Welcome back to the Vital Women Podcast. I’m your host, Ivette O’Sullivan. In honor of Women’s History Month, we are highlighting extraordinary leaders using their voices for positive impact. Today’s guest is someone very special to me. We share a common history as alumni of Empire State College.

She is a proud multicultural storyteller and native New Yorker—a Brazilian American with Jewish-Russian roots who turned early adversity into a superpower. At just thirteen years old, she stepped into the role of motherhood, raising her daughter, Jess. While many might have seen that as a barrier, she used it as fuel—graduating from college and building a world-class career.

Since 2003, she has become an internationally acclaimed photographer, named by Harper’s BAZAAR as one of the best in the world. She is the visionary behind Women Who Surf and The Portrait Project, a speaker, and a dear friend. Welcome the incredible Judith Rae.

Below are the links where people can find Judith.

https://judithrae.com/

Join my newsletter: https://judithrae.com/newsletter

IG @judithraenyc

YouTube

https://youtube.com/@judithraenyc?si=okSlQm0QbTP7VI0J

Women Who Surf series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLreN4hR6XIIG4njb3o9ADW-qtj6T2b3sa&si=EhyRtAPSUVgTTCxS

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/judithrae/

Pinterest

https://www.pinterest.com/judithraenyc/

Substack

https://substack.com/@judithrae?r=4hvyem&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profile&shareImageVariant=light

Welcome back to the Vital Women Podcast. I’m your host, Ivette O’Sullivan.

We are currently celebrating Women’s History Month, a time dedicated to honoring the pioneers who fought for women’s autonomy, property rights, and financial independence. But while we look back at history, today’s conversation is about looking forward and securing the legacies we are building right now.

Joining us is someone who helps women do exactly that. Lizzette Muñiz is the founder of the Law Office of Lizzette Muñiz, LLC. With offices in both the heart of Manhattan and the Hudson Valley, Lizzette is a powerhouse attorney who understands the unique challenges facing women in New York today, from the fast-paced life of the five boroughs to the growing communities upstate.

She specializes in helping families navigate life’s most critical transitions, specifically through the lens of Estate Planning. Lizzette, it is an honor to have you here to discuss why a Will or a Trust is perhaps the most empowering tool a woman can own. Welcome to the show!

Lizzette A. Muniz, Esq.Law Office of Lizzette Muniz, LLCServing NYC and the Hudson ValleyNYC: 250 Broadway, FL 24, New York, NY 10007Kingston: 8 N Front St, Kingston, NY 12401Office: 917-277-3585E-mail: [email protected]Web: http://www.munizlegal.com

In today's episode, we are diving deep into what it actually takes to heal in a modern, toxic world. We aren't just talking about covering up symptoms; we are talking about changing out internal environment so your body can do what it was designed to do-repair itself!

Our guest this week is Lisa D'Alessandro, Holistic Nutritional Gut + Cellular Health Practioner brings 30 years of wisdom to the table to help us understand why we feel "stuck" and how to finally "filter the water" of our inner fish bowl

Contact: [email protected]

"The Vital Women Podcast" is brought to you by MHA of Dutchess County and Produced by CMJW Entertainment.

MHA of Dutchess County: https://mhadutchess.org/

CMJW Entertainment: https://www.cmjwentertainment.com/

This episode is proudly sponsored by: Dr. Renia Barrett-Baas and her business Salt Boutique Labs 

https://saltboutiquelabs.com/

The 2026 Milano Winter Olympics starts on February 6th, featuring 16 sports disciplines, including Figure Skating. We have here for you a compelling and timely interview: Dr Tracy Espiritu McKay, DO, a team doctor for the U.S. Figure Skating national team.  

AAPM&R: as Dr Espiritu McKay is chair of the Academy’s Performing Arts Medicine Community,

Dr. Espiritu McKay can candidly share with you:

What injuries and physical stressors elite figure skaters are facing right now heading into the Milano Olympics—and how doctors work to keep athletes competition-ready without overtraining or burnout

How Olympic team doctors make real-time medical decisions during qualifying events, including managing pain, recovery, and return-to-ice protocols under intense pressure; she can draw on her firsthand experiences working rink-side with Team USA athletes

What viewers don’t see on TV: the behind-the-scenes medical preparation that helps skaters peak at the right moment, from travel recovery and injury prevention to mental-physical performance balance

Dr. Espiritu McKay is a team doctor working closely with Olympians who are members of the men’s and women’s, singles and pairs, U.S. Figure Skating national team. She has specifically been treating and working with these athletes during their Pre-Olympics Championships and Qualifying Events, serving in a crucial capacity for the athletes during the build-up to the games. Dr. Espiritu McKay traveled with these athletes to Tilburg, Netherlands for one of the qualifying international competitions – she was there Jan 22nd - Jan 25th, 2026.

"The Vital Women Podcast" is brought to you by MHA of Dutchess County and Produced by CMJW Entertainment.

MHA of Dutchess County: https://mhadutchess.org/

CMJW Entertainment: https://www.cmjwentertainment.com/

This episode is proudly sponsored by: Dr. Renia Barrett-Baas and her business Salt Boutique Labs 

https://saltboutiquelabs.com/

We often think of "wellness" in terms of what we eat and how we move, but what about the element we interact with most? Today, we sit down with Lucia Molina, a Senior Water Analyst and Branch Manager who is on a mission to demystify what’s flowing through our taps. Lucia bridges the gap between complex science and household safety, empowering families, and particularly women, to take control of their home’s most vital resource.

free/watertest.com

ewg.org/tapwater

"The Vital Women Podcast" is brought to you by MHA of Dutchess County and Produced by CMJW Entertainment.

MHA of Dutchess County: https://mhadutchess.org/

CMJW Entertainment: https://www.cmjwentertainment.com/

This episode is proudly sponsored by: Dr. Renia Barrett-Baas and her business Salt Boutique Labs 

https://saltboutiquelabs.com/

On this week's episode, Ivette O'Sullivan breaks down the meaning of the title "The Vital Women," by giving examples and stories of "vital" and powerful women in her life. Not just that, but Ivette gets vulnerable, opening up about a recent loss in her life and her journey to cope.

"The Vital Women Podcast" is brought to you by MHA of Dutchess County and Produced by CMJW Entertainment.

MHA of Dutchess County: https://mhadutchess.org/

CMJW Entertainment: https://www.cmjwentertainment.com/

This episode is proudly sponsored by: Dr. Renia Barrett-Baas and her business Salt Boutique Labs  https://saltboutiquelabs.com/

On this week's episode, Ivette O'Sullivan shares her experience with her women's group Women in Action / Mujeres en Acción as they got together for a women's empowerment retreat.

"The Vital Women Podcast" is brought to you by MHA of Dutchess County and Produced by CMJW Entertainment.

MHA of Dutchess County: https://mhadutchess.org/

CMJW Entertainment: https://www.cmjwentertainment.com/

This episode is proudly sponsored by: Dr. Renia Barrett-Baas and her business Salt Boutique Labs  https://saltboutiquelabs.com/

On this week's episode, Ivette O'Sullivan continues her discussion of the Holiday Hangover and dives into the The Flight Response. We describe "ostriging" and burying our heads in the sand to hide and avoid confrontation. We discuss ways on how to break those habits and recover from that Holiday Hangover.

"The Vital Women Podcast" is brought to you by MHA of Dutchess County and Produced by CMJW Entertainment.

MHA of Dutchess County: https://mhadutchess.org/

CMJW Entertainment: https://www.cmjwentertainment.com/

This episode is proudly sponsored by: Dr. Renia Barrett-Baas and her business Salt Boutique Labs 

https://saltboutiquelabs.com/

On this week's episode, Ivette O'Sullivan continues her discussion of the Holiday Hangover and dives into the Anxiety Audit. She describes the different reactions our bodies go through when experiencing the start-of-the-year anxiety, while also holding onto the stressors from the previous year.

"The Vital Women Podcast" is brought to you by MHA of Dutchess County and Produced by CMJW Entertainment.

MHA of Dutchess County: https://mhadutchess.org/

CMJW Entertainment: https://www.cmjwentertainment.com/

This episode is proudly sponsored by: Dr. Renia Barrett-Baas and her business Salt Boutique Labs 

https://saltboutiquelabs.com/

On this week's episode, Ivette and producer Conor discuss the Holiday Hangover that comes from financial and mental stress.

"The Vital Women Podcast" is brought to you by MHA of Dutchess County and Produced by CMJW Entertainment.

MHA of Dutchess County: https://mhadutchess.org/

CMJW Entertainment: https://www.cmjwentertainment.com/

This episode is proudly sponsored by: Levia Medspa: https://leviamedspa.com/