The Story Behind Her Success

Candy O'Terry

Women from every walk of life reveal how they got to where they are today, sharing their wisdom and the lessons they have learned along the way. read less

Society & CultureSociety & Culture

BusinessBusiness

Personal JournalsPersonal Journals

EntrepreneurshipEntrepreneurship

Non-ProfitNon-Profit

Start Here

Sarah Blacker: singer/songwriter & music therapist sarahblacker.com -290

Sarah Blacker: singer/songwriter & music therapist sarahblacker.com -290

I was a teenager when I picked up the guitar, and suddenly, I had the one thing I’d been looking for to craft the songs I’d been waiting to write. -Sarah Blacker This up-close and personal interview was recorded in my living room with a singer/songwriter who grew up down the street. We met when she was a teenager…and a friend of my daughter Colleen’s. Years later, Sarah Blacker continues doing what she loves best: bringing comfort and joy to audiences large and small as a dynamic live performer. Heralded by the Huffington Post for her “infectious, well-written songs,” Sarah was named the 2024 Female Performer of the Year by the New England Music Awards. But there’s so much more to Sarah’s story because she harnesses the healing power of music as a Board-Certified Music Therapist and LMHC or Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Explains Sarah: “Listening to music can open up neuro-pathways. Music is magic. It gets us high. Sometimes, when I’m sitting there with Alzheimer's patients, my mind is blown, and my heart is exposed because I know that music is what unlocked a patient’s memory.” A graduate of the Berklee College of Music, Sarah discovered music therapy during a tour of the school and realized that this academic path encompassed everything she had always loved about music. A survivor of life on the road as a musician, Sarah misses the audience but not the grueling schedule of an independent musician. “I lived on Dunkin Donuts for days, all for the love of music and those glorious moments when I got to be on stage, pouring my heart out, trying to connect with an audience.” The daughter of two music lovers, Sarah says that music was always playing at her house. “My dad had the greatest music collection of all time, everything from Paul Simon and Pink Floyd to Tubular Bells, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Seals & Crofts. My mom would make up her own silly songs. It was a creative household.” As a teen, Sarah’s musical role models were all- female, including Tori Amos, Joni Mitchell, Fiona Apple and Paula Cole. Learning to play the guitar is what completed Sarah Blacker as an artist. Says Sarah: “It was like opening the gates to everywhere I ever wanted to go.” For an inspiring 24-minute musical journey, just hit that download button. #music #musictherapy #songwriter #singer

Episodes

Sarah Blacker: singer/songwriter & music therapist sarahblacker.com -290

Sarah Blacker: singer/songwriter & music therapist sarahblacker.com -290

I was a teenager when I picked up the guitar, and suddenly, I had the one thing I’d been looking for to craft the songs I’d been waiting to write. -Sarah Blacker This up-close and personal interview was recorded in my living room with a singer/songwriter who grew up down the street. We met when she was a teenager…and a friend of my daughter Colleen’s. Years later, Sarah Blacker continues doing what she loves best: bringing comfort and joy to audiences large and small as a dynamic live performer. Heralded by the Huffington Post for her “infectious, well-written songs,” Sarah was named the 2024 Female Performer of the Year by the New England Music Awards. But there’s so much more to Sarah’s story because she harnesses the healing power of music as a Board-Certified Music Therapist and LMHC or Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Explains Sarah: “Listening to music can open up neuro-pathways. Music is magic. It gets us high. Sometimes, when I’m sitting there with Alzheimer's patients, my mind is blown, and my heart is exposed because I know that music is what unlocked a patient’s memory.” A graduate of the Berklee College of Music, Sarah discovered music therapy during a tour of the school and realized that this academic path encompassed everything she had always loved about music. A survivor of life on the road as a musician, Sarah misses the audience but not the grueling schedule of an independent musician. “I lived on Dunkin Donuts for days, all for the love of music and those glorious moments when I got to be on stage, pouring my heart out, trying to connect with an audience.” The daughter of two music lovers, Sarah says that music was always playing at her house. “My dad had the greatest music collection of all time, everything from Paul Simon and Pink Floyd to Tubular Bells, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Seals & Crofts. My mom would make up her own silly songs. It was a creative household.” As a teen, Sarah’s musical role models were all- female, including Tori Amos, Joni Mitchell, Fiona Apple and Paula Cole. Learning to play the guitar is what completed Sarah Blacker as an artist. Says Sarah: “It was like opening the gates to everywhere I ever wanted to go.” For an inspiring 24-minute musical journey, just hit that download button. #music #musictherapy #songwriter #singer

Tracey Wheeler Noonan: Shark Tank Superstar & Author -289

Tracey Wheeler Noonan: Shark Tank Superstar & Author -289

I want older women to know: if you want to do something, get out there and do it, sister! Don’t sit around and think: I’m too old. No, you’re not! -Tracey Wheeler Noonan It’s been about 10 years since I’ve interviewed Tracey Wheeler Noonan and let me tell you, this girl is on fire. She and her daughter, Dani took a unique way of making cupcakes in jars and turned it into a Shark Tank phenomenon. Wicked Good Cupcakes may have started out small in Tracey’s home kitchen, but it ended up going worldwide during the Pandemic and was sold to Hickory Farms for a nice profit. In this interview, Tracey takes us on a wild ride through her 6 Shark Tank appearances, sharing the lessons she learned along the way about entrepreneurship and how to run a company with her daughter. These days, Tracey is focused on public speaking and her lifelong love of writing with her first book titled A Wicked Good Idea. She’s also written two screenplays, a TV pilot, and a no-holds-barred memoir called Past, Present, Paris, based on her heartbreaking divorce. Denied a college education by her father because she was a girl, Tracey spent much of her adulthood trying to find her way and prove herself to her parents. In this very personal interview, it is Tracey Wheeler Noonan’s gigantic heart that really shines through. From priceless advice for entrepreneurs to words of wisdom for women of all ages, this episode is loaded with 23 minutes of inspiration. Says Tracey: “If I can do this, you can do this. Success is not something we hoard. It is something we must share. As women, we are NOT in competition with one another. We’ve got to lift each other up.” #sharktank #entrepreneur #women #empowerment #cupcakes

Louise Strasenburgh: Grief Recovery Specialist & author of The Space in My Heart -288

Louise Strasenburgh: Grief Recovery Specialist & author of The Space in My Heart -288

The biggest skill I use is listening. Grievers don’t need to be fixed. They need to be heard. - Louise Strasenburgh The holidays are supposed to be joyful, but if you’ve lost someone you love, they can be tough. This week’s guest is here to help. Louise Strasenburgh is a grief recovery specialist and the author of the book The Space In My Heart. In 2011, her 26-year-old son Oliver’s body was found wrapped in a carpet in Puerto Rico. In the middle of this horrific loss, her mother died, and then her daughter got married. Needless to say, Louise experienced a roller coaster of emotions in a short period of time. Desperate to find a community of people who understood her loss, she discovered The Compassionate Friends, compassionatefriends.org, a non-profit that provides friendship, understanding, and hope to bereaved parents, siblings, and grandparents. It wasn’t long before Louise became certified as a grief recovery specialist and became a leader within her local TCF chapter. Says Louise: “Imagine grieving parents, sitting in a circle, going around the room, saying their name and how their child died. By the time you get to the end of the circle, your heart is flooded with compassion. Here we all are, and we have to find a way to integrate this loss into our lives and still go forward. Born in England and raised in Portugal, Louise has moved 32 times and in this interview, declares that she’s not done yet. A former flight attendant for Pan Am, she was born to travel and loves the excitement of learning about new places and meeting people from around the world. Her book The Space In My Heart was written during the Pandemic as a coping tool for loss. Using the story of her two Westies, Digger and Daisy, as the protagonists, the book explains grief and loss to children but applies to people of all ages. The daughter of a squadron leader in the UK’s Royal Air Force who fought during World War II, Louise credits her father and Queen Elizabeth as her role models. “She was my queen from the day I was born, says Louise, and my father was a person of great integrity who taught me: When things go right, hold tight. When things go wrong, be strong.” For 23 minutes of hope and healing, just hit that download button. #grief #loss#mourning #hope #healing

Keely Krantz: Philanthropist & Founder of Odell Women’s Center odellwomenscenter.com -287

Keely Krantz: Philanthropist & Founder of Odell Women’s Center odellwomenscenter.com -287

We must all be compassionate. You never know what someone else is going through. - Keely Krantz Keely Krantz got her start in PR, eventually leading the launch of high-profile, global brands. A proud Boston College graduate, she was fortunate to have a mentor who had broken through glass ceilings and believed in passing it on. Says Keely “Janet Diederichs at Edelman Public Relations in Chicago challenged me to be someone I would never have aspired to if it hadn’t been for her guidance. I learned to be bold and aggressive.” At the height of Keely’s career, she became a mom and decided to stay at home with her kids, choosing parenthood and volunteerism over a career. It was this devotion to community and the greater good that inspired Keely and her husband Jason to make the largest gift in the history of Mass General Hospital cancer research history last year. Says Keely: “We don’t want to see small, incremental changes. We want to see fundamental, monumental, landscape-changing breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer, and we are willing to take big risks at the Krantz Family Research Center on physician-scientists who have big, aggressive ideas. We want to swing for the fences.” A few months later, Keely launched her next big chapter as the founder of the O’Dell Women’s Center www.odellwomenscenter.com in Springfield, Massachusetts. Named after her 98-year-old grandmother, who was a maternity nurse in the community for 40 years, the O’Dell Center is a first-of-its-kind in Springfield with 10,000 square feet of collaborative space that houses Dress for Success/Western Mass and other non-profits that advance educational and career opportunities for low-income women. In just one year, $250,000 in grants have been awarded. For Keely, this new chapter is the culmination of a story rooted in faith and the lessons of her parents. “Anything is possible” are three words I heard all the time when I was growing up. Says Keely. “I want to be a connector, surrounded by the mantra that respect and kindness go hand in hand. I want to do good.” For 23 minutes of inspiration, just hit that download button. #women #community #cancer @massgeneralcancercenter

Jen Dugan Agne: Mom & Educator -286

Jen Dugan Agne: Mom & Educator -286

I point out my student’s strengths so that they can start believing in themselves. Every child has a craving to learn. They are just like little sponges. -Jen Dugan Agne When you think back to your education, was there one teacher who saw your talents before you did? Meet my longtime friend Jen Dugan Agne. A 5th-grade teacher at the Marie Hastings School in Lexington, Massachusetts, she LOVES what she does. In fact, she’s been the kind of teacher students never forget for 38 years. Says Jen: “My heart is full every day. I tell them all the time, who else would I want to hang out with but these honest little souls?” The youngest of three girls, Jen was raised in the town where she teaches and recalls being very shy as a child. It was her 4th-grade physical education teacher who saw something in her that she didn’t see in herself. The result was a lifelong love of sports and a commitment to be a school teacher someday. A graduate of Boston University with a BS and a Masters degree in Elementary Education, Jen set out for San Bernadino, California, where she taught 35 first graders for a year in a community where migrant workers and their families come and go throughout the school year, creating gaps in learning, making education very difficult for students. Back in Boston, she noticed an ad for a company called On Location Education and was hired as the tutor on the set of the movie Mermaids, starring Cher, Winona Ryder, and Christina Ritchie. From there, she joined the national tour of Les Miserables, where she ran her classroom like a one-room schoolhouse for the four children in the cast. All of these experiences have nurtured Jen’s goal of being the best teacher a child could ever ask for. When the school year begins, she explains: “We are a family, and we have each other’s backs, both in the classroom and outside of the classroom. We respect each other.” The proud mother of two, Jen is a two-time heart attack survivor who believes that life is short and “time is of the essence. If you have something to say, say it because you might not have that chance again.” For 23 minutes of pure teacher magic, just hit that download button! #teacher #gratitude #heartattack #inspiration #thanksgiving

Noelle Trent, PhD: CEO of Museum of African American History Boston & Nantucket -285

Noelle Trent, PhD: CEO of Museum of African American History Boston & Nantucket -285

History grounds you in who you are. -Noelle Trent, PhD Have you ever wished that you could sit down with a historian of United States history? Meet Noelle Trent. She’s spent her entire career studying the history of our country with a focus on the African American experience. A “publichistorian,” Noelle has worked at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African History & Culture in Washington, DC, and the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, where she spearheaded MLK50 to commemorate the life, mission, and impact of Dr. Martin Luther King on the 50th anniversary of his assassination. These days, you will find her at the Museum of African American History/Boston & Nantucket, where she proudly serves as the President & CEO. www.maah.org. The daughter of a minister and a teacher, Noelle and her sisters were raised in the Baptist Church in Westchester, Pennsylvania, where her mother started an afterschool program rooted in teaching children about black history. Noelle credits her parents with planting the seed that would become her passion and her profession as a historian. Says Noelle: “When you grow up in a community with a lot of history around you, you need to have people around you to point it out.” From what it meant to be an abolitionist in the 1800s to the founding of the nation’s first school for black children in 1835, to the story behind “Watch Night” services and the Jim Crow era, this episode is a tutorial in African American history. #blackhistory #MLK #CivilWar #emancipationproclamation#thestorybehindhersuccess

Theresa Keresztes: Founder, My Girls Skin Care mygirlscream.com -284

Theresa Keresztes: Founder, My Girls Skin Care mygirlscream.com -284

My diagnosis could be a death sentence, but you know what? I just keep moving forward every day because I want to give others hope. -Theresa Keresztes There’s something about the strength of a woman. Somehow, someway, she persists…overcoming obstacles, finding new paths toward success, and doing good in the world. One of the scariest things we ever encounter in this life is a cancer diagnosis, and over the last few weeks, we’ve been saluting breast cancer survivors. Theresa Keresztes was just 40 years old when she felt a lump on her breast. The new mom went to the doctor and was told to come back in 6 months. She never did. Years later, a mammogram detected breast cancer. Since then, her cancer has recurred and spread to other parts of her body, but her story does not focus on her breast cancer…it focuses on what she has done for other women with the creation of My Girl’s Skin Care, mygirlscream.com. Inspired by a visit to Eastern Europe, where she noticed that women’s skin was flawless, this all-natural skincare brand is dedicated to providing chemical-free comfort to cancer patients during chemo, radiation, and when taking post-breast cancer drugs, which can cause debilitating muscle cramps. Cancer centers across the country are catching on, suggesting that their patients use My Girl’s Skin Care products. From researching ingredients found in Hungary at local apothecaries (rose hips and rose peddles) to locating manufacturers and developing a distribution plan, Theresa is an entrepreneur on a mission to help women heal. Her new app “Copeful” is Theresa’s latest invention, providing a forum that encourages hope and positivity. For a 22-minute tutorial on strength and courage during cancer, just hit that download button. #breastcancer #survivor #entrepreneur #skincare

Leslie Lawrence: breast cancer survivor & author of the book “I’m a Lucky Woman leslielawrenceauthor.com -283

Leslie Lawrence: breast cancer survivor & author of the book “I’m a Lucky Woman leslielawrenceauthor.com -283

I don’t just count days passing by. I make each day count. -Leslie Lawrence October is breast cancer awareness month, so we’re featuring the inspiring stories of breast cancer survivors. Early detection has been a game changer in the fight against breast cancer, and I’m pretty sure that never missing my yearly mammogram saved my life. Promise me that you’ll NEVER miss your mammogram! Today’s episode was recorded at Book Love in the Pine Hills before a live audience. www.book-love.com. A first-time author, Leslie Lawrence is a 7-year breast cancer survivor www.leslielawrenceauthor.com. Written as a photographic memoir, I’m A Lucky Woman is filled with wisdom and deeply personal pictures that tell the story of one woman’s journey from diagnosis to survivorship. As the daughter of a woman who died of breast cancer, Leslie spent her adult life dreading every mammogram and hoping against hope that she would never hear the words “You have breast cancer.” Those four words were spoken when Leslie was 66, and her late mother, Isabel, remained her role model throughout her treatment for aggressive triple negative breast cancer. Blessed with a rock-solid marriage, a devoted son, a niece, and many friends who love her, Leslie’s tribe lifted her up, making it possible for her to endure every challenge. Says Leslie: “It was a old, framed cross-stitch on my wall that kept me hopeful, it reads: “Today is the tomorrow that worries you yesterday and all is well.” If you are newly diagnosed, I’m A Lucky Woman is an easy read, filled with the kind of wisdom only a survivor can impart. For a 22-minute dose of courage, a few laughs, and a fun little tune you can sing along to called The Mammogram Song by singer/songwriter Krisanthi Pappas, www.krisanthi.com, just hit that download button. #breastcancer #survivor #author #grateful

Theresa Jay: Founder, Pink Rose Foundation & 25-year survivor pinkrose.org -282

Theresa Jay: Founder, Pink Rose Foundation & 25-year survivor pinkrose.org -282

You are going to have some bad days, and that’s okay, but the good days have to outweigh the bad ones. You have to put your mind into beating breast cancer. -Theresa Jay In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, we’re profiling inspiring survivors with incredible stories to tell. My friendship with today’s guest began in 2006 when I donated my wedding dress to her charity. Theresa Jay is the Founder of the Pink Rose Foundation www.pinkrose.org which provides scholarships to college-bound students who have lost a parent to breast cancer. To date, the charity has awarded over 100,000 dollars in scholarships. Diagnosed at only 41 with stage 3B metastatic breast cancer, there was a time when she thought she might not live to see her son and daughter grow up and go off to college, but here she is today, a 25-year survivor. Determined to play an active role in her treatment and recovery, Theresa became her own best advocate. Her mastectomy was performed after four grueling rounds of chemotherapy and when her pathology revealed 17 active lymph nodes, she asked her care team for stem cell therapy and enrollment in a clinical trial for a drug called Herceptin. Says Theresa: Even if the clinical trial and all the other treatments didn’t work , I felt that it was my responsibility to be a part of breast cancer research for the next generation of women.” 18 months of treatments exhausted her in mind, body and soul, but during that time in her life, Theresa refused to give up or give in. “My love for my children propelled me through the toughest days. I just couldn't see anyone else raising my children. I got dressed every day, regardless of how badly I felt, and I put my makeup on. You look good, you feel better”. When her treatments were finally over, Theresa went right back to work as an engineer and launched the Pink Rose Foundation. In this interview, she’s got a lot of wisdom to share including advice for someone who is just getting started on her breast cancer journey: Take a day and cry. Process it. And then, the next day, wake up and decide you are going to WIN.” For 22 minutes with a survivor who beat the odds, just hit that download button. #breastcancer #metastaticbreastcancer #breastcancerawarenessmonth #courage #hope #grateful.

Claudia Mintz: 20-year breast cancer survivor & Executive Director of One Wish Project onewishproject.us -281

Claudia Mintz: 20-year breast cancer survivor & Executive Director of One Wish Project onewishproject.us -281

It’s okay to be scared when you are diagnosed with breast cancer. Gather your friends and family. Educate yourself and stay strong. You CAN get through this.- Claudia Mintz October is breast cancer awareness month, so we’re shining the spotlight on the stories of survivors. Meet Claudia Mintz. The devoted mother of three, her children were only 5,4 and 2 when she was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer in the middle of a contentious divorce. Says Claudia “I decided I was going to do whatever I could to stay alive. What scared me the most was the idea of leaving my children. Falling apart was not an option for me. “ Now the Executive Director of the One Wish Project, www.onewishproject.us, Claudia shares the story of how the non-profit was created 7 years ago by her daughter Hannah, who launched the charity with her babysitting money. Recently featured on Good Morning America, One Wish Project provides customized birthday celebrations for children and teens experiencing homelessness with the belief that every child’s birthday should be honored. What started with one birthday party for a 9-year-old child at a nearby shelter in 2017 has now turned into birthday celebrations for 1200 kids a year in shelters and foster care. Now a 20-year survivor, Claudia shares what kept her strong throughout her breast cancer battle. “There have been some dark times when I didn’t know if I would make it, but I learned that you have to live your life every single day as if you never received that diagnosis.” For 22 minutes of inspiration, just hit that download button. #breastcancer #birthday #survivor #charity

Luisa Vargas: Psycho-Muscular Massage Therapist & Breast Cancer Survivor -280

Luisa Vargas: Psycho-Muscular Massage Therapist & Breast Cancer Survivor -280

Time. I just want more time, and I am going to fight for that. -Luisa Vargas This episode kicks off our annual 4-part series devoted to the inspiring stories of breast cancer survivors. In the spotlight, Luisa Vargas. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, she grew up so poor she didn’t own a pair of shoes until she was 8 years old. As a single mom, Luisa made her way to the United States seeking medical care for her daughter, who had a heart condition. Speaking no English at all, she got the care her daughter needed, learned the language, and started a new life in Southboro, a small town outside of Boston. Trained as a psycho-muscular massage therapist, Luisa is one of the best in the world at her craft, and she has used that knowledge in her own recovery following surgery and chemotherapy for an aggressive form of breast cancer. “Chemo is hard”, says Luisa. “I have never felt anything so bad in my whole life. You need mental health support, spiritual support, family support, and community support. If you don’t have that support, it doesn’t matter how strong you are. Your body is not going to respond because we are connected through mind and body. We are one piece. “ What shines through in this interview is Luisa’s energy. A dynamo and a life lover, she will do whatever it takes to help others. Says Luisa: “I see an obstacle like a big fence. If it is too tall and I cannot reach the top, I dig a hole underground.” If you are undergoing breast cancer treatment, this episode is bound to give you the dose of hope and positivity you need to make it through. @elliefund #breastcancer

Trisha Perez Kennealy: Owner & Culinary Educator, Inn at Hastings Park -279

Trisha Perez Kennealy: Owner & Culinary Educator, Inn at Hastings Park -279

There is something very magical about being an innkeeper, to welcome people in, to take care of them, to feed them. It is the best part of my job. -Trisha Perez Kennealy We talk a lot about living our lives in chapters, and Trisha Perez Kennealy is living proof that there is so much to learn in every chapter. She’s a former investment banker with an MBA from Harvard who decided to ditch it all and study at the Cordon Bleu Culinary School in London, earning her Diplome de Cuisine and Diplome de Patisserie while taking care of her newborn baby. Years later, she and her husband purchased the historic Inn at Hastings Park in Lexington, Massachusetts, where she is both an innkeeper and a culinary educator, dazzling her guests with her delicious culinary creations. Born and raised in Puerto Rico in a neighborhood that was both flavorful and loud, Trisha remembers that “everyone was running in and out of everyone’s houses and wherever you landed at mealtime, that was where you got fed.” The devoted mother of three, Trisha has passed on the traditions of her Puerto Rican culture. “Gathering around the table for a meal is a sacred time” says Trisha. “It’s where conversations happen. Plus, research shows that children who eat with their parents have greater academic success.” In this interview, we follow Trisha through her life and the bold decisions she has made, culminating in the exquisite restoration of the Inn at Hastings Park, which boasts 22 rooms, each decorated in a unique way for guests who become like family. Opened in 2014, the property includes 3 buildings, all built in the mid-1800s and just a stone’s throw from historic Lexington Green. With grounds that boast landscaping that evolves through the seasons, Trisha’s Inn is an oasis for the soul and a huge accomplishment for a woman who has explored her many talents with gusto. For 23 minutes of a chef’s delicious story, just hit that download button. #innkeeper #chef #cordonbleu #lexington #culinaryarts

Colleen & Riley Eyges: Mother/Daughter Founders of VELO Vodka velovodka.com -278

Colleen & Riley Eyges: Mother/Daughter Founders of VELO Vodka velovodka.com -278

Why isn’t there a better vodka out there so that people aren’t train wrecks the next day? VELO Vodka is the solution for a new generation of vodka drinkers. -Colleen & Riley Eyges We’ve had many entrepreneurs on the show, but never a mother/daughter duo! Meet Colleen and Riley Eyges, founders of VELO Vodka www.velovodka.com. A single mom for decades, Colleen raised her daughter to be strong and independent. Their chemistry in this interview reflects what makes their partnership work: “The secret to my success is grit and determination, says Colleen. For Riley, it is being relentless.” Finally launched in August of 2021 after being forced to wait out the pandemic, the idea for creating a new kind of vodka was planted when the two met a waitress who was clearly hungover from partying the night before. Colleen started researching existing brands and found a hole that a new vodka could thrive in. Concocted at a local distillery in South Boston after 17 iterations, VELO Vodka is specially made to provide a super smooth and refreshing taste; plus, it’s corn-based, which makes it Gluten-free. Targeted toward women 21-55, it took six months to find a distributor, and today, the brand can be found in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. With over 600 accounts, including Total Wines, Whole Foods, and several Marriott and Hilton properties, VELO Vodka is growing by leaps and bounds, thanks to the belief that women love to support women-owned businesses. Says Colleen, “When I get up at 6:30 in the morning, the first thing I do is look at our sales reports from the night before, and very often, that news determines my mood for the day.” Yes, there have been obstacles for this mother/daughter duo, but they believe that there are lessons to be learned in both failure and success. Colleen and Riley will not stop until VELO Vodka is a household name. For 23 minutes of the kind of entrepreneurial advice you need to succeed, just hit that download button! @velovodka #entrepreneur #mother #daughter #thestorybehindhersuccess

Vanessa Calderon-Rosado, PhD: CEO of IBA & social justice champion @ibaboston -277

Vanessa Calderon-Rosado, PhD: CEO of IBA & social justice champion @ibaboston -277

You can be the best leader EVER, but who can do anything on their own? You need a village. -Vanessa Calderon-Rosado, PhD Welcome to the story of Vanessa Calderon-Rosado, a trailblazing Latina with a passion for social justice and for creating community. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, she’s got a PhD in public policy and has proudly served as CEO of Inquilinos Boricuas en Accion (IBA) www.ibaboston.org for the past 20+ years. One of the largest and most successful Latina-led non-profits in our country, IBA is a national model of economic development with a mission to change lives by providing high-quality, affordable housing, educational programs, and exposure to the arts. In this interview, Vanessa shares the pride she feels when she sees people’s lives transformed by the services IBA provides. Shelter is more than a roof over someone’s head, says Vanessa. “It’s about building vibrant, safe, healthy communities where people can thrive.” Raised in San Juan in a loving but strict household, Vanessa and her older brother were surrounded by a huge extended family that included grandparents, aunts, uncles, and lots of cousins. Her mother was a nurse, and her dad owned car dealerships. The values her parents instilled revolved around the importance of hard work and the morale obligation to give back. Vanessa came stateside to receive her graduate degree from UMASS and her doctorate from Cambridge College thirty-two years ago and never left. The mother of two sons, Vanessa says that her greatest work has been as a parent. “Motherhood is not for everyone, but it is for me. A good life is leaving behind seeds that will continue to grow.” As a trailblazer and social justice champion, Vanessa stands on the shoulders of the many women who have come before her. “I need to do this work,” says Vanessa, “it keeps me going.” For 23 minutes of non-stop inspiration, just hit that download button. #socialjustice #trailblazer #shelter #puertorico #latina

Alison Quandt Westgate: Senior Associate Athletic Director, UMASS/Lowell -276

Alison Quandt Westgate: Senior Associate Athletic Director, UMASS/Lowell -276

Success is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration. I was never the most talented. I was never the smartest, but I was always willing to do the work. -Alison Quandt Westgate We’re on the road this week! This interview with Alison Quandt Westgate was recorded at the Costello Athletic Center at UMASS Lowell www.goriverhawks.com soon after the school’s student-athletes arrived back on campus. Known to her friends and colleagues as “Q” Alison is a former women’s ice hockey champion and goalie coach. Off the ice, she’s made a career for herself working in college athletics, first at her alma mater #bostoncollege and now at UMASS/Lowell as the Associate Athletic Director for Student Athlete Excellence. A champion for women’s sports, she’s a true believer in the transforming power sports can have on a person. Born and raised just outside of Boston, Alison grew up in a household full of sports lovers. Pond hockey was the game of choice in her neighborhood full of boys, so they put her in goal. Scrappy by nature, Alison says the key ingredient to her early success as an athlete was fearlessness: “I wasn’t afraid to get down and dirty, to muck it up.” A stand-out player in high school, she was recruited by Boston College and skated with the women’s hockey team throughout her college experience, winning countless awards and being named the 2006 Beanpot Tournament’s outstanding goaltender. Her rich experience as an athlete has been a beacon for her philosophy as she guides student-athletes: “I lead by example,” says Alison. “I will never ask anyone to do something I would not do myself. I may not be very vocal about it, but you will see me walking the walk every day.” In her role at At UMASS/Lowell Alison oversees everything that touches a student athlete’s daily life. 37% of the school’s population are first-generation college students. “They grind,” says Alison. “They work for every single win and there is no replacement for hard work.” For 23 minutes of athletic inspiration, just hit that download button. #sports #womensicehockey #perseverence #studentathlete

Jodi Tolman: author & public speaker joditolmanspeaks.com -275

Jodi Tolman: author & public speaker joditolmanspeaks.com -275

As a 6-year-old, I remember deciding I’m not going to be fearful; I’m going to be furious. -Jodi Tolman When your childhood is fractured by emotional abuse and the threat of violence, it’s easy to lack confidence and lose your way as an adult. For Jodi Tolman, there have been plenty of mistakes and regrets, but there have also been incredible triumphs in her life. Her secret weapon? resiliency! Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jodi adored her mother and feared her father, who she describes as “an angry man who would reach for his belt.” The youngest of three children, she recalls making herself small and invisible so that she could hide beneath the dining room buffet cabinet when things got loud and scary at her house. Says Jodi: “I thought my mother could save me. My safety was in her arms. “ An unstoppable force of nature, Jodi has experienced 27 different career iterations. Looking back, she regrets her decision to drop out of college one month before graduation at the University of Ohio, but Jodi wanted to be a singer, just like her mother. In this interview, she shares her experiences as a singing waitress at the Improv in Los Angeles and New York, where she worked alongside Jay Leno and Robin Williams. A seasoned voice-over talent, business-to-business pro, and sales consultant, Jodi also spent 15 years working with senior citizens as they transitioned from their homes to senior living communities. Married three times, Jodi is the proud mother of three children: one born naturally, one by adoption, and one by a donor egg. These days, she talks to parents in the throws of infertility, answering their questions and sharing her story. Say Jodi: “Parenting comes from the doing, not from the pregnancy” Her memoir One from Each Column is planned for release in 2025. A sought-after public speaker, Jodi’s keynote address, “Triumph Over Trauma: Inspiring Belief That Life-Long Dreams Can Still Come True, “ includes her radical theory about childhood abuse. #childhoodtrauma #resilience #fertility #adoption

Lynne Becker Part II: Lynne Becker, Founder & CEO powerofpatients.com -274

Lynne Becker Part II: Lynne Becker, Founder & CEO powerofpatients.com -274

A concussion is a broken brain. And it doesn’t have to be just a hit to the head. It is an impact on your body that moves up to your brain. -Lynne Becker Welcome to part 2 of a concussion story every mom, dad, coach, caregiver, and healthcare professional needs to hear. The single mother of two, Lynne Becker’s daughters were both athletes, but when her daughter Natalie was hit at point-blank range with a soccer ball, she got the phone call no parent wants to receive. Natalie was knocked unconscious. The athletic trainer reported that she couldn’t speak or remember her name. This jarring hit to the 17-year-old’s head would unfold in a journey that lasted over 4 years and included 26 brain bleeds, changes to her personality, and the need for homeschooling. In this interview, Lynne shares that her expertise as a biostatistician and an epidemiologist was a secret weapon that would lead to unlocking the many mysteries of how traumatic brain injuries or TBIs are reported and observed. While caring for Natalie full-time, Lynne lost her job but was soon recruited by the Department of Defense and tasked with building a real-world, brain injury database for Special Operations teams. As she began compiling data on Seals and Green Berets, she asked herself: “What is the common denominator? What makes the injury of a 30-year-old Green Beret in a bomb blast similar to a 17-year-old girl injured by a hit to the side of the head with a soccer ball?” Thanks to Lynne’s work with the DOD, she learned about the use of bio-neuro-feedback for the treatment of TBI, and in just 5 sessions, Natalie stopped napping every day and was even able to complete her college degree. Born and raised in a little “whistle-stop” town in upstate New York, Lynne is the founder of powerofpatients.com, where she is devoted to helping those with brain injuries actively engage in their health and well-being. #concussion #TBI #thestorybehindhersuccess

Lynne Becker Part I: Concussion Story, powerofpatients.com -273

Lynne Becker Part I: Concussion Story, powerofpatients.com -273

Listen to me. My daughter walks into walls. She sleeps 20 hours a day. -Lynne Becker Back in the day, if 2 athletes smashed into one another, coaches would keep them in the game. Not anymore. Traumatic brain injuries, known as TBI, are serious business, and if you doubt this fact, just listen to this interview with Lynne Becker. A biostatistician and epidemiologist with an MS in public health, Lynne has spent her entire career analyzing charts and graphs, looking for clues that lead to better medical outcomes for patients. The single mother of two girls, she got a phone call from her younger daughter’s boarding school hours after Natalie was hit in the head intentionally with a soccer ball by a male student at point-blank range. The force of the blow knocked the 17-year-old unconscious. The athletic trainer told Lynne: “Your daughter can’t talk. She doesn’t know her name or what day it is.” It was at this moment that Lynne’s momma bear instincts, combined with a lifetime of amassing medical information, came into play. Lynne takes us through her constant frustration with her daughter’s school administrators, the school nurse, multiple hospitals, interns, doctors, and neurologists who missed 28 brain bleeds. “Concussion is a broken brain says Lynne, and the patient is never the same.” In fact, it took nearly 4+ years for her daughter to reclaim any normalcy in her young life. Fueled by the power of mother love, Lynne began gathering vital research so that patients and doctors could understand more about concussions. As the creator of powerofpatients.com, this unstoppable mother is a champion for patients, caregivers, and providers with the first patient-led brain injury data warehouse. For a dose of powerful storytelling and vital information on #concussion, just hit that download button.

Megan McShane: Co-Founder, Your Best Life Now YBLnow.com -272

Megan McShane: Co-Founder, Your Best Life Now YBLnow.com -272

Be true to yourself. Know who you are as a person because people will try to break you. If you have a strong sense of self-esteem, you will be successful. -Megan McShane In the spotlight: Megan McShane. She spent 13 years working for global coaching sensation Tony Robbins and years later, developed the concept for Your Best Life Now www.yblnow.com with two business partners. Designed to bring together four key parts of a person’s life, Your Best Life Now is a results-driven, membership-based mastermind community focused on what Megan calls “the wheel of life”: faith, family, fitness, and finance for entrepreneurs. While most coaching models are based on the individual, Your Best Life Now is focused on inclusivity. Says Megan: “You want to grow with the people around you, and if you are not growing together, it causes strain in a relationship. With our coaching, it’s all about the whole.” Members of Your Best Life Now receive a year’s worth of business coaching and personal coaching, plus 3 empowering live events per year. Born and raised near the Canadian border in the small town of Ogdensburg, New York, Megan is the daughter of a legendary NCAA hockey coach and a labor & delivery nurse. When her Dad’s coaching gig took the family from St. Lawrence University to Providence College, the family moved to Providence, Rhode Island, with Megan playing sports year-round, including girl’s ice hockey. Also a certified yoga instructor, Megan is a true believer in the power of positive thinking. “It’s really easy to see the negative, but it is just as easy to see the good. Mindset is everything. We live in a world that’s go, go, go, but it is in the quiet moments that creativity comes to life.” For a 20 minute glimpse into living your best life now, just hit that download button. #mindset #empowerment #coaching #thestorybehindhersuccess

Digit Murphy: Champion, Women’s Sports -271

Digit Murphy: Champion, Women’s Sports -271

As a child, I tried to sign up for Little League, and they said, “No” you’re a girl. And I remember thinking: That’s not right. It hurt me in my heart. -Digit Murphy Margaret Pearl “Digit” Degidio Murphy admits that as a child, she cried when she couldn’t play baseball or ice hockey just because she was a girl. As she skated alone around local ponds in her hometown of Cranston, Rhode Island, Digit knew she could be a champion. A scrappy kid from the wrong side of the tracks, she decided to never give up trying and, in the wake of crucial changes thanks to #title9, continued to break down barriers for women and girls in sports. A student athlete at Cornell, Digit was named Ivy League Player of the Year, finishing her college career with 123 goals and 90 assists. Digit loved the sport so much, she coached at Brown University for 23 seasons and holds the record as the winningest ice hockey coach in NCAA Division 1 history. But as she climbed the ladder in sports, Digit experienced pay inequality herself and fought for Olympic ice hockey athletes to be paid for the very first time. She would go on to coach on the pro level in the US, Canada, and China, with a philosophy focused on leading, guiding, and directing athletes. Says Digit: “You are like a conductor creating energy. You give your athletes a roadmap and the keys to the car, and then you let them drive.” In this interview, Digit takes us for a wild ride through a career in ice hockey that stands alone when it comes to creating opportunities for females: “Half a loaf is not enough. We cannot lose what we fought so hard to have. You have to have gritty, intestinal fortitude in order to continue to push boundaries, and I’d like to see all women doing that in all areas of sport.” For 25 minutes of true grit, just hit that download button. digitmurphy.com. @digitmurphy @usahockey