Can you love fashion and still fight for the planet? Beth Esponnette says yes, and she’s proving it. As the co-founder of Unspun, Beth is building a future where clothes are made on-demand, with zero waste and local manufacturing. In this episode, she shares how her team is using 3D weaving to change the way we think about fit, sustainability, and circular design. We talk about purpose-driven careers, redefining success, entrepreneurship, and what it takes to challenge a deeply entrenched global industry. Whether you're curious about sustainable fashion or navigating your own path as a change maker, this episode is full of practical insights and inspiring motivation.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Redesigning fashion for people and planet

01:20 Why custom-fit jeans can change everything

03:15 What makes the fashion industry broken

05:00 Creating tech that weaves clothes on demand

07:15 How Beth’s team is scaling through partnerships

10:00 The hidden cost of mass production and waste

12:00 Beth’s New England roots and maker mindset

14:30 What factory owners are saying about labor

16:45 Can we localize production again?

20:00 Balancing sustainability with trend cycles

22:00 Fashion’s problem with planned obsolescence

28:00 Building a startup that challenges the norm

30:30 Why Gen Z values don’t match their shopping habits

34:00 Beth’s ask: A board member to scale impact

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 stop shrinking yourself to make others comfortable? Krystl Fabella is the founder of Filipina on the Rise, and she’s on a mission to help women of color reclaim their power, purpose, and visibility. In this conversation, Krystl opens up about the burnout that forced her to reimagine success, the identity shifts that came with it, and how she’s rebuilding with more clarity and confidence than ever before. We talk about career development, mindset coaching for women, redefining success, entrepreneurship, personal growth, and what it means to lead with intention in both life and business. Whether you’re navigating a transition, healing from burnout, or ready to stop playing small, this episode is packed with inspiration, practical wisdom, and permission to take up space.

00:00 Why we need to talk about ambition and burnout

01:45 The moment Krystl realized she couldn’t keep pushing

04:00 What rest actually looked like in practice

06:30 Letting go of identity wrapped in overachievement

09:00 Building Filipina on the Rise and getting visibility

11:00 Creating space for community and representation

13:30 Saying yes to creative risks and new partnerships

16:15 Letting go of money guilt and rising without apology

18:30 Rebuilding her career without losing herself again

21:00 Why women of color need new models of success

23:30 The role of mindset and emotional honesty

26:00 What being powerful means now-and what it doesn’t

28:30 What she’s building next: healing, growth, and more 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.

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What does it really take to market a small business today? Marissa Stahl, CEO and founder of Cherry Creative, shares why “more content” isn’t the answer and what actually drives sales and connection. In this episode, we unpack how to build a 360-degree strategy that feels aligned and effective, not overwhelming. Marissa also shares what she’s learned as a founder, how her background in theater shaped her mindset, and why relationships and community should be at the center of every marketing plan. If you're a business coach for women, a service-based founder, or someone craving more purpose-driven work, this is for you.

Chapters:

00:00 Relationships, community, and the truth about digital ads

01:00 Why she started Cherry Creative

03:00 From social-first to full-service strategy

05:00 The myth of “Instagram will save your business”

07:30 The power of in-person connection

10:00 How she helps clients build loyalty

11:30 Patience, momentum, and the long game

13:00 What most people miss in their content strategy

14:00 Why cool content doesn’t always convert

16:30 Common gaps in small business marketing

18:00 The joy of seeing clients succeed

20:00 How she shows up as a leader

22:00 Why she believes you don’t have to be just one thing

24:00 Building a business that funds your creative life

26:30 Staying grounded through spiritual practice

29:30 How she landed her dream gig at the SAG Awards

34:00 The underrated power of showing up

36:00 Advice for aspiring founders

39:00 What she’s 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.

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What happens when you follow the spark, even if you don’t know where it will lead? In this episode, Kara talks with Christina Minutillo, an Italian-American host, author, and podcaster whose self-published cookbook launched a whole new chapter in her life. They talk about how Christina went from corporate fashion to building her own brand rooted in joy, creativity, and community. You’ll hear how her cookbook came to life during COVID, how it helped her discover her voice, and how it opened the door to her podcast "What Lights Us Up," where she now highlights stories of personal development and creativity.

Chapters:

00:00 Creating space for joy and creativity

01:20 A cookbook born from community and tradition

03:10 Building chosen family through hosting

05:45 Turning a dinner party into a published book

08:00 Teaching herself book design, production, and launch

11:25 The evolution of a creative project

13:00 How making the book changed her mindset and energy

15:00 Launching "What Lights Us Up" podcast

17:00 Why more people need to hear stories of starting

19:00 Following purpose, even if you don’t know the end goal

21:00 Growing up an only child in an entrepreneurial family

23:30 Listening to your inner voice and acting on it

25:00 From fear of visibility to hosting with confidence

27:00 Redefining what powerful means

29:15 Finding your purpose by noticing what lights you up

31:00 Daily routines that support clarity and creativity

34:00 Choosing connection, presence, and 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

What happens when artists, athletes, journalists, and activists come together in a mountain town to change the world? You get Mountainfilm. In this episode, Kara sits down with Festival Director Suzan Beraza and Marketing Manager Shae LaPlace to explore how this Telluride-based documentary film festival sparks global conversations and lasting impact. Suzan and Shae share how they curate more than 100 films each year, why curiosity is the foundation of powerful storytelling, and what’s in store for this year’s lineup, from climate justice to AI. Plus: Kara reflects on what made her own trip to Mountainfilm so unforgettable.

Chapters:

00:00 – Meet Suzan and Shae

02:00 – What is Mountainfilm?

05:00 – Suzan’s path to filmmaking

08:00 – Documentary film as a tool for change

10:00 – Themes for this year: AI, climate, and culture

14:00 – What it takes to run a year-round festival

17:00 – How they choose which films get in

20:00 – Beyond screenings: talks, hikes, and community

24:00 – Curiosity as a core value

28:00 – Why you need to attend in person

31:00 – Favorite festival moments

36:00 – What power means to Suzan and Shae

45:00 – How to support and get involved

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

What happens when you stop chasing the career you're "supposed" to want and start building a life around food, joy, and connection? Julie Hartigan made that leap. After a decade in tech and engineering, she became a chef, wellness coach, TV personality, and now a food-focused travel entrepreneur. In this episode, Julie shares how she pivoted careers in her 40s, what it means to make food an act of self-love, and why she's now creating global experiences that bring women together through cooking, wine, and culture. From healthy eating habits to launching dream businesses, this conversation is packed with wisdom, warmth, and inspiration for anyone craving a more meaningful life.

00:00 From engineer to chef: Julie’s unconventional journey

01:15 Why she left a “prestigious” job to chase joy

03:00 Choosing food as a career, even when no one else understood

05:30 Starting over in her 40s with young kids at home

07:10 The power of self-permission and trusting your gut

10:00 Rebuilding her relationship with food and her body

12:15 How she helps women untangle emotions around eating

14:45 Childhood roots: Italian food and family traditions

16:10 Why food is self-love, not punishment

18:00 Sunday lunch in Rome and the culture of connection

19:30 Building women's culinary trips in Italy and beyond

21:45 Why she focuses her work specifically on women

24:00 Creating a business that includes your favorite people

26:00 What “Powerful Ladies” means to her now

29:00 Setting limits in entrepreneurship and redefining success

32:30 Saying no to hustle culture, yes to joyful business

35:00 Getting on camera in her 40s and working with brands

38:00 Her mission now: more joy, more women traveling, more great food

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

What does it look like to build a business where your values actually lead the way? Gemma Totten is the founder of Chapter Six Jewelry, a jewelry brand rooted in sustainability, community, and impact. In this episode, she shares how she transitioned from environmental activism into entrepreneurship without compromising her beliefs. We talk about creative entrepreneurship, mindset coaching for women, redefining success, purpose-driven careers, and the power of doing things differently. Whether you’re growing a brand, building a mission-led business, or just rethinking how to align your work with your values, this conversation is packed with clarity and inspiration.

Chapters:

00:00 - Asking competitors for help (and getting it)

01:00 - Meet Gemma Totten: activist turned founder

02:00 - Building a business that doesn’t cause harm

03:00 - Learning about waste in fashion

05:00 - Reaching out to values-aligned jewelry brands

06:00 - Embracing small, long-term change

07:00 - Grappling with cognitive dissonance in business

09:00 - Going vegetarian at 7 years old

10:00 - Why alternatives can be freeing

11:00 - Facing the truth of our impact

12:00 - The power of asking for help

13:00 - Building clear boundaries in mentorship

14:00 - Celebrating progress, not perfection

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

What if the secret to confident leadership and a thriving workplace was simply… being clear? In this powerful conversation, Lindsay White, founder of High Voltage Leadership, shares how clarity, kindness, and self-trust can transform your leadership and your life. After walking away from a toxic corporate job, Lindsay built a leadership coaching business designed to help female entrepreneurs build culture-rich teams, maintain integrity, and lead from a place of purpose. We talk about the emotional weight of leadership, the role of intuition, and how to stop being the boss you hated and start being the leader your people need.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Welcome and snowy Canadian intros

01:00 What is High Voltage Leadership?

03:00 Quitting corporate after a toxic boss

05:00 How coaching changed Lindsay's life

07:30 From burnout to building a business

09:45 The link between integrity and authentic leadership

12:00 Confidence comes from doing hard things

14:30 Why unfinished tasks drain your leadership energy

16:00 Using pain as an indicator for growth

17:30 Women are trained out of trusting their intuition

20:00 Founder fraud and the shame spiral

23:00 Self-empathy as an entrepreneurial superpower

26:00 Why your best clients should feel like VIPs

29:00 The myth that clarity is mean

31:00 Setting expectations in small business leadership

34:00 Why she works with female entrepreneurs

36:30 The ripple effect of empowered women leaders

39:00 What 8-year-old Lindsay wouldn’t have predicted

41:30 Her surprise takeaway from starting a business

43:30 What she’s manifesting 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.

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

What happens when two stylish best friends join forces to build a jewelry and fashion brand that’s equally bold, beautiful, and sustainable? Carolina Cordon-Bouzan and Gayle Yelon, co-founders of Montserrat New York, are proving that self-made women can do it all, with lab-grown diamonds, jetset-inspired fashion, and a whole lot of entrepreneurial grit. In this episode, we talk about building a business from scratch, redefining success as a creative entrepreneur, and why community, mindset, and personal growth are essential parts of the journey. Whether you’re a fashion lover, business coach for women, or someone exploring lifestyle and culture through a personal development lens, you’ll walk away inspired by their clarity, style, and action.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Meet Carolina and Gayle, co-founders of Montserrat New York

01:45 From friendship to co-founders: how it all started

03:30 Designing for the woman on the go: from gym to cocktails

05:10 The fashion philosophy behind Montserrat NY

07:15 Creating their own trends by listening to their customers

10:00 Entrepreneurship and mindset coaching for women

12:45 Family legacy and becoming self-made women

15:00 The power of network and asking for support

18:20 What makes a powerful woman in business today

22:00 Busting myths about entrepreneurship and fashion

25:15 Redefining success through purpose and sustainability

27:30 What they’re manifesting next and how you can help

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

What if the key to emotional resilience wasn’t talking more but physically releasing what’s been stuck inside for years? Janet Barrett is a mental health speaker and the author of Stop the Break, a book about proactive mental health and how we can stop carrying invisible emotional burdens that keep us from thriving. In this conversation, Janet shares the moment she broke and how that moment became the catalyst for completely changing how she lives, parents, and leads. You’ll hear how a divorce forced her to finally confront decades of buried emotion, and how boxing gloves, movement, and a few brave choices helped her find peace, clarity, and joy again. We talk about mental health, mindset coaching for women, leadership, personal development, and what redefining success really looks like after a lifetime of "keeping it all together."

CHAPTERS:

00:00 From career success to emotional burnout

01:15 Why Janet wrote Stop the Break

03:00 What made her a different kind of boss

05:30 Early career lessons from Sara Lee and Reebok

08:00 Four kids in three years, and a major life pivot

10:15 The breakdown that changed everything

13:00 Discovering the power of physical emotional release

15:00 How boxing became therapy

18:00 Why women leaders suppress emotions

20:00 The cost of emotional suppression

22:00 Parenting with mental health in mind

25:00 Giving kids tools for emotional expression

28:00 How Janet helps others feel seen

31:00 What workplaces get wrong about mental health

34:30 Writing the book she needed

36:00 The mindset shift that changed everything

38:30 What being powerful means now

40:00 What she needs next: speaking and visibility

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