This Is Woman's Work with Nicole Kalil

We all have dreams—those aspirations that ignite our souls and push us toward greatness. Whether it's a childhood ambition or a newfound passion, the journey to achieving our dreams is filled with challenges, triumphs, and invaluable lessons. In this episode, we delve into the art of chasing big dreams and how to navigate the path to success. Our guest, Mandy Gonzalez, embodies the spirit of fearless pursuit. At 19, she left college to sing backup for Bette Midler, marking the beginning of an illustrious career. Mandy's Broadway debut was in Aida, and she went on to originate the role of Nina Rosario in Lin-Manuel Miranda's In the Heights, earning a Drama Desk Award. She captivated audiences as Elphaba in Wicked and portrayed Angelica Schuyler in the megahit Hamilton for six years. Beyond the stage, Mandy has appeared in TV shows like Madam Secretary, Bull, Quantico, and Only Murders in the Building. She's also the author of the Fearless young adult book series and the founder of the social media movement #FearlessSquad, promoting inclusivity and empowerment. In this episode, Mandy shares her journey, the obstacles she overcame, and the mindset that propelled her forward. She emphasizes the importance of taking risks, embracing failures as learning opportunities, and staying true to oneself. Connect with Our Guest: Mandy Gonzalez Website: https://mandygonzalez.com/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/mandy.gonzalez/  Related Podcast Episodes: Holler At Your Dreams with Judi Holler | 211 How To Build Courage with Dr. Margie Warrell | 273 7 Keys To Unlock Your Dynamic Drive with Molly Fletcher | 229 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're caught somewhere between lovingly shoving your kid out of the nest—or holding on for dear life—this episode is for you. Because sending them off to college is equal parts exciting and terrifying. And let’s be honest… it’s not just about them growing up, it’s about us figuring out how to let go. Our guest, Dr. Pamela Ellis, also known as The Education Doctor®, has empowered over 30,000 families to navigate the college process without drowning in stress—or debt. Through her company, Compass College Advisory, she’s helped students gain admission to their top-choice schools with a 95% success rate, securing an average of $75,000 in scholarships per student. She’s also the author of the best-selling book What to Know Before They Go: College Edition, offering parents a roadmap for college prep that actually makes sense. And she gets it—not just as an expert, but as a mom. So if you’re hoping for more confidence, less panic, and maybe even some money left in the bank, you’re in the right place. Because while we raise them to leave, we also want to be steady and ready for those moments they choose to come home. Connect with Our Guest: Dr. Pamela Ellis If you connect via socials below and send the code BLUEPRINT25 you'll get your free blueprint IG: https://www.instagram.com/drpamelaellis/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drpamelaellis/  FB: https://www.facebook.com/drpamela.ellis Yourtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theeducationdoctor  Website: https://compasscollegeadvisory.com/    Related Podcast Episodes: The Good Mother Myth with Nancy Reddy | 274 How To Raise A Citizen with Lindsey Cormack | 241 5-Steps To Making Big Decisions with Abby Davisson | 222 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve been telling yourself someday about writing a book, it’s time to make someday today. Writing a book isn’t just for a select few—it’s for anyone willing to commit to the process. And if you want to take your book from bucket list to bookshelf within the next year or two (instead of the next decade), this episode is for you. Our guest, Michelle Savage, is an international best-selling author, keynote speaker, and founder of Sulit Press, a boutique publishing house amplifying the voices of women entrepreneurs, executives, and creatives. Through her multi-author publishing program, she’s helped countless professionals become bestselling authors while giving back—donating proceeds from collaborative projects to nonprofits supporting children in need. Michelle is passionate about helping women uncover their unique stories and believes that everyone has a powerful story worth telling—and telling well. The truth about writing a book? It’s messy. It’s hard. And it’s worth every second. So, let’s stop waiting and start writing. Whether it’s one word, one chapter, or one big leap of faith, every step you take moves you closer to turning your dream into a reality. Connect with Our Guest: Michelle Savage Website:  https://www.sulitpress.com/   Free Workbook: https://www.sulitpress.com/procrastination-to-publication-writing-exercise IG: https://www.instagram.com/sulitpressbooks/ LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-savage-43032659/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/SulitPress Related Podcast Episodes: 109 / Why Every Entrepreneur Should Write A Book With Anna David Why RomComs Heal Our Hearts with Lauren Layne | 256 How To Land Your TED Talk and Skyrocket Your Personal Brand with Ashley Stahl | 250 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

True leadership isn’t about mastering executive skills—it’s about mastering yourself. That’s the message at the heart of today’s episode, where we explore how leaders can grow from the inside out. Because leadership is a journey, not a destination, and the best leaders never stop evolving. Our guest, Dana Maor, is the global co-head of McKinsey’s People & Organizational Performance Practice and serves on McKinsey’s Knowledge Council. As a senior partner and co-dean of multiple leadership programs, she helps leaders transform not only their organizations but also themselves. Dana is also the co-author of The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs Learn to Lead from the Inside Out, a book that offers a fresh take on leadership development through inner work. In today’s fast-changing world, leading from the inside out isn’t just a strategy—it’s a necessity. When you commit to that inner work, you’re not just leading—you’re reshaping what leadership looks like for everyone around you. Connect with Our Guest: Dana Maor Website:  https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/dana-maor   LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-maor-046455212/  Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/734088/the-journey-of-leadership-by-dana-maor-hans-werner-kaas-kurt-strovink-and-ramesh-srinivasan/   Related Podcast Episodes: Lead Bigger with Anne Chow The Sixth Level of Leadership with Dr. Stacy Feiner Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cheryl K. Johnson, a researcher and food and fitness enthusiast, introduces the innovative Box Lunch Lifestyle, a method for reclaiming your lunch break. She emphasizes the power of a mindful lunch to reset your mind and boost your energy, challenging listeners to prioritize this often-overlooked meal. Cheryl shares practical strategies for building a personal lunch routine and integrating enjoyable habits into your day. It’s a call to stop settling for quick fixes and start nourishing both body and mind!

Have you been hesitating, overthinking, or waiting for permission to pursue the life you truly want? On this episode of This Is Woman’s Work, we’re diving into the art of living boldly and taking risks that ignite your passions. Our guest, Anne Marie Anderson, is the embodiment of audacity. She’s a three-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, author of Cultivating Audacity, and keynote speaker who built her remarkable career by embracing bold risks and breaking barriers. Fresh out of college, Anne Marie stepped into ESPN’s offices and forged her path to becoming one of the most experienced female play-by-play announcers in the country. Along the way, she covered some of the world’s top athletes, coaches, and executives, learning how boldness creates opportunity and success. In this episode, Anne Marie shares her proven system for confronting fear, overcoming hesitation, and stepping into your power. Whether it’s a career move, creative project, or personal goal, this conversation will inspire you to take up space, claim what’s yours, and live boldly. As Anne Marie reminds us: "The only people who never upset anyone are the ones who never do anything at all." Connect with Anne:  Website: https://annemarieanderson.com/  Book: https://www.amazon.com.au/Cultivating-Audacity-Dismantle-Doubt-Risks/dp/1646871693 IG: https://www.instagram.com/annemarieandersontv/ LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-marie-anderson-3557ab39/ Related Podcast Episodes: 7 Keys To Unlock Your Dynamic Drive with Molly Fletcher | 229 How To Defy Expectations with Dr. Sunita Sah | 271 093 / The Audacity To Be Queen with Gina DeVee Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How good are you at telling the difference between a fling and the real thing? In this episode of This Is Woman’s Work, we’re diving deep into relationship red flags and how to spot them early to avoid future heartache. Our guest, Monica Berg, author of Fear Is Not an Option, Rethink Love, and The Gift of Being Different, brings her unique insights to the conversation. Monica co-hosts the Spiritually Hungry Podcast and serves as Co-Director & Chief Communications Officer for Kabbalah Centre International. Known for her authenticity and fearless approach, she encourages us to recognize our extraordinary potential while navigating the complexities of relationships with compassion and clarity. Let’s be honest: even the best relationships have rough patches. They require courage, honesty, and a lot of self-awareness. The key is paying attention to what people show you consistently—it’s usually more telling than what they say. Ignoring red flags only invites future heartache. The relationships we choose, whether romantic or platonic, are powerful reflections of the life we’re building. If your relationship is one where both people are winning, keep putting in the work, keep communicating, and keep choosing each other. And if it’s not? You know what needs to be done—move on. Connect with Monica Berg:  Website:   https://rethinklife.today/  Books: https://rethinklife.today/books/ Podcast: https://www.spirituallyhungrypodcast.com/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/monicarberg74  FB: https://www.facebook.com/monicaberg74 Related Podcast Episodes: Do You Believe in Love? with Arielle Ford Connecting To Your Inner Love Coach with Nicole Moore Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Parenting comes with a lot of expectations, but have you ever stopped to ask where they come from? On this episode of This Is Woman’s Work, we unpack the myth of “the good mother” with Nancy Reddy, author of The Good Mother Myth. Nancy shares her personal experience of confronting the unrealistic ideal of motherhood: endlessly patient, always available, and completely selfless. She hilariously and heartbreakingly debunks these outdated ideals, rooted in flawed mid-20th-century research by figures like Harry Harlow and Dr. Spock. Nancy explains how bad science from the past continues to haunt modern parenting, creating pressure, guilt, and shame for today’s mothers. But this conversation is about more than debunking myths—it’s about empowerment. Because when you prioritize what matters and let go of perfectionism, you’re not just doing woman’s work—you’re modeling it. Connect with Nancy: Newsletter: https://nancyreddy.substack.com/  Book: https://read.macmillan.com/lp/the-good-mother-myth-9781250336644/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/nancy.o.reddy/  Essay: I Was Promised That The “Golden Hour” Would Make Me A Mom:  https://slate.com/human-interest/2022/04/golden-hour-c-section-bonding-attachment-baby-friendly-hospitals.html Related Podcast Episodes: 126 / The Parenting Map with Dr. Shefali 090 / Unmasking Modern Motherhood with Katherine Wintsch 155 / Executive Motherhood with Ashley Quinto Powell Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The word "courage" often gets thrown around in ways that dilute its true meaning. It’s not about fearlessness or recklessness—it’s about trusting yourself enough to take meaningful action despite fear. This episode of This Is Woman’s Work sets the record straight on what courage actually looks and feels like, and how it’s the foundation for growth, success, and self-trust. Our guest, Dr. Margie Warrell, is a five-time bestselling author, international keynote speaker, leadership coach, and Forbes columnist. With 25 years of experience working globally, Margie is dedicated to helping people face their fears, unlock their potential, and live bravely. From her humble beginnings on a small farm in Australia to her roles as a Senior Partner at Korn Ferry and an Advisory Board member for the Forbes School of Business & Technology, Margie embodies the courage she teaches. In this conversation, Margie shares how courage closes the gap between self-doubt and self-trust, hesitation and action, and fear and possibility. She invites us to see courage not as an extraordinary trait, but as a practice that builds bridges to the lives we truly want. As Margie says, “Fear creates the gap. It’s courage that closes it.” Connect with Dr. Margie Warrell: Website: https://margiewarrell.com/  Book: https://www.amazon.com/Courage-Gap-Steps-Braver-Action/dp/1523007249 Related Podcast Episodes: 141 / How Regular Women Take Risks with Liz Deacle 181 / Stress Less and Fear(Less) with Rebecca Heiss 197 / Fear & Failure (Part 1) with Amy Green Smith Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The lack of maturity we’ve come to tolerate in leadership today is astounding. Impulsiveness isn’t authenticity, volume isn’t strength, and tantrums definitely aren’t leadership. True leadership demands emotional maturity, and that’s exactly what we’re exploring in this episode of This Is Woman’s Work. Our guest, Dr. Christie Smith, is an author, international speaker, and advisor with over 35 years of experience guiding Fortune 500 C-Suite leaders on strategy, culture, and leadership. She’s held executive positions at Accenture, Deloitte, and Apple and is the founder of The Humanity Studio™, a media, research, and advisory institute revolutionizing the way we work to improve the way we live. Her new book, Essential: How Distributed Teams, Generative AI, and Global Shifts are Creating a New Human Powered Leader, just hit the shelves. Dr. Smith joins us to discuss how emotional maturity is a superpower for women in leadership. This conversation is an invitation to embrace the challenge of leadership—not just with confidence and capability but with presence, groundedness, and a willingness to grow. Because leadership isn’t about being powerful or perfect—it’s about being human. Connect with Dr. Christie Smith: Website: http://www.thehumanitystudio.com/  Book: https://www.smith-monahan.com/  Related Podcast Episodes: Lead Bigger with Anne Chow | 253 The Sixth Level Of Leadership with Dr. Stacy Feiner | 236 Who’s Entitled Now?! with Dr. Jessica Kriegel | 237 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices