Karen Alston is a powerhouse. She tells me that if she's not uncomfortable, she's not learning or growing. She's an executive, a marketer, an entrepreneur, a strategist, a storyteller, an innovator, and most of all, she is a fierce advocate for women. Her new master class is all about teaching women how to evolve into their best selves. Karen attributes her confidence and willingness to take risks to her grandparents who modeled what it meant to be a strong Black woman in America, someone who could chart her own path and not be defined by others. She is constantly reinventing herself and helping other women do the same. Karen is endlessly curious, has 202 things on her bucket list, and wants to make sure she has no regrets at the end of her life. Karen is a true joy to talk to and I believe she has unique wisdom to share with others.

To learn more about Karen visit: www.karenalston.com

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 Dori Staehle started having strange symptoms after she was hit and knocked to the ground by a cyclist in 2011. Doctors couldn't figure out what was going on. At one point, things became so dark that she was ready to give up on life. Suddenly, with no real answers on the horizon, Dori decided to turn her attention to her longtime hobby and passion-drumming. Suddenly, Dori's symptoms disappeared. Soon, she began helping other women get well through a process called drum therapy. Dori is a musician, an author, a therapist, and someone who turned a medical mystery into an unlikely blessing. Her energy and enthusiasm are unstoppable. Her slogan is "You're never too old and it's never too late to rock what you got."

To learn more about Dori and her work go to:

• website: https://www.nextstagedrumming.com Facebook 

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Dori’s new book: Rise Up & Rock: Activating Your God-Given Purpose

 When Florence Melin moved to the United States with her husband from Europe, she had no idea that her love for cooking would eventually morph into a career. For Florence, cooking is about more than just introducing people to wonderful food, it's about people sitting together around a table sharing an experience that goes far beyond just eating. The mother of four has somehow managed to translate her passion into teaching others about her food and culture online, in person, in their homes, and now as an organizer who leads groups of Americans on a culinary tour of France. Whether you are a cook or not, Florence's passion for food and the French culture is informative and infectious as is her unwavering positive outlook on life.

To learn more about Florence and her work go to:

https://www.instagram.com/legourmetgetaway/

https://www.instagram.com/flosucresel/

https://www.facebook.com/Flosucresel

https://www.sucre-sel.com/

https://www.legourmetgetaway.com/

Maureen Mountcastle’s motto is that your dream job does not exist. You must create it. And sometimes you must do hard things to make it happen. Maureen is the epitome of doing hard things to continually re-define herself. Being an actor was a childhood dream, one that she finally realized later in life. You’ve probably seen her in a spooky television series, a funny commercial or a feature film. At 58-years-old, she is still acting and so much more. She mentors and guides young actors and their families. In addition, she is a health and wellness coach who helps people regain lost confidence and find their best selves. Maureen is also in the process of recording her first audio book series. But most of all, Maureen is an inspirational human with an infectious personality who openly shares her wisdom in this episode.

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When Jerri Williams was sworn in as an FBI agent in 1982, she was one of just 23 Black female agents out of 7000 total nationwide. To say she is a trailblazer is an understatement. For more than two decades, she uncovered corruption and investigated major crimes. She went on to be the spokesperson for the FBI in the Philadelphia area. In her fifties, Jerri blazed another trail. She became a podcaster at a time when most people didn't even know what a podcast was. Today, her show, FBI Retired Case File Review, has more than 300 episodes and 10 million downloads. She features the stories of retired FBI agents as they share the details about their most compelling cases. Jerri is also a successful author and a doting grandmother. Her wisdom will challenge you and her genuine zest for life will uplift you. 

Joanne Rodhe has spent her career as the only woman in many boardrooms in the financial and technology sectors. She calls herself a "disruptor," a "growth accelerator," and a "creator of new business models." But Joanne is more than her resume. She is a powerhouse in the business arena; a force to be reckoned with. She is usually the smartest person in every room, but she realized long ago this can be intimidating, especially to men. Join me for this candid conversation with Joanne about how to smash the glass ceiling without getting cut.

To learn more about Joanne and her work go to: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannerohde/

Mary Easley is a force of nature; there's no doubt about it. She smashed so many stereotypes when she went to law school fifty plus years ago, became an assistant district attorney, and then opened her own law firm. But most people remember Mary as North Carolina's First Lady when her husband, Michael Easley, was governor from 2001 to 2009. In this episode, she talks about her career journey, her role as First Lady, and all that came with it, and her transition back into civilian life. She now holds what she considers the best job she's ever had-grandmother. Mary's authenticity and her wisdom will challenge you like her Greek mother did when she told her to "keep tilling the soil" until she found her true passion.

Mimi is a veteran local television news producer from Chicago who was swinging through North Carolina in the nineties on her way up the career ladder when a funny thing happened-her life. She met her husband and ended up blooming where she was planted. She works the early morning shift so that she can be at home with her two boys in the afternoons and evenings. It's not easy, but she vows to continue to work in the news business as long as she feels like she is making a difference. Mimi is passionate about is making sure people of color have their voices heard. She is also passionate about helping women carve out time for themselves. When Mimi looked at herself in the mirror one day and didn't recognize the woman staring back at her, she decided to lace up her sneakers and go for a run. And she's been running ever since.

For more about Mimi:

https://www.instagram.com/getfitwithmi22/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/miriam-melvin-9257599/

Dr. Hope Seidel spent twenty years as a pediatrician doing what she loves, caring for children. But  her journey hasn't always been an easy one. She was married to a doctor who suffered from addiction, which meant she was a single parent way before she ever got divorced. When he died in 2020, she had to process her grief along with the grief of her children. Hope started to realize that her real passion was helping parents connect with their children and raise them with confidence and compassion. She recently traded in her white coat in order to pursue her side-hustle, being a parenting coach. In this episode, Hope shares her relatable wisdom about taking  risks, and doing what brings you joy.

For more about Hope and her work:

Finding your person online seems like a modern love story ripped from a magazine article, something that doesn't happen to real people in real life, especially to people who have experienced tragedy. What if you suddenly found yourself a widow in your fifties, and you couldn't imagine the thought of discovering love again with someone else? Barbara's beloved husband, Michael, the father of her four children, died of a heart attack in March of 2019 while jogging during a family vacation. She moved from Princeton, New Jersey to New York City to be near her adult children when suddenly the world shut down due to the global pandemic. But against all odds, there was someone out there who would give Barbara a well-deserved second chance at love. Through tears and laughter, she pieced her life back together one transforming step at a time.

Barb's nonprofit organization honoring her late husband:

https://www.ironmikefoundation.org/