There is a difference between a business owner and a business leader. 

Business ownership historically leads patriarchally, treating employees as property, a means to an end, and disposable. 

Business leadership seeks to operate more matriarchally, working to create a culture and environment that supports onward and upward economic mobility. 

Do you own, or do you lead? 

Creating the infrastructure for girls, women, and mothers to flourish within your company is not too complicated. It’s actually easier than you think - but it may cost you a bit of time and intention. In this episode, I’ll give you some simple ways to get started, infuse some matriarchal leadership strategies, and help you position your business as a leader in your industry.

Go HERE to read the essay that inspired this episode.

xoxoxo,

Melinda 

What does cancer have to do with communication? If you think about it, communication dysfunctions also hide out as nameless, faceless, sabotaging agents that are capable of wreaking havoc on the health of personal and professional relationships. Communication challenges can also poison workplace culture, spreading toxicity swiftly and quietly through disengaged, careless, and fearful members. Not many people like confrontation or stepping in as mediators to conflict - but what would happen if instead of hiding out, we practiced embracing organizational tensions? Communication is fluid, not fixed, and that means there are multiple junctures that provide opportunities for infusing fresh insights, empathy, respect, and consideration into everyday workflows.

Through Conrad and Poole's system's principles, curating a healthy communication flow is not as difficult as it may seem. The value of systems thinking is that it provides a focus on the framework - creating space for humanity to flow in and throughout - with the opportunity to adapt with advancement. Communication skills, strategic thinking, and mindfulness are essential skills for leaders of the future. If we hope to lead, direct, govern, or oversee people - we need to continually practice improving communications skills. This episode of Coeur d'Femme was created from the blog post, Cancerous Communications. If you would like more information on topics related to communications theories and strategic communication planning, join me HERE. 

I hope this episode leaves you with some things to contemplate before embarking on the new year. Take with you what worked, leave behind what breeds unnecessary challenges, and let's keep on moving forward. 

Melinda

Scientific theories are not just for business leaders or corporate giants - they can also be applied to personal leadership, parenting, and for improving relationships. Join me in an exploration of the theory of the Communicative Constitution of Organizations (CCO), commonly called the Four Flows theory, where I discuss the ways this theory makes its presence in the practical world whether you are an individual or represent an organization. The Four Flows theory places communication at the helm of organizational and relational ecosystems, modeling flows of dialogue that supports movement along dialogue and through challenges.

We say this a lot here at Coeur d'Femme: communication is fluid, not fixed. Health has a flow. Stagnation and blockage lead to dysfunction and disease. You'll find it easier to embrace communication tensions when applying a model for moving dialogue forward. Personal and professional relationships require investment and a commitment to listening and learning; one way to invest in your communication skills is to learn about the Four Flows theory. You'll learn more about yourself, and others while enlarging your capacity to communicate effectively.

This project is part of Gonzaga University's master's in Communication and Leadership program. To learn more about the Four Flows theory, or to follow up with me about how this theory could help you improve operations or relationships, join me HERE. 

Welcome back to season 2 of Coeur d'Femme. In this episode I sat down with Jackie McCormick in the summer of 2021 and discussed her work with The Northwest Femicide Project, how her passion became a pursuit, and how women (and men) can pay closer attention to these acts of violence against women. Jackie's research is hosted on Instagram at @nwfemicideproject where she continues to educate, inform, and share stories that jostle complacency about femicide - the murder of women because they are women. Jackie's hope is to continue identifying and highlighting the predatory elements that comprise femicide and doing her unique work towards dismantling it, amplifying the charge of freedom for women to live their fullest lives.

Femicide is described as a silent killer because the term "femicide" is not typified. Once labeled a "crime of passion", more and more organizations and nations are identifying the "constellations of conditions" that point to this extremist display of violence and are actively working to 1.) define it, and 2.) create policy to fight against it.

There's a lot to talk about when women take up meaningful work, and Jackie is clear on the value of having multiple avenues of support, encouragement through partnership, and the commitment to listening to inner wisdom, emotions and instincts. Jackie's work not only teaches us more about important issues affecting women, but also about the necessities of life for women who chase their passions - especially those that instigate challenging conversations and demand change. With faithful devotion to trusting her process, Jackie envelopes the purposes of Coeur d'Femme, a listening to what's at the heart of feminism: to see women flourish wholly unto themselves, free from abuse, control, or fear of violence.

For more information on femicide in the U.S., and around the world, start here:

Femicide: a silent epidemic
DATA
WOMEN COUNT USA
MMIW - (missing murdered indigenous women)

[ TW: disturbing conversations about violence against women ]

Hey friends, Melinda here. Welcome back to the second season of Coeur d'Femme. I thought I would kick off this session with some reflection on closing The Hive, get a little bit vulnerable, and chat about what's next for the podcast. As always, Coeur d'Femme aims to center the voices and lived experiences of women, mothers, and femmes, in the Inland Northwest, placing high value on the belief that women are wholly intelligent, and creative beings, in and unto themselves. As a communications analyst, I truly appreciate listener insight, feedback, and suggestions for future shows, so don't be a stranger. Let's turn this monologue into a dialogue and just talk about it. 

Coeur d’Femme carries on with episode 3 of Shameless, The Empowerment of Sexuality. 

In this episode, Melinda and Tiana pass the mic to two confident and kind local men, Jake Casey and Michael Cadwallader. Jake is a lover, tattoo artist, fitness coach, and Shibari practitioner. Michael is a father of three, committed partner of 15 years, outdoor enthusiast, and wellness Chiropractor.

Unashamed of their own sexual history and continuously curious in the quest for hosting female pleasure, these men will have all genders laughing, applauding, and considering possible improvements within sexual experiences.  Join the femmes and the mens as they expose gender-biased upbringings, uncover the “ferocious veracity” of a pure sex, and engage in raw, hilariously punny talk about sex that will have you marveling at the emergence of a more caring and conscious masculinity. 

Warning: this episode contains mature content and colorful language. Batteries are most certainly included! 

Coeur d’Femme is proud to engage in promoting a SEX POSITIVE community, where learning about one another’s lived experiences, through dialogue and discussion, helps society move beyond reckless to responsible - beyond burden to a blessing - and advance women from identifying as “on the rag, such a drag” to “divine queen, doing her thing.”

Coeur d’Femme is a podcast for elevating the femme perspective. Recorded and produced at The Hive CDA, with your hosts Melinda Cadwallader and Tiana Simmons. Looking to host your own podcast? Check out thehivecda.com for membership information. Stop waiting for an invitation and start your own show!

Empowered people respect, honor and engage in regular dialogue about SEX. Sex is natural, sex is fun, sex is best when it's...however you choose to have it! Talking about sex helps us to become better communicators, better lovers, and better humans. In this episode, Tiana answers questions about her sexuality, what makes her purr, and how playful sex left a scar on her nose, while Melinda discusses the joy of staying sexually curious after 15 years of marriage.

Coeur d’Femme is a podcast for elevating the femme perspective in North Idaho. Recorded and produced in the media room at The Hive CDA, with your hosts Melinda Cadwallader and Tiana Simmons. Looking to host your own podcast? Check out thehivecda.com for membership information and start your project today!

In this first episode of the series, Shameless: The Empowerment of Sexuality, Melinda and Tiana get down to the roots of all the sex firsts - first education, first curiosities, and first experiences of shame. With Tiana in her 20s, and Melinda in her 40s, their stories and experiences may sound different, but the common thread of “hearts over parts” rings true for both. 

Coeur d’Femme is proud to engage in promoting a SEX POSITIVE community, where learning about one another’s lived experiences, through dialogue and discussion, helps society move beyond reckless to responsible, beyond burden to a blessing, and advance from identifying as “on the rag, such a drag” to “divine queen, doing her thing.”

Coeur d’Femme is a podcast for elevating the femme perspective in North Idaho. Recorded and produced in the media room at The Hive CDA, with your hosts Melinda Cadwallader and Tiana Simmons. Looking to host your own podcast? Check out thehivecda.com for membership information and start your project today!

Growing things may come easily to women, but that doesn't mean maternal leadership is only for women. Maternal leadership is gender neutral, offering space to what we cannot yet see and empowering that which relies upon our nurture to thrive. In this episode of Coeur Notes, Coeur d'Femme host Melinda Cadwallader talks about the leadership of nurturing, and how The Hive was designed to host a variety of ambitious pursuits.

She Started It: stories of women who go after, chase, and work to make things happen.
You gotta start somewhere! Melinda and Tiana dream together about what Coeur d'Femme can offer the local community, in this very first, unedited episode. Before The Hive was open, before the media room was built out, and before they knew what hosting a podcast would look like - Melinda and Tiana just decided to get it started.