In this episode, Kara talks with Shannon Murray-Doffo, Chief Revenue Officer and marketing expert, about what it really takes to turn marketing into a profit engine. Shannon breaks down how to build a sales pipeline that converts, why so many marketing investments fall flat, and how business owners can get better at measuring ROI and trusting the data. They also dive into her unique home life, what it means to lead with intention, and how to stay grounded while growing something big. If you're s...
Jan 08, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 301
Divorce can upend your world, but you don’t have to go through it alone. In this episode, Kara is joined by Ksenia Muench, founder of Thrive Again Divorce Coaching, who helps women navigate high-conflict and high-stakes divorces with clarity, strength, and the right support team. Drawing from her own experience, Ksenia shares why a divorce attorney isn’t enough, how a divorce coach helps you protect your mental health and finances, and what it means to be your own quarterback through the most di...
Jan 01, 2025•42 min•Ep. 297
Amber Johnson is the founder of Facial Lounge, a clean skincare brand and spa with two locations in Orange County, California. She joins Kara to talk about the emotional and entrepreneurial journey behind her business, from battling severe acne and studying under Dr. Fulton to building a skincare line that bridges science and self-love. They dive into skincare myths, gut health, scaling a business with soul, and why the best relationship is the one you have with yourself. This episode explores s...
Dec 18, 2024•42 min•Ep. 296
Putting yourself on stage or sharing your voice on a podcast is scary. You have to be vulnerable and put yourself out there. Morgan Lorraine Gallo is doing that—courageously sharing her story, addressing her trauma, and stepping into the role of an eating disorder recovery advocate. She’s on the rise and is generously inviting others to join her journey. In this episode, we discuss her path as a comedian, her experience with an eating disorder, her new podcast, and the supportive community she’s...
Dec 11, 2024•52 min•Ep. 295
Co-founders of Argaux, Arden Gilfillan and Margaux Reaume, are building a modern wine company rooted in community, transparency, and education. They join Kara to talk about what it takes to grow a product-based business, why wine is about more than tasting notes, and the joy of building something with your best friend. (00:00:08) - Introduction to Argaux and Its Founders (00:01:24) - The Origin Story of Argaux (00:02:15) - The Importance of Community and Events (00:04:00) - Challenges of Scaling...
Dec 04, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 294
Olivia Ivey Bannock is a bridal stylist, entrepreneur, and creative director who’s reshaping the wedding industry one client at a time. In this episode, she and Kara talk about building a business from personal transformation, how the bridal experience is evolving, and what it means to show up authentically when your work is deeply personal. This episode explores creative entrepreneurship, modern branding, and owning your story. (00:00:04) - Introduction to Olivia Ivey Bannock and Her Journey (0...
Nov 20, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 293
Creative director and entrepreneur Roanne Adams joins Kara to talk about reclaiming your power, leading with purpose, and building a business that’s both beautiful and values-driven. As founder of RoAndCo and State of Feeling, Roanne shares how burnout, motherhood, and her daughter’s Type 1 diabetes diagnosis transformed her approach to leadership and life. They explore what it means to create regenerative businesses, why sustainability starts with self-awareness, and how women founders can do m...
Nov 06, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 292
Founder and Executive Producer Carling French is the go-to creative partner for turning big visions into reality. She joins Kara to talk about producing everything from ad campaigns to music videos, what it means to work with kindness in a high-stakes industry, and how she built her production company from the ground up. They dive into client relationships, standing your ground with grace, and why being highly organized is a creative superpower. This episode explores creative entrepreneurship, w...
Oct 30, 2024•47 min•Ep. 291
Interior designer Anne Michaelsen Yahn joins Kara to talk about design, grief, resilience, and raising a family of entrepreneurs. From growing up in Newport Beach to running her business through personal tragedy, Anne shares how she found strength in creativity and community. They explore her approach to intentional design, the art of hosting, and how legacy and love show up in the spaces we live in. If you're reimagining your home, your business, or your life, this conversation is full of insig...
Oct 23, 2024•48 min•Ep. 290
Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal is a powerhouse attorney, entrepreneur, and founder of Esse Law, a firm dedicated to helping women protect what they’ve built. She and Kara talk about designing a business that supports your life, not the other way around, and choosing love over hustle. In this episode, she and Kara talk about the real work of entrepreneurship, navigating venture capital as a woman, rewriting success outside the hustle, and learning how to ask for what you want. From her music career to buil...
Oct 16, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 289
Goldie Chan is a branding expert, writer, keynote speaker, and founder of Warm Robots Agency. Known as the “Oprah of LinkedIn,” she joins Kara for a rich conversation on personal branding, introverted leadership, creativity in business, and what it takes to build an authentic digital presence. They explore everything from standing out in saturated spaces to surviving cancer, setting boundaries, and embracing being ‘uncool’ online. Goldie shares lessons from launching her agency, her LinkedIn Top...
Oct 09, 2024•50 min•Ep. 288
What does it really take to grow a business and brand with integrity, without selling out? In this episode, Kara talks with Staci Gray about building teams that thrive, the mistakes leaders often make, and what it means to lead with both clarity and compassion. In this episode, I talk with Staci, founder of Organized to Scale, about how ambitious people get stuck, why systems like SOPs and checklists unlock freedom, and how embodying the person you need to be starts with organizing yourself firs...
Oct 02, 2024•52 min•Ep. 287
What happens when a professional equestrian, yacht captain, surfer, and environmentalist decides to start a skincare brand? You get Maddie Chapman, the founder of Live Sunny, a sustainable sunscreen line born from her own needs at sea. In this episode of the Powerful Ladies Podcast, host Kara Duffy talks with Maddie about her adventurous, purpose-driven life: competing in horse shows, navigating offshore yacht deliveries, and building a brand that protects your skin and the planet. They talk abo...
Sep 25, 2024•48 min•Ep. 286
Michelle Garabito was stuck in burnout until one bold decision changed everything. Today she runs a travel business from wherever she wants and helps other women do the same. In this episode, Kara and Michelle talk about building a freedom-based business, what it really means to leave corporate, and how to design a life around joy, rest, and curiosity. They also get into solo travel, self-worth, and why community is everything when you’re forging your own path. This episode is a must-listen for ...
Sep 18, 2024•46 min•Ep. 285
Cat Pope helps people dress like they already are the version of themselves they’re chasing. As a New York City fashion stylist, she knows style is more than surface. It’s strategy. In this episode, Kara and Cat talk about personal style as a tool for self-expression, career growth, and confidence. They explore how clothing choices affect your energy, how to find clarity in your closet, and why authenticity always wins. This conversation is packed with insights on the business of fashion, buildi...
Sep 11, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 284
Caroline Heer and Katherine Boucher are two of the women behind Women in the Wilderness, a documentary about wild horse conservation and cowboy culture in the American West. In this episode, they talk with Kara about what’s really going on with wild horse overpopulation, why they made the film, and what it was like to ride across Wyoming on horseback. This conversation covers storytelling, land management, and what it means to be a woman making films about cowboy country. Chapters: (00:00:01) - ...
Sep 04, 2024•42 min•Ep. 283
At 18, Maggie Doyne bought land in Nepal. By 23, she had built a school, founded a nonprofit, and become a mother to 50. Her story is a blueprint for heart-led leadership and lasting impact. In this episode, Kara and Maggie talk about parenting, grief, vision, and the difference between ego and mission. They also explore how we measure success, what it takes to sustain a nonprofit, and how Maggie continues to evolve as a leader. Chapters: (00:00:00) – How a Gap Year Became a Global Mission (00:0...
Aug 28, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 282
Mylea Hardy turned her love of vintage fashion into a thriving global brand without losing her values or her style. Here's how she made thrifting cool, scalable, and sustainable. In this episode, Kara and Mylea talk about fashion, faith, and entrepreneurship. They also explore how Forager’s Goods became a viral success, why Mylea sees style as service, and what it looks like to stay rooted while building a brand. (00:00:01) – How Mylea Hardy Turned Thrifting Into a Vintage Fashion Brand (00:04:4...
Aug 14, 2024•55 min•Ep. 281
Can what you eat change your mood, your body, and your entire energy field? Chef Whitney Aronoff thinks so, and she’s teaching people how to cook for healing and intuition. In this episode, Kara talks with Whitney about high-vibration food, spiritual nutrition, and the journey from culinary school to podcast host. They also explore blood type diets, intuitive eating, and how food connects to energy, ancestry, and self-trust. Chapters: (00:00:01) - Using Food to Unlock Healing and Intuition (00:0...
Aug 07, 2024•55 min•Ep. 280
In this re-released episode, Reb Masel is a civil litigation attorney and viral TikTok creator who’s built a following by demystifying the legal system with humor and honesty. In this episode, Kara and Reb talk about what the courtroom is really like, how social media has changed public understanding of the law, and what it takes to build trust and authority as a woman in law. They also discuss confidence, burnout, and why owning your voice matters, whether you’re in court or not. Chapters: (00:...
Jul 31, 2024•50 min•Ep. 279
Waymakers OC is a nonprofit that supports youth, survivors, and families in crisis. In this episode, Kara speaks with three women behind the organization - Ronnetta Johnson, Hether Benjamin, and Lita Mercado - about the realities of human trafficking, youth crisis response, and victim advocacy in Southern California. They break down the myths that keep people unaware, the programs making a difference, and how their work is changing lives and systems. Chapters: (00:00:01) – What Is Waymakers and ...
Jul 24, 2024•53 min•Ep. 278
Tobey Lynn is a Gen Z musician, writer, and filmmaker exploring identity, mental health, and self-expression. In this episode, she talks with Kara about growing up Filipina in a predominantly white town, making art from anxiety, and learning to trust her voice in a world that didn’t always reflect her. They also discuss her bold thesis film, censorship in creative spaces, and what it means to take up space as a young, queer, Asian artist. Chapters: (00:00:01) – Growing Up Filipina in a White Tow...
Jul 16, 2024•40 min•Ep. 277
Tara Joseph is a former journalist and executive communications coach who helps leaders tell better stories and show up with clarity. In this episode, Kara and Tara talk about how to improve your public speaking, why messaging matters, and how to communicate powerfully without losing authenticity. They also dig into what makes a good leader, what people misunderstand about the media, and why vulnerability is a leadership skill. Chapters: (00:00:01) – What Great Communicators Actually Do Differen...
Jul 10, 2024•47 min•Ep. 276
What does it take to be iconic? In this episode, Kara talks with June Reese, NAACP Image Awards nominee, interior designer, and author of Iconic Home: Interiors, Advice, and Stories from 50 Amazing Black Designers. They dig into what it means to lead with authenticity, why representation in design matters, and how June is building both a personal brand and a movement. June shares the origin story of Iconic Home, what it's really like to grow a design business with your partner, and how she's cre...
Jul 03, 2024•44 min•Ep. 275
Sarah Rhoads is one half of the creative duo behind We Are the Rhoads, a successful commercial photography team she runs with her husband, Chris. They’re also parents to three boys, building both a business and a family with intention. In this episode, Kara and Sarah talk about choosing your own path, navigating the demands of creative work in Los Angeles, and what it takes to build a life that feels both full and free. They explore joy, ambition, and how partnership—both in love and work—can be...
Jun 26, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 274
Welcome to a special edition of the Powerful Ladies Podcast. This episode was recorded live in Venice, California, on April 25th, 2024, at NeueHouse. It’s an amazing discussion about my Have It All Method™ featuring myself and three of my favorite entrepreneurs: Maurice Philogen, who flew in all the way from Lebanon; KJ Atlas, whose solo Powerful Ladies episode you may have heard (if not, go back and listen!); and Chris Grubisa, one of my favorite humans and the founder of the production company...
Jun 19, 2024•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 273
What if saying yes to a full-time job didn’t mean giving up your freedom? In this episode, Kara talks with Jacqueline Lavitt Michaelsen, a creative director and designer whose career has flowed between freelance projects, corporate gigs, and a dream role with one of the top luxury brands in the world. They discuss the real lessons of building a creative business, what she learned from modeling and art direction, and why choosing structure doesn't mean you're selling out. This episode is about de...
Jun 12, 2024•45 min•Ep. 272
Sandra Soskic is the founder of Humanoid, a skinwear brand that reimagines beauty as a form of self-expression, not perfection. In this episode, Kara and Sandra talk about launching a cosmetics company with no industry background, building creative confidence, and leading with intuition. They also dig into the future of the beauty industry and how Sandra’s multidisciplinary approach is opening up space for more freedom and fun. Chapters: (00:00:01) – Why Sandra Started Humanoid and What Skinwear...
Jun 05, 2024•50 min•Ep. 271
Melissa Skeet is a Diné advocate and speaker who’s using her own story of survival to bring awareness to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP). In this episode, she and Kara talk about skating across the country to break the silence, finding purpose through pain, and using your voice even when it's hard. They explore trauma, advocacy, and what it means to heal in public. Chapters: (00:00:01) – Why Melissa Is Skating Across the United States (00:03:10) – From Survivor to Advocate to Athl...
May 29, 2024•47 min•Ep. 270
What happens when three generations of women raise each other to lead? In this episode, Kara talks with Kendra Laine, Nancy Eaton, and Grandma Donna about parenting, entrepreneurship, and building legacy through values. It’s a joyful, honest look at what power looks like in a family of strong women, and how wisdom travels across generations. Chapters: (00:00:01) – Meet the Three Generations of Powerful Ladies (00:04:00) – Party Grandma, Instagramma, and the Birth of a Family Legend (00:10:15) – ...
May 22, 2024•52 min•Ep. 269
