grownwoman

This Best-of compilation explores leadership, advocacy, and quiet authority, particularly the kind of power built through service, discipline, and responsibility (not visibility or titles). Featuring standout moments from guests’ conversations, this episode highlights ethical leadership, servant leadership, and advocacy that’s rooted in doing what’s right, even when no one is watching. These conve...

What happens after the unthinkable? After the loss. After the failure. After life breaks the rules and changes you forever. This Best-of compilation brings grownwoman’s Breakthrough Season, highlighting together the most powerful moments from women and allies who faced irreversible loss and still chose to keep going. Not by bypassing the pain, but by finding meaning, faith, determination, and lega...

In this powerful grownwoman segment, Ray Allen breaks down the mental discipline behind his Hall of Fame career, starting long before the spotlight. Ray shares how becoming a father at 17 shaped his focus, why he trained his mind before every free throw, and how discipline, environment, and daily choices compound over time. This conversation goes beyond basketball. Ray explains how changing your m...

In this heartfelt episode of grownwoman, NBA Hall of Famer Ray Allen joins Shannon Allen for a rare, intimate conversation about legacy, purpose, and what it truly means to be a grown ass man in a grownwoman’s world. Ray opens up about the moments that shaped him, from growing up with military discipline, to finding identity outside the game, to being misunderstood on and off the court. He reflect...

In this inspiring grownwoman segment, Anna Nyakana shares her bold vision for the Nya Zuri movement and why she refuses to wait for permission to change the world. From building children’s books into full educational curriculums to teaching leadership skills, financial literacy, and self-belief, Anna breaks down what it really takes to walk in your dreams instead of just chasing them. This convers...

Anna Nyakana, creator of the Niyah Zuri series, joins Shannon Allen on this episode grownwoman for an empowering conversation about identity, resilience, and rewriting your story through purpose.  Born in Germany to Ugandan and Moldovan parents, Anna shares how her family came to America with two suitcases and a dream… and how struggle shaped her calling. From classical music to publishing rejecti...

In this grownwoman segment, Robin Peguero breaks down how misinformation, nonstop political chaos, and voter fatigue push people to disengage and why that disengagement is exactly how democracy erodes. He explains how constant distraction is a strategy, why people feel misled rather than malicious, and how checking out creates space for authoritarianism to grow. This is a grounded conversation abo...

In this episode of grownwoman, Shannon Allen welcomes Robin Peguero, former prosecutor, Harvard-trained attorney, and professor running for Congress in Florida’s 27th district - and his story is the blueprint for what the American Dream could still be.  Born to immigrant parents who met in the U.S. Army, Robin grew up in a working-class home and rose through the ranks of public service. In this po...

In this powerful grownwoman segment, Dr. Amira Ogunleye breaks down why representation in dentistry is not just about diversity, but about safety, trust, and survival. With less than 5% of dentists in the US being Black, Dr. Amira explains how racial bias, childhood trauma, and financial barriers shape patient outcomes long before someone ever sits in a dentist’s chair. She also shares why she’s b...

In this powerful conversation, renowned cosmetic dentist and women’s empowerment advocate Dr. Amira Ogunleye shares her inspiring journey from a modest immigrant upbringing to becoming a trailblazer in dentistry. Born in Egypt and raised by a single father in Florida, Amira shares how early struggles instilled a relentless work ethic that shaped her rise to success. She reflects on the emotional i...

What if the simplest way to improve your health is to return to the rhythms of nature? In this segment of GrownWoman, food justice advocate Asha Walker shares how ancestral wisdom, circadian rhythms, and intentional nourishment can radically change the way we eat, heal, and live. From fasting with the sun to reclaiming cultural food traditions, Asha offers a grounded, holistic approach to wellness...

On today’s episode, Shannon sits down with Asha Walker, CEO and founder of Health in the Hood and creator of the Cured wellness app, for an eye-opening and deeply personal conversation on wellness, equity, and the power of food to heal both body and community. From transforming blighted lots into vibrant community gardens to building a tech platform for holistic healing, Asha walks us through her...

In this grownwoman segment, Jessica Cristobal breaks down the myth that women must choose between family, purpose, and ambition. From pausing her career after becoming a mother to building Leading Ladies League into a traveling movement, Jessica shares how seasons of life demand different versions of leadership. This conversation reframes support roles as real power, honors women as CEOs of househ...

Jessica Cristobal is no stranger to leadership, resilience, and reinvention. From growing up in a military family to becoming the First Lady of University of Miami Canes Football, Jessica has worn many hats: mother, entrepreneur, pageant queen, and founder of the Leading Ladies League.  In this powerful episode of grownwoman, Jessica opens up about what it means to build a life rooted in service,...

How do we parent high-performing kids without breaking them? In this heartfelt conversation, Zana White and Fahim Mujahid share lessons from raising student-athletes — and the emotional weight that comes with being both parent and cheerleader. From sideline pressure to unshakable belief, this segment dives into the power of support, love, and letting our kids find their own voices. GUEST RESOURCES...

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of grownwoman, Shannon Allen welcomes health and wellness coaches Dr. Zana White and Faheem Mujahid to unpack the mental and emotional aspects of sports -  not just for professional athletes, but also for student-athletes, parents, and families supporting them. Zana, a hypnotist and mother of elite athletes, shares how she discovered the transformative power...

Peace Love World founder Alina Villasante shares how her journey into fashion began not in a boardroom, but in her living room, with a simple love party, a DIY T-shirt, and no formal plan. What started as a gathering of girlfriends evolved into a global brand worn by celebrities, championed by the Miami Heat, and rooted in empowerment, empathy, and family. In this inspiring segment, Alina opens up...

On today’s episode of grownwoman, fashion entrepreneur Alina Villasante opens up about the unseen battles behind her billion-dollar brand, Peace Love World. From her early days in aviation to launching one of the most iconic feel-good fashion labels, Alina shares with Shannon how she pivoted her business during the retail collapse, survived a toxic partnership, and ultimately saved her company wit...

When Happy and Sean Perry lost their son D’Sean Perry to a campus shooting, their world shattered. In this powerful segment, they recount the moment they got the call, the hours of silence that followed, and how they’re navigating unimaginable grief. But through their heartbreak, they found purpose honoring their son’s life through action and legacy. This is a story about love, loss, and the long...

In this heartbreaking and powerful episode of grownwoman, host Shannon Allen sits down with Happy and Sean Perry, the parents of D'Sean Perry - a gifted artist, Division 1 athlete, and victim of the tragic UVA shooting. Together with Dr. John Onwuchekwa, they open up about D'Sean Perry’s brilliant mind, beautiful spirit, and the deep grief that followed his devastating loss. From daily 10 am praye...

When Heather Mennell’s marriage suddenly collapsed without warning—followed by a cancer diagnosis and the death of her father—she found herself navigating one of the most heartbreaking high-conflict divorces imaginable. In this powerful segment, divorce coach Jennifer Medwin joins to reflect on Heather’s path back to self-worth, healing, and resilience. From betrayal and abandonment to self-care a...

What happens when the life you built: marriage, family, security, suddenly falls apart? In this deeply emotional episode, certified divorce coach and family mediator Jennifer Medwin sits down with grownwoman’s host Shannon Allen and courageous guest Heather Mennell, who shares her gut-wrenching journey through abandonment, betrayal, cancer, and unimaginable heartbreak. From recognizing emotional t...

What happens when a grandmother’s gut instinct leads to early autism diagnosis for her granddaughter? In this powerful segment, Kimberly Dasinger shares how noticing early signs changed everything. Joined by behavioral health expert Dr. LaToya Green and healthcare leader Dr. O’Neil Pyke, they break down the urgent need for earlier autism diagnoses—especially in Black and Brown communities. From AB...

In this deeply personal and powerful episode of grownwoman, Shannon Allen sits down with her dear friend Kimberly Dasinger, who opens up about her granddaughter Penelope’s autism diagnosis - a journey that has transformed her view of love, motherhood, and resilience.  Alongside leading experts Dr. LaToya Green (behavioral health) and Dr. O’Neil Pyke (Jackson Medical Group), they unpack the challen...

In this emotional segment, Carolyn Acosta opens up about the silent mental health battle her husband— a devoted first responder — was facing in the years leading up to his passing. She shares the subtle changes she noticed, from nightmares and disrupted sleep to anxiety and shame around needing medication. Carolyn explains how stigma, fear of being taken off duty, and the pressure to appear “stron...