Shows
She Lights the WayBeyond the White Coat, with Dr. Frances Mei HardinIn this bold and deeply authentic conversation, Dr. Frances Mei Hardin shares her journey from teenage prodigy to rural ENT surgeon and cofounder of the Hippocratic Collective—as she reflects on how surviving the culture of surgical training shaped her mission to transform medicine from the inside out. She speaks candidly about physician burnout, mental health, toxic workplace norms, and why success without authenticity is a hollow pursuit. With unflinching honesty and infectious purpose, Frances Mei lights the way toward a more human, compassionate future in medicine.
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more empo...2025-05-0739 minShe Lights the WayThe Beautiful Chameleon, with Naomi CederNaomi Ceder—educator, author, and former chair of the Python Software Foundation—shares her raw, powerful journey of becoming. From hiding her identity for decades to leading one of the world’s most influential tech communities, Naomi rewrites the rules on resilience, authenticity, and inclusion. She shares candid insights on Imposter Syndrome—rooted in her lived experience as a trans woman—and why owning your truth is the most powerful antidote. Naomi opens up about transitioning in midlife and why she stopped waiting for permission to be herself. Along the way, she challenges how we teach, why representation matters, and how re...2025-04-1741 min
When The Cleats Come OffHow to practice to COMPETE at the plate (and beyond!)Success in the box comes from within, but unless it’s practiced, it’s hard to see it translate to games. This episode is for coaches and players to put into practice shifting our thoughts from hurtful to helpful, building a solid routine to rely on, having an “alter ego” when you step on that field to compete and help you feel prepared and READY to take on your opponents this season!Ep. 133 - Softball Pre-Game Confidence Meditation (10min) - https://player.captivate.fm/episode/665243b2-1bad-4037-a918-f48f2c7e2333/ Get 10...2025-03-2637 minShe Lights the WayDiscovering Your Superpower, with Melissa AustinMelissa Austin has spent her career opening doors in the gaming industry—not just as a technical artist and leader but as a force multiplier for others. In this conversation, she shares how mentorship, representation, and a deep passion for helping others have shaped her journey. From her early days in game development to leading a team at Niantic, Melissa opens up about the pivotal moments, the challenges of a male-dominated industry, and why empowering others is the ultimate superpower.
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more empowering stories from remarkable women.
Than...2025-03-1232 minShe Lights the WayBroken Dreams, New Beginnings with Bevin VictoriaBevin Victoria’s journey is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention. Once a gymnast chasing Olympic dreams, a devastating injury forced her to pivot, fueling a lifelong passion for the arts. Later, she confronted the harsh realities of pursuing acting and chose to rewrite her story, creating roles for herself and forging opportunities in spaces where she often stood alone. Her raw honesty about Imposter Syndrome and the power of showing up will inspire you to rethink what’s possible.
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more empowering stories from remarkable women.
Thank...2025-02-2643 minShe Lights the WayEmbracing Your Messes, with Fran WildeFran Wilde, a two-time Nebula Award-winning author, self-proclaimed "battle poet" and teacher, takes us on a journey through her creative process. From embracing failure to finding the magic in messes, Fran shares how curiosity can be a transformative tool for growth. We dive into her upcoming novel, A Philosophy of Thieves, and explore profound questions about humanity, technology, and storytelling’s power to reshape lives. Whether you’re a writer, a dreamer, or simply someone navigating life’s twists and turns, Fran’s wisdom will leave you ready to embrace your creative messes.
Don’t forget to like, comm...2025-01-3036 minShe Lights the WayBloom Where You’re Planted, with Sharon DavisSharon Davis—former First Lady of California and lifelong advocate—shares her remarkable journey of public service, personal growth and unwavering commitment to making a difference. At 70, Sharon reflects on her decades of experience, offering timeless lessons on leadership, aging well, and thriving through life’s challenges.
She reveals how her early career as a flight attendant taught her to master people skills, handle crises, and excel under pressure—qualities that shaped her future roles in politics and business. She emphasizes the lost art of listening as a transformative tool for bridging divides and fostering collaboration in today’s...2025-01-1635 minShe Lights the WayThe Voice of the Under-Heard, with Minette NormanMinette Norman, author, speaker, and leadership consultant, shares her journey from aspiring actor to tech industry leader to champion for inclusive leadership. She reflects on the power of psychological safety, the pain of exclusion, and the transformative impact of truly inclusive cultures. Her candid insights and practical advice inspire us to shine our lights brightly and lead the way to a more inclusive and innovative world.
Thank you for listening ❤ See below for transcript, timestamps, to get in touch, and more.
TRANSCRIPT:
https://www.shelightstheway.com/minette-norman-transcript
STORY:
https://www.shelightstheway.co...2024-12-1840 minShe Lights the WayWhere Stories Spark Magic, with Laura StanfillLaura Stanfill shares how a traumatic brain injury transformed her approach to life, work and advocacy for neurodivergent voices on her path from journalism to publishing and writing her debut novel, Singing Lessons for the Stylish Canary. She shares her insights on amplifying underrepresented voices, the magic of indie bookstores, finding balance, and redefining success in the literary world.
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more empowering stories from remarkable women.
Thank you for listening ❤ See below for transcript, timestamps, to get in touch, and more.
TRANSCRIPT:
http...2024-12-0447 minShe Lights the WayEquilibrium in Motion, with Iwalani KaluhiokalaniIwalani Kaluhiokalani—a biracial businesswoman, artist, and wellness pioneer—reflects on her journey across two distinct passions: Pilates and painting. She shares how her childhood love for swing sets evolved into running a successful Pilates and GYROTONIC® wellness studio while pursuing her passion as an international artist. Iwalani reflects on the key moments that shaped her, the lessons she’s learned, and her path to embracing her role as a leader. With roots in diverse cultural backgrounds, she brings a rich perspective on identity and the power of creating space for others to thrive.
Thank you for...2024-11-1940 minShe Lights the WayWalking Life’s Tightrope, with Diane Mueller & Vinothini RajuHear from Vinothini Raju and Diane Mueller, leaders in the world of AI and cloud native, as they share their insights into the powerful dynamics of their mentor-mentee relationship, built on mutual learning and respect. Vinothini discusses her journey from consulting to innovating with generative AI, while Diane reflects on the joy of mentoring and continuous learning. Discover how their inspiring mentor-mentee bond fuels meaningful change and illuminates paths for others. This duo illustrates that the best mentorships aren't just about guidance—they're about growing together.
Thank you for listening ❤ See below for transcript, timestamps, to get in t...2024-11-1227 minShe Lights the WayListening To Your Gut, with Bela FriedmanBela Friedman, daughter of Holocaust survivors, shares her remarkable journey from a successful career in public relations to a life dedicated to helping others as a life coach and hypnotherapist. She discusses the transformative power of intuition and gratitude in reshaping her life and finding purpose. Her story serves as a powerful reminder of resilience and the importance of following one's inner voice to live authentically and inspire others.
Born in a displaced persons camp to Holocaust survivor parents, Bela Friedman shares her remarkable journey from PR executive to transformational life coach. Discover how meditation, intuition, and t...2024-11-0735 minShe Lights the WaySmall Pours, Big Impact with Anna Maria PonziWith refreshing candor, Anna Maria Ponzi shares her journey from planting vineyards at age four with her family to leading one of Oregon’s first and most iconic wine brands. Facing a male-dominated industry, she had to “work twice as hard” to build the renowned Ponzi name. She reflects on balancing motherhood with the demands of an international business and the complex dynamics of growing a family enterprise with her sister.
Anna Maria opens up about the lasting influence of her trailblazing mother, who instilled resilience and self-sufficiency, emphasizing independence over conformity. Now leading Linfield University’s wine stu...2024-10-311h 04She Lights the WayRewriting Education’s Playbook, with Christi HarterFrom a town of 300 in South Dakota to transforming education across borders, Christi Harter's journey defies convention. Through Peace Corps service in Ghana, she discovered true education transcends rigid structures. Now at Eastern Washington University, she's revolutionizing credentials and career pathways, building bridges between employers and education, and creating opportunities for underserved communities. Her mission? To help people access education on their own terms and timeline.
Thank you for listening ❤ See below for transcript, timestamps, to get in touch, and more.
TRANSCRIPT:
https://www.shelightstheway.com/christi-harter-transcript
...2024-10-2543 minShe Lights the WayPlayStation, Parkinson’s and AI, with Penporn KoanantakoolPenporn Koanantakool, a senior software engineer, shares her courageous journey from growing up in Thailand to being awarded a Fulbright scholarship, confronting challenges in moving to the U.S., earning a PhD from U.C. Berkeley, and eventually helping shape the future of AI at one of the world’s leading tech companies.
Thank you for listening ❤ See below for transcript, timestamps, to get in touch, and more.
TRANSCRIPT:
https://www.shelightstheway.com/penporn-koanantakool-transcript
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...2024-10-2232 minShe Lights the WayBelieving in Yourself, with Nithya RuffIn this warm heart-to-heart with my colleague and good friend Nithya Ruff, we dive deep into her incredible journey from India to Silicon Valley, where she's now leading the open source program office at Amazon and serving on the board of the Linux Foundation. Nithya opens up about the pivotal moments in her life—moments that weren’t just about career choices but about the people who believed in her and the values that have guided her.
Together, we explore:
- Nithya’s journey into open source and how a leap of faith to move to the...2024-10-0243 minShe Lights the WayDesigning a Better World, with Vani JainVani Jain, an emerging Indian-born interior designer fresh out of Pratt Institute, shares her experiences of overcoming challenges, from navigating a cross-cultural move during COVID to embracing resilience in her professional journey. Her passion for empowering women, promoting environmental justice, and creating spaces that enhance well-being shines through as she discusses her influences, time management strategies, and the pivotal transitions in her life.
Vani offers insights on:
The importance of mentorship and support systems
How she's using design to empower women and promote sustainability
Her approach to balancing multiple roles and practicing self-care
The future of des...2024-09-2526 minShe Lights the WayGrateful for Change, with Brittany IstenesBrittany Istenes gives us a kickass blueprint for thriving as she shares her remarkable journey of personal growth, career pivots, and finding success through adaptability and compassion. She reveals how moving through 15 different schools by the time she finished high school instilled in her a remarkable ability to adapt to new environments. Her unexpected career pivots—from following the Grateful Dead on tour to becoming a special education teacher and then transitioning into the tech industry—showcase her fearless approach to life and career.
Brittany's story is one of resilience and continuous learning filled with valuable life less...2024-09-1938 minShe Lights the WayOpening a Door to Grief, with Anne Gudger & Maria GibsonMother-daughter duo Anne Gudger and Maria Gibson open up about their powerful journey through grief and how it became their shared mission. After losing her husband while pregnant with Maria's older brother, Anne transformed her pain into purpose. Together, they've created a safe space for others to explore and express their grief through podcasts, a reading group, and writing workshops.
In this moving interview, Anne and Maria reveal:
• How grief became Anne's unexpected "superpower"
• The surprising ways their work has impacted people's lives
• Their unique approach to holding space for others' grief stories
• Their ho...2024-08-2240 minShe Lights the WayNavigating the Science of Delicious, with Dr. Mary WagnerEver wonder who's behind your favorite foods and drinks? Meet Dr. Mary Wagner, the powerhouse who's shaped everything from Hamburger Helper to Starbucks' Nitro Cold Brew. With a career spanning over 45 years and encompassing roles at industry giants like General Mills, Taco Bell, Gallo Winery, Mars and Starbucks, food scientist Dr. Mary Wagner takes us on a whirlwind tour at the forefront of food innovation, crisis management, and leadership.
- Discover how a chance college course led to a career transforming global food giants
- Learn how she navigated major industry crises and came out stronger2024-08-0749 minShe Lights the WayPossibility Thinking, with Michelle LequinIn this inspiring and deeply personal interview, Michelle Lequin opens her heart to share the courageous journey that led her to fully embrace her creative passions after retirement from her 35-year career as a technical writer. From drumming as a young girl against the tides of societal expectations, to finding her voice through singing on stage, Michelle's story is a powerful testament to the transformative magic of self-expression.
We delve into the lineage of strong women who shaped Michelle's unshakeable spirit - her grandmother, who couldn't fathom a female drummer in her era, and her warm yet r...2024-07-1134 minShe Lights the WayShattering Stereotypes, with Lauren MaffeoLauren Maffeo's journey shatters the myth that you need a STEM degree to thrive in tech. This former journalist pivoted from covering tech startups in London to working as an industry analyst focused on AI and business intelligence to designing data governance systems - an unlikely path that proves the sky's the limit for those willing to embrace lifelong learning.
With raw honesty, Lauren exposes the microaggressions and biases that plague women in technical fields. From being blatantly ignored in meetings to having her expertise dismissed as "not technical enough," her experiences lay bare the uphill battle...2024-06-1235 minShe Lights the WayPainting Outside the Lines, with Sujata TibrewalaSujata Tibrewala's life is a shining example of the transformative power of pursuing one's authentic path. In our discussion, she shares her courageous journey, from defying societal norms to becoming the first-generation engineer in her family and finding her authentic voice through art and community. Through it all, Sujata is guided by an unbreakable will to find her own corners in our world.
Born into a conservative Rajasthani family, Sujata was expected to conform to the role of a dutiful wife and mother. However, her thirst for knowledge and the support of her teachers gave her the c...2024-05-2929 minShe Lights the WayStitches of Resilience, with Beverly DownenYou're about to meet a true trailblazer whose journey will stir your soul. From the humblest of beginnings to the bright lights of the cosplay world, Beverly Downen's path is one of perseverance, resilience and an unwavering belief in herself.
Prepare to be moved as Beverly shares pivotal moments that shaped her unconventional journey - like the day her single mother gave her "permission" to chase artistic dreams despite their modest means. You'll be inspired by how Beverly alchemized pain into power after 9/11 by pivoting with courage.
But Beverly's story transcends the personal. This visionary...2024-05-2340 minShe Lights the WayCracking the Boys’ Club Code, with Beth CorbettIn the corporate world, women have often found themselves navigating a labyrinth of challenges, fighting against invisible barriers, and striving for recognition. Yet amidst the shadows, there are those who carry torches, lighting the way for others to follow. Beth Corbett is one such beacon of light, illuminating paths for women in the male-dominated world of packaging.
From shy overachiever to unstoppable force as the President of the Enterprise Group at AE Global, Beth Corbett talks about battling sexism and self-doubt as she shatters glass ceilings and uplifts those around her. In our conversation, she reflects on...2024-05-1531 minShe Lights the WayFrom Highland Fling to Hacking, with Ruth SuehleThink you know what to expect from an open source leader? Think again! Ruth Suehle is a kaleidoscope of passions - from software to Scottish dancing, embroidery to mermaiding.
In this inspiring interview, Ruth shares her delightfully zigzag journey from journalism grad to open source pioneer at major tech companies. Along the way, you'll discover her unexpected forays into baking, cosplaying, crafting, and more!
Ruth's story shatters preconceptions about having just "one passion." Instead, she'll inspire you to embrace all your curiosities and interests. You'll get her refreshing take on what true success means and...2024-05-0328 minShe Lights the WayAn Inspired Pursuit of Knowledge, with Dawn FosterIn this episode, host Nicole Huesman talks with Dr. Dawn Foster, director of data science at the CHAOSS Project, about her unexpected career journey from a farm in Ohio to becoming a leader in the tech industry. Despite initially pursuing teaching, Dawn changed course to computer science and found her passion in open source and data science.
She shares how her innate curiosity, grit, and willingness to step out of her comfort zone led her across roles like sysadmin, market researcher, and software developer at iconic companies like Intel, VMware, and Puppet Labs. Dawn's zigzagging path underscores t...2024-04-0228 minShe Lights the WayCollaborating with Intent, with Jen Wike HugerJen Wike Huger, content strategist, editor and community builder, shares her 15+ year journey through the tech world. With refreshing authenticity, she delves into the challenges of not having a technical background, yet carving out a successful career at the intersection of community, marketing, and open source software.
Jen's story is one of embracing your unique strengths while having the courage to learn what you need to better understand "the other side." Her wisdom on fostering intentional collaboration and human connection in our digital era is both practical and poignant.
From establishing creative processes at Red Ha...2024-03-2028 minShe Lights the WayLeading with Passion and Purpose with Karen FreemanIn this empowering interview with accomplished architect Karen Freeman, she radiates hope amid the challenges of the healthcare field, where we’ve witnessed an alarming exodus of workers. Karen shares her personal journey from a small town to becoming a leader in healthcare design and architecture, with a balanced focus on young patients and the workers who care for them, while illuminating her mission to support women in advancing their careers.
With passion, she shares her own winding journey into pediatric design. An architect molded from a childhood love of Legos, she found clarity and purpose in he...2024-03-0134 minShe Lights the WayDancing Words with Zaji CoxMeet Zaji Cox, a multifaceted artist who illuminates the paths of writing, dance, and navigating neurodivergence. In this discussion, we delve into Zaji’s unique journey, exploring her fusion of poetry and dance, her experiences in the publishing world, and the challenges and triumphs she’s faced as a woman of color and a neurodivergent artist. Her journey is a testament to the transformative power of art in breaking boundaries, connecting with others, and embracing one’s unique voice. As she continues to light the way with her words and movements, Zaji invites us to join her on a journe...2024-02-1423 minShe Lights the WayDisrupting the Status Quo with Jennifer CloerIn this debut episode, I sit down with Jennifer Cloer, longtime friend and the visionary behind the Chasing Grace docuseries, to talk about the role of storytelling in inspiring and empowering women. We explore how the pandemic has provided an opportunity to rethink the workplace, and talk about hard-fought lessons learned. Jennifer also reveals what success means to her.
Resources & Links:
Transcript
Story Changes Culture
Chasing Grace Project
2024-02-1033 min
CHAOSScastEpisode 76: CHAOSS Goals for 2024 and BeyondThank you to the folks at Sustain for providing the hosting account for CHAOSSCast!
CHAOSScast – Episode 75
In this episode, host Georg is joined by CHAOSS members, Sean, Nicole, Matt, Elizabeth, and Dawn. Today, they delve into the CHAOSS Project’s goals for 2024 and beyond, highlighting efforts to establish CHAOSS metrics and models as formal international standards. The conversation covers their potential ISO standardization, strategies to grow the user community, the importance of increasing collaboration within the CHAOSS contributor community, and enhancing software contributions, acknowledging the need to value non-code contributions. They also touch on the impo...2024-01-0142 min
CHAOSScastEpisode 49: CHAOSS Community Year 2021 in ReviewHello and welcome to CHAOSScast Community podcast, where we share use cases and experiences with measuring open source community health. Elevating conversations about metrics, analytics, and software from the Community Health Analytics Open Source Software, or short CHAOSS Project, to wherever you like to listen. We are super excited for today’s episode because we are doing a “Year 2021 in Review” with our panel of representatives from the CHAOSS community from all around the world. Joining us today are Georg, Sean, Matt, Willem, Dawn, Nicole, Elizabeth, and Xiaoya. Our panelists tell us their favorite episodes from this year, we hear a...2021-12-0351 min
CHAOSScastEpisode 40: A Call for Qualitative Developer-First Metrics with Terrence ChenPanelists
Georg Link | Nicole Huesman
Guest
Terrence Chen
Sponsor
SustainOSS
Show Notes
Today, we are excited to have as our guest, Terrence Chen, Software Developer for over 15 years, and the sole creator of GitSense, which focuses on providing software development metrics that both leaders and developers can get behind. Terrence tells us all about GitSense and what led to the creation of it. We learn about Developers First Metrics and the three principles it’s based on, and we find out more about The Hierarchy of...2021-07-3042 min
CHAOSScastEpisode 39: Leaderboards and Metrics at Drupal.org with Matthew Tift and Tim LehnenPanelists
Georg Link | Nicole Huesman | Sean Goggins
Guests
Tim Lehnen | Matthew Tift
Sponsor
SustainOSS
Show Notes
Today, we are lucky to have two representatives from the Drupal community. Our two guests are Tim Lehnen, CTO of the Drupal Association, and Matthew Tift, Lead Engineer at Lullabot, who has been involved in the Drupal Project since 2010. They are here today to talk about who contributes to open source and how do we understand this in the Drupal Community. We also learn the meaning behind Tim and...2021-07-1659 min
CHAOSScastEpisode 18: DevRel Metrics with Mary ThengvallPanelists
Matt Broberg | Nicole Huesman | Foundjem Armstrong
Guests
Mary Thengvall
Show Notes
[00:01:48] Mary tells us all about herself and her job.
[00:03:05] We find out from Mary what DevRel is.
[00:05:20] Nicole asks Mary to talk the DevRel position being such a unique position and often people may want to apply traditional marketing metrics to the role and sometimes that doesn’t really work, so she explains why.
[00:11:17] Matt wants to know how Mary handles the organization that is so used to trying to build th...2020-09-1840 min
CHAOSScastEpisode 12: How Social Marketing Interfaces with Community with Michelle DaltonPanelists
Venia Logan | Foundjem Armstrong | Nicole Huesman
Guest
Michelle Dalton
Show Notes
[00:01:21] Michelle gives us her background and fills us in on her journey into community management.
[00:04:30] Digital marketer and where the engaged group sets in its strategic plan is discussed, as well as how big the digital engaged community is.
[00:07:44] Michelle talks about what her job looked like in the service area and how it changed in engage.
[00:09:39] Nicole asks Michelle if there have been any surprises or things that you didn’t expect in...2020-08-0745 min
CHAOSScastEpisode 8: Mautic Community with Ruth CheesleyPanelists
Georg Link | Venia Logan | Don Marti | Nicole Huesman | Daniel Izquierdo
Guest
Ruth Cheesley
Sponsor
Linode
Show Notes
[00:02:56] Ruth tells us all about herself, her background, as well as what Mautic is and what they do.
[00:04:41] Ruth shares with us what she’s doing with the metrics platform and how that has informed her work.
[00:06:31] Nicole mentions Ruth’s blog and she recently launched a community health dashboard. Since within the CHAOSS project they work with different metrics around community health, she wonders whic...2020-07-1045 min
CHAOSScastEpisode 7: Your Community Story with Jono BaconPanelists
Venia Logan | Nicole Huesman | Brian Proffitt
Guests
Jono Bacon
Sponsor
Linode
Show Notes
[00:02:16] Jono gives us an introduction what he does and how he got into his job.
[00:03:48] Nicole asks Jono what are some of the key strategies he’s used over the years to propel his career in community management and community strategy?
[00:07:10] Venia wants to know how Jono ended up managing the role of community manager as he went through his early days.
[00:09:52] Brian wants to kn...2020-07-0350 min
CHAOSScastEpisode 6: CNCF, DevStats, and TODO Group with Chris AniszczykPanelists
Georg Link | Brian Proffitt | Nicole Huesman
Guests
Chris Aniszczyk
Sponsor
Linode
Show Notes
[00:02:19] When we talk about community health, Chris tells us what comes to mind for him in the context of CNCF. He also tells us what his role is at CNCF.
[00:06:03] Brian is curious to how Chris has adapted his metrics or if he’s adapted his metrics to compensate for the fact that he is in such an explosive mode of growth and has he made adjustments for that. ...2020-06-2651 min
Women of Substance Music Podcast#1092 Music by Michelle Parsons, Ruth Bloomquist, Carol Nicodemi (writers Colleen Kitchen & Carol Nicodemi), Deanne Matley, Carol Martini, Robin Anderson, Windfall, Jill Detroit, Nicole-Marie, Joy Zimmerman, Kari Tieger, Natalie Duque, Victoria Jane KearnTo get live links to the music we play and resources we offer, visit This show includes the following songs: Michelle Parsons - Mamma Said Ruth Bloomquist - Go Home Carol Nicodemi (writers Colleen Kitchen & Carol Nicodemi) - Forgive Me Daughter Deanne Matley - Love Him Forever Carol Martini - Moms Are The Greatest Robin Anderson - You Will Windfall - While You Were Sleeping Jill Detroit - I Miss You Mama Nicole-Marie - My Inheritance Joy Zimmerman - To the Girl Kari Tieger - Bonnie's Theme Natalie Duque - Something Right Victoria Jane Kearney - Cradle Amanda McCarthy - Not Your Aver...2020-05-081h 01