She What?

Nikki Graziano nearly lost her life to alcohol. Today, she's the founder and owner of Bar Palmina, a zero-proof cocktail bar in Philly's Fishtown neighborhood (and named after her grandmother). In this powerful episode, Nikki tells the story of how she went from liver failure and life support into recovery, acceptance, and reinvention, creating a new space for herself and so many others. It's raw. It's real. And ultimately, it's hopeful.

Check out the current menu at Bar Palmina and follow them Instagram. 

For more on She WHAT?, visit us on Instagram.

Brought to you by Capital Health

Credits:

Producer and Host: Jess Downey

Producer and Host: Maureen Petrosky

Producer and Editor: Christine Fennessy

Artwork: Peter Yates Design

Know someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?

Tell us about her!

For 28 years, Rhea Hughes has been the co-host of the WIP Morning Show on Sports Talk Radio. She talks to Jess and Maureen about how she broke in, stayed in, and rose to the top of a field long dominated by dudes. (And offers a unique bit of advice on timing big life events along the way.) She gets real about the anxieties of being a working mom, especially in a profession where your replacement is practically standing in your shadow. And she explains why they have such a pull on so many, but you don't need to love sports to love Rhea. She's honest, she's hilarious, and she's 100 percent Philly. 

Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. 

For more, visit us on Instagram.

Brought to you by Capital Health

Credits:

Producer and Host: Jess Downey

Producer and Host: Maureen Petrosky

Producer and Editor: Christine Fennessy

Artwork: Peter Yates Design

Know someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?

Tell us about her!

Tori Foles was a former Division I volleyball player who—like all athletes—knew her own body. But when a mysterious cascade of symptoms hit her at the age of 23, she initially faced a doctor who disregarded and diminished how she was feeling. In this episode, she shares how she fought for a diagnosis, and struggled to regain the life she'd once had. Today, she's a mom of three, a business owner, and wife of Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles. Her conversation with Jess and Maureen is a powerful reminder that chronic illness doesn’t define you—and that self-advocacy is vital.

Follow Tori and the sweet lids (for dads AND moms) at Dad SZN.

Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. 

For more, visit us on Instagram.

Brought to you by Capital Health

Credits:

Producer and Host: Jess Downey

Producer and Host: Maureen Petrosky

Producer and Editor: Christine Fennessy

Artwork: Peter Yates Design

Know someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?

Tell us about her!

Chances are, you've got one very important thing in common with Jessy Kyle: You've spent most of your life wearing bras that don't fit quite right. For Jessy, a three-time cancer survivor (who, side note, has sung the national anthem for the Eagles), the problem was magnified when her doctors refused to do a breast reduction surgery. In this episode, she shares her remarkable story of beating the odds (again and again and again), finding gratitude in the little wins, and how she built a company around boosting confidence in her customers.

Follow Jessy on IG, and find your perfect fit at Betterly Bra.

For more, visit us on Instagram.

Brought to you by Capital Health

Credits:

Host and Producer: Jess Downey

Host and Producer: Maureen Petrosky

Producer and Editor: Christine Fennessy

Artwork: Peter Yates Design

Know someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?

Tell us about her!

What if one of your life’s biggest accomplishment started…on a dare? Jess and Maureen talk with Dr. Jannell MacAulay, a combat pilot, special operations consultant, TEDx speaker, mother of two—and, among so many other things, leader of a mission to remove and destroy chemical weapons from Syria (yeah, we know, she what???). Jannell talks about how she ended up in the Air Force, that insane Syria story, being a military mom, and how she's using the mindset that helped her thrive in high-stakes environments, to help others. 

Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. 

For more, head to our Instagram.

Brought to you by Capital Health

Credits:

Host and Producer: Jess Downey

Host and Producer: Maureen Petrosky

Producer and Editor: Christine Fennessy

Artwork: Peter Yates Design

Know someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?

Tell us about her!

Shanta Tailor was living the life of a typical 20-something–hanging with friends, starting up a career, saving for a place of her own–when she felt a lump. What happens next is extraordinary as Shanta faced a series of health and personal crises that could have derailed her life completely. But instead, she found an inner superpower (and nerves of steel because now...skydiver). Today, she's using that power to help others make it through the hardest days of their lives, so they too can get to the amazing moments waiting on the other side.   

Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. 

For more, visit us on Instagram.

Brought to you by Capital Health

Credits:

Host and Producer: Jess Downey

Host and Producer: Maureen Petrosky

Producer and Editor: Christine Fennessy

Artwork: Peter Yates Design

Know someone with an amazing She WHAT? story? 

Tell us about her!

Megan Cohen will tell you: She used to think she was above becoming a drug addict. She came from a good family and a nice area. She was smart. She knew better. And yet once her addiction took hold, she lost all control, eventually  ending up homeless on the streets of Kensington. In this episode, she shares her story and the moments when real life angels offered her the hope she needed to believe recovery is possible. Today, she's channeling that same kindness and compassion for others facing similar challenges as the Founder and Creative Director of the Philadelphia Grace Project. 

Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. 

For more, visit us on Instagram.

Brought to you by Capital Health

Credits:

Host and Producer: Jess Downey

Host and Producer: Maureen Petrosky

Producer and Editor: Christine Fennessy

Artwork: Peter Yates Design

Know someone with an amazing She WHAT? story? 

Tell us about her!

Lisa Jakub, also known as Lydia from the film Mrs. Doubtfire, left a thriving career in Hollywood at the age of 22 ("Everybody told me I was crazy."). In this episode, she talks about growing up as a child actor, the influence of her beloved friend and Doubtfire co-star, Robin Williams, her decision to leave acting, and how she discovered a powerful calling to help veterans. A mission that has been, literally, lifesaving.

Learn more about Lisa on her website and her Insta.

Watch this interview and access a transcript on our YouTube channel. 

For more, visit us on Instagram.

Brought to you by Capital Health

Credits:

Producer and Host: Jess Downey

Producer and Host: Maureen Petrosky

Producer and Editor: Christine Fennessy

Artwork: Peter Yates Design

Know someone with an amazing She WHAT? story? 

Tell us about her!

What do you do when your beloved friend is dying to live a more sexually adventurous life before she loses her battle with cancer? Well, if you're Nikki Boyer, you start a podcast. Nikki is a singer, actress, Emmy winner, and the co-producer with her soulmate Molly of the hit podcast (turned Hulu series), Dying for Sex. We learn how she became an actor, met Molly, and how their friendship has changed her life, and is very likely changing how a lot of us think about–and talk about–sex and death. She made us laugh and cry, and want to love everyone around us a little bit harder. 

Want to watch this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. 

For more, head to our Instagram.

Brought to you by Capital Health

Check out the Dying for Sex podcast here and Hulu series here. 

Follow Nikki Boyer on Instagram.

Credits:

Host and Producer: Jess Downey

Host and Producer: Maureen Petrosky

Producer and Editor: Christine Fennessy

Artwork: Peter Yates Design

Know someone with an amazing She WHAT? story? 

Tell us about her!

How does a gap year after high school turn into a life in Nepal, raising more than 100 kids? No seriously. Over 100! Maggie Doyne joins Jess and Maureen to discuss the heartbreaks and high points of parenthood, finding love, and living a purpose-driven life.

For more on Maggie’s work in Nepal, check out BlinkNow.

Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. 

For more, head to our Instagram.

Brought to you by Capital Health

Credits:

Host and Producer: Jess Downey

Host and Producer: Maureen Petrosky

Producer and Editor: Christine Fennessy

Artwork: Peter Yates Design

Know someone with an amazing She WHAT? story? 

Tell us about her!