Real Women's Work Podcast

Women are powerful. This is how we work.

Rebecca Nurse and The Danger of Being Human: The Salem Witch Trials and What They Reveal About Us 03/19/2026

Rebecca Nurse and The Danger of Being Human: The Salem Witch Trials and What They Reveal About Us This episode is part of Podcasthon, a global podcasting event spotlighting meaningful causes and stories that matter. What happens when fear becomes belief—and belief becomes certainty? In this episode, I speak with Kathryn Rutkowski, president of the Rebecca Nurse Homestead, about one of the most devastating stories from the Salem witch trials. Rebecca Nurse was a 71-year-old woman, deeply respected in her community, who was accused, tried, and executed for a crime she did not commit. But this conversation doesn’t stay in 1692. As we explore Rebecca’s story—her arrest, her quiet certainty in her innocence, and the people who risked everything to stand by her—we begin to uncover something deeper: how ordinary people become capable of extraordinary harm. We talk about fear, belief, moral panic, forgiveness, and what it means to remember history as something real—not distant, not abstract, but human. Because the question isn’t just what happened in Salem. It’s whether we are any different. In this episode, we explore: Who Rebecca Nurse was—and why her story stands out The role of fear, belief, and community in the Salem witch trials Why people truly believed what was happening What it meant to stand up for the accused—and the risks involved The power of remembering one person, not just an event How history becomes distorted—and how to reclaim its truth Ann Putnam Jr.’s apology and the complexity of forgiveness Why “we’re no better than the Puritans” might be true About Kathryn Rutkowski Kathryn Rutkowski is the president of the Rebecca Nurse Homestead in Danvers, Massachusetts. She began working there at 14 years old and has spent decades preserving and sharing the story of Rebecca Nurse with care, depth, and reverence. Final Thought “The further away history gets, the less connected people feel to the tragedy of it.” /episode/index/show/realwomenswork/id/40538610

What Happens When We Start Talking About Dying with Laura Cleminson 03/13/2026

What Happens When We Start Talking About Dying with Laura Cleminson What if talking about death actually helped us live better? In this episode of Real Women’s Work, Jen Keefe sits down with Laura Cleminson, a death doula and founder of the Pre-Dead Social Club, where people gather to talk openly about mortality, dying, and what matters most in life. Laura’s work began after walking alongside her mother through the dying process. That experience opened her eyes to something many of us never learn: we often face death without the language, awareness, or confidence to navigate it. Instead of avoiding these conversations, Laura helps people explore them together—because, as she says in this episode: “Every conversation about dying is really a conversation about living.” In this thoughtful and surprisingly hopeful conversation, Jen and Laura explore how becoming more aware of mortality can bring clarity, connection, and compassion into our everyday lives. In This Episode Why Laura believes there is no expert on death How her mother’s diagnosis changed the course of her life What a death doula actually does The story behind the Pre-Dead Social Club Why talking about dying helps people understand how they want to live The importance of asking medical providers “What happens if I do nothing?” How community conversations about mortality are helping people support loved ones through end-of-life experiences A Few Powerful Ideas From This Conversation “Every conversation about dying is really a conversation about living.” “There is no expert on death.” “If we talk about dying before we need to, we show up differently when it matters.” About Laura Cleminson Laura Cleminson is an end-of-life doula and the founder of the Pre-Dead Social Club, a growing community where people gather to have open conversations about mortality, dying, and living with greater awareness. Through community events, conversations, and education, Laura helps people develop what she calls death awareness—the ability to approach mortality with curiosity, clarity, and compassion. Connect With Laura Website: Instagram: About Real Women’s Work Real Women’s Work explores the lives, lessons, and perspectives of women doing meaningful work in the world—often work we rarely hear about. Through honest conversations, host Jen Keefe highlights the many ways women contribute, lead, and shape the world around them. Subscribe & Share If you enjoyed this conversation, please follow Real Women’s Work and share the episode with someone who might find it meaningful. /episode/index/show/realwomenswork/id/40420895

Brenda Sullivan, Gravestone Girls Part 2 02/26/2026

Brenda Sullivan, Gravestone Girls Part 2 Some people find their calling in the most unexpected places. And for Brenda Sullivan, that calling happened… in the cemetery. In this two-part conversation, I'm joined by the fascinating, funny, wildly knowledgeable founder of The Gravestone Girls — cemetery artists and historians who are helping people all over the country reconnect with history, symbolism, mortality, and the stories literally carved into stone. I first discovered Brenda's work a couple of years ago when my daughter and I attended one of her talks at a library here in New Hampshire. I honestly didn't know what to expect — I assumed it might be spooky or "oddity-adjacent." But within minutes of listening to her, my entire world expanded. What Brenda does is deeply fact-based, richly historical, and surprisingly emotional. She teaches us that cemeteries are not just places of death — they are places of culture, meaning, artistry, community, and connection. In Part One (Episode 69) Brenda shares her incredible story of leaving behind a high-powered corporate career — what she calls a "soul-sucking day job" — to fully step into the work she truly loved. She talks about: • Being a "corporate dropout" and finally changing her seat • How a hobby turned into a thriving business and national following • Why the cemetery world is much bigger and more mainstream than people assume • The surprising hunger people have to be "invited in" to these spaces • How gravestones tell us not only who died — but how people lived We also explore the powerful idea that the more specific you get about what you love, the bigger your world becomes. In Part Two (Episode 70) Our conversation deepens into the history and symbolism of early New England burial grounds. Brenda walks us through: • The earliest burial practices in the 1600s • Why colonial gravestones were meant as messages to the living • Winged skulls, hourglasses, soul symbols, and the "scared straight" visual language of death • How modern medicine has changed our relationship with mortality • Why Victorians picnicked in cemeteries — and what we've lost in our disconnection from death This is one of those conversations that makes you look at something familiar — a graveyard, a headstone, a symbol you've passed a hundred times — and suddenly see an entire world underneath it. Brenda is passionate, hilarious, deeply thoughtful, and proof that following what fascinates you can open doors you never imagined. This episode is split into two parts at around the 42-minute mark — so make sure to listen to both. I cannot wait for you to step into this world with us. Find Brenda and her work by . /episode/index/show/realwomenswork/id/40237160

Brenda Sullivan Founder, Gravestone Girls 02/13/2026

Brenda Sullivan Founder, Gravestone Girls Some people find their calling in the most unexpected places. And for Brenda Sullivan, that calling happened… in the cemetery. In this two-part conversation, I’m joined by the fascinating, funny, wildly knowledgeable founder of The Gravestone Girls — cemetery artists and historians who are helping people all over the country reconnect with history, symbolism, mortality, and the stories literally carved into stone. I first discovered Brenda’s work a couple of years ago when my daughter and I attended one of her talks at a library here in New Hampshire. I honestly didn’t know what to expect — I assumed it might be spooky or “oddity-adjacent.” But within minutes of listening to her, my entire world expanded. What Brenda does is deeply fact-based, richly historical, and surprisingly emotional. She teaches us that cemeteries are not just places of death — they are places of culture, meaning, artistry, community, and connection. In Part One (Episode 69) Brenda shares her incredible story of leaving behind a high-powered corporate career — what she calls a “soul-sucking day job” — to fully step into the work she truly loved. She talks about: Being a “corporate dropout” and finally changing her seat How a hobby turned into a thriving business and national following Why the cemetery world is much bigger and more mainstream than people assume The surprising hunger people have to be “invited in” to these spaces How gravestones tell us not only who died — but how people lived We also explore the powerful idea that the more specific you get about what you love, the bigger your world becomes. In Part Two (Episode 70) Our conversation deepens into the history and symbolism of early New England burial grounds. Brenda walks us through: The earliest burial practices in the 1600s Why colonial gravestones were meant as messages to the living Winged skulls, hourglasses, soul symbols, and the “scared straight” visual language of death How modern medicine has changed our relationship with mortality Why Victorians picnicked in cemeteries — and what we’ve lost in our disconnection from death This is one of those conversations that makes you look at something familiar — a graveyard, a headstone, a symbol you’ve passed a hundred times — and suddenly see an entire world underneath it. Brenda is passionate, hilarious, deeply thoughtful, and proof that following what fascinates you can open doors you never imagined. This episode is split into two parts at around the 42-minute mark — so make sure to listen to both. I cannot wait for you to step into this world with us. Find Brenda and her work by /episode/index/show/realwomenswork/id/40095280

Wendy Peirce Vice President of Sales, Alnoba Leadership and Team Development 01/29/2026

Life Coach for Mums with Trisha Gudka 01/10/2026

Cheryl Holling, Podcast Host and Voice Talent 11/27/2025

Sasha Graham, Host, Sports Will Save Us All Podcast 11/20/2025

What I Learned from the Women of the Salem Witch Trials 11/14/2025

Kathryn Rutkowski, President, The Rebecca Nurse House 11/07/2025

Paula Richter, Curator, Salem Witch Trials 1692 at the Peabody Essex Museum 10/30/2025

Paula Richter, Curator, Salem Witch Trials 1692 at the Peabody Essex Museum Deep down, I think we all know that history matters. Yet for many of us, the way we learned it in school made it feel distant and inaccessible. It was out of context — abstract, detached from real people and real lives. But when we recall a story from the past centered on an individual, something shifts. Suddenly, we’re interested. The details stop feeling like a “history lesson” and become a human story — something that happened to someone. We lean in, curious, engaged, wanting to know more. Paula Richter, curator of the Salem Witch Trials 1692 exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum, brings that human element to life. She not only personalizes the experiences of both the accusers and the accused, but also models a powerful way of thinking: that learning new perspectives matters. Evaluating information through a fresh lens can broaden our understanding and reshape our views. Recognizing that every story is influenced by countless factors — circumstances, relationships, and individual choices — helps us feel more connected to one another and to reality itself. By exploring the Salem Witch Trials more deeply, I’ve come to realize that we’re learning about far more than the late 1600s in what would become the United States. Gaining a clearer sense of what life was like then, how events unfolded, and how people responded in the aftermath reminds me that nothing is ever purely black and white. Living in the gray gives me more space for compassion, curiosity, and acceptance. Make no mistake: this episode focuses on the facts of the Salem Witch Trials as they’re currently understood. There was no intention to make it about anything else. Yet what I took away from this conversation — and from this entire series — has truly shaped me into a better version of myself. Listen in as Paula helps us uncover more about the individuals at the heart of the Salem Witch Trials — the accused, the accusers, the murdered, their neighbors, ministers, and government officials. They were all real people, and we talk about all of them. We also explore how we know so much about this period, and how our understanding of history continues to evolve as historians discover more and technology advances. Listen in now! /episode/index/show/realwomenswork/id/38851440

Rachel Christ-Doane, Salem Witch Museum Director of Education 10/24/2025

Rachel Christ-Doane, Salem Witch Museum Director of Education There is so much about the Salem With Trials that I had wrong. The more I dug in, the more I saw that all who were involved were real actual humans. They had famlies and jobs and homes and neighbors. Yet, so often when I thought of the Salem Witch Trials it was with an almost dark entertainment fascination- as though the people involved were not human at all. Rather, they were some kind of mutant variation stupid enough to let this happen around them. The more I learned, the more that time period became alive to me. I started to know the people by name. Know some of their background. Understand some of the relationships and circumstances. I learned the broader picture that included the European witch panic. Before I knew it, there was a reverence and deep sadness that came over me every time I thougth of the Salem Witch Trials. As I got to better know the people who were invovled I started to feel upset when people made jokes about them or when misunderstandings were perpetuated. This is what made me want to do this series. I wanted experts to not only help me learn more, but help anyone else who wanted to learn, too. Because now I know that history really does repeat itself and that if we removed "Salem Witch Trials" from this episode, listeners might wonder which event --historical or current-- we were actually talking about. This episode is about a set of circumstances several hundred years ago whose characteristics are so universal they can be applied to many, many situations between then and now. It is about real women, history, its role in our lives, and how it even changes with time! Rachel Christ-Doane is incredible. She is articulate, insightful, patient, knowlegeable, and oh so passionate about sharing her knowledge about the Salem Witch Trials. Her role as the Director of Education at the gives her a breadth of experience that is valuable to all of us. Listen in. Share the episode. Tell your friends. This is another awesome woman doing Real Women's Work! /episode/index/show/realwomenswork/id/38765355

Amanda Giles: Organizer, Portsmouth Halloween Parade 10/15/2025

Confidence Coach & Psychotherapist with Anna Marcolin 07/26/2023

Confidence Coach & Psychotherapist with Anna Marcolin Is there a little voice that nags at you? Does it grab at your shoulder and pull at your sweater and say "come here! come here! Look! This is the thing you want to try! This is the thing you want to do!" Do you want to listen to it? To go where it leads you and jump all in to try the thing that seems to exciting- the thing that feels like it's meant for you to do? Every once in a while do you think you really can do it only to snap out of the "daydream" and realize the life you are dreaming of is only meant for special people? What if the thing that is stopping you is a lack of confidence? What if there were a way to build it? Can I Build My Confidence? Acquiring confidence is harder than it seems- if it weren't, more of us would be doing the things we long to do. Maybe it's training for a marathon, going back for a degree, starting a bakery, or submitting that piece for publication- whatever it is, something stops us from pursuing it. We may tell ourselves it's laziness or that we just don't have what it takes to live the life we want. We might find it easier to stay small and quiet and keep doing the things that do not draw attention to ourselves. But still... every now and then... that little nagging voice reminds us of what we really want- and for just a brief moment we believe it's possible. We can see the life we desire so clearly it feels like we already have it. But the moment passes and we get back to the business of living the lives we are "supposed" to live. We might become depressed, lethargic, or acquiesce ourselves to the lives we seemed doomed to. A life full of humdrum, boredom, and living it in a way that utilizes none of our skills or talents. If only there were a way to find the confidence to take action toward the life we want... Good News! Confidence can be Acquired! Confidence is not something we are either born with or without- it is something we can acquire at any point in our life. Developing our confidence is an actionable practice! But most of us have no idea where to start. This is where Anna Marcolis, Psychotherapist and Confidence Coach comes in. From taking action regardless of feelings to building our comptence to create our confidence, in this episode, Anna shares real and proven ways of developing our confidence so we can create the life we want. If you long to have a life that is fuller, richer, and utiilzes your unique gifts, listen in as Anna and I have an honest and candid conversation about confidence. You can Find Anna Marcolin Here: /episode/index/show/realwomenswork/id/27568863

Writer, Writing Coach, Author of "Writing that Gets Noticed" 07/10/2023

Weight Inclusive Physical Therapist & Anti-Diet Health & Body Image Coach with Dr. Lisa Folden 06/28/2023

Weight Inclusive Physical Therapist & Anti-Diet Health & Body Image Coach with Dr. Lisa Folden What is it like when you get dressed in the morning? Do you walk into your closet happy and excited to put on the clothes you choose? Or do you try on three different pairs of pants, two skirts, and six tops in hopes of finding something that will cover up {insert part of your body you think poorly of here}? Do you step each leg into your shapeware shoving in as much of your body as you possibly can thinking it is just a normal part of being a woman? What is it like when you are on the playground with your kids? Do you laugh exubererantly while you run around chansing them? Or do you worry about what is jiggling- convinced it should cause you shame? How about at the beach? Or the pool? Is swimsuit shopping a time for you to find something to swim in? Or is it a time when you speak the meanest to yourself? Do you search desperately for an option that will hide as much of you as humanly possible while still being able to cool down in the water? Or maybe you skip the water all together because wearing a bathing suit is almost the deepest shame of all? How do you eat? Do you count calories? Intermittent fast? Have you been on a diet for decades only to gain weight? Have you been prescirbed weight loss by medical professionals? Are you sure to get in an extra 30 minutes at the gym so you can enjoy dessert on date night? Do you loathe exercise but believe it is necessary if you want to "manage your weight"? What if all of that is a narrative we have been fed for a purpose that does not serve us? What if it actually harms us? What if we spend most of our days berating ourselves, beating ourselves up, starving ourselves, missing out on life with the people we love and more for science that doesn't exist? And we do it all in exchange for advnacing our careers, living fully with our families, building the business we have always wanted to build and exploring the things that bring us joy so we can do more of them. Join us as Dr. Lisa Folden, Weight Inclusive Physical Therapist and Anti-Diet Health & Body Image Coach, helps us understand Diet Culture, moving joyfully, health, lazy medicine, health vs. weight, taking up space, and learning to live this one beautiful, precious life out loud! Find Dr. Lisa Folden here: Other References mentioned in show: /episode/index/show/realwomenswork/id/27307716

Speaking Confidence Coach with Linda Ugelow, Author of "Delight in the Limelight" 06/13/2023

Master Welder and Founder of Weld Jointed with Pa'Trice Frazier 05/30/2023

Master Welder and Founder of Weld Jointed with Pa'Trice Frazier Did you know that the US has a shortage of welders? Me either. But after reading a NYT article in 2009, Pa'Trice Frazier took a trip to her local school to ask if the statistics were true. Sure enough, the instructors confirmed that the US had a shortage of 150-200K welders on their hands. Pa'Trice signed up on the spot to become a welder. After becoming a certified welder, Pa'Trice spent the next years of her life traveling the US. How did she find work? She showed up where project job crews ate. She'd tell them she was a badass welder and asked if they needed one. This is how Pa'Trice began her career and how she gained the skills to become an award winning welder. From Mercedes Benz Stadium and Seaport Musuem in Atlanta to submarines, Pa'Trice has worked in tight spaces, fun spaces, and on time crunches. Pa'Trice is really, really good at what she does. In fact, Pa'Trice believes women have an advantage when it comes to welding. Pa'Trice could have stopped there; kept working hard, earning an excellent income, and excelling at her career. But this is not in Pa'Trice's nature. In 2019 Pa'Trice founded Weld Jointed to guide young people who are looking for something more from life. She saw a path for youth who were looking for it; fill the gap that our nation needed to secure our infrastructure and give these young people a solid path as a welder. Now, when Pa'Trice isn't letting it burn, baby, she serves as a self designated Welding Ambassador. She visits schools and events to talk to young people about welding. She mentors youth by helping them get into a welding program, find a job when they come out, and even get their PPE to get them started. She guides these young people into an incredible career! Imagine having had a Pa'Trice in your life?! Pa'Trice is one of these people who just keeps doing the work she is doing. She has too much to do to kick back admiring her life. Our interview was almost over before Pa'Trice causally mentioned the curriculum she is developing for prisoners! While Pa'Trice recognizes the importance of this work, she sees it as no big deal that she is the one doing it. In her opinion God gave her the ability to help, so she does. And "oh yeah". Pa'Trices latest work was BUILDING A HOT WHEEL- like a real, life size Hot Wheel, in Europe, with NBC and Peacock! Getting to know Pa'Trice is a gift. Her wisdom, experience, and get shit done mentality remind me that forward motion is always possible. Do yourself a favor and don't miss this conversation with Pa'Trice Frazier; Master Welder and founder of Weld Jointed. Find Pa'Trice here: /episode/index/show/realwomenswork/id/26984214

Brand Photographer, Strategist, and Video Storyteller with Nicole Bedard 05/15/2023

Lori Frisher, CEO/Disability Empathy Strategist Ready or Not! Mediahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/lorifrisher/ 01/27/2023

Jenny Goldfarb, Founder & CEO of Unreal Deli 01/13/2023

Senior Buyer for a Major Catalog with Jess Shaw 11/14/2022

Menstrual Health Coach 11/02/2022

Horror Artist and Prop Builder with Steph Strensrud 10/13/2022

Forensic Psychologist, Kate Wallinga 09/07/2022

Emilie Given, She's a Given Executive Virtual Assistant Services, CEO & Founder 06/04/2021

Beth Tykodi, Genealogist 05/26/2021

Dottie Janson, Amateur Competitive Figure Skater 11/16/2020

Julia Schuster, Core team member of Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Denver 06/21/2020

Julia Schuster, Core team member of Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Denver Many white people wonder how to be effective in dismantling systemic racism. We can get stuck while trying to say, learn, or express the "perfect" thing. We are not sure how to learn the stories of, and support, Black and Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) without burdening them. We know we need to call other white people in, and we want to make sure we are not taking the lead or centering ourselves. Listen in as Julia Schuster, core team member of Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Denver, shares her own insights, paradigms, and tools for engaging in the essential work of dismantling system racism. EPISODE NOTE: The SURJ Denver team receives feedback from local accountability partners, all of which are community leaders or organizations led by BIPOC, as part of their work. The work that SURJ Denver engages in is requested by their accountability partners. Though participation in this podcast was not a direct request from an accountability partner, SURJ Denver has received the request to take on more of the work of calling in and educating other white people during this time. NOTE: Julia would like to note the following corrections: 1. There are 15 Characteristics of White Supremacy. 2. Julia discusses looking for actions organized by organizations led by People of Color. She meant to say look for actions organized by organizations or groups led by People of Color. Sometimes actions are led by groups without formal name recognition or other status that may typically deem them as an "organization," and lack of formal "status" should not discount their work. SURJ Denver encourages white people to generally look for actions and community events organized by a collaborative group as opposed to those organized by a single individual. Works Rerferenced and Recommended in this Episode: Books and Workbooks: “Two years after Obama’s election, Alexander put the entire criminal justice system on trial, exposing racial discrimination from lawmaking to policing to the denial of voting rights to ex-prisoners. This bestseller struck the spark that would eventually light the fire of Black Lives Matter.” —Ibram X. Kendi, The New York Time "Dismantling Racism Works (dRworks) is pleased to offer our workbook and other resources. We hope you find the material here useful to you, your organization, and your community. " "Me and White Supremacy: A 28-Day Challenge to Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor leads readers through a journey of understanding their white privilege and participation in white supremacy, so that they can stop (often unconsciously) inflicting damage on black, indigenous and people of color, and in turn, help other white people do better, too. The book goes beyond the original workbook by adding more historical and cultural contexts, sharing moving stories and anecdotes, and includes expanded definitions, examples, and further resources." "In this New York Times bestseller, Ijeoma Oluo offers a hard-hitting but user-friendly examination of race in America Widespread reporting on aspects of white supremacy--from police brutality to the mass incarceration of Black Americans--has put a media spotlight on racism in our society. Still, it is a difficult subject to talk about. How do you tell your roommate her jokes are racist? Why did your sister-in-law take umbrage when you asked to touch her hair--and how do you make it right? How do you explain white privilege to your white, privileged friend? In So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo guides readers of all races through subjects ranging from intersectionality and affirmative action to "model minorities" in an attempt to make the seemingly impossible possible: honest conversations about race and racism, and how they infect almost every aspect of American life." Social Media: /episode/index/show/realwomenswork/id/14907374

Parenting through Covid-19 with Roya Dedeaux Marriage and Family Therapist 03/19/2020

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