Wonder Podcast: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs to Change the World

Hosted by EO Virtual Learning

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100

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Wonder, a podcast by Entrepreneurs' Organization (https://www.eonetwork.org/), places women entrepreneurs in conversation with those thought leaders who amaze, astonish and inspire. Each guest shares their own journey with entrepreneur and host, Kalika Yap, giving insight into the ordinary challenges of extraordinary people. Featured guests include: Lisa Sugar of pop culture hub, PopSugar; Toni Ko, founder of NYX Cosmetics; and Devin Alexander, celebrity chef and nutrition expert on The Biggest Loser. Tune into this podcast to marvel at the meaningful insights of entrepreneurs. Learn more about Entrepreneurs' Organization (https://www.eonetwork.org/), the leading peer-to-peer network exclusively for entrepreneurs.

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60 recent

June 11, 202641 min

From Engineer to Entrepreneur to Mayor | Elizabeth Yang

Elizabeth Yang is the founder of Yang Family Law Offices, the CEO of Optimizers, and the mayor of Monterey Park, California. With a background in electrical engineering and computer science, a stint at Raytheon, and a law degree that took her into intellectual property, family law, and estate planning, she understands what it takes to wear many hats at once. In this episode, Elizabeth talks about the two systems, EOS and Profit First, that pulled her out of the day-to-day of her firm and freed her to step into public service. Learn how she went from a shy, self-described invisible kid to a leader with the thick skin that politics demands, and the daily habits that have kept her grounded along the way. Timestamps: 00:39 - Engineer to Lawyer to Mayor 03:41 - EOS and Profit First Systems 07:16 - Applying Business to City Hall 12:56 - From Shy to Resilient 14:38 - Daily Habits and Confidence 19:35 - Transformation Courses and Growth 22:54 - Networking Beats Applications 25:06 - Giving Without Burnout 27:08 - AI Tools and Risks 31:52 - Looking Ahead to 2026 32:37 - Writing Harmony in Partnership 39:07 - Entrepreneur Advice Links: Elizabeth's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/LizYangMPK Yang Law Offices: https://www.instagram.com/YangLawOffices Elizabeth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawyerliz OptiNizers: https://www.optinizers.com/

May 26, 202649 min

Working With Shame, Fear, and Imposter Syndrome | Natalie Bell

Natalie Bell is the founder of Mindful Wellness, a training and coaching platform that helps entrepreneurs build their own source of calm, clarity, and resilience. Natalie teaches mindfulness, meditation, and fierce self-compassion in a way that feels practical in real life, including workshops for EO on fear, shame, and imposter syndrome. In this episode, Natalie talks about the inner critical voices we install in childhood, the difference between healthy and toxic shame, and how courageous compassion gives leaders the guts to fail and try again. Listen in and learn how to meet your hardest moments with strength and lead from a steadier sense of self-worth. Timestamps: 01:10 - The swirl of modern life 03:09 - Defining fierce self compassion 05:23 - Palisades fire lessons 09:18 - Shame and imposter syndrome 14:01 - Spotting shame in the body 20:40 - Healing deep rooted shame 25:18 - How shame gets passed on 25:41 - Trauma and shame cycles 26:04 - Imposter syndrome 34:39 - Journaling for self compassion 43:57 - Emotions are not you 45:48 - Guest house mindset 46:39 - Spotting shame in real time Links: Natalie's Website: https://nataliebell.com/ Natalie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliesbell/

May 12, 202650 min

Freedom Inside Confinement: From Life Sentence to Life Purpose

Quan Huynh transformed a life sentence into a life of purpose. After serving 22 years in prison, he was paroled in 2015 and launched his first company within just six months of his release. Now the Executive Director of Defy Ventures in Southern California, he helms an organization that provides entrepreneurship training and personal development for people impacted by the justice system. Quan discusses the moment he found "freedom from within" while in prison and how he has since helped others find their way home through accountability. Quan is also a bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and Harvard Business School Executive Education graduate. Timestamps: 01:50 - Early Life And Identity 03:28 - Crime And Life Sentence 04:08 - Awakening 05:45 - Healing 07:41 - Parole And Accountability 10:22 - Defy Visit And Freedom 11:44 - Step To The Line 15:36 - Defy Curriculum And Results 19:50 - Memoir 21:41 - Transformation Is Gradual 25:20 - Freedom Inside Confinement 27:11 - Gratitude After Prison 29:16 - Jade Janitors 34:39 - Defy Ventures Explained 37:11 - Harvard Lessons Vulnerable Leadership 43:12 - Headspace Genie for Nonprofits 47:21 - Core Message and What's Next 49:17 - Advice to Younger Self Links: Defy Ventures: https://defyventures.org/ Quan's Website: https://quanxhuynh.com/

April 24, 202651 min

How AI Agents Can Help Your Business with Growth

The AI revolution is here but many leaders are still struggling to see real results. Bones Ijeoma is the founder of AllSafe Intelligence and a tech veteran who has guided over one hundred organizations through digital change. With a career spanning roles at Dreamworks and Accenture along with an MBA from USC he understands exactly what it takes to scale a business effectively. In this episode, Bones talks about why entrepreneurs must move beyond simple tools to build a strategy powered by outcome driven AI agents. You will discover how his mission to make downtime obsolete can help you reclaim your time and maximize your impact. Listen now to learn how to transform your operations and lead with confidence in the age of automation.

April 22, 202655 min

From $500 to Million Dollar Commercials

Erin Tauscher is an executive producer at BODEGA, a content creation studio based in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. After starting her career in the industry right out of college, Erin and her business partner Taylor Ferguson built their own production company, Trio Films, which was later rebranded as Splendid & Co., and eventually merged with BODEGA in 2018 to lead the studio's Los Angeles expansion. In this episode, Erin reflects on the moment that finally pushed her to start her own company, how a master's degree in psychology changed the way she leads on set and in life, and why, in an age of AI and rapid technological change, the future still belongs to the humans who know how to tell a story.

March 30, 202636 min

The Hustle Trap: Learning How to Work Less Can Lead to Success

Ryan Crownholm is an army veteran, serial entrepreneur, and founder of MySitePlan.com and DirtMatch.com. He is also the president and founder of Crown Capital Adventures Inc. When a runaway truck left him with a shattered femur and punctured lungs on a California hillside, he almost lost everything. Watching his business thrive without him from a hospital bed, Ryan discovered the leadership lesson that would change everything: Knowing firsthand how broken the construction industry was, he turned that experience into technology that now serves over 70,000 customers nationwide. Listen in as Ryan shares his incredible journey from living out of his car to building AI-powered companies and why he believes the entrepreneurs who thrive in the next decade will be the ones who learn to work smarter, not just harder. His book, "The Hustle Trap," is a guide for how to do less work while making more. Timestamps: 01:25 The Accident That Changed Everything 03:35 Beginnings in Construction 05:53 Exiting 07:38 MySitePlan 08:19 The Hustle Trap 10:25 Capitalizing On AI 17:30 AI Disruption 22:07 The Human Touch 24:35 Leadership Shift 25:51 Volunteering for Purpose and Mentorship 27:43 Staying Calm 29:45 Freedom Through Travel and Adventure 32:35 Books Beliefs and Entrepreneur Advice 34:31 Work for Yourself Mindset Links: Ryan's Website: https://www.ryancrownholm.com/ The Hustle Trap: https://a.co/d/07LOoCEo

March 5, 202654 min

From US$12 million to US$210 million: How Lifeway Foods CEO Julie Smolyansky Turned Pain Into Purpose

Julie Smolyansky is the CEO of Lifeway Foods, an Illinois-based dairy company that is the leading U.S. supplier of kefir. After her father, Michael Smolyansky, passed away in 2002, Julie took over the company at 27 years old and became the youngest female CEO of a publicly held firm. Julie and her parents immigrated to the U.S. from the Soviet Union in her infancy and credits her upbringing with her success. Under her leadership, Julie transformed the company into a multinational firm, growing their revenue from US$12 million to US$210 million in 2025. She is also an activist against sexual violence and the co-founder of Test400k, a non-profit whose goal is to eliminate the backlog of over 400,000 untested rape kits in the U.S. Timestamps: 01:27 Resilience 02:54 Stepping Up 10:13 Early Growth Moves 12:08 Kefir Story and Science 17:07 Trusting Your Gut 21:42 Values 25:55 Leading Through the Pandemic 28:12 Culture 28:45 Legacy 30:53 Purpose From Pain 31:33 Ending Sexual Violence 35:30 Rape Kit Reform 37:37 Community Giving 39:04 Motherhood and Leadership 41:59 Wellness and Reading 46:36 Finding Joy 50:42 What is Wonder? Links: Julie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-smolyansky-05304612/ Lifeway Foods: https://lifewaykefir.com/

March 2, 202641 min

Emmy Winner to Entrepreneur: Gayle Jones's Journey

Gayle Jones, an Emmy-winning sports producer for two decades, founded FuelBoxx, which offers snack kits for student athletes. After realizing that her own teen athletes depended on junk food for energy, she thought there must be a better way to get them the nutrition they need to perform. FuelBoxx helps bridge the gap between professional and student athletes by providing kits developed by sports dietitians to optimize performance. For every kit sold, another is donated to communities without equitable access to healthy food. Gayle shares her experiences with fundraising, her goals for scaling the business, and her mission to deliver food equity nationwide. Timestamps: 00:52 What is FuelBoxx? 04:10 Leaving TV 06:18 Education and Equity 09:54 Reality Check 11:37 Translating Producer Skills to CEO 13:56 Authenticity And Cash Flow 18:00 CPG Surprises 24:42 Game Day Meals 26:17 Building FuelBoxx 28:40 Boundaries and Purpose 31:27 Food Deserts and Access 32:54 Looking Forward 34:56 Funding Challenges for Women Links: FuelBoxx: https://fuelboxx.com/ Gayle's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaylesjones/

February 2, 202657 min

Culinary Curiosity to Franchise Success | Erin Fletter

Erin Fletter is the founder and CEO of Sticky Fingers Cooking, which offers fun, informative, and healthy cooking classes for children. In this episode, learn how Erin grew her kitchen-table idea into a business that has taught over 200,000 kids. She shares her journey from running cooking classes without kitchens to building and sustaining growth, and how she empowers women with her franchising model. Timestamps: 00:21 Meet Erin Fletter 01:56 Sticky Fingers Cooking 04:52 Cooking Classes Without Kitchens 07:55 Scrappy Beginnings 10:21 Empowering Women Entrepreneurs 11:35 The Franchise Model 15:21 Challenges 25:25 Advice 36:41 Balancing Business and Family 40:46 Passion for Food and Cooking 45:40 Tech-Driven Success at Sticky Fingers Cooking 55:06 Empowering Future Business Leaders Links: Erin's Website: https://www.erinfletter.com/ Sticky Fingers Cooking: https://stickyfingerscooking.com/

January 2, 20261 hr 3 min

A Coach of the Year Has Advice for You | Morgan Wijay

Morgan Wijay is the founder of After the Game, a life coaching program for young athletes and their families. In this episode, Morgan shares insights from her journey in the world of youth sports. She has been a player, a coach, a mentor, a parent, and a business owner. Listen in as she shares how her experiences shape her methods and how she uses that experience to help young athletes become the best version of themselves. Through After the Game, she guides athletes and their families through the trials and tribulations of youth sports and prepares them for life after sports. Timestamps: 02:07 Morgan's Story 09:56 Creating a Positive Team Culture 13:50 Challenges and Adversity 19:43 Preparation and Team Dynamics 22:36 Choosing the Right Coaching Staff 29:16 Managing Parent Expectations 35:08 Personal and Team Performance 37:00 Locking In 40:49 Gratitude and Being Present 46:06 After the Game 54:10 Balancing Parental Guidance and Athletic Goals 01:03:42 Sports in Personal Development Links: After the Game: https://www.aftrthegame.com/