Powered by Authenticity

Enhancing the human experience starts with putting peoplefirst. In this episode of Powered by Authenticity, Emily sits downwith Chris Hallberg, CEO of GoExpand, and founder of The Business Sergeant. Chris is a veteran, entrepreneur, and leadership coach who believes organizations perform best when leaders empower others to lead. Together, they explore leadership that scales, teams thatexecute, and...

What does it take to build a career by recognizing opportunities before everyone else? In this episode of Powered by Authenticity , Emily sits down with Christina Duvall, President of Renegade Talent Management and CelebExperts. Christina shares the experiences that shaped her leadership journey, from becoming the youngest Vice President in company history at 22 to leading one of the industry's pr...

Polished grit. Refreshingly spicy. Casually iconic. That's Buffalo for you. In this episode, I sit down with Patrick Kaler, President & CEO of Visit Buffalo, to explore the story behind Buffalo's evolution and why the city continues to earn recognition as one of America's most reimagined cities. While many people know Visit Buffalo for helping attract visitors to the region, this conversation...

Behind every fundraising goal is a story, and behind every story are the people who help make it possible. In this follow-up conversation, Russell Hill reflects on reaching his fundraising goal for the American Lung Association's Fight for Air Climb and the incredible support that helped make it happen. What began as a personal mission to honor his daughter became a powerful reminder of what is po...

In this episode of Powered by Authenticity, Emily sits down with Sergeant Justin Collins of the Rochester Police Department for a conversation that goes far beyond policing. With more than two decades of experience in law enforcement, Sergeant Collins shares not only his journey in public safety, but also his passion for mentoring and developing the next generation of leaders entering the workforc...

This is a very special episode of Powered by Authenticity as we take our listeners inside the Women in Tech of Western New York conference in downtown Buffalo. Throughout the day, we had the opportunity to connect with some of the most inspiring trailblazers, leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers helping shape the future of Western New York. From mentorship and leadership to innovation, technol...

We recently had the opportunity to speak with the American Lung Association to talk about the upcoming Fight for Air Climb. While there, I had the distinct pleasure of speaking with Erika VanDette. Erika is part of Team Roswell and shares her story of ‘why she climbs’ each year. Hearing how she is raising funds for lung health awareness in memory of her mother is something that resonated deeply wi...

We recently had the opportunity to speak with the American Lung Association to talk about the upcoming Fight for Air Climb. While there, I had the distinct pleasure of speaking with Russell Hill. Russell shared his ‘why’ behind climbing at this event each year. Turning the loss of his daughter into purpose by raising funds for lung health awareness through the American Lung Association is so inspi...

In this episode of Powered by Authenticity, I’m joined by Kaeli Kleinbach LaFrance, the driving force behind Batavia’s very first Restaurant Week — happening April 27 through May 2. We sat down to talk about what it really takes to bring something like this to life, from coordinating local restaurants to building excitement across the community. Kaeli shares how this event came together, the incre...

In this episode of Powered by Authenticity, we are on location at Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, sitting down with Sue-Ann Staff for a conversation that blends entrepreneurship, legacy, and a deep connection to her craft. Sue-Ann is a seventh-generation farmer and fifth-generation grape grower, with her family’s roots on the estate dating back over 200 years. Choosing to build something of her own w...

Powered by Authenticity was thrilled to be hosted by Brazen Brewing in Lancaster, New York for our conversation with Tom Whitmarsh. I had such a great time sitting down with Drew, owner of Brazen Brewing, to learn more about the brewery’s story and their deep roots in the WNY community. Brazen has built more than just a brewery—it’s a space that brings people together. From their commitment to cra...

In this episode of Powered by Authenticity , I sit down with Tom Whitmarsh, founder of the WNY Beer Trail, for a conversation that is equal parts community and inspiration. Tom shares his journey from large corporate retail into building something of his own—right here in Western New York. What started as an idea turned into a business that now supports local breweries and brings people together a...

In this episode of Powered by Authenticity , I’m joined by Mary Russo from the American Lung Association in Buffalo for a conversation rooted in community, impact, and action. One thing that really matters—when you support the American Lung Association here in Western New York, those dollars stay right here. They go directly toward lung cancer education, research, and patient support for individua...

When you hear Buffalo, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Wings. We think so too. But we also think about the person who helped put them on the map in a whole new way… the Wing King himself, Drew Cerza. And, this was a conversation the Powered by Authenticity team couldn’t wait to have. Getting to spend time with Drew was something we truly appreciated. What he has built in Buffalo, and th...

In this episode of Powered by Authenticity , we sitdown with Nicole Cowley, an identity and internal wealth mentor who helps women reconnect with who they are and step into their next chapter with clarity and confidence. Nicole shares her journey from working in her familybusiness to navigating major life transitions that led her to create her signature program, Unleash Your Inner Diamond . At the...

Artificial intelligence is everywhere right now—but whatdoes it actually mean for the way we work? In this episode of Powered by Authenticity , Emily Carlson sits down with Art Pugach and Mairead O’Donovan to explore the real impact of AI and tools like Microsoft Copilot. Art, Global Chief Technology Officer at Q Associates and aMicrosoft 365 Copilot MVP, and Mairead, Project Coordinator at Q Asso...

ALS is a disease that many people have heard about — often through moments like the Ice Bucket Challenge, the legacy of Lou Gehrig, or more recently through public figures sharing their diagnoses. Yet for many, the reality of what ALS is and how it impacts families remains largely unknown until it touches their lives directly. On this episode of Powered by Authenticity, I’m joined by Peggy Pollizi...

In this episode of Powered by Authenticity , I’mjoined by Dawne Hoeg, Founder and Executive Director of Stitch Buffalo — a remarkable organization dedicated to empowering refugee and immigrant women through textile arts, entrepreneurship, and meaningful community connection. Dawne shares the story behind Stitch Buffalo’s founding andthe heart that fuels its mission: creating pathways to economic i...

In this episode of Powered by Authenticity , I’m joined by Sarah Barnes-Humphrey — podcast host of Let’s Talk Supply Chain and Blended , industry advocate, entrepreneur, and author who has built a powerful platform centered on storytelling, inclusion, and creating space formeaningful conversations. With more than 25 years in supply chain and logistics, Sarah has evolved her career into media, advo...

In this episode of Powered by Authenticity , Emilysits down with Tanya Maximova, founder of IngrediLens, to talk about how personal challenges, resilience, and emerging technology can come together to solve real-world problems. IngrediLens is an AI-powered app designed to help peoplebetter understand what’s in their food by analyzing ingredient labels through image recognition and intelligent data...

In this episode of Powered by Authenticity , Emily isjoined by Luke Desmond, Vice President of Weber’s Brand, for a conversation that blends legacy, leadership, and a whole lot of Buffalo pride. Luke shares his unexpected path into the family business —from studying biology and considering a career in medicine to stepping into a 100+ year-old, iconic Buffalo brand. What unfolds is a powerful story...

In this episode of Powered by Authenticity , EmilyCarlson is joined once again by leadership coach Lynne Thornton for a timely conversation about self-awareness, leadership growth, and making intentional career decisions as we head into a new year. Lynne shares her journey from decades in corporatetechnology leadership to launching Elevate Advisory Services and explains how she uses the Hogan Pers...

This conversation is a great reminder that the best ideasoften come from trying to solve your own problem. That’s exactly how Atlas Bars — and this journey with James Oliver — began. James joins me for a thoughtful, easy conversation aboutfood, endurance training, and what it really looks like to build something from the ground up. What started as a personal need — wanting better, cleaner fuel for...

If you’re from Buffalo, you already know - we don’t justshow up together. And if you’re not from here, you’re about to see exactly what makes this community so special. That spirit is exactly what this episode with Buddy in da Basement (a/k/a Chris Panepinto) is all about. In this high-energy, fun, and genuinely insightful conversation, I sit down with one of Buffalo’s favorite content creators to...

“I show my scars so that others know they can heal.” In this episode I am joined by Erin Bailey-Boyes. Erin is afitness and mindset coach from Muskoka, Ontario, but her story is about so much more than training plans or physical transformation. In this deeply honest and courageous episode, Erin opens up about her journey through grief, anxiety, addiction, and recovery — and what it really looks li...