Three-quarters of parents with children under 6 work outside of the home in Iowa, making child care a significant need for Iowa parents. But affordability and lack of access causes significant barriers for many families. In this episode of the Fearless podcast, co-hosts Emily Wood and LaDrina Wilson talk with Iowa Women’s Foundation interim CEO Claudia Schabel and former executive director of Postville Childcare Services Kristy Turner about systemic solutions to the child care crisis. Then, host Macey Shofroth talks with Natalie Mahoney and Anna Squier about their real-life experiences navigating their families’ child care decisions. 

All too often, we reflect on history with a look in the rearview mirror. On this episode of Fearless, we take a look at the history being made right in front of us. We spoke with Ella Schmit, a senior at the University of Iowa and a member of the women’s wrestling team, and her experience advocating for the growth of women’s wrestling in Iowa.

There are numerous factors that affect women’s confidence, both in and out of our control. These factors shape the internal dialogue we are having as we move through the world, changing how we show up in our lives. In this episode, Melissa Vine, president of Capital Vine, and Kasey Froeschle, senior training consultant with Sedgwick and an avid runner, share with Fearless how they overcome self-doubt to live their fullest lives.

There are certain things people notice when we first walk into a room, like the way we dress, the color of our skin or the shape of our body. These markers of our identity are in constant conversation with the world. In this episode of Fearless, we talk with Nola Cartmill, chief diversity officer and legal counsel at Holmes Murphy, Sylvia Nemmers, environmental science department chair at American Public University System, and Abi Reiland, president of commercial real estate at Sara Hopkins, about how our complex identities affect how we navigate through the world.

Introducing Fearless, the podcast where we share stories that empower women and work in life. Meet hosts Emily Wood, LaDrina Wilson, and Macey Shofroth, and see what you can expect in future episodes.

In this episode, we explore a question submitted by a Fearless reader: “I’d like advice for women to gain respect and authority when comments are made that they are the only female in the room of males, they are young (at least 15-20 years younger than anyone else in the room), or that the person that they are speaking to makes a comment like ‘I’m probably older than your dad.’” LaDrina and Macey are joined by Saloni Patel, an architect from the Quad Cities, and Perlla Deluca, owner and CEO of Southeast Constructors, co-founder of the Iowa School of Construction, and founder of the Pink Hardhat Foundation.