THE FWORD

What happens when you stop waiting for the “right” travel partner… and just go?

In this episode, Amber is joined by Becky and Kristen for an honest, energizing conversation about solo travel.. what it looks like, why it matters, and how it can completely change the way you experience the world (and yourself).

From backpacking across Australia to fiber art retreats in Morocco to navigating foreign countries alone, this episode breaks down the myths, fears, and unexpected joys of traveling solo as a woman.

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or someone who’s been saying “maybe someday,” this conversation might just be the push you need.

Key Takeaways:

• You don’t need to wait for someone else to start exploring the world
• Solo travel doesn’t have to mean being alone
• Confidence comes from doing things that initially feel uncomfortable
• Sometimes the best experiences come from getting lost (literally and figuratively)
• Travel isn’t just about seeing places; it’s about discovering yourself

You don’t have to be fearless to travel solo. You just have to be willing to start.

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Cancer doesn’t just interrupt your calendar. It interrupts your identity.

In this episode, Amber Bardon sits down with returning guest and leader Nicole Gann for an unfiltered conversation about breast cancer. What it takes from you, what it reveals, and what it forces you to finally stop pretending you can “handle alone.”

Amber shares her 2025 breast cancer diagnosis, the shock of hearing the word cancer, and how the following weeks felt like life stacking one hard thing on top of another. Nicole opens up about her own diagnosis, the brutal reality of treatment, and the moment she realized: there was nothing that would’ve slowed her down like cancer did.

Together, they talk about the complicated truth that can exist alongside pain: cancer can be a teacher. Not because it’s “good” but because it demands you get honest about your pace, your stress, your boundaries, and your relationships.

This is the episode for anyone who’s ever tried to be strong by being silent.

Resources & Mentions

• Anti-Cancer Living by Lorenzo Cohen 
• Brené Brown on Empathy

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In this episode, Amber Bardon talks with Kim Hoppe, founder and CEO of KSH Consulting and Zen Midwest, to talk honestly about what it’s really like to step off the traditional corporate track. Kim’s gone from public accounting to fractional CEO work to building a business that mixes C-Suite strategy with mindfulness and yoga. Her path is all about clarity, courage, and choosing reinvention on her own terms.

Amber and Kim get into the highs and lows of being a female entrepreneur. The rush of landing that first client, the doubts that hit out of nowhere, and the reminder that women don’t need permission to go after what they want. We just need a sense of purpose. 

Learn more about KSH Consulting and Zen Midwest. 

Connect with Kim on LinkedIn. 

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In this episode, we’re talking power, partnership, and purpose with two phenomenal CEOs: Jane Mack of Friends Services Alliance and Karen Lehman of Mennonite Health Services.

What happens when two women leaders decide to rewrite the rules of legacy organizations and merge them into something bigger, bolder, and built on shared values? You get a conversation that’s part business strategy, part leadership truth bomb, and 100% fire. 

We get real about:

• The unfiltered journey from turnaround expert to association leader
• Navigating power dynamics as female CEOs (inside & out of the office)
• Faith, feminism, and forging new paths in mission-based organizations
• What happens when women lead with both strength and heart

If you've ever felt like you had to work twice as hard to get half the credit… this episode is your permission slip to claim your power and lead on your own terms.

Listen in and fuel your fire. Because the future isn’t female, it’s already here.

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Amber gets deep down with comedian, producer, and senior living powerhouse Carolina Gonzaga for a no-filter conversation about being “too much” in a world that asks women to shrink. From fast friendship to bold vulnerability, they dive into how Carolina turned her so-called “flaws” into superpowers at work, on stage, and at home. This episode is a celebration of emotional honesty, feminine audacity, and the women rewriting the rules.

Topics Covered:

• Female friendship as radical connection
• Being loud, loving, and unapologetically YOU
• Motherhood, mental health, and breaking generational patterns
• Comedy as catharsis and career
• Why the patriarchy hates happy women

If you've ever been told to tone it down, quiet your joy, or make yourself smaller—this one's for you. Carolina reminds us that taking up space isn’t a flaw, it’s a revolution. Hit play, feel seen, and remember: you were never “too much” you were always just enough. 

📲 Follow Carolina: IG + LinkedIn

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Forget the filtered stories. These are raw, real, and unapologetically female leadership journeys. Nicole didn’t follow a blueprint; she carved her own, stumbling into “accidental” roles that lit her up with purpose. Sue flipped the script from CFO to CEO while navigating the lonely, often icy terrain of being one of the few women in leadership. Sondra took the long way around: healthcare admin, law school, then CEO—but she did it her way. 

And they didn’t hold back. From being called an “old battle ax” to surviving boys’ clubs and deep personal grief, these women peeled back the layers of bias, vulnerability, and brutal growth. They dropped truth bombs on self-doubt, internalized criticism, and the relentless pressure to perform. Their message? Show up real, not perfect. Build community. Own your story. And lead like the system was built for you, even when it wasn’t.

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They call us feisty. Difficult. Too much.
 We call it female... and it’s time we owned it.

In this no-holds-barred trailer episode, host Amber Bardon pulls back the curtain on why The FWord podcast was born: because one conversation about female leadership wasn’t enough. This is the platform for the disruptors, the rule-breakers, the women who got tired of waiting for a seat and started building their own damn tables.

Amber shares her raw, real journey from being underestimated in interviews to founding a nationally ranked tech company and now launching her fourth podcast, the boldest one yet.

If you're ready to stop shrinking, start speaking, and lead without apology, you're in the right place. 

The F Word starts now.
Hit play. Then hit the system where it hurts.

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