grownwoman

CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes discussions of PTSD, depression, and suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek support from a licensed mental health professional or call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). You are not alone. In this deeply moving and powerful episode, grownwoman guest Carolyn Acosta shares the story of her late husband, Alex – a heroic firefighter, devoted...

Ten years after launching her health-driven restaurant grown, entrepreneur and founder Shannon Allen discovered her mission was never just about food… it was about feeding the soul. What started as a table for real food became a table for real stories. In Season 2 of grownwoman, Shannon opens her heart and her platform to powerful, unfiltered conversations about resilience, reinvention, and radica...

When Johanna Gomez felt a rock-hard lump on her breast, she did not panic. She had just put in an offer on a new home. Life felt full. Stable. Promising. But the call came fast: it was breast cancer. She was 37. No family history. Three kids. And no space to fall apart. In this intimate segment, Johanna shares what it was like to hold it all in and to protect her children from the weight of her re...

Every grownwoman has that moment—the one that split her life into before and after. In this special best-of episode, we revisit the breakdowns that came first. The inner pain behind the outward strength. The moments when they could’ve quit… but didn’t. From loss to illness, fear, and failure—this is a reminder that every rise starts in the rubble. These are the stories that cracked them open. That...

When Isa Watson set out to earn her degree at MIT, she wasn’t just chasing a dream—she was chasing who she wanted to be. But nothing could have prepared her for the day she found she no longer cared. Isa opens up about the tragic accident that took her father’s life and left her mother without memory—the crash that made her reckless, but only because she couldn’t afford to grieve. Through the over...

Today, Shannon introduces the Emmy Award-Winning journalist, devoted mother, and breast cancer survivor, Johanna Gomez. Together, they delve into Johanna's unexpected career path from Miami Dolphins cheerleader to winning an Emmy for journalism, all while juggling motherhood, professional ambition, and life's curveballs.  Johanna credits her Dominican roots for instilling relentless grit & grace a...

Suzanne McKenzie’s life changed in an instant the day her husband, Ucal, collapsed on the soccer field. In this emotional segment, Suzanne opens up about their love story, the moment she lost him, and the brutal weight of grief that followed. She shares how nothing prepared her for the isolation, the silence, and the disorienting chaos that came after, and why grief doesn’t follow a script. From J...

Isa Watson—Founder & CEO of Squad, MIT MBA, tech innovator, researcher, and skydiver—shares her extraordinary journey from small-town North Carolina to the heart of Silicon Valley. Growing up in a values-centered home, Isa’s early engineering exposure and innate curiosity became the bedrock of her influential career across STEM, business, and social impact. She opens up about how grief, identity,...

At 24 weeks pregnant, Jessica Hurley walked into a routine appointment—and never went back to work. What followed was a nightmare she couldn’t have prepared for: severe preeclampsia, stroke-level blood pressure, an emergency delivery at 25 weeks, and the fight for both her and her son’s lives. In this jaw-dropping and tear-jerking conversation, Jessica opens up about the moment she was told, “It’s...

In today’s inspiring episode, Shannon welcomes Suzanne McKenzie—creative visionary, founder of Able Made, and the grownwoman leader behind The Ucal McKenzie Breakaway Foundation. She shares her evolution from growing up in Maine to shaping youth empowerment programs and purpose-driven fashion. Suzanne shares her journey through grief following the sudden loss of her husband and reveals how that li...

Carolyn Aronson had a successful salon, a steady career, and every reason to stay comfortable. But something inside her said this isn’t enough. In this powerful segment, the founder of It’s a 10 Haircare opens up about what made her walk away from stability, risk it all, and build a product that now sells over 11 million bottles a year. She shares how failure became fuel, how purpose drives every...

Jessica Hurley didn’t set out to build a media company. She just said yes to one woman who saw something in her before she could see it in herself. That woman’s belief - her mentorship, her sacrifice, her fierce accountability - lit the match that changed everything. But it wasn’t until Jessica gave birth to her son Cameron, 15 weeks early, in the fight of both their lives, that she found her fire...

Shannon sits down with powerhouse entrepreneur Denise Woodard, founder and CEO of Partake Foods—a company born from her daughter's food allergies and fueled by a mission of inclusivity, accessibility, and pure hustle. Denise shares the real story of how she started out pitching cookies from the back of her SUV. She gets honest about what it really takes to build something from scratch as a mom, a...

In this powerhouse episode of grownwoman, Shannon sits down with Carolyn Aronson - mother, mogul, and founder of the iconic It’s a 10 Haircare. From foster care in New Jersey to global domination in the beauty industry, Carolyn’s story is one of unmatched grit, purpose, and divine alignment.  She opens up about the roots she didn’t know she had, the parents who raised her with love and intellect,...

In this deeply emotional segment, Mielle Organics founder Monique Rodriguez recounts the tragic loss of her son following a uterine rupture. A former labor & delivery nurse herself, Monique knew exactly what was happening - but her concerns were ignored. She opens up about her fight to save her son, the systemic failures Black mothers face, and how this devastating experience ultimately led her to...

Today, Denise Woodard, CEO and founder of Partake Foods, sits down with Shannon to discuss the importance of storytelling, community support, and perseverance in entrepreneurship. Denise shares her journey from Fayetteville, North Carolina, to becoming a grownwoman as a successful entrepreneur. Having been inspired by her daughter's food allergies, she started Partake in 2018. Initially, she won a...

In this moving tribute, Dascha Polanco reflects on the life and legacy of her late partner and musical collaborator, Juan "Xtassy" Abreu - a Latin Grammy-winning producer and the man who helped her reclaim her voice. Through raw honesty and sisterly conversation, Dascha shares what it means to be truly loved, seen, and supported. This is more than a love story - it’s a story of healing, feminine p...

In this deeply moving episode of grownwoman, Monique Rodriguez, CEO and founder of  Mielle Organics, sits down with Shannon Allen for an honest, inspiring conversation about purpose, perseverance, and the power of faith. Raised on the South Side of Chicago, Monique opens up about overcoming childhood adversity, navigating grief after the devastating loss of her son, and how she turned unimaginable...

Shannon Allen sits down with the twin sisters who rose to fame on '90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days' and built a reality TV empire of their own—Darcey and Stacey Silva. From their very first on-camera moment to becoming the stars of 'Darcey & Stacey,' they open up about what it really took to turn heartbreak, hustle, and sisterhood into a global brand. With raw honesty and signature sparkle, they...

In this unforgettable episode of grownwoman, award-winning actress and cultural force Dascha Polanco joins Shannon Allen for a powerful conversation about grief, identity, and unapologetic self-ownership. From her early days as a young Dominican immigrant juggling motherhood, multiple jobs, and education, to navigating Hollywood while holding onto her truth, Dascha opens up about the highs, lows,...

In this raw and revealing segment, Shannon sits down with Rashmi Airan, whose life was upended after being convicted of a white-collar crime she didn’t even realize she’d committed. Once a respected attorney and mother of two, Rashmi was sentenced to federal prison and given 60 days to prepare for one of the hardest chapters of her life. But instead of retreating into shame, she did something radi...

This special best-of episode brings together four extraordinary stories of transformation—each a powerful reminder that pain doesn’t get the last word. From Karen Guggenheim, who lost her husband in just five days to the flu and chose to build a global happiness movement in his memory, to CeCe Boozer, who found herself navigating the impossible while fighting for her son’s life and ultimately crea...

Today, Shannon and CeCe Boozer explore what it means to be a builder—not just of businesses, but of spaces that care for people with dignity. From starting an assisted living facility as a “pet project” to creating homes for special needs adults, we hear how caregiving, entrepreneurship, and legacy intertwine when your work comes from lived experience. Whether it's watching loved ones struggle thr...

What does it mean to grieve deeply, love fully, and glow anyway? In this powerful homecoming episode, Shannon Allen sits down with her twin cousins Darcey and Stacey Silva, the dynamic forces behind House of Eleven and TLC’s 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days. This isn't just a reunion, it's a reckoning. Together, they reflect on their journey from small-town Connecticut to global television screen...

In this heartfelt segment, we explore how gratitude can transform even the most overwhelming moments. Join Karen Guggenheim as she shares how leaning into thankfulness, embracing emotional resilience, and serving others have helped her navigate loss, pain, and uncertainty - offering a powerful reminder that gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's a lifeline. GUEST RESOURCES  Karen Guggenheim IG | kar...