Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women

What if the stories that shape us—and the stories we tell—aren’t so different after all? In this thoughtful and unexpected episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women , hosts Liz Brohan and Mary Olivieri sit down with Shauna Hannan, president of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, to explore the intersection of storytelling, leadership, creativity, and faith. Shauna shares her unconvent...

What happens when the "good girl" finally breaks? According to bestselling author Sam Beck-Bessinger, she might just become a werewolf. In this thought-provoking and wildly entertaining episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women , Liz Brohan sits down with author, screenwriter, and creative writing professor Sam Beckbessinger to discuss her new novel, Femme Feral —a darkly funny feminist horro...

In this deeply personal episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women , hosts Liz Brohan and Mary Olivieri sit down with therapist and holistic mental health advocate Monica Sharma for a powerful conversation about reinvention, resilience, and learning to trust yourself. Monica opens up about the defining challenges she faced across three decades of her life — from struggling with depression in h...

In this powerful follow-up episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women , hosts Liz Brohan and Mary Olivieri welcome back career strategist Janet Viane to move from theory to action—showing women how to design careers that truly fit their lives. Building on her concept of “bridging” (instead of climbing the traditional corporate ladder), Janet reframes career growth as a multidimensional journey...

In this unforgettable episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women , hosts Liz Brohan and Mario Olivier sit down with Chicago-based comedian and storyteller Sophia Java for a conversation that is equal parts hilarious, raw, and deeply thought-provoking. Titled “All My Traumas Are Cool Now,” this episode explores how Sophia transforms personal pain into powerful, relatable comedy. From her roots...

In this powerful episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women , hosts Liz Brohan and Mary Brohan sit down with Hillary Boyce—President and CEO of BAFO Services (Badass Female Operations)—to unpack a surprising truth: mentorship often happens when you least expect it. Hillary, a U.S. Army veteran, military spouse, and award-winning entrepreneur, shares how her decades of service and leadership sh...

In this insightful episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women , hosts Liz Brohan and Mary Olivieri sit down with transformational growth expert and former NextUp CEO Sarah Alter to unpack a critical—and often overlooked—topic: the importance of male allies in advancing women in the workplace. Sarah introduces the concept of allyship as more than mentorship, it’s about building intentional, rel...

In this powerful episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women , host Liz Brohan sits down with global speaker and marketing leader Dorothy Rosen to explore one of the most fundamental human needs— belonging . This conversation is a must-listen for fans searching for podcasts for strong women , empowering women podcasts , and stories of bold women who inspire . Dorothy shares the deeply personal...

In this solo-hosted episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick‑Ass Women , Liz Brohan welcomes healer and lifelong learner Debbie Pietruzka  for a deeply personal conversation about healing through curiosity and joy . Debbie shares her remarkable life journey—from 41 years as an occupational therapist to becoming a certified Healing Touch practitioner, hypnotherapist, aromatherapist, and leader of women...

In this flavorful and fiercely inspiring episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women , Liz Brohan and Mary Olivier welcome author, professor, and leadership strategist Shanita Baraka Ante to the couch. A longtime professor at Columbia College Chicago and executive leadership alum of Harvard University, Shanita blends boardroom strategy with Southern storytelling from her book, The Front Porch L...

In this episode of Words of Wisdom From Kick-Ass Women , hosts Liz Brohan and Mary Olivieri tackle one of the most talked-about—and misunderstood—topics in modern work and life: boundaries. They’re joined by Rachel, a successful content creator, Twitch panelist, and Top 50 TikTok streaming creator, who brings a candid, real-world perspective from the front lines of online communities, creative wor...

In this episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women , hosts Liz Brohan and Mary Olivieri welcome marketing powerhouse turned entrepreneur Meg Goodman, CEO and founder of Flint Rock Studios. Meg shares a candid, funny, and deeply human conversation about what it really means to “be ready for success”—especially when you don’t know exactly what’s coming next. Drawing from a career that spans radi...

In this heartfelt episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women , host Liz Brohan is joined by special co-host Mary Tobiason—Ironman World Champion and founder of Movement Perfected—for a powerful conversation about identity, empathy, and finding your voice. Their guests are award-winning children’s author Lori Orlinsky and her daughter Ellie , co-creators of the book Being Middle , which reclaim...

In this episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women , Liz Brohan and Mary Olivieri sit down with Cindy Greenglass — marketing leader, educator, and passionate board member of Honor Flight Chicago — for a powerful conversation about veteran advocacy, service, and purpose . Cindy shares the mission of Honor Flight Chicago, the largest Honor Flight program in the country, which has flown more than...

In this lively episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women , hosts Liz Brohan and Mary Olivieri dive into the complex, hilarious, and often exhausting world of modern love — and why more people are choosing to outsource it . Their guest, Lisa Goodman, a powerhouse matchmaker and VP at Selective Search, pulls back the curtain on why matchmaking isn’t old-fashioned at all — it’s strategic, safe,...

In this gripping episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women , Liz and Mary sit down with former FBI agent, author, and mental-toughness expert LaRae Quy —a woman whose unlikely journey from a remote cattle ranch in Wyoming to the halls of Quantico shaped a lifetime of resilience, adaptability, and emotional mastery. LaRae walks listeners through the surprising through-line between ranch life,...

Show Notes – “Flipping the Script on Imposter Syndrome” Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women Podcast In this episode, hosts Liz Brohan and Mary Olivieri tackle a feeling most women know all too well— imposter syndrome . Joined by powerhouse guests Chris Harrington , Erin Courtney , and Lori Hghby hosts of The Broadcast for Manufacturers podcast, the group dives deep into how this self-doubt shows u...

In this inspiring episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women , hosts Liz Brohan and Marie Newman sit down with award-winning journalist and filmmaker Mercedes Kane to explore the art of authentic storytelling, empathy, and trust-building. Mercedes—whose documentaries include Art and Pep and Breakfast at Ina’s —shares how vulnerability and genuine curiosity are key to capturing truth on camera....

In this powerful episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women , hosts Liz Brohan and guest co-host Marie Newman sit down with journalist, political strategist, and firestarter Delmarie Cobb. Known as a “crusading journalist,” Delmarie shares her journey from producing on Sanford and Son to becoming a respected political operative and founder of Ida’s Legacy PAC. She takes us inside her early pol...

In this episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women , host Liz Brohan sits down with Janet Vaan, publisher of Lincoln Way City Lifestyle and adjunct professor at Northern Illinois University, to explore how younger generations are redefining career growth. Instead of the traditional “climb the ladder” mindset, Janet introduces the concept of “crossing bridges”—a broader, more fluid way of navig...

On this powerful episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick Ass Women , host Liz Brohan welcomes guest co-host Marie Newman —former Congresswoman, activist, author, and marketing executive—for a timely conversation with trailblazing leader Anna Dutra . Anna is a global board director, two-time CEO, and the first Latina and immigrant to serve on multiple Fortune 250 boards. With over 30 years of executiv...

Life doesn’t always follow a straight path—and sometimes the biggest challenges come when you least expect them. In this episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women , hosts Liz Brohan and Mary Olivieri welcome former Congresswoman, nonprofit CEO, serial entrepreneur, and activist Marie Newman for a candid conversation about what it means to pivot when life throws you curveballs. Marie’s journey...

You can find us wherever you listen to podcasts or watch us on YouTube.

You can find us wherever you listen to podcasts or watch us on YouTube.

You can find us wherever you listen to podcasts or watch us on YouTube.