Speaking of Phenomenal | Journalism for Women and Gender-Expansive Voices

What happens when listening becomes a source of power? Amy Boyle sits down with Ellen Wilcox, head of listening at venture firm Listen, to explore how women's stories directly influence funding decisions and shape the future of female entrepreneurship. From health gaps and breaking stigma to owning nonlinear careers, Ellen reveals why truly hearing women's narratives isn't just empowerment, it's conviction. A conversation about women leaders, female entrepreneurs, and the hidden power of paying attention.

MUSIC (used with permission)
WOMAN Performed by Tiffany Villarreal - Pod artwork by Amanda Eich

Got something to say? Text the show. Click the link in the episode description and your message comes straight to me. I read every one and may share your note on a future episode. I'd love to hear from you.

A quick ask before we get started. I'm currently in the running for Top Host with iHeartRadio, and there's something you can do between now and October 22nd. ( 10 EST, 9 PM CST, 7 PM PST in the US) 

Please vote DAILY,  Thank you!

 If you're loving the stories and insights on the Speaking of Phenomenal podcast, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or GoodPods.  Each 5 star review is appreciated, thank you!

Enjoyed this conversation? Follow, rate and review Speaking of Phenomenal on Apple Podcasts, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Keep independent journalism going. Support the show on Patreon.

Speaking of Phenomenal is created and produced by Amy Boyle. Podcast artwork by Amanda Eich. “Woman” by Tiffany Villarreal, used with permission.

Thinking about starting a podcast? SOP is hosted on Buzzsprout, recorded with Riverside and edited in Descript. Start yours with our links.

Some links above are affiliate links. If you sign up, the show may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Community changemakers don't always start with activism, they start with curiosity. Kari Fagin, Director of the Osher National Resource Center, shares how 124 OLLI lifelong learning programs nationwide empower people 50+ through mentorship and self-discovery. Discover how intergenerational belonging transforms learners into community leaders, building resilience through connection. From one question to real-world impact: this is how a generation can rewire their purpose later in life.

MUSIC (used with permission)
WOMAN Performed by Tiffany Villarreal - Pod artwork by Amanda Eich

Got something to say? Text the show. Click the link in the episode description and your message comes straight to me. I read every one and may share your note on a future episode. I'd love to hear from you.

A quick ask before we get started. I'm currently in the running for Top Host with iHeartRadio, and there's something you can do between now and October 22nd. ( 10 EST, 9 PM CST, 7 PM PST in the US) 

Please vote DAILY,  Thank you!

 If you're loving the stories and insights on the Speaking of Phenomenal podcast, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or GoodPods.  Each 5 star review is appreciated, thank you!

Enjoyed this conversation? Follow, rate and review Speaking of Phenomenal on Apple Podcasts, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Keep independent journalism going. Support the show on Patreon.

Speaking of Phenomenal is created and produced by Amy Boyle. Podcast artwork by Amanda Eich. “Woman” by Tiffany Villarreal, used with permission.

Thinking about starting a podcast? SOP is hosted on Buzzsprout, recorded with Riverside and edited in Descript. Start yours with our links.

Some links above are affiliate links. If you sign up, the show may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Tonika Lewis Johnson  teaches that listening as leadership starts with understanding connection. The founder of the Folded Map Project  shares how art, resilience, and community organizing disrupted segregation and built a movement for equity. Discover how one woman's vision scaled into authentic changemaking that inspires authentic connection and systemic change.

MUSIC (used with permission)
WOMAN Performed by Tiffany Villarreal - Pod artwork by Amanda Eich

Got something to say? Text the show. Click the link in the episode description and your message comes straight to me. I read every one and may share your note on a future episode. I'd love to hear from you.

A quick ask before we get started. I'm currently in the running for Top Host with iHeartRadio, and there's something you can do between now and October 22nd. ( 10 EST, 9 PM CST, 7 PM PST in the US) 

Please vote DAILY,  Thank you!

 If you're loving the stories and insights on the Speaking of Phenomenal podcast, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or GoodPods.  Each 5 star review is appreciated, thank you!

Enjoyed this conversation? Follow, rate and review Speaking of Phenomenal on Apple Podcasts, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Keep independent journalism going. Support the show on Patreon.

Speaking of Phenomenal is created and produced by Amy Boyle. Podcast artwork by Amanda Eich. “Woman” by Tiffany Villarreal, used with permission.

Thinking about starting a podcast? SOP is hosted on Buzzsprout, recorded with Riverside and edited in Descript. Start yours with our links.

Some links above are affiliate links. If you sign up, the show may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

In this week’s Speaking of Phenomenal with host Amy Boyle, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Mary Schmich and marketing executive Melissa Harris share the story behind Division Street Revisited, their podcast inspired by Studs Terkel’s Division Street: America. Out of 71 original interviews, they revisited 7—including 4 remarkable women: Blanche Gates, Della Reuther, Mary Ward Wolkonsky and Myra Alexander. Their lives reflect resilience, complexity and quiet power. Mary and Melissa talk about memory, legacy and the courage it takes to reimagine history. Tune in to hear how honoring these stories brings us closer to understanding where we’ve been—and where we’re going.

MUSIC (used with permission)
WOMAN Performed by Tiffany Villarreal - Pod artwork by Amanda Eich

Additional audio clip: Will the Circle Be Unbroken performed by Chris Walz, Mary Schmich and guests at Old Town School of Folk Music Chicago, IL 3/21/25

Got something to say? Text the show. Click the link in the episode description and your message comes straight to me. I read every one and may share your note on a future episode. I'd love to hear from you.

A quick ask before we get started. I'm currently in the running for Top Host with iHeartRadio, and there's something you can do between now and October 22nd. ( 10 EST, 9 PM CST, 7 PM PST in the US) 

Please vote DAILY,  Thank you!

 If you're loving the stories and insights on the Speaking of Phenomenal podcast, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or GoodPods.  Each 5 star review is appreciated, thank you!

Enjoyed this conversation? Follow, rate and review Speaking of Phenomenal on Apple Podcasts, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Keep independent journalism going. Support the show on Patreon.

Speaking of Phenomenal is created and produced by Amy Boyle. Podcast artwork by Amanda Eich. “Woman” by Tiffany Villarreal, used with permission.

Thinking about starting a podcast? SOP is hosted on Buzzsprout, recorded with Riverside and edited in Descript. Start yours with our links.

Some links above are affiliate links. If you sign up, the show may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

In this episode of Speaking of Phenomenal, Dr. Anna Tess shares how she  transformed a profound hearing loss diagnosis into a mission for inclusive deaf education. As FHSR's Education Coordinator, she shares how early intervention, IEP advocacy, and family-centered support became her path to leadership and changemaking. Hear how Anna's resilience in storytelling, from her own journey to supporting families navigating hearing loss, reflects what it means to turn personal challenge into systemic impact and purpose-driven leadership in education.

MUSIC (used with permission)
WOMAN Performed by Tiffany Villarreal - Pod artwork by Amanda Eich

Got something to say? Text the show. Click the link in the episode description and your message comes straight to me. I read every one and may share your note on a future episode. I'd love to hear from you.

A quick ask before we get started. I'm currently in the running for Top Host with iHeartRadio, and there's something you can do between now and October 22nd. ( 10 EST, 9 PM CST, 7 PM PST in the US) 

Please vote DAILY,  Thank you!

 If you're loving the stories and insights on the Speaking of Phenomenal podcast, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or GoodPods.  Each 5 star review is appreciated, thank you!

Enjoyed this conversation? Follow, rate and review Speaking of Phenomenal on Apple Podcasts, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Keep independent journalism going. Support the show on Patreon.

Speaking of Phenomenal is created and produced by Amy Boyle. Podcast artwork by Amanda Eich. “Woman” by Tiffany Villarreal, used with permission.

Thinking about starting a podcast? SOP is hosted on Buzzsprout, recorded with Riverside and edited in Descript. Start yours with our links.

Some links above are affiliate links. If you sign up, the show may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

In Season 5, Episode 5 of the Speaking of Phenomenal podcast, host Amy Boyle celebrates Women’s History Month with reflections from past guests Maryam Myika Day, Laura Jordan LeClair, Jeanne Sparrow, and Delores Morton. These powerful voices explore what it truly means to be phenomenal—centered on truth, purpose, and lifting others up. With heartfelt stories and bold perspectives, this episode invites YOU to show up fully and support the women around you. Ready to be inspired? Press play, share it with a friend, and keep the phenomenal ripple going. Because showing up for each other changes everything.

MUSIC (used with permission)
WOMAN Performed by Tiffany Villarreal - Pod artwork by Amanda Eich

Got something to say? Text the show. Click the link in the episode description and your message comes straight to me. I read every one and may share your note on a future episode. I'd love to hear from you.

A quick ask before we get started. I'm currently in the running for Top Host with iHeartRadio, and there's something you can do between now and October 22nd. ( 10 EST, 9 PM CST, 7 PM PST in the US) 

Please vote DAILY,  Thank you!

 If you're loving the stories and insights on the Speaking of Phenomenal podcast, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or GoodPods.  Each 5 star review is appreciated, thank you!

Enjoyed this conversation? Follow, rate and review Speaking of Phenomenal on Apple Podcasts, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Keep independent journalism going. Support the show on Patreon.

Speaking of Phenomenal is created and produced by Amy Boyle. Podcast artwork by Amanda Eich. “Woman” by Tiffany Villarreal, used with permission.

Thinking about starting a podcast? SOP is hosted on Buzzsprout, recorded with Riverside and edited in Descript. Start yours with our links.

Some links above are affiliate links. If you sign up, the show may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Poet and entrepreneur Jacqueline (Jack) Perez, returns to reveal how creative writing rewired her resilience, purpose, and women's empowerment mindset during midlife transformation. From struggling to thrive to building Kuel Life, a platform celebrating modern women's reinvention. Jack shares the unexpected power of poetry as a tool for self-discovery, emotional wellness, and authentic leadership. Listen for why this unconventional practice unlocked what years of traditional self-help couldn't, and what she's learned about aging, vulnerability, and creating community that lasts.

MUSIC (used with permission)
WOMAN Performed by Tiffany Villarreal - Pod artwork by Amanda Eich

Got something to say? Text the show. Click the link in the episode description and your message comes straight to me. I read every one and may share your note on a future episode. I'd love to hear from you.

A quick ask before we get started. I'm currently in the running for Top Host with iHeartRadio, and there's something you can do between now and October 22nd. ( 10 EST, 9 PM CST, 7 PM PST in the US) 

Please vote DAILY,  Thank you!

 If you're loving the stories and insights on the Speaking of Phenomenal podcast, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or GoodPods.  Each 5 star review is appreciated, thank you!

Enjoyed this conversation? Follow, rate and review Speaking of Phenomenal on Apple Podcasts, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Keep independent journalism going. Support the show on Patreon.

Speaking of Phenomenal is created and produced by Amy Boyle. Podcast artwork by Amanda Eich. “Woman” by Tiffany Villarreal, used with permission.

Thinking about starting a podcast? SOP is hosted on Buzzsprout, recorded with Riverside and edited in Descript. Start yours with our links.

Some links above are affiliate links. If you sign up, the show may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Jillian Melero, journalist and founder of Connect Puerto Rico, joins Amy Boyle to reveal how solutions-focused reporting drives real community change. Inspired by Anthony Bourdain's storytelling ethos, Jillian bridges policymakers, investors, and community leaders to accelerate renewable energy transformation. Discover how resilience, authenticity, and strategic storytelling empower women changemakers to reshape narratives and create lasting impact.

MUSIC (used with permission)
WOMAN Performed by Tiffany Villarreal - Pod artwork by Amanda Eich

Got something to say? Text the show. Click the link in the episode description and your message comes straight to me. I read every one and may share your note on a future episode. I'd love to hear from you.

A quick ask before we get started. I'm currently in the running for Top Host with iHeartRadio, and there's something you can do between now and October 22nd. ( 10 EST, 9 PM CST, 7 PM PST in the US) 

Please vote DAILY,  Thank you!

 If you're loving the stories and insights on the Speaking of Phenomenal podcast, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or GoodPods.  Each 5 star review is appreciated, thank you!

Enjoyed this conversation? Follow, rate and review Speaking of Phenomenal on Apple Podcasts, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Keep independent journalism going. Support the show on Patreon.

Speaking of Phenomenal is created and produced by Amy Boyle. Podcast artwork by Amanda Eich. “Woman” by Tiffany Villarreal, used with permission.

Thinking about starting a podcast? SOP is hosted on Buzzsprout, recorded with Riverside and edited in Descript. Start yours with our links.

Some links above are affiliate links. If you sign up, the show may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Laura Jordan LeClair, program director at Chicago Innovation, believes mentorship and community are the unsung engines of real innovation and women's empowerment. In this episode, Amy Boyle explores how inclusive leadership practices shape careers, tackle imposter syndrome at the root, and create pathways for changemakers. A conversation about belonging, reciprocal growth, and the power of showing up together.

MUSIC (used with permission)
WOMAN Performed by Tiffany Villarreal - Pod artwork by Amanda Eich

Got something to say? Text the show. Click the link in the episode description and your message comes straight to me. I read every one and may share your note on a future episode. I'd love to hear from you.

A quick ask before we get started. I'm currently in the running for Top Host with iHeartRadio, and there's something you can do between now and October 22nd. ( 10 EST, 9 PM CST, 7 PM PST in the US) 

Please vote DAILY,  Thank you!

 If you're loving the stories and insights on the Speaking of Phenomenal podcast, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or GoodPods.  Each 5 star review is appreciated, thank you!

Enjoyed this conversation? Follow, rate and review Speaking of Phenomenal on Apple Podcasts, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Keep independent journalism going. Support the show on Patreon.

Speaking of Phenomenal is created and produced by Amy Boyle. Podcast artwork by Amanda Eich. “Woman” by Tiffany Villarreal, used with permission.

Thinking about starting a podcast? SOP is hosted on Buzzsprout, recorded with Riverside and edited in Descript. Start yours with our links.

Some links above are affiliate links. If you sign up, the show may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Broadway performer turned producer Maryam Myika Day joins Amy Boyle to share how storytelling became her path through grief, motherhood, and reinvention. From losing her husband to amplifying marginalized voices in Hollywood, hear how owning your story transforms not just your career, but your purpose. Plus, her initiative North of 40, a space for navigating life’s transitions. 

MUSIC (used with permission)
WOMAN Performed by Tiffany Villarreal - Pod artwork by Amanda Eich

Got something to say? Text the show. Click the link in the episode description and your message comes straight to me. I read every one and may share your note on a future episode. I'd love to hear from you.

A quick ask before we get started. I'm currently in the running for Top Host with iHeartRadio, and there's something you can do between now and October 22nd. ( 10 EST, 9 PM CST, 7 PM PST in the US) 

Please vote DAILY,  Thank you!

 If you're loving the stories and insights on the Speaking of Phenomenal podcast, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or GoodPods.  Each 5 star review is appreciated, thank you!

Enjoyed this conversation? Follow, rate and review Speaking of Phenomenal on Apple Podcasts, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Keep independent journalism going. Support the show on Patreon.

Speaking of Phenomenal is created and produced by Amy Boyle. Podcast artwork by Amanda Eich. “Woman” by Tiffany Villarreal, used with permission.

Thinking about starting a podcast? SOP is hosted on Buzzsprout, recorded with Riverside and edited in Descript. Start yours with our links.

Some links above are affiliate links. If you sign up, the show may earn a small commission at no cost to you.