For Your Listening Pleasure

Hosted by Mallory Waxman

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105

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Sep 2026

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About the show

In conversation with interesting and diverse professionals to discuss how their backgrounds shaped them into the people, they are today. Guests speak on a broad range of topics, including religion, culture, race, ethnicity, disability, and generational issues.

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60 recent

September 24, 20261 hr 0 min

104. Get Organized: Liz Minnella on Finding Your Purpose and Creating Change

Liz Minnella is a fundraiser, organizer, and advocate whose career has taken her from hospitality sales and marketing to political organizing and grassroots advocacy. After the mass shootings in Uvalde and Highland Park in 2022, Liz became increasingly involved in efforts to address gun violence in Illinois and has since helped connect people, resources, and organizations working to create change. In our conversation, we explore Liz’s unconventional path into politics, what motivated her to get more involved, and what she has learned about organizing, fundraising, and building movements. We also talk about finding your purpose, knowing when to take action, the importance of getting involved in your community, and why Liz believes your purpose should be written in pen while your path stays in pencil. Whether you’ve been thinking about getting more involved in your community, wondering how to turn your values into action, or simply trying to figure out what your next chapter looks like, this conversation is a reminder that you don’t have to have the entire path mapped out to start making an impact. Liz Minnella Website Follow Liz on LinkedIn Follow Liz on Instagram Link to purchase: FYLPxTracee Badway Merch Collaboration FYLPxWRDSMTH Merch Collaboration *suggestion is to size up Download this episode of For Your Listening Pleasure wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you follow us on Instagram @ foryourlisteningpleasure Click here to listen to the For Your Listening Pleasure Theme Song Playlist on Spotify. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM me at https://www.instagram.com/foryourlisteningpleasure/ or email me at foryourlisteningpleasure@gmail.com .

August 18, 20261 hr 10 min

Exit Interview - Kristi Coulter on Surviving 12 Years at Amazon and Why High Achievers Burn Out

Kristi Coulter is an author, essayist, and former Amazon employee whose writing explores ambition, addiction, relationships, and the complicated realities of building a life that feels authentic. She is the author of Nothing Good Can Come From This and Exit Interview , and has built a career around telling honest, often funny stories about the parts of life we don't always talk about. In our conversation, we explore what it was like working at Amazon, how her corporate career shaped her understanding of success and ambition, and what ultimately pushed her to make a major career change and pursue writing. We also discuss the realities of burnout, knowing when it's time to walk away, the vulnerability of turning your own experiences into stories, and what happens when the life you built no longer feels like the life you want. Whether you're navigating a career change, questioning what success means to you, or simply trying to figure out what comes next, this conversation is a reminder that sometimes the biggest risk is staying on a path that no longer feels like your own. Kristi Coulter's Website Follow Kristi on LinkedIn Follow Kristi on Instagram Link to purchase: FYLPxTracee Badway Merch Collaboration FYLPxWRDSMTH Merch Collaboration *suggestion is to size up Download this episode of For Your Listening Pleasure wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you follow us on Instagram @ foryourlisteningpleasure Click here to listen to the For Your Listening Pleasure Theme Song Playlist on Spotify. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM me at https://www.instagram.com/foryourlisteningpleasure/ or email me at foryourlisteningpleasure@gmail.com .

July 16, 202645 min

Sophie Elgort on Portrait Mode, Creativity, and Building a Life Behind the Lens

Sophie Elgort is a photographer, director, and award-winning television host. For nearly two decades, Sophie has photographed some of the world's most recognizable artists, actors, musicians, designers, and leaders. As the creator and host of Portrait Mode with Sophie Elgort , she's built a career around capturing not just how people look, but who they are. In our conversation, we explore what it was like growing up in one of New York City's most creative families, how rejection became an unexpected teacher, and why the most successful careers are often built through curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to keep creating long before anyone is watching. We also discuss the intersection of art and entrepreneurship, the lessons motherhood has taught her about intention and time, and why understanding people is at the heart of every great portrait. Whether you're a creative, entrepreneur, or simply someone trying to build a life that's authentic to you, this conversation is a reminder that success rarely follows a straight line. Watch Portrait Mode here Sophie Elgort's Website Follow Sophie on Instagram Link to purchase: FYLPxTracee Badway Merch Collaboration FYLPxWRDSMTH Merch Collaboration *suggestion is to size up Download this episode of For Your Listening Pleasure wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you follow us on Instagram @ foryourlisteningpleasure Click here to listen to the For Your Listening Pleasure Theme Song Playlist on Spotify. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM me at https://www.instagram.com/foryourlisteningpleasure/ or email me at foryourlisteningpleasure@gmail.com .

July 9, 202654 min

Mike Orscheln - Grief, Leadership, and What 16 61 Taught Him About Life

Mike Orscheln has spent more than four decades leading billion-dollar businesses, navigating corporate turnarounds, private equity transitions, and helping companies grow from good to extraordinary. Mike has served as CEO, president, and executive coach, building a career around one simple belief: people and purpose always come before profit. But this conversation isn't really about business. It's about what happens when you lose your mother at just three years old, spend decades never speaking about that loss, and then discover that grief has been quietly shaping every decision you've ever made. Mike shares the deeply personal journey behind his philosophy, "Be Aware 61," the synchronicities that changed his life, and how becoming emotionally conscious transformed not only the husband, father, and friend he became, but also the leader. Link to purchase: FYLPxTracee Badway Merch Collaboration FYLPxWRDSMTH Merch Collaboration *suggestion is to size up Download this episode of For Your Listening Pleasure wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you follow us on Instagram @ foryourlisteningpleasure Click here to listen to the For Your Listening Pleasure Theme Song Playlist on Spotify. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM me at https://www.instagram.com/foryourlisteningpleasure/ or email me at foryourlisteningpleasure@gmail.com .

June 24, 202641 min

The Clothing Therapist - How Dana Asher Levine Built a Life and Career on Confidence

For the 100th episode of For Your Listening Pleasure , fashion stylist and founder of The Clothing Therapist, Dana Asher Levine, shares her remarkable journey of resilience, reinvention, and finding purpose through life's biggest challenges. Known for styling some of Hollywood's most influential women, including a decades-long professional relationship with television powerhouse Shonda Rhimes, Dana has built a career helping women feel confident, authentic, and empowered through personal style. But behind her success is a story of profound loss, perseverance, and rebuilding. After losing both of her parents at a young age and later navigating divorce while raising three children, Dana found herself starting over at 40 and creating a business that would ultimately transform the lives of countless women. In this heartfelt conversation, Dana opens up about grief, motherhood, entrepreneurship, finding love again, and the lessons she's learned from helping women show up as their best selves. She also shares behind-the-scenes stories from Hollywood, her approach to personal style, and why confidence has always been more important than following trends. Episode Resources: Follow Dana on Instagram The Clothing Therapist Website Link to purchase: FYLPxTracee Badway Merch Collaboration FYLPxWRDSMTH Merch Collaboration *suggestion is to size up Download this episode of For Your Listening Pleasure wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you follow us on Instagram @ foryourlisteningpleasure Click here to listen to the For Your Listening Pleasure Theme Song Playlist on Spotify. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM me at https://www.instagram.com/foryourlisteningpleasure/ or email me at foryourlisteningpleasure@gmail.com .

May 7, 202651 min

Marissa Isang - From Chicago Newsrooms to AI: The Power of Telling the Right Story

Marissa Isang is an Emmy-nominated storyteller whose career has taken her from Chicago newsrooms to the forefront of AI and tech communication. Born and raised in Chicago, Marissa reflects on how the city shaped her understanding of family, resilience, and curiosity. We talk about the feeling of Chicago, navigating life between Bronzeville, the suburbs, and Rockford, and why the city never really leaves you. We also dive into her journey through television news, producing live broadcasts, covering iconic Chicago moments like the Cubs' World Series run, and earning Emmy nominations for her storytelling. Then we explore her transition into the tech world, where she now helps make AI understandable, accessible, and human. This conversation is about evolution, curiosity, storytelling, and learning how to navigate a rapidly changing world without losing sight of who you are. Episode Highlights: • Why “Chicago is a feeling.” • Breaking into television news and sports broadcasting • Covering Chance the Rapper and the Cubs World Series • Transitioning from journalism into tech and AI • Making artificial intelligence understandable for everyone • Ethical AI and why representation matters • The power of curiosity in storytelling Episode Resources: Marissa's LinkedIn Marissa's Instagram Account Link to purchase: FYLPxTracee Badway Merch Collaboration FYLPxWRDSMTH Merch Collaboration *suggestion is to size up Download this episode of For Your Listening Pleasure wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you follow us on Instagram @ foryourlisteningpleasure Click here to listen to the For Your Listening Pleasure Theme Song Playlist on Spotify. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM me at https://www.instagram.com/foryourlisteningpleasure/ or email me at foryourlisteningpleasure@gmail.com .

April 13, 202655 min

Jacynth Bassett - Challenging the Narrative on Aging, Relevance, and Power

Jacynth Bassett is redefining what it means to age and challenging a system that profits from our fear of it. As the founder of Ageism Is Never in Style , she’s built a global movement dedicated to dismantling age bias and reshaping how we think about identity, beauty, and worth at every stage of life. What started as a deeply personal observation, watching her mother become increasingly invisible in spaces like fashion, has evolved into a powerful platform spanning community, consulting, and cultural change. In this conversation, we unpack how ageism shows up everywhere, from the workplace to healthcare to the way we see ourselves in the mirror, and why women, in particular, are never considered the “right” age. We get into the concept of age confidence , the impact of social media and the anti-aging industry, and how internalized bias shapes our decisions more than we realize. Jacynth also breaks down why generational division is often manufactured, how these narratives are reinforced from childhood, and what it actually takes to unlearn them. This episode is about identity, power, and perception, but more than anything, it’s about reclaiming the right to exist fully, confidently, and unapologetically at every age. Jacynth Bassett Link to purchase: FYLPxTracee Badway Merch Collaboration FYLPxWRDSMTH Merch Collaboration *suggestion is to size up Download this episode of For Your Listening Pleasure wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you follow us on Instagram @ foryourlisteningpleasure Click here to listen to the For Your Listening Pleasure Theme Song Playlist on Spotify. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM me at https://www.instagram.com/foryourlisteningpleasure/ or email me at foryourlisteningpleasure@gmail.com .

March 25, 20261 hr 1 min

From Capitol Hill to Clarity: Luke Corbett's Political Awakening

Luke Corbett grew up in St. Louis in a conservative, values-driven household, eventually finding his way to Washington, D.C., where he worked on Capitol Hill at the center of American politics. But what makes Luke’s story so compelling isn’t just where he started; it’s how his perspective evolved. From working inside the system to questioning it, from navigating his identity as a gay man within conservative spaces to witnessing pivotal moments in recent history firsthand, Luke’s journey is one of reckoning, growth, and ultimately, choosing to think independently. In this conversation, we talk about what it’s really like behind the scenes on Capitol Hill, the tension between personal values and political environments, and the moments that force you to reevaluate everything you thought you knew. We also get into where the country is today, why so many people feel disconnected from politics, and what it means to step away and rebuild a life rooted in purpose, stability, and truth. This is a conversation about identity, courage, and what happens when you decide to see things for yourself. Connect with Luke on Instagram Link to purchase: FYLPxTracee Badway Merch Collaboration FYLPxWRDSMTH Merch Collaboration *suggestion is to size up Download this episode of For Your Listening Pleasure wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you follow us on Instagram @ foryourlisteningpleasure Click here to listen to the For Your Listening Pleasure Theme Song Playlist on Spotify. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM me at https://www.instagram.com/foryourlisteningpleasure/ or email me at foryourlisteningpleasure@gmail.com .

March 3, 202646 min

Melissa Forman - The Voice That Wakes Up Chicago on 93.9 Lite FM

Melissa Forman is a Chicago radio icon, television personality, and the kind of storyteller who has spent decades keeping an entire city company on its drive to work. Because Melissa’s career isn’t just about radio. It’s about what it takes to build a lane in a male-dominated industry, to go from being expected to be the “sidekick” to becoming the one driving the show, and to do it with warmth, humor, and that rare ability to make listeners feel like they’re talking to a friend. We’re getting into her early days growing up, finding her voice, and the moment she heard a woman on morning radio and thought, that’s it… that’s what I’m meant to do. We talk about the behind-the-scenes grind people don’t see, the power of learning every button and every board so no one can ever tell you you don’t belong in the main seat, and what it’s like to hold space for a city when listeners call in with their funniest stories… and their heaviest ones. Link to purchase: FYLPxTracee Badway Merch Collaboration FYLPxWRDSMTH Merch Collaboration *suggestion is to size up Download this episode of For Your Listening Pleasure wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you follow us on Instagram @ foryourlisteningpleasure Click here to listen to the For Your Listening Pleasure Theme Song Playlist on Spotify. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM me at https://www.instagram.com/foryourlisteningpleasure/ or email me at foryourlisteningpleasure@gmail.com .

September 24, 202532 min

The LIGHTER Project: Turning Grief into Action for Mental Health Awareness

September is Suicide Awareness Month, and today I am honored to welcome Melani and Lenny Lighter to the podcast. In February 2023, their family was forever changed when their beloved daughter and sister, Lauren, died by suicide. In her memory, and in honor of the millions of lives lost each year, they created LIGHTER, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness and providing support for mental health. Currently, they are leading the "Light in the Dark" fundraiser, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Lauren Lighter Fund. This fund directly supports NAMI Chicago, a local mental health organization, as well as the Douglas Mobile Outreach Program, expanding access to resources and care. At its heart, LIGHTER is a candle project designed to bring light and comfort into people’s homes while honoring those who have struggled in darkness. Since its launch in August 2023, LIGHTER has raised over $1 million for mental health foundations in both Montreal and Chicago, offering communities not only resources but also awareness, compassion, and hope. This episode serves as a reminder that we are all fighting battles that are unseen. I hope you find strength in Melani and Lenny’s story, and if you’re able, please consider supporting the Light in the Dark fundraiser with a donation. Episode Resources: Lighter Candles Light in the Dark Fundraiser Link to purchase: FYLPxTracee Badway Merch Collaboration FYLPxWRDSMTH Merch Collaboration *suggestion is to size up Download this episode of For Your Listening Pleasure wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you follow us on Instagram @ foryourlisteningpleasure Click here to listen to the For Your Listening Pleasure Theme Song Playlist on Spotify. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM me at https://www.instagram.com/foryourlisteningpleasure/ or email me at foryourlisteningpleasure@gmail.com .

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