The AND Podcast

For this episode of The AND Podcast, we are exploring Roots AND Wings with the incredible Ateya Rana. A woman whose story is a powerful reminder that we can honor where we come from while still building a life that stretches far beyond what was expected of us. Born in Pakistan and arriving in the U.S. at 19 with big dreams, Ateya shares her journey of resilience, reinvention, leadership, motherhood, and finding the courage to fully become herself. This conversation is about identity, legacy, burnout, bravery, and the people who become the wind beneath our wings.

In this heartfelt episode of The AND Podcast, Ginger Leigh joins April and Ivy for a powerful conversation about creativity AND structure, roots AND wings, and what it means to fully embrace a life that doesn’t fit into one box. Musician, designer, world traveler, builder, writer, and storyteller- Ginger shares the beauty and complexity of living as a true multi-creative. Together, they explore courage, travel, faith, boundaries, artistry, entrepreneurship, and the importance of saying yes to the life that feels most alive to you. This episode is a reminder that your path does not have to be linear to be meaningful.

In this episode of Creative AND Structured, we sit down with musician and community builder Wendy Colonna to explore the intersection of creativity and discipline.From her early days building a DIY music community to creating a career that blends artistry and business, Wendy shares how structure doesn’t limit creativity, it unlocks it. This conversation dives into the power of the “messy middle,” embracing enoughness, and breaking free from the idea that we have to choose one path.

Getting fired. Letting people go. Staying behind after it happens. This episode holds all of it.Joined by Brie Kluytenaar, an employment lawyer of over 15 years, we walk through what to do, what to avoid, and what it really looks like to handle layoffs in a way that is both clear AND human.

Jenn Mahlik shares her experience of being let go in a way that lacked empathy, thoughtfulness, and intention and the lasting impact that kind of moment can have.Because being let go is already hard. But when it’s handled without humanity, it can feel deeply personal… even like a betrayal.In this conversation, we explore what happens after that. The choice between being hardened or being changed. And how Jenn chose to take one of the hardest moments in her career and turn it into something that now impacts so many others.

In this episode of Fired AND Free, Meghann shares her journey of finding a company that is deeply aligned with her values. One that redefined what it meant to support working parents, build community, and lead with humanity. When the company faced a necessary restructuring, her experience stood in stark contrast to many layoff stories. It was handled with care, transparency, and respect.Instead of searching for something similar, Meghann chose a different path: she built her own company, carrying forward the lessons, values, and leadership she experienced firsthand.

After being pushed into a leadership path that didn’t align, and ultimately getting fired, Rebecca found herself with something unexpected: the space to pause and get honest. Instead of rushing into the next role, she took the time to reflect on what truly worked for her and what didn’t. In this episode, she shares how that moment of disruption became a turning point, leading her to intentionally design a career around her strengths. It’s a powerful reminder that success doesn’t have to follow a prescribed path. And that we often have more control over our direction than we think.

When Daniel Huerta was fired, it opened a door. But the real turning point in his story came earlier, when he lost his best friend far too soon. In this episode, Daniel shares how grief reshaped his perspective, how a side project slowly became Modern People Leader, and what it looks like to build a life and career that feels more aligned, meaningful, and fully your own. This is a conversation about loss, risk, reinvention, and the freedom that can come after everything changes.

In the first episode of our Fired AND Free series, April and Ivy go first, sharing their own deeply personal stories of being fired, and what came after.They unpack the fear, shame, and loss that often come with being fired… and the unexpected freedom, clarity, and redirection on the other side. From navigating identity and confidence hits to rebuilding, reimagining, and ultimately stepping into something more aligned...this conversation holds both the hard and the hopeful.This series is about removing the stigma, reminding you that you’re not alone, and showing what’s possible beyond the moment that feels like everything just fell apart.Because sometimes getting fired is what finally sets you free.

In this Wellness AND Performance resource round-up, April reflects on the biggest lessons from the series where ambition meets alignment, and performance becomes sustainable.From redefining success and shifting environments, to building habits, community, and leadership practices that actually support well-being, this episode brings the patterns together.Because when wellness is integrated, not added on, everything changes.

In this final episode of the Wellness AND Performance series, April sits down with Vaishali Jadhav, Founder of Mandalight Learning, to explore how great leadership drives both performance and well-being.From Gallup to Whole Foods Market, Vaishali shares how small shifts, like creating space, managing energy, and empowering teams, can unlock better thinking, stronger cultures, and more sustainable success.

In this episode of the Wellness AND Performance series, April and Ivy sit down with Alex, Co-Founder of 4Ocean, to explore the connection between discipline, mindset, and sustainable performance.From pushing physical limits to redefining mental resilience, Alex shares how consistency, self-awareness, and intentional habits are the foundation for both personal growth and long-term success.

In this episode, we go inside Bonde with founders Meg Gold and Parnian Emami. A space built on intention, connection, and aligned ambition. Discover how wellness AND performance can coexist, and what becomes possible when community is the catalyst for change.

In this episode, Melissa Busby shares her journey through wellness, shadow work, and authentic living-unpacking how true transformation happens when we stop avoiding the hard parts and start leaning into them. From reprogramming limiting beliefs to understanding the power of mindset, Melissa explores how our inner world shapes everything.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Brie Kluytenaar, we move from her story into the practice of wellness itself. Brie shares practical ways to design your day, build small daily habits that support well-being, and rethink how workplaces can support the humans inside them. Because sustainable success isn’t built on burnout, it’s built through intention, community, and practicing wellness daily, not perfectly.

In this two-part kickoff to our Wellness and Performance series, April and Ivy sit down with attorney and Practicing Wellness founder Brie Kluytenaar. After six years in BigLaw and 15 years helping companies design better work as an employment attorney, Brie reached a turning point that led her to reimagine how workplace culture shapes not only results, but health, identity, and sustainability.

In this round-up episode of Scared AND Brave series, April reflects on the women who defined this season - Caroline Boudreaux, Robin Lerner, Whitney Rowell,, Molly Morse, Amy Kiska and Jodi Scott - and distills the patterns woven through their stories.Running toward the fire.Taking one small step.Building in seasons.Betting on yourself.Creating before proof exists.This isn’t a recap. It’s a reminder. If something in your life feels heavy, uncertain, or bigger than comfort, this episode is an invitation to step closer.You don’t need to be fearless. You just need to move.

In this episode, April sits down with longtime friend and entrepreneur Jodi Scott to share the story behind The Winfield Inn and her first steps into building businesses. From discovering an unexpected property to building it into a beloved wedding and event venue rooted in love and community.Jodi opens up about taking brave leaps, navigating business challenges, and allowing support during life’s hardest seasons. Together, they explore what it means to build a legacy, lead with heart, and let fear be fuel instead of a finish line.

In this episode, Amy and Molly share the behind-the-scenes story of founding Recess from the “why not?” moments, late-night conversations, and the bold decision to leap into entrepreneurship.From dreaming about becoming founders as young girls to identifying a real market need for families craving better experience for searching and booking camps and classes, Amy and Molly walk through the early collaborations, the setbacks, and the trust that became the foundation of their partnership. This conversation is about more than startups. It’s about trust. It’s about resilience. It’s about believing “we can do better” and being brave enough to try.

In this episode, April sits down with Whitney Rowell, founder of Miracle Mama, to talk about building a business rooted in motherhood, community, and purpose. From launching lactation cookies out of her kitchen to scaling production and raising capital, Whitney shares the honest journey of growing a company while raising a family.They discuss going viral, finding strategic partners, the power of women supporting women, and why self-care isn’t optional, it’s essential. This conversation is about entrepreneurship in real life and embracing the season you’re in, building with heart, and remembering that family is at the center of it all.

In this episode of The AND Podcast, April and Ivy sit down with Robin Lerner, someone who has spent her life stepping into some of the world’s hardest places, choosing presence, compassion, and responsibility even when fear is present.Together, they explore what it looks like to hold grief and hope, anger and love, the weight of reality and the possibility of change. This is a conversation about courage that isn’t loud, humanity that doesn’t look away, and the quiet power of choosing to move closer when things feel broken or unjust.If you’ve ever felt called to do meaningful work even when it’s uncomfortable, this one is for you.

Sometimes courage doesn’t show up as a big, bold leap. Sometimes it looks like one small step forward…taken again and again and again.In this episode of The AND Podcast, April and Ivy sit down with Caroline to explore the moment that changed everything. A moment rooted in fear, heartbreak, and uncertainty with the simple promise that followed: to do one small thing each day.That promise went on to spark extraordinary impact for thousands of children and families at The Miracle Foundation, proving that meaningful change doesn’t require having all the answers, just the willingness to move anyway.

In this People AND Profit resource round-up episode, April distills the biggest leadership insights from conversations with Steve Harden, Priscilla Sauceda, and Erin Cooper, weaving their perspectives together with hard-earned lessons from building and scaling people-centric organizations.Across industries and roles, a clear pattern emerged: sustainable growth doesn’t come from choosing between humans and results, it comes from clarity, systems, and leadership that shows up with intention, even in uncertainty.In this episode, you’ll hear:The core themes that connected every People AND Profit conversationApril’s top five leadership truths learned in the fieldThree tangible ways leaders can immediately lead with people AND profit without burning out their teams or themselvesWhether you’re a founder, executive, manager, or aspiring leader, this episode shares a grounded, practical playbook for building organizations where humans thrive and results follow.

The messy middle of leadership is real.In this episode of the AND Podcast, April and Ivy sit down with Erin Cooper to talk about one of the hardest and least discussed stages of leadership: middle management.When you’re leading people, driving results, and operating inside systems you didn’t design, clarity isn’t always guaranteed. Erin shares what it really looks like to thrive in that space while holding the tension between people and profit, navigating doubt, and continuing to move forward even when things feel shaky.From stepping into leadership unexpectedly to taking one uncomfortable step at a time, this conversation is for anyone leading from the middle and figuring it out… anyways.

What does real leadership leave behind?In this episode, Priscilla shares the journey that led her and her husband to build Sauceda Industries and the lessons that shaped the culture at its core. From learning what not to do, to intentionally designing a people-first business, Priscilla walks us through how investing in humans creates impact far beyond the walls of a company.Her leadership didn’t just build a successful business, it built relationships, community, and a legacy that still shows up today in the lives of former team members, years later.This conversation is a powerful reminder that building something meaningful doesn’t require complexity or grand gestures. Sometimes, the most lasting impact comes from getting the basics right and leading with heart.If you’re building a business and wondering whether people and profit can truly coexist, this one’s for you.

In this episode of The AND Podcast, we are joined by Steve Harden. A leader whose career spans some of the world’s most iconic brands, including Adidas and Oakley.We talk about what it really means to lead with intention: showing up for people, making decisions rooted in values, and understanding that true impact goes far beyond titles or results.Steve shares hard-earned lessons on leadership, trust, and why the most meaningful success comes from putting people first.A thoughtful, honest conversation about People AND Profit and the kind of leadership the world needs more of.

Some people come into your life and instantly feel like home - Ivy Ford is one of those people.In this episode, April sits down with Ivy, a force of energy, empathy, and intention. They talk about the experiences that shaped her, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and how she continues to choose both courage and compassion in her work and life.

This is the beginning. The moment we stop choosing and start expanding.In this first episode, April shatters the myth that we have to fit into one identity, one lane, or one version of ourselves. She shares the raw, honest story behind the AND movement and the seasons of her life that made “AND not OR” not just a phrase, but a way of surviving, growing, and leading.You’ll discover the vision for the AND Podcast: monthly themes that challenge old narratives, conversations with people who live boldly in the in-between, and reflections designed to wake something up inside you.If you’re done shrinking, done pretending, and ready to own the fullness of who you are, this is a place for you.