The Big Green Couch

A champion for health equity and healthcare innovation, Ashlee Wisdom is the Founder & CEO of Health In Her Hue, a digital platform that connects Black women to culturally competent healthcare providers, services, and health content. Throughout the conversation, Ashlee provides historic insight on systemic racism in health care and the unethical advances that have been made in science. From her personal experience as a patient to starting the company, Ashlee Wisdom will leave you understanding how to check your “insurance freedom” privilege, advocating for yourself and ways you can support change in racial disparities.

If you’re looking for that person to light the fire you need to get your life back on track, look no further. From mom life to fitness, TedX Speaker, business owner, and author Jenny Shatzle is both relatable and empowering.

Throughout the conversation, we discuss her newest book, Breaking The Cycle, and how we are all fully capable of creating the life we want to live. From recognizing self-sabotaging habits, negative self-talk and finding the root of our issues, get ready to shift the conversation with yourself, and learn how to make your life your own.

For more information and to order her new book, you can visit her website at.jennyschatzle.com/.

The first official musician to join us on the Big Green Couch, Kiran Gandhi, also known by her stage name Madame Gandhi, is an American electronic music producer, drummer, artist and activist whose mission is to celebrate gender liberation. Gandhi's music career includes being a touring drummer for artists M.I.A., Thievery Corporation, Kehlani, Lizzo and most recently Oprah on her 2020 Vision Stadium Tour with morning dance party Daybreaker.

Throughout this inspiring conversation, we take a trip through Kiran’s earliest memories of drumming, music, and growing up in India and NYC to her experiences in business school and the music industry. The power of music, community, and our choices are strong themes throughout. Check out her music video “Waiting for Me” on Youtube and follow her and her activism on Instagram at @madamegandhi.

In honor of Pride month and spreading love through these troubling times, Kirsten Potenza features celebrity fitness instructor and LGBTQ+ activist featured in the HBO documentary The Case Against 8, Paul Katami.

Throughout the conversation, we take a dive into his personal fitness journey, how fitness become his career and his experience as a plaintiff in the federal case to overturn Prop 8, a ballot to ban same-sex marriage. Join us in an open, honest conversation about showing that love is love. You can follow Paul on all things fitness, advocacy, and love on his Instagram at @paulkatami.

In this episode, Kirsten Potenza features bodily autonomy activist and actress, Lulu Brud.

After a public miscarriage, Lulu realized the lack of resources and silence that women, going through the same situation, have to face on a daily basis.

Throughout the conversation, we showcase her journey through that grieving and healing process and how, with her second child, she is finding the silver lining of parenthood through a global pandemic. You can follow her journey on instagram at @ladyluofthewolves for updates on her upcoming podcast and blog.

This episode contains stories of pregnancy and miscarriage that some may find triggering or painful. We advise you to listen with caution and thank you so much for supporting The Big Green Couch and conversations like this that are so important to have.

If you or someone you know is interested in being a guest on the Big Green Couch, send us an email at [email protected]

In this episode, Kirsten Potenza features New York Times Best Seller and Founder of Ban.do, Jen Gotch.

What starts off with the simple question of “how are you?” turns into a deep conversation about vulnerability, hustle culture and why you can’t do it all. Throughout the chat, we’ll see examples of how beneficial it is to get out of your normal setting, why doing your best is enough and learning to leap when something is meant to happen.

You can purchase a copy of Jen’s book The Upside of Being Down on her website at jengotch.com and follow her company Ban.do on instagram at @shopbando.

If you or someone you know is interested in being a guest on the Big Green Couch, send us an email at [email protected]

In this episode, Kirsten Potenza features Inc. Magazine’s Top 100 Female Founders, Daina Trout, CEO + Co-founder of Healthade.

Daina and Kirsten take a deep dive into leadership and what it takes to build an authentic brand. Throughout the conversation, we’ll get an inside look into the beginning stages of how Healthade got started, ways to deal with the social pressures of being “perfect” and why you should always follow your gut!

Want to give kombucha from Healthade a try? Shop their delicious flavors on their website at health-ade.com/. To follow Daina on her BIG journey, you can find her on instagram at @dainatrout.

If you or someone you know is interested in being a guest on the Big Green Couch, send us an email at [email protected]

In this episode, Kirsten Potenza features holistic health coach and creator of the Get Loved Up podcast, yoga teacher trainings and retreats, Koya Webb.

Throughout the conversation, Kirsten and Koya discuss Fear - how to define it, get to know it, embrace it and work through it. Koya also shares her journey and the steps she took to face her fears and write her book Let your Fears Make You Fierce.

For more information about Koya Webb, check out their website at koyawebb.com and follow her on socials @koyawebb.

If you or someone you know is interested in being a guest on the Big Green Couch, send us an email at [email protected]

In this episode, Kirsten Potenza features special guest Ashley Sumner, CEO & Co-founder of Quilt. Quilt is a mobile app that allows its users to create a sense of connections and communities by making it easier to have real conversations offline.

Kirsten and Ashley explore where creativity comes from, creating from life experiences and what it feels like when you realize your purpose. They also explore society’s relationship with technology and how we can curate our consumption to facilitate–rather than replace–relationships.

For more information about Quilt, check out their website at wearequilt.com/.

If you or someone you know is interested in being a guest on the Big Green Couch, send us an email at [email protected]

In this episode, Kirsten Potenza features special guest Marc Santa Maria, National Director of Group Fitness at CRUNCH corporate. Kirsten and Marc discuss tactical, game-changing tools you can learn and implement into your everyday life. The conversation will also explore ways you can build real connections with your posse, understanding your why and learning to find your passions. For more information about Marc Santa Maria, you can check out his website at marcsm.com and follow him on Instagram @marcstantamaria. If you or someone you know is interested in being a guest on the Big Green Couch, send us an email at [email protected]