How She Does It

It was the role of a lifetime: Angelica Schuyler in the Broadway phenomenon “Hamilton.”  But Renée Elise Goldsberry turned down the audition. Not just once, but multiple times.   As she explains to Karen Finerman in this episode and in her new documentary “Satisfied,” it was at that same moment that the family Renée had fought so hard to create was finally coming together.  She and husband Alexis had just brought home their daughter Brielle, adopted from Ethiopia. She joined big brother Benjamin to make their family of four. After years of infertility struggles, Renée was ready to spend her energy being a mom to her very young children.  That was her plan, until her manager implored her to at least listen to the music from what was then called “The Hamilton Mixtape.”  In the moment that she first heard Lin-Manuel Miranda singing the demo for “Satisfied,” she knew she wanted the part.  She got it, and the rest is Broadway history.  Renée’s versatility as a singer and actress has served her well since then: she starred in the musical comedy series “Girls5Eva” and can now be seen in Oscar-winner Kathryn Bigelow’s new film “A House of Dynamite” on Netflix.  In it, she plays the first lady as the president, played by Idris Elba, is facing a nuclear crisis.   💬 In this episode, we explore: Renée’s memories of “Hamilton” from its workshop days to its recent 10th anniversary celebration  How Renée managed the demands of a mega-hit Broadway musical while raising young children Behind the scenes of her new documentary "Satisfied,' and how fellow actresses Kelli O’Hara and Audra McDonald supported her  Why her new album “Who I Really Am” is her most personal work yet  How Renée knew her husband Alexis Johnson was the right one for her The role faith has played in both Renée’s personal and professional life  The good advice her “Girls5Eva” co-star Paula Pell gave her about managing anxiety The coveted birthday present Renée gives to her friends and family  And the exciting text John Mulaney sent Renée and her fellow castmates of “Documentary Now! Original Cast Album: Co-Op” 🔗 Visit Renée Elise Goldsberry’s website 🔗 For Information on the SATISFIED Documentary  🔗 For information on Netflix’s A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE 🎧 Listen To Renee’s New Album, Who I Really Am  📸 Follow Renée Elise Goldsberry on Instagram 📸 Follow Renée Elise Goldsberry on TikTok 📸 Follow the show on Instagram: @hsdipodcast 🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“My whole life, people have been saying you're funny,” recalled Zarna Garg. “But if you are an Indian person, what do you do with that? That means nothing to us. Like if you are good at math, you become an accountant. What do you do with funny?” Lucky for audiences, Zarna figured it out and has become one of comedy’s hottest acts.  She’s mined her upbringing in India and a say-exactly-what-she’s-thinking attitude into comedy success.   On this episode, both Zarna and her daughter Zoya, a Stanford graduate who is now working closely with her mom, chat with Karen Finerman about their approach to building the business of Zarna Garg.  That includes tours, a New York Times best-selling memoir, a robust social presence, a family podcast, and more.    But they’re not resting on their laurels.  “I am really focused on the mission,” Zoya shared.  “I really believe [Zarna’s business] is going to be a really big thing one day. And I find so much purpose in that.” 💬 In this episode, we explore: Zarna’s upbringing in Mumbai, and how she left for the United States to avoid an arranged marriage during her teen years  How Zoya convinced Zarna, a stay-at-home mom and serial entrepreneur, to give comedy a try  Zarna’s unapologetic expectations for her kids, and how they’ve been able to meet them  How Zoya handles having her mother as a boss Zarna & Zoya’s relentless drive to grow their business.  Resources: 🔗 For Tour Info & More, Visit Zarna Garg’s Website  🔗 Play Grades With Gargs  📸  Follow Zarna Garg on Instagram 📸  Follow Zoya Garg on Instagram 📸 Follow the show on Instagram: @hsdipodcast 💬 Enjoying the show? Follow How She Does It and leave us a review. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Being an elite athlete like Chelsea Sodaro requires a unique level of commitment. It’s about training full-time, year-round, for a handful of marquee races. None is bigger than the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaiʻi, a grueling 140-mile triathlon (a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike race, plus a full 26.2-mile marathon). In 2022, her rookie year, Chelsea not only outperformed her professional competitors, crossing the finish line in just under 8 hours and 34 minutes, but she did so just 18 months after giving birth to her daughter Skylar. In the process, Chelsea became only the second mother to win at Kona.   On this episode, Chelsea joins Karen Finerman to share how she rose to the top of her sport while overcoming postpartum anxiety and depression, struggles that were compounded by her difficulty with breastfeeding and finding reliable childcare. Now, as Chelsea prepares for the 2025 Ironman World Championship, she is using her platform to make her sport a more welcoming and equitable place for new mothers.    💬 In this episode, we explore: How Chelsa is approaching her 4th Ironman World Championship Chelsea’s strategies and mantra for pushing through discomfort and pain  Why Chelsea views the triathlon’s swim as the toughest leg of the race, and how she trains for it  How Chelsea has embraced the role of boss of her team, which includes coaches, dieticians, equipment specialists, and more The sacrifices Chelsea’s family has made for her to compete at this level  Chelsea’s perspective on how professional athletes are changing the conversation about sport and mental health  Why Chelsea views her marriage as a key component of her professional success Resources: Visit Chelsea Sodaro’s website  🔗 For Information on the “Unlocking Yes” Weekend  🔗 For information on the 2025 Iroman World Championship 📸  Follow Chelsea Sodaro on Instagram 📸 Follow the show on Instagram: @hsdipodcast 🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ballet’s biggest superstar, Misty Copeland, will be stepping off the stage as the Principal Dancer for the American Ballet Theater this fall after 25 years with the company.  So we thought this was a good time to revisit the conversation Misty and Karen Finerman shared during season 1 of the podcast.   To be a ballet dancer, you must be a dancer, an athlete, and a performer all at the same time. It is a competitive and complex hierarchy, with thousands of dancers funneling to just a small handful at the very top. There used to be an overwhelming lack of diversity in the professional ballet world, and Misty broke that barrier at ABT with her dedication and undeniable talent.  Since then, she has worked to increase the diversity of dancers on stage and widened the audience for this beautiful art form.  After retirement, she plans to continue using her voice as an author, producer, director of documentary films, and entrepreneur.  💬 In this episode: Misty shares the challenging circumstances she faced growing up How she was first introduced to ballet at the Boys & Girls Club at age 13 (which is late for those who turn professional)  Why she decided to stay with ABT after not being promoted as quickly as other dancers Her experience collaborating with Prince The unique public scrutiny she faced as she advanced in the company, and how she handled it  How being a dancer informed her role as a mom to her young son What she does if she forgets a move on stage (yes, it’s even happened to Misty Copeland!)  🔗 Resources & Links: 📲 Follow How She Does It on Instagram: @hsdipodcast👩‍💼 Learn more about Misty Copeland at mistycopeland.com 📸 Follow Misty on Instagram: @mistyonpointe 🎧 New episodes drop every Tuesday. Hit “Follow” so you never miss a moment. 💌 Join the HerMoney community: https://hermoney.com/subscribe/https://hermoney.com/subscribe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julia Boorstin, Senior Media & Tech Correspondent at CNBC and author of When Women Lead, dives into the evolving world of media and technology. She shares her journey from Princeton to Fortune, emphasizing the importance of a growth mindset in leadership. Julia advocates for embracing AI rather than fearing it, revealing its potential in journalism. She also discusses her research on women's leadership qualities and offers valuable advice for young professionals facing workplace biases.

In an engaging and revealing conversation, Bonnie Hammer opens up to Karen Finerman about her decades-long career in media: from “surviving” Barry Diller, to greenlighting “Suits” and overseeing a hugely successful portfolio of networks that prompted The New York Times to proclaim her the ”Queen of Cable TV.”   She recently wrapped up her time as vice chair at NBCUniversal and is set to take on a completely different adventure in her next role.     On this episode of How She Does It, Bonnie shares stories, strategies, and secrets behind her hard-won success, including the key skill she credits with her ability to navigate multiple mergers and leadership changes.  She’s the author of the best-selling book "15 Lies Women Are Told at Work: ...And the Truth We Need to Succeed," and is a sought-after mentor for women in the media industry. 💬 In this episode, we explore: The types of projects Bonnie’s new endeavor, Bonkars, will take on (hint: it may mean great news for your designer shoes!) Bonnie’s perspective on Versant, the future home to most of NBCUniversal’s cable networks Why she thinks “fake it ‘til you make it” is always the wrong move What Bonnie misses most (and what she does *not* miss) now that she is not attached to a big media company The story behind “Suits” and how Bonnie’s guidance impacted the hit show Why she believes it is critical to understand the difference between “professional value” and “personal value.”  Resources: Find out more about Bonnie Hammer, including her book 15 Lies Women Are Told at Work: ...And the Truth We Need to Succeed at www.Bonnie-Hammer.com Follow How She Does It on Instagram: @HSDIpodcast 💬 Enjoying the show? Follow How She Does It and leave us a review. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jennifer Weiner has a slew of bestselling novels to her name, including Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, Big Summer, and Mrs. Everything. The Breakaway and most recently, The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits. Her stories are filled with complex women and vital female relationships (think sisters, best friends, mothers & daughters, etc.). And she is on a mission to give her plus-sized protagonists “main character energy,” which includes plenty of romance - and never having them undergo some kind of redemptive, weight loss makeover.   On this episode of How She Does It, Jennifer shares with Karen Finerman her path to becoming a full-time author, her relationship with money (including why she never wants to be without money in the bank and what she did with her first big advance). Plus, she explains how the unfair scrutiny of young, famous women in the 1990s and early 2000s (like Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, and  Carnie Wilson) inspired The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits. 💬 In this episode, we explore: The influence of Toni Morrison on Jennifer’s writing Why Jennifer credits her career as a journalist for making her a better writer  Where Jennifer finds inspiration for her novels  The battles Jeninfer has fought with her publishers over her books’ cover images The cultural impact of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic on body positivity and acceptance  What Jennifer tells fellow authors when their books are optioned to be made into TV shows or movies  Resources: 🔗 Visit Jennifer’s website 📸  Follow Jennifer on Instagram 📸 Follow the show on Instagram: @hsdipodcast 🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re revisiting one of our favorite conversations from Season 1, Karen’s unforgettable sit-down with comedian and actress Leanne Morgan, who proves it’s never too late to chase a dream. Leanne’s career didn’t just bloom; it exploded in her late 50s. At 57, she went viral, landed a Netflix comedy special that racked up millions of views, and took the stage across the country. Since we first aired this episode, she’s been named to the Forbes 50 Over 50 list, starred in a film with Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell, and most recently launched her own Netflix sitcom, Leanne, produced by Chuck Lorre. In this candid and hilarious conversation, Leanne shares how she got her start selling jewelry at home parties — accidentally discovering she had the chops to make women laugh until they cried (or peed!), and how she carved her own path while raising three kids in small-town Tennessee. ✨ Topics Covered: The unlikely way Leanne discovered stand-up — during in-home jewelry sales parties Balancing comedy gigs with motherhood and midnight sets Why Leanne almost walked away from comedy in her 50s The big risk she took investing in social media (that changed everything) What Reese Witherspoon told her about finding success later in life How she keeps her sanity (and her eyelashes on) while touring three cities a weekend What happens when she forgets her jokes mid-show — and how the audience saves her The wisdom and humor she brings from generations of Southern storytellers 🔗 Resources & Links: 📲 Follow How She Does It on Instagram: @hsdipodcast👩‍💼 Learn more about Leanne Morgan and her tour at leannemorgan.com 📸 Follow Leanne on Instagram: @leannemorgancomedy👍 Follow Leanne on Facebook: Leanne Morgan Comedy🎧 New episodes drop every Tuesday. Hit “Follow” so you never miss a moment.💌 Join the HerMoney community: hermoney.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate Gallego was in her mid-30s, and her life, on paper at least, seemed to be going perfectly: she was serving on the Phoenix city council, married to a congressman, and newly pregnant after having tried for some time. But within a matter of months, as she recalls, “ my life just fell upside down all at once.”   Her marriage broke up, and her mother was diagnosed with late-stage cancer.  Meanwhile, her dream job, the mayor of Phoenix, unexpectedly became available when the incumbent resigned to run for another office.  At first, she was convinced the timing wasn’t right. But with the encouragement of her supporters (and once her son started to sleep through the night), she came to understand that timing is never perfect, and sometimes you just need to jump at an opportunity.  She ran and won that special election in 2019 at the age of 37. Mayor Kate Gallego, now in her third and final term, shares with host Karen Finerman what she is doing to future-proof her city, her approach to raising her son (and what he’s taught her), and how her mother’s illness motivated her to work to make life better for residents of Phoenix.   💡 In this episode: Despite being a natural introvert, she’s learned to speak up and work a room  Why having an MBA has served her well as mayor What role Phoenix is playing to protect national security and help your smartphones run safely  How she juggles raising her son with her ex-husband, who is now a U.S. senator  The steps the city of Phoenix is taking to make the city more livable in the heat 🔗 Resources & Links: Follow How She Does It on Instagram Follow Mayor Kate Gallego on Instagram Follow Mayor Kate Gallego on LinkedIn 🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re a Sex & The City fan, you know Lisa Todd Wexley (“LTW”), the stylish, accomplished New Yorker played by Nicole Ari Parker in And Just Like That. But here’s the real-life plot twist: Crystal McCrary McGuire — bestselling author, award-winning filmmaker, entrepreneur, and mom to NBA star Cole Anthony — inspired the character. Crystal joins host Karen Finerman to share how she left a top New York law firm to pursue a creative life, from penning New York Times bestsellers to producing groundbreaking documentaries. She opens up about raising a pro athlete, building a youth sports platform with Cole, and the discipline it takes to balance career, family, and passion projects. 💡 In this episode: "She Runs The World" - The Allyson Felix documentary on how the Olympian is changing the conversation on gender equality in sports The perks and challenges of running a business with Cole Anthony The daily practice she credits with transforming her into an artist The surprising way she learned about her “And Just Like That” connection The time management system that keeps her and husband Ray McGuire’s busy lives in sync 🔗 Resources & Links: Follow How She Does It on Instagram Follow Crystal McCrary McGuire on Instagram Info on the Game Up App  🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices