Advertise on podcast: POWER UP WOMEN!

Horse lovers of every age will love meeting three highly-skilled horsewomen of different generations and very different riding disciplines. Michelle Conrad, dressage; Sarah Mauzey, western performance; and Caroline Berg, hunter/jumper were all little girls who loved horses and have found ways to keep these magnificent spirits in their lives. This episode will inspire horse lovers of any age to answer the call of the hoofbeats in their hearts. 

The Gen Z generation, which is just coming of age as young adults, is the most educated generation in history, with 57% of 18-21 year olds in college or advanced training.  Gen Z young women and teenage girls are already indicating they may be the most socially conscious and political active generation of females the world has ever seen. Forget all the complaining about what's wrong with Gen Z's and listen to the voices of Oakland University seniors Ashlyn Smith and Tayler Swartz. future change agents just hitting their stride.  I hope you are inspired as I was by their insights on social media, gender bias, their sheroes, their fears and how they plan to change the world.

Motorsports legend Lyn St. James, named one of Sports Illustrated's Top 100 Athletes of the 20th Century, is still blazing new trails. Just months away from her induction into the prestigious Automotive Hall of Fame, Lyn has paired up with race team owner Beth Paretta to launch Women in Motorsports North America. Lyn and I renewed our friendship, which began decades ago through Ford Motor Company, with this fascinating conversation about overcoming fear, her new leadership roles in NA and global motorsports governing bodies and her vision for growing women's involvement in auto racing. 

Energy Healing, once considered "alternative medicine," is steadily growing in credibility as a valuable tool in an integrative approach to mental, physical and emotional health. For over 20 years, Energy healer, intuitive and educator, Elaine Grohman has been helping individuals to tap into the power of the energy that is all around us. Most recently she has been asked to lecture at medical, nursing and hospice schools where today's students are more open than previous generations to new tools for enhancing health. Grohman believes the world will be a safer and healthier place when we reconnect to the ancient knowledge about humanity's essential and intimate connection with the Energy of Living Earth.  

Executive Consultant and Coach Marsha Clark's renowned POWER OF SELF leadership  program has enabled thousands of women throughout the U.S. and globally to explore, discover and optimize their personal and professional potential. Her expertise and leadership tools are now available to the next generation of women leaders, with the release of her new book, Embracing Your Power: A Woman's Path to Authentic Leadership and Meaningful Relationships. Marsha joins Anne to share her take on the challenges and opportunities that the COVID pandemic has created for women, and how growing up with a special needs Sister shaped her vision for authentic leadership.   

March 15 is Equal Pay Day, which is how long white women -- who earn about 83 cents for every dollar earned by the average man -- need to work in order to earn the same that men in similar positions earned by the end of last year.  But the gender pay gap is even worse for women of color, with Latina women at the very bottom of the gender and racial pay gap, earning an average of only 49 cents for every dollar earned by white men. JoAnn Chavez, a SVP with a major Michigan energy company and one of the Most Influential Women in Michigan sees the issue as not only hurting individual women, but also a serious waste of economic power that she is committed to change. The granddaughter of immigrant, Mexican farmworkers Chavez shares her remarkable leadership journey, as well as insights on what she's learned about how and when to strategically raise your voice to make a powerful difference. 

Nichole Kraatz, Chief Vehicle Engineer for General Motors' 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV pick-up, shares insider insight on why a battery-powered, full-size truck with a range of up to 400 miles per charge is not just revolutionary, but is powerful evidence that the future of vehicle transportation is all about electric. Kraatz attributes the influence of her older brother and cousin, as well as the advice -- "Be bold, but respectful" -- of her Italian immigrant grandfather as invaluable to her effectiveness in the still male-dominated world of automotive engineering and manufacturing. 

What do you think of when you hear the word Tomboy? Does it bring back memories of you playing football with the boys and preferring blue jeans to princess dresses? Or would it feel like an insult if someone said it about you, as a young girl, or your daughter or granddaughter? Lisa Selin Davis, author of the new book, TOMBOY, sheds light on how the word's meaning has changed dramatically through history and why it’s changing meaning is directly related to today's complex and often conflicting conversations and beliefs about gender and gender identity. 

With  medical marijuana now allowed in 36 U.S. states, recreational use legal in 18 and CBD products appearing everywhere from gas stations to health store grocery shelves, Cannabis is now an $18 billion market and growing fast.  But what should we know about marijuana and the multitude of CBD products, for everything from insomnia to pain relief, before dipping our toes in these new waters -- whether for health or a relaxing alternative to alcohol? Annette Compo, President & Founder of the Care by Design Market family of marijuana-related businesses, and a grower, a developer of CBD products and a wholesale and retail distributor of Michigan-grown cannabis, pulls back the curtain on the mysteries, wellness potential and rapid mindset changes around a potent plant that has sent thousands to prison.  

        Have you ever fantasized about the American West? I have, as have millions from all over the world. So many that there is now a genre of literature, "The American West." So I was thrilled to discover an organization of "Women Writing the West (WWW)," which is female authors (and some male) whose characters, stories and settings reflect the distinct cultures, geography and history of this important and distinct part of the United States.  Betsy Randolph is a widely-read, mystery author, including her noted Cat Carlyle Mysteries, the president of Women Writing the West and one of the first female officers in both the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Capital Patrol promoted to leadership roles. She joins me to talk about writing, growing up as a "tom-boy" and her reaction to the arrest of the parents of the suspect in the latest school shooting that occurred in my community of Oxford, Michigan. 

Do you have a passion or a dream that you have been putting off? There is no better time than NOW for planning and then living your "Second & Third Act" careers.  Katana Abbott, Mid-Life Millionaire Coach, Founder of the Smart Women's Empowerment companies, and host of Smart Women Talk, left her very successful Financial Planning career to become a pathfinder to show other women how to do the same. Katana and Anne talk about the five money personalities that shape our financial decision-making, her six-step process for successful financial/life planning and why retiring in another country is a great idea!  For her free Mid-Life Millionaire Life-Style Guide, click here.     

Historical fantasy author Laurel Anne Hill joins Anne to talk about her newest book, PLAGUE OF FLIES: Revolt of the Spirits, 1846.  On the back of a black, Andalusian stallion, readers are whisked back in time to the western section of Mexican Alta California in the mid-19th Century. Guide for the adventure, Catalina Delgado, is a courageous, Mexican teenager fighting for her family, her country and the "old ways" that are under attack in a rapidly changing world. Hill is a strong advocate for the value of reading to develop imagination and the importance of girls meeting strong female role models through books. A member of Women Writing the West, Hill shares her path as a writer, as well as tips on getting started on that book you always wanted to write!