Bada$$ In Action

In this powerful episode of Badass in Action, Melanie Browning sits down with Autumn Timmins, founder and president of Preston's Pursuit for Acceptance, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping first responders with the tools they need for effective, informed interactions with individuals on the autism spectrum.

As both a mother of a son on the spectrum and the wife of a recently retired law enforcement officer, Autumn has lived on both sides of emergency encounters. What she saw in the media — and experienced personally — led her to take action.

With no standardized autism training for first responders, Autumn and her husband created a certified, in-person training curriculum now approved through AZ POST and nationally recognized certifications. Their mission? Bridge the gap between the autism community and law enforcement to create safer, more understanding emergency interactions for everyone involved.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Why autism emergency encounters are often misunderstood
• The importance of hands-on training for police, dispatch, and fire personnel
• How simple tools like a 911 checklist can change outcomes
• How communities can support this life-saving mission

This conversation is emotional, practical, and deeply important.

If you know someone in law enforcement, fire, dispatch, or emergency response — share this episode with them.

Learn more about training for your department, or to support the mission:
 https://prestonspursuit.org
 Follow @PrestonsPursuit

And if this episode moved you, make sure to like, subscribe, and share so we can continue spotlighting bold leaders creating real change.

Because when seconds matter… preparation matters more.

#AutismAwareness
#FirstResponderTraining
#AutismSafety

In this episode of Badass in Action, host Melanie Browning sits down with Emily Bacon, founder of Hot Potato Art Studio in Gilbert, Arizona.

Emily shares her powerful journey from elementary school teacher to entrepreneur — sparked by a simple question from her daughter and an idea she couldn’t ignore. What began as a vision and a few garage classes has grown into a thriving brick-and-mortar children’s art studio serving ages 5–17, welcoming after-school students, homeschool families, and partnering with local schools to bring creativity to kids throughout the community.

This conversation dives into:
• Trusting a calling that won’t quiet down
• Starting before you feel “ready”
• Moving from fear to action — one step at a time
• Building community through creativity
• Supporting kids in confidence, expression, and joy
• Navigating entrepreneurship, systems, and growth as a woman business owner

If you’ve ever felt pulled toward something bigger — a business idea, a creative dream, or a new chapter — this episode will meet you right where you are.

 Learn more about Hot Potato Art Studio:
Website: https://www.hotpotatoartstudio.com
Instagram: @hotpotatoartstudio

 Subscribe for more conversations with women who choose courage, creativity, and action.

What if the problem isn’t your discipline, motivation, or work ethic—but the way your brain is operating?
In this episode, host Melanie Browning sits down with Michele Christopher, a neuroscience-informed executive coach who helps high achievers stop overthinking, trust themselves, and lead with ease instead of pressure. Michele shares how our thoughts shape performance, why confidence disappears even at high levels of success, and practical tools to interrupt mental patterns that keep us stuck. This conversation is a must-watch for entrepreneurs, leaders, and anyone ready to take aligned action without burnout.Looking to connect directly with Michele check out her website at www.micelechristophercoaching.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelechristopher/SPECIAL THANKS TO HOSTMelanie Browning REALTOR® WestUSA Realty / The Cicero Group, for making this episode a reality.  If you're looking to buy and sell in Arizona please consider her as a resource. 928-925-7909

In this episode of Badass in Action, host Melanie Browning interviews Nikki Mingoea, luxury hair colorist, boutique salon owner coach, and wellness-focused entrepreneur based in Gilbert, Arizona. Nikki shares her powerful journey through burnout, identity shifts, and starting over, including leaving a successful salon business in New York and rebuilding her life and career from scratch.

This conversation explores entrepreneurial pivots, hustle culture in the beauty industry, nervous-system-aligned business, self-trust, and redefining success. Nikki opens up about moving beyond overwork, embracing wellness and yoga, and helping salon owners build businesses that support their lives—not drain them.

If you’re a female entrepreneur, creative, salon owner, or small business owner navigating burnout, change, or a new chapter, this episode will inspire you to trust the pivot and rebuild in alignment.

 Topics covered:

 Follow Badass in Action for weekly conversations on mindset, business, and bold action.

Nikki is a luxury hair color and extension specialist, a coach for boutique salon owners, and a yoga teacher in training. Her mission is to guide others into their highest life force energy—whether that’s expressed through conscious beauty, aligned business creation, or embodied practices that reconnect them to their true nature. To connect with Nikki, reach out to her here https://www.instagram.com/nikki.mingoea

or check out her podcast here:

https://open.spotify.com/show/4k5iGVfp6uCMRpIP363yKH?si=qYWEFWJMRU6H5SqAxReV3Q

This episode is proudly supported by Melanie Browning, Realtor® with West USA Realty in Chandler, Arizona. Melanie is passionate about supporting people as they step into their next chapter. If buying or selling a home in Arizona is part of your journey, she’d be honored to be a resource for you.

https://melaniebrowning.thecicerogroupaz.com/

928-925-7909

Are you ready to make 2026 the year you actually follow through?

In this episode of Badass in Action, Melanie Browning shares her 5 favorite proven tips to help you crush your goals in 2026, without overwhelm or burnout. From using the power of your brain’s reticular activating system, to surrounding yourself with the right people, to the #1 life-changing habit that successful people use daily, these strategies are simple, powerful, and actionable. If you’re tired of setting the same goals every year and want real results, this episode is your starting line.

In this episode of Badass in Action, host Melanie Browning sits down with Ally Lezcano, owner of Saule Yoga in Gilbert, Arizona, to explore what it really looks like to lead with calm, courage, and community. Ally shares her unexpected journey from athlete to yoga studio owner, how inclusive wellness offerings like chair yoga are changing lives, and why trusting your intuition, asking for help, and letting go as a leader are essential for sustainable success. This conversation is a must-listen for women building businesses that support both purpose and life.Ally fell in love with yoga as a collegiate athlete, where it offered balance and grounding amid intense training. Over the years, she became a 500-hour RYT, led retreats worldwide, and even created Saule Yoga’s Teacher Training program. As the owner of Saule Yoga, she’s dedicated to fostering a supportive community that empowers students to find strength, authenticity, and inner peace. 2335 S. Location:Website: https://www.saule-yoga.comTo Schedule a class: https://www.saule-yoga.com/schedule OR find us in the Mindbody app2335 S. Lindsay Rd, Unit 112, GilbertInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/saule.yogaFacebook: @SauleYogaAZThis episode brought to you by Your Action Realtor, Melanie Browning. Looking forward to working with you when you're ready to take action on your home buying dreams.

In this episode of BADASS IN ACTION, host Melanie Browning sits down with Angie Harper, midlife wellness coach, entrepreneur, and co-host of Next Chapter Strong, to talk about reinvention, multiple income streams, and building a business that supports your life, not the other way around.

Angie shares her journey from brick-and-mortar business owner to online entrepreneur, the power of relationship-based business, why midlife is the perfect time to pivot, and how women can create sustainable health, income, and time freedom without chasing quick fixes.

This episode is for women who are:

Midlife isn’t a slowdown. It’s a power move.

Bio: Angie Harper is a midlife wellness coach, entrepreneur, and co-host of the Next Chapter Strong: From Deadlifts to Date Nights podcast. She helps midlife women and couples build strength, energy, and confidence through sustainable fitness, protein-forward nutrition, and realistic lifestyle habits. Angie believes midlife isn’t a slowdown—it’s the start of your strongest chapter yet.

To connect with Angie go to https://nextchapterstrong.net

Follow her and her husband on

Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/nextchapter_strong

Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066483978662

YouTube at

https://www.youtube.com/@nextchapterstrong

This episode of Badass In Action made possible by Melanie Browning - Your Realtor In Action. If you're a badass looking to level up into your next dream home in AZ I'd love to help make that happen.

https://melaniebrowning.thecicerogroupaz.com

Step behind the scenes of film, TV, and entrepreneurship with casting director and business owner Bella Hibbs, the powerhouse behind Good Faith Casting and the visionary creator of the Southwest Actors Conference.

 In this inspiring episode of Bada$$ in Action, host Melanie Browning explores the mindset, strategy, and resilience Bella uses to run and expand a long-standing, respected casting company while building new opportunities for talent across the Southwest.

Bella shares:

• 
  How consistency—not luck—is the secret to long-term success

• 
  The business systems, habits, and mindset shifts that fuel her growth

• 
  How to navigate rejection, uncertainty, and big pivots in any industry

• 
  The role manifestation and specificity play in achieving bold goals

• 
  What building community looks like in both Hollywood and entrepreneurship

• 
  How she turned a painful “cold shoulder” moment at an industry event into a thriving, multi-year conference

Whether you’re an actor, business owner, entrepreneur, or creative leader, Bella’s story is a masterclass in reinvention, resilience, and following the “winks from the universe.” 

Her journey proves that the principles of casting—relationship-building, clarity, consistency, and courage—are the same principles that build successful businesses.

 Subscribe for more powerful conversations with bada$$ women building wealth, visibility, and generational impact. Follow Bella Hibbs: https://www.instagram.com/goodfaithcasting/

In this episode of BADA$$ in Action, host Melanie Browning sits down with Arizona realtor Celeste Caime, who proves it’s never too late to start over. From working as a Montessori teacher to navigating real estate school while pregnant during COVID, Celeste’s story is a masterclass in perseverance and purpose.
She shares how she overcame fear, found the right team, created routines that work for her family, and learned to “press the button and go for it.” Whether you’re a new entrepreneur, real estate agent, or anyone scared to take the next step—this episode will give you the courage to just do it.
Tune in for real talk about career transitions, mindset, motherhood, and the magic that happens when you stop settling and go all in.
Guest: Celeste Caime

Location: Arizona

Host: Melanie Browning, BADA$$ in Action PodcastContact Celeste at 623-283-2926 or at her email: [email protected]

In this inspiring episode of BADA$$ IN ACTION, host Melanie Browning sits down with Emily Evans, founder of WELLTH Journey.

Emily Evans, doesn’t believe in “that’s just how it is.” After a motorcycle accident revealed how broken benefit plans leave families financially vulnerable, she dedicated her career to dismantling the broken benefits playbook—for good.

She created a rare blend of razor-sharp Lego-style simplification, and a “build-your-people” philosophy, to help frustrated business owners escape the status quo. Her clients don’t get another generic quote; they get a custom-built benefits roadmap that contains cost, transfers risk, and aligns your benefits package directly with your company’s strategic objectives.

When not serving her clients, or community, Emily’s off-roading in her Toyota 4Runner—because she’s never been afraid to modify the machine, forge a new path, or build a new vehicle altogether when the old one breaks down. Your benefits should be engineered for exploration, not just built for the paved road.

 Whether you’re a small-business owner, entrepreneur, or simply someone seeking more freedom and fulfillment—this episode will help you see challenges as stepping stones toward your next breakthrough.