Athena's Listening Crew Podcast

Today on Athena’s Listening Crew, we sat down with Lisa Swanson, founder of Body & Soul Coaching. A single mom turned successful entrepreneur, Lisa brings over 40 years of experience helping women navigate fitness and weight loss.After noticing a major gap in support for women over 50—especially post-menopause—Lisa shifted her focus to empowering this often-overlooked group. Through her three-pillar approach of aligned nutrition, progressive overload, and empowered thoughts, she helps women embrace where they are now and build vibrant, healthy lives.You can find Lisa at www.bodyandsoulcoaching, IG/FB @lisaswansonfit  We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at [email protected] or message us via IG if there are any topics you’d like us to explore, or if you’re a woman business owner interested in joining the podcast to share your journey.

In this episode of Athena’s Listening Crew, Lina and Renee celebrate trailblazing women across history—beginning with the legendary Madame Clicquot Ponsardin, the visionary widow who transformed the champagne industry during the Napoleonic era. We then trace the powerful evolution of women entrepreneurs through history—from Madam C.J. Walker’s groundbreaking 1917 convention to today’s global conferences, networking events, and investment summits designed to elevate women in business. This conversation is a reminder that women have always been builders, innovators, and forces of change—and the future is still being written.We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on IG and YouTube at Athenas listening crew, and reach out to us at [email protected] if there are any topics you’d like us to explore, or if you’re a woman business owner interested in joining the podcast to share your journey. 

On today’s episode, we interview Isabel Georgelos as the Deputy Director of the YWCA of Southern Arizona, where she leads programs advancing economic justice, health and well-being, and community advocacy for women. She joined the organization in 2021 as Director of the Women’s Business Center, one of the largest in the country, supporting over 1,500 entrepreneurs each year with training, counseling, and technical assistance.A first-generation college graduate, Isabel brings more than 25 years of corporate leadership experience with major national retailers. She is deeply committed to helping women achieve financial stability and long-term economic growth through career readiness and entrepreneurship—believing that when women thrive, families and communities thrive.She also serves on the Child & Family Resources state board and lives in Tucson, Arizona, with her husband of 35 years.You can find more about Isabel and the YWCA Women’s Business Center at https://www.wbcofsouthernarizona.com/We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at [email protected] if there are any topics you’d like us to explore, or if you’re a woman business owner interested in joining the podcast to share your journey.

In this episode, Renee and Lina get real about burnout—how it shows up, why it happens, and what you can do to prevent it. They walk through the signs to watch for, simple ways to take care of yourself, and how to keep growing your business without sacrificing your well-being.We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at [email protected] if there are any topics you’d like us to explore, or if you’re a woman business owner interested in joining the podcast to share your journey.

On today’s episode, we welcome Rebecca Cutehands, a spiritual and intuitive guide who has devoted more than thirty years to walking a sacred path of learning, ceremony, and healing. Rebecca shares Indigenous teachings from many different cultures and traditions, carrying forward the wisdom generously entrusted to her by the many teachers and Elders she has sat with over the years. She hosts ceremonies throughout the year and offers both individual and group healings and teachings. She embraces life as a devoted student of Creation, meeting each day — and each person — with humility, reverence, and gratitude.You can find Rebecca on https://mountainspiritco-op.com/members/, https://mshec3.com/ or contact her at (mobile) 928-499-4128.We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at [email protected] if there are any topics you’d like us to explore, or if you’re a woman business owner interested in joining the podcast to share your journey.

In this episode of Athena’s Listening Crew, Renee and Lina kick things off by spotlighting Lydia Estes Pinkham, a trailblazing entrepreneur whose bold approach to business and marketing helped shape the path for women in business today.From there, they dive into the practical side of entrepreneurship—breaking down what it actually takes to register your business. They share helpful resources, simplify the process, and explore which states make it easier (or more challenging) to get started.We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at [email protected] if there are any topics you’d like us to explore, or if you’re a woman business owner interested in joining the podcast to share your journey.

On today’s episode, we interview Amanda Schneider who is living proof that our greatest challenges can become powerful catalysts for change. A domestic violence and cancer survivor, she transformed her healing journey into a mission of empowerment—helping others discover their strength, beauty and resilience.Today, Amanda is an internationally awarded esthetician and proud owner of Loving My Skin Spa and SkinNerd Training. Known affectionately as “The SkinNerd,” she combines ingredient science with a holistic approach to skincare—believing true radiance comes from nurturing the whole person. Through her spa, her training programs, her leadership in esthetics education, and her women’s empowerment retreats, Amanda’s message is simple but powerful: You are stronger than you know and you deserve to love the skin you’re in—literally and figuratively.You can find Amanda on FB @lovingmyskinspa, IG @lovingmyskinspa and email [email protected]’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at [email protected] if there are any topics you’d like us to explore, or if you’re a woman business owner interested in joining the podcast to share your journey.

In this episode, Renee and Lina have an honest conversation about the resistance many women entrepreneurs face—both internal and external. They explore self-doubt, confidence gaps, fear of disappointing others, and the tendency to treat a business like a hobby, alongside real-world barriers such as limited funding, lack of support or networks, and the double burden of caregiving. Throughout the episode, Lina and Renee share practical ways to recognize resistance, move through it, and keep building without abandoning yourself in the process.We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at [email protected] if there are any topics you’d like us to explore, or if you’re a woman business owner interested in joining the podcast to share your journey.

In Business 101: What’s in a Name, Lina and Renee explore the often-overlooked challenge of naming a business. They talk through the logistics, the emotional weight behind the decision, common pitfalls, and real-world naming mistakes—while sharing their own experiences along the way.We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at [email protected] if you have a story behind how you named your business, topics you’d like us to explore, or if you’re a woman business owner interested in joining the podcast to share your journey.

Renee and Lina introduces themselves and discuss how ALC was created out of their desire to provide a supportive listening platform for women entrepreneurs and women who are in pursuit of becoming one, and the plans they have for ALC.We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at [email protected] if you have topics you’d like us to explore, or if you’re a woman business owner interested in joining the podcast to share your journey.