Ambitious Women

In this episode I interview Audrey Christiansen and we get down and dirty talking about how speaking our truth, no matter the consequences, is sometimes the very most important thing you can do. Audrey shares her journey through motherhood and postpartum depression, and how learning to speak her truth that it wasn’t enough, that she needed more, set her free. We talk about the pain and discomfort she navigated to find her purpose, start her art business, and build a supportive community. And we talk about one of her most recent experiences speaking her truth, and how that resulted in her getting fired from her job. We talk about why she had to speak up, why it mattered, and why it was worth risking her family’s financial security to do so. If you’ve ever felt a nagging truth inside that you’ve been scared to honor, a truth you’ve felt you have to hide, or a truth you’ve feared to speak out loud because of the potential consequences, this episode is for you. ABOUT AUDREY Audrey Christensen is a full time artist/ homeschooling momma who believes that art heals. She loves to empower people to go after what they are passionate about and loves to help build communities where that is possible. She’s an oversharer with a big heart who spends a ton of time writing, painting and finding adventures along the way. LINKS FROM THE EPISODE Connect with Audrey on Instagram or her website. The picture of me wearing Audrey's bra on my head that we talk about. The Ambitious Women's Collective Facebook group    Book a free consult to determine if 1:1 coaching with Dr. Dee is right for you and your ambitious goals

In this episode I interview Erica Reitman and we get down and dirty talking about the weight of other people's opinions...and what's at stake when we let that noise crowd out our truth. Erica shares her journey of shedding the need for approval and gaining the self-certainty to own a Zero F*cks mentality that has helped her grow her business empire. We talk about her decision to be intentionally polarizing in her business, and how sharing  her experiences with depression and not having children have caused her to lose followers in her business...but also a highly engaged community and the freedom to show up exactly who she is. As childfree women we talk about how other people have many opinions about this inherently personal decision, and how rejecting this social expectation helped us both to evict other people's opinions from our mental and emotional space. She also shares the her top suggestion for how to honor your truth, hone your confidence, and strengthen your self-trust. If you spend a lot of time worrying about what other people think about you, trying to control your image, worrying about being rejected for your truth, this episode is for you.  ABOUT ERICA:  Erica Reitman is a biz mentor for tell-it-like it is coaches who are ready to grow their online empires...especially while saying "fuck." In her past life, she was a successful interior designer, and her home has now appeared in two best selling design books. She's written for HGTV, Elle Decor, House Beautiful and the Huff Post. She's also been lucky enough to speak at conferences like the Alt Design Summit and SXSW. In 2019, after making world shifting changes in her own life, she got certified as a coach at Brooke Castillo's Life Coach School. In her first year she earned over six-figures, and her husband and their senior Basset Hound Gus were able to move to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. She's now on a mission to help 1,000 women build their own online coaching businesses that turn heads, keep people talking and make all the basic bitches jealous.  LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:  Connect with Erica on Instagram or her website  The Ambitious Women's Collective Facebook group   Book a free consult to determine if 1:1 coaching with Dr. Dee is right for you and your ambitious goals.

In this episode I'm calling out the gold standard of goal-setting: SMART goals...and why they're not so smart for actual humans. First we explore my philosophy on goals, and how it's different than the way that most people think about their goals. Then we dive deep into poorly formed goals, and why I include SMART goals in this category. Lastly, I provide a 4 step goal setting process that works WITH human motivation and your humanity rather than against it. If you've struggled: with not hitting goals in the past; with being all in and then all out, losing your motivation or focus;  or have a love-hate relationship with goals (or stopped setting them altogether) this episode is for you.  LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:  The Ambitious Women's Collective Facebook group    Book a free consult to determine if 1:1 coaching with Dr. Dee is right for you and your ambitious goals.

In this episode I interview Holly Pendergast and we get down and dirty talking about our relationships with ourselves and our underlying motives for change. We dive deep into what's fueling our ambition, drive, and desires - whether it's coming from a place of love or loathing, and what part societal conditioning and expectations are driving our decisions. Holly shares her own journey to self-love, having lost 30 pounds by rejecting diet culture and instead went on the only diet we decided that one ever needs: the mind-drama diet. If you've been using pain, punishment, and self-denial to fuel your goals and desire for change, this episode is for you. We share the quickest and most direct to getting the change you desire -- without it feeling so terrible in the process.  ABOUT HOLLY: Holly Pendergast is a confidence and weight loss coach, certified with The Life Coach School. She helps her clients change their relationship with food and their bodies so they can stop emotional eating and better their relationship with themselves. By combining incredible mental and emotional wellness, and a positive and healthy relationship with food, it's simple and easy for her clients to keep weight off for good. She herself lost 30lbs and has kept it off using the same tools she uses to coach her clients. She's currently offering one-to-one coaching for people that want to stop obsessing about their body and food so they can feel peace, freedom, and confidence knowing they never have to worry about gaining the weight back. LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:  Connect with Holly on Instagram or her website  The Ambitious Women's Collective Facebook group   Book a free consult to determine if 1:1 coaching with Dr. Dee is right for you and your ambitious goals.

In this episode I interview Anne Dunaway and we get down and dirty talking about sustainability, at every level. We begin with talking about the need to balance our relentless drive with boundaries, focus and honoring our needs - to create sustainable ambition. Anne identifies the question that changed everything for her - that led her to leave the corporate hamster wheel to drive community change. She shares how her experience with food insecurity led her to use her agricultural knowledge and skills to tackle hunger, poverty, climate change. We explore how sustainability starts at the individual level, it strengthens communities. And she drops some truth bombs about the problematic shifts in agriculture, the myth of food scarcity, and how big agriculture chooses profits over people. ABOUT ANNE:  Anne Dunaway has built a unique perspective on sustainability as it applies to various operations including mountain recreation areas, agriculture and community outreach. As an active sustainable agriculture farmer and a passionate conservationist, Anne has experience in conservation and sustainable practices as they apply to large land areas and outdoor specific elements which impact our opportunities in sustainable practices. Anne received her Bachelor’s degree from Idaho State University in 2011. During her time there she participated heavily in the outdoor education center which sparked a passion for conservation that has lasted a lifetime. Anne began a sustainable agriculture farm and education company in 2019 Called Urban Prairie Agriculture. With the desire to grow strong local food systems and community gardens and experience in outdoor recreation, sustainability and transportation, Anne is committed to making an impact on our environmental impacts. LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: Connect with Anne on Instagram or her website Micro-greens kits that Dee loves The Ambitious Women's Collective Facebook group Book a free consult to determine if 1:1 coaching with Dr. Dee is right for you and your ambitious goals.

In this episode we are talking about the need for self-belief and the only reason why it’s lacking. Most people know what and how to achieve their goals. The heart of what’s stopping you is lack of belief - belief that you can, that it’s possible, that you can grow and become the person who achieves the goal. “Actually I can” is the belief in possibility, in recognizing and honoring your self-efficacy. Just because you have doubts, just because you think you can’t doesn’t mean it’s true…and it doesn’t even mean there’s a problem. Instead, I explain how to wrangle this doubt and build the earth-shaking, unstoppable belief “Actually, I can…and I will.” LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: Grab the Actually, I Can Journal. Preorder by 8/31/21 and get 33% off. The Ambitious Women's Collective Facebook group Book a free consult to determine if 1:1 coaching with Dr. Dee is right for you and your ambitious goals.

In this episode I interview Molly Berger and we get down and dirty talking about wealth - and how the financial system is largely underrepresented. We dive deep on financial literacy, money shame, and gendered practices that wealth out of the hands of women, POC and LGBTQIA+. Molly shares her journey that led her to work in the financial industry, and her mission to put the “revolutionary in fiduciary.” She offers insights for how we can change our relationship with money and begin building wealth — and not when, but now. She tackles the far too common top belief that hurts rather than helps our financial security. And we plead the case for why the world needs more money in the bank accounts of underrepresented communities (pssst having money won’t turn you into a bad person). If you’re ready to drop money shame, financial struggle, and shitty money beliefs, this episode is for YOU. ABOUT MOLLY:  Molly Berger is a lifelong feminist, activist and change-agent, and passionate about helping marginalized communities with financial literacy. She specializes in working with women, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, as well as, entrepreneurs, self-employed individuals and artists, and crafting comprehensive financial plans. She spent much of her career in nonprofit sector, followed by years with mission-driven startups and entrepreneurs, serving a variety of financial related roles. After earning degrees from Whittier College and then Claremont Graduate University and starting her career, Molly returned to her hometown of Denver CO and started her planning practice there. Her goal is to make financial planning an approachable, non-judgmental experience as she believes all of us deserve a financial plan regardless of income, assets or backgrounds. LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: Connect with Molly on her Website or LinkedIn Schedule A Meeting With Molly The Ambitious Women's Collective Facebook group Book a free consult to determine if 1:1 coaching with Dr. Dee is right for you and your ambitious goals.

This episode is the last of three in a series of podcasts I’m calling “So you want to be a helper” (SYWTBAH). In the previous episodes we talked about selflessness (#51) and self denial (#53).  Here we dive into the full spectrum of giving and explore the less commonly known and practiced form of giving that doesn’t leave us burnt out, overwhelmed, depleted or resentful. I bust a harmful belief that traps us into unsustainable giving, built upon selflessness and self-denial.  I offer a checklist for evaluating your current giving style and steps to give without sacrificing yourself and your wellbeing in the process. I even tackle some of the most common objections I hear as a coach for changing our selfless giving habits. If you're a helper who prides herself in that role, but also struggles with people-pleasing, feelings of under-appreciation for all that you do and frustration of people's demands and entitlement, listening to this episode should be non-negotiable. LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: The Ambitious Women's Collective Facebook group Book a free consult to determine if 1:1 coaching with Dr. Dee is right for you and your ambitious goals.

In this episode I interview Tansy McNulty and we get down and dirty talking about finding the courage to tackle complex systemic issues. She shares her journey to the decision to start and lead 1 Million Madly Motivated Moms - a movement uniting Black Moms to fight and end police brutality by 2038. We talk about how she found the motivation to overcome her former people pleasing ways and fight for the safety of her children and her community, while maintaining mental health as priority #1. Tansy explains how she’s using her knowledge, skills, and experience to combat police violence, one powerful step at a time. If you’ve felt anger and wondered how to channel it into social change, this episode is for you. ABOUT TANSY: Tansy McNulty is a BoyMom, active duty military spouse and the Founder of 1M4 (AKA 1 Million Madly Motivated Moms). Tansy's background is in Supply Chain Management with expertise in Logistics & Procurement operations. But at her core, she's a problem solver who simply wants to save lives and create a more equitable justice system. 1M4 empowers Black Moms to end police brutality through legislative policy, financial assistance to impacted families, and encouraging the next generation of Black youth to pursue roles in criminal justice & politics. Moms have given birth to the solutions for our community’s most pressing issues. So 1M4 seeks to protect & propel those solutions to reach their fullest potential. This type of activism and organizing requires that Moms protect their greatest weapon in the fight... their mental health. 1M4 is here to give Moms a place to air their frustrations with recurring police violence, create solutions that have measurable impact, and prioritize their mental health to maintain peace of mind despite the chaos of inequality. The African proverb holds true "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." 1M4 is uniting Black Moms to do just that, go the distance in the fight for justice... Together. LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: Connect with Tansy on Instagram or her website Grab the Mobile Crisis Units Guide Donate to 1M4 The Ambitious Women's Collective Facebook group   Book a free consult to determine if 1:1 coaching with Dr. Dee is right for you and your ambitious goals.

This episode is the second of three in a series of podcasts I’m calling “So you want to be a helper” (SYWTBAH). In the previous episode we talked about selflessness (#51) and the next episode is all about how to be an effective giver (#55). We're taking a deep dive into the all too common practice of self-denial which selflessness is built upon. It’s leaving us chronically stressed, burnt-out, overwhelmed and resentful. Self-denial is unsustainable - so I explain how we fall into this trap and how to GTFO quick. If you're a helper who prides herself in that role, but also struggles with people-pleasing, feelings of under-appreciation for all that you do and frustration of people's demands and entitlement, listening to this episode should be non-negotiable. LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:  The Ambitious Women's Collective Facebook group  Book a free consult to determine if 1:1 coaching with Dr. Dee is right for you and your ambitious goals.

In this episode I interview Nadine Stecklein and we get down and dirty talking about the desire to serve. Nadine shares her journey in becoming a servant leader and the lessons she has learned along the way. We explore her practice of having a priorities based focus so that she can expand and strengthen her impact in the communities she serves. She shares her top practice that helps her remain centered on community need, and why need to pay more attention to governance at a local level. And we go deep talking about her campaign for city council - how she got started, the fears she had to overcome, and what it’s like to run for office as a WOC. If you’ve ever wondered how to juggle multiple leadership roles, what it’s like to run for office, or how to serve effectively, this episode is for you. ABOUT NADINE: Nadine is a higher education professional with nearly two decades in the public sector. She has worked for city, state, and federal governments. Nadine currently serves as the chair of the College Place Diversity Inclusion and Advisory Board, president of her local Lions club chapter, and an active member of the Blue Zones Project Walla Walla Engagement Committee. She has a BA in public policy and a Master’s in Public Administration. She currently lives in College Place Washington with her husband Zach and pup Lou. She is running for a seat on the College Place City Council in her first ever political campaign. LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: Connect with Nadine on Instagram.   Donate to Nadine's campaign.  The Ambitious Women's Collective Facebook group  Book a free consult to determine if 1:1 coaching with Dr. Dee is right for you and your ambitious goals.

This episode is the first of three in a series of podcasts I’m calling “So you want to be a helper” (SYWTBAH). We're taking a deep dive into the concept and practice of selflessness. In upcoming episodes I'll share part two and three we'll talk about self denial (episode 53) and how to be an effective giver (episode 55). The concept of selflessness isn't flawed, but the way we helpers have put it into practice causes burnout, overwhelm, frustration and resentment. I explain why this happens, what's missing, and make an urgent plea for all helpers to make some subtle shifts in belief and action so that we don't give help at the expense of help. These shifts actually make us more effective givers despite the common objections I'll rip to shreds. If you're a helper who prides herself in that role, but also struggles with people-pleasing, feelings of under-appreciation for all that you do and frustration of people's demands and entitlement, listening to this episode should be non-negotiable.    LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:  The Ambitious Women's Collective Facebook group Book a free consult to determine if 1:1 coaching with Dr. Dee is right for you and your ambitious goals.

In this episode I interview Athens Pellegrino and we get down and dirty talking about the power you gain from developing resiliency. Athens shares her story of becoming first a military spouse, then a mother, and how moving just seven days after giving birth to her second child propelled her into starting a business. We talk about identity shifting and creation, and having to “start over” with each of her seven military moves, and how that’s impacted her skills development and career decisions. She shares how her business came from the desire to help her child, and not finding the tools she wanted, as well as the path she took to create the successes she has in authoring a book and getting it to market. Ultimately, we land on resilience as the choice we make to become strong in the face of challenge rather than shrinking or accepting defeat.  ABOUT ATHENS: Athens E. Pellegrino grew up in Ocean City, New Jersey. She attended St. Joseph's University and obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. She met her husband Christopher while attending the university and married in 2009. After, she studied at Troy University and received a Master of Public Administration degree. Athens serves the United States Air Force as a Budget Analyst and military spouse. She has a love for traveling, cooking, dogs, and fitness. Athens and Christopher have a son, Atticus (age 2) and daughter Callista (age 1). The family has experienced 7 Permanent Change of Station (PCS) assignments (military speak for moves). The latest was 7 days after giving birth to Callista. Athens is intrigued by the strength and resiliency of military families, which led to her creation of the Military Child Chronicles series. The first book is, Mission: My First PCS. LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: Connect with Athens on Instagram or website.  Purchase Mission: My First PCS. The Ambitious Women's Collective Facebook group Book a free consult to determine if 1:1 coaching with Dr. Dee is right for you and your ambitious goals.

In this episode we're talking about leadership - what it really is, what it isn't, and the six truths you need to know about how to be an effective leader. Hint: leadership has nothing to do with position or authority. Which means, you too, can be a leader, even if you don't have a fancy title or reserved parking spot. These truths cut to the heart of why some leaders we want to follow and others we don't. Knowing and practicing these leadership truths will help you influence change from exactly where you are, right now in this moment.  LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: The Ambitious Women's Collective Facebook group Book a free consult to determine if 1:1 coaching with Dr. Dee is right for you and your ambitious goals.

In this episode I interview Janette Dalgliesh and we get down and dirty talking about our paths in life. We explore the common question of "what do you want to be when you grow up?" and the implications, consequences and ramifications of this seemingly innocent question. Janette shares her story of being a puppeteer, a union organizer and now a coach who uses strategic astrology to help her clients answer who they want to be when they grow up. We go deep on identity, privilege, and inequality. Janette shares her journey becoming a social justice warrior, including the stumbles she had on her way to becoming an effective, inclusive, anti-racist. If you've ever wondered how you can first reconcile and then use your privilege to help others, this episode is for you.  ABOUT JANETTE:  Janette Dalgliesh helps people from all walks of life to figure out who they came here to be, and how to live that life from a place of joy. Based in south-east Australia, Janette uses her unique blend of astrology and life coaching to support her international clientele of poets, physicians, rebels, politicians, creatives and entrepreneurs. LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: Connect with Janette on Instagram or her website. Learn more about Unapologetic Desire and Strategic Astrology. Janette's DEI/anti-racism mentor: Iyabo Onipede. Connect on her website. Books mentioned: Caste and Racial Healing Handbook The Ambitious Women's Collective Facebook group Book a free consult to determine if 1:1 coaching with Dr. Dee is right for you and your ambitious goals.

In this episode we're talking about worthiness - and specifically how we are all fundamentally and inherently worthy, even when we don't feel that way. Every direction I look I encounter people who are struggling to feel worthy, feel good enough - at epidemic proportions - and it's not a coincidence. I'll drop some truths about why it seems like just about everyone struggles with shame and feelings of unworthiness -- and why it's so critically important that we accept and own our inherent worthiness. And before you try and say it would be selfish to take time out to feel this way, I'll explain just why owning your worthiness is just about the most selfless thing you can do.  LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: The Ambitious Women's Collective Facebook group Book a free consult to determine if 1:1 coaching with Dr. Dee is right for you and your ambitious goals.

In this episode I interview Heather Dumas and we get down and dirty talking about the bullshit beliefs and toxic programming women have around selfishness. We explore how the idea of being selfless causes us to put ourselves and our physiological needs last, and encourage listeners to take selfless back in a way that enables women to powerfully care for their mind, body and spirit. We also tackle a lot of the objections our clients often have about self-care and making changes. This message is for all women, but especially for those who have big goals but are often burnout, overwhelmed, and exhausted. ABOUT HEATHER:  Heather is a personal trainer, nutrition, and lifestyle coach, best known for her no-nonsense approach and success she’s had helping women transform their lives by prioritizing self-care without sacrifice. For over 10 years she has been inspiring women through the world of fitness and nutrition. She has been featured on podcasts and stages around the world. She is the #1 bestselling author of 2 cookbooks, The Master Your Macros Cookbook and Your Guide to a Protein Packed Day, as well as a speaker and of course a coach. Her clients include vice presidents of large corporations, 6 figure entrepreneurs, and c-suite executives. Heather has shared the stage with well-known coaches and speakers from around the world. She offers a simple, easy to execute method for creating and sustaining a healthy lifestyle through her signature program Self-Care for Female Leaders. When she isn’t kicking peoples’ asses via Zoom, she is enjoying the greatest snow on earth (frozen or melted) with her family. LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:  Connect with Heather on Instagram or her website. Your Perfect Morning Routine free mini-training The Ambitious Women's Collective Facebook group Book a free consult to determine if 1:1 coaching with Dr. Dee is right for you and your ambitious goals.

In this episode we’re exploring all the reasons why long-term goals take a different kind of motivation, commitment and effort to achieve. I take a deep dive into the four different factors that are working against you, and how to work with yourself rather than fight to show up and consistently chip away at these complex undertakings. This episode is for you: If you’ve ever started a long-term goal but struggled to sustain motivation. If you’ve found yourself in an all in / all out pattern, having a hard time balancing the effort require to achieve the goal and your other responsibilities. If every time you start a long-term goal you feel a ton of doubt, confusion, and catch yourself sabotaging your efforts. If you feel like you’re always having to force yourself to work on the goal. If you’ve given up making long-term goals because you’re sick of the fight or you’ve begun to doubt your ability to achieve them. If you’re already amazing at achieving long-term goals but want to know how to achieve them faster, while having more fun along the way. LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:  The Ambitious Women's Collective Facebook group Book a free consult to determine if 1:1 coaching with Dr. Dee is right for you and your ambitious goals.

In this episode I interview Angel Castillo and we get down and dirty talking about the change in the political landscape when women get involved - from working on (or volunteering for) a campaign to running as a candidate. She shares her story of how she came to run for Ogden city mayor in 2019, her takeaways from the race, and importance of being an engaged citizen. We explore how being a woman and a POC impacted her campaign, and how she'd approach things differently next time. If you've ever thought that politics needs to change, you'll want to listen to this episode to learn how YOU can be a part of that change.  ABOUT ANGEL:  Based in Ogden, UT, Angel Castillo is a Marketing Consultant with deep local advocacy roots. She serves Ogden as a board member for YCC, Roads to Independence, and as an Executive Committee Member with the Ogden NAACP.  As former Planning Commissioner for Ogden City, Angel had a front row seat to how local government directly impacts quality of life. Knowing real change comes from shifting power and creating policy, she ran for Ogden mayor in 2019. While the race went to the two term incumbent, to be just 7.5% shy of winning is monumental considering Angel lived in Ogden just under two years at the time of election. Angel is a champion for affordable housing, equity/inclusion, unsheltered advocacy and public safety. She uses the Ruth Bader Ginsburg quote "Women belong in all places where decisions are being made" unapologetically and will repeatedly ask you to run for office. And yes, she's running in 2023. LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: Connect with Angel on Instagram or her website. The Women's Leadership Institute  The Ambitious Women's Collective Facebook group Book a free consult to determine if 1:1 coaching with Dr. Dee is right for you and your ambitious goals.

In this episode I interview Kristen Floyd and we get down and dirty talking about the importance of diversification and contingency planning as business owners. Kristen shares her journey through public service, entrepreneurship, nonprofit management, and mental health counseling. We talk about the challenges she has faced as a woman business owner in a male dominated field, as well as how she manages to juggle so many roles and responsibilities, and the top practice that makes it all work. ABOUT KRISTEN:  Kristen Floyd is the Executive Director for Safe Harbor domestic violence and sexual assault crisis center. Prior to her current role she enjoyed a rewarding career with the State of Utah for over 20 years as a State Director. She is the proud owner of multiple local businesses in the Ogden area and including a construction company, an axe throwing venue and a private practice office for mental health counseling. She is a WSU Alumni, graduating with her Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice and a high honor graduate from the Univ. of Phoenix with her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. Kristen has held a variety of community support positions assisting individuals in meeting their career potential. She has had the great privilege of participating as a USU board member, a Cache Valley economic development board member, a STEM competition judge, and a Pageant platform advisor. Kristen is a current commissioner for the Women in Economics Commission, appointed by Governor Cox and was recently awarded the 2020 Philanthropic Hero Award. Kristen has enjoyed a wide range of engagements as a key note speaker on topics such as assertive communication and domestic violence. In her free time, Kristen enjoys pickleball, the outdoors, live music, and time spent with her family. LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: Connect with Kristen The Ambitious Women's Collective Facebook group Book a free consult to determine if 1:1 coaching with Dr. Dee is right for you and your ambitious goals.