Family court impacts some of the most personal and emotional moments in people’s lives, but most of us know very little about how it actually works. In this episode, Orange County Superior Court Judge Ami Sagel pulls back the curtain on the realities of being a judge, the moral responsibility of making life-altering decisions, and the human stories behind divorce, custody, and domestic violence cases.

Kara and Ami explore how judges balance fairness with discretion, the growing mental health crisis affecting families, and why compassion and accountability are essential inside the justice system.

The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms.

Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think.

Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com.

Website: JudgeAmiSagel.com

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Judge Ami Sagel & Family Law

02:00 The power and limitations of being a judge

04:00 Judicial ethics, morality & life outside the courtroom

07:00 Jury trials vs. bench trials explained

09:00 Family law, custody disputes & judicial discretion

11:30 Humanizing judges & the emotional weight of courtrooms

13:00 Cases involving children, abuse & emotional burnout

16:00 Ami’s journey from corporate law to federal prosecutor

18:00 Sex trafficking cases & witnessing society’s “underbelly”

20:00 Adoption law, parental rights & emotionally difficult work

22:00 Divorce as “the great equalizer” across socioeconomic lines

24:00 Mental health, financial stress & family court realities

27:00 How family law has evolved beyond traditional gender roles

30:00 Co-parenting, custody dynamics & children navigating divorce

33:00 Building community, civic engagement & trust in the law

35:00 The frustration of legal limitations & following precedent

38:00 Self-represented litigants & navigating the court system

41:00 Why civics education and legal literacy matter

43:00 Supporting families through conflict, compromise & healing

46:00 How judges are appointed and elected in California

48:00 Ami’s reelection campaign & challenges as a woman of color

51:00 Diversity on the bench & representation in the legal system

53:00 Final reflections on justice, empathy & public service

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What if your home could actively support your mental health, relationships, and nervous system? Therapist turned interior designer Anita Yokota joins Kara Duffy to explore how our spaces impact the way we feel, function, and connect with ourselves and others.

Together they dive into clutter and cognitive load, designing for multiple personalities under one roof, nature-inspired interiors, and why “perfect homes” often disconnect us from authenticity. Anita also shares her personal journey from private practice therapist to interior designer, the emotional process of redefining power and identity, and how creating a grounded home can help us create a grounded life.

The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms.

Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think.

Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com.

INSTA: @anitayokota

WEBSITE: anitayokota.com

00:00 Introduction to Anita Yokota & Grounded Living

02:10 Can maximalist homes still feel calming?

05:00 Nature, clutter & nervous system regulation

07:00 Organizing intentional “zones” within the home

08:15 Designing for multiple personalities under one roof

11:20 Boundaries, empathy & family communication through design

14:00 How interior design reveals relationship dynamics

16:00 Mental health, ADHD & the post-COVID shift

19:00 Nature-inspired interiors & biophilic design

20:00 The four landscapes: ocean, mountain, meadow & desert

22:15 Creating grounded spaces on any budget

24:30 Flow, functionality & rethinking traditional spaces

27:00 Murphy beds, multipurpose rooms & creative living

30:00 Evolution, imperfection & changing with the seasons of life

32:30 Anita’s transition from therapist to interior designer

35:00 Entrepreneurship, creativity & serving people differently

38:00 Defining what it means to be a “powerful lady”

41:00 Transformation, loss & reclaiming personal power

43:00 Women choosing themselves & redefining success

45:00 Boundaries, motherhood & modeling self-worth for daughters

47:00 Designing homes around feeling, connection & conversation

48:00 Anita’s TEDx talk, book launch & final reflections

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What if being “selfish” is actually the key to living a more honest, aligned life? Kerry Docherty, co-founder of Faherty and author of Selfish: Unlearning, Reclaiming, and Telling the Truth, joins Kara Duffy to challenge everything we’ve been taught about putting others first.

They explore the conditioning women face around giving, the courage it takes to tell the truth in relationships, and how redefining marriage as a choice - not a contract - can transform connection. Kerry shares the deeply personal journey behind her memoir, the realities of running a family business, and what it means to finally listen to yourself.

The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms.

Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think.

Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com.

INSTA: @kerrydocherty 

WEBSITE: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/775631/selfish-by-kerry-docherty/

00:00 Introduction to Kerry Docherty & her book Selfish

01:00 Kerry’s background, early creativity & career path

03:30 Writing the book & what she’s most proud of

05:00 Why she chose the word “selfish”

06:30 Conditioning, people-pleasing & identifying your needs

08:00 Redefining selfishness & finding balance

09:30 Marriage evolution & choosing your partner

12:30 Hard conversations, conflict & truth-telling

14:30 Leadership & communication in business

15:30 Parenting, modeling conflict & raising kids

16:30 Indigenous partnerships & impact through Faherty

18:30 Conscious capitalism & brand values

21:00 Being seen vs. being liked

:23:30 Community, retreats & connection

25:30 Building your circle & finding your people

27:00 Rule-breaking & personal freedom

28:30 Parenting in today’s cultural climate

31:00 Practices for joy, sanity & grounding

32:30 Power, womanhood & identity

33:00 Releasing the book & handling reactions

34:30 Selfishness, responsibility & healing others

36:00 Realities of entrepreneurship & family business

38:30 What Kerry needs & hopes for readers

40:00 Inspiration & everyday humanity

42:00 Letting go, presence & self-awareness

43:30 Reconnecting to the body & mindfulness

45:00 Closing thoughts & where to find Kerry

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What if the only thing standing between you and your next big creative leap is simply saying yes? Producer, journalist, and founder of Gold Comedy Lynn Harris joins Kara Duffy to explore what it really takes to build something from nothing - even when you don’t feel “ready.” From co-creating the cult phenomenon Breakup Girl to launching a comedy platform for women and non-binary creators, Lynn shares how following curiosity, not certainty, can lead to powerful impact.

They dive into why comedy is a vehicle for social change, how to stop waiting for permission, and why making the thing matters more than feeling confident. This episode is a call to create, collaborate, and take up space exactly as you are.

The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms.

Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think.

Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com.

INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/lynnharris/

WEBSITE: https://goldcomedy.com/about/our-team/

Episode Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction to Lynn Harris

01:00 – Gold Comedy & Building Creative Communities

03:00 – Breakup Girl & Early Internet Success

06:00 – Persist Con, Activism & Community Building

08:00 – Saying Yes Before You’re Ready

10:00 – Learning Business on the Fly

12:00 – Why Women Are Ready for Comedy Now

14:00 – Creating Without Bro Culture

16:00 – Making Things vs. Just Talking About Them

18:00 – Teaching People How to Pitch & Build Ideas

21:00 – Why Life Experience Makes Better Stories

23:00 – Don’t Start the Deck Yet: Creative Development

24:30 – Massachusetts, Comedy & Cultural Influence

27:00 – Growing Up, Feminism & Finding Your Voice

31:00 – Activism, Power & Public Discourse

33:00 – Creating vs. Supporting Creativity

35:00 – Inside Gold Comedy: Membership & Model

39:00 – Building Sustainable Creative Communities

42:00 – Platforms, Tech & Scaling Community

43:30 – What “Powerful Ladies” Really Means

46:00 – How to Get Involved with Gold Comedy

47:00 – Final Thoughts: Just Start Creating

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From rock bottom to mountain summits - literally. LeiLani Quiray is proof that you can break every statistic stacked against you. LeiLani joins Kara Duffy to share how after surviving addiction, trafficking, and a near-death spiral, she rebuilt her life step by step, eventually launching a successful HR company and a coaching business dedicated to helping women transform their trauma into purpose.

In this episode, she shares how healing, self-awareness, and resilience can become your greatest superpowers, and why high-performing women are uniquely positioned to change the world once they do the inner work.

The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms.

Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think.

Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com.

SUPPORT OUR GUEST:

CTA’s for the Guest:

@iamwildfreeandme

@bethechangeHR

bethechangehr.com

wildfreeandme.com

00:00 – Introduction to LeiLani E. Quiray

01:00 – LeiLani’s Mission & Current Work

02:00 – Building Be The Change HR & Wild Free and Me

03:00 – Childhood & Family Background

04:00 – Addiction, Mental Health & Suicide Attempt

05:00 – Trafficking Experience & Rock Bottom

06:00 – Beginning the Healing Journey

07:00 – Volunteering & Helping Survivors

08:00 – Trauma, Memory & Suppression

09:00 – Understanding Trafficking & Its Nuances

10:30 – Realizing Her Own Trafficking Experience

12:00 – Coercion vs. Force Explained

13:30 – Non-Sexual Trafficking Examples

15:00 – Why Trafficking Is Often Misunderstood

16:30 – Building a Business While Healing

18:00 – Resilience & Relentlessness

19:30 – Endurance Sports & Mental Strength

21:00 – Breaking Statistics & Choosing Change

22:00 – Motherhood & Life-or-Death Turning Point

23:30 – Addiction Recovery & Leaving the Past Behind

25:00 – Trauma, Addiction & Escapism

26:30 – Turning Pain into Purpose

27:30 – Helping Others & Life Philosophy

28:30 – Sharing Her Story Publicly

30:00 – Overcoming Shame & Finding Her Voice

31:30 – Speaking Truth & Personal Power

33:00 – Mind-Body Healing & Physical Transformation

34:30 – Trauma Stored in the Body

36:00 – Fear of Being Fully Seen

37:00 – HR Career & Human-Centered Work

38:00 – Coaching High-Performing Women

39:30 – Turning Healing Into Impact

41:00 – Performance vs. Listening to Your Body

42:30 – Redefining Strength & Letting Go of Comparison

43:30 – What It Means to Be a Powerful Woman

44:30 – Ideal Client & Coaching Approach

45:30 – Creating Balance & Life Design

46:30 – Childhood Dreams & Purpose

47:30 – What She’s Most Proud Of

48:30 – Slowing Down & Enjoying Life

49:30 – Moving to New York & Finding Alignment

50:30 – NYC Energy, Diversity & Inspiration

51:30 – Scaling a 7-Figure Business

52:30 – Business as a Platform for Impact

53:30 – Financial Freedom & Women in Business

54:30 – Starting With Nothing & Building Wealth

55:30 – Entrepreneurship vs. Traditional Work

56:30 – Expansion, Freedom & Designing Your Life

57:30 – Where to Find LeiLani & Final Reflections

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What does it really take to build a career in entertainment—and stay there? Emmy-nominated producer Lindsay Luttrell joins Kara Duffy to share her journey from a small beach town in Florida to becoming an executive producer on major Food Network shows like Guy’s Grocery Games and Tournament of Champions. Lindsay opens up about the leap it took to move to Los Angeles, the realities of working in television, and what it actually means to be a showrunner behind the scenes.

They dive into the power of curiosity, the balance between creativity and execution, and how to prepare yourself to handle high-pressure environments. Lindsay also shares the inspiration behind her podcast Table Five, her love of storytelling, and why creating space for authentic conversations matters.

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The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms.

Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think.

Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com.

INSTA: @lululuttrell

INSTA: @table5pod

00:00 Introduction

01:00 Lindsay’s Career Overview

02:00 Growing Up in Destin, Florida

03:00 Connection to the Ocean

05:00 Duality of Home vs LA

09:00 Food TV Audiences

12:00 What an Executive Producer Does

15:00 Managing Chaos on Set

18:00 Personal Rituals & Self-Preparation

20:00 Anxiety, Travel & Control

22:00 Slowing Down & “La Calma”

23:30 Starting Table Five Podcast

26:00 Balancing Work & Passion Projects

27:00 Communication Styles & Curiosity

30:00 Breaking Into TV & Career Advice

34:00 Work Ethic & Generational Shifts

39:00 Career Pride & Moving to LA

43:00 Defining a Powerful Lady

45:00 The Evolution of Food Entertainment

47:00 Favorite Chefs & Industry Insights

48:00 Podcast Growth & Closing

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What if reconnecting to nature and yourself is the key to building a more meaningful, liberated life? Filmmaker, athlete, and cultural strategist Dani Reyes-Acosta joins Kara Duffy to explore what it means to come back to our bodies, our communities, and the land in a world that rewards disconnection and burnout.

Together they dive into redefining the outdoors beyond patriarchal narratives, the power of ritual and slowing down, and how reclaiming the feminine can reshape leadership, creativity, and collective change. Dani shares how storytelling, community, and conscious connection can help us move from extraction and survival into reciprocity, intuition, and a more expansive way of living.

The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms.

Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think.

Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com.

SUPPORT OUR GUEST:

INSTA: @notlostjustdiscovering

WEBSITE: https://notlostjustdiscovering.com/

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danireyesacosta/

00:00 – Introduction to Dani Reyes-Acosta

02:30 – Language, Creativity & Brain Expansion

05:00 – Dani’s Career Path & Purpose

08:30 – Power, Imperialism & The Commons

12:00 – Economic Inequality & Societal Shifts

15:00 – Finding Hope in a Chaotic World

18:00 – The Power of Storytelling & Film

22:00 – Women, Relationships & Support Systems

26:00 – Redefining Fulfillment & Balance

28:30 – The Outdoor Industry & Patriarchal Narratives

32:00 – Consumerism & Accessibility in Nature

35:00 – Public Lands, Capitalism & Access

39:00 – Reclaiming the Feminine

41:00 – Rituals for Healing & Sustainability

45:00 – Community, Connection & Daily Practice

47:00 – Trauma, Resilience & Embodiment

48:30 – How to Work With Dani

51:00 – Leadership, Media & The Future

53:00 – Final Reflections

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What if the fastest way to transform your life is learning to feel more?

Breathwork guide and embodiment teacher Jill Jordan joins Kara Duffy to explore the journey from living in fear to living in conscious freedom. After surviving a near-drowning accident, Jill began questioning everything she thought she knew about power, safety, and the human experience.

Together they dive into somatic work, the conditioning that disconnects women from their bodies, and why pleasure is not indulgent — it’s life force. Jill shares how reclaiming sensation, curiosity, and self-trust can unlock authenticity, magnetism, and deeper fulfillment.

The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms.

Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think.

Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com.

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/spiritus.love/

Website: https://www.spiritus.love/

00:00 — Introduction to Jill Jordan

02:20 — Living in Fear Before the Transformation

03:25 — The Near-Death Experience That Changed Everything

05:30 — Discovering Breathwork and Re-Entering the Body

06:00 — Life Before vs After the Near-Death Experience

08:10 — What It Actually Means to “Be in Your Body”

09:20 — Why Women Are Conditioned to Disconnect From Their Bodies

11:00 — Somatic Work and Emotional Curiosity

12:00 — Performance vs Feminine Power

14:00 — Commitment Without Attachment to Outcomes

17:00 — Living a Life Committed to Pleasure

20:00 — Becoming a Magnet Instead of a Producer

20:30 — Jill’s Story of Learning to Be Seen

25:00 — Why the Word “Pleasure” Makes People Uncomfortable

27:00 — The Problem With Tolerating Too Much

31:00 — Confidence Comes From Experience

32:30 — Deconstructing the Stories That Limit Us

36:00 — Women, Sensuality & Reclaiming Self-Expression

40:00 — Reclaiming Ownership of Pleasure

41:00 — Masculine vs Feminine Power in Modern Culture

44:00 — Forgiveness, Compassion & Healing Gender Dynamics

49:00 — Creating Space for Self-Care and Daily Practices

51:00 — What Makes a Powerful Woman

52:00 — Jill’s Programs and Final Advice

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What happens when the law extends beyond Earth? In this fascinating episode of the Powerful Ladies Podcast, Kara Duffy sits down with appellate lawyer, professor, and podcast host Mary-Christine (MC) Sungaila to explore how the law is evolving to meet the challenges of the modern world - from Holocaust art recovery to women’s human rights and even the emerging field of space law.

Mary Christine shares how her career in appellate litigation has allowed her to help shape legal precedent in cases that impact women and girls, international human rights, and global justice. She explains how to solve complex legal puzzles,  from the U.S. Supreme Court cases to international courts, can influence how laws are interpreted for generations.

The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms.

Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think.

Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com.

SUPPORT OUR GUEST:

Website: https://calg.com/team/mc-sungaila/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcsungaila

00:00 – Introduction to Mary Christine Sungaila

02:00 – Teaching space law and building a career in appellate litigation

06:00 – How appellate law works and shaping legal precedent

09:00 – Space law, geopolitics, and global cooperation

12:30 – Holocaust art recovery and the Woman in Gold case

16:00 – Cultural heritage in space and protecting the moon’s history

20:00 – Ownership, governance, and the Outer Space Treaty

22:30 – Who counts as an astronaut and the future of space travel

26:30 – International law, human rights, and global legal systems

28:00 – Securing rights for women and girls through landmark cases

30:30 – The Ciudad Juárez case and international women’s rights law

34:00 – Domestic violence law and international accountability

37:00 – How appellate lawyers shape the law itself

38:30 – Why Mary Christine started her podcast, The Porsche Project

42:00 – What “powerful ladies” means to Mary Christine

45:00 – Following curiosity and the future of space law

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Romance is being reclaimed at a moment when culture feels rushed, transactional, and increasingly disconnected. As social media accelerates trends and weddings risk becoming aesthetic checklists, many couples are left wondering whether they’re planning a meaningful experience or performing one. In this episode, Kara Duffy sits down with Ashley Pigott, luxury wedding producer and founder of Ashley Pigott Events, to explore why excellence, intentionality, and human connection are the true foundations of unforgettable celebrations.

Together, they unpack the difference between a planner and a producer, the psychology of guest experience, the invisible infrastructure that makes magic possible, and why labor, lighting, and logistics matter just as much as flowers and fashion. Ashley shares how her humble beginnings shaped her leadership style, why listening is her most important creative tool, and how she’s raising daughters to use their voices in rooms that once asked women to shrink.

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The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms.

Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think.

Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com.

SUPPORT OUT GUEST:

Instagram: @ashleypigottevents

Website: ashleypigott.com

00:00 – Producing Magic, Not Just Planning Weddings

03:00 – The Difference Between a Planner and a Producer

06:00 – Trust, Micromanagement & Creative Freedom

09:00 – Architecture, Atmosphere & Guest Psychology

13:00 – The Cultural Craving for Romance & Connection

16:00 – Finding Inspiration in the Ordinary

20:00 – Manifestation, Networking & Attracting Luxury Clients

25:00 – Social Energy, Boundaries & Prioritizing Home

28:00 – From Humble Beginnings to Global Weddings

31:00 – Imposter Syndrome & Belonging in the Room

34:00 – Listening as Leadership

36:00 – Demanding Extraordinary vs. Accepting “Good Enough”

40:00 – Building Teams That Deliver Excellence

44:00 – Raising Powerful Girls

48:00 – Building a Business in Toronto

50:00 – What’s Next: Europe, Expansion & More Magic

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices