Empowered with Gina | An Empowerment Podcast with Gina Zapanta

In this episode of Empowered With Gina, Gina sits down with entrepreneur, podcast host, and recovery advocate Keesha Scott for an honest conversation about addiction, motherhood, trauma, healing, and empowerment. Keesha opens up about getting sober over two decades ago, raising twins as a single mother after being abandoned during pregnancy, losing her children’s father to addiction, and later facing her own son’s struggles with substance abuse.Together, Gina and Keesha discuss the genetic and emotional realities of addiction, the pressure women feel to appear “put together,” and why so many people seek escape through alcohol, shopping, relationships, or other coping mechanisms.They also talk about parenting through pain, breaking generational cycles, emotional healing, and learning how to stop living as a curated version of yourself just to fit in.Keesha shares details about her upcoming book, which blends memoir and parenting through the lens of recovery, resilience, and self-awareness.This episode is for anyone navigating addiction in their family, struggling with self-worth, overcoming adversity, or trying to build a healthier future for themselves and their children.

For so many women, guilt has become a lifestyle.Guilt for wanting more.Guilt for saying no.Guilt for protecting your peace.Guilt for choosing yourself instead of constantly choosing everyone else.In this episode of Empowered With Gina, Gina breaks down why putting yourself first feels so uncomfortable, how people pleasing quietly destroys your fulfillment, and why becoming “selfish” might actually be the healthiest thing you ever do.She talks about:Why saying yes to everyone is keeping you stuckHow to stop needing people’s approvalThe truth about boundaries and why they trigger othersRelearning the meaning of the word “selfish”How to start protecting your energy without guiltWhy discomfort is part of growthThis episode is for anyone who feels exhausted from trying to keep everyone else happy while slowly abandoning themselves in the process.You are not wrong for wanting peace.You are not selfish for protecting yourself.And you do not need permission to build a life that feels good to YOU.Subscribe to Empowered With Gina for weekly conversations about healing, boundaries, self-worth, relationships, discipline, and building a life by your design.#EmpoweredWithGina #SelfWorth #Boundaries #PeoplePleasing #Healing #WomenEmpowerment #PersonalGrowth #MentalHealth #SelfLove #Confidence

In this episode of Empowered With Gina, Gina gets real about something most people avoid — toxic relationships. Whether it’s family, friends, or coworkers, she breaks down how to actually identify toxic behavior, stop making excuses for it, and start protecting your peace without apology.

This isn’t about dramatic confrontations or burning everything down. It’s about clarity, boundaries, and finally following through. Gina walks through when a relationship is worth addressing… and when it’s time to walk away completely.

She also calls out the hard truth most people don’t want to hear: toxic people stay in your life because you allow them to.

If you’ve been feeling drained, manipulated, or constantly disrespected, this episode will challenge you to stop negotiating your standards and start choosing yourself.

Because love doesn’t mean access. And growth requires distance from what’s holding you back.

If you’ve ever struggled with how to set boundaries without feeling guilty, this episode is for you.
In this solo episode of Empowered With Gina, Gina breaks down how to stop people pleasing, say no with confidence, and build boundaries that actually stick.

She challenges the idea that boundaries need to be explained, justified, or approved by others. Instead, she reframes boundaries for what they really are: decisions. Clear, non-negotiable standards for what you will and won’t tolerate in your life.

Gina dives into why over-explaining weakens your boundaries, how inconsistency keeps you stuck, and why other people’s reactions are not a reflection of whether your boundary is right or wrong. She also addresses the uncomfortable truth that some people benefit from you having no boundaries at all, and why their pushback is something you need to expect, not fear.

If you’ve ever felt guilty for saying no, struggled with people-pleasing, or worried about being judged for choosing yourself, this episode will reset your mindset.

Boundaries aren’t about pushing people away. They’re about finally choosing yourself.

In this solo episode of Empowered With Gina, Gina breaks down the real reasons so many people feel stuck, even when they say they want more out of life. It’s not a lack of desire. It’s the behaviors being repeated every single day.

Gina walks through five common patterns that quietly hold people back from growth, including avoiding discomfort, overexplaining decisions, staying in the same environments, lacking consistent follow-through, and waiting for the “perfect time” that never comes.

She challenges listeners to stop seeking validation, start trusting themselves, and understand that clarity and confidence are built through action, not before it. Growth is uncomfortable by design, and the people who move forward are the ones willing to lean into that discomfort.

This episode is a direct, no-excuses conversation about discipline, boundaries, and what it actually takes to change your life.

If you’re ready to stop talking about growth and start living it, this is where it begins.

#PersonalGrowth #SelfDiscipline #MindsetShift #EmpoweredWithGina #SelfWorth #Boundaries #GrowthMindset

In this powerful episode of Empowered With Gina, Gina sits down with returning guest Judge Glenda Hatchett for an urgent conversation on maternal health, civil rights, advocacy, and the state of America today. Judge Hatchett shares the heartbreaking story of losing her daughter-in-law Kira after a preventable C-section tragedy, and explains why the fight for Black and Brown women’s maternal health remains so critical.The conversation also explores sex trafficking, juvenile justice, women’s health funding, voting rights, racial profiling, economic boycotts, and what everyday people can do when democracy feels fragile. Judge Hatchett reflects on her extraordinary career as a lawyer, judge, television personality, and advocate, while also introducing her new children’s book, Go Girls, created to inspire the next generation to dream bigger.This episode is a reminder that silence is not an option, purpose matters, and real change requires courage, action, and community.Topics covered in this episode:Judge Glenda Hatchettmaternal health for women of colorcivil rights and racial justicevoting rightswomen’s advocacyjuvenile justicesex trafficking awarenessKira Johnson storyGo Girls bookEmpowered With Gina podcast

In this episode of Empowered with Gina, Gina Zapanta sits down with Supervisor Lindsey Horvath for a powerful conversation about leadership, resilience, public service, and what it means to serve people during some of the most difficult moments facing Los Angeles.Supervisor Lindsey Horvath shares her journey from a small-town upbringing in Ohio to becoming a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, where she made history as the first millennial and youngest-ever Chair of the Board. She opens up about the path she thought she would take, the pivots that changed her life, and how setbacks can sometimes lead to the work a person is truly meant to do.Gina and Supervisor Lindsey Horvath also discuss some of the biggest issues impacting Los Angeles today, including homelessness, housing affordability, fire recovery, community trust, government reform, and how leaders can continue showing up for vulnerable communities in times of uncertainty. The conversation also gets personal, touching on faith, self-reflection, burnout, self-care, and the pressure women feel to “have it all.”This episode is for anyone navigating change, carrying responsibility, facing fear, or trying to lead with more purpose and compassion.Topics discussed:Supervisor Lindsey Horvath’s personal and professional journeyPublic service and modern leadershipThe homelessness crisis in Los AngelesFire recovery and rebuilding communityFear, growth, and life pivotsSelf-care, faith, and staying grounded

In this episode of Empowered With Gina, Gina Zapanta sits down with Johana Hernandez Hutton, founder and designer of the globally recognized bridal and fashion brand GLAUDI. Johana shares the powerful story behind her journey from growing up in Compton, watching her parents sew in garment factories, to becoming a head designer at just 19 years old and eventually launching her own internationally celebrated fashion brand. Together, Gina and Johana talk about what it means to build a business without connections, navigate spaces where representation is limited, and stay grounded through faith, family, and purpose. Johana opens up about the realities behind her success — including the challenges of breaking into the fashion industry as a Latina, the grief of losing her father during COVID, and how one of the most painful seasons of her life led to the unexpected growth of her now-iconic bridal business.

This conversation is about resilience, creativity, entrepreneurship, and the courage to pursue the life you know you’re meant to live.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Growing up in garment factories and learning fashion from her parents

• Becoming a head designer at 19 years old

• Building GLAUDI and representing Latinas in fashion

• Breaking into New York and international fashion weeks

• Losing her father during COVID and navigating grief as a business owner

• How heartbreak unexpectedly led to her thriving bridal business

• Why passion and purpose matter more than connectionsJohana’s story is a reminder that your background does not limit your future — it can be the very thing that prepares you for it.

Subscribe to Empowered With Gina for more conversations with leaders, founders, and change-makers creating impact in business and life.#EmpoweredWithGina #JohanaHernandez #GLAUDI #LatinaEntrepreneur #FashionFounder #WomenInBusiness #EntrepreneurStory

In this episode of Empowered With Gina, Gina sits down with entrepreneur and brand strategist Catalina Del Carmen to unpack the real truth about business growth.

From taking ten years to graduate college to working in tech at companies like Airbnb and Adobe, Catalina shares how ego hits, embarrassment, and uncertainty shaped her journey into building a profitable personal brand. She explains why you must first learn how to make $1,000 before you ever see $10,000 months — and why each new income level demands a new version of you.

Gina and Catalina dive into the emotional cost of entrepreneurship, why women often undervalue themselves, and how embarrassment is not a sign you’re failing — it’s the price of success. They also break down how to turn content into paying clients, why focusing on one platform matters, and what it actually means to “show up real” online.

This conversation is for aspiring entrepreneurs, content creators, and women ready to stop playing small and start building with confidence.

Topics discussed:

• Business growth and scaling

• Overcoming ego in entrepreneurship

• Charging what you’re worth

• Turning content into clients

• Building an authentic personal brand

Subscribe for more conversations that challenge you to think bigger, move smarter, and live empowered.  ⁨@empoweredwithgina⁩ 

In this episode of Empowered With Gina, Gina Zapanta sits down with Los Angeles City Attorney Heidi Feldstein Soto for a candid conversation about resilience, leadership, and public service.Heidi shares how a career setback early in her professional journey ultimately redirected her toward greater purpose. From growing up in Puerto Rico in an interfaith household to becoming the first Latina elected as LA City Attorney, her story is rooted in persistence, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to justice.The conversation explores what it truly means to be a civil servant, why traditional “work-life balance” is often a myth for women in leadership, and how coalition-building helped her office rescue more than 250 minors from sex trafficking in Los Angeles. Heidi also speaks on character, accountability, and why kindness and credibility will outlast any title.This episode is a masterclass in conviction, collaboration, and choosing impact over comfort.Topics include:• Overcoming professional setbacks• Women in leadership• Public service and civil responsibility• Combating sex trafficking in Los Angeles• Leadership under pressure• Character, resilience, and legacySubscribe for more empowering conversations that challenge you to lead boldly and live life by design.