Wickedly Smart Women

14X Award Winning show featuring the world's most impressive emerging and established Wickedly Smart Women, this is the show where we interview women who have left high power corporate jobs or exited their companies because they felt a stronger calling. We love to share the journey of transformation and elevate, celebrate & spotlight the Wickedly Smart Women who are making a massive difference in the world! Listeners who are Wickedly Smart Women "in the making" tune IN to be well fed with dynamic wisdom, legendary modeling and immediately actionable steps to be smarter, spunkier & more successful in their impact & leadership, careers, health, relationships, creativity and sexuality so that they can be more empowered & enthusiastic in every area of their life! Wickedly Smart Women is where we strive to support women to deeply connect to their capacity to create conscious change, care deeply and have the courage to take action and wholeheartedly contribute to what matters most - A thriving earth, thriving relationships, work that is playful and pleasurable as well as profitable and making the changes they were born to manifest while leading a legendary legacy life that feels both luscious & luxurious.

Building a Purpose-Driven Product After 40 with Liat Kaplan – Ep.357

What happens when a high-achieving corporate leader realizes her legacy must be about more than titles, promotions, and golden handcuffs? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Liat Kaplan, a global product innovation leader turned founder and CEO, to explore what it truly takes to leave corporate life, trust your inner conviction, and build something that matters. If you are a woman standing at the edge of change, questioning whether it's "too late" to start something meaningful, this conversation will remind you that your most important work may still be ahead of you.   What You Will Learn: How personal conviction becomes essential when stepping away from corporate identity and external validation. Why clarity around purpose matters more than having everything figured out before starting. What it truly means to take a leap later in life and why age can be an advantage, not a limitation. How releasing fear of judgment creates freedom and sharper focus on what actually matters. What surprises many founders when they leave corporate structure behind. How passion and impact fuel resilience during the entrepreneurial journey. Why building a product-based business requires patience, long timelines, and strategic planning. What to consider when funding a startup, especially the importance of aligned and supportive investors. How innovation can be shaped by curiosity rather than rigid corporate processes. Why real-world problems and lived experiences often spark the most powerful business ideas. How technology can empower people to make informed, self-directed choices. Why safety, awareness, and informed decision-making are key components of modern leadership and legacy. How letting go of unnecessary processes can reignite creativity and love for one's work. Why legacy is often defined by contribution and impact rather than titles or income. How building something meaningful often requires balancing intuition with discipline. Connect with Liat Kaplan Get Wisp   Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com  

12-31
29:08

Healing Emotional Eating at the Root with Amber Romaniuk – Ep.356

What if your "willpower problem" with food was never about food at all? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Amber Romaniuk, an emotional eating, digestive, and hormone expert with 12+ years of experience. Amber shares the childhood roots of emotional eating, the intense turning point that forced her to face her own binge-restriction patterns, and the multidimensional healing path that led to true body freedom. This episode explores why feeling emotions can feel unsafe and how to create real nervous system safety. What You Will Learn: A clear understanding of how childhood moments can become identity wounds that drive emotional eating for decades. Language for naming the difference between discomfort and being unsafe, so emotions stop feeling like an emergency. A simple way to work with the brain's threat response without letting it run your life. A practical starting point for emotion work: set a timer for 30 seconds and build capacity gradually. Why food becomes a regulator when life feels helpless, out of control, or emotionally unsupported. Insight into how the binge–restriction cycle can intensify after weight loss, breakups, and "perfect body" beliefs. A realistic picture of what root-cause healing actually involves: mental, emotional, behavioral, energetic, spiritual, and physical layers. Tools that help create safety while feeling emotions, including breathwork, EFT tapping, self-holding, music, and affirmations. Why chronic stress and fight-or-flight make it harder to heal digestion, blood sugar, and hormones. A grounded approach to "breaking the lineage" by combining inner healing with loving boundaries when family dynamics push back. Why progress requires structures that support "doing the reps," not just inspiration or insight. How long-term support helps women stay consistent when real life hits. Why new success can trigger fear and how identity work helps you maintain change without self-sabotage. Connect with Amber Romaniuk Amber Approved   Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

12-24
29:24

Finding Belonging, Purpose, and a Cause That Matters with Silvia Resnik – Ep.355

What if the "perfect life" is actually the most convincing hiding place for emptiness? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Silvia Resnik, a fulfillment and purpose coach for high-achieving women. Silvia shares how a lifelong ache for connection shaped her drive to achieve. The conversation also goes deeper into the tension between honoring cultural traditions and evolving practices that harm women, including the urgent reality of female genital mutilation and how Silvia's organization, Empower Her, is working from within community partnership to create change through education, support, and empowerment.   What You Will Learn: Why "looking successful" can coexist with feeling emotionally empty. How early experiences of not feeling seen can quietly shape adult identity, ambition, and relationship patterns. The hidden motivation behind perfectionism: trying to earn love, belonging, and "enoughness." Why external achievements don't automatically create self-worth. How a single experience of deep community can interrupt lifelong loneliness and recalibrate what matters. What true connection can feel like in the body. How indigenous culture can offer profound healing while still containing traditions that require conscious evolution. A grounded explanation of FGM in the Maasai context, including the rite-of-passage framing and the high human cost. Why sustainable change must be led from within a community, not imposed by outsiders. How education becomes a protection strategy for women and girls. What it means to "bridge two worlds" in coaching: bringing connection back to high achievers while also resourcing underserved communities. How travel can become transformational when it's relationship-centered rather than consumption-centered. What a purpose-led business transition can look like when it grows out of lived experience, not branding.   Connect with Silvia Resnik Simple Life Journey EmpowerHer   Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

12-17
28:37

Soul Assignments, Power Tools and Breaking Generational Chains with Steffani LeFevour – Ep.354

"We wake up every morning as a soul in a human body. That alone should be so incredibly fascinating to us." What if the hardest things you've lived through weren't punishments, but assignments your soul chose to help you grow? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Steffani LeFevour, modern-day soul strategist and author of You Are a Badass Mom and the forthcoming book Soul Assignments. Stteffani shares how childhood trauma, an alcoholic father, and the tragic loss of her sister cracked her open to a lifelong search for spiritual truth.   What You Will Learn: The impact of childhood trauma and grief on emotional development and identity. How growing up with an alcoholic parent shapes beliefs, coping mechanisms and adulthood patterns. Why families often end up on "grief islands" when they lack tools, language or support to process loss. How early exposure to death can spark a lifelong search for meaning, spirituality and healing. The role spiritual teachers and books can play in offering language and comfort when religion wasn't present at home. How alcohol can become an unconscious way to avoid feelings, fit in socially, or suppress unresolved pain. What it looks like to break generational chains of addiction through awareness, boundaries and intentional behavior. How to examine your own relationship with alcohol and shift from unconscious use to empowered choice. The importance of creating an alcohol-free "safe house" environment for teens and modeling a different norm. The concept of soul assignments and how reframing painful experiences can move someone out of victimhood. Why radical acceptance of past experiences becomes the foundation for emotional freedom and conscious creation. How thoughts, words, feelings, beliefs and stories function as "power tools" that shape every experience. The difference between using those power tools unconsciously vs. consciously. How to identify outdated stories and rewrite them into truer, more empowering narratives. The process of finding gifts inside even the most difficult events and how that transforms inner resilience. The value of viewing life from a soul-level perspective rather than only through a human-level lens. The path from learning spiritual principles to embodying them, teaching them and serving others with them. How a long-held dream can manifest through clarity, courage and consistent sharing of one's message. Why owning your unique perspective allows your voice, work and mission to expand in powerful new ways.   Connect with Steffani LeFevour Coach with Steph Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

12-10
29:09

How Horses Help Women Break Free from Burnout with Sue Willoughby – Ep.353

"Horses don't care if you're afraid. They care if you're honest." In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Sue Willoughby, founder of Willoughby Coaching, certified equus coach, real estate investor, and a woman who has rewritten her life more times than most people dare to dream. Raised by a single alcoholic parent and a two-time high school dropout, Sue charted a path from instability to a six-figure career, a multidimensional portfolio of work, and a coaching practice rooted in the intuitive wisdom of horses. If you're feeling the whisper that something in your life or career needs to change, this episode gives you permission, perspective, and possibility.   What You Will Learn: The emotional and psychological impact of being raised by a single alcoholic parent and how early instability can shape lifelong patterns of independence and resilience. What it feels like to reach the moment where corporate life becomes unbearable, and the emotional complexity of leaping from stability into entrepreneurship. How passion projects and side ventures can become bridges out of corporate life without risking everything at once. How horses instantly sense incongruence between what you say, what you feel, and what your body is actually communicating. Why humans store emotional stories in the body while horses process, react, and release without carrying narratives, resentment, or drama. How corporate teams can use horse-led experiences to learn authentic leadership, strengthen team dynamics, and understand each other's communication patterns. Why it is never too late to reinvent yourself, take risks, pursue a new career, or bring long-buried creative visions into reality. A simple daily practice for reconnecting with presence and intuition.   Connect with Sue Willoughby Willoughby Coaching Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

12-03
28:48

From Franchises to Freedom with Jana Franklin – Ep.352

"Anytime my managers are not out front, a problem happens. I want them where they can actually make the store money." In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Jana Franklin, serial entrepreneur, franchise expert, and CEO of CEO Concierge. Jana shares her experiences scaling brick-and-mortar franchises and how the pandemic inspired a major pivot. If you're an executive overwhelmed by operations or a woman entrepreneur considering consultancy, this episode offers actionable advice and the inside scoop on delegation done right. What You Will Learn: How a corporate fashion merchandising start laid the foundation for franchise management and people skills. The power of starting a business before getting entrenched in corporate. What it took to open, scale, and eventually sell multiple Fantastic Sams salons. How 80-hour weeks forced Jana to confront what she loved about her role. Why virtual assistants can "clone" your strengths. Creative ways brick-and-mortar businesses use virtual assistants. Building trust and growing into delegation. Addressing common fears: control, trust, cost, and support for first-time outsourcers. How women can add niche roles as their business scales.   Connect with Jana Franklin CEO Concierge Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

11-26
29:31

How One Woman Scaled a Global Movement with Kate Grant - Ep.351

"I had my ladder on the wrong wall. I was putting all my energy into getting people to want McDonald's instead of Burger King. Who cares, really?" In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Kate Grant, CEO Emeritus of the Fistula Foundation and author of No Woman Left Behind. Kate explains what obstetric fistula is and how a relatively low-cost surgery can restore a woman's health. She shares the practical steps she took to move from advertising into nonprofit leadership and why investing in your own retooling can be the most powerful career move.  If you're thinking about leaving corporate for mission-driven work, this episode is full of tactical and emotional wisdom.   What You Will Learn: How working in advertising at big agencies means using dark arts of consumer research to create psychological needs for products. The decision process of choosing to go back to graduate school and completely retool rather than making a lateral move into nonprofit communications. The reality that career change doesn't happen on the plane ride home from your transformative trip, it happens gradually like a pair of shoes that doesn't fit anymore, and it takes time to empower that voice that says you're done with this chapter. What an obstetric fistula actually is. How women with fistula are often stigmatized and how they're frequently blamed for an injury that's caused by a lack of medical access. Why Fistula Foundation went from being one of several support organizations for a single hospital in Ethiopia to becoming the global leader doing more surgeries than the UN or US government. The strategic decision not to take government money. Why 90% of the fistula surgeries are successful and truly give women their lives back. The permanent pay cut that comes with leaving the private sector for nonprofit work. How ruthlessly thrifty operations with 19 consecutive years of four star Charity Navigator ratings prove worthiness of donor support by getting as much money as possible into the hands of doctors and hospitals in far-flung corners that do the real work. Connect with Kate Grant Fistula Foundation Book: No Woman Left Behind   Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

11-19
29:49

Premium Fuel for Midlife with Heather Awad, MD - Ep.350

At 50, I thought my body was broken. I knew everything about nutrition, but nothing was working anymore. In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Heather Awad, MD, a family doctor and certified coach, helps professional women in perimenopause and menopause lose weight without counting or deprivation. Learn why kindness precedes confidence, how insulin resistance shifts at midlife, and why moving from grazing to real meals restores energy, focus, and leadership clarity.  Professional photos can be retaken. But kindness and confidence can start today.   What You Will Learn: Why eating less and moving more, does absolutely nothing during perimenopause, revealing that something fundamentally different is happening in the body. The moment at age 50 of wondering if the body was broken and questioning how someone with extensive nutrition knowledge could be failing at weight management. How combining an understanding of the biology and nutrition of menopause with coaching to address emotional eating made weight loss simple and sustainable. Why many professional women including those in corporate leadership hold themselves back from seeking promotions or starting businesses because they feel their body isn't under control. The critical distinction that mindset work and being kind to yourself is a completely separate track from getting your body under control or losing weight. How kindness to yourself is the precursor to confidence, and that being kind doesn't cost anything except intention and time unpacking the parts of yourself that don't want to be kind. The fundamental difference between the weight loss world that asks us to work hard, measure, and count calories, versus nutrition that can be simple and nourishing without ever going hungry or counting anything. How our culture has normalized overeating to the point where having a stomach ache after meals seems normal. Why this meal-based eating pattern helps with the natural bump in insulin resistance that comes at menopause. The biological reality that when estrogen drops during menopause, it affects the entire body including digestive hormones. Why insulin resistance means the body suddenly needs much more insulin just to process the same food. Why grazing becomes the default feeding pattern during intense parenting years. Why nourishing your body becomes increasingly important at midlife.   Connect with Heather Awad, MD Website   Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

11-12
29:05

Money Made Simple with Estelle Gibson - Ep.349

Ready to leave corporate and build a business that actually funds your life. In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Estelle Gibson, CPA and TED speaker. Estelle shows you how to create a simple profit plan, price with confidence, and move through the money life cycle with intention. From childhood money scripts to corporate exits to packaging your offers, Estelle shares a calm and practical path that turns wisdom into wealth and replaces hustle with clarity. What You Will Learn: The critical distinction between being a launcher versus a leaper when it comes to leaving corporate. Why business owners are always in a learning and accumulating knowledge phase regardless of age. The reality that people are no longer retiring in the traditional sense but moving into next acts. The concept of environmental design coaching created by Thomas Leonard. The importance of recognizing when corporate values no longer match your personal values. How taxes work completely differently as a business owner compared to an employee. How the knack for making complex things very simple became the foundation for a coaching practice. Why funding decisions need to address whether someone is funding the business personally or seeking investors. How packaging services differently, examining time constraints, adjusting pricing, and restructuring client flow can create profitability without necessarily adding more clients or working longer hours.   Connect with Estelle Gibson Jouney to Freedom   Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

11-05
30:09

Don't Take Burnout to Your Business with Jasmin Dennis - Ep.348

Feeling wired, tired, and secretly dreading Mondays? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Jasmin Dennis, health and wellness leadership coach. Jasmin breaks down her Burnout Pie Framework so you can recognize early signals, prevent a crash, and lead with resilience.  Whether you're considering leaving corporate or staying and thriving, this episode gives you the tools to assess where you are and what to do next. What You Will Learn: The critical distinction between burnout as an occupational phenomenon rather than a medical disease. The dangerous cultural pattern of wearing burnout as a badge of honor or turning it into water cooler talk. Why burnout can easily mask clinical depression and go undiagnosed, leading to devastating outcomes when the chronic stress is treated as just exhaustion. How money becomes the primary driving force keeping people trapped in burnout cycles. Practical holistic prescriptions for common burnout symptoms. The power of holding space for someone in emotional crisis by simply allowing them to cry for 15 to 20 minutes without saying a word. How asking someone in crisis to return in two days rather than making decisions in the moment gives them time to release toxicity and get clear about what they actually need. The principle that pulling one thread of wellness unravels the entire tapestry of unwellness. Why the goal is not to eliminate all stress but to successfully manage chronic stress before it accumulates into the eight slices of burnout that require intensive intervention. How burnout affects not just corporate environments but also self employed entrepreneurs, healthcare workers, and stay at home caregivers, making community wellness talks essential for reaching people outside traditional workplace settings. How to use body awareness and emotional intelligence to recognize when someone else's mood or energy is triggering your irritability. Why the scientific community and World Health Organization are still working to identify the root cause of burnout.   Connect with Jasmin Dennis LinkedIn   Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

10-29
31:55

Playbook for Brave Women Leaders with Amy Cosper - Ep.347

When was the last time you asked clearly for what you are worth. In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Amy Cosper, storyteller and brand builder to talk about risk, money, and the power women unlock when they find their voice. Hear why acting like Silicon Valley dulls your authenticity, how stories shape culture, why we cannot outsource them to AI, and the simple courage move that flips fear into forward motion. Smart, practical, and heart forward.   What You Will Learn: Why many women are trained to avoid risk and how regular practice with small asks makes courage feel normal. A quick test to notice when you are using a fake voice versus your true voice in rooms, pitches, and content. How authenticity grows as an asset over time and becomes a moat that cannot be bought or borrowed. Why community makes courage easier and how to borrow bravery from other women until yours grows. How classic story arcs help you frame your work so people remember it. Why AI can remix words but cannot create your lived experience and how to keep your stories original. How to use emotional honesty without oversharing and without losing authority. Why asking is non negotiable for funding and fees and how to state your value without apology. What shifted in recent decades for women and business credit and why that context matters for courage now. How to stop giving away ideas and execution and install healthy boundaries around your work. A clean way to reframe failure so sunk costs turn into useful data. How to build a personal story engine so your brand shapes culture instead of chasing it. Why moving one person today is a worthy metric when scale feels far away. A two part mantra for hard conversations. How to turn everyday moments into sticky brand metaphors people repeat.   Connect with Amy Cosper Website   Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

10-22
29:54

Symptoms as Soul Signals with Dr. Kelly McCann - Ep.346

What if your fatigue, insomnia, or autoimmune flare wasn't a problem to suppress, but a message pointing you back to your purpose? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Dr. Kelly McCann, the only physician worldwide board certified across internal medicine, pediatrics, integrative and functional medicine, and medical acupuncture, plus she holds a master's in spiritual psychology. Dr. Kelly McCann shares a radically different approach to chronic illness. That unique combination allows her to see what most doctors miss: your symptoms aren't just physical glitches. They're a guidance system activating when you drift from alignment. If you've been feeling that shimmy, that sense that something's off even when you can't name it, this conversation will help you understand what your body is trying to tell you.   What You Will Learn: Why multipotentialites struggle with niching down and how forcing yourself into one box can show up as stagnation or health symptoms. How symptoms function as data and direction, serving as your body's early whisper before it becomes a shout. The connection between purpose, nervous system regulation, mitochondrial energy, and immune system boundary health. How beliefs about worthiness and belonging may dysregulate the immune system and reduce cellular energy production. A reframing of chronic illness using body maps like chakras, meridians, and metaphors to decode what a symptom might be asking of you. Practical insights on money and health, including how conviction, aligned direction, and permission can open doors and funding for your next chapter.   Connect with Dr. Kelly McCann Website   Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com    

10-15
29:05

Building Real Community as a Disability Advocate and Creator with Lolita Milena - Ep.345

What happens when the worst moment of your childhood becomes the catalyst for a lifetime of creative power, advocacy, and audacious dreams? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Lolita Milena, a paraplegic actress, author, and digital creator whose journey from Siberia to the stages of America is nothing short of extraordinary. In this deeply honest conversation, Lolita opens up about transmuting trauma into purpose through dark humor, sisterhood, and relentless creativity. We dive into the hard truths about the U.S. foster care system, what actually keeps kids safe, and how she's building a sustainable creator business while staying true to her mission.  Whether you're interested in disability representation in media, survivor advocacy, or simply how to build an audience that truly cares, this episode delivers proof that your darkest moments don't have to dictate your future.   What You Will Learn: How to turn trauma into creative fuel without letting it consume you through dance, theater, writing, and digital storytelling. Why dark humor became Lolita's survival tool and how she uses comedy to bridge grief and agency while always punching up, never down. The real problems in the U.S. foster care system that most people never hear about, from understaffing to inadequate background checks. A smart awareness strategy for child abuse prevention that starts with people who don't know what they don't know and equips them to share. The difference between performative activism and tangible action, and why survivors need both to create real change. How to build a multi-interest audience that sticks with you by leading with story first, niche second. The meaning behind 2,4,5,9 as Lolita's sci-fi novel title and how she honors family through art and memory. A simple two-part self-soothing practice for hard days using oldies or folk music that grounds your body and soul. Why nuance and independent thinking matter more than ever when you're advocating for systems change.   Connect with Lolita Milena Instagram  TikTok   Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com  

10-08
29:33

Systems, Capital & Confidence for Women Entrepreneurs with Amanda Taylor - Ep.344

What if the fastest way to real freedom isn't working harder in your business but making your money work twice? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Amanda Taylor, investor and business growth strategist to share how women can move from survival mode to lasting wealth with unapologetic ownership, simple systems that scale, and values-aligned investing. If you've ever wondered when to stop plowing every dollar back into the company and start building real wealth, this episode is your roadmap.   What You Will Learn: How childhood money stories shape adult financial behavior and how to consciously rewrite them. Why "make your money work twice" is the simplest wealth framework for entrepreneurs. The conveyor-belt method to automatically allocate incoming revenue into safety, growth, and wealth buckets. Practical ways to improve profit margins by stopping revenue leaks and pricing for profit. How to choose values-aligned asset classes by assessing liquidity, risk, and return without jargon. The difference between confidence and competence in financial decision-making. Why most small businesses don't sell for what founders expect and how to de-risk your personal retirement plan now. How women's intuition is a legitimate investing strategy when paired with education and structure. What the coming intergenerational wealth transfer means for women and why early preparation matters. A simple first step to start investing, even if you feel "not ready" yet.   Connect with Amanda Taylor Expand Your Empire   Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com  

10-01
29:50

Designing a Powerful Body & Purposeful Life After 60 with Allison McCune Davis - Ep.343

What if "turning 60" was actually the beginning? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Allison McCune Davis, author and traditional neuropath, to demystify thriving after 60. Allison shares the health wake-ups that redirected her career, the mindset shift that came with a midlife challenge, and the planning discipline that turned a three-year manuscript into a movement. You'll learn the simple daily anchors that rebuild energy, how to identify and replace hormone disruptors at home, and a 60-day path to clarity, connection, and purpose.   What You Will Learn: How a midlife "restlessness signal" can be used as data to realign your next five to ten years. Why "your future is hidden in your daily routine" and the specific levers that matter most. The core pillars of the 60-Day Dare (body work, brain work, world work) and how they translate into doable habits. Practical ways to restore energy naturally by addressing gut health, adrenals, thyroid, and immune support. How to swap endocrine-disrupting products at home for cleaner options that protect hormones and longevity. A step-by-step method to identify purpose using one question per day for 60 days. How accountability dramatically increases follow-through and results. A simple decision filter for new seasons and how to reverse-engineer it. What entrepreneurs can learn from writing a book "for your future," not just your past. Ways to recalibrate career, caregiving, and self-care when you've been over-giving for decades. How to use small, compound actions to build a truly "good life." Why midlife offers unique advantages and how to harness them now.   Connect with Allison McCune Davis Website   Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

09-24
29:12

How to Conquer Fear and Thrive with Amy Koford - Ep.342

Are you letting fear run your life? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Amy Koford, Clinical hypnotist and bestselling author. Amy shares her own journey from corporate HR and full-time motherhood to becoming a sought-after hypnotist, author, and speaker who helps people release deep emotional blocks, heal past traumas, and finally feel free. If you've been craving change but fear keeps holding you back, this episode will show you how to rise, fearlessly and optimally.   What You Will Learn: How hypnosis works with the subconscious to access buried memories and release emotional blocks. The difference between necessary fear and unnecessary fear. Why fear of failure, fear of what others think, and fear of not being enough are usually connected. How unresolved childhood experiences can silently drive adult anger, stagnation, or low self-worth. What happens when you're subconsciously afraid to be happy or don't feel you deserve it. How to handle visibility blocks, from posting online videos to speaking in front of live audiences. Why one-to-many transformation through seminars creates community, accountability, and faster results. How to identify when anxiety or depression may actually be signals that you're not aligned with your true calling. Practical mindset practices that help you pivot from corporate life into business ownership with courage. Why joy, playfulness, and even laughter are critical tools for transformation and lasting success.   Connect with Amy Koford Website   Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

09-17
29:42

Educating for a Free Society with Marsha Familaro Enright - Ep.341

What does it really take to thrive in a free society, especially when the internet can feel like one giant, loud village? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Marsha Familaro Enright to unpack intellectual independence, self-reliance, and why the classics still matter.  They explore how to evaluate information, resist social pressure, and design learning that transforms students into confident problem-solvers at any age.   What You Will Learn: The real meaning of intellectual independence and why it's the backbone of a free society. How self-reliance translates into modern life. A clear definition of individual rights and how free speech and personal responsibility protect them. Practical ways to resist propaganda, groupthink, and social-media pressure by strengthening reasoning skills. Why the "giant online village" amplifies conformity and what to do about it. How Montessori principles scale up for teens and young adults through seminar-style learning. The power of Great Books and Socratic dialogue to sharpen writing, judgment, and collaborative thinking. Reliance College's model: rigorous liberal arts + real-world projects + mentoring for career-ready portfolios. Entrepreneur lessons from launching schools: leading people well, learning the numbers, and asking for help. Connect with Marsha Familaro Enright Reliance College   Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com    

09-09
29:08

Visual Storytelling that Drives Decisions with Oreet Kaufman - Ep.340

Drowning your audience in charts, tables, and tiny text? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Oreet Kaufman, who shows how to turn complex information into clear, visual stories that move people to action. Learn why most decks fail in the first five seconds, how to "word-diet" without losing substance, and simple ways to guide audience attention so your message actually lands.  Whether you're pitching, reporting, or keynoting, this episode is your shortcut to decks that look modern, feel effortless, and deliver results.   What You Will Learn: Why audiences only give a slide three to five seconds and how to design for that window. How to shift from an "attention span" problem to a "decision span" solution. A practical "word-dieting" method to reduce redundancy and complexity. When to replace fractions and busy visuals with a single, instantly readable metric. How to decide what truly matters on a slide and make the eye go there first. Why "appendix" is your best friend for keeping a live deck focused. The right way to use animations as controlled reveals rather than distractions. A simple process for aligning stakeholders fast using a creative preview. How to scope slide work transparently and avoid package confusion. A start-with-the-outcome framework that back-solves your content and calls to action. Mindset shifts for leaving corporate to build a consultancy with clear pricing and boundaries. How marketing and communications teams can partner with a specialist to fill skills gaps quickly.   Connect with Oreet Kaufman OCDesigns   Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com    

09-03
30:30

Breaking Barriers in Logistics and Leadership with Dianna Fioravanti-Ashikwe - Ep.339

What does it take to achieve gender parity at the executive level in one of the world's most male-dominated industries? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Dianna Fioravanti-Ashikwe, the first female president of Kuehne + Nagel Canada, to explore her journey of resilience, authenticity, and transformational leadership.  From navigating male-dominated boardrooms to cultivating psychological safety and optimism in the workplace, Dianna shares how women can "flip the switch" and embrace their full potential while leading others to do the same.   What You Will Learn: How early experiences shaped a passion for equity and inclusion. The challenges and opportunities of navigating male-dominated industries. Why authenticity is key to sustainable leadership success. How to reframe fear and failure as opportunities for growth. The meaning of "flip the switch" and how it transforms mindset and culture. Strategies for building psychological safety and resilience in organizations. The importance of empowering trust, persistence, and authenticity when making career shifts. Why women should apply for opportunities even when they don't check every box. The role of optimism and growth mindset in leadership and team building. Why aligning values with your organization is essential for legacy and impact.   Connect with Dianna Fioravanti-Ashikwe Kuehne +Nagel LinkedIn   Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com  

08-27
29:39

Building Brands with Vision and Courage with Bashak Ilhan - Ep.338

What does it really take to leave the corporate world behind and build a thriving business from scratch? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Bashak Ilhan, who has founded five startups, achieved two successful exits, and now leads a global consultancy. From selling childhood toys to landing a $3 million investment over coffee, this episode reveals the mindset, strategies, and resilience needed to bring bold visions to life. Listeners will discover why sales are at the heart of any business, how to immerse themselves fully in their dreams, and why knowing when to delegate is essential for both success and wellbeing. This is a must-listen for women ready to step into entrepreneurship with confidence, clarity, and courage.   What You Will Learn: Why early entrepreneurial experiences often shape lifelong business instincts. How transitioning from corporate life to entrepreneurship requires courage and vision. The importance of selling skills and vision casting in building a business. Why doing deep research and immersion before launching a venture can create a strong foundation. The value of building for the audience rather than personal taste. How to navigate challenges that arise in scaling and sustaining a startup. Why timing matters in choosing to exit a business. The role of branding, positioning, and strategy in securing investment and growth. How to innovate during crises and adapt to market needs. Why receiving too much funding early on can be more dangerous than not having enough. How financial constraints can fuel creativity and build stronger foundations. The importance of self-awareness and knowing when to seek a co-founder or partner. Why delegating effectively is critical to long-term success and personal well-being. How to redefine success away from busyness and toward balance and impact.   Connect with Bashak Ilhan Road Branding Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com  

08-20
29:34

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