Handling It Podcast

Grace Lee and Monica Ashauer of the direct-to-consumer bridesmaid dress brand, Birdy Grey, join us for this episode to talk about their journey creating the company. We're also going to chat about how the pandemic has impacted the wedding industry, and what strategies Grace and Monica are using to navigate around it. Follow Birdy Grey: Instagram: @birdygrey Website: https://www.birdygrey.com/

Founder and CEO of the non-profit organization “Together We Rise”, Danny Mendoza, joins us this week to converse about how he started the organization and ways that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted children in the United States foster care system. Together We Rise works to improve the experiences of children and teens in foster care, while also providing them with the tools they need to excel ac...

Lauren Berger joins us this week to offer work from home advice and tips for how individuals can navigate their careers during the pandemic. Lauren is the founder and CEO of Intern Queen and Career Queen, networking platforms that help connect job/internship seekers with employers, while also providing career advice and job hunting tips. Follow Lauren’s Journey: Instagram: @officiallaurenberger @o...

Actor and star of the hit series, “Derry Girls”, Jamie-Lee O’Donnell joins us this week to discuss how she got into acting and what it’s like being a part of the show. Derry Girls, which can be found mostly everywhere on Netflix, is a sitcom set in Northern Ireland during the troubles of the 1990s, and it follows a young group of friends as they navigate their awkward, chaotic, and fun teenage yea...

This week we’re joined by three-time Olympic Gold Medalist, two-time World Cup Champion, and eight-year captain of the Women’s National Soccer Team, Christie Pearce Rampone, and neuropsychologist and brain health expert, Dr. Kristine Keane. We’ll be discussing their new book Be All In: Raising Kids for Success in Sports and Life. Follow Christie’s Journey: Instagram: @christierampone3 Follow Dr. K...

American environmental attorney Robert Bilott will be joining us this week to discuss his legal battle that inspired the major motion picture from Focus Features, Dark Waters. Rob defended 70,000 residents of West Virginia and Ohio in a class action lawsuit against the chemical industry giant, DuPont, which was responsible for contaminating the area’s water with the threatening chemical, PFOA. Lis...

In this episode, actor, writer, producer, director and comedian, Lisa Ann Walter, joins us to discuss her career and accomplishments in the entertainment industry and how her work has been impacted by the current pandemic. We’ll also be discussing the recent cast reunion of Disney’s 1998 The Parent Trap, which Lisa Ann starred in alongside actors Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid, and Natasha Richardson...

This week we’re joined by artist and food creative, Sara Kiyo Popowa. As the creator of the plant-based Instagram account, @shisodelicious, Sara prepares and documents vibrant and beautiful recipes and meals for her followers. We'll be chatting about her journey with food and cooking, as well as how she managed to pave her own career path. Follow Sara's Journey: Instagram: @shisodelicious Book a C...

Wellness and compassion activist, Haile Thomas, joins me this week to discuss her new book LIVING LIVELY, as well as her work as an international speaker and founder and CEO of the non-profit organization, “HAPPY”. Follow Haile’s Journey: Instagram: @hailethomas Check Out HAPPY: https://www.thehappyorg.org/ Purchase Living Lively: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/living-lively-haile-thomas/1134259...

This week founder of Midheaven Denim, Kathryn Brolin, joins us to discuss what inspired her to build her brand. Midheaven Denim is an inclusive and sustainable denim jean line that Kathryn created to provide tall women with long-lasting jeans that fit and showcase their beautiful frames. Check out Midheaven Denim: https://www.midheavendenim.com/ Follow Kathryn's Journey: Instagram: @kathrynbrolin

This week Olympic Gold Medalist Jordyn Wieber joins the podcast to chat with me about her time competing in the 2012 Summer Olympics for Team USA and why she decided to make the move to coaching gymnastics. Jordyn is currently head coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks Gymnastics Team and also serves as an advocate for victims of sexual abuse. View Jordyn’s TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B...

In need of some laughter? Comedian Mia Jackson joins us this week to discuss her career as a comic and how she’s been handling virtual stand-ups during quarantine. Follow Mia’s Journey: Instagram: @miacomedy Check out Mia’s Stand-Up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu0bbg09mrI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuWn_aEPCgs&t=214s

This week we’re joined by New York Times Bestselling author Amanda Eyre Ward, who will be discussing the success of her recent novel, THE JETSETTERS, and her newest book release, THE SOBER LUSH, which she co-authored with writer Jardine Libaire. If you’ve ever wanted to pursue a career as a writer or author, then this is the conversation that you need to hear today. Follow Amanda’s Journey: Instag...

Owner and founder of The Diamond Reserve, Kaeleigh Testwuide joins us this week to discuss how she started her company and what sets The Diamond Reserve apart from other jewelers. We’ll also be commenting on what it’s like to be a female founder in a typically male-dominated industry. Follow The Diamond Reserve’s Journey: Website: https://thediamondreserve.com/ Instagram: @thediamondreserve Follow...

CEO and co-founder of MANG, Kyle Rossin joins us this week to discuss why he created the company MANG with his twin brother Keith, as well as their dedication to mangrove restoration. MANG is an apparel and gear company that operates out of Florida and is dedicated to their initiative, “Buy One. Plant One.”, which guarantees to plant a mangrove for each purchase made, helping to preserve coastal c...

This week actor Usman Ally joins us to discuss some of his theater, film and television roles. An Obie Award-winning actor and starring in shows like “68 Whiskey”, “Veep”, “A Series of Unfortunate Events”, “Suits” and more, Usman’s had an extensive career in acting, which we’ll be discussing. In today’s conversation we’ll also be commenting on representation and diversity in Hollywood, as well as...

This week we’re talking about quarantine. How has it changed us? What has it taught us? We’re joined by Running Coach, Ali Schappert, who will be chatting with us about how she and her family have been handling their lives in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ll also be discussing Ali’s recent decision to switch up her career and become a running coach, launching her own group AS YOU RUN...

This week’s guest is actor and director Elijah Allan-Blitz. An Emmy nominee and Lumiere award winner, Elijah specializes in directing virtual reality experiences, having directed work for Time Magazine, PBS, HBO and more. We’ll be discussing how he got involved in the film industry and what drew him to VR filmmaking specifically. Follow Elijah’s Journey: His Work: “Take Every Wave: Laird in VR” ht...

To conclude our series, “The Women of Film and Television”, Freelance Producer Lane Cheek joins us. Known for her work on shows like the “The Vampire Diaries” and “The Bachelor” franchise, as a part of the Art Department, Lane’s worked behind the camera on a number of shows and films, and she’s now transitioning into a whole new world of writing and producing. We’ll be discussing how she started o...

This week actor, writer, producer and director, Lynn Chen, will be talking with us today about her film I Will Make You Mine, which is now available for streaming. Not only does I Will Make You Mine mark Lynn Chen’s filmmaking debut, but it is also the third part of the Surrogate Valentine trilogy that was created by Dave Boyle. The feature film was also selected to premiere at the 2020 South by S...

Our series "The Women of Film and Television" continues this week with guest Nimisha Mukerji. Nimisha has produced and directed award-winning work for both film and television, and she is a two-time CSA nominated director. Her debut feature film 65_RedRoses was one of Oprah Winfrey’s Documentary Club selections, and in addition to several other feature films Nimisha has directed, she has also been...

This week I'm chatting with actor Bria Samoné Henderson, who just had a breakout role in the FX Original Series "Mrs. America", which is airing exclusively on Hulu. The miniseries tells the story of the movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s and looks at the actual women who fought for equality during this time, as well as those who opposed the movement. Bria will be discussing...

This week I'm chatting with Amy Rawlings, Marketing Director at Rice Love. For those who don't know, Rice Love is an incredible company out of Hawaii that creates eco-friendly products like backpacks, tote bags and more, and then donates a kilo of rice to a family in need in India for every item they make. Founded with the idea that individuals can bring about great change, Rice Love works to end...

This week I'm chatting with founder and CEO of Clove + Hallow, Sarah Biggers. As a makeup artist, Sarah had been searching for clean makeup and skincare products that were affordable and inclusive. She founded Clove + Hallow to create vegan and cruelty free cosmetics that were made in the USA and safe for your skin. Sarah and I will be chatting about her favorite Clove + Hallow products, as well a...

If you love photography and Kacey Musgraves, then this is the episode for you! This week I'm chatting with Nick Tuong, whose father Tom is the founder and owner of Tom's One-Hour Photo & Lab in L.A.'s Koreatown. The story of Tom and his shop went viral last summer, when country artist Kacey Musgraves and her sister stumbled upon it. Nick is here to share the story of the shop's success over the pa...