The Women On Top

When Life Breaks You Open  *A gentle content note: This episode includes discussion of infant loss and grief. Please listen with care.* What if the moments that break us open can also become the moments that reveal our deepest purpose? In this deeply personal conversation, Hope Alcocer shares her journey through trauma, loss, entrepreneurship, and healing, and how some of life's hardest exper...

Have you ever looked at someone else’s life and thought, I want that. Maybe it’s the career, the relationship, the freedom, the travel, the house, the family... or simply the version of yourself you imagine you could have become if you’d made different choices. It’s easy to glamorize the lives we didn’t choose. We see the beautiful parts of someone else’s reality, or imagine an alternate version o...

What happens when grief changes the life you thought you wanted? In this episode of The Women On Top, Olivia Burnett opens up about navigating grief, uncertainty, and the unexpected ways life can reshape our dreams and expectations. As the host of 20 Something, Olivia has spent years exploring what it means to find your way through the messy, uncertain seasons of adulthood—and this conversation ge...

What if your hormones aren’t working against you—but actually trying to tell you something? In this episode of The Women On Top , Dr. Alicia Newsome breaks down women’s hormonal health in a way that’s practical, empowering, and easy to understand. We talk about menstrual cycle phases, estrogen and progesterone, stress and cortisol, hormone testing, supplements, exercise, fertility after 35, and wh...

In this personal solo episode, Valerie opens up about her layoff, the emotional and practical journey that followed, and the powerful lessons she learned while rebuilding her career with intention. She shares how she navigated uncertainty, reconnected with her core values, trusted her intuition, and ultimately chose alignment over ego—even when the “logical” choice seemed easier. This episode is a...

In this episode, Dr. Saru Bala joins Valerie to break down the foundations of women’s hormonal health in a practical, empowering way. They explore how stress, gut health, blood sugar, and liver function all work together to influence cycles, symptoms, and long-term wellness. The conversation challenges common misconceptions about “normal” periods, aging, metabolism, and conditions like endometrios...

When her marriage ended, SC Perot had to rebuild her entire life from the ground up. What she didn't expect was that the rebuilding would start on long walks, with Harry Styles' music in her ears, slowly leading her back to her own joy.  In this episode, SC shares how that unlikely ritual cracked open a life beyond anything she had planned for, and we talk about what it means to actually...

There is a condition that will affect every single woman on the planet. Not most women. Every woman. And for generations, we have treated it like a secret. Madge Rumman decided she had seen enough. A fintech veteran who could have kept building in the world she knew, Madge followed a quieter and more urgent call into women's health — co-founding Blair Health, Canada's first AI-powered pl...

The job market has dramatically changed — and most people are still playing by the old rules.  In this episode, talent acquisition expert and senior leader, Dena Ayala, pulls back the curtain on what's actually happening on both sides of the hiring table. We talk about how AI is reshaping resumes and recruitment, why your personal story is your most underutilized asset, and how women especial...

In this episode, we sit down with Arianna Davis Santana, Executive Editor of Digital at the TODAY Show, to explore what it really means to build a career at the center of modern media, and what ambition looks like once you’re inside it. Arianna’s career spans some of the most influential names in media: from Oprah Daily (formerly O, The Oprah Magazine) to the TODAY Show, where she now leads digita...

What does it really take to build a powerful career and a fulfilling life—and why are so many women deciding the traditional path just isn’t worth it anymore? In this episode of The Women On Top, Molly McCartan, Managing Partner at The Whisper Group and Founder & CEO of The Mom Pact, pulls back the curtain on her journey through the high-stakes world of mergers and acquisitions, and the deeper...

Today’s episode is a re-release of my conversation with Jenneh Rishe, shared in loving memory of her life. In sad news, Jenneh passed away recently, and I’ve chosen to bring this conversation back because it so deeply reflects who she was - her clarity, her compassion, her honesty, and the way she showed up for others even while navigating her own health journey. Listening back now, her voice carr...

Show Notes: What if the thing standing between you and your most visible, impactful self isn't a lack of strategy — but a fear you've been calling something else? In this episode, I sit down with Melanie Borden — brand strategist, speaker, and author of Theater of the Mind — for an honest, grounding conversation about what it actually means to build a personal brand as a woman. Not the p...

In this conversation, Dalourny Nemorin shares the story behind the fire that drives her, from her Haitian roots to her work as a public defender, and now, her decision to run for Congress. But this episode goes deeper than titles. It’s about what it takes to keep going when the work is heavy.  How to stay hopeful without becoming naive. And why community is not just important, it’s everything. Dal...

In this deep and raw episode of The Women On Top , Valerie Lynn sits down with world-class freeride skier Molly Armanino for a powerful conversation about courage, intuition, and finding meaning in the mountains. Molly shares what it truly means to pursue a life on the edge—navigating fear, adrenaline, and the deep respect required when moving through wild landscapes. She opens up about how her co...

In this episode of The Women On Top, Valerie Lynn sits down with Sarah Arvizu, a stage three breast cancer thriver and the founder of the Creating Sunshine podcast and the Sunshine Era.  Their conversation unfolds like a quiet journey through fear, resilience, and transformation, where every moment, small or monumental, holds meaning. Sarah opens up about her cancer experience, the life-altering d...

In a world humming with AI, automation, and endless digital noise, something quieter and far more human is making a comeback. Community. In this episode of The Women On Top, Valerie Lynn sits down with Meagan Allers, Community Manager and Partnership Strategist at Marco Polo, for a conversation about what it really means to create spaces where people feel seen, safe, and connected. Not the kind of...

What does it really take to build multiple seven-figure businesses while raising four children? In this powerful conversation, host Valerie Lynn sits down with Jen, founder of Becoming Iconic, who shares her unfiltered journey from corporate marketing to entrepreneurial success. Episode Chapters [00:00] Introduction to Jen and Her Journey [02:23] Facing Challenges and Breakdowns [05:34] The Financ...

-In this conversation, Valerie Lynn speaks with Naama Zusman, a licensed life, career, and health coach, about navigating major life transitions and career changes. Naama shares her personal journey from being an artist to becoming a yoga teacher and eventually a coach, emphasizing the importance of following 'breadcrumbs'—the clues that guide us toward our true paths.  They discuss the...

Happy New Year, friends! 🎉  Valerie Lynn kicks off 2026 with a deeply personal solo episode on Women On Top , sharing her journey of loss, transformation, and self-discovery. After her corporate position was eliminated, Valerie found herself navigating the unexpected darkness of identity loss and self-doubt.  In this episode, she opens up about the whispers of fear, unworthiness, and the relentle...

In this episode of The Women On Top , Valerie Lynn sits down with Victoria Pelletier —a force of nature who became a COO before most people feel confident in their first leadership role. Today, she’s a sought-after keynote speaker, corporate executive, and author known for her unapologetic no excuses philosophy. What unfolds is a raw and powerful conversation about what it really takes to rise ins...

In this conversation, Valerie Lynn discusses her journey of stepping into leadership roles, driven by the encouragement of a colleague who recognized her potential. She shares her initial fears and excitement about taking on new responsibilities and how a situation forced her to embrace her leadership capabilities, ultimately leading to personal growth and self-discovery. Valerie explores a parado...

In this conversation, Mandy Schell, founder of the Pacific Northwest Women's Network, shares her journey of empowering women through community and connection. She discusses the transformative power of saying yes to new opportunities, the importance of creating a welcoming space for women to connect, and the impact of her events on attendees' lives. Mandy emphasizes the shift from traditi...

In this episode of The Women On Top , Valerie Lynn sits down with Dylan Jahraus, powerhouse Etsy seller, coach, and former corporate leader, for a deeply honest conversation about ambition, resilience, and building a life on your own terms. Dylan opens up about what pushed her to walk away from the corporate path and how she turned a simple Etsy shop into a multi-seven-figure business. She shares...

Episode Description: What happens when you accidentally go sober for a year—and discover it’s about so much more than giving up alcohol? In this solo episode, Valerie Lynn shares her personal journey of stepping away from drinking, not as a punishment or deprivation, but as an experiment in curiosity, self-love, and playfulness. Valerie walks us through how a small, spontaneous choice turned into...