Penny for your Shots

If the Finger Lakes isn’t on your travel list yet… it might be after this conversation.

In this episode, I’m joined by Caley McKnight, an enology student at Cornell University who’s immersed in one of the most exciting (and underrated) wine regions in the country. Together, we explore what makes the Finger Lakes so special—and why it’s quickly becoming a must-visit destination for wine lovers.

From cool-climate wines and vineyard life to hidden gems you won’t want to miss, this episode is part wine education, part travel inspiration, and part love letter to discovering something new.

And if you’re joining me for Wine Camp 2026… consider this your preview.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How Caley went from restaurant life in California to studying winemaking
• What makes the Finger Lakes climate ideal for certain wines
• Why Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc shine in this region
• The role of science, soil, and sustainability in winemaking
• Local recommendations for wineries, cideries, and distilleries
• Why this region offers a more relaxed, approachable wine experience

Key Topics:

• Finger Lakes wine region overview
• Enology and winemaking basics
• Cool-climate wines
• Women in the wine industry
• Wine travel and experiences
• Sustainable and biodynamic practices

Want to experience it for yourself? Learn more about Wine Camp at: https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/winecamp

Wine Camp is laughter, adventure, girlfriend connection—shared over some very good wine and cocktails.

We're heading to Temecula, CA, July 15–18, 2027, for brand-new experiences centered around women, community, connection, and a whole lot of fun.

Registration is limited to the first 40 women. Learn more and save your spot at https://winecamp.info.

Want support growing your business? Book a free Discovery Call with Penny: https://tidycal.com/pennyforyourshots/call 

Wine Camp 2027 - Join the list or save your spot:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/winecamp

Become an Insider for weekly updates, tips, inspiration, and episode extras:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/insider

Love cocktails + community? Join the Sipper Club:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/sip

Explore all things Penny: coaching, podcast, events, & more:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com

Follow Penny on Instagram: @penny4yourshots
Or on Facebook: Penny (Kuhlers) Fitzgerald

Sometimes the thing holding your business back isn’t strategy, marketing, or systems.

Sometimes it’s the patterns you didn’t even know were there.

In this episode of Penny for Your Shots: Conversations & Cocktails with Brilliant Women, Penny sits down with trauma-informed therapist, speaker, and author Dr. Shannon South to explore how our past experiences can quietly shape the way we lead, build businesses, and show up in our lives.

Dr. Shannon shares how hidden emotional patterns can influence everything from the risks we take to the opportunities we avoid. When women begin to untangle those patterns, something powerful often happens: as they grow personally, their businesses begin to grow too.

This conversation is a thoughtful reminder that reinvention in midlife isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about reconnecting with who you’ve been all along.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

 • Why personal growth often unlocks business growth
 • How hidden patterns can quietly shape entrepreneurial decisions
 • The connection between healing, leadership, and reinvention
 • Why midlife can be a powerful season for rediscovery
 • How untangling old patterns can help women move forward with more freedom

Key topics discussed:

 • Midlife reinvention and personal growth
 • Women entrepreneurs and mindset
 • Hidden behavioral patterns and leadership
 • Trauma-informed personal development
 • Building a business that reflects who you truly are

Wine Camp is laughter, adventure, girlfriend connection—shared over some very good wine and cocktails.

We're heading to Temecula, CA, July 15–18, 2027, for brand-new experiences centered around women, community, connection, and a whole lot of fun.

Registration is limited to the first 40 women. Learn more and save your spot at https://winecamp.info.

Want support growing your business? Book a free Discovery Call with Penny: https://tidycal.com/pennyforyourshots/call 

Wine Camp 2027 - Join the list or save your spot:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/winecamp

Become an Insider for weekly updates, tips, inspiration, and episode extras:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/insider

Love cocktails + community? Join the Sipper Club:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/sip

Explore all things Penny: coaching, podcast, events, & more:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com

Follow Penny on Instagram: @penny4yourshots
Or on Facebook: Penny (Kuhlers) Fitzgerald

What if the voice telling you to play small… isn’t telling the truth?

In this episode, Penny sits down with keynote speaker, author, and confidence coach Simone Knego to talk about the stories women tell themselves—and how those stories shape everything from leadership to self-worth.

Simone shares her REAL Confidence Method and a simple mindset reset that helps interrupt the spiral of self-doubt when it shows up (because it always does).

From redefining leadership around the kitchen table to dropping the word “just,” this conversation is full of honest reflections, laughter, and practical mindset tools women can use right away.

Because confidence isn’t something you’re born with.
It’s something you build.

In this episode:

   • Why women often underestimate their leadership
   • Simone’s REAL Confidence framework
   • Why failure is data—not identity
   • The moment her daughter gave her a powerful wake-up call
   • How climbing Kilimanjaro changed how she saw herself

Key Topics:

   • Confidence and mindset
   • Kitchen table leadership
   • Women and self-worth
   • Rewriting your internal dialogue
   • Self-respect and boundaries
   • Why self-care isn’t selfish

Simone's Book, Real Confidence: https://realconfidencebook.com/

Learn more and connect with Simone: https://simoneknego.com/

Wine Camp is laughter, adventure, girlfriend connection—shared over some very good wine and cocktails.

We're heading to Temecula, CA, July 15–18, 2027, for brand-new experiences centered around women, community, connection, and a whole lot of fun.

Registration is limited to the first 40 women. Learn more and save your spot at https://winecamp.info.

Want support growing your business? Book a free Discovery Call with Penny: https://tidycal.com/pennyforyourshots/call 

Wine Camp 2027 - Join the list or save your spot:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/winecamp

Become an Insider for weekly updates, tips, inspiration, and episode extras:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/insider

Love cocktails + community? Join the Sipper Club:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/sip

Explore all things Penny: coaching, podcast, events, & more:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com

Follow Penny on Instagram: @penny4yourshots
Or on Facebook: Penny (Kuhlers) Fitzgerald

What if the dream you’ve been carrying for decades is still waiting for you?

Susan Lienau is 65 years young. She’s spent over 40 years running a small-town bar in northeast Iowa. She’s helped launch a community museum, serves on the city council, co-owns an Airbnb—and somewhere between raising four boys and welcoming six grandchildren, she finally decided to write the children’s book she’d imagined her entire life.

Not because it was convenient.
Not because she suddenly had “extra time.”
But because she realized… if not now, when?

In this episode, we talk about:

 • Why so many women put themselves on the back burner for years
 • The Decorah eagle story that inspired her book series
 • What happened when 123 people asked for copies
 • Navigating criticism while leading in a small town
 • Reinventing yourself in your 60s
 • The quiet courage it takes to call yourself an “author”

Susan’s story is about more than publishing a book. It’s about reclaiming creativity, trusting your ideas, and showing the next generation what’s possible when you finally say yes to yourself.

If there’s something tugging at you—a class you want to take, a business you want to start, a creative project you’ve been postponing—this conversation is your permission slip.

Because 65 is not too late.
And your dream is not too small.

Find Susan's Ruford Series on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rufordseries 

Buy Ruford Visits the Farm on Amazon: https://a.co/d/01ykayOg 

Wine Camp is laughter, adventure, girlfriend connection—shared over some very good wine and cocktails.

We're heading to Temecula, CA, July 15–18, 2027, for brand-new experiences centered around women, community, connection, and a whole lot of fun.

Registration is limited to the first 40 women. Learn more and save your spot at https://winecamp.info.

Want support growing your business? Book a free Discovery Call with Penny: https://tidycal.com/pennyforyourshots/call 

Wine Camp 2027 - Join the list or save your spot:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/winecamp

Become an Insider for weekly updates, tips, inspiration, and episode extras:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/insider

Love cocktails + community? Join the Sipper Club:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/sip

Explore all things Penny: coaching, podcast, events, & more:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com

Follow Penny on Instagram: @penny4yourshots
Or on Facebook: Penny (Kuhlers) Fitzgerald

Busy doesn’t mean productive. And exhausted doesn’t mean successful.

In this episode, Peggy Sullivan — former corporate executive turned researcher and speaker — shares what 12 years of data revealed about time poverty, burnout, and the hidden damage of hustle culture.

If you’ve ever felt like there’s never enough time, like your calendar is packed but your goals aren’t moving, this conversation will feel both validating and empowering.

Peggy breaks down:

• What “time poverty” really is
 • How chronic busyness damages health and relationships
 • The productivity myth that keeps high-achieving women stuck
 • Why multitasking actually lowers performance
 • How to subtract low-value commitments
 • Small micro-steps that rebuild clarity and confidence

We also explore how busyness can become a habit — even an addiction — and how to retrain your brain to choose meaning over mayhem.

This episode is for female entrepreneurs, leaders, and women in midlife reinvention who are ready to stop hiding in busy and start leading with intention.

Because you don’t need a crisis to change. You need clarity.

To learn more about Peggy and her work, visit her website: https://peggysullivanspeaker.com/   
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peggyasullivan/ 

Wine Camp is laughter, adventure, girlfriend connection—shared over some very good wine and cocktails.

We're heading to Temecula, CA, July 15–18, 2027, for brand-new experiences centered around women, community, connection, and a whole lot of fun.

Registration is limited to the first 40 women. Learn more and save your spot at https://winecamp.info.

Want support growing your business? Book a free Discovery Call with Penny: https://tidycal.com/pennyforyourshots/call 

Wine Camp 2027 - Join the list or save your spot:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/winecamp

Become an Insider for weekly updates, tips, inspiration, and episode extras:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/insider

Love cocktails + community? Join the Sipper Club:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/sip

Explore all things Penny: coaching, podcast, events, & more:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com

Follow Penny on Instagram: @penny4yourshots
Or on Facebook: Penny (Kuhlers) Fitzgerald

You can be busy, capable, and doing all the “right” things—and still feel stuck.

If you’ve ever wondered why your results don’t match your potential, this episode is for you.

In this conversation, Penny sits down with Nada Lena Nasserdeen, founder of Rise Up For You, international speaker, and author. Nada has worked with Fortune 500 companies and entrepreneurs around the world, helping people build confidence, communicate more effectively, and step into leadership. But what makes her work so powerful is that she’s lived the confidence gaps she now teaches others how to close.

This episode isn’t about fixing yourself—it’s about understanding how confidence actually works, why it doesn’t grow by accident, and how busyness can quietly keep you playing small.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why self-confidence isn’t a personality trait—it’s a skill
• How capable women get in their own way without realizing it
• The sneaky role busyness plays in avoiding growth
• Why boundaries are essential to confidence (not selfish)
• How beliefs quietly shape behaviors and results
• The importance of surrounding yourself with the right people
• Why personal growth requires intention, not motivation

If you’re craving clarity, momentum, and a little permission to stop carrying everything alone, this conversation will feel like a deep exhale.

🔗 Learn more about Nada and her work: https://riseupforyou.com
📲 Follow her on social: @NadaLenaNasserdeen

Wine Camp is laughter, adventure, girlfriend connection—shared over some very good wine and cocktails.

We're heading to Temecula, CA, July 15–18, 2027, for brand-new experiences centered around women, community, connection, and a whole lot of fun.

Registration is limited to the first 40 women. Learn more and save your spot at https://winecamp.info.

Want support growing your business? Book a free Discovery Call with Penny: https://tidycal.com/pennyforyourshots/call 

Wine Camp 2027 - Join the list or save your spot:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/winecamp

Become an Insider for weekly updates, tips, inspiration, and episode extras:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/insider

Love cocktails + community? Join the Sipper Club:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/sip

Explore all things Penny: coaching, podcast, events, & more:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com

Follow Penny on Instagram: @penny4yourshots
Or on Facebook: Penny (Kuhlers) Fitzgerald

If you’re in a season of transition and quietly wondering, “Did I miss my window?”—this episode is for you.

Penny is joined by Julie DeLucca-Collins, confidence coach, author, and fellow podcaster, for an honest conversation about career pivots, self-trust, and why you’re never truly starting over. Julie shares how being laid off during the pandemic became the catalyst for building a purpose-driven business—and how confidence is less about being fearless and more about trusting yourself enough to take the next step.

Together, Penny and Julie explore the quiet strength women often overlook, the transferable skills we carry through every chapter of life, and the power of community, sisterhood, and “believing mirrors” to help us see what we can’t always see in ourselves.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why so many capable women underestimate their experience
• The myth of “starting over” in midlife
• How confidence is built through small, brave moves
• Letting go of hustle culture and redefining success
• The role of community and sisterhood in personal growth
• Trusting yourself—even when you feel unsure or afraid

This conversation is honest, encouraging, and grounding—one that reminds you nothing you’ve lived, learned, or survived has been wasted.

Pour a drink, settle in, and let this episode meet you exactly where you are.

Connect with Julie and explore her work here:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julie_deluccacollins/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/goconfidentlyjulie/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jdelucca
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juliedeluccacollins

🎙 Julie’s Podcast: https://www.goconfidentlycoaching.com/podcast
🎤 TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/WrcJisG_wmc
🔗 Resources & Quick Links: https://www.goconfidentlycoaching.com/quicklinks

Wine Camp is laughter, adventure, girlfriend connection—shared over some very good wine and cocktails.

We're heading to Temecula, CA, July 15–18, 2027, for brand-new experiences centered around women, community, connection, and a whole lot of fun.

Registration is limited to the first 40 women. Learn more and save your spot at https://winecamp.info.

Want support growing your business? Book a free Discovery Call with Penny: https://tidycal.com/pennyforyourshots/call 

Wine Camp 2027 - Join the list or save your spot:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/winecamp

Become an Insider for weekly updates, tips, inspiration, and episode extras:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/insider

Love cocktails + community? Join the Sipper Club:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/sip

Explore all things Penny: coaching, podcast, events, & more:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com

Follow Penny on Instagram: @penny4yourshots
Or on Facebook: Penny (Kuhlers) Fitzgerald

There’s a moment many women reach—usually after a few decades of living—when things get clearer. The stories don’t quite add up anymore. The excuses land flat. And that inner voice gets a whole lot louder.

In this episode of Penny for Your Shots, I sit down with therapist Gina Haras for a thoughtful conversation about wisdom, discernment, and why our “BS meter” tends to get sharper with age. We explore how experience shapes clarity, why empathetic women often question themselves early on, and how growth allows us to trust what we feel instead of explaining it away.

This isn’t about labeling people or revisiting old drama. It’s about recognizing patterns, honoring intuition, and leaning into the wisdom you’ve earned.

In this conversation, we talk about:

• Why midlife brings clearer boundaries and stronger discernment
• The difference between love, attachment, and emotional confusion
• How self-trust develops through lived experience
• Why healing leads to better choices—not bitterness
• Learning to listen to your body and intuition without second-guessing

About Gina:
Gina Haras is a licensed therapist and founder of Luna Clinic. She works with women around the world through online sessions, helping them gain clarity, confidence, and healthier relationship patterns.

You can connect with Gina on LinkedIn here:
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-haras-5b8707229/
https://lunaclinicgroup.com/

If you’ve ever thought, “I see things so differently now,” this episode will feel like a knowing nod—and a reminder that your clarity didn’t happen by accident.

Wine Camp is laughter, adventure, girlfriend connection—shared over some very good wine and cocktails.

We're heading to Temecula, CA, July 15–18, 2027, for brand-new experiences centered around women, community, connection, and a whole lot of fun.

Registration is limited to the first 40 women. Learn more and save your spot at https://winecamp.info.

Want support growing your business? Book a free Discovery Call with Penny: https://tidycal.com/pennyforyourshots/call 

Wine Camp 2027 - Join the list or save your spot:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/winecamp

Become an Insider for weekly updates, tips, inspiration, and episode extras:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/insider

Love cocktails + community? Join the Sipper Club:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/sip

Explore all things Penny: coaching, podcast, events, & more:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com

Follow Penny on Instagram: @penny4yourshots
Or on Facebook: Penny (Kuhlers) Fitzgerald

If you’ve ever questioned your value, your voice, or whether you’re really using your seat at the table the way you’re meant to—this episode is for you.

I’m joined by Sarah Barnes-Humphrey, a longtime logistics leader, podcast host, nonprofit founder, and author whose work centers on self-worth, inclusion, and creating spaces where people feel safe, seen, and heard.

Sarah shares her journey through male-dominated industries, unexpected career pivots, and the quiet inner work of protecting self-worth when titles change, doors close, or life doesn’t go according to plan. Together, we talk about privilege, responsibility, and the power we often give away—without even realizing it.

This is an honest, thoughtful conversation about leadership, presence, and choosing to show up with intention.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why self-worth isn’t something you “figure out” once and for all
• How titles, labels, and external validation can distort confidence
• Recognizing your power in the rooms you’re already in
• The responsibility that comes with privilege and visibility
• Creating safe spaces where real conversations can happen
• Letting go of shame and giving yourself more grace

If you’re navigating a pivot, stepping into leadership, or feeling the nudge to stop playing small, this conversation will remind you that your voice matters—and how you use it matters, too.

🍸 Grab a drink, settle in, and join us.

Learn more about Sarah Barnes-Humphrey and explore her work below:

• 📘 I Buried Her in a French Press (Sarah’s book): https://geni.us/Iburiedherinafp
• 💌 Subscribe to Sarah’s newsletter: https://sarahbarneshumphrey.com/newsletter/
• 🎙️ Let’s Talk Supply Chain podcast & media platform: https://letstalksupplychain.com/
• 🎧 Blended podcast (inclusion in the workplace): https://blendedpodcast.libsyn.com/
• 🤝 Blended Pledge nonprofit: https://blendedpledge.org/
• 🌐 Sarah’s website: http://sarahbarneshumphrey.com/
• 💼 Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbarneshumphrey/

Wine Camp is laughter, adventure, girlfriend connection—shared over some very good wine and cocktails.

We're heading to Temecula, CA, July 15–18, 2027, for brand-new experiences centered around women, community, connection, and a whole lot of fun.

Registration is limited to the first 40 women. Learn more and save your spot at https://winecamp.info.

Want support growing your business? Book a free Discovery Call with Penny: https://tidycal.com/pennyforyourshots/call 

Wine Camp 2027 - Join the list or save your spot:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/winecamp

Become an Insider for weekly updates, tips, inspiration, and episode extras:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/insider

Love cocktails + community? Join the Sipper Club:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/sip

Explore all things Penny: coaching, podcast, events, & more:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com

Follow Penny on Instagram: @penny4yourshots
Or on Facebook: Penny (Kuhlers) Fitzgerald

If you’ve ever felt like you know what good leadership looks like—but still catch yourself waiting for agreement, approval, or buy-in—this episode will feel like permission you didn’t know you needed.

I’m joined by Tami Reiss (aka Tami from Miami), and this conversation beautifully reinforces what I teach again and again: you don’t need consensus to lead—you need clarity.

This isn’t about becoming more forceful, louder, or more “corporate.” It’s about trusting your instincts, making clean decisions, and leading in a way that feels aligned instead of exhausting. Tami brings powerful frameworks and real-world examples that put structure around what so many women already feel but haven’t been taught how to articulate.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why waiting for consensus slows momentum and drains confidence
• How clarity is actually an act of kindness in leadership
• The difference between delegating tasks and truly deputizing people
• Why influence has nothing to do with convincing—and everything to do with empathy
• How to lead without people-pleasing, over-explaining, or burning out

Key Topics:

• Authentic leadership
• Influence-driven leadership
• Decision-making with confidence
• Service over sales
• Women in leadership and entrepreneurship
• Clarity, boundaries, and trust

If you’re a woman who’s tired of over-collaborating, second-guessing, or carrying the emotional weight of everyone else’s comfort—this episode is a deep exhale and a reminder: you already know how to lead.

Free Influence Framework + MAP Worksheet
👉 https://tamireiss.com/influence

Tami’s Website / Home Base
👉 https://tamireiss.com

Tami on LinkedIN 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamireiss/

Wine Camp is laughter, adventure, girlfriend connection—shared over some very good wine and cocktails.

We're heading to Temecula, CA, July 15–18, 2027, for brand-new experiences centered around women, community, connection, and a whole lot of fun.

Registration is limited to the first 40 women. Learn more and save your spot at https://winecamp.info.

Want support growing your business? Book a free Discovery Call with Penny: https://tidycal.com/pennyforyourshots/call 

Wine Camp 2027 - Join the list or save your spot:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/winecamp

Become an Insider for weekly updates, tips, inspiration, and episode extras:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/insider

Love cocktails + community? Join the Sipper Club:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/sip

Explore all things Penny: coaching, podcast, events, & more:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com

Follow Penny on Instagram: @penny4yourshots
Or on Facebook: Penny (Kuhlers) Fitzgerald