LIBERTY ROAD with Nada Jones

Dr. Sonia Singla is a family medicine physician and experienced clinical researcher who has spent over two decades critically evaluating medical therapies to understand what truly supports healing. Certified in Ayurvedic medicine and a longtime resident of Pasadena, CA —Dr. Singla brings both global wisdom and local roots to her work. Her personal experience with early menopause, combined with deep scientific rigor, fuels her commitment to identifying effective treatments for this journey. Passionate about design and creating thoughtful spaces, she founded The Marigold Center as both a sanctuary and a gathering place, where women feel seen, supported, and empowered. In today’s episode, Nada learns why Dr. Singla created the Marigold Center and how her passion for women’s health fueled her. The intersection of her training as an MD and her Indian cultural heritage informs Sonia’s unique blend of Western and Eastern medicine. She shares her experience of premature menopause and the long search for answers her doctors could not provide. Sonia eventually leaned into her family’s roots to find the healing she desperately needed. As a result of her own journey, she is now able to offer aging women the holistic care they deserve. To find out more about Sonia’s work, check out her website. Follow on Instagram: @the_marigoldcenter.Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share, connect with you, and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.

Kelley Workman is an Integrative nutrition coach, trainer, and yoga, pilates & meditation instructor. After overcoming personal loss and rebuilding her life in midlife, Kelley now supports other women in reclaiming their own lives. Her approach blends movement, mindfulness, and nutrition to restore energy and clarity. In today’s episode, Kelley talks about what it means to treat the whole person–both mind and body. She also shares the painful loss, along with motherhood and menopause, that kick-started her new career. After years of immersing herself in the world of fitness and nutrition, Kelley developed a coaching strategy that considers both current lifestyle, not just weight and calories, and desired outcome. This episode also features practical health and nutrition tips for both novices and veterans. To find out more about Kelley’s work, visit her website: KelleyMoves.com. Follow Kelley’s free content on her YouTube channel and Instagram: @kelley_moves Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share, connect with you, and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.

Laurie Gerber is the creator of Master the Art of Love, an online digital course for women over 50 who are ready to date like they mean it. She’s the host of the podcast “Love at Any Age,” through which she coaches the audience, based on the wholehearted belief that everyone deserves healthy, lasting love, and it’s never too late. For over 20 years, first as President of the Life Coaching division at Handel Group® and then as founder of Laurie Gerber Coaching Inc., she has been life and love coaching thousands of individuals and couples. Laurie is currently licensing The Handel Method® and uses it in her online and one-on-one coaching to help people achieve their dreams, with a focus on love. Laurie has appeared on the Today Show, Dr. Phil, MTV, and A&E and been the resident love expert at Match, Zoosk, Jdate, and many more. She has been interviewed more than 200 times and presented hundreds of webinars and live events. She writes for AARP, 60 and Me, Kuel Life, and her own blog. Check out her TEDx talk on the power of truth-telling called “The Secret-Free Diet.” When not working from home, she’s meditating, jogging, or attempting to get cuddles from her 10, 21, and 23-year-old kids and husband of 27 years. In today’s episode, Nada talks with Laurie about dating and relationships. Laurie talks about her “near divorce experience” that set her on the path to coaching. Today her focus is on helping women who are looking for love in midlife and beyond. She describes her processes for figuring out our essential criteria in finding a partner, the difference between triggers and red flags, and whether you’re going on the right number of dates. Aside from dating advice, she and Nada discuss the most important work all of us can do, no matter our current relationship status. And Laurie tells us what the research says is the greatest predictor of a successful relationship. Check out Laurie’s podcast, Love at Any Age. And be sure to participate in her free webinar, Finding Love over 50. To connect with Laurie, check out her website. Follow on Instagram: @lauriegerber_coach. Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.

Wanda Wen, founder and creative force behind Soolip, is celebrated for her unremitting romance with the artisanal and the inherent beauty of things touched by hand. Established on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood in 1995, and now nestled in Westlake Village, Soolip was built upon a profound love of paper - the tactile, expressive medium that continues to inspire Wen's world of refined artistry and soulful luxury. A business graduate and former New York fashion executive, Wen blends business acumen with a discerning eye for art, style, and meaningful detail. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Vogue, Town & Country, Better Homes & Gardens, and more, and she has appeared on The Today Show, and HGTV. Author of The Art of Gift Wrapping (Potter Craft/Random House), Wen is also known as America’s “go-to gift wrap stylephile.” A dedicated yogi and teacher, Wen infuses mindfulness into all she creates. She co-launched YogaLand Game in 2018, an experiential board game for yoga enthusiasts that unites her passions for design, creativity, and uplifting others. In today’s episode, Nada talks with Wanda about her paper company, its evolution over the decades, and how she manages to remain true to its original mission. Wanda takes us back to the beginning when her love of beauty and letter writing coalesced into a paper brand that started in her garage. She details the flagship store’s rapid growth and her decision to slow down and be intentional about the future. For more information, visit Soolip’s website. To get in touch with Wanda about her private yoga lessons, email: wanda@soolip.com. Follow on Instagram: @wandawensoolip Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.

Dina Aronson is a writer, editor, and pro-age advocate who is passionate about shining a light on midlife women and reframing the cultural conversation around aging. A former attorney, law firm manager, and founder of a legal search consultancy, she pivoted careers at 51 after realizing how little content reflected her own evolving midlife experience. She began freelancing for startups focused on women over 40. Along the way, she founded the Patina blog, now a Substack newsletter called Patina with Dina Aronson, where she explores topics related to aging through her midlife lens. Dina is the coeditor of Midlife Private Parts: Revealing Essays that Will Change the Way You Think About Age, a soulful, unfiltered collection of stories that speak to what it really feels like to be a midlife woman in the world today. She sits on the Governing Board of the nonprofit America Needs You and on the Influencer Council of the nonprofit Uncommon Threads. Dina lives between New York City and Miami with her husband and is the proud stepmother of two grown sons. In today’s episode, Nada talks with Dina about her new book of essays, “Midlife Private Parts.” Dina pursued this project to honor her mother’s memory and legacy. Dina shares how she and co-author Dina Alvarez collected intimate stories about midlife with the hope that readers will feel less alone as they navigate their respective journeys. From learning to be vulnerable to giving up the need for control, the two reflect on the many aspects of life that become liberated in the middle third Check out “Midlife Private Parts” for more information on Dina’s work. Follow on IG: @patina_life. Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.

Kat Hantas is the co-founder of 21SEEDS Tequila, one of the fastest-growing flavored tequilas. She created 21SEEDS because it’s what she wanted to drink – something smooth, simple, and casual with a fresh, natural flavor that made drinking infused tequila as approachable as a glass of wine. Before it was a brand, it was just a couple of bottles infused in her kitchen with things she had on hand. What began as one bottle turned into dozens… and eventually, a new beginning. She called her sister Nicole and our friend Sarika, and they started talking about the possibilities. They found a female-led distillery– a perfect fit. They worked on different infusions and got each recipe just right. They came up with a name. Two sisters and one friend: 21SEEDS was born. In today’s episode, Nada talks with Kat about her journey as a co-founder in the spirits industry. After a conversation with her doctor, Kat set out to create a cleaner drink to replace her nightly glass of wine and then began making cocktails for her older friends and family who were experiencing similar side effects from drinking. Despite 21SEEDS quick success, Kat experienced several failed endeavors. She and Nada reflect on what success means, the importance of trying new things, and that age is an asset, not a liability. To find out more about 21SEEDS, check out their website. Follow on Instagram: @kathantas and @21seeds. Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.

Annie Jackson has been a key player in the successes of the industry’s most prominent beauty companies. Annie began her career at Estée Lauder, where, after six years, she was recruited to be one of the early members of the team that launched Sephora USA and Japan. Later, she took on the role of Director of Global Product Marketing for Benefit Cosmetics and, in 2011, returned to her roots in merchandising for color cosmetics at Sephora within JCPenney. Her love of beauty and quest for cleaner options led her, alongside Shashi Batra, to create Credo Beauty. As Co-founders, they shared a vision to change the way people think about what they put in and on their bodies and skin, fostering a new generation of beauty brands—natural, organic, effective, clean, and sustainable—and to pioneer the clean beauty movement. In today’s episode, Nada talks with Annie about the non-traditional path that led her to the beauty industry. Annie shares her ambitious jump into adulthood when she crossed the country without the benefit of family or a degree, but found herself with a dream job at Estée Lauder. After spending time at two global brands, Annie took a break to be with her children, and later, she returned to the beauty space when an industry friend lured her back with a new vision. She recalls her initial hesitancy when her soon-to-be business partner, Shashi, pitched the idea of Credo. She quickly discovered her passion for clean beauty and an opportunity to reshape the industry by offering consumers transparency and skincare alternatives that were good for them and the planet. Check out Credo’s website for brand and store information. Also, “The Dirty List” PDF can be found on Credo’s Clean Standard page. Follow on Instagram: @credobeauty. Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.

Jessica Mortarotti is an entrepreneur with a knack for identifying market trends and a track record of successfully launching startup businesses. She founded & developed a farm-to-table ice cream company called Carmela Ice Cream in 2007, when she rightfully predicted the rise of specialty ice cream. Carmela Ice Cream is considered one of the top ice creams in the nation and has won numerous awards and accolades. Jessica’s ability to identify emerging trends, create strong, impactful brands, and her business experience have led her to her newest endeavor, SUN LOVE. Her sun-positive brand is venturing into the untapped niche within the 160 billion dollar skincare industry, and she is turning up the volume on pre- and post-sun exposure care. Jessica has been a guest lecturer, panelist, and interviewee countless times, sharing her expertise around her various ventures. She has been featured in a “trailblazers” event for female entrepreneurs by Voyage Magazine, and is currently the co-host of an entrepreneurial-focused podcast, Story of a Startup. In today’s episode, Nada sits down with Jessica to talk about the launch of her new skincare line, Sun Love. With two previous business ventures under her belt, Jessica tackled this third idea with a new partner and a new business model; one that shifted her away from storefronts and franchises and into the more scalable world of direct sales. The two discuss the importance of forming a strong overall vision while maintaining a light grasp on product ideas. And Jessica shares practical steps for new entrepreneurs to take when the creative juices are flowing and a fresh idea strikes! For more information on Sun Love products, visit their website. And be sure to check out Jessica’s podcast, Story of a Startup. Follow on Instagram: @sunloveskincare, @carmelaicecream, @jessicamortarotti. Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.

Mandy Lehto is an ex-investment banker turned executive coach. She has coached, facilitated, and trained hundreds of senior leaders (many in Fortune 500 companies) over the past 17 years. She has a doctorate from Cambridge, is a Fellow of the Association for Coaching, and has been featured in Forbes, The Times, Fast Company, Psychologies, Inc., and on CNBC. Her show, Enough, the Podcast, also ranks in the global top 2%. She lives in Wimbledon with her husband, teenage kids, and her toy poodle, Herbie. In today's episode, Nada and Mandy discuss career coaching, "Mandyisms," and the concept of "enoughness." Mandy shares how her shifting purpose in life led to several vastly different careers, and how she honed her personal and professional values into catchy mantras along the way. After identifying her coaching superpower, she was able to help others unlock theirs to find their purpose. Nada and Mandy reflect on what it means to be enough and how the 13 Sucky Commandments prevent us from seeing our wholeness.Learn more about Mandy's work at www.mandylehto.com. Follow on Instagram: @mandylehto. And check out Bronnie Ware's book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying. And as promised, The Thirteen Sucky Commandments of Chronic Not-Enoughness: 1. I must fixate on my mistakes and even point them out to others. 2. I must disbelieve compliments. They’re just being nice. Or they want something. 3. I must constantly feel like I don’t fit in. 4. I must avoid burdening anyone with my requests for help and support. 5. I must stay in perpetual busyness to avoid irrelevance. 6. I must avoid rest and relaxation – or at least feel twisted with guilt whilst doing it. 7. I must be excellent, but never enjoy or celebrate any wins. Next! 8. I must find constant fault with my appearance and fixate on my flaws. 9. I must put myself under extreme pressure to be exceptional, to outrun ordinariness and mediocrity. But (see 7) it’s a game I’ll never win. 10. I must find others' shares of vulnerability endearing and human, but the same rules do not apply to me. Heavens, no! 11. I must defer happiness to the future, for when I’ve earned it. That’s code for ‘never,’ but yeah, tough... 12. I must avoid the frivolity of feelings, especially anger (so unbecoming.) 13. I must constantly compare myself to others and obsess on all the ways in which I’m losing. And a loser. Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.

Since stepping down from the “day to day” of running Mendocino Farms, a premium fast-casual gourmet sandwich and salad concept that she co-founded in 2005, Ellen Chen has focused her time, energy, and passion on investing in female and minority-founded businesses. Ellen is leveraging her twenty years of experience growing food brands to help early-stage founders understand their purpose, operationalize their values, secure the necessary resources, and hopefully avoid some of the mistakes she made. In 2015, Nation’s Restaurant News included her on their annual Power List, and in 2020, Nation’s Restaurant News named her the 50 most influential women in food service. She sits on the Boards of Directors of Mendocino Farms, Sugared + Bronzed, and HomeState, as well as an Advisor to Curbit, Womaness, Kirra, and Vibrant Funds. Ellen strongly believes in giving back to her community. She serves as a Board Member of Teach AAPI and AAPI LA, an initiative launched by the Mayor’s office in Los Angeles. In today’s episode, Nada sits down with Ellen to discuss the success of “Mendo” and their 75 locations. Ellen explains how her vision of creating a team culture served as the foundation on which she and her husband, Mario, built their thriving business. They discuss the challenges of managing busy schedules and the strategic decisions she made as a working mother. Ellen also shares some of the challenges she faced by not having the type of support she needed and now offers to female founders. To find out more about Mendocino Farms, check out their ⁠⁠website⁠⁠. Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠@ell.c.chen⁠⁠. Please follow us at ⁠⁠@thisislibertyroad⁠⁠ on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.

Bonnie Wan is the creator and author of The Life Brief, a simple yet profound action-driving practice that helps people navigate life’s big decisions with clarity, creativity, and courage. The Life Brief applies the art and science of brand strategy to how we live our lives. As a 30-year career Brand Strategist turned Life & Leadership Strategist, Bonnie not only helps some of the world’s most iconic companies innovate from a place of purpose, but also guides everyday people to live with greater intention and imagination. She has been named “Chief Strategy Officer of the Year” and “One of 100 Women to KNOW in America”. In today’s episode, Nada sits down with Bonnie to discuss her book, “The Life Brief,” and the practice of finding our inner unicorn. Bonnie shares how her career as a brand strategist created a framework for reordering the personal and inner chaos she was experiencing. She and Nada dive into the three parts of the book (the messy, getting clarity, and taking action) in order to discover and pursue the essence of who we are. The two reflect on the restlessness and wisdom that lead so many of us into a new sense of purpose in our middle third. Connect with Bonnie and find her book on The Life Brief website. Follow on Instagram: @bonniewanofficial Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.

Dr. Vonda Wright is a practicing double-boarded Orthopaedic Sports Surgeon, Author, Speaker, Researcher, and Innovator whose work stands at the intersection of Longevity | Women’s Health | Performance. Dr Wright is a frequent media and conference expert widely recognized for her thought leadership. Her innovative science-based approach is changing the lives of millions in midlife. In today’s episode, Nada sits down with Dr. Wright for an education on women’s musculoskeletal health during perimenopause and menopause. Dr. Wright shares her breadth of knowledge on the interaction between estrogen, exercise, diet, and physiology. She explains a few key components of a successful diet and exercise plan and provides several resources to get us up and going. Her conviction that women are strong and can do hard things will motivate each of us to seek healthy longevity. Be sure to check out Dr. Vonda Wright’s website for links to her socials, books, and other great resources. Read her article on musculoskeletal syndrome in menopause. And follow the five accounts she recommends on Instagram: @haileyhappensfitness, @theliftedmethod, @chalenejohnson, @jj.virgin, and @billcampbellphd, as well as her own @drvondawright. Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kaye Kramer and Catherine McCord are taking their years of collected experience to help female founders launch and grow their businesses through Founder Launch Lab. The program is designed to bring together a dynamic cohort of like-minded peers along with the experience, mentorship, and personalized coaching that Kaye and Catherine bring to the table. The 9-month program supports founders in mastering business fundamentals, refining growth strategies, and optimizing operations. Kay Kramer is an entrepreneur, founder, senior executive, non-profit board member, and certified career coach specializing in leadership, executive strategy, and career transitions. Kaye’s experience in the entertainment industry includes representing talent at United Talent Agency, overseeing production as a movie executive at Interscope Films, and leading Nielsen Entertainment as Executive Vice President. Her entrepreneurial ventures include serving as COO of The Babybox Co., co-founding Nursery Works, and founding Step Up Women’s Network, where she also served as CEO. Catherine McCord is the founder of the popular website Weelicious.com. McCord has authored several books, including Smoothie Project, Weelicious, Weelicious Lunches, and Meal Prep Magic. She has appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, the Kelly Clarkson Show, the Food Network’s #1 rated Guy’s Grocery Games, and is a regular on the NBC Emmy Award-winning show Naturally, Danny Seo. In today’s episode, Nada sits down with Kaye and Catherine to talk about their partnership serving entrepreneurs. They believe female founders are uniquely suited to launch successful businesses but lack the space to ask, learn, and connect. The two offer two key pieces of advice when starting a business or partnership and share a belief that age is not a limitation; it’s an asset. For more information, check out their website. Be sure to listen to Kaye’s earlier Liberty Road Podcast Episode, How to Delegate Your Vision for Success. Follow on Instagram: @kayepkramer and @weelicious. Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram; we want to share and connect with you and hear your thoughts and comments. Please rate and review this podcast. It helps to know if these conversations inspire and equip you to consider your possibilities and lean into your future with intention.