More Than a Diagnosis: Kellye Smith on Chronic Illness, Identity, and Advocacy
Release Date: 06/03/2025
Bright Beginnings for Bright Kids with Gina Englund
Inside Source
What if the very traits that make learning harder in a traditional classroom are the same traits that fuel creativity, innovation, and leadership? In this episode of Inside Source, Gina Englund, founder and director of Bright Academy, shares how her work with dyslexic learners is helping students rediscover confidence, build essential skills, and see themselves in a new light. This is a powerful conversation about advocacy, education, and the importance of creating environments where different kinds of learners can truly thrive.
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Plan, Prioritize, and Lead with Purpose: Amanda Fontaine on Success That Serves Others
Inside Source
Amanda Fontaine, president of the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters and founder of She Gets Success, joins Inside Source to share how intentional planning, strong teams, meaningful networking, and effective time management have shaped her leadership journey. From choosing three daily priorities to redefining success beyond titles, Amanda offers practical encouragement for professional women who want to lead with confidence, protect their time, and make room for what matters most.
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Building a Legacy: Toya Barnes-Teamer & Tai Teamer on Leadership, Growth, and Generational Impact
Inside Source
In this episode of Inside Source, Mary Straton Smith sits down with Toya Barnes-Teamer and Tia Teamer for a meaningful conversation about legacy, leadership, and working alongside family. From the roots of Teamer Strategy Group to the ways the next generation is helping shape its future, this episode explores what it means to lead with excellence, stay open to growth, and create a business culture that values both innovation and people. It’s an inspiring look at how strong values can guide both a company and a family across generations.
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Belinda Stewart on Preserving History and Building Meaningful Places
Inside Source
What does it look like to build a career that strengthens both people and place? On this episode of Inside Source, Mary Straton Smith talks with architect Belinda Stewart about the work of preserving history, serving communities, and leading with vision in a profession that shapes everyday life. From small-town roots to lasting impact across Mississippi, this conversation offers thoughtful insight on leadership, creativity, and the power of designing with purpose.
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How Leisha Pickering Built Musee Bath with Purpose and Heart
Inside Source
On this episode of Inside Source, Mary Straton Smith talks with Musee Bath founder Leisha Pickering about the journey from a small creative idea to a thriving international business. Leisha reflects on motherhood, leadership, personal adversity, and why creating opportunity for others has remained central to her company’s mission.
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Building Opportunity Through Trust: The Hartwell Story
Inside Source
What happens when trust, relationships, and opportunity come together? In this episode of Inside Source, host Mary Straton Smith sits down with Hartwell Furr and Brenley Rinuado, co-founders of the Hartwell Collective, to discuss how the seasonal Nanny Network evolved into a people-first staffing partner creating real career pathways for young women. From grassroots beginnings to long-term community building, this conversation highlights the power of relationships, integrity, and saying yes before you have it all figured out.
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Between the Cracks of History: Giving Voice to the Women We Never Learned About
Inside Source
In this episode of Inside Source, we sit down with historical fiction author Gabriella Saab to explore how untold women’s stories shape the way we understand identity, resilience, and belonging. From her journey as a lifelong writer with a background in marketing to becoming a traditionally published author, Gabriella shares how curiosity, research, and creative discipline come together to bring forgotten moments of history back to life. We talk about her process for balancing historical accuracy with imagination, how she chooses the pivotal moments in history she wants to explore,...
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Service Before Strategy: How Roberta Swann Built Lasting Impact at the Table
Inside Source
What does it take to bring scientists, business leaders, government officials, and communities together around a shared vision? In this episode, Roberta Swann of the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program shares her unexpected journey from economics and community development into environmental leadership. She reflects on partnership-building, long-term thinking, conservation as quality-of-life strategy, and why listening, service, and faith have shaped the way she leads.
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Making Wellbeing Human Again: Carrie Smith on Purpose, Resilience, and Caring for College Students
Inside Source
What if wellness wasn’t something extra—but essential? In this heartfelt conversation, Carrie Smith, Director of Student Care and Outreach at the University of Georgia, shares her winding career journey from corporate PR in New York to founding a groundbreaking student support program in Athens. Carrie opens up about mental health, meaningful pivots, and the power of simply “taping ankles”—creating space for students to be heard, seen, and supported. From suicide prevention (QPR training) to why back-to-school photos can unexpectedly trigger deep reflection, this episode is an honest...
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Using Your Voice: Sandra Klaich on Confidence, Career Growth, and Building an Authentic Brand
Inside Source
From Mississippi to Capitol Hill, Sandra Sentell Klaich has built a career on connection, courage, and authenticity. In this episode of Inside Source, we sit down with Sandra, Vice President of Government Affairs at Amentum, to talk about mentorship, navigating male-dominated spaces, and why using your voice can change everything. She channels her experiences into real-world lessons on confidence, self-advocacy, personal branding, and mentoring the next generation, and shares them through her program Unspoken, where she gives real-world tips to young women in the early stages of their careers....
info_outlineWhat happens when life brings a diagnosis you never saw coming? In this deeply personal episode of Inside Source, Kellye Smith opens up about living with a chronic, invisible illness while raising three boys, leading in the workforce, and redefining what success looks like. From navigating seizures and wheelchairs to showing up with purpose and humor, Kellye shares hard-earned wisdom on resilience, identity, and advocating for a more compassionate workplace. Her story is a reminder that anyone can become “the one”—and that with the right support, we all can thrive.