Powerful Ladies® Podcast

Lora Bleijenberg’s journey is nothing short of remarkable. Once caught in the grip of poverty, abuse, and meth addiction, she’s now a thriving gym owner, personal trainer, massage therapist, and proud dog mom. In this conversation, Lora opens up about her past with honesty, humor, and heart—sharing how love, fitness, and a fierce commitment to change helped her rewrite her story. She talks about t...

Jordan Duffy has built a career on saying yes to big opportunities, especially the ones that felt impossible. As one of the first female audio engineers at Earwolf & Stitcher, she’s worked on hit shows like Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, Bitch Sesh, and Queery while also pursuing her passion as a singer-songwriter. She’s the engineer behind Powerful Ladies, and she also happens to be Kara’s sister....

Julie Podolec turned a homemade frozen fruit bar for her son into a national brand sold in 2,800 stores, including Whole Foods, Costco, and Target. As the co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of The Modern Pop, she’s built a business that blends healthy indulgence with fearless growth. We talk about how she went from a push cart in Laguna Beach to negotiating with major retailers, why LinkedIn i...

Rachel Rivera and Claire Ouchi didn’t just start a business. They built a creative playground. As co-founders of The WKNDRS, an art and design lifestyle brand, they’ve turned their friendship into a thriving collaboration that’s equal parts work and play. From their first venture selling vintage clothing to partnering with artists and brands they love, Rachel and Claire have made joy a business pr...

Andrea Spinelli has spent her life asking “why” and refusing to accept injustice as the status quo. From protesting the Vietnam War to walking in the 2017 NYC Women’s March with her walker, her commitment to speaking up has never wavered. As the founder of Studio 27, she’s built a decades-long career in writing, producing, and filmmaking - all while navigating personal loss, sexism in the workplac...

Morena Duwe has built a career telling stories that transport you. From the front row of the world’s biggest music festivals to deeply reported features on culture, travel, and lifestyle. A writer and journalist whose work has appeared in Vice, LA Weekly, HuffPost, and more, she’s proof that persistence, curiosity, and a clear voice can open unexpected doors. She talks about navigating the changin...

Rachael Lee Sortor has built a life where grit meets grace. A neonatal ICU flight nurse and lifelong rock climber, she’s faced high-stakes challenges both on the job and on the side of a cliff. When a video of her 8-month-old daughter Ellie climbing at their local rock gym went viral, everything changed, Ellen Show appearance included. In this conversation, we get into her journey from competitive...

Katie Hajec knows that strong teams don’t happen by accident. They’re built with intention from day one. As Director of Talent & Culture for LA startup Create Tribe, she’s on a mission to create workplaces where people can grow, contribute, and actually enjoy coming to work. From hiring the right people to shaping culture, Katie blends HR expertise with a deep commitment to human development. In t...

Lacey Haegen never set out to start a skincare company. A professional makeup artist with a love for learning, she began digging into the ingredients inside the products she used every day. What she found shocked her, and sent her on a mission to create something better. Drawing on her creative, resourceful upbringing and a lifetime surrounded by entrepreneurs, she launched Beaute Nouveau, a handm...

Kendra Eaton is unstoppable. In her twenties, she’s running two thriving businesses, managing a full-time corporate job, serving as HOA president, and still finding time to be a fun and happy 20-something. Her path hasn’t been without challenges—diagnosed with ADD as a kid, she’s turned what others saw as a limitation into one of her greatest assets. We talk about building companies with real team...

Sandy is energetic and exciting, just like the plant-based biodegradable glitter brand she’s created, EarthShine Glitter. She’s also your modern American success story. Born in China, she and her parents immigrated first to Canada, then to Palo Alto, California. Always creative and resourceful up-cycling the hand-me-downs she was given growing up, at an early age she became interested in the fashi...

Lisa Ledezma’s life looked like the American dream. A home, a career helping families secure theirs, and a busy life as a mom and soccer coach. But in 2001, everything changed when she was accused of mortgage fraud. What followed was years of legal battles, personal loss, and rebuilding her life from the ground up. Lisa opens up about what it’s like to be swept up in the financial crisis, why she...

Once I committed to growing Powerful Ladies full-time, I knew I couldn’t do it alone. The universe clearly agreed, because at a Friendsgiving, two friends, Madelyn and Jessica, invited me to join their book club reading A Course in Miracles. It was exactly the structure and accountability I needed. Soon, our friend Jamie joined, and the four of us began meeting regularly. In this conversation, Mad...

Monique Vizzerra has spent over 15 years in the skate and action sports world, building a career most people can only dream about. From working with top brands to fan-girling over skate legends, she’s created a life filled with friends, travel, and plenty of cannon balls on the weekend. She’s passionate about honoring the history of the sport, supporting the athletes who make it great, and keeping...

Gintel Gee’s path has been anything but ordinary. Raised in South Central Los Angeles in a family that valued both excellence and hustle, she learned early on the importance of curiosity, service, and joy. Today, she’s a standout in the world of UX design, breaking barriers of gender and race while bringing authenticity and wisdom to everything she does. We talk about discovering your path, saying...

Adeline Perez Bondu has built a life that spans continents, careers, and passions. Born in France, she’s lived in Japan, Switzerland, Germany, and now Spain, where she balances a marketing career with teaching yoga and developing her empowerment business. Her journey is a masterclass in following curiosity, pushing through fear, and saying yes to experiences that expand your world. From scuba divi...

Marhnelle and David Hibbard are the kind of couple who prove you really can have it all: a thriving business, a strong marriage, and a life built around purpose. As co-founders of Dialexis, they’ve spent decades coaching leaders and sales teams at companies like Apple, Xerox, and DuPont, helping them achieve breakthrough results. They’ve also co-authored bestselling books, traveled the world as sp...

Renee Colvert has built a career around following her curiosity. It’s led her from musical theater stages to podcast studios, with a few unexpected detours along the way. As co-creator and co-host of Can I Pet Your Dog, she’s interviewed everyone from Lin-Manuel Miranda to fellow dog lovers across the globe. Alongside her four-legged sidekick Tugboat, Renee talks about the winding path that brough...

Ryann Gaspara’s career began in the world of weddings, but she quickly realized her skills in design, logistics, and client care could take her much further. What started as helping couples create unforgettable celebrations evolved into a thriving corporate gifting and luxury hotel amenities business with high-profile clients. Ryann shares the moments that shaped her journey: the leap from stable...

Most of us think about movement in terms of workouts, sports, or dance classes. But Bry Zaragoza sees it differently. As a movement and mobility specialist, she helps people understand how their bodies are designed to move & how to move for life. From years as a dancer to working with clients of all ages, Bry has learned that small, intentional changes can prevent injury, improve performance, and...

Amber Amos has a knack for turning ideas into brands people can’t stop talking about. From music to fashion to lifestyle, she knows how to tap into culture and make it part of a brand’s DNA. In this conversation, she shares her journey from corporate marketing to running her own consultancy, what it really means to be a “brand whisperer,” and why creativity and strategy have to work hand in hand....

Ali Owens has lived through challenges that would break many - domestic abuse, disordered eating, and a long fight to reclaim her self-worth. Today, she’s an empowerment strategist, author of Bad Fat Person: A Reflection on Plus-Size Bodies in a Cookie-Cutter Culture, and a voice for women learning to trust themselves again. We talk about listening to your intuition, building real self-love, and c...

Elizabeth McGarry knows how to turn ideas into something tangible. As the founder of McGarry & Co., she’s built a career creating spaces and experiences that connect people to beauty, meaning, and purpose. We talk about her path from fashion to interior design, the lessons she’s learned about leadership and creativity, and how she balances running a business with staying true to her values. This c...

Coming soon! Powerful Ladies founder and host Kara Duffy brings you conversations with people who are awesome and up to something: entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, authors, scientists, adventurers, and more. These are the real stories of people defining success on their own terms, navigating the messy parts, and creating lives they love. Your goal is to live your best life. The hard part...