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 Maddie challenges the outdated narrative that success requires burnout and sacrifice, instead advocating for a model where women prioritize health as the foundation for growth, freedom, and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

From Hollywood producer to venture capital advocate — Catherine Gray is on a mission to close the funding gap for women and ignite a global movement through film, books, and bold action.

Catherine Gray CEO of She Angel Investors, Executive Producer of the movie, Show Her The Money as well as Host of the Podcast Invest In Her, shares how she’s turning the tide on a staggering statistic: women receive just 2% of venture capital funding. In this insightful episode, she reveals how her award-winning film Show Her the Money is educating women on the power of venture capital, shifting mindsets about wealth, and inspiring women to invest in each other.

From producing movies to launching the She Angels Foundation, Catherine has spent her career spotlighting women founders and connecting them to the resources they need to scale. She discusses why finding “your people” is critical in fundraising, the overlooked opportunities in underserved communities, and the massive wealth transfer heading into women’s hands. Her approach blends storytelling with actionable strategies, proving that doing good and making a profit are not mutually exclusive.

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a future investor, or simply curious about how money can be a tool for change, Catherine’s story will challenge your thinking and inspire you to take action.

Ready to learn how investing in women can change the world? Tune in to hear Catherine Gray’s bold vision for funding the future.

Chapters
📊 02:55 Show Her the Money: The "moviement" helping to make venture capital more accessible and exciting for women
💡 11:40 Finding the right investors who see your vision instead of convincing the wrong ones
💖 15:01 Nonprofit investing is important, but investing in for-profit women and making good money from it is also a way to do great things for the world
📚 17:36 Go learn about investing! Starting small with angel investing and learn by doing
💵 20:58 IRA or other pension funds are an underutilized way to start making alternative investments
🎓 24:25 Inspiring young women to consider venture capital as a career path
🤝 27:17 Why underserved communities must be at the decision-making table as investors
♻️ 29:48 The cycle of getting investments and investing back in your own people
🎬 31:50 Building a movement with live and virtual screenings to spark action
📖 35:32 Launching the Show Her the Money book and combining screenings with book events

Links

Website: https://showherthemoneymovie.com
Instagram: instagram.com/showherthemoney
Facebook: facebook.com/ShowHerTheMoney
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/catherinelgray
Email address: catherine@sheangelinvestors.com
Check out Catherine Gray’s website and follow her on social media to learn more about investing in women and joining the Show Her the Money movement.

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 D1 athlete to global entrepreneur — Rebekah Jenkins shares her journey to becoming a Web3 CEO, scaling with video and AI, and helping women hit $10K months and beyond.

Discover how Rebekah Jenkins, a former D1 tennis player and award-winning coach, boldly pivoted into the blockchain industry to become the CEO of Beks Media. This fascinating episode reveals how she leveraged her psychology background and competitive spirit to navigate the male-dominated tech world and build a successful media marketing agency.

Rebekah shares her journey from receiving a prestigious national tennis award to recognizing her true calling in business. Her story includes a pivotal moment at a Las Vegas investment conference that led to unexpected opportunities in Europe's blockchain scene. Despite experiencing some initial technical knowledge gaps, she went on to a successful exit. Rebekah, never one to sit on her success, decided to pursue her MBA at the prestigious Rice University to strengthen her business acumen.

Today, Rebekah is spearheading an innovative project in Berlin focused on affordable housing through tokenization and data centers, with speaking, writing a book, and living part time in the US & part time in Europe. Her experience underscores the power of embracing change, continuous learning, and trusting one's intuition to guide the path forward.

Ready to be inspired by this remarkable story of transformation and entrepreneurial courage? Tune in to hear how Rebekah Jenkins turned challenges into stepping stones for success!

Chapters

🎾 02:50 Rebekah’s journey from D1 tennis and national coaching awards to building businesses that change the world
🌍 05:18 A bold leap: Selling everything, moving to Europe, and jumping into blockchain with a German partner
💼 07:05 Becoming a Blockchain CEO: Co-founding a Swiss company after an initial failure and raising millions
🚧 10:33 Having incredible success in a male-dominated industry as a young woman
🎓 15:22 Pursuing a top-ranked online MBA while living globally
🧘‍♀️ 21:34 Minimalism & clarity: Cultivating intuition, identity, and laser focus through simplicity
👤 24:20 Know thyself: navigating identity issues
🚀 33:03 Building a following, teaching content automation and why you must be creating short-form video!
💖 34:45 Using business and money to serve others, not just profit

Links

Website: https://www.beksmedia.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebekah-jenkins-mba-0739b051/
Check out Beks Media and Rebekah’s LinkedIn to learn more.

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

What happens when two cousins with a deep love for music, a sharp eye for branding, and a rebellious spirit decide to take on one of the most male-dominated industries in the world? You get Lodestar Whiskey — a bold, boundary-breaking brand co-founded by Anna Axster and Wendelin von Schroder, recently named two of Forbes' “10 Women Changing the Whiskey Industry.”

In this episode of The She Leads Podcast, host Adrienne Garland sits down with Anna and Wendelin to talk about how they transitioned from the film and music industry into spirits, why whiskey became their unexpected calling, and how they’re flipping the script on who whiskey is really for. From late-night artist management and cross-country tours to building flavor profiles and breaking into distribution, their journey is as rich and layered as the whiskey they’ve created.

You’ll hear how these powerhouse founders took a hobby born of travel and taste, turned it into a thriving business during the pandemic, and navigated every twist of regulation and red tape with tenacity and vision. They also dive deep into the intentional branding and community-building behind Lodestar, from creating a product that’s inclusive, contemporary, and “unstuffy,” crafted for both seasoned whiskey lovers and the whiskey-curious.

Whether you’re a spirits enthusiast, a budding entrepreneur, or just love a good founder story, this episode is packed with insight, grit, and inspiration. Pour yourself a glass and settle in because this is a masterclass in turning passion into purpose.

Chapters

🥂 01:06 Meet Anna & Wendelin! Cousins, co-founders, and women changing the whiskey industry.

🥃 04:19 When ordering whiskey exposed a cultural gap

🚨 05:36 Turning a music career that was halted by the pandemic into a new business

💡 06:30 How working together and an entrepreneurial spirit made co-founding easier

🔥 11:22 Crafting a whiskey flavor profile that’s delicious, inclusive, and unexpected

📦 16:19 From accelerator funding to getting the product on shelves

📣 19:05 The importance of clear branding and storytelling

📈 21:42 Distribution and the strategic expansion in the hospitality industry

🍸 23:43 Welcoming whiskey-curious women without excluding anyone

🌈 26:52 Intentionally avoiding gendered branding

☀️ 29:58 Reimagining how whiskey is served with contemporary cocktails and refreshing summer spritzes

🎢 34:35 The rollercoaster of starting a business with consumer feedback, licensing and fundraising

🚀 38:54 Find Lodestar Whiskey: Available in LA, and shipping to most US states via lodestarwhiskey.com

Links

Website: https://www.lodestarwhiskey.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lodestarwhiskey/
Connect with Anna & Wendelin, and order their whiskey!

hello@sheleadsmedia.com

Website: www.sheleadsmedia.com

The upcoming She Leads LIVE 2025 conference in NYC will take place 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

Welcome to the reimagined She Leads Podcast! We’re back—refreshed, refocused, and more committed than ever to spotlighting the women who are not only building thriving businesses but also redefining what success looks like in today’s world.

After a meaningful pause following our She Leads LIVE Los Angeles conference, we took time to reflect on how we could better serve our community. The result? A bold new direction that centers the stories of women founders who have crossed the $1M revenue milestone—and are continuing to lead with impact, innovation, and vision.

In this kickoff episode, we’ll talk about why we paused, what’s changing, and what you can expect moving forward. Our goal is to elevate conversations around leadership, power, wealth, and the systems women are building to replace outdated ones. If you’re a woman entrepreneur—or someone who believes in the power of women to shape the future—you’re in the right place.

Chapters
⏸️ 01:16 Why we took a break – She Leads Media is evolving
🎯 02:17 Our goals: To teach, inspire, and spotlight the success of women entrepreneurs
💰 03:26 We’re aligning our focus with the growing power and influence of women
🔮 04:03 Shifting from early-stage startup stories to long-term impact and legacy
💡 06:13 Breaking old patterns and highlighting successful women building thriving, future-focused businesses
🧠 07:51 Diving deeper into conversations on business, leadership, wealth, power, and influence
🌱 09:40 We need to showcase new, inclusive models of success
🚀 11:45 What’s ahead in future episodes

Links
hello@sheleadsmedia.com
Website: www.sheleadsmedia.com
The upcoming She Leads LIVE 2025 conference in NYC will take place 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

Come out to She Leads LIVE LOS ANGELES
2 for 1 tickets here:
https://SheLeadsLA2025.eventbrite.com

She Leads LIVE LOS ANGELES is dedicated to women entrepreneurs like us that’s focused on stimulating important conversation and spurring decisive action so that we can achieve new heights in our businesses and our lives.

She Leads LIVE LOS ANGELES Conference Details:

📅 Date: Apr 25, 2025

🕒 Time: 9AM - 5:30PM (doors open at 8:30AM)

📍 Location: 612 S Broadway, Los Angeles (Downtown LA)

She Leads LIVE VIP Evening:

📅 Date: Apr 24, 2025

🕒 Time: 5:30PM - 8:30PM

📍 Location: 612 S Broadway, Los Angeles (Downtown LA)

She Leads LIVE LOS ANGELES is not your typical conference – it's an immersive experience packed with thought leaders, experts, futurists, women who think differently and who take inspired action to move toward a future that is more humane and considers the collective good rather than upholding systems and frameworks that are outdated and harmful.

What to Expect:

🎤 20+ Expert Speakers: Along with me, there will be other industry leaders and visionaries, each committed to helping women entrepreneurs succeed and stimulating conversation and our innate creativity so we can move forward together.

🎙️ Interactive Panels: Covering a wide range of topics such as the art of Pitching the Media, money mindset, selling with heart, how to forge our path forward in the future, the all in mindset, mental and physical health, podcasting, speaking, content creation, and so much more!!!

🍽️ Gourmet Food: Enjoy delicious food and snacks throughout the day – a unique feature that sets us apart from other conferences.

🤝 Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded women from all over, build truly valuable relationships, and explore collaboration opportunities.

🛍️ Vendor Showcase: Explore a dynamic showcase featuring products and services that can benefit your business.

🏢 Stunning Venue: Our conference is hosted in a fully renovated rooftop venue with breathtaking and expansive views.

Learn more about these speakers - and all the speakers -at She Leads LIVE LA at https://www.sheleadsmedia.com/she-leads-live-la