This video shares the founder’s story behind the Savage Simplicity Ecosystem — a space designed to help thoughtful, capable people slow down enough to think clearly, choose intentionally, and build work and lives that are sustainable, not overwhelming.

Savage Simplicity was born from lived experience, not theory. It began with a simple realization: when life and work become too noisy, it’s impossible to see what actually matters. Over time, that realization grew into an ecosystem — including conversations, tools, and community — built around clarity, reflection, and continuous improvement without burnout.

This founder’s journey is not about arriving at perfection. It’s about choosing reflection over pressure, alignment over urgency, and progress that can last.

Explore the Savage Simplicity Ecosystem here:
https://savage-simplicity-ecosystem.circle.so/

Watch, listen, or explore at your own pace. This space exists to be entered gently.

In this premiere episode of Storytellers: Benicia Life, host Bernadette Hill sits down with Cindy Robertson—hairstylist of 40 years, owner of Shear Artistry Salon, and a woman whose story embodies courage, reinvention, and radical honesty.

After addiction nearly cost her everything—her health, marriage, business, and identity—Cindy made the decision to rebuild her life from the inside out. In this deeply personal conversation, Bernadette also shares her own eight-year recovery journey, revealing the intimate parallels between their paths.

Set inside Benicia’s historic Tannery Building, this episode explores what it really takes to start over: one choice, one habit, one honest moment at a time.

Topics in this episode:

• Navigating addiction and rebuilding your life

• Recovery as a daily practice

• Running a local business through personal transformation

• Reclaiming identity after years of silence

• The power of community in healing

Connect with the Guest — Cindy Robertson

Shear Artistry Salon (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=shear%20artistry%20benicia

(Use updated link if you have a direct one.)

Connect with Savage Simplicity wherever you already are →

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@savagesimplicity

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@savagesimplicity

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savage.simplicity.with.bernadette/

LinkedIn – Bernadette Hill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernadettehill/

Savage Swag Shop: https://savageswag.printful.me/

Website / Community (Circle): https://circle.so/c/savagesimplicity

Keywords: recovery, women in business, reinvention, sobriety, benicia california, small business owner, healing out loud, resilience, storytelling, bernadette hill podcast

In this episode of Storytellers: Journeys, host Bernadette Hill sits down with Sonia K. Singh—executive coach, leadership strategist, and founder of Point Three Leadership. Together, they explore what happens when powerful women stop doing more… and start feeling more.

Sonia shares the internal shifts that transform leadership from the inside out: reclaiming your voice, naming difficult emotions, and allowing feedback to expand—not diminish—your sense of self. Rooted in emotional intelligence, her approach shows how women can navigate high-performance environments with humanity, courage, and clarity.

This conversation invites you to pause, reset, and redefine how you show up—at work, at home, and in the moments where pressure or perfectionism try to take the lead.

Topics in this episode:

• Emotional intelligence as a leadership strategy

• Reclaiming your voice under pressure

• Hearing feedback without shrinking yourself

• Leading with humanity

• How internal awareness elevates external impact

Connect with the Guest — Sonia K. Singh

Website: https://pointthreeleadership.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soniaksingh

Newsletter (The Point 3 Leader): https://soniaksingh.substack.com

Connect with Savage Simplicity wherever you already are →

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@savagesimplicity

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@savagesimplicity

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savage.simplicity.with.bernadette/

LinkedIn – Bernadette Hill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernadettehill/

Savage Swag Shop: https://savageswag.printful.me/

Website / Community (Circle): https://circle.so/c/savagesimplicity

Keywords: emotional intelligence, leadership, executive coaching, women in leadership, voice and confidence, self-awareness, emotional power, simplicity, bernadette hill podcast

In this episode of Storytellers: Benicia Life, host Bernadette Hill sits down with Valerie Billings Swayne—a beloved Benicia artist whose murals, window art, and paint-and-sip events have become central to the creative pulse of the community.

Valerie’s story begins in Washington, where art was her first language long before she developed verbal skills. She went on to build a creative life that blends artistry, community, manifestation, and the courage to express yourself boldly. Her murals were even featured on HGTV, spotlighting her talent on a national stage.

Today, Valerie uses her gift to bring people together—proving that creativity not only colors walls, but also lives.

Topics in this episode:

• Growing up using art as communication

• Turning creative gifts into a community-centered business

• Manifesting a life rooted in joy and imagination

• Healing and expression through color

• Creativity as a path to simplicity

Connect with the Guest — Valerie Billings Swayne

Instagram (Art Account): https://instagram.com/draw_me_bitch_

Instagram (Paint & Sip): https://instagram.com/paintnpourdecisions

Facebook: https://facebook.com/valerie.fife

Connect with Savage Simplicity wherever you already are →

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@savagesimplicity

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@savagesimplicity

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savage.simplicity.with.bernadette/

LinkedIn – Bernadette Hill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernadettehill/

Savage Swag Shop: https://savageswag.printful.me/

Website / Community (Circle): https://circle.so/c/savagesimplicity

Keywords: artist, benicia california, muralist, creativity, manifestation, paint and sip, community art, storytelling, women creatives, bernadette hill podcast

In this episode of Storytellers: Benicia Life, host Bernadette Hill sits down with Paula Knox, owner of Gardens of Eden Landscaping—a woman redefining success in a male-dominated industry.

With over 20 years in landscaping, Paula built a business focused on beauty, customer care, and deep integrity. Her journey reflects grit, heart, and the power of designing a life rooted in values. As a woman balancing entrepreneurship, motherhood, and leadership, she brings honesty and wisdom to what it really takes to grow something of your own.

Topics in this episode:

• Gender disparity in landscaping

• Voice of the Customer in real-world service businesses

• Building a values-led company

• Balancing leadership, family, and community

• Why supporting women-owned businesses matters

Connect with the Guest — Paula Knox

Website: https://gardensofedenlandscape.com

Email (if used publicly): optional

Social links (if any): optional

Connect with Savage Simplicity wherever you already are →

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@savagesimplicity

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@savagesimplicity

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savage.simplicity.with.bernadette/

LinkedIn – Bernadette Hill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernadettehill/

Savage Swag Shop: https://savageswag.printful.me/

Website / Community (Circle): https://circle.so/c/savagesimplicity

Keywords: women in trades, landscaping, benicia california, small business stories, customer care, leadership, resilience, women entrepreneurs, storytelling

In this foundational LeanVerse episode, host Bernadette Hill introduces listeners to Tatiana Sell, MBA, PMP, and ASQ-Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt — her long-time colleague, friend, and now co-host of LeanVerse: Lean Thinking for Modern Life.

Tatiana brings decades of experience in Operational Excellence, Lean Six Sigma, project management, and organizational transformation. Together, Bernadette and Tatiana explore what Lean actually means beyond certifications and corporate contexts — and how its principles bring clarity, flow, and structure to everyday life.

This conversation sets the stage for the LeanVerse series by weaving together the technical and the human: how CI (continuous improvement) helps us navigate work, home, relationships, decision-making, overwhelm, and the pursuit of simplicity.

If you’re curious about Lean, but want to understand it through real stories and approachable language, this is the perfect place to begin.

Topics in this episode:
• How Lean Thinking applies beyond the workplace
• How Tatiana discovered CI and built a career in improvement
• Why Lean supports clarity, structure, and flow in real life
• The human side of Operational Excellence
• The inspiration behind LeanVerse

Connect with Savage Simplicity wherever you already are →

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@savagesimplicity

TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@savagesimplicity

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/savage.simplicity.with.bernadette/

LinkedIn – Bernadette Hill:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernadettehill/

LinkedIn – Tatiana Sell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-sell/

Savage Swag Shop:
https://savageswag.printful.me/

Website / Community (Circle):
https://circle.so/c/savagesimplicity

Keywords: lean thinking, lean six sigma, continuous improvement, operational excellence, project management, simplification, productivity, leadership, lean tools for life, tatiana sell, leanverse

In this episode of Storytellers: Journeys, host Bernadette Hill sits down with Elisabeth Swan — improv performer turned Lean practitioner, author, and thought leader in Conscious Leadership.

Guided by her belief that “fear is a form of energy,” Elisabeth shares how she learned to transform fear into focus, presence, and powerful collaboration — lessons drawn from improv stages, process improvement work, and decades of coaching high-performing teams.

Her journey is one of transformation: learning to read the moment, take the “offers” life gives you, and use visual thinking, empathy, and conscious leadership to elevate performance without sacrificing humanity.

Elisabeth also shares insights from her Praise Paradox workshop and her book Picture Yourself a Leader, which help individuals simplify complexity, see possibilities clearly, and step into leadership with confidence and calm.

What you’ll learn:

• Why fear is energy — and how to redirect it

• Lessons from improv that strengthen trust and adaptability

• How Lean and CI reinforce presence and clarity

• Conscious leadership tools that simplify complexity

• How visual thinking elevates communication and team performance

Connect with the Guest — Elisabeth Swan

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisabethswan/

Website: https://elisabethswan.com/

Podcast: https://www.jitcafe.com/podcasts

Connect with Savage Simplicity wherever you already are →

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@savagesimplicity

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@savagesimplicity

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savage.simplicity.with.bernadette

LinkedIn – Bernadette Hill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernadettehill/

Savage Swag Shop: https://savageswag.printful.me

Website / Community (Circle): https://circle.so/c/savagesimplicity

Keywords: conscious leadership, emotional intelligence, improv, lean thinking, high-performing teams, praise paradox, visual thinking, leadership development, elisabeth swan, bernadette hill podcast

In this episode of Storytellers: Journeys, host Bernadette Hill sits down with Leticia Garay, MBA—Latina strategist, storyteller, and creator of Living in Color. Leticia’s journey is one of courageous reinvention: after a life-altering mental health break, she chose not to shrink, but to rebuild her identity, career, and voice out loud.

She shares the process of completing her MBA during recovery, reconnecting to creativity, and reclaiming her place in the world as a woman committed to joy, color, authenticity, and truth. Her story is a reminder that healing is not passive — it is a brave act of creation.

Topics in this episode:

• Healing out loud after a mental health crisis

• Latina identity and returning to self

• Rebuilding career and confidence

• Using creativity and storytelling to reclaim joy

• Living unapologetically in color

Connect with the Guest — Leticia Garay, MBA

Website: https://leticialivingincolor.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/leticiavgaray (if applicable – edit as needed)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leticiavgaray

Connect with Savage Simplicity wherever you already are →

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@savagesimplicity

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@savagesimplicity

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savage.simplicity.with.bernadette/

LinkedIn – Bernadette Hill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernadettehill/

Savage Swag Shop: https://savageswag.printful.me/

Website / Community (Circle): https://circle.so/c/savagesimplicity

Keywords: latina strategist, mental health recovery, reinvention, living in color, emotional healing, mba journey, identity, women of color leadership, storytelling, bernadette hill podcast

In this episode of Storytellers: Journeys, host Bernadette Hill sits down with Kim Stephens, PMP — Senior Technical Project Manager at UC Davis, mentor, and advocate for women building careers in tech.

Kim didn’t follow a traditional path into IT leadership. With a degree in political science, she built her career through curiosity, courage, continuous learning, and a willingness to try what others found intimidating. Today, she uses that experience to mentor the next generation of women entering tech from non-traditional backgrounds.

Together, Kim and Bernadette explore generational differences in the workplace, the evolution of women’s leadership, and the power of designing a career that doesn’t just look good — but actually works. Kim’s perspective on mentorship is refreshing, practical, and deeply human: mentorship isn’t about hierarchy — it’s about intention, generosity, and creating space where women can grow without fear.

What you’ll learn:

• Why mentorship is essential for early-career women in tech

• How to bridge work-ethic differences between Gen X and Gen Z

• Why non-traditional career paths often create stronger leaders

• How to simplify your leadership style without losing your edge

• What real mentorship looks like — and how to offer it with intention

Connect with the Guest — Kim Stephens, PMP

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-stephens-pmp/

Connect with Savage Simplicity wherever you already are →

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@savagesimplicity

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@savagesimplicity

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savage.simplicity.with.bernadette/

LinkedIn – Bernadette Hill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernadettehill/

Savage Swag Shop: https://savageswag.printful.me/

Website / Community (Circle): https://circle.so/c/savagesimplicity

Keywords: women in tech, mentorship, project management, leadership, career growth, non-traditional career paths, gen x vs gen z, technical project manager, uc davis leadership, bernadette hill podcast

In this episode of Storytellers: Journeys, host Bernadette Hill sits down with Dr. Lola Adeyemo—speaker, ERG strategist, systems advocate, and author of Thriving in Intersectionality.

Lola shares her journey from Nigeria to corporate America — an experience that revealed how workplaces often fail to reflect the identities and needs of immigrant professionals. Instead of shrinking, she chose to create space where none existed. Today, she helps organizations use Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) as powerful tools for belonging, inclusion, and retention.

This conversation explores cultural identity, leadership, authenticity, and the ongoing work of designing spaces where women can thrive without compromise.

Topics in this episode:

• How Nigerian culture shaped Lola’s leadership

• The shift from science to systems strategy

• Why ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) matter

• What “designing belonging” looks like in real life

• How immigrant women can take up space and thrive

Connect with the Guest — Dr. Lola Adeyemo

Book: Thriving in Intersectionality – available on Amazon

Podcast: https://www.immigrantsincorporate.org/podcasts/thriving-in-intersectionality

TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/lola_adeyemo_belonging_is_not_about_fitting_in

Consulting + ERG Strategy: https://eqimindset.com

Nonprofit: https://www.immigrantsincorporate.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlolaadeyemo

Connect with Savage Simplicity wherever you already are →

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@savagesimplicity

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@savagesimplicity

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savage.simplicity.with.bernadette/

LinkedIn – Bernadette Hill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernadettehill/

Savage Swag Shop: https://savageswag.printful.me/

Website / Community (Circle): https://circle.so/c/savagesimplicity

Keywords: erg strategy, belonging, immigrant women, intersectionality, systems leadership, authenticity at work, nigeria to corporate america, storytelling, bernadette hill podcast