Dr. Swathi Varanasi is creating the kind of healthcare she wished existed - one rooted in science, inclusivity, and plant-powered wellness. As an integrative health pharmacist and entrepreneur, she’s bridging the gap between evidence-based medicine and holistic care. She shares how she co-founded Element Apothec, how she’s changing pharmacy from the inside out, and why more women of color need a seat at the funding table. We talk about entrepreneurship, community impact, and how she stays grounded while paving a new path.

Chapters:

00:00 Dr. Swathi Varanasi’s mission

01:20 Why she left traditional pharmacy

03:00 What is integrative health?

05:10 Starting Element Apothec

07:30 Plant-based medicine and evidence-based care

09:00 Bringing equity and inclusion into wellness

10:30 Getting her first funding

12:00 How to lead with curiosity

14:15 Being the first in her field

15:45 Self-care for founders

17:00 Navigating burnout in health spaces

18:45 Building credibility in alternative wellness

20:00 Educating patients and changing mindsets

22:30 Partnering with patients, not prescribing to them

24:00 Launching the first integrative health residency

26:30 LinkedIn and unexpected opportunities

28:00 What she’s working on 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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Sydney Olson turned a childhood love of movement into a career as a free-runner, pro stuntwoman, and Red Bull Championship athlete. She shares how listening to her intuition helped her pivot from gymnastics to parkour, why falling is part of success, and what it takes to push your body, and mind, to new heights. We talk about creativity, confidence, injury recovery, and how she's learning to balance drive with rest.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 From gymnast to freerunner

01:45 Discovering parkour and chasing freedom

03:10 Building a career as a stuntwoman

04:25 Learning to fall and get back up

06:00 The mental side of extreme sports

07:40 Trusting intuition and staying grounded

09:15 Balancing creativity and physical risk

10:30 How journaling helps with mindset

12:05 Healing from injury and reclaiming identity

13:20 Reframing success and failure

14:30 Female athlete visibility and impact

15:40 Daily routines that support confidence

17:00 Power, purpose, and what’s 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're going through IVF, building a comedy career, and trying not to scream at strangers giving you unsolicited fertility advice? Casey Balsham finds the funny in all of it. In this honest and hilarious episode, Kara and Casey talk about grief, body changes, baby-making timelines, and what it takes to show up as a female comic in a world that still wants women to shrink. From the front row of her standup sets to the intimacy of her fertility journey, Casey proves that owning your story is a radical act.

Chapters:

00:00 Comedy, fertility, and saying the quiet parts out loud

01:45 When the dream doesn’t unfold on your timeline

03:15 IVF, pregnancy loss, and dealing with intrusive questions

06:30 Turning grief and hormones into standup material

09:00 Why comics need community, not competition

11:20 How to be funny without being mean

13:10 Starting the “Shady Sh*t” podcast

15:00 What makes women in comedy powerful

17:30 The body image spiral of fertility treatments

20:00 The pressure to be “okay” all the time

22:10 Why she’s done making herself smaller

25:00 Showing up on stage when life’s falling apart

27:15 What powerful means now — and what it doesn’t

30:00 Advice for anyone navigating fertility and big emotions

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

When it comes to wellness, most of us think food, fitness, or mindset...but what about your furniture? Erica Reiner is the founder of Eco Method Interiors, a design firm that helps clients create beautiful, functional spaces that are also safe, non-toxic, and sustainable. She and Kara dig into the surprising things that might be affecting your health at home, the truth behind greenwashing in design, and how small changes can make a big impact. Whether you're renovating, redecorating, or just curious about how your environment affects your wellbeing, this conversation is packed with practical insight and thoughtful perspective.

Chapters:

00:00 Creating spaces that support wellness

01:20 From environmental science to interior design

03:10 Why what’s in your furniture matters

05:00 Common toxins hiding in your home

07:15 What greenwashing looks like in the design world

09:30 Balancing aesthetics, sustainability, and budget

11:00 Educating clients without overwhelming them

12:45 How to start detoxing your home

14:30 Where to splurge and where to save

16:15 Business lessons from running a mission-driven brand

18:00 Managing client expectations as a creative

20:15 Why she stepped back from social media

22:10 Building a life that matches your values

24:30 Advice for aspiring eco-entrepreneurs

26:00 What she’s still learning about herself and her 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.

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

Lida Mangal grew up during wartime in Afghanistan and now lives in Sydney, where she runs Ghan Fashion, an ethical brand preserving Afghan traditional dress and employing Afghan women. Lida shares her story of resilience, her passion for color and cultural heritage, and how fashion became both her creative outlet and her form of advocacy. You’ll hear how she built a life rooted in purpose, what it takes to run a cross-continental business, and why preserving identity through art and design matters more than ever. It’s a conversation about women’s rights, cultural preservation, and leading with vision.

Chapters:

00:00 Lida’s journey from Afghanistan to Australia

02:10 Starting a fashion business with a mission

03:55 What traditional Afghan fashion represents

05:20 Empowering Afghan women through employment

06:45 Running an international business during conflict

08:30 Preserving culture through clothing design

10:15 What the garments mean to Afghan women

12:00 Designing for joy, resilience, and protest

14:10 The power of color in fashion and identity

16:00 How Lida discovered her passion for design

17:20 Memories of childhood and wartime

19:05 What resilience looks like in real life

21:15 Raising strong, kind children

23:00 Why belief in yourself is a radical act

25:10 How women can change the narrative for generations

27:20 Advice for staying hopeful and creating 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.

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

What if your love of travel could fuel real change? Candice Young didn’t plan to start a nonprofit. But when a trek to Nepal collided with a need for earthquake relief, she launched Trek Relief, an organization that combines adventure travel with on-the-ground impact. We talk about how curiosity, movement, and a willingness to say yes led her from fire dancing in Thailand to leading treks in the Himalayas and Patagonia.

Chapters:

00:00 Meet Candice Young and the origin of Trek Relief

01:45 From travel addict to nonprofit founder

03:30 Fire dancing, scuba diving, and finding clarity in motion

06:15 The Nepal earthquake that changed everything

08:00 Building Trek Relief from a Facebook post

09:45 What makes a purpose-driven travel business

11:00 Career advice for aspiring changemakers

13:10 Behind the scenes of running an international nonprofit

15:00 Learning to lead teams while living abroad

17:00 Balancing values and visibility in the nonprofit world

18:45 Choosing impact over comfort

21:30 Lessons from trekking the Himalayas

23:15 Letting go of old paths to build something new

25:00 How to create a career that reflects your values

27:10 Finding community as a solo traveler

29:00 What powerful means to Candice 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 does it mean to chase your dreams and lift others as you go? Actor and filmmaker Katya Martín shares how she's navigating her career, from indie projects to starring in ABC’s Promised Land, while making room for collaboration, representation, and self-reflection. She talks about growing up between Spain and the U.S., what “power” really means to her, and why community matters just as much as talent. This episode is about building creative careers that stay human, making space for nuance, and trusting that what’s meant for you won’t miss you.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro: Meet Katya Martín

01:42 How Katya got started in acting and filmmaking

04:25 The power of building a creative support system

06:50 Why rejection fuels her drive

09:15 Women mentors who shaped her journey

11:00 What 8-year-old Katya dreamed of

12:30 Acting vs producing: how she balances both

14:10 First big break on ABC's Promised Land

17:00 Behind the scenes: why authentic casting matters

18:56 Cultural nuance and Spanish language accuracy on set

21:15 The case for diverse crews and storytellers

23:30 Growing up between Spain and San Diego

26:45 NYC energy vs LA sprawl

28:10 What she learned from working at Red is Dancing

30:00 Redefining power and womanhood

33:20 Owning the term “Powerful Ladies”

36:00 The weight and pride of being called a woman

39:15 Stories she wants to tell next

41:00 Katya’s take on Everything Everywhere All at Once

43:00 How powerful she feels—today and on average

44:55 What’s still on her to-do list for the year

46:00 Becoming a horse girl at 20-something

48:30 What your inner 8-year-old knows that you forgot

50:15 The creative community she’s looking to build

52:00 Where to follow Katya Martín

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

Vana Chupp didn’t set out to start a business. She was a stay-at-home mom with a background in architecture and a passion for capturing moments through silhouette sketches of her son. What began as a creative outlet on Etsy has grown into a thriving lifestyle brand featured at Pottery Barn Kids. Vana talks with Kara about building a business on her own terms, redefining success after burnout, and what it means to grow at a pace that actually fits your life. She shares how her Greek upbringing shaped her values, why she and her architect husband now work side by side, and what’s next for the studio she once considered shutting down.

Chapters:

00:00 From architecture to entrepreneurship

01:00 The early days of Etsy and silhouette sketches

03:45 How motherhood shaped Vana’s business goals

05:00 Rebranding from Le Papier Studio to Vana Chupp Studio

06:30 Infusing architecture into heirloom jewelry and portraits

08:00 Running a family business with her husband

09:30 Juggling mom life and entrepreneurship

11:15 Scaling slowly vs. chasing rapid growth

13:45 Hiring her first full-time employees

15:00 Getting a business coach and embracing slow growth

17:00 Naming the business after herself

18:30 Relocating to Richmond and hitting reset

20:45 Honoring creativity and intuition in business

22:00 How being born in Greece shaped her entrepreneurial values

24:00 Navigating family expectations around career

26:00 Building a brand that supports work-life alignment

28:15 Finding support through mastermind communities

30:00 Redefining power, legacy, and leadership

32:30 Local impact and giving back through the business

35:15 What makes a good life according to Vana

37:30 Celebrating the Pottery Barn Kids partnership

39:45 Advice for other entrepreneurs and moms

42:00 Where to follow and support Vana Chupp Studio

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

Casey Hohman is one of those people who makes you believe anything is possible. What started as a side hustle became a wildly successful company. Casey learned how to lead, grow, and stay grounded as a first-time founder. He opens up about the early days, the mindset shifts that helped him go from employee to entrepreneur, and how he's scaling something joyful without losing his own spark.

Chapters

00:00 From side hustle to CEO

01:20 How Scottsdale became a bachelorette hub

03:00 Casey’s pivot from corporate life

05:15 Early signs of traction

07:00 Building systems that scale

09:45 Lessons from leadership and growth

11:30 The mindset shift to “I am a founder”

13:15 Working with a business coach

15:00 Redefining success through entrepreneurship

17:30 Learning how to rest while growing

19:00 When personal growth meets business growth

21:30 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

23:15 What powerful means to Casey

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’s changed in America since the racial reckoning of 2020? In this unedited roundtable episode, Kara Duffy brings back three powerful women, Ronda Brunson, Chandra Gore, and Lauren Wilson, for a follow-up conversation two years after the first “A Powerful Conversation About America.” They dig into whether racism has changed, how it continues to show up, and where real progress has or hasn’t happened.

This episode is raw, real, and urgent. It’s about listening, learning, and staying engaged in the fight for equity. Share it widely.

Chapters:

00:00 Has anything changed since 2020?

02:10 Introducing the returning panelists

05:00 The emotional toll of repeated conversations

07:40 Signs of performative allyship

10:15 The difference between awareness and accountability

13:30 What progress looks like in real life

16:20 How racism shows up in entrepreneurship

20:00 Equity vs. equality

22:45 Kara reflects on what she’s learned

25:15 The role of white allies in 2022

28:00 Systems, gatekeeping, and access to power

30:45 How the media impacts the narrative

34:10 Why we can’t let this be a trend

37:50 Rebuilding trust in the fight for justice

41:00 Action steps for real change

43:30 Staying powerful, even when exhausted

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