Astrologer KJ Atlas helps people make decisions by reading the stars. In this episode, Kara and KJ explore how location astrology, birth charts, and planetary timing can reveal insights about career, home, and identity. They also discuss chronic illness, intuition, and why KJ created the Grove Almanac to make astrology practical, accessible, and powerful. Chapters: (00:00:01) – Why Astrology Is Like Weather and Why It Matters for Business (00:04:00) – What Is Locational Astrology and How It Can ...
May 15, 2024•52 min•Ep. 268
Kristin Middleton started Bougie Gougies at age 60 after years of making her signature French cheese puffs for friends and family. In this episode, she talks with Kara about turning a homemade snack into a gourmet frozen food business and what it means to become a first-time founder later in life. They explore entrepreneurship, food manufacturing, and why resilience, joy, and female friendship are just as important as the product. Chapters: (00:00:01) – From Freezer Snacks to a National Business...
May 08, 2024•41 min•Ep. 267
Kim O’Hara is a book coach and publishing consultant who helps people write the story they’ve been afraid to tell. In this episode, Kara and Kim talk about the emotional and professional journey of writing a book, why visibility is so difficult for high-achieving women, and what it really means to be heard. They explore memoir writing, publishing timelines, and how writing your truth can help others heal. Chapters: (00:00:01) – Powerful Ladies Stop Questioning Their Decisions (00:04:15) – From H...
May 01, 2024•48 min•Ep. 266
Adeline Perez went from corporate burnout to stand-up comedy in a journey that transformed her voice and confidence. In this episode, she talks with Kara about the fear of public speaking, people pleasing, and how making fun of corporate life became her gateway to healing. Adeline’s comedy about toxic workplaces and emotional boundaries has gone viral, and her new book tackles these themes head-on. If you’ve ever been afraid to be seen, this is the story of what can happen when you finally speak...
Apr 24, 2024•42 min•Ep. 265
Maggie Larkin Hicok helps leaders grow their influence from the inside out. In this episode, Kara and Maggie talk about workplace culture, coaching executives, and what it means to be a goofball that gets results. They also dig into values-based leadership, curiosity as a superpower, and why real power doesn’t require a title. Chapters: (00:00:01) – Influence Without Authority and the Reputation Story (00:04:15) – Coaching the C-Suite on Values and Culture (00:10:10) – When Values Don’t Align an...
Apr 17, 2024•55 min•Ep. 264
Shubnum Khan is a South African author, illustrator, and Muslim woman writer whose journey to creative freedom was anything but expected. In this episode, she talks with Kara about growing up in a conservative Muslim community, how travel opened her imagination, and why storytelling has the power to heal. They discuss her viral travel memoir, her breakout novel The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years, and how writing helped her find a life that felt like her own. Chapters: (00:00:01) – Writing, Politics...
Apr 10, 2024•41 min•Ep. 263
Kelli Heald is a meditation coach and wellness entrepreneur who turned personal loss into a practice that now helps others heal. In this episode, she and Kara talk about grief recovery, brain science, and how meditation can be a lifeline in the face of chaos. They explore starting a wellness business later in life, raising a daughter with Down syndrome, and why meditation is for every body, not just the calm and focused ones. Chapters: (00:00:01) – Why Meditation Felt Impossible, until It Didn’t...
Apr 02, 2024•44 min•Ep. 262
What if aging wasn’t something to hide, but something to celebrate? Debra Granich is the CEO of the Red Hat Society, a global community for women over 50 who want to age joyfully, loudly, and on their own terms. In this episode, she and Kara talk about rejecting ageism, embracing visibility, and how play and friendship can change your health. They explore how the Red Hat Society has grown into a movement for senior women across the world, and how its members are shaping new narratives around agi...
Mar 27, 2024•38 min•Ep. 261
What would change if you stopped doubting yourself? In this live International Women’s Day panel hosted at Soho Works LA, Kara Duffy brings together four powerful women to talk about how they learned to trust their instincts, honor their inner knowing, and take action that feels aligned. Actress and author Cyann Ribeiro, producer and performer Natalia Trejos, Jungian coach Shadi Sadeghi, and comedian Sierra Katow share stories of bravery, identity, creativity, and self-trust. Whether you're in a...
Mar 20, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 260
What if selling didn’t feel awkward, forced, or exhausting? In this episode of the Powerful Ladies Podcast, Kara Duffy sits down with sales coach and keynote speaker Natasha Hemmingway to talk about selling with integrity, alignment, and purpose. They unpack how shifting your mindset can unlock more revenue, more confidence, and a business that actually feels good to run. Natasha shares her R.I.C.H.™ Life framework, offers real talk on emotional resilience, and gives practical advice for heart-c...
Mar 12, 2024•56 min•Ep. 259
What happens when you stop forcing your path and start listening instead? For Leia Vita Marasovich, that choice led her across continents and disciplines, from farming in Guatemala to shooting cookbooks in California to documenting surf culture and regenerative agriculture around the world. In this conversation with Kara, Leia shares how she’s built a career by trusting herself and following what calls to her. They discuss Buddhist practices, working with Rich Roll and Julie Piatt, navigating tw...
Mar 06, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 258
What if the key to success in business wasn’t just strategy or hustle, but joy? Speaker, podcaster, and author Shennice Cleckley joins Kara to share how she went from baking desserts to feeding people with love, purpose, and business acumen. They talk about embracing self-worth, making bold pivots, and the mindset shifts that help entrepreneurs turn setbacks into stepping stones. From building a bakery that catered to Beyoncé’s tour to coaching others on pricing, faith, and being enough, Shennic...
Feb 28, 2024•47 min•Ep. 257
Stephani Clymer is the founder and owner of Shop Common Threads, a beloved boutique in Newport Beach, CA. In this episode, she and Kara talk about building a values-led business, how to lead with empathy, and what it really takes to run a successful brick-and-mortar shop in today’s digital-first world. Stephani shares her story of shifting from broadcast journalism to retail after a lightbulb moment watching Oprah, why she believes every leader needs a coach, and how customer service has become ...
Feb 21, 2024•51 min•Ep. 256
Dr. Tierney Thys is a marine biologist, National Geographic Explorer, TED speaker, and co-founder of Around the World in 80 Fabrics. In this episode of the Powerful Ladies Podcast, she joins Kara to explore how curiosity can change your life, and possibly the world. They discuss biodiversity, mental health, fast fashion, and why protecting the planet starts with getting outside. From her work on giant ocean sunfish to her mission to shift how we think about textiles, Tierney reveals how she bala...
Feb 14, 2024•56 min•Ep. 255
Michelle Smith spent decades leading in the male-dominated world of action sports before walking away to launch her own coaching practice. Today, she helps ambitious women lead with clarity, set powerful boundaries, and define success on their own terms. In this episode, Michelle and Kara talk about corporate burnout, the lessons of managing people well, how to lead with presence, and the cost of staying silent. They explore self-trust, gender bias in the workplace, and what it really takes to j...
Feb 07, 2024•52 min•Ep. 254
What if better parenting starts with being kinder to yourself? In this episode, Kara talks with Kristine Petterson, founder of Mindful Parenting Evolution, about how emotional health, nervous system support, and real rest can transform both your parenting and your self-worth. They dig into why sleep matters more than hustle, how to rewire habits shaped by burnout and shame, and why connection - not control - is the future of parenting. If you're a new parent, a cycle-breaker, or someone working ...
Jan 31, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 253
Transformation doesn’t happen on the surface. Jungian coach and Emotion Code practitioner Shadi Sadeghi helps people reclaim the parts of themselves they’ve hidden, suppressed, or ignored. In this episode, Kara and Shadi explore what shadow work really means, how it can shift every area of your life, and why true healing requires emotional honesty. They dive into how your unconscious patterns shape your reality, what it means to awaken to your own BS, and how tools like Jungian coaching and the ...
Jan 24, 2024•53 min•Ep. 252
Louisa Schmolke is a London-based artist whose breakout piece 3024 (Grid of Memories) was featured in the Royal Scottish Academy’s 197th Annual Show. But she didn’t come up through art school, she studied architecture and project management, two fields that taught her how to make art with intention, structure, and an eye toward the audience experience. In this episode, Louisa and Kara talk about navigating burnout, building a creative practice with a business brain, and finding joy in work that ...
Jan 17, 2024•59 min•Ep. 251
After losing her husband to cancer, Anne Watson found healing through creativity, motherhood, and entrepreneurship. In this inspiring episode, Kara talks with Anne, a food photographer, wine grower, yogini, and reiki master, about how she rebuilt her life through Watson Ranch Vineyard, Anne Watson Content Development, and Watson Wellness. They discuss navigating grief, raising a creative son, finding purpose in wellness work, and why building a business with heart matters. If you've ever wondere...
Jan 10, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 250
Melissa Cho is a storyteller, video editor, and creator of the HAAPI Hour podcast, where she amplifies AAPI voices and builds community through real, joyful, and unfiltered conversations. In this episode of the Powerful Ladies Podcast, Melissa shares how growing up across Asia shaped her worldview, why she’s committed to building a life of creative freedom, and how she’s navigating freelance life after stints at Jubilee Media and Wired. She and Kara talk about the power of podcasting, choosing u...
Jan 03, 2024•53 min•Ep. 249
Running your own business can be overwhelming. The key to going from surviving to thriving? Prioritizing yourself. In this episode, Kara talks with Alyson Campbell, founder of Heart & Soul PR, about how to choose your dream clients, why PR is more than just a headline, and what happens when you align your business with your real values. They unpack how to protect your energy, price your services with confidence, and show up in your work without burning out. This is a conversation about bound...
Dec 20, 2023•38 min•Ep. 248
What if your most valuable business asset was your generosity? In this episode of the Powerful Ladies Podcast, Kara Duffy talks with Sunny Bates, a founder, author, and master connector. Sunny’s built a world-class career by investing in relationships first. Sunny shares how generosity is the true fuel behind powerful networks, why she sees herself as a talent ecosystem builder, and how she evaluates people beyond what they say they want. They explore the hidden layers of hiring, mentorship, car...
Dec 13, 2023•52 min•Ep. 247
What do dog dental care, viral TikToks (@drmollysays), and vet burnout all have in common? Dr. Molly Brinkmann. In this episode, Kara sits down with Dr. Molly to explore what it’s really like to be a modern veterinarian, from navigating tough choices about pet care to the misconceptions people still have about vet medicine. They talk about career paths in animal health, pet owner mistakes (hello, brush your dog’s teeth), and how she’s using her social media platform to educate and entertain mill...
Dec 06, 2023•40 min•Ep. 246
Jean Oelwang has spent her life exploring how curiosity, connection, and partnerships drive real change. As President of Virgin Unite, Co-Founder of Plus Wonder, and author of Partnering, she’s worked with global leaders like Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu while building networks that tackle issues from climate change to social justice. In this episode of the Powerful Ladies Podcast, Jean shares how a meandering career path full of pivots led her to purposeful leadership, the power of deep rela...
Nov 29, 2023•48 min•Ep. 245
Kassia Davis walked away from the family business, New Balance, to launch her own path as a brand founder, CEO, and investor. Today, she’s building a portfolio of product-based businesses including KADA, a sustainable women’s apparel brand, and PF Flyers, the iconic sneaker company. In this episode, Kara and Kassia talk about taking control of your career, the reality of startup life, and why Kassia is betting on herself to build something bigger than a title. They cover team building, fundraisi...
Nov 15, 2023•42 min•Ep. 240
Looking great in photos isn’t just for influencers and models. Whether you're a business owner, public speaker, or simply trying to feel better in front of the camera, Christine Buzan is here to help. She's the founder of Look Good in Photos and the creator of the Pose Perfect formula, a step-by-step posing method that helps anyone feel more confident and look their best. In this episode, Kara and Christine dive into the psychology of self-image, how your confidence shifts over time, and why kno...
Nov 08, 2023•45 min•Ep. 243
What happens when women lead with authenticity, empathy, and creative power? In this episode, Kara Duffy sits down with Hayley Young, Rose Julian, and Bhavishya Sharadhi of CURATOR Pictures, a female-led production company redefining what inclusive filmmaking looks like. They talk about what drew them to storytelling through film, how intentional collaboration changes the creative process, and why diversity behind the camera matters as much as what’s in front of it. This is a conversation about ...
Nov 01, 2023•51 min•Ep. 242
After a debilitating injury took her out of the game - literally - Christina Spinazola was forced to reevaluate everything. Once a scientist and athlete, she found herself in deep burnout until a single coaching session changed the trajectory of her life. In this episode of the Powerful Ladies Podcast, host Kara Duffy sits down with Christina to unpack how coaching helped her reclaim her power, find new purpose, and build a life of integrity, self-trust, and radical choice. They talk about what ...
Oct 25, 2023•45 min•Ep. 241
What happens when you merge creativity, city planning, and community-building into a business? Meet Emily Isenberg, the founder and creative director of Isenberg Projects. Based in Boston, her firm brings people together through placemaking, public art, and activating city spaces in ways that feel inclusive, unexpected, and fun. In this episode, we talk about leading a collective, designing experiences that reflect a city’s heartbeat, and why real community-building happens when we get out into ...
Oct 18, 2023•47 min•Ep. 240
Most people think HR is about policies and procedures. Khalilah T. Olokunola (affectionately known as KO) is here to shatter that perception. In this conversation, we talk about what HR is really about: people, community, and transformation. KO shares how ministry and HR overlap, why small businesses need to think beyond compliance, and how trauma, burnout, and leadership are all connected. We get into HR’s evolving role post-George Floyd, how to build people-first workplaces, and the soft skill...
Oct 11, 2023•49 min•Ep. 239
