Pretty Powerful Podcast with Angela Gennari

Episode 42: Martha Lackritz-Peltier

In the words of the great Dr Martin Luther King Jr, “True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.” Thankfully, we have Martha Lackritz-Peltier to advocate for the latter. Martha B. Lackritz-Peltier is General Counsel at TechSoup and General Manager at NGOsource, where she oversees NGOsource’s legal operations and ensures the program’s continued alignment with best practices. In other words, Martha helps non-profit organizations worldwide get funding and resources that are desperately needed by ensuring strict oversight, and understanding of, the tax and legal implications in these complicated transactions. As an expert in tax law, as well as NGO guidelines, Martha is able to connect beneficiaries with donors... providing much needed guidance and support.  Angela and Martha discuss social justice and the obligation of the legal profession to advocate for good. 

Episode 41: Dr Susan Landers

Dr Susan Landers has vast experience practicing neonatology in the NICU for thirty-five years... but while taking care of our most vulnerable humans, she wasn't taking care of herself, leading to burnout. This lead her down another path of rediscovering her passion and finding balance, and sharing her insight in a book. 
Dr Susan Landers talks with Angela Gennari about her career as a doctor, challenges she faced in balancing her own family life, and advice that she gave to new mothers. 

Episode 40: Conversation with the Ladies of Gen Z

As Generation Z enters the workforce, it is essential that we as employers, managers and coworkers understand how to best integrate, inspire and embrace them. Two ladies of Gen Z, Shayla Shaw and Rowan Green, talk with Angela about what influences them, what they look for in company culture, dating life, politics and more. This is an important conversation that we need to be having in order to thrive in our businesses and home lives. 

Episode 39: Amanda Bear

From biotech to law enforcement to insider threat assessment.... Amanda Bear has an innate curiosity that enables her to solve complex problems while being relatable and engaging. Not just a great investigator, Amanda Bear is also one of the few women in the nation who are certified in both Defense Tactics and Firearms Instruction, was the first female to go out for the North Metro SWAT Team and is trained in Jiu Jitsu... truly a badass woman who, as she says it, loves to "run and gun". You will love this conversation and learn so much about protecting yourself and finding your inner badass!

Episode 38: Dr. Leen Kawas

Dr. Leen Kawas has shattered ALL the glass ceilings in her quest to chase the American Dream. As a researcher, inventor and founder of a bioscience company, Leen fueled her passion for change with innovation and tenacity, while raising $400 million to lead her company into a groundbreaking IPO.
Dr. Kawas is the Managing General Partner of Propel Bio Partners. She is the co-founder of Athira and a co-inventor of its lead drug candidate ATH-1017, and also invented several of the innovative drug candidates in Athira’s pipeline. ​ Dr. Kawas served as Athira’s chief executive officer and president, and as a member of its board of directors from January 2014-2021. In this role, she led the technological and financial growth of Athira, raising around $400M and taking the company through its public offering. According to Business Insider and GeekWire, Dr. Kawas was one of only 22 female founders and CEOs to lead their company to an IPO, as of February 2021, and was the first woman to guide a company through an IPO in Washington State in over 20 years (at the time of Athira’s IPO in September 2020).
Join us for this in-depth talk about Dr. Kawas' journey through the IPO process, the need for women at the executive level and why bioscience is so personal for her.

Episode 37: Adriana Gavazzoni

Adriana Gavazzoni is used to exhibiting incredible strength and determination in her very male dominated career in Brazil. As an accomplished Attorney and Law Professor, Adriana realized that life is too short to not chase your dreams while you can, so she decided to pursue yet another dream... become a fiction writer. While continuing to practice law full-time, she completed her first novel in only 6 months! Adriana's story of tenacity through various challenges is sure to inspire and motivate our audience!

Episode 36: Danielle Orsino

Danielle M. Orsino spent her childhood idolizing superheroes who would use their incredible power to help others, so is it any surprise that she became a nurse and helped patients get through their grueling treatments through her fantasy storytelling power? A life-threatening event then led Danielle to pursue writing as a career. Today, Danielle Orsino is an award-winning fantasy novelist whose lifelong vision is to create whimsical realms that her readers can escape to. Her compelling word-weaving pays homage to a multitude of personal muses, from Chris Claremont and George Pérez (both famous comic book writers), to Anne Rice, Jim Henson and Wonder Woman. She is also an award-winning cosplayer known for her DC interpretations. Danielle’s Birth of the Fae series is published by 4 Horsemen Publications.

Episode 35: Kristi Spencer

While the formality of proper etiquette may sometimes feel like a lost art form, being polite is timeless and essential in our everyday lives. Kristi Spencer, Founder of The Polite Company, offers individual and group etiquette coaching on business, social, and dining etiquette. Kristi Spencer founded The Polite Company on the principles of consideration, respect, and honesty.  Kristi is a certified etiquette trainer and graduate of the Emily Post Institute, the foremost etiquette authority for the last 100 years.  Twenty-five years of experience as a journalist and businesswoman uniquely qualify her to deliver the message that good manners lead to successful personal and professional relationships. Kristi has a passion for sharing how excellent manners lead to personal and professional success.  

Episode 34: Courtney Lorenz

Living a healthy lifestyle starts with intentionality, and avoiding the pitfalls of mindless consumption or convenience over quality. In the third episode of our Pretty Powerful Podcast Heath & Wellness Series, Courtney Lorenz, Founder of Cultured Kombucha, talks about the benefits of consuming living foods and beverages.
Cultured Kombucha Co is Michigan’s premier brewer of organic kombucha located in Traverse City, Michigan.  Cultured's mission is to help customers make healthier lifestyle choices - one sip at a time. Cultured Kombucha can be found at major retailers such as Meijer, as well as 200+ small business across the state. Courtney is a lifelong food and beverage entrepreneur who creates value in the health and wellness industry. She successfully scaled her business from a bootstrapped start up to a Midwest-wide CPG brand with no outside investment to become the Midwest's most in demand craft kombucha. Although starting with a grassroots effort, Courtney has scaled Cultured Kombucha Co. while maintain integrity and a triple bottom line business model.

Episode 33: Caroline Holke

How is your relationship with alcohol.... really? Most of us will fall into the middle ground of "it's mostly fine", but is it a good idea to cut back a bit for our overall health, relationships and well being? More importantly, WHY are you drinking and is it becoming habitual? In the 2nd of a 3 part series on Health and Wellness, Caroline Holke teaches us the benefits of drinking less.
After 30+ years of drinking, Caroline Holke decided she had had enough of the hangovers and waking up in the middle of the night. She didn't want to give up drinking altogether, just the shitty parts of it. As a certified Life Coach, she is on a mission to empower women to regain control over alcohol and create a life that they love.