For five years, I have been hosting the podcast Inspiring Women with Betty Collins. In this episode, I sit down with my podcast team, Betty Clark of CPMedia and Brett Johnson of Circle270Media, to discuss the importance of having a purpose and meaningful topics for a successful podcast.
Planning out each year’s podcast schedule is crucial for success, including choosing topics and themes, batch recording, and making it fun for both the host and listener. Interviewing guests can also be a valuable way to provide different perspectives and keep the content fresh.
Through our discussion, we provide valuable insights into the world of podcasting and what it takes to create a successful show. From having a purpose and meaningful topics to promoting the podcast through social media and having a team around you, these tips can help any aspiring podcaster achieve success.
Hosted by Betty Collins, CPA, and Director at Brady Ware and Company. Betty also serves as the Committee Chair for Empowering Women, and Director of the Brady Ware Women Initiative. Each episode is presented by Brady Ware and Company, committed to empowering women to go their distance in the workplace and at home.
I interview Sandy Doyle-Ahern, a pioneer for women in the male-dominated industry of construction and housing. From facing sexist comments to becoming the first female shareholder in her company, Sandy Doyle-Ahern shares her experiences and insights on leadership, risk-taking, and advocating for affordable housing in Central Ohio.
Through her inspiring message, women are encouraged to take small steps toward success and to make a positive impact in their communities. Listeners will be inspired to take risks, find ways to be impactful for others and strive for success in their careers while making a positive impact in their communities. This podcast is a must-listen for anyone looking for inspiration and practical advice on achieving career goals and creating change.
Hosted by Betty Collins, CPA, and Director at Brady Ware and Company. Betty also serves as the Committee Chair for Empowering Women, and Director of the Brady Ware Women Initiative. Each episode is presented by Brady Ware and Company, committed to empowering women to go their distance in the workplace and at home.
Suzanne Kianpour is a journalist who has covered war zones and international events for the BBC. Fluent in multiple languages, she has made it a priority to highlight the stories of women in conflict zones. Her most recent project looks at the hidden power and politics of women in the Middle East. Kianpour believes that women in the region are often underestimated and that there are lessons to be learned from them.
In this episode, Kianpour discusses her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated field. She recounts a time when a senior female correspondent got in her way, preventing her from getting a job that would have put her on the Secretary of State’s plane. But Kianpour is determined to be a woman who supports other women, not one who blocks their progress. “Somebody has to take a chance on you,” she says.
Kianpour also talks about the importance of journalism and the responsibility of journalists to hold those in power accountable. She recognizes the seductive nature of those in power and the importance of maintaining objectivity, impartiality, and integrity.
Kianpour’s work in elevating women’s voices throughout the Middle East through the Center for New American Security’s Middle East security program highlights the importance of representation and storytelling in bringing about change. She emphasizes the need for more women in positions of real power.
As Kianpour continues her work, it is clear that she is a woman who believes in the power of journalism and the importance of supporting other women. Her dedication to highlighting the stories of women in conflict zones and her commitment to holding those in power accountable make her an inspiring figure in the world of journalism.
Hosted by Betty Collins, CPA, and Director at Brady Ware and Company. Betty also serves as the Committee Chair for Empowering Women, and Director of the Brady Ware Women Initiative. Each episode is presented by Brady Ware and Company, committed to empowering women to go their distance in the workplace and at home.
Kathy Eshelman, a natural problem solver, collaborator, decision maker, enthusiastic team player, and an exceptional communicator with an entrepreneurial spirit, is my guest on this episode. During the podcast, Eshelman shares her experience in founding Grade A Notes, a note-taking service for students, at the age of 25, with $30,000 in investments from friends and family.
The business eventually expanded to six different locations across the country and sold custom course packs to over 100 universities. Eshelman’s entrepreneurial spirit led her to be appointed by the White House to the WSBA’s National Women’s Business Council and to serve as the PTO president of Junior Achievement. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Texas in Austin and was the president of the Longhorn marching band for two years.
Eshelman represented the Women Presidents organization on the National Women’s Business Council, which aimed to provide information and support to women business owners. She ran for state representative in Ohio, receiving support from her Women Presidents organization and political friends, but ultimately lost by a few votes due to political maneuvering. However, Kathy encourages women to run for office and get involved in politics, as it can have a significant impact locally and nationally.
Kathy reveals her struggles with finding the courage to pursue her business dreams. She plans to relaunch her jewelry business and make it a real ongoing business.
Hosted by Betty Collins, CPA, and Director at Brady Ware and Company. Betty also serves as the Committee Chair for Empowering Women, and Director of the Brady Ware Women Initiative. Each episode is presented by Brady Ware and Company, committed to empowering women to go their distance in the workplace and at home.
Teresa Harlow, the author of the Amazon best-selling book, Combative to Collaborative: The Co-Parenting Code, gives inspiring advice and strategies on how to transform combative relationships into collaborative ones.
Drawing from her 30 years of experience in the entrepreneurial and corporate world, Teresa shares her three C’s of collaboration – civility, communication, and caring – and discusses how to overcome the challenges of negative social media communication and nurture a respectful, collaborative relationship with others. We explore the power of collaboration and how it can open up new possibilities in our relationships.
Get ready to take away powerful advice to help transform your relationships and communication!
Hosted by Betty Collins, CPA, and Director at Brady Ware and Company. Betty also serves as the Committee Chair for Empowering Women, and Director of the Brady Ware Women Initiative. Each episode is presented by Brady Ware and Company, committed to empowering women to go their distance in the workplace and at home.
Author Andrea Flack-Wetherald, author of “The Funny Thing About Forgiveness,” returns for the second part of this conversation. We discuss the importance of staying present to avoid shame and relapse when trying to change behavior. Andrea also emphasizes the concept of “listening hygiene” and the need to prioritize self-care.
Andrea’s online community, Mindful Improv Community, and her new YouTube series, “Bad Advice for Cool People,” promotes mindful thinking to make the world a braver, kinder place. Trust the process, prioritize self-care, and maintain a sense of humor along the way.
With humor and empathy, the episode reminds listeners to prioritize self-care and give and receive everything as a gift.
Hosted by Betty Collins, CPA, and Director at Brady Ware and Company. Betty also serves as the Committee Chair for Empowering Women, and Director of the Brady Ware Women Initiative. Each episode is presented by Brady Ware and Company, committed to empowering women to go their distance in the workplace and at home.
Andrea Flack-Wetherald shares her insights on forgiveness and the importance of improv in everyday life. According to Andrea, forgiveness is often overlooked as a soft skill, but it is crucial for personal and professional growth. She explores intentional growth from pain rather than absolution, analyzing what causes pain and asking empowering questions rather than perpetuating a story of resentment and shame.
Flack-Wetherald also shares the core five principles of mindful, improv thinking: choosing curiosity instead of judgment, honoring your scene partner, staying in the present moment, listening beyond your comfort zone, and receiving everything as a gift. These principles can be applied to personal and professional relationships to improve communication and understanding.
Andreas’s message of forgiveness and improv thinking is timely and relevant in a world where fear and uncertainty seem to be increasing. By choosing curiosity, staying present, and listening beyond our comfort zones, we can improve our communication and understanding with others, and grow both personally and professionally. As Andrea states, “We are just as much a part of the world we aim to make better as anybody else is.”
Hosted by Betty Collins, CPA, and Director at Brady Ware and Company. Betty also serves as the Committee Chair for Empowering Women, and Director of the Brady Ware Women Initiative. Each episode is presented by Brady Ware and Company, committed to empowering women to go their distance in the workplace and at home.
The “nevers” became my opportunities once I chose to consider them.
Why do we say “never” first?
Youth and inexperience
Lack of confidence
Easy is easier
No guidance
Fear is paralyzing
My “nevers” included:
Never – going to use my accounting degree
Never – going to be a CPA
Never – going to be the employer, content with being an employee
Never – going to merge
My “never” became “Maybe, OK, Probably” and finally “Yes” due to influencers and facing my challenges.
What are your challenges?
Do you value who you are – no one will ever value you as much as YOU
Are you leveraging your uniqueness?
Are you paralyzed by fear?
When and how you do say NO – that is not a never!
“Nevers” just may be your opportunities. Be more aware of the people in your life. Ask more questions versus acceptance. No one will value you more than you. Paralyzed by fear, you will miss your moment. Leverage your uniqueness, it is your journey.
Hosted by Betty Collins, CPA, and Director at Brady Ware and Company. Betty also serves as the Committee Chair for Empowering Women, and Director of the Brady Ware Women Initiative. Each episode is presented by Brady Ware and Company, committed to empowering women to go their distance in the workplace and at home.
We’re in a new year again, and we just need it to be easier, right?
Many business owners have felt that they can’t move forward because they’re paralyzed. When you’re paralyzed, it means you can’t move. But if you’re a business owner or in business, you aren’t meant to be still, you aren’t meant to be not able to move. So you live in that fear.
But we can’t do that. We have to get to what’s driving the fear.
I’ve put it into a few categories in this episode. I’m sure that there are other things that you could add to it, but you really need to address these things.
This is THE podcast that advances women toward economic, social, and political achievement. Hosted by Betty Collins, CPA, and Director at Brady Ware and Company. Betty also serves as the Committee Chair for Empowering Women, and Director of the Brady Ware Women Initiative. Each episode is presented by Brady Ware and Company, committed to empowering women to go their distance in the workplace and at home.
So many people think success is they’ve made it to the C-suite.
The C-suite is not the only success that is out there in your career in business, so I want to talk about that in this episode.
What might be a better definition of success? How about this (not mine, but well worth sharing) – “Put your heart, your mind, your intellect, and your soul, even into every small act.”
That is a secret of success. Anything that you do in life, give it 110 percent.
My idea of success has changed a lot over 55+ years. Success depends upon the season you’re in. Your 20’s are different than your 30’s, and different than your 40’s, and different than your 50’s. Every season has been different for me (and will be for you), so success looked different in every season (and will be for you).
I enjoyed my career more, I think, because I wasn’t always shooting for being number one.
Being number one is not for the weak. It’s a tough place to be. I still had success because I had a different impact, and influence, and most importantly, I enjoyed and seized the moments in my life outside of the corporate four walls.
USC is where he attended. He talks about his success, of course, with all humor involved. He talks more about his 16-year marriage, his boys, his charity. He talks very passionately about the USC family, but he really talks about his journey getting there.
He doesn’t start out by saying, “I was on Saturday Night Live.” He doesn’t talk about, “I’ve made all these movies.” He’s just happy with other things besides being the number one, and all the different things that come along with that.
We can’t all be in the C-suite.
Many of us, first of all, are not meant to be there; we’re not leaders. The good news is you can enjoy success outside of the C-suite.
By the way, top leaders need followers. We can learn from them, and probably we have similar characteristics.
How do we learn from those in the C-suite?
Ask yourself “What does a C-suite person do? What is their success?”
They prioritize. Because when you are number one, you cannot do everything. We can do that (prioritize) in any situation. They get to the point. They drill it down. They make a decision. They go forward. They probably ask a lot more questions. They get a lot of good advice from all around them.
Decisions have impact, so those in the C-suite have to make good ones, because there’s a lot of people relying on them. Trust is at the core of everything with a successful C-suite person. If you don’t have that team and support, you can’t do it.
We all have different career goals to achieve success. There’s nothing right or wrong, and success is measured differently by all of us.
Unfortunately, we tend to obsess over our goals and our career. Most of us do. All the career goals and the success you have, whether you’re in the C-suite, or you’re just going to occur in your own world. All of those goals are valid. So, no matter where you are, focus on yours, and stick to yours, and not to others.
Here are some definitions of success that you should not ignore.
Success is always doing your best.
Success is learning that you sometimes have to say no and really being careful when you say yes.
Success is learning.
Success is understanding you cannot keep what you don’t give away.
Success is overcoming fear.
Success is being loved and loving back.
Success is standing your ground when you believe in something.
Success is not giving up.
Success is never letting a disability hold you back and understand that you control your destiny.
Success goes way beyond the C-suite.
Ultimately, you define success, and you enjoy it. Have a good journey, and don’t be consumed in the destination, especially to the C-suite.
This is THE podcast that advances women toward economic, social and political achievement. Hosted by Betty Collins, CPA, and Director at Brady Ware and Company. Betty also serves as the Committee Chair for Empowering Women, and Director of the Brady Ware Women Initiative. Each episode is presented by Brady Ware and Company, committed to empowering women to go their distance in the workplace and at home.