Wake Up Call (The Reboot)

Allison Williams is the artist formerly known as the "DYFS Diva."  She's an attorney extraordinaire by anyone's standards.  If you see her in court (which is unlikely these days), you better show up and have eaten your Wheaties that morning.  She "shows up" and she fully expects the people in her orbit to do the same.  Allison has curated a law career that would take the rest o...

Melaney LaGrone is a legal chameleon.  The law in various forms has been her calling.  She started out as a police officer in Detroit, walking the beat (back when cops actually had a beat).  When she filled her cup as a police officer, she moved on to law school, ultimately relocating to Atlanta to spend some time at the Prosecutor's Office before hanging a shingle.  Today she...

I have had a girl crush on divorce lawyer-turned-mediator Phyllis Klein since I was a bright-eyed baby lawyer and heard Phyllis's voice bellowing down the hallway from her office fiercely advocating on behalf of a client. I thought, "THAT's the kind of lawyer I want to be!"  Fast forward about 17 years and here we are.  Phyllis has transformed her practice from divorce litigation to a st...

Danny Passafiume has had an extensive career in law enforcement, moving from corrections, to the local Sheriff's Department, and then to a local municipality.  While his house looked in order from the outside, he successfully hid an alcohol addiction from family, friends and colleagues for decades. As his life slowly spiraled out of control, Danny expanded his addiction to opiate prescription...

Fertility & Reproductive Specialist Serena H. Chen MD was an open book, sharing her experience growing up in an Asian American immigrant family of physicians with pressures to go to Harvard Medical School. While Dr. Chen "only" went to Brown (you'll hear about that in the interview!) she still turned out pretty good!   Dr. Chen graduated from Brown University in Providence Rhode Island. S...

Christina McKinnon was a feisty young lawyer who started her own law firm shortly after law school when her peers were just finding their way to court. While Christina insists that she's not as feisty as she used to be, there is no evidence to support that. What Christina calls "feisty" is what has allowed her to evolve into a bold, charismatic woman with a gutsy business acumen and fierce determi...

Dr. Rosiane Roeder may be a small town plastic surgeon in Hickory, North Carolina, but there is nothing "small town" about this lady! She is an accomplished physician and board certified plastic surgeon, one of the only 13% of plastic surgeons who are women.  Dr. Roeder performs the usual elective plastic surgery treatments we all know about, but she also helps people who are disfigured or ha...

Heather Keith was born and bred in Michigan, but nothing could stop this firecracker from becoming a Jersey Girl (whether she likes it or not).  Steve Jobs said you can only connect the dots looking back - and that's exactly what Heather did during this interview.  She understands her life's path, looking back on all the opportunities and challenges that brought her where she is.  S...

Interviewing California Psychiatrist Dr. Jenna Luu MD for the #femDR Series was a real treat.  How often do you get to pick a shrink's brain, rather than them picking yours?  Dr. Luu got personal (and honest) about what it's like to treat people with "the usual" anxiety and depression, but also more serious afflictions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.  What may be surprising...

If you think doctors are stuffy, you're going to change your mind when you meet Dr. Betsy Greenleaf DO.  Before we get to that, let's get her credentials out of the way.  Dr. Greenleaf is the first female in the United States to become board certified in Urogynecology. She is a women’s health expert, entrepreneur, inventor, and business leader, who has specialized in female pelvic medici...

Afshan Ajmiri Giner, Esq. is a Partner at the law firm Florio Perrucci, which has offices throughout New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.  Afshan practices in the New Providence (New Jersey) office and is a member of the Firm’s Education Practice Group, with a focus on education/school law, labor and employment, and representation of local governments/public entities. As the daughter in a South...

Camile Deans doesn't just talk about making a better world.  She is putting her money (and her time) where her mouth is.  She founded the non-profit organization RedLips For Change (based in the Bronx) to help vulnerable women in underserved communities focus on health, wellness and personal growth. And it starts with something as simple as making them feel valued, loved and beautiful: L...

Susan Guthrie, reformed lawyer turned business coach, escaped death - not once, but twice - at a very young age.   She shares this incredible experience as casually as you or I might order a latte at Starbucks.  It's no surprise she went on to be a successful attorney and law firm owner, and very much ahead of her time started an online law business (way before COVID) and has catapu...

Dr. Rao received her undergraduate degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology after which she graduated from Duke University School of Medicine.  She completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine from the Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania.  She went on to complete her fellowship in Gastroenterology at Boston Medical Center.  Dr. Rao has board certificat...

Lynda Hinkle might be compared to a cat who has already lived several lives.  Among her other lives is that of teacher,  including teaching at a federal prison, writer, literature academic, and the latest incarnation, of course, is that of divorce lawyer.  Lynda shares generously of her past experiences, including dropping out of law school (the first time), surviving trauma, her pa...

 Jessica + Alexis are the dynamic duo behind the "Future Regrets" Podcast.  They share their tricks of the trade of podcasting, how (and why) they got started in the podcasting world, the technology that has worked (and didn't work) for them, and what they aspire to do in the future.  If you're thinking of starting your own podcast, or even if you have one now, or if you're just fan...

I had the opportunity to sit down with Steph Tuss, CEO of the David Neagle machine "Life Is Now, Inc." and Brandon Tuss, Director of Podcasting at Life Is Now.  If you are familiar at all with success coach David Neagle, you have seen (or heard) this husband and wife team.   They are an integral part of the Neagle machine, with Steph running operations and marketing and Brandon the...

This episode is just in time for Veterans Day.  As the daughter of a Navy Officer, Kristine Maher is very familiar with the sacrifices members of the military and their families make for their country.    Kristine talks about the challenges of growing up as a "military brat" having to move and change schools often.  Kristine also recognizes the eventual benefits of this ex...

Jessica Smith Bobadilla's track to becoming an immigration and human rights attorney was truly a calling.  As the granddaughter of Armenian immigrants who immigrated to Mexico and eventually landed in California, Jessica is the face of the American dream.  Jessica discussed her family's escape of the Armenian genocide, her young interest in human rights, and her impressive path from grad...

Diana Schimmel is yet another #FEMSQUIRE with a creative background who went into the performing art of litigation.  Diana shares her background in dance and how that has given her the poise and grace she displays in the courtroom - and elsewhere. She also shares her inspiring family influences, most notably her grandmother Gertrude Schimmel who was a pioneer for women just like Ruth Bader Gi...

Where we come from definitely plays a part in who we are, but it doesn’t need to stop us from moving past the level that we have reached in our lives. Christina’s guest today is Amira Alvarez, a business, mindset, success, and income-acceleration coach. Before working as a coach, Amira came from a background in the corporate world. Despite an impressive salary and fancy title, Amira felt no real c...

Christina’s guest today is Courtney Danielle Gray.  Courtney shares her experience as a transgender woman in today’s world.   Courtney has many great accomplishments.  She's a Doctor of Physical Therapy, WBFF Diva Fitness Model, and in the Top Ten running for the cover model contest for Ms. Health and Fitness competition.  It has been a long journey figuring out her true self.  Courtney is very ca...

Danyel Manley shares her experience leaving life as a family law attorney in New Jersey to take advantage of a unique opportunity to move to Asia! Find out how she found this opportunity and why she had the chutzpah to take advantage of it.   We discuss: Growing up with wanderlust The bold move that presented a unique opportunity for travel Making the decision to move to Asia Getting acclimated to...

Amy Cores doesn't just march to the beat of a different drum.  She's the drummer too!    Christina's guest today is Amy Cores, Esq., a NJ divorce lawyer with a colorful history just as colorful hair as her pink hair and her pink Maserati! Originally from Philadelphia, Amy is a classically-trained cellist who had dreams of being a rockstar.  Her dream of going to Berklee College of Music was not fe...

Too many lawyers that run their own law firm forget that they are not only lawyers, but they are also business owners! Christina’s guest today is Rjon Robins, the Founder of How To Manage A Small Law Firm, a consulting group that teaches lawyers how to run their businesses effectively. As a lawyer himself, Rjon knows that law school doesn’t teach you a thing about how to run a law firm. Rjon found...