Athena's Listening Crew Podcast

In this week’s episode, Lina & Renee sit down with their tasty chasers and discuss some goddesses in the podcast world. After doing some chit chat, we dive into the data behind women in podcasting, explore why audiences connect so strongly with female voices, and discuss how women are changing the landscape of media, leadership, and storytelling. Plus, we highlight some of the pioneers who paved the way and why the future of podcasting is increasingly female. 

We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on IG and YouTube at Athena's listening crew, and reach out to us at [email protected] if there are any topics you’d like us to explore, or if you’re a woman business owner interested in joining the podcast to share your journey.

On today’s episode of Athena’s Listening Crew, we have an amazing chat with another amazing woman entrepreneur.  So what do you get when you cross a former chubby kid and a former collegiate athlete with a lesbian, a fresh gen-y entrepreneur and an ass-kicking trainer? You get the Founder of The Queer Gym, Coach Lorena, of course!

Since 2010, Lorena has shaped and evolved The Queer Gym --formerly The Perfect Sidekick-- into what it is today based on her own experiences as a lesbian who is into fitness, but totally over all the extra bullshit she sees people (especially LGBTQIA+ people) experience in a gym. An athlete all of her life and the 8th out of a family of ten, she knows a thing or two about building community and furthermore, empowering that community to take over the world one happy, healthy homo at a time!

You can find Coach Lorena at www.thequeergym.com and on IG @thequeergym.

We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at [email protected] or message us via IG if there are any topics you’d like us to explore, or if you’re a woman business owner interested in joining the podcast to share your journey.

In this episode of Athena’s Listening Crew, Lina and Renee chat with Nichoel Adams, founder and owner of Sagebrush / Saguaro. Nichoel discussed how her love of selling her crafts in outdoor markets in New York led to opening up an Urban Plant Shoppe and Gift Emporium Arizona. She talks about her journey of following her heart to San Diego and how she thrived in the outdoor market scene there, to feeling at home in Tucson but struggled with the market scene. Thus leading her to open a brick and mortar store in the heart of the historic downtown. And let’s not forget Mr. Bubbles, the sweet and loveable shop dog. 

You can find Nichoel and Mr. Bubbles on IG at @sagebrush.saguaro and in Tucson on the historic 4th Avenue. You can also find Nichoel at @studionichoel.

We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on IG and YouTube at Athena's listening crew, and reach out to us at [email protected] if there are any topics you’d like us to explore, or if you’re a woman business owner interested in joining the podcast to share your journey. 

The ladies are back this week discussing Lucky 13 on Athena’s Listening Crew while celebrating not only the number 13, but life as well. This episode explores how superstition shapes the way we think, decide, and move through uncertainty—offering a sense of control that can calm anxiety and boost confidence, while also opening the door to irrational choices and ritualistic habits. From the Western avoidance of 13 to cultural beliefs around numbers like 4 and 8, the crew unpacks how meaning is assigned, challenged, and sometimes completely redefined.

They also dive into how superstition shows up in business and success, from lucky charms and routines to the stories of well-known figures who leaned into their rituals—from athletes with game-day habits to entrepreneurs who built brands around “lucky” numbers. With examples like Friday the 13th defying expectations in the stock market and trailblazers who turned superstition into strategy, this episode invites listeners to rethink what’s luck, what’s mindset, and how belief itself can shape outcomes.

We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on IG and YouTube at Athena's listening crew, and reach out to us at [email protected] if there are any topics you’d like us to explore, or if you’re a woman business owner interested in joining the podcast to share your journey. 

Welcome back to Athena’s Listening Crew, where we highlight inspiring women entrepreneurs making an impact. In this episode, we feature Chef Alejandre “Chef Alex” Richards, the creator of The Tie Kitchen in Tucson, Arizona. A private chef, cookbook author, and founder of the Community Garden, Chef Alex brings people together through intimate dining experiences and pop-up events rooted in connection and sustainability. Tune in as we explore her unique approach to food, community, and building a purpose-driven business. 

We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at [email protected] or message us via IG if there are any topics you’d like us to explore, or if you’re a woman business owner interested in joining the podcast to share your journey.

In this episode of Athena’s Listening Crew, Lina and Renee break down why mantras aren’t soft affirmations—they’re sharp, truth-based operating principles that change how you think, act, and lead. Designed for women in business, these “badass mantras” cut through fear, imposter syndrome, and burnout, helping you move with clarity and authority when things get hard.

You’ll learn how to create and use mantras through intention, spoken practice, and full embodiment—so they don’t just sound good, they transform how you show up. Whether you’re just starting out, scaling your business, or pushing through challenges, this episode delivers powerful, actionable mantras to anchor your mindset, sharpen your decisions, and step fully into your role as the leader of your life and business.

We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on IG and YouTube at Athena's listening crew, and reach out to us at [email protected] if there are any topics you’d like us to explore, or if you’re a woman business owner interested in joining the podcast to share your journey. 

And finally: Do No Harm, Take No Shit! 💙🦉

Today on Athena’s Listening Crew, we sat down with Lisa Swanson, founder of Body & Soul Coaching. A single mom turned successful entrepreneur, Lisa brings over 40 years of experience helping women navigate fitness and weight loss.

After noticing a major gap in support for women over 50—especially post-menopause—Lisa shifted her focus to empowering this often-overlooked group. Through her three-pillar approach of aligned nutrition, progressive overload, and empowered thoughts, she helps women embrace where they are now and build vibrant, healthy lives.You can find Lisa at www.bodyandsoulcoaching, IG/FB @lisaswansonfit  

We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at [email protected] or message us via IG if there are any topics you’d like us to explore, or if you’re a woman business owner interested in joining the podcast to share your journey.

In this episode of Athena’s Listening Crew, Lina and Renee celebrate trailblazing women across history—beginning with the legendary Madame Clicquot Ponsardin, the visionary widow who transformed the champagne industry during the Napoleonic era. We then trace the powerful evolution of women entrepreneurs through history—from Madam C.J. Walker’s groundbreaking 1917 convention to today’s global conferences, networking events, and investment summits designed to elevate women in business. This conversation is a reminder that women have always been builders, innovators, and forces of change—and the future is still being written.

We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on IG and YouTube at Athenas listening crew, and reach out to us at [email protected] if there are any topics you’d like us to explore, or if you’re a woman business owner interested in joining the podcast to share your journey. 

On today’s episode, we interview Isabel Georgelos as the Deputy Director of the YWCA of Southern Arizona, where she leads programs advancing economic justice, health and well-being, and community advocacy for women. She joined the organization in 2021 as Director of the Women’s Business Center, one of the largest in the country, supporting over 1,500 entrepreneurs each year with training, counseling, and technical assistance.

A first-generation college graduate, Isabel brings more than 25 years of corporate leadership experience with major national retailers. She is deeply committed to helping women achieve financial stability and long-term economic growth through career readiness and entrepreneurship—believing that when women thrive, families and communities thrive.

She also serves on the Child & Family Resources state board and lives in Tucson, Arizona, with her husband of 35 years.

You can find more about Isabel and the YWCA Women’s Business Center at https://www.wbcofsouthernarizona.com/

We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at [email protected] if there are any topics you’d like us to explore, or if you’re a woman business owner interested in joining the podcast to share your journey.

In this episode, Renee and Lina get real about burnout—how it shows up, why it happens, and what you can do to prevent it. They walk through the signs to watch for, simple ways to take care of yourself, and how to keep growing your business without sacrificing your well-being.

We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at [email protected] if there are any topics you’d like us to explore, or if you’re a woman business owner interested in joining the podcast to share your journey.