Rising Together Podcast: Courageous Women Leading Differently

A surprise birth story becomes a blueprint for building community, changing how a family sees disability, and creating something the Midwest desperately needed. 

Emma Mulvany and Kari Treat unpack how one unexpected diagnosis sparked a mission that now reaches hundreds of families through sport, advocacy, and connection. Kari shares the moment her daughter Mackenzie was born with a limb difference, the swirl of fear and guilt that followed, and the shift that happened when she stopped searching for what was “wrong” and started building a life around what was possible. 

What follows is a candid, deeply human conversation about turning uncertainty into action. You’ll discover how the Limb Difference Collective Foundation grew from Facebook groups and local meetups into a nonprofit with tax-deductible donations, a podcast, and a “hugs in a box” care package designed to help parents, schools, and kids feel less alone from day one. 

Kari also breaks down why respectful language matters, what most people misunderstand about limb difference, and how community events like the Brookfield Zoo meetup drew 150 people in year one and 250 the next.

We also get into the practical side of raising a child with a disability - adaptive sports, early intervention gaps, prosthetics, therapy, and why Kari now coaches swimmers through GLASA and helps athletes prepare for Paralympic-level competition. 

Along the way, she shares what her kids, her community, and her own lived experience have taught her about belonging, resilience, and embracing a version of motherhood she never expected.

Essential listening if you care about parenting, disability advocacy, community building, or the power of saying yes to the life in front of you.

Kari Treat is a swim coach, nonprofit founder, and community connector in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. She co-created the Limb Difference Collective Foundation to support families navigating limb difference through events, resources, and care packages. 

You can find out more about Kari Treat and The Limb Difference Collective and Macaroni Kid Schaumaburg, check out:  

Limb Difference Collective Online: https://limbdifferencecollective.org/ 

Limb Difference Collective On Social: https://www.instagram.com/limbdifferencecollective/ 

Macaroni Kid Schaumburg Online: https://schaumburg.macaronikid.com/ 

Macaroni Kid Schaumburg On Social: https://www.instagram.com/mackidschaumburg/ 

What if the thing you’re best at is the thing you’ve been undervaluing all along? Emma Mulvany sits down with Lexis Krieg, a clarity-first brand designer, to unpack how deep listening, pattern recognition, and human-led AI can turn a scattered brand into one that feels unmistakably true.

Lexis shares how she went from artist and graphic designer to building Most Beautiful Design, a business rooted in conversation before creation. Instead of starting with logos and visuals, she starts with the words, story, and voice underneath the brand and then uses her proprietary AI system to organize the patterns without polishing off the truth.

In this conversation, you’ll discover:

• Why the easiest thing for you to do may actually be your hidden superpower
• How Lexis uses thoughtful conversation to uncover a client’s real message
• Why live dialogue can reveal more authentic language than written questionnaires
• How she combines intuition, transcripts, and AI without losing the human edge
• How creativity, color, and joy can make a brand feel more professional—not less
• Why slowing down before designing a logo can create a stronger business foundation
• How the Brand Clarity Key bridges the gap between who you are and how you show up in business

Emma and Lexis also explore motherhood, advocacy, entrepreneurship, and the importance of creating a business that supports the life you actually want to live.

This conversation goes deeper than branding. It’s about honoring what comes naturally, trusting your voice, and building a business that reflects your most fully expressed self.

Lexis Krieg is the founder of Most Beautiful Design, where she helps women find clarity in their message and brand through thoughtful conversation, strategic writing, and visually aligned identity work. She also writes The Art of Joy, a Substack newsletter about creativity, motherhood, and business.

You can find out more about Lexis Krieg and Most Beautiful Design - 

Most Beautiful Design Online: https://www.mostbeautifuldesign.com/ 

The Art of Joy Substack: https://theartofjoywithlexis.substack.com/ 

What if midlife is not the ending, but an invitation to finally come back to yourself? Ingrid Bayer shares the raw, honest story behind recent book, Not Done Yet: The Journey Back to You, and why the real work of reinvention often begins when your body, your career, or your life forces you to stop.

Ingrid shares about the health crisis that became a wake-up call, the workplace bullying that unexpectedly opened the door to entrepreneurship, and the wisdom that comes from finally listening to your own inner compass. 

If you’ve ever felt stretched thin, stuck in survival mode, or unsure who you are beneath the roles you’ve carried, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why Ingrid rewrote her book from scratch after publishing the first version
• The difference between pushing through and actually honoring what your body is telling you

• How a severe back injury exposed years of burnout she had been ignoring
• The pivotal moments that helped her turn adversity into a new chapter
• Why she believes women need more conversations, community, and their own permission to change

Ingrid shares how a transformational course in her early 20s first taught her to question conditioning, choose more intentionally, and recognize the value of stillness. She also reflects on the long arc of identity, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and the moment she realized she was ready to build something new around supporting women in midlife and beyond.

This episode is for women who feel like the best years might be behind them, for anyone standing at a crossroads, and for listeners craving a reminder that exhaustion is not a personality trait. There is power in pausing, power in asking what you want next, and power in deciding you are not finished yet.

Ingrid Bayer is the author of Not Done Yet: The Journey Back to You and the founder of the VA Institute, where she has helped thousands of women build online businesses. She now creates spaces for women in midlife to pause, reconnect, and rebuild with more honesty, ease, and community.

You can find out more about Ingrid Bayer, her books, and upcoming opportunities to work with her on her website at https://ingridbayer.com  

You can also follow along on her journey with Not Done Yet on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ingrid.bayer.58

What if the reason your growth feels stuck is that you are trying to do it alone? Melissa Bauknight shares the framework behind The Nova Global that helps women and non-binary professionals build real confidence, self-trust, and support without burning out or shrinking themselves to fit the room.

From a career in medical device sales to founding a global movement, Melissa’s path is proof that the “more” you feel called to is not random. It’s the signal. She opens up about the inner work that changed everything, the power of being seen in community, and why belonging is not something you find in isolation - it’s something you practice in relationship.

You’ll discover:

• why self-trust is the center of the Leveraged Model
• how the four pillars - strategic, energetic, relational, and blueprint - work together in real life
• why community creates a different kind of nervous system rewiring than solo personal growth
• how Nova uses integrity, systems, and even AI to create consistency without losing humanity
• what it actually means to lead from your center instead of your conditioning.

Emma and Melissa also unpack the hidden cost of being unseen, the difference between perfectionism and a higher standard, and why asking for more is not too much - it’s often the beginning of healing. 

If you have ever felt yourself outgrowing the room you’re in, this conversation will help you understand what comes next.

You’ll also get a sneak peak at Supernova Live, where the Leveraged Model comes to life through workshops, energetic work, and intentional connection designed to leave you more resourced, more supported, and more expanded than when you arrived.

Essential listening if you’re craving a deeper standard, a stronger sense of self, and a community that actually has your back.

You can find out more about Melissa Bauknight, The Nova Global, and SuperNova Live on the following channels: 

The Nova Global: https://thenovaglobal.com 

The Nova Global on Substack: https://thenovaglobal.substack.com 

SuperNova Live: https://thenovaglobal.com/supernova-live-2026/

Socials: @thenovaglobal @melissa_bauknight 

The advice to "push through" your messy middle is making the whole process harder. 

Emma Mulvany and Lizzie Langston reveal a different path through identity death, the void, and rebirth - one that helps you stop spiraling, trust what is unraveling, and actually hear what your life is trying to become.

If you've ever felt like you're falling apart while still trying to show up for work, family, or your business, this conversation will feel like a deep exhale. Lizzie shares the very real story behind Threshold Keepers, including the 18-month void that followed a failed launch, a website crash, and the end of her old brand as the "postpartum coach."

Together, Emma and Lizzie break down:

• The "sovereignty cycle" - initiation, death, void, and rebirth
• Why threshold seasons can look like divorce, postpartum, grief, a diagnosis, or a career ending
• How the nervous system reacts when identity starts collapsing
• Why the void is not a problem to solve, but a place to listen
• How art, movement, journaling, and creativity help you move through uncertainty without bypassing it
• What it looks like to co-create from alignment instead of ego. 

Lizzie also shares how ancient traditions, especially Egyptian mystery teachings, understood ego death and transformation as a natural part of human evolution and not as a personal failure. Instead of treating your breakdown as proof that something is wrong with you, this episode gives you language, structure, and permission to recognize it as an initiation.

You'll also get an inside look at Threshold Keepers, the 12-week cohort-based Mystery School Lizzie built with her business partner, Hallie, to help women navigate liminal seasons with more safety, clarity, and reverence. 

Essential listening if you're in transition, rebuilding after an ending, or sensing that the life you're living is asking you to become someone new.

Lizzie Langston is the co-founder of Threshold Keepers and a medium who helps women navigate identity shifts, spiritual awakening, and the messy middle between one self and the next. She also shares her writing and transmissions on Substack.

Emma Mulvany brings the conversation to life as the host, guiding a deeply honest exploration of what it means to be in process, stay resourced, and trust the creative intelligence inside change. She’s the founder of Empowerment by Emma, specializing in self-trust and inner authority mentorship. Creating spaces for women to reclaim their sovereignty so you can stop outsourcing your identity, power, and choice. 

You can find out more about Lizzie Langston and The Threshold Keepers’ program, The Sacred Art of Coming Undone, and follow along at the following channels: 

Threshold Keepers: https://www.thresholdkeepers.com/, 

https://thresholdkeepers.substack.com/, https://www.instagram.com/thresholdkeepers, https://calendly.com/thresholdkeepers/30min (book a free consult to find out if The Sacred Art of Coming Undone is for you).

Lizzie Langston: https://lizzielangston.substack.com/ , https://www.instagram.com/lizzielangston 

Most women are living rushed, disconnected lives until a simple shift reveals how to tap into their true radiance.

Erin Attere shares her transformative journey from corporate burnout to living a life full of purpose, presence, and joy, and she’s here to show you how you can do the same.

In this heartfelt conversation, Erin breaks down how reconnecting with your inner self and embracing fun as fuel can revolutionize your daily experience. Discover why slowing down isn’t a pause from productivity but the secret to magnifying your impact, happiness, and energy.

She reveals practical ways to recognize your radiance through a simple “radiance check-in,” and how to create a life that naturally aligns with your values - without the guilt or overwhelm.

You'll learn how to

• reframe your journey
• move beyond the societal pressures of hustle culture

and cultivate a life of flow and fulfillment.

Erin discusses the power of community, the ripple effect of inner work on your family, and why your wellbeing is the foundation for everything else.

If you've ever felt stuck in a cycle of burnout, this episode offers a roadmap to reset, realign, and shine brighter than ever. Perfect for women craving more meaning, joy, and balance, this episode is your invitation to embrace the radiant, purpose-driven life you deserve.

Get ready to slow down, connect deeper with yourself, and energize your world from within. Find out more about Erin’s Radiant Life Collective at erinattere.com and start your journey today - your radiance awaits!

Resources & Links:

• Radiant Life Collective — Join the community transforming lives one step at a time
• Erin Attere - Website — Explore coaching, community, and upcoming events

Connect with Erin:

• LinkedIn

The conversation covers the journey of Lumi Studio & Shoppe in Mount Prospect, IL, a community space, and the impact of women-led businesses.

It also explores the themes of support, collaboration, and creating a sense of belonging.

The success of Lumi is attributed to its location and the supportive community it serves. The conversation delves into the curation of the Lumi space, balancing personal time, relearning self-care, embracing imperfection, community and intergenerational learning, anticipating future phases, redefining success, impact and mission, future plans for Lumi, and upcoming events at Lumi.

The discussion highlights the challenges and growth of the Lumi space, the importance of self-care, and the evolving definition of success.

Takeaways

• The importance of creating a community space that goes beyond traditional yoga studios.
• The impact of women-led businesses on local communities and the value of collaboration over competition. Balancing personal time is essential for business owners
• Community and intergenerational learning are valuable for personal growth and perspective

You can visit Lumi Studio & Shoppe at 104 W Northwest Hwy in Mount Prospect, IL 60056 and online at https://lumistudioshoppe.com and on instagram.

On the next episode of Rising Together, I sat down with Elizabeth Scott, LCPC, an IFS therapist, Reiki master, and astrologer who brings a beautifully integrative approach to healing.

Elizabeth practices in Maryland and teaches through her offering, Practical Alchemy, where she blends Internal Family Systems therapy with astrology and Reiki.

We explore how our birth chart can serve as an externalization of our internal parts, serving as a roadmap that helps us see ourselves with clarity and compassion. This was my favorite part! 

Elizabeth also breaks down how the moon sign reveals what makes us feel most safe and nurtured, why oppositions in our chart point to our greatest opportunities for growth, and what it means when our progressed moon shifts into a new sign.

We also talk about the difference between burdened and unburdened expressions of planetary archetypes, how Reiki supports nervous system regulation to access more Self-energy, and why the astrology piece depersonalizes our struggles in a way that creates so much relief. Elizabeth shares her own experience of her progressed moon moving into Scorpio and how that intense alchemical energy opened the door for profound IFS work.

This conversation is for anyone who wants to integrate the cosmic and the personal, the spiritual and the practical. Elizabeth offers a grounded, compassionate approach to understanding yourself through multiple lenses with the results of clarity, empowerment, and deep self-compassion. 

If you've been seeking a framework that honors both your inner world and the larger cycles you're part of, this episode will give you tools, language, and permission to explore both.

You can find Elizabeth online at https://heartsighthealing.com and on social media at @heartsighthealing

Stasha Jankovic is the founder of a transformative healing space in Elk Grove Village that blends Kundalini Yoga and Regenerative Detox.

She beautifully shares her profound perspective on why the heart (not the mind) is the true center of healing, and how we've been conditioned to live from the neck up, disconnected from our souls.

Like kindred spirits, we explore the science and spirit behind Kundalini Yoga, including the use of mantras, mudras, and breathwork to quiet the monkey mind and access deep subconscious healing. Stasha breaks down how our bodies are electromagnetic beings, and why feeding ourselves "life" through whole, plant-based foods is essential to vitality and clarity.

We covered so much ground and this conversation goes deep into manifestation, childhood wounds, and the courageous work of stripping away layers to return to our truest selves. Stasha reminds us that peace is simple, but it requires consistency, courage, and a willingness to feel.

Whether you're curious about Kundalini Yoga, looking to detox your body and mind, or simply seeking a way back to yourself, this episode will give you tools, perspective, and permission to start exactly where you are.

You can find Stasha online at http://inspireyogawellness.com and on social media at InspireYogaWellness

In this episode, I sit down with a Tara Le Veque, interior designer and Founder of Adorne Interiors, to explore what it really means to design a space that feels authentic — and why the most beautiful homes aren't the ones that look perfect, but the ones that feel lived in.

We talk about 

• why mixing old and new pieces gives a space longevity
• how to think about cohesion without making every room feel the same
• why starting with how you want a room to feel matters more than any trend or color palette. 

We also get into the difference between designing to impress and designing to actually live in — and how to let go of the pressure to make your home look like a showroom.

Whether you're mid-renovation, just trying to make a space feel more like you, or simply tired of furniture that falls apart in two years — this one is full of practical insight and a refreshing perspective on what home should really feel like.

You can find Tara online at https://adorneinteriors.com, Facebook, and Instagram.