Today I am joined by Lawson Park! Lawson is the founder and designer of Brooks Avenue, a womenswear brand celebrating color, craftsmanship, and self-expression. With a BA in Advertising, PR, and Design from UNC Chapel Hill and her MFA in Fashion Design from FIT, Lawson’s approach to design is rooted in color, texture, and storytelling. Her work is shaped by her creative upbringing in Charlotte, NC, blending artisanal techniques and timeless silhouettes into richly detailed, narrative-driven pieces. 

In this episode, Lawson and I talk about her childhood and how she has always been creative, her time at FIT, why she started her own brand, marketing strategies that have worked for her, how she views wholesale, and so much more! 

Brooks Avenue Website

Brooks Avenue Instagram 

Brooks Avenue TikTok

National Blood Clot Alliance 

Today I am joined by Bobbi Sue Thomas! Bobbi was born and raised in South Alabama, which is where she now lives with her husband, Doug, their two daughters—Caroline and Cammie—and their four-year-old mini dachshund, Tiny, who proudly holds the title of “baby of the family.”

Bobbi launched Bobbi with the Eye in July 2023 after a dinner with her high school girlfriends where she told them that she wanted to start posting her outfits and sharing more on Instagram. They really encouraged her to create her Instagram page. Bobbi has always loved finding a good deal, sharing outfit inspo, and helping friends discover affordable fashion that fits real life. Bobbi's friends inspired her to put it out there, and the rest is history! 

In this episode, Bobbi and I talked about her corporate career (which she began in a temp position), why it's important to take chances, how to carve your own path, social media hacks, and how to have a "why not you" mindset. 

Bobbi's Instagram

Bobbi's TikTok

Bobbi's Website

City of Mobile Animal Shelter

Welcome back to So Can I! I’m your host, Lauren Cunningham, and today we’re diving into our August Book Club pick: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.

This book has been on my reading list forever, and after finally finishing it, I can confidently say — it was worth every page. At 564 pages, this story is gripping, emotional, and one that will stay with me for a long time. I read half of this book in one sitting, so it's safe to say that I loved it!

In this episode:
✨ A full spoiler-filled recap of the book
✨ My thoughts on Vianne and Isabelle as sisters, and how differently they approached survival
✨ Favorite (and hardest) moments from the story
✨ Why the ending shocked me 
✨ My star rating and whether I’ll pick up another Kristin Hannah novel

Plus, I’ll share a peek at my fall reading list and announce our September book club pick: The London Séance Society!

Today I am joined by Carlyn Bushman! Carlyn is a corporate executive turned serial entrepreneur and the founder of POP Academy, a high-impact coaching platform for early-stage female founders of product-based businesses. After spending 15 years climbing the corporate ladder, Carlyn left the boardroom to build and scale multiple ventures on her own. Today, she helps ambitious women launch profitable brands with confidence–without burning out or blowing their budgets. Known for her practical, step-by-step approach, Carlyn empowers her clients to master their numbers, streamline their operations, and grow their revenue with clarity and purpose.

In this episode Carlyn talks about starting her first business & overextending herself, saying "yes" too many times, her advice for entrepreneurs, POP Academy, why she is an advocate for female's in business, and so much more! 

Carlyn's Website

Carlyn's Instagram

Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children

Today I am joined by Sarah Penner! Sarah is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary and The London Séance Society. Her books have been translated into more than forty languages and her debut, The Lost Apothecary, has sold over one million copies worldwide.
 
A graduate of the University of Kansas, Sarah spent thirteen years in corporate finance and now writes full-time. In her free time, Sarah enjoys hiking, yoga, and cooking. She also sits on the Board of Directors at her local animal shelter, Friends of Strays. Sarah and her husband, Marc, live in Florida. 

In this episode, Sarah and I talk about her career in finance, how she became a NYT Bestselling author, her writing process, her first book (that didn't get published), what's next for her, and so much more! You all are going to love Sarah!

Sarah's Website

Sarah's Instagram

Friends of Strays

Today I am joined by Lauren Stephens! Lauren is the Co-Founder and CEO of Dudley Stephens, a sustainable fashion brand she launched in 2015 alongside her sister, Kaki McGrath, and their mother, Bonnie Dudley. Drawing from her background in fashion and beauty public relations with brands like Gucci, Calvin Klein, L'Oréal, and Lancôme, Lauren envisioned a line of elevated everyday essentials crafted from recycled materials. Under Lauren's leadership, Dudley Stephens has transformed from a family side hustle into a multimillion-dollar enterprise with a cult following. The brand is renowned for its signature fleece turtlenecks and commitment to sustainability, having repurposed over seven million plastic bottles through its innovative use of recycled fabrics. Beyond her executive role, where she oversees design, Lauren serves as the creative force behind the brand's social media, editorial content and marketing strategies. She also co-hosts the podcast "Two Sisters in Business," where she shares insights into entrepreneurship and sustainable fashion.

A native of Darien, Connecticut, now living in Greenwich, Lauren balances her professional endeavors with family life, often sharing glimpses of both on her Instagram @laurendudleystephens.

Lauren and I talked about her career in luxury fashion PR, starting a family business, how she forecasts demand, customer retention vs. customer acquisition, the iconic Dudley Stephens' turtleneck, her new podcast, and so much more!

Lauren's Instagram

Dudley Stephens Instagram

Dudley Stephens Website

Bundles of Joy

Two Sisters in Business

Today I am joined by Anne Cynar! Anne is an e-commerce entrepreneur based in New York City. She is the founder of Pickleball Prep, a manufacturer of pickleball paddles, bags, apparel and gifts. 

Prior to founding her company, Anne graduated from Yale University in 2000 and worked at The Corcoran Group in New York City. She stepped away from her career in 2010 to focus on family and raise her children. Coming back to the corporate world almost 15 years later with a fresh perspective, she created her company in January 2024. 

As a mother of two with a lifelong passion for sports, wellness, and nutrition, Anne has always believed in the power of movement to support a healthy lifestyle, foster self-discipline, and build community. 

She created her company to encourage outdoor time, human connection, and healthy movement. In addition to adult paddles, she also made sure to design kids' paddles, to support families who want to play together, move together, and make amazing memories together, across all generations. 

In this episode, Anne and I talked about her decision to stay home while her kids were little, why she chose pickleball, the beginning stages of owning a product based business, why it's never too late to follow your dreams, and so much more! 

Pickleball Prep Instagram

Pickleball Prep Website

Hudson's Helping Hands

Welcome to the very first So Can I Book Club episode! This month, we're diving into Every Summer After by Carley Fortune — a nostalgic, heart-tugging novel about first love and second chances. 

In this episode, Lauren shares:

• Why this book was the perfect first pick
• Her honest thoughts on the characters (Team Charlie, anyone?)
• A few things she didn’t love (hello, miscommunication trope 👀)
• Fun behind-the-scenes of her IRL book club weekend — including beaded bracelets, pierogies, and polaroids
• Book recs if you loved this one
• And… the August book club pick reveal! (Hint: it’s historical, emotional, and you might want tissues.)

📚 Want to join the book club convo? Tap the link in Lauren's Instagram bio to join the broadcast channel and follow along each month.

✨ Don't forget to leave a rating + review to help us grow and keep these episodes coming.

Today I am joined by Amy Kummer. Amy Kummer is the founder and principal designer of Amy Kummer Interiors, a boutique design firm known for its timeless, fresh traditional aesthetic. With a signature style that blends classic Southern charm, soft color palettes, and elegant details, Amy creates spaces that feel as warm and welcoming as they are beautiful.

Based in Houston Texas, Amy leads full-service residential projects for clients across the region and beyond, offering a thoughtful and highly personalized approach to every home she designs. Her work has been praised for its livable luxury—spaces that are as functional for families as they are refined.

In addition to running a successful design business, Amy is passionate about mentoring the next generation of creatives. She is the founder of a hands-on summer interior design camp for teen girls, where she shares her love for design and empowers young women to explore their own creativity.

Amy is also a proud mom, a devoted believer, and a firm believer in the power of beauty—not just in the design of a home, but in the moments we create within it. She credits her faith for guiding her through the unpredictable path of entrepreneurship and sees each project as an opportunity to serve others through creativity, kindness, and grace. 

Amy's Website

Amy's Instagram

We Choose Happy

Today I am joined by Carrie McDermott! Carrie is the founder of Sibley Creative, a consulting firm that helps emerging brands reach new markets through curated trunk shows, collaborations and branding. Carrie's scope ranges depending on the client -- some use her services for events like multi-city shopping events to get in front of new and existing customers. Other clients use her services in daily sense, consulting on business strategy, influencer collaborations and creative events. Carrie's background includes experience on the editorial side as an editor at Condé Nast, as well as the public relations side at companies like JCrew, Saks and Tory Burch. Merging these skill sets has led to great success in understanding how brands want to be seen and positioned in today's market.

Sibley's Instagram

CASA