Unapologetically Badass

Can healing your own childhood make you a better parent... and a happier woman?

In this heartfelt episode of Unapologetically Badass, I sit down with Anna Creighton, Certified Parent Coach, Inner Child Coach, and founder of One Childhood.

After spending years in behavioral health, Anna saw the same heartbreaking pattern over and over: families desperately wanted help, but support ended when insurance did. She knew parents needed practical tools—not just crisis intervention.

Then life threw her an unimaginable curveball.

A devastating workplace injury ended her dream of becoming a nurse and launched her into years of surgeries, rehabilitation, anxiety, depression, and healing.

It was during that journey that her young daughter asked one simple question:

"Mommy, why don't you help other parents be better parents?"

That question changed everything.

Today, Anna helps parents strengthen their relationships with their children while also healing the younger version of themselves—the inner child who still influences how they show up every day.

In this episode we discuss:

❤️ Why your own childhood still impacts your parenting
❤️ Breaking generational cycles without blaming your parents
❤️ What inner-child healing actually means
❤️ Why high-achieving women often feel disconnected at home
❤️ Emotional regulation for parents and children
❤️ Choosing healing over survival mode

Because every child only gets one childhood...

And every parent deserves to enjoy it.

100 EPISODES! And what better way to celebrate than raising a glass of my very own BADASS QUEEN™ Wine?!From bankruptcy and divorce to building a multimillion-dollar direct sales organization, becoming an author, landing on a NASDAQ billboard in Times Square, launching my own wine brand, and being recognized as Top Empowerment & Personal Branding Coach of the Decade... what a freaking ride!But here's the truth: Behind every milestone is a story of reinvention, resilience, taking risks, heartbreak, self-doubt, and refusing to give up.In this special 100th episode of the Unapologetically Badass Podcast, I'm flying solo, getting personal, and sharing the journey behind the microphone, the crown, and the brand.We're talking about:- Reinventing yourself after 40, 50, and beyond- Building businesses, overcoming setbacks, and creating multiple streams of income- The incredible people, conversations, and lessons from 100 podcast episodes- Motherhood, relationships, personal growth, and learning to let go- The inspiration behind my six BADASS QUEEN Wine varieties and the stories each bottle represents- Why I'm 56 years old and believe my boldest chapter is still aheadThis episode isn't just a celebration of 100 episodes. It's a reminder that you don't need permission to dream bigger, start over, or become a whole new version of yourself.You are not too old. It's not too late. And your story is NOT finished.So grab your coffee, cocktail, or favorite glass of wine and celebrate with me!Here's to the next 100 episodes and the boldest chapter yet!CONNECT WITH ME:- Explore BADASS QUEEN Wine: https://badassqueenwine.com/- Discover the BADASS QUEEN world:https://badassqueen.co/- Want to be featured on the podcast? https://badassqueen.co/get-featured- Learn more about Renee: https://reneecarbonefleming.com/ABOUT YOUR HOSTRenee Carbone Fleming is an award-winning empowerment and personal branding coach, entrepreneur, author, podcast host, and founder of BADASS QUEEN™. Through her businesses, media platforms, and community, she inspires women over 40 to build confidence, increase visibility, create income opportunities, and live unapologetically.Subscribe to the Unapologetically Badass Podcast for real, unfiltered conversations about reinvention, entrepreneurship, confidence, relationships, wellness, and living life on your own terms.#UnapologeticallyBadass #WomenOver40 #ReinventYourself #BadassQueen #ReneeCarboneFleming

From the outside, Heather Simco had the life many women dream about.

She built successful businesses, trained elite athletes, earned the title of Mrs. New York, and looked like she had everything figured out.

But behind the scenes, she was battling perfectionism, body image struggles, addiction, burnout, and the crushing pressure to keep performing.

In this powerful episode of Unapologetically Badass, Heather shares the story of getting sober in 2014 and the deeper healing that followed—not just from addiction, but from the beliefs that convinced her she had to earn her worth through achievement.

Today, as founder of Balanced Boss Babes, Heather helps high-achieving women recognize when "having it all together" is actually costing them too much—and teaches them how to build success without sacrificing themselves.

In this episode, we discuss:

✨ Why high-performing women are especially vulnerable to burnout
✨ The hidden link between perfectionism and self-sabotage
✨ Recovery beyond addiction—healing your identity
✨ Learning to rest without guilt
✨ Building confidence without constant achievement
✨ Creating a successful life that actually feels good to live

If you've ever looked successful on the outside while quietly struggling on the inside...

This conversation is for you.

www.heathersimco.com

She's the one everyone calls when something needs to be fixed, organized, carried through, or solved. She has the experience, the credentials, the 30-year track record. And yet, somehow she's still waiting to be invited into the decision.Sound familiar? Then this episode is for you.Today I'm sitting down with Kate Woodward Young speaker, author, ICF-certified decision support coach, and host of the top-ranked Childcare Conversations podcast on the day her new book, Authority Without Apology: When Your Responsibility Has Outgrown Your Title, launches into the world.Kate has spent more than 30 years watching the same pattern play out across business, education, nonprofits, and families: the woman everyone depends on is not always the woman people recognize as the authority. And she is done with it.In this conversation, we get into:◆ Why work, authority, and recognition are three completely different things and what happens when accomplished women collapse them into one◆ The difference between being needed and being powerful (and why one doesn't automatically become the other)◆ Why telling women to "speak up" and "lean in" misses the actual problem◆ How Kate's own reinvention rebuilding solo after decades in a co-brand shaped everything in this book◆ What it actually looks like to put your expertise in the room where decisions get madeThis episode drops on September 25 the launch date of Authority Without Apology and a date that now carries an unexpected connection to Dolly Parton, 9 to 5, and the larger cultural conversation about women and work that we are all still very much in the middle of.If you are the woman who keeps getting more responsibility without more recognition this one is for you.Grab the book at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HJFW9F8G?lv=shuf&bestFormat=true&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_mwn_dp_SXTFQ9SA1ECN01Q36XMJ&channelId=704&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_mwn_dp_SXTFQ9SA1ECN01Q36XMJ&plpRedirect=mhFallbackConnect with Kate: https://katewoodwardyoung.me/

How many times have you said "yes"… when everything inside you wanted to say "no"?In this episode of Unapologetically Badass, I sit down with author, speaker, and creator of The YES Test™, Paula Mathias, to talk about one of the biggest traps women fall into: saying yes out of guilt, obligation, habit, or fear of disappointing others.After building a successful career in tech, raising three children, and becoming the person everyone relied on, Paula realized she'd stopped asking herself one important question:"What do I actually want?"That realization changed everything.At 50, she reinvented her career, wrote her first book, and developed The YES Test™—a practical framework that helps women make decisions aligned with their values instead of their people-pleasing.In this episode, we discuss:✔ Why women say yes when they mean no✔ Breaking free from guilt and obligation✔ Reinventing your life after 50✔ Setting boundaries without feeling selfish✔ Making decisions with confidence✔ Choosing yourself without apologyIf you've ever felt stretched too thin, overwhelmed, or like you're living everyone else's priorities instead of your own...This episode is your permission slip.

What happens when women stop accepting the systems they're handed and start changing them?In this episode of Unapologetically Badass, I sit down with fellow Rhode Islander Kelly Nevins, CEO of the Women's Fund of Rhode Island, for a conversation about women's voices, advocacy, leadership, and the very real impact we can have when we're willing to speak up.Kelly has spent decades working in the nonprofit sector and the last ten years leading the Women's Fund of Rhode Island, advancing gender equity through research, advocacy, grantmaking, and systems change.And she's got the receipts.From helping negotiate language in Rhode Island's Fair Pay Act to advocating for policies affecting women across the state, Kelly has seen firsthand what happens when women get involved in the decisions that shape their lives.We're talking about:- Why systems change isn't just for politicians and policy experts- How everyday women can advocate for issues that matter to them- The laws and policies changing life for Rhode Island women- Why investing in women benefits entire communities- Menopause, the workplace, and why THAT conversation finally matters- Kelly's own evolution from nonprofit leader to systems-change advocate- What she's learned after a decade leading the Women's FundAnd yes, we'll probably find time to talk about red wine and kick-ass women saving the world... because clearly Kelly came to the right podcast.This is a conversation about realizing that your voice matters and learning how to use it. www.wfri.org

What if the life that's falling apart... is actually making room for the life you were meant to live?

In this deeply personal episode of Unapologetically Badass, I sit down with April Kirkwood, intuitive guide, author, and creator of The Golden Revamp, to explore what happens when life forces you to stop performing and start remembering who you truly are.

Following her appearance on The Golden Bachelor, April found herself navigating what many call a Dark Night of the Soul—a season of deep questioning, healing, and spiritual awakening that ultimately transformed her life.

Now she helps others reconnect with their intuition, release limiting beliefs, and rediscover the wisdom that's been inside them all along.

In this episode we discuss:

- Why midlife can become your greatest awakening
- Trusting your intuition when life takes an unexpected turn
- Healing emotional patterns that no longer serve you
- The difference between who you've been taught to be and who you truly are
- Finding peace, purpose, and joy after life's biggest transitions
- Why reinvention begins from the inside out

Whether you're rebuilding after divorce, changing careers, questioning what's next, or simply feeling called to something more, this conversation offers hope, perspective, and permission to trust your own path.

https://www.thegoldenrevamp.net/

Can planting one garden change your entire life?

In this episode of Unapologetically Badass, Renee Carbone Fleming sits down with Meredith McCauley, founder of Homegrown & Grounded, to explore how beginner gardening, low-tox living, and intentional home habits can improve your health, reduce stress, and reconnect you with what truly matters.

What began as sharing simple gardening tips evolved into a mission to help people simplify natural living without the overwhelm. Meredith believes you don't need acres of land or years of experience to grow your own food, create a healthier home, or embrace a more sustainable lifestyle you simply need to start.

In this conversation, you'll discover:

- Beginner gardening tips anyone can follow

- How to start living a low-tox lifestyle without perfection

- The connection between gardening, wellness, and mental health

- Practical ways to create a healthier, more intentional home

- Why small daily habits can create extraordinary life changes

Whether you're curious about organic gardening, holistic wellness, sustainable living, or simply craving a slower, more intentional lifestyle, this episode will inspire you to take your first step.

Connect with Meredith McCauley:

Homegrown and Grounded

Subscribe to Unapologetically Badass for conversations with entrepreneurs, leaders, and changemakers who are building extraordinary lives through courage, resilience, and authenticity.

Hosted by Renee Carbone Fleming

Founder of Badass Queen™ Personal Branding & Media Agency

#Gardening #BeginnerGardening #LowToxLiving #HealthyHome #OrganicGardening #GrowYourOwnFood #IntentionalLiving #SustainableLiving #HolisticWellness #HomegrownAndGrounded #WellnessPodcast #WomenInBusiness #UnapologeticallyBadass

What does it take to reinvent yourself multiple times and still rise to the top?In this powerful episode of the Unapologetically Badass Podcast, Renee sits down with Dr. Angela Kerek, whose life story spans elite athletics, global finance law, and high-performance coaching.Born in Romania during the final decade of communism, Angela crossed the Iron Curtain at sixteen to pursue her dream of professional tennis. She went on to compete on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour for eight years before walking away from the sport to reinvent herself again.Her next chapter? Law.Angela earned a PhD in constitutional law, built a career advising billion-euro deals at top international law firms, completed an Executive MBA at Kellogg School of Management while nine months pregnant, and ultimately became a partner in a global finance law firm.But the biggest transformation was still ahead.Today, Angela works with high performers including lawyers, founders, and executives helping them navigate pivotal life transitions, reclaim clarity, and lead with purpose.In this conversation, we dive into:- Reinventing yourself at every stage of life- What elite sports teaches about leadership and resilience- The hidden pressure behind high-achievement careers- Knowing when to push harder and when to pivot- How successful women redefine power, purpose, and performanceAngela’s journey proves that success isn’t a straight line it’s a series of courageous decisions to evolve.If you’ve ever felt the pull toward your next chapter, this episode will challenge you to step into it unapologetically.

What if ambition didn’t have to cost you your peace?In this powerful episode of Unapologetically Badass, Renee sits down with entrepreneur, marketing strategist, and Pretty Damn Ambitious™ founder Bianca B. King, a woman who rewrote success on her own terms.After leaving home at just 13 years old to escape instability, Bianca built a life driven by resilience, determination, and vision. She went on to earn her MBA, close more than $1.6 billion in commercial real estate transactions, and later launched a marketing agency during the 2008 recession with only $700 and a laptop at one point surviving with just $38 in her bank account.Nearly two decades later, her agency has helped clients generate over $280 million in revenue.But her greatest breakthrough wasn’t financial, it was redefining ambition itself.Through her Joyful Ambition™ framework, Bianca now helps women entrepreneurs build profitable businesses without sacrificing their wellbeing, relationships, or identity.In this conversation, we dive into:How to rebuild your life and career after starting from survival modeThe truth about ambition, burnout, and sustainable successTransitioning from corporate achievement to purpose-driven entrepreneurshipBuilding wealth while protecting your peaceWhy reinvention is the most powerful season of a woman’s lifeThe mindset shifts required to scale profitably without overwhelmFeatured in Forbes, ESSENCE, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, and a former Forbes Business Council member, Bianca brings nearly 30 years of business wisdom and the honesty most leaders are afraid to share.If you’re a woman in your next chapter who refuses to play small, this episode will challenge how you think about success, joy, and what’s actually possible.🎧 Listen now and step into ambition that finally feels aligned.