Let’s cut through the noise. International Women’s Day comes around. Brands share purple graphics. Panels discuss “empowerment.” Meanwhile, women’s rights are being eroded worldwide. So Mel Butcher asked the only question that matters:
Who made you free?
Michelle Redfern talks about her Nana and her Mum. She also discusses the women who made it possible for her to open a bank account, start a business, and have a voice.
Freedom didn’t just fall from the sky. It was fought for. It was paid for. It’s not guaranteed.
In this episode, we talk about:
What it means to be a free woman in 2026
The shift towards authoritarianism and anti-DEI backlash
Why women must stop accepting crumbs
How to practise collectivism at work
What backing women truly looks like
Why your spending, your voice, and your alliances matter
This isn’t a “feel inspired and move on” episode. It’s a reset. Because International Women’s Day isn’t just a vibe. It’s a responsibility.
Truth Bombs
Freedom was fought for. It can be reclaimed.
You are not self-made; you are woman-made.
Collective strength surpasses individual outrage.
Supporting women is a daily choice.
If this hits, don’t just nod along. Subscribe.
Share the episode with a woman you rate. And if you’re serious about building genuine power, join us in the Lead to Soar Network. We don’t do cupcakes. We focus on strategy, solidarity, and women supporting women.
About Lead to Soar
Lead to Soar is a podcast and leadership platform for ambitious women and organisations serious about closing the gender leadership gap.
Hosted by Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher, the podcast goes beyond surface-level career advice to explore what it really takes to lead with clarity, credibility, and impact. Conversations are grounded in research, lived experience, and practical leadership frameworks, including The Leadership Compass.
Lead to Soar is about fixing systems, not women, and supporting leaders to do work that matters, in ways that are sustainable and deeply human.
