Chatting with The Experts with Paula Okonneh

Hosted by Paula Okonneh | Coach, Podcaster,Digital Marketer

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Episodes

218

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Are you a solopreneur, entrepreneur, or small business owner looking to connect with other small business owners ? Are you yearning to know how they became successful at what they do? Then tune into Chatting with Experts podcast as we have all the right answers for you! Here you can listen to successful small business owners like Sonia Stetzler, Bill Franklin, Tesse Akpeki, Leanne Cannon and so many others share tips, advice and strategies on how they built their businesses . Join us on www.ChattingwiththeExperts.com and determine how to become the success that you are.

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60 recent

June 11, 202629 min

Setting the Room's Temperature

Rebecca H. Mott, a founder of ReThought LLC & an author of Amazon #1 new release The Meeting Room, and "The Meeting Architect", discusses how the energy you bring into a room sets the tone for conversations, decisions, and outcomes. Rebecca shares a lesson from early customer service work that smiling affects tone even on the phone, and explains how stress and "nervous energy" influence how others receive you before you speak. She emphasizes this is learnable through awareness and breath control, describing how marathon training taught her to pace breathing and notice stress indicators like holding her breath in meetings. She contrasts being a "thermometer" versus a "thermostat," urging intentional calm presence, especially for leaders. Rebecca also shares her October 2024 diagnosis of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, encourages mammograms, describes completing treatment and being cancer-free, and credits faith and responsibility in healing. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome & Guest Introduction 02:35 Energy as Data: The Origin Story 03:44 Smiling Through the Phone 05:48 Setting the Temperature Before You Speak 09:13 Breath as Your Superpower 09:34 The Running & Side Stitches Lesson 12:29 Neuroscience of Calm Presence 15:20 Thermometer vs. Thermostat 18:21 Leading with Intentional Energy 21:28 Rebecca's Cancer Journey & Faith 24:35 Advice to Her Younger Self 27:17 Connect with Rebecca Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Rebecca Mott, you can reach her via her website (http://www.trainwithrebecca.com) or her LinkedIn (http://linkedin.com/in/rebeccahmott ). For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.

June 4, 202635 min

Unwelcome Uterine Guests

Dr Cheryl Okoli, an advanced practice nurse and healthcare leader, discusses uterine fibroids, which she calls "unwelcome uterine guests." Dr Okoli explains that fibroids are non-cancerous uterine tumors ranging from microscopic to watermelon-sized, likely linked to estrogen dominance, and affecting any woman of childbearing age, with higher prevalence and more severe symptoms in Black women (60% by age 35 and 80% by 50 vs. 40% and 70% in Caucasians). She reviews symptomatic signs, including heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, bulk/pressure, anaemia, urinary frequency, infertility, and quality-of-life impacts, using the acronym FIBROIDS. She describes diagnosis by ultrasound/MRI, the importance of fibroid location, and treatments including watchful waiting, medications (e.g., Lupron), iron/pain control, UAE/UFE, MR-guided focused ultrasound, myomectomy, and hysterectomy, plus studies on vitamin D and green tea extract (EGCG) combinations to shrink fibroids. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:49 What Are Uterine Fibroids? 03:35 Who Is Susceptible? 05:56 Symptoms of Fibroids 14:16 Early Screening Proposal 15:23 The F.I.B.R.O.I.D.S. Acronym 18:53 Fibroid Positions & Fertility 21:58 Treatment Options 28:57 The Vitamin D & Green Tea Cocktail Resources: - Dr. Al Hendy's prescription (Timestamp 27:57): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6g8oq5mnC0 - Italian Study: Grandi G, Del Savio MC, Melotti C, et al. Vitamin D and green tea extracts for the treatment of uterine fibroids in late reproductive life: a pilot, prospective, daily-diary based study. Gynecol Endocrinol. Published online October 16, 2021. doi:10.1080/09513590.2021.1991909 https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/vitamin-d-and-green-tea-extract-for-treatment-of-uterine-fibroids Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Dr Cheryl Okoli, you can reach her via her website (http://www.shalomeagleswings.care ), via Facebook(https://www.facebook.com/people/Shalom-Eagles-Wings/100063898004527/#), or via her LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-cheryl-stella-okoli-dha/ ). For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.

May 28, 202630 min

How to Put on Makeup for a 50-year-old

Jenifer Hester, a makeup artist and licensed esthetician, discusses makeup for mature skin, emphasizing that skin prep and hydration are key. Jenifer explains hydrating from the inside out by drinking water and "eating your water" (leafy greens, cucumbers, melons, fruits), adding omega fatty acids (fish, walnuts, avocado), and choosing foods that support collagen and overall health. For makeup, she recommends avoiding heavy matte foundations and using sheer options like skin tints, BB/CC creams, and tinted serums to prevent a cakey look. She advises soft matte eyeshadows over frosty shimmer for crepey or hooded lids and offers shading guidance for sunken eyes. Jenifer suggests dewy setting sprays, minimal powder, gentle under-eye concealer application with ring fingers, color-correcting darkness, and using lifting placement for blush/bronzer plus shading to create a more defined jawline. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:23 Skin Prep & Hydration 07:11 Foundation & Coverage 10:17 Eye Makeup 14:01 Setting Sprays & Powder 24:01 Lifting Techniques 28:37 Wrap-Up & Resources Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Jenifer Hester, you can reach her via her website (http://www.glowtheorynj.com ), via Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/glowtheorynj/), via Facebook(https://web.facebook.com/Glowtheorynj), or via her LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenifer-hester-18b1755/ ). For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.

May 21, 202626 min

Practical and Easy Nutrition Tips

Demetria Cox-Thomas, a plant-based registered dietitian nutritionist and CEO of Dee Veggie Nutrition, discusses practical, accessible healthy eating. Demetria explains her work in hybrid group nutrition counseling, plant-based presentations, and cultural cooking classes (Ethiopian, Jamaican Ital, and Indian) that emphasize spices, flexibility, and making food enjoyable rather than stressful. She addresses food deserts/food apartheid by tailoring guidance to each client and recommending canned or frozen vegetables when fresh options aren't available. Demetria focuses on increasing vegetable intake without demonizing meat, sharing flavor and technique tips such as smoked paprika, curry blends, cumin, berbere, herbs, coconut milk, beans for fiber/protein, citrus finishing, roasting vegetables, and improving tofu and mushroom texture by drawing out water. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:36 Meet Demetria Cox-Thomas, RDN 03:18 Food Access & Food Deserts 05:22 Cultural Cooking Classes 14:21 Spice Tips & Pantry Essentials 18:43 Cooking Techniques Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Demetria Cox-Thomas, you can reach her via her website (https://www.deeveggierd.com/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/deeveggierd?igsh=bTlpYXlvOWNvZHAz), or LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/demetrialcoxthomas). For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.

May 14, 202628 min

From Everyday Care to Oncology Skincare

Jenifer Hester is a licensed esthetician with over six years of experience and certifications in chemical peels, oncology skincare, acne care, and holistic nutrition health. Jenifer explains that estheticians are state-licensed skincare professionals with over 600 hours of training who provide non-medical, non-invasive treatments, skin analysis, and product guidance, and refer clients to dermatologists when issues are out of scope. She contrasts estheticians with dermatologists, who are medical doctors who can diagnose and treat diseases such as skin cancer and perform surgery. Jenifer discusses chemical peels as controlled exfoliation that promotes collagen and improves acne, pores, and glow, cautioning against at-home peels without proper training. She shares her background in pharmaceutical quality work and her focus on restoring clients' confidence. The conversation highlights oncology skincare, including prepping skin before radiation and adapting care during and after cancer treatments. Jenifer recommends preventative visits about every 30–45 days. Transcripts: 00:00 Intro & Guest Welcome 01:27 What Is an Esthetician? 02:40 Esthetician vs. Dermatologist 04:28 Chemical Peels 07:48 Jenifer's Career Journey 10:15 Oncology Skincare 17:56 How Often Should You See an Esthetician? 23:06 Skincare for the Whole Body 23:58 TikTok vs. Professional Advice 26:04 How to Find Jenifer & Outro Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Jenifer Hester, you can reach her via her website (http://www.glowtheorynj.com ), via Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/glowtheorynj/), via Facebook(https://web.facebook.com/Glowtheorynj), or via her LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenifer-hester-18b1755/ ). For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.

May 2, 202628 min

Moving from Overthinking to Aligned Action

Esther Wokoma, founder of EvolveLumina, a confidence amplifier coach and strategic engineering and operations leader with 18+ years in the energy sector, argues many people don't lack clarity but lack alignment and self-trust, and explains how identity shapes decisions because people act in alignment with who they believe they are. She shares how she helps teens and women overcome fear, external expectations, hesitation, and self-doubt by reinforcing their uniqueness and value, and teaches her 3C framework—clarity, confidence, courage—supported by a RISE process (review, identify, step forward, expand). She emphasizes consistency, small repeated actions, and not waiting to feel ready, and highlights her 31-day confidence journal inspired by conversations with her teen daughter. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Topic Setup 01:47 Meet Esther Wokoma 02:17 Clarity vs Alignment 03:31 Identity Drives Action 04:52 Coaching Teen Identity 06:41 Helping Women Self Trust 07:58 Three C Framework 09:28 From Corporate to Coaching 14:20 Teens Sweet Spot 17:40 Stop Overthinking Start Acting 18:53 Consistency Builds Confidence 21:32 Confidence Journal and Joy 25:24 Connect and Wrap Up Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Esther Wokoma, you can reach her via Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/evolvelumina), via Facebook(https://www.facebook.com/esther.wokoma), or via her LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/esther-wokoma/). Her LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/estherwokoma For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.

April 23, 202629 min

Empowering Women at Every Stage

Dr. Lisa Santiago McNeil—publisher, strategist, coach, transformational leader, and founder of Empowerment Publishing and Multimedia— has helped guide over 200 books into the world, many becoming bestsellers and platforms for impact, income, and influence. Lisa shares her desire to reintroduce herself and refocus on women "after a certain age," discussing how women can shrink into the background and experience an identity crisis as they evolve through life stages. She emphasizes the need for "girls talk" at any age, the value of seasoned women's lived experience, and showing up as one's undiluted self even within a partnership. She connects inner healing, faith, and self-care—skin, hair, and heart—highlighting learning to depend on God, refilling from overflow, and embracing new seasons of purpose. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome to the Show 00:35 Meet Dr Lisa Santiago 02:10 Reintroducing After Midlife 04:55 Why Girls Talk Matters 07:13 Teamwork and Sisterhood 09:07 Identity Crisis and Healing 11:07 Metamorphosis Mindset Shift 13:12 Beauty as Inner Work 17:52 Faith Leaning vs Depending 24:52 Refilling the Overflow 27:10 Connect and Closing Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Dr. Lisa Santiago McNeil, you can reach her via her website(https://www.epublishyou.com/), via Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thereallisasantiago/), via Facebook(https://www.facebook.com/thereallisasantiago), or via her LinkTree (https://linktr.ee/lisasantiagomcneill). Her YT channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_fqO_gJLEsLek_t8u1ZCQA For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.

April 10, 202631 min

Dealing with Blind Spots in Leadership

Sheila Carmichael, a strategic advisor and Master Certified Coach, known as the "Blind Spot Strategist," discusses how leadership blind spots affect leadership presence. Carmichael describes common derailers for directors, VPs, and C-suite leaders: relying on the old competency playbook under stress, focusing on performance instead of influence, and waiting too long to speak up to avoid rocking the boat. She explains how promotions often shift scope, collaboration demands, and expectations without clear guidance, leaving leaders to "figure it out." Carmichael discusses how "nice-nasty" cultures and vague feedback widen perception gaps, and how external coaching can help through diagnostics, self-assessments, and 360 reviews (including stakeholder interviews at senior levels). She shares her signature reframing question, "What is that situation asking of you?" Timestamps: 00:00 Show Welcome Mission 00:37 Meet Blind Spot Strategist 02:23 Top Leadership Blind Spots 05:04 Promotion Without Playbook 07:58 Why Sheila Does This 08:54 Nice Nasty Feedback 11:04 Neutral Outside Coach 16:51 How 360s Reveal Gaps 22:21 Internal vs External Coaching 25:32 Signature Question Neuroscience 29:33 Where To Find Sheila 30:24 Host Wrap Up QandA Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Sheila Carmichael, you can reach her via her website(https://www.sheilacarmichael.com/), via Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sheilarcarmichael/), via Facebook(https://www.facebook.com/sheila.r.carmichael.2025), or via LinkedIn(https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilacarmichael/). For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.

April 2, 202622 min

The Danger of Synthetic Skin Products

Dr. Christina Hector is a board-certified physician specializing in non-surgical sports medicine and regenerative aesthetic medicine and founder of Nature's Puree, a physician-founded natural skincare line for the whole family. Dr. Hector shares how her medical school experience led her to avoid chemicals in hair and skincare products and begin creating her own natural formulations. She explains the benefits of plant-based skincare—vitamins and antioxidants that protect skin, the body's largest organ—and emphasizes reading ingredient labels, especially as skin thins with age and absorbs more products. She outlines a simple routine: gentle cleansing twice daily, moisturizing, and mineral-based sunscreen, with optional vitamin C and retinol, and suggests seeing an aesthetician for concerns like acne, rosacea, or hyperpigmentation. She also discusses tallow/lard soaps, her book The Natural Skincare Playbook, and where to find her online. Timestamps: 01:19 Meet Dr Christina Hector 02:35 Her Natural Beauty Origin 05:21 Why Plant Based Skincare 08:40 Simple Daily Skin Routine 13:16 Plant vs Animal Based Oils 15:56 Natural Skincare Playbook 19:19 Where to Find Dr Hector 20:48 Wrap Up and Q&A Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Dr Christina Hector, you can reach her via her website(http://www.naturespuree.com), via Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/naturespuree), via Facebook(http://www.facebook.com/naturespuree), or via LinkedIn(https://www.linkedin.com/in/drchectordo/). For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.

March 28, 202628 min

Success beyond Corporate America

Jraya Nicole, a career advancement coach and corporate transition strategist, discusses how high-performing professionals can leverage corporate success to pursue entrepreneurship without starting over. Jraya introduces the idea of "success survivors"—people who have achieved external markers of success yet feel disconnected, guilty, and misaligned—and distinguishes burnout (a depletion problem) from misalignment (an identity problem) requiring redirection. She argues the main barriers are not confidence or capital but courage and infrastructure, and emphasizes translating "corporate currency" into entrepreneurial authority through a strategic, "beautiful exit" rather than a reckless leap. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Mission 00:28 Meet Jraya Nicole 02:05 Success Survivor Mindset 04:28 Courage Over Confidence 06:50 Corporate Currency Bridge 08:18 Burnout vs Misalignment 12:49 Calling and Growth Friction 18:47 Strategic Exit Timeline 20:54 Profitable Pathway Framework 23:53 Runways and Networks 26:20 Connect and Closing Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Jraya Nicole, you can reach her via her website(https://substack.com/@jrayanicole), via Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jrayanicole/), via Facebook(https://www.facebook.com/JrayaNicoleCareers), or via LinkedIn(https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrayanicole/). Check out her YT channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jrayanicole For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.