We Are Women

Melissa Shannon Kelly joins Nechami Tenenbaum on this week’s episode. Melissa shared how she got started in her career, how she created her bestselling extension line, and how she manages to be an entrepreneur, hair stylist, and single mom. She talks about how to prioritize time as a business owner, hiring and retaining employees, challenges she faced growing her business, some of the secrets to her success as a business owner, and what you can learn from her as a leader. Melissa also shares her outlook on trends and how she responds to clients who ask for styles that may not flatter them well, how to take care of your hair in different seasons, and more!

Annabelle DeGrazio, lawyer turned entrepreneur joins me in this episode. She shares how and why she pivoted from working as a lawyer to starting her own successful business, Taja Collection. Annabelle talks about some tough times she experienced in her personal life while building her business, including having two miscarriages in a row. She talks about taking care of herself and getting back up during challenging times, shares advice for new business owners, and what she would advise women who want to start their own businesses but don’t feel confident enough to do so. Annabelle offers a behind-the-scenes real-life outlook on work-life balance, how she manages anxiety and stress as a Type A personality daily- especially as a business owner, and more.

Lauren Larkin, licensed NYC therapist and content creator, joins Nechami in this episode. Lauren shares how her childhood personality and way of connecting to others transferred over to her adult life and career as a therapist. She shares her own struggles with an eating disorder and career pivot and how your career trajectory doesn’t have to be linear, contrary to what we’re taught. Lauren discusses how she determines how much personal information she shares with her clients and her overall boundaries as a therapist. She breaks down the difference between empathy and sympathy and shares advice on cultivating more empathy and feeling more heard in relationships. She also talks about cultivating adult friendships and the importance of approaching networking with open intentions. Lauren also shares signs on what to look out for in regards to noticing and becoming aware of eating disorders, how to help loved ones who are struggling with eating disorders, and more!

This episode features fashion designer and stylist Talya Bendel, whose work has been seen on Netflix, Daily Beast, Warner Brothers, and more. During this episode, Talya shares her journey and how she pivoted from wanting to be in the spotlight as a singer to following a different dream to become a successful fashion designer. Talya delves into the topics of passions and pivoting in life and shares some great advice for working moms who have both career and family goals. She talks about how not every successful marriage has to be traditional and how having a plan and creating the space in your life for your goals is extremely important. Talya also shares her past struggles with alcohol addiction and how she moved through it, and we also talk about recreational drugs and using them wisely. Talya also shares some challenges she faces working in the secular world as a religious Jewish woman and the importance of sticking to your values no matter what they are. I can’t wait for you to hear this episode packed with actionable goals to help you succeed in life, no matter where you are now. 

Michal Oshman joins me in this episode. Michal is a TedX Public Speaker, Bestselling Author of “What Would You Do if You Weren’t Afraid,” has worked as an executive for household name brands like Facebook and TikTok and has trained hundreds of leaders in tech. Michal shares her journey and talks about how fear was one of the most fundamental parts of her life growing up. She shares how she worked on overcoming fear and anxiety and talks about the importance of finding your purpose to make a difference in the world. Michal discusses creating space for others and how we bring our history to the table in our interactions and conflicts. Michal shares advice for navigating conflict in the workplace, how to work with our ego and how it impacts us, her perspective on work-life integration, specifically as women, and more!

This episode features Christy Cashman, an author, actress and producer and the founder of YouthINK, a not-for-profit that provides a platform for youth arts in Ireland and the US. 

Christy shares when her passion for horses began, how she made the decision to claim the "horse real estate" in her family, and what it was like as the youngest girl with nine siblings. 

Christy shares lessons she learned from not reaching her goals at the beginning of her career that prepared her for life. She also discusses her bestselling debut book, "The Truth About Horses" and the themes and real-life inspirations behind it, how not to let self-doubt get in the way, ideas for chasing your dreams even when they seem daunting, how she lost her mother when she was only 17 years old and why she feels closer to her mother now as an adult, how not to let your age or stage get in the way of achieving your dreams, and more! 

Ayelet Polonsky, Inspirational Speaker, Life Coach, Therapist, and creator of The Think Big Podcast, joins me in this episode. Ayelet shares her journey, how she lived in India for six years, immersed in Hinduism with a spiritual guru, and ended up where she is now, connected to her roots of Judaism. Ayelet talks about the life-changing moment she realized she had to change her life and her first powerful manifestation experience. Ayelet discusses how we’re co-creators with God and breaks down the four-step process to help you manifest your desires. 

Dr. Robyn Koslowitz , Post Traumatic Parenting Psychologist, shares the traumatic event that influenced her field of choice as a Psychologist focusing on Post-Traumatic Parenting. Dr. Robyn breaks down the definition of PTSD and trauma and shares how PTSD affected her and why it took so long for her to realize that she had experienced PTSD. Dr. Robyn shares how you can parent your inner child and come to a place of healing, how your child can have PTSD without it being obvious, and how to make sure that even if your child doesn't exhibit signs of PTSD or seem visibly affected by an event, how you can know and be aware of what's going on with your child. She also shares how to tell if your inner child is in the driver's seat when you make decisions and so much more. I also share part of a personal story I rarely talk about publicly, but I felt it was the right moment to share it during this episode. My inner child felt seen during this episode and resonated with Dr. Robyn's words.

This episode features Danielle Jacobs, a talented comedian, actress, singer, and dancer. Danielle shares her honest and raw story of where she comes from, her childhood, and the difficult life experiences that formed who she is today. Very often, we look at people who are more public and assume that we know about their makeup and background because of how they seem- if you look at Danielle, you might assume that she has a perfect life; she's talented, beautiful, and funny. When you hear this episode, you'll hear how much she's been through, including some of the challenges she's had to overcome, including her parent's divorce and then remarrying each other, being forced to hold back from fully expressing herself, rediscovering herself as an adult with a young family and more. You'll be inspired and relate to different things she's been through in your own way, and I hope you can apply some of her valuable life advice to your own life. 

Chloe Bayliss, a talented Australian actress and dancer, joins me in this episode. Chloe shares her incredible journey, starting as a dancer at age three, and the challenges she faced when she was diagnosed with lupus and chronic kidney disease. Chloe opens up about living with an invisible illness, offering insights into how to support friends or family members who might be struggling with similar conditions. She also discusses the initial difficulties of managing her disease in secret and why she decided to share her diagnosis with her husband right when they started dating. Chloe delves into how her fertility was affected, the decisions she made, and emphasizes why it's never appropriate to ask anyone about their family planning or fertility. Additionally, she provides practical advice for getting through tough days, strategies for minimizing stress, and shares what she’s most proud of.

Sury Neuman is a talented artist with a fantastic sense of humor! Sury shares her journey from being agnostic to the incredible story of how she regained her faith. She shares the incredible story of how her husband faced potential time in prison and was saved by divine providence. She talks about how she chose to live a different life from how she grew up as a chassidish girl in Williamsburg. Sury also talks about misconceptions people have about Chassidim due to how they’re often portrayed on TV and in movies and the beautiful truths about that life. Sury shares her inspiration for her art, how she deals with hate comments, her outlook on sharing on Instagram, and more.  

Dr. Clara Surowitz is a popular OBGYN based in Lakewood, NJ, and Jersey Shore. Dr. Surowitz shares how her childhood personality impacted her future career choice. She shares stories of when she delivered a baby on her couch in her playroom and a premature baby in her patient's car. She also talks about work-life balance, the importance of having help- and how no one can do it all. She talks about how her own birthing experiences contributed to her empathy as a provider, how she delivered babies before she gave birth, and how she works to create an environment where she's fully present, supportive, and active with the women giving birth. Dr. Surowitz also talks about current healthcare, how it impacts patients and doctors, and the mission behind her NJ-based birthing center. She also shares why she wants more women to go into professions of helping women like doulas and midwives and the necessary advice she has for women about their health.

Jodi Harrison Bauer is a renowned fitness guru, top-semi finalist, and oldest sports-illustrated swim model and entrepreneur. During this episode, Jodi shares her story, how she lost friends after her divorce, how she embraced change, her boss's disrespectful and ageist comments, and how she proved him wrong. She talks about why she competed in Sports Illustrated and how all the major news outlets were reaching out to her, from the NY Post to People magazine and Good Morning America, and how she discovered that she was on the cover of the New York Post from her daughter at a very hectic time. Jodi talks about how stepping into her truth and authenticity led to tremendous success for her and the importance of stepping into your truth. She talks about how she was told that no one wanted to see someone her age on the cover of a magazine, but she proved them wrong! Jodi also shares some tangible tips for aging gracefully and confidently and the valuable lessons she has learned along the way. 

This episode features Fay Brezel, who is an Entrepreneur and founder of Okclarity.com, the online mental health and wellness directory platform for the global Jewish community. You may be familiar with Fay from the show Jewish Matchmaking, and I am so excited to have her on this episode. Fay shares how she started as a therapist, why she founded OkClarity, and her goal of making therapy cool. We talk about healthy vulnerability and the ripple effect it has on relationships and safety. Fay shares the backstory of how she, as a mainstream orthodox woman, ended up as a Netflix reality star, why she decided to join the show, and some behind-the-scenes of the creation of the show, Jewish matchmaking. Fay and I talk about the beauty of our close-knit community and some things we need to be aware of at the same time when it comes to boundaries and overstepping. Fay also shares some valuable advice for singles and friends of singles and the idea of how we react internally, showing where we're at regarding our self-worth. 

Mimi Minsky is a talented writer and storyteller I’ve been following on Instagram and gain a lot from her perspectives and thoughts. Mimi shares how the loss of her brother as a young child shaped her development as a teenager and then as an adult. She talks about how she struggled with an eating disorder as a teenager and young adult. She delves into her journey of healing and how this eating disorder experience had a part in shaping her, but it’s not a part of who she is today. We also talk about how, in general, it’s essential to realize that our experiences definitely have a part in shaping us, but they don’t have to be a part of our identity. Mimi shares her healing journey and her perspective on plant-based medicine and alternative healing methodologies. She talks about the concept of grief and how it took many years of healing for her to truly feel the grief and, for it to be released at an unexpected time, and more!

Ricki Steiner shares her evolution from being a headstrong kid to who she is today. She talks about being comfortable in her own skin, not caring what other people think of her, and how she developed healthy boundaries contrary to how she was raised. Ricki shares why she initially began posting on Instagram and sharing her life, advice for protecting yourself and your boundaries if you’re going through loss or grief, how to be there for your friend who’s going through loss, why she started sharing her infertility journey and how she wants singles to feel included and seen. We talk about people projecting their feelings and discomfort onto others and the concept of being comfortable being uncomfortable. Ricki shares her advice for what to do in uncomfortable situations, the people we remember with love and positivity when we’re going through struggles, and how you can become one of those people. Ricki also talks about why you don’t owe anyone an explanation, how no one wants to be pitied, and how she gets herself out of a heavy space when needed. 

@Rickisteiner

Daisi Jo Pollard, Model, and Entrepreneur, shares her story and talks about some of the heavy events that shaped her childhood, including being dropped off at social services by her mom at one point. Daisi shares what it’s like for her as a multi-racial woman and how it affected her upbringing with family, as well as continues to affect her socially today. She talks about her experience with colorism, how she chooses to function in the world as a multi-racial woman, how she deals with stereotypical and racist comments and judgment, how she feels about people acknowledging her race, why she dated a guy 40 years older than her at one point, her views on success and how she worked hard to get to where she is today and more. 

Trigger Warning- towards the end of the episode, at about the 1-hour mark, Daisi shares some abuse that she went through, including sexual abuse, so please be aware of this before you listen.

Julia Christine Velotas has been featured on numerous TV shows and magazines, including the hit reality TV show REHAB: Party at the Hard Rock Hotel. Her first book is just The Tip: Memoir of a Las Vegas Bottle Server. During this episode, Julia shares the behind-the-scenes of her bottle serving days to show by example not to judge a book by its cover. Often, we make assumptions about people based on their jobs or careers. There's often so much more beneath the surface and different reasons why people may pursue careers or temporary jobs at varying points in their lives- and Julia is the perfect example. During the episode, Julia shares her Greek Orthodox background and talks about how she got into the bottle-serving industry and what that means exactly. Julia talks about the stigma of being a bottle server, how people perceived her during her bottle serving days- how people perceive people in similar careers, and the idea of looking at people as people instead of their jobs.  Julia talks about the importance of following your passion and doing things in the interim to achieve your goals. She also shares some celebrity stories and stresses the importance of having a support system, protecting yourself from sexual harassment in the workplace, and not trusting someone just because they're famous.

Adina Burstyn is the Founder and Owner of Adina B Salon in Baltimore, Maryland. During this episode. Adina talks about how, as a child, she struggled academically in school and was bullied and advice she would give to parents whose children struggle in school. She talks about the grief process of her divorce and the unexpected things she had to learn as a single mom.  She shares how she dealt with the judgment she faced during her divorce and the concept of knowing your truth and not owing anyone an explanation. Adina shares how her past struggles have impacted her and how she gets through the challenging times. She also shares what she’s most proud of, what happened when she was reported for doing something she didn’t realize was against the law, and how she dealt with that. Adina shares why she’s thankful for the challenging times and how she overcomes moments of failure or disappointment and more! 

Rivkah Fox is one of my favorite matchmakers, and during this episode, you'll hear why. During this episode, Rivkah shares her background, how her childhood personality impacted her future matchmaking, the full circle moment of how she had her father to thank for how she met her husband, and how she got started as a matchmaker and orchestrated her first match as a young teenager.  Rivkah also shares things she wishes she could say to singles but can’t because she doesn’t want to offend or hurt anyone. She also shares some great advice to help along your dating journey. Rivkah spoke about why she’s had to fire singles from working with her, what she would tell and has told people who say that singles are being picky, why you shouldn’t take it personally when a matchmaker sends you a match that doesn’t seem to be a good fit and more! 

Dating Coach and Former Today Show Australia Psychologist Jackie Glaser joins me on this week’s episode. Jackie talks about how her background as a psychologist helped her throughout the decades of dating before she met her husband when she was in her forties. Jackie shares the most significant lesson she learned and the turning point that changed the trajectory of her life during her single years. She shares the importance of letting go and surrendering and a visual meditation to help put this into practice. Jackie also discusses understanding masculine and feminine energies, how that fits into dating, and how that can connect us more emotionally, especially during the courtship stage. 

Comedian Chani Lisbon joins me on this week's episode. Chani shares her journey of becoming who she is today, starting with her parent's divorce when she was five. Chani discusses how she decides which vulnerable and painful parts of her story to share. She shares her story of how her alcohol addiction started and then her path to recovery. Chani talks about how she took ownership of her life and transformed into the happy person that she is today when she got started as a comedian, how unconditional love was a huge part of her healing journey, and how people can support their loved ones who are struggling with alcohol addiction. Chani also shares important do's and don't when it comes to serving alcohol at parties, and more!

Ilana Dunn, Influencer, Host, and Executive Producer of the "Seeing Other People podcast," joins me in this episode. Ilana shares how she evolved from being a more private face as the lead content creator of the Hinge app to sharing her dating challenges and triumphs with the world via her podcast and social media. She also talks about how she learned to become more vulnerable and realized the depth of connections and how she could inspire others through a deeper vulnerability. Ilana talks about how she used to define herself by her job and relationship status and how she changed that. She stresses the importance of being yourself when you're dating, the importance of communication in dating and why you shouldn't be nervous about scaring someone away, how she spared herself so much heartache by reinventing dating patterns, respecting her worth, and more! 

Instagram and Tiktok:

@seeingotherpeople
@ilana.dunn

Listen to Ilana's Podcasts:

Seeing Other People
Life In Progress

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