After a debilitating injury took her out of the game - literally - Christina Spinazola was forced to reevaluate everything. Once a scientist and athlete, she found herself in deep burnout until a single coaching session changed the trajectory of her life. In this episode of the Powerful Ladies Podcast, host Kara Duffy sits down with Christina to unpack how coaching helped her reclaim her power, find new purpose, and build a life of integrity, self-trust, and radical choice.

They talk about what real transformation looks like, the myths around the coaching industry, and why adventure, whether on the Pacific Crest Trail or inside your own mind, is often the key to expansion. Christina also shares her practical take on building self-trust, the role of language in reshaping identity, and why the best coaches walk alongside their clients, not ahead of them.

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Christina’s Injury, Identity Crisis, and How Coaching Changed Her Life

(00:03:30) From Skeptic to Coach: What Coaching Really Unlocks

(00:06:00) Redefining Coaching: Integrity, Trust, and Client-Led Growth

(00:08:30) Letting Go of Survival Mode and Choosing Something New

(00:11:00) The Pacific Crest Trail: Adventure, Identity, and Transformation

(00:14:30) Solo Travel, Safety, and Building True Self-Trust

(00:17:00) How Big Goals Start with Small Steps

(00:20:00) Using Science and Testing to Build a Life That Works

(00:22:30) Grace and Grit: The Dual Energy of Coaching

(00:25:00) What It Means to Lead Yourself Before Leading Others

(00:28:00) Navigating Pressure and Rewriting the Rules of Success

(00:30:00) Christina’s Wishlist: Who She Wants to Coach and Why Now

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.

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What happens when you merge creativity, city planning, and community-building into a business? Meet Emily Isenberg, the founder and creative director of Isenberg Projects. Based in Boston, her firm brings people together through placemaking, public art, and activating city spaces in ways that feel inclusive, unexpected, and fun. In this episode, we talk about leading a collective, designing experiences that reflect a city’s heartbeat, and why real community-building happens when we get out into the world and try all the flavors.

We also discuss the difference between leadership and management, how to make career pivots from art school to urban planning, and why curiosity, empathy, and collaboration are key skills for building a creative business that lasts.

Chapters:

(00:00:00) What is creative placemaking?

(00:01:10) From art school to community activation

(00:03:05) Why public-private spaces matter

(00:04:40) Building micro-communities through shared experiences

(00:07:00) The creative landscape in Boston

(00:10:45) What motivates us as entrepreneurs

(00:12:00) How Emily’s Halloween parties shaped her career

(00:13:50) Bringing brands, cities, and artists together

(00:16:00) Lessons from building and leading a creative team

(00:18:45) The power of mentorship and community in business

(00:22:00) What powerful ladies look like in practice

(00:30:00) Reclaiming curiosity and real-world joy

(00:35:45) Why community is more than just your inner circle

(00:42:00) Rewriting your story through conscious choices

(00:43:40) How to connect with Emily and what she’s looking for next

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.

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

Most people think HR is about policies and procedures. Khalilah T. Olokunola (affectionately known as KO) is here to shatter that perception. In this conversation, we talk about what HR is really about: people, community, and transformation. KO shares how ministry and HR overlap, why small businesses need to think beyond compliance, and how trauma, burnout, and leadership are all connected. We get into HR’s evolving role post-George Floyd, how to build people-first workplaces, and the soft skills leaders must have to build anything that lasts. If you think HR is boring, you’ve never heard KO speak. She’s here to remind us that better is possible, and that it starts with us.

Chapters:

(00:00:00) HR found her, not the other way around

(00:02:00) The overlap between ministry and HR

(00:04:20) HR is not policies. It’s people

(00:06:45) How HR can drive culture and change

(00:08:20) Helping HR leaders shift their mindset

(00:10:00) What small businesses get wrong about people management

(00:12:30) Why silence is still a message

(00:15:00) Leadership doesn’t mean you should be CEO

(00:17:20) Self-evaluation and the power of coaching

(00:19:10) Burnout, quiet quitting, and remembering your why

(00:21:00) The real story behind "brewed by rivals"

(00:26:00) What makes KO a “people pro”

(00:28:20) What "powerful" means to KO

(00:30:30) Redefining power and taking up space differently

(00:34:00) Cancel culture, compassion, and coaching

(00:36:00) Where HR is headed next

(00:38:15) Second-chance hiring and inclusive HR trends

(00:40:30) Creating cultures of empathy and proactive support

(00:42:20) The importance of soft skills for leaders

(00:44:00) What KO is building next and how you can help

(00:46:00) Kara’s final thoughts: power, purpose, and people

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.

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

Why is it so hard to choose ourselves - even when we know it’s the right thing to do? Andrea Owen, bestselling author of How to Stop Feeling Like Shit and Make Some Noise, joins Kara to unpack what’s really behind self-abandonment, the cost of ignoring our intuition, and how to start setting better boundaries.

In this honest, funny, and empowering episode, Kara and Andrea talk about how our culture teaches women to put everyone else first, why self-compassion is more effective than self-criticism, and what it actually looks like to build a life you’re proud of.

Listen in for insights on:

The hidden cost of putting others first

Why self-compassion outperforms tough love

How to listen to your intuition (and act on it)

Building boundaries and letting go of resentment

What it really takes to transform your life

Chapters:

(00:03:15) Meet Andrea Owen: Author, Speaker, and Women’s Coach

(00:04:05) Why We Ignore Intuition and Choose Self-Abandonment

(00:06:20) How Culture Teaches Women to Put Others First

(00:10:50) Listening to Intuition and Learning to Trust Yourself

(00:14:00) The Role of Coaching in Identity and Transformation

(00:17:55) Boundaries, Resentment, and Emotional Labor

(00:21:20) Why Self-Compassion Works Better Than Tough Love

(00:26:40) What to Do When Your Relationships Aren’t Growing

(00:31:35) How to Tell When It’s Time to Walk Away

(00:34:50) Entrepreneurship, Success, and Self-Worth

(00:44:40) Creating Safety and Living Intentionally

(00:50:10) What Andrea’s Rebuilding and Kara’s Final Reflection

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.

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

Andrew Petterson didn’t take the straight path to becoming a fine artist. He’s an engineer, fabricator, and former custom car builder who’s worked on some of the most iconic cars in the business. But art kept calling. In this episode, Kara and Andrew talk about the creative risks it takes to bet on yourself, how his show Hot Shoe Chronicles came together, and what it means to create art that’s timeless. They also talk about fear, flow, identity, motorcycles, mentorship, and the magic of saying yes to your soul’s work. Whether you're a painter, builder, or dreaming of your first show, this episode explores what happens when you stop playing it safe, and trust that the universe will catch you.

(00:02:53) The “Best Friday Ever” and Why He Finally Said Yes to His First Solo Show

(00:08:56) Compromising Creativity vs. Making Work That Sells

(00:13:02) Fear, Resistance, and the Power of Getting Scared

(00:14:29) The Most Pivotal Moment: Go Takamine and the Bike Shed

(00:16:46) Can It Be This Magical Every Time You Make Art?

(00:31:36) Motorcycles as Genre Paintings and the Birth of Hot Shoe Chronicles

(00:38:18) Community Support and the Risk of Being Seen

(00:43:23) Flat Track Racing, Fabrication, and Custom Car Culture

(00:52:51) Building a Show: Curation, Logistics, and Creative Direction

(01:02:12) Why He Left the Custom World to Paint Full-Time

(01:12:13) Masculinity, Identity, and Artistic Vulnerability

(01:17:57) Talent vs. Hard Work and Why He’s Betting on Himself

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.

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

Carroll Dunham is an anthropologist, author, producer, and National Geographic explorer who's spent the last three decades living between Nepal and Mongolia. She’s studied traditional medicine, worked with women in rural economies, raised foster children, and partnered with indigenous communities to champion environmental conservation. In this episode, Carroll shares the life experiences that shaped her, and why there’s no single script for living with purpose.

She and Kara discuss:

How curiosity can lead to unexpected, life-defining paths

Why Buddhist philosophy can reshape our relationship to nature and ourselves

What powerful women can teach us about resilience, leadership, and collaboration

The future of sustainable fashion through Carroll’s work on Around the World in 80 Fabrics

If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to live your values out loud, this is the episode.

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Growing up curious in New Jersey

(00:05:40) Life in Nepal: prisons, herbs, and entrepreneurship

(00:10:55) Polyandry and making documentaries with National Geographic

(00:15:10) Choosing Nepal over Sri Lanka: how a war rerouted her life

(00:18:40) Inner vs outer expeditions and Buddhist mind science

(00:23:15) Creating beautiful inner worlds: contemplative practice explained

(00:27:00) Losing it all and rebuilding in Mongolia

(00:31:30) Mongolia’s power, horses, and windhorse energy

(00:36:20) Powerful women across cultures, from Mongolia to Nepal

(00:40:20) Shakti, patriarchy, and reclaiming feminine power

(00:45:00) What we wear: a post-petroleum textile revolution

(00:50:10) What Carroll is manifesting next

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.

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

Reb Masel is a practicing attorney and the creator behind the viral TikTok and podcast brand Rebuttal. In this re-release episode, Reb and Kara talk about what it really means to have rights if no one teaches you how to use them, and how she's using humor and plain language to close that gap.

They break down the biggest misconceptions about the legal system, how media and politics distort legal understanding, and what every citizen should know about the law but probably doesn't. Reb also shares why she's not going into politics (yet), how her eight-year-old self keeps her grounded, and why humor might be the most powerful legal tool we have.

This is a conversation about systemic knowledge gaps, public access to power, and becoming the loud, opinionated version of yourself...on purpose.

Chapters:

(00:02:33) Becoming an Attorney Without a Childhood Dream

(00:04:00) What Civil Defense Litigation Actually Covers

(00:08:45) How Trying Everything Helped Her Find Her Legal Niche

(00:10:20) The Courtroom Is Funnier Than You Think

(00:13:30) Breaking Down the Law for the Internet

(00:15:30) Why Legal Rights Are Useless If You’re Not Taught Them

(00:20:15) Understanding Police and Politician Power Gaps

(00:23:45) What Really Shapes U.S. Law (Hint: It’s Not Politicians)

(00:26:15) Civic Participation vs. Social Media Awareness

(00:28:30) How Generations of Women Made Her Career Possible

(00:30:30) Reb’s Definition of a Powerful Lady

(00:32:30) Seeing Yourself Through the Eyes of 8-Year-Old You

(00:36:00) Showing Up Unapologetically and Filling the Space You’re Given

(00:38:15) Why Reading Romance Novels Is Her Self-Care

(00:42:00) Work Is Part of Life. Here’s How She Makes It Enjoyable

(00:45:15) What Reb Needs from the Powerful Ladies Community

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.

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

Social media and digital marketing can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re the face of your business. In this episode, Kara talks with Alexandra Generales, Founder of Little Social Co., about building a boutique agency that supports creatives, artists, and interior designers with marketing strategies that actually reflect who they are. They discuss how Alexandra went from underpaid freelancer to leading a thriving agency, why boundaries matter in client relationships, and how to market yourself even if you hate being on camera.

This is a conversation about redefining what power looks like in business, what to prioritize as a creative entrepreneur, and how to find freedom without burning out.

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Becoming an Entrepreneur: From Friendship Bracelets to a Boutique Agency

(00:04:00) Career Beginnings in Fashion and the Pivot to Freelance

(00:06:30) Starting a Marketing Business With Zero Backup Plan

(00:08:00) Serving Interior Designers, Architects, and Artists With Empathy

(00:10:00) Taking Time Off and Scaling With Boundaries and Systems

(00:13:00) Strategy First: Why Instagram Isn’t Enough for Business Growth

(00:15:30) Common Marketing Mistakes and What Actually Converts

(00:17:00) Your Digital Presence Should Match Your Personality

(00:19:00) Content Creation Mindset: Letting Go of Perfection

(00:21:00) When Clients Aren’t Ready for Marketing Support

(00:22:00) Building from Scratch: Brand Identity and Business Naming

(00:24:00) Separating Self-Worth From Likes and Follows

(00:26:00) Redefining Powerful: Leading With Quiet Confidence

(00:28:00) What It Means to Be a Powerful Lady in Business

(00:30:00) Advice for New Boutique Marketing Agency Founders

(00:35:00) Prioritizing Health, Rest, and Hobbies as an Entrepreneur

(00:37:00) Finding Clients You Love and Believing in Their Dreams

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.

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

Amanda Foust is a certified coach, marketing agency founder, and creator of the Highest Potential Planner. She joins Kara for a candid conversation about mindset coaching for women, building multiple businesses while parenting four kids, and what it takes to wake up to your life - and take bold action. They dive into personal development for women, redefining success, and the power of intentional habits. Amanda shares how her coaching practice and agency have evolved, why relationships are everything in entrepreneurship, and how she uses her own planner to align with purpose. This is an inspiring interview full of practical insights on career development, leadership, and choosing a purpose-driven path.

00:00 – Coaching, Curiosity, and the Power of Relationships

04:30 – Creating the Highest Potential Planner

05:30 – Delegation, ROI, and Finding the Right Support

11:20 – Childhood Clues: Amanda’s Entrepreneurial Roots

14:00 – Discovering Coaching as a Career Path

18:20 – How Coaching Transformed Her Parenting

21:30 – Wake Up to Your Life: Amanda’s New Mission

24:45 – Lessons From Running a Relational Marketing Agency

28:50 – Letting Go of a Misaligned Client

32:00 – Building Businesses From the Midwest

34:10 – Habits, Growth, and Intentional Living

37:30 – What It Means to Be a Powerful Lady

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.

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

In this episode, Kara talks with Sarah Croce, the powerhouse behind Village for Mamas, a nonprofit offering no-strings-attached grants to new and expecting mothers. Sarah is a birth doula, yoga and Pilates instructor, and nurse midwife in training. They explore the systemic failures of maternal care in the U.S., why postpartum support is often overlooked, and how Sarah is creating real change, one mama at a time. This is a powerful conversation about female entrepreneur stories, redefining success, and the kind of personal development that comes from saying yes to your calling.

Learn more: thevillageformamas.org

Follow Sarah: @thevillageformamas

00:01 - The Power of No-Strings-Attached Grants for Moms

04:00 - Why Doulas Matter for Maternal Health Outcomes

07:00 - Becoming a Doula: From Pilates to Birthing Rooms

10:00 - The Realities of Pregnancy Care in the U.S.

13:00 - Why Women of Color Are Most at Risk

15:00 - How the System Undervalues Postpartum Support

17:00 - The Life-Changing Impact of Advocacy

19:00 - What Insurance Doesn’t Cover (But Should)

22:00 - The Miles for Mamas Movement & How to Join

25:00 - What It Takes to Build and Fund a Nonprofit

29:00 - Self-Care and Community for Changemakers

33:00 - Why Supporting Moms Is Supporting Everyone

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.

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