She Pivots

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Aug 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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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.

August 12, 202647 min

Missy Tannen: From Stay-at-Home Mom to $250 Million Founder

Missy Tannen spent five years teaching third grade and a decade as a stay-at-home mom before she ever thought about starting a company. But when she couldn't find bedding that was high-quality, ethically sourced, and traceable, she and her husband Scott started Boll & Branch out of pure frustration. On this episode of She Pivots, Missy talks about betting the family's life savings on an idea, borrowing against their own house even while sales were taking off, and what it took to scale from a garage operation to a 200-person company without losing what made it different in the first place. She's brutally honest about the mess behind the milestones (a full batch of ivory sheets that came out green!) and about running a family business—that’s now worth over $250 million—with her husband while raising their kids. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to She Pivots 01:32 From Teacher to Entrepreneur: Missy Tannen 09:23 Stay-at-home-mom 13:04 The Birth of Boll & Branch 26:15 The Wall Street Journal Breakthrough 33:54 Growing the Business and Family Involvement 39:24 Building a Sustainable Supply Chain 41:25 The Power of Community 42:32 The Tariff Challenge 45:54 Reflecting on Missy's Journey 47:09 Production Credits Check out Boll & Branch at www.bollandbranch.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 5, 202659 min

Amanda Kloots: What Nick's Death Taught Her About Living

Amanda Kloots has never been able to keep her personal and professional lives separate, which is exactly why her story resonates. She's taken on so many roles: Radio City Rockette, Broadway performer, fitness entrepreneur, bestselling author, daytime TV host, and founder of the wellness brand, Proper. And every pivot she's made was sparked by something deeply personal: a divorce, a new marriage, a cross-country move, and the sudden loss of her husband, Broadway star Nick Cordero, to COVID in 2020. On this episode of She Pivots, Amanda talks about clawing her way back after losing her Broadway income, building a fitness business from scratch in LA, and how an Instagram Live during the darkest ninety-five days of her life turned into a movement she never could have anticipated. She opens up about grief cracking her life wide open, why she calls her divorce the low point she's most grateful for, and how she's carried every version of herself (dancer, teacher, founder, widow, mom) into the next chapter, including her new podcast and her role in Netflix's Let's Marry Harry. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to She Pivots 02:05 Family Background and Childhood 03:33 The Broadway Dream Takes Shape 09:38 Navigating New York City and Early Auditions 18:30 The Radio City Rockette Experience 25:26 From Broadway to Fitness Entrepreneurship 33:49 The Struggle to Launch in Los Angeles 36:55 Nick's COVID Battle 40:50 Nick's Death and the Nation's Shock 46:51 Navigating Grief and Work 51:37 Future Plans and Aspirations 57:48 Reflections on Amanda's Pivots 58:51 Podcast Credits Be sure to check out Amanda’s new podcast (launching TODAY) called Good Grief with Amanda Kloots. 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.

July 29, 202652 min

Amanda Calabrese: Redesigning the Tampon for Athletes

Amanda Calabrese was a middle schooler at a swim meet when she got her period for the first time. Her team captain told her to figure it out in thirty minutes or she was off the relay. That moment stuck with her all the way to Stanford, where she met her future co-founder Greta Meyer and started sketching what would become Sequel, the first tampon redesign in nearly a hundred years. On this episode of She Pivots , Amanda talks about the four-year fight to get a tiny piece of cotton past the FDA, why she treats the tampon as game-day equipment rather than something to whisper about, and how Sequel landed in locker rooms from middle schools to Audi Field, Yankees Stadium, and the Indiana Fever. Now a nine-time champion turned product design engineer, Amanda is on a mission to change how period care is talked about in sports and in every space where women show up to compete. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to She Pivots 01:46 Amanda's Childhood in East Hampton 05:43 From Junior Lifeguard to National Champion 12:14 The Challenges of Periods in Sports 16:09 Amanda's Journey to Product Design 21:01 The Birth of Sequel and the Spiral Tampon 27:02 Overcoming Obstacles and Securing Funding 29:37 The Evolution of Tampon Design 35:44 The Power of Self-Awareness in Team Building 38:13 Navigating the Challenges of Fundraising 42:16 The Rise of Women's Sports and Sequel's Timing 48:12 The Future of Sequel and Period Care 49:46 Low Point to Launch 50:52 Closing Thoughts 51:44 Podcast Credits You can keep up with Amanda’s work with sequel at www.trysequel.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.

July 22, 202647 min

Dystany Spurlock: The First Black Woman on the NASCAR Track

Dystany Spurlock has been fast her whole life—and is now a She Pivots-sponsored NASCAR driver! This is She Pivots’ first-ever sports sponsorship, because we believe in Dystany’s ability to break records and win. From a Barbie Corvette and go-karts at five, to fighting her way onto the boys' football team in middle school, to setting a motorcycle world record in a sport built for anyone but her, Dystany is a powerhouse. Getting to NASCAR meant driving trucks, working flight attendant shifts, and living in her mom's RV while she waited for the call that would change everything. On this episode of She Pivots, Dystany talks about that winding road to becoming the first Black woman to race in NASCAR, the family that held her together through the hardest parts, and why she refuses to leave her signature face sparkles at the door. We also discuss what it means when little girls stop her in the grocery store to say they want to drive too and the details behind the She Pivots purple car she's racing in this week at Indianapolis. Chapters: 00:00 Guest Introduction: Dystany Spurlock 02:43 An Early Love of Racing 08:18 Breaking into Drag Racing 19:48 The Journey to NASCAR: Personal Obstacles 22:45 The Athleticism of Racing 27:52 The Impact of Being a Trailblazer in NASCAR 33:30 Dystany's Signature Sparkle Look 39:45 She Pivots Sponsorship of Dystany 40:28 Understanding the Racing Process 44:03 Low Point to Launch 45:40 Reflections on Dystany the Disruptor 46:52 Podcast Credits Tune in to watch the big race THIS FRIDAY, July 24th, at 5:30pm on FS1/Fox Sports App You can keep up with Dystany @dystanyspurlock on Instagram, and check out her Docuseries “Driven by Dystany: The Road to NASCAR” on Foxxtecca’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6q2OuXcHRf4w2pJxwqHP34rH8Iyprgcy 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.

July 15, 202632 min

Flavor Flav: The Hype Man for Women's Sports

For the first time ever, She Pivots is flipping the mic to a man. Flavor Flav joins Emily for our very first "He Pivots" episode to talk about his work as a hype man for women's sports. From sponsoring the US women's water polo team (yes, he got in the pool) to throwing this weekend's three-day "She Got Game" celebration in Vegas for female Olympians and Paralympians the White House snubbed, Flav explains why he's become one of the loudest voices for female athletes who rarely get their flowers. He also opens up about cutting class to teach himself piano, chasing a real Grammy after his Lifetime Achievement win, bowling at the White House with Dr. Jill Biden, and why, nearly 40 years into his career, he still doesn't think he's made it to the top. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to HE Pivots 00:28 Guest Introduction: Flavor Flav 02:22 Flavor Flav's Musical Roots 07:08 Reality TV and Flavor of Love 13:51 The Pivot to Supporting Women's Sports 18:53 In the Pool with the Women's Water Polo Team 22:52 The Birth of SHE Weekend 30:26 Closing Thoughts on Flav's Impact 31:46 Podcast Credits Keep up with Flavor Flav on Instagram @flavorflavofficial , and with SHE Weekend @flavorflavsshe . Learn more about SHE Weekend at sheweekend.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.

July 8, 202648 min

Carolyn Tisch Blodgett: Inside Women's Soccer's Biggest Year

There's one guest Emily brings back every single season: her sister, Carolyn Tisch Blodgett. Carolyn's had one heck of a year: she's Governor of Gotham FC (who won the championship again this year!), and she represents the family's ownership stake in the New York Giants. In this episode of She Pivots, Carolyn dives into what it's actually like to build something as it's happening in real time, the bets that could've gone either way, and all the unglamorous stuff nobody posts about. The sisters get into the night Gotham flew to Kansas City as total underdogs, why the new locker room design has an L-shaped entrance, and what's coming this summer as Gotham takes on the Washington Spirit at Citi Field in front of what could be the biggest crowd in NYC women's sports history. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to She Pivots 00:29 The Annual Carolyn She Pivots Episode 02:10 Navigating Women's Sports Ownership 04:01 The Importance of Media Deals in Sports 06:52 Women's Sports as an Investment Opportunity 13:01 Building the First Global Women's Sports Brand 18:57 Breaking into Culture 22:32 The Championship Win and Future Challenges 32:05 Investing in Player Experience and Facilities 35:21 Intentional Design for Women's Soccer 39:29 Lessons from the Giants: Fan Engagement 42:56 Making the Hard Decisions 45:27 Low Point to Launch 46:23 Do You Think You'll Pivot Again? 47:44 Closing Thoughts and Credits You can keep up with Carolyn’s work by following Gotham FC @gothamfc ( gothamfc.com ) or checking out Next3. 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.