Women of the Bluegrass: Recent Episodes
Jordyne Carmack
A leadership development podcast for and about women leading the way in Kentucky business, education, healthcare, agriculture, tourism, and more. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/womenofthebluegrass/support
Kellene Turner, an artist known for her public art in Kentucky, joins the Women of the Bluegrass podcast. Jordyne and Kellene discuss the process of creating murals and the impact of public art on communities. Kellene shares her journey as an artist and the importance of continuous learning and growth. She emphasizes the need for art to represent and reflect the community it is in. Kellene also highlights the Cumberland Arts Collective and other exciting arts initiatives in Kentucky. Overall, the conversation celebrates the power of art and its ability to uplift and bring people together.
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/womenofthebluegrass/support
In this episode, we welcome Amanda Kelly from the Southeast Kentucky Economic Development (SKED), an expert in economic development for small businesses. Amanda has extensive experience working with entrepreneurs to start, grow, and expand their businesses. She is passionate about empowering individuals and communities through entrepreneurship and business ownership. Amanda emphasizes the importance of having a team to support you in your business journey, and shares valuable insights on how to overcome common challenges faced by entrepreneurs.
Episode Summary: Starting and growing a business can be challenging, but having a team and understanding the science behind it can make it easier. Amanda Kelly's expertise in economic development for small businesses provides valuable insights and resources for entrepreneurs.
Highlights:
- It's essential to evaluate business ideas and write a solid business plan that aligns with the four categories of business operations.
- It's also crucial to ensure that the plan works on paper before investing resources. Having a solid financial plan and collateral for business loans is also important.
- Setting goals and having a clear vision for the business is crucial, as is being comfortable with rejection and taking risks in business.
- Resilience and the willingness to pivot when things don't work out are also important.
- Traits and behaviors of successful entrepreneurs include tenacity and tolerance for ambiguity.
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/womenofthebluegrass/support
Join us in this episode as we dive into the world of rural healthcare with our special guest, Annie Carter. As a healthcare administrator and passionate advocate for improving healthcare in underserved areas, Annie shares her journey and valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of transforming rural communities. Discover the strategies behind her successful physician recruitment efforts, the power of word of mouth in building healthcare networks, and how she re-charges as a self-proclaimed introvert in an extrovert's job.
Episode Highlights:
- Annie Carter's personal journey from considering PA school to rural healthcare administration.
- The unique challenges faced by healthcare professionals in underserved areas.
- Strategies for recruiting top-notch physicians to remote communities.
- The power of word of mouth in building strong healthcare networks.
- Taking a "Lake Break" and Thriving in Growth Roles
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/womenofthebluegrass/support
Show Notes:
- Episode: Empowering Leadership: Creating Trust and Collaboration for Success
- Guest: Audrey Davis, Vice President of Member Experience, Ashland Credit Union
Summary:
In this engaging episode, Audrey Davis, a seasoned leader in the banking industry, shares her insights on fostering trust, collaboration, and innovation within teams. Audrey's passion for the employee experience and belief in the significance of frontline employees as the face of a financial institution drive her leadership philosophy.
- "Who Moved My Cheese,"
- Patrick Lencioni's book, "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team"
Join host Jordyne as she delves into a captivating conversation with Audrey Davis, gaining valuable insights into effective leadership, trust-building, and fostering a collaborative work environment. Discover how empowering employees and nurturing meaningful relationships can drive success and innovation within any organization.
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/womenofthebluegrass/support
In this episode of Women of the Bluegrass, host Jordyne Carmack speaks with Marianne Worthington, a teacher, editor, and writer from southeastern Kentucky. Marianne is the co-founder of Still: The Journal, an online literary magazine, and has received numerous awards for her writing and poetry. We discuss the pursuit of creative work, her book of poetry The Girl Singer, and how finding a group of like-minded authors encouraged her to produce and publish her poetry in the midst of a global pandemic.
If you liked this episode, you should consider listening to:
"From artist to the Appys" - An Interview with Jill Hamlin, Floyd County | Ep. 7
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/womenofthebluegrass/support
In this episode of Women of the Bluegrass, the host Jordyne Carmack interviews Renee Collins Cobb about growing up around music and business, supporting local musicians through advocacy and leadership development, unconscious bias, and more.
About this week's guest: Renee Collins Cobb is the President/Owner of Collins Consulting Group, Listen Locally, LLC and is the Executive Director of Room 17 Productions, a nonprofit organization that promotes music education. She is also the former host of NPR’s Red Barn Radio and radio shows titled “Overtones” and “Gray Matters” – a show about unconscious bias” which airs weekly on WLXU, Lexington Community Radio and across the state of Kentucky on various platforms and radio stations. She is also the co-chair of the University of Kentucky School of Music Alumni. Renee is also the project manager for The Sara Holroyd Oral History Project, The History of the UK Cheerleaders Project, The Greg Austin Story and I Am Diversity at the University of Kentucky Louie B Nunn Center for Oral History. She has also facilitated career development courses for incoming freshman at the University of Kentucky and served as an unconscious bias consultant for UK as well.
Unconscious Bias Exercise: Read the following story.
Do you know this story?
A man and his son are driving in a car one day when they get into a fatal accident. The man is killed instantly. The boy is knocked unconscious. He is still alive and is rushed to the hospital for immediate surgery. The doctor enters the emergency room, looks at the boy, and says “I can’t operate on this boy, he is my son.”
Wait. What?
How can this happen?
The fact that some of us struggle to make sense of this story illustrates just how pervasive our biases are.
To be clear, the doctor is the boy’s mother.
Bang!
Is it possible that you struggled with this story because you imagined (assumed) the doctor to be a male? You are not alone. Indeed, I would suggest that most people – men and women – envisioned a male doctor entering the emergency room. Such is the hidden influence of unconscious bias.
[From PlayMeo ]
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/womenofthebluegrass/support
In this episode of Women of the Bluegrass, host Jordyne Carmack interviews Reda Shemelya, Corporate Human Resources Director for the Forcht Group of Kentucky, about her 24+ years of experience in human resources at Walmart and the lessons she learned about professional agility and building deep relationships. Reda's story serves as a reminder to develop a deep understanding of oneself as a professional and to be a student of someone else's business, which may lead to important internal career moves. The episode closes with a discussion on the importance of professional flexibility in a rapidly changing job market.
Ready to take your leadership and communication skills to the next level? Subscribe to The Authenticity Advantage weekly e-newsletter, your go-to resource for emerging leaders who want to lead with authenticity and confidence. Get started today!
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/womenofthebluegrass/support
In this episode, host Jordyne Carmack interviews Karen Roberson, Regional Vice President at TransAmerica, who shares her leadership journey starting from working in her family's grocery store at a young age. Karen emphasizes the importance of listening, learned during her diverse experiences in a vary of direct sales businesses, in building relationships and how it supports her in her role today. She also talks about finding one's passion and igniting it to make a unique and valuable impact on the world. Additionally, Karen shares her personal experiences with adoption and her advocacy for those who can't speak effectively for themselves, inspiring all leaders to strive to make a positive impact in their own communities.Want to get started in your self-awareness as a leader? You might try a transformative, research-backed leadership assessment like Everything DiSC. Like I shared in the episode, the Everything DiSC® Workplace Profile will provide you with valuable insights that unlock engagement and inspire effective collaboration. In this personalized, 20-page profile, you'll explore the priorities that drive your behavior, learn what comes naturally and what might be challenging when interacting with others, and gain actionable strategies to strengthen your interpersonal interactions at all levels in the workplace. Discount Code: WOBPODCAST
Get started with Everything DiSC
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/womenofthebluegrass/support
Knock your next presentation outta the park by beginning with a strong opening line - otherwise known as a hook.
In this short episode of Women of the Bluegrass designed to improve your leadership and communication skills, I pause to chat about presentation skills and the importance of starting strong in any upcoming presentation.
Three strategies you can try today:
- Shock & Awe with a Statistic
- Ignite the Brain with a Question
- Tug on the Heart with a Story
And a BONUS (but make sure you listen first!):
- Check out the ChatGPT video mentioned in this episode HERE.
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/womenofthebluegrass/support
In this episode of Women of the Bluegrass, host Jordyne Carmack interviews Shelby Morrison, Executive Assistant for Revolutionary Racing Kentucky and a community leader in Ashland, Kentucky. They discuss the personal and professional challenges that come with leadership roles, including increased visibility and exposure to criticism. Carmack emphasizes the importance of taking time to consider new opportunities and developing coping strategies for when criticism arises. Listeners will gain valuable insights on how to prepare for leadership roles and build emotional resilience.
Ready to take your leadership and communication skills to the next level? Subscribe to The Authenticity Advantage weekly e-newsletter, your go-to resource for emerging leaders who want to lead with authenticity and confidence.
Get started today!
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/womenofthebluegrass/support
Let's hear it: What critical life event has shaped your approach to your craft, your leadership, your life?
In today's episode, host Dr. Jordyne Carmack collects answers to this important authentic leadership question from artists, award winners, musicians, friends, and community leaders as they walk the red carpet at the Appalachian Arts and Entertainment Awards in March 2023 in Prestonsburg, Kentucky.
If you're enjoying the inspirational and practical authentic leadership content from this podcast, you do not want to miss Authenticity Advantage, a new e-newsletter from Jordyne with more of the practical communication and leadership strategies you love to implement in your organization and your workplace. It's free, it's only once a week - and oh yeah, it'll also include the link to the most recent episode of Women of the Bluegrass, so you'll always know when to look for a new episode.
Sign up now and take the next step in your leadership development journey today.And a great big thank you to all who agreed to the interview for this episode!
Interviewees, in order of appearance:
Krista Ghens
Brett Higgins
Brooke Pennington
John Ryster
Renee Collins Cobb & Warren Cobb
Karen Combs
Les Stapleton
JC Phelps
John Rosenberg
Tiffini Scherbing
Courdroy Brown
Dan & Mindy Click
Donnie Bowling
Hailey Newman
Lacey Roberts
Randalene Sergent
Desiree Valdez
Taylor Hughes
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/womenofthebluegrass/support
In today's episode, we welcome Hannah Whitaker, owner and founder of Rediscover - Central and Eastern Kentucky's first eating disorder outpatient clinic to the show. Driven by her personal experience of recovering from anorexia, Hannah founded Rediscover to provide a necessary resource to the communities in her region. In this episode, she shares her story and we chat about early warning signs of disordered eating, strategies for building a healthier relationship with eating, and how getting OFFLINE can impact your relationship with food for the better.
Oh - and just for podcast listeners, I've got a new free resource for you! If you’ve been inspired by the women of this show who are taking confident steps to make a positive impact in their community but feel stuck in your current position, I’ve got a super-charged resource for you available through my website. Six weeks from now, you could be the one starting a business, championing that new program, or finding courage stand up and get noticed in your current position.
Download now:
Get Unstuck and Accelerate Your Early Career: 3 Proven Strategies to Kickstart Your Professional Development
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/womenofthebluegrass/support
We’re all still learning something new about ourselves each day – but sometimes those discoveries can put your life and your career on a different trajectory. I’m your host, Jordyne Carmack, a leadership development and communication skill coach in London, Kentucky - and you’re listening to Women of the Bluegrass, a leadership development podcast for and about women leading the way in Kentucky industries.
My guest today is Carole Jean Whittington, the Founder of Mind Your Autistic Brain. Her company is one of the largest and only 100% Autistic ADHD owned and staffed Accessibility and Neurodiversity consulting firms in the world. She hosts a weekly talk show discussing the hottest topics in Neurodistinct life from accommodations, work, relationships, burnout, masking and more with some of the biggest names in the Autistic online space. (The Mind Your Autistic Brain Talk Show is heard and downloaded in over 89 countries by over 300,000 listeners and watchers each week. Spotify ranks our show in the top 5% of podcasts in the Self-Help category in 2022.) Carole Jean uses her unique solutions The UnVeiling Method and The Neurodiverse Communication Ecosystem to help companies, teams and individuals, with minds of all kinds, authentically connect and thrive.
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/womenofthebluegrass/support
Hear it from someone who is doing it - training the next generation of employees is rewarding, but takes empathy to do well. A mom of teenage boys (and a little girl!) and owner of Sauced: Pizza, Pasta, and Salad in Bell and Laurel counties alongside her husband Mike, today's guest chats with Jordyne about motherhood, entrepreneurship, working with (and raising) teenagers, and her own journey into entrepreneurship. Grab a slice of pizza and press play!
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/womenofthebluegrass/support
In this episode, Women of the Bluegrass host Jordyne Carmack shares a quick introduction and explores the value of one of her favorite tools - the leadership assessment. Every few months, this podcast will take a brief pause to examine different leadership ideas and tools in a short, 15-minute episode. These "breaks" from the regularly scheduled interviews are an opportunity to introduce new ideas and freshen up familiar techniques in the areas of communication and leadership skills.
Next week will resume with an interview with Gina Wilson, entrepreneur and mom of three, and co-owner with her husband of Sauced: Pizza, Pasta, and Salad in London and Pineville, Kentucky.
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/womenofthebluegrass/support
If you can’t clap on beat or draw a stick figure, don’t worry – today’s guest is here to point us in the direction of those who can. You’re going to love the vibrant enthusiasm she brings to her storytelling and her advocacy on behalf of musicians and artists in Appalachia. My guest today is Jill Hamlin, the assistant director of Fine Arts for Big Sandy Community and Technical College in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. In conjunction with community partners, Jill spearheaded the creation of the Appalachian Arts and Entertainment Awards or The Appy’s in 2021, which seeks to showcase the entire 13-state Appalachian Region by highlighting established talent and emerging talent. In 2022, the Appy’s won the 2022 KCTC Innovation Award for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Jill is also an award-winning, multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter with advanced degrees in Ethnomusicology.
If you’d like to check out the Appys for yourself, you can buy tickets to the ceremony on March 18th, 2023 or find out more about the finalists at appalachianartsandentertainmentawards.com.
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/womenofthebluegrass/support
While we all hope to make a profit with our business, many businesses begin with a mission in mind first. The product or service flows from that – the purpose, the heart of the entrepreneur behind it to make a positive impact on their community. But when challenges arise – whether it’s learning new skills or navigating a pandemic – it takes courage and wisdom to take the right steps forward. My guest today is Kendra Smallwood, owner and founder of Pearl Apparel, a custom embroidery and printing company in Laurel County. Formerly a stateside Christian missionary in Leslie County, Kentucky, she is passionate about Jesus and building community through local business. Today we talk about her business origin story and how she’s looking to grow personally and professionally in the coming year.
You can check out Pearl Apparel online at PearlApparelKY.com
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/womenofthebluegrass/support
Whether you’re an experienced supervisor or brand new to leading others, the ability to nurture and bring out the best in those you lead is key to organizational success. In today’s episode, we’ll explore one strategy that can help you coach the individual contributors in your organization toward self-discovery and growth. Today’s guest is Dr. Sarah Adkins, department chair for the Health, Exercise, and Sport Science program at University of the Cumberlands. As a professor, she emphasizes leadership and pedagogy in her classroom and instills in her students the power of role modeling and the important impact that athletic coaches have on community health. A certified professional trainer, health education specialist, and former United States swim coach to all ages, her experience coaching students, athletes, and future coaches gives her insight into leadership wisdom applicable to many industries.
Interested in learning more about Cognitive Coaching? Find out more at the CognitiveCoaching(SM) website.
"The mission of Cognitive Coaching is to produce self-directed persons with the cognitive capacity for excellence both independently and as members of a community. " - Art Costa and Robert Garmston
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/womenofthebluegrass/support
Sometimes difficult circumstances are precisely what launch us into life-changing opportunities, and, as my guest today shares, into new adventures and the possibility for transformation in our communities. My guest today is Meagan Brannon, the founder of Sprinkles of Hope, a non-profit bakery in Maysville in Mason County Kentucky. With a background in nursing, her true calling in life came after her oldest son, Ben, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder one month before his third birthday. After realizing that her area did not provide many opportunities for Ben and others with disabilities after aging out of the school system, Sprinkles of Hope was born. After four and half years, the bakery now also features a cafe and serves the community in more ways than one. Today we talk about the importance of self-reflection, community advocacy, and caring for those with disabilities and those that care for them.
If you're interested in learning more about becoming an autism friendly business, visit the website: Autism Friendly Business Initiative (AFBI)--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/womenofthebluegrass/support
Launching and running a small business is a bit like having and raising a child – and as today’s guest and mom of four shares, the key to success in raising a family and running a business is sometimes in holding it loosely, especially when it grows and changes. In this episode of Women of the Bluegrass, Sam Stovall, the owner of FTD Bakery and Community Room in Prestonsburg, shares her experience participating in eastern Kentucky business accelerator and pitch competition Invest606, launching and growing her family’s business, and how she and her husband connect in spite of busy schedules and the never-ending to-do list.
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/womenofthebluegrass/support
In this episode of Women of the Bluegrass, host Jordyne Carmack interviews eastern Kentucky business owner and entrepreneur Dr. Sky Marietta. Dr. Marietta shares her Kentucky story, beginning with her Appalachian heritage all the way to New Mexico and Massachusetts, and back again to put down roots for her young family in Harlan and Whitley County. She shares about how her family strategically chooses to invest in the growing downtowns of rural communities, and how she navigates the challenges of entrepreneurship and motherhood, learning to treasure both the difficult and the joyful seasons.
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/womenofthebluegrass/support
It’s a lot easier to celebrate what is working – after all, we’re geared toward success and self-promotion. But when things don’t go our way, it’s a struggle to talk about it and can even become a source of shame. My name is Jordyne Carmack, and welcome to the premiere episode of a brand-new podcast called Women of the Bluegrass, where I interview the passionate, powerful women leading in their communities around Kentucky. In today’s episode, my guest and I chat about the importance and value of giving ourselves permission to fail -in order to grow- professionally. My guest is Rikiyah Pryor, Marketing and PR Director for Citizens Bank in Pulaski County, Kentucky.
In this podcast, you can expect weekly interviews from female leaders around the bluegrass state. I’m excited you’re here. If you’d like to recommend a female leader in your community to be a guest on this show, shoot me an email at kycommunicationcoach@gmail.com. While you’re at it, drop a rating for us, share this first podcast with a friend, and hit that subscribe button. Thanks for listening!
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/womenofthebluegrass/support
This is Women of the Bluegrass, the weekly interview podcast on leadership development for women in every stage of her career in and around the beautiful bluegrass state. I’m your host, Jordyne Carmack, and every Tuesday starting in January of 2023, I’ll release a brand-new personal and professional interview with a female Kentuckian leading in business, politics, education, agriculture, tourism, and more. We’ll chat about navigating leadership roles, communicating effectively, tips for going with the natural flow of work and home life, career development, and empowering the next generation of leaders.
While you wait for the season to begin, nominate a female leader in your community for an interview by shooting me a message at kycommunicationcoach@gmail.com.
Until then, friends!
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/womenofthebluegrass/support