Sweet but Fearless Podcast

Hosted by Mary Sullivan, Cooper Alexander, Gale Northrop

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100

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Step into the world of the Sweet but Fearless podcast, your go-to weekly destination for exploring the challenges confronted by women leaders on the frontlines. With a blend of engaging interviews featuring accomplished women leaders, entrepreneurs, and industry experts along with solo episodes, you'll gain insight and actionable advice to guide you on your fearless career journey.

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October 26, 2026Episode 29731 min

Claim Your Voice: The Power of Storytelling, Communication, and Courage with Jacquelyn Fletcher Johnson, author, speaker, and leadership expert (S11: Epi 309)

In this episode, Mary Sullivan, co-founder of Sweet but Fearless, talks with Jacquelyn Fletcher Johnson , CEO & Chief Communications Officer with Heartwood Leadership Institute , whose fascinating career has been anything but linear. From helping launch the Creative Writing at the Bedside program at Mayo Clinic to designing leadership programs focused on communication and resilience, Jacquelyn has built a career around the power of storytelling and helping others find their voice. As the author of 14 books, Jacquelyn understands that your story is one of your most powerful communication tools. She encourages us to embrace curiosity, recognize where fear holds us back, and find the courage to share our ideas with the world. In this inspiring conversation, discover: Why storytelling is an essential leadership and communication skill. How to claim your voice and spark curiosity in your audience. Why understanding your fears can help you move beyond them. How a nonlinear career can lead to unexpected opportunities and meaningful impact. Jacquelyn also shares her exciting Gateway Gathering & Pitch Fest , an experience designed to help aspiring thought leaders strengthen their messages, gain visibility, and pitch their ideas to industry decision-makers. Your voice matters. Your story matters. Don't let fear keep either one from being heard. Learn more about Jacquelyn and upcoming Gateway Gathering & Pitch Fest opportunities at www.gateway-project.com . ABOUT JACQUELYN FLETCHER JOHNSON: LinkedIn – Jacquelyn Fletcher Johnson Website – Jacquelyn Fletcher Johnson Substack – Jacquelyn Fletcher Johnson Podcast – Ideas Love Community The Gateway Gathering and Pitch Fest Virtual: February 2027 In Person: October 2027 ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS: Website - Sweet but Fearless LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

October 19, 2026Episode 30830 min

From Classroom to Entrepreneurship: Finding Your Voice and Owning Your Space with Claire Olinik, founder of Good Harbor Works (S11: Epi 308)

What happens when an unexpected career change reveals strengths you never knew you had? In this episode Mary Sullivan , co-founder of Sweet but Fearless , talks with Claire Olinik, founder of Good Harbor Works , about her journey from music teacher to entrepreneur. What started as a temporary role in her husband's web business turned into a decade-long career, where Claire discovered that her teaching and communication skills were invaluable in helping clients navigate the often-confusing world of technology and marketing. Claire shares insights on: · Career Pivots: How transferable skills can open doors to unexpected opportunities. · Authentic Branding: Why your online presence should reflect who you are, not a cookie-cutter template. · Finding Your Voice: What do you want people to know about you, and what problems do you solve? The takeaway? You don't have to reinvent yourself to succeed. Sometimes, the skills you already have are exactly what you need to take your next big step. Own the spot you're in! ABOUT CLAIRE OLINIK: LinkedIn – Claire Olinik Website – Good Harbor Works ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS: Website - Sweet but Fearless LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

October 12, 2026Episode 30729 min

AI and the Human Touch: Why Frontline Employees Are Your Greatest Competitive Advantage with AI Strategist Jane Dalesandro (S11: Epi 307)

In this episode of Sweet but Fearless , Mary Sullivan , co-founder, sits down with Jane Dalesandro , AI Operations Strategist, to explore the critical role frontline employees play in shaping the customer experience and building a company's reputation. As businesses rush to embrace AI and automation, Jane challenges leaders to think carefully about what they're automating. The goal shouldn't be to replace the human connection that makes a customer experience memorable. Instead, automate what happens behind the desk, not the customer experience itself. When used thoughtfully, AI can reduce employee burnout, streamline operations, and give teams more time to deliver the unique value customers can't get from technology alone. Jane also shares insights from her upcoming book, The Floor You Carry: How I Built a Career in the Job Nobody Takes Seriously , releasing November 1. She reminds us that some of the best leaders begin their careers in customer service, where they develop essential leadership skills: emotional control, accountability, communication, empathy, and the ability to make decisions under pressure. It's a conversation about recognizing the leadership potential of frontline employees, using AI with intention, and remembering that your greatest competitive advantage may be the people who interact with your customers every day. ABOUT JANE DALESANDRO: LinkedIn – Jane Dalesandro Book – " The Floor You Carry: How I Built a Career in the Job Nobody Takes Seriously " ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS: Website - Sweet but Fearless LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

September 28, 2026Episode 30626 min

How to Use AI to Strengthen Your Leadership and Decision-Making with Sharitta Marshall, founder of Visionary Development Consulting (S11: Epi 306)

Mary Sullivan , co-founder of Sweet but Fearless , talks with Sharitta Marshall , founder of Visionary Development Consulting , about how leaders can use AI as a tool to strengthen, not replace, their skills, judgment, and experience. AI may be powerful, but it isn't smarter than you. The real opportunity comes from understanding how AI is changing your industry, influencing your everyday life, and where it can best support your decision-making process. Sharitta encourages leaders to think of AI like a vehicle: it can help move you forward, but where you end up depends on where you're going, what you're trying to accomplish, and how intentionally you use it. This conversation is a practical reminder that effective leadership in an AI-driven world isn't about having all the answers, it's about asking better questions and knowing when technology can help you make smarter, more informed decisions. ABOUT SHARITTA MARSHALL: LinkedIn – Sharitta Marshall Website – Visionary Development Consulting Book – " The Unwritten Rules Are Meant to Be Broken: Breaking Barriers, Thriving in Corporate Spaces, and Redefining Success as a Black Leader" ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS: Website - Sweet but Fearless LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

September 21, 2026Episode 30520 min

Self-Care Without the Guilt with Self-Care Coach, Christina Russell (S11: Epi 305)

What if creating a more fulfilling life didn't mean changing everything at once? Mary Sullivan , co-founder of Sweet but Fearless , talks with self-care coach and entrepreneur Christina Russell about what it really means to put yourself back on your own priority list. Christina shares why putting yourself first isn't about ignoring your work, family, or responsibilities. It's about making sure you don't disappear in the middle of all of them. Mary and Christina talk about finding what brings you joy and creating space for it in your everyday life. If you're feeling stuck or burned out, the answer doesn't have to be a major life overhaul. Christina encourages starting small and looking at your situation from a different perspective. Those simple shifts can help you gain clarity and better understand what you truly want. One of the most powerful reminders from the conversation is that the answers are often already within you. When we continually sacrifice our own joy, the cost can be higher than we realize. If you've been feeling like something is missing, this episode is a thoughtful reminder that it may be time to listen to yourself again. ABOUT CHRISTINA RUSSELL: LinkedIn – Christina Russell Website – Christina Russell 3 Steps to Break Free from Self-Doubt 3 Day Accountability Challenge ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS: Website - Sweet but Fearless LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

September 14, 2026Episode 30427 min

Finding Your Voice and Creating the Life You Really Want with Jennifer White, Founder of Clearing for Launch Coaching (S11: Epi 304)

What happens when you quiet the outside noise long enough to hear what you really want? Mary Sullivan , co-founder of Sweet but Fearless , talks with Jennifer White , founder of Clearing for Launch Coaching , about making life decisions with greater clarity and confidence. As a coach, Jennifer helps her clients reconnect with their own voice, uncover the wants and passions they may have pushed aside, and take action toward the life they've been putting off for years. She shares how to move through the hurdles, fears, and uncertainty that can keep us stuck and why the answers we're searching for often begin with getting clear about what we truly want. It's a conversation about trusting yourself, navigating change, and giving yourself permission to move toward what's next. ABOUT JENNIFER WHITE : LinkedIn – Jennifer White Website – Clearing For Launch Facebook – Clearing For Launch ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS: Website - Sweet but Fearless LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

September 6, 2026Episode 30324 min

Why Aren't You Living the Life You Want with Lina Viner, Dreamer, Believer, Achiever. (S11: Epi 303)

In this episode of Sweet but Fearless , Mary Sullivan talks with Lina Viner , founder and creator of The Rewire Method , about mindset, entrepreneurship, and what it really takes to create lasting change. Lina shares why our belief systems can either move us forward or keep us stuck and how changing the way we think can change the way we live. Through The Rewire Method , she works with individuals to identify behaviors and thought patterns that no longer serve them, building new routines and creating mindset shifts designed to last. Lina also talks about the mindset entrepreneurs need to succeed: being comfortable with uncertainty, taking responsibility, solving problems creatively, and learning from failure. She shares how she built a successful business, stepped away, and then created another in a completely different industry. At the heart of the conversation is a simple but powerful idea: be curious about where you are, get clear about where you want to go, and ask yourself what is keeping you from living the life you really want. It's a conversation about believing in what's possible, developing the mindset to pursue it, and having the courage to rewire the way you approach what comes next. ABOUT LINA VINER: LinkedIn – Lina Viner Website – Lina Viner The Rewire Method ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS: Website - Sweet but Fearless LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

August 16, 2026Episode 30128 min

Finding Purpose Through Faith and Resilience: A Conversation with Mia Godfrey (S11: Epi 301)

In this episode, Mary Sullivan , co-founder of Sweet but Fearless , talks with life coach and Bible counselor Mia Godfrey about her remarkable journey from Romania to a life shaped by faith, resilience, and purpose. Throughout their conversation, Mia shares how her faith guided her through uncertainty, how she learned to recognize her purpose, and why surrounding yourself with positive, supportive people can make such a difference when rebuilding your life. What begins as a story of heartbreak becomes a story of transformation, a reminder that even after devastating loss, we can rise from the ashes, find renewed purpose, and discover that we are buried, not broken . Mia is the author of Buried, Not Broken: A Memoir of Survival, Sisterhood, and Starting Over , a moving memoir about survival, sisterhood, faith, and rediscovering hope after profound loss. ABOUT MIA GODFREY: LinkedIn – Mia Godfrey Website – Scribbled Pages Book – Buried, Not Broken: A Memoir of Survival, Sisterhood, and Starting Over ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS: Website - Sweet but Fearless LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

August 2, 2026Episode 29932 min

Career Pivots: Turning Past Experience into New Opportunities with Katie Whipple, Area Sales Manager, Kastenbery (S11: Epi 299)

Making an intentional career pivot isn't about starting over, it's about building on everything you've learned along the way. Mary Sullivan , co-founder of Sweet but Fearless , talks with Katie Whipple about her varied career journey and how the knowledge, skills, and experience she gained in each role helped her make thoughtful, strategic career changes. Today, Katie brings that diverse experience to her role as Area Sales Manager for Kastenbery, helping small-business owners find smarter ways to save time, reduce costs, and work more efficiently. She shares how embracing a nonlinear career path helped her recognize new opportunities and move forward with greater clarity and confidence. ABOUT KATIE WHIPPLE: LinkedIn – Katie Whipple Website - Kastenbery ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS: Website - Sweet but Fearless LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

July 27, 2026Episode 29828 min

How to Overcome Burnout and Build Sustainable Success with Paula Houlihan, author and founder of Choice Mastery (S10: Epi 298)

In this episode, Mary Sullivan , co-founder of Sweet but Fearless talks with Paula Houlihan , founder of Choice Mastery , to explore her inspiring journey from corporate burnout to successful entrepreneur. Paula shares how she once believed that long hours, constant stress, and relentless hustle were simply the price of success. After experiencing burnout firsthand, she transformed her approach to work and life, developing the Choice Mastery Model, a practical framework built around four key steps: Assess, Evaluate, Choose, and Act . Together, Mary and Paula discuss the habits of thought and behavior that contribute to burnout, how intentional choices can lead to lasting change, and why redefining success is essential for both personal and professional fulfillment. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, navigating a career transition, or looking for a healthier path to success, this conversation offers practical insights and empowering strategies you can start applying today. ABOUT: PAULA HOULIHAN LinkedIn – Paula Houlihan Website – Paula Houlihan Book: Hijacked: The Surprising Neuroscience Behind the Choices You Think You're Making and How to Take Back the Controls ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS: Website - Sweet but Fearless LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

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