

She What?
Jessica Downey & Maureen Petrosky
She What? invites you to join two friends and dig into the personal and often surprising stories of women who inspire them. And here, she tells the whole story. The failing. The thriving. The friends she made along the way. The pain she endured. The triumphs she celebrated. How she reinvented herself. Need a dose of inspiration? It’s here. Need a fresh perspective? We got that, too.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 13, 2025 • 31min
When Your Body Betrays You: Tori Foles
Tori Foles was a former Division I volleyball player who—like all athletes—knew her own body. But when a mysterious cascade of symptoms hit her at the age of 23, she initially faced a doctor who disregarded and diminished how she was feeling. In this episode, she shares how she fought for a diagnosis, and struggled to regain the life she'd once had. Today, she's a mom of three, a business owner, and wife of Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles. Her conversation with Jess and Maureen is a powerful reminder that chronic illness doesn’t define you—and that self-advocacy is vital.Follow Tori and the sweet lids (for dads AND moms) at Dad SZN.Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, visit us on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Producer and Host: Jess DowneyProducer and Host: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?Tell us about her!

Jul 30, 2025 • 22min
Off The Hook: Jessy Kyle
Chances are, you've got one very important thing in common with Jessy Kyle: You've spent most of your life wearing bras that don't fit quite right. For Jessy, a three-time cancer survivor (who, side note, has sung the national anthem for the Eagles), the problem was magnified when her doctors refused to do a breast reduction surgery. In this episode, she shares her remarkable story of beating the odds (again and again and again), finding gratitude in the little wins, and how she built a company around boosting confidence in her customers.Follow Jessy on IG, and find your perfect fit at Betterly Bra.For more, visit us on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Host and Producer: Jess DowneyHost and Producer: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?Tell us about her!

Jul 16, 2025 • 31min
Like A Superhero: Jannell MacAulay
What if one of your life’s biggest accomplishment started…on a dare? Jess and Maureen talk with Dr. Jannell MacAulay, a combat pilot, special operations consultant, TEDx speaker, mother of two—and, among so many other things, leader of a mission to remove and destroy chemical weapons from Syria (yeah, we know, she what???). Jannell talks about how she ended up in the Air Force, that insane Syria story, being a military mom, and how she's using the mindset that helped her thrive in high-stakes environments, to help others. Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, head to our Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Host and Producer: Jess DowneyHost and Producer: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?Tell us about her!

Jul 2, 2025 • 32min
Life After Cancer: Shanta Tailor
Shanta Tailor was living the life of a typical 20-something–hanging with friends, starting up a career, saving for a place of her own–when she felt a lump. What happens next is extraordinary as Shanta faced a series of health and personal crises that could have derailed her life completely. But instead, she found an inner superpower (and nerves of steel because now...skydiver). Today, she's using that power to help others make it through the hardest days of their lives, so they too can get to the amazing moments waiting on the other side. Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, visit us on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Host and Producer: Jess DowneyHost and Producer: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story? Tell us about her!

Jun 18, 2025 • 35min
The Rewards of Being Sober: Megan Cohen
Megan Cohen will tell you: She used to think she was above becoming a drug addict. She came from a good family and a nice area. She was smart. She knew better. And yet once her addiction took hold, she lost all control, eventually ending up homeless on the streets of Kensington. In this episode, she shares her story and the moments when real life angels offered her the hope she needed to believe recovery is possible. Today, she's channeling that same kindness and compassion for others facing similar challenges as the Founder and Creative Director of the Philadelphia Grace Project. Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, visit us on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Host and Producer: Jess DowneyHost and Producer: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story? Tell us about her!

Jun 4, 2025 • 30min
From Mrs. Doubtfire to Mission Flexible: Lisa Jakub
Lisa Jakub, also known as Lydia from the film Mrs. Doubtfire, left a thriving career in Hollywood at the age of 22 ("Everybody told me I was crazy."). In this episode, she talks about growing up as a child actor, the influence of her beloved friend and Doubtfire co-star, Robin Williams, her decision to leave acting, and how she discovered a powerful calling to help veterans. A mission that has been, literally, lifesaving.Learn more about Lisa on her website and her Insta.Watch this interview and access a transcript on our YouTube channel. For more, visit us on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Producer and Host: Jess DowneyProducer and Host: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story? Tell us about her!

May 21, 2025 • 36min
Dying For Sex (and So Much More): Nikki Boyer
What do you do when your beloved friend is dying to live a more sexually adventurous life before she loses her battle with cancer? Well, if you're Nikki Boyer, you start a podcast. Nikki is a singer, actress, Emmy winner, and the co-producer with her soulmate Molly of the hit podcast (turned Hulu series), Dying for Sex. We learn how she became an actor, met Molly, and how their friendship has changed her life, and is very likely changing how a lot of us think about–and talk about–sex and death. She made us laugh and cry, and want to love everyone around us a little bit harder. Want to watch this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, head to our Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCheck out the Dying for Sex podcast here and Hulu series here. Follow Nikki Boyer on Instagram.Credits:Host and Producer: Jess DowneyHost and Producer: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story? Tell us about her!

May 7, 2025 • 35min
From Jersey to Nepal: Maggie Doyne
How does a gap year after high school turn into a life in Nepal, raising more than 100 kids? No seriously. Over 100! Maggie Doyne joins Jess and Maureen to discuss the heartbreaks and high points of parenthood, finding love, and living a purpose-driven life.For more on Maggie’s work in Nepal, check out BlinkNow.Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, head to our Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Host and Producer: Jess DowneyHost and Producer: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story? Tell us about her!

Apr 23, 2025 • 31min
Embrace The Cringe: Kira Coviello
She’s an actress. A singer. A ventriloquist. A dancer. A hooker (the crochet kind). And so much more. Get to know Kira Coviello, aka Honest 2 Betsy, a social media phenom and generally hilarious human. She tells Jess and Maureen the wild story of how Betsy came to be and what she has in store for her. Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, head to our Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Host and Producer: Jess DowneyHost and Producer: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story? Tell us about her!

Apr 9, 2025 • 35min
The Perpetual Optimist: Vicky Nguyen
Hear the inspiring origin story of one of America’s top morning show correspondents, Vicky Nguyen. NBC’s TODAY show news anchor joins Jess and Maureen to talk about everything from gratitude, relationships, miscarriages, and the American Dream to her favorite Three’s Company character.Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, head to our Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Host and Producer: Jess DowneyHost and Producer: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?Tell us about her!


