Smart Women Talk

What happens when the life you thought was secure suddenly isn't? For Karin Kusano, starting over meant facing a reality she never expected. After discovering that she didn't have the financial independence she thought she had, she found herself rebuilding her life while raising four children—and wondering how she would create a secure future from where she stood.So she started learning.At her kitchen table, Karin began educating herself about financial markets and emerging technology. What started as a need to understand and protect her own financial future eventually became something much bigger—a new career, a new sense of purpose, and a powerful lesson in what can happen when a woman takes back control of her life.In this episode of Smart Women Talk, Katana and Karin explore:Why financial autonomy is about much more than moneyHow starting over forced Karin to rediscover her own strength and resourcefulnessWhy gaining knowledge gave her confidence when so much felt uncertainWhat rebuilding while raising four children taught her about resilienceHow the hardest chapter of her life ultimately opened the door to an entirely new futureWhy reinvention doesn't always mean becoming someone new—it can mean reclaiming the woman who was there all alongSometimes starting over isn't the end of the life you planned. It can be the beginning of a life you finally get to choose.Tune in and discover what can happen when you stop underestimating yourself and start taking back your power.Karin Kusano, known as “Cryptomommi,” is a crypto market strategist, educator, and advocate for financial autonomy. A single mother of four, Karin’s work is deeply personal. After experiencing financial coercion that left her without access to bank accounts, she discovered crypto, blockchain, and self-custody—and a new way to take control of her financial future.Today, Karin uses that experience to educate others, particularly vulnerable populations, about financial sovereignty and the opportunities offered by digital assets. She became the first female retail crypto trader honored at NASDAQ for providing digital-asset microloans to women entrepreneurs through the United Nations.Karin also consults with decentralized exchanges and AI trading firms, serves as Texas Chapter President of the Association for Women in Crypto, and speaks on behalf of the National Cryptocurrency Association. This fall, she begins pursuing her J.D. at the University of Dayton School of Law.To learn more about Karin, visit karinkusano.com.Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, tax, legal, or retirement planning advice. Every individual's financial situation is unique. Before making decisions regarding your investments, Social Security, Medicare, or retirement income, please consult with qualified financial, tax, or legal professionals who can provide guidance based on your personal circumstances.

What if the pieces of your life that didn't go according to plan were actually leading you somewhere better? Amy Peterson had a dream. From the age of 14, she wanted to become the first female general manager of a Major League Baseball team. She built her education around that goal, fought her way into professional baseball, and eventually became an attorney for the Detroit Tigers.But the career she thought was her calling ultimately led her to something very different.In this episode of Smart Women Talk, Katana sits down with Amy, Founder and CEO of Rebel Nell, a Detroit social enterprise that transforms fallen graffiti into beautiful jewelry while creating employment and opportunity for women facing barriers to work.You'll discover:How Amy turned discarded pieces of Detroit graffiti into a business built around purposeWhat the women of Rebel Nell taught her about resilience, confidence, and second chancesWhy the systems designed to help women escape poverty can sometimes make moving forward even harderHow creativity and meaningful work can help women rediscover their confidence and worthWhat Amy learned when the career she'd dreamed about since childhood wasn't ultimately where she found her purposeAt Rebel Nell, there's a rule: never fall in love with the top layer—it's what's underneath that matters. That's pretty good advice for jewelry. It may be even better advice for life.Tune in and discover what can happen when we look beyond the surface, reclaim the pieces, and create something beautiful from what we find.Amy Peterson is the Founder and CEO of Rebel Nell, a women-owned social enterprise that transforms reclaimed materials into meaningful jewelry and gifts while creating employment, opportunity, and support for women facing barriers to work.Inspired by the stories and resilience of women living in a nearby shelter, Amy built Rebel Nell on the belief that business can be a powerful force for social change—combining workforce development with creativity, purpose, and economic empowerment.A former attorney for the Detroit Tigers and executive with RISE, Amy has built a career at the intersection of business, community impact, and social change. She also co-founded The Congregation and The Rectory, two projects dedicated to breathing new life into community spaces in Detroit.To learn more about Amy, visit rebelnell.com.

What if your best years are still ahead?For many women, getting older comes with an unspoken expectation that it's time to slow down, play it safe, and accept that certain adventures belong to a younger version of ourselves.Dr. Peggi Tabor has a very different idea.At 82, Peggi is training as a competitive swimmer, recently returned from scuba diving in the Red Sea, and is already planning her next diving adventure. And this isn't a new philosophy for her—at 60, she left behind a successful corporate career and joined the Peace Corps, spending two years serving in a remote village in Africa.In this episode of Smart Women Talk, Katana sits down with Peggi to explore how we can stay active, curious, connected, and excited about life at every age.You'll discover:Why staying active becomes even more important as we ageHow meaningful relationships can influence our health and happinessSimple practices for managing stress and responding to life's challengesWhy gratitude, mindfulness, and lifelong learning matterHow purpose—big or small—gives us a reason to keep moving forwardWhy it's never too late to try something new, challenge yourself, or plan your next adventureYour age doesn't determine how fully you get to live.And if you've ever wondered whether your best years are behind you, Peggi has two words for you:Think again.Tune in and discover how to make the years ahead some of your very best.Dr. Peggi Tabor is a credentialed integrated wellness coach, educator, and lifelong advocate for personal growth and healthy aging.After a successful career with Xerox, where she designed and delivered training programs for managers in the United States and internationally, Peggi embarked on a very different kind of chapter.At age 60, she joined the Peace Corps and spent two years serving in Lesotho, Africa, where she worked alongside traditional healers to help address the HIV/AIDS epidemic and supported local communities in establishing small businesses.Peggi holds an MBA in Marketing and Communications, an MS in Metaphysical Science, and a PhD in Philosophy. Today, she continues to inspire others to stay curious, active, engaged, and purposeful at every stage of life.You can reach out to Peggi at [email protected].

What if the best investment you could make isn't in things—but in experiences?So many of us dream about traveling "someday." Someday when life slows down. Someday when the kids are older. Someday when retirement finally arrives.But what if someday is today?In this episode of Smart Women Talk, Katana Abbott sits down with storyteller and worldschooling advocate Lauren Ferrara to explore how one family's decision to spend a month each year living abroad transformed the way they travel, parent, and experience life.You'll discover:Why meaningful travel is about connection—not checking destinations off a listHow cultural immersion helps children (and adults) see the world differentlyWhy experiences often create stronger family bonds than material thingsHow travel can strengthen relationships and shift your perspective on what really mattersSimple ways to begin your own adventure—without waiting for retirementYou don't have to sell everything you own or travel the world for years.Sometimes all it takes is deciding that "someday" starts now.Tune in and discover why the best time to create meaningful memories may be sooner than you think.Lauren Ferrara is a storyteller, former television news anchor, and founder of Why Wait Stories, a documentary film company dedicated to preserving family histories through beautifully crafted legacy films. After nearly 15 years in broadcast journalism, Lauren shifted her focus from reporting the news to capturing the stories that matter most—helping families preserve their memories and connect across generations.Lauren and her husband are raising two daughters in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where they have embraced worldschooling as a way to learn beyond the classroom. Each year, the family spends a month living and learning abroad, immersing themselves in local cultures, languages, and communities. From Guatemala to Peru, their travels have reinforced Lauren's belief that some of life's greatest lessons come from curiosity, stepping outside your comfort zone, and seeing the world through someone else's eyes.Learn more about Lauren at whywaitstories.com.Resources mentioned by Laura: Worldschoolers Facebook GroupsDeliberate Detour - https://deliberatedetour.com/Culture Chalk - https://www.culturechalk.org/

What if one decision could increase your retirement income for the rest of your life?  In this eye-opening episode of Smart Women Talk, Katana Abbott sits down with nationally recognized Social Security expert and Certified Financial Planner™ Mary Beth Franklin to help women understand one of the most important financial decisions they'll ever make—when to claim Social Security benefits.  From choosing the right claiming age to understanding special rules for married, divorced, and widowed women, Mary Beth explains how thoughtful planning can help maximize lifetime income while avoiding costly mistakes that could permanently reduce your benefits.  You'll discover:Why retirement and claiming Social Security are two separate decisionsHow your claiming age can dramatically affect your lifetime incomeSpecial claiming strategies for married, divorced, and widowed womenCommon Social Security mistakes—and how to avoid themHow to maximize survivor benefits for your familyImportant changes under the Social Security Fairness ActWhen a Social Security "do-over" may still be possible  Whether retirement is just around the corner or still years away, this conversation provides practical guidance every woman should understand before filing for benefits.  The decisions you make today could impact your retirement income for decades to come.  Mary Beth Franklin is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional, veteran financial journalist, and nationally recognized expert on Social Security, Medicare, and retirement income planning. Based in Washington, D.C., she has spent decades helping Americans make informed financial decisions through her writing, speaking, and educational programs. Mary Beth is a sought-after speaker on Social Security and Medicare, a former columnist for InvestmentNews, former Tax and Retirement Editor at Kiplinger Personal Finance, and former congressional correspondent for United Press International. She is also a frequent guest on radio and television programs and hosted the popular Retirement Repair Shop podcast for seven seasons.  To learn more about Mary Beth, visit www.marybethfranklin.com.Smart Women Talk Disclaimer:The information shared in this episode is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, tax, legal, Medicare, Social Security, or retirement planning advice. Every individual's circumstances are unique. Before making decisions regarding your investments, retirement income, or government benefits, please consult with qualified professionals who can provide guidance based on your personal goals and financial situation.