She Pivots

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156

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Join Emily Tisch Sussman as she sits down with a diverse group of women to explore how their personal experiences led to their pivot and eventually their success. She Pivots challenges the typical definitions of success and explores the role our personal stories play in our professional journeys. The series will celebrate those who have made bold moves with a view towards inspiring others to pursue their own non-linear paths. Be sure to subscribe and follow us on Instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast .

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60 recent

October 14, 202649 min

Zoanne Clack: The ER Doctor Behind Grey’s Anatomy

Zoanne Clack is one of the most influential writers and producers in the television industry, having written and produced more than 400 episodes across Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19. But Zoanne wasn’t always just writing about doctors—she was one. She began her career in emergency medicine, working grueling hours as a physician after training at Emory and serving at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At 32, completely burnt out and still thinking of her lifelong dream of working in television, Zoanne packed up her life in Atlanta and moved to Los Angeles, a move that changed the course of her life. On this episode of She Pivots, Zoanne shares her experience going through medical school knowing she didn’t love science and joining Grey’s Anatomy in its very early days. She also discusses how she became a leader in what she calls “entertainment education,” using television to tackle public health issues, expand representation, and in some cases, maybe even save lives. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to She Pivots 00:28 From ER Doctor to Grey's Anatomy 02:25 Childhood Dreams and Career Expectations 04:45 The Practical Choice: Medical School 08:33 Burnout and the Search for a New Path 16:47 The Turning Point: Moving to Los Angeles 21:31 Finding Her Footing in TV 29:04 Balancing Two Careers: Medicine and Writing 32:30 The Evolution of Grey's Anatomy 38:05 Zoanne's Mom 40:37 The Art of Medical Education Through Media 44:22 Low Point to Launch 47:43 Reflections on Zoanne's Pivot 48:36 Podcast Production Credits Keep up with Zoanne @zclack on instagram, and learn more about her offerings here . Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration. She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success. Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: shepivots.substack.com Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast , and check out our website shepivotspod.com for resources and updates. She Pivots is proud to be an iheart podcast. Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 7, 202648 min

Michaela Hammond: From Agent to Sports Fashion Media Executive

As a kid, Michaela Hammond had two goals pinned to her bulletin board: play sports and work in sports. She went on to play volleyball at NYU and build the career in sports she had dreamed about, but eventually found herself sobbing at her desk, wondering if she was really where she wanted to be. On this episode of She Pivots , Michaela talks about letting a dream take a new shape, the power of authentic storytelling, and how her experience in sports led her to co-found OffBall, an anti-algorithmic media company exploring the culture, fandom, fashion, and personalities surrounding the games we love. Check out what Offball is up to at offball.news Thanks to YOU She Pivots is a finalist for TWO signal awards! Vote for us at these links to help us bring home gold: Most Inspirational Podcast Best Podcast Newsletter Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration. She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success. Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: shepivots.substack.com Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast , and check out our website shepivotspod.com for resources and updates. She Pivots is proud to be an iheart podcast. Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 30, 202645 min

Shelley Zalis: Chief Troublemaker

Female Quotient founder Shelley Zalis grew up assuming she'd be a stay-at-home mom, just like her own mother. Then a job interview she thought was at an ad agency turned out to be for market research—and she took the job anyway. That accident launched a career that put her decades ahead of her industry, dragging market research onto the internet before most people had email and building a company she'd eventually sell for $80 million. On this episode of She Pivots, Shelley shares the 2 a.m. idea she had while feeding her newborn, the boardroom moment where every man in the room got picked for her own project, and why she turned down money from her family when she needed it. She also shares how inviting five girlfriends to walk the floor at the Consumer Electronics Show sparked The Female Quotient, now a community of 8.5 million professionals with lounges from Davos to the Super Bowl. Keep up with Shelley on Instagram @shelleyzalis and see what the Female Quotient is doing at @femalequotient , and on their website www.thefemalequotient.com Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration. She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success. Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: shepivots.substack.com Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast , and check out our website shepivotspod.com for resources and updates. She Pivots is proud to be an iheart podcast. Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 23, 202659 min

Andrea Virgin: Widowed at 31, Rebuilding by Choice

Andrea Virgin didn't set out to become a civil engineer or the leader of a major arts nonprofit. But after the 2008 recession hit her dance company, she traded her pointe shoes for a hard hat and built a new career in engineering—only to face devastating loss when her husband TJ died when their daughter was 4 months old. In this episode of She Pivots, Andrea shares how she rebuilt her life (twice), the surprising boardroom idea that grew into her current mission, her role Chair and CEO of The Center for Arts and Innovation in Boca Raton, and why creativity is necessary at all stages of life. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to She Pivots 02:22 Childhood Memories and Early Dance Training 06:50 Cultural Influences and Family Dynamics 07:37 Balancing Dance and Engineering Studies 14:29 The 2008 Recession's Impact on the Arts 17:54 Pivoting to Civil Engineering 19:38 The Personal: Dating and Relationships 23:51 The Fateful Plane Crash 31:25 Navigating Grief and New Beginnings 37:03 Personal and Professional Growth 43:56 The Birth of a Creative Vision 52:01 Lessons from Andrea's Journey 57:39 Closing Thoughts 58:33 Podcast Production Credits Keep up with Andrea’s work at The Center at thecenterforartsandinnovation.org Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration. She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success. Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: shepivots.substack.com Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast , and check out our website shepivotspod.com for resources and updates. She Pivots is proud to be an iheart podcast. Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 16, 202649 min

Chelsie Hill: How a Wheelchair Dance Team Went Global

At seventeen, Chelsie Hill was a competitive dancer with her sights set on a career as a professional performer, until a car accident with a drunk driver left her paralyzed and changed everything overnight. Her first question to the doctor wasn't about walking again; it was whether she could still dance. On this episode of She Pivots, Chelsie talks about rebuilding her identity after the accident, the moment she decided to stop waiting for permission to chase her dream, and how she turned her own search for community into the Rollettes, a wheelchair dance team that's grown into one of the largest networks for women and girls with disabilities in the world. From performing in Kelly Clarkson's "Invincible" video to dancing at the opening ceremony of the Paris Paralympics, Chelsie shares how dance became the thing that carried her through the injury, marriage, motherhood, and building a space made for women like her from the ground up. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to She Pivots 00:46 Guest Intro: Chelsie Hill 08:48 The Fateful Car Accident 13:54 Adapting to a New Reality 25:06 The Birth of the Rollettes 31:34 Navigating Dance in LA 37:30 Meeting Her Husband 39:10 Navigating Pregnancy With a Spinal Cord Injury 45:00 Building a Community of Disabled Moms 46:36 The Rolettes Experience 47:27 Reflecting on Chelsie's Journey 48:18 Podcast Production Credits You can follow Chelsie on Instagram @chelsiehill , and the Rollettes at @rollettes_la . Check them out at their website www.rollettesdance.com . Happy National Dance Day, and Happy Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month! Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration. She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success. Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: shepivots.substack.com Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast , and check out our website shepivotspod.com for resources and updates. She Pivots is proud to be an iHeart podcast. Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 9, 202642 min

Mandana Dayani: From Religious Refugee to Media Powerhouse

Mandana Dayani grew up in Tehran during the Iran-Iraq war, in a Persian Jewish family that had been trying to flee since the 1979 revolution. She couldn't play in the park across the street, sirens were routine, and she had a gun pointed at her more than once before she was five. In 1987, her family escaped on a one-day visa, signing away their home and everything they owned to start over in New York with no English and little money. On this episode of She Pivots, Mandana takes us from that five-year-old holding her mother's hand through a career that took her from Rachel Zoe to running Prince Harry and Meghan's media company, scaling major brands across fashion, media, and tech, and co-founding one of the country's biggest nonpartisan voting organizations. She also opens up about the video she made after October 7th about her own childhood, which has now been watched more than fifty million times. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to She Pivots 00:28 Guest Intro: Mandana Dayani 02:02 Who is Mandana? 02:51 A Childhood in War-Torn Iran 04:31 Growing Up As A Religious Refugee 14:18 From Lawyer to Fashion Brand Builder 19:27 Leaving Rachel Zoe 21:57 The Birth of I'm A Voter 30:26 Archewell 33:06 The October 7th Viral Video 38:55 Low Point to Launch 40:33 Reflecting on Mandana's Journey 42:00 Podcast Credits Learn more about what Mandana is up to on Instagram @mandanadayani or on her website www.mandanadayani.com Subscribe to her Substack All Of It at mandanadayani.substack.com Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration. She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success. Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: shepivots.substack.com Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast , and check out our website shepivotspod.com for resources and updates. She Pivots is proud to be an iHeart podcast. Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 4, 202646 min

Remembering Gloria Steinem: 92 Years of Activism, Storytelling, and Travels

In light of Gloria Steinem's passing this week, we are re-releasing our episode with her from earlier this year with a new intro reflecting on Gloria's life and legacy. This episode was recorded in February 2026, and originally released on Gloria's 92nd birthday. It honors her impact on our culture and on the lives of every individual she spent her life fighting for. Gloria dedicated her life's work to bringing people together across generations, identities, and movements to imagine a better future for everyone. In this special episode, Emily talks to Gloria about what inspired her activism, her early travels in India, her belief that change happens in inclusive circles and through storytelling, and the legacy she hopes to leave. Learn more about Gloria's life and Legacy at gloriasfoundation.org , and consider donating to support the incredible work they do. Chapters: 00:00 Personal Intro: Remembering Gloria Steinem 01:46 Gloria Steinem: A Feminist Legend 04:56 Gloria's Early Life 08:30 Gloria's Abortion and Her Fellowship in India 10:32 Early Career and the Playboy Bunny Exposé 14:49 The Birth of a Feminist Journalist 17:12 The Rise of a Feminist Leader 25:01 Feminism and Intersectionality 26:53 Gloria's Pivot Into Marriage 29:27 The Future of Democracy 35:14 Gloria's Home as an Hub for Activism 38:16 The Importance of Each Individual 42:05 Do You Think You'll Pivot Again? 44:47 Reflecting on Gloria Steinem's Life and Legacy 46:19 Production Credits Gloria’s Substack: https://gloriasfoundation.substack.com/ Gloria’s Instagram: @GloriaSteinem Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration. She Pivots was created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight women’s voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with inspirational narratives of how personal pivots can redefine professional success. Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: https://shepivots.substack.com/ Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast, and check out our website www.shepivotspod.com for resources and updates. She Pivots is proud to be an iHeart podcast. Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 2, 202630 min

Minda Harts: The Window She Jumped Out Of

Minda Harts grew up working the counter at a Dairy Queen to help cover her family's utility bills, and she climbed her way to the corporate career she'd always dreamed of. But being one of the only Black women in the room wore her down in small ways that piled up over ten years, until she found herself sitting in a parking lot, crying, and neglecting her health despite having "made it." On this episode of She Pivots, Minda talks about the breaking point that led her to start a blog just to get her thoughts out–a blog that grew into the bestselling book The Memo, three more books, a film in festivals, and a teaching career at NYU. Recorded live in front of a room full of women media-builders at The Riveter's Gathering summit in Washington D.C., this conversation traces how Minda went from dimming her own light to building the trust-focused career she never had. As she put it: "I jumped out of the window of corporate America, and women caught me." Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to She Pivots 00:26 The Gathering: Women Supporting Women 01:03 Minda Harts: Trust Catalyst and Author 01:54 Introduction to She Pivots 03:36 Who is Minda? 05:25 Yasminda to Minda 06:54 The Journey to Corporate America 14:07 The Breaking Point 20:15 The Monday Memo: A Blog to Book to Film 23:41 What's Your Empire? 28:30 Reflections on Minda's Journey 29:43 Podcast Credits You can keep up with Minda at mindaharts.com and on Instagram @mindaharts . Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration. She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success. Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: shepivots.substack.com Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast , and check out our website shepivotspod.com for resources and updates. She Pivots is proud to be an iHeart podcast. Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 26, 202650 min

Space Gal: The 100th Woman in Space

Emily Calandrelli (more widely known as Space Gal) grew up in Morgantown, West Virginia, with no scientists or engineers in her orbit. She chose engineering for the paycheck, discovered a love of science communication along the way, and eventually became the first woman in the country to solo-host a national science show. On this episode of She Pivots, Emily talks about pitching adult science shows for a decade only to hear that networks didn't think their male-dominated audiences would relate to a female host; pivoting to create Emily's Wonder Lab (the Netflix show that made her a household name to millions of parents and kids); and turning the show's cancellation into two bestselling books and a thriving YouTube channel. She also opens up about announcing her second pregnancy via a weather balloon at the edge of space, fighting for a federal law after being humiliated by TSA over breast milk ice packs, and why she's finally letting herself scale back with baby number three. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to She Pivots 01:44 Emily Calandrelli: The Space Gal 03:16 Navigating Academic Challenges 05:16 The Power of Progress Over Perfection 18:18 The Unexpected Path to TV Hosting 25:11 Breaking Barriers in Science TV 32:21 Balancing Career and Motherhood 33:55 The Cancellation of Emily's Wonder Lab 35:52 Balancing The Work 40:33 Parenting as a Scientific Experiment 45:28 Low Point to Launch 48:35 Closing Thoughts 49:37 Podcast Credits Keep up with Emily on Instagram @thespacegal , on YouTube @EmilysScienceLab , and on her website at www.thespacegal.com Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration. She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success. Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: shepivots.substack.com Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast , and check out our website shepivotspod.com for resources and updates. She Pivots is proud to be an iHeart podcast. Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 19, 202641 min

Keli Lee: The Day Her Heart Stopped

For over two decades, Keli Lee ran talent and casting at ABC and Disney, shaping shows like Grey’s Anatomy , Scandal , and Modern Family while building the industry’s first program designed to get overlooked actors in front of the right people, helping launch the careers of Lupita Nyong’o, Chadwick Boseman, and Pedro Pascal. She created Disney’s first international studio from scratch, all while crisscrossing time zones between London, Australia, and LA for four years straight. And then her heart stopped, leading to eight days in the ICU that changed everything. On this episode of She Pivots , Keli talks about the night Viola Davis made history, the toll of nonstop work, how her father’s illness sent her looking into her own family history, and how that journey became the foundation for her brand Kurioscity, built to help others live with more intention. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to She Pivots 00:28 Guest Introduction: Keli Lee 04:28 From South Korea to All Over the USA 10:08 New York City: If You Can Make It Here... 12:39 Getting Into Casting 18:17 Disney and Diverse Representation 27:26 The Toll: A Near-Death Experience 33:13 Pivoting to Women's Soccer Ownership 35:47 The Art of Identifying the Undervalued 39:37 Do You Think You'll Pivot Again? 40:49 Closing Thoughts and Show Information You can Follow Keli on Instagram @kelilee7 and you can scheck out her substack for Kurioscity at https://kelilee.substack.com/ Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration. She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success. Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: shepivots.substack.com Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast , and check out our website shepivotspod.com for resources and updates. She Pivots is proud to be an iHeart podcast. Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.