SpeakHER Sessions

What does it take to build confidence in a young woman — not just on stage, but in her life?

Lauren Metts has been answering that question for decades. As the founder and creative director of The Dance Department in Irmo, South Carolina, Lauren has shaped far more than performances. She's shaped how hundreds of young women see themselves, compete, and lead.

In this episode, Kim Atwood sits down with Lauren to explore the intersection of dance, identity, and confidence-building and what happens when a leader holds the line on excellence without losing the heart of the people she leads.

In this conversation:

• How dance teaches work ethic, discipline, and resilience in ways other pursuits often don't
• Why teaching growth over comparison is one of the most powerful things a mentor can offer
• How Lauren built a studio culture where staff and students feel like family and why that doesn't happen by accident
• What it looks like to lead a team of women with both high standards and genuine care
• The pressure young dancers (and young women) face in the age of social media and how a wise teacher responds

Whether you're a dance parent, a studio owner, a teacher, or any woman who leads or mentors the next generation, this conversation will give you language for something you've felt but maybe never been able to name: the way the right environment shapes who a young woman becomes.

About Lauren Metts Lauren Metts is the founder and creative director of The Dance Department in Irmo, SC. With decades of experience as a dancer, teacher, choreographer, and mentor, Lauren's work goes beyond the stage — she's in the business of building confident, resilient young women.

Connect with The Dance Department 📍 Irmo, South Carolina 🌐 dancedept.com

About SpeakHER Sessions SpeakHER Sessions is a podcast for women who are finding their voice or finding it again. Host Kim Atwood sits down with real women to talk about the experiences that shaped them, the seasons that stretched them, and the confidence they've built along the way. New episodes every Monday.

🎙 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so you never miss a conversation. 📲 Follow us on Instagram @speakhersessions

Sponsors This episode is sponsored by:

How2SpeakU — Helping women build confidence and communicate with strength and clarity. Learn more at how2speaku.com

Westmore Land of Gifts and More — Beautiful, meaningful gifts for every occasion. Shop at westmorelandofgifts.com and use code PODCAST for a discount.

Have a question for this guest? Text us — it may be featured in "Ask the SpeakHER".

SpeakHER Sessions is hosted by Kim Atwood.
New episodes are coming soon.
Follow the show to hear honest, encouraging conversations with women who use their voice to lead, serve, and create meaningful impact.

Welcome to SpeakHER Sessions — a podcast about voice.

This show explores how our voice is shaped by experience, the moments that invite us to find and use it, and the way our stories can give strength to other voices.

Hosted by Kim Atwood, SpeakHER Sessions creates space for thoughtful, honest conversations with women whose journeys have been shaped by challenge, growth, leadership, service, and courage. These are not highlight reels or perfectly packaged success stories. They are real conversations about what shaped us, what challenged us, and what we’ve learned along the way.

So many women carry meaningful stories quietly. Stories of what they’ve overcome, what they’ve built, what they’re still becoming... often wondering whether those stories matter or are worth sharing. This podcast exists to bring those stories into the open.

If you find encouragement in hearing how others have navigated uncertainty, found clarity, or stepped forward with courage — even before everything felt certain — SpeakHER Sessions is for you.

Season one is coming soon.

Follow SpeakHER Sessions wherever you listen to podcasts and get ready for conversations about voice, courage, and the stories that shape us.

Have a question for this guest? Text us — it may be featured in "Ask the SpeakHER".

SpeakHER Sessions is hosted by Kim Atwood.
New episodes are coming soon.
Follow the show to hear honest, encouraging conversations with women who use their voice to lead, serve, and create meaningful impact.