Wealthing Podcast

In this inspiring episode of The Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley welcomes Jonas Paukner, a Berlin-based intellectual property lawyer and founder of the African fashion brand YOH°2. Combining legal expertise with a deep love for design, Jonas created a fashion brand inspired by the Congolese Sapeurs—a vibrant subculture known for resilience and self-expression through bold, elegant fashion.

Jonas shares the origin story of YOH°2, rooted in personal heritage and artistic collaboration. The conversation explores the brand's mission to serve as a cultural bridge between Europe and Africa and its impact on social change. Jonas presents his latest collection—two handcrafted, tailor-made coats designed with Congolese artist Mambela, featuring original artwork, Moroccan fabrics, and a unique fusion of fashion and storytelling.

Alicia and Jonas also discuss his upcoming documentary film, which will highlight the Sapeur culture through fashion events in Kinshasa and New York, drawing a parallel with the 2025 Met Gala theme, "Superfine: Black Tailoring." The film will travel across Berlin, Paris, Brussels, Marrakech, Kinshasa, and Brazzaville—connecting worlds through fashion, heritage, and artistry.

Listeners can learn more or pre-order a custom coat at www.yohno2.de and follow Jonas Paukner on social media for updates.

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In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley sits down with Karen Sheffield, the Founder and Managing Partner of Pachamama Ventures—a venture capital firm focused on early-stage U.S. climate tech startups. With a unique background that spans roles at American Airlines, PepsiCo, and Visa, Karen brings an operator's lens to the world of investing.

Karen shares her unexpected journey into venture capital, beginning with angel investing just four years ago. Her path has been defined by a curiosity to find value in overlooked markets and underestimated founders. As an underrepresented fund manager herself, Karen is intentional about backing diverse teams tackling critical issues like climate change with scalable innovation.

Tune in to hear her thoughts on how to de-risk early-stage investments, why climate tech is more than just a buzzword, and how she uses her corporate experience to guide portfolio companies. This conversation offers a powerful reminder that wealth creation and environmental impact don't have to be mutually exclusive.

In this inspiring episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley welcomes Martha Montoya, a pioneering entrepreneur with deep experience in financial services, emerging markets, and social innovation. Martha shares her journey from growing up in Colombia to building a career across the U.S., Latin America, and Europe, bridging cultural divides and economic opportunity through smart investment and purpose-driven ventures.

They dive into Martha's current work creating accessible financial tools for underserved communities and her commitment to innovation that prioritizes people over profit. Martha speaks candidly about the importance of inclusive entrepreneurship, how early adversity shaped her leadership style, and what it means to lead with empathy, vision, and global perspective.

Listeners will walk away with valuable insights on:

• Launching businesses that solve real problems

• Investing with a social lens

• Navigating cross-cultural business landscapes

• Embracing failure and persistence as part of the journey

Whether you're a founder, investor, or changemaker, this episode is a must-listen for anyone working to create a more equitable and prosperous future.

🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club

In this inspiring episode, host Alicia Castillo Holley sits down with Andrea Stephany Díaz, a brilliant young entrepreneur and Co-founder of OncoSwab. Named one of Europe's top 100 young scientists, Andrea shares how a chance encounter with a cancer screening idea sparked her entrepreneurial journey—leading her to launch her first diagnostics company at just 24.

Andrea discusses her background in molecular biotechnology, her global upbringing between Venezuela and Spain, and the motivation behind tackling one of the world's deadliest diseases: lung cancer. With OncoSwab, she aims to make early detection more accessible and less invasive—leveraging science and innovation to save lives.

Beyond biotech, Andrea is a passionate advocate for women in STEM. Through her YouTube channel, DNAndrea, she shares behind-the-scenes insights from her startup journey and encourages young women to pursue careers in science and entrepreneurship.

Whether you're passionate about healthcare innovation or simply love a good founder story, this episode delivers a compelling look at purpose-driven science and startup grit.

🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club

In this compelling episode, host Alicia Castillo Holley sits down with Jeremy Fortes, a dynamic entrepreneur and investor known for breaking down barriers in the startup ecosystem. Jeremy shares his journey from early startup struggles to becoming a strategic advisor and investor focused on supporting founders who are often overlooked by traditional venture capital.

He discusses:

• His pivot from founding a tech company to building investment vehicles for underserved entrepreneurs

• The importance of community, mentorship, and access in wealth creation

• Why he believes character and hustle matter more than pedigree

• What he's doing to change the face of investing and empower more people to build generational wealth

Tamearra Dyson, a powerhouse entrepreneur and trailblazing vegan chef, joins Alicia Castillo Holley to share her remarkable story of turning just $27 into Souley Vegan—a beloved plant-based soul food brand. From single motherhood to national recognition on Food Network's "Beat Bobby Flay," Tamearra walks us through the grit, passion, and purpose that fuel her mission.

In this episode, Tamearra opens up about:

• Launching Souley Vegan from scratch while raising her son

• Staying rooted in her culture while making vegan food accessible

• Building a purpose-driven business as a Black woman founder

• What it meant to become the first vegan chef to beat Bobby Flay

• Her vision for scaling Souley Vegan and uplifting her community

Connect with Tamearra Dyson: 🌐 Website📷 Instagram 💼 LinkedIn

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In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast, Alicia Castillo Holley is joined by Dr. Sunny Zhang — a tenured professor, entrepreneur, investor, and the Founder of TrueLeap Inc., a platform that transforms global workforce development through a unified knowledge transfer ecosystem.

Dr. Zhang shares her remarkable journey from international student to powerhouse innovator in behavioral science, education, and venture capital. Together, Alicia and Sunny explore the intersections of innovation, diversity, and impact — and why building globally scalable ventures is the future of entrepreneurship.

Listeners will gain insight into:

🔹 The story behind founding TrueLeap and why workforce development needs to change 🔹 How her background in behavioral science influences her approach to innovation 🔹 The challenges and rewards of being a woman and immigrant founder in venture capital 🔹 What it means to create "globally born" companies 🔹 Her work with Born Global Ventures and supporting diverse entrepreneurs around the world

Whether you're a founder, investor, educator, or ecosystem builder, Dr. Zhang offers wisdom, encouragement, and actionable advice on scaling purpose-driven ventures.

In this inspiring episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley sits down with Katerina Manoff, the dynamic founder and CEO of ENGin, a nonprofit transforming lives through English language practice and cultural exchange. With over 55,000 volunteer-student matches, ENGin connects Ukrainian learners with English speakers around the world, fostering connection, confidence, and hope during times of crisis.

Katerina shares the powerful story behind ENGin's founding—starting with mentoring a talented young Ukrainian student—and how that one connection sparked a global movement. With a background in education, nonprofit leadership, and investment banking, Katerina brings unique insight into building purpose-driven initiatives that scale.

Together, Alicia and Katerina explore:

• How ENGin went from a small idea to a global nonprofit

• Why language learning is a tool for resilience, especially during war

• The challenges and rewards of launching a nonprofit startup

• How everyday volunteers can make an extraordinary impact

Whether you're interested in global development, education, or simply making a difference, this episode is a must-listen.

Learn more or get involved with ENGin: www.enginprogram.org

🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club

In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley sits down with Tracey MacNeal, President and CEO of Materna Medical. With a rich background as a chemical engineer, Duke MBA, healthcare entrepreneur, and medtech investor, Tracey brings a wealth of insight into the intersection of innovation and women's health.

Tracey shares how Materna Medical is changing the game for maternal health by developing breakthrough technologies aimed at reducing delivery complications, improving postpartum recovery, and creating more equitable outcomes for new mothers. She also discusses her leadership role with AdvaMed and the Women's Health Equity Initiative, highlighting the urgency and opportunity in addressing long-overlooked gaps in women's healthcare.

Together, Alicia and Tracey explore how building purpose-driven companies can drive both financial success and profound societal impact.

🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club

In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley sits down with Sam Shames, co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Embr Labs, a pioneering wearable tech company. From chilly MIT labs to the frontline of menopause care and stress management, Sam shares the origin story of Embr's innovative wristband—designed to regulate body temperature and support wellness by tapping into the body's natural thermoregulatory and neurological systems.

Sam reflects on a decade of startup growth, including his transition from COO to CRO, and how his journey from wrestling national champion to MIT-trained engineer shaped his approach to building and scaling a mission-driven tech company. The conversation explores how Embr Labs' technology has found real-world applications in areas like menopause symptom relief, stress regulation, and thermal comfort, and what it means to grow a company grounded in both science and empathy.

https://www.embrlabs.com

🌐 Wealthing Club: wealthing.club