20 Minutes with Bronwyn

Hello, my friends! It’s been a minute! I’ve been in deeeeep work mode on client projects, necessitating a petite pause on the podcast over the past several weeks. But I’m back in the saddle, and this week’s episode is a special one, as I am rolling solo. I recently had a conversation with someone whose words continue to echo in my mind. She said, “I am sick and tired of not using my voice.” This is someone who is wise, brilliant, and accomplished. And yet … she put words to a common frustration we just don’t talk about enough. We talk a lot about “finding” your voice, but we don’t often talk about how to use that voice once you’ve found it. This episode is practical, powerful, and lovingly crafted for anyone who struggles to speak up when the time calls for it. THE GEMS How to set yourself up for real change … and move towards lasting transformation [3:08] How to get clear about what, specifically, triggers you into silence … and why this clarity matters. [7:29] How to deal with (and outfox) your fear of having alllll those faces staring back at you. [15:18] How to stop cringing at the sound of your own voice. [22:15] There’s OH so much more, but those were especially juicy. This will be the first of a multi-episode series … there’s a LOT to say. ;) As always, shine on my friend. We need your light!

My friends … you are going to LOVE LOVE LOVE this week’s episode with the legendary wardrobe alchemist, Ms. Lisa Raja.🎙️** Why would I be talking about clothing on this podcast? Because I’m tired of the way caring about clothing and fashion is still dismissed as being “vain” or “superficial.” As a communication coach, I help visionary leaders become spellbinding communicators. And, as you may already know, part of that work focuses on language and messaging, but part of that work focuses on energy, and confidence, and authenticity. And guess what’s a big part of the confidence game? FEELING GOOD IN OUR OWN SKIN. It’s for exactly this reason that I'll often connect a client with a talented stylist. Because how we feel about ourselves is reflected in how comfortable we are in our second skin. Lisa Raja shares her powerful way of working with her clients—by creating an algorithm for their wardrobes. We discuss: But best of all, we get PRACTICAL and TACTICAL about the styles and looks we’re loving right now. And because I know y’all love clothing links (the stats don’t lie! LOL), here are all of the items we discussed … L’Agence Serita Dress in BlackQuince Washable Stretch Silk Tank Midi DresstrousersTheseAdidas GazellestheseGorjanaScanlan TheodoreThe Secret Sauce: Memory Lane Jean To get inspired to revamp your wardrobe, find Lisa at www.lisaraja.com. Shine on, my friend. B **Dedicated to my beloved Lisa Wamboldt, who we lost on February 4th of this year. Lisa “Shortcake” Wamboldt has been a blessing in my life since 1998, and I could never in a million years have imagined that her life would only continue until 2024. Lisa was hilarious, brilliant, kind, and real. Our lives are so much darker without her in them. Lisa, wherever you are, please keep sending your pixie dust to those of us still stuck down here without you. In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting her family here.

Hold on tight because this week’s conversation is about to shift into high gear! (I mean, these puns practically write themselves, but trust me, the excitement is real!) I recently had the opportunity for an exhilarating sit-down with Julia Landauer, a trailblazing two-time champion race car driver, motivational powerhouse, and force to be reckoned with on NASCAR's strategy and innovation team. (And her podcast, If I’m Honest, is fantastic). Our girl Julia doesn’t just break barriers; she shatters them. In this conversation, you will hear her winning strategies for self-advocacy in the male-dominated realm of racing, along with her top tactics for conquering fear. Julia takes us behind the scenes of professional racing, Survivor survival tales, and her work as a professional public speaker, motivating audiences around the world. We also talked about … Get ready to be blown away by this conversation. Looking to inject some adrenaline into your next event? Julia Landauer is your go-to keynote dynamo: Julia's Speaking Page. Eager to witness her TEDxStanford Talk? Hit play here: Julia's TEDx Talk Find her on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. She's a force you won't want to miss.

Are you able to fully “own” your expertise? Or does it feel like bragging? On this week’s episode I sit down with the sensational Elisa Camahort Page, co-founder of Optionality, which is a community for experienced and talented professionals who believe the world of work needs to be reimagined in general, and who want to re-define work and the workplace for themselves specifically, in community with others. We covered a LOT of ground … how women can outmaneuver the systems and stereotypes that block our success, but we also talked about the nature of work—what it is right now, what it could be, and how we might imagine a different future together. A bit about Elisa … Elisa Camahort Page was the Founding COO of BlogHer, Inc. BlogHer scaled from grassroots movement to national women’s media brand. Since leaving the company that acquired BlogHer, Elisa has served in full-time and fractional CxO roles, advising and consulting for organizations across the Media, Tech, Social Impact, and Learning & Development verticals. Her writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Mashable, San Jose Mercury News, and FoxNews.com. She is now the host of The Op-Ed Page with Elisa Camahort Page podcast and the curator behind the This Week-ish newsletter. Enjoy this high voltage conversation, my friend.

WELCOME to January, my friends. I’ve never been a fan of dropping a big rah rah New Year’s resolution episode at the very start of January. In my experience, we are basically still trying to recover from the insanity that was December, and we just … need a minute. But I do believe now is the time to reflect and plan. As Gloria Stenham so beautifully said from behind her rad tinted aviator glasses, ““Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all is a form of planning.” I bring you Bonnie Wan, who JUST dropped what is going to be a GAME changing book called: The Life Brief: A Playbook for No Regrets Living. Just a bit of background on Bonnie: BONNIE WAN is an author and speaker, as well as partner and head of brand strategy at the world-renowned advertising agency, Goodby Silverstein & Partners. As creator of The Life Brief, Bonnie helps people live with greater clarity, creativity, and courage by teaching them how to write creative briefs for their lives. The Life Brief has evolved from an SHORT FORM BIOGRAPHY agency talk into a workbook, workshops, and speaking appearances at Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop, Jane Goodall’s Activating Hope Summit, the 3% Conference, SXSW, Accenture, Apple, Google, Change.org, and more. Take a deep breath, and let this beautiful conversation take you to the higher altitudes where you can see your life clearly, and hold it dearly. Enjoy, my friend.

I bring you this week a completely different type of guest than I normally have on my show. If you’re a regular reader of my newsletters, you’ll recognize the name of said guest, because I gushed about her memoir about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail - Thru Hiking Will Break Your Heart in a recent Monday morning missive. As luck would have it, she actually agreed to let me interview her. My friends, get ready to meet Carrot Quinn. Here’s the short version of her bio: Carrot Quinn is a long-distance hiker and writer. She splits her time between Alaska and the open spaces of the western United States. She is the author of the book Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart: An Adventure on the Pacific Crest Trail and The Sunset Route: Freight Trains, Forgiveness, and Freedom on the Rails of the American West. But the deeper story? Carrot was raised in Alaska on welfare by a schizophrenic single mother who thought that she was the reincarnation of the Virgin Mary. At fourteen Carrot was adopted by her conservative catholic grandparents, and went to highschool in a small Colorado town near the Utah border. She spent years writing and nomading all over the U.S. before hiking the Pacific Crest Trail - all 2,650 miles of it twice. Her writing is fresh and immediate, and I enjoyed every second of this conversation.

Welcome to December! And let me tell you, I come bearing gifts … This fantastic conversation with one of the most influential Venture Capitalists in the Valley, Mr. David Hornik is going to help you become a better storyteller, a better pitcher of ideas, and best of all? It might even help you become a better human being. He’s *that* good. David is a founding partner at Lobby Capital. For the last 25 years he has worked closely with technology entrepreneurs to help them build transformative businesses. Prior to founding Lobby Capital, David was a partner at August Capital for 20 years. David invests in a broad range of software companies, including enterprise application, infrastructure, and SaaS businesses (e.g, Splunk, Fastly, GitLab), financial technology companies (e.g., Bill.com, WePay, PayNearMe), and consumer services (e.g., Evite, Ebates, TopHatter). In this conversation we cover: Buckle up, my friends. Because a conversation with David is always my favorite journey to take.

“Curious” is a word that is almost overused these days. But what if it’s literally the secret to EVERYTHING we are all working for? Happiness. Fulfillment. Connection. The brilliant Scott Shigeoka is here to help us turn curiosity into a high functioning habit. Scott is an internationally recognized curiosity expert, speaker, and the author of 'SEEK, How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World.' He is known for translating research into strategies that promote positive well-being and connected relationships around the globe, including at the UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, and through his ground-breaking courses at the University of Texas at Austin. Scott implements his curiosity practices in the public sector, Fortune 500 companies, Hollywood, media organizations, education institutions, and small businesses. Don't miss this one! Order Seek Here!

Without a doubt, we are the *most* media saturated humans in the history of the world. But what happens to media coverage and storytelling when kids are behind the camera lens? Storytelling with a depth and honesty you won’t see anywhere else. My guest today is the incomparable Holly Carter, founder of the Executive Director of BYkids and BYkids pairs talented young storytellers with seasoned filmmakers to create powerful documentaries about their lives. BYkids kicks off its fourth season on PBS on November 11, and will be narrated by Ashley Judd. Holly began her career as a writer and editor at The New York Times, and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Since then, she’s lived in Korea as a Henry Luce scholar and print and television journalist, produced the award-winning documentary, Margaret Sanger, co-founded North Carolina's full frame festival, served as a consultant for the After-School Corporation, produced the PBS series Media Matters, and most recently was the executive director of The Film Initiative. Holly and I talk about what it means to let young people tell their own stories, whether it’s a teen refugee from Ukraine, a climate activist, or a 14 year old journalist covering organic farming practices in her community in India. This conversation gave me so much hope, so much joy. The kids are more than alright. They’re dazzling. Check out the trailer for BYkids Season Four here.

The brilliant Dr. Leslie Carr and I get real about what the heck work is supposed to look like in this weird post-Covid world we now occupy. We talk about the leadership styles that are poised to win in this environment, and those that are doomed to implode. But most importantly, we talked about what humans truly need in order to thrive. Dr. Leslie Carr is a psychologist and an expert in how trauma, stress, culture, and digital technology impact the mind, and she consults and speaks to audiences about how they survive and even thrive amidst challenging or adverse circumstances. She’s been featured in the LA Times, ABC News, and The Huffington Post among many others. Leslie is also the host of an e-course on how to use technology mindfully, and the host of a podcast called The Nature of Nurture, which delves deep into the nature v nurture debate by exploring how our minds and mental health are shaped by lived experience. Check it all out at www.lesliecarr.com, her e-course is available until 10/31 — you don’t want to miss it!

You guys, when Lexi B walks in the room, there is a ripple in the energetic universe and it's like she's here. That's the vibe she gives. She is one of the most sparkling compelling presences you'll ever know in your life. Her podcast, You Can Sit with US, launched on September 5th and you can find all new episodes on Spotify. Go give it a listen, Lexi is sensational. Alexandria Butler, widely known as Lexi B, is a sought-after figure in the tech industry, renowned for her transformative work and exceptional ability to cultivate executive leadership and promote workplace equity. With an extensive background at prominent Silicon Valley tech Lexi B elevated her mission of empowering professionals to new heights by launching a podcast, You Can Sit With Us. This groundbreaking repository serves as a powerful medium for celebrating and discussing the transferable skills that are essential for building the professional life individuals aspire to have. Lexi B's reputation as a sought-after speaker and workplace culture commentator has earned her numerous invitations to share her profound insights and wisdom with organizations of all sizes, as well as prestigious publications such as Tenable, Pearson, Diginomica, CBS, and more. Bringing her unique blend of entertainment and expertise to the table, Lexi B is poised to revolutionize the way corporate entities approach professional growth and development.

Once upon a time, I remember hearing Oprah Winfrey say, “Your home should rise up to meet you.” I muttered under my breath, “Oh yeah? Well my house rises up to SLAP me. How ‘bout that?” At the time, I was a new mother, a newly(ish)wed, and an “organized, beautiful space” wasn’t yet in my self concept. But a lot has changed since then. I’ve become far better at executing a vision of sanity and calm for my home, which has been due in no small part to the work of my guest on today’s show: the Magical Ms. Shira Gill. Shira Gill is a globally recognized home organizing expert and lifestyle creator with a less-is-more philosophy. Over the past decade, she has helped thousands of people around the world reduce clutter and create more space for what matters. Shira’s work centers around the intimate relationship between people’s homes and lives and how they inform and inspire each other. She is the author of Minimalista and her newest book Organized Living, and has been featured in Vogue, Dwell, Better Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, Domino, Forbes, Goop, Harper's Bazaar, HGTV, Today, InStyle, Parents, Real Simple, and The New York Times. Shira and I talk about her gorgeous new book, which features the home spaces of some of the world’s top home organizers. We also talk about practical and REALISTIC ways to bring more sanity, calm, and beauty to our homes. Shira is a dream to talk with, and our conversation left me feeling inspired and energized. May it do the same for you, my friend. Links: www.shiragill.com @shiragill Newsletter + Community And get ready for some serious inspiration, my friend.

ot gonna lie … I came out of Spring bedraggled. Exhausted. Burned to a crisp. And as fate (the Universe? Luck? Serendipity?) would have it, the brilliant Cherie Healey was launching a program that seemed tailor-made for my tattered soul … A women’s “circle” experience designed to re-animate my spirit, re-imagine my approach to “productivity,” and re-calibrate my relationships with the people I love most. Siren Summer has been literally life changing. And I wanted to bring some of her magic and medicine to you, my peeps. And yes, this one is geared toward high performing women, there’s plenty for all of us to learn and enjoy. Just to give you some background … Cherie is an Executive Coach, Brand Strategist and Founder of SIREN, an Imagination Studio. She helps leaders and teams cause higher impact through big vision, clear purpose and meaningful messaging. Her calling is to help you answer yours. Cherie helped Leaders at YouTube launch a movement for Mental Health and Wellbeing, she has been working with women at Google for over 10 years, advising corporate leaders for 25 and she is a Women In Management Facilitator at Stanford Graduate School of Business. Through Activation Days, Workshops, Speaking and Custom Designed Leadership Programs, she guides impact at orgs like Google, X, Genentech, Nike, YouTube, Apple, GoDaddy, Fox Entertainment, I Heart Media, Paramount and more. I can’t wait for you to hear this one.

I am THRILLED to share my latest conversation with the amazing, talented, and powerful performance coach, Ben Kiker. Ben is a regular on this show because every single time we talk, he casually drops a few statements that not at all casually blow our minds. Today Ben and I are talking about leadership. Specifically, brave and resilient leadership. The past several years have been challenging for everyone, and leaders are no exception. So many of my clients right now are struggling to keep their teams motivated, connected, and joyful … burnout is hiding around every corner it seems. This conversation is my effort to shed light on strategies that help leaders lead during this time of energetic and almost spiritual dryness. The kind of dryness that comes from too many crises … or the “perma crisis” we seem to find ourselves in. Ben’s words are like an oasis in what can sometimes feel like a work life desert. You can find Ben on Instagram and Linkedin @benkiker, and on his website thebenkikergroup.com

When I think about evolution, I think about mostly men’s bodies evolving. Maybe it’s because every image I’ve ever seen depicts MAN moving from knuckle-dragging primate to upright-standing, prefrontal cortex-wielding Super Species. But what is the story of women’s bodies? Deena Emera, PhD, is an evolutionary geneticist, author, and teacher. She earned a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley, a master’s degree from NYU, and a PhD from Yale. She currently serves as a senior scientist at the Buck Institute’s Center for Reproductive Longevity and Equality. She’s with us this week to talk about her new book, A Brief History of the Female Body: An Evolutionary Look at How and Why the Female Form Came to Be. Deena draws on her expertise as a biologist and experience as a mother of four to explore the mysteries of the female body through an evolutionary lens. We covered a LOT of territory, including pressing questions like … I could not get enough of this conversation … my jaw was on the floor for most of it, so just prepare yourself. ;) Find Deena on Instagram, Twitter (X?!), or LinkedIn @deenaemera . Shine on, my friends.

Today, my friends ... we are talking about … wait for it … WEED. CBD. THC. Why? Because I have noticed, as have many other friends who are my contemporaries … that at a certain point in life, alcohol stops being helpful as a method of winding down. For the longest time, I was able to have a nice glass of wine or cocktail to mark the end of the day … I would sip it and make dinner, and then go to sleep. No big deal. Now? It’s like my body has decided to go on strike. If I drink alcohol, I get terrible sleep, I instantly gain weight, and even just a single drink can make me feel like the bottom of the bird cage the next day. But here’s the thing: I don’t have positive associations with marijuana. I just don’t. And then, as fate would have it, I met today’s guest, June Johnson who is a WEED DOULA. Yes, you heard that right. June is here to teach us the *right* way to think about and navigate the world of CBD. June Johnson is an entrepreneur, model, and advocate. She is the founder of The Weed Doula, a self-care concierge that curates cannabis routines for her clients to seamlessly integrate cannabis into their lives for better living. She is also the Co-Founder of Collective High, a woman-owned company that creates unforgettable experiences with cannabis education, consumption, & culture at the forefront for the canna-confident & canna-connoisseur. Her mission is to make cannabis an exciting, accessible, & culture-forward experience for all and her goal is to create impactful changes & cultural representation within the fashion & cannabis spaces. Prior to producing cannabis events, June created successful events for brands such as Paul Smith, Hennessy, Moët & Chandon, Deleón Tequila, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Fred Segal, adidas, Shiekh Shoes, etc. Though she has experience in numerous verticals, she specializes in producing events in the fashion, cannabis, entertainment, art & culture scenes. She has produced parties for exclusive clients during NYFW, NBA All-Star, Outside Lands, & The Grammy's. But even with a bio as cool and compelling as that, what it doesn’t capture is June’s spirit. She is an angel on earth, and a blessing to everyone who knows her. I consider myself so lucky to have crossed her path, and I want to share her with you too. If you’d like to connect with June directly, which I highly recommend, book her at calendly.com/junejohnson; follow her on Instagram at @theweeddoula.com, and find her on her website theweeddoula.com.

When I graduated from college, my Grandmother gave me some advice. She said, "Bronwyn, get a government job. Maybe the DMV? Something that has a … pension." And I get it. Survival = financial safety. But that didn’t sit well with me. I wanted wealth. But that wasn’t something the women in my lineage could teach me. In fact, FEW women are taught how to create and GROW wealth. But that’s what we’re talking about today. My guest this week is Clara Vidyanath, founder of the 32 Cents Club, which is a private markets investment platform, designed BY women, FOR women. “32 Cents” represents the wealth gap between men and women. And just to clarify, when it comes to wealth, WOMEN make 32 cents to every man’s dollar. Let that sink in, and fire up this episode. You are NOT gonna wanna miss it. Check out https://www.32cents.com/ Find Clara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clara-vydyanath-cfa-cpa-14287316/

Do you ever have that feeling that … you’re losing your audience? Like maybe you’re over-talking, but you just don’t know how to stop? Well, my friend, you are NOT alone. This is something MOST of us struggle with at one time or another. Today, you are going to meet Sarah. She is a powerhouse coach, but she has that nagging suspicion that her inability to REIN IT IN may be costing her credibility when she’s giving a talk. In it, you will find practical and repeatable strategies for staying on message, on purpose and on FIRE from start to finish the next time you get up to present.

Have you ever had the urge to make a change … to step out and try something new … only to be halted by the thought, “I’m too old. I’m too old to try to paint. I’m too old to start a new career. I’m too old to find love. I’m too old to strike out on my own.” Well if you have, you need a shot of Jen freaking Marples in your life. And that is what I’m about to serve up. Because Jen Marples has one thing to tell you: YOU ARE NOT TO FUCKING OLD. Jen Marples is a champion of the midlife woman and a cheerleader for ALL women. She’s an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, podcaster, coach, and leader in the midlife women’s empowerment movement. She puts midlife women first and preaches: You’re Not Too F***ing Old! to do whatever the F you want! Jen hosts The Jen Marples Show podcast, recently featured in Marin Magazine, Tiburon Belvedere Magazine, and Malibu Magazine. The show is dedicated to helping and inspiring midlife women embrace and rock the second and best half of life. Find Jen Here: WEBSITE LINKEDIN INSTAGRAM INSTAGRAM JEN MARPLES SHOW TWITTER FB GROUP TIKTOK LISTEN TO THE JEN MARPLES SHOW HERE: APPLE SPOTIFY

Feeling out of control? Stressed? Overwhelmed? What if relief was just one question away? My guest today is the fantastic and delightful Marc Champagne. Marc is a mental fitness strategist, host of the Behind the Human podcastan, and best selling author of Personal Socrates: Questions That Will Upgrade Your Life from Legends & World-Class Performers. Marc is a connoisseur of questions that will change you. He has gathered juicy questions and prompts from legends as wide ranging as Pablo Picasso, Robin Williams and Jane Austen. This conversation felt like a blood transfusion for me, and I hope it does the same for you my friend. Do yourself a huge favor and pick up his magical book Personal Socrates here. Find Marc on behindthehuman.com, and on LinkedIn, and give his podcast a listen here.