Powerful Ladies® Podcast

Boundaries aren’t walls. They’re gateways to freedom, peace, and living your best life. Kara Duffy and Jordan Duffy dive into why setting boundaries in work, relationships, and personal life is essential for avoiding burnout and stepping into your full power. They explore how boundaries protect your energy, make space for what matters most, and shift you into a position of clarity and control. Fro...

Kalika Yap is on a mission to help 1 million women earn $1 million and create 1 million jobs. A serial entrepreneur, inventor of the Purse Hook, branding and marketing expert, author of The Little Brand Book, and host of the Wonder Podcast, she’s built multiple successful companies while championing women in business. Kalika shares the pivotal moments in her journey: from growing up in Hawaii and...

Starting a business is never simple, especially in an industry with steep regulations and high barriers to entry. But Jamie Lea didn’t let that stop her. Kara Duffy talks with Jamie, the founder of the CBD and wellness brand Toasty, about turning a pandemic layoff into the push she needed to create a company from the ground up. Jamie shares how her background as an NCAA volleyball player gave her...

I am proud to bring you two powerful women, sisters Carolina Trejos and Natalia Trejos-Herrera, founders of the Pinkafé platform, podcast, and TV show. We talk about their journey from Ecuador to the United States, where they find the confidence to be entrepreneurial and chase their dreams, and why it matters that more women know they are magic, they are capable, and they are not alone. Carolina a...

Grizel Bien is a therapist, musician, writer, and mental health advocate who uses art, nature, and storytelling to help people reconnect with themselves. From Miami to Moab, she has followed a path that blends creativity, psychology, and a deep love for the outdoors. Grizel opens up about her own mental health journey, why boundaries have been life-changing, and how the outdoors became her safe sp...

Thomas Claesen and Chelsea Levine are an entrepreneurial couple who built a life and businesses that reflect their values, creativity, and love for travel. From Belgium to New York to Nashville, they have created companies like Clawson Design and Teeq while intentionally choosing joy, community, and freedom over convention. They share the mindset shifts that allowed them to say no to work that did...

Juliann Berens, co-founder of Refind Kitchens in San Diego, is proving that luxury interior design and sustainability can go hand in hand. Her company deconstructs, rather than demolishes, gently used kitchens, bathrooms, and high-end materials, giving them a second life in new design projects while keeping them out of landfills. A registered nurse turned interior designer, Juliann shares how her...

Belen Ramirez Bourdages is a family physician with Doctors Without Borders and the co-founder of Project Bike Love, a nonprofit providing bikes to women and girls around the world. Her work has taken her from Paraguay to South Sudan, Yemen, Nigeria, and beyond, delivering medical care where it’s needed most and creating opportunities for women to access education, work, and independence through re...

This re-release is dedicated to the late Becky Olson, who passed away on April 24, 2021. Becky was a five-time cancer survivor, professional speaker, founder of the nonprofit Breast Friends, and host of the Breast Friends Radio Show. She was also a mother, grandmother, wife, and friend who embodied humor, happiness, and hope in everything she did. When her episode first aired, I received more note...

Caitlin Conner is an adaptive athlete, model, brand ambassador, social media manager, mom, and founder of the nonprofit Be More Adaptive. After surviving a devastating motorcycle accident while pregnant, Caitlin faced the challenges of recovery, new motherhood, and learning to walk again. She found her way forward through adaptive sports, from running and triathlon to boxing and figure skating, an...

Connie Clotworthy is the founder of Worthy Beyond Purpose, a non-profit program that teaches kids how to win the mental game in sports and in life. After years in golf instruction, she saw that physical skills were only part of the equation. Confidence, mindset, and self-awareness mattered just as much. Today, she works with young athletes to help them build resilience, handle pressure, and see th...

Alicia Appleton left a corporate fashion career to build Amber Poitier, a leather accessories brand inspired by art, architecture, and the women who wear them. Her work blends bold design with timeless craftsmanship, and her journey is about more than style. It is about the courage to leave the safe path, trust your instincts, and create a life on your own terms. Alicia shares how her Jamaican her...

This special episode of the Powerful Ladies Podcast shares the unedited recording of A Powerful Conversation About America: Racism – Episode 4, Stop Asian Hate. Recorded live on April 9, 2021, this moving panel features artist NoNo Go, comedian Sierra Katow, DJ Bella Fiasco, and entrepreneur Kalika Yap. Together, they share personal stories of anti-Asian racism, explore the cultural and generation...

Lauren Goode is an Emmy-winning journalist, senior writer at Wired, and co-host of the Gadget Lab podcast. Her work covers the intersection of technology and humanity, from how we use consumer tech products to the cultural and ethical questions they raise. Lauren shares her journey from covering the NFL and producing video at The Wall Street Journal to interviewing tech leaders, exploring emerging...

Mariya Spektor is a social media manager, spin instructor, and creator of the To Date or Not podcast, where she explores the big questions about love, dating, and modern relationships. Born in Russia and raised in California, Mariya brings curiosity, humor, and honesty to conversations about what makes relationships work and what holds them back. She shares how personal experiences led her to laun...

Leah Drew is the founder of Mind Body with Leah, a pain management specialist, massage therapist, personal trainer, and ANF Therapist who helps people create lasting lifestyle solutions to feel their best. After overcoming her own health challenges, including a pancreatic tumor, Leah became passionate about teaching others how to listen to their bodies, manage stress, and prioritize self-care befo...

Arya Mazanek is the CEO of Wilderwise Homes, a company building highly engineered tiny homes designed for modern living. She’s passionate about how tiny living can be a catalyst for people to live in alignment with their values, whether that’s reducing environmental impact, increasing financial freedom, or creating more intentional communities. Arya shares how her path from Girl Scouts to CEO shap...

Today we have a super special episode for you all. International Women’s Day on March 8th, is the biggest global experience we create each year at Powerful Ladies. We have hundreds of women around the world sharing their story through our Instagram Extravaganza, we host events, raise money for charity and more. This year as one of our virtual events, we hosted a guest speaker panel discussing our...

Shae LaPlace is the integrator for Powerful Ladies, the right hand helping Kara Duffy bring ideas to life across Powerful Ladies and KDCC. She is also a freelance writer and editor, bartender, and the creator of Bad Outdoors Woman. Shae’s journey is anything but conventional, and her story is proof that you can design a life around your passions, values, and goals. She shares what it is like to be...

Photographer, creative director, and entrepreneur Marika Adamopoulos has built two thriving businesses (Marika Creative and Creativity Built) by rejecting the competition mindset and embracing collaboration. She shares her journey from Boston to Southern California, the lessons she’s learned running a creative agency, and how building community has transformed her career. We talk about pricing you...

Jessica Assaf’s activism began at age 13 when she joined a local cancer study and discovered how many beauty and personal care products contained harmful ingredients. By 15, she was testifying in California for cosmetic safety reform. That passion for health, transparency, and safer consumer products shaped her entire career. Today, Jessica is the co-founder and Chief Education Officer of Prima, a...

Mark and Elizabeth McGarry are a true power couple, leaders in global sportswear and partners in life, business, and family. Mark is the CEO of York Athletics and Elizabeth is the owner and creative director of McGarry & Sons, a design studio they helped launch together. Their careers span iconic brands like Reebok, Puma, and DC Shoes, but their focus today is on building a family and businesses t...

Chris Grubisa and Aleks Lason are married, parents, and the co-founders of Chrilleks, an international multi-experiential marketing agency creating both digital and in-person brand experiences. They’ve built a thriving company while prioritizing communication, trust, and shared growth, proving that it’s possible to succeed in business and life together. In this conversation, Chris and Aleks share...

Noah Bernard has lived many lives - professional athlete, footwear creator, brand marketer, and entrepreneur - each chapter shaped by his drive to work hard, compete, and follow his passions. From swimming at the Junior Olympics to competing in Ultraman races, from building brands at Puma and Saucony to creating his own ventures, Noah’s career is proof that success comes from aligning your skills...

Join Jordan and Kara as they discuss the insane year that was 2020 and the perspective of 2020 from the Powerful Ladies as a company, Powerful Ladies Thrive Membership, our clients, guests and more.  They discuss the good and the bad and all the pivoting that occurred.  The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs,...