POWER UP WOMEN!

Millennials have been called "the stressed out generation," as record numbers are dealing with anxiety and depression. Suicide among young people is also rising.  Psychotherapist Dr. Jane Shure, a nationally-recognized expert on self-esteem issues and healthy management of our “inner critic,” as well as co-founder of The Resilience Group in Philadelphia, joins Anne, Monica and millennial Kevin Farrell to talk about how 21st Century culture increases anxiety and how we can help ourselves, our kids and our friends manage it. “Worrying is a human survival instinct,” says Shure who explains what’s causing all our stress and practical skills for living well with it.  

Nancy Trites Botkin, a Leadership Guide, Founder of Think8 Women and Author of Living on Purpose, has been helping women tap into and pursue their unique purpose for decades. Graduates of her intense, intimate, one-on-one personal discovery sessions like to call themselves, "Wonder Women." She joins Anne and Monica from Montreal to share steps each of us can take to unlock our individual power by discovering and releasing our deeply-ingrained blocks that hold us back.

Record numbers of women in the USA, particularly young women are running for and winning elected political office.  An unprecedented number of women -- SIX -- are currently running for president, and there are now 127 women in the U.S. Congress -- 25 in the Senate and 102 in the House, nearly 25%.  Better, but nowhere close to equal representation for female citizens. And the numbers of Republican women in national office, meager as they have been, are getting worse.  VoteRunLead is a bi-partisan organization training thousands of women to master the political skills needed to run for office and run campaigns. We talk with VoteRunLead alums from both sides of the political aisle: Heather Barmore and Tina Barton. 

Once described as an "angry black woman," Michelle Obama is now one of the most admired women in the world. Her memoir has sold over three million copies and her speaking tour has been extended to 21 more cities, including Canada and Europe. Why is the story of her personal journey resonating across generational, class and racial lines? Guests Marilyn French Hubbard and Tatiana Wheeler are generations apart, but both were so moved by the book they have created platforms to engage with other women around Obama’s powerful mantra to all women that, “Yes, you are enough!”

Nearly fifty years after Title IX began opening opportunities for girls to compete in sports, barriers to participation still exist -- particularly for inner city girls. We talk with Dr. Ramona Cox, who runs the "Girls Changing the Game" sports and leadership programs for Detroit PAL (Police  Athletic League) and young athlete Mackenzie Fordham about why sports is a critically important confidence-building laboratory for girls. 

We continue our conversation with Cheryl Carlson, founder of Cher Car Kennels, whose over four decades of experience as a skilled trainer, competitor and breeder includes developing highly-trained police canines.  She shares safety tips on avoiding injury from unfamiliar dogs, insight on the qualities of terrific police dogs, and tips on matching the right activity with your dog's personality and physique. She even puts in some good words for why pit bulls can be great family dogs. You’ll also love our fascinating Part One conversation with Carlson, What Dogs Teach Us About Leadership.

Cheryl Carlson, one of the best known experts in the world of dog training, breeding and competition, and founder of Cher Car Kennels explains why our dogs need leaders, not best friends. Whether you are a new dog owner, a veteran looking for new challenges to tackle with your pet, or a professional handler, you'll learn something from this fascinating conversation with a respected dog lover, teacher and breeder who has done it all!  

A newly-elected surge of young, diverse and bold U.S. Congresswomen has increased the size (102) and power of the Congressional Women's Caucus to historic levels.  Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), co-chair of the bi-partisan caucus, talks leadership, gender issues and the challenges of tapping the collective power of three very different generations of powerful leaders, from Nancy Pelosi to Alexandra Octavio Cortez.  

Anne talks “life in leadership” with Donna de Varona, named by Sports Illustrated as one of the greatest female athletes of the 20th century. Besides her storied swimming and sports broadcasting careers, Donna has long championed sports opportunities for girls and women, including co-founding, with Billie Jean King, the Women’s Sports Foundation.

Podcasts are hot. But only 22% of podcasts hosts are women. Robin Kinnie, owner of Motor City Woman studio in metro Detroit and a contributor to Podcast Business Journal, is committed to amplifying the voices of women through podcasting. Whether you have just discovered podcasts (there are over 600,000 already!) and want to know what the fuss is about, or are thinking of hosting your own, this episode is for you.