April Hernandez Castillo is a Hollywood actor you may know from her unforgettable role as Eva in Freedom Writers alongside Oscar-winner Hilary Swank, or from her appearances on Law & Order: SVU, Gossip Girl, and Showtime’s Dexter. But beyond the screen, April is an author and speaker who has spent more than a decade traveling the country, sharing her story with audiences from college campuses to juvenile detention centers.

Her book, Embracing Me, chronicles her journey through resilience, forgiveness, and healing after experiencing intimate partner violence as a teenager — and the strength she discovered in reclaiming her voice.

She joins us for a conversation that is honest, courageous, and deeply needed.

Bree McKeen is blowing up the bra ... questioning everything from how it's made to how it feels and how both impact the women who wear it every day. But that's not the whole story. Bree is also a great example of how experience drives entrepreneurism. And the success of her company Evelyn & Bobbie is proof more products for women need to be made by women. An industry unwired, in this edition of the podcast.

Across America, more than 400,000 children are in foster care. These days, it's largely due to the nation's opioid epidemic. The number of children and youth entering care due to abuse and neglect related to their parents' substance use disorders has skyrocketed. Meanwhile, the number of foster families can't keep up with demand. But an organization called America's Kids Belong is hoping to change that... working in states nationwide to empower communities to dramatically improve the experience and outcomes for children in foster care. Lauren Tremper is among those leading the charge to combat what experts call a solvable crisis.

Betsy Rhodes wants us to talk about suicide. If that makes you uncomfortable, then you’ll definitely want to listen to this episode of the podcast. She’s on a mission to assure we take our mental health as seriously as our physical health. And as we exit a pandemic during which the number of Americans suffering from mental health challenges has doubled, there may be no more important time for that conversation. While Betsy's story starts with tragedy, she'll tell you it ends with hope.

Sandra Coates is determined to create a world in which women stop chasing outer beauty and start walking in their God-given beauty, identity and purpose. A tall order in a world where social media has become a constant source of comparison. But through her organization United + Tru, this wife, mom and author is working to take the battle for body positivity to a place you might not expect. The fashion show runway.

The biblical definition of the word "miracle" is an extraordinary event taken as a sign of the power of God. Angie Jorgensen of Omaha, Nebraska says her life is nothing less. Ten years ago, she died... twice. Doctors told her family to say their goodbyes. And yet, incredibly this wife, mom, entrepreneur and fitness trainer is alive, well and sharing her story in this episode as a reminder each of us is a walking miracle in our own way.

For those living below the poverty line in the United States... an estimated 37 million people... hygiene is a luxury. But Ava Holland is determined to change that. After stumbling across a random YouTube video, she was inspired to take on this global crisis by starting It Matters... an organization centered around collecting and donating personal care items to ministries, homeless shelters and domestic violence recovery centers. In this episode, how she's garnering grassroots support, the impact her organization has made in just a few years, and her dream to eradicate hygiene poverty.

It all started with a horse. Quickly, a business born in a barn became a multi-state success story. In the season 2 debut of The Brittany Mitchell Podcast, we're talking with Merrill and Owen Schmidt. Brothers, entrepreneurs and founders of Happy Pops... and both younger than the horse that inspired them. Learn how they overcame age bias to succeed in business as teenagers, the impact their efforts are having on animal rescues from the Mid-Atlantic to New England, and what it means to "share your happy."

If you're a travel bug, this episode is for you. We're talking with author Toni Guagenti about her book 100 Things To Do In Virginia Beach Before You Die. Whether you're a local, new resident, or someone itching to find your next vacation destination... you're sure to love her list of not-to-be-missed attractions. From dining spots locals love to horseback riding on the beach (yes, you can do that!) to live music and lighthouses, Toni gives you the inside scoop.

In this week's episode, a powerful conversation recorded during a talk I was invited to give to members of the Women's Interactive Network. It centers around what networking is and is NOT,  what true mentoring looks like, and adopting a legacy mindset when developing leaders. A must-listen for anyone frustrated because they're not advancing in their field or seeking to develop a growth-minded culture in their workplace.