The Second Degree with Emily Merrell

Meet Dana Gaydon, the Orange County and Palm Springs based branding and wedding photographer who is rewriting the rules of how female entrepreneurs show up on camera. In this episode, Emily sits down with her dear friend Dana, who has shot two SDS retreats in Palm Springs and Sedona, to trace her path from a 12-year-old inspired by her CIA grandfather's black and white scrapbooks and a Linda...

Emily sits down with Dr. Linden Will, optometrist and Director of Community Engagement at LASIK.com, for a candid, funny, and surprisingly eye-opening (pun intended) conversation about everything you've ever wanted to know about LASIK but were too scared to ask.  Emily shares her own experience getting LASIK done at LASIK Plus in Denver — consultation and procedure in the same day — and Linde...

In this episode of The Second Degree Podcast , host Emily Merrell sits down with Melissa Nichols, founder of Reforming You , to unpack what women should have been taught about their health—but weren’t. After spending years working in pharmaceuticals and clinical trials, Melissa made a bold pivot into Pilates, health coaching, and preventive wellness. Today, she helps women understand their bodies,...

After building a successful career in finance, Carolin realized that access to information wasn’t the real problem—confidence, language, and systems were. Today, she helps women feel powerful, informed, and unapologetic about their money through education, strategy, and mindset work. Together, Emily and Carolin unpack: Why women are conditioned to stay quiet about money The biggest financial mista...

 In this inspiring episode of The Second Degree Society Podcast , host Emily Merrell sits down with powerhouse entrepreneur Karen Martiz, founder of Skin Mix and Lash Boulevard. What began as a chance meeting in a Denver neighborhood turned into a deep friendship — and today, Karen opens up about her remarkable journey from struggling single mom to thriving med-spa owner, product developer, educat...

 What if buying an engagement ring felt as personal as the proposal? Wove CEO Simone Kendle sits down with Emily Merrell to unpack how Wove reinvented custom jewelry, from virtual design sessions with GIA-trained experts to their genius “try-before-you-buy” replica ring that de-stresses proposals and perfects fit and style. Simone shares the brand’s surprising military roots, why lab-grown color d...

In this inspiring episode of The Second Degree Podcast , host Emily Merrell sits down with V Peterson, the energetic founder of Bodied, Denver’s rhythm-based fitness studio redefining what it means to move with purpose.  V shares how she blended step aerobics, strength training, and Pilates into a signature workout that’s as much about connection as it is about sweat.  Together, Emily and V explor...

On this episode of The Second Degree Podcast , Emily Merrell sits down with Erin Hines, a holistic business coach and founder of Darn Good Business Coach, to dive into the intersection of business strategy, human design, and personal alignment.  Erin shares her journey from corporate burnout to building a business that aligns with her energy and purpose. We explore how human design can be a game-c...

In this episode of The Second Degree Podcast , host Emily Merrell chats with Erica Ballard, a life coach, sound healer, and Theta healing practitioner.  Erica shares her journey from public health to health coaching and into the transformative world of spirituality and energy work. They dive into the power of rest, navigating life's pivots, and embracing personal growth with humor and grace. ...

Welcome to The Second Degree Podcast with Emily Merrell!  In this episode, Emily sits down with the extraordinary Susan Lieu, a multi-hyphenate powerhouse: author, playwright, TEDx speaker, podcast host, and so much more.  Susan shares her journey of turning intergenerational trauma into art and healing, her reflections on resilience as a first-generation Vietnamese-American, and the lessons she&a...

Dating in the modern world can feel like a whirlwind—endless swiping, ghosting, and frustration. But what if you could navigate it with confidence and clarity?  In this episode of The Second Degree Podcast , Emily Merrell sits down with Evan Marc Katz, a dating coach for smart, strong, successful women, to uncover what really works in dating today.  Evan shares why traditional dating rules don’t s...

 In this episode of The Second Degree with Emily Merrell , we sit down with Yesenia Reinoso, award-winning bilingual founder of Y Communicate.  Yesenia shares her expertise on how businesses can effectively craft their unique story, establish a strong brand presence, and leverage PR and corporate communications to scale. From debunking misconceptions about PR to offering actionable tips on thought...

On this week's episode of The Second Degree podcast, Emily Merrell connects with Emma Andrews, an intuitive medium and teacher, to discuss all things spirituality, intuition, and the magic of connecting with loved ones who have passed.  Emma shares her incredible journey from photographer to spiritual guide, her powerful experiences with mediumship, and how she teaches others to trust their i...

In this episode of The Second Degree Podcast , host Emily Merrell sits down with Jenny Maenpaa, a burnout coach and licensed psychotherapist, to explore the unique challenges faced by high-achieving millennial women.  Jenny, known for her candid and empowering approach, dives into the struggles of perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and the impact of the pandemic on personal aspirations. Listeners w...

On this episode of The Second Degree Podcast , Emily Merrell chats with Allison Carter, the vibrant founder of Allison Carter Celebrates.  They explore Allison's journey from second-grade teacher to powerhouse business coach, event planner, and subscription box creator. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on leveraging authenticity in business, finding joy in life's celebrations, and r...

In this enlightening episode of The Second Degree Podcast, host Emily Merrell sits down with Jennifer Hanway, a board-certified holistic nutritionist, certified personal trainer, and wellness expert.  Jennifer shares her journey from West End dancer to sought-after health coach, offering invaluable insights on nutrition, fitness, and overall well-being for high-achieving women. Listeners will gain...

In this enlightening episode of The Second Degree Podcast, host Emily Merrell sits down with Jennifer Hanway, a board-certified holistic nutritionist, certified personal trainer, and wellness expert.  Jennifer shares her journey from West End dancer to sought-after health coach, offering invaluable insights on nutrition, fitness, and overall well-being for high-achieving women.  Listeners will gai...

 In this episode of The Second Degree podcast, host Emily Merrell sits down with the inspiring Victoria Kar, a transformative coach and business strategist, to dive deep into the journey of finding alignment in life and business.  Victoria shares her story of self-discovery, how she helps clients embrace authenticity, and the importance of creating businesses that resonate with who we are at our c...

In this episode of The Second Degree , Emily Merrell sits down with Shannon Matson, founder of The Social Bungalow and Bungalow Coffee.  Shannon shares her journey from a high-powered corporate career to launching and scaling her own successful business. Together, they discuss the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, the importance of authentic marketing, and why consistency in showing up is the se...

In this week’s episode of The Second Degree podcast, host Emily Merrell sits down with the talented Natalee Linez, actress and host of The Ground Up podcast. Natalee shares her inspiring journey from her first audition at 19 to landing roles on shows like Tell Me Lies and Raising Kanan . They dive deep into what it takes to succeed in the entertainment industry, how to stay grounded in Hollywood,...

On this week's episode of The Second Degree podcast, Emily Merrell connects with Emma Andrews, an intuitive medium and teacher, to discuss all things spirituality, intuition, and the magic of connecting with loved ones who have passed. Emma shares her incredible journey from photographer to spiritual guide, her powerful experiences with mediumship, and how she teaches others to trust their in...

In this episode of the Second Degree podcast, host Emily Merrell welcomes Carrie Verrocchio—better known as Carrie V—a motivational speaker, coach, and author. Carrie shares her incredible story of transitioning from a corporate career to becoming an inspiring keynote speaker and coach after a life-changing message from her late brother. She dives into the power of small dreams, building a speakin...

In this episode of The Second Degree with Emily Merrell , we dive into the world of social media with Dawn Ferguson, founder and CEO of Sneakers and Kale. Dawn shares her inspiring journey from burnout in the corporate fashion world to building her own social media agency focused on authenticity and helping purpose-driven brands grow. Tune in to hear her tips on finding your voice, creating sustai...

In this episode of the Second Degree Podcast, Emily Merrell sits down with Jen Jamula, co-founder of GoldJam Creative, to explore the fascinating journey from acting to entrepreneurship. Jen shares how her theater background inspired the creation of a unique communications training company that helps individuals and teams master public speaking, storytelling, and overcoming gender bias in the work...

In this episode of The Second Degree with Emily Merrell , host Emily dives deep into the world of intentional dating with Lauren Fondriest, a Chicago-based women’s dating coach. Together, they explore everything from rom-com nostalgia to breaking free from the dating hamster wheel, and how women can approach dating with confidence, clarity, and self-love. Lauren shares her own dating journey and o...