Alex Otte is Mother's Against Drunk Driving youngest National President. Alex got involved with MADD when she was hit by a boat driven by a drunk driver. Alex’s injuries were life-threatening, severe and long lasting. Today, Alex is using her voice, her story and her passion to advocate for an end to drunk driving. While there is good news coming in 2026 about an almost complete reduction in drunk driving due to new technologies that will be implemented in all new cars, with an estimated 9,400 lives saved and countless injuries prevented annually from the new technologies once all cars on the road are equipped, there is still so much we can do today. An estimated 10,000 people die per year due to drunk driving and more than 300,000 are injured annually. With several years left before the new technology makes it to new cars, there are still going to be tens of thousands of lives lost. Think about that for a minute - tens of thousands of preventable deaths, and hundreds of thousands of preventable injuries caused by drunk driving. If you want to be a part of preventing drunk driving deaths and injuries, you can get involved with your local MADD chapter. Listen in to hear how Alex endured a horrible tragedy and has made it her mission to prevent future deaths and injuries and to support victims and survivors. This is a more serious topic, but it is one we must pay attention to. Next time you think you can make a difference to prevent the next drunk driving incident, take the action. Your future will thank you.   Find a local MADD Chapter Follow us on IG @meantfort Check out our new website  

Katie Hood knows how to follow her instincts and heart when making major life decisions. Today, Katie is CEO of the One Love Foundation, the nation’s leading educator of young people on the topic of healthy and unhealthy relationships.  Katie shares the reasons why she joined One Love and her ambitious goals for reducing abusive relationships. We discuss how One Love was founded by Sharon Love to honor the memory of her daughter, Yeardley Love,  who was beaten to death by her ex-boyfriend three weeks before her graduation from the University of Virginia.  Sharon never imagined relationship abuse was something she needed to consider for her daughter,  “I didn’t know then what I know now, that relationship abuse is a public health epidemic and that young women in Yeardley’s age group are at three times greater risk than any other demographic.” In our conversation, Katie shares how she left the world of finance and consulting and  landed a job at the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, eventually advancing to become CEO of the organization. When Katie had doubts about her ability to lead as CEO of the Michael J. Fox Foundation, her path crossed with leadership guru Andy Grove, former CEO of Intel Corporation, who gave her the push she needed to take the role. Katie shares some of the lessons and skills she learned at the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and how her upbringing, faith and desire to help others has put her on the path she was meant to live. If you want to be inspired to follow a calling, you will never forget this conversation with Katie. Watch One Love's Videos 10 Signs of an Unhealthy Relationship Watch Katie's Ted Talk Follow us on IG @meantforit Reach out for episode ideas or sponsorship opportunities to [email protected]

Vanessa Rivera, Product Programs Lead for DoorDash, shares the unconventional path she took to get her dream job and some of the bold moves she made along the way. When Vanessa decided she wanted to be in the tech world, she was living in Guatemala. Although she didn't know anyone in tech, Vanessa made the leap and moved to San Francisco.  In our conversation, Vanessa shares how being focused on problem solving, combined with a passion for learning, can open doors and opportunities. We also discuss how thinking differently can be your superpower and how having dyslexia can create a more empathetic approach to working with others.  We dive into Vanessa’s Guatemalan roots and Vanessa shares how her upbringing in an entrepreneurial environment and welcoming culture, has shaped not only who she is today but also how she approaches her work and life.  Please follow us @meantforit ! You can reach us at [email protected] If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, leave us a review on iTunes or send us a message on IG @meantforit.  

BJ Miller is a physician, author, speaker,  practicing hospice and palliative medicine physician. In his current role, BJ sees patients and caregivers through Mettle Health, an online palliative care service. Previously,, BJ was the Executive Director of San Francisco’s Zen Hospice Project. Most importantly, BJ is a deep, soulful thinker with extraordinary compassion and a true desire to help ease and reduce suffering in our world. BJ is also someone who fully appreciates the beauty, connectedness and mystery of our existence so we are thrilled to have BJ as our first male guest on the podcast! BJ shares how he got on his career path and we discuss the ways his family and upbringing shaped his character.  We discuss the sources of BJ resilience, what BJ has learned about death and the ways society can make dying a better process. Listen in to hear BJ reveal what people who are able to deal with death peacefully  have in common. This is an extraordinary conversation with an extraordinary human. We are honored to share BJ’s story and hope this conversation gives you new insights and maybe a little more peace in talkihng about death. Watch BJs famous Ted Talk Here   Mettle Health BJ NYT One Man's Quest to Change the Way We Die Follow us @meantforit on Instagram Reach out to us at [email protected] for future guests or if you are interested in sponsoring our podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please share with a friend, send us a note. We would be extra, extra grateful if you decide to leave us a review on itunes. Topics Discussed (02:00) BJ talks about accident that led to amputation of both legs (12:57) BJ's mom contracted polio when she was 18 months old (18:23) After the accident, BJ decided to go to medical school (23:41) BJ's list of things he wants to change about end of life care (40:18) BJ shares after seeing so many deaths, his is not sure death is bad (49:45) People who have questioned their faith or their faithlessness have examined themselves (52:33) Mettle Health offers online palliative care, counseling and coaching (01:00:18) What about any religious practices that make grieving easier Memorable Quotes: "There's nothing wrong with you for dying." "Life includes death. There's no separating the two." "The beauty of life is, yes, being inside of you, but also outside of you." "We act like big, dumb teenagers. We got way too much power that we know to do with." "I reserve the right to freak out if that's what I need to do at that time." "Life is something much more magical than you would ever feel it to be in a hospital."  

Paume founder Amy Welsman openly shares the story of starting Paume, a luxury hand care product brand made with sustainably produced, bio-degradable and plant-based ingredients. Although Amy got the idea for a luxury hand sanitizer as a new mother in 2019, Covid gave her the nudge she needed to quickly and boldly enter the hand sanitizer market. In our conversation Amy shares how she went from idea to product, spanning areas such as sourcing, sales channels, funding, wholesale, selling directly to consumers, pitching to buyers, PR, design, operations, marketing and the importance of an advisory group. If you are curious about what it takes to start a product based business, we think you will love Amy’s candor and how generously she shares her entire journey. This conversation is guaranteed to bring you new insights and and inspiration. If you enjoyed this conversation please subscribe, leave us a review, follow us on IG @meantforit. You can reach us at: [email protected]

Jaime Rich, Program Specialist at Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) shares how she works to reduce underage drinking and driving through education and advocacy. Jaime shares some sobering stats about drunk driving that hopefully inspire you to listen in to the conversation, and find a way to get involved: “In 2019, 10,142 people died in drunk driving crashes so that is one person every 51 minutes. Every two minutes a person is injured in a drunk driving crash, and 2 out of 3 people will be involved in a drunk driving crash.”  Staggering statistics for a problem that is completely preventable. Prior to her role at MADD, Jaime spent 12 years working on policies to reduce underage substance abuse with the Center for Human Development. Jaimie shares some of the wins in her career, how she stays optimistic, and ways you can get involved in this important issue. The passion from teenagers  who are energized to  help prevent substance abuse, keeps Jaime motivated and focused on the work, even when progress seems slow and limited. Listen in to hear some of the ways MADD is working on reducing drunk driving and how you can get involved.

In our conversation Paige shares the inspiration for starting Naborforce and the lightbulb moment that gave her the idea for a business model and the confidence to make her idea a reality. Naborforce is an online platform that connects “nabors” to seniors requesting help for everyday tasks such as  household chores, groceries and  driving. “Nabors” get extra income and a meaningful way to connect to people in their community. Paige’s finance experience gave her the skills to research the market and create a business model that fit the varying market needs by region.  Today, NaborForce offers  standard hourly pricing or monthly plans and packages so seniors can get assistance from a trusted network of care providers. Naborforce is also signing up partnerships with employers so employees can get help balancing work with the type of caregiving activities that often push stretched employees to leave their jobs.  In our conversation, Paige shares the milestones in getting Naborforce started, how she is building her business and her expansion plans. We love Naborforce’s mission and are thrilled to share this conversation with you! Follow us on IG for updates @meantforit

If you are interested in investing, specifically in early stage investment funds, you will love this conversation with Leslie Goldman, Co-Founder of The Artemis Fund. Leslie shares how her 20 year legal career as General Counsel led her down a path  to board advising, investing and then to finding two co-founders who were the perfect partners for Artemis. The Artemis Fund’s vision is to invest in companies  democratizing access to wealth, encouraging sustainability, and reducing friction in the care economy. We discuss how Leslie and her partners raised their first fund,”one check at a time”. Leslie predicts between her partners and their networks they probably had 1000 meetings and talked to any accredited investors who were willing to listen. Leslie shares how her partners decide on investments, their diligence process  and Leslie tells us about a few of their exciting current investments, including unest, Dressx and Hop Skip Drive. Leslie shares the biggest challenges in managing an investment fund and how her responsibilities are growing as their portfolio companies grow. If you listen to this episode and start to dream about working for an investment fund, Leslie shares how she learned about the space and how she started her first investments. For those considering angel investing, Leslie suggests tiny bets with sites like Seedinvest and to be aware,  “If you are going to start investing in this asset class - first of all you need to have money you can lose.” Leslie suggests you learn how to do diligence and analyze companies, and then you can start making bigger bets or invest in a fund. This is a fascinating conversation with a woman who is so clearly meant for her career path, her role and the impact she is making for female founders and the world. The Artemis Fund If you enjoyed this episode please follow this link to our IG page @meantforit and say hello! You can also reach out to [email protected]      

Dr. Leana Wen, emergency physician, former health commissioner for Baltimore, professor of health policy and management, contributing columnist for The Washington Post, CNN medical analyst, and author shares stories from her new memoir, Lifelines: A Doctor's Journey in the Fight for Public Health. Dr. Wen has an incredibly inspiring immigrant story of struggle, sacrifice and tremendous achievement. In our conversation, Dr. Wen shares how the early hardships she experienced shaped her character and her career goals. If you are looking for an inspiring career story, Dr. Wen’s path is guaranteed to lift your spirits. We also discuss some of the innovative programs Dr. Wen led during her time serving as Baltimore's Health Commissioner. This is a must listen episode!  Follow us on IG @meantforit Reach out to us: [email protected]

There is no doubt that Christina Dorr Drake was meant to be a co-founder of Willa’s Oat Milk. Christina grew up drinking her grandmother’s special recipe of oat milk. When Christina and her sister, Elena Dorr Zienda, realized the market was missing an oat milk that was both delicious and nutritious, like the one they had as kids, they saw the opportunity and went for it. Christina and Elena decided they had the recipe, experience and complementary skills to launch their own brand and they lovingly named it after their grandmother. Christina’s background in marketing and strategy for food brands combined with Elena’s experience in food manufacturing and distribution gave them the skills and confidence to launch Wila’s Oat Milk.  In our conversation, Christina walks us through how they actually started Willa’s.  We discuss how they handled packaging, manufacturing,  distribution channels and the ways Willa’s has committed to creating organic, nutritious products with sustainable practices. We also discuss the quick sales channel changes the co-founders had to make when their launch coincided with Covid. Today, Willa’s future is looking very bright. Oat milk is currently the second most popular plant based dairy product, and demand continues to grow. Listen to hear an inspiring startup story and you may be inspired to start something new in your life.  Willa's Oat Milk Follow us @meantforit on Instagram Reach out [email protected]

Claire Bidwell Smith is a grief counselor and author. Claire’s path to her current profession came from losing both her parents to cancer while Claire was still young. At first, Claire was in shock and tried to run from the overwhelming grief and anxiety she was feeling. Eventually, Claire decided to become a therapist and worked in private practice for over a decade. Claire went on to write three books about dealing with grief, anxiety and loss. Today, Claire is continuing her work to help people with grief by speaking widely and  working with organizations devoted to helping people find end of life and grief support. In our conversation, we discuss how Claire found her way to becoming a therapist and writer. Claire shares the experiences that changed her and we talk about some of Clarie’s adventures while researching for her book, After This, an exploration of what happens when we die. If you have faced grief, or want to prepare yourself for dealing with grief that eventually reaches all of us, you don’t want to miss this conversation. If you enjoy this podcast, please click share and email or text it to a friend! Follow us on Instagram @meantforit Reach out with guest ideas to [email protected]

Cheryl Saban’s extraordinary life is a beautiful tapestry of diverse experiences, different careers, and helping others. In the latest chapter of her life, Cheryl is focused on her glass blowing business and her philanthropy work.  Through the Saban Family Foundation, Cheryl and her husband have donated $420 million to 1000 organizations and causes focused mainly on children, education and women's health including the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, The Rape Treatment Center and Birthright Israel. At Saban Glass, Cheryl fulfils her artistic calling by immersing herself into the process of creating exquisite glassware. Cheryl has published books, written for television and holds a doctorate in psychology.  Life was not always easy for Cheryl. In her early twenties, when Cheryl was a single mom struggling financially, she went to a free clinic in Los Angeles. In our conversation, Cheryl recalls being moved by the kind treatment she received there, and also convinced of a need for free community clinics. Through the Saban Foundation, Cheryl has donated $10 million to the Los Angeles Free Clinic, currently named the Saban Community Clinic due to the generous support of the Saban Foundation. In our conversation, we discuss some of the full circle moments in Cheryl’s life, major milestones and Cheryl shares advice on making major life choices. Follow us @meantforit

After going through breast cancer at 42, Dara Kurtz gained the courage and insight to completely change her life and career. Dara started the Crazy Perfect Life blog and self published her first book, Crush Cancer. Today, Dara continues to blog to her 195k followers on Facebook, write and take on a growing number of speaking engagements. Dara’s second book, I am My Mother’s Daughter, is a love letter to her mother who she lost to cancer too early, when Dara was only 28.  In our conversation, Dara shares her story and the milestones along her path to creating a job and lifestyle that feels like a ‘joyful playground’. It was not an easy path. Losing her mother shattered Dara's world, and then getting diagnosed with breast cancer while her two daughters were still young was Dara's greatest nightmare. Dara bravely made it through to the other side, and along the way, she learned how gratitude and mindset can change everything.  If you need inspiration to overcome a challenge, or get the courage to start on working on a career switch, this conversation is for you. Follow us @meantforit Reach out to us: [email protected]

Aundrea Cline-Thomas was meant to tell stories. An award winning journalist, Aundrea’s dedication, integrity, humility and work ethic has already paid off. Aundrea received the 2017 Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists Broadcast Journalist of the Year Award and has won two regional Emmy awards for her reporting. We think Aundrea is just getting started.  In our conversation, we discuss how Aundrea landed her first job, advice for people interested in jobs within broadcast journalism and the major career decisions that led to Aundrea's current role as a reporter for CBS NY. We also discuss how Aundrea’s cultural background as the daughter of African immigrants, has influenced everything about the way she lives her life.

Eve Rodsky’s goal is to change how families think about the distribution of household and care work. In other words, Eve’s work revolves around reversing thousands of years of cultural norms that expect women to manage almost all the childcare and housework. It started one day when Eve was crazy busy juggling a new born, a toddler, an exhausting to-do list, and a demanding job. On that fateful day, Eve’s husband sent a text message, "I'm suprised you didn't get blueberries." The blueberry request is this moment, now frozen in time, that eventually led to what Eve did next. Eve decided to start the “Sh*t I Do” spreadsheet to understand the scope of work that most women manage; which includes an enormous amount of “cognitive labor”. As a Harvard Law School graduate and organizational consultant, Eve addressed this household problem with the same intensity, and using the same set of skills she used  in her day job as a mediator. Eve started to ask around and collected thousands of tasks and responsibilities women manage in their homes. Eve’s research eventually led to “Fair Play”, a  book devoted to helping partners divide the 100 most common household and caretaking responsibilities. Today, Eve is leading a movement devoted to advocating for policy and cultural changes related to who owns the cognitive labor for the housework and childcare responsibilities in a family.  In our conversation, Eve shares her story and what she has learned during the last 9 years while researching the gender division of labor. We have a lively discussion on why it is so important to shift cultural expectations for care and housework. We also learn about Eve’s early influences and why men, women and society devalue women's time. Learn more about Eve Follow us @meantforit on IG Send us a note to: [email protected] If you enjoy this episode, download our conversation with Caitlyn Collins on Making Motherhood Work. 

Today I Noticed is a creative mindfulness practice started by Willow Older and Deborah Huber. On their Instagram feed you’ll find their often whimsical, sometimes touching observations—which combine words and sketches—that capture the ordinary, yet magical, moments of daily life. In our conversation, Willow and Deborah share how Today I Noticed started unexpectedly during a day trip to San Francisco. They talk about how their lives have changed—for the better!— since they started noticing and recording what’s happening around them and within them. Turns out the prompt, “Today I noticed” is a simple yet powerful reminder to slow down and appreciate the sweet, silly, everyday moments we all experience but rarely notice. Willow and Deborah have discovered that doing so helps us feel happier, nourished, and grateful. Today, nearly three years into their noticing adventure, the "partners in creative crime" are leading corporate workshops, building a global online community, and pursuing a variety of publishing projects to inspire others to dial-up their joy by strengthening their own noticing muscles.  Follow us @meantforit You can reach us at [email protected] For guest ideas: [email protected] If you enjoyed this episode, please  subscribe and share it with a friend: On your iPhone select episode, click “details,” click on the 3 dots to the right of play, and text or email it to a friend. To write a review on your iphone, after selecting the podcast, scroll down till you see "Write a Review" and tap.  

Growing up in Catalonia, Spain with parents who exposed Anna Schlegel to engineering and art infused Anna with an adventurous spirit and a strong work ethic. Anna’s graduate studies in languages led her to a translation job in Silicon Valley where Anna started her own translation company in San Francisco when she saw a gap in the market. Eventually, Anna’s translation skills led to a job in localization for Cisco. After several jobs in high tech, Anna landed at NetApp. At NetApp, Anna’s skills blossomed and she was  offered more responsibilities and promotions due to her growing abilities and commitment to constant learning. As you will hear in our conversation, Anna is a true believer and practitioner of immersing and training herself in new fields such as management, technology and innovation.  Based on Anna's performance and growing responsibilities, her mindset and career strategy is working. Anna's job success led to her current role as VP of Global Portfolio to Market where Anna is managing four different teams. In our conversation, we discuss Anna’s career path and how her international perspective and early influences shaped her work ethic. We also discuss Anna's drive to learn, how Anna is contributing through volunteer work and how to put yourself in a place where the  opportunities find you. Learn more about Anna here Follow us @meantforit You can reach us at [email protected] For guest ideas: [email protected] If you enjoyed this episode, please  subscribe and share it with a friend. On your iPhone select episode, click “details,” click on the 3 dots to the right of play, and text or email it to a friend. To write a review on your iphone, after selecting the podcast, scroll down till you see "Write a Review" and tap.  

Shelley Zalis is the definition of a trailblazer. As the founder of OTX, a pioneer in the online market research space, and a founder of The Female Quotient, Shelley has consistently led with innovation and courage. In our conversation, Shelley walks us through her career milestones and the “heartbeat moments” that guided the most important decisions in her career. While most people conform to the status quo or find ways to work around traditional norms, Shelley’s character and life experiences blended in ways that gave her the courage and wisdom to follow her instincts, question the norms and eventually successfully strike out on her own. Shelley shares the story of her first jobs in the market research space, her biggest milestones and we talk about the two mentors who were the biggest influences in Shelley’s career.  Shelley tells us the story of how a visit to the CES Conference with a group of friends gave her the idea that evolved into Shelley’s current role as founder of The Female Quotient. There are people in this world who are forces of energy that inspire you to act boldly and follow your heart.  Shelley is one of those people. Follow us @meantforit If you have ideas for guests please send a note to [email protected] If you want to hear more conversations about ways to improve our workplaces download these episodes: Making Motherhood work with Caitlyn Collins Brigid Schulte, Writer, Director Better Life Lab   You can reach us at [email protected] For guest ideas: [email protected] If you enjoyed this episode, please  subscribe and share it with a friend. On your iPhone select episode, click “details,” click on the 3 dots to the right of play, and text or email it to a friend. To write a review on your iphone, after selecting the podcast, scroll down till you see "Write a Review" and tap.  

Solving the problem of food waste and creating new products based on upcycled food was the type of project Caroline Cotto was meant to work on. As someone who has intentionally sought out challenging experiences since high school, Caroline is determined to live on the side of impact and adventure.  Today, Caroline is the COO of Renewal Mill, a next generation ingredients company that's reducing food waste by upcycling the byproducts of food manufacturing into high quality ingredients and products. In our conversation, Caroline shares how her career decisions, family influences, traveling and love of food led her to Renewal Mill. Renewal Mill Whole Foods names upcycled foods and Renewal Mills' upcycled flours a Top 10 Food Trend for 2021 Named World Changing Idea by Fast Company  Featured on PBS Newshour Follow us on IG @meantforit You can reach us at contact@meantforit If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and please subscribe for future episodes. Podcast co-hosts Polina and Amber    

Annette Ross was meant for love. After overcoming a tragic accident during the birth of her second child that left Anette unable to walk, Annette went on to create a beautiful life with five daughters and the love of her life. In our conversation, we discuss how Annette adjusted to life and how her love for her family has always carried her forward. Annette shares advice on navigating through life in a way that keeps joy and gratitude at the forefront, while also being open to opportunities and accepting challenges.  You can learn more about Annette by reading her memoir, Where Fairytales Go or by watching the HBO documentary, Any One of Us. We were honored to host Annette and inspired by her beauty and strength. Reach out to us: [email protected]          

Dr. Vijayeta Sinh, a Clinical Psychologist and founder of TherapyCouchNYC, shares how her background and love for psychology led her to pursue a doctorate and career focused on helping people live their best lives. Vijayeta is motivated by using her training to help her clients understand how their patterns may be holding them back and limiting the quallity yof their relationships. Listen in to hear Vijayeta’s perspective on the ways therapy can enhance our lives. Dr. Vijayeta Sinh has 15 years of experience, a Ph.D. from Columbia University and is a Supervising Psychologist at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, and Teachers College at Columbia University. Born and raised in India, she is fluent in Hindi and has a deep understanding of the ways cultural and social issues relate to work, career, marriage, and parenthood. Follow us @meantforit

Dr. Eliza Nemser is an earth scientist working on climate solutions at the intersection of science, policy, and politics. In our conversation we discuss how Eliza fell in love with earth science and the path that led her to becoming a co-founder of Climate Changemakers. If you are curious about what it is like to be a geoscientist or how to start an organization focused on community organizing, this episode is for you. Follow us @meantforit

If you have had issues receiving or giving performance feedback (who hasn't?), this conversation is for you. Therese Huston’s role as a Cognitive Scientist at Seattle University involves finding ways to help professionals do their best work. Therese’s third book, Let's Talk, focuses on how to deliver feedback and create conversations that lead to growth and stronger relationships. Although you have probably read about this topic before, ‘Let’s Talk’ is different because Therese’s unique style of writing and communicating her findings is truly easy to understand, remember, and apply. ‘Let’s Talk’ could be an excellent handbook for every manager interested in delivering feedback in ways that create psychological safety, propose constructive solutions, and instill a collaborative framework.  In our conversation we discuss different feedback styles, how to listen and set good intentions, how to set up two-way conversations, tips for creating psychological safety, best practices for frequency of feedback, and surprising research about the praise to criticism ratio. This conversation is filled with actionable tips and advice for managers, parents or anyone who wants to get better at sharing feedback. We also recommend our podcast conversation with Therese Huston from 2016 on her book How Women Decide: What’s True, What’s Not, and What Strategies Spark the Best Choices. In podcast episode 21, we discussed high-pressure decision making, the gender myth, and tactical advice that may help you when you’re stuck trying to make your own decisions.  Follow us @meantforit If you enjoyed this episode, please  subscribe and share it with a friend. On your iPhone select episode, click “details,” click on the 3 dots to the right of play, and text or email it to a friend. To write a review on your iphone, after selecting the podcast, scroll down till you see "Write a Review" and tap.

Kelley Higney, Founder & CEO of Bug Bite Thing, is an unstoppable force also known as a "mom on a mission." When a relocation to South Florida, led to constant mosquito bites for Kelley and her daughter, Kelley started searching for solutions. After many failed attempts to help her daughter with the bites, Kelley discovered a little-known tool that uses suction to help remove insect saliva/venom from under the skin. Kelley was amazed to find that the product worked and quickly realized it was an opportunity for a business.   Kelley secured the exclusive distribution rights for the product in the U.S. and started her company, Bug Bite Thing. Then, Kelley made a bold and strategic decision to sell her house and move into a rental so she could afford to start her business.   In the early days, Kelley started by selling her product at bake sales, school events, online and through Amazon. Eventually, word of mouth created buzz around the product and Kelley was featured on the local news. As sales expanded and Kelley’s marketing skills evolved, one of Bug Bite Thing's social media posts caught the attention of a producer of the hit show 'Shark Tank.' This led to a successful appearance on the show and Kelley and her mother, Ellen McAlister, partnered with inventor and entrepreneur Lori Greiner. Then, things really took off. Kelley leaped into a new level of sales and took on the challenges of quick growth.    In our conversation, we discuss Kelley’s path from discovering the product now known as Bug Bite Thing, to early sales and how Kelley is managing her business today. If you are interested in entrepreneurial stories, you will love this episode and Kelley’s advice for people who want to pursue their own entrepreneurial dream. If you enjoy this episode please share it with a friend and follow us on Instagram @meantforit. Get yourself a Bug Bite Thing  

This is the story of two friends with a vision for a  business and an ability to get things done. Inspired by entrepreneurship and motivated to empower women and girls, Edwina Govindsamy and Ariel Gough started Bailly, an eco and health conscious fragrance line. With backgrounds in marketing and healthy ambition, Edwina and Ariel dove in and started figuring things out. In our conversation, Ariel generously shares the roadmap of how Baily progressed from idea to reality. We discuss what Ariel learned about sourcing ingredients, packaging, sales growth, managing finances and other strategies for growing and managing Bailly.  Follow us or reach out on Instagram @meantforit Learn more about Bailly  

Erica Liu Williams is the founder of Gr8nola, a “delicious, low sugar superfood granola.” A two-time Olympic time-trial swimmer who’s married to a former-NFL football player named “Tank” Williams, Erica first created gr8nola as a crunchy snack during their annual food cleanse. Erica shares how she started her business as a “cottage food operator,” baking trays and trays of gr8nola in her kitchen and selling at a local farmer’s market. As sales grew, there was a lot that she needed to learn in order to grow her business. “Once I started doing my second farmer’s market and selling online, I needed other certifications and of course, an official nutrition label. It took me tons and tons of phone calls and networking with other food entrepreneurs to figure it all out. There’s no step-by-step guide.” In our conversation, Erica shares the story of growing gr8nola, pivoting during Covid, and expanding her sales channels. Erica offers advice on how to start your own business, from the earliest stages of kitchen production and hiring to figuring out how to scale and build brand awareness. We also discuss Erica’s early influences and the decisions that led her to a career she loves. Plus, we find our what led Halle Berry to share her love of gr8nola on her IG page! Episode co-hosts: Willow Older and Polina Selyutin Follow us or reach out for interview ideas to @iwhjpodcast If you enjoyed this episode, please  subscribe and share it with a friend. On your iPhone select episode, click “details,” click on the 3 dots to the right of play, and text or email it to a friend. To write a review on your iphone, after selecting the podcast, scroll down till you see "Write a Review" and tap.

Jenn Donahue is a Navy veteran,  civil engineer, teacher and business founder. Jenn has been in charge of 1400 Navy personnel and 3 battalions, managed high profile projects as an operations engineer. Jenn has taken her education to the highest levels including a bachelors in ocean engineering, a masters and PHD in civil engineering from UC Berkeley. In our conversation, we discuss the early origins of Jenn’s passion for building and the decisions  she made that led her to becoming an engineer and joining the navy. We talk about some of Jenn’s projects, places where Jenn has worked while serving in the navy and Jenn’s advice for others who have a deep love for building and engineering. You will be blown away by Jenn’s accomplishments and her desire to offer mentoring to those who dream of similar career paths. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend. On your iPhone select episode, click 'details', click on the 3 dots to the right of play and text or email it to a friend. Episode co-hosts: Amber Greene and Polina Selyutin Learn more about Jenn Follow us or reach out for interview ideas to @iwhjpodcast How to write a review on your iphone: After selecting the podcast, scroll down till you see "Write a Review" and tap   

We often hear that volunteering can lead you to places that will change your life. For Jessica Goudeau, volunteering led to starting a nonprofit that provided supplemental income for Burmese refugee artisans for seven years and then to writing After the Last Border: Two Families and the Story of Refuge in America, which was named a New York Times Editors’ Choice book.  Jessica has a PHD n literature from the University of Texas and has spent over 10 years working with refugees in Austin. In our conversation, we discuss how Jessica’s friendships with “Mu Naw” and “Hasna” , inspired her to devote two years to writing her first book, and the ways her experiences helping refugees has transformed her life. We also discuss how the sentiment towards towards refugee resettlement in the USA has changed, and a few ways the refugee resettlement program is evolving. Jessica’s book recommendations: Kao Kalia Yang, Somewhere in the Unknown World Dina Nayeri, The Ungrateful Refugee Ahmed Badr, While the Earth Sleeps We Travel Viet Thanh Nguyen, The Displaced Follow the podcast or reach out @iwhjpodcast      

We’ve all been through heartache and heartbreak, but Amy Chan has made a career of it. Amy is the founder of Renew Breakup Bootcamp, a  retreat that takes a scientific and spiritual approach to healing the heart. If you or someone you know is reeling from the pain of a breakup, attending one of these workshops can be transformative. During Covid, the bootcamps are going strong with online sessions. Amy was a guest on the podcast in episode 100 to discuss her career path and how she started Renew Breakup Bootcamp.  In our latest conversation, Amy joins us to discuss her new book, Breakup Bootcamp. Amy shares highlights from her book and we discuss some of the book’s themes such as recognizing love addiction, tools for getting over breakups and understanding our love compass. Amy shares how the many breaks ups she endured gave her an understanding of common dating patterns and the different ways we can sabotage ourselves in love or get stuck in suffering during breakups. Amy has poured all the research and learnings from her career and fours years of break up bootcamps into this must-read book on dealing with dating and breakups. Follow us @iwhjpodcast Follow Amy @missamychan

Gianna Stanley made a huge career pivot when she realized her post college dream job for a boutique marketing and consulting agency was not the the path she wanted for the rest of her career. Instead of staying stuck and unhappy, Gianna made a bold move to leave her job, and then another bold move by deciding to go to the Institute of Culinary Education in NYC.  The decision to go to culinary school actually came out of Gianna’s volunteering at the St Francis House Day shelter. After leaving her job, Gianna increased her volunteer hours at the shelter and soon realized the work of cooking and feeding people gave her the joy and purpose she was craving. At the Institute of Culinary Education, Gianna fully embraced the intensity of the cooking program and took advantage of various internships and opportunities to learn. After finishing the program, Gianna got an externship at Blue Hill and then accepted a position as a private chef along with a side job as a chef with a pop-up event company called The Underground Kitchen. In addition to her cooking jobs, Covid led Gianna to another side gig as a food photographer. In our conversation, Gianna shares her career story and how she started and grew her food photography business. If you have a career switch on your mind or are curious about starting a new side hustle, you will love learning how Gianna has followed her heart to a create her own recipe for a meaningful career.  Follow Gianna @sustainablygia Follow us/reach out @iwhjpodcast  

Have you ever thought about what it’s like to work as a financial advisor? Kristin O’Keeffe Merrick, a money expert with 19 years of professional experience in the financial industry, is a financial advisor at her family-run firm, O'Keeffe Financial Partners. Kristin shares her career path story and why more women should consider financial advising as a career option. We discuss the challenges Kristin faced when transitioning to a financial advisor role and advice on how to get started in this field. We also discuss the project Kristin started with her close friend, Lindsay Shookus, Women Work F#cking Hard, a networking group that is bringing together women with the goal of helping women business owners. Kristin also writes about money for leading publications such as Forbes, NY Magazine and she is a frequent guest on Today Show, the NBC Nightly News and Yahoo Finance Kristin was recently named as 2020 Badass 50 by InStyle Magazine.

Grief Warrior was born out of Leslie Barber’s tragic personal experience—the sudden death of her husband, Steve, at 46 years old. This life-changing event, and the grief Leslie has since endured, led her to found Grief Warrior. The company is dedicated to changing how individuals, companies, and our society at large thinks about and handles grief.  Grief Warrior is both a mission and a movement. What began as a thoughtful gift box for grievers has evolved into a comprehensive selection of offerings including a training series for managers and HR, a Grief Squad crisis response team, 1:1 coaching and counseling, digital courses, and keynote presentations. In this conversation, Leslie shares why it’s so important for leaders to learn how to be compassionate, empathetic, and supportive during an employee’s most difficult time. Such efforts include learning what we shouldn’t say to someone who’s grieving. (For example, never start a sentence with “At least …” or suggest that, “God needed another angel.”) Leslie points out that mastering such so-called “soft” skills to support grievers can directly improve things like productivity, morale, and retention. In other words, learning how to help people “feel human at work” (as one Grief Warrior participant put it), is fundamentally good for business.  With an impressive NPS score of 85, it’s clear that Grief Warrior’s services are effective—and essential. Leslie explains how she has grown Grief Warrior to a team of 20 and how she’s continuing to expand her business. As she tells us about her mission to become the “Brene Brown of grief,” Leslie says, “We can’t make grief better, but maybe we can make it less awful.”  Willow Older, a friend of the podcast, is a co-host on this episode. Willow is writer, editor, and co-founder of the must-follow Instagram account called Today I Noticed (@today.i.noticed).

Jenny Rustemeyer, a writer and producer with Peg Leg Films, shares her career path story and how she ended up as a documentary film producer. Jenny has produced This Mountain Life, The Clean Bin Project, and Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story which won multiple festival awards and took home the Leo for Best Feature Length Documentary. If you want to learn and be entertained at the same time without being overwhelmed, Jenny’s films are infused with humor and information about a variety of environmental issues. When you want to watch a documentary but are not ready for a heavy dose of reality, Jenny’s films are a perfect blend of documentary style information combined with reality based storytelling. In our conversation, Jenny shares how her film partnership with her husband, Grant Baldwin, evolved, and how they have turned their love for each other and the environment into entertaining, thought provoking films. Add these films to your must watch queue today! Topics Discussed: Clean Bin Project Just Eat It Chris Jordan’s art How Jenny made her first and second films: funding, filming distribution The problem of food waste Follow the podcast @iwhjpodcast

When Brooke Shannon realized the smartphone decision was coming for her three daughters, she felt she needed to wait, and she also suspected she was not aloe in dealing with the mounting pressures and questions surrounding kids and smartphones. Brooke created a website dedicated to waiting on smartphones and support from other families was instant. Today, the Wait until 8th organization, is a place where families can sign a pledge to wait until 8th grade until giving their kids a smartphone. By signing the pledge as a group of 10 families, both kids and families gain community support in their decision. Considering the peer pressure kids feel to get a smartphone, and the instantly addictive nature of a phone, this is likely one of the top decisions families are facing. In our conversation, Brooke shares her personal story and we discuss some of the reasons for deciding to wait on smartphones until 8th grade. if you enjoy this episode, please share it with a friend , follow us @meantforit and leave us a review on iTunes. You can you reach us at: [email protected]  

When Alexandra Kenin realized her job was not allowing her to fully thrive, she found a way to combine her love of outdoor exploration with writing and crafted herself a dream career. Alexandra is the founder of Urban Hiker SF, Studio Chief and Senior Editor at Wordsmithie, and author of Urban Trails: San Francisco and Urban Trails: East Bay. In our conversation, Alexandra shares how she made her career transition and the strategies she used to get her tour business started. Alexandra also shares the steps she took to quickly and successfully publish her first book. If you have considered trying an entrepreneurial idea, or if you are in the middle of a career transition, this conversation may give you the boost and tips you need for taking the next steps towards your dream career path.  Topics Discussed: Career transitions Hiking and exploring San Francisco The power of business school networks Marketing strategies for an outdoor tour business Tips for publishing a non-fiction book: Unconventional Guide to Publishing by David Fugate Follow us @iwhjpodcast

Prior to joining Lyft, Sara El-Amine had an extraordinary career in community organizing; ranging from an entry level role, to an executive director role, for the Obama campaign. After reading Obama’s book, The Audacity of Hope, Sara quit her job, drove to the Iowa headquarters in 2008, and offered to help. It was a bold decision that paid off. With time, Sara rose to the National Director role of Obama’s reelection campaign and served as executive director of Organizing for Action (OFA), leading Obama’s citizen-led movement for change across the U.S. Today, as Head of Community Engagement at Lyft, Sara has jumped into the business world with the same enthusiasm she had for her organizing work. Sara really, really believes in the power of the gig economy. In this conversation, Sara shares why she made the switch to the business world and why she believes gig work has so much potential to help communities across the US  and the people working in the industry. We discuss the emerging field of community engagement and what Sara and her team focus on day-to-day. Sara shares what she looks for when hiring, and the background or experience that is useful in a community engagement role.  Sara also shares some of the deeply personal reasons that motivated her to pursue a career in organizing and social change. We talk about the ways Sara’s family and personal experiences were the origin of her early passion for social impact, and how her desire to help people and improve communities continues to be the primary inspiration for her work. Follow us @iwhjpodcast

If you have ever wondered why motherhood in the US is so difficult, you don’t want to miss this conversation with Caitlyn Collins, Assistant Professor of Sociology a Washington University and author of Making Motherhood Work: How Women Manage Careers and Caregiving. In her book, Caitlyn dives into the ways public policy shapes the lives of mothers in the USA, Germany, Italy and Sweden. By examining the different policies in each country, and through detailed interviews with 135 women, the book shows how public policy decisions deeply influence culture and drastically shapes the lives of parents. This conversation is likely to leave you shocked, and, hopefully inspired by the possibility to reimagine options for supporting mothers and children with benefits such as paid parental leave and universal affordable, high quality childcare. As Caitlyn says, instead of blaming themselves, mothers in the US should consider that the current system just isn’t working. Follow us @meantforit and please share this episode with a friend.

When the Covid lockdown started, Stella Delp was a sophomore at Stanford and determined to find a way to help. News stations were showing lines for food that were miles long, while some farms were in situations where they needed to destroy enormous amounts of food. Stella joined two friends, co-founders James Kanoff and Aidan Reilly as the third employee at newly formed Farmlink Project with the goal of reducing food waste and helping to get fresh produce to food banks. Five months later, Farmlink Project has delivered 12 millions pounds of fresh produce to food banks across the country and is currently delivering up to 1M pounds per week! Stella’s current role is Chief of Staff for a fully volunteer staff that has reached 50 full time volunteers and 140 part time volunteers. In this conversation, Stella shares her Farmlink Project journey and insights into the food industry. Famlink Project’s latest goal is to keep growing and to create a platform that farms, food banks, and other organizations looking to feed people & reduce food waste will be able to easily access. This story will leave you feeling inspired by the possibilities for a small group of people to make a huge difference and start a movement.  Follow Farmlink Project's work @iwhjpodcast  

Jennifer Justice started The Justice Dept. with a goal of making women as rich as men. The company is a female-focused advisory, consulting and law firm advocating for female founders, talent, execs and brands. Its vision is, “To accelerate the success of women, women-owned businesses and women -ocused brands to achieve equality and diversity in the market, workforce and workplace as it should be.” In this episode, Jennifer shares her path to entertainment law and the thought process behind some of the biggest decisions she’s made in her life. As the first in her family to attend college, Jennifer had no help, financial assistance, or connections to aide in her career. She made it on her own. If you’ve ever doubted your abilities, or felt like reaching her level of success seems impossible, Jennifer is here with her story to boldly declare that it’s possible. She knows. Because she did it. Listen in to hear Jennifer share how her background has given her an edge in connecting with musicians and making independent, unconventional choices. And the same plays into her personal life – from having kids on her own to launching The Justice Dept. Named a “Game Changer” by Goop, as one of the “50 Badass Women Changing the World in 2020” by InStyle, and as one of Billboard’s “Women in Power” list-makers three times, Jennifer is known for her expertise in entertainment law. Her client list has included Jay-Z, Beyonce, Outkast, Slipknot and Mark Ronson. She later worked as EVP and general counsel at Jay-Z’s Roc Nation – helping it grow new avenues for revenue streams – from TV and film, to sports, branding and partnerships. She then worked as the president of corporate development at Superfly, a live experience company, and helped it grow revenue and raise more capital. Jennifer understands how to structure and build successful businesses, and how to negotiate deals at the highest levels. Today’s episode of I Want Her Job The Podcast will give you a taste of how she sees the world, her advice for growing your own revenue stream, and negotiating tips to consider for your next role. Follow us  @iwhjpodcast To contact the show reach out to: [email protected]    

Tracy McCubbin is a professional declutterer, but what she really does is help people manage their relationship to stuff. When Tracy realized she had a talent for helping people organize their stuff, she turned it into dCluttefly, a thriving business.  In our part 2 of our conversation with Tracy, we discuss the 7 emotional clutter blocks Tracy discovered while running her business. Tracy walks us through each emotional block and offers examples of how people use shopping or holding on to excess stuff as a way of avoiding their emotions or problems. We discuss some of the ways our society is rigged against our desire to buy less and how your home can become a more peaceful and joyful place when you remove the things that you don’t need. Whether  you are hanging on to the past, creating a fantasy life, feeling guilty about your purchases or feeling shame for not using the stuff you bought, Tracy can help. After 14 years helping people declutter their homes, Tracy has seen it all and can help people move past common emotional mistakes related to the things we own.   Tracy's book, Making Space Clutter Free: The Last Book on Decluttering You Will Ever Need Follow us  @iwhjpodcast To contact the show reach out to: [email protected]

Tracy McCubbin is a professional declutterer, but what she really does is help people manage their relationship to stuff. When Tracy realized she had a talent for helping people organize their stuff, she turned it into dCluttefly, a thriving business.  Tracy decided to start a service that will help others start their own decluttering and organizing businesses. The $22B storage industry, Tracy’s waiting list for her services, and the fact that most Americans cannot park in their garages due to excees stuff, is an indicator of the market size and need for people who can help us manage what we buy. It is easy to feel overwhelmed with the problems of the world and unable to help, but there is a way to help: by making conscious choices to buy less things. In our conversation, we discuss the mental and financial impact to our health, our finances, the environment and our homes when we buy too much. In Tracy’s book, Making Space, Clutter Free: The Last Book on Decluttering You'll Ever Need, Tracy outlines a range of 7 emotional blocks that people have related to stuff and offers advice on how to move past emotional blockers such as hanging on to the past or creating a fantasy lite. Does that sound familiar? If you are feeling overwhelmed with the stuff in your home or if you want change your buying habits, Tracy breaks down the emotional triggers that create the urge to buy and hold on to the things that don't serve our needs.   To contact the show reach out to: [email protected] www.meantforit.com  

Our guest today Katie Fogarty is the  founder of LinkedIn Reboot and Reboot for Business, Katie Fogarty’s work helps people transform their LinkedIn profiles, personal brands and career opportunities. Katie's background writing for morning TV news, working for a global PR firm and even for a U.S. Senator has given her a perfect combination of skills to help others summarize their personal stories on their LinkedIn pages. In our second conversation with Katie, we discuss key tips for helping job seekers update their profiles and make the most of out LinkedIn’s latest features. Our podcast with Katie fron 2019 To contact the show reach out to: [email protected]  Follow us  @iwantherjob Sign up for our newsletter and find more interviews:  www.iwantherjob.com  

Jessica Jackson is the Chief Advocacy Officer for Reform Alliance, an organization working to reduce the number of people in the criminal justice system by focusing on probation and parole. Jessica previously served as a Human Rights Attorney, Mayor of Mill Valley, California and National Director of #Cut50. Jessica is also getting attention for mentoring and helping Kim Kardashian with her law studies and advocacy for criminal justice reform. Kim has been studying 18 hours a week under Jessica’s guidance as she pursues a legal degree.  In our third conversation with Jessica, we discuss the progress that has been made in reducing national incarceration rates and Jessica’s current role with the Reform Alliance. Jessica’s path to criminal justice reform came from a deeply personal story that impacted her family. Shortly after she was married and had a newborn, her husband was sentenced to almost 10 years in prison for a non violent offense. This experience completely changed Jessica’s  life and set her down a path to fixing the problems she witnessed in the criminal justice system. Listen to our conversation in episode #18 where Jessica shares her personal story of  completing her law degree as a single mom, representing clients on death row and running for public office. As someone who believes in turning anger into action, Jessica has devoted her career to public service. Listen in to hear her story and get insight into recent progress and work being done to improve our criminal justice system. Listen to episode #18 where Jessica shares her career story.  Listen to episode #78 where Jessica Jackson shares how to get involved in your community and public office. To contact the show reach out to: [email protected]  Follow us  @iwantherjob Sign up for our newsletter and find more interviews:  www.iwantherjob.com

A random act of kindness to help  furnish an apartment for someone who aged out of foster care altered the course of Georgie Smith’s life. Georgie started receiving requests from others who needed the same type of assistance. When Georgie realized there were no organizations providing this help to set up homes for kids coming out of the foster system, Georgie decided to create a Sense of Home with a model that could be repeated by other non-profits. In our conversation, Georgie shares how furnishing an apartment can help to change the future for kids coming out of foster care. We discuss the story of starting a Sense of Home, its impact and the super hero resilience Georgie finds among those she is helping. Growing up Georgie’s dad would ask her ‘What are you doing to do about it’ when she read stories of people struggling. This mindset and the example of generosity from her parents shaped Georgie’s career and life path. This story will leave you hopeful, inspired and may encourage you to ask yourself what you are going to do about the problems that move you. Jazmine’s story and home creation Testimonials capturing the love of strangers  A Sense of Home warehouse tour   Follow us  @iwhjpodcast      

Danielle Gletow was destined to grant wishes.  After fostering and then adopting a newborn, Danielle found her life calling. A 2013 CNN Hero, Danielle has devoted herself to finding ways to help more than 400,000 children in foster care. Danielle founded One Simple Wish in 2008 with the goal of granting wishes to children in foster care across the country and those who've aged out of foster care. On One Simple Wish, people can  view wishes from foster children and make contributions that make those wish come true. Wishes range from toys to school supplies, music lessons or trips to a theater or pool.  Last year, One Simple Wish reached 20,000 youth.  In our conversation, Danielle shares the deeply personal story that led her to foster care, her experiences with the foster system and why the children in the foster system need our attention and support. If you have been thinking of ways to contribute and help others during these challenging times, One Simple Wish was started with the goal of giving people an opportunity to connect with foster kids and easily make meaningful contributions.  Danielle is asking us to go to One Simple Wish and read the stories. She says, “just by you acknowledging their existence and their journey  and maybe sharing it with somebody else, or becoming more aware, you then become part of their village.” Research studies have shown a strong correlation between foster care and so many other critical issues in our society. Danielle’s vision is to connect people with foster kids while bringing light and awareness to the system, that in turn will hopefully lead to positive change. Danielle says, “We need more people recognizing that our foster system is incredibly broken and it is all of our problem.“ If you enjoy this conversation, please share it with a friend and help us share Danielle’s message and goal of helping kids in foster care. Follow us  @meantforit    

How often during your college years did you wonder: How are these classes going to help me? What will do I with the information I’m learning? But, what if you had the chance to discover your “why” during a yearlong opportunity — before you kicked off your career? That’s exactly what Abby Falik has created with Global Citizen Year, a program that helps students stretch themselves during a gap year between high school graduation and college. Abby is the founder of the organization, which also helps students learn about cultures and languages, and gain experiences and memories, while staying with host families in Brazil, Ecuador, India and Senegal, and work as apprentices in local organizations. In our previous conversation with Abby (during 2018 and featured episode #82), Abby shared the roots of her passion and what made her determined to make the gap year part of every student’s college experience. In our latest conversation, Abby shares the story of the launch of Global Citizen Academy, a new program bringing together high school students worldwide for the opportunity to explore topics like effective communication, systems thinking and ethical decision-making. Global Citizen Academy is seizing this historic moment to help high school graduates find ways they can help their communities within an organization that has proven leadership training. Abby was once the type of student she hopes to inspire. She was attending college at Stanford when she realized that she was longing for more than simply listening to professors in lecture halls. Abby took a break and spent a year in Brazil working and traveling. After coming back to Stanford after this life-changing journey, she noticed she gained confidence and maturity, which she credits with altering the course of her life. But before Abby realized her vision, she worked in a nonprofit — managing, building and creating ideas — and then attended Harvard to obtain an MBA that would help her create Global Citizen Year. If you like today’s episode, we recommend you scroll back through our podcast archives to our conversation with Abby in episode #82.  

Heidi Kühn, CEO and founder of Roots of Peace, was raised with a pioneer spirit, love for the earth and humanity. Heidi’s commitment to peace was further strengthened during her time attending University of California Berkeley in the 1970’s. After a cancer diagnosis, Heidi made a promise to God to help others. Inspired by Princess Diana’s commitment to the removal of landmines, Heidi recovered, and lived up to her promise by founding Roots of Peace with a vision of turning “Mines to Vines” – replacing the remnants of war with bountiful vineyards and orchards of peace around the world. Heidi saw the landmines as a cancer of the earth, and devoted herself to saving lives while preventing people and children from tragic death or crippling injuries. In Heidi’s new book, Breaking Ground: From Landmines to Grapevines, One Woman's Mission to Heal the World, Heidi shares the story of starting Roots of Peace 22 years ago from the basement of her home in Marin County, California. For two decades, Heidi straddled her role as a mother to four children, while growing support for the Roots of Peace vision. With help from local Napa Valley Vintners, her friends, a community of supporters, the United States Government, the United Nations, World Bank and other organizations, Roots of Peace has planted seeds of hope and peace in eight countries around the world. In our conversation, Heidi shares the faith and mindset that gave her the courage and resilience that helped Roots of Peace thrive and allowed Heidi to overcome her fears. “Faith not fear” was the belief that allowed Heidi to walk through live minefields, make difficult decisions and keep Roots of Peace alive through multiple hardships. Heidi has been recognized for her work by numerous world leaders, including Kofi Annan, H.H. Pope Benedict XVI, H.H. Pope Francis and many heads of state and government. Heidi’s faith, vision and personal story is likely to give you inspiration to pursue the goals that are calling you. Heidi says, “I believe that once we commit ourselves wholeheartedly to a noble cause, there are higher forces that steer us in a certain direction and that come to our aid when we are in need.” After listening to Heidi’s story, and reading her book, you may decide it’s time to pursue your calling, and this is exactly what Heidi is seeking with her book. Heidi’s unwavering belief in a world where children are free to walk without fear of death or injury is a mission we can all support.  We hope you enjoy this conversation, read Heidi’s book and join her on the mission of restoring mines to vines. To contact the show reach out to: [email protected] Follow us  @meantforit    

As President George W. Bush’s White House Press Secretary, Dana Perino has mastered the art of handling stress. And, if this were a game of superlatives, you could also say she’s most likely to be the most prepared person in any room. She also broke a glass ceiling during her time working in the White House, as during her tenure as White House Press Secretary, she was the first female to serve as a spokesperson in a Republican administration. Respected across the aisle, Dana was appointed to the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors by President Barack Obama after departing the White House. In 2009, she joined FOX News Channel as a contributor. And in just 11 years at FOX News, she is appearing on two hours of national television on the channel each day. Dana anchors FOX News Channel's afternoon news program, The Daily Briefing and is one of the co-hosts of The Five a weekday roundtable discussion program where different voices across the spectrum break down the biggest issues of the day. Dana also leads the 2020 election coverage and has anchored special events for the primary and Iowa caucuses. She also made news herself when she nabbed an exclusive interview with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to discuss the state of social media and political advertising, which also was his first interview with the network. In episode #118, Dana shares some of her career defining moments, advice for pursuing career goals and managing fear. We speak about her passion for guiding the future female leaders as the founder of Minute Mentoring. We also talk about her book, And the Good News Is... Lessons and Advice from the Bright Side, which shares career advice from lessons Dana has learned along her path.  Dana also shares one of her get-ahead secrets – her ability to transfer her energy to an audience. She says, “If you are not amped up a little bit, your audience is going to be bored.” Dana also shares other insights about nabbing your dream job. She advises that even if you are offered the second-in-command role, you should still grab the opportunity to learn as much as you can, so that when your time comes, you know how to be in charge. We also talk with Dana about how her parents and grandparents, ranchers in Colorado, gave her the values and mindset that have shaped her path, love of news and work ethic. To contact the show reach out to: [email protected]  Sign up for our newsletter and find more interviews:  www.iwantherjob.com Follow us on @iwantherjob