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In this episode, I sit down with Anna Vecchi—a first-generation Chinese Italian American graphic designer—for a deeply honest conversation about identity, generational trauma, and learning to define yourself on your own terms. Anna shares how growing up in a predominantly white community shaped her relationship with culture, creativity, and performance, and how reconnecting with her Chinese heritage through her wedding ceremony helped her reclaim a part of herself she'd long tucked away.

We talk about the complexities of navigating strained mother-daughter relationships, setting boundaries in adulthood, and what healing looks like over time. Anna offers so much wisdom from her lived experience, and I'm honored to share this conversation with you.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

• Navigating identity as a mixed-race, first-generation daughter of immigrants
• How wedding traditions helped Anna reconnect with her Chinese heritage
• The pressure of performance and perfectionism in childhood and career
• Setting boundaries with a volatile parent and moving toward acceptance
• The role of community and storytelling in healing intergenerational trauma

Connect with Anna Vecchi:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-vecchi-750b2a43/

https://www.instagram.com/ahnuhvecky/

If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

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This week, I sit down with psychologist, certified coach, speaker, and creative, Dr. Kimberly Murray, to explore what it means to live and lead as a multi-passionate person. Kimberly shares her journey of integrating multiple roles: scientist, artist, strategist, and mom. We talk about what it looks like to honor your full self without burning out or compromising your values, and how creativity can be a quiet act of self-trust in a world that often demands certainty and conformity.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

• Finding the through line between seemingly separate identities
• Honoring creativity without needing to monetize every passion
• How motherhood reshaped Kimberly’s perspective on time, values, and perfection
• The power of alignment over obligation when making decisions
• Her THREAD coaching framework for multi-passionate women

About Dr. Kimberly Murray:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkimberlymurray/

https://drkimberlymurray.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dr.kimberlymurray/

Dr. Kimberly Murray is a Certified Life and Leadership Coach, speaker, psychologist, and creative spirit who helps high-achieving, multi-passionate women lead lives that feel as good as they look on paper. With 20+ years of experience navigating both technical and creative paths—including roles in government, education, entrepreneurship, and even a past life as a professional photographer—she knows firsthand that fulfillment doesn’t come from choosing one lane, but from honoring your full range.

Kimberly specializes in helping high achievers tap into their strengths, align with their values, and design lives that support both performance and wellness. Whether she’s coaching, speaking, or hosting her podcast Simultaneity, her message is clear: you don’t have to limit yourself to just one version of success—you can live a rich, resonant “both/and” life.

By day, Kimberly is a strategic planner in the federal government; by night (and often early morning), she’s an entrepreneur, mom of two brilliant kids, wife, and advocate for alignment over exhaustion. She holds a PhD and MA in Clinical Psychology from the University of Michigan, an MS in Biostatistics from Columbia University, and a BS in Psychology from Howard University.

If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

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In this episode, I sit down with Kenna Lindsay—interdisciplinary artist, producer, and creative technologist—for a vibrant conversation about creative evolution, clowning, and protecting what matters most. Kenna has moved through photography, circus performance, and now video game production, all while holding a deep commitment to community, play, and making the internet a safer place for kids.

We talk about reclaiming joy after injury, the emotional range required in performance art, and how Kenna’s lived experiences have fueled their advocacy work around child safety in games. This conversation is full of heart, humor, and powerful reminders that creativity is a way of being—not just a thing we do.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

• How clowning taught Kenna to embody emotion and practice joy daily
• The transition from live performance to indie game development
• Lessons from the circus on collaboration, access, and vulnerability
• Advocating for safer online spaces for kids in gaming communities
• Navigating identity, visibility, and creative integrity in tech spaces

About Kenna:

Website: https://kennamlindsay.com/

Kenna is an interdisciplinary artist and producer. Kenna received a B.F.A from Rochester Institute of Technology. They also studied Physical Theatre at the Circus Center in the Clown Conservatory program. In 2020 they learned how to run an agile distributed circus and in 2021 they were a IGDA Foundation Diverse Game Developers: Virtual Exchange Velocity Program Recipient. They continued to volunteer with the IGDA Foundation in 2022 and 2023 coordinating the Virtual Exchange Velocity Program. Since being part of the Velocity Program Kenna has worked with several global interdisciplinary teams like Soda Den and Coquito Games. Today they endeavor to work with others that promote ethical production practices and focus on players’ fun and safety as key indicators of success through work with the IGDA Child Safety Special Interest Group and the IGDA Foundations in person and virtual programming. Kenna primarily creates out of the Journal Building Artist Residency in the unceded homeland of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe also known as San Francisco, California.

If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

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In this episode, I sit down with Liza Kindred—writer, spiritual teacher, and author of F This Meditation—for a spacious, honest conversation about ambition, healing, and reclaiming our stories. Liza shares how she walked away from hustle culture and leaned into a slower, more compassionate way of being. We talk about the systems that keep us moving too fast, the sacred rebellion of self-trust, and the power of doing less in a world that demands more.

From deconstructing the wellness industrial complex to embracing a life of protection rituals and radical gentleness, Liza’s wisdom is both grounding and deeply human.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

• What it means to “retire from ambition” and redefine success on your own terms
• The impact of trauma, hustle, and slowing down on the nervous system
• Liza’s evolving spiritual practices and intuitive client work
• How her memoir reclaims the narrative around systemic harm and healing
• Boundaries, burnout, and why transformation starts with self-compassion

Links & Resources:

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

Newsletter: https://www.lizakindred.com/newsletter

If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

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In this episode, I sit down with Sahar Chung—Director of Product Strategy at Multiplayer—for a thoughtful conversation about evolving leadership, redefining research, and navigating growth in fast-paced environments. With a background in UX, visual design, and service design, Sahar brings a unique lens to how we lead teams, shift mental models, and stay grounded through change.

We talk about the mindset shifts from IC to manager to director, how to avoid burnout in people-first roles, and why asking for help is one of the most powerful leadership tools we have. Sahar also shares how she’s building her leadership practice around intentionality, emotional regulation, and community—on and off the clock.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

• The mindset shifts from individual contributor to manager to director
• Reframing research as product strategy and leading change with intention
• Emotional regulation, transparency, and avoiding the “swoop and poop”
• Why leadership doesn’t have to be lonely—and how to design your own support system
• Sahar’s tactile, restorative rituals outside of work (including dog stroller walks and swimming)

Links & Resources:

• Sahar’s website: https://saharchung.com
• Sahar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saharchung 

If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

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In this episode, I sit down with Brandie Smith—senior UX researcher at 5Tran, mother, and young breast cancer survivor—for a deeply personal conversation about navigating identity through unexpected life transitions. Brandie brings vulnerability, strength, and candor as she shares her journey through cancer, layoff, motherhood, and divorce—all in the span of a few years.

We talk about the emotional and physical toll of treatment, what it means to ask for help, and how her definition of success and self has shifted. Brandie also opens up about becoming an advocate for aesthetic flat closure and how she’s using her research mindset to support and educate others.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

• The life-changing diagnosis that followed her 40th birthday and a routine checkup
• How being laid off the day after her diagnosis became an unexpected turning point
• The mental and physical toll of treatment—and what she’s still healing from
• Choosing to be public about her journey and advocating for other women
• Redefining success and boundaries in her return to work

Links & Resources:

• LinkedIn: Brandie Ward-Smith
• https://askellyn.ai/the-day-after-i-turned-forty-i-was-diagnosed-with-breast-cancer
• Considering going flat after mastectomy? Not Putting on a Shirt is the go-to source. It includes support, education, and a directory of surgeons experienced in aesthetic flat closure.
• Want to understand your breast cancer risk? Use one of these tools to start a personalized conversation with your doctor:
  • IBIS Risk Calculator — Based on data from white women.
  • BWHS Risk Calculator — Designed using data from Black women.

If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

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In this episode, I sit down with Lia Fetterhoff—Director of Product Design and Research at Pathstream, creativity coach, and founder of Swishy—for an expansive conversation about creativity, identity, and honoring personal growth across seasons of life. Lia brings nearly two decades of experience in UX and design leadership, paired with her work as an artist and coach, to reflect on how we stay connected to our creative selves through transitions, setbacks, and changing responsibilities.

We talk about rebuilding creative confidence after early discouragement, navigating the shift from individual contributor to manager, and how Lia’s side project Swishy has evolved into a multifaceted space for inspiration, reflection, and coaching.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

• How childhood creativity and early judgment shaped Lia’s relationship with art
• Reconnecting with creative intuition after burnout and layoff
• Lessons from mentoring, coaching, and managing design teams
• Embracing seasons of creativity as a working parent
• The evolution of Swishy as a playground for curiosity and creative exploration

Links & Resources

• Website: swishie.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liafetterhoff/
• IG: @swishieofficial
• Substack: https://swishie.substack.com/

If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

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In this episode, I sit down with Amy Santee—career strategist, coach, and former UX researcher—for a rich conversation about values, work, and designing a career on your own terms. Amy brings her background in anthropology, coaching, and UX to the table as we explore the connections between self-research, career alignment, and systems-level change. 

We talk about the emotional undercurrents of career transitions, the realities of today’s job market, and how Amy’s personal journey into birdwatching helped her reclaim joy and rest outside of work.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

• How anthropology and UX research shaped Amy’s coaching philosophy
• Signs you may be out of alignment with your core values at work
• Navigating the tension between human-centered design and capitalist systems
• Worker identity, organizing, and reclaiming power in tech spaces
• The role of hobbies like birdwatching in building a more fulfilling life

Links & Resources:

• Amy’s website: amysantee.com
• Newsletter: The Jawbreaker – sign up at amysantee.com
• Podcast: What is Wrong with Hiring
• Book: Working Identity by Herminia Ibarra
• Book: Just Enough Research by Erika Hall
• Amy’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amysantee

If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

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In this episode, I sit down with Alla Weinberg, CEO of Spoken Wheel and author of A Culture of Safety, to unpack how relational trauma shows up at work. We explore the difference between calling workplaces "toxic" and naming them for what they often are—abusive. Alla shares her perspective on the emotional toll of modern work environments, how power dynamics perpetuate harm, and why healing at work starts with connection.

We also dive into what true safety looks and feels like at work, why shared leadership could be the future, and how trauma from our families of origin is often reenacted in the workplace. It's a powerful conversation for anyone navigating burnout, seeking more humane ways to work, or dreaming of a new model for leadership and collaboration.

Topics Discussed in the Episode:

• Naming workplace trauma and emotional abuse
• Red flags of unsafety and how to recognize them
• Why true safety requires healthy relationships—not just policies
• The case for circular leadership models
• Healing from work trauma and building inner safety

Links & Resources:

• Alla's website: spokeandwheel.co
• Book: A Culture of Safety by Alla Weinberg
• Alla’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
• Alla’s Instagram: @we.are.cyclebreakers
• Healing Trauma together: fourpercent.org

If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

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In this episode of In Her Words, I sat down with Jen Bokoff—activator, connector, strategist, and currently Director of Development at the Disability Rights Fund. Jen brings a grounded and joyful perspective to her work in philanthropy, motherhood, and systemic change. We explored everything from values-aligned leadership to the wonder of becoming a parent, and how burnout and joy intersect in complex times.

Jen shared her experience advocating for parental leave, the joyful surprise of bonding with her daughter Eloise, and how play and presence have redefined her rituals and values. This is a tender and insightful conversation for anyone navigating identity shifts and trying to align life with their values—while still laughing through it.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

• The intersectional nature of philanthropy and values-aligned work
  
  
• Burnout, values conflict, and the importance of systemic and personal alignment
  
  
• Jen’s transition into motherhood and the wonder of watching her daughter grow
  
  
• Advocating for parental leave in a global organization
  
  
• Redefining rituals, play, and joy post-baby

Connect with Jen Bokoff:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenbokoff

Jen is a connector, agitator, idea mover, and strategist working to make philanthropy more inclusive and democratic. She currently is the director of development for the Disability Rights Fund and serves on the steering committee of the Human Rights Funders Network. She finds immense joy in spending time with family and friends and is proud of being “laughing girl” on the B-roll of several long-ago TV tapings.

If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!