Penny for your Shots

Feeling stuck lately? You’re not alone. In this follow-up to last week’s vulnerable conversation about overwhelm, Penny shares gentle, practical ways to begin moving forward again when life feels heavy, messy, or emotionally off. This isn’t about hustling harder or pretending everything’s fine. It’s about small shifts that help you reconnect with yourself, your joy, and the people you serve. Throu...

What happens when the woman who’s always encouraging everyone else suddenly feels overwhelmed herself? In this vulnerable solo episode, Penny opens up about feeling foggy, stretched thin, and unexpectedly emotional after running out of pre-recorded guest episodes and realizing: “Oh… this week it’s just me.” But what unfolds is a powerful reminder that overwhelm does not mean you’re failing. It oft...

What if the thing you really needed wasn’t another productivity hack… but a few days away with women who simply get you ? In this solo episode, I’m sharing the story behind Wine Camp and why this experience has become one of the most meaningful parts of my work. Yes, there’s incredible wine. Yes, there’s beautiful scenery. But what happens at Wine Camp goes far beyond tastings and vineyard tours....

Why do we hold ourselves back from being seen? Especially when we know we’re meant for more..? In this episode, Penny sits down with author and book mentor Shauna VanderHoek to talk about the real reason so many women stay stuck: fear of visibility. Shauna shares her journey from corporate consulting to helping entrepreneurs publish books; and how her own fear of being seen showed up at the exact...

What if the life you’re living right now… isn’t the final version? In this episode, Penny sits down with Diane Farber — her neighbor, friend, and a woman who proves that reinvention doesn’t have an expiration date. Diane shares her journey from social worker to financial advisor, building a career from scratch in her 40s, and then starting over again in a brand new community in her 80s. Her story...

What if your hormones weren’t the problem, but instead were the key to everything? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Aumatma Simmons , a naturopathic doctor who’s spent nearly 20 years studying hormones, fertility, and the deeper wisdom of the female body. We talk about why so many women feel burned out trying to keep up with systems designed for men—and how understanding your natural cycle can...

If the word “budget” makes you want to pour a glass of wine at 9am… stay with me. This conversation with the Budget Besties is not about restriction. It’s about freedom. Shana and Vanessa are on a mission to take the shame out of money and replace it with simple, real-life systems that actually work. Because most women aren’t bad with money... they’ve just never been shown how to manage it in a wa...

Starting over at 50 can feel overwhelming. Or, it can become the beginning of something extraordinary. In this episode, Belinda Sandor shares how she rebuilt her life during a major transition: divorce, financial stress, and becoming a single mom... and turned it into a thriving virtual assistant business that now gives her freedom and flexibility at 65. Her story is a beautiful example of what’s...

What if the moment you’ve been waiting for… is right now? Karen Ansen joins me for a conversation that will feel very familiar if you’ve ever looked around your life and thought, “Okay… what’s next for me?” After years of building a career, raising a family, and showing up for everyone else, Karen found herself at a turning point—one that led her to reconnect with herself, redefine her purpose, an...

If the Finger Lakes isn’t on your travel list yet… it might be after this conversation. In this episode, I’m joined by Caley McKnight , an enology student at Cornell University who’s immersed in one of the most exciting (and underrated) wine regions in the country. Together, we explore what makes the Finger Lakes so special—and why it’s quickly becoming a must-visit destination for wine lovers. Fr...

Sometimes the thing holding your business back isn’t strategy, marketing, or systems. Sometimes it’s the patterns you didn’t even know were there. In this episode of Penny for Your Shots: Conversations & Cocktails with Brilliant Women , Penny sits down with trauma-informed therapist, speaker, and author Dr. Shannon South to explore how our past experiences can quietly shape the way we lead, bu...

What if the voice telling you to play small… isn’t telling the truth? In this episode, Penny sits down with keynote speaker, author, and confidence coach Simone Knego to talk about the stories women tell themselves—and how those stories shape everything from leadership to self-worth. Simone shares her REAL Confidence Method and a simple mindset reset that helps interrupt the spiral of self-doubt w...

What if the dream you’ve been carrying for decades is still waiting for you? Susan Lienau is 65 years young. She’s spent over 40 years running a small-town bar in northeast Iowa. She’s helped launch a community museum, serves on the city council, co-owns an Airbnb—and somewhere between raising four boys and welcoming six grandchildren, she finally decided to write the children’s book she’d imagine...

Busy doesn’t mean productive. And exhausted doesn’t mean successful. In this episode, Peggy Sullivan — former corporate executive turned researcher and speaker — shares what 12 years of data revealed about time poverty, burnout, and the hidden damage of hustle culture. If you’ve ever felt like there’s never enough time, like your calendar is packed but your goals aren’t moving, this conversation w...

You can be busy, capable, and doing all the “right” things—and still feel stuck. If you’ve ever wondered why your results don’t match your potential, this episode is for you. In this conversation, Penny sits down with Nada Lena Nasserdeen , founder of Rise Up For You, international speaker, and author. Nada has worked with Fortune 500 companies and entrepreneurs around the world, helping people bu...

If you’re in a season of transition and quietly wondering, “Did I miss my window?” —this episode is for you. Penny is joined by Julie DeLucca-Collins , confidence coach, author, and fellow podcaster, for an honest conversation about career pivots, self-trust, and why you’re never truly starting over. Julie shares how being laid off during the pandemic became the catalyst for building a purpose-dri...

There’s a moment many women reach—usually after a few decades of living—when things get clearer. The stories don’t quite add up anymore. The excuses land flat. And that inner voice gets a whole lot louder. In this episode of Penny for Your Shots , I sit down with therapist Gina Haras for a thoughtful conversation about wisdom, discernment, and why our “BS meter” tends to get sharper with age. We e...

If you’ve ever questioned your value, your voice, or whether you’re really using your seat at the table the way you’re meant to—this episode is for you. I’m joined by Sarah Barnes-Humphrey , a longtime logistics leader, podcast host, nonprofit founder, and author whose work centers on self-worth, inclusion, and creating spaces where people feel safe, seen, and heard. Sarah shares her journey throu...

If you’ve ever felt like you know what good leadership looks like—but still catch yourself waiting for agreement, approval, or buy-in—this episode will feel like permission you didn’t know you needed. I’m joined by Tami Reiss (aka Tami from Miami ), and this conversation beautifully reinforces what I teach again and again: you don’t need consensus to lead—you need clarity. This isn’t about becomin...

Have you ever hired help—only to feel more overwhelmed than before? More questions. More messages. More mental clutter than ever? In this episode of Penny for Your Shots , I’m joined by Melissa Morris , founder of Agency Authority, for a grounding, practical conversation about why burnout doesn’t magically disappear when you build a team—and how the right systems can truly give you your life back....

What if the most powerful New Year reset isn’t about doing more—but about finally letting yourself matter again? In this short solo episode, Penny shares a surprising insight from a recent workshop that revealed just how many women are quietly carrying too much—while putting their own joy on hold. If you’re the strong one, the caregiver, the helper, or the woman everyone depends on, this conversat...

Entrepreneurship can be meaningful, joyful, and deeply fulfilling—and it can also be really hard. In this solo episode, Penny shares a candid look back at 2025 and the behind-the-scenes realities of building a purpose-driven business. This is an honest conversation about what it looks like to keep going when the path feels slower, heavier, or more uncertain than you expected. If you’ve ever questi...

Some conversations feel like a catch-up over wine—and then turn into something deeper. This episode is one of those. I’m joined by Aimee Goeman, someone I knew of growing up in small-town Iowa but didn’t truly know until now. Our families crossed paths the way they do in rural communities—through church, farming, and familiar names—before life carried us in different directions. Years later, we sa...

What happens when life brings everything to a full, heartbreaking stop? This week, I’m joined by Melissa Hampton , a financial planner, entrepreneur, and mom whose world changed overnight when her seven-year-old son faced a life-threatening medical crisis. What followed was four months in the hospital, a surrender she never expected, and a profound rebuilding of what mattered most.  Melissa shares...

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to finally take the trip , this episode is it. Travel Coach Laura Rahn spent 33 years in education before following a lifelong pull toward adventure. Raised as a military kid who moved constantly — including three formative years in Italy — Laura grew up understanding the power of connection, adaptability, and seeing the world through curious eyes. Today, she help...