Guest Episodes

In Part 1 of this powerful two-part series, Leanna sits down with Sarah Brelowski, personal trainer, consultant, mom, and former corporate professional, for an honest conversation about personal transformation. Sarah opens up about her path from collegiate athlete to Big Four auditor, and how a high-pressure corporate career left her burned out, stressed, and out of alignment with herself. She shares how leaving her job and letting go of others’ definitions of success ultimately helped her he...

In Part 2 of this inspiring conversation, Leanna continues the heartfelt exchange with senior communications executive, mom, and stepmom, Dina Silver Pokedoff. Dina shares how she’s learned to navigate the complex realities of career and motherhood, offering an honest, empowering look at what it means to lead with authenticity—both at work and at home. From delegating household tasks to prioritizing health and wellness, Dina opens up about what it takes to stay grounded, resilient, and presen...

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Dina Silver Pokedoff, Senior Vice President of Communications, mom, and stepmom, shares the twists and turns of her 30-year career in the communications industry. From dreaming of med school to becoming a powerhouse in PR, Dina opens up about the non-linear path that shaped her leadership style, work ethic, and resilience. We explore: How Dina built a thriving communications career without a traditional degree in the field The mindset shift requ...

In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Leanna continues her discussion with Dr. Lesley Robinson, entrepreneur, educator, and fierce advocate for women in leadership. Dr. Robinson unpacks what it really means to lead with a founder-focused mindset—whether you’re building a business or leading from within an organization. She dives into the unique challenges women face in entrepreneurship, the critical need for customer obsession, and the power of building community with purpose. From navi...

In part 1 of this inspiring conversation, Leanna talks with Dr. Lesley Robinson, founder of Embolden Education and co-founder of the Ayana Foundation, about what it takes to lead as a woman, a mother, and a visionary. Dr. Robinson shares how she navigated a decade-long academic dissertation journey, embraced entrepreneurship, and made bold life changes to align her work with her values. From navigating career shifts to balancing motherhood and ambition, her story is a powerful reminder that y...

In this incredibly inspiring episode, executive mom Angela Pontius shares how coaching helped her rediscover confidence, set boundaries, and redefine what success looks like after becoming a mother. As a self-identified perfectionist and first-generation immigrant who built her identity around achievement, Angela opens up about the challenges she faced after the birth of her first child: feeling lost, burned out, and unsure of how to balance her career and motherhood. Over two years of coachi...

Leanna sits down with leadership communication expert Dr. Laura Sicola to explore how executive women can communicate and lead with confidence and clarity, strengthening their executive presence. Dr. Sicola shares her journey from academia to entrepreneurship and offers practical tools for mastering the “prismatic voice”—adapting your tone, delivery, and message to connect with any audience. From the power of intentional communication to finding your balance between authenticity and authority, t...

In this episode, Leanna is joined by Elizabeth Bachman, host of the award-winning International podcast Speakers Who Get Results, as they dive into the challenges and triumphs of women in the workplace, particularly for moms with careers and women in the boardroom striving to make their voices heard. Elizabeth shares her insights on the corporate ladder, discussing both the external and internal glass ceilings that hold women back from becoming successful leaders. From navigating the mental load...

Are you feeling overwhelmed in these unpredictable times? Leanna sits down with burnout expert and executive coach Laura Nguyen to discuss practical strategies for staying grounded and avoiding burnout. They dive into the importance of community, setting boundaries, and prioritizing rest—without guilt. They tackle the impact of news consumption on mental well-being, offering smart ways to filter the noise and stay informed without spiraling. Whether it's engaging in hands-on activities, curating...

Are you finding it difficult to check intimacy and connection off your long to do list as a working mother? Does it feel like your relationship with your significant other often falls to the bottom of your priorities? In this special Valentine's Day episode, Leanna is joined by Eleni Economides, LMFT, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, and Sexual Wellness and Intimacy Coach, who specializes in helping women with low libido transform into relaxed, confident, and secure partners, and finally enjoy...

Have you ever felt that being a mom detracts from your value in the workplace? What if we told you that being a mom can actually *increase* your value to a company? In this episode, Leanna is joined by Maria Sweeney, fractional CMO of The Mom Project, a mission-driven company committed to helping women remain active in the workforce in every stage of their journey. The Mom Project’s recently published industry report, “Productive, Purposeful and Profitable: How Hiring Moms Gives Companies a Comp...

Have you ever wished you could work less and spend more time with your kids, without walking away from the time you invested in climbing the corporate ladder? In this episode, Leanna is joined by Sue Mysko, founder of Hire A Fractional and author of Fractional Formula. They dive into how moms can gain freedom and flexibility through fractional work—leveraging their skills in high-impact executive roles without sacrificing family time. Sue shares her real-life success story, practical tips for ge...

Trying to achieve your travel goals while managing a busy career? In this episode, Leanna is joined by travel expert Christina Trotter. Together, they dive into strategies for moms who want to balance work, family, and memorable travel experiences. From choosing ideal destinations that meet your family’s needs to making the most of your vacation days, this episode is packed with tips to help you plan enjoyable trips that everyone will love. Need help with your travel bucket list? Check out Chri...

In this inspiring episode, Leanna Laskey McGrath sits down with Katie Farinas, a soulful guide and creator of Mom on the Verge, to explore the transformative power of authenticity and embracing your unique perspective. Together, they discuss the challenges of silencing self-doubt, the importance of valuing diverse viewpoints, and how small, intentional steps can lead to a more fulfilling, authentic life. Katie offers wisdom on breaking free from societal expectations and learning to trust the in...

Leanna is joined by licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist Lindsey Carnick to explore practical strategies for managing stress, navigating change, and embracing presence during the holiday season. In this dynamic conversation, they discuss reducing burnout, prioritizing self-care, and challenging the internal stories that shape our lives. The conversation delves into the cultural pressure to remain "always on," the importance of small, consistent efforts for well-being, and aligning...

*CONTENT WARNING: Domestic Violence* Leanna is joined by Caitlin Roberts, a higher education professional and a survivor of domestic violence, who has made it her mission to raise awareness to hopefully prevent others from enduring similar trauma. Caitlin shares her harrowing experience of being attacked by her partner, which left her with 19 stab wounds and led to seven surgeries. She recounts the emotional and psychological abuse she endured in the years before the attack, as well as the ch...

In this episode, Leanna speaks with Jennifer Atzenhoffer about her experiences navigating three very different maternity leaves. Jen reflects on the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned with each leave, from postpartum depression during her first, a career promotion to a management position during her second, and increased intentionality and family focus during her third. She shares the importance of creating transition plans at work, prioritizing mental and physical health, and simplifying...

Leanna sits down with Gen Z expert, podcaster, and author, Meghan Grace, to explore the mindset, values, and expectations Gen Z brings to today’s workplace. They delve into why Gen Z’s approach can sometimes be mistaken for entitlement, how their focus on work-life balance and well-being sets them apart from previous generations, and how their openness to side hustles and career flexibility redefines traditional job loyalty. Meghan provides insights into how managers can engage, mentor, and auth...

In this enlightening episode, Leanna is joined by Dr. Supatra Tovar, a practicing psychologist and registered dietitian dedicated to dismantling diet culture and fostering healthier relationships with food and body image. Dr. Tovar's journey from performing arts to health sciences has uniquely equipped her to merge psychology and nutrition, paving the way for her innovative approach to healing disordered eating and eating disorders. She emphasizes the importance of deprogramming from the harmful...

Content warning: miscarriage and pregnancy loss October is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month, and Kami Wernimont, Founder and President of Let the Light In (LTLI), returns to share the latest updates on her non-profit organization, which she founded and launched in Summer 2023. LTLI supports and provides resources for women who have experienced miscarriage and pregnancy loss. One year ago, Kami visited the podcast and opened up about her personal journey, and in today’s episo...

Leanna is joined by Leslie Shreve, founder and CEO of Productive Day, and creator of Taskology® The Science of Getting Things Done. As a master of time management, Leslie shares the power of one; the importance of combining 100% of your task sources into one centralized location for better management. She discusses the value of breaking down larger tasks into smaller, actionable steps to make them more attainable. Listen now to hear Leslie’s suggestions to improve productivity and efficiency, an...

Higher education leader Dr. Lisa Tran joins Leanna to share her journey of pursuing a PhD while working full time, parenting three young children, and being engaged in her local community. Lisa shares her success strategies for managing her demanding schedule during such a high intensity phase without burning out. Along with focusing on needs over wants, Lisa remained committed to the 4 F’s that are non-negotiables for her: faith, family, fitness, and food. She highlights the importance of choos...

Welcome to the Greatest Hits Summer Series! We’re revisiting some of our favorite episodes from the first year of the podcast. In this special back to school bonus episode, Leanna and her young daughter talk about the challenges of the transition to preschool and what helped to make the drop off process a lot smoother. Knowing there are children and caretakers out there struggling with this too, we hope this episode is helpful to share both solidarity and ideas to help make the transition eas...

Leanna is joined for an insightful conversation by Julie Kelleher, an education technology executive and fellow achievement-oriented Enneagram 3, whose journey from leadership to motherhood is similar to Leanna’s own path. Together they highlight how letting go has been an essential, and ongoing, practice in their lives. Julie delves into the concept of intentional proximity and immersion in shaping her career, as well as the transformative power of yoga in reconnecting with herself. This self-a...