handbook, check out her site Stylish and Successfuland listen to her podcast, Boost Your Boutique.

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Want a peek at the future of our global society? Ask April Rinne to have a seat at your table. April bridges the private, public and social sectors as an advisor to startups, established companies, policy makers, think tanks, investors, and local and national governments. With these stakeholders she leads discussions on policy reform, global expansion, sustainable development, emerging markets and the future of work, travel and tourism. An individual with true global reach, April has lived overseas for more than 10 years, traveling to more than 100 countries during that timespan. She's also worked in more than 50 countries, averaging about 20 different countries per year. April serves as a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum, where she leads the Sharing Economy Working Group. In today's episode of I Want Her Job The Podcast, April discusses how her parents instilled in her a love for travel, discovery, adventure and giving back to the world. She also shares a very sobering fact with us—she lost her parents at a young age. But ever the optimist, she explains that her life path evolved after losing them, and she's embraced their values and what they taught her to create a life full of adventure and giving back to the world in big ways, with her dad's key advice never far from reach. "The world is a marvelous place," he said. "Go check it out!" April's story inspired us to expand our thinking. We hope you are just as inspired to widen your sense of discovery locally or nationally. As April reminds us, there is opportunity everywhere to learn and make things better.

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Sarah K. Peck is a force. She's a writer, startup advisor, yoga teacher, and founder/executive director of Startup Pregnant-- a media company documenting the stories of women's leadership across work and family. Previously she worked as vice president of communications for a Y Combinator-backed startup, One Month, where she also was a successful writing and communications consultant, published in more than 75 online publications. Sarah also is a 20-time All-American swimmer who swam the Escape From Alcatraz marathon nine separate times. And we also can't forget to mention the time Sarah swam the 1.5-mile freezing swim from Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay in only a swim cap and goggles to raise money of charity: water. In today's show we open up the thought process behind how Sarah achieves her audacious goals. We discuss yes, her amazing swimming accomplishments, as well as her move from a job in the architecture and design industry to a career she created for herself in writing and communications consulting. We also talk about how she developed her own curriculum on storytelling that was sold through her site and General Assembly. Then we talk about how her blog, writing and consulting work led her on a path to working at a startup, and eventually, how her first pregnancy led her to create the business idea for her eventual business, Startup Pregnant. In talking to Sarah, we were enamored with the creativity she uses to design her life and to rethink traditional ideas about how we do things at work and in our own lives. Known for her deep and thoughtful approaches to solving business problems, we have a feeling everyone will take something away from our interview with her in episode 81 of I Want Her Job The Podcast.

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In today's episode of I Want Her Job The Podcast we are speaking with a woman who is leading a company that is utilizing technology to change education for the better. Jamie Candee is the president, CEO and board director at Edmentum, an education technology company providing web-based learning programs and solutions to more than 1 million children in 40,000 schools across every state in the nation.   In our interview we speak with Jamie about how she followed her lifelong passion for education to a career that nourishes her soul, while also helping to improve educational service options for thousands of students. We talk about her clear and ambitious goals, her impressive path to CEO, as well as discuss her other senior roles she held prior to this position in Operations, Revenue and Product Strategy. Jamie also shares her management philosophies and advice for pursuing -- and getting -- senior leadership roles.   Jamie's enthusiasm and commitment to her career in education is so incredibly inspiring, that it may very well convince you to explore a path in educational technology. Listen on for more.

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Lesley Jane Seymour has made a career out of connecting and supporting women. Whether it was providing guidance for teens during her editor-in-chief tenure at YM magazine, or for young women while at the helm of Redbook and Marie Claire. And before her newest venture, she took this role of chief connector and supporter to the pages of More magazine, where she created history by including Michelle Obama as guest editor for an entire issue of the glossy. Now as the Founder and CEO of CoveyClub, Lesley is aiming to enrich the lives of women in the middle of their careers through support via the platform and community. In today's episode of I Want Her Job The Podcast, we speak with Lesley about inspired her to launch CoveyClub, why she's so motivated to help women face challenges in the corporate world during the middle of their lives, and we hear about her audacious goals for CoveyClub. We also talk to her about depression, her ideas for getting unstuck through lifelong learning and more. Her wisdom in today's episode is delivered with truth and a special honesty that comes naturally to her. We hope the episode inspires you as you take your next step forward toward a well-lived life.

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If you're a parent, chances are you know about Dr. Laura Markham. And if you don't, allow us to introduce her and her parenting advice that could be life-changing for you and your family. Dr. Laura is the founding editor of AhaParenting, a blog 130k+ subscribers strong. As a parenting expert she's been interviewed for thousands of articles by publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Real Simple, Newsday and Parents magazine. In addition to her blog, she shares critical parenting advice in each of her weekly emails, aimed to help you build stronger and deeper bonds with your children. After all, we are mightily convinced she just may be a modern-day Mary Poppins.

In today's episode Dr. Laura shares her philosophies on raising kids with empathy and connection, as well as ideas for building stronger and more trusting relationships with your children. She walks us through a scenario on how to deal with temper tantrums, tips on managing technology with kids and more. We also discuss how putting in the work now to build loving and trusting relationships can ripple toward the future, creating an output with lasting effects.

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 As the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine for 14 years, Kate White led the iconic women's glossy straight to the top. And now she's a best-selling author of career and suspense books that you just can't put down. How did she do it? In today's show she shares how her gutsy instincts, risk taking, rule breaking, love of data and strong business skills blended to create the special sauce that was her personal secret to success. Kate shares how this mindset, as well as other strategies, fueled her accomplishments at Cosmopolitan and how they can help you, too. Then, if you want to take Kate's advice to the next level, we highly recommend you pick up her latest book, The Gutsy Girl Handbook, to learn how you can apply her tactics to negotiate your salary, manage your time, learn from failure, reduce your worrying, shed the "good girl" instinct and more.   Listen in to learn how, like Kate, you can become better, bigger, bolder and more bad ass in everything you do. @iwhjpodcast

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Joi Gordon was working as an assistant district attorney, pursuing a legal career when one day she realized, this wasn’t her dream job. Then, while watching a morning show she learned about a nonprofit that supplied low-income women with a perfect interview outfit. As someone who knew the power a great suit could bring, she was intrigued.

Now, Joi has served as the CEO for Dress for Success for the past two decades. The organization, which spans more than 156 cities in dozens of countries is often referred to as the “Starbucks of the nonprofit world.”

In today’s episode of I Want Her Job The Podcast, Joi shares why she’s a lover of learning, why the right dress or suit can make all the difference and the importance of following your own path.

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After experiencing the hassle of living abroad and moving, Meesen Brown sparked to the idea that there had to be a better way to make travel easier. She realized the need to help fellow women who wanted to travel, but who didn't have the time or resources to find housing arrangements. And with this, the idea for Behere was born. Today Meesen is the co-founder and CEO of Behere, a service for women that provides furnished housing options for cities around the world that a woman can contract on a month-to-month basis. You read that right: You can live in select cities around the globe for a month at a time, no long-term contracts or obligations. With a Behere membership, your rental will include workspaces, fitness memberships, city guides and more. Listen in to hear how Behere's mission to make travel easier and more comfortable can help you on your great adventures. If you enjoy this show please share it with a friend.

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Imagine if you could travel the world, creating videos and social media content that wanderlusts all over the world consume on the daily. With more than 378,000 YouTube subscribers and a popular travel vlog, Hey Nadine, Nadine Sykora has a gig that does just that. And with travel to 49+ countries under her belt in the last 7 years, she’s a go-to for adventure advice and travel tips.

In today’s episode of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, we talk to Nadine about what it’s like to share her experiences with others on various digital channels, how she started her vlog, her best tools for creating vibrant and engaging content, and tips for others who are interested in traveling around the globe – and making a living off of it. We also talk with Nadine about her important role as a brand influencer, including her partnership with Best Western, and learn more about what she does as an influencer and why she loves her partnership with the brand.

Listen in as we ask Nadine about a few of her favorite travel adventures and find out more about her dream-worthy job.

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Amanda Joy Ravenhill knew she wanted to make a large impact on our society in her day-to-day work. And she gets the opportunity to do just that as the executive director of the Buckminster Fuller Institute, an organization founded to remember and implement the ideas of R. Buckminster Fuller, a renowned 20th Century inventor and visionary. The Institute is dedicated to the same mission Buckminster Fuller had -- catalyzing transformative solutions to complex global problems through design thinking education. The Institute's programs offer a look at local needs and global trends to design a holistic approach that brings together art, science, design and technology. The organization is known for its flagship program, the Buckminster Fuller Challenge, which offers an annual $100,000 prize to support the creation and execution of a strategy that has the potential to solve humanity's most pressing problems.

As a passionate advocate for environmental work and social justice issues, Amanda has found a job that fulfills her. Today we discuss her path that brought her to her executive director role and go deeper into her day-to-day duties in that position. We also talk about Project Drawdown, a book and digital platform she co-founded that shows the path to carbon neutrality with a positive twist. In the book, an international coalition of researchers, professionals and scientists present viable techniques and practices to halt climate change, allowing us to view the challenge as an opportunity to create a just and livable world.

In addition to her daily job, Amanda started a band --The Seastars -- with four of her close friends, who also happen to be leaders in sustainability and social impact movements. The group sings cover songs, but they adapt the lyrics to focus on the environment. We recommend you check out their fabulous cover of "Royals" by Lorde.

Please share this show with a friend, and if you enjoyed it, leave us a review on itunes.

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Heather Freiser's role as the Vice President of Brand and Content for career website, The Muse, puts her squarely in the role of creating videos and articles that share stories in unique and captivating ways. In other words, she directs the production of content that makes you want to click, listen and watch useful and interesting career advice that supports job seekers and helps those currently employed with on-the-job advice.

Prior to her role at The Muse, Heather was a senior brand editor at Contently, and before that she served as a senior producer at Bloomberg, overseeing all production for the network's closing bell show, Street Smart. And before that she held various production roles at Fox Business Network and Fox News Channel.

Heather also is the owner, along with her husband, of a literary-themed restaurant in Atlantic Beach, New York called Beginnings. The restaurant provides diners with an immersive dining experience that is paired with a literary theme. For Beginnings events, Heather gets to dream up and create literary nights for titles such as The Godfather; Angela's Ashes; The Great Gatsby; Eat, Pray, Love and more. During these events, the entire menu, attire, and of course, the conversation, revolves around a book's theme.

In today's show Heather shares her career path, details of her day-to-day life on the job, juggling professional life while raising three young children, and tips and trends for those interested in a similar career path.

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Gillian Morris is the founder of Hitlist, an app that sends travel listings based on your time, destination and budget preferences. Have you always wanted to go somewhere but wanted to wait for the best time for your budget? The app will even alert you to travel deals on the destination of your dreams. The idea for Hitlist came to Gillian while she was living in Istanbul. Frustrated that her friends weren't visiting, she started sending them airline deals, and made the observation that if she sent them airline deals, they were more likely to travel more. Those same friends then started asking Gillian to provide discount fare alerts to other cities. After another travel-related search engine business idea didn't take off, Gillian taught herself to code through Code Academy. And then, with the help from the developer community, she wrote a first script for Hitlist. In today's episode of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Gillian shares how she iterated her idea, what her day-to-day life is like running Hitlist, and we also discuss why she considers travel one of the best "side hacks for peace building." We also talk about a meaningful way to drive social impact while gaining priceless perspective and learn more about her experience volunteering for Gaza Sky Geeks, the first tech hub in Gaza. If you enjoy this show, please share with a friend and leave us a review on itunes. If you have ideas for future shows, you can reach us at podcast@iwantherjob.com.

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Lily Diamond is a successful food blogger, writer and photographer who recently released her first book, Kale and Caramel. In her book she shares recipes for fresh food and how to use ingredients from your home kitchen to create beauty products - like facial washes, scrubs and moisturizers - as well as personal stories from her life. Lily’s book also serves as a tribute to her late mom, and in it she shares memories and reveals how she coped with her massive loss. Listen to today’s episode of I Want Her Job: The Podcast to hear more about how Lily runs her freelancing business, her brand and her following.

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After "trying on" a variety of internships and roles, including time in the public sector, Sydney Thomas realized she wanted to be the one making the decisions about where to invest money for the most impact instead of the person asking for the investments. It was her curiosity, networking and yes, those internships, that led her into the venture capital industry. Currently she works as an investment associate and head of operations at Precursor Ventures. In today's episode of I Want Her Job: The Podcast we talk to Sydney about her path into venture capital and the scope of her current role. We also discuss her journey through 52 cups of coffee through her LinkedIn profile, her tips for turning connections into coffee dates and hear about some of her favorite productivity tips and apps. If you enjoy this show, please share it with a friend, and subscribe to iwantherjob on itunes.

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Imagine living in a winery with 50 acres of vineyards to stroll through during evening moonlit hours. Imagine a place where you can invite friends and family, host events and tastings, and where your kids can grow up with dozens of acres as their domain. This is a dream winemaker Lauren Belden and her husband, Nate, have brought to life with Belden Barns, a Sonoma winery, where they create a variety red and white wines. Lauren and Nate Belden have an ambitious and exciting vision of creating a different type of wine tasting experience that provides the opportunity for you to experience and learn about winemaking and agriculture with interactive, family-friendly experiences. In today's episode of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Lauren shares the glamorous and not-so-glamorous part of running a winery. Although it's easy to romanticize running a winery, Lauren sheds some light on the labor and difficulties involved in the industry. At different times of the day, Lauren and her husband are the only members of the distribution, marketing, account management, customer service or sales departments teams of Belden Barns. Luckily, this husband and wife team each bring a set of different strengths to their business, and that has allowed Belden Barns to flourish. Their founding story built on love also includes a wishing tree that is helping guests of Belden Barns wish for their own dreams.

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Jay Newton-Small is co-founder and CEO of MemoryWell, a network of professional journalists who are using their writing talents to tell the stories of those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementias. These stories help caregivers preserve memories and care for people who have memory related health problems. With the number of people in the US with Alzheimer's and memory related illnesses at a staggering 11M, and expected to triple by 2030, this is one of the biggest health problems we are facing. Previously, Jay was the Washington correspondent for TIME Magazine and a journalist for Bloomberg News. Jay is also the author of Broad Influence: How Women Are Changing the Way America Works. In today's show, we discuss Jay's inspiration for founding Memorywell, Jay's start up journey, and we dive into the some of the powerful ideas from Jay's book. Broad Influence examines the concept of critical mass: when women are at least 20 percent of a group, they are more able to use their strengths on the job such as communication, compromising, collaborating across party lines and forming alliances. As you can probably imagine, these are all skills that can be tremendously useful within many types of organizations. We also discuss a fact many ladies are not aware of, public service roles across 40 states are actually ideal for flexibility and part time hours!

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Grace Kraaijvanger is the founder of The Hivery, a women's co-working space located in Mill Valley, California. But, as good as she is at creating a delightful environment for her members, her goals go beyond simply offering a beautiful space. The Hivery, Grace says, aims to be a community and movement of women supporting one another. In today's episode, Grace shares how her career in professional dance and marketing roles merged with her desire to build community, and led to her idea for The Hivery. We also discuss how a powerful, personal loss changed Grace, and how we feel loss can transform our lives. She also shares her funding story, lessons learned along her path and the way that her previous career in dance taught her the power of resilience and showing up. "So much of what I learned in dance is [about] showing up when you don't feel like it," Grace says. "in life, all kinds of crazy things are going to go wrong. [For example,] kids are going to get sick and things are not always going to go according to plan, but we have to show up, and we have to keep showing up." If you've had an itch to make a change in your life, we hope Grace's story of launching The Hivery also will inspire you to make your bold move.

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Oftentimes the answers we are searching for can be found within us. And this was certainly the case for Sadie Lincoln, the co-founder (along with her husband, Chris) and CEO of Barre3, a bar-based fitness program with more than 130 locations worldwide. Barre3, which is part of a robust $30B dollar fitness industry, is a business that is spiritually aligned with how Sadie desires women to treat their mind, soul and bodies. Barre3's classes encourage its participants to do what feels right for them. Instead of vigorously working to copy instructor-led moves, it's a place that encourages and fosters individuality.

In today's show, Sadie shares with us how her unconventional upbringing in Eugene, Oregon, by a group of four women who were best friends that she affectionately calls her "aunties" shaped her future. She details how this upbringing shaped her path and ultimately, influenced the way she now runs Barre3—tapping into the collective wisdom of her tribe of employees, members, franchisees and her own inner wisdom. In fact, it was this intuition that led her from a great managerial role at 24-Hour Fitness in San Francisco where she worked for a decade learning about the industry from different angles, to a bold move to Portland with the goal of starting a business and finding the community she craved. Other topics discussed include her franchising philosophy and selection of applicants, as well as her managerial practices that help her run such a grand and successful business.

If you enjoy today’s show with the brilliant Sadie, please share with a friend, and please leave a review us on iTunes. As always, if you have ideas for future shows, you can reach us at podcast at iwantherjob.com.

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If you'd describe yourself as a foodie who loves restaurants, or if you're curious about what it takes to start a restaurant, then today's interview with Erin Wade is for you. Erin is the founder of Homeroom, a mac-n-cheese restaurant with a mission to serve the most delicious and comforting pasta dish in America. And they're well on their way. Homeroom quickly became a community destination in Oakland, Calif., with lines that stretch beyond the door. But, it wasn't always so in demand -- especially when it came to some family and friends who thought the restaurant was a terrible idea. Homeroom had a place in Erin's heart though, and after she met the "one person who didn't think Homeroom was nuts" that person became her partner. In episode 58 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Erin shares with Host Polina Selyutin some of the up's and down's of opening the restaurant -- including running through her entire life's savings and opening the restaurant with just two weeks of operations expenses left in her bank account. Finally, we discuss the reason Erin left her previous career -- as a lawyer -- behind. And, she shares why she felt staying in the legal industry was a bigger personal risk for her than putting her entire life savings on the line to passionately chase her idea.

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Janet Janjigian has had a career that would be the envy of any journalism student. She covered the White House, the Capitol, the Pentagon and the State Department, along with other general assignments and investigative work, in the Washington, D.C. area for more than 25 years. Through her work she served as one of the top journalists for NBC Nightly News With Tom Brokaw and as a producer at ABC's Nightline with Ted Koppel. Now as executive managing director at Carmen Group, Washington's leading government affairs consulting firm, her work is focused on corporate communications, government relations, crisis management and litigation support. Janet has won numerous awards for her work, including two Emmy Awards. In today's episode of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Janet shares the continuation of her career path -- taking her to CNN in Los Angeles, then MGM Studios as senior vice president of corporate communications and also to her role as president of DC Media Group LA Inc. She also shares how she got her start in journalism, the moment that was her big career game changer, what it's like to transition from one industry to another, the power of internships and the secret method she uses to land every single job. It's one you'll want to hear, and it's also one we can all apply in our lives to inch closer to our own dream jobs.

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Vicki Saunders is the founder of SheEO, an organization redefining the rules for how businesses are funded. SheEO’s radical generosity funding model is completely transformative, and if Vicki’s goals are realized, a $1B dollar fund will be created to fund female-owned small-to-medium businesses, forever. In episode 56 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Vicki shares advice from her career path with Host Polina Selyutin. She also discusses lessons she's learned through her career, self-development advice, why she founded SheEO and why we desperately need small-to-medium businesses to transform our communities. SheEO's mission is incredibly inspiring, and it's quite possibly a game changer for how women fund and support one another.

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If you love thoughtful conversation and inspiring other women, then today's podcast is for you.

Anne Devereux Mills is the founder of the Parlay House, a salon-style gathering of more than 500 women in the San Francisco Bay Area. Members of the group meet once a month to connect, learn and inspire. Each meeting features a discussion on an interesting topic. The goal of Parlay, Anne says, is to change the framework of reciprocity by putting women in a place to pull fellow women forward, rather than creating a setting where women have a more transaction-like "you help me, I help you" interaction.

Another goal of Anne's is to create a level playing field for all ages and professions saying, "If you talk [to another person] about what you do, you miss the commonalities." At a recent event, she shares that many women opened up about their eating disorders, depression and other big topics.

Anne also serves as chair of the board of a public company and serves as chief strategy officer of Lantern, a San Francisco-based startup that uses technology to create mental wellness programs that reduce stigma and improve access to lower cost for mental health treatment. She also is the executive producer of The Return, an Emmy-nominated film that focuses on our criminal justice system and the impact of the "Three Strikes" law. And as part of her passion for social justice issues, Anne worked as a key member of the team that helped pass California's Proposition 36, which was a part of California's "Three Strikes" reform.

While she was working toward these accomplishments, Anne built her career while raising two daughters as a single mom in the New York area. Before her current roles, Anne served in C-level positions at various advertising agencies, including BBDO, TBWA\Chiat Day and LLNS, focusing on health care. In episode 53 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Editor and Host Polina Selyutin talks to Anne about she of the practices that have led to her success, personal sacrifice, the life-changing events that led her from New York to San Francisco and the inspiration for Parlay House.

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If you love design and user experience, this is a podcast for you. Today we speak with Wendy McKennon, head of user experience at Color Genomics -- a digital health startup with a mission to help people make the most of their health information.

Color Genomics is most known for its lower-cost $250 physician-ordered genetic test that is available to determine an individual's breast and ovarian cancer risk. The lower cost of this test is transformative in the way it changes how people can afford and access this information for their personal health. In addition, the company also has expanded to offer testing for the eight most-common hereditary cancers, as well as a test for high cholesterol risk. When Wendy joined the Color Genomics team as its first designer, she worked with only five others. Today, she leads product and design for a team double that size. In episode 54 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, we speak with Wendy about what it's like to work in user experience, the qualities Wendy looks for when hiring for her team, her biggest source of inspiration and learn about the incredible inspirations in her life that have shaped her interests.

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As the popular writer of books including I Know How She Does It and What The Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast -- Laura Vanderkam could deliver a masterclass on productivity and time management. Intrigued by time management and the art of planning, Laura has collected and analyzed hundreds of daily schedules from women. Her research has found that the art of planning your days, weeks, months and years with both short-term and long-term vision, you can have a successful career, while also intentionally planning for ways to celebrate and enjoy life. Laura firmly believes that there are ways women can confidently pursue their careers, while also having a family life they love. In fact, her research has shown that women who have leadership roles can actually have more of a work/life balance. "Don't fear the big job," she advises. It turns out that many big jobs are actually more family-friendly than jobs that are, in theory, less demanding. "When you are high up in the ladder, you call the shots [and] the meeting happens at a time that is convenient for you." In episode 53 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast Laura shares other advice for going big. She also speaks with Host Polina Selyutin about the "myth" of the 85-hour workweek, the importance of planning out your weekend and more.

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In a world where technology helps us be anywhere and do (almost) anything, Katie Linendoll is leading the way. A true multi-hyphenate in trade, Katie is an Emmy-winner, journalist, TV personality and tech insider. You can see her regularly on the TODAY Show, where she’s served as a tech contributor, wow-ing everyone from Matt Lauer to Willie Geist to, of course, the viewers, for the past six years. She’s also a regular on The Weather Channel, Fox News, HLN, CNN and CBS Sports Radio.

Katie also creates and hosts her own podcast Katie Show where she uncovers and breaks down the latest in technology trends in plain, “Oh, now I get this” speak for us non-techies. In her podcast – which BTW, has climbed to No. 4 on the iTunes tech charts – she’s covered virtual reality, the Hyperloop, gadgets known to boost your mood and much more. Katie’s also a “friend with connections” for her listeners. On her show she’s interviewed GM’s CEO and Chair Mary Barra, Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto (who happens to be the creator of Super Mario!) and music icon Dave Navarro. And that’s just scratching the surface.

She’s also written for some killer outlets, including Oprah.com, Popular Science and Shape magazine. And, as the founder of Katie Linendoll Productions, she and her team regularly produce content for big-name brands, like Amazon, Capital One and RetailMeNot. Phew!

We first interviewed Katie on I Want Her Job in 2011. She was an early supporter of the women supporting women movement, and she’s a big believer in giving back. Period. She serves on the board of the Batcole Foundation, which supports research and awareness of pediatric cancer.

In episode 52 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Founder Brianne Perleberg speaks with Katie about underwater reporting, the growing power of virtual reality and how she spends 250 days a year traveling for her job. The grind may be work, but the work, she will enthusiastically tell you, is so worth it.

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Jean-Marie Shields is a brand builder and a brand lover. She’s led a powerhouse career taking her from Nike to Starbucks and then Lululemon, but most importantly, she’s also a mom. And, as a single mom, she believes kids are smart and they want to be a part of their parent’s job, too.

“When I helped reposition the Starbucks brand and we updated the identity and we enrolled 5,000-6,000 people across the company into the new brand and experience as it had evolved, I actually had a conversation with my son. I said, “Hey, during the next 7 weeks Mom is going to be really busy. That means we’re not going to see each other as much as we were before, but right around the corner is going to be really different. Here’s what Mom is working on.”

But, before she was a mom, Jean-Marie was born and raised in Sweden. She came to the United States as an exchange student, and then she married and had a family. Early on in her career she worked mostly in creative roles -- starting her path at Nike in a creative position. After a few years, she moved to oversight of product, before eventually moving into more brand-centered roles. She spent 13 years at Nike, including 8 years in the company’s European office and 5 in its global headquarters. After her tenure there, she spent 8 years at Starbucks helping to reposition its brand. She then went on to help Lululemon after the brand’s unfortunate see-through yoga pants incident.

Now, Jean-Marie is Seattle-based and is applying her 20+ years in building lifestyle brands to launch dusk, her company where she does mindful branding for companies and homes. Homes, you ask? Yes. Her approach to the energy of a space helps individuals focus more on the present. And with presence comes a life more fully lived, and that outcome is a more joyous life, she says.

In episode 51 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Host Polina Selyutin and Founder Brianne Perleberg talk to Jean-Marie about the important role curiosity plays in creativity, calming a creative mind and what it was like to work with some of the most influential business minds of our time at Nike and Starbucks.

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Rachael Norman is the founder of a Better, a technology company that helps people get their out of network medical bills paid. If you send Better your claim, they will do the work that can require hours of back and forth phone calls, codes, procedure conversations and requests for documentation. if your bill is paid, Better takes a 10% fee, and you get your money back. For those of you have tried the process of getting a claim paid, this business model is likely to make you smile. Rachael and her team have structured their business to be centered and financially aligned around the needs of the patient. In this show, Rachael shares her thoughts on problems in our healthcare industry, and her hopes for how to build businesses and healthcare systems that put patients first. getbetter.co

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Sabrina Mutukisna, is co-founder of Town Kitchen, an Oakland based, chef-crafted subscription food delivery service that employs low income youth between 15-25. Sabrina shares her story of growing up in her parents drycleaners in California and then working to support herself through UC Berkeley. Along the way, Sabrina became very motivated by what she saw and experienced, and spent 13 years doing jobs in workforce development. Sabrina worked to help foster children, formerly incarcerated youth and other young people figure out how to start a career, complete degrees and certificates, often helping with basic needs such as housing or childcare. While working for California Teacher Pathway, a program that helped lower income young adults complete a program of community college and then a 4 year degree, Sabrina learned the difficulty of using grant funding to employ youth for more than a year. Sabrina came up with a solution that would offer training and jobs that lasted several years. At Town Kitchen, most employees stay longer than 2 years, get training in the food industry and almost all are enrolled in college. Town kitchen also partners with other community organizations to help its employees with issues of housing and transportation. With one business, Sabrina is helping to create community and so many ripples of change - jobs with living wages, job training, passion for food, and education on our food systems.

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Happy 4th of July! In honor of the holiday, we are speaking with Erin Loos Cutraro, the founder of She Should Run. Erin founded She Should in 2008, a bi-partisan organization dedicated to increasing the number of women running for political office. if you just decided to run or are just exploring, through an incubator, research, events and campaigns, She Should Run offers community support and many other resources. We learned so much from this show, and hope you will enjoy it and be inspired to run for an office or encourage someone you know to run for one of the 500,000 elected offices across the US. As you ll hear on this show, when women run for office, they actually win at the same rate as men!

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Lucienne Ide started her career as a physicist working for a mobile company and then for a venture capital firm. When Lucienne kept receiving requests to help large corporations manage the cost of diabetes, she came up with the idea for Rimidi, a digital health start up focused on diabetes management. We discuss the alarming diabetes epidemic in America (research indicates half of Americans have diabetes or prediabetes!) We talk about the the need for more women to pursue career paths in digital health: although 80% of healthcare dollars are controlled by women, women are not represented in health IT as much as other healthcare fields within nursing and medicine. There is a tremendous opportunity to be a part of the growth in the digital health field in areas such as design, user experience, marketing, research, technology and more.

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How do you define success? It’s a question Courtney Martin asked herself and others while writing her book, The New Better Off: Reinventing the American Dream, which attempts to help all of us think about redefining our measures of success. She encourages us to “reject the tired narratives about success” because our motives and lives will change when we shift our focus, instead, to community.

“The New Better Off most succinctly is realizing that our quality of life is more determined by the quality of our relationships than by our own individual achievements as we’ve historically thought about it,” Courtney says. “It’s more about meaning, relationships, community and fulfillment – as opposed to status and stuff.”

The book asks questions many of us have asked ourselves, and it challenges what many of us have come to accept as the status quo. One of our favorite lines in Courtney’s book is: “I don’t want to get a good job, a house with a white picket fence, 2.5 kids and then just go to sleep.” Host Polina Selyutin speaks with Courtney about this desire for meaning, purpose and community in our lives and a fear of where the traditional path can lead us in episode 46 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast.

Other topics of discussion include how the traditional 9-to-5 job structure created in the ‘50’s for those without caretaking responsibilities simply doesn’t work in the world we live in today. (For example, by the year 2020 it’s estimated that half the workforce will be freelance, she cites.)

We also discuss her decision to put community first by living in a co-housing community in Oakland, Calif., where individuals practice radical hospitality by dining together weekly, sharing homeownership activities and helping one another. And if you aren’t the co-housing type, Courtney shares ideas on how similar principals of community housing can be easily integrated into our lives – from hikes with family and friends to group dinners. After all, Courtney says, the relationships in our lives are the things that make us the happiest.

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It’s often said there are two roads – a well-beaten path and one less traveled that provides obstacles that teach you as you go. While many get to choose which path they take, Hope Alcocer’s was decided for her. A rocky path, her life has thrown her many curveballs to endure – from a terrifying head injury, struggle with PTSD and two heart-shattering breakups – to highs including a self-started and internationally lauded magazine, KHLOE, and now a new book based on her life, Where Hope Lies.

In episode 45 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Host Polina Selyutin talks with Hope about dealing, ironically, with hopelessness, to founding a women’s magazine, creating her own boutique marketing agency and turning her painful life experiences into a just-released novel. We also discuss her Armenian culture and how her family has remained her source of strength and wisdom. And if you like what you hear, be sure to check out our online interview with Hope here.

We’re excited for you to see (and hear!) that Hope is a woman who is living up to her name by handling the surprises life sends her with courage, grace, and of course, hope.

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Deb Nelson has a job at RSF Social Finance that is all about helping people align their values with their money, all while helping fund entrepreneurs for social impact businesses. As vice president of client and company engagement, Deb also works on strategic partnerships and client engagement. On top of that, she’s also the lead on a new initiative for the company – the Women’s Capital Collaborative.

Pioneered with an impact investor who wanted to do more to support women entrepreneurs, the Collaborative aims to do more to support women entrepreneurs – a group routinely overlooked and underfunded. In fact, Deb points out, women entrepreneurs received only 3% of venture capital funding from 2011 to 2013. Why is this? Unconscious bias, says the Harvard Business Review. Even when a presentation is given identical word-for-word by men and women, males are 60% more likely to get funded. This Collaborative is in place to do something about that.

“Our goal is to create an economy of generosity and connectedness,” Deb says.

And she’s at the right organization to make that kind of impact. Since 1984, RSF Social Finance has provided social impact loans, grants and investments. It focuses on creating direct, personal and transparent financial relationships for those who fund social enterprises, as well as those who leverage the funding to create long-term social and ecological benefits via organizations in food and agriculture, education and the arts, ecological stewardship and other related fields. It also provides “holistic integrated capital” – from financial capital, loans, loan guarantees and investments, to technical assistance grants, and human and social capital. “We know it takes all kinds of capital to help an entrepreneur thrive and grow their organizations,” she says.

In episode 38 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Host Polina Selyutin asks Deb about the story of her career path, the international travel that gave her the confidence to take on future challenges and the importance of intentionally creating “outsider experiences” for yourself.

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As a book lover since childhood, Cherilyn Parsons longed to be a part of the literary community. So, she risked her security, job stability and comfort for her dream of starting a world-class book festival in Berkeley, California.

Although there had been a book festival in her home region, the San Francisco Bay Area, more than a decade prior, there wasn’t one when Cherilyn decided to take a chance and begin her efforts. And even though she had no prior experience in event planning or the literary world, she did have one very important skill on her resume – fundraising.

“I had no experience in event planning,” she says. “I did not know the literary world. I had no money to start with. But I thought, hey, let’s do the book festival.”

And so, with a background in nonprofit fundraising, most recently at the Center for Investigative Reporting – Cherilyn thought she could apply her experience to help launch a large-scale book fest. And although it wasn’t easy, she made it happen. Now in its third year, the 2-day Bay Area Book Festival draws more than 50,000 attendees and 300 authors for events and panels spanning 9 city blocks in Berkeley.

In episode 43 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Host Polina Selyutin discusses with Cheryl how she took her idea to launch, the ups and downs along her path and the personal sacrifices she made to make her dream come true. Read (and listen) on to learn why book festivals are such powerful forums for connecting authors and book lovers, as well as what it takes to create, fund and manage large-scale public events.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY’S SHOW: * Setting The Scene: Cherilyn’s love of books began in her childhood. “I always devoured books,” she says, “ … I always wanted to be a part of the book world.” * Making The Leap: “I had no experience in event planning,” she says. “I did not know the literary world. I had no money to start with. But I thought, hey, let’s do the book festival.” * Starting From Scratch: While Cherilyn did have a wealth of experience in fundraising for established nonprofits from prior roles, when it came to raising money for a brand new gig, it was “a completely different ball game.” Often asked, “Who else is funding you?” nobody wanted to step up to the plate to be first in line for an event with no track record. “It was really, really difficult and humbling,” she says. “I was used to doing this and raising funds.” * The Power Of Partnerships: Cherilyn aimed her focus on building partnerships for her first year of her journey. She worked tirelessly to network to gain buy-in from potential partners. To her, a partnership – even without a financial tie – was just as important as funds for the credibility it would help establish for the festival. “I had to build the partnerships in order to have the credibility that showed other people were involved – and believed – in the festival before others would believe in it financially,” she says. * The First Wins: Through her work, Cherilyn found launch partners in UC Berkeley and the San Francisco Chronicle. “Credibility is essential,” she says. “Everyone looks at who else is involved to know if they should get involved.” * It Just Takes One: After getting one donor, Cherilyn then leveraged that support to pitch many more donors. * Facing Fear: When Cherilyn quit her job to pursue her dream of launching a book festival in the Bay Area, she knew her personal credibility – and her future – was on the line. “I made it up as I went along,” she says. “I mean, honestly, there were nights when I was crying on the floor of my little home office, because someone had said ‘no’ to funding and people didn’t trust me.” * The Power Of Books: Cherilyn feels books are a solitary, sacred and intimate space. At festivals, book lovers and authors have the opportunity to get out of the solitary and join together in discussion. “It’s a very deep communion – a book – between the reader and the writer,” Cherilyn says. “ … There is something really magic about the private experience of reading, and then the public experience of coming together to share this.” She says she loves how festivals contain, “All these people loving books together.” * Becoming A Leader: Cherilyn’s goal is for the Bay Area Book Festival to become one of the leading book festivals in the world. Because the Bay Area is so innovative and progressive, she wants the book festival to reflect the spirit and innovation of the region. Additionally, she wants it to maintain a strong international focus, saying that it’s important to hear voices from around the world. * Did You Know: An impressive 70% of book buyers in the United States are women.

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Eugenia Cheng has built a “portfolio career” combining her passions for math, piano and education. Eugenia has a PHD in Pure Mathematics and is a Scientist in Residence at School of the Art Institute in Chicago. As part of her portfolio career, Eugenia also performs as a concert pianist and is a published author of two books about math. Eugenia also works to develop math training materials and curriculum, she does research in math within higher dimensional category theory, and she writes about math for media publications. Eugenia has built her career by finding ways to use her talents and work to help others. Eugenia suggests we build our careers by finding what we are really good at and then finding how to use our talents in the best possible way to contribute to society.

Eugenia has a talent for showing how math relates to our world, and in describing the beautiful and mysterious intersections of math, science and art. We talk with Eugenia on how she got on her path and how playing the piano was her refuge when she was frustrated with the confinements of her school years. Eugenia offers suggestions for encouraging kids to enjoy math ( there is some great advice for those of us who have math phobias), we talk about Eugenia’s latest book, beyond infinity, and Eugenia’s thoughts on how math, science and art are spiritually related. Eugenia stepped away from a conventional tenured academic path to create a career where she could user her strengths and interests. Eugenia's thoughtful and analytical approach to creating a career that allowed her to contribute more to society, applies to those of us trying to find work where we can also use more of our strengths. We think you will love this conversation abut how to combine different interests, including Eugenia’s thoughts on the concept of infinity, how “drunk cooking” and math are similar and how you can stretch the possibilities within your career.

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Marta Bralic is VP of Business Development at Flatiron, a digital health company selected by the The World Economic Forum as one of the 30 most promising Technology Pioneers of 2016. At I Want Her Job, we get excited by technology for social impact and flatiron’s technology is fighting cancer in such an exciting and transformative way. Flatiron’s cloud based software is bringing together cancer centers and hospitals to allow more sharing of cancer data with a goal of accelerating the ability to identify opportunities for cancer treatment and research. “The magic happens at Flatiron when you have an oncologist or nurse sitting side by side with an engineer and they are looking at a screen or at a whiteboard and they are trying to figure out how to solve a clinical problem or a data problem actually using some of the modern software applications that are used in other industries but haven’t so far been applied in a place like oncology” says Marta. For those of you motivated by working on health related problems and using technology to fight cancer, we think you will love learning about Flatiron and career opportunities in digital health.

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Times are a-changing, and with it, comes new efforts to keep our planet healthy, which we are major supporters of at I Want Her Job. Today’s interview is with someone hustling to change the future of clean energy, Dawn Lippert. As the co-founder of Elemental Excelerator (formerly Energy Excelerator), a startup accelerator program based in Hawaii, Dawn and her team helps budding businesses change the world, one community at a time.

As co-founder of the organization, Dawn talks to I Want Her Job: The Podcast Host Polina Selyutin about the iteration she went through to refine and design the model Elemental Excelerator uses to fund and support startups. With many startups having different needs and time frames to scale, Dawn says, the nonprofit helped develop a model that works by partnering with corporations to test products and services, as well as non-competing companies that can support and complement one another.

Dawn also discusses her initial inspiration for the nonprofit, largely driven by the realization that the change the world needs to see, needed to be accelerated. “As I was working on these issues in Washington, D.C. on the policy side, it became really clear to me that the speed at which we needed to find solutions was astonishing,” she says. “Entrepreneurship to me is that tool … It’s our theory of change that by empowering entrepreneurs who are building quickly scalable business models that can really address these challenges at scale. That’s how we’re really going to change the world.”

As of press time, Elemental Excelerator has awarded $20 million to 53 portfolio companies (up to $1 million per company), co-funding 28 demonstration projects across areas affecting infrastructure, the environment and quality of life (including energy, water, agriculture and transportation systems). The nonprofit was created in collaboration with Emmerson Collective, an investment and philanthropic platform.

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Hayley is General Manager for Media and Product Development at NewCo, a VC-backed startup that highlights innovative business practices around the globe through media and events. NewCo is an online publisher launched entirely on Medium. NewCo shares stories from companies who are trying to change the world and have missions beyond the bottom line. Hayley has worked in media for over 20 years, including roles for Wired.com and the New York Times.

Topics Discussed:

How NewCo started a their platform on Medium and the benefits of having a a plug and play platform agnostic publishing strategy.

Working as Director of Product for Wired: Hayley’s role being one of the first Product Managers for Wired.com. Hayley led two years of site improvements that translated to a record high number of pageviews in 2015 (breaking 1 Billion pageviews) for the 20 year old Wired.com.

Hayley’s favorite resources for staying in the know for her career.

Up and coming interesting career paths: Hayley's thought on interesting new roles and career paths.

Hayley’s suggestions for the top skills Product Managers should have: Hint, they are not technical.

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Diana Klochkova is VP of Digital Strategy for Rebel Ventures, a leading sports digital strategy and tech venture firm, with a client list including Real Madrid, Golden State Warriors, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Bulls and San Francisco 49ers. We discuss Diana’s path to digital marketing strategy, her previous role as Global Social Marketing Lead for Levi Strauss, projects in Shanghai, Panama and what it is like to work in Sports digital strategy. In her free time, Diana also created a product called the The Bang Wrangler, a sport accessory line for women who love water sports.

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Kimberly Cassady is VP of Talent for Cornerstone OnDemand, a company that provides businesses with software to recruit, train and manage their employees. Cortnerstone has made it on to many best places to work lists including Forbes and Glassdoor.

If you only remember one thing from this show, Kimberly suggests all of us just make the ask. If you hear about upcoming projects at your company, just ask for the opportunity.

Kimberly’s role leading a manufacturing floor scared her and forced her to adopt a fake it till you make it approach. Today, Kimberly’s operations experience has given her the confidence she uses every day in her role as VP of Talent. Looking back on her career, Kimberly says “If you were to look at the aggregate of my career I probably have more failures than I do successes, but I am willing to take the chance and I am ok with the failure. I am ok if it's a learning experience as a result of it.”

Kimberly attributes some of her success in her willingness to test ideas and take action, "I would rather take the incorrect action as opposed to no action", says Kimberly, as she shares the trial and error approach that has resulted in more chances to learn and succeed.

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If you love writing, blogging, photography, creating content — and having control of your future while developing your own business — we think you will enjoy hearing how Lauryn Evarts created her blog and brand, The Skinny Confidential. When Lauryn started blogging 6 years ago, she was broke and miserable working in a bartending job. Today, With six employees, Lauryn is running her own business.

In today's episode of I Want Her Job: the Podcast, we talk to Lauryn about how she engages with her audience, her mindset for setting goals and dealing with criticism. She also shares how she chipped away every day at the goals she made for her blog. "Every day when I laid my head on the pillow I had built The Skinny Confidential in some small way,” she says.

Now as a professional blogger, Lauryn shares some practical advice for what it takes. “If you can’t deal with criticism probably being an influencer is not the way to go,” she says. But if you can? Well, we think the upside could be that it's your dream job.

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Ida Tin is founder of Clue, the world’s fastest growing period tracking and fertility app. Ida shares why she is so committed to using technology to empower women with more knowledge and control of their bodies and for family planning. Ida is on a mission to help women become more aware and “friendlier with their bodies”. Hear how Ida founded Clue and and about Femtech, an emerging area of technology addressing women’s health. As Ida says “Within Femtech alone there is so much unmet potential. Everywhere we look we see needs that women have that are not being addressed where technology can play a role.” Prior to founding Clue, Ida had a business leading motorcycle tours around the world. Listen to hear how Ida’s background and early interests in women’s health evolved into her role as founder of Clue.

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We strive to inspire women leading the future of business here at I Want Her Job. This is why we were so excited to speak with Cecilia Foxworthy, co-founder of Torus Teens, an online tool for connecting teens with afterschool and summer programs with the leaders of our future – teens – in mind.

The idea for Torus Teens came about after Cecilia had the realization that the majority of the free afterschool programs for teenagers were available, and sometimes just around the block, but many of the teens she knew were not even aware of them. So, she made a move to fill the need. Now the idea has blossomed into an organization that is supported by Inc., ImpactLab, Urban Assembly, and A Better Chance, among other organizations.

And it’s this drive to help others that we admire so much. “I just don’t accept that all teenagers don’t get the chance to make themselves who they want to be … and explore those interests,” she says. We already have the resources today to change lives and open the doors for teenagers, but we just need to connect them with the opportunities, people and organizations that will make this happen.

“We have the real potential to move the needle on the achievement gap, which has been widening over the last 30 years,” she says. “We can close that by harnessing programs and methods that are already in existence … We don’t really need more resources, we just need to use them better.”

Learn more about what else drives Cecilia, why she really likes to wonder ‘why’ and more on episode 34 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast.

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At I Want Her Job we love a good startup story, and we like one that involves two friends destined to meet and create a business even more. One day in early 2016, Annie Dean called her friends – asking them to direct her to the smartest women they knew. As fate would have it, a few friends directed Annie to Anna Auerbach, a woman described by mutual friends as a “force of intelligence” and full of energy. Over a phone conversation, Anna shared her thoughts on a business that would help create a marketplace for women seeking flexible job opportunities. Annie was instantly hooked on the idea, and this first phone call ignited a passion and partnership between the two dynamic women.

The idea became Werk, a business dedicated to helping women thrive in the workforce and find flexible job opportunities. Since launching earlier this year, Werk has received funding, created a marketplace for flexible jobs with over 60 companies – including Facebook, Uber and Samsung – and has hired a staff of four and developed a new product.

Anna’s Harvard MBA and McKinsey background, combined with Anna’s experience in practicing law, they say, has given them a distinct advantage during their research, analysis and business planning phases for Werk. As self-professed data geeks, Annie and Anna knew that data was showing them a business opportunity for a site like Werk was there. And as ambitious young mothers to toddlers with demanding professional careers, Anna and Annie understand firsthand the challenges women face when they don’t want – or cannot take a break – from working. In fact, research shows more than 30% of women end up leaving the workforce after having children. And, of those that left, 70% say they would have stayed in their jobs if they had been given more flexibility. Furthermore, a Bain research study has shown that women value flexibility more than titles, location and pay. The data, as well as common sense, shows the supply is there, and from a business perspective, flexibility lowers costs and helps companies recruit and retain top talent.

We’re thrilled to share episode 33 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast with you. We hope the story of Annie and Annie inspire you to shift your own thoughts on the work/life culture.

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In episode 32 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, we speak with Lauren Collins, staff writer at The New Yorker, and author of When In French: Love In A Second Language. The book, which is a memoir of falling in love, learning a new language and adjusting to a new culture, was recently selected as a “Notable Book of 2016” by The New York Times. And it’s easy to see why.

With plenty of humor and fascinating details on linguistics and French culture, in the book Lauren recounts her journey of learning and adjusting to a life in France. In her interview, she shares the story of the one decision that changed her life. Weeks before her 30th birthday, Lauren decided to shake things up, requesting to work for The New Yorker from London. It was during this fateful trip that, in a decidedly American way, Lauren walked over and introduced herself … to her future husband!

Eventually moving with him to Paris, When In French chronicles the cultural adjustments and clashes of living in a new country. Listen in to hear more about Lauren’s journey, details on her sought-after job at The New Yorker and more.

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Felena Hanson was just another woman working from home when she came up with a brilliant idea. While working at home for eight years, she missed having a sense of community and often time struggled to focus. The options in the market at the time, while uber-hip and high tech, were lacking an environment that felt beautiful and clean to her. She realized she was craving a coworking space designed by women, for women, so Felena embarked on creating what she couldn’t find.

And now, five years later, Hera Hub is the first international coworking and shared office space for women (though open to men as well) from Washington, D.C. to Stockholm, Sweden. And although the company specializes in providing inspired spaces for women to work from, the company also hosts training sessions on planning, accounting and other business services – providing continuous support and advice for its members. They also offer an endless supply of coffee and wine! After all, Felena says, in Hera Hub spaces women are truly trying to help one another.

“I wanted to create something that was bigger than myself, and bigger than the city that I’m in,” Felena says. “ … It’s an ecosystem of support, collaboration and community.”

In episode 31 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Editor and Host Polina Selyutin speaks with Felena about launching a business, making mistakes and building a community.

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Judy Robinett’s story begins in Franklin, Idaho. As a young girl who was bullied during junior high, Judy felt uncomfortable at social events, which she would often arrive late to and leave early from. Until her 40s, she felt shy, awkward, not good enough, not cute enough and not educated enough.

Today, however, Judy’s life paints a different picture. As a well-known and highly respected investor and advisor, she is known as the woman with a titanium Rolodex. If you’re curious about how she made the leap from insecure young woman to confident businesswoman, then you will want to hear episode 30 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast.

In today’s show, Judy shares how an attitude of, “Keep your head down; work hard; and wait your turn,” turned into advice worth tossing. She read Dale Carnegie’s How To Win Friends And Influence People and immediately realized that it was actually those leaving early on Friday to socialize at the golf club were the ones getting ahead at work. After reading this book, she began to make intentional choices in how she interacted with others.

This fresh outlook aids Judy to this day. When she meets someone new, Judy immediately begins looking for ways she can help, which she explains further in her step-by-step approach in her book on networking – How To Be A Power Connector. In today’s episode, Editor and Host Polina Selyutin discusses the art of connection with Judy and tips that can help you develop your own titanium Rolodex.

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According to Shopify’s Director of Talent Acquisition Anna Lambert, the recruiting industry is broken. And, we happen to agree. While most companies utilize a traditional process for filtering out candidates based on a list of experience and requirements, Shopify does things very differently. In fact, Shopify actually encourages candidates to apply if they don’t meet all the traditional requirements listed on a position.

“We don’t want to exclude people who can be incredible in a role because they don’t think they’re qualified,” Anna says. Shopify’s website goes further, saying, “Experience comes in many forms, many skills are transferable and passion goes a long way.” Don’t you wish more companies thought like that?

In episode 29 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Editor and Host Polina Selyutin speaks with Anna about how Shopify actively seeks to understand a job candidate historically and how the company factors in passion projects and career goals. If you’ve ever been discouraged by the traditional job application process, you won’t want to miss today’s show.

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Martha Ruiz, a tax partner for PwC, specializes in helping clients in the entertainment industry with their tax and strategic planning. In addition, she also has a jaw-dropping role as the Oscars Balloting Co-leader. This means Martha is one of only two individuals in the world (along with balloting co-leader Brian Cullinan) who knows the Oscar winners a week before the event. And yes, she can be found during the ceremony hand delivering the envelopes with a winner's name! PwC, which has had a relationship with the Academy for 88 years, announced Martha’s position just last year. She’s the second woman and first Latina woman to have this role.

In episode 28 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Editor and Host Polina Selyutin speaks with Martha about the importance of education, work ethic and its influence on one's career path, her work as the balloting co-leader for the Oscars for an upcoming third year in a row and that tricky topic of work/life balance.

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How does one make the transition from being interested in a job at a tech startup to becoming a sought-after technology investor, advisor and founder?

Sarah Kunst is the founder of Proday, a subscription-based workout app that allows you to: “Train alongside world-class athletes. Anytime. Anywhere.” In today’s show, this startup founder and former venture capitalist walks us through the steps she took on her path to attract some incredible opportunities. (Like backing from the Los Angeles Dodger’s accelerator program and funding from angel investors Arielle Zuckerberg and Sara Haider.) And she didn’t let statements like, “We really like you, but you don’t have the experience” get in her way. Not one little bit. In fact, Sarah became a female VC before she even turned 30, which is no easy feat.

Through hard work and a relentless drive to help startups, this 2015 Forbes 30 Under 30 list-maker and contributing editor to Marie Claire, understands what it takes to carve out a career path and bring others up with you. In episode 27 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Sarah walks Editor and Host Polina Selyutin through the road she traveled and the decisions she made that led her to become a highly respected investor and advisor.

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Imagine you are two months pregnant and you are let go from your job. You begin to search for jobs with decent maternity leave policies, but you notice companies are not clear on this information.

What would you do knowing you have a baby on the way? Little did Georgene Huang know that this life-changing moment would allow her the opportunity to help make the workplace better for women. Partnering with Romy Newman, the two would soon found Fairygodboss, a community that provides women information about the ‘hard-to-ask’ questions when interviewing with a potential company. In episode 26 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Editor and Host Polina Selyutin speaks with Romy Newman about how they started Fairygodboss, their business model, insights from the reviews they are receiving and key career advice.

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If you had been told which majors were fast-tracks to careers in the fastest-growing job markets, would you have approached your college education a little differently? Don’t worry, we’re right there with you.

The fact is, the job market is evolving quickly and even the most educated among us can find it hard to keep ahead of the what’s-hot-now curve. What are the best majors? What does it mean to be qualified? How can I find a job with a salary to afford me a solid 401k?

That’s where Tara Sinclair comes in. As a senior fellow economist at Indeed and an associate professor at George Washington University, Tara has the inside information on the industries that are growing and what it takes to be a part of them. In episode 25 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, be prepared for more than a few surprises in terms of markets you might want to explore.

Tara takes Editor Polina Selyutin behind the velvet rope of the job-hunting process to give you the keys to not only land a job, but also find a career with continual forward momentum from entry level to upper management. Additionally, they discuss some of the hottest markets, the gig economy and why labor literacy is so important.

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Imagine wearing a beautiful gold choker with black onyx cabochons on the end. It’s on-trend, stunning … but wait, it’s only $200? And it’s real gold?

Yes. Thanks to a dream of two best friends – Bouchra Ezzahraoui and Sophie Kahn – over a Sunday brunch, exquisite gold jewelry brand AUrate came to life. AUrate, which is “AU” for gold (thanks, chemistry class!) and is pronounced “OR-ate” (because, like an “orator” the brand tells a story), was launched in December 2014. Inspired by Warby Parker, what sets the brand apart is its ability to offer high-quality gold jewelry direct-to-consumer. By cutting out the middleman, the brand can offer customers stunning jewelry at up to 50-to-75% off typical industry prices. As Morocco-raised Bouchra says, “Gold is extremely expensive in the United States.”

The duo, who met while attending graduate school at Princeton in 2009, built AUrate while holding full-time jobs, taking classes in design and hosting pop-up shops on the side. Beyond the hustle, what’s so impressive about Bouchra and Sophie is their deep passion for educating consumers about the differences in gold and other jewelry, saying stores carry, “Fine jewelry or fashion pieces you’d pay a lot for, but are not really made out of fine materials.” One example of that? Fashion jewelry that turns one’s fingers green! Facing this problem themselves, after some digging, research confirmed what they had already known: In retail there was either affordable fashion jewelry or expensive fine jewelry. There was nothing in the middle, and a gap needed to be filled.

Others caught on and quickly agreed. Once the demand took off, the two decided to dive into the company full-throttle. While Sophie focuses on the fashion and design side of the business, Bouchra is drawn to the business side. In episode 24 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Editor and Host Polina Selyutin speaks with Bouchra and Sophie about the strategies they used that resulted in 400% annual growth, advice to other entrepreneurs, and combining their individual background in math and finance with design, art and social purpose. Go to www.iwantherjob.com for more show notes and links to topics discussed in the show.

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Maghan McDowell grew up in the South and found herself moving multiple times – to three different states and even the Czech Republic. It created a sense of independence, and ultimately, inspired this Women’s Wear Daily tech reporter’s personal style.

“The impact of how you look – and your style – really does effect the way you’re perceived and the way you’re treated in the world,” she says. “Anthropologically it’s interesting to see … And I really think that informed my respect and style for clothes. It’s not just something frivolous.”

At WWD, a.k.a. the “Fashion Bible” and go-to resource for fashion’s insiders, Maghan works as the trade publication’s first San Francisco-based reporter focusing exclusively on the intersection of technology and fashion. She covers the business of the fashion industry and the topics important to those working in it.

In episode 23 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Editor and Host Polina Selyutin speaks with Maghan about balancing speed versus accuracy in reporting, juggling up to 14 stories a week, future trends in fashion and technology, and so much more.

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Winnie Sun is a different kind of financial adviser. While many of her industry colleagues would strive for the same goals she does in providing the best, most high-quality customer service, not as many would take that goal to the level of launching an in-house multimedia company designed to provide financial advice. But, Winnie did just that.

As the managing director and founding partner of Irvine, Calif.-based financial consulting firm Sun Group Wealth Partners, Winnie not only serves her corporate and individual clients, but she also serves as a thought leader in the financial realm. Through the firm’s multimedia company, Winnie works with her team to record daily video segments for YouTube that helps those of us a little less financially savvy to navigate the world of investing and our personal finances. This on-demand content (that also includes a podcast, heavy social media presence and increased emphasis on mobile-first) was created after many long discussions where the firm realized that the industry wasn’t adapting as fast as a customer’s needs. “We had a vision in mind to create a relevant, attractive and top-of-mind firm for the next generation,” Winnie says.

In addition to changing her firm’s approach, Winnie also pens financial advice for Forbes and Nerd Wallet (among many, many others) and appears frequently on CNBC and CBS, in addition to a handful of other top networks. Prior to Sun Group Wealth Partners, Winnie held positions at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, and before that she had a less traditional financial services career path, working as an entrepreneur as founder of CH Entertainment. The Los Angeles-based television audience production company had clients ranging from America’s Funniest Home Videos to Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.

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In episode 21, meet Therese Huston, author of “How Women Decide: What’s True, What’s Not, and What Strategies Spark the Best Choices.” In her book, Therese shares research that shows women and men are, however, actually equally skilled when it comes to decision making. And, as an expert on the topic of changing the conversation surrounding female decision-makers,

In this episode, Podcast Editor Polina Selyutin and Therese discuss high-pressure decision making, the gender myth and also some tactical advice that may help you when you’re stuck trying to make your own decisions. And for further reading on the topic, we highly recommend Therese’s Harvard Business Review article that illustrates women don’t always get the fair shake they deserve when it comes to how their decisions are perceived.

To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com Sign up for our newsletter and find more interviews: www.iwantherjob.com

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In previous episodes of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, we’ve explored the world of impact investing, a field that combines financial returns with social impact. As conscious women, we’re excited by this industry that places emphasis on initiatives deeply valued and dear to our hearts, like the environment and health care. In 2016, impact investing was a $60 billion marketplace, and it’s only continuing to grow.

In episode 20, Podcast Editor Polina Selyutin speaks with Victoria Fram, managing director of impact investing firm Village Capital. The organization believes in creating opportunities at a local level for entrepreneurs in underserved markets. Their focus is twofold, with emphasis on economic inequality for startups – increasing access to affordable healthcare, education and financial services – as well as on sustainable agriculture and energy.

It’s Victoria’s job to work with investors who wish to align their investments along with their values. A particular emphasis is placed on early-stage companies. What sets Village Capital apart is their approach. Entrepreneurs in their portfolio constantly evaluate one another, giving each the opportunity to, “Hear candid viewpoints from [their] peers,” Victoria says.

Over the last 6 years, Village Capital has overseen more than 40 programs, investing in 70 companies with over 500 entrepreneurs, ranging in investments from $70,000 to $500,000. Investments in these programs totaling $3 million has resulted in a 15 to 1 return for investors. And while many investment firms chase the same markets, Village Capital is seeing great success in other areas, including ed tech startups in New Orleans and agriculture in Kentucky.

“The best entrepreneurs are not the ones in Silicon Valley who are creating an app that will make life a little easier – or fleetingly more fun … The best entrepreneurs are out there in cities and towns across the country, disrupting the world’s toughest problems, creating good paying jobs and strengthening their communities,” Victoria says. Read more at www.iwantherjob.com

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As the passionate founder of Motivate Design – a user experience research, design and staffing firm – Mona works with large organizations to help them understand how users are using their brand, product or service. Overall, Mona and her team tackle a big question: How do you understand how people work and think, and then how does that apply to the design of products? Her team will heavily research, work intentionally across industries, apply different perspectives, and even shadow actual users, to find insights that can then help improve the experience a customer has with certain service or product.

When she’s not leading her team of 25 at Motivate Design, which also happens to be an Inc. 5000 company, Mona is an instructor at Parsons The New School for Design. Her passion for encouraging others to think about design problems creatively has expanded to writing a book, Reframe: Shift The Way You Work, Innovate and Think; hosting workshops, launching design camps for kids and even a children’s design book. Mona also is a though leader on user-centered design and innovation, experience strategies, usability, lean startups and business management who writes for Fast Company and TIME Business.

In episode 19 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Mona shares her technique for triggering design ideas, advice for those considering a startup life and her favorite resources for reading up and getting ahead. For detailed show notes and a detailed list of Mona's resources for learning about UX design go to www.iwantherjob.com

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Jessica Jackson Sloan is the youngest-ever elected official in the charming city of Mill Valley, California, located just 14 miles north of San Francisco. In her role as vice mayor of the city where she grew up, Jessica works on local politics. That would be enough of an accomplishment for many to be satisfied, but not Jessica, who has deep life experiences that motivated her to spend her time helping those less fortunate.

As national director of #cut50, a truly bipartisan initiative to end mass incarceration, Jessica works with her colleagues and a team of notable influencers (like Alicia Keys and Richard Branson) to cut the prison population in the United States by half within the next 10 years. The organization works to raise the issue in media and inform others that the issue has become massive – and not only is a huge resource suck in our society, but also one that has the potential for alternative options that would keep our communities safer.

Prior to her dual jobs, Jessica worked on death penalty cases, saying that when serving those on death row, “You see the worst of the worst of the system … Unfortunately the client pays the ultimate price … their life.” It was this background that prompted Jessica to join politics in the first place, as she had a desire to move into policy work to broaden her impact.

In episode 18 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, we hear about how Jessica’s very personal story led her to law school and then her work on death penalty cases and eventually, at #cut50 and for the city of Mill Valley. Her story is one you’ll want to hear.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S SHOW:

On Campaign Fundraising: Despite her experience with nonprofit fundraising, Jessica says that raising money for her campaign felt harder. “You have to sell yourself. If it’s an issue you’re passionate [about] and you’ve already been sold on [it], then it’s kind of easier to sell than to sell yourself, and brag on yourself, and ask close friends and family for money,” she says.
Taking Action: One issue Jessica felt passionate about that she took action on as an elected official dealt with smoking in multi-family housing. While living in multi-family housing herself, Jessica’s neighbor fell asleep – cigarette in mouth – and burned down the neighboring apartment, as well as half of Jessica’s apartment – including her daughter’s room. Fortunately, she and her daughter were gone at the time. In addition to her personal experience, Jessica pointed out that the complications of smoke for neighbors with conditions like asthma, and the fact that many of these units share central air made smoking a problem. The ordinance is now passed, and tenants of multi-family housing can no longer smoke.
On Thinking Local: “It feels like sometimes when you’re working on bigger issues on a national or state scale, things take a really long time to get done. On the local level, there’s an immediate return on your investment of energy,” Jessica says.
Day In The Life: While Jessica attends official meetings on the first and third Monday of each month, she’s called on throughout the week to attend additional meetings, including participation in additional boards she shits on and the democratic party. When not working on city politics, Jessica spends her time leading #cut50 and taking care of her family.
By The Numbers: The United States has 5 percent of the world’s population, yet it comprises 25 percent of the world’s incarcerated population. The U.S. is jailing people at a rate higher than any country.
Cost Versus Return: More than $80 billion is spent on the U.S. justice system in one year. “With that $80 billion a year, you would think that we’re taking individuals and turning out Harvard grads … In fact, the majority of people who get out of the prison system end up back in within five years, with our recidivism rates around 70 to 80 percent,” Jessica says.
On Cut50: Right now the nonprofit is focused on federal sentencing reform, Jessica says. The nonprofit has worked the past 18 months to call on Congress to pass comprehensive justice reform. Of the 2.2 million incarcerated individuals in the U.S. right now, only about 200,000 are in the federal system. Despite this, Jessica says that Cut50 decided to start at the federal level to send a strong message to states and governors.
How To Get Involved: Get informed by visiting cut50.org. You also can join more than 1 million other individuals and sign the petition for justice reform on change.org. Also, Jessica advises to start local – look at practices employed by your local Sheriff’s Office and police. Vote for district attorneys and judges that align with reform.
Hitting Home: Jessica shares her personal story of dealing with incarceration. Her then-husband served more than three years in Georgia, right after her oldest daughter was born. “I saw firsthand how corrupt the system was, how they broke our family by charging excessive amounts for phone calls … the restrictions they put on visitation and whether or not I could bring the baby in … restrictions on even things like writing letters … All of this was because he had a drug problem, and he could have gotten help with rehabilitation, but instead he was incarcerated and never got that treatment he really needed,” she says.
On Working Bi-Partisan: Running a bi-partisan organization can be tricky. But Jessica tells those on both sides of the aisle, “When it was my husband who was behind bars, and my child who was growing up without their child at home, I didn’t’ care whether it was a Republican who brought my husband home, or if it was a Democrat who brought him home, I just wanted him home.”
Getting Into Government: Jessica’s advice for women considering jobs in local government is to be brave, have the ability to laugh at yourself, allow yourself to make mistakes and then learn from those moments.
On The Topic: Podcast editor Polina recommends everyone read Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson to learn more about the issue of incarceration.
Connect With #cut50: You can show your support by following #cut50 on Facebook and Twitter and by donating here.

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Couture paper design artist Tanja Maduzia is a modern-day crafts(wo)man. As the owner of byTanja, a couture paper design studio based in Los Angeles, Tanja specializes in event invitations for special occasions from parties, to weddings and showers. Well known in Hollywood circles, Tanja has worked with big-name clients including Steven Spielberg, Bradley Cooper, Christina Aguilera, Jake Gyllenhaal and Jonah Hill. She’s also a frequent featured DIY-er on ABC’s The List.

When it comes to the creative process, Tanja believes we should all step away from the computer. “Part of my creativity is that I’m always moving around and physically making things,” she says. “I purposely am a bit disconnected.”

In episode 17 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Editor Polina Selyutin and Tanja discuss nurturing creativity, building a business from scratch and sources of inspiration. You might even be surprised, like we were, to learn that Tanja bucks the status quo when it comes to inspiration boards. Listen on to find out why, and hear Tanja’s thoughts on the importance of work ethic.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S SHOW:

Making A Connection: Despite her success, we love how Tanja stays grounded. She tells us how she always carries greeting cards on her, and admits that at times, she’ll even pitch people on her services in the card aisle of a grocery store! We love that hustle.
Getting Started: Some clients have a proposal, and others have no idea what they want. “In the custom world there really is no ‘normal’ and you just have to go with the flow,” Tanja says.
On The Creative Process: “I have binders that I’ve put together of fonts, or color schemes, or anything that inspires me,” Tanja says. Sometimes her creative process will start with a font. Other times it will begin with a photo. Either way, Tanja likes to get a few descriptive adjectives from her clients to kick-start the process.
All Together Now: “I know a lot of people like inspiration boards … I don’t like to put them [photos] on the wall, because I think sometimes when you’re looking at something a little too long, it loses its charm. I put everything together in a binder,” Tanja says.
On Inspiration Seeking: Tanja explains how she finds ideas in everyday life – like the font on a menu to storefronts and trees.
Taking It Back: From redesigning lamps to styling window displays, Tanja shares how her family’s antique business developed her skills and love of design.
On Cultural Influences: Tanja’s grandparents were born in a small cobblestone village in Croatia and left to avoid the conflicts there. But, before their dream to enter the United States came true, the two spent nearly 10 years in a refugee camp.
In Her Blood: Tanja’s grandmother worked in Seattle filleting fish after moving to the States. “She was actually very famous. She taught other companies because she had the least amount of waste. Earlier on in my career my grandmother passed, and I was [talking] with one of her friends asking, ‘Why was she so good at her job?’” Tanja says. “And one of the women told me, ‘She was consistent in the way she worked and the speed at which she worked. She wasn’t the fastest, but she made a consistent pace throughout the entire day, so she never burned herself out. She did the same day of work at the beginning of the day as at the end.’ That really struck me, and I think about that every single time I make projects.”
Ultimate Dinner Party: Tanja explains why, if she could get any other four women together for dinner, the guest list would include Martha Stewart, Vogue Australia’s Christine Centenera, Goldie Hawn and Dolly Parton.
Favorite Resources: A book Tanja recommends for all entrepreneurs is How to Set-Up Your Business For Under $1,000 by Dan Fleyshman and Branden Hampton. Other favorite authors include Joel Osteen and Norman Vincent Peale. She also recommends The Secret to Success Podcast by the “Hip Hop Preacher” Eric Thomas.
More Information: Read Tanja’s I Want Her Job Leading Lady interview from 2012.
Connect: mail@bytanja.com; @byTanja on Twitter; @by_Tanja on Instagram; and @byTanja on Snapchat.

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Many of us feel like we hit the lottery when we land our dream job. But today’s podcast guest has held a handful of dream jobs for some majorly crush-worthy companies.

The last time we featured Rachel Hofstetter on I Want Her Job, her book about foodie entrepreneurs, Cooking Up A Business, was fresh off the press and stirring up quite the media buzz. She also had just launched guesterly, a memorable approach to introducing all of the special people at your special events – from weddings to bar mitzvahs – with her husband Lorne. Then last fall, guesterly was acquired by Chatbooks, makers of “super easy $8 photo books” and Rachel became vice president of marketing for the brand.

This veteran food editor of O, The Oprah Magazine also found the time to share what she learned about crafting that perfect pitch while working at the publication and launched PR School, an online course, with former Leading Lady Angela Jia Kim.

In episode 16 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Editor Polina Selyutin speaks with Rachel about pitching a business idea, managing a startup and her work/life balance philosophy.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S SHOW:

On Testing A Business Idea: Rachel believes in starting as small as you can, because ideas shift and change so much.
That Work/Life Balance: “You can do anything for a season of life,” Rachel says. By writing from 5:30 to 7:30 a.m. every day for eight months, this mindset was the secret that helped Rachel complete her book while still holding down a full-time job.
#HashtagInspo: Rachel coined 2015 her #YearOfHustle, and used that mentality to push herself – fully knowing that she was going to work harder than she ever worked before. Her other motivation tip? This defined time period helped give her the motivation to keep going.
Discover Utah: Her 2015 hashtag was so motivating that she decided to make 2016 the #YearOfUtah, which she says for her is all about loving the awesome thing about where you are. (Rachel is Utah-based these days.) She says she sees moving to another city as an opportunity to “game another world.”
New York State Of Mind: Rachel’s move to New York City at age 21 had a life-changing impact. Being surrounded by the doers and creators striving to make something and find out who they wanted to be made her who she is today. She advises moving somewhere when you’re young and don’t know anyone. “It will make you dream bigger and do more things,” she says.
Give, Give, Get: Those three words will alter your whole PR strategy, says Rachel. She advises those seeking more PR to think about how you can create a win-win situation when reaching out to the media. Outlets want a great story, so think about how you can stand out in a big way. After all, she says, only a handful out of the 400 pitches she’d see in a day made the inbox cut.
On Landing Your Dream Job: Create the opportunity for yourself, and “chisel” into your dream job, Rachel says. Don’t wait on others to give it to you.
Eat A Frog, Sail A Ship: Here’s Rachel’s secret to time management: Do the hardest thing first. (Eat the frog.) Then, “sail a ship,” – put out new things every single day.
Favorite Resources: PR School, Daily Action Planner, The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni
Learn More: Connect with Rachel on Twitter and Instagram. Follow Chatbooks on Twitter and Instagram. And, find guesterly on Twitter and Instagram, too!

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What if you could find an employer that not only allowed – but embraced – flexible work options? Enter The Second Shift, a business launched in 2014 to serve as a digital matchmaker for businesses seeking on-demand talent with professional women looking for flexible employment opportunities, including consulting and freelancing, in the fields of marketing and finance. Founded by Jenny Galluzzo and Gina Hadley, The Second Shift has caught the attention of female creatives and the media alike. (Editor’s Note: “Helping Moms Lean In, But Not Too Far” on the duo in The New York Times is a must-read.) Membership for the service is free, with The Second Shift taking a small percentage from both employer and employee once an individual is contracted.

Even prior to founding The Second Shift, Jenny and Gina had vibrant careers. Jenny worked as a television producer, booker and on-air reporter for Good Morning America, News 12 The Bronx and Plum TV. She even started her own vintage caftan clothing line, Mayer Studio. Gina hailed from the world of advertising, and before having children worked as a creative coordinator at Ogilvy & Mather on the IBM account. After becoming a mom, however, Gina embraced the life of an entrepreneur – working at Ads.com, launching and selling Urban Monkeys and launching another company, Gina Hadley Consulting.

In episode 15 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Editor Polina Selyutin speaks with Jenny and Gina about testing a concept prior to launch, bucking the 9-to-5 status quo, secrets to startup success and more.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S SHOW:

On Building A Business: Since founding The Second Shift, Jenny and Gina have staffed more than 100 projects and currently work with more than 70 companies. This year, they’re on track to double, if not triple, those numbers.
Secrets To Startup Success: Jenny and Gina started small – testing The Second Shift concept for a year before launching saying, “Every time we did something, we did it very thoughtfully and pragmatically … We wanted to prove this concept without spending an enormous amount of money on development.”
The Way We See It: While many companies still have a ‘bed check’ mentality, The Second Shift feels confident that women placed on projects will find a way to deliver excellent results based on their preferred schedules. Change is difficult, the ladies say and, “For a lot of people, they have a lot invested in the status quo … We are trying to disrupt the way businesses look at this kind of talent. We are asking companies to change the way they look at hiring practices. We really are creating the supply and demand.”
Why It Works: While larger companies are often fully invested in the status quo, the needs of smaller companies are changing quickly. Because of this, many of these companies are open to flexible, project-based roles.
Dipping A Toe In: When you want to test a new job opportunity or industry, Jenny suggests, “Try it out for a little bit and build up your tolerance.”
Advice For Fellow Working Women: Jenny and Gina encourage women to stay involved in their careers, regardless of the job size or role, because it’s vital to stay engaged with the job market.
Parting Lessons: 1/ Just keep swimming! “The moment will pass and you don’t want to have made any decisions that are going to negatively impact that.” 2/ Pay it forward. “If you’re listening to this, and you have the opportunity to hire someone through our network, you can help create that opportunity for them and get the best.”
Favorite Business Book: The Lean Startup
Learn More: Connect with The Second Shift on Twitter and Facebook or email them at info@thesecondshift.com

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Caroline took a leap from a career in investment banking to one launching a high-end luxury retail line that sold in more than 400 stores worldwide from Neiman Marcus to Bloomingdales. But that was only the first chapter in this now-established entrepreneur’s startup career.

When this first company failed two years later, Carolyn wasn’t deterred. Instead, she launched a multi-million dollar interactive marketing agency, Cake Communications. And, she also used the failure as an opportunity to give a very real and very vulnerable TEDx talk.

Today Carolyn is running global women’s collaborative accelerator, Circular Board, a virtual, 12-week program. “[As] an entrepreneur myself, I’ve helped raise billions of dollars in capital through my work as an investment banker for JPMorgan and as founder of Cake Communications,” she says. In her role, Carolyn teaches others how to do the same, and she serves as an advocate for women in business, connecting female entrepreneurs to the capital, resources, mentors and partners to fuel their growth.

Additionally, Carolyn serves on the board of the Texas A&M Mays College of Business, as a member of the Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network and as a United Nations Global Accelerator delegate. She is the recipient of the American Express Micro to Millions Award, a Sam Walton Emerging Entrepreneur and an Entrepreneur magazine 2016 “Woman to Watch.” She’s also been featured in The Huffington Post, Fortune, Time and on MSNBC, among others.

In episode 14 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Editor Polina Selyutin speaks with Carolyn about the lessons learned from launching two businesses; her goals for growing Circular Board; and the vital importance of connection, collaboration and curiosity.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S SHOW:

Who Run The World? Girls!: “All of us reap the rewards when women succeed. It’s job creation. It’s economic growth. It’s social impact. There are so many different benefits that we achieve when women succeed. It isn’t just about gender equality, but about quality of life for each and every person.”
Breaking Barriers: Carolyn discusses the difficulty many female entrepreneurs face when they look to relocate for an accelerator program, and shares how Circular Board is the ultimate answer to that conundrum.
Get There Quicker: For entrepreneurs, Carolyn advises not to compromise on the big vision and to seek funding earlier to achieve that vision. “What happens is [women] compromise that vision because they don’t have the resources on hand today, and they start to bootstrap in a way that changes that path.”
Ladies Leading: “Women are incredible leaders. We are really empathetic. We understand our customers in a real unique way, which I think is a huge advantage,” Carolyn says.
Give And Get: During Carolyn’s business experience, she noticed women didn’t ask for enough help often enough. She addresses that at Circular Board via a “Give and Get” exercise that encourages women to practice asking for help.
On Diversity: “When you bring that to the table it creates this infusion of energy, and people start bouncing ideas off one another and bring a different lens to a problem,” Carolyn says.
The Hardest Part Of Starting A Business: Carolyn believes the middle stage is the hardest part – when your company is growing and one needs the capital to hire, but doesn’t have the funds yet to do so.
Let It Go: How transparency, honesty and letting go of fear can liberate an entrepreneur to grow even faster.
Word Of Mouth Cultivation: Carolyn shares how she used referrals to grow her businesses and reduce marketing costs.
That X Factor: “Ask others what you’re good at,” Carolyn says. Hearing what others list as your strengths is a great way to find out what you might be taking for granted that actually can help set you – and your business – apart.
Favorite Resource: Harvard Business Review
Learn More: Connect with Carolyn on Twitter, Instagram and the Circular Board website

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Bea Arthur knows a thing or two about making a pivot.

And no, just to be clear we’re not talking about the same Bea Arthur who starred among the OG Girl Squad – the Golden Girls. This Bea Arthur, like the other, was a bad ass. But, unlike the Bea of nostalgia’s past, this Bea Arthur has an entrepreneurial bug that bit her hard and never left – seeing her through two startups since graduating college in 2008.

Now, as for that pivoting, as a licensed therapist and startup founder, Bea has learned the importance of making nimble, not-so-easy decisions and has mastered the art of picking herself back up again. Her company, In Your Corner (formerly Pretty Padded Room), is a leader in using telemedicine to offer counseling and coaching services online through video and text. Her idea was so standout that it landed her an appearance on ABC’s Shark Tank. Even without getting an investment from the sharks, Bea used their feedback to tweak her idea, and as Fast Company put it, she “turned her mistakes into assets.”

Now, Bea is about to make a pivot again, and has decided to close the virtual doors of In Your Corner to make room for her next business venture in the online therapy space. But this time she’s turning her attention to America’s warriors – service men and women – and is launching an online resource for them later this year called Inside the Wire.

“[When you’re in the military] you can’t stop to think about your circumstances,” Bea says. “You can’t wallow and eat a burrito and watch Netflix. You have to keep your mind sharp. I got really into the idea of emotional endurance.”

In addition to being a serial entrepreneur, Bea is a TEDx speaker who shared her ideas on the “Culture of Comparison” (which, we highly recommend you YouTube.) She also was the first African-American woman to be accepted into the prestigious Y Combinator accelerator program in Mountain View, Calif. She’s also the co-host and co-producer of You’re Not Crazy, a comedic show about mental health on YouTube. She is a first-generation American who was born and raised in Houston, Texas, by her parents who immigrated from Ghana in West Africa.

In episode 13 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Podcast Editor Polina Selyutin speaks with Bea about her college education at Columbia in New York City, her first startup fizzling out, her work helping domestic violence survivors and how the three have swirled together to give Bea business ideas that are helping to solve problems and assist others.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S SHOW:

Ambitious In The Big Apple: Why Bea made the leap from working in real estate to her current field of therapy. “You eventually find your path,” she says.
One Thing Leads To Another: How Bea’s first company, Me Too, led her to start her second company, Pretty Padded Room.
Making Ends Meet: Bea says many therapists start out “making peanuts” as many get their start doing charity work, social work and grant work.
Brain Lifting: “Mental health should be as much of a priority as physical health,” Bea says.
On Idea Sharing: Don’t keep it to yourself, Bea advises. Tell as many people as possible as it will get you, “a lot further, a lot faster.”
Do The Hustle: Bea discusses her cultural influences, including her parents whose hard work led to success and inspired her to work hard and hustle.
Mamma Knows Best: “My mom is a blue collar hero,” Bea says. “It wasn’t until my first company failed and I was heartbroken and lying on the floor, and my mom was like, “Did I ever tell you about the first two years of my company?”
Lessons Learned: The importance of knowing what you don’t know when it comes to a startup. “Once you get to a certain growth stage, literally your job as CEO is to put out fires,” she says.
Eyes Wide Open: Bea discusses the importance of “being awake while you are learning” and discusses how paying attention to patterns, noticing what is working and what isn’t working are some of the therapy tools Bea has applied to her business.
Fertility Freeze: Bea discusses her decision to freeze her eggs until she’s ready to start her family in two or three years. She recommends EggBanxx and is a brand ambassador for the company.
Parting Advice: “I’m not that special,” Bea says. “The difference between successful people and people who don’t make it is persistence.”
Some of Bea’s Favorite Resources:
Women 2.0,
Seth Godin’s blog,
James Altucher,
Marie Forleo,
Gotham Gal
Learn More: Connect with Bea on Twitter and Her Website

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It’s 7:30 a.m., and your four-year-old waddles up to you in his pj’s, as you’re frantically trying to finish your at-home blowout. You need to get out of the house. You’re already late for your job, only he’s sick and wants you to stay home. So, his wee hands reach out and he asks you for a hug, and that’s it. You don’t want to leave. Moreover, you don’t want to go through this part of your morning routine ever again.

And Inkwell’s Manon DeFelice would be right there with you. “It’s fine if you want to lean in to your career,” she says, “But what if you also want to lean in to being a mom?”

Frustrated with a lack of flexibility in traditional corporate jobs, Manon founded Inkwell as a recruiting service to help match capable professionals with startups and forward-thinking companies in need of top-tier talent on a flexible basis. It’s a win-win. The women recruited by Inkwell find flexible jobs that grow their resumes, and the startups that hire them get exceptional seasoned talent.

Prior to starting Inkwell, Manon led nonprofit AHA Foundation and served as its general counsel. At AHA Foundation, the first organization focused on ending honor violence, forced marriage, child marriage and female genital mutilation in the United States, she helped spearhead federal and state legislation. Previous to that role she served as assistant counsel in New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Office of Criminal Justice.

In episode 12 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Podcast Editor Polina Selyutin speaks with Manon about starting a company, how to get more women in the boardroom, and the importance of being an advocate for yourself and other women.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S SHOW:

On Getting Started: Manon is a big believer in outsourcing and hiring people better than her in a given area. How’d she find the team? It was right under her nose. The team Manon worked with to build her business ended up being her first talent pool for recruiters.
Movin’ On Up: Inkwell’s talent pool has since grown into more than 3,000 – all individuals seeking flexible jobs.
Her Nonprofit to For-Profit Switch: Starting her career as a women’s right’s attorney, Manon didn’t think she’d end up leading her own staffing company. “I come to this from the idea that, really, there has to be a staffing alternative to the work full-time or not work model … I still feel that I’m helping women and in turn helping their daughters by creating role models.”
Having Cake, Eating It Too: “It’s fine to stay home if you want. It’s fine to work full time if you want. But if you want both, you have Inkwell.”
The Secret Sauce: Manon believes offering flex time is a really great way to retain your female talent and attract new talent.
On Her Resume: “It’s a long life. You can have several different versions of different careers during that time.”
On Starting Inkwell: “ … I wanted to change the way companies hire women. I want not only the startups and the small business to use us, but to really get some big companies and organizations to realize that offering flex time is really a great way to retain your female talent and to attract new talent.”
A Seat at the Table: “Historically, we have less women in power. I think the fact that we are the ones who carry the babies, and who deliver them, and breastfeed them, is part of that problem. So, if we can make work environments more flexible, we’ll have fewer people dropping out.”
Convey + Convince: Everyone out there can be a mini inkwell, Manon says. She suggests women help one another find flexible roles for one another – a type of flexible job matchmaking.
Learn More: Check out inkwellteam.com and Facebook

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If you love museums and art, chances are Maria Yoon has your dream job.

As a performance artist, filmmaker, senior museum educator and founder of the recently-launched Private Museum Tours. Maria is a multi-hyphenate trailblazing her own path. With more than 20 years of museum education on her resume, including 17 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in her new business Maria guides individuals, VIP’s and groups through various museums and galleries in the greater New York City area.

“The best part [of my job] is to be surrounded by beautiful things. It never gets old,” Maria says. “Why? Exhibitions change every three months. At a large museum like the Met, they have such a large scale of collections that every day I find something new, and I find beauty in that.”

The last time we interviewed Maria Yoon on I Want Her Job, she had just said her final “I do” as part of her documentary, Maria the Korean Bride, in which Maria had 50 different marriages to 50 different “spouses” (including men, women – and even the Liberty Bell!) in 50 states, to bring greater attention to the cultural pressures and ostracism individuals feel when pressured to tie the knot.

“When I was 30 years old, my dad, I think he panicked … He felt that he didn’t live up to his standard as a father because I was still single. I was alone in his eyes, me – living the life I do as an artist and museum educator was not good enough … ” Maria says. “We began to argue a lot … and then I said, ‘Let me see what I can do to meet you halfway.’ That conversation became a giant documentary film.”

The film received attention from various film festivals, PBS, NBC News, Yahoo!, The Huffington Post, Timemagazine and even led to an appearance on TLC’s Cake Boss. But, after such acclaim, what comes next?

In episode 11 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Podcast Editor Polina Selyutin speaks with Maria about the deep and unexpected impact her film had on her own life, insight into how the film was made, as well as Maria’s future plans for a documentary about ghosting.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S SHOW:

On Her Work: “It gives me a reason to educate myself, to learn more and study. And to know at the end that I actually get paid to study and educate myself … I can’t find any greater joy than that.”
Lady Luck: The role a winning lottery ticket (and generous friend) had in bringing Maria’s film to life.
Vegas, Baby!: How Maria found her first “spouse” and then her second … during a trip to Sin City.
Selecting Stories: Maria was the collector and mediator of stories across 50 states while working to change people’s views on marriage in different ways. She listened to stories of people she met, and learned about cultures and communities across the U.S.
The Final Wedding: Hear Maria’s heartbreaking story about the last time she said, “I Do” on her 50-state adventure.
On Early Influences: Maria’s mom, a “poet at heart,” encouraged Maria to follow her interests.
Lessons Learned: Before launching her next documentary effort, Maria says she’s going to focus more on marketing and funding up front and will aim to get more local artists involved.
On Fate: When Maria’s mother was pregnant with her, a fortune teller predicted that Maria would be an artist that would travel far.
Ghost Weddings: Why this topic will be the focus of Maria’s next documentary – and find out what it means!
Learn More About Nepal Bracelets On Facebook: Check out @NepalDesigns
Maria On Twitter: Follow @TheKoreanBride

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Kerrin Mitchell is a woman who aligns herself with managers who are mavericks. And, we feel it takes one to know one. As the co-founder of Fluxx, a company by philanthropists for philanthropists, that makes software to manage the grants process for foundations, nonprofits and government agencies, Kerrin is a woman truly making a difference.

Fluxx strives to elevate grantmakers, empower grantseekers and help change the world one grant at a time. The company, which has experienced triple-digit annual growth for the past four years – has a client list that includes Citibank’s Citi Foundation, charity: water, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and even the government of New Zealand, which manages all of its grants through the company’s software. In fact, 7 of the 11 largest foundations globally use Fluxx for their grants process.

“I feel lucky. I think oftentimes the industries people get into don’t have that sense of community that my industry has innately … [we’re] people and service-oriented individuals,” Kerrin says. “I always liked the idea of social enterprise. Then we started getting into it and I realized, ‘Wow, this is a pretty unique and special environment.’ People are really trying to help each other and build something big.”

And Kerrin, who’s been named one of the top 13 female founders by Forbes on its America’s Most Promising Companies list, is one of those women who likes to go big or go home. In episode 10 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, we speak with Kerrin about co-founding Fluxx in 2010, her formula for building a successful career and the importance of being deliberate with time.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S SHOW:

On Making A Change: “If I was going to work as hard as I know I work, I wanted to at least do it for something where I felt like at the end of the day I could ground myself in social good.”
Chapter By Chapter: Kerrin’s thoughts on scaling Fluxx from a handful of employees to more than 70 and how that growth changed the business
On Personal Fulfillment: “It’s really fun as an entrepreneur to see an idea that was truly just an idea, come to life in front of you and be so enrolled in what it is. But then, being able to actually tell that story and find that the same value that you find that’s important, other people are finding to be [just] as exciting.”
Maverick Mentorship: “I’ve always aligned myself with someone who I’ve thought is a bit of a maverick who was pushing the envelope.”
Bucking The Status Quo: “I’ve always aligned myself with someone who’s influential, that I could learn from and I took a role that may not have been the sexiest role of my peers … but I realized if you can align yourself with someone who’s really interesting and challenging the status quo, you can learn a lot more in a very quick matter of time.”
#ThatCorporateLife: A shout-out to those of us in corporate jobs, Kerrin credits her time at Cisco in giving her the experience to understand how to provide structure and get things done at her growing startup
Time (For) Travel: How travel grounds Kerrin and affects how she sees the world
On Women Entrepreneurs: Why empowering future female entrepreneurs might be next up on Kerrin’s career dossier
Maintainng Motivation: Why – and how – Kerrin schedules “wins” throughout her day-to-day
On Growing A Company: Kerrin shares her thoughts on why the highs become higher and the lows become lower as a company grows and why you can’t let the lows that do happen “eat you alive”
Hit ‘Search’: How Google can be an entrepreneur’s best friend
Hey, Coach: Why Kerrin uses an executive coach to help her become a better leader
Learn More: fluxx.io
On Twitter: Follow @FluxxLabs

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The news cycle reminds us that the world has some serious figuring out to do when it comes to refugees – those individuals who have left their home country due to war, conflict or persecution. Thankfully, there are advocates out there working relentlessly to find solutions. One of these people is Jessica Therkelsen, global policy director for Asylum Access, a nonprofit devoted to refugee rights.

And, while we know there’s a problem and that refugees are homeless while building a new life, what many of us may not realize is the scale of this crisis. There are more than 20 million refugees today, and a refugee (including children) stay in a refugee camp in exile for an average of 20 years.

This isn’t okay with Asylum Access. The nonprofit believes refugees have a right to a fair chance at a new life – wherever they might be – and the group works tirelessly to help refugees in their new country obtain basic rights to live and work. Last year Asylum Access helped more than 20,000 refugees gain these basic rights through individualized legal services. And it doesn’t stop there. The nonprofit also advocates with the United Nations and government entities around the world to ensure the systems that help refugees obtain these basic human rights remain intact.

“There is a growing recognition in the international community that the status quo of how we deliver aid is not meeting long-term needs,” Jessica says, “… What somebody experiences to become a refugee is something you never ever want your family or friends to experience.” Listen to episode 9 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast to hear her advice on how you can get involved and make an impact.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S SHOW:

Understand and Access: How Asylum Access helps refugees understand their rights legally in the places where they are exiled.
Tools of the Trade: While Jessica travels and can often be found in New York, Washington, D.C., and Geneva, Switzerland working on global policy, she swears by the power of Skype for connecting and working.
On Perspective: “I try to be very cognizant of my own privilege and the luck that I’ve had to live a life that is very open and free. I have the right to live in the United States. I have the right to move freely in this country. I can choose where I live. I can choose where I work. I am able to go to school. That’s something that I am grateful for every day, and it’s also something that I fundamentally believe that everyone should have access to.”
On Global Policy: “We’re not really talking about a special package of rights for a special package of people. We’re talking about families – parents, youths – people who want to live a normal life, who want to go to school and have opportunity. These are not crazy things to want. These are not crazy things to ask for.”
I Got It From My Mama: The special woman who inspired Jessica’s career path.
Food For Thought: “We don’t all have the same deck of cards that we’re playing with.”
Dance Lessons: How Jessica’s days in ballet during law school gave her the ability to focus, the maturity to deal with rejection and the inspiration to shoot for really, really big goals.
Resting + Recharging: How time outdoors and spent reading helps Jessica refuel.
On Her Nightstand: The New Yorker and The New York Times Magazine
Creating Comfort: Find out how you can get involved and make a difference in the refugee rights movement.
Learn More: AsylumAccess.org
On Twitter: Follow her @JessTherkelsen and the nonprofit @asylumaccess

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We love to shop. We love to do good. And in episode 8 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, we meet the woman behind our latest go-to gift for baby shower shopping. Katie Marie Grinold Sigfusson is the founder of Chicago-based luxury social impact shopping brand Babies4Babies. The site, which sells high-quality swaddle blankets, helps your dollars go further. For every one blanket purchased, four blankets are donated to save newborns lives in the developing world.

Previous to Babies4Babies Kate held positions at the World Economic Forum, FAIR Girls (formerly FAIR Fund) and IT.com. She’s also – get this, a 2009 Miss America Top 10 Finalist. On today’s podcast, Kate shares how she built took her idea to product, her tricks for managing business and dealing with fear.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S SHOW:

On Facing Fear: “My biggest challenge was getting comfortable with the idea of failure, and that is what keeps most people from entrepreneurship.”
On Getting the Guts: “I just believed in my idea so much I had to do it. I had to launch it. It wasn’t easy. It took a very long time. I had no idea what I was doing.”
Making It Happen: Why Kate waited 3 months before pushing the launch button on her business
Creating Comfort: Kate on getting familiar with the idea of failure, even when feeling afraid of it.
That Solopreneur Life: Her techniques for surviving? “Tackling the things that give you anxiety first … always juggling priorities.”
Perks of Being the Boss Lady: “As an entrepreneur, I have this unique opportunity to reimagine what work looks like. A type of integration that is flowing and changing constantly depending on your family’s or company’s needs … Here I am making my own path.”
Perfect Partner: Babies4Babies NGO partner, Saving Mothers
Idea, Meet Fruition: What is Kate’s advice to others with a business idea? “If you have an idea that grabs hold and won’t let go, you have to go for it.”
Just Do It: Still hesitating? Just remember, Kate says, “You don’t have to be an expert to start.”
Learn More: com
On Twitter:Follow her @KMGrinold
On Instagram: Follow her @Babies4Babies

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Six years ago, Malia Cohen was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the legislative branch of the City’s local government. She represents the southeast corner of San Francisco, District 10, home to more than 70,000 constituents living in neighborhoods like Bayview Hunters Point, Potrero Hill, Dogpatch and Visitacion Valley. District 10 also served as home to Malia, who grew up in the area she now represents.

In her job Malia also serves as county supervisor (as San Francisco is both a city and a county). Her job is simple, yet complex: Solve problems. One of those problems? Along with her other 10 elected colleagues, determine who gets how much of San Francisco’s $9 billion budget.

Malia also serves as chair of the Board of Supervisors Land Use and Transportation Committee, as vice chair of the San Francisco Employee Retirement System, as a member of the Board of Supervisors Rules Committee and on the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board. During her tenure she’s spearheaded efforts to develop policies and legislation that provides improved transparency with limited services pregnancy centers, regulated background checks by employers and affordable housing providers, led homeownership investment for San Francisco’s middle class and also authored ordinances for firearm regulation.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S SHOW:

   * A Moment Like This: The moment (in third grade!) when Malia just knew she was meant to work in public service.

What Running In A Political Campaign Feels Like: “You kind of have to be tough about it,” she says, “and I would encourage any woman that is interested in running for office to definitely not talk herself out of it.”
Political Warm-Up: Malia discusses her involvement in Emerge California, an organization she discovered in 2003 while working on the first mayoral campaign for Gavin Newsom. She credits the organization, which helps women who identify as Democrat with a crash course in politics, for helping her get her start.
Discipline And Delayed Gratification: Find out how this instilled philosophy applies to where Malia is now.
Yes, You CAN Get Involved: “I don’t want people to get caught up in, ‘I don’t have the education. I don’t have the background, or the connections or the network. Or, I don’t have the pedigree.’ I mean I don’t come from any of that. I don’t come from a wealthy family. I don’t come from a well-connected political family in San Francisco. I am a woman of color that really worked hard developed a strategy early on and really implemented the strategy.”
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 * Kitchen Cabinet: Why you need a strong advisory board.
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- Cross-Industry Career Advice: “You can’t be afraid to ask questions.”
- On Women In Politics: “We need to lift as we climb,” Malia says.
- On Legacy: Malia hopes to be remembered for her time serving as Supervisor as being fair, compassionate, approachable and extremely thoughtful – a person who did not shy away from conflict, fear or intimidation.
- On Twitter: Follow her @MaliaCohen.

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Alisha Gaddis is the consummate I Want Her Job Leading Lady. She’s an actress, musician, author, comedienne, wife and mom. Not only does Alisha wear a plethora of hats, but she’s also damn good at what she does. She is an Emmy-winning actress, to be exact, and along with her husband, Lucky Diaz, the two are the first Americans ever to win a Latin Grammy in the children’s category for their music in Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band. In addition, the two lovable entertainers who are reminiscent of a modern-day, kiddo-friendly Lucy and Ricky, star in Lishy Lou and Lucky Too! on The Friday Zone on PBS. And with 26 episodes under their belt, Alisha and Lucky are set to film season two.

In addition, Alisha is an editor and author of multiple books, including Women’s Comedic Monologues That Are Actually Funny, and the just-released book in the same applause acting series, Teen Girls’ Comedic Monologues That Are Actually Funny. And Alisha knows a thing or two about being funny. She’s performed comedy in top venues and on multiple network TV channels and has even opened for Ray Romano, Drew Carey and Sarah Silverman. Alisha also has an innate eye for design, and her Silverlake home with Lucky was even featured on Apartment Therapy – twice!

At I Want Her Job we adore Alisha so much. Since our interview with her three years ago, we’ve watched her career in awe, and consider her the ultimate Leading Lady. She’s graceful, successful, kind, humorous and a champion of women. She even let us use her likeness for our “About” page. [Talk about nice!] Listen to our latest episode and you’ll walk away a fan girl, too.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S SHOW:

Her Music: How Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band came to life and to living rooms everywhere!
Success Sauce: Find out the secrets to Alisha’s wild success. A hint? Alisha always says “yes” when opportunities appear and does not stop at rejection. For reals. She got her first literary agent after 250 rejections!
The Creative Process: Alisha discusses her self-study masterclass approach to teaching herself how to start new creative projects in music, theatre, TV shows and book publishing. “You have to know the structure of what comes before you in order to bust out and create your own work,” she says.
Discovering Her Calling: “Be open to what the universe presents you,” Alisha says.
The Art of a Deal: Despite an amazing opportunity with a big box store falling through, Alisha was determined a book was still in her future. Based on her inspiration by fellow female comedians, Alisha pitched her agent the idea for monologue series that’s now five books strong. Find them on Amazon here.
In 5 Years: In an interview with our site five years ago, Alisha had just started out in her band. We asked her where she saw herself in five years. Her predictions, including winning a Grammy, game true! “Never let someone tell you your goals are too big or too silly,” she says.
Family First: Alisha shares how her father, a successful football coach, and her mother, a kindergarten teacher, influenced her work ethic, ambition and joyful optimism.
Pursuing Comedy As A Career: “You can make people see more truth if you are making them laugh than if you are preaching to them,” Alisha says.
Never Give Up: Alisha believes in pushing past rejection and has a mantra of “work wins!” She advises to never stop pursuing your dream because, “You could be just three feet from gold.”
Additional Advice: Read more about Alisha and find out her advice for fellow women entertainers on her I Want Her Job interview.
Learn More: Get more information about Alisha Gaddis and her body of work here.
Connect: Follow Alisha on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Jane Mitchell's idea started out with an idea on a sticky note. It has since grown into The Reset Foundation, an organization set to buck convention for those incarcerated. The idea is simple, says the Foundation's website, "Instead of serving time in a dehumanizing prison environment, a sentenced young adult lives at Reset Campus, focused entirely on academics, career and healthy living." The goal of The Reset Foundation is to keep these young adults out of an ongoing prison/poverty cycle through a two-year program focused on training, counseling, education and career support. The United States has a higher incarceration rate than anywhere in the world -- with 2.8 million behind bars. Of these individuals, 68% are re-arrested within only three years. And while Jane has selected a career path that's far from glamorous, she loves her job, lives her faith and has an unmatched enthusiasm for keeping young people out of jail.

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Katherine Brown, practice lead for investors industries, focuses on impact investing for the World Economic Forum. Known for its annual Davos conference, Katherine shares what it's like to work for the WEF, including her role influencing impact investing for communities around the world. She also shares her unpredictable path that led to her role at WEF, as well as why she loves her job -- and the impact it makes -- so much.

Topics Discussed In Today’s Show:

Advice for joining a mission-aligned organization.
Katherine's work for the World Economic Forum and the Forum for Young Global Leaders: Learn more here.
Her participation in the SOCAP conference.
The 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony: Why dancing in the Opening Ceremony was one of the best things Katherine has ever been involved with.
Katherine's book recommendation for finding balance: Check out Essentialism -- The Disciplined Pursuit of Less.
The future of impact investing: Check out this inspiring video from the WEF website.
Why we need more women in finance: Check out this article here.
Learn more: Get more information about impact investing here.

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Margot Kane from the Calvert Foundation joins us to discuss impact investing. If you are want to know more about an entirely new way of investing that allows you to invest money while improving communities around the world, join us as we discuss the work Margot is doing. You may be surprise to learn if you have a tax ID and twenty dollars, you too can become an impact investor today! We discuss what impact investing is, projections for growth in this tremedously exciting sector, examples of impact investments, and the potential within impact investing to transform some of our biggest social issues around the world.

Topics discussed in today’s show:

If you want to learn more about this field, don't be scared off by the Finance side. Margot Kane says “ Finance is not rocket science, it’s more fancy arithmetic”.**
“Women are basically going to be running all of this, so don’t be shy about jumping in with both feet if this is what excites you”
“Impact investing is a mismatch, a multi-disciplinary practice, it encompasses everything” says Margot.
Margot’s projects for communities and women investing in women.
Learn more about impact investing at GIIN and read here to for inspiration on why we need more women in finance.

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With an abundant passion for technology, we're excited to introduce you to Jocelyn Goldfein, an angel investor and technology company adviser. With a resume that includes tenures as an engineering leader at VMware and engineering director at Facebook, Jocelyn is now using her experience and influence to help technology startups build teams and grow business. In our conversation with her, we discuss her career path, how to tackle the issue of a low percentage of women in tech jobs and her thoughts on how our world could change if that number doubles! We're sure that by the end of this episode you'll want to work for Jocelyn as much as we do!

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Dona Sarkar is an Engineering Lead for Microsoft’s HoloLens, a fashion designer, blogger and author of several books. We talk to Dona about her career in technology and how following your interests on the side can enhance your career.

Dona compares learning to coding to learning a new language, it takes time. We discuss online resources to start learning new skills, and the massive opportunity to build products for the 5 billion people who are currently underserved in the markets. “We keep going after the same 2 billion people over and over again in tech, but why, lets go after 5 billion.”

Growing up in Detroit, Dona didn’t have a lot of money or resources, so she made up her own stories and characters. Dona talks about how writing and the benefits of growing up with a need to constantly use her own creativity to entertain herself. Dona says “when you don’t have very much, consider it your superpower”. Dona also explain how a lack of resources can help you understand the 5 billion undeserved people in the market today.

Dona's Blog

Topics discussed In this show:

Tips for getting started in technology
Coding is just building things for people and how not to be scared when trying to learn technical skills
If you don’t succeed at something, Dona suggests “do it again!”
Resources to learn new skills (skillfeed, udemy, youtube, Lynda, codeacademy)
Dona’s time management secret
Dona talks about her book on eating disorders in minority women
We talk about the opportunity to make products for 5 billion people
How growing up with less can be your superpower
Dona’s philosophy on staying away from non believers and negativity

We also speak with Brianne Perleberg, the founder of I want her job, about how the website was founded, and a lot more!

Meant For It: Recent Episodes

With Polina Rubin, Yelena Mugin & Amber Greene

Meant For It: Recent Episodes

With Polina Rubin, Yelena Mugin &amp; Amber Greene

With Polina Rubin, Yelena Mugin & Amber Greene