Powerful Ladies® Podcast

Anna Olinova is a graphic designer, mental health counselor in training, and social justice activist who is merging her skills to create a career that makes an impact. From immigrating to the U.S. from Russia to building a design business that reflects her values, Anna has always asked “Why?” and pushed for better solutions. She shares how her passion for racial and social justice led her to pursu...

Daphne Littlebear’s path from early childhood education to pursuing her doctorate has been driven by one goal: to empower Indigenous communities through knowledge. As a leader in data sovereignty and education reform, she’s working to ensure Indigenous students not only have access to education, but that their cultural perspectives are respected and integrated into the learning process. Her work c...

Caitlyn Rose Clark is an executive leadership coach and public speaker who transforms her personal experiences (including surviving sexual assault) into tools for leadership, accountability, and empowerment. She works in her family’s coaching business, tours the U.S. speaking on sexual assault, and helps leaders step fully into their power without sacrificing authenticity. Caitlyn shares how accou...

Kara talks with Jenna Haefelin, founder of SPIFF, a luxury home organizing and clean living company based in New York. Jenna shares how she turned her lifelong passion for cleaning and organizing into a thriving business serving celebrity and high-end clients. We discuss the psychology of clutter, why sustainable and stylish solutions matter, and how organization transforms not just your space but...

Powerful Ladies and Women of Type joined forces for a live event: How to Be Creative, Successful & Fabulous. Hosted by Kara Duffy, the conversation brought together three powerhouse creatives (Devon Blow, Jess Goldsmith, and Elizabeth McGarry) who are proof that the “starving artist” myth needs to go. From fashion design to graphic design to art direction, each panelist has built a thriving busine...

Farrah Haidar and Hala Yassine know what it takes to lead, scale, and sell companies... and they’re not doing it the way they were told they had to. With roots in Lebanon and Syria, they’ve navigated burnout, imposter syndrome, and bias to build brands that reflect who they are and what they stand for. This episode is a real talk on what happens after a major exit, how to choose the right people t...

Alicia Adamson (author of Walking In Your Truth, speaker, consultant, and founder of The Young Black Women’s Society) shares how truth and freedom have guided her life’s work. From navigating corporate America as a young Black woman to building a thriving membership-based nonprofit, Alicia opens up about leadership, resilience, and creating spaces where women feel empowered to reach their infinite...

Erin Carey watched one sailing documentary and decided to change her family’s life. She went from a government job and a house in the Australian suburbs to buying a boat sight unseen, and now lives full time on the ocean while running Roam Generation, her global PR agency for travel, leisure, and luxury brands. This episode dives into how Erin and her husband made the leap, how they saved $85K in...

Kimjera Whittington, founder of Evolve Global Marketing, shows how the right words can double your sales and transform your business. She breaks down the storytelling framework she’s used to help brands worldwide cut through noise, connect with the right customers, and close deals faster. From identifying what’s really holding your sales back to crafting a message that builds instant trust, Kimjer...

Britt Theodora has dressed everyone from Pete Davidson at the Met Gala to emerging actors breaking barriers on screen. As a celebrity stylist and founder of Britt Theodora Studio, she’s built a career that merges high-fashion red carpets with practical, confidence-building style for everyday clients. Britt shares how she carved her path in the competitive world of fashion, why she launched her “en...

Brenda Gonzalez, co-CEO and co-host of the Tamarindo Podcast, shares how representation, political organizing, and reclaiming our stories shape the future of the Latinx community. From the origins of the term “Hispanic” to the impact of California’s Prop 187, she reveals why counting, access to source documents, and inclusive language matter for visibility and change. We cover Hollywood representa...

Monika McKenzie is the owner of The Yoga Nest, the only Black-owned yoga studio in Hawaii, where she blends physical practice with grounding, spiritual, and trauma-releasing work. She’s also a passionate social justice advocate who refuses to stay silent in the face of injustice, even when it means standing alone. Her journey spans Phoenix, Oakland, Detroit, and Hawaii, weaving together motherhood...

Kristin Rowell went from high-performing trial lawyer to functional nutritional therapist, helping entrepreneurs and executives fuel their bodies for peak performance. Her own health crisis - breaking her leg in 10 places during a frigid Minnesota winter - became the catalyst for a complete career and lifestyle pivot. Kristin shares how she rebuilt her health, the science behind sustainable energy...

Holly Brandon traded earthquake engineering for storytelling, turning her real-life dating adventures into the award-winning novel Life in the Chastity Zone. After years in STEM and a personal health battle, she found herself navigating the unpredictable world of love, and realized her experiences had all the makings of a great book. She shares how her career shift unfolded, what science taught he...

Elizabeth McGarry has been on our #WCW list for decades. She’s an entrepreneur, wife, mom, and one of the kindest, most stylish people you’ll meet. As Creative Director and Co-Founder of McGarry & Sons, she’s built a career designing for brands you know and love (Nike, Reebok, Puma, York Athletics) and mentoring the next generation of creatives. From growing up in suburban Oregon to working in hig...

Leslie Levito has lived the “dream job” life , from running a skate shop to climbing the corporate ladder, but she realized the real dream was designing her own life. Today, she’s a business coach, entrepreneur, and co-founder of CutClass, helping people break free from traditional jobs and create businesses that align with their vision, values, and goals. We talk about her journey from action spo...

Gayle Warfield turned her creativity into a thriving business, one enamel pin at a time. As the Owner, CEO, Designer, and Creative Mind behind Teal Teacup, she’s built a brand that spreads happiness through art while supporting a loyal, passionate community. Her journey took her from a career in UI/UX design to becoming the artist, maker, and face of a growing accessories brand. Gayle opens up abo...

Jess Goldsmith didn’t wait for someone to tell her she was an artist. She decided she was one and went all in. With no formal art school training, she built a thriving creative career from the ground up, working as an art director, illustrator, and the founder of both Chick of All Trades and Women of Type. Her story is proof that you can start with nothing but determination, sharpen your skills al...

Kristy Dinsmoor knows the power of second chances. As the founder of the Prisoner Reentry Network, she’s dedicated her life to helping people successfully transition back into society after incarceration. From navigating the stigma and logistical hurdles of reentry to creating programs that provide real support, Kristy has seen firsthand how guidance, resources, and human connection can change the...

Gemi Bertran’s journey is a masterclass in resilience, vision, and taking bold action. From navigating political unrest in Haiti to building a global business that transforms how people nourish their minds and bodies, her story is as gripping as it is inspiring. As CEO and Founder of Nourish Your Brain Institute, Gemi helps individuals and communities shift behaviors, embrace brain-boosting nutrit...

Alessandra Fergola is an apparel designer, dual citizen, and creative force who has built her dream life across Italy, London, and beyond. Her journey spans working with major brands like Fila and Puma, showing collections in Paris and Milan, and saying “yes” to opportunities that pushed her out of her comfort zone. She shares how learning English became her ticket to freedom, why she never says n...

Juliana Gambrell is a coach, entrepreneur, and master wordsmith who helps people design lives they actually want to live. She believes words create our world, and living deliberately means aligning your language, choices, and energy with your deepest values. From growing up in Ithaca to driving cross-country at 22 to build a life in Southern California, Juliana has made bold moves guided by curios...

Get ready to meet the incredible X.Ari.  She’s a LGBTQIA+ Alt-Pop Singer, writer and mental health advocate originally from Toronto who’s now based in Los Angeles. She’s on a mission to turn her own Pain into Power and to give you the belief, the possibility and tools to do the same. She’s contagious, inspiring, wise, and bursting with hope and light that is only possible when you’re on your uniqu...

Heidi Rose Robbins is an esoteric astrologer, poet, TEDx speaker, and host of The Radiance Project podcast. For over 25 years, she’s helped people (including celebrities and leaders) use astrology as a tool for self-discovery, clarity, and transformation. In this conversation, Heidi explains how your horoscope is a map of the heavens from the moment you took your first breath, and how reading that...

Vy Dao’s path to becoming Managing Partner at N Wellness started with a simple juice cleanse, and turned into a mission to change how we fuel our bodies. In this episode of the Powerful Ladies Podcast, Vy shares how she went from studying biology to launching wellness brands that rival the big-name energy drinks (minus the crash and chemicals). We dive into her journey as an Asian American woman i...