The Hard Won Wisdom Podcast

Ep. 4 | Solo Sailing Racer Pip Hare: If you want it to happen, make it happen. | Co-Hosted by Fawn Germer & Michelle Brigman | Solo yacht racer Pip Hare battled every obstacle – starting with herself – in her quest to race a sailing yacht around the globe. It is hard to imagine someone doing that and lacking confidence, but she'll tell you otherwise and show how to manifest what everyone else says...

Season 2, Ep. 3 | Susan Shapiro Barash on Toxic Friends | Co-Hosted by Fawn Germer & Michelle Brigman | Toxic Friends: Friendship is complicated -- especially for women. We've got friends with who we will bare our souls to and travel through life with. And sometimes, things go south. Friendships get strained. Friendships end. People get betrayed or disappointed. But through it all, we know the val...

She broke so many barriers, both professional and personal. Spend this moment with trailblazer Betsy Bernard to learn to find true power by embracing your true north. Betsy was the first woman president of AT&T and ranked in Fortune's 50 Most Powerful Women in Business. She is a public company board director whose experience spans 20 years and includes United Technologies, Principal Financial Grou...

Season 2, Episode 1 | Cohosted by Fawn Germer and Michelle Brigman | One of America's foremost leaders in diversity, equality and inclusion will grab your heart with her courage, hope and love. Trudy's vivid stories will teach you how to use all of your experiences to be a force for good. How are you defining your success beyond your title and your things? Trudy's calling kept showing up in her li...

Ep. 15 | Season 1 Finale: Fawn & Michelle Recap The Season! | Cohosted by Fawn Germer & Michelle Brigman | It's the end of the year and cohosts are wrapping up this season of the Hard Won Wisdom podcast with the final episode. After 21 interviews, Fawn Germer and Michelle Brigman go down memory lane on how the first season has been so far as they share their thoughts on a few leading interviews wi...

Wendey Stanzler is the acclaimed Hollywood Director for shows including Grey's Anatomy, Sex and the City, Parks and Recreation, Orange is the New Black, Glee, This is Us, Vampire Diaries and many other shows. She will give you a massive dose of confidence and purpose as she sends you diving into your discomfort zone to find your superpower and greatest strength.

Connie May Fowler was raised in violence and continued in the cycle until she learned unconditional love from her dog, Katie. She spent her childhood being beaten, but books saved her and showed her that "not everyone lived the way we did." Join us for the captivating and difficult personal story of a woman revered for her message. 

She's an adventurer, an explorer, a YouTube phenomenon and a reality TV star. But wait, there's more: Brooke Whipple will give you the confidence to live life on your terms, without seeking permission.

Denver's congresswoman never expected to go to Washington, but now in her 25th year, she's learned plenty about being effective with those who agree with her and those who don't. Whatever you aspire to, she said, go for it now – not later. That gives you greater seniority, credibility, and power.

In a dark moment, Rebecca Rosen found a connection to the other side that has made her one of the most respected spirit mediums today. She tells us to get out of the past, get out of the future and use the present to access our intuition. Here is how to find clarity from your angels, guides, and loved ones.

One of America's premier journalists, Margaret Talev opens up on everything from parenting, Covid, politics, and misinformation. Talev works plenty of 15-hour days and discusses the good and bad of life as a parent who is deeply engaged in work. She doesn't make excuses: There are times when she is definitely choosing work over her child but when she is with her daughter, she works to be 100 perce...

Ever feel like you are getting all wrong juggling career and family? NY Times best-selling author Joann Lublin dug deep into mom guilt to find out how it impacts our jobs, psyche, and children. She shares Mom Guilt Hacks to help you be more effective in communicating, setting expectations, and dealing with demands at work. Here is how to love yourself through one of the biggest challenges we face.

Co-Hosted by Fawn Germer & Michelle Brigman | Wendy Pearl was a reporter when she got the country music bug. After landing a job at Sony Music, she got the chance to do what so many of us have longed for: She told her bosses to, well, you know how the song goes. In the years since, she became so influential in Nashville that she steered communications and publicity for the Country Music Associatio...

The first American woman to summit Mount Everest shares a gripping story of challenge, failure and triumph. She's learned: Failure is temporary. The top is the most vulnerable place to be. Don't dwell on mistakes – just find solutions and move forward. Stacy Allison will inspire and change you.

Co-hosted by Fawn Germer and Michelle Brigman | After escaping a violent husband and being guided only by YouTube videos, Cara Brookins and her four children built a 3,500 square-foot house in nine months. If you want a blast of courage and resilience, join Cara on this week's Hard Won Wisdom podcast. The family came together and literally built a better life. Get ready to be blown away. We sure w...

Co-Hosted by Fawn Germer & Michelle Brigman | Kim Nelson killed it in the C-suite at General Mills before joining the board of directors at Colgate Palmolive and other major corporations. Kim says motherhood taught her to lead others by claiming the fear of the unknown, letting others do things for themselves, rewarding with praise, and showing patience, empathy, and vision. 

The phenomenal Jody Williams, who won the Nobel Peace Prize, never stopped fighting for peace, justice, and womankind. Williams shows how to adapt your perspective to harness your personal power and then channel it toward your challenges in work and life. There is only one thing that stops you from being extraordinary. Here's how to make one simple adjustment that will make you more successful and...

Kathrine Switzer registered for the Boston Marathon with her initials, and when the race director saw a woman running the race, he tried to forcibly yank her off the course and take her race number. The photos of that moment have inspired women (and men) for decades and Life magazine ranked them among the 100 images that changed the world. Switzer's story will mesmerize you, but her life lessons w...

Shelley Broader made headlines but also faced highs and lows in top roles for Walmart, Chicos FAS, Michaels and other companies. She knew how to inspire others by being authentic, open and real. Get ready for a time-out with a woman who will make you laugh, cry and free to approach business with compassion and truth