The High Achieving Female Podcast

Hosted by KNOW Women

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Are you new to business and looking for the secret sauce? Do you want to take your career to the next level and are in search of women that can help you get there? Are you ready to get the tips, tricks, and hacks that you can implement right now to gain BIG impact for your business? Do you want to hear from women that have been there and done that…and get their honest advice for what to do and not do? Then, The High Achieving Female Podcast is for you. HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW… too many successful female leaders are left undiscovered. You're a high-achieving woman. Now it's time to get the business building, media and PR tips you need to attract the recognition you deserve. This podcast will help you stand out as a leader in your business or career because we believe you are a woman that deserves to be KNOWN.

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September 10, 2026Episode 14621 min

She built a multi-million dollar brand out of her guest bedroom. Then she bought a second one. with Melissa Parvis

Melissa Parvis built Fresh Clean Threads from her guest bedroom, packing subscription boxes by hand until USPS needed a bigger truck for pickup, into a venture-backed, multi-million dollar DTC apparel empire. Now, instead of starting a third brand from scratch, she's done something most founders don't: she acquired one. In this episode, Melissa breaks down why she and her husband bought Recess Pickleball instead of building a new label, how she's rebranding it into Club Recess, and the lawyer-and-paperwork lesson she says is non-negotiable for anyone considering a brand acquisition. Key Takeaways & Highlights: Strive for excellence, not perfection: Melissa's core operating principle, and the one thing she says has kept her from burning out across two brands. The first hire that changed everything: warehousing. Once Fresh Clean Threads hit 1,000 subscribers, getting packing and shipping out of the house freed her up for strategy and marketing. Brand recognition was the deciding factor: Melissa and her husband almost started a third brand from scratch before realizing buying an existing community was the smarter move. A rebrand isn't a demolition: Club Recess kept the backbone of what people already knew and loved about Recess Pickleball while updating colors, logo, and product line. Get a great lawyer, get everything in writing: Melissa's non-negotiable advice for anyone building, buying, or exiting a business. Believe in yourself, follow your heart, enjoy the journey: her closing advice to any woman building or rebuilding something of her own. If this episode hit home, hit follow so you catch next week's episode, and a quick rating on Apple Podcasts helps more high-achieving women find this show. WATCH & LISTEN TO US AT Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-high-achieving-female-podcast/id1569518130 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wzMvTVtNmCVY5vLoYXZWk YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theknowwomen RESOURCES + LINKS Fresh Clean Threads, freshcleanthreads.com Club Recess, clubrecess.com FOLLOW KNOW Women: www.instagram.com/theknowwomen Sarah Benken Foushee: www.instagram.com/sarahbenkenfoushee Visit the KNOW website: www.theknowwomen.com Subscribe to INSIDER for $6.99/mo: www.theknowinsider.com ABOUT KNOW WOMEN AND THE HAF PODCAST The High Achieving Female Podcast, powered by KNOW, where women who've actually built it come to share how they did it. KNOW is a national media and network company for high-impact women in business, spotlighting the founders, CEOs, and leaders who are scaling real companies through KNOW Magazine, live events, the 50 Women to KNOW recognition program, and a curated network of 250 top-tier women entrepreneurs and executives. Every episode is a conversation with someone who's built something real, the wins, the setbacks, and the path, so the next generation of women has a roadmap, not just inspiration. ABOUT SARAH BENKEN FOUSHEE Sarah Benken Foushee is the Founder, Publisher, and CEO of KNOW, an invite-only national media company and network elevating multimillion-dollar women founders across the country. With roots in accounting and operations, she built her business long before she built her brand, five profitable exits and two brands scaled internationally later, she's one of the most credentialed voices in women's entrepreneurship. Her work blends luxury and leadership: sharp business intelligence with a no-nonsense, sister-to-sister delivery. She's been featured in Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, and 50+ outlets, and has the awards to match. She believes community is a power move. And that being a founder isn't glamorous. It's strategic.

September 8, 2026Episode 1456 min

The Go-Mode Trap: Why Pushing Harder is Ruining Your Hormones, Energy, and Sleep

Episode Summary: You're still showing up. You're still building. You're still leading. But quietly, your body has shifted from whispering to screaming that something is off. You're exhausted but can't sleep, your outfits aren't fitting like they used to, and the routines that always worked for you in the past are suddenly yielding zero results. In this vital solo episode of the High Achieving Female Podcast, Dr. Neema Moore—chiropractor, speaker, and founder of Dr. Neema's Wellness Co. and Revive and Thrive Retreats—shines a light on the health transition no one prepares ambitious women for. Dr. Neema reveals why this shift can hit as early as 35 years old, linking it directly to perimenopause, nervous system overload, and years of chronic "go-mode." This isn't a sign of failure; it's your body calling you to a higher level of care. Tune in to learn why willpower won't fix a hormonal burnout, how to track your energy instead of just your time, and why real healing requires stepping outside of your daily routine. Key Takeaways & Highlights: The 35+ Invisible Shift: Why hormonal changes and perimenopause hit high-achieving women earlier and harder than expected. The Cost of "Go-Mode": How relying on pure willpower and constant hustle deregulates the nervous system and alters how your body processes stress. Energy Tracking vs. Time Management: Shifting your daily metrics from how much you can get done to how much fuel you actually have left in the tank. The Power of Stepping Away: Why true physical reset and restoration cannot always happen inside your everyday routine—and the science behind luxury wellness resets. Links & Resources Mentioned: Connect with Dr. Neema on Instagram: @DrNeemaDC Learn About the Glow Code & Luxury Wellness Retreats: www.doctorneema.com/ Follow the Podcast: @HighAchievingFemale Follow at Instagram & LinkedIn: @theknowwomen For more like this head to www.theknowinsider.com

September 3, 2026Episode 14432 min

You Let Some Little Girl Beat You? with Ann Meyers Drysdale

Ann Meyers Drysdale is the only woman in history to sign an NBA contract — and that's just one line on a resume that includes an Olympic silver medal, a spot in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, and three decades as a broadcasting and front-office executive for the Phoenix Suns and Mercury. In this episode, Ann traces her path from a family of 11 kids where sports belonged equally to sons and daughters, to becoming the first woman to receive a full Division I athletic scholarship under Title IX, to trying out for the Indiana Pacers in 1979. She also opens up about the grief of losing her husband, Baseball Hall of Famer Don Drysdale, at 33 while raising three young children alone, and the faith and resilience that carried her through. Key Takeaways & Highlights: Title IX opened the door, but family opened it first: Ann's parents treated their five daughters and six sons as equals in sports long before Title IX became law. I've never liked the term glass ceiling: Ann's mindset was always the sky's the limit, not a ceiling to break through. Being the only woman in the room takes practice: the confidence to try out for the NBA in 1979 traces back to a bruising decision she made five years earlier as a high schooler. Grief doesn't cancel resilience: raising three kids alone after Don Drysdale's death, Ann leaned on faith, family, and the get up and do it mindset her own mother modeled. The next barrier isn't the court, it's the boardroom: Ann says the real work now is getting more women into decision-making roles, writers, producers, directors, owners. Don't ask what if: Ann's core advice for any woman weighing a leap she's not sure she's qualified for, jump in anyway. If this episode hit home, hit follow so you catch next week's episode, and a quick rating on Apple Podcasts helps more high-achieving women find this show. WATCH & LISTEN TO US AT Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-high-achieving-female-podcast/id1569518130 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wzMvTVtNmCVY5vLoYXZWk YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theknowwomen RESOURCES + LINKS You Let Some Girl Beat You by Ann Meyers Drysdale FOLLOW KNOW Women: www.instagram.com/@theknowwomen Sarah Benken Foushee: www.instagram.com/@sarahbenkenfoushee Visit the KNOW website: www.theknowwomen.com Subscribe to INSIDER for $6.99/mo: www.theknowinsider.com ABOUT KNOW WOMEN AND THE HAF PODCAST The High Achieving Female Podcast, powered by KNOW, where women who've actually built it come to share how they did it. KNOW is a national media and network company for high-impact women in business, spotlighting the founders, CEOs, and leaders who are scaling real companies through KNOW Magazine, live events, the 50 Women to KNOW recognition program, and a curated network of 250 top-tier women entrepreneurs and executives. Every episode is a conversation with someone who's built something real, the wins, the setbacks, and the path, so the next generation of women has a roadmap, not just inspiration. ABOUT SARAH BENKEN FOUSHEE Sarah Benken Foushee is the Founder, Publisher, and CEO of KNOW, an invite-only national media company and network elevating multimillion-dollar women founders across the country. With roots in accounting and operations, she built her business long before she built her brand, five profitable exits and two brands scaled internationally later, she's one of the most credentialed voices in women's entrepreneurship. Her work blends luxury and leadership: sharp business intelligence with a no-nonsense, sister-to-sister delivery. She's been featured in Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, and 50+ outlets, and has the awards to match. She believes community is a power move. And that being a founder isn't glamorous. It's strategic.

September 1, 2026Episode 1437 min

"Do You Carry Toilet Paper?" The Bold Pitch That Scaled Unicorn Inside JPMorgan Chase

Episode Summary: How do you pitch the global CEO of one of the world's largest financial institutions on menstrual equity? You ask him if he carries toilet paper in his pockets. In this high-energy solo episode of the High Achieving Female Podcast, Denielle Finkelstein, co-founder and co-CEO of Unicorn, breaks down the strategic power of getting the right people into the right rooms. Denielle shifts the conversation away from cold, transactional networking and dives deep into the art of building a "personal board of directors." She shares the exact sequence of events—fueled entirely by an internal relationship with a local banker—that landed Unicorn an exclusive invite to a Boston cocktail party with JPMorgan Chase CEO, Jamie Dimon. Denielle pulls back the curtain on how to pitch high-net-worth decision-makers by making the corporate human, why women must stop acting like polite "observers" once they get access to major rooms, and her four-part framework for building a circle that changes your future. Key Takeaways & Highlights: Humans, Not Logos: Why modern business requires moving past job titles and org charts to focus entirely on genuine, non-transactional human connection. The Jamie Dimon Catalyst: The exact internal relationship that bypassed standard corporate channels and got Unicorn into an exclusive, male-dominated room. The Power of the Bold Pitch: How Denielle used a disruptive, relatable question to get the head of Chase Bank to instantly understand Unicorn's mission to put period products in every bathroom stall. The Observer Trap: Why women freeze or become overly polite once they finally get a seat at the table, and how to actively combat the urge to shrink. Links & Resources Mentioned: Discover Unicorn's Mission: unicorn.com (or insert preferred brand link) Connect with Denielle Finkelstein: LinkedIn Follow the Podcast: @HighAchievingFemale Follow on Instagram & LinkedIn: @theknowwomen For more like this head to www.theknowinsider.com

August 27, 2026Episode 13823 min

From Research Biologist to $25M Founder of Splendid Spoon

Episode Summary: How do you balance high-growth entrepreneurship, venture capital fundraising, and motherhood without completely burning out? In this episode, we sit down with Nicole Centeno, the visionary founder and Co-CEO of Splendid Spoon. Nicole's career is a masterclass in cross-disciplinary brilliance—transitioning from research biology and media to revolutionizing the direct-to-consumer health space. After launching Splendid Spoon from a Brooklyn pizza kitchen in 2013, she has scaled the brand to over $25M in funding and recently acquired Mosaic Foods. Nicole gets raw and real about the "imposter syndrome" of the founder's journey, the strategic power of bringing in a Co-CEO, and why she credits meditation with saving her life. Key Takeaways & Highlights: The Curiosity Trap: How Nicole's background in biology and culinary arts turned her "founder frustration" into a multi-million dollar solution. Scaling Through Inflection Points: Why the 0-1 phase of business is fundamentally different from 10-20, and why you have to "invite the imposter" to grow. Fundraising While Pregnant: How Nicole commanded pitch rooms during her Series B round and why she decided to bring in a Co-CEO to balance the "visionary vs. operational" divide. Strategic Acquisitions: How to leverage aligned interests and manufacturing partnerships to scale through M&A (The Mosaic Foods acquisition). Mindful Leadership: Why meditation is a non-negotiable for high-achieving women and how to stop the "laptop" from telling you what to do. The 24-Hour Non-Negotiable: A simple, actionable step for every burnt-out founder listening right now. Connect Here: splendidspoon.com mosaicfoods.com Connect with Nicole on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolecenteno/ Connect with KNOW: Become an INSIDER: www.theknowinsider.com Follow on Instagram: @theknowwomen

August 25, 2026Episode 1416 min

The Cash Hoarding Trap: Why Saving More is Not a Strategic Wealth Plan with Kaitlyn Laney

Episode Summary: If you have your life savings sitting comfortably in a cash or money market account earning 2%, you might think you are protecting your future. In reality, you could be making one of the most expensive financial mistakes of your career. In this high-stakes solo episode of the High Achieving Female Podcast, Kaitlyn Laney, founder and CEO of Laney Wealth Management, unpacks why simple saving is a defensive strategy—but building long-term wealth requires an offensive playbook. Kaitlyn shares the heartbreaking story of a highly educated Stanford physician who, out of fear following the 2008 crash, hoarded her wealth in cash for a decade, unknowingly delaying her dream retirement by five years due to the silent erosion of inflation. Kaitlyn delivers a masterclass on how high-achieving women can stop viewing investing as "gambling" and start stepping into the "financial front seat." She breaks down her framework for strategic wealth management, explaining why choosing products before defining a purpose ruins portfolios, and how an independent, fee-based fiduciary can help you build a work-optional lifestyle. Key Takeaways & Highlights: The Palo Alto Paradox: Why even top-earning, highly educated professionals fall into the trap of letting wealth sit idle in underutilized cash buckets. Defensive vs. Offensive Wealth: Understanding the core psychological shift between defensive cash hoarding and offensive asset cultivation (investing, ownership, tax leverage). The Hidden Cost of Safety: Why opportunity cost and poor tax structuring are often far more destructive to retirement goals than standard market volatility. The "Job Description" for Your Money: Laney Wealth Management's step-by-step approach to giving every single dollar a designated purpose (lifestyle, legacy, or optionality) before buying financial products. Links & Resources Mentioned: Access Financial Calculators & Tools: laneywm.com Follow the Podcast: @HighAchievingFemale Follow on Instagram & LinkedIn: @theknowwomen For more like this head to www.theknowinsider.com

August 20, 2026Episode 14022 min

From Zero to 8-Figures: How Coco Selman Built, Scaled, and Exited Her Business in 4 Years

Episode Summary: Why do 20% of women-owned businesses reach $100k in revenue, while only a tiny fraction ever break past the seven-figure mark? In this episode, host sits down with Coco Selman—a 5-time serial entrepreneur, impact investor, and the visionary behind A Force for Good. Coco pulls back the curtain on how she took her company, Illume Home Care, from absolute zero to an eight-figure powerhouse with a seven-figure profit in just four years before navigating a massive strategic exit. Inspired by her stepdaughter Amelia's complex medical needs, Coco shares how she built a deeply emotional, purpose-driven brand without letting it cloud her operational strategy. She details her "special sauce" for scaling—including treating a startup like a Fortune 500 company from Day 1, auditing your time for "high-potency actions," and establishing rigid operational rituals. Now, she is on a massive mission to help 1,000 purpose-driven women founders break through their growth plateaus and scale to $20 million and beyond. Key Takeaways & Highlights: The Spark Behind Illume: How an unmet insurance need for Coco's stepdaughter Amelia exposed a massive systemic gap in home nursing care for medically fragile children. Operating in the Red for Licensure: The grueling, capital-intensive 18-month journey to secure CMS licensure and public health accreditation while paying staff out-of-pocket. Finding the Area of Chosen Greatness: How focusing exclusively on the recruitment and retention of high-quality nurses solved the industry's biggest bottleneck and unlocked rapid scale. The Psychological Pivot of a Serial Founder: Why treating your business as a "chapter" rather than your entire identity protects your strategic vision. The Fortune 500 Framework: Why putting your 10-year vision into clear language is the only way to step back and let your leadership team execute. Auditing for High-Potency Actions: How to define your "highest and best use" as a CEO by setting a singular 12-month breakthrough goal. Daily, Weekly, and Quarterly Rituals: The exact rhythm of operational reviews needed to keep the business steering toward True North when chaos hits. Coco's Next Move: Why Coco is currently hunting to acquire a soul-satisfying, cash-flowing business with $1M to $2M in EBITDA, and why acquisitions are the ultimate growth shortcut for women. Links & Resources Mentioned: Explore A Force for Good: aforceforgood.biz Learn About the Founders Circle Program: aforceforgood.biz/founders-circle Follow the Podcast: @HighAchievingFemale

August 18, 2026Episode 1354 min

Mindfully Glamorous: How BuDhaGirl Turned a Simple Gold Bangle into a Global Mindfulness Movement

Episode Summary: How do you take a single, simple product—a flexible, weather-proof plastic bangle—and turn it into a multi-million dollar, decades-long global movement without ever losing its core identity? You sell the meaning, not just the merchandise. In this beautiful solo episode of the High Achieving Female Podcast, Jessica Jesse, the CEO, founder, and creative director of BuDhaGirl, pulls back the curtain on the art of mindful retail. Inspired by her deep experiences with contemplative practices in Thailand, Jessica set out 14 years ago to prove that women could be simultaneously "mindfully glamorous." Jessica shares how she resisted the fast-fashion temptation to constantly reinvent her brand, choosing instead to anchor her signature All-Weather Bangles in daily morning rituals, moon cycles, and seasonal intentions. From starting with just one single gold bangle to scaling a powerhouse direct-to-consumer and wholesale empire spanning Dillard's and hundreds of independent boutiques, this episode is a masterclass for any entrepreneur wanting to build a timeless, legacy brand that transcends passing fads. Key Takeaways & Highlights: The Thai Inspiration: How immersive contemplative practices inspired Jessica to infuse a simple, fashion-forward accessory with a sense of sacred morning intention. Evolution Without Extinction: The strategic journey from a single gold bangle to 47 distinct colorways while preserving the exact same product essence and material integrity. The Art of Stackable Design: How BuDhaGirl leveraged consumer behavior to turn a singular product into a collectible, highly personalized movement. Storytelling vs. Hype: How aligning product marketing with timeless spiritual anchors—like the zodiac and lunar phases—shields a product from the standard fashion hype cycle. Links & Resources Mentioned: Shop the Collection: budhagirl.com Follow BuDhaGirl on Instagram: @budhagirl Follow the Podcast: @HighAchievingFemale Follow on Instagram & LinkedIn: @theknowwomen For more like this head to www.theknowinsider.com

August 13, 2026Episode 13822 min

Bold Statement: "Stop Watching, Start Owning: Chantell Preston on Investing in Women's Sports"

Investing in women's sports isn't charity — it's one of the smartest wealth plays available right now. That's the case Chantell Preston makes in this episode: a former healthcare executive who scaled and exited a multi-million dollar business, then turned around and co-founded Love San Francisco, a professional volleyball team built on the belief that women need to stop just watching sports and start owning them. Chantell opens up about the "success lie" she believed for years, the real reason she chose volleyball over every other league, and the mindset shift that took her from chasing an exit to building lasting wealth. Key Takeaways & Highlights Build a business bigger than you — the smartest exit decision Chantell made was surrounding herself with people who could run the company without her, which drove up the eventual valuation. "You can have it all" is the lie — chasing the perfect outcome burns women out; success has to be defined on your own terms, not inherited from society. Every yes is a no to something else — Chantell's hard-won lesson on saying no without guilt, and reframing FOMO into focus. Investing in women isn't charity, it's strategy — women drive 80% of household spending decisions, yet remain underinvested in as an asset class. You don't need a fortune to start — $10K–$25K and an investment circle with girlfriends is enough to begin building real wealth. Just jump — Chantell's closing advice for any woman sitting on a big idea: start before it's perfect. Links & Resources Mentioned The Success Lie by Chantell Preston — ChantellPreston.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble Chantell's podcast: Get Real, Get Results LOVB San Francisco (League One Volleyball) If this episode hit home, hit follow so you catch next week's conversation, and a quick rating on Apple Podcasts helps more high-achieving women find this show.

August 11, 2026Episode 1357 min

Don't Take Advice From Broke People: The Financial Diva's No-Nonsense Guide to Success with Victoria Woods

Episode Summary: If you want to lose ten pounds, you don't ask someone who has never successfully managed their health. If you are struggling with your faith, you don't consult an atheist. So why are you taking hot financial tips on the golf course or from well-meaning family members who haven't built wealth? In this sharp, unfiltered solo episode of the High Achieving Female Podcast, Victoria Woods, founder and CEO of ChapelWood Financial Services and the Financial District of Oklahoma, explains why your ears should only be open to proven credibility. Known across the airwaves for over 25 years as "The Financial Diva," Victoria shares her journey from a childhood of humble beginnings—babysitting six kids at age 12 just to afford lunch money—to managing elite wealth for millionaires. Victoria drops her legendary closing signature rule: Don't take advice from broke people—physically, financially, or spiritually. She delivers a direct masterclass on how high-achieving women can guard their minds, audit their advisors, and fast-track their path to becoming aspiring millionaires by demanding true credibility from anyone they allow into their ecosystem. Key Takeaways & Highlights: The Birth of the Financial Diva: The accidental radio interview moment that labeled Victoria for life—and why a high reputation requires showing up with excellence every single day. The Credibility Clock: Why your brain naturally tunes out a speaker or advisor if they don't lead with their track record, past history, and proof of concept. The Three Pillars of "Broke": Unpacking why a lack of success isn't just about a bank account—it applies equally to physical health, emotional energy, and spiritual grounding. Aspiring Millionaires vs. The Brother-in-Law Hack: Why high-achieving leaders must stop letting personal closeness dictate professional and strategic boundaries. Links & Resources Mentioned: Read Victoria's Book: It's All About the Money, Honey (Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble) Discover ChapelWood Financial: chapelwoodfinancial.com (or preferred brand link) Follow the Podcast: @HighAchievingFemale Follow on Instagram & LinkedIn: @theknowwomen For more like this head to www.theknowinsider.com