The show is all about the journey and a pivotal moment in a person's life or career where they stopped and said "How did I get here?" either at the start or end of a significant transitional period.

Deborah “Deb” Soholt, a prominent state legislator, women’s health pioneer, award-winning registered nurse and engaging podcast/radio host, speaks nationally and internationally on issues of women’s influence, women’s health and professional development.

Deb recently left behind the corporate world to cut through the muck as a women’s influence truth-teller, harnessing her decades of hard-earned experience establishing authoritative platforms in the arenas of government, health care and business. In 2019, Deb teamed with Dr. Melody Schopp to create Influential SHE LLC, a fresh voice in an old conversation to accelerate the influence of women in the world. Deb and Mel believe that instead of constantly working harder to chase success, women should uncompromisingly embark on joyful journeys that align with their authentic selves.

As a current four-term South Dakota State Senator who co-chairs a National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL) health innovation task force, Deb uses her expertise to influence state and federal legislation. As a dreamer and a doer, she is known for rolling up her sleeves and tackling big issues.  This is evident in having co-led statewide education funding reform that resulted in historic raises for teachers.  Her diligence and leadership have improved mental health care, expanded small businesses and opened new channels for access to health care in every corner of the state.  Deb introduced a groundbreaking children’s health bill that established the Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment, charged with ending child sexual abuse. She also earned an NCSL early childhood fellowship and was selected by the Council of State Governments to attend the prestigious Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development.  Deb was part of a U.S. lawmaker’s health care advisory group, reviewing federal health legislation and providing input on such issues as Medicare reimbursement, telehealth services and the Patient Bill of Rights.

Deb’s career has taken her from the bedside to the boardroom. In her former long-term role as women’s health director for Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center, a national benchmark consultation site for organizations across the country, the service she led was named one of America’s top ten best maternity units by CHILD magazine.  With an organizational reputation as an “intrapreneur” she led the development of a next generation functional primary care clinic for women – the first in the nation imbedded in a health system.  

Deb served on the board of directors and as education chair for Women in Balance, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping women take charge of their hormone health, which has since morphed into a program under the National University of Natural Medicine. Deb has authored journal articles on women’s health and spent six years co-hosting the weekly health information show House Calls on South Dakota Public Radio.
Deb’s resume heralds the depth of her national/international speaking engagements in women’s health and professional development in the cities of Charlotte, Fort Worth, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Portland, San Antonio, Mexico City and more.  Always interested in being part of something “bigger than herself”, throughout her career Deb has served on statewide and national boards, most often in the top leadership role.