West Coast Women Rising

The Invisible Collapse: What Women Are Being Called to Build What if the biggest challenges facing women in business today aren't visible on a balance sheet? In this thought-provoking roundtable discussion, Ventura County Business Women founder Tawney Noriega is joined by empowerment strategist JJ Flizanes and entrepreneur Raini Stefan to explore what they call "The Invisible Collapse"—the shiftin...

Ask the Experts: Community Q&A What happens when experienced women business owners come together to answer the questions that keep entrepreneurs up at night? In this Community Q&A edition of Ask the Experts, West Coast Women Rising co-host and Ventura County Business Women founder Tawney Noriega sits down with empowerment strategist JJ Flizanes and entrepreneur Raini Stefan for an honest c...

Marketing That Actually Works: Clarity, Connection & Strategy with Kristen of KoCreate Marketing In this episode of West Coast Women Rising, JJ Flizanes sits down with marketing strategist and entrepreneur Kristen of CoCreate Marketing to discuss the realities of entrepreneurship, the evolution of marketing, and why clarity is the foundation of business growth. From yoga studios and meditation...

When Success Demands Reinvention What happens when the version of you that created your current success is no longer the version you're meant to be? In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, JJ Flizanes and Tawney Noriega explore the uncomfortable yet necessary process of growth, reinvention, and expansion. Both share real-life experiences of navigating major shifts in business, relations...

What if the life you want is available to you—but the real question is whether you're willing to pay the price to get there? In this solo episode, JJ explores a powerful lesson inspired by Bishop T.D. Jakes: the six prices everyone must pay to fully step into their purpose. Whether you're longing for a healthier body, a more fulfilling relationship, a thriving business, or simply a life that feels...

In this honest and fiery conversation, JJ Flizanes and Tawney Noriega explore what happens when women in business overgive, undercharge, ignore their boundaries, and try to help people who may not actually be ready to change. Tawney shares her journey from trauma-informed support and mindset conversations into more integrated business work, while JJ brings in powerful insights about self-worth, cl...

Ritual, Grief, Community & Celebrating Life’s Transitions In this heartfelt and inspiring conversation, JJ sits down with Gia Ilole, founder of Seasons of Life Celebrations to explore the healing power of ritual, intentional community, and honoring life’s transitions — both joyful and painful. After experiencing profound personal loss — the death of her sister followed just six months later by...

In this episode, JJ and Melanie discuss Setting a bold goal to induce self-growth Committing to what you desire Why do we experience resistance? Learning to listen to your intuition Key Takeaways of this Episode: When you set a bold goal, it activates untapped resourcefulness in your brain and it allows it to go outside of its current paradigm, creating new ways, new ideas, and new processes. Even...

In this deeply personal and expansive conversation, JJ and Tawney take the healing discussion to the next level—exploring plant medicine, addiction, emotional trauma, and true integration . Tawney shares the raw story of her first mushroom journey and how it became a turning point that shifted everything—from how she saw herself, to how she built her business and community. JJ expands on the role...

In this deep and honest conversation, JJ and Tawney unpack the popular phrase “you are your own healer” —and why it’s both empowering and incomplete. They explore the balance between self-awareness and external support , breaking down when inner work is essential… and when you need guidance, coaching, or new frameworks to actually create change. 💡 What You’ll Learn What “being your own healer” re...

In this inspiring conversation, JJ sits down with entrepreneur, coach, and community builder Julie Kraschinsky to explore what it really takes to trust yourself, take bold leaps, and build a business aligned with joy, intuition, and purpose. Julie shares her journey from corporate sales, to 30 years in direct sales leadership, to building a thriving coaching practice rooted in faith, possibility,...

In this episode of West Coast Women Rising , JJ Flizanes sits down with Pauline Torrey-Magret, an integrative medicine practitioner based in Ventura, to explore the deeper layers of healing beyond conventional medicine. Pauline shares her extraordinary journey from growing up on a holistic farm in France to becoming a doctor of Oriental medicine, weaving together bodywork, acupuncture, functional...

In this raw and deeply honest conversation, JJ Flizanes and Tawny Noriega explore the real root of overwhelm—and why it’s often not about boundaries, but self-abandonment . Through personal stories, emotional breakthroughs, and practical insights, they unpack how high self-awareness can sometimes mask unhealthy patterns, why telling the truth is the key to freedom, and how to stop taking responsib...

What happens when you’ve achieved everything you thought you wanted… and it still doesn’t feel right? In this powerful conversation, JJ Flizanes joins Allison Lane to unpack the hidden experience so many high-achieving women face—but rarely talk about: outgrowing the very life they worked so hard to build. From anxiety and burnout to the quiet feeling of “this can’t be it,” this episode dives into...

In this episode of West Coast Women Rising , JJ sits down with financial coach Louise Bretz to explore the deeply personal and often emotional relationship we have with money. Louise shares her journey from running a dance studio and accumulating significant debt to transforming her life through financial education and ultimately becoming a coach who helps others do the same. Together, JJ and Loui...

In this meaningful conversation, JJ Flizanes and Tawney Noriega explore the difference between operating from competition versus collaboration in business and community. What unfolds is a deeper conversation about self-trust, safety, courage, authenticity, and knowing your role in someone else's growth journey. Tawney shares what she's seeing inside the Ventura County Business Women community: wom...

What does it really cost to live your purpose? Many people dream about finding their calling, doing meaningful work, and living in alignment with their soul's mission. But what often gets overlooked is that purpose comes with a price. Growth requires change, and stepping into your purpose can mean letting go of old identities, relationships, comfort zones, and expectations. In this episode, JJ Fli...

Mariekie Quinn returns to West Coast Women Rising (after Episode 31: Mirrors, Misunderstanding & Repair )—and this time, the spotlight is on her and the business she's been quietly building behind the scenes. Mariekie is the founder of MQ Admin Services, and her work goes way beyond "just admin." She helps entrepreneurs and organizations take chaos, overlap, and scattered systems and turn them int...

In this episode, JJ sits down with Galit Reuben, energy coach and founder of I Am Super Conscious, to unpack how healing work, nervous system safety, and "superconscious" practices can help people break free from self-sabotage and create real-life change. Galit shares her origin story—from running the nonprofit Dogs Without Borders (saving thousands of dogs) to becoming what she calls a "secret he...

In this solo episode, JJ breaks down how to move through the powerful momentum of the Fire Horse year without burnout by focusing on just three aligned priorities. Rather than getting swept up in urgency, overcommitment, or scattered action, she shares how to use this high-energy cycle for sustainable expansion through identity, intentional creation, and body-led balance. This conversation is your...

JJ welcomes Sheila Donohue for a conversation that blends entrepreneurship, lifestyle, and the art of curated Italian wines and foods. Sheila shares how her company, Verovino, sources small-batch, farm-made wines, olive oils, and specialty foods—many not readily available in the U.S.—and delivers them to both consumers and businesses across America. In This Episode Meet Sheila in Bologna: Sheila s...

In this episode of West Coast Women Rising , JJ sits down with photographer Leigha Smith to talk about building a creative business with both artistry and strategy. Leigha shares her journey from managing her husband's social media to stepping into her own identity as a sought-after headshot, branding, and family photographer. They unpack what it really looks like to create a "year-long content ga...

In this episode of West Coast Women Rising, JJ Flizanes and co-host Tawney Noriega welcome community member Marieki Quinn (MQ Admin Services) for a real-time conversation about what happens after you get triggered—and what it looks like to stay in relationship instead of cutting people off. Marieki shares how listening to past episodes ("Having Hard Conversations" and "Why Women Are Dangerous") br...

In this episode of West Coast Women Rising , JJ Flizanes sits down with Olivia King of Jade Lotus Holistic Healing to explore the powerful connection between gut health, grief, and root-cause healing. Olivia shares her journey from a 15-year career in accounting to holistic nutrition after losing her mother to pancreatic cancer—an experience that forced her to reevaluate what truly matters. Togeth...

As we move into 2026, we're standing in a powerful energetic transition. While the calendar year has begun, the Fire Horse doesn't officially arrive until February 17, meaning we're still completing the wisdom of the Year of the Snake. In this episode, JJ explores what she calls The Year of Conscious Becoming—a time to shed outdated identities, patterns, and ways of operating before momentum accel...