You know you’re capable but something keeps holding you back.
That quiet voice saying you’re “not ready,” “not qualified,” or “not worthy yet.”
In this powerful episode of Coffee with E., I sit down with Mary Oliveira, CEO of the Whitaker Center, and Amy Rote, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central PA, for a real, unfiltered conversation about stepping into leadership before you feel ready and why that’s often exactly the right time.

We talk about:
- Why women over-apologize and how it undermines confidence
- How to lead without asking permission
- Why vulnerability is a leadership superpower
- Letting go of “work-life balance” and choosing harmony instead
- Finding (and evolving) your purpose at every stage of life
- Saying yes because you can even when you’re afraid

This episode is mentorship, truth, and encouragement wrapped into one coffee-fueled conversation. If you’ve ever hesitated to go after an opportunity, minimized your voice in a room, or felt like you had to prove you belong, this one’s for you.

☕ Your assignment:
If this conversation filled you up, share it with another woman who needs to hear it. We grow stronger when we grow together.

Subscribe for more conversations that empower, challenge, and remind you of who you already are.

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This episode of Coffee with E is one for every ambitious woman who feels the pressure to overperform, prove herself, and never slow down.

I sit down with Madam Speaker Joanna McClinton, a true history-maker, the first woman and first Black woman to serve as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, for a powerful, grounded conversation about leadership, faith, peace, and knowing when to pause.

We talk about:

• Why women feel the need to overwork to prove their worth
• Learning to step away without guilt and without apology
• How faith, peace, and self-awareness guide real leadership
• The danger of choosing performance over purpose
• Recognizing when you’re in alignment vs. obligation
• Stepping into opportunities you never planned for
• Why rest, breaks, and boundaries are not weaknesses

Madam Speaker shares honest lessons from her journey, from working quietly behind the scenes to leading one of the most powerful legislative bodies in the state and why no title is worth sacrificing your wellbeing.

If you’re a woman in leadership, public service, business, or simply trying to build something meaningful without burning yourself out, this conversation will speak directly to you.

☕ Reminder:

You don’t need to prove anything.
You’re already there.

Subscribe, share this with someone who needs permission to pause, and join a growing community committed to leadership with purpose, peace, and longevity.

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What if the most important part of your creative journey is not your talent. It is your people.

In this episode of Coffee with E, Erica sits down with three powerhouse creatives, Julia Mallory, Robert Green and Aubrea Thompson, for a raw conversation about creativity, collaboration, leadership and finding your tribe.

They talk about growing up creative, being misunderstood, balancing jobs and art, trying to make money without losing your soul, and why knowing your why matters more than any trend on social media. They also break down what real collaboration looks like, how to protect your time and energy and how to keep going when you feel like you are failing.

✨ In This Episode

•Creativity as a lifestyle, not just a hobby

•How to support young creatives instead of shutting them down

•The tension between art, money and capitalism

•Real collaboration versus free unpaid work

•Social media trends, authenticity and not chasing every fad

•Failing forward and learning to pivot with grace

•How to find or build your creative community

•Why your why is the anchor that keeps you from getting lost

💡 Featured Creatives

•Julia Mallory - Poet, author, visual artist and founder of Black Mermaids and 1006.

•Robert Green - Creative in the beauty and visual arts space and costume designer.

•Aubrea Thompson - Photographer, studio builder and CEO of A. Thompson Visuals and Creative Studios.

🕊 Phoenix Foundation

Because of your support, the Phoenix Foundation helps survivors of domestic violence secure permanent housing with down payment and closing cost assistance. Your listens and shares help fuel that mission.

🔗 Sponsored by:

Chavis Law Firm: https://www.chavislawfirm.com/ 

TOCH Construction: https://www.tochconstruction.com/

Allstate Insurance – Rob Shaw: https://agents.allstate.com/robert-shaw-harrisburg-pa.html  

Chavis Law Firm: https://www.chavislawfirm.com/ 

Dirty Dog Hauling: https://dirtydoghauling.com/ 

💼 Powered by The Erica Rawls Team: https://ericarawls.com/ 

💬 Like this episode. Leave a review and share it with a creative person who needs to know they are not behind. They just need the right community.

🔔 Subscribe for more real life conversations about growth, purpose and building a life that actually fits you.

#CoffeeWithE #EricaRawlsTeam #WomenInLeadership #Creatives #CreativeCommunity #Collaboration #FindYourPeople #Authenticity #Leadership #FailingForward #PurposeDriven #PhoenixFoundation #RealConversations

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What if the reason you “don’t feel like yourself” anymore isn’t in your head?

In this empowering episode, Dr. Caissa Troutman, a quadruple board-certified hormone specialist and founder of Midlife Remedy (https://midliferemedy.com), joins Erica Rawls for a real conversation about hormones, menopause, and why so many women over 35 feel anxious, fatigued, or disconnected from themselves.

She breaks down what’s happening inside your body, how to know if you’re in perimenopause, and how hormone therapy can help you start feeling like yourself again.

✨ In This Episode

•The truth about perimenopause and menopause (and why menopause is technically just one day)

•Why anxiety, brain fog, and mood swings might really be hormonal

•How hormone therapy can improve sleep, confidence, and intimacy

•The real science behind sex drive and “responsive desire”

•Why women should stop feeling ashamed about how they feel

•How to find a qualified menopause specialist near you

🔗 Connect with Dr. Caissa Troutman

Website: https://midliferemedy.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/midlifereMDy/

🔗 Sponsored by:

Chavis Law Firm: https://www.chavislawfirm.com/ 

TOCH Construction: https://www.tochconstruction.com/

Allstate Insurance – Rob Shaw: https://agents.allstate.com/robert-shaw-harrisburg-pa.html  

Dirty Dog Hauling: https://dirtydoghauling.com/ 

💼 Powered by The Erica Rawls Team: https://ericarawls.com/ 

💬 Like this episode? Leave a review and share it with someone who needs a reminder that she’s not crazy. Her hormones just need a little balance.

🔔 Subscribe and join our community for more real-life stories that help women heal, grow, and live with purpose.

#CoffeeWithE #EricaRawlsTeam #WomenInLeadership #HormoneHealth #MenopauseAwareness #MidlifeRemedy #Perimenopause #SexualHealth #WomensWellness #EmpoweredWomen #ConfidenceandGrowth #RealConversations

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What if losing everything was the start of your calling?

In this inspiring episode, Rick Evans, co-owner of Evans Brothers Coffee (https://evansbrotherscoffee.com), opens up about how the 2008 crash turned his world upside down and how that moment became the catalyst for building one of the top three coffeehouses in the U.S.

From a ski-lift brainstorm to 18 months without a paycheck, Rick and his brother built Evans Brothers Coffee with nothing but grit, faith, and community. His story is proof that perseverance pays off and quitting is never the answer.

☕ Today’s Roast: Stop being a quitter.

When it gets hard, don’t walk away. Grit is built in the grind.

✨ In This Episode

•How the 2008 crash birthed Evans Brothers Coffee

•The ski-lift conversation that started it all

•What to do when your dream feels impossible

•Why community matters more than money

•Free business resources every entrepreneur should know

•Finding your “why” when you want to quit

🔗 Connect with Rick Evans

Website: https://evansbrotherscoffee.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evansbrotherscoffee/

🔗 Sponsored by:

TOCH Construction: https://www.tochconstruction.com/

Allstate Insurance – Rob Shaw: https://agents.allstate.com/robert-shaw-harrisburg-pa.html  

Chavis Law Firm: https://www.chavislawfirm.com/ 

Dirty Dog Hauling: https://dirtydoghauling.com/ 

💼 Powered by The Erica Rawls Team: https://ericarawls.com/ 

👍 Like this episode? Leave a review and share it with someone who needs a reminder to keep going when life gets hard.

🔔 Subscribe and join our community for more real stories of grit, purpose, and building something from the ground up.

#CoffeeWithE #EricaRawlsTeam #NonprofitWork #EvansBrothersCoffee #RickEvans #EntrepreneurMindset #GritAndGrace #NeverQuit #Resilience #SmallBusinessStory #FromFailureToSuccess #CoffeeEntrepreneur #BrotherhoodInBusiness #StayInIt

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What if your natural gift, not a degree, was the key to your purpose?

In this inspiring episode, Rasheeda Gray, founder of Gray Space Interiors (https://grayspaceinteriors.com/), sits down with Erica Rawls to share how she left 15 years in corporate marketing to build one of the most recognized interior design brands in the country and land a season on HGTV’s Renovation Resort Showdown.

Rasheeda opens up about battling imposter syndrome, learning the business side of creativity, and why waiting with purpose can prepare you for the next big opportunity. From staging her own home that sold in three hours to creating a thriving full-time business, she shares what it really takes to move from purpose to profit to power.

If you have ever felt like you are not enough because you do not have the degree or credentials, this episode will remind you that your gift is enough and it is time to own it.

✨ In This Episode

•How staging her home sparked a new career and a 3-hour home sale

•The 80/20 truth: 80% running the business, 20% doing the craft

•How Rasheeda turned corporate skills into creative confidence

•Finding purpose in the waiting and embracing the pivot

•The reality of imposter syndrome and how to push through

•Representation in design: why visibility matters for women of color

🔗 Connect with Rasheeda:

Website: https://grayspaceinteriors.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grayspaceinteriors/

🔗 Sponsored by:

Chavis Law Firm: https://www.chavislawfirm.com/ 

TOCH Construction: https://www.tochconstruction.com/

Allstate Insurance – Rob Shaw: https://agents.allstate.com/robert-shaw-harrisburg-pa.html  

Dirty Dog Hauling: https://dirtydoghauling.com/ 

💼 Powered by The Erica Rawls Team: https://ericarawls.com/ 

Like this episode? Leave a review and share it with someone who needs a reminder to trust their gift.

🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations on confidence, leadership, and business growth.

#CoffeeWithE #EricaRawlsTeam #WomenInLeadership #Entrepreneurship #InteriorDesign #HGTV #FaithAndBusiness #PurposeDrivenLife #WomenInBusiness #BlackExcellence #GraySpaceInteriors #RasheedaGray #CreativeEntrepreneur #KnowYourNumbers

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This episode is personal. I am opening up about my journey as a domestic violence survivor and how that experience inspired me to create The Phoenix Foundation, launching October 24.

Before I became the woman you see today, I was in a relationship that nearly broke me. It took courage, healing, and time to rebuild my life. Years later, that story became the inspiration for The Phoenix Foundation, a way to help others rebuild after they have found safety.

The Phoenix Foundation is not a place to call for a safe space. It is for survivors who are ready to begin again, with support like down payment and closing cost assistance to start their next chapter.

I also share why talking about domestic violence is not “airing dirty laundry.” It is how we burn down the silence and bring change.

In This Episode, I Share:

•My journey from survivor to advocate

•How my experience inspired The Phoenix Foundation

•The different types of abuse including physical, mental, and financial

•Why breaking the silence saves lives

•How survivors can rebuild after finding safety

💜 The Phoenix Foundation launches October 24.

Visit https://www.phoenixfoundationcc.com/ to learn more, donate, or attend our launch event.

🔗 Sponsored by:

TOCH Construction: https://www.tochconstruction.com/

Allstate Insurance – Rob Shaw: https://agents.allstate.com/robert-shaw-harrisburg-pa.html  

Chavis Law Firm: https://www.chavislawfirm.com/ 

Dirty Dog Hauling: https://dirtydoghauling.com/ 

💼 Powered by The Erica Rawls Team: https://ericarawls.com/ 

#CoffeeWithE #PhoenixFoundation #DomesticViolenceAwareness #BreakTheSilence #SurvivorStories #HealingJourney #FaithAfterTrauma #WomenInLeadership #EmpowerSurvivors #NonprofitWork

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📸 Instagram: @erica.rawls
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When life feels heavy and hustle never stops, how do you slow down and heal?

Breanna Snyder (aka Charlie Lux), founder of Charlie Lux Beauty (https://www.charlieluxbeauty.com/), joins Erica Rawls to share how she merged beauty with healing and found purpose through faith, community, and self-care. From creating 3D areola reconstruction tattoos for breast-cancer survivors to mentoring future estheticians, Breanna is helping women feel whole again. Inside and out.

In this uplifting and transparent conversation, Erica and Breanna talk about trusting God’s timing, listening to your body, and learning to be softer with yourself.

You’ll learn:

•How Breanna turned beauty into a path for healing and empowerment
•The powerful story behind her paramedical tattoo artistry
•Why women must stop smiling through multiple workloads
•How to overcome comparison and hustle guilt
•Building community over competition in the beauty industry
•The importance of faith, journaling, and slowing down

Connect with Breanna Snyder

Location: 5006 Lenker St, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050, USA
Website: https://www.charlieluxbeauty.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlieluxbeauty/

Sponsored by:

TOCH Construction: https://www.tochconstruction.com/
Allstate Insurance – Rob Shaw: https://agents.allstate.com/robert-shaw-harrisburg-pa.html 
Chavis Law Firm: https://www.chavislawfirm.com/
Dirty Dog Hauling: https://dirtydoghauling.com/
Powered by The Erica Rawls Team: https://ericarawls.com/ 

Coffee Partner: Pennsylvania Bakery Coffee Roast.
Fueling this episode of Coffee with E.

Like this episode? Leave a review and share it with someone who needs a reminder that they’re built for this.

🔔 Subscribe and join our community for more confidence, leadership, and business growth conversations!

#CoffeeWithE #EricaRawlsTeam #WomenInLeadership #CharlieLuxBeauty #HealingThroughBeauty #BeautyWithPurpose #WomenEntrepreneurs #FaithAndBusiness #BeSofterWithYourself #EmpoweredWomen #AuthenticLeadership

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Are you a young entrepreneur interested in the food industry but not sure where to start? Meet Tasha Heck, owner of Healthy You Cafe in Enola, Pennsylvania, who turned her culinary roots and persistence into a profitable business.

Tasha worked under the previous owner for seven years before stepping into ownership in January 2024 at age 30. In that same season, she also launched a food truck. In this episode, she shares how she pushed past insecurity, learned to say no, and built confidence like a muscle while managing a small but powerful team.

At Healthy You, about 95% of items are made in-house. Dressings and sauces are created from scratch, chicken is sourced fresh from a local butcher, and favorites like the Hot Honey Chicken Salad keep customers coming back. Tasha also shares her next big vision: a commercial production kitchen and a retail line for her sauces and dressings.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

•How seven years of apprenticeship prepared Tasha for ownership

•Simple ways to stop self-sabotage and avoid burnout

•How to build real confidence through consistent action

•What it takes to run lean teams and keep food truly fresh

•The keys to pricing, portions, and customer satisfaction

•Tasha’s future plans for growth and expansion

Connect with Healthy You Cafe:

Website: https://www.healthyyoucafe.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/healthyyoucafe

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthyyoucater

Sponsored by:

TOCH Construction: https://www.tochconstruction.com/

Allstate Insurance – Rob Shaw: https://agents.allstate.com/robert-shaw-harrisburg-pa.html  

Chavis Law Firm: https://www.chavislawfirm.com/ 

Dirty Dog Hauling: https://dirtydoghauling.com/ 

Powered by The Erica Rawls Team: https://ericarawls.com/ 

Like this episode? Leave a review and share it with someone who needs a reminder that they’re built for this.

🔔 Subscribe and join our community for more confidence, leadership, and business growth conversations!

#CoffeeWithE #EricaRawlsTeam #WomenInLeadership #YoungEntrepreneurs #FoodBusiness #WomenInBusiness #CentralPA

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Stop telling yourself “I deserve it.” I did, and it kept me from true financial peace.

In this episode, I get real about the money mindset shift that helped me replace impulsive spending with lasting wholeness. For years, I believed working hard meant I deserved that bag, that trip, that little splurge. But I learned true freedom doesn’t come from what you buy. It comes from the discipline to wait for what truly matters.

I’m sharing my journey from overspending and running my business like a “hobby” to building a life and company grounded in financial clarity. This isn’t about guilt. It’s about growth. If you’ve ever made a money move you regretted, you’re in good company.

🎙 You’ll Hear:

•The moment I realized “I deserve it” was holding me back

•My go-to test before I make any purchase

•How waiting taught me to appreciate what I already have

•Why treating my business like a business changed everything

•The 3 core values that keep me accountable and growing

My Challenge for You:

Before your next purchase, pause and ask yourself: does your bank account agree that you deserve it? Wait for what matters. I’m rooting for you and will walk along side you as we step forward into financial wholeness together. 

🔗 Sponsored by:

TOCH Construction: https://www.tochconstruction.com/

Allstate Insurance – Rob Shaw: https://agents.allstate.com/robert-shaw-harrisburg-pa.html  

Chavis Law Firm: https://www.chavislawfirm.com/ 

Dirty Dog Hauling: https://dirtydoghauling.com/ 

💼 Powered by The Erica Rawls Team: https://ericarawls.com/ 

Like this episode? Leave a review and share it with someone who needs a reminder to wait for what truly matters.

🔔 Subscribe and join our community for more real conversations about money, mindset, and growth.

#WaitForWhatMatters #MoneyMindsetShift #FinancialWholeness #MindfulSpending #FinancialDiscipline #FaithAndFinances #SmartMoneyMoves #FromHobbyToBusiness #FinancialPeace #CoffeeWithE

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