Powerful Ladies® Podcast

Workplace culture doesn’t become toxic overnight, and the warning signs often show up long before leaders take action. In this episode, workplace culture and leadership experts Rebecca Del Secco and Catherine Mattice join Kara to break down the early indicators of a toxic workplace, how harmful behaviors are allowed to persist, and the critical role leadership plays in accountability and psycholog...

Danielle McWaters is the creative force behind Designsake Studio and co-founder of Sardine Eyewear, building brands with intention, strategy, and joy. In this episode, she joins Kara to share how she’s creating meaningful, lasting brands while navigating the challenges of launching product-based businesses. They dive into brand positioning, strategy, customer experience, and how to grow sustainabl...

Kathryn Musilek is building a PR business that actually reflects her values—and gets real results for creatives. As the founder of Shark Party Media, Kathryn specializes in matching creatives with podcast guesting opportunities, carving out a much-needed niche in today’s crowded media landscape. In this episode, Kara Duffy and Kathryn unpack her journey from working in traditional PR (including wi...

Stefanie Phan helps women transform anxiety into grounded confidence and intentional manifestation. As an Identity and Nervous System Coach, she supports clients in regulating their bodies so they can create from a place of peace, clarity, and abundance. In this episode, Stefanie joins Kara to share her journey from the fashion industry into coaching, the pivotal moments that led her to change pat...

Many of us will reinvent ourselves throughout our lives, but Brittny Button has mastered reinvention with intention. As an in-demand Los Angeles interior and product designer, Brittny’s latest chapter follows careers as a model, primary parent, supportive spouse to a Formula 1 driver, real estate investor, and entrepreneur. In this episode, Kara and Brittny discuss why honoring the history of a sp...

In this episode of The Powerful Ladies Podcast, host Kara Duffy sits down with Kathy Clark and Brenna Van Hoogenstyn, the expert mother-daughter real estate team transforming how buyers and sellers navigate the Southern California real estate market. Kathy and Brenna share their real estate career journey, what it takes to succeed as top-performing realtors, and the skills required to thrive in a...

Johanna Davenport Calica is redefining the swimwear industry. As the founder and CEO of LaPorte Swim, a fast-growing swimwear and resort wear brand, she shares her journey from intern to entrepreneur and how she built a successful fashion business from the ground up. In this episode, Kara and Johanna discuss how to launch and scale a swimwear brand, the importance of thoughtful design and body pos...

Priya David Clemens is a national news journalist, producer, and entrepreneur, and the founder of Keepsake Studios, a company dedicated to capturing and preserving family legacies. In this episode, she and Kara talk about the power of storytelling, the evolution of journalism, and what it means to choose family first while pursuing a demanding career. Priya shares her journey from anchoring at NBC...

Claudia Romo Edelman is a trailblazing social entrepreneur, activist, and founder of We Are All Human, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the Latino community. A former United Nations official and UNICEF leader, Claudia has spent her career tackling global challenges while amplifying Hispanic voices worldwide. She’s the author of the Hispanic Star book series, co-host of the A La Latina podcast, a...

Ellen Bradley is a skier, scientist, filmmaker, and proud member of the Tlingit Tribe who is redefining what it means to be an Indigenous leader in today’s world. Through her work, Ellen blends tradition, technology, and storytelling to decolonize outdoor spaces and reconnect Indigenous communities to their ancestral lands. In this episode, Kara and Ellen dive into the meaning of being Indigenous...

Amanda K. Foust is an entrepreneur, marketing expert, coach, author, and the creator of the High Performance Planner. She’s also a devoted mom to a beautifully blended family of both adopted and biological children—and she’s back on the Powerful Ladies Podcast to share the deeply personal side of her journey. In this episode, Amanda joins Kara to talk about love, family, and what it really means t...

Marty McDonald embodies what it means to live audaciously. As founder of Boss Women Media, she leads a powerful community that empowers women to step into their brands, claim thought leadership, and go after big goals with confidence. In this episode, Kara and Marty talk about why being audacious is the key to creating extraordinary outcomes, how to inspire others through leadership, and what it t...

Dr. Shahrzad Nooravi is on a mission to help leaders build the cultures they truly want. As an author and organizational psychologist, she teaches executives how to design, create, and sustain workplaces where people thrive. In this episode, Kara and Shahrzad talk about why culture is never an accident, how leaders can intentionally shape it, and the difference between cultures that flourish and t...

Rebecca Rittenhouse is best known for her roles in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Mindy Project, and Maggie, but she’s now adding “beauty entrepreneur” to her creative empire. In this episode, Rebecca joins Kara to share the behind-the-scenes of launching Privet Beauty, a brow-focused brand born from her passion for artistry, clean beauty, and independence. They dive into the challenges of sta...

April Diaz is an executive coach helping leaders transform from the inside out. Working with Olympians, professional athletes, and corporate professionals, she focuses on building courage, resilience, and the personal foundations that make lasting impact possible. In this episode, Kara and April talk about why self-work is the heart of leadership, how transformation happens at both individual and...

Kate Marr is on a mission to make justice accessible for everyone. As Executive Director of Community Legal Aid SoCal, she leads a team of attorneys tackling issues from housing and immigration to domestic violence, health, and consumer rights. In this episode, Kara and Kate talk about why knowing your rights is key to empowerment, how legal aid transforms lives, and the hidden barriers many low-i...

Sarah Auda is a Los Angeles–based coach and consultant who helps women navigate the big shifts in life and work with clarity, courage, and purpose. After a series of personal losses reshaped her priorities, Sarah rebuilt her career around integrity and helping others do the same. In this episode, Kara and Sarah get real about the messy middle of transitions—balancing professionalism and motherhood...

It's been a rollercoaster in the business world so far this year. In this solo episode, host, entrepreneur and business strategist Kara Duffy, recaps what she's be coaching small business clients on as they've navigated tariffs, longer sales pipelines, new ai and the changes in customer service expectations. She explains the must haves to win in business in 2025 and how you can start planning ahea...

What happens when you refuse to choose between your passions, your family, and your career? Laura King has built a life where all three thrive. As a professional gravel cyclist, mother of two, and CMO at Parity Sport, she’s redefining what’s possible for women in sports. In this episode, she shares her journey from endurance racing to leading a women’s activewear brand, the lessons she’s learned f...

What happens when you can’t find the culture and community you’re searching for? You create it yourself. That’s exactly what today’s guest, Jasmina Jaskovic, did. Influenced by her experiences across cultures and countries, she set out to build a space that reflects creativity, connection, and belonging—founding CASA CDM in the process. In this episode, Jasmina shares how to attract your people, d...

In this episode of The Powerful Ladies Podcast, we sit down with inspiring women from around the globe who are leading transformative initiatives in their communities. From addressing gender inequality and fostering democracy in Syria to supporting orphans in Kenya and fighting for indigenous women's rights in Tanzania, these leaders share their incredible journeys, the challenges they face, and h...

Lauren Kyle McDavid is the powerhouse behind four thriving businesses, Kyle & Co interior design firm, Trove Living, Bar Trove, and Sports Club Ateliers, plus her growing personal brand. In this episode, she joins Kara to share how she’s building an empire with vision, style, and heart, all while navigating the unique challenges of being married to an NHL player. They dive into how Lauren balances...

Sarah Ezrin is redefining what modern parenting can look like. A yoga instructor, educator, maternal mental health advocate, and author of The Yoga of Parenting, Sarah brings mindfulness and realism to the often chaotic world of raising kids. In this episode, Kara and Sarah dive into the emotional rollercoaster of parenthood, the pressure to “do it all,” and why building your own village is more e...

Hillary Whittington is an author, transgender advocate, and mom who never expected her life to become a beacon of hope for families with trans children. In this deeply personal episode, Kara and Hillary explore the realities of parenting a young trans child in a conservative community, navigating deafness and gender identity, and choosing love over fear—every single day. Hillary shares her family’...

La Niecia Vicknair, known as Coach LaLa, is a fitness trainer, founder of Thrive Health Lab, and a passionate advocate for building healthier communities, especially for people of color and teens. In this heartfelt conversation, she and Kara dive into her journey from growing up in an overweight family to creating a safe, empowering space where health is about so much more than just working out. T...