Girl, Take the Lead!

What if the most important question in your life isn’t what should I do next… but: “What do I truly want?”In this powerful and deeply reflective conversation, I’m joined by Carmell Clark, founder of the Center for Transformational Influence, executive coach, and global leader in advancing women’s leadership and sustainability.Together, we explore what it really means to reinvent ourselves across life’s thresholds — from grief and loss to growth, purpose, and expansion.This episode is a conversation about gratitude, conflict, identity, self-trust, and the courage it takes to choose yourself again and again through every stage of life.🌿 What you’ll walk away with from this episode:• A deeper understanding of why reinvention often begins with loss or change• Insight into the emotional patterns that may be keeping you stuck• A new perspective on conflict and why many women avoid it• Encouragement to reconnect with your own desires, needs, and voice• A reminder that healing, growth, and self-discovery are possible at every age and stage of life💡 In this episode:• Why reinvention is a path — not a quick answer• How gratitude can become a healing force during difficult seasons• The powerful question: “What do I want?”• Why women often avoid conflict — and how to begin changing that• Understanding emotional patterns: fear, obligation, guilt, and shame (FOGS)• The difference between internal vs. external conflict• How to carry your own sense of safety• Why aging invites us to either expand or contract• Letting go of external validation and reclaiming your voice• The role of courage in becoming a pioneer in your own life🌿 A few moments that stayed with me:“Gratitude heals a broken heart.” “Reinvention is a path.” “I am the decider of my day.” “We don’t have to sacrifice our lives to the expectations of others.” 👤 About Carmell ClarkCarmell Clark is the founder of the Center for Transformational Influence (CTI), a global organization focused on advancing leadership, sustainability, and gender equity across sectors.With over 25 years of experience, Carmell has coached executives and professionals, launched women entrepreneurs, helped female-led businesses scale, and developed transformative leadership trainings for women across industries.Through CTI, Carmell works globally with companies and entrepreneurs to create meaningful and sustainable change. She leads flagship programs, takes influencers on international adventures, and works directly with executives and entrepreneurs navigating pivotal life and leadership transitions.Currently based in Salt Lake City, Carmell lives a life of exploration — rock climbing, running RAGNAR races, traveling internationally, and creating large-scale abstract oil paintings.🔗 Connect with Carmell🌐 www.carmellclark.com💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmellclark/📧 carmell@carmellclark.com💬 Let’s keep the conversation goingWhat resonated most with you?👉 Join our Facebook Group and share your thoughts:https://www.facebook.com/groups/272025931481748🎧 Listen wherever you catch your podcasts.💬 What resonated most with you from this conversation?Share in the comments below — we’d love to hear your thoughts.🔗 Connect with Girl, Take the Lead!:🌐 Website: https://girltaketheleadpod.com💜 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272025931481748🛍️ Heartfelt Cards & Gifts: https://girltaketheleadpod.com/shop

What happens after the moment you’ve been preparing for?In this deeply personal solo episode, I’m reflecting on what stayed with me after my daughter’s wedding—and how the experience brought together a lifetime of growth, healing, and self-discovery.What I didn’t expect was just how present I could be…not managing, not controlling… but truly in it.This episode is about what remains when everything settles—and how those insights can shape how we move forward.🎧 The Series: At the ThresholdIf you’re just joining, this is part of a 3-part series created during this meaningful life moment:Episode 285: The Good Daughter — Where It Begins👉 https://youtu.be/WtQ20qsLf04Episode 286: The Quiet Grief We Carry👉 https://youtu.be/sXDRydYO_-wEpisode 287: After the Moment — What Stayed With Me (this episode)(All episodes are also available wherever you catch your podcasts.)💛 In This Episode:A redefinition of confidence as self-trust—not controlHow connection shows up in small, present momentsA new understanding of love as allowing, not managingThe deeper realization that our life experiences prepare us for these momentsLetting go of what went wrong—and reconnecting with what went right✨ 3 Takeaways👉 Confidence is self-trust.Not about being in charge—but about knowing you can handle what comes.👉 Connection comes from presence.Not from managing or performing—but from simply being there.👉 Love is allowing.When we release control, we open ourselves to experiencing more of it.🌿 A Deeper ReflectionThis moment wasn’t just about one day…It was about a lifetime of growth—healing family patterns, moving through loss, practicing forgiveness, and learning to let go.And what stayed with me most was this:A deep knowing that my daughters will be okay.That they are strong, supported, and surrounded by love.And that everything I’ve worked through… made it possible for me to be fully present to witness it.💭 For YouWhat has stayed with you… after a moment that mattered?And what might shift if you focused not just on what went wrong…but on what went right?🔜 Coming NextNext week, I’ll be joined by Marques Ogden.After a career-ending injury and losing nearly $3 million in a failed business venture, Marques rebuilt his life from the ground up. Today, he helps leaders grow through adversity and show up more authentically.After everything we’ve explored in this series, his story offers a powerful next step—how we move forward with what we’ve learned.💌 Stay Connected💬 Join the conversation:https://www.facebook.com/groups/272025931481748🛍️ Shop guest-inspired cards & gifts:https://girltaketheleadpod.com/shop

This episode is part of a special 3-part series I’m calling At the Threshold—a real-time reflection on what this season of life is bringing up for me as I prepare for my daughter’s wedding.And what surprised me most… was how much it brought me back to my own experience as a daughter.💛 Why This Episode Matters NowAs I look back on my own wedding, I can see how much of it was shaped by my desire to be the good daughter.The one who keeps the peace.The one who makes things easier for everyone else.The one who doesn’t rock the boat.At the time, I didn’t have language for it.But now… I can see the pattern clearly.🎧 In This Episode, We Explore:In this episode, I revisit my conversation with Kathryn Fabrizio, author of The Good Daughter Syndrome, and share a curated set of moments that helped me understand:Where this pattern beginsWhy it feels so hard to changeAnd what it looks like to begin letting it goHow the “good daughter” role is formed early in lifeWhy guilt is often the strongest emotion keeping us stuckThe connection between people-pleasing and emotional safetyWhy setting boundaries can feel so overwhelmingThe powerful reframe: the opposite of a good daughter isn’t a bad daughter—it’s becoming your own person✨ 3 Takeaways to Reflect On👉 1. The good daughter role often begins as a way to feel safe and loved.It’s not something we consciously choose—it’s something we learn.👉 2. Guilt is often the signal that something is shifting.Especially when we begin to consider setting boundaries or doing things differently.👉 3. The real work is becoming your own person.Not abandoning relationships—but showing up with awareness, clarity, and choice.🎥 Watch the Full Original ConversationIf you’d like to watch the full, unedited episode with Kathryn Fabrizio, you can find it here:👉 https://youtu.be/DzxYJwLPCbo💭 A Reflection for YouAs you listen, I invite you to consider:Where might you still be playing the role of the good daughter…and what might be ready to change?🔜 Coming NextIn Part 2 of this series, I explore something I didn’t expect to show up in this moment—grief.Not just grief as loss… but grief as change, identity, and what we carry forward.💌 Connect with Yo & Girl, Take the Lead!🎧 Listen on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you enjoy your podcasts💬 Join the conversation in the Girl, Take the Lead! Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272025931481748🛍️ Visit the Heartfelt Card & Gift Shop: https://girltaketheleadpod.com/shop🔗 Connect on LinkedIn | InstagramIf this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone who might need it too. 💛

Families carry stories — some we share openly and others that remain hidden for years.In this episode of Girl, Take the Lead!, Yo Canny sits down with award-winning author Leslie A. Rasmussen to talk about her latest novel, When People Leave, and the powerful role family relationships play in shaping who we become.Leslie’s newest book follows three sisters who return to their childhood home after the unexpected loss of their mother. As they search for answers, they uncover long-held family secrets and discover how differently each of them processes the same experience.In their conversation, Yo and Leslie explore the complexity of sibling relationships, the emotional layers of family dynamics, and how storytelling can help us better understand our lives.Leslie also shares her fascinating career journey — from writing television comedies for stars like Roseanne Barr, Burt Reynolds, Norm Macdonald, and Drew Carey, to becoming an award-winning novelist whose stories explore identity, family bonds, and the resilience we discover in life’s most difficult moments.At the heart of the episode is a reminder that the stories we tell — and the ones we uncover — shape how we see ourselves and each other.In This Episode You'll Learn About:How sibling relationships influence the way we experience life’s challengesWhy family secrets often shape our understanding of the pastHow storytelling can help us process complex emotionsThe importance of community and connection during life’s transitionsLeslie’s journey from Hollywood television writer to award-winning novelistWhy following your creative passion sometimes requires taking risksLeslie A. RasmussenLeslie A. Rasmussen is an award-winning author and former television comedy writer who has written for well-known comedians and shows including Gerald McRaney, Burt Reynolds, Roseanne Barr, Norm Macdonald, Drew Carey, The Wild Thornberrys, and Sweet Valley High.Born and raised in Los Angeles, Leslie graduated from UCLA before launching her career in television writing.After stepping away from the entertainment industry to raise her two sons, she earned a master’s degree in nutrition and ran her own business for ten years. During that time, she continued writing humorous essays and has been published more than twenty times in the Huffington Post.Leslie is the author of three novels:After Happily Ever After — winner of more than fifteen awardsThe Stories We Cannot Tell — winner of eleven awards and featured on NPR and XM radioWhen People Leave — released in May 2025She frequently speaks on panels about female empowerment and is a member of the Writers Guild of America, Women in Film, and the UCLA Alumni Association.Leslie lives in Southern California with her husband and two sons.Memorable Moments from the EpisodeOn family dynamics“Sisters can argue, tease each other, and still know that the bond between them will always be there.”On storytelling“Fiction can help people see themselves in the characters and feel less alone.”On life’s unexpected paths“You never know where your life is going to end up.”Leslie’s Advice to Her 20-Something Self“Keep writing, follow your passion, and take more risks. Even if you fail, you might succeed.”Connect with Leslie A. RasmussenWebsitehttps://www.lesliearasmussen.comListeners can purchase signed copies of Leslie’s novels directly through her website.EmailLeslie@Lesliearasmussen.comFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/lesliearasmussenauthorInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/leslierauthorTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@leslieauthorLearn more about Girl, Take the Lead!https://girltaketheleadpod.comExplore the Girl, Take the Lead! Heartfelt Cards & Gifts Shophttps://girltaketheleadpod.com/shopReflection QuestionWhat stories from your family have shaped who you are today?

In this deeply moving conversation, Yolanda welcomes Michelle Madrid — author, speaker, and midlife coach for women — to Girl, Take the Lead!.As a former foster child in the UK and an international adoptee, Michelle has spent a lifetime opening pathways toward her truest sense of identity and purpose. Today, she supports women navigating what she calls midlife grief — the quiet, often hidden grief that appears as life shifts: children leaving home, changing bodies, evolving relationships, and the question many women ask in midlife:Who am I now?Michelle believes midlife grief isn’t something to avoid or suppress. Instead, she describes it as:“Love colliding with change.”In this conversation, Yolanda and Michelle explore grief as a messenger — one that can guide us toward healing, identity, and reclaiming our voice.Michelle also shares the inspiration behind her powerful framework UNBOX, a process she created to help women unpack suppressed emotions and reconnect with their aliveness as they step into the next version of who they’re here to be.This episode is both deeply personal and universally relatable — touching on adoptee identity, people-pleasing, trauma responses, and the courage it takes to live from our authentic voice.And it leaves us with a beautiful reminder:“The light around us is great… but the light within us is greater.”Timestamps00:00 – Welcome & Michelle’s work supporting midlife women through hidden grief02:24 – Yolanda reflects on grief and joy as her daughter prepares to marry05:27 – Michelle’s definition of midlife grief: when love collides with change09:18 – The hidden grief many adoptees carry and why emotions were often suppressed20:19 – Limiting beliefs and the moment Michelle realized the baggage of others was never hers to carry31:17 – From ache to action: the small steps that begin healing36:04 – A powerful affirmation: “The light around us is great, but the light within us is greater.”More About MichelleMichelle Madrid is an author, speaker, and midlife coach for women. She also hosts the new podcast: Most MyselfHer work focuses on helping women navigate midlife grief — the quiet grief that accompanies life transitions such as empty nesting, changing bodies, shifting relationships, and identity changes.Through her UNBOX framework, Michelle guides women in uncovering the emotions they’ve suppressed and reconnecting with their truth, voice, and next chapter.She is the author of:Let Us Be Greater — a book for any woman in midlife navigating identity, grief, and the adoptee experience.Michelle also hosts the podcast:Unboxed, Unburdened, UnstoppableComing in 2026!Michelle recently launched a free monthly online group gathering called Midlife, Together. She has also launched a 4-week 1:1 coaching experience guiding women through her proven Ache to Action formula. Look for more ways to connect and work with Michelle, coming in 2026. Visit her website to stay informed. Websitethemichellemadrid.comFree tools available on her website.Other ways to Connect with Michelle:Instagram@themichellemadridConnect with GTTL:Websitehttps://girltaketheleadpod.comJoin the Girl, Take the Lead! Facebook Group for deeper conversations and insights.Visit the Heartfelt Cards & Gifts Shophttps://girltaketheleadpod.com/shop

How women leaders build influence that lastsWelcome back to Girl, Take the Lead! — the podcast where we explore stories of reinvention, resilience, and the courage it takes to lead lives that break old cycles and create new possibilities.Today’s guest brings clarity, strategy, and grounded leadership wisdom to a powerful conversation about influence, visibility, and career ownership.Meet Dr. Karen Hills Pruden — CEO of Pruden Global Business Solutions Consulting (PGBSC), bestselling author (30+ publications), global leadership speaker, and creator of the Professional Equity framework. With over 30 years of experience spanning corporate leadership and entrepreneurship — including 17+ years in senior leadership and the C-suite — Dr. Pruden has built a career rooted in service, strategy, and measurable results.But what truly stands out is her belief that influence isn’t accidental — it’s built.In this candid conversation, Dr. Pruden joins Yo to explore how reputation, relationships, and area expertise create professional equity — and how women leaders can leverage that equity to elevate their careers without waiting to be chosen.Whether you’re navigating corporate leadership, preparing for your next promotion, pivoting your goals, or building influence inside your organization, this episode offers practical insight and empowering perspective.🌟 In This Episode, Dr. Karen & Yo Explore:💛 Why relationships — not transactions — are true leadership currency🧭 The difference between management (tasks) and leadership (vision)🫶 How to build relationships up and down the chain of command👁️ Why “silence is not a superpower” for women leaders🌱 The power of mentorship — including hiring the right mentor🛠️ The Professional Equity (PE) Framework: Reputation, Relationships & Area Expertise💎 “You are the pilot of your career — not the co-pilot.”🧡 How to speak about your wins without apology🔄 Navigating difficult bosses without losing your power🌬 Why experience — not AI — remains a leader’s greatest asset👩‍🦰 What Dr. Karen Would Tell Her 20-Something Self“Don’t be so goal-oriented that you won’t remove a goal that no longer serves you.”After pursuing law school simply to complete a lifelong goal, Dr. Pruden realized that growth sometimes means pivoting — even when the goal once defined you.🧭 Memorable Quotes“Silence is not a superpower.” — Dr. Karen Hills Pruden“You are the pilot of your career, not the co-pilot.” — Dr. Karen Hills Pruden“Managers do tasks. Leaders are visionary.” — Dr. Karen Hills Pruden“If you’re good for them, you’ll be good somewhere else.” — Dr. Karen Hills Pruden“My relationships are not transactional.” — Dr. Karen Hills Pruden✨ Key Takeaways• Build professional equity through reputation, relationships, and expertise.• Advocate for yourself — promotions are not automatic.• Develop a clear specialty — your “secret sauce.”• Choose when to speak — and when strategic restraint builds credibility.• Pivot when necessary. Goals should serve your growth, not trap it.🌟 Connect with Dr. Karen Hills Pruden🌐 Website: https://drkarenhillspruden.com📧 Email: admin@drkarenhillspruden.com👩🏾‍🤝‍👩🏽 Facebook Group: Sister Leaders Communityhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/620772105210546📸 Instagram: @drkarenhillsprudenDr. Pruden joins us to promote her coaching programs and leadership development frameworks that help women convert their expertise into measurable business success.💌 Connect with Yo & Girl, Take the Lead!🎙️ Listen on: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts💬 Join: Girl, Take the Lead! Facebook Group🛍 Explore: Girl, Take the Lead! Heartfelt Cards & Gifts🔗 Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram

What if aging wasn’t about decline — but about becoming more capable, more aware, and more confident in your body and your life?In this episode of Girl, Take the Lead!, Yolanda Canny is joined by C. Vicki Gold, a retired physical therapist with more than 50 years of experience and the author of Aging Safely, Wisely, and Well.At 80 years, Vicki is still learning, teaching, and standing tall — literally and figuratively. She shares powerful insights on the mind–body connection, fear of falling, slowing down, posture, breathing, beliefs, and how small daily practices can transform the way we move through life at any age.As Vicki reminds us: If you’re lucky, you’re going to get old. This conversation shows how to do it with strength, awareness, and grace.In This Episode, We Explore:Why fear of falling is as much a mindset issue as a physical oneHow fear and tension can actually increase the risk of fallingThe power of simple, embodied language: “I am tall, strong, and confident”Why slowing down improves balance, safety, and presenceThe myth of multitasking — and how Start–Act–Stop can change how we live and workHow alignment, breathing, and centering can become everyday practicesWhy aging well matters for every generation, not just older adultsDiscovering purpose early — and letting it evolve across a lifetime🧠 Vicki’s Two ABC Frameworks:The ABC Mind–Body SystemA – Alignment: Posture and body awarenessB – Breathing: Conscious breathing to reduce stress and restore energyC – Centering: Mind and body working togetherPlus: Slow Motion as a tool for strength, balance, and safetyThe ABCs of Human Growth & TransformationA – Attitudes: The perspectives that shape our experienceB – Beliefs: Often unseen, deeply rooted, and powerfulC – Choice (or Commitment to Choose): Where empowerment begins💬 Memorable Quotes“If you’re lucky, you’re going to get old.”“Fear tightens the body — and a tight body can’t balance well.”“I am tall, strong, and confident.”“Nothing and no one is going to rush me.”“Aging isn’t about slowing down — it’s about learning how to slow down.”Keep going — you’re already on your pathFind your purpose; everything becomes easier once you doQuestion mental limitations and beliefs about being “good enough”Your uniqueness isn’t better or worse — just different, and neededVicki chose the card that reads:“Wherever you plant yourself, bloom with grace.”A perfect reflection of this episode — standing tall, slowing down, and moving through life with awareness and confidence.🔗 Resources & Freebies & Connect w Vicki📘 Book: Aging Safely, Wisely, and Well🌐 Website: Thera-Fitness Inc.👉 https://thera-fitness.com🎁 Free Resources on the Website9 Mind–Body Tips and Tricks for Relieving Stress ⭐ (recommended)Additional handouts on stress reduction and graceful agingAn 8-minute audio introduction to the book📧 Email: vicki@thera-fitness.com📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheraFitness💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cvickigoldptma/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c.vicki.gold/🎧 Connect with Girl, Take the Lead!🌐 Website: https://girltaketheleadpod.com🎙️ Listen & Subscribe: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, and wherever you listen to podcasts💬 Join the Conversation:Girl, Take the Lead! Community (Facebook Group)https://www.facebook.com/groups/272025931481748📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/girltaketheleadpod📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yocanny💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yolandacannyIf this episode resonated, please consider following, rating, and sharing the podcast — it helps more women across generations find their voice and lead with confidence.

Welcome back to Girl, Take the Lead! — this episode invites us to question a belief many high-functioning women have been taught to accept as normal:That leadership requires constant tension.That urgency equals effectiveness.That burnout is simply the cost of ambition.What if leadership doesn’t start with mindset, strategy, or productivity —but with capacity?My guest today is Kathryn Spears, a Neuro Somatic Practitioner who specializes in high-performance regulation for women whose nervous systems are carrying a lot — senior leaders, founders, changemakers, and disruptors who are holding big careers, big visions, and big responsibilities… often from a place of perpetual tension that society has normalized.Kathryn’s work is deeply personal. She knows firsthand what it’s like to lead from survival physiology — over-functioning, perfectionism, and chronic stress — while appearing successful on the outside and silently burning out on the inside. Decisions made from adrenaline. Connection guarded by hyper-vigilance. Burnout disguised as ambition.Today, Kathryn helps women stop working against their nervous systems and start leading with them — using applied neurology and neurosomatics to create real, physiological capacity for clarity, presence, and sustainable leadership.This is not about fixing yourself.It’s about learning the language of your nervous system — and reclaiming agency, energy, and choice.Together, Yo and Kathryn explore:✨ Why Chronic Stress Becomes InvisibleHow stress isn’t just a feeling — but a full-body state shift that quietly becomes our baseline.✨ Why You Can’t Mindset Your Way Out of BurnoutHow the nervous system governs clarity, decision-making, and resilience before conscious thought ever kicks in.✨ High Performance vs. Survival PerformanceWhy many high-achieving women succeed despite their physiology — and what changes when capacity replaces overdrive.✨ Stress, Overwhelm, and the Protective Nervous SystemHow overwhelm, procrastination, imposter syndrome, and the inner critic are not flaws — but protective responses.✨ Completing the Stress CycleSimple, science-backed ways to modulate out of stress and return to homeostasis — without pushing, forcing, or overriding the body.✨ Why Regulation Is Personal, Not PrescriptiveWhy nervous system work must be customized — because each nervous system is as unique as a fingerprint.✨ From Self-Abandonment to Authentic LeadershipHow early adaptive patterns shaped by safety and belonging can be updated — without shame.✨ Capacity as the Missing Link in ChangeWhy habit change, healing, and growth often fail — and how physiological capacity makes change possible.✨ Liberation Over FixingWhy nothing about you is broken — and how real transformation happens when the body is heard.🌟 Memorable Quotes“You can’t mindset your way out of a state shift in the body.”– Kathryn Spears“Burnout disguised as ambition is still burnout.”– Kathryn Spears“You don’t need to be fixed. Your nervous system is doing its job — protecting you.”– Kathryn Spears“Capacity changes everything. It’s what allows you to respond, lead, and choose differently.”– Kathryn Spears💡 Kathryn’s Leadership ReminderIf what you’ve tried hasn’t lasted —it’s not because you failed.It’s because no one taught you how to speak the language of your nervous system.When we stop overriding the body and start working with it, leadership becomes clearer, more grounded, and far less exhausting.This isn’t about doing less.It’s about leading with capacity instead of survival.💌 Connect with Kathryn🌐 Website: beyondyourmindset.com📱 Instagram & LinkedIn: @kathrynspears.cohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-spears/ 💌 Connect with Yo & Girl, Take the Lead!🎧 Listen on YouTube & wherever you listen or view your podcasts💬 Join the Girl, Take the Lead! Facebook Group for deeper conversations🛍 Visit the Heartfelt Card & Gift Shop🔗 Connect on LinkedIn | Instagram

Today’s episode is a powerful reminder that leadership doesn’t always look like a title, a stage, or a strategy.Sometimes, it looks like choosing kindness in a cramped airplane seat.Sometimes, it looks like crying on the internet.And sometimes, it looks like being gentle with yourself — and letting that be enough.My guest today is Vanessa Confessore — a brand marketing and experiential leader by day, and a deeply human storyteller by life. Vanessa has spent over 20 years designing unforgettable brand experiences and global activations, while also navigating motherhood, partnership, recovery, and the invisible mental load so many women carry.She’s also the creator behind Sober Spouse on TikTok, a space she never intended to grow — but one that became a lifeline for people seeking honesty, hope, and real connection around recovery and relationships.In this conversation, Vanessa shares how leaning into authenticity on platforms like LinkedIn and TikTok transformed her personal brand — not through polish or performance, but through vulnerability, kindness, and truth. What emerged wasn’t just engagement — it was community.Together, Yo and Vanessa explore:🌟 ✨ Why the Most Powerful Personal Brands Are Human OnesHow Vanessa committed to showing up consistently online — and discovered that authenticity, not perfection, is what people are truly craving.✨ Living Alongside RecoveryWhat it means to be a partner to someone in recovery, and how empathy, tools, and compassion shape everyday leadership at home and beyond.✨ The Airplane Story That Sparked a MovementVanessa shares the vulnerable moment that led to her viral LinkedIn post — a painful encounter on a flight that became a call for kindness, humanity, and perspective.✨ Kindness as a Leadership PracticeWhy choosing compassion — even when it’s hard — creates connection, diffuses harm, and builds trust in ways no strategy ever could.✨ The Ripple EffectHow small, seemingly insignificant acts — a smile, a compliment, a moment of grace — can create waves of impact far beyond what we see.✨ AI, Community, and Lightening the Mental LoadHow Vanessa co-created AI Moms™ to help exhausted moms reclaim time, space, and energy — and why human connection still matters most in a digital world.✨ Friendship as Self-CareWhy long-standing friendships become sacred anchors through life’s hardest seasons — and why being known without performance is a form of healing.✨ Less Pressure, More JoyVanessa’s intention for the year ahead — letting go of performative happiness and choosing quiet, everyday joy that multiplies outward.Memorable Quotes“When you feel good, you do good — and it multiplies.” – Vanessa Confessore“Humans are craving connection. The more digital our world gets, the more important real connection becomes.” – Vanessa Confessore“Friendships are the best form of self-care.” – Vanessa Confessore“The plan doesn’t have to go exactly as planned to be beautiful.” – Vanessa Confessore“You create the energy around you.” – Vanessa Confessore💡 Vanessa’s Gentle RemindersNot everything has to be polished.Not everything has to be perfect.If you’re thinking it — share it.If you’re feeling it — honor it.It takes one moment to create connection. And sometimes, that moment changes everything.💌 Connect with Vanessa@soberspouse on tiktok or Vanessa Confessore on linkedinHer article in the NY Post💌 Connect with Yo & Girl, Take the Lead! 🎧 Listen on YouTube & wherever you listen or view your podcasts💬 Join the Girl, Take the Lead! Facebook Group for deeper conversations🛍 Visit the Heartfelt Card & Gift Shop🔗 Connect on LinkedIn | Instagram

Welcome back to Girl, Take the Lead! — the podcast where we explore stories of reinvention, resilience, and the courage it takes to lead lives that break old cycles and create new possibilities.To kick off 2026, today’s guest brings heart, grit, and a fresh perspective on what true leadership looks like.Meet Erin Krueger — top-ranked Nashville realtor, nationally recognized expert, bestselling author of Capture the Culture, and a woman whose leadership journey began long before she built one of the most successful all-female real estate teams in the country. Her team has sold more than $2 billion in real estate to date, with nearly $225 million in 2024 alone — but it’s her authenticity, intentionality, and heart-centered leadership that stand out most.Erin joins Yo for a candid conversation about building culture (at home, in business, and within ourselves), navigating adversity, choosing who we want to become, and leading with humanity in an era of rapid change.Whether you’re entering 2026 with big goals, seeking a healthier work culture, or looking to lead in a more intentional way, this episode is filled with wisdom and tools to help you design the life and leadership path you want.🌟 In This Episode, Erin & Yo Explore:💛 How childhood shapes leadership🧭 Intentional leadership (and why it matters more than ever in 2026)🫶 Culture as the heartbeat of a team👁️ Authenticity over performance🌱 Mentorship that changes everything🛠️ Her hiring and DISC process💎 "Some days are dirt, most days are diamonds"🧡 Meaningful appreciation🔄 Owning our mistakes🌬 Ralph Waldo Emerson’s definition of success👩‍🦰 What Erin would tell her 20-something selfYou’ll learn:Why everyone needs a mentorHow to become a mentor who empowers othersThe bittersweet truth that mentees will one day fly🧭 Memorable Quotes“Difficult days don’t define you. What you do with them does. Keep moving forward — better days are ahead.”“Not every day is a good day — but most days are diamonds.” — Erin Krueger“People want to be around leaders who look them in the eye, care, and tell the truth.” — Erin Krueger“Mentors help you see the opportunities others would miss.” — Erin Krueger“You can have a hustle culture that honors health, family, and joy.” — Erin Krueger“Feedback is a gift — and what you do with it defines your leadership.” — Erin Krueger✨ Key Takeaways for 2026Intentionality is your superpower. Paint the picture of what you want — then build toward it.Culture doesn’t happen by accident. It’s created through clarity, consistency, appreciation, and trust.Mentorship accelerates your growth. Find mentors who challenge your assumptions and expand your vision.Authenticity wins — every time. People can sense when you're real, and they respond with loyalty.You don’t have to do everything. Hire well, delegate, and let others rise.Feedback keeps culture alive. Leaders grow when they listen, adjust, and own their missteps.Grief, adversity, and hard days don’t define you. What you do with them does.🌟 Connect with Erin Krueger📚 Book: Capture the Culture🌐 Website: https://capture-the-culture.com✨ Free quizzes and leadership resources available📧 Email: ek@erinkrueger.com📸 Instagram: @capturetheculture_🏠 Real Estate: The Erin Krueger Team (Instagram)💌 Connect with Yo & Girl, Take the Lead!🎙️ Listen on YouTube & Spotify💬 Join the Girl, Take the Lead! Facebook Group🛍 Explore the Heartfelt Card & Gift Shop🔗 Connect on LinkedIn | Instagram

Welcome back to Girl, Take the Lead! — the podcast where we explore real, raw, and remarkable stories of resilience, healing, and what it means to live and lead with courage through every season of life.Today’s guest is Rebecca (Becky) Faye Smith Galli — author, columnist, and thoughtful observer of the human experience. Becky writes about love, loss, and healing, drawing from a life shaped by profound, unchosen challenges. Her journey includes the death of her 17-year-old brother, her son’s degenerative disease and passing, parenting a daughter with autism, divorce, and—just nine days later—paralysis caused by transverse myelitis, a rare inflammation of the spinal cord.Rather than turning away from grief, Becky has transformed her lived experience into a body of work that reminds us: life can still be good — not perfect, but good — even when it doesn’t go as planned.In this deeply moving conversation, Yo and Becky explore wisdom drawn from Becky’s books Morning Fuel and Rethinking Possible, along with reflections from her popular Thoughtful Thursdays newsletter.In this episode, you’ll hear about:🧋 The Milkshake MethodA story about Becky’s father and a failed ice cream experiment that became a lifelong lesson in optimism, creativity, and seeing possibility within the limits of the present moment.🌲 Unchosen Paths & Patterns of CopingHow Becky has learned to recognize her own patterns when navigating grief and major life disruptions — and why understanding how you cope can bring comfort, patience, and self-trust.💛 Practicing Gratitude as a Daily ResetWhy gratitude isn’t about denying pain, but about shifting perspective — and how noticing small moments of goodness can change how we move through difficult days.🌸 Beauty in What’s BrokenBecky shares how turning shattered dishes into mosaic art mirrors the healing process itself: gathering broken pieces, allowing messiness, and discovering unexpected beauty along the way.🕯️ A Single Candle (Holiday Reflection)A powerful reading about grief during the holidays, the love that remains after loss, and how lighting a single candle can help us focus on love instead of darkness — especially when traditions must change.This episode is especially meaningful for anyone navigating grief, major transitions, disability, caregiving, or the emotional complexity of the holiday season. Becky’s words offer companionship, perspective, and hope — like a steady candle glowing when the world feels dark.About Becky Galli💌 Rebecca (Becky) Faye Smith Galli is an author and columnist who writes about love, loss, and healing. Her unexpected but prolific writing career emerged from surviving multiple life-altering losses and transitions. Her website, BeckyGalli.com, features more than 400 published columns, and she continues to write Thoughtful Thursdays—Lessons from a Resilient Heart, a beloved newsletter that shares reflections on staying positive and grounded when life is hard.📚 Books: Morning Fuel | Rethinking Possible💌 Email: rfsgalli@gmail.com🌐 Website & Free Resource: “Seven Strategies to Stay Up When Life Is Pulling You Down”👉 https://rebeccafayesmithgalli.com/📰 Thoughtful Thursdays Newsletter Signup:👉 https://rebeccafayesmithgalli.com/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chairwriter/🐦 X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/chairwriter Connect with Yo & Girl, Take the Lead!🎧 Listen & Subscribe on YouTube Music, YouTube, Spotify & wherever you get your podcasts💬 Join the Girl, Take the Lead! Facebook Group🛍 Explore the Heartfelt Card & Gift Shop🔗 Connect on LinkedIn & Instagram

Today’s guest is Michelle Hensley — founder of Nifty Package Co., creator of the gig app FeteTango, mother of three, grandmother of nine, and a woman who rebuilt her entire life after losing her husband to metastatic melanoma.At 51, Michelle found herself navigating profound grief, financial uncertainty, and a complete identity shift. What began as a small spark — “Could I work when I want instead of when I have to?” — evolved into a thriving mobile gift wrapping business serving everyday families, luxury brands, celebrities, and even a presidential administration.This is a story of resilience, reinvention, and the courage to begin again — with creativity leading the way.Together, Yo and Michelle explore:🎁 How Michelle rebuilt her life after lossFrom pastor’s wife and nonprofit founder to entrepreneur learning cost of goods, pricing, networking, and profit — one brave step at a time.🎀 Why gift wrapping is a timeless artAnd how a 3:45 a.m. idea and an underused van sparked a whole new business model.🚐 The rise of the mobile gift wrapping movementIncluding the early client who hated wrapping gifts, the celebrity referrals, and the moment Michelle realized she was truly a business owner.✨ Creating income opportunities for women 50+Why Michelle believes flexible, creative work is a powerful path to financial dignity and freedom.📊 Business lessons Michelle learned the hard wayPricing for profit, investing in quality, and vetting team members — with honesty and humor.📱 Introducing FeteTangoMichelle’s new gig app for creatives offering services like wrapping, decorating, porch pumpkins, cookie baking, and more — all with lower fees so women keep more of what they earn.🕯️ Her message to widows and women starting overGrief has no timeline. Identity must be rebuilt slowly. And new beginnings are possible — even when you have no idea what comes next.💬 Her advice to her 20-something selfFind a mentor. Listen to people who’ve lived more life. Be less judgmental. And soften your words, especially toward yourself.🧭 Memorable Quotes“Sometimes you don’t know your idea is good — you just take the next step and it leads you somewhere new.” – Michelle“Women are incredibly resourceful. What scares us most is not that we can’t do it — but that we don’t know it yet.” – Michelle“I’ve been in the wilderness so many times I can give tours. Mistakes are part of the process.” – Michelle“You don’t have to care what everyone thinks — listen to yourself and take the next step.” – Yo & Michelle✨ Connect with Michelle HensleyWebsite & Coaching: michellemhensley.comFree Book & Downloadables: available on her siteGift Wrapping Business: Nifty Package Co.Facebook Group: Unwrapping Your Life and BusinessYouTube: Mobile Gift Wrapping CoachGig App for Creatives: FeteTango.comMasterclass: michellemhensley.com/masterclass-registrationEmail: Michelle@niftypackage.co💌 Connect with Yo & Girl, Take the Lead!Listen on YouTube & SpotifyJoin the GTTL Facebook GroupExplore the Heartfelt Card & Gift ShopFind Yo on LinkedIn & InstagramBecause reinvention doesn’t ask whether you’re ready — it invites you to trust yourself, take the next step, and begin wrapping a new life with courage and creativity. 💖

This holiday season, we’re inviting you to pause, breathe, and check in with yourself — because as this week’s guest reminds us, you are your greatest asset.In this uplifting and practical conversation, Nancy Griffin, founder of Women, Worth & Wellness®, joins Yo to explore the powerful connection between women’s health, wealth, and self-worth — especially during a time of year when stress, overspending, and over-giving tend to take over.Nancy has spent more than 30 years supporting women in building stronger financial foundations and stronger personal foundations. Her holistic approach to net worth, self-worth, philanthropy, and wellness gives us a fresh, timely reminder:Your life is a privilege. Take care of yourself first — so you can take care of everything else with joy.💛 In This EpisodeWe cover:The hidden connection between women’s health and women’s wealthWhy women need to think about health-related planning (and what great advisors look for)How generosity — not just financial, but emotional — strengthens self-worthNancy’s powerful 5-minute morning holiday check-in ritualThe danger of perfectionism and the wisdom of the 80% ApproachWhy you should consider repurposing old life insurance as a philanthropic legacyThe importance of recognizing yourself as your number one assetNancy’s inspiring message to her 20-something selfHer signature mantra: “Stay vertical and keep smiling.”🎄 Why This Episode Is Perfect for the HolidaysThis time of year can pull us in a hundred different directions. Nancy offers simple, grounded ways to:-center your own well-being-manage holiday overwhelm-reset spending expectations-rediscover joy in small, spontaneous moments of generosity-choose what really matters as you head into a new yearIt’s the perfect episode to send to a friend who needs a gentle reminder to take five minutes for herself.👑 About Our Guest: Nancy Griffin (Boomer)Nancy is a connector and influencer. She attributes her success to personal courage, determination, and joy, especially when focusing on women’s health and wellness, which led her to create Women, Worth & Wellness®. Nancy enjoys every opportunity to inspire and inform women about their personal health and wealth, net worth and self-worth, philanthropy and legacy—so that women feel fabulous, generous, joyful, confident, and on top of their game every day.Nancy Griffin established Women, Worth & Wellness in 1994 as a Private Client Wealth Advisor for her female clients and their families. She continues to promote and inspire Daring & Caring Leaders, encouraging them to step up and lead in the world, following in the footsteps of many powerful women leaders before her. Her overall purpose is to connect and influence for positive impact every chance she gets.Connect with Nancy:📧 nancy@womenworthwellness.com🌐 WomenWorthWellness.com (brand updates coming soon!)📱 Social: @womenworthwellness across platforms✨ Key TakeawaysYou cannot enjoy your wealth without your health — and both require intentional care.Women’s financial planning must include health-related what-ifs.Generosity strengthens self-worth — and it doesn’t have to cost money.A simple five-minute morning check-in can change the tone of your entire day.Don’t wait for perfect: aim for 80% and take action.You are worthy, unique, and capable — and your life is a privilege.💌 Connect with Yo & Girl, Take the Lead!🎧 Listen on YouTube & Spotify💬 Join the Girl, Take the Lead! Facebook Group🛍 Explore the Heartfelt Card & Gift Shop🔗 Follow on LinkedIn & InstagramBecause leadership — and connection — begin when we dare to understand ourselves and each other more deeply. 💖