Rebecca Wiener McGregor has spent nearly two decades helping people break through fear, heal trauma, and step fully into their own power. A certified hypnotist, coach, and educator, she reveals how hypnosis can be a fast, transformative way to release anxiety, rewrite limiting beliefs, and reconnect with your true self. We talk about what hypnosis really is (and isn’t), how it can dissolve the emotional residue that holds people back, and why embracing your “full self” leads to more joy, abundance, and trust in every area of life. Rebecca also shares her own journey from social anxiety to running a thriving practice with clients around the world, and why setting clear standards, not just boundaries, is essential for living a life that feels sacred and aligned.

Chapters:

00:00 Rebecca’s path to hypnosis

02:10 Breaking through fear and anxiety

05:15 What hypnosis really is (and isn’t)

07:30 How hypnosis helps release old patterns

10:20 The science behind subconscious change

12:45 From social anxiety to global coaching practice

15:00 Building a life and business with intention

17:25 Why setting standards matters more than boundaries

19:50 Dissolving limiting beliefs for lasting change

22:15 Creating space for joy and abundance

24:40 Working with clients around the world

27:05 Hypnosis myths that hold people back

29:20 The connection between self-trust and success

31:10 How to know if hypnosis is right for you

33:15 Rebecca’s advice for anyone ready to step into their power

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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Andrea Guevara’s journey is a masterclass in resilience. From escaping an abusive marriage to surviving homelessness, she rebuilt her life piece by piece. She creating a thriving branding and career coaching business for authors and becoming a mindset mentor for women. She shares how pivotal moments, bold choices, and relentless determination led to her dream home, a business that changes lives, and clients featured on Netflix. Andrea’s story is proof that even in the face of overwhelming odds, you can rewrite your future and inspire others to do the same. If you’ve ever felt stuck, under-resourced, or unsure if your dreams are possible, Andrea’s path will remind you why the next step matters.

Chapters

00:00 – Parallel stories and shared struggles

01:00 – From rock bottom to Netflix-level wins

04:00 – Andrea’s client success with Maid

07:00 – The power of showing women what’s possible

09:00 – Leaving a controlling marriage at 16

12:00 – Realizing there’s more to life than survival

14:00 – Custody battles and protecting her children

15:00 – Homelessness and rebuilding from nothing

18:00 – Holding on to mindset tools in crisis

20:00 – Choosing purpose when there’s nothing left to lose

23:00 – The importance of honest self-awareness

28:00 – Spotting a gap in the author industry

31:00 – How volunteering led to new opportunities

32:00 – Why raising your hand can change your career

35:00 – Living a vision board life

37:00 – Building a supportive network

39:00 – Writing a survival guide for women

41:00 – Redefining “Powerful Ladies”

44:00 – Life in the wine country and everyday joys

46:00 – The Powerful Ladies scale

48:00 – Dream clients and dream opportunities

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

Adoption can change more than one life. For Gemi and Ili Bertran, it transformed an entire family. Gemi was born in Haiti and adopted as a child by Ili, who brought her to Barcelona. Their journey together has been shaped by love, identity, resilience, and the challenges of bridging cultures. In this conversation, they open up about the realities of international adoption, the work it takes to nurture trust, and how they’ve navigated questions of heritage and belonging. It’s a story about family in all its forms, the power of listening, and what it really means to grow together.

Chapters:

00:00 A mother–daughter story begins

01:30 Growing up in Haiti

04:15 The path to adoption in Barcelona

07:20 Adjusting to a new culture

09:45 Building trust across differences

12:00 Answering questions about identity

14:30 The role of heritage in family life

17:15 Navigating cultural misunderstandings

19:50 Lessons learned from each other

22:00 Finding belonging in two places

24:40 Motherhood across cultures

27:15 Advice for adoptive parents and adoptees

29:30 Why listening matters most

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

Carrie Schmitt never planned on becoming a professional artist. But when a sudden, debilitating allergy to heat and sunlight forced her to reinvent her life, painting became her lifeline. What started as a way to cope turned into a thriving career as an artist, writer, entrepreneur, and teacher. In this conversation, we explore how she transformed her biggest challenges into a purpose-driven business, the mindset shifts that helped her keep going, and why surrendering control can lead to unexpected beauty. Carrie’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and choosing to see possibility in the mess.

Chapters:

00:00 Turning burdens into blessings

01:20 Living with a chronic illness and heat allergy

03:12 How painting became a lifeline

05:00 Building a career as an artist

07:15 Financial realities of living with a disability

09:04 Discovering the power of surrender in art

11:30 Creating with intention and clarity

13:20 Advice for female entrepreneurs

15:10 The role of spirituality in her work

17:45 Overcoming fear and self-doubt

20:00 Finding community through art

22:15 Balancing business and creativity

24:30 How teaching has shaped her perspective

26:45 Lessons from building a purpose-driven brand

29:00 What powerful means to Carrie

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

Devon Blow has built a creative career that’s as bold and bright as her work. From landing clients like Adidas, Google, and the United Nations to using her art as a tool for activism, she’s proof that you can do what you love and make an impact. In this conversation, we talk about raising your rates with confidence, staying true to your style, and why she believes food, housing, and health care are basic rights everyone should have. Devon’s story is one of creativity, courage, and building a business that aligns with your values.

Chapters:

00:00 Meet Devon Blow

01:40 Putting yourself into every creative project

03:20 How Devon found her artistic voice

05:15 From side gigs to big-name clients

07:00 The moment she learned to raise her rates

09:30 Navigating the business side of creativity

11:15 Why social change is central to her work

13:00 Building a career around your values

15:05 Lessons from activism and advocacy

17:00 Balancing art and entrepreneurship

19:20 How to land dream clients

21:15 Staying inspired and avoiding burnout

23:00 What Devon would change about the world

25:10 Advice for creatives finding their path

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

Are you ready to meet a ray of sunshine?  Today’s guest is Devon Blow. She’s a creative, an illustrator, a designer, an activist, and her positive energy is contagious. For those of you who are regular listeners, you may remember her from the Workshop for Creatives that we shared as a podcast episode in 2021. In this episode, we get to learn all about her journey to being an entrepreneur, who she admires, how she works, and why she’d use her magic wand to make food, shelter and health care available to everyone.

Lauren Stephens co-founded Dudley Stephens to solve a simple problem: staying warm without sacrificing style. Today, the women-owned, family-run fashion brand has repurposed over 4 million plastic bottles into timeless, sustainable pieces. Lauren shares how her background in luxury fashion shaped the brand, the intentional choices they’ve made to stay committed to recycled and biodegradable materials, and why they’ve grown without taking outside funding. She also opens up about navigating supply chain challenges during the pandemic, losing a beloved mentor, and building a loyal customer base that keeps coming back. This is a masterclass in creating a values-driven business that lasts.

Chapters:

00:00 – From Fashion PR to Sustainable Brand Founder

04:55 – The Surprising Power of Customer Loyalty

09:00 – How Dudley Stephens Solved a Common Style Problem

14:00 – Designing for Warmth, Style, and Sustainability

18:00 – Repurposing Over 4 Million Plastic Bottles

23:00 – Building a Family-Run Business in the Fashion Industry

27:27 – Losing a Mentor During the Pandemic

32:00 – Navigating Supply Chain Disruptions

36:00 – Why Dudley Stephens Has Never Raised Outside Capital

40:00 – Finding the Right Path for Your Company’s Growth

44:17 – The Question Every Entrepreneur Should Ask Themselves

48:00 – Committing to Recycled and Biodegradable Materials

52:00 – Lessons from Running a Values-Driven Brand

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

Dr. Andrea Liner, known as The Breakup Doc, is a licensed clinical psychologist and relationship coach helping people navigate breakups and build the relationships they truly want. In this conversation, she shares how our romantic and personal connections influence everything from our career success to our long-term happiness. We talk about knowing when it’s time to leave, how to evaluate your relationship honestly, and why the quality of your connections is the foundation for your potential.

Chapters

00:00 – Opening & Introduction to Dr. Andrea Liner

02:00 – How she became The Breakup Doc

05:00 – From therapy to coaching: Why she made the shift

08:00 – Setting boundaries and protecting your own energy

11:00 – Turning off “therapist mode” in personal life

12:30 – The reality of friend breakups

14:00 – Myths about powerful women and relationships

16:00 – Letting go of the idea that decisions are permanent

18:00 – Starting her own practice at 26

20:00 – Surprises from launching her coaching business

22:00 – Why having multiple coaches and mentors matters

23:00 – How to know if it’s time to end a relationship

26:00 – Falling in love with potential vs. reality

27:30 – Why your relationship should be easy at the start

29:00 – Relationships as the foundation for success

31:00 – How Dr. Liner screens and selects clients

34:00 – Saying goodbye in therapy vs. coaching

35:00 – How long should you work with a therapist or coach?

38:00 – Gently surfacing what clients can’t see

39:00 – Goals for 2022: Growing the coaching side of her work

40:00 – The role of community and supportive peers

42:00 – Entrepreneurship and friendship shifts

44:00 – How to connect with Dr. Andrea Liner

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

Jamilly Whitfield knows what it’s like to feel trapped by your own story. A licensed clinical social worker, author, podcaster, and coach, she’s turned her own journey of healing into a mission to help others break free from the weight of past trauma. Growing up in Washington Heights and now running her own practice, she’s proof that it’s possible to rewrite your narrative and create the life you’ve always wanted. In this conversation, we explore how trauma shapes our patterns and beliefs, what it takes to step into a growth mindset, and why your relationship with yourself sets the tone for everything else.

Chapters

00:00 Meet Jamilly Whitfield

01:10 Growing up in Washington Heights

03:15 How trauma impacts the brain

05:05 Recognizing patterns that hold you back

07:20 Moving from survival mode to growth

09:10 Finding your voice as a therapist and coach

11:00 Launching the Beauteous Me Podcast

13:25 Writing Latinas Who Boss Up

15:40 Helping clients step into their best life

17:25 Reframing success on your own terms

19:15 The role of mindset in healing

21:30 Tools for self-worth and self-trust

23:45 Navigating the C-Suite and entrepreneurship

26:00 Building a purpose-driven business

28:15 Advice for anyone feeling stuck

30:00 What “powerful” means to Jamilly

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

Sailor Guevara went from bartending in fine dining restaurants to becoming an award-winning brand ambassador and then reinvented her career in the middle of the pandemic. Today she runs a virtual event fulfillment company, leading immersive cocktail tastings and shipping curated kits to clients across the country. In this conversation, Sailor shares how her Greek immigrant roots and love of origin stories shaped her passion for food and drink, the life events that built her resilience, and why she believes in designing a business around your values. We talk about adapting to change, the importance of community, and how to collect the right people to fuel your success.

Chapters

00:00 – Meet Sailor Guevara

03:15 – From brand ambassador to virtual events

07:10 – Creating immersive experiences in a box

10:45 – Early days in hospitality and the path to bartending

15:40 – Why origin stories matter

19:40 – Getting comfortable with failure and convictions

24:30 – Letting go of social norms and finding your own path

28:15 – The role of community in success

30:35 – Helping the next generation succeed

34:10 – Choosing where to live

38:55 – Balancing risk-taking in business and relationships

43:50 – Staying grounded while growing fast

46:50 – Where to find Sailor Guevara

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