Best Shawnte Podcasts (2026)

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Best of Brave Women at Work: Inhale Faith, Exhale Fear to Embrace a New Way of Life and Work with Dr. Shawnte Elbert 55:11

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4h ago55:11

55:11

Happy New Year and officially welcome to 2026! Fresh start in the New Year! For my second show in the Best of Brave Women at Work Series, I was excited to re-share my show with Dr. Shawnte Elbert. Dr. Shawnte Elbert has faced her fair share of career struggles, but unlike my traditional position of overdriving when I face challenges, Shawnte introd…

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Best of Brave Women at Work: Avoid Overthinking to Get Embodied with Jay Fields 1:00:52

4h ago1:00:52

1:00:52

For the last 2-3 years, I have highlighted by top 2 favorite podcasts of the year in my year-end Best of Series. This week, I am highlighting my coach, friend, and colleague Jay Fields. I would like to thank Jay for her guidance and instruction this year on inner child and parts work because it has made a huge difference in life. If you are not fam…

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Be an Ethical Leader and Stand in Your Values with Vera Cherepanova 1:00:59

7d ago1:00:59

1:00:59

My guest today, Vera Cherepanova, shares the importance of being ethical at work and how we can leverage our values to create safer work environments. In my discussion with Vera, we chatted about: Why ethics is so important to Vera, and how she got into her line of work. The definition of ethical leadership. How ethics and compliance support the gr…

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Facing the Unexpected Loss of a Spouse and Rebuilding a New Life and Career with Sandy Ramage-Kallal 1:06:43

21d ago1:06:43

1:06:43

Today’s show deals with the loss of a spouse, which we all know is a serious and devastating loss for so many women. In fact, here are some statistics on being a widow in the United States: For women under 50, being widowed occurs less than 12% and under 40, it’s less than 5%. Even though it seems rare, this adds up to 73,000 new U.S. widows each y…

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Navigate Life and Work as a Reluctant Free Agent with Melinda Stoops PhD 1:00:21

21d ago1:00:21

1:00:21

According to an article on American Progress “In a Stagnating Job Market Job Seekers are Struggling to Find Opportunities”, the current US unemployment rate is at 4.4%, which is lower than the long-term average but is at its highest amount since before COVID began almost 5 years ago. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/in-a-stagnating-job-mark…

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Rest to be a Strategic Leader with Dr. Erin Wilson 1:06:12

28d ago1:06:12

1:06:12

Are you were coming up in your career, what were you taught about rest? Here are a few oldies but goodies I was taught: You can rest when you die. No pain, no gain. Sleep is for the weak. Face time means you are committed. Don’t take a break. Do any of these toxic messages resonate with you? Unfortunately, so many women I chat with understand exact…

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Ep. 6 Gratitude, Peace, and Purpose with Dr. Jeni ‘Mama Peace’ Stepanek 19:06

1M ago19:06

19:06

Send us a text In this special episode of Little Minds Big Talks, our 4th and 5th grade hosts continue exploring the theme of gratitude with an extraordinary guest Dr. Jeni “Mama Peace” Stepanek. Jeni shares the powerful lessons of gratitude, peace, and purpose she learned with her son, poet and peace-builder Mattie J.T. Stepanek. Together, they in…

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Yours for the Taking: Charting Your Path to the Top with Tracey Newell 52:11

1M ago52:11

52:11

Today, I had the privilege of having Tracey Newell on as a guest. We chatted about more women making their way to the top, no matter what the level means to you. Listen in to be inspired and challenged to reach your next level. Here’s more about Tracey: Tracey Newell is the former president of Informatica, where she also served as a member of the c…

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Rise, Get Unstuck, and Become Your Truest Self with Arivee Vargas 1:00:31

1M ago1:00:31

1:00:31

Today, I have a great guest, Arivee Vargas. Arivee and I had a fun and flowing conversation about rising up and getting unstuck from situations that no longer serve you. I loved this conversation, and I am sure you will too! Here is more about Arivee: Arivee Vargas is an award-winning executive & High Performance™️ coach to lawyers and corporate le…

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Brave Defined: Be Fierce to Protect Those You Love with Magon Peuker 1:01:15

2M ago1:01:15

1:01:15

As you will find out during today’s show, I have one of the authors I have worked with, Magon Peuker, on the show today! Magon and I began working on marketing her book earlier this year, maybe April or May 2025. When I first met Magon, I was so excited to work with her because this was the first book my partner, Hope Mueller, of Hunter Street Pres…

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Ep. 5 Gratitude in Action: Serving the Community with Firefighter Kyle Garcia 11:12

2M ago11:12

11:12

Send us a text In this episode of Little Minds Big Talks, our 4th and 5th grade hosts explore the power of gratitude and how giving back can make us happier. We sit down with Kyle Garcia, a local firefighter, to learn how gratitude shows up in his work, his team, and his daily life. From helping others to finding joy in service, Kyle shares how bei…

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It's Not Burnout; It's Betrayal: Rise Up Against All Odds and Thrive with Lora Cheadle 58:00

2M ago58:00

58:00

Have you ever been betrayed? You’re probably thinking, “Of course I have, Jen.” That can be betrayal in a professional relationship with a boss or colleague or as devastating as marriage infidelity. But have you thought of burnout as a form of self-betrayal? When I saw Lora Cheadle, my guest today, refer to burnout that way, I was like “Ouch. That …

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Craft Your Unique Career Story with Gina Riley 44:50

2M ago44:50

44:50

I am excited for today’s guest, another repeat Brave Women at Work guest from a year or so ago, Gina Riley! I look up to Gina as a coach because she is successful in the industry, has built a solid and understandable framework, and is has now launched a book, Qualified is Not Enough: Develop Your Story, Land the Interview, Win the Job. During the s…

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Ep. 4 Finding Focus and Calm with Illustrator Tyler Jacobson 10:33

2M ago10:33

10:33

Send us a text In this episode of Little Minds Big Talks, our 4th and 5th grade hosts explore how art connects to mindfulness and happiness. We sit down with award-winning illustrator Tyler Jacobson to learn how creativity can help us slow down, focus, and express our emotions. Tyler shares what it’s like to get lost in the flow of drawing, how mis…

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Discovery 5 Luxury Principles That Can Transform You as a Leader with Neen James 56:22

2M ago56:22

56:22

This week, I am featuring a dear repeat guest, Neen James. Neen is a wonderful ball of energy, and I love having her on the show. This time, we chatted about her book that just launched, Exceptional Experiences: Five Luxury Levers to Elevate Every Aspect of Your Business. During the show, Neen and I chatted about: How Neen’s latest book baby came t…

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The Stops and Start on the Path to Feeling Well with Lauren Fields 43:53

3M ago43:53

43:53

Truth time. It’s been a tough season for me. Things have been challenging personally and professionally. Some of the tools I put in place have been helpful, but I have had to re-anchor my roots because the gale force winds of this storm have been stronger than I anticipated. If you have or are going through a tough season of your own, I feel you. I…

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Ep. 3 Mindfulness with Yoga Instructor Shawnte 12:28

3M ago12:28

12:28

Send us a text In this episode of Little Minds Big Talks, our 4th and 5th grade hosts explore the power of mindfulness and how it connects to happiness. After reflecting on last month’s theme of kindness, we welcome special guest Shawnte, a local yoga instructor and parent at our school. She helps us understand what mindfulness really means, how it…

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Cultivate Audacity, Dismantle Doubt, and Drop Urgency with Anne Marie Anderson 49:26

3M ago49:26

49:26

My guest today, Anne Marie Anderson, is what my 13-year-old, Charlotte, calls a “baddie” or “badass” for short. As you will find out, Anne Marie is a 3-time Emmy Award winner and was a sports broadcaster. Talk about a tough industry! Anne Marie is straight shooter, and you can tell she has earned some hard-won wisdom throughout her career. I also l…

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The Birthday Episode: 8 Lessons Learned as I Turn 48 40:27

3M ago40:27

40:27

I have some exciting news to share this week! First, this episode is the 250th episode of the Brave Women at Work Podcast! Yes, you heard that right! 250 episodes! If you would have told me that I would do 250 podcasts, I wouldn’t have believed you. But here we are! Also, it’s my birthday week, so I wanted to share a solo show with my key learnings…

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Ep. 2 Kindness on and off the Field with Camden Riley 10:28

3M ago10:28

10:28

Send us a text In this episode of Little Minds Big Talks, our 4th and 5th grade hosts sit down with Camden Riley from the Oakland Roots soccer team to talk all about kindness. Camden shares how kindness shapes teamwork, builds stronger connections, and makes a difference both on and off the field. His stories remind us that even in competitive spor…

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Summer Breaks and Spiritual Friendship with Pamela Fierst-Walsh 51:00

3M ago51:00

51:00

I have such a fun show for you today! You are getting a sneak peek into a conversation with one of my oldest friends, Pam Fierst-Walsh. This is Pam’s second time on the show. It’s so fun to record with a friend. I even forget we were on a podcast at one point because this is just who we are and how we talk. As you will hear, Pam and I recently went…

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Ep. 1: Spreading Kindness: A Conversation with the Kindness Coalition 10:25

4M ago10:25

10:25

Send us a text In the first episode of Season 3 of Little Minds Big Talks, our fourth & fifth-grade hosts sit down with a special member of our community who founded the Kindness Coalition. Together, they explore the power of kindness, why it matters, and practical ways we can all spread kindness in our schools and communities. This episode is just…

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Season 3 Trailer 1:17

4M ago1:17

1:17

Send us a text We are off for season 3 of Little Minds Big Talks! We hope you join us as we discuss happiness and all the ways we can achieve it together!By Mrs. Brazil's 4th Grade Class

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Forge a Winning Career Path Your Way with Kym Insana 57:30

4M ago57:30

57:30

Today, I am interviewing someone I look up to in business, Kym Insana. As you will hear, Kym not only is a wife and mom to 4 boys (wow, I know!), but she has also built a very successful marketing media execution business. Kym’s mantra is “You can work hard, have career success, and the family life you desire.” As soon as I heard that, I was like, …

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Fostering a Win-Win Workplace with Dr. Angela Jackson 56:50

4M ago56:50

56:50

One of my key messages for you today is that it is ok to take a break. You are not a bad mom, wife, boss, employee, sister, aunt, friend, or other community member if you drop off the grid for a while. Yes, I felt a bit of guilt, but then I realized that I am better in all areas of my life when I take breaks. If you need to hear this, I hope it hel…

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Hey Wait: Avoid Overthinking and Get Embodied with Jay Fields 1:02:07

4M ago1:02:07

1:02:07

You may not know this, but I have been a student of nervous system regulation for several years. When I have faced stress, burnout or other challenges in the past, I thought I could “think” my way out of the issue. I know. It’s a silly notion, but it is what served me for years. It’s what drove my success. And in 2019, it is what drove my demise in…

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Live It, Tell It, Sell It: Master Leadership and Fearless Authenticity with Jeanne Sparrow 1:05:07

4M ago1:05:07

1:05:07

I love the topic we are talking about today – fearless authenticity. And guess what? Authenticity is the topic for the next Brave Women at Work book! How cool is that? According to an internet search, “Fearless authenticity means living a life true to your core values and beliefs, without fear of judgment or societal expectations. It involves embra…

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Understanding Gender Intelligence and the Power of the Female Mind with Barbara Annis 1:02:57

5M ago1:02:57

1:02:57

Did you know that the female brain and male brain are different? You are probably thinking, “No kidding, Jen.” Remember the book Men Are From Mars, Women at From Venus? My guest today, Barbara Annis, has made it her life’s work to study gender intelligence and the brilliance of the female mind. For most of my career, I have tried to mold myself int…

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Leverage Your GRIT to Reach Your Goals with Emily Williams Knight 58:40

5M ago58:40

58:40

We’re in the summer winddown in the Pestikas household as this podcast launches. My husband, John, and I were just talking the other day, and we are so elated that the kids are almost back to school. Do you feel me? While it is fun to have an unstructured summer, it can get tiring after a while as we become Uber drivers for our children, especially…

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Redefining RARE Leadership with Aiko Bethea 1:01:51

5M ago1:01:51

1:01:51

An interview with Aiko Bethea

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Banishing Burnout with Marissa McKool 55:35

5M ago55:35

55:35

You know I love to talk about burnout prevention. I recently was in a unique situation at work where I could tell that a fellow female colleague was at the edge of burnout. She was experiencing physical and mental symptoms, was simply not a nice person because the stress was so high, and I could tell she felt stuck in her situation. So, what did I …

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Lead with an A3 Culture with Andrea Wanerstrand 57:17

5M ago57:17

57:17

When I grew up in corporate, I was taught the following: Leave your baggage at the door. Fake it until you make it. Suck it up, buttercup. As a result, as an employee and new manager, I thought you had to divorce your emotions and personal life from your work life as soon as you entered your work environment. What I have learned over time is that I…

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A Life Made from Scratch with Former Congresswoman Marie Newman 1:00:48

6M ago1:00:48

1:00:48

As I am recording this, we are 1 week after the Thrive in ’25 Conference. Wow! Just wow! The women that attended were so powerful and wonderful to meet and get to know in-person. It was almost like an out-of-body experience to know that I helped bring this to life. And now, I am resting as much as I can. After 1 year of planning, it is wonderful to…

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Why Chasing Contentment Through Overwork Is Not the Answer with Marilyn Vetter 49:23

6M ago49:23

49:23

I’d like to start by giving a warm welcome back to my wiser, older sister (well, she’s not my sister, but she feels like it), Marilyn Vetter. Marilyn and I met one another a few years ago, and our stories are so similar, it’s eerie. In Marilyn’s first chapter in Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Confidence, she talked about the question, “Why Not Me?…

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Inhale Faith, Exhale Fear: Embracing a New Way of Life and Work with Dr. Shawnte Elbert 58:53

6M ago58:53

58:53

Have you ever had a work situation that took you to your knees and required your faith that everything was going to be okay? I have. In one of my roles, my boss told me that I wasn’t the right fit for the role and that I was going on the dreaded performance improvement plan or PIP for short. I was typically the person that was helping others improv…

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From Pantsuits to Swimsuits: Allow Yourself to Evolve with Jackie Cetera 49:21

6M ago49:21

49:21

What is your Plan A? My Plan A was to go to college, get married, have 2 kids, and have a great career. I didn’t know that I would have post-partum anxiety and secondary infertility with my family and burnout on the path to career success. As the cliché goes, life can throw us curveballs, and it up to us how we handle these challenges and pivot to …

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No Longer Hiding Your Story: Start with Compassion with Amy Quesenberry 56:02

7M ago56:02

56:02

I am so excited for my guest today, Amy Quesenberry. Amy and I met through Shelia Higgs Burkhalter and the Infuse Compassion into Companies Conference. When we met, Amy shared her Start with Compassion model, and I was blown away. If we start with compassion with ourselves, with one another, and within companies, it truly can drive better relations…

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Decoding the Workplace: Working with Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z with Meghan Grace 1:08:45

7M ago1:08:45

1:08:45

On this weeks episode, Meghan Grace https://www.meghanmgrace.com https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/genz/id1377915856 https://www.amazon.com/Generation-Goes-College-Corey-Seemiller-ebook/dp/B019YNNZAA?ref_=ast_author_dp https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K52C97N/ref=mes-dp?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=TPIuC&content-id=amzn1.sym.8572ac08-6096-4eb6-b32e-2c759…

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Leveraging Talk Types to Maximize Personal and Professional Relationships with Amanda Kenderes 58:55

7M ago58:55

58:55

I am so excited for my conversation with my guest, Amanda Kenderes. Amanda has discovered something entirely new about communication that I am pumped to share with you. It’s called Talk Types. What if the way we talk and who we are as people are intrinsically linked? If we understand our talk type and others, we can understand how to better communi…

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Breath, Sweat, and Reinvention: A Leader's inner Journey with Nicole Meline 52:08

7M ago52:08

52:08

When we grow up, we think we have it all figured out, don’t we? We believe we should go to college, get a good job, find our perfect partner, be fit, have a good circle of friends, maybe have kids, etc. All before the age of 35. We have these insane expectations for ourselves and what our lives will be. And then, we learn. Maybe the job or career p…

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Release Your Corporate Baggage and Take Control of Your Career with Tamara McLemore 55:50

8M ago55:50

55:50

Have you ever thought about the concept of baggage at work? I have a dear friend, Pam, that always tells me “Wherever you go, there you are.” If you don’t do the lessons, you bring everything with you from job to job or company to company. You bring your habits, patterns, and mental and emotional baggage. The question that my guest, Tamara McLemore…

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Drop Perfectionism and Embrace Delegation with the BIKE Method with Tonya Herb 1:05:29

8M ago1:05:29

1:05:29

My guest today, Tonya Herb, is welcoming me and anyone else that struggles with this, to try a new way. What if we turned to others and delegated during stressful times, and really all the time? I know, monumental for perfectionists like me. What if we engaged in kindness towards ourselves? Tonya dives into her proprietary BIKE method and how she l…

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Feel Good Finance: Untangle Your Relationship with Money with Aja Evans 51:54

8M ago51:54

51:54

Here’s a fact: For many years, I didn’t know that our money mindset has a direct relationship with how powerful we feel and how we move through our professional and personal lives. I didn’t get the connection, and I have been in financial services for over 25 years. After I dove into all things on leadership, self-improvement, and energetic managem…

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Be a Better Leader by Reading Fiction with Melanie Bell 39:21

8M ago39:21

39:21

Where are my readers? Or what about aspiring readers? If you are a reader, this show is for you! When I was introduced to Melanie Bell and her work with Leaders Who Fiction, I knew she had to be on Brave Women at Work. I am a non-fiction reader and often struggle with getting into a fiction book. When I heard Melanie talk about the benefits of fict…

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The Power of Community, Truth Telling, and Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone with Robyn Malone 56:45

9M ago56:45

56:45

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” —Martin Luther King Jr. If the term Brave Women at Work were in the dictionary, (why isn’t it? LOL), Robyn Malone would be part of the definition. I met Robyn through a dear friend and colleague, and we hit it off pretty quickly. As you will learn d…

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On Being a Sacred Changemaker in the Corporate World with Jayne Warrilow 1:03:56

9M ago1:03:56

1:03:56

On Being a Sacred Changemaker in the Corporate World with Jayne Warrilow Summary: Welcome to the Brave Women at Work podcast. This is your host, Jen Pestikas. I’m so glad you’re here. Hello everyone! How are you doing out there? Happy Spring to everyone in the Northern Hemisphere! I am so happy that we are starting to have slightly warmer and longe…

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The Journey to Leadership: How You Can Lead from the Inside Out with Dana Maor 47:17

9M ago47:17

47:17

When I was growing up in my career, I received my first management position because I was a hard worker and drove results as an individual competitor. As I have risen through the corporate ranks, no one told me that leadership is an inside job. I learned that through the school of hard knocks, many bouts of Imposter Syndrome, tough feedback, and mo…

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Be a Changemaker: Say What They Can’t Unhear with Tamsen Webster 1:07:39

9M ago1:07:39

1:07:39

Well, I’m excited! I have a repeat guest on the podcast, Tamsen Webster. Tamsen was here the last time she wrote her first book, Find Your Red Thread, and today she is here to talk about her newest book, Say What they Can’t Unhear: The 9 Principles of Lasting Change. You know when everything is smooth sailing and you are enjoying an easy, breezy ri…

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Ep. 5: Boost Confidence One Self-Five at a Time 6:40

10M ago6:40

6:40

Send us a text Join us in this heartwarming episode of ‘Little Minds Big Talks’ as we dive into the surprising power of giving high fives to ourselves. Discover why something as simple as a high five in the mirror each morning can set the tone for a positive and empowered day. Our hosts share personal insights and science-backed reasons that explai…

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The Unspeakable Pleasure of Entering Your Villain Era with Jenn Johnson 49:04

9M ago49:04

49:04

At the end of my first podcast with guest, ER nurse and author, Jenn Johnson, I asked her what I ask all guests. “What are 1 to 2 ways women can be braver at work?” Jen proceeded to tell me, “Enter your villain era.” I stopped in my tracks. What did that mean? It means loving yourself enough to consider your needs. It means that you are drawing and…