Making It with Jess Ekstrom

In this special live episode of Making It with Jess Ekstrom, recorded in front of a live audience at Mic Drop Live, Jess sits down with Allyson Felix, the most decorated track and field athlete of all time. While her medal count is legendary, her true legacy lies in her resilience off the track. Allyson opens up about her bold decision to train for the LA 2028 Olympics at age 40, defying societal expectations for women in their 40s. She shares the raw details of navigating a traumatic pregnancy, being dropped by a major sponsor, and turning that adversity into a powerful crusade for maternal health protections for female athletes. Plus, Allyson pulls back the curtain on the world of entrepreneurship, explaining why she and her brother co-founded Saysh—a footwear brand explicitly designed to fit the unique anatomy of the female foot.Episode HighlightsDefying Age Narratives: Allyson discusses her decision to train for the LA 2028 Olympic team at 40, challenging the traditional limits placed on women as they age.Finding Your Voice as an Introvert: How a self-described quiet people-pleaser evolved into one of the world's most outspoken advocates for working mothers.The Turning Point with Nike: The painful reality of being offered a 70% pay cut after becoming pregnant, and how it sparked a New York Times op-ed that forced corporate policy changes across the industry.Overcoming a Traumatic Birth: Allyson reflects on her severe preeclampsia diagnosis, her daughter's month-long NICU stay, and how the experience amplified her passion for addressing maternal health disparities for women of color.The Reality of Being a Founder: Why being a female founder is harder than running the 200 meters, overcoming imposter syndrome, and facing the harsh statistics of venture capital funding.The Gender Bias in Footwear: Uncovering the industry secret that most major brands design women's athletic shoes using molds of men's feet, and how Saysh is changing the game.Redefining "Making It": How Allyson’s definition of success shifted from winning singular gold medals to creating lasting systemic impact and having the courage to try.About Our GuestAllyson Felix is an iconic American track and field athlete and the most decorated competitor in the sport's history, holding 11 Olympic medals. Beyond her unparalleled athletic achievements, she is a fierce advocate for maternal health, gender equality, and working mothers. Following her historic break from Nike over pregnancy protections, she co-founded Saysh, a community-centered footwear brand that designs athletic shoes specifically engineered for the female form. Allyson continues to break barriers as an entrepreneur, activist, and mother.Resources & Links:📖 Making It Without Losing It by Jess Ekstrom: Available now — USA Today bestseller🎤 Mic Drop Workshop: micdropworkshop.com — helping women become seen and paid as thought leaders📸 Follow Jess on Instagram: @jessekstrom🎙️ Making It with Jess Ekstrom: Subscribe + leave a review wherever you listen

Have you ever questioned if you should quit your career to focus on family, only to realize that constant self-doubt is draining energy you could use elsewhere? What if continuing to work is not just a financial necessity, but a vital investment in your own identity?This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with Hazel Sy, a Fortune 500 executive, board member, and powerful advocate for working parents. Hazel shares the moment her childcare plan fell through, the panic and guilt that followed, and the eventual mindset shift that allowed her to thrive as both a dedicated professional and a devoted mom.Hazel opens up about the emotional journey of creating her viral TED Talk, the shocking financial reality of childcare, and the surprising ways that conscious parenting techniques can make you a more intentional and connected leader at work.Tune in for:Hazel's eye-opening story of her childcare falling through and the constant question she asked herself: "Should I quit?"Why the high cost of childcare is actually a financial and personal investment that pays off in career growth and a preserved sense of self.The "mother AND" philosophy: how to choose a parenting style where your children see you succeeding and failing, not just staying home.The subtle societal double standards around working parents, including the "babysitting" comment and the different applause men and women receive.How Hazel consciously uses the word "study" instead of "work" around her children to avoid modeling a workaholic lifestyle.The emotional journey of getting 67 rejections before landing her TEDx Talk, and the critical moment when she decided to scrap all the feedback and write from the heart.How the skills of conscious parenting—like giving two choices instead of a demand—make you a better leader and influencer in the workplace.About Hazel Sy:Hazel Sy is a Fortune 500 executive, a board member, a highly requested speaker, and an alumnus of Mic Drop Academy. She is a passionate advocate for working parents and a living example of how intentionality and purpose can allow you to thrive in both your professional and personal life.Resources & Links:Watch Hazel's TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE-PN4i-eAEFind Hazel's Speaker Prep Checklist:Follow Hazel Sy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thehazelsy/Visit Hazel Sy's site: https://www.hazelsy.com/ Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.

Amy Porterfield really wanted freedom, flexibility, and autonomy in her career.She entered the digital course industry, which allowed her to work from home while still making money. Starting small, her first course made just $267, but she pulled in over $100 million in revenue through tweaks and relaunches.How did she do it? How can you leverage digital courses to balance work and family life and generate income while being present for your family?Let's find out!And if you’re ready to take the first steps yourself, Amy is breaking it all down inside her brand-new Course Confident Bootcamp. Over 5 days, she’ll walk you through 4 simple steps to turn your talk or story into a course—without the overwhelm.It all starts September 11.👉 Join Course Confident for $47This is a replay from Aug 28th, 2024. ---Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom.Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop

Have you ever felt completely lost in your career, only to find that your most challenging experiences became your greatest assets? And how can AI, often seen as a threat to creativity, actually unlock your most authentic stories?This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with Patrice Poltzer, co-founder of My Story Pro AI, a storytelling and AI strategist, and a former award-winning producer for The Today Show. Patrice has a somewhat non-linear journey - from the grit of door-to-door book sales and navigating a toxic startup culture after leaving her dream job, to more unexpected pivots and entrepreneurial endeavors.Plus Patrice talks about her "lost twenties" - and why they were foundational to her success.Tune in for:Why embracing non-traditional career paths and "being behind" can be your unfair advantage.The unexpected "grit" and "hustle muscle" developed through challenging early career experiences.Patrice's jarring experience transitioning from a dream corporate job to a toxic startup, and what she learned about knowing when to walk away.How a personal crisis (her husband losing his job, moving to a new country) became the "fire energy" that fueled her entrepreneurial leap into AI.Why Patrice, as a seasoned storyteller, initially resisted AI but was "jolted" into embracing it.Her revolutionary approach to AI: using it as a "mirror" to uncover your deepest insights and understand your audience, rather than just generating content.The crucial difference between soulless AI-generated content and emotionally connective storytelling.How Patrice’s tool, My Story Pro AI, acts as a "third-party" coach, helping founders overcome self-censorship and unleash their authentic voice.Why small business owners and solopreneurs now have access to "six-figure marketing research insights" through AI, a previously unattainable advantage.How AI can help you "get out of your own feedback loop" and broaden your perspective on what truly resonates with your audience.Patrice's advice for the "AI-shy" or "AI-resistant" creative, ensuring your unique voice and tone are amplified, not replaced.About Patrice Poltzer:Patrice Poltzer is the co-founder of My Story Pro AI, a storytelling and AI strategist, and a former award-winning producer for NBC's Today Show. With a unique blend of media expertise and entrepreneurial grit, Patrice empowers individuals and businesses to leverage AI as a tool for deeper self-discovery and more authentic, impactful storytelling.Resources & Links:My Story Pro AI, free for 7 days: https://patricepoltzercreative.com/story-pro-for-businessFollow Patrice Poltzer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricepoltzer/Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.

Are you tired of feeling like you have to be inauthentic to be liked? Do you struggle with setting boundaries and advocating for yourself, fearing it might damage your relationships?This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with her dear friend, Kwame Christian, a top-booked negotiation keynote speaker and host of the #1 podcast, Negotiate Anything. Kwame shares a deeply personal and formative childhood story that shaped his journey from people-pleaser to negotiation expert, revealing how his early experiences led him to compromise himself for the sake of being liked. He explains how this common "people-pleasing pressure" can actually damage the very relationships we're trying to protect.You'll discover:The surprising link between childhood experiences and our adult people-pleasing tendencies.How the "big five personality traits" (openness to experience, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and emotional stability) influence our negotiation style.Why being overly agreeable can lead to an "emotional hangover" and resentment.The profound impact of unspoken boundaries on relationships, both personal and professional.Kwame's simple "yes-no-yes" framework for setting and maintaining effective boundaries.Why the definition of negotiation is often warped, and how redefining it can empower you in daily life.The concept that "assertiveness is teaching the person how to treat you."How to navigate the "assertiveness penalty" that women (and other groups) often face in professional settings.Why overthinking is your "kryptonite," and how a "shot clock" can help you make better decisions faster.The psychological insight that you'll never truly "get over" stage fright, and why that's a good thing.How Kwame uses AI daily to amplify his humanity, manage emotions, identify blind spots, and create cohesive negotiation strategies.The power of mirror neurons and how our tone and attitude can unconsciously impact others.About Kwame Christian Kwame Christian, Esq., M.A. is the CEO of the American Negotiation Institute (ANI) and a leading voice in the field of negotiation. He hosts the #1 negotiation podcast, Negotiate Anything, and his TED Talk has garnered over 600,000 views. He is also a LinkedIn Top Voice and the author of Finding Confidence in Conflict and How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race. Kwame's mission is to make the world a better place, one difficult conversation at a time.Resources & Links:American Negotiation Institute: americnnegotiationinstitute.comFollow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwamechristian/Listen to the Negotiate Anything podcast: https://negotiateanything.com/Finding Confidence in Conflict by Kwame Christian: https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Confidence-Conflict-Negotiate-Anything/dp/0578413736How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race by Kwame Christian: https://www.amazon.com/Have-Difficult-Conversations-About-Race/dp/1637741308TEDx, Finding Confidence in Conflict: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6Zg65eK9XUAmplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.

Are you struggling to maintain relationships with people you love, even when you disagree on fundamental issues?This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with her good friend, Brit Barron, a speaker, DEI consultant, and author of Do You Still Talk to Grandma? Brit's work offers a much-needed guide for navigating the increasingly polarized world we live in, helping us find common ground and connection even when perspectives diverge.Brit and Jess discuss our divided society, examining why it feels harder than ever to see eye to eye. They challenge the tendency to categorize people into "good" or "bad" boxes and instead champion the power of nuance, where love and disagreement can coexist. We also explore:The difficulty of separating institutions from individuals in our current polarized climate.Why Brit's work focuses on the people already in our lives, not strangers.The concept of "progressive amnesia" and its impact on our interactions with others.The power of asking "Help me understand" in difficult conversations, especially in the workplace.How to be a better ally without falling into the "hero" trap.The "take the meat and leave the bones" metaphor for consuming information.The crucial "both/and" philosophy: how to hold deep love and deep disappointment in the same relationship.About Brit Barron: Brit Barron is a speaker, DEI consultant, and author of the book Do You Still Talk to Grandma?, which offers a compassionate framework for navigating difficult conversations and maintaining relationships across differences. Her work encourages empathy, nuance, and genuine connection in an increasingly divided world.Resources & Links:Do You Still Talk to Grandma? by Brit Barron: https://www.amazon.com/You-Still-Talk-Grandma-Problematic/dp/0593594347/Find Brit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barronbrit/Find Brit on the web: https://britbarron.com/Find Brit on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/britbarron/Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.

For bestselling author Sarah Hoover, motherhood wasn’t blissful. It was brutal. Her postpartum depression hit like a tidal wave, pulling her into the darkest year of her life - and no one had warned her.Today, Jess sits down with Sarah to talk about the abrupt whiplash of parenthood—from the identity crisis, the rage, the silence, and the slow process to recovery. Sarah’s book The Mother Load has been resonating with women across the country, because it tells the truth so many are scared to say out loud.Jess and Sarah talk about:The myth of “having it all” and how it's wrecking womenThe pressure to feel instant joy in motherhood—and what it’s like when that doesn’t happenSarah’s career, identity, and the raw unraveling that led to her writing this bookWhy speaking the truth, especially when it’s messy, is a revolutionary actHow can we stop pretending, start listening, and actually support each other betterResources & Links:The Mother Load by Sarah Hoover: https://www.amazon.com/Motherload-Episodes-Brink-Motherhood/dp/1668010135 Watch Sarah on the Today Show: https://www.today.com/video/sarah-hoover-talks-the-motherload-postpartum-depression-more-229965381509Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.