Are you ready to Be S.H.E.? That's Be Seen, Be Heard, and Be Empowered! I'm Heidi Schalk, Business Strategy Coach, welcome to the Be S.H.E. podcast. Each week, I'll be sharing tips and strategies to help you increase your visibility, amplify your voice, and take control of your life and business. We'll cover everything from personal branding to marketing, networking, public speaking and leadership. I'll also be interviewing successful women who have made their mark in their respective fields and are on a mission to make a positive difference in the world, so you can learn from the best. So, if you're ready to step out of the shadows, make your voice heard, put your stake in the ground and take charge of your life, then tune in and subscribe to the Be S.H.E. podcast. I’m excited for you to join me!
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June 12, 2026Episode 12047 min
Ep. 120 Escaping the Quicksand: Why You're Not Lazy, You're Overwhelmed w/ Lisa Woodruff
If you've ever looked around your home and wondered why you can't seem to catch up, this episode is for you. Organizing expert and Organize 365 founder Lisa Woodruff joins us to unpack the hidden mental load of modern home life. From the never-ending laundry and invisible work of running a household to the mindset shifts needed to break free from overwhelm, Lisa shares practical wisdom and encouragement for every woman who feels like she's drowning in responsibilities. You'll discover why organization is a learnable skill, how to stop "Swiss cheese organizing," and why the key to peace at home may not be working harder—but working differently. Lisa Woodruff is the founder & CEO of Organize 365. Lisa and 87% of Americans believe organization is a learnable skill. Yet less than 18% of those same Americans feel they are organized. As the host of the top-rated Organize 365 Podcast, with 24 million downloads & counting, Lisa shares strategies for reducing the overwhelm, clearing the mental clutter, and living a productive and organized life.To connect with our guest, click on the links below:Website: http://organize365.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisawoodruff/ Instagram: http://instagram.com/organize365 Connect with me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidischalkcoachingFB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/femaleentrepreneursandleadersSpotlight to Scale: https://www.spotlighttoscale.com/blueprintLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/Ready to grow your biz: scalewithheidi.com
June 5, 2026Episode 11950 min
Ep. 119 From Unexpected to Unstoppable: Following the Clues to Your Purpose w/ Christy Pennison
What if the life you're meant to build looks nothing like the one you originally planned?In this inspiring conversation, Heidi sits down with Christy Pennison to explore the winding path that led her from uncertainty and personal challenges to becoming a leader in the mental health and business worlds. Christy shares how painful experiences, unexpected detours, and a willingness to follow life's clues shaped her purpose and fueled her success.Together, they discuss resilience, healing, entrepreneurship, the power of helping others, and why your greatest setbacks may be pointing you toward your greatest calling. If you've ever wondered whether you're on the right path, or felt like your story has taken too many unexpected turns……this episode will encourage you to trust the journey and embrace what's possible.Christy Pennison is a board-certified counselor, seven-figure entrepreneur, and the host of the Inspiring Possible Podcast. She is the founder of Be Inspired Counseling & Consulting, a multi-location therapy practice serving communities across Central Louisiana, and co-owner of The Practice Collab, a business dedicated to supporting and equipping group therapy practice owners nationwide.With a rare blend of clinical expertise and business leadership, Christy has coached and advised dozens of mental health professionals, leaders, and entrepreneurs across the country—helping them navigate growth, resilience, and the real challenges that come with building meaningful work and full lives. Her leadership and impact have earned her recognition from peers and organizations alike, including the 20 Under 40 Acadiana Leadership Award and being named the 2024 Central Louisiana Remarkable Woman of the Year.Christy’s insights have reached audiences well beyond the therapy room. She has been a guest on Montel Williams’ Free Thinking Podcast, and her expertise has been featured across national media outlets including NBC, Today, and other publications.At the core of everything she does is a deep belief in possibility. Christy is passionate about empowering women, mental health professionals, and leaders to live with confidence, clarity, and conviction—challenging limiting beliefs and stepping into the truth that growth, healing, and purpose are always within reach.To connect with our guest, click on the links below:Website: http://christypennison.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/christypennison Instagram: www.instagram.com/inspiringpossible Facebook: www.facebook.com/christylynnpennison LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christypennison Connect with me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidischalkcoachingFB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/femaleentrepreneursandleadersSpotlight to Scale: https://www.spotlighttoscale.com/blueprintLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/Ready to grow your biz: scalewithheidi.com
May 29, 2026Episode 11839 min
Ep. 118 What Your Hardest Season Is Actually Doing w/ Cara Thurman
There are moments in life that completely reshape the direction of our story…. moments of pain, fear, uncertainty, and healing that eventually reveal purpose we never could have imagined.In today’s episode of the Be S.H.E. podcast, Heidi welcomes Cara Thurman, nationally certified massage therapist and entrepreneur. Cara shares her deeply personal journey of being born with a congenital heart defect and enduring multiple open-heart surgeries beginning at just two years old. From childhood medical trauma to navigating a major surgery as a young adult, Cara opens up about the emotional, physical, and mental challenges that came with living through chronic illness.But in the middle of one of the hardest seasons of her life, something unexpected happened.While preparing for a twelve-hour open-heart surgery and an intense recovery, Cara was introduced to massage therapy, an experience that became transformational for her healing journey. What began as support for anxiety and recovery ultimately became the spark that led her to discover her life’s calling.Today, Cara is helping bridge the gap between traditional medicine and compassionate therapeutic care through her work with patients facing cancer, chronic illness, and recovery journeys of their own.This episode is a beautiful reminder that healing comes in many forms, and sometimes the very thing that breaks us open becomes the thing God uses to help others heal too.In this episode, we discuss:• Cara’s journey through congenital heart disease and multiple surgeries• Living through fear, uncertainty, and recovery as a young adult• The healing power of massage therapy and therapeutic touch• Finding purpose through pain• Supporting patients and caretakers through integrative care• How compassion can change someone’s healing journey foreverIf you’ve ever wondered whether your pain could still hold purpose, this conversation will encourage your heart.Cara Thurman, CMT, NCBTMB, is a nationally certified massage therapist, entrepreneur, and founder of Vinings Massage & Wellness. A lifelong congenital heart patient, her journey through multiple open-heart surgeries inspired her to bring compassionate, clinical massage therapy into medical settings. After discovering the power of massage therapy during her recovery, she pursued training in oncology massage therapy and has since become a national educator and leader in integrative care. Her practice supports people facing cancer, chronic illness & their caretakers. VMW also partners with major hospitals to provide patient facing massage therapy services, bridging the gap between traditional medicine and therapeutic touch.To connect with our guest, click on the links below:Website: www.theselfcarebearclub.square.site Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theselfcare.bear?igsh=Y204aXV4OHFxaGd4&utm_source=qr YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheSelfCareBear?si=QNKJJJHlQ7pq22Ve Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theselfcare.bear?mibextid=LQQJ4d Connect with me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidischalkcoachingFB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/femaleentrepreneursandleadersSpotlight to Scale: https://www.spotlighttoscale.com/blueprintLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/Ready to grow your biz: scalewithheidi.com
May 15, 2026Episode 11750 min
Ep. 117 Healing Out Loud: Dr. Sage Breslin on Trauma, Narcissism, and Reclaiming Your Voice
What happens when the person who's supposed to help others heal… needs to heal herself?That's exactly where this episode starts, and it doesn't hold back.Dr. Sage has seen it all from both sides. She's the expert in the room. She's also the woman who survived childhood trauma, burnout, cancer, and emotional abuse. And instead of letting those things define her, she let them refine her.In this episode, she opens up about her own healing journey and what she's learned helping other women do the same, especially those stuck in narcissistic relationships, silenced by trauma, or just trying to figure out who they are on the other side of pain.This one is raw. It's real. And if you've ever felt like you lost yourself somewhere along the way, it just might be exactly what you needed to hear today.Even if you were imaginative, you couldn’t make up the crazy life that Dr. Sage Breslin has lived. Raised primarily in suburban Los Angeles, she had no idea what life had in store for her. Educated in some of the finest institutions and having traveled the world, Dr. Breslin is intelligent, articulate and culturally fluent- you’d never know that she has a Traumatic Brain Injury, endured extensive sexual assault and sex trafficking, nor that she was paralyzed during graduate school after an accident. If you met her, you’d be impressed with her diplomacy, grace and sassy wit, but you wouldn’t be able to tell that she’s experienced cardiac arrest eight times, once while giving birth to twins prematurely (after being told she could never have kids!). Her ravenous multitasking and seemingly limitless energy would never give away that she has Multiple Myeloma and had a Bone Marrow Transplant in 2021. While others might have given up in response to such extensive trauma and tragedy, Dr. Breslin’s amazing resilience has enabled her to use her experiences to assist others. Sage has a BA in Behavioral Psychology from UCSD and an MA and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University. She is also certified by Dr. Herb Benson in Mind/Body Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Breslin is a Breakthrough and Transformation Coach, a Trauma Psychologist, a Motivational Speaker, a Screenwriter and a Best-Selling Author. Her first book, Lovers & Survivors, as well as her work with Chicken Soup for the Soul, LLC have generated worldwide acclaim. Her second and third books, The Secret to Conception and The Secret to Conception Workbook, have enabled hundreds to resolve fertility challenges. Her fourth book, Daily Pearls: 365 Days of Sage Wisdom, blends Dr. Breslin’s musings with motivational quotes from a wide array of contributors and delivers an unforgettable and moving read. Her narrative storytelling style enables readers to experience life as she has lived it, and delivers the inspirational message so imperative for post-traumatic growth. While her colorful life has imbued her with perspective and insight, Dr. Breslin acknowledges that true wisdom is gained through collective conscious community. Her most recent book takes an even deeper dive into enabling conscious leaders to break through cognitive, emotional and energetic barriers to achieve authentic, empowered leadership. The importance of this form of transformational work is evident: Breaking Through: The Conscious Leader’s and Entrepreneur’s Guide to Amplify Intuition, Clarity, Vision, Motivation and Productivity hit best-seller status within 24 hours! Her upcoming book, Ditch the Narcissist Magnet: Reclaim your Presence, Confidence, Passion, Power and your LIFE! will be published in 2026.Sage splits her time between enjoying her growing family (including frequent play dates with her grandson) and her work with those in leadership roles. She offers self-paced courses as well as transformational masterminds for those seeking to uplevel their leadership. To learn more about these offers, go to www.SageBreslin.com. Additionally, she is the founder of the ROSE System (Restoring Old Soul Empowerment) that enables high-achieving women of depth to get unstuck and get their mojo back so that they can experience soul-fulfilling passion and joy. To learn more about the ROSE System, see www.TheROSESystem.com. To connect with our guest, click on the links below:Embracing Your Queen retreat: May 27-29 Oceanside, CA.: http://www.therosesystem.com/retreats Website: http://www.therosesystem.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsagebreslinnarcissistrecoveryexpert/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SageWisdomInstitute YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SageBreslinBreakthroughs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagebreslin/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.sage.breslin Lemon8: https://www.lemon8-app.com/@dr.sage.breslin Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/sagebreslin Connect with me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidischalkcoachingFB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/femaleentrepreneursandleadersSpotlight to Scale: https://www.spotlighttoscale.com/blueprintLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/Ready to grow your biz: scalewithheidi.com
In this inspiring episode of the Be She Podcast, Heidi Schack sits down with Araceli Esparza…. author, speaker, and executive director of Midwest Mujeres. We talk about the power of storytelling, community, healing, and advocacy. As a first-generation Chicana leader and former single mom, Araceli shares how her own experiences and years working in community nonprofits led her to create spaces where Latina and Black women can feel seen, heard, and supported. From overcoming isolation in the Midwest to empowering women through entrepreneurship and storytelling, this conversation is full of heart, resilience, and purpose.Araceli Esparza is a first-generation Chicana leader, author, and the Executive Director of Midwest Mujeres, a Madison-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering Latina and Black women through storytelling, entrepreneurship, and community connection. What began as a grassroots effort to break the isolation of Latinas in the Midwest has grown into a transformative organization serving over 80 women annually.Founded through a vision of creating space for women to be seen, heard, and supported, Midwest Mujeres offers culturally grounded programming such as the Voices and Dreams Academy, Curandera Writing sessions, and the annual Yo Quiero Dinero storytelling event. These initiatives combine storytelling, financial wellness, and personal development to help women build confidence, launch businesses, and increase their earning potential. Program data shows that over 88% of participants report improved career or business outcomes, with many experiencing increased income and expanded professional opportunities.Under Araceli’s leadership, Midwest Mujeres has built a powerful ecosystem of coaches, community partners, and alumni, while operating with a lean, community-driven model. Her work is rooted in the belief that storytelling is a tool for liberation and economic mobility.As a speaker, coach, and published author of Healing from Racial Discrimination: ¿Ahora Qué?, Araceli continues to advocate for equity, visibility, and healing. Her mission is clear: if women can tell the story that sets them free, they can transform their lives—and their communities.To connect with our guest, click on the links below:Website: https://www.araceliesparza.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MidwestMujeres Connect with me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidischalkcoachingFB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/femaleentrepreneursandleadersSpotlight to Scale: https://www.spotlighttoscale.com/blueprintLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/Ready to grow your biz: scalewithheidi.com
May 1, 2026Episode 11542 min
Ep. 115 From Survival to Calling: How Pain Shaped a Purpose-Driven Life & Business w/ Sheree' Behrndt
Sheree' Behrndt’s story didn’t start with a business plan……it started with pain, resilience, and a calling she couldn’t ignore. From a life-altering accident as a teen to building a thriving pediatric therapy company, Cherie shares how her hardest seasons shaped her purpose. This episode dives into growth, grit, and the unexpected path to becoming the woman, and leader, she never saw coming.To connect with our guest, click on the links below:Website: http://www.sensorysolutions.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/me Connect with me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidischalkcoachingFB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/femaleentrepreneursandleadersSpotlight to Scale: https://www.spotlighttoscale.com/blueprintLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/Ready to grow your biz: scalewithheidi.com
April 24, 2026Episode 11447 min
Ep. 114 More Than Marketing: Owning Your Impact, Your Revenue, and Your Healing w/ Dr. Debbie Qaqish
In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Dr. Debbie Qaqish to explore what it really means to evolve, from building a career out of necessity to stepping fully into purpose.With over 35 years of experience transforming marketing into a true revenue driver, Debbie shares the pivotal moments that shaped her journey, both professionally and personally. From redefining the role of marketing in business to navigating a deeply personal mental health journey, this episode dives into the often unseen pressure leaders carry and the powerful tools that can help reframe it.If you’ve ever felt the weight of expectations, wrestled with purpose, or wondered how your story could become your strength, this conversation will meet you there and gently challenge you forward.Dr. Debbie Qaqish created the Revenue Marketing® movement in 2011 — years before the industry caught up — transforming marketing from a cost center into a measurable revenue driver. She is the author of Rise of the Revenue Marketer and From Backroom to Boardroom, and has spent more than 35 years helping B2B marketing organizations drive growth.Today, as founder and CEO of The Growth Factor, Debbie focuses on the next shift most leaders are missing: performance under pressure. She translates neuroscience and human performance science into practical leadership discipline so marketing leaders can think clearly and perform sustainably when the stakes are high. Debbie earned her Doctor of Business Administration in 2018 and is a Positive Psychology Practitioner.To connect with our guest, click on the links below:Website: http://www.growthfactor.us LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/debbieqaqish Connect with me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidischalkcoachingFB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/femaleentrepreneursandleadersSpotlight to Scale: https://www.spotlighttoscale.com/blueprintLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/Ready to grow your biz: scalewithheidi.com
April 17, 2026Episode 11342 min
Ep. 113 From Grief to Vibrant Living: Rebuilding Life, Strength & Purpose After Loss w/ Vickie Aigner
What if your greatest heartbreak became the doorway to your most vibrant life?In this powerful episode of Be S.H.E. Podcast, Heidi sits down with Vickie Aigner…..72-year-old wellness expert, founder of Alive Fit & Free, and a woman whose story is equal parts resilience and transformation. After the devastating loss of her husband while raising six children, Vickie found herself forced to rebuild not just her life, but her identity.Through grief, healing, and deep inner work, she discovered something many women overlook: true wellness doesn’t start with what we do on the outside, it begins within.Together, Heidi and Vickie dive into:The hidden weight of unprocessed griefWhy “pushing through” can delay true healingThe connection between emotional health and physical vitalityAnd how women, especially in later seasons of life, can step into strength, purpose, and joy againThis conversation is an invitation to stop running, start healing, and say yes to your next vibrant chapter, no matter your age or story.Vickie Aigner is a 72-year-old fitness and wellness professional who has spent more than four decades helping women over 50 live their healthiest, happiest, and longest lives. She is the founder of Alive, Fit & Free and the creator of fun and effective brain-body fitness programs, including Energy Up for people living with dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and their caregivers. Through transformational wellness retreats and travel adventures, she guides women to build strength, protect their brains, and say “yes” to the next vibrant chapter of life.To connect with our guest, click on the links below:Website: http://www.alivefitandfree.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alivefitandfree/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Alivefitandfree LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alive-fit-free/?viewAsMember=true Youtube: @alivefitfree6262Connect with me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidischalkcoachingFB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/femaleentrepreneursandleadersSpotlight to Scale: https://www.spotlighttoscale.com/blueprintLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/Ready to grow your biz: scalewithheidi.com
April 10, 2026Episode 11230 min
Ep. 112 Building with Purpose: Courage, Calling & Creating Impact w/ Dr. Nelva Lee
Dr. Nelva Lee went from housing instability as a child to building a mission-driven company that is changing lives, and in this episode she is sharing every lesson in between. We talk purpose, courage, entrepreneurship, and what it really looks like to start before you feel ready. This one is going to stay with you.Dr. Nelva Lee is the Founder and CEO of Concrete Build Financing. Dr. Lee was also the CEO of a vocational school for 20 years, has over 20 years of experience in healthcare and over 10 years in academia as an adjunct professor for various Universities. Dr. Lee was a Governor Kemp appointed board member to the Department of Community Health. She is the Vice Chairman of the board of the Henry County Pregnancy Resource Center (Bridge Wellness South), a former Republican candidate for State Senate in District 17, and current candidate for Georgia Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Lee has authored several Christian-based books including: “Stay and Fight” and “Be the Super Hero of Your Story.”Dr. Lee volunteers at Relevant, her local church, and the Joy FM as a Prayer Partner. She was a Home-School Mom, and a Substitute Teacher for a Christian School. She has been married to her best friend Donnie for 25 years, and together they have 3 childrenTo connect with our guest, click on the links below:Website: http://www.drnelvalee.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TBWGTR/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/votenelvalee Connect with me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidischalkcoachingFB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/femaleentrepreneursandleadersSpotlight to Scale: https://www.spotlighttoscale.com/blueprintLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/Ready to grow your biz: scalewithheidi.com
March 31, 2026Episode 11135 min
Ep. 111 From Self-Doubt to Unshakeable Confidence: Simone Knego’s Journey
What would your life look like if you actually believed in yourself? 🤍This week on the podcast, I sat down with Simone Knego and this conversation did not disappoint.Simone gets real about the lies she believed because of past relationships. She talks about pushing past fear and stepping so far outside her comfort zone that she literally climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. And she shares how all of it, every hard moment, became the foundation for her R.E.A.L. Method.This one is for every woman who has ever thought:"I'm not enough.""Who am I to do this?""What if I fail?"Because the story you've been believing about yourself?It's time to rewrite it. 🤍Simone Knego is an international speaker, award winning author, and confidence coach dedicated to empowering women to overcome self doubt and live purpose driven lives. As the bestselling author of The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You, Simone extends her mission through her globally ranked podcast, Her Unshakeable Confidence, offering inspiration and insights to a worldwide audience. Her transformative work, including the REAL Method, provides a straightforward framework for cultivating genuine self assurance. Featured on major networks like ABC, NBC, and CBS, and in publications such as Entrepreneur and Yahoo News, Simone also champions her "Kitchen Table Leadership" philosophy, which emphasizes that true leadership is performed through everyday choices. She is the heart of a vibrant household with her husband of 32 years, six children, and three dogs. Her upcoming book, REAL Confidence: A Simple Guide to Go From Unsure to Unshakeable, launches in February, offering women practical tools to foster authentic confidence.To connect with our guest, click on the links below:Website: https://simoneknego.com FB- https://www.facebook.com/SpeakerSimoneKnego IG- https://www.instagram.com/simoneknego/ LI- https://www.linkedin.com/in/simoneknego https://www.youtube.com/@her_unshakeable_confidence https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/her-unshakeable-confidence-podcast/id1667058474 https://www.ted.com/talks/simone_knego_t_a_l_k_ing_to_kids_about_bias https://www.ted.com/talks/simone_knego_how_to_find_your_kilimanjaro https://realconfidencebook.com/ Connect with me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidischalkcoachingFB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/femaleentrepreneursandleadersSpotlight to Scale: https://www.spotlighttoscale.com/blueprintLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/Ready to grow your biz: scalewithheidi.com
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