Real Women's Work Podcast

For many people, healing means learning to manage pain. But what if healing meant something more?

This week on Real Women's Work, I sit down with Spiritual Guide and Healer in the Lineage of King Solomon (listen in to see why this matters) and founder of Empowering Path, Alex Bynum, for a thoughtful conversation about spirituality, trauma, purpose, and what it means to become more fully yourself.

Alex shares her own journey from struggling with bulimia and feeling stuck in her early twenties to discovering a path that completely changed the direction of her life. We talk about skepticism, ancient healing traditions, entrepreneurship, and why she believes people are far more capable of healing than most of us have been led to believe.

Whether you're deeply spiritual, simply curious, or even skeptical, this conversation explores universal questions about identity, authenticity, and the search for peace.

In this episode we discuss:

• What energy healing actually is—and what it isn't
• Why spirituality and religion aren't necessarily the same thing
• Alex's journey through trauma, illness, and recovery
• The difference between managing wounds and healing them
• Why so many of us lose ourselves trying to be who we're "supposed" to be
• Building a business around work that's difficult to explain
• The surprising thing Alex has learned after working with hundreds of people
• What healing has taught her about compassion

Connect with Alex: Empowering Path www.empoweringpath.com

On Instagram

Most of us have watched a massive cargo ship glide effortlessly into port without giving it a second thought.

But before that ship reaches the dock, someone climbs from a small pilot boat onto a rope ladder hanging from the side of the moving vessel—often in darkness, rough seas, or bad weather—to help guide it safely into harbor.

That person is a harbor pilot.

In this episode of Good Things Happening for Women, we're exploring one of the fascinating careers that women rarely had access to just a few generations ago. Along the way, you'll discover what harbor pilots actually do, why their local expertise is so critical, and why learning about the work people do every day can make the world feel richer, more connected, and far more interesting.

You'll learn:

• Why even the most experienced ship captains rely on harbor pilots

• What it takes to board a moving cargo ship at sea

• How years of local knowledge help prevent accidents and protect our waterways

• Why more women are entering careers that were once closed to them

• How curiosity about other people's work can deepen our understanding of the world

Because sometimes progress isn't loud.

Sometimes it looks like someone quietly becoming exceptional at a job previous generations never had the opportunity to do.

If you enjoy learning how the world works through the people who keep it running, subscribe and share this episode with someone who loves discovering careers they never knew existed.

Most of us read books, articles, websites, and training materials every day without ever thinking about the people behind the scenes who make them clear, consistent, and easy to understand.

This week, I'm joined by freelance editor Joni McNeal, who pulls back the curtain on a profession many of us know almost nothing about.

Joni explains what editors actually do (it's much more than fixing grammar), how she helps authors and organizations communicate more clearly, and why seeing a project through the eyes of the reader is the heart of her work.

But this conversation becomes about much more than editing.

We also talk about building a freelance career, finding meaningful work, creating community for creative professionals, writing her first children's book, and what it feels like when the work you do finally aligns with who you've always been.

Whether you've ever wondered how books are polished before they're published—or you're searching for work that feels like a natural fit—you'll come away seeing both writing and careers a little differently.

In this episode we discuss:

• What freelance editors actually do
• Why editing is much more than correcting grammar
• How editors think like readers
• Working with authors, nonprofits, and educational organizations
• The realities of freelancing and self-employment
• Building a creative community through the Kahoots Collective
• Writing a children's book inspired by Portsmouth, New Hampshire
• Why reading can shape an entire life
• Finding work that truly fits who you are

Find Joni here:

On LinkedIn

Kahoots Collective

Show Notes

What does it take to walk into a room full of suffering and keep showing up?

In this episode of Real Women's Work, I revisit a conversation with Carolyn Flynn, a registered nurse who spent ten years caring for critically ill children in a pediatric burn unit. What I remembered as a conversation about nursing turns out to be something much deeper: a conversation about purpose, resilience, teamwork, and what it means to help people through the hardest moments of their lives.

Carolyn shares what it's really like to work in an environment where every day can bring life-and-death decisions, heartbreaking stories, unexpected joy, and extraordinary acts of compassion. She talks about the unique culture of nursing, where independence and teamwork coexist, and where help arrives without needing to be asked for.

One of the most powerful moments in our conversation comes when Carolyn describes her very first day in a pediatric burn unit—a day she thought might prove she wasn't capable of doing the work. Instead, it revealed exactly where she belonged.

This episode is ultimately about something bigger than healthcare. It's about finding meaning in service, showing up when outcomes are uncertain, and discovering that success isn't always measured by what you can fix.

In This Episode

• Why nursing requires both fierce independence and deep teamwork
• The reality of working in a pediatric burn unit
• How medical teams support one another during crises
• What Carolyn learned on her first day as a nurse
• The role of compassion when you can't change the outcome
• Finding joy and connection in difficult circumstances
• Why Carolyn believes her purpose is to make people as comfortable as possible
• The moments that reminded her she was exactly where she needed to be

Memorable Quote

"My purpose is to make other people as comfortable as I possibly can. I can't control the outcome, but I can fight for my patients and do everything in my power to make them comfortable."

Why Listen?

This conversation offers a rare glimpse into a profession most of us only see from the outside. But even more than that, it's a reminder that meaningful work isn't always about achievement. Sometimes it's about presence, compassion, and being willing to stand beside people during the hardest moments of their lives.

What happens when the life that looks successful on paper no longer feels fulfilling on the inside?

In this episode of Real Women's Work, Jen sits down with business and mindset coach Lesa Frye for an honest conversation about ambition, burnout, identity, purpose, and redefining success as women move through different seasons of life.

Before becoming a coach, Lesa spent decades building a highly successful real estate career — selling 41 homes in her first full-time year and becoming a top producer in a competitive industry. But behind the success was exhaustion, pressure, and the realization that achievement alone wasn't enough.

Together, Jen and Lesa explore:

• the difference between success and fulfillment
• hustle culture and burnout
• mindset and self-worth
• why boundaries matter
• the pressure women feel to be everything for everyone
• what it means to build a "peaceful business"
• how to stop operating from survival mode
• and why it's never too late to create a life that actually feels aligned

Lesa also shares the deeply personal moments that pushed her toward coaching, the concept of the "Inner CEO," and why she believes women can have successful businesses and lives they love.

This conversation is thoughtful, grounding, and full of reminders for anyone who has ever looked successful externally while quietly feeling overwhelmed inside.

In This Episode

• Why success and fulfillment are not always the same thing
• The emotional reality of hitting a ceiling in corporate life
• Transitioning from corporate America into real estate
• Selling 41 homes in one year — and the cost of that success
• The unseen work behind real estate
• Why mindset drives everything
• The fear many women feel around wanting "more"
• Burnout, overwhelm, and hustle culture
• Creating balance and boundaries without guilt
• What Lesa means by "The And Life"
• The power of self-worth and self-forgiveness
• Building a business that feels peaceful instead of chaotic
• Family, purpose, legacy, and redefining success later in life

Memorable Quotes

"You cannot beat yourself up into success."

"We can have highly successful businesses and lives that we're obsessed with."

"It's not about the stuff. It's about the relationships."

"Take the mask off."

"What if it does work?"

Connect with Lesa Frye

Website: lesafrye.com Podcast: The Balanced Business Woman LinkedIn: Lesa Frye

About Real Women's Work

Real Women's Work is a podcast about how women work, live, lead, build, struggle, pivot, and grow — and what their stories reveal about being human. Hosted by Jen Keefe.

What happens when something that once felt impossible suddenly feels… normal?

In this short solo episode of Real Women's Work, Jen shares a deeply personal experience attending a sold-out Professional Women's Hockey League game with her daughter — and the unexpected moment that stopped her cold: sitting in traffic outside the arena realizing all those people were there to watch women play hockey.

For girls who grew up as athletes in the 90s, hearing "nobody watches women's sports" was constant background noise. This episode reflects on what it means to witness real cultural change in real time — packed arenas, young girls wearing jerseys, fans debating player stats, and women athletes finally being treated as simply… athletes.

It's about visibility. Progress. Generational change. And the powerful things that happen when girls grow up seeing what's possible.

Topics include:

• Growing up as a female athlete in the 90s
• The emotional impact of attending a sold-out PWHL game
• Why visibility changes ambition
• The connection between sports, culture, and possibility
• What daughters inherit from the women who came before them

If you've ever wondered whether cultural progress is real — this episode is a reminder that sometimes you can feel it happening around you.

We talk all day long.

At work. At home. With friends, colleagues, strangers.

But how often are we actually communicating?

In this episode, I sit down with communication consultant Dee Dee Fisher to explore a powerful (and slightly uncomfortable) idea: many of our conversations aren't actually exchanging information at all.

We're reacting. We're making assumptions. We're talking—but not connecting.

Dee Dee shares the moment she first recognized this pattern as a teenager working in her family's gas station—and how that early insight turned into the work she does today helping individuals and organizations communicate more clearly, effectively, and with far less conflict.

We talk about what gets in the way of real communication, how to "function past the reaction" in difficult moments, and why changing just one thing in how you show up can completely shift the outcome of a conversation.

This is a conversation about being more intentional with your words, your reactions, and your assumptions—and what becomes possible when you are.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why many conversations don't actually go anywhere

• The difference between reacting and communicating

• How to "function past the reaction" in difficult conversations

• A simple framework (who, what, when, where, why, how) to improve clarity

• The role of assumptions—and how they derail communication

• Why you don't have to change the other person to change the conversation

• A powerful story about stopping bullying by shifting internal response

• How better communication impacts work, relationships, and self-talk

A simple takeaway to try:

The next time you feel yourself reacting in a conversation, pause and ask:

"What is actually trying to be communicated here?"

That one question can change everything.

Find DeeDee on LinkedIn by clicking here and her website here.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who would benefit—and as always, thank you for listening to Real Women's Work.

What do you say to someone who's grieving?

Most of us don't know. So we send flowers. We drop off food. And then… we disappear.

Today's guest, Kelly Edmondson, is here to change that.

Kelly is a nurse executive, grief counselor, and founder of Timely Presence—a service created after the death of her son, Darius. Through her own experience of profound loss, she's learned something most of us never have:

Grief doesn't need fixing. It needs presence.

In this conversation, Kelly shares what people got right—and wrong—after her son passed, and gives us practical, deeply human ways to show up for the people we love when they need it most.

This episode will change how you think about grief, support, and connection.

What You'll Learn

• Why "What can I do?" is often the wrong question
• What actually helps someone in grief (and when it matters most)
• How to support someone weeks and months after a loss
• Why saying the person's name matters
• The real impact of not showing up
• How grief connects to long-term health (yes, really)

Powerful Moments from This Episode

• "Your absence… is louder than anything you could say."
• "There's not a day I don't know my son is dead."
• "Don't ask what you can do. Name the thing."
• "Tears are love."

About Kelly Edmondson

Kelly is a nurse executive, grief counselor, and founder of Timely Presence, a service designed to help people show up consistently for loved ones during the first year of grief through meaningful, timed gifts and reminders.

Her work is rooted in both clinical experience and personal loss—and a mission to make sure no one grieves alone.

Resources & Links

• Timely Presence: https://thetimelypresence.com
• Follow Kelly on Instagram: @thetimelypresence
• Connect on LinkedIn: Kelly Edmondson

If this episode made you think of someone— text them. Call them. Say their person's name.

That's the work.

This episode is part of Podcasthon, a global podcasting event spotlighting meaningful causes and stories that matter.

What happens when fear becomes belief—and belief becomes certainty?

In this episode, I speak with Kathryn Rutkowski, president of the Rebecca Nurse Homestead, about one of the most devastating stories from the Salem witch trials. Rebecca Nurse was a 71-year-old woman, deeply respected in her community, who was accused, tried, and executed for a crime she did not commit.

But this conversation doesn't stay in 1692.

As we explore Rebecca's story—her arrest, her quiet certainty in her innocence, and the people who risked everything to stand by her—we begin to uncover something deeper: how ordinary people become capable of extraordinary harm.

We talk about fear, belief, moral panic, forgiveness, and what it means to remember history as something real—not distant, not abstract, but human.

Because the question isn't just what happened in Salem.

It's whether we are any different.

In this episode, we explore:

• Who Rebecca Nurse was—and why her story stands out

• The role of fear, belief, and community in the Salem witch trials

• Why people truly believed what was happening

• What it meant to stand up for the accused—and the risks involved

• The power of remembering one person, not just an event

• How history becomes distorted—and how to reclaim its truth

• Ann Putnam Jr.'s apology and the complexity of forgiveness

• Why "we're no better than the Puritans" might be true

About Kathryn Rutkowski

Kathryn Rutkowski is the president of the Rebecca Nurse Homestead in Danvers, Massachusetts. She began working there at 14 years old and has spent decades preserving and sharing the story of Rebecca Nurse with care, depth, and reverence.

Final Thought

"The further away history gets, the less connected people feel to the tragedy of it."

What if talking about death actually helped us live better?

In this episode of Real Women's Work, Jen Keefe sits down with Laura Cleminson, a death doula and founder of the Pre-Dead Social Club, where people gather to talk openly about mortality, dying, and what matters most in life.

Laura's work began after walking alongside her mother through the dying process. That experience opened her eyes to something many of us never learn: we often face death without the language, awareness, or confidence to navigate it.

Instead of avoiding these conversations, Laura helps people explore them together—because, as she says in this episode:

"Every conversation about dying is really a conversation about living."

In this thoughtful and surprisingly hopeful conversation, Jen and Laura explore how becoming more aware of mortality can bring clarity, connection, and compassion into our everyday lives.

In This Episode

• Why Laura believes there is no expert on death
• How her mother's diagnosis changed the course of her life
• What a death doula actually does
• The story behind the Pre-Dead Social Club
• Why talking about dying helps people understand how they want to live
• The importance of asking medical providers "What happens if I do nothing?"
• How community conversations about mortality are helping people support loved ones through end-of-life experiences

A Few Powerful Ideas From This Conversation

"Every conversation about dying is really a conversation about living."

"There is no expert on death."

"If we talk about dying before we need to, we show up differently when it matters."

About Laura Cleminson

Laura Cleminson is an end-of-life doula and the founder of the Pre-Dead Social Club, a growing community where people gather to have open conversations about mortality, dying, and living with greater awareness.

Through community events, conversations, and education, Laura helps people develop what she calls death awareness—the ability to approach mortality with curiosity, clarity, and compassion.

Connect With Laura

Website:

https://www.predeadsocialclub.com

Instagram:

PreDeadSocialClub

About Real Women's Work

Real Women's Work explores the lives, lessons, and perspectives of women doing meaningful work in the world—often work we rarely hear about.

Through honest conversations, host Jen Keefe highlights the many ways women contribute, lead, and shape the world around them.

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