She Became CEO

In this episode, I speak with Kaye Squire, a member of the Amen University community who chose to share her story publicly after years of hesitation.

Kaye explains that her reason for speaking out was simple: if her experience could help even one person feel less alone—and see that there is a better path forward—then it was worth doing.

Her very high ACE score (Adverse Childhood Experiences).

What childhood abuse and neglect looked like in her own life.

How early trauma affected her relationships and sense of safety.

A suicide attempt in her early twenties, and what followed.

Memory struggles later in life and how they prompted her to take brain health seriously.

The steps she has taken to better support her brain and overall well-being.

What it takes to speak publicly about trauma when you’re not “over it.”

Why resilience often begins with just one safe relationship.

The long-term effects of early trauma on the brain.

Why Kaye feels strongly about supporting children and breaking cycles early.

This is not a polished success story or a dramatic transformation arc. It is a grounded conversation about lived experience, responsibility, and the decision to speak—not for attention, but to help someone else recognize themselves and feel less alone.

Find Kaye's Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/kayesquire_brainhealth/ 

In this episode, I talk with Aldis Ozols, whose English is functional, direct, and unconcerned with convention. What stands out is how effectively he uses it to achieve his goals.

Aldis is the author of Lose Millions, Win Life, a book shaped by his childhood in a Soviet Latvian village—by cold barns, physical labor, scarcity, and early responsibility—and by the long years that led him far beyond Latvia, eventually rebuilding his life in Ghana. The book traces how those early conditions forged a relentless drive, a tolerance for uncertainty, and a willingness to start over from scratch in a new culture. He wrote the book in English by putting his thoughts on paper, working with a ghostwriter, and asking his son to record the audiobook. The book exists because he focused on the outcome and assembled the right support.

He sold his first signed copy for $10,000 and several others for $5,000. The money went to causes in Ghana. The gesture amplified his message and strengthened his reputation.

This conversation provides a grounded perspective on intelligence, as expressed through action, resourcefulness, and follow-through.

Contact Aldis Ozols  at [email protected] 

In this episode, Ilze reconnects with Mara Lee Gilbert for a grounded, wide-ranging conversation about trauma, the nervous system, embodiment, and inner wisdom shaped through lived experience.

Together, they explore how early conditioning influences behavior in subtle ways, why insight alone doesn’t always lead to change, and how the body holds information long after events have passed. The conversation moves gently through themes of emotional expression, safety, desire, success, and peace—without rushing toward solutions or dramatic conclusions.

This episode is especially relevant for listeners who have done significant inner work and still sense unresolved layers, or who feel that conventional strategies no longer reach the deeper places where change actually happens.

How trauma shows up in unexpected ways

Why emotional expression doesn’t follow a single “correct” script

Rage, anxiety, compassion, and how different bodies process truth

Inner wisdom as a practical, embodied skill

Mara Lee Gilbert is a Transformational Guide and Coach, trauma-informed space holder, and sound channeler devoted to the healing power of truth, transmutation, and deep embodiment.

With a Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology and over a decade of experience supporting youth and adults in trauma recovery, Mara bridges grounded clinical insight with somatic healing and sacred plant wisdom. Her work draws on her unique ability to channel energetic frequencies through sound, activating deep remembrance and regulation within the body.

Currently training as a Death Doula, Mara works at the intersection of shadow and light, inviting others to reclaim their power through presence, honesty, and radical self-trust.

Instagram: @maraleegilbert

Sacred Rage Retreat (online, for women/female-identifying participants):

Online Workshop – Sacred Rage: Exploring the Alchemy of Intense Emotions

Abundance Activation Ceremony (online)

Chanting & Sound Work on YouTube:

Mara is also available for one-on-one work.

In this year-end episode of She Became CEO, Ilze reflects on how the podcast has evolved over the past year—and shares parts of her story she hasn’t spoken about publicly before.

This episode begins with a short spoken-word poem inspired by the idea of irony: promises that sound like certainty, the illusions we build our lives on, and the unexpected way strength and wisdom often reveal themselves only after everything falls apart.

This episode marks a shift toward:

clearer language

shorter distances between insight and action

conversations rooted in lived experience rather than performance

and a deeper respect for the intelligence already present in the listener

Above all, it’s an episode about listening, which is a skill that is so necessary for effective speakers, communicators, entrepreneurs, and partners in successful personal relationships.

Tune in and connect with me via one of my websites:

This episode is not a typical interview. It’s a curated compilation of conversations I had with Mara Lee Gilbert five years ago — conversations that shaped why this podcast exists. We talk about sex, power, vulnerability, creativity, and topics people are curious about but rarely discuss openly.

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I started this podcast knowing it would be a learning curve, so I thought the fewer people who heard the first episodes, the better. At the time, I not only didn’t expect anyone beyond my very closest people to listen — I somewhat feared it.

And yet, Episode 1, “Speaking to Heal,” remains the most listened-to episode of this podcast.

In Episode 2, “The Waitress — Trauma, Healing, and Finding My True Voice,” I mentioned coach Mara Lee Gilbert and shared that I started this podcast after talking with her. As the title of that episode suggests, I had been through trauma — and trauma makes us cringe. So starting a podcast was a big deal for me, despite my previous experience as a speaker and coach.

As this year was coming to an end, I invited Mara to be a guest on my podcast, and she agreed. The conversation happened, and it was recorded — but this episode is not that conversation.

Instead, Episode 43 is a compilation of conversations Mara and I had five years ago. I wanted to create this episode both to provide context for our more recent conversation and because, listening back, I realized there was real value in what we said — the kind of value that invites reflection on where you stand and how you communicate about complex topics. So I decided to share it.

Some of the topics we touch on include sexuality and innocence, intimacy and power dynamics, vulnerability and creativity, feminine and masculine energies, and other deep subjects that may be triggering for some listeners. Statistics show that these are topics many people are deeply curious about, even if they’re rarely discussed openly. In fact, the episode in which I previously spoke about feminine and masculine energies is the second most listened-to episode of this podcast.

My next episode will be a solo one, in which I plan to talk about adult friendship and money — themes that naturally follow from our discussion of sex and money in this episode — as well as how I plan to develop this podcast further.

The continuation of the conversation with Coach Mara will be Episode 45, where you’ll learn more about what this unique human being can help you accomplish.

You’ll also hear throughout this episode that I am a coach as well. If you’re interested in being a podcast guest or in exploring opportunities to work with me as a coach, please find the intake forms on my website: ilzebe.com.

A note on audio quality:

Comedy is often treated as something instinctive — you’re either funny, or you’re not. This episode challenges that idea.

In Episode 42 of She Became CEO, I talk with Lynn Harris about comedy as a craft: something you can study, practice, refine, and build over time — much like any other creative or professional skill.

Our conversation focuses on what comedy looks like behind the scenes, especially for people who are not trying to become full-time performers, but who want to:

write better

pitch ideas more clearly

understand what makes something land

and build creative confidence later in life

We talk about comedy as a learnable discipline, the realities of starting (or restarting) in midlife, and why many people underestimate how structured good comedy actually is.

This episode is especially relevant for:

creators who write, pitch, or present ideas

professionals curious about comedy as a communication tool

people starting something new later in life

anyone who wants to understand how humor works — not just whether something is funny

Why comedy is harder than it looks

Comedy as a skill set, not a personality trait

Writing jokes vs. understanding comedic structure

Pitching ideas and learning to sharpen your point

Why many people interested in comedy don’t actually want to perform

The role of classes, communities, and structured learning

Starting creative work later in life — without pretending to be younger

Finding the right role for yourself inside a creative field

Rather than focusing on stage performance, this conversation centers on process, practice, and development — the same things that matter when you’re building anything real.

Comedy teaches skills that transfer directly into creative and professional life:

clarity

timing

perspective

precision

editing what doesn’t serve the idea

In this episode, Lynn explains how people use comedy training to support writing projects, idea development, and pitches — sometimes without ever stepping on a stage.

Comedy, in this sense, becomes less about being entertaining and more about learning how to think, write, and communicate with intention.

I invited Lynn because she talks about it as work — thoughtful, demanding, sometimes uncomfortable work — and as something people can approach seriously even if they’re not trying to “be a comedian.”

That grounded perspective aligns closely with the way I think about communication, learning, and building skills over time.

To learn more about Gold Comedy and connect with Lynn, visit the website https://goldcomedy.com/

In this episode, I sit down with Leslie Hocker for a thoughtful conversation about healthy longevity, beauty in midlife, partnership, and purpose-driven business.

I chose to share Leslie’s story because it connects deeply with a theme I often return to on this podcast, namely:

Healing confidence doesn’t happen overnight. It happens in small, safe steps.

Why the idea of living well into our 100s feels less impossible than it once did—and what “healthy longevity” really means

Leslie’s reflection on longevity through her family history, including her mother’s active life until age 102

A lighthearted but revealing moment where Leslie shares how her husband believes he’ll live to 150—and why 140 feels more realistic to her

Building a business and a life alongside a partner, and what makes that collaboration work

Leslie’s early career journey and the influential mentors who shaped her leadership and mindset

A new beauty product launch focused on aging naturally and supporting women in midlife and beyond

Practical advice for those who are considering starting their own business later in life

This episode is not about chasing youth or perfection.

Leslie Hocker has built brands, coached leaders, and helped entrepreneurs create legacy businesses across the globe.

Early in her career, she became one of the youngest female executives in the petroleum industry, then pivoted to launch Houston’s first Pilates studio. A certified NLP trainer with Tony Robbins and a lifelong advocate for personal development, Leslie now mentors purpose-driven entrepreneurs with her husband, a Doctor of Pharmacology.

She’s traveled to over 30 countries and brings a global lens to everything she does. Leslie is also the founder of the Youthful Aging Movement. Her mission: help people lead with heart, scale with integrity, and build a business they’re proud of.

Website: https://lesliehocker.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bizcoach.leslie

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslie_hocker/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-hocker

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In this milestone 40th episode, I decided to do something different. I wrote down the dominant impression or feeling that stayed with me from each guest. Then, borrowing a tradition from Toastmasters, I acted as a one-person jury and chose one “gold medal” guest — not to rank people, but to highlight specific qualities in communication and presence that stood out.

Here’s a quick look at the eight guests whose conversations I reflected on:

Paige Royal — bold vulnerability rooted in self-confidence

Līga Brence — courage to dive into the unknown in pursuit of her dreams

Natalie Jones — unapologetic sexuality and confident ownership of her story

Denise Hunter (Dr. D-Nice) — relaxing in the flow and embracing joy

Azgari Lipshi — laser-focused mind and language

John Solleder — youthful curiosity and practical perspective

Stacey Gibson — professionalism and passion to serve

Don McNeill — collaborative creativity and memorable storytelling

At the end, I share why one of these eight received the “gold medal,” why I chose not to reveal the person’s name in the title, and why the word prodigy describes her early accomplishments without diminishing anyone else.

I also talk about some surprising analytics — including the fact that a large part of my audience is male and, on YouTube, younger than I expected — and how this will influence the way I communicate going forward.

Finally, you'll hear an invitation: I’m creating a course for podcast hosts and podcast guests who want to communicate with more clarity, precision, and presence. If you’d like to be added to the waitlist for January, email me at [email protected].

In this warm and entertaining episode, I sit down with my dear friend Don McNeill—a speaker, humorist, and lifelong admirer of Mark Twain. Don has spent years studying Twain’s life, voice, and wit, and he now performs as Mark Twain himself, bringing the celebrated American author to clubs, gatherings, and events across North Carolina.

We talk about Don’s unforgettable journey into public speaking, the joys and mishaps of stepping into the shoes of a historical icon, and the experiences that shaped his humor and worldview. Don shares personal stories, reflections on performance, why he chose Mark Twain, and the role his wife, Carolyn, plays in his creative life.

At the end of our conversation, with Don and Carolyn’s permission, you’ll also hear a light-hearted audio clip of Carolyn from a private gathering—an audience favorite every time it’s played.

Highlights from Our Conversation

How Don first connected with the voice and sensibility of Mark Twain

The early influences that shaped his humor and storytelling

What it’s like to perform as a historical figure—and why audiences love it

Don’s transition into public speaking later in life

The creative partnership between Don and his wife Carolyn

Balancing authenticity and entertainment when telling someone else’s story

Reflections on aging, purpose, courage, and stepping onto a stage

Why Don believes humor is a bridge between strangers

The behind-the-scenes reality of speaking throughout North Carolina

A surprise audio message from Carolyn that listeners won’t soon forget

About Don McNeill

Location: Raleigh, North Carolina

📞 Contact Don: 919-522-4068

Episode Summary:

Stacey shares:

What franchising actually is — and what it isn’t

The real costs, risks, and opportunities behind franchise ownership

What types of people succeed in franchises (it’s not what you think)

How she transitioned from corporate life into entrepreneurship

How becoming a business owner gave her the flexibility to support her husband through his final years while he battled an aggressive form of dementia

The emotional side of career reinvention when your life circumstances shift

How The Entrepreneur’s Source (her franchisor) empowers career changers to make educated, low-risk decisions about business ownership

This episode is a warm, grounded, and eye-opening conversation about navigating change, building a business that fits your life, and reclaiming agency — especially in the second half of life.

W: http://sgibson.esourcecoach.com/

E: [email protected] 

To learn more about this show or contact the host, please visit:

SheBecameCEO.com 

ilzebe.com