HAZARD GIRLS

Today’s guest, Rebecca Francis, is a Diversity and Inclusion Specialist with IEA, Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives Inc. Tuning in, you’ll hear what her role entails and how she uses her background in education to teach employees on who to go to if they have a complaint, and Rebecca shares what she thinks about the goal of diversity to build a more sustainable workforce. Find out why it is so...

On this episode, we chat with Sarah Marie Liddle, a certified professional coach for small businesses and individuals seeking to live well and productively. She is based out of Canberra, Australia, where she offers positive psychology and wellness tools to help professionals bring more balance and productivity into their day. You’ll hear how Sarah Marie integrated the techniques of small scale hap...

Do you ever wonder how things are made? Paige Loew, a safety specialist at 3M, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, works with end-user customers across nearly every industry from healthcare and construction to manufacturing, and she gets to see it all! In today’s episode, you’ll hear about Paige’s journey to her current position, how she can determine what protective gear customers need, and what...

On today’s episode, we are visited by the Queen of Concrete, Lupita Vazquez, a leader in the male-dominated construction industry and an integral figure in the Hispanic construction community. Tune in to hear Lupe tell the story of how she entered the world of construction after being told it wasn’t for her, the elevator pitch that changed her career, and how the nickname ‘Reina Del Concreto’ help...

Excelling as a woman in a male-dominated industry is no easy feat but, looking at Michelle Seiler Tucker’s career, it is clear that with the right focus, tenacity, and ability, it is totally achievable. On today’s episode, Michelle tells us the story of how she came to build a hugely successful business, offers listeners expert advice and encouragement, and gives us some key insights into the worl...

Our guest today is Dr. Nicole Tschierske, founder of Into Action Coaching, is a scientist who has turned herself into a career coach, specifically to help women in science and technology get noticed in their companies and grow in their careers. Dr. Tschierske studied food chemistry and holds a Ph. D. in chemistry. When she felt stuck in her career, she hired a career coach. After a few sessions, t...

Jill Morley is an award-winning screenwriter and documentary filmmaker. Her feature documentary, Fight Like a Girl, is about women using boxing to fight their demons and empower themselves. In addition to her many award-winning screenplays and films, she is a contributing writer to periodicals like The Village Voice, Bust Magazine, and The New York Press, she is also a producer for radio documenta...

In today's episode of Hazard Girls, we are visited by two impressive guests from the National Association of Women in Construction, Anne Pfleger and Kristey Stewart. We open today's episode with a conversation about how Kristey and Anne entered the world of construction and the ‘aha moments’ that sparked their passion for empowering women in the field. Next, we dive into a bit about the work that...

Valencia McDaniel and Erica Jean-Baptiste are on a mission to solve the issue of the skills trade gap in construction through the company that they co-founded; Women Gone Global Partners. Both women come from different backgrounds, but they have the same dream, and their partnership is giving the construction industry a female face. In this episode, you’ll hear about some of the reasons behind the...

When people think of male-dominated fields, broadway music is not usually the first to come to mind, but the truth is that women are a minority in orchestra pits. Today we talk to Geraldine Anello, a Broadway musician who has worked as a conductor, keyboardist, and pianist for many well-known shows, including Kinky Boots, School of Rock, and Aladdin. People in the STEM community, however, know her...

With a background in energy, finance, and real estate, the owner and president of Wildcat Management, Tanya Ragan, brings to the table a multi-faceted skillset that's diverse and incredibly powerful. But leading Wildcat Management to success comes with another big responsibility — that of stewardship. Regardless of the projects she and her team work on, Tanya steers the company to take a very acti...

If we only rely on the people who are being disenfranchised to solve that disenfranchisement, then it will never change. In today’s episode we speak with Director and Filmmaker Jen McGowan whose recent feminist horror, Rustcreek was lauded by Harper’s Bazaar as being “Exactly What Hollywood Needs Right Now”. Jen is the founder of Glass Elevator, an international skill-sharing, networking, and jobs...

Only 3.5% of jobs in the trades are held by women. Judaline Cassidy, our guest on today’s show, is a tradeswoman on a mission to change this. As a young girl growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, Judaline’s dream was to study law, but circumstances led her to become a plumber, and this was the best life choice she has ever made! Judaline’s goal of opening up male dominated industries to women is beco...

29 percent of the manufacturing sector is made up of women and very few of these are in leadership roles. Our guest on today’s show, Allison Grealis, is passionate about changing this. Allison is the founder and president of Women In Manufacturing, a national trade association focused on supporting, promoting, and inspiring women in the manufacturing sector. She is the president of the WIM Educati...

Kate Day has had a long-standing love for the environment, in all its forms. Whether as an arborist or eco-research assistant, she always puts her best foot forward to ensure that our natural resources are protected and preserved. Kate's devotion to environment and community led her to Indonesia with Mercy Core where they work tirelessly on community projects related to sustainability. The Dovetai...

Enhancing lives by advocating for agriculture is something that our guests today are passionate about doing for agriculture and the families behind it. Karolyn Zurn holds many positions within the agricultural world; she is the current President of American Agri-Women, the past President of Minnesota Agri-Women, and the lead Minnesota farmer for Farmers Feed the World, a farm-journal foundation pr...

Today on the Hazard Girls Podcast, we talk to tradeswoman and businesswoman Lynley Oakes of Wild Oaks Creations. Lynley is a carpenter and lumber saleswoman based in Jacksonville, Florida. She started out in a corporate office, and then from there switched into trades as a construction site assistant. Within a week, she was promoted to builder and trained as a carpenter for three years building do...

Brought up in a mining family that had no time for gender stereotypes, Allyson Hawley, our guest on today’s show, was surprised when she began her mechanical engineering degree with hardly any fellow women students. Throughout her career in the male-dominated mining industry, Allyson has received a lot of support but has also experienced a lot of subtle and not-so-subtle discrimination based on th...

Not only does clothing have the power to impact our confidence and productivity, but, in industries like mining, it is also essential for keeping people safe. However, when items are designed only with men in mind, they can do the opposite of what they are intended for when worn by women. Our guest today, Alicia Woods, knows this all too well. As a woman working in what is considered a non-traditi...

Your gender doesn’t limit your abilities or your career options. As a woman, you are just as capable as any man to be successful in building your own business. Today’s guest is Rachel Street, the President of Hestia Construction. She is also a real estate agent, designer, TV star, and the host of the television show, Philly Revival on the DIY Network, where she restores homes by preserving their o...

When your car breaks down it can feel like defeat, and shopping for a car without the right knowledge can be overwhelming. That’s why today’s guest has created a safe space to help the average consumer learn how to better buy and understand their vehicle investment. At Mechanic Shop Femme, car education is empowerment, and today we welcome the Founder, Chaya Milchtein. Chaya is also a style influe...

The construction industry is one of the best industries for women to gain parity and is a sector with one of the smallest gender pay gaps. This does not mean there is not still a great deal of work to be done in the space. Rita Brown is a passionate and proven advocate for the advancement of women in construction. She is an award-winning writer, entrepreneur, and construction industry professional...

There is something so transformative and powerful, especially for young women, when your own hard work and skills are out in the world, being utilized for good by other people. Today’s guest is Emily Pilloton, the Founder and Executive Director of Girls Garage, a non-profit that has taught thousands of young girls how to use power tools, weld, and builds projects for their communities. Emily holds...

Just because you may work in a field dominated by men doesn’t mean you can’t be glamorous. Scientists and engineers can look however they want to look, all the while doing some really awesome stuff. Today’s guest is a rocket scientist by day and an editor in chief by night. Having graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering in 2018, Caeley Looney now wo...

Transitioning from one male-dominated industry to another is not easy, but it is something today’s guest, Jhanel Wilson, has managed to do successfully. Jhanel is a Philadelphia-based chemical engineer turned real estate investor with a portfolio of over 10 million dollars. Her strategy focuses on small multifamily buy-and-hold, and she now teaches others in STEM jobs how to generate wealth throug...