Renee Chew of Paws and Pillows discusses her inspiring journey from a 35-year corporate career to caring for animals and supporting the local community in Kentucky. Renee shares how her business provides loving care for pets and small farm animals, her passion for animal rescue, and her adventures with Marshmallow, her celebrity Nigerian dwarf goat. The conversation also touches on finding work-life balance, the importance of volunteering, and advice for embracing life's unexpected turns. Plus, Renee offers podcast recommendations and practical tips for managing schedules and self-care. If you want to connect with Renee Chew, follow her and Marshmallow on Facebook or reach out via email for pet care or volunteer opportunities.

In this episode of Boss Babes of the Bluegrass, Kris Castle sits down with marriage coach Cristie Cerniglia to discuss her journey from homeschooling mom to transformative relationship coach in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Cristie shares how personal challenges led her to discover and train in intimate relationship skills, ultimately sparking her passion to help women improve their marriages and family lives. The conversation covers practical coaching tips, the importance of women’s influence in the home, valuable self-care strategies, and why investing in relationships pays big dividends for families and society. Cristie also recommends “The Empowered Wife” book and podcast, and invites listeners to access her free download at relationshipswithamap.com or join her private Facebook group, “Save My Marriage Relationships with a Map,” for weekly live content and support on building thriving relationships.

Lauren Brooke is a partner at Brooke and Mills Law Firm in Richmond, KY. Lauren shared her journey from New Jersey to Kentucky, her passion for helping others through family and criminal law, and the importance of leading with kindness both in and out of the courtroom. We also talked about the power of women supporting women, balancing work and life, and making a positive impact in the community—whether that’s running a law firm, rescuing dogs, or simply lifting others up. Tune in for inspiration and practical advice from one of the Bluegrass’s true boss babes!

Ashley Nunn is owner of Sláinte Public House in Georgetown, Kentucky. Ashley Nunn discusses her journey from falling in love with Irish pub culture to building her own thriving local business, including inventive ways she kept Sláinte afloat during the COVID-19 shutdown through community auctions and creative hot dog sales. She shares insight into her leadership style, striving for balance between family, faith, and community involvement, and candid advice for women starting out in business. Ashley Nunn also recommends The Aggressive Life podcast by Brian Tome and several favorite books, such as "All the Light You Cannot See" and "Forty Acres and No Mule." The episode wraps up with details on Sláinte’s charitable efforts, including the annual Toys for Tots drive, and invites listeners to connect via Facebook for updates and events.

Libby Cortez is owner of Sassy Wellness, a Latin dance company focused on empowering women and bridging studio-trained and culturally trained dancers in Lexington, Kentucky. Libby Cortez shares her personal fitness journey, the inspiration behind starting her business, and the challenges she faced in building an inclusive dance community. The conversation also touches on wellness trends post-COVID, work-life harmony, and the impact of Sassy Wellness’s outreach efforts, including hosting charity events and supporting community members in need. Libby offers practical advice for women pursuing their passions and emphasizes the importance of being open to unexpected opportunities. To connect or learn more about her classes and events, visit SassyWellnesswithLibby.com or find her on Facebook as Sassy Wellness with Libby.

Kris Ramsey is Business Development Director at Elder Care Law of Kentucky. Kris Ramsey shares her journey from being an occupational therapist to her current role in elder law, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and being open to new opportunities. The conversation touches on the growing needs of the elder community in Kentucky, the importance of connecting families with resources, and practical tips for harmonizing personal and professional life—including embracing quiet time, time blocking, and making use of modern tools like ChatGPT. The episode also includes favorite podcast and book recommendations, and advice for women starting their business journeys. For more information or to connect with Kris Ramsey, you can visit Elder Care Law of Kentucky at eclk-y.com or call their office at 859-298-2150.

Nell Anne Gossett explores her inspiring and eclectic career journey—from ropes course trainer and country ham store owner to event venue manager and more! She candidly shares the lessons learned along the way, including the importance of kindness in business, finding the right people for your team, and embracing change with curiosity and resilience. She reflects on her leadership philosophy, the joy and challenges of managing life transitions, and her passion for music and writing as ways to recharge. Alongside practical advice for women balancing personal and professional demands, Nell Anne offers insights into legacy, community involvement in the arts, and living with intention. Books and podcasts recommended in the episode include The Chronicles of Narnia, Atlas Shrugged, and Hardcore History. 

Allie Daniel is a dynamic young sales rep from Lamar Advertising who shares her journey from pursuing teaching at Asbury University to diving into sales, inspired by her powerhouse mom. She discusses the importance of finding mentors, harmonizing work-life demands, and being a good steward of your time. Allie also offers tips about embracing positivity, recharging through exercise, volunteering at Georgetown’s Gathering Place, and her love for interior design and pickleball. Recommended resources include the Next Level podcast with Jeremy Miner for sales advice and the Mel Robbins podcast for nuggets of inspiration. Follow Allie on social, Allie at Lamar. For community involvement, learn more about The Gathering Place Mission and Amen House.

Angela Addington discusses her inspiring journey of reinvention, entrepreneurship, and living life to the fullest. Angela shares how she balances a full-time remote job with a thriving side hustle that includes house/pet sitting across the U.S., international mission work, and her passion projects in travel and photography—recently rebranded as “Lenses and Latitudes.” She offers insights on creative income streams (like uploading travel photos to stock websites), turning your interests into opportunities, and the importance of saying “yes” to new adventures after thoughtful reflection. The episode also highlights Angela’s strong belief in mentorship, asking questions, and building community by supporting other women in business. For more on Angela’s work, check out lensesandlatitudes.com and follow her on Instagram at @lensesandlatitudes. Reach her directly via email at [email protected].

In this special “Podiversary” episode of Boss Babes of the Bluegrass, host Kris Castle celebrates one year of amplifying the inspiring stories of women in business from Central Kentucky. Kris reflects on her journey into podcasting—starting from scratch with no experience, the role of mentorship, and the invaluable help of Jennifer Longworth from Bourbon Barrel Podcasting. She shares five key lessons learned from interviewing 30 local women, emphasizing courage, the importance of mentorship, embracing change, and ways to recharge. Kris also highlights book and podcast recommendations from Mel Robbins (“Let Them”) and Brené Brown, and closes with a powerful Ruth Bader Ginsburg quote on women’s leadership. Want to be a guest? Visit castleinsuranceky.com and click on the podcast link. Recommended reads: Let Them by Mel Robbins and Brené Brown’s books & podcast.