Wickedly Smart Women

Wickedly Smart Women® is a multi-award-winning, internationally ranked podcast featuring conversations with women who have left high-level corporate roles or exited businesses and are now discerning what comes next. Each episode explores leadership, visibility, value creation, and the transition from corporate identity to independently owned impact. Guests share candid stories, hard-earned wisdom, and real-world insight drawn from lived experience. This show is for women who know they are in - or approaching - their final corporate chapter and are beginning to explore how their expertise, leadership, and discernment can be structured into a high-value consultancy, advisory path, or independent body of work that reflects who they are becoming. Wickedly Smart Women® supports thoughtful transitions - from structure to sovereignty, from credentials to contribution, and from success as defined by others to success defined from within. Listeners come for grounded conversations, practical perspective, and clarity about what’s possible after corporate - and stay for the intelligence, integrity, and depth that define the Wickedly Smart Women® ecosystem.

Million-Dollar Mission with Merry Korn – Ep.381 06/17/2026

Million-Dollar Mission with Merry Korn – Ep.381 What if getting fired was actually the catalyst for building the life you were meant to live? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Merry Korn, entrepreneur, author, and social enterprise pioneer. After losing a job she desperately wanted to keep, Merry found herself facing uncertainty, fear, and the responsibility of supporting her family. What followed was an extraordinary journey that led her to build Pearl Interactive Network, a company that grew to employ more than 1,300 people and specialized in hiring individuals often overlooked by traditional employers, including people with disabilities, veterans, military spouses, and those living in economically challenged communities. This conversation is a powerful reminder that career setbacks can become the doorway to your greatest work and that purpose often reveals itself when you're willing to listen. What You Will Learn: How getting fired can become a catalyst for discovering your true purpose. Why many high-achieving women stay too long in careers that no longer align. The role informational interviews can play in career transitions and business growth. How Merry built a social enterprise focused on hiring overlooked talent. Why vision is essential when creating a business with long-term impact. How hiring people with disabilities became a competitive advantage and mission. The importance of recognizing opportunities disguised as setbacks. Why listening to intuition can be a valuable business strategy. How government contracts helped scale a purpose-driven organization. The difference between building a business to operate and building one to sell. Why your mission and purpose can evolve throughout different stages of life. How meaning becomes a greater motivator than money for many entrepreneurs. Connect with Merry Korn Fired to Inspired Connect with Wickedly Smart Women® Email: /episode/index/show/wickedlysmartwomen/id/41656430

Turning Creativity Into Multiple Thriving Businesses with Arielle Tayar – Ep.380 06/10/2026

Turning Creativity Into Multiple Thriving Businesses with Arielle Tayar – Ep.380 What happens when a successful entrepreneur leaves her own thriving business to get a "real job" only to discover she already knew more than she gave herself credit for? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Arielle Tayar, founder of Whip Creative Studio and Whip Productions. Arielle shares her journey from growing up in an immigrant family to becoming a serial entrepreneur, her surprising experience in the corporate world, and the lessons she learned about confidence, creativity, leadership, and trusting her own vision. This conversation is an inspiring reminder that confidence grows through action, creativity requires space, and there is no single "right way" to build a meaningful and profitable business. What You Will Learn: How small opportunities and "little yeses" can grow into thriving businesses. Why imposter syndrome often persists even when you're already successful. What Arielle learned after leaving entrepreneurship for a corporate leadership role. How creative leaders can balance structure without stifling innovation. Why nobody truly has all the answers and why that's good news. The importance of creating space for creativity and inspiration to emerge. How confidence becomes a powerful business asset for women entrepreneurs. What it takes to build seven-figure businesses without outside investment. Why networking and relationships remain essential for business growth. How to navigate the natural seasons of creativity, visibility, and revenue generation. The role intuition and trust play in entrepreneurial success. How experiential marketing creates deeper brand connections and memorable customer experiences. Connect with Arielle Tayar Whip Creative Studio https://www.whipcreativestudio.com/about Whip Productions https://www.whipproductions.com/ Connect with Wickedly Smart Women® Email: /episode/index/show/wickedlysmartwomen/id/41579815

Leading from Wholeness, Not Depletion with Bela Shah – Ep.379 06/03/2026

Why Accomplished Women Must Stop Drifting Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer – Ep.378 05/27/2026

How Women Can Lead and Thrive in Male-Dominated Industries with Hannah Hurckes – Ep.377 05/20/2026

How Women Can Lead and Thrive in Male-Dominated Industries with Hannah Hurckes – Ep.377 What happens when a woman walks away from corporate stability, navigates financial uncertainty, and builds a thriving business in a male-dominated industry? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Hannah Hurckes, author, entrepreneur, and high-impact speaker known for saying what others won’t. Hannah shares her journey from construction and trucking to launching Boss Lady Logistics after years of trial and error, failed businesses, and financial hardship. She opens up about being a stay-at-home mom on WIC assistance, overcoming fear, learning how to trust her abilities, and creating a company culture rooted in collaboration, leadership development, and employee empowerment. This conversation is packed with practical insights for women considering leaving corporate, stepping into entrepreneurship, or learning how to lead with confidence in spaces where they feel underestimated. What You Will Learn: How to navigate leadership challenges in male-dominated industries with confidence and authenticity. Why finding supportive allies and collaborative relationships can accelerate career growth and business success. How motherhood and burnout can become catalysts for creating a more aligned career path. Why fear keeps many women stuck in corporate environments longer than they want to stay. How failed business ideas can become stepping stones toward discovering the right entrepreneurial path. Why mindset and gratitude practices can directly impact confidence, leadership, and financial success. How building the right team can dramatically improve business growth and scalability. Why investing in coaching, leadership development, and personal growth creates long-term business success. How to shift from fear-based decision-making to purpose-driven entrepreneurship. Why authentic leadership and employee collaboration create stronger company cultures and better outcomes. Connect with Hannah Hurckes: Boss Lady Logisitics Connect with Wickedly Smart Women® Email: /episode/index/show/wickedlysmartwomen/id/41310400

Reinventing Health and Longevity with Janet McConnell – Ep.376 05/13/2026

Reinventing Health and Longevity with Janet McConnell – Ep.376 What if the biggest wake-up call of your life became the reason you completely reinvented your future? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Janet McConnell, a Senior National Champion Bodybuilder who began competing in her late 40s, Janet brings decades of experience in strength training and lifestyle habits that support cognitive health, resilience, and vitality. As the author of Elements of Aging Well, she blends science-backed insight with real-world strategies to help women age with confidence, strength, and purpose. Janet shares how a shocking health diagnosis at age 46 forced her to confront the reality of burnout, unhealthy habits, and the long-term impact of putting herself last. Instead of accepting prescriptions as her future, she made a bold decision to change her life through one consistent habit: resistance training. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’ve waited too long to prioritize yourself, this episode will challenge everything you believe about aging and personal transformation. What You Will Learn: How one consistent habit can create massive health transformation over time. Why resistance training is one of the most powerful tools for healthy aging and cognitive health. How high-achieving women often disconnect from their health while building successful careers. Why mindset shifts must happen before lasting behavior change can occur. How Janet reversed alarming health markers without extreme dieting. What happens physically and mentally when strength training becomes part of a long-term lifestyle. Why aging does not automatically mean decline or loss of vitality. How identity and purpose evolve when transitioning out of corporate life. Why women over 45 should rethink the way they approach fitness and longevity. How healthy habits become votes for the person you want to become. Connect with Janet McConnell LinkedIn YouTube Connect with Wickedly Smart Women® Email: /episode/index/show/wickedlysmartwomen/id/41258000

Human-First Leadership That Drives Real Business Results with Kathy Eastwood – Ep.375 05/06/2026

Reinventing Your Career Path with Megan Applegate – Ep.374 04/29/2026

Making Bold, Smart Decisions with Dr. Crystal Gifford – Ep.373 04/22/2026

Building People-First Businesses with Sandra Coker – Ep.372 04/15/2026

Fixing Workplace Culture with Dr. Trisha Vinatieri – Ep.371 04/08/2026

Reluctant Leadership & Leaving Corporate with Stacey Bailey – Ep.370 04/01/2026

A New Approach to Women’s Health with Meredith Oke – Ep.369 03/25/2026

How to Build a Subscription-Based Business That Solves Real Problems with Heather Moore – Ep.368 03/18/2026

How to Build a Subscription-Based Business That Solves Real Problems with Heather Moore – Ep.368 What if the biggest risk in your career isn’t leaving corporate, but staying? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Heather Moore, Founder and CEO of Pet Centric Health. Heather takes us behind the scenes of what it really looks like to transition from corporate stability into entrepreneurship, including the mindset shifts, challenges, and unexpected growth that come with building a company from the ground up. This episode is a must-listen for high-achieving women who feel the pull toward something more and are ready to explore what’s next in leadership, impact, and value creation. What You Will Learn: How to recognize the internal and external signs that it’s time to leave corporate. What mindset shifts are required to take the leap into entrepreneurship. How to evaluate risk in a way that empowers action instead of fear. What it really takes to build a startup from idea to execution. How to navigate the early stages of business with limited resources. What challenges founders face when scaling a business beyond startup phase. How to build a subscription-based business model that creates consistent value. What it means to stay nimble and evolve with market demand. How to balance confidence and vulnerability as a leader. What it takes to build a mission-driven company that serves multiple stakeholders. FAQ: How do you know when it’s time to leave your corporate job? You know it’s time when you feel a strong pull toward solving a problem you can no longer ignore, combined with a sense that your current role no longer challenges or fulfills you. Often, a pivotal life event or internal shift clarifies that staying is the greater risk. What are the biggest challenges when starting a business after corporate? The biggest challenges include navigating uncertainty, managing limited resources, making high-stakes decisions without a safety net, and shifting from structured environments to building systems from scratch. What is a subscription-based business model and why does it work? A subscription-based model provides recurring revenue by offering ongoing value to customers. It works because it creates consistency, improves customer retention, and allows businesses to build long-term relationships. Connect with Heather Moore Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343 Email /episode/index/show/wickedlysmartwomen/id/40506200

Why Women Still Aren’t in Leadership Parity and What Needs to Change with Gloria Feldt – Ep.367 03/11/2026

Why Women Still Aren’t in Leadership Parity and What Needs to Change with Gloria Feldt – Ep.367 Why are women still dramatically underrepresented in leadership positions despite earning the majority of college degrees and making up half the workforce? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Gloria Feldt, visionary leadership strategist, bestselling author, and co-founder of Take The Lead. Drawing on decades of experience, including serving as national president of Planned Parenthood and building leadership development programs for women, Gloria explains why the issue is not a lack of ambition but a deeper challenge around women’s relationship with power and money. This episode is a must-listen for women leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals who want to expand their impact, influence, and ability to create meaningful change. What You Will Learn: How Gloria Felt’s early life experiences shaped her passion for gender equality and leadership. What the real barriers to gender parity in leadership are and why ambition is not the issue. How women can redefine power as a creative force rather than something oppressive. Why women’s relationship with money and power plays a critical role in leadership advancement. How strong networks and relationships create opportunities, funding, and career growth. What leadership power tools women can use to move into positions of influence. Why thinking bigger about business and impact can help accelerate women into leadership roles. FAQ: Why has gender parity in leadership still not been achieved? Despite women making up roughly half of the workforce and earning the majority of college degrees, systemic cultural conditioning and structural barriers still limit women’s access to leadership roles. Gloria Felt explains that the issue is not ambition but the way power and leadership have historically been defined and rewarded. What does Gloria Felt mean by redefining power? Gloria teaches that power should not be viewed as “power over others,” but as energy that can be used to create, build, and improve lives. When women shift their mindset to see power as a positive and generative force, they become more willing to pursue leadership roles. How can women build businesses that create larger impact? Gloria encourages women to think bigger when starting businesses and to design companies that create meaningful impact in people’s lives. Building organizations that solve large problems attracts investment, attention, and opportunities for scale. Connect with Gloria Feldt Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343 Email /episode/index/show/wickedlysmartwomen/id/40376880

How to Build Confidence, Prevent Burnout, and Lead with Emotional Safety with Dr. Melanie Gray – Ep.366 03/04/2026

How to Build Confidence, Prevent Burnout, and Lead with Emotional Safety with Dr. Melanie Gray – Ep.366 What is trauma-informed leadership, and why does it matter in today’s workplace? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Dr. Melanie Gray shares how trauma-informed care transforms leadership, strengthens workplace culture, and prevents burnout before it derails careers. Drawing from over 25 years in healthcare, higher education, and corporate leadership, Dr. Gray explains how trauma shapes behavior, how generational stress impacts performance, and why confidence is built through intentional self-leadership. If you are a high-achieving woman considering leaving corporate, building a consulting business, or leading teams through change, this episode delivers practical wisdom on resilience, emotional safety, confidence, and long-term leadership sustainability. What You Will Learn: How trauma-informed leadership shifts workplace culture by asking what happened to someone rather than what is wrong with them. What generational trauma and adverse childhood experiences mean for confidence, communication, and leadership development. How unresolved trauma contributes to burnout, anxiety, and disengagement in corporate environments. What practical steps leaders can take to build emotionally safe and resilient teams. How to assess personal skills and strategically prepare for a transition from corporate to entrepreneurship. What confidence truly looks like when it is built through preparation, data, and intentional action rather than perfectionism. How planning financial runway reduces anxiety when launching a consulting business. What separates sustainable business growth from temporary virality and surface-level success. How structured coaching with defined goals creates measurable transformation instead of dependency. What it takes to lead with compassion while still holding high standards for performance and accountability. FAQ: What is trauma-informed leadership? Trauma-informed leadership is a framework that considers how past experiences, including adverse childhood experiences and generational stress, influence present behavior, communication, and performance in the workplace. How does trauma affect workplace performance? Trauma can impact confidence, emotional regulation, communication patterns, and stress responses, which may show up as withdrawal, defensiveness, burnout, or disengagement. How do I confidently leave corporate to start a consulting business? Confidence increases when leaders assess their skills, create a financial runway, build required competencies in advance, and transition with a structured plan rather than reacting to anxiety or corporate restructuring. Connect with Dr. Melanie Gray Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343 Email /episode/index/show/wickedlysmartwomen/id/40244925

How Digital Innovation Is Transforming Women’s Care with Aanchal Dasoar Arora – Ep.365 02/25/2026

How Digital Innovation Is Transforming Women’s Care with Aanchal Dasoar Arora – Ep.365 What happens after the baby arrives, and why has that conversation been missing for generations? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Aanchal Dasoar Arora, women’s health innovator, pelvic floor physical therapist, and founder of Mendhai Health, shares how postpartum depression, pelvic floor dysfunction, and an identity crisis after motherhood led her to leave a high-level corporate healthcare career and build a digital maternal recovery platform born out of MIT. If you are a leader navigating identity shifts, a healthcare innovator, or a woman seeking support after pregnancy, this episode delivers both validation and visionary solutions. What You Will Learn: Why postpartum identity loss is more common than discussed and how it impacts leadership and relationships. How pelvic floor dysfunction and maternal recovery gaps affect long-term physical and mental health. The cultural and systemic barriers that prevent women from seeking therapy and recovery support. What inspired the creation of an all-digital maternal recovery platform born out of MIT. How technology can address clinician shortages and improve access to women’s healthcare. What it takes to move from corporate healthcare leadership into entrepreneurship. Why hospital partnerships may be the fastest path to scaling maternal health innovation. How discipline and structure sustain founders through the emotional highs and lows of entrepreneurship. What it means to choose expansion over shrinking in motherhood and leadership. FAQ: Why is postpartum recovery not discussed as openly as pregnancy? Cultural norms have historically centered pregnancy preparation while minimizing postpartum physical and emotional recovery, leaving many women unsupported after delivery. How long are wait times for pelvic floor physical therapy in the United States? In many hospital systems, wait times can extend up to a year due to clinician shortages and limited access to specialized care. How can digital health platforms improve maternal recovery outcomes? Digital platforms increase access, provide education across the entire maternal journey, extend clinician support, and reduce barriers related to geography, childcare, and scheduling. Connect with Aanchal Dasoar Arora Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343 Email /episode/index/show/wickedlysmartwomen/id/40208335

Letting Go as a Leadership Strategy with Ginny Priem – Ep.364 02/18/2026

Building a Business That Honors Motherhood, Money, and Meaning with Lesley Pyle – Ep.363 02/11/2026

Win the Corporate Game Without Losing Yourself with Robin Goad – Ep.362 02/04/2026

Win the Corporate Game Without Losing Yourself with Robin Goad – Ep.362 What if the reason you’re exhausted, overworked, and questioning your worth at work has nothing to do with your talent and everything to do with a game no one ever taught you how to play? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Robin Goad, a senior technology executive at Amazon Web Services, speaker, and author, to unpack how childhood trauma, perfectionism, and unspoken corporate rules shape the careers of high-achieving women. With more than 30 years of leadership experience at Fortune 100 companies like Dell and Gartner, Robin shares how she built a wildly successful career while unknowingly operating from survival patterns formed in childhood. If you’re a high-achieving woman navigating corporate life, considering a transition, or simply tired of sacrificing yourself for success, this episode will shift how you see leadership, power, and your place in the room. What You Will Learn: How childhood trauma and early survival patterns often drive high-achieving women in corporate environments. Why corporate success can feel empty or exhausting even when you are “winning.” How performance and people-pleasing become coping mechanisms rather than conscious choices. What a true breaking point looks like and how it can become the doorway to transformation. Why separating your identity from your job title is essential for long-term fulfillment. How corporate America operates as a game with unspoken rules that most women are never taught. Why knowing the rules of the game makes leadership more strategic and less draining. What it means to recognize your personal superpower and why it often goes unnoticed for decades. How to establish a leadership strategy that benefits both you and the organization. Why authenticity is not a liability in leadership but a powerful advantage. How women can lead without losing their soul, voice, or values. Who the REAL Framework is designed to support and why earlier awareness changes everything. Connect with Robin Goad Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343 Email /episode/index/show/wickedlysmartwomen/id/39973285

Trusted Leadership Starts With Your Voice with Julie Holunga – Ep.361 01/28/2026

Trusted Leadership Starts With Your Voice with Julie Holunga – Ep.361 What if the way you speak is the most powerful leadership tool you’re underutilizing? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Julie Holunga, to explore how trust, communication, and intentional leadership language shape influence at every level of an organization. Julie shares her journey from nonprofit and corporate leadership into building a consulting practice rooted in integrity, trust, and meaningful impact. If you’re a heart-centered leader, consultant, or professional considering a transition into more purpose-driven work, this episode offers both insight and grounded, real-world wisdom. What You Will Learn: How early life experiences can shape curiosity, empathy, and a lifelong desire to help others lead more effectively. Why being a natural helper can sometimes create tension in leadership and consulting roles. How to recognize when people want support versus when they are resistant to being helped. What inspired the transition from corporate and nonprofit work into building a consulting practice. The unexpected challenges and joys of starting a values-aligned business. Why managing every part of a business alone eventually limits growth and impact. How strategic delegation and hiring the right expertise can dramatically elevate a consulting practice. What the Trusted Voice Paradigm is and how it reframes leadership through trust and communication. The four core pillars of trust and how each one shows up in leadership behavior. Why aptitude and honesty about capability are essential to sustaining trust. How leaders unintentionally break trust when they promote technical experts without leadership support. What it looks like to lead with integrity while still honoring business results. How deep cultural change happens when leaders commit to doing the hard work together. Connect with Julie Holunga /episode/index/show/wickedlysmartwomen/id/39890965

When the Soul Calls for More with Aleksandra Ceho – Ep.360 01/21/2026

When the Soul Calls for More with Aleksandra Ceho – Ep.360 What if the feeling that something is missing in your career isn’t confusion, but wisdom trying to get your attention? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Aleksandra Ceho, whose work bridges the worlds of spirituality, leadership, and business strategy. Aleksandra shares her remarkable journey from studying kinesiology and working in motor vehicle accident clinics to building a thriving astrology practice rooted in authenticity, self-awareness, and aligned decision-making. If you’ve ever felt like a square peg in a round hole or sensed that there is “more” waiting for you, this episode offers a powerful perspective. What You Will Learn: How astrology can be used as a practical framework for self-awareness, leadership development, and business decision-making. Why the feeling of “there must be more” often signals misalignment rather than failure. How multiple archetypes exist within each person and how ignoring your dominant archetype creates burnout. What cognitive dissonance looks like at a soul level and why it intensifies over time. How astrology can indicate when it may be time to leave a career or make a major life transition. Why authenticity is essential for long-term success, fulfillment, and resilience. How Aleksandra’s leap from healthcare into astrology unfolded and what it taught her about trust. The astrological influences often connected to midlife awakenings and identity shifts. Why some people burn bridges while others build them during transitions and how astrology explains both. How businesses have their own energetic charts and why alignment matters for sustainability. What astrology can reveal about whether a business or opportunity is the right fit before investing. How forecasting helps entrepreneurs focus their energy where it will have the greatest impact. Why perceived credibility and age can become barriers when starting a purpose-driven business. How astrology supports values-driven decision-making rather than rigid personality labels. Why deep self-knowledge is the foundation for building meaningful relationships, wealth, and legacy. Connect with Aleksandra Ceho Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343 Email /episode/index/show/wickedlysmartwomen/id/39793510

Reshaping the Beliefs That Shaped You with Tracy Doyle – Ep.359 01/14/2026

Reshaping the Beliefs That Shaped You with Tracy Doyle – Ep.359 What if burnout isn’t proof you’re failing but proof something in you is begging to change? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Tracy Doyle, author of Life Storms: Finding Your Clear Sky and creator of the Aurora Method. Tracy shares the childhood trauma and survival patterns that shaped her drive, her leadership, and her belief that sacrifice meant abandoning herself. If you’ve ever felt like you have to hold everything together, this episode will meet you right where you are and offer a real path forward. What You Will Learn: How early childhood experiences can quietly wire your nervous system for burnout later in life. Why “looking fine on the outside” can mask unprocessed trauma that eventually demands attention. How survival skills like self-reliance can become leadership liabilities as your responsibilities grow. The difference between a breaking point and a turning point—and how to use burnout as a transformation portal. Why burnout often isn’t caused by your job or your family, but by the beliefs you formed while trying to belong. How the belief “If I don’t do it myself, it won’t get done” fuels control, resentment, and isolation. The real reason personal growth tools can fail when they’re done in isolation instead of as a connected process. What a “loving look back” self-assessment is and how it helps you recognize patterns without drowning in shame. How unmet needs can shape fear-based thinking and drive high-achievers into over-functioning. How emotional burnout fractures relationships and how acknowledgement conversations rebuild trust fast. What it looks like to create a personalized mindfulness practice that actually fits real life. Why high-achieving women often fear vulnerability, especially in corporate environments, and how community changes that. Connect with Tracy Doyle Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343 Email /episode/index/show/wickedlysmartwomen/id/39680440

Healing, Intuition, and the Courage to Pivot with Julie Ryan – Ep.358 01/07/2026

Building a Purpose-Driven Product After 40 with Liat Kaplan – Ep.357 12/31/2025

Building a Purpose-Driven Product After 40 with Liat Kaplan – Ep.357 What happens when a high-achieving corporate leader realizes her legacy must be about more than titles, promotions, and golden handcuffs? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Liat Kaplan, a global product innovation leader turned founder and CEO, to explore what it truly takes to leave corporate life, trust your inner conviction, and build something that matters. If you are a woman standing at the edge of change, questioning whether it’s “too late” to start something meaningful, this conversation will remind you that your most important work may still be ahead of you. What You Will Learn: How personal conviction becomes essential when stepping away from corporate identity and external validation. Why clarity around purpose matters more than having everything figured out before starting. What it truly means to take a leap later in life and why age can be an advantage, not a limitation. How releasing fear of judgment creates freedom and sharper focus on what actually matters. What surprises many founders when they leave corporate structure behind. How passion and impact fuel resilience during the entrepreneurial journey. Why building a product-based business requires patience, long timelines, and strategic planning. What to consider when funding a startup, especially the importance of aligned and supportive investors. How innovation can be shaped by curiosity rather than rigid corporate processes. Why real-world problems and lived experiences often spark the most powerful business ideas. How technology can empower people to make informed, self-directed choices. Why safety, awareness, and informed decision-making are key components of modern leadership and legacy. How letting go of unnecessary processes can reignite creativity and love for one’s work. Why legacy is often defined by contribution and impact rather than titles or income. How building something meaningful often requires balancing intuition with discipline. Connect with Liat Kaplan Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343 Email /episode/index/show/wickedlysmartwomen/id/39561190

Healing Emotional Eating at the Root with Amber Romaniuk – Ep.356 12/24/2025

Healing Emotional Eating at the Root with Amber Romaniuk – Ep.356 What if your “willpower problem” with food was never about food at all? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Amber Romaniuk, an emotional eating, digestive, and hormone expert with 12+ years of experience. Amber shares the childhood roots of emotional eating, the intense turning point that forced her to face her own binge-restriction patterns, and the multidimensional healing path that led to true body freedom. This episode explores why feeling emotions can feel unsafe and how to create real nervous system safety. What You Will Learn: A clear understanding of how childhood moments can become identity wounds that drive emotional eating for decades. Language for naming the difference between discomfort and being unsafe, so emotions stop feeling like an emergency. A simple way to work with the brain’s threat response without letting it run your life. A practical starting point for emotion work: set a timer for 30 seconds and build capacity gradually. Why food becomes a regulator when life feels helpless, out of control, or emotionally unsupported. Insight into how the binge–restriction cycle can intensify after weight loss, breakups, and “perfect body” beliefs. A realistic picture of what root-cause healing actually involves: mental, emotional, behavioral, energetic, spiritual, and physical layers. Tools that help create safety while feeling emotions, including breathwork, EFT tapping, self-holding, music, and affirmations. Why chronic stress and fight-or-flight make it harder to heal digestion, blood sugar, and hormones. A grounded approach to “breaking the lineage” by combining inner healing with loving boundaries when family dynamics push back. Why progress requires structures that support “doing the reps,” not just inspiration or insight. How long-term support helps women stay consistent when real life hits. Why new success can trigger fear and how identity work helps you maintain change without self-sabotage. Connect with Amber Romaniuk Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343 Email /episode/index/show/wickedlysmartwomen/id/39512465

Finding Belonging, Purpose, and a Cause That Matters with Silvia Resnik – Ep.355 12/17/2025

Finding Belonging, Purpose, and a Cause That Matters with Silvia Resnik – Ep.355 What if the “perfect life” is actually the most convincing hiding place for emptiness? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Silvia Resnik, a fulfillment and purpose coach for high-achieving women. Silvia shares how a lifelong ache for connection shaped her drive to achieve. The conversation also goes deeper into the tension between honoring cultural traditions and evolving practices that harm women, including the urgent reality of female genital mutilation and how Silvia’s organization, Empower Her, is working from within community partnership to create change through education, support, and empowerment. What You Will Learn: Why “looking successful” can coexist with feeling emotionally empty. How early experiences of not feeling seen can quietly shape adult identity, ambition, and relationship patterns. The hidden motivation behind perfectionism: trying to earn love, belonging, and “enoughness.” Why external achievements don’t automatically create self-worth. How a single experience of deep community can interrupt lifelong loneliness and recalibrate what matters. What true connection can feel like in the body. How indigenous culture can offer profound healing while still containing traditions that require conscious evolution. A grounded explanation of FGM in the Maasai context, including the rite-of-passage framing and the high human cost. Why sustainable change must be led from within a community, not imposed by outsiders. How education becomes a protection strategy for women and girls. What it means to “bridge two worlds” in coaching: bringing connection back to high achievers while also resourcing underserved communities. How travel can become transformational when it’s relationship-centered rather than consumption-centered. What a purpose-led business transition can look like when it grows out of lived experience, not branding. Connect with Silvia Resnik Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343 Email /episode/index/show/wickedlysmartwomen/id/39420385

Soul Assignments, Power Tools and Breaking Generational Chains with Steffani LeFevour – Ep.354 12/10/2025

Soul Assignments, Power Tools and Breaking Generational Chains with Steffani LeFevour – Ep.354 "We wake up every morning as a soul in a human body. That alone should be so incredibly fascinating to us." What if the hardest things you've lived through weren't punishments, but assignments your soul chose to help you grow? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Steffani LeFevour, modern-day soul strategist and author of You Are a Badass Mom and the forthcoming book Soul Assignments. Stteffani shares how childhood trauma, an alcoholic father, and the tragic loss of her sister cracked her open to a lifelong search for spiritual truth. What You Will Learn: The impact of childhood trauma and grief on emotional development and identity. How growing up with an alcoholic parent shapes beliefs, coping mechanisms and adulthood patterns. Why families often end up on "grief islands" when they lack tools, language or support to process loss. How early exposure to death can spark a lifelong search for meaning, spirituality and healing. The role spiritual teachers and books can play in offering language and comfort when religion wasn't present at home. How alcohol can become an unconscious way to avoid feelings, fit in socially, or suppress unresolved pain. What it looks like to break generational chains of addiction through awareness, boundaries and intentional behavior. How to examine your own relationship with alcohol and shift from unconscious use to empowered choice. The importance of creating an alcohol-free "safe house" environment for teens and modeling a different norm. The concept of soul assignments and how reframing painful experiences can move someone out of victimhood. Why radical acceptance of past experiences becomes the foundation for emotional freedom and conscious creation. How thoughts, words, feelings, beliefs and stories function as "power tools" that shape every experience. The difference between using those power tools unconsciously vs. consciously. How to identify outdated stories and rewrite them into truer, more empowering narratives. The process of finding gifts inside even the most difficult events and how that transforms inner resilience. The value of viewing life from a soul-level perspective rather than only through a human-level lens. The path from learning spiritual principles to embodying them, teaching them and serving others with them. How a long-held dream can manifest through clarity, courage and consistent sharing of one's message. Why owning your unique perspective allows your voice, work and mission to expand in powerful new ways. Connect with Steffani LeFevour Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343 Email /episode/index/show/wickedlysmartwomen/id/39331950

How Horses Help Women Break Free from Burnout with Sue Willoughby – Ep.353 12/03/2025

How Horses Help Women Break Free from Burnout with Sue Willoughby – Ep.353 “Horses don’t care if you’re afraid. They care if you’re honest.” In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Sue Willoughby, founder of Willoughby Coaching, certified equus coach, real estate investor, and a woman who has rewritten her life more times than most people dare to dream. Raised by a single alcoholic parent and a two-time high school dropout, Sue charted a path from instability to a six-figure career, a multidimensional portfolio of work, and a coaching practice rooted in the intuitive wisdom of horses. If you’re feeling the whisper that something in your life or career needs to change, this episode gives you permission, perspective, and possibility. What You Will Learn: The emotional and psychological impact of being raised by a single alcoholic parent and how early instability can shape lifelong patterns of independence and resilience. What it feels like to reach the moment where corporate life becomes unbearable, and the emotional complexity of leaping from stability into entrepreneurship. How passion projects and side ventures can become bridges out of corporate life without risking everything at once. How horses instantly sense incongruence between what you say, what you feel, and what your body is actually communicating. Why humans store emotional stories in the body while horses process, react, and release without carrying narratives, resentment, or drama. How corporate teams can use horse-led experiences to learn authentic leadership, strengthen team dynamics, and understand each other’s communication patterns. Why it is never too late to reinvent yourself, take risks, pursue a new career, or bring long-buried creative visions into reality. A simple daily practice for reconnecting with presence and intuition. Connect with Sue Willoughby Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343 Email /episode/index/show/wickedlysmartwomen/id/39231150

From Franchises to Freedom with Jana Franklin – Ep.352 11/26/2025

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