VIRGIN.BEAUTY.B!TCH

Kristen Donnelly (MSW, M.Div, Ph.D.) is an award-winning, four-time TEDx speaker, international empathy educator, and researcher with two decades of experience in helping people understand the beauty in difference and the power of inclusivity. Kristen is a champion for social change and an expert on topics that include Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Intersectionality. "Both my brother and I were raised to understand that our purpose in life is to serve others — that the world should be better because we were in it — and that has infused every part of my life."

Ansa Edim entered the treacherous world of dating apps after her ten-year relationship ended in divorce — she was 28. Since then, Ansa’s been navigating single life as a self-proclaimed fat, black social activist — the ultimate unconventional match. Ansa shares how her dating horror stories have become great fodder for her award-winning stage performances and invaluable life lessons many women can appreciate and learn from.

Sasha Cagen is an executive and personal coach with a focus on women’s empowerment. She’s also the author of cult hit books Quirkyalone: A Manifesto for Uncompromising Romantics and To-Do List: What Our Lists Reveal About Us. Sarah was once a Silicon Valley startup founder who ran away to South America to listen to her body. “My career has been a series of creative projects, from books to companies. Do the same thing my whole life? No way! My unique empowerment methodologies have been featured in 100+ media outlets worldwide, from NPR and the New York Times to the Guardian and CNN. My latest work is my memoir — Wet, a story of healing through sensuality.

Sunny Swearsky is a Sexual Assault Crisis Counselor, Reiki Master, and Life Coach. She is also a disruptor of the traditional medical model of healing from sexual abuse and trauma. Between the ages of 3 and 11, Sunny was sexually abused by an uncle. She repressed the memories until age 31. From her experience as a survivor, Sunny created her Living Light Program: a holistic, non-clinical program taking survivors step by step from a survivor steeped in betrayal, shame, and unworthiness to empowered thriver and manifestor.

Eliza VanCort's career took off in 2018 after a TEDx talk on Women, Power, and Revolutionizing Speech. The talk combined her compelling life story, which includes being kidnapped multiple times by her schizophrenic mother, with tools she developed to help women claim space in the world. Recently, Eliza launched her bestseller — A Woman's Guide to Claiming Space: Stand Tall. Raise Your Voice. Be Heard — focusing on women's empowerment, unifying communication, and dismantling racism. In addition, Eliza offers tools people can use immediately to change themselves and the world.

Sharon Hurley Hall is an anti-racism activist, educator, and author of I'm Tired of Racism. Her response to the murder of George Floyd was to commit herself to do her part to eliminate racism. Her first action is her twice-weekly online publication — Sharon's Anti-Racism Newsletter, where she shares her global experiences of racism and offers guidance for better allyship. Sharon is also a facilitator with the Diverse Leaders Group, helping the company deliver on its anti-racism focus. I'm Tired of Racism is a collection of Sharon's anti-racism essays, sharing her global perspective on racism, anti-racism, anti-Blackness, and white supremacy.

Brooke Bralove is a Psychotherapist & Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Her goal is to help patients better understand themselves by developing insight into their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Brooke is also a Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator, a program based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown. "We examine the thoughts, emotions, and behaviours that hold us back while identifying new choices and practices that move toward more authentic and wholehearted living. The primary focus is on developing shame resilience skills and establishing daily practices that transform the way we live, love, parent, and lead." This conversation with Brooke explores vulnerability, shame, perfectionism, trust, empathy, and self-compassion. In addition, we look into how these play into women feeling lost, stuck, or not enough.

Nona Willis Aronowitz is a writer/editor/author. Her book Bad Sex is a memoir-social history blend that examines the enduring barriers to true sexual freedom. Nona has a biweekly sex and love advice column for Teen Vogue and has written for publications like the New York Times, The Cut, Elle, VICE, and Playboy. "At thirty-two years old, everything in my life, and America, was in extreme disarray. My marriage was falling apart. My nuclear family was slipping away. My heart and libido were suffering from overexposure. Embroiled in an era of fear, reckoning, and reimagining, my assumptions of what "sexual liberation" meant were suddenly up for debate. In these moments of a personal and political sea change, the seeds for my book - Bad Sex: Truth, Pleasure, and an Unfinished Revolution - were planted.”

There was a time in the life of Frances Jones when she considered herself damaged goods. “I felt unworthy because of my infertility and was tormented by negative thoughts and emotions. The worst part was that I didn’t know how to stop. Then a miracle happened: The crippling pain, heartache, and toxic thoughts associated with infertility no longer controlled my life and my self-esteem. I now coach others who are dealing with infertility.” Frances shares intimate details about her book, “Overcoming the Emotional Stigmas of Infertility: Barren but Not Ashamed.”

After spending years battling a severe eating disorder and low self-worth, Marci Warhaft found the motivation to regain her health and reclaim her life. Before her recovery, Marci allowed shame from a challenging past to keep her from living life freely. Living in fear of being judged, she never felt she could ever be enough. She was wrong. After years of advocation for kids and parents, in 2007, Marci founded the Fit vs. Fiction Body Image. This interactive workshop empowers kids in an image-obsessed society to live with healthy self-esteem. From 2018 through 2021, Marci was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Health Leaders by Optimyz Fitness and Wellness Magazine. In addition, Marci has two published books, the latest titled The Body Image Survival Guide for Parents: Helping Toddlers, Tweens, and Teens Thrive.