At just 24, Maddie Pollack faced a life-changing Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis—and transformed her healing journey into a mission to empower women through holistic health and entrepreneurship.

In this episode of She Leads, Maddie shares how her battle with cancer became the wake-up call that shifted her from an unhealthy lifestyle to becoming an integrative nutrition health coach. Now, she helps women reconnect with their bodies through a balanced approach that weaves together nutrition, mindful movement, and self-care. Her story is not only one of survival, but of reclaiming purpose and aligning wellness with leadership.

Maddie dives into the personal health challenges that can arise in the wake of illness, from hormonal imbalances to stress-related symptoms. Maddie candidly reflects on her own experience with recovery and the lifestyle changes that helped her restore balance, including shifting from high-intensity workouts to strength training and yoga, and prioritizing protein-rich meals to stabilize energy and hormones. The conversation expands to highlight the overlooked realities of women’s health, from PCOS and irregular cycles to the ways traditional studies have ignored female physiology.

Listeners will gain practical insights into building sustainable wellness habits: nourishing the body with balanced meals, syncing workouts with menstrual cycles, managing cortisol through mindful movement, and embracing daily rituals like journaling, gratitude, and deep breathing to calm the nervous system. Maddie emphasizes that health is not about rigid routines, but about tuning into the body’s signals and making adjustments that support long-term vitality.

At its core, this episode reframes leadership and entrepreneurship through the lens of well-being. Maddie challenges the outdated narrative that success requires burnout and sacrifice, instead advocating for a model where women prioritize health as the foundation for growth, freedom, and fulfillment. Her reflections serve as a powerful reminder that honoring your body is not just a personal practice—it’s a leadership strategy.

Tune in to hear Maddie’s inspiring story and learn how to cultivate balance, resilience, and true alignment in both business and life.

Chapters
👩 00:56 Meet Maddie Pollock A Journey of Resilience
💧 03:22 Diving into Wellness Maddie's Transformation
⚖️ 06:26 Understanding Hormonal Health
🌿 12:18 Practical Tips for Hormonal Balance
🏋️‍♀️ 22:03 Navigating Menopause with Strength Training Tips
📈 23:36 Balancing Work and Exercise for Entrepreneurs
🧘 26:30 The Importance of Mindfulness
😌 29:50 Managing Stress and Cortisol Levels
👩‍💼 33:07 Leadership and Self-Care for Women Entrepreneurs

Links
Website: maddypollackhealth.com
Social Media: @maddypollack_health
Email address: maddy@maddypollackhealth.com
Check out Maddy Pollack’s website, connect with her on Instagram, and explore her coaching resources to start living in sync with your body today.

Reach out to Adrienne: hello@sheleadsmedia.com

Visit our website: www.sheleadsmedia.com

Join us at the upcoming She Leads LIVE 2025 conference in NYC on November 6th & 7th. Learn more at sheleadsmedia.com

"I love ♥️ listening to The She Leads™ Podcast!” If that thought crossed your mind at any time while listening to our special show, I’d love it if you would take a moment and give our podcast some love too. To do so, simply Rate, Review & Follow Us on Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Taking this simple action helps my team and I to spread the word about all the incredible guests featured on The She Leads Podcast and contributes overall to helping women leaders and entrepreneurs everywhere! 🗺 Also, if you haven’t done so already, please +follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thank you so much!!

— Adrienne

From psychologist to business strategist — Gail Golden shares her journey of curating life and leadership, helping overwhelmed leaders focus on what truly matters while scaling businesses with clarity and purpose.

In this episode of the She Leads podcast, host Adrienne welcomes Gail Golden, a seasoned coach, psychologist, and author of Curating Your Life. Drawing from her experience supporting executives and entrepreneurs, Gail introduces her framework for designing life as a personal exhibit — prioritizing what’s essential, discarding distractions, and embracing “good enough” in areas outside one’s true passions.

Gail reflects on her leap into entrepreneurship during the 2009 financial crisis, sharing lessons on adaptability, competitive positioning, and evolving strategies from startup survival to million-dollar growth. She underscores the importance of delegation, reminding leaders to focus only on what only they can do — whether in business or in personal roles like parenting and caregiving.

The conversation also explores the hidden costs of over-responsiveness, the mental barriers that hold leaders back, and the dangers of comparing private struggles to others’ public appearances. Gail highlights the power of self-awareness, managing inner critics, and working with a coach who blends business expertise with psychological insight.

With warmth and wisdom, Gail invites listeners to re-curate their lives as priorities shift, embrace meaningful relationships, and find strength in conscious choices. Hopefully, her insights will leave you inspired to design the next chapter of your life with intention and courage.

Ready to rethink how you’re curating your own life and leadership? Tune in to be inspired by Gail Golden’s story and practical framework for success!

Chapters
👩‍💼 00:59 Meet Gail Golden: Strategic Coach and Author

🧩 03:08 Curating Your Life Framework

🚀 10:42 Transitioning from Corporate to Entrepreneurship

📈 15:06 Scaling Your Business to the Next Level

📝 22:30 The Importance of Delegation

🔎 23:34 Assessing and Curating Your Life

⚡ 24:58 The Impact of Immediate Responsiveness

🧠 30:36 Understanding and Overcoming Mental Barriers

🎯 34:42 The Role of Coaching in Personal and Professional Growth

Links
Website: http://www.gailgoldenconsulting.com/
Social Media: @goldencoach
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gailgolden
Email address: ggolden@gailgoldenconsulting.com
Check out Gail Golden’s website, explore her book Curating Your Life, and connect with her for resources and coaching to start designing a life and business that truly matter.

Reach out to Adrienne: hello@sheleadsmedia.com

Visit our website: www.sheleadsmedia.com

Join us at the upcoming She Leads LIVE 2025 conference in NYC on November 6th & 7th. Learn more at sheleadsmedia.com

"I love ♥️ listening to The She Leads™ Podcast!” If that thought crossed your mind at any time while listening to our special show, I’d love it if you would take a moment and give our podcast some love too. To do so, simply Rate, Review & Follow Us on Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Taking this simple action helps my team and I to spread the word about all the incredible guests featured on The She Leads Podcast and contributes overall to helping women leaders and entrepreneurs everywhere! 🗺 Also, if you haven’t done so already, please +follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thank you so much!!

— Adrienne

From superfoods to nationwide success — Tara Gilad shares her journey through building Vitality Bowls, balancing motherhood, and empowering women entrepreneurs through franchising.

Discover how Tara transformed a personal mission to create allergy-friendly dining for her daughter into a booming health and wellness franchise with over 120 locations. Starting from her roots in Northern California, she navigated the male-dominated restaurant industry with resilience, confidence, and a purpose-driven vision.

Tara opens up about the challenges of scaling a franchise while raising a family, the importance of surrounding yourself with the right team, and why passion and personality matter most in successful franchising. She also highlights the value of transparency, trust, and strong support systems in ensuring franchisee success.

Today, Tara continues to champion women in business, writing children’s books, prioritizing self-care, and offering aspiring entrepreneurs opportunities to grow with Vitality Bowls. She even shares a special offer for listeners interested in franchising.

Ready to hear how purpose, perseverance, and passion fueled one woman’s path from a single smoothie bowl café to a thriving nationwide brand? Tune in to be inspired by Tara Gilad’s remarkable story!

Chapters
💪 04:42 Building confidence through early businesses in Silicon Valley without fear
🚺 05:20 Breaking barriers as a female founder in the male-dominated restaurant and franchise industry
🌱 08:19 Balancing motherhood, entrepreneurship, and purpose-driven growth while staying adaptable
🤝 10:52 Entering franchising by networking, seeking mentors, and learning quickly
👩‍🍳 13:05 Leading with trust and clarity while supporting franchisees nationwide through data-driven decisions
🔥 15:13 Defining a great franchisee through passion and personality above all else
📚 21:45 Overcoming burnout, writing children’s books, pursuing personal passions, and creating space for joy
💲 25:50 A special Vitality Bowls franchisee discount code for listeners!

Links

Website: vitalitybowls.com
Social Media: @vitalitybowls
Email: thea@vitalitybowls.com
Check out Tara's website, or look her up on social media to learn more about the Vitality Bowls franchise!

Reach out to Adrienne: hello@sheleadsmedia.com

Visit our website: www.sheleadsmedia.com

Join us at the upcoming She Leads LIVE 2025 conference in NYC on November 6th & 7th. Learn more at sheleadsmedia.com

"I love ♥️ listening to The She Leads™ Podcast!” If that thought crossed your mind at any time while listening to our special show, I’d love it if you would take a moment and give our podcast some love too. To do so, simply Rate, Review & Follow Us on Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Taking this simple action helps my team and I to spread the word about all the incredible guests featured on The She Leads Podcast and contributes overall to helping women leaders and entrepreneurs everywhere! 🗺 Also, if you haven’t done so already, please +follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thank you so much!!

— Adrienne