Feminist Founders: Building Profitable People-First Businesses

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/Dr. Judy Wright, physician and sustainable success expert, joins Becky and Faith for a candid conversation about self-advocacy in medical settings, the racial bias baked into the healthcare system, and the burnout that high-achieving women often don't recognize until it's severe. Dr. Wright shares her own journey through medical school (including an undiagnosed learning difference), multiple rounds of burnout across academia, clinical medicine, and corporate work, and the practical, low-lift ways she teaches women to reclaim their time and energy.Discover other conversations from the margins at YesAndOtherwise.comTopics Discussed:(00:15) Intro: Dr. Judy Wright's background, the Power Balance and PACE framework(00:52) Becky's practice of refusing to be weighed at the doctor, and why(01:59) "You're the CEO of your health" — reclaiming power with your medical team(02:42) Dr. Wright's own story: a doctor who pushed weight-loss surgery instead of treating her migraine(07:18) Advocating for others vs. advocating for yourself; Dr. Wright's father's hospitalization(09:05) Faith on advocating for her autistic son vs. self-advocacy; the "God complex" trope(11:24) Why physicians come off rushed, and why that's still on the patient to navigate(13:21) Underrepresentation of Black doctors and racial bias in med-school clinical scoring(15:33) Dr. Wright's own struggles with standardized testing and an undiagnosed learning difference(18:xx) "A face you recognize that recognizes you back" — trust and representation in care(21:03) Faith's story of a doctor who truly listened about her son's care(22:38) Wanting to "know the story" — treating patients as whole people, not case files(23:50) Introducing stereotype threat (Claude Steele's research) and its link to burnout(26:06) Dr. Wright on feeling like her success was "luck," not skill(28:33) Burning out multiple times — academia, clinical medicine, and corporate — without having the language for it(32:31) Faith's "US 15 pounds" and unrecognized burnout in grad school(34:03) The PACE method: the power of intentional pauses (and Dr. Wright's cancer diagnosis as a turning point)(38:33) Self-care doesn't require a spa — small, cumulative pauses count(41:02) The "superwoman complex" and the guilt of claiming time for yourself(43:41) Overfunctioning vs. underfunctioning (quoting Dr. Shanika Walker Barnes)(44:10) Becky on gendered guilt: her husband's 20-minute showers vs. her own guilt(46:02) Helping high-achieving women believe they're allowed to slow down(49:xx) Auditing your calendar instead of assuming every meeting is mandatory(53:34) Where to find Dr. Wright, and closing questions: Yes, And, OtherwiseResources Mentioned:Dr. Judy Wright: https://www.thepowerbalance.com/Dr. Wright Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JudyWrightMDDr. Wright LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judywrightmd/Claude Steele on stereotype threat: https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2016/11/claude-steele-explains-stereotype-threatDr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes: https://www.drchanequa.com/🎤 JOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE: https://feministpodcastcollective.com/

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/Beckty Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke sit down with Megan Fuciarelli, speaker and "authenticity amplifier," to talk about the flip side of a conversation we hear constantly: not how to be authentic, but how to actually receive someone else's authenticity when they show up as their full selves. Megan shares her own story of being othered as a child, discovering at 15 that she was adopted, and how decades of people-pleasing and masking shaped the DEI and belonging work she does today. The conversation digs into the real difference between masking and cloaking a part of yourself, why "not everyone deserves your authenticity," the gap between intent and impact, why professionalism norms are rooted in racism and sexism, and how leaders and everyday people can hold space for identities and experiences different from their own without guilt, shame, or blame.Timestamps:00:15 — Welcome and introducing Megan Fuciarelli05:55 — What repeated story has Megan been living lately?08:16 — Bullied, never enough, and "closeted acceptance" as a kid09:00 — Finding out at 15 that she was adopted12:31 — Becky's own earliest memory of not feeling welcome15:00 — How early wounding creates people-pleasing16:59 — Imposter syndrome vs. "am I being who I actually am?"17:13 — Not everyone deserves your authenticity (masking vs. cloaking)20:42 — Why you can't fully receive someone else's authenticity until you've done your own work22:07 — What "receiving authenticity" actually looks like in practice27:01 — Intent vs. impact — who controls what29:48 — A recent example of Megan's authenticity not being received34:12 — Giving people grace for where they are on their journey39:25 — The urge to prove "I know better," and giving yourself grace 43:02 — Systemic vs. systematic: what happens when institutions know better and don't change47:25 — Boundaries as agreements, not arbitrary rules49:26 — Faith's story: parenting an autistic son and the real risk of breaking "professionalism" norms51:29 — Authenticity isn't fixed, it changes day to day54:16 — Closing round: what are you leaving this conversation saying yes to?57:56 — Where to find Megan: Us 2 Consulting and Megan Fuciarelli❤️ Learn more about Megan's work at https://us2consulting.com/🎤 JOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE: https://feministpodcastcollective.com/👏 SUPPORT OUR WORK BY SUBSCRIBING AT https://yesandotherwise.substack.com/subscribe

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/Welcome to Yes and Otherwise, the new name (and new season) for what was Feminist Founders. In this launch episode, hosts Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke pull back the curtain on why they rebranded, what's changing, and what stays the same. They talk about choosing storytelling over coaching-and-content, why "feminist founders" no longer felt like the right container (and its exclusionary history), and how "yes and otherwise" reflects their improv-rooted, both/and approach to conversation. They also introduce a new paid supporter tier, kicking off with a bonus audio offering called "The Collective Exhale," on releasing invisible and emotional labor, the "lead bird" burnout pattern, and what it means to let storytelling and community-building be valuable work in their own right.• (00:16) Welcome to Yes and Otherwise — introducing the rebrand from Feminist Founders• (01:16) Why the change: two years of experimenting, evolving, and having hard conversations as partners• (01:42) Becky's journalism background and missing storytelling for its own sake, not for a "corporate overlord"• (03:03) Faith on centering human stories amid a chaotic, shifting external environment• (05:29) The "life-giving" test: choosing storytelling and curation over what felt sticky or forced• (07:00) The new website, yesandotherwise.com — searchable topics, curated "story bundles," and stories in conversation with each other• (08:15) What's changing about the newsletter: less frequent, more substantive, connecting past and present conversations• (08:18) Introducing a paid supporter tier and what it funds (labor, not just content)• (10:42) Why they changed the name: the meaning behind "Yes and" (improv, expansiveness) and "Otherwise" (the other, the why, who's missing)• (13:18) Why not "Feminist Founders" anymore — the term's exclusionary history and who it repels• (17:12) Faith on identity, framing, and building a shared story from different starting points• (18:17) Reclaiming storytelling and community-building as labor that deserves compensation• (20:02) Introducing "The Collective Exhale" — releasing invisible labor and the "lead bird" analogy for burnout• (22:44) Emotional labor, burnout, and the weight women are conditioned to carry• (23:53) Looking back at recent conversations: period care with Mariah Brewer, colorism with Dr. Sarah Webb, and hair• (25:50) Faith's invitation to become a paid subscriber, practice over knowledge• (26:53) Closing thoughts and what's coming nextBECOME A PAID SUPPORTER/SUBSCRIBER OF YES AND OTHERWISE at  https://yesandotherwise.substack.com/subscribe

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/Colorism shapes who gets hired, who's trusted, who's seen as beautiful (and who's called dangerous) often within the same racial group. In this episode, Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke sit down with Dr. Sarah L. Webb, author of Colorism and founder of Colorism Healing, to unpack what colorism is, how it forms in early childhood, and why white people can't opt out of the conversation just because it "isn't their issue."In this episode:(00:15) Welcome — introducing Dr. Sarah Webb, author of Colorism and founder of Colorism Healing(00:41) Icebreaker: the last thing you splurged on just for you(04:00) Dr. Webb's earliest memory of noticing colorism — before she even had the language for it(06:23) Why white parents avoiding "race talk" with kids misses the mark, and why colorism isn't discussed even in households of color(08:48) Faith joins and shares her grandmother's story growing up in Jamaica(14:19) How Dr. Webb's own healing journey began — the Dark Girls documentary and a moment from Ta-Nehisi Coates(15:34) The hardest part of healing from colorism: never knowing when it will happen again(18:56) Faith's own colorism journey growing up in Jamaica vs. the U.S.(24:05) Faith on power dynamics with neurodivergent, queer family members(25:10) Becky reflects on her own white positionality and how she came to understand colorism wasn't "someone else's issue"(27:25) Why colorism is everyone's work — racial profiling, the justice system, and disparities within the same race(31:08) Fearing the Black Body and how race gets constructed and weaponized(32:58) Colorism among people who share the same skin tone — a museum story(34:28) Is "we're willing to talk about race but not colorism" a form of virtue signaling?(38:09) Faith on "proximity to whiteness" and America's obsession with checklists over systems thinking(42:23) Colorism in media and Hollywood — patterns in who gets cast as masculine vs. feminine, and by skin tone(45:34) The how: translating awareness into daily practice, not just workshops(46:30) Dr. Webb on the second half of her book — the politics of skin tone and how we get free(51:40) Closing ritual: what are you saying yes (and otherwise) to?Resources mentioned:Colorism by Dr. Sarah L. Webb: https://amzn.to/4xNPxenColorism Healing: https://colorismhealing.com/Fearing the Black Body by Sabrina Strings: https://amzn.to/4xKDRcb🎤 JOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE: https://feministpodcastcollective.com/

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/What if the goal was never "safe" spaces but safer ones? Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke sit down with Sydney Elaine Butler, founder of Accessible Creates. They're a biracial, non-binary, autistic entrepreneur living with chronic pain and complex PTSD, and this is a fantastic conversation about intersectionality, disability inclusion, and what it really takes to let people bring their whole selves to work.Sydney shares how their childhood role as "the helper" shaped their career supporting people with disabilities, what it's like to code-switch between Black and white spaces as a biracial person, and why so much workplace DEI work stalls out at compliance instead of getting to the people actually living the policies. In this episode:(00:15) Icebreaker: the cartoon character you relate to most (Papa Smurf, Atomic Betty, Encanto's Luisa, and Inside Out 2's Anxiety all make an appearance)(06:23) Sydney's full-circle moment speaking at the Canadian Autism Leadership Summit(08:16) The story that isn't being told: intersectionality in disability and DEI work(10:14) Code-switching as a biracial, non-binary woman — and what safety has to do with it(16:23) What changes when we stop collapsing identities and start expanding them(23:04) Why so much corporate DEI work stays surface-level — and what real accountability looks like(26:16) Sydney's shift from "expert" to focus groups: centering the people living the policy(33:06) Safe vs. safer spaces — and why "safe" might be a promise no one can actually keep(44:07) Filling your own cup: solitude, boundaries, and unlearning the "selfish" narrative(51:41) The Resmaa Menakem story: what happens when a room chooses care over the agenda(54:04) A real-time example of building accommodation into a relationship, mid-conversation(56:14) Closing ritual: Yes, and... OtherwiseAbout the guest: Sydney Elaine Butler is the founder of Accessible Creates, working with organizations on disability policy, accessibility, and inclusive workplace practice. Learn more at accessiblecreates.ca.🎤 JOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE: https://feministpodcastcollective.com/

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/Black women's hair carries history, labor, identity, and risk — and most white women have never had to think about any of it. In this conversation, Becky and Faith sit down with Dr. Eghosa Obaizamomwan-Hamilton, a Black mother-scholar and author of Articulations: A Radical Methodology for Black Pedagogy — Redefining Education Through Black Women's Hair Experiences, to dig into what her research uncovered about hair as an overlooked layer of intersectionality.We talk about the "true cost" of hair — financial, physical, and emotional — the difference between internalized racism and intentional "texturized code-switching," why the rise of social media accelerated the natural hair movement, and the invisible labor Black women carry every day just deciding how to show up. Faith brings her own journey from straightened hair in Jamaica to nearly 25 years of locks, and Dr. Eghosa shares what she means when she says "I am my hair" — plus concrete advice for white women who want to be real co-conspirators instead of passive allies.Links mentioned:• Latest article, "We Be Audacious": https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/YBJHBZJRVG7MYDIUCAGA/full?target=10.1080/09540253.2026.2707142• Articulations, A Radical Methodology for Black Pedagogy: https://amzn.to/4yKaxnr• Articulations on Audible: https://amzn.to/4fpEEcp• Reading Guide for Articulations: https://www.eghosaobaizamomwan.com/_files/ugd/1382eb_14e141a63f4b4618bb0e527bb80f385a.pdfJOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE: https://feministpodcastcollective.com/

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/What does radical empathy actually look like in a business, not just as a feeling, but as a practice?Becky sits down with Terri Givens, political scientist and author of Radical Empathy and Reckoning, to dig into the how behind the why. They talk through Terri's six steps to radical empathy (starting with the hardest one: being vulnerable with yourself first), what it means to unpack internalized bias, and why "safe spaces" might be the wrong goal (brave spaces are more honest and more possible).They also get into the stuff business owners actually wrestle with: how to build diverse teams without falling into tokenism, what "empathy is not absolution" means when you're deciding who to work with, and why intentionality (not perfection) is the real work of inclusive leadership.In this episode:• The six steps of radical empathy, and why vulnerability with yourself comes first• Unpacking internalized oppression, Terri's own story growing up Black and Catholic in Spokane, WA• Safe spaces vs. brave spaces, and why the second one is the honest goal• "Strategic empathy": how to have compassion for someone without excusing their behavior• Building trust and community without falling into performative hiring or tokenism• The role business can play in creating the future we want, with lessons from historyTerri Givens is a political scientist, author, and entrepreneur. Her books Radical Empathy (2021) and Reckoning (2025, paperback out this year) offer both the why and the how of using empathy as a tool for real change in business, in community, and in ourselves. Learn more and grab the books (currently 50% off) at Terri's website.Feminist Founders is a space for business owners who care about equity and justice — and want the practical tools to actually build it. New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe and join the conversation.Find Terri Givens (and her books) at https://www.terrigivens.com/Also mentioned in this episode:• "The Warmth of Other Suns" by Isabel Wilkerson: https://amzn.to/44zOjH2🎤 JOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE: https://feministpodcastcollective.com/

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/In this episode, you'll hear from Dr. Moriah Brewer (sociologist, researcher, and founder of Like Home) about one of the most overlooked workplace equity issues hiding in plain sight: menstrual care. Only 2% of US companies offer any form of period leave, yet menstruation affects roughly half the workforce for decades of their working lives. Becky and Moriah dig into why that number is so low, what the equity vs. equality argument actually means for HR policy, and how period poverty, medical dismissal, and the $40 billion period care industry all point to the same problem, we've invested in discretion, not care. If you're building a feminist business, this conversation will challenge you to examine your own policies.Topics Covered:• The business case for menstrual/period leave, only 2% of US companies currently offer it, but Moriah argues it's both an equity issue and a long-term investment in workforce wellbeing and retention• Equity vs. equality in workplace policy, why "giving everyone the same thing" doesn't close gaps, and what targeted support actually looks like for menstruating employees• Period poverty as a workplace issue, in Michigan alone, 2 in 5 women experience period poverty, causing them to miss work or school due to lack of access to basic products• The $40 billion period care industry gap, the entire industry is built around products and discretion, not care; Moriah is building Like Home to change that with virtual services, cycle syncing support, and in-home care options• Medical dismissal and the cost to workers, Moriah's own experience with PCOS, fibroids, and years of being brushed off by the medical system speaks to a broader pattern that impacts worker productivity and health• Why period equity lifts all workplace benefits, the same political and cultural fight that wins period leave also opens the door to better mental health leave, disability leave, and paternity leave• What feminist business ownership demands, how "permission structures" in workplaces signal ownership dynamics, and what it looks like to lead differentlyLEARN MORE:• Like Home: https://joinlikehome.com/• Dr. Moriah Brewer on Instagram, Threads, and Substack: @MariahLynnJoe🎤 JOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE: http://feministpodcastcollective.com/

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/On this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp talks with social psychologist Dr. Evelyn Carter (author of Was That Racist? How to Detect, Interrupt, and Unlearn Bias in Everyday Life) about why she waited until 2026 to publish a book she could have written during the 2020 racial reckoning, what happened when she watched a community of women authors fail a basic accountability test, and why "safe space" is the wrong goal for anyone trying to build an inclusive business or community.In This Episode, We Get Into:Why Dr. Carter didn't write her book in 2020, and what made 2026 (mid-backlash, mid-DEI-rollback) the right momentThe whiplash of clients who slashed DEI budgets in early 2020 then begged for workshops weeks later after George Floyd's murderA real-time story of Evelyn leaving a women authors' group after watching the group's leaders fail to enforce their own community normsThe difference between a "safe space" and a "safer space," and why claiming the former is actually a red flagThe research on self-regulation of prejudice, why guilt changes behavior and anger doesn't, and what that means for how we respond to being called outWhy white women's tears in conversations about race do real, measurable harm (and what to do with those feelings instead)Concrete, everyday microaggression examples from networking events and speaking gigs—"you're so articulate," "are you sure you're the speaker?"The simple practice of assuming the underrepresented person in the room holds the higher-status roleBecky's own story of accidentally lecturing the one Black woman in a coaching group about diet culture, and how she repaired itWhat harm repair actually looks like in practice, and why it's the missing piece in most community guidelinesResources Mentioned:Was That Racist? How to Detect, Interrupt, and Unlearn Bias in Everyday Life by Evelyn R. Carter, PhD (Little, Brown Spark): https://amzn.to/4aS0rqeWhite Tears/Brown Scars: How White Feminism Betrays Women of Color by Ruby Hamad: https://amzn.to/4epWPNh🎤 JOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE: https://feministpodcastcollective.com/

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/In this powerful conversation, Faith Clarke sits down with Alesia Galati—podcast host, business owner, wife, and mother—to explore how discomfort shows up in our bodies and impacts how we navigate relationships and power dynamics. Alesia shares her journey from growing up in a single-parent home affected by addiction, through 10 years in a cult disguised as a women's program, to building multiple successful podcasts and a full-service podcast management agency.What We Discussed:How women's bodies teach distress tolerance through periods and other physical experiencesThe complicated relationship with "push through" messaging after cult traumaMoving from knee-jerk reactions to slowing down in moments of discomfortHow childhood experiences shape our automatic responses to conflictThe importance of mitigation versus avoidance strategiesParenting in the age of AI and teaching kids to sit with questionsBook recommendations for understanding different perspectives on discomfortThe power of sitting with someone through their coping mechanismsFeatured book: They Wouldn't Dare by Deanna Gray: https://amzn.to/4tdVVJcReady to connect with other feminist founders navigating these conversations? Join us in the Feminist Podcasters Collective at feministpodcasterscollective.com

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/Consent isn’t a checkbox—it’s a relationship.In this episode, Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke dig into the messy, nuanced reality of consent. Moving far beyond the simplistic “yes means yes” framework, they explore how power dynamics, discomfort, and unspoken pressure shape whether consent is actually present.From workplaces to relationships to leadership, they challenge the idea that words alone determine consent—and make the case for deeper awareness, ongoing check-ins, and paying attention to what’s not being said.This is a conversation about power, humanity, and what it really takes to create environments where people can genuinely choose. In This Episode, We Cover: The difference between performative consent and real consent  Why “they said yes” is often not the full story  How power dynamics distort people’s ability to consent  The role of nonverbal communication (and why words aren’t enough)  Why leaders have a responsibility to pay closer attention  Consent as an ongoing, relational process—not a one-time agreement  How discomfort prevents both giving and receiving real consent  The problem with forcing vulnerability in workplace culture  Why “use your words” can be an oversimplification  Real-life examples of honoring consent—even when it costs something🎤 JOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/Let’s clear something up right away: discomfort and conflict are not the same thing.But most of us treat them like they are, and that misunderstanding is costing us. In our relationships, in our leadership, and in the kind of world we say we want to build.In this first episode of our discomfort series, I’m joined by Faith Clarke to break down what discomfort actually is (hint: it lives in your body), what conflict actually is (hint: it lives between people), and why so many of us are doing everything we can to avoid both.We talk about: Why your brain is so quick to label discomfort as danger  How power and identity shape your relationship to conflict  The stories you tell yourself that escalate everything  And why learning to stay with discomfort might be one of the most important leadership skills you can build If you’ve ever avoided a hard conversation, over-accommodated to keep the peace, or spiraled over something small—this one’s for you.🔑 What We Cover in This Episode: The difference between discomfort (internal) and conflict (relational)  Why discomfort is often a somatic, body-based experience  How conflict arises from competing stories—not just feelings  The role of power, privilege, and identity in how we handle conflict  Why many of us were conditioned to believe conflict is “bad”  Fight, flight, freeze, fawn—and what they look like in real life  The importance of threat assessment (is this actually dangerous?)  How meaning-making turns small discomfort into full-blown spirals  Why avoiding discomfort makes everything more expensive (emotionally, mentally, physically)  The possibility of healthy conflict as a tool for growth and co-creation 🎤 JOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/Becky and Faith kick off their discomfort series with something deceptively small: a middle-of-the-night argument about an open window. What starts as a relatable story about being woken up at 3am becomes a real-time breakdown of how discomfort turns into conflict — and what we can do about it.They dig into the stories we tell ourselves when we feel disrespected, why anger is actually energy looking for justice, and how our nervous system state determines what choices are even available to us in heated moments. Plus: why the low-stakes conflicts are exactly where we should be building our conflict navigation muscles — so we're ready when the stakes are actually high.In this episode:• How a single moment of discomfort becomes a full conflict narrative• What your body is trying to tell you before you do something you'll regret• The difference between the stimulus and the story• Why choosing your response is a form of agency, even at 3am• How small conflicts are training ground for the big ones• Using conflict as a tool to actually improve your relationships🎤 JOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE: http://feministpodcastcollective.com/

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/This short conversation kicks off a new Feminist Founders mini-series on discomfort.Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke start by unpacking a question many of us struggle to answer clearly: What’s the difference between discomfort and conflict?They explore how discomfort often shows up first as a somatic signal in the body—tight shoulders, a knot in your stomach, a sense that something isn’t right. Conflict, on the other hand, tends to emerge when our stories about a situation collide with someone else’s.The conversation moves into how identity, power, and lived experience shape our relationship to both discomfort and conflict. Becky reflects on how whiteness and privilege can create an expectation that comfort should always be restored quickly. Faith shares how marginalized identities often require learning to navigate discomfort without the luxury of avoiding it.Together they discuss:The difference between internal discomfort and interpersonal conflictHow meaning-making can escalate discomfort into conflictThe role of power, identity, and cultural conditioningFight, flight, freeze, fawn—and the possibility of facing discomfort insteadWhy learning to sit with discomfort is essential for building something newThis episode lays the groundwork for the rest of the series, where Becky and Faith will share stories and tools for navigating discomfort more skillfully in leadership, business, and social change work.🎤 JOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/👉 Capacity for Conflict workshop on March 11, 2026: https://feministfounders.co/workshop/What does it actually look like to live your values — not in theory, but in the middle of a messy, real-life situation?In this conversation, Becky and Faith unpack a recent experience that brought questions of mutual aid, identity, power, and discomfort to the surface. After an unexpected financial crisis, their community rallied to offer support — and what followed was a deeply honest exploration of what it means to ask for help, receive care, and navigate the complicated feelings that come with both.Together, they reflect on the emotional and relational layers that surfaced: fears about perception, internalized narratives around self-sufficiency, the tension between gratitude and vulnerability, and the ways discomfort can be a doorway to growth rather than something to avoid.They also introduce a framework for understanding conflict and discomfort through three key relationships — with ourselves, with others and power, and with the problem itself — offering listeners practical ways to approach hard moments with more curiosity and compassion.If you’ve ever struggled to ask for support, worried about how you’re perceived, or wondered how to live your values when things get complicated, this episode offers both resonance and reflection.In this episode, we explore:Why discomfort isn’t a problem to solve — it’s informationThe emotional realities of mutual aid and community supportHow identity and stereotype threat can shape our responses to crisisWhat it means to receive help without shameNavigating fears of judgment, performativity, or “getting it wrong”The difference between charity and collective careHow power dynamics show up in everyday situationsPracticing liberatory values in imperfect, real-time waysA framework for working with conflict through relationship awarenessMoving from judgment to curiosity when discomfort arises🎤 JOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/What does it actually look like to design a business that supports your capacity — instead of constantly stretching it?In this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp sits down with Tracie Root, founder of the Gather Community, to explore the tension so many entrepreneurs feel between showing up for clients and creating space for themselves.They talk about what happens when a business grows out of community and starts to feel more transactional, how hustle culture conditioning shows up even when we intellectually reject it, and why rebuilding capacity is an ongoing process — not a quick fix.Together they explore:The difference between doing and being in leadershipDesigning systems that reduce burnoutWhy asking for help can feel exhaustingThe emotional weight of keeping promises to clientsBoundaries, spaciousness, and redefining responsibilityHow community businesses evolve over timePractical ways to create breathing room without breaking commitmentsTracie shares how her goal for the year is to feel more expansive — and what that means in real terms, from looking at her calendar differently to rethinking how support shows up in her business.This conversation is a powerful reminder that sustainable leadership isn’t about doing less — it’s about designing differently.If you’re a founder who wants to build a business rooted in care, integrity, and capacity, this episode will meet you exactly where you are.🎤 JOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE🔥 Meet Tracie Root – Your Guide to Living Boldly! 🔥https://www.tracieroot.com/Some people wait for life to happen. Tracie Root makes life happen.  After a devastating loss turned her world upside down, Tracie didn’t just rebuild—she reinvented herself. She faced financial crisis, single parenthood, and uncertainty head-on, choosing bold action over fear. What emerged was a woman on a mission—to help others step into their power, take charge of their future, and create success on their terms.For over thirteen years, Tracie has inspired and coached women entrepreneurs nationwide, guiding them to break through barriers and build structured, sustainable, and thriving businesses. As the visionary force behind The Gather Community, she transformed in-person events into a powerful nationwide movement, connecting ambitious women who are ready to go all in.Whether she’s lighting up the stage as a speaker, leading game-changing masterminds, or championing women to take BOLD, decisive action, Tracie’s energy is contagious.  When she’s not coaching or speaking, you’ll find her soaking up the Santa Cruz sunshine with her husband and their four-legged sidekick.  💡 Are you ready to think bigger, dream bolder, and take action? Then Tracie Root is the woman you need to meet!

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/In this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke sit down with Angela Johnson, a trauma-informed marketing strategist and educator, for an honest conversation about capacity, mental health, and what it really looks like to divest from hustle culture without blowing up your livelihood.Angela reflects on nearly two decades in business, the weight of self-blame when income fluctuates, and the slow, deliberate work of deconditioning from capitalist and patriarchal “shoulds.” Together, they explore parts work, neurodivergence, dopamine-seeking brains, and how founders can redesign their businesses around compassion, curiosity, creativity, and connection — not constant optimization.This is a conversation about letting go, staying human, and choosing systems that support your nervous system instead of punishing it.What we talk about• Why burnout isn’t a productivity problem — it’s a systems problem• How self-blame quietly becomes the default business model• Divesting from hustle culture without abandoning financial reality• Parts work, internalized “manager” voices, and listening to your true self• Neurodivergence, dopamine, and why consistency can feel impossible• Why fewer metrics — and different ones — can lead to more peace• Building capacity without treating rest like a reward• Redesigning your business around mental health, not endurance• Letting go of social media and returning to relationship-based marketing• Why “doing less” can actually make your business more sustainableABOUT ANGELA JOHNSONAngela Johnson is known for helping rebel entrepreneurs turn their genius into a signature body of work and amplify their thought leadership using her simple one-page marketing plan. She has taught over 3,000 business owners how to stop chasing the algorithm and fitting into one-size-fits-all formulas by crafting a compelling message without using pain points or big promises.With a Master of Professional Communication, her IRB-approved research on how trauma impacts small-business owners is an anchor of her work. Her trauma-informed approach is the antidote for equity-centered businesses that are dedicated to leading with their values in a world where honoring humanity is a radical act of resistance.Angela has shared stages with thought leaders including Elizabeth Gilbert, Lynn Twist, and Lisa Nichols. Beyond her work as an adjunct professor and entrepreneur, she is happiest when she is creating anything with her hands, from painting, embroidery, and pottery to gardening. Angela lives on the stolen land of the Goshute Nation in Utah, with her partner of over 20 years, where together they spoil their rescue dog, who is the queen of the house.Connect with Angela at www.angelamjohnson.com.🎤 WE ARE PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE. JOIN US! http://feministpodcastcollective.com/

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/Check out the Season 10 trailer for Here’s What I Learned with Jacki Hayes, a fellow member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.This season is built around real experiments. Jacki isn’t just talking about ideas. She’s inviting coaches and service providers to assign her an actual experiment from their area of expertise. She runs it in her business, then they come back together to break down what worked, what didn’t, and what the results actually show.If you like practical insight, honest reflection, and learning from real-world tests instead of polished theories, this season is worth a listen.Find the show wherever you listen to podcasts or visit https://www.jackihayes.co/podcast

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/Our friend Nicole just dropped the trailer for her new podcast Just Rest — and we're SOOO excited!We’re both part of the Feminist Podcast Collective, and watching this show come to life has been such a joy. Just Rest is for people who care deeply, work hard, and are tired of being told burnout is just the price of caring.This podcast is all about rest as resistance, sustainable change, and staying human in a grind-obsessed world. It’s thoughtful, grounded, and deeply compassionate — the kind of show that feels like a long exhale.Give the trailer a listen, then rate & review if it resonates. It makes a huge difference for indie, values-driven podcasts.🎧 https://justrest.buzzsprout.com

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/What happens when feminist founders stop trying to outrun burnout—and start redesigning work around care, capacity, and real life?In this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke are joined by Meg Buzzi and Sarah Durlacher, co-founders of Fixchr, a boutique consulting firm that helps organizations navigate change through behavior, engagement, and collective practice.Together, they unpack what abundance actually means when you’re juggling caregiving, leadership, partnership, and survival inside systems that were never built for human needs. This is a conversation about decolonizing time, rebuilding capacity after burnout, refusing urgency culture, and reimagining work that flows—rather than drains.If you’re a founder who feels stretched thin, caught between care work and paid work, or craving a more spacious way to lead, this episode will feel like an exhale. In This Episode, We Talk About:• Why abundance isn’t just about money—it’s also about time, restoration, and choice• How caregiving (especially for elders) reshapes leadership capacity• What it means to decolonize time and stop moralizing productivity• Moving from crisis-driven work to preventative, sustainable change• The tension between billable work and long-term investments in community and ideas• Why founders often become the last people to receive the care they offer others• Designing businesses that can bend without breaking when life happensMeg Buzzi and Sarah Durlacher are the co-founders of Fixchr, a boutique consulting organization that supports organizations, teams, and leaders through periods of transition and change. Their work focuses on behavior change, engagement, and helping groups move together—without defaulting to urgency, extraction, or burnout. https://www.fixchr.com/About Feminist FoundersFeminist Founders is a podcast and community for business owners who want to challenge capitalist norms and build human-first, equity-aligned businesses. Hosted by Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke, the show blends real conversations, feminist analysis, and practical reflection for founders who refuse to hustle themselves into the ground.👉 Learn more and join the community at feministfounders.co🎤 JOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE: http://feministpodcastcollective.com/

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/🎟️ Join Us December 18th for the Planning SprintIf Amanda’s story hit home — if you also feel buried under tiny tasks, unclear on the big picture, and craving time to breathe, think, and reset — come join Faith and me for a 90-minute Planning Sprint on Dec. 18th.This is not productivity theater.This is support.This is resourcing.This is creating space for actual clarity so you can end the year grounded instead of gasping.$199 • No sales page • Register here:👉 https://beckymollenkamp.as.me/planning______________This week we sat down with Feminist Founders member Amanda Laird, a growth marketing strategist and creator of Slow & Steady, a feminist business practice rooted in integrity, intentionality, and the belief that women and creative entrepreneurs deserve to thrive without burning themselves to the ground.Amanda helps solo creative entrepreneurs rethink their relationship with marketing and growth, and she does it through a holistic, feminist lens—one she developed through 20+ years in communications, deep study with Jennifer Armbrust (Sister), and a background in holistic nutrition that taught her to look at root causes, not symptoms.But today’s conversation wasn’t just about her clients. It was also about Amanda’s own edges—the place where so many of us find ourselves:the overwhelm of being a one-woman show, the longing for a slower pace, the guilt of resting before we “earn” it, and the capitalist potholes we keep falling into even when we know better.Faith and I walked with Amanda through what it means to rebuild capacity, tap into community, hear the voice she keeps locked in the closet (her words!), and reorient her work away from exhaustion and back toward restoration, creativity, and support.Spoiler: the answer involved a tiny sketchbook, a five-minute daily practice, and reclaiming the truth that we don’t build feminist businesses by doing it all alone.It’s tender, it’s real, and it’s a masterclass in taking your own medicine as a feminist leader.In This Episode We Discuss:• Amanda’s core value of integrity and how it anchors her work• Why “slow and steady” is both a philosophy and an aspiration• How the feminine economy (Jennifer Armbrust) shapes her business• The honest truth of being overwhelmed by tiny tasks and big dreams• The eldest-daughter conditioning that tells us we must do it all• Why capacity and organization aren’t the real issue• How shame shows up around asking for or paying for support• The myth that we must “earn” rest• The voice in the closet: the wisdom of community, reciprocity & tapping into our network• Rebuilding leadership from restoration, not exhaustion• Help, harm, and why individualism keeps us stuck• A practical (and compassionate) plan for moving forward:• A “not right now” list• A five-minute daily sketchbook practice• Anchoring back into alignment-before-actionTurning toward community instead of isolation🎤 WE'RE PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/In this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke reflect on The Weight We Carry — a focus group conversation about invisible labor and how it shows up in our personal and professional lives.They share insights and takeaways from the powerful session, where participants told stories, named the unseen work they carry, and began exploring ways to release it. What emerged was both deeply personal and profoundly collective — a recognition that the exhaustion so many of us feel isn’t personal failure, it’s systemic.Discussed in this conversation:• How storytelling reveals the collective wisdom we already hold• Why invisible labor is both embodied and systemic• What it means to refuse to participate in your own sacrifice• How trust, accountability, and community intersect in the work of release• Why simple “one-two-three” solutions don’t work — and what does• How shame, guilt, and perfectionism keep us in patterns of overwork• The power of community in reprogramming the conditioning that makes us overfunction• What medicine looks like when it’s rooted in collective care and belongingBecky and Faith also share details about their upcoming small-group program—Releasing the Weight—a community container designed to help you identify, name, and release the invisible labor weighing you down — just in time for the holidays.✨ Join the group experience: feministfounders.co/group📰 Subscribe on Substack: feministfounders.substack.comBusiness owners can contribute to the white paper🎤 PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/This week looks a little different. Becky’s out sick, so we’re sharing a powerful conversation from Assigned Reading where Becky and Faith dive into Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s essay and TED Talk We Should All Be Feminists.It’s a wide-ranging and deeply personal discussion about feminism across cultures, the intersections of race and gender, and how we carry both the weight of oppression and the responsibility of shaping culture ourselves.👉 Don’t miss our upcoming free event, The Weight We Carry on invisible labor, happening October 9, 2025. Sign up here: https://evt.to/eoieheiswDiscussed in this episode:• How Adichie’s centering of Nigerian culture resonates with Afro-Caribbean experiences• Why feminism often defaults to “white feminism” in the U.S.—and the harm in that invisibility• Chimamanda’s 2017 comments on trans women, her clarification, and what it says about growth and accountability• How women are held to perfectionist standards under white supremacy• The challenge (and necessity) of contextualizing feminism through race, culture, and personal story• Why “people shape culture” is both a call to action and a permission slip• Owning our own stories of privilege and oppression—and how whiteness itself can be a prison• Shame as one of the sharpest tools of oppression and how it maintains systems of power• The many ways activism can look: rest, storytelling, parenting, teaching, healing, and beyond🎤 PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/In this solo episode of Feminist Founders, Faith Clarke reflects on the invisible labor women carry, the stories that connect us, and the power of collective truth-telling. Drawing from Desmond Tutu’s teaching on Ubuntu—“a person is a person through other persons”—Faith invites listeners to consider how our common humanity can be honored through deep listening, shared storytelling, and co-creation of solutions.Faith shares her background in qualitative research, her belief that human stories are data, and how the Feminist Founders community is engaging in collective storytelling to explore invisible labor. This episode is both a personal reflection and an invitation: to join a larger conversation, contribute your story, and help co-create liberatory solutions for founders and communities.💡 Discussed in this episode:The wisdom of Ubuntu and how it calls us into shared humanityWhy listening to stories is a spiritual practiceHow invisible labor impacts women’s health and livesThe limitations of traditional research methods and the power of lived experienceWhy collective truth-telling is essential for creating solutionsThe Feminist Founders initiative to document and share a white paper on invisible labor🎤 Proud members of the Feminist Podcasters Collective

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/What happens when you step away from everything you’ve built—not just for a week off, but for months of deep rest and reflection?In this episode of Feminist Founders summer series on women’s invisible labor, Becky talks with Mai-kee Tsang, who took a two-month sabbatical after seven years of running her business. What started as a response to grief became a radical reimagining of work, worth, and identity.Together, they explore:How grief and pet loss led Mai-kee to create space for healingWhy sabbaticals are not just breaks, but tools for reclaiming agency and restThe “ego death” of stepping away from business identity and embracing the messy middleThe guilt and fear many entrepreneurs feel when stepping back or walking awayHow invisible labor shapes women’s relationship to work and restThe importance of redefining success beyond productivity and business ownershipWhy giving yourself permission to “just be” is a feminist actMai-kee reminds us that walking away doesn’t erase the value of what you’ve built. It can be a form of liberation, a chance to listen to yourself again, and to reimagine what’s possible when you’re no longer defined by your work.Mai-kee Tsang is a writer, mentor, and former Sustainable Visibility® strategist. After seven years of entrepreneurship, she took a sabbatical to grieve, heal, and reconnect with her identity outside of work. Today, she continues to hold space for community through her email letters, Cup of Catch-ups, and experiments in simply being. Sign up for Mai-kee’s email list🎤 PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/Host Faith Clarke sits down with burnout recovery specialist and relationship coach Jay Asooli to dig into what we often call “invisible labor”—and why Jay insists it’s more accurate to say invisibilized labor. Together, they explore the emotional, cognitive, and care work that keeps households, workplaces, and communities running—work that’s hidden in plain sight, disproportionately carried by women, non-men, and marginalized people.Jay shares deeply personal reflections on being a family caregiver, the countless jobs rolled into that role, and how the systems around us deliberately minimize and erase this labor. She names the many categories of relational labor—repair initiation, resistance moderation, stress regulation, social hosting, educational labor—and how these patterns play out in both families and workplaces.This is not just about naming the problem. Faith and Jay talk about how protest, grief, and awareness are radical acts of resistance, and how community care and co-creation are essential for building new ways of living and working.If you’ve ever felt exhausted from carrying too much, unseen, or guilty for “not doing enough,” this conversation will remind you that you’re not alone—and that your labor deserves to be recognized, valued, and shared.Discussed in This Episode:Why Jay calls it invisibilized labor instead of invisible laborHow systemic oppression allocates and imposes unpaid care and emotional workThe parallels between caregiving at home and “extra” labor in the workplaceThe hidden categories of relationship labor—from repair initiation to resistance moderationThe role of protest, grief, and truth-telling in reclaiming our livesHow community, curiosity, and co-created care can shift the weightConnect with Jay Asooli: Website | Instagram🎤 PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/What happens when you’re raising young children and caring for aging parents—or even siblings with disabilities—at the same time? That’s the reality for millions of Gen Xers and millennials in the “sandwich generation.”In this episode of Feminist Founders, part of our summer series on invisible labor, Becky talks with Anna De La Cruz, a social impact consultant, writer, and caregiver based in Seattle. Anna is the voice behind GenXandwich on Substack, where she writes candidly about navigating multi-generational caregiving while raising three kids and caring for her brother with Down syndrome.Discussed in this episode:What it means to be “sandwiched” between kids, parents, and other loved ones who need care.Why women—especially women of color—carry the bulk of unpaid and underpaid care work, and how sexism and pay disparities reinforce that reality.How capitalism has failed caregivers, creating a system where care is unaffordable for families but still undervalued and underpaid for workers.The emotional toll of invisible labor, from guilt to burnout, and how naming it helps us fight for systemic change.The importance of collective care, community, and policy solutions—not just “self-care”—to support caregivers.Reimagining how we talk about death and aging as part of creating healthier, more honest conversations about caregiving.Anna reminds us that making invisible labor visible isn’t just about validation—it’s about shifting culture and demanding policies that actually support people.🎉 Read Anna’s writing at GenXandwich on Substack: https://substack.com/@genxandwich🎤PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/In this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky sits down with health and wellness coach Balu Belz to dig into the hidden weight mothers carry—at home, in business, and in society. Part of our summer series on women’s invisible labor, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the cultural conditionizng that leaves mothers unsupported, undervalued, and exhausted.Balu shares her journey from a challenging fertility process through early motherhood, and how those experiences shaped her mission to support moms in ways that honor their individual needs and identities. Together, Becky and Balu tackle everything from the myth of “it takes a village,” to the systemic failures of maternal healthcare, to why asking for help often feels like a radical act.This is a conversation about making the invisible visible—naming the unseen labor women perform every day, and insisting that mothers deserve support, care, and recognition. Whether you’re a parent or not, you’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of why this labor matters, how it’s tied to broader systems of inequity, and what it looks like to push back.Discussed in This Episode:Balu’s path into health and wellness coaching after her own fertility and birthing experiencesWhy invisible labor is often unnamed—and how simply naming it can be transformativeThe staggering statistics about maternal support gaps: one-third of women feeling unsupported by providers during pregnancy, and one-fifth experiencing perinatal mood or anxiety disorders with less than half receiving careThe realities of self-employment, parental leave, and running a business while motheringThe truth about “it takes a village” and why moms actually need systemic and structural support, not platitudesThe exploitation baked into childcare—parents overpaying, workers underpaid, and women (especially women of color) bearing the bruntHow the pressure to “do it all” fuels shame and silence, and why giving ourselves permission to seek support mattersWhat becomes possible when we make invisible labor visibleResources mentioned:Connect with Balu Belz on LinkedInPast episodes mentioned:Toi Smith: Loving Single Black MothersMotherful: Building Villages for Single Moms🎤 PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/In this solo episode, Faith Clarke breaks down the invisible labor so many of us carry—especially women with marginalized identities—and how it shapes our leadership, health, and humanity. From the exhausting calculations we make to stay safe, to the unspoken emotional labor of managing other people’s comfort, Faith exposes the quiet toll this labor takes on our bodies and businesses.She offers clear, actionable practices for naming, tracking, and shifting these patterns—both within ourselves and our organizations. This is an episode for anyone who’s ever felt like they had to soften the blow, hold the bag, or clean up the mess… and for those of us building feminist businesses that promise to do better.Discussed in this episode:The invisible labor required by people with marginalized identities to simply exist in and navigate the worldWhy women often "hold the bag" in group dynamics—and how that connects to patriarchy, power, and perceived belongingThe unspoken calculations women make to avoid seeming “difficult” or “aggressive” at workHow safety, identity, and marginalization intersect in workplace dynamicsThe emotional labor of navigating men’s feelings and the constant threat of backlash when setting boundariesThe “man vs. bear” thought experiment and what it reveals about how women assess risk in everyday interactionsOngoing systemic violence like Canada’s “birth alert” policy and how Indigenous women are criminalized during childbirthHow Black women’s emotions are policed and misinterpreted as aggressionThe physical, emotional, and mental health toll of invisible labor—especially on women ages 25–55The compounding effects of time poverty, caregiving demands, and self-neglect on women’s healthThe trap of drawing boundaries but still being asked to "soften the blow" for those with powerFour practices to begin addressing invisible labor in your life and business.Resources Mentioned:“Man vs. Bear” essayCanada’s “birth alert” policyJay Asooli🎤 PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCAST COLLECTIVE

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/Grief isn’t just about death — it’s the emotional response to any kind of loss, from big life changes to daily disappointments. And for women, especially, grief often goes unseen and unspoken.In this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky talks with Nikki the Death Doula about the heavy (and invisible) labor women carry when it comes to grief. Together, they unpack how we’re conditioned to take on everyone else’s pain, hide our own, and minimize the everyday losses that still weigh on us.Nikki shares her experience as a death doula, what she’s learned about unrecognized grief, and the simple practices that can help us process it — including her mantra: name it to tame it. They also explore how cultural silence around miscarriage, caregiving, and “small” griefs leaves us isolated, and how community and validation can open the door to healing.Connect with Nikki Smith:Website: https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.comGood Grief with Nikki the Death Doula: https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/podcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-smith-26203b38/Discussed in this episode:What grief really is (and why it’s not just about death)The “invisible labor” of carrying everyone else’s griefHow women are socialized to silence or downplay their own painThe compounding effect of unprocessed griefMiscarriage, caregiving, and other under‑acknowledged losses“Name it to tame it”: a simple practice to process daily griefComparative suffering (aka the grief Olympics) and why it harms usThe healing power of validation and community🎤 PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE: http://feministpodcastcollective.com/

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/In this solo episode of Feminist Founders’ summer series on women’s invisible labor, Becky shares a deeply personal practice she’s relied on for years: quarterly solo hotel retreats.Recorded across two days in real time, Becky opens up about why she prioritizes this ritual, the family grief and financial stress that made this one especially necessary, and how these retreats help her reset from the relentless invisible labor of parenting, partnership, and work.From perimenopause symptoms to parenting burnout, from the quiet joy of lowering a thermostat to 60 degrees to the relief of binge-watching shows alone in peace, this episode is an intimate reminder that self-care isn’t selfish — it’s survival.What You’ll Hear in This Episode:• Why Becky takes solo hotel retreats every quarter (and why two nights are non‑negotiable)• The invisible labor women carry in parenting, marriage, and caregiving• The guilt that arises when prioritizing your own needs — and how to work through it• How grief, perimenopause, and financial strain compound emotional labor• Small ways to carve out restorative space, even if a hotel isn’t possible• Why granting yourself permission to rest can be revolutionaryResources & Links• Join the Messy Liberation Coaches Circle• Heather Vickery's episode on retreats🎤 PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/What happens when a solo business owner hits the wall—and actually stops? In this candid conversation, Becky Mollenkamp talks with copywriter and branding expert Paige Worthy about her two-month sabbatical, why she took it, and what she learned about labor, self-worth, and the sneaky grip of capitalist productivity culture.Paige opens up about the emotional toll of juggling clients, living in a world on fire, and the myth that stepping away is a luxury or a failure. From the privilege that made her time off possible to the inner voices that almost stopped her, she shares a raw and honest look at what real rest looks like (hint: it's not always pretty or peaceful).Whether you’re a burned-out entrepreneur, a therapist who needs their own therapist, or someone dreaming of hitting pause but unsure how to give yourself permission, this episode is your invitation to imagine something different.Paige Worthy (she/her) is a writer, editor, and brand messaging strategist for progressive entrepreneurs. Known for her spicy takes, thoughtful wordcraft, and zero tolerance for misogynist bullshit, Paige shows up in business and life as a truth-teller and cat-loving rage queen. She’s currently on sabbatical—joyfully making pottery, resisting capitalist productivity, and embracing rest as rebellion. 🌐 paigeworthy.comDiscussed in this episode:Why Paige took a two-month sabbatical—and what finally pushed her to itThe privilege and emotional labor baked into taking time offCapitalist conditioning and the pressure to make rest "productive"How it felt to step away from multiple clients—and why she didn’t lose themThe myth of constant urgency in client workLearning to treat work as part of life—not the center of itReentering work with clarity and choosing a “hell yes” clientLetting go of hustle culture, scarcity thinking, and shameWhat labor really means in a system that doesn’t support being humanThe value of reclaiming time, even if it’s just a weekend aloneResource mentioned:Burnout coach Nicole Havelka🎤 PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE 🎤

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/Dr. Giavanni Washington joins Faith Clarke for a raw and powerful conversation about the invisible labor women perform—especially Black women, immigrant daughters, eldest daughters, and overachievers—and the cost of sacrificing ourselves in the name of love, family, and professionalism. Giavanni unpacks her personal reckoning with worthiness, the structures that normalize our overwork, and the generational pattern-breaking required to reclaim joy and liberation.Together, they explore how systems of white supremacy and patriarchy have conditioned us to be complicit in our own exhaustion—and what it takes to step out of those systems. From motherhood to work, partnership to family caregiving, this episode is a must-listen for anyone rethinking what it means to show up without self-abandonment.Discussed in this episode:Giavanni’s journey from overachieving to awakeningWhat it means to “stop participating in your own sacrifice”Invisible labor in families, especially for eldest daughtersHow patriarchal structures hide in modern partnershipsThe spiritual toll of being the family fixerReorganizing life around joy and rest—not guilt and obligationHow language and frameworks (like “invisible labor”) can set us freeWhy burnout isn’t about better systems, but better valuesResources Mentioned:The Overachievers Oracle podcast with Giavanni WashingtonBlack Goddess Within: Giavanni’s spiritual liberation practice🎤 Proud members of the Feminist Podcast Collective

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/In this raw and resonant conversation, transformation coach Heather Vickery joins Becky to talk about burnout, invisible labor, and why choosing yourself is a radical act of resistance. They unpack the emotional and physical toll of carrying the weight of the world—especially for women and non-binary folks socialized to perform and produce. Heather shares how retreats (from solo hotel stays to facilitated group gatherings) can serve as powerful tools for reconnection, rest, and radical reclamation.She breaks down the science behind healing modalities like NLP and Human Design, and why well-resourced women are dangerous to the systems that aim to keep us small. If you've ever struggled to give yourself permission to rest, this episode will remind you why your liberation matters—and how rest isn’t just self-care, it’s strategy.Heather Vickery’s website: vickeryandco.comCosta Rica Retreat (Jan 21–26, 2026): https://vickeryandco.com/costa-rica📝 Discussed in this EpisodeWhy invisible labor leads to burnout—and why that’s by designThe myth of the “good girl” and how it traps women in unsustainable patternsHeather’s journey from conformity to radical self-trustHow retreats help disrupt autopilot and create space for healingThe power of NLP, Human Design, and somatic tools for personal transformationWhy resourced women are a threat to patriarchal, capitalist systemsThe difference between a vacation and a retreatTips for deciding what kind of retreat you need based on your season of lifeThe importance of investing in yourself without guiltHow retreating helps you return more whole, grounded, and effective💪 PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCAST COLLECTIVE: http://feministpodcastcollective.com/

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/In this powerful solo episode of Feminist Founders, Faith Clarke shares a deeply personal reflection on what it means to carry invisible labor as a woman, especially as a solo parent, a nonprofit consultant, and a woman of color navigating systemic inequity. From her lived experience of parenting through hypervigilance to her professional insights into underfunded organizations and the cost of over-functioning, Faith names what so often goes unnamed—and offers a call to reimagine leadership and community care.She examines the praise women receive for being the ones who “carry it all” and challenges us to question why we accept that role in the first place. She doesn’t just talk about asking for help—she explores what it would take to build systems of collective leadership and shared responsibility.This is an unfiltered, heart-led exploration of burnout, vigilance, scarcity, and liberation. If you’ve ever felt like Atlas with the world on your shoulders, this episode is your permission slip to set it down.Discussed in this episode:The hidden costs of hypervigilance, especially in parenting and solo caregivingHow race, gender, and nonprofit hierarchies intersect to under-resource womenThe emotional toll of being the go-to person (the “Luisa” of your world)Why naming invisible labor is a radical actHow we begin moving from lone heroism to collective leadership💪 PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCAST COLLECTIVE: http://feministpodcastcollective.com/

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/In this candid conversation, burnout coach Nicole Havelka joins Becky Mollenkamp to explore the systemic roots of burnout, especially for women, mothers, and caregivers. They discuss why rest is more than sleep, how women’s invisible labor adds up, and why the “just get a new job” advice is bullshit in a culture designed to drain us dry. Nicole brings a trauma-informed, embodied approach to healing burnout—one that doesn’t start with productivity hacks but with reclaiming your nervous system, your spaciousness, and your humanity. This episode is part of our special Feminist Founders summer series focused on women’s labor.Nicole Havelka's Website | Newsletter💬 Discussed in This EpisodeWhat burnout really is (and why it’s more than just being tired)How gendered expectations and invisible labor feed chronic overwhelmThe critical role of embodiment and nervous system work in healingWhy capitalist and white supremacist systems depend on our burnoutThe illusion of spaciousness and what it means to actually restHow meditation doesn’t have to look like sitting still and saying "om"The power of giving yourself permission to not volunteer at the damn PTOHow to plan your schedule to not be a human version of a doctor's waiting roomWhy moms get guilted and dads don’t—and what that says about our systems📚 Resources Mentioned"Burnout" by Emily & Amelia Nagoski"Fair Play" by Eve Rodsky"Sacred Rest" by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith"Essentialism" by Greg McKeown"Rest is Resistance" by Tricia HerseyThe Nap Ministry on Instagram🎧 This show is part of the Feminist Podcast Collective, a community of progressive creators reclaiming media through storytelling and solidarity.

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/In this candid conversation, Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke kick off their summer series exploring women’s labor—visible, invisible, paid, unpaid, emotional, and generational. They dive into what’s been stirring beneath the surface: the overwhelm of trying to do it all, the cultural myths of "having it all," and the shame and guilt baked into simply needing rest.Faith opens up about her reflections on the Paris Paloma song and her own poetry as a way to name what’s often unspoken. Becky shares the seasonal stress of parenting, running a business, and feeling like she’s always supposed to keep pushing. Together, they name the collective weight women carry and offer an alternative path rooted in pleasure, community, and ease.This episode kicks off a looser, more spacious summer format—one that resists perfectionism and honors capacity. Expect solo musings, guest conversations, and whatever else feels good, all orbiting the theme of labor and liberation.Discussed in this episode:Why emotional labor is real—and disproportionately carried by womenHow systems reinforce impossible expectations, especially for mothersFaith’s reflection on being “the Black woman holding up the Earth”Becky’s struggle with summer parenting vs productivityThe guilt/shame spiral of rest and how to rebel against itWhy letting systems break is sometimes the most powerful choiceHow joy, rest, and pleasure are radical strategies for changeWhat to expect in this summer series shiftParis Paloma’s song “Labour”🎧 PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCAST COLLECTIVE 🎧

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/What does it really take to build a business rooted in your values—without burning out, selling out, or sacrificing your sanity?Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke introduce a new 6-month group container designed for feminist entrepreneurs who are done with toxic business culture and ready to lead in a way that feels nourishing, not extractive.We unpack:Why traditional masterminds and coaching programs don’t work for liberatory leadersWhat makes this group different (hint: no formulas, no gurus, no performance required)Who this is really for—and why you're not "too much" or "not enough"What you'll leave with: self-trust, spaciousness, and a community that gets itThis episode is full of real talk about building a values-aligned, human-first business in a world that’s obsessed with productivity, hustle, and hierarchy.If you’re wondering how to run your business differently—but aren’t sure where to begin—this episode will feel like a warm, radical permission slip.📝 Apply for the group program here: https://feministfounders.co/group 📩 Got questions? Email us at [email protected] 🌈 Subscribe to the Feminist Founders newsletter: https://feministfounders.substack.com

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/In the final episode of this five-part series on the Feminist Founders framework, Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke explore what happens after the strategy sessions are over. This conversation is about the often-overlooked work of integration—how to actually live your values in the everyday reality of your business.They share personal stories, client examples, and real-world tools to show how feminist business values like transparency, consent, curiosity, and co-regulation can show up in your systems, your leadership, and even your Zoom meetings.Listen in to learn:What changes on Day 2, after you’ve reimagined your businessWhy discomfort is a sign you’re doing the work, not failingHow to practice your values in meetings (yes, even as a solopreneur)The role of leadership in modeling accountability and co-regulationWhat to do when team members resist your evolving cultureHow to create rhythms for revisiting and refining your business frameworkSpoiler: The real magic isn't in the vision—it’s in the practice. And the practice will be messy.🎧 Plus, get a sneak peek of the supportive container Becky and Faith are building to help founders like you do this work with structure and community.

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/In this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke dive deep into what might be the most critical (and most avoided) part of feminist entrepreneurship: conflict and disruption.This conversation will help you reframe discomfort not as failure—but as proof that you’re doing something different. Becky and Faith explore why conflict is inevitable in values-aligned businesses, how to meet it with compassion, and why traditional conflict-avoidance strategies (hello, white lady niceness) just don’t cut it anymore.Together, they discuss:The internal stories we tell ourselves in moments of discomfortWhy systems of oppression make conflict feel dangerous—especially for white womenHow to regulate your nervous system during hard conversationsNavigating conflict as a leader without falling into supremacist, hierarchical patternsWhy harm repair should be a documented system in your businessTools like “oops/ouch” and “bug/wish” to build a conflict-embracing cultureDisruption deserves its own seat at the feminist business framework table—because this is where real change begins.🎧 Next week’s episode wraps the series with how to implement all five parts of the Feminist Founders framework. Subscribe now so you don’t miss it! 

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/In this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke break down what it really means to build systems in your business that align with your feminist, anti-capitalist, and anti-supremacist values. From automation overwhelm to resisting empire-thinking in tech tools, they unpack why most systems weren’t built for you—and how to challenge that by designing your own.They explore:What systems actually are (spoiler: it's not just software!)Why most business tools are inherently rooted in patriarchal, capitalist valuesHow to map systems from vision to implementation while centering careThe difference between cobbled-together and bespokeWhat it means to decolonize your systemsHow to co-create processes that prioritize relationships over rigid efficiencyIf you’ve ever felt like your business systems were “a mess” or wondered why nothing out there fits what you’re trying to build—you’re not broken. You’re trying to do things differently. This episode is your permission slip to keep doing just that.🎧 Listen in, and then subscribe for next week’s episode on navigating conflict in values-aligned businesses.

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/🎙️ In this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke dive into the third pillar of their business framework: Culture.What does it mean to build a culture rooted in equity and care—especially when you’re not in the room? Whether you have a team or work solo, culture emerges. The question is: Are you shaping it intentionally or letting systems of urgency, hierarchy, and supremacy do it for you?Becky and Faith explore how to move from aspirational values to embodied cultural practices, how to build habits that reflect your beliefs, and how to address the difficult truth that your actions reveal what you truly value (even if you wish they didn’t).💡 If you’re ready to design a trust-filled business that reflects your values, this episode offers both philosophical insight and practical starting points.

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/🎙️ In this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke take on the second pillar in their 5-part framework for running a justice-focused business: Leadership.Leadership isn’t just about having a team or managing others—it’s about how you lead yourself. In this conversation, they explore why self-accountability is crucial, how internalized hustle culture shows up even when we “know better,” and what it really means to invite clients, collaborators, and contractors into your vision.They also unpack what vulnerability in leadership looks like, how to avoid replicating hierarchical systems, and why building community is essential to sustaining value-aligned leadership.💡 Don’t just consume the ideas—live them. Get support inside the Feminist Founders community: https://feministfounders.substack.com/

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/🎙️ This week on Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke take a deep dive into the first pillar of their feminist business framework: Vision.You’ll learn why starting with a clear, values-aligned vision is essential for building a business that supports justice, equity, and liberation. Becky and Faith walk through how to clarify your feminist priorities, define your desired impact, and identify one small but powerful practice you can use to align your business more fully with your values.They also unpack what it looks like to navigate disruption, honor imperfection, and use your privilege responsibly—all while building a business that feels nourishing to your whole self.💡 Subscribe to the Feminist Founders newsletter to keep doing this work in community: https://feministfounders.substack.com/

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/🎙️ In this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp is joined by her new partner, Faith Clarke, to unveil the 5-part framework they developed to help liberation-minded entrepreneurs grow businesses rooted in justice.You’ll hear the behind-the-scenes story of how this evolved, why each component—Vision, Leadership, Culture, Systems, and Disruption—is essential, and how naming your own “medicine” can radically transform your impact.If you're tired of one-size-fits-all frameworks rooted in hustle culture and hierarchy, this is the model you’ve been waiting for. Whether you're a solo founder or leading a small team, this episode lays the foundation for building an anti-capitalist, people-first business.Want more on this? Subscribe to the Feminist Founders newsletter to get behind-the-scenes insights and updates: https://feministfounders.substack.com/

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/Becky Mollenkamp is an intersectional feminist - unapologetically and never uses blame or shame as tools, AND white feminism is not ok. She is an accountability coach for high performing business owners. Becky shares incredible insight around how feminism is a trigger for more people than just men and what that means, what we can do, and how to improve by small degrees each day. She hosts a new podcast called "Feminist Founders" that are disrupting the way feminism is perceived and feared - to create how we will continue making change for the future.Follow Women Making Moves by clicking subscribe/follow or rate on your favorite platform and follow along on Instagram and follow Unlock the Magic or visit https://unlockthemagic.org

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/This special sneak peek episode offers a glimpse of what’s coming to Feminist Founders in 2025 as Faith Clarke officially joins Becky Mollenkamp as a partner. Together, they share their honest, behind-the-scenes thoughts about their new partnership, how they’re building this business collaboratively, and the real-time challenges and insights at the intersection of business and feminism.In this episode, Becky and Faith dig deep into:How violence—against ourselves and others—shows up in subtle ways in our businesses, often rooted in fear and conditioning.The importance of unmasking, being witnessed, and doing this work in community rather than alone.How capitalist norms and power identities can perpetuate harm in our workspaces, even when we’re trying to challenge them.What it looks like to tend to ourselves and each other as we strive to build businesses that prioritize safety, love, and collective wisdom.This is just the beginning of many conversations like this. Starting in 2025, paid subscribers will get access to monthly private podcast episodes where Becky and Faith share real-time reflections, tough questions, and behind-the-scenes details about their partnership and business journey.What’s coming for paid members in 2025:Monthly private podcast episodes like this one, diving into the challenges, insights, and messy realities of running a values-driven business.Monthly live events for community members to connect, explore these topics together, and create safe, supportive spaces for growth and transformation.Founding members also get a monthly mention (company name and website) in our newsletter with 3k+ readers.If you want to be part of these conversations, now’s the time to upgrade your membership before the end of the year. Rates will increase in 2025 as this partnership officially gets underway, so lock in your access now!UPGRADE NOW AT: https://feministfounders.substack.com/

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/In this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp sits down with Amelia Hruby, feminist philosopher, podcaster, and founder of Softer Sounds, to discuss the radical act of leaving social media and building values-aligned businesses. Amelia shares her journey from academia to entrepreneurship, how she created a feminist podcast studio, and the intentionality behind slowing down and prioritizing a human-first approach to work. Together, they dive into the challenges of resisting hustle culture, the ethics of using platforms like Substack, and the power of cultivating community outside of algorithm-driven spaces. Whether you're contemplating leaving social media or seeking inspiration for running a feminist business, this episode is full of practical insights and heartfelt wisdom.Amelia Hruby (she/her) is a writer, educator and podcaster with a PhD in philosophy. She is the founder of Softer Sounds, a feminist podcast studio for entrepreneurs and creatives. And she’s the host of Off the Grid, a podcast about leaving social media without losing all your clients.Amelia’s Website | Softer Sounds | Off the Grid | BookDiscussed in This Episode:What it means to run a feminist podcast studioThe challenges and fears of leaving social media as a business ownerPractical alternatives to social media marketingHow intentionality can disrupt hustle culture and create space for alignmentThe design and philosophy behind Softer Sounds and Off the GridWhy intersectional feminism is at the heart of ethical business practicesStrategies for visibility without social mediaBalancing creativity, community, and profitability as a service providerResources Mentioned:Amelia’s dissertation“The Age of Surveillance Capitalism” by Shoshana ZuboffWorthwhile PaperFeminist Business School from Sister.is“50 Feminist Mantras” by Amelia HrubyDesigner Kening Zhuadrienne maree brown’s Loving CorrectionsBlack and Pink PenPalsAmelia’s Arena boards (from bonus conversation for newsletter subscribers)If you’ve been grappling with how to align your business with your values or wondering whether leaving social media could work for you, this episode is a must-listen!

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/In this insightful episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp talks with brand scientist N. Chloé Nwangwu about the unique challenges of building brand visibility for underrepresented and marginalized communities. Chloe brings her rich background in conflict mediation and international politics to her work in visibility engineering, helping brands influence behavior while honoring their identities and values. She and Becky dive into the concept of visibility as a complex, non-neutral force shaped by societal biases and systemic barriers. Together, they unpack key concepts like the ambition penalty, reciprocity gap, and validation paradox, exploring how these invisible forces affect women, people of color, and other under-recognized groups in the branding space. Chloe shares her methodology for creating an “ecosystem of influence” and her unique approach to visibility engineering that helps brands stand out authentically, despite systemic hurdles. This conversation is a must-listen for entrepreneurs committed to building brands that reflect their true values and vision for a more inclusive world.N. Chloé Nwangwu (she/her) is the director of NobiWorks, a brand visibility consultancy rooted in behavioral science. She unabashedly believes brands and visibility strategies not built with power dynamics and biases in mind should consider disappearing from this plane of existence. NobiWorks equips underrecognized brands with visibility strategies and systems scientifically formulated to help them neutralize visibility biases while commanding — and keeping— attention in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Everything you do to be better seen, heard and understood should work. Full stop. And it is her personal mission to make that so.Website | Instagram | LinkedInDiscussed in This Episode:Chloé’s journey from international conflict mediation to brand strategy and visibility engineeringThe difference between branding and visibility for underrepresented communities vs. mainstream brandingVisibility biases and the “racial attention deficit” that affect marginalized groups in branding and beyondThe invisibility tax and ambition penalty, and how these concepts reveal hidden barriers for under-recognized brandsCognitive biases in branding and how they create visibility challengesThe importance of creating an “ecosystem of influence” for sustained brand impactVisibility engineering as a strategy for making brands “impossible to ignore”Practical steps to structure branding around social impact, inclusivity, and ethical visibilityResources Mentioned:Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk: We Should All Be FeministsAbout Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s anti-trans rhetoricChange by Damon CentolaFreedom Dreams in PhilanthropyResources from Nobiworks

Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp at https://liberateyourbusiness.com/In this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp chats with Caleb Thomas, a male boudoir photographer, about his journey into empowerment photography and how he uses his work to challenge societal norms. Caleb shares how his boudoir photography, focused on body diversity, self-love, and reclaiming body agency, creates inclusive spaces for plus-size women, LGBTQ individuals, and people with disabilities. They also explore his experiences navigating power imbalances as a cishet male photographer, his TikTok success, and the challenges of social media censorship, as well as his advocacy for Oregon LGBTQ rights.Caleb Thomas (he/him) is a boudoir photographer based in Bend, Oregon, specializing in empowering, creative boudoir sessions that help folks (particularly women) reclaim their agency, identity, and sensuality. Before being a full time photographer (as well as the de facto stay at home parent of his 5 year old) he worked in tourism marketing, manufacturing marketing, and, most interestingly, (considering his current line of work) was the Media Director for a Megachurch for 5 years. After deconstructing his faith over the course of a decade, Caleb left the church. Caleb lives in Bend, Oregon with his Pastry Chef wife, their 5 year old kiddo, as well as their pup & cat. Website | Instagram | TikTok | YouTubeDiscussed in this episode:Empowerment photography and the transformative impact of boudoir experiences: Caleb shares how boudoir photography empowers clients by helping them reclaim agency over their bodies, fostering self-love, and providing an experience that celebrates authenticity and confidence.The intersection of feminism and male boudoir photography: Caleb discusses navigating power dynamics as a male boudoir photographer and how his feminist approach centers clients’ comfort, challenging traditional gender norms.Body positivity and creating inclusive spaces for plus-size and LGBTQ clients: Caleb explains his commitment to creating a welcoming environment for clients of all body types and identities, helping them embrace and celebrate their bodies through photography.Caleb’s personal journey of evangelical deconstruction and how it influences his work: Caleb reflects on leaving behind his conservative religious upbringing and how that journey has shaped his feminist values and approach to photography.The challenges of growing a photography business on TikTok and battling social media censorship: Caleb shares how his TikTok success grew his business but also how social media platforms censor his empowering content while allowing more exploitative material to thrive.Advocacy for Oregon LGBTQ rights and supporting the Bend Pride Coalition: Caleb highlights his work with the Bend Pride Coalition, supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals in conservative areas and advocating for safer, more inclusive spaces.Resources Mentioned:Babe City Boudoir“Ending the Pursuit of Perfection” TED Talk by Iskra LawrenceBend Pride Coalition