Wanda Wen, founder and creative force behind Soolip, is celebrated for her unremitting romance with the artisanal and the inherent beauty of things touched by hand. Established on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood in 1995, and now nestled in Westlake Village, Soolip was built upon a profound love of paper - the tactile, expressive medium that continues to inspire Wen's world of refined artistry and soulful luxury.  

A business graduate and former New York fashion executive, Wen blends business acumen with a discerning eye for art, style, and meaningful detail. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Vogue, Town & Country, Better Homes & Gardens, and more, and she has appeared on The Today Show, and HGTV. Author of The Art of Gift Wrapping (Potter Craft/Random House), Wen is also known as America’s “go-to gift wrap stylephile.”

A dedicated yogi and teacher, Wen infuses mindfulness into all she creates. She co-launched YogaLand Game in 2018, an experiential board game for yoga enthusiasts that unites her passions for design, creativity, and uplifting others.

In today’s episode, Nada talks with Wanda about her paper company, its evolution over the decades, and how she manages to remain true to its original mission. Wanda takes us back to the beginning when her love of beauty and letter writing coalesced into a paper brand that started in her garage. She details the flagship store’s rapid growth and her decision to slow down and be intentional about the future.

For more information, visit Soolip’s website. To get in touch with Wanda about her private yoga lessons, email: [email protected]. Follow on Instagram: @wandawensoolip 

Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.

Lisa Congdon is an internationally known, award-winning artist and illustrator. She is best known for her colorful, graphic style and her exploration of themes of joy, liberation, and inclusion. She makes art for clients around the globe, including The Library of Congress, Target, The U.S. Postal Service, Wired Magazine, Amazon, Google, Warby Parker, Method, Comme des Garçons, Brooks Running, Peets Coffee, REI, and MoMA, among many others. Lisa exhibits internationally, including solo shows at Saint Mary's College Museum of Art (California), Chefas Projects (Oregon), and Paradigm Gallery (Philadelphia), along with group shows at Hashimoto Contemporary in Los Angeles, Museum of Design Atlanta, and The Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco.  

Lisa is self-taught and didn’t achieve momentum in her career until she was nearly 40 years old. Despite her untraditional path, Lisa has achieved recognition, not just as an artist but as a leader in the industry for her work in social justice, mentoring, and teaching. In March of 2021, she was named “One of the 50 Most Inspiring People and Companies According to Industry Creatives,” published by AdWeek. When she's not making art, you can find her racing her bike around the gravel roads of the United States.

In today’s episode, Nada talks with Lisa about finding success later in life as an artist, author, and shop owner. Lisa reflects on the relationship that first inspired her creativity, the time she spent in art classes, and the daily practice that honed her unique aesthetic. Lisa brings an honest and optimistic outlook for what lies in the middle third, as the two reflect on the advantages of grit and determination that accumulate throughout life, helping us embrace the messiness of new endeavors.

Be sure to check out Lisa’s book, A Glorious Freedom, and her website for information on books, classes, and her shops. Follow on Instagram: @lisacongdon.

Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.

Dina Aronson is a writer, editor, and pro-age advocate who is passionate about shining a light on midlife women and reframing the cultural conversation around aging. A former attorney, law firm manager, and founder of a legal search consultancy, she pivoted careers at 51 after realizing how little content reflected her own evolving midlife experience. She began freelancing for startups focused on women over 40. Along the way, she founded the Patina blog, now a Substack newsletter called Patina with Dina Aronson, where she explores topics related to aging through her midlife lens.

Dina is the coeditor of Midlife Private Parts: Revealing Essays that Will Change the Way You Think About Age, a soulful, unfiltered collection of stories that speak to what it really feels like to be a midlife woman in the world today.  She sits on the Governing Board of the nonprofit America Needs You and on the Influencer Council of the nonprofit Uncommon Threads. Dina lives between New York City and Miami with her husband and is the proud stepmother of two grown sons.

In today’s episode, Nada talks with Dina about her new book of essays, “Midlife Private Parts.” Dina pursued this project to honor her mother’s memory and legacy. Dina shares how she and co-author Dina Alvarez collected intimate stories about midlife with the hope that readers will feel less alone as they navigate their respective journeys. From learning to be vulnerable to giving up the need for control, the two reflect on the many aspects of life that become liberated in the middle third

Check out “Midlife Private Parts” for more information on Dina’s work. Follow on IG: @patina_life. 

Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.

Irene Chen is the co-founder of Parker Thatch, a California-based functional luxury accessories brand. With a background in fashion product development, including roles at Donna Karan and Calvin Klein, Irene brings decades of industry experience to the brand she co-founded with her partner and husband, Matthew Grenby. Together, they have grown Parker Thatch from its origins as an e-stationery company in 2001 to a profitable, eight-figure business known for its stylish and functional handbags, like the Charlie carryall and the Mimi tote. 

A key moment in the brand’s journey came in 2015 when handbag legend Kate Spade, a former customer-turned-mentor, encouraged the duo to focus on handbags and accessories—a decision that would propel the company’s growth. Irene is passionate about building a brand that resonates with women across generations, offering functional luxury with customizable options that meet the needs of self-expression and modern life. Irene and Matt reside in the Bay Area with their two children, Parker and Thatcher. 

In today’s episode, Nada talks with Irene about the original Parker Thatch handbag design, and the local dry cleaner that kick-started the brand we know today. Irene’s enthusiasm is contagious and provides just the dose of energy you need to kick-start whatever’s next for you.  

To find out more about Parker Thatch, check out their website. Follow on Instagram: @parkerthatch.

Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.

Kat Hantas is the co-founder of 21SEEDS Tequila, one of the fastest-growing flavored tequilas. She created 21SEEDS because it’s what she wanted to drink – something smooth, simple, and casual with a fresh, natural flavor that made drinking infused tequila as approachable as a glass of wine. Before it was a brand, it was just a couple of bottles infused in her kitchen with things she had on hand. What began as one bottle turned into dozens… and eventually, a new beginning. She called her sister Nicole and our friend Sarika, and they started talking about the possibilities. They found a female-led distillery– a perfect fit. They worked on different infusions and got each recipe just right. They came up with a name. Two sisters and one friend: 21SEEDS was born.

In today’s episode, Nada talks with Kat about her journey as a co-founder in the spirits industry. After a conversation with her doctor, Kat set out to create a cleaner drink to replace her nightly glass of wine and then began making cocktails for her older friends and family who were experiencing similar side effects from drinking. Despite 21SEEDS quick success, Kat experienced several failed endeavors. She and Nada reflect on what success means, the importance of trying new things, and that age is an asset, not a liability. 

To find out more about 21SEEDS, check out their website. Follow on Instagram: @kathantas and @21seeds.

Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.

Amina AlTai is a leadership coach, keynote speaker, and author of The Ambition Trap, helping purpose-driven leaders and teams thrive. She specializes in historically excluded communities (women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+), but all are welcome. Her goal is to help others reconnect their drive to their purpose so they can step fully into their purposeful ambition without burning out.

She has partnered with Google, Roku, Snap, Outdoor Voices, NYU, and HUGE, and is a Forbes contributor, Entrepreneur Magazine expert-in-residence, and Success Magazine Women of Influence honoree. She also hosts the podcast Amina Change Your Life, where she interviews top leaders on building meaningful, purpose-driven careers. 

In today’s episode, Nada talks with Amina about her book, The Ambition Trap, where she explores the difference between living a purpose-filled and a pain-filled life. Amina explains how a double autoimmune diagnosis in her twenties led to a journey of introspection and healing, then eventually, a career change. After becoming a life coach, she began to recognize patterns in her clients and the need for a conversation on ambition and identity. Sharing key components of the book, Amina sheds a fresh light on life for Liberty listeners during our middle third pursuits.

To find out more about Amina’s work, check out her website. Follow on Instagram: @aminaaltai.

Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.

Annie Jackson has been a key player in the successes of the industry’s most prominent beauty companies. Annie began her career at Estée Lauder, where, after six years, she was recruited to be one of the early members of the team that launched Sephora USA and Japan. Later, she took on the role of Director of Global Product Marketing for Benefit Cosmetics and, in 2011, returned to her roots in merchandising for color cosmetics at Sephora within JCPenney. Her love of beauty and quest for cleaner options led her, alongside Shashi Batra, to create Credo Beauty. As Co-founders, they shared a vision to change the way people think about what they put in and on their bodies and skin, fostering a new generation of beauty brands—natural, organic, effective, clean, and sustainable—and to pioneer the clean beauty movement. 
In today’s episode, Nada talks with Annie about the non-traditional path that led her to the beauty industry. Annie shares her ambitious jump into adulthood when she crossed the country without the benefit of family or a degree, but found herself with a dream job at Estée Lauder. After spending time at two global brands, Annie took a break to be with her children, and later, she returned to the beauty space when an industry friend lured her back with a new vision. She recalls her initial hesitancy when her soon-to-be business partner, Shashi, pitched the idea of Credo. She quickly discovered her passion for clean beauty and an opportunity to reshape the industry by offering consumers transparency and skincare alternatives that were good for them and the planet.

Check out Credo’s website for brand and store information. Also, “The Dirty List” PDF can be found on Credo’s Clean Standard page. Follow on Instagram: @credobeauty.

Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.

Kelly Atterton is a veteran beauty editor and entrepreneur with over two decades of experience shaping the beauty landscape. She currently serves as Beauty Director at C Magazine and is a contributor to Air Mail Look, where she shares insights on beauty, wellness, and style. Kelly has held prominent editorial roles at Allure, Vogue, and Vanity Fair, establishing herself as a trusted voice in the industry. 

In 2019, she launched Atterton, a boutique in Los Angeles that became a destination for discovering emerging beauty brands. Building on that passion, she co-founded Rile, a clean skincare line designed specifically for tweens and teens, filling a crucial gap in the youth beauty market. Kelly also serves as the Beauty Curator for Covet by Christos, where she introduces standout beauty brands to the CBC community through curated selections and live social selling shows. Her on-camera presence and deep industry knowledge make her a key figure in connecting consumers with both indie and established beauty brands in a compelling, authentic way. A mother of three and active community advocate, Kelly is involved with organizations like the Violence Intervention Program, HEART, and I Am a Voter.

In today's episode, Kelly talks about launching her teen skin care brand founded on simplicity, transparency, and integrity. She and Nada discuss the pressure kids face to use expensive products not made for their skin, and her commitment to offering only what's needed. Kelly describes her former career as a magazine editor and the various skills she honed that have propelled her into multi-faceted ventures, including freelance and charity work. She values collaboration and kindness more than ever, and lives for a good brainstorming session. 

To learn more about skincare for your teen, visit Rile. Also, here’s The Board where you can get “office hours” with Kelly. Follow on Instagram: @kelly.atterton.

Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.

Jessica Mortarotti is an entrepreneur with a knack for identifying market trends and a track record of successfully launching startup businesses. She founded & developed a farm-to-table ice cream company called Carmela Ice Cream in 2007, when she rightfully predicted the rise of specialty ice cream. Carmela Ice Cream is considered one of the top ice creams in the nation and has won numerous awards and accolades. 

Jessica’s ability to identify emerging trends, create strong, impactful brands, and her business experience have led her to her newest endeavor, SUN LOVE. Her sun-positive brand is venturing into the untapped niche within the 160 billion dollar skincare industry, and she is turning up the volume on pre- and post-sun exposure care. 

Jessica has been a guest lecturer, panelist, and interviewee countless times, sharing her expertise around her various ventures. She has been featured in a “trailblazers” event for female entrepreneurs by Voyage Magazine, and is currently the co-host of an entrepreneurial-focused podcast, Story of a Startup.

In today’s episode, Nada sits down with Jessica to talk about the launch of her new skincare line, Sun Love. With two previous business ventures under her belt, Jessica tackled this third idea with a new partner and a new business model; one that shifted her away from storefronts and franchises and into the more scalable world of direct sales. The two discuss the importance of forming a strong overall vision while maintaining a light grasp on product ideas. And Jessica shares practical steps for new entrepreneurs to take when the creative juices are flowing and a fresh idea strikes!

For more information on Sun Love products, visit their website. And be sure to check out Jessica’s podcast, Story of a Startup. Follow on Instagram: @sunloveskincare, @carmelaicecream, @jessicamortarotti.

Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.

Jill Rowe’s creative journey is anything but conventional—and that’s what makes it powerful. She began her career in fashion, modeling for iconic photographers such as Herb Ritts and David Bailey, before transitioning into New York’s downtown art world, where she worked with visionaries like Keith Haring and Ed Ruscha. Her curiosity led her to film production, then to the kitchen, where she discovered a love of feeding others, hosting intimate farmhouse dinners, and eventually opening her southern-inspired restaurant.

She spent eight years running Danny Meyer’s Union Square Cafe, honing her skills in service, leadership, and connection. Ready for a return to entrepreneurship, Jill moved to the Hudson Valley and met photographer and author Matthew Benson, who had already transformed Stonegate Farm into a biodiverse, organic estate. Together, they launched Cultivate Apothecary, crafting potent skincare and wellness products from the botanicals already thriving on the land, while adding new plantings known for their potent efficacy.

In today’s episode, Nada and Jill discuss her various careers as a model, restaurateur, and farmer, and how each path eventually led to co-founding a beauty brand. Jill describes developing an early interest in skincare while living abroad, and later developing a knack for food during her time in Manhattan. Once she moved to small-scale farming, she began creating with nature’s bounty. Jill shares what it’s like being partnered in both life and business with her co-founder, as well as the joy of fully discovering herself in the middle third of her life.

Check out Cultivate Apothecary for more information on Jill’s beauty products. Follow on Instagram @thejillrowe, @stonegatefarmny, and @cultivateapothecary.
Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.