20 Minutes with Bronwyn

I am THRILLED to share my latest conversation with the amazing, talented, and powerful performance coach, Ben Kiker.    Ben is a regular on this show because every single time we talk, he casually drops a few statements that not at all casually blow our minds.   Today Ben and I are talking about leadership. Specifically, brave and resilient leadership.   The past several years have been challenging for everyone, and leaders are no exception. So many of my clients right now are struggling to keep their teams motivated, connected, and joyful … burnout is hiding around every corner it seems. This conversation is my effort to shed light on strategies that help leaders lead during this time of energetic and almost spiritual dryness.    The kind of dryness that comes from too many crises … or the “perma crisis” we seem to find ourselves in.   Ben’s words are like an oasis in what can sometimes feel like a work life desert.   You can find Ben on Instagram and Linkedin @benkiker, and on his website thebenkikergroup.com

When I think about evolution, I think about mostly men’s bodies evolving. Maybe it’s because every image I’ve ever seen depicts MAN moving from knuckle-dragging primate to upright-standing, prefrontal cortex-wielding Super Species.   But what is the story of women’s bodies?   Deena Emera, PhD, is an evolutionary geneticist, author, and teacher. She earned a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley, a master’s degree from NYU, and a PhD from Yale. She currently serves as a senior scientist at the Buck Institute’s Center for Reproductive Longevity and Equality. She’s with us this week to talk about her new book, A Brief History of the Female Body: An Evolutionary Look at How and Why the Female Form Came to Be.    Deena draws on her expertise as a biologist and experience as a mother of four to explore the mysteries of the female body through an evolutionary lens.    We covered a LOT of territory, including pressing questions like …   Did our bodies evolve to give us choice in our reproductive systems? (THIS BLEW MY MIND) What’s the evolution of the female orgasm? Why is it so different from men’s? Why are women more prone to auto-immune diseases? Is the “martyr mother” archetype something that evolved because of our biology, or is it the culture at play?   I could not get enough of this conversation … my jaw was on the floor for most of it, so just prepare yourself. ;)   Find Deena on Instagram, Twitter (X?!), or LinkedIn @deenaemera .   Shine on, my friends.  

Today, my friends ... we are talking about … wait for it … WEED. CBD. THC. Why? Because I have noticed, as have many other friends who are my contemporaries … that at a certain point in life, alcohol stops being helpful as a method of winding down.   For the longest time, I was able to have a nice glass of wine or cocktail to mark the end of the day … I would sip it and make dinner, and then go to sleep. No big deal.   Now? It’s like my body has decided to go on strike. If I drink alcohol, I get terrible sleep, I instantly gain weight, and even just a single drink can make me feel like the bottom of the bird cage the next day.   But here’s the thing: I don’t have positive associations with marijuana. I just don’t.     And then, as fate would have it, I met today’s guest, June Johnson who is a WEED DOULA. Yes, you heard that right. June is here to teach us the *right* way to think about and navigate the world of CBD.   June Johnson is an entrepreneur, model, and advocate. She is the founder of The Weed Doula, a self-care concierge that curates cannabis routines for her clients to seamlessly integrate cannabis into their lives for better living. She is also the Co-Founder of Collective High, a woman-owned company that creates unforgettable experiences with cannabis education, consumption, & culture at the forefront for the canna-confident & canna-connoisseur. Her mission is to make cannabis an exciting, accessible, & culture-forward experience for all and her goal is to create impactful changes & cultural representation within the fashion & cannabis spaces.    Prior to producing cannabis events, June created successful events for brands such as Paul Smith, Hennessy, Moët & Chandon, Deleón Tequila, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Fred Segal, adidas, Shiekh Shoes, etc. Though she has experience in numerous verticals, she specializes in producing events in the fashion, cannabis, entertainment, art & culture scenes. She has produced parties for exclusive clients during NYFW, NBA All-Star, Outside Lands, & The Grammy's.   But even with a bio as cool and compelling as that, what it doesn’t capture is June’s spirit. She is an angel on earth, and a blessing to everyone who knows her. I consider myself so lucky to have crossed her path, and I want to share her with you too. If you’d like to connect with June directly, which I highly recommend, book her at calendly.com/junejohnson; follow her on Instagram at @theweeddoula.com, and find her on her website theweeddoula.com.

When I graduated from college, my Grandmother gave me some advice. She said, "Bronwyn, get a government job. Maybe the DMV? Something that has a … pension."   And I get it. Survival = financial safety.   But that didn’t sit well with me. I wanted wealth. But that wasn’t something the women in my lineage could teach me. In fact, FEW women are taught how to create and GROW wealth.   But that’s what we’re talking about today.   My guest this week is Clara Vidyanath, founder of the 32 Cents Club, which is a private markets investment platform, designed BY women, FOR women.    “32 Cents” represents the wealth gap between men and women. And just to clarify, when it comes to wealth, WOMEN make 32 cents to every man’s dollar. Let that sink in, and fire up this episode. You are NOT gonna wanna miss it.  Check out https://www.32cents.com/ Find Clara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clara-vydyanath-cfa-cpa-14287316/

Do you ever have that feeling that … you’re losing your audience? Like maybe you’re over-talking, but you just don’t know how to stop? Well, my friend, you are NOT alone. This is something MOST of us struggle with at one time or another. Today, you are going to meet Sarah. She is a powerhouse coach, but she has that nagging suspicion that her inability to REIN IT IN may be costing her credibility when she’s giving a talk. In it, you will find practical and repeatable strategies for staying on message, on purpose and on FIRE from start to finish the next time you get up to present.  

Have you ever had the urge to make a change … to step out and try something new … only to be halted by the thought, “I’m too old. I’m too old to try to paint. I’m too old to start a new career. I’m too old to find love. I’m too old to strike out on my own.” Well if you have, you need a shot of Jen freaking Marples in your life. And that is what I’m about to serve up. Because Jen Marples has one thing to tell you: YOU ARE NOT TO FUCKING OLD. Jen Marples is a champion of the midlife woman and a cheerleader for ALL women. She’s an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, podcaster, coach, and leader in the midlife women’s empowerment movement. She puts midlife women first and preaches: You’re Not Too F***ing Old! to do whatever the F you want! Jen hosts The Jen Marples Show podcast, recently featured in Marin Magazine, Tiburon Belvedere Magazine, and Malibu Magazine. The show is dedicated to helping and inspiring midlife women embrace and rock the second and best half of life. Find Jen Here:   WEBSITE   LINKEDIN   INSTAGRAM   INSTAGRAM JEN MARPLES SHOW   TWITTER   FB GROUP   TIKTOK   LISTEN TO THE JEN MARPLES SHOW HERE:   APPLE   SPOTIFY

Feeling out of control? Stressed? Overwhelmed? What if relief was just one question away? My guest today is the fantastic and delightful Marc Champagne. Marc is a mental fitness strategist, host of the Behind the Human podcastan, and best selling author of Personal Socrates: Questions That Will Upgrade Your Life from Legends & World-Class Performers. Marc is a connoisseur of questions that will change you. He has gathered juicy questions and prompts from legends as wide ranging as Pablo Picasso, Robin Williams and Jane Austen. This conversation felt like a blood transfusion for me, and I hope it does the same for you my friend. Do yourself a huge favor and pick up his magical book Personal Socrates here. Find Marc on behindthehuman.com, and on LinkedIn, and give his podcast a listen here.

Friends, today you are going to meet Grace. Grace is struggling with something a LOT of us can relate to: How do you become your most powerful Self when you are recovering from a long season of stress, crisis, and debilitating fear. How do you bring calm, creativity and clarity of thinking when you have been in survival mode for so long, you feel like you're constantly being shot out of a cannon? In other words, how do you function in peace time when your body has been geared for war? This conversation takes us deep into the art of healing from the trauma's of the human experience, and how that healing can transform the way we communicate. You will also marvel at the generosity, honesty, and beauty in Grace's story and her experience. Can't wait to hear what you think!   

There are two types of people in the world … Those who secretly wonder if there’s a book inside them waiting to be written, and those who would never in a million years wonder such a thing. This episode is 100% dedicated to people in the former category.  My guest today is Linda Sivertsen, aka “book mama,” though she could just as easily be called “book doula,” such is her gift. LINDA is an author, ghostwriter, and coauthor of eleven books (including two NYT bestsellers), is the host of the top-rated Beautiful Writers Podcast and mentor to thousands of writers online and in-person. She pushed through all manner of rejection to realize her dream to write bestselling books AND help save trees and fragile ecosystems. Linda and her work have been featured widely in the media, including Forbes.com, The New York Times, Inc., Extra, TeenVogue, CNN, HuffPost, Glamour, Los Angeles Times, CARMEL magazine, and on the TEDWomen stage. She loves micro-blogging about all things writing (and dogs and horses!) on social media and blogs regularly at BookMama.com from her ranch office in Scottsdale, Arizona.   Today, she is here to talk to us about her beautiful new book, Beautiful Writers: A Journey of Big Dreams & Messy Manuscripts - with Tricks of the Trade from Best Selling Authors.   This book is a MUST HAVE for anyone who loves books about writing, but especially for those craving insight into the craft from brilliant writers like Cheryl Strayed, Terry McMillan, Tom Hanks, Steven Pressfield, Elizabeth Gilbert, and the list just goes on and on. It’s shocking how many beautiful writers are featured in this book, alongside Linda’s very own writing journey. If you’ve ever wondered about your capacity to write a book—fiction or non fiction—pour yourself a mug of something cozy, and let’s dive in. Linda on Instagram: @linda_sivertsen Beautiful Writers Podcast

Captivating. Isn’t that a great word?   When someone is captivating, the audience is 100% on their side, and 100% engrossed with whatever it is they are saying.    Today, you are going to meet "Jess." Jess is on a quest to become more captivating in the courtroom. Jess is a criminal defense lawyer, and her ability to win over a jury can mean the difference between incarceration and freedom.   But here’s the thing—she is a seasoned professional. She’s already good at what she does. But she wants to become truly great.   I loved this conversation because 1) I LOVE it when someone as accomplished as Jess seeks ways to level up, and 2) the dynamics of public speaking and influence in a court room setting are fascinating as you will soon hear. The stakes are high, the content that has to be conveyed is nuanced and complicated, and the audience? Well the audience can range from sophisticated and informed to unsophisticated and deeply uninformed. How on earth do you move an audience that diverse?    Whether you are interested in courtroom drama or not, you may be able to relate to Jess’ struggle to balance nuance and complexity with the need to communicate with simplicity and emotion. I guarantee you’ll take something useful away from this conversation, that’s how rich it was.   Shine on, my friend.