PODCAST · society
Working Towards Nine
by Women Lawyers Association of Michigan
Welcome to Working Towards Nine, a podcast that strives to secure the full and equal participation of women in the legal profession, produced by the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan.
Episodes
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She Was Here: Why Women Lawyers Must Tell Their Stories
In this episode of the Working Towards Nine Podcast, WLAM President Kirsten Silwanowicz is joined by Beth Wilensky, Clinical Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School, for a thoughtful conversation about the power of storytelling—especially for women lawyers. Stories do more than...
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Michigan’s CON-CON 11: Women and State Constitution Making in 1961
In this episode, Nicole M. Smithson speaks with Lynn Liberato about her book, Michigan’s CON-CON 11: Women and State Constitution-making in 1961. Lynn’s groundbreaking work about the eleven female delegates to the 1961 Michigan Constitutional Convention was published by Michigan State University...
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Remarkable Leaders: Women Presidents of the SBM
WLAM's Carolyn Sullivan talks with SBM Past Presidents Nancy Diehl and Julie Fershtman about their experiences leading one of the nation's most important bar associations. This is episode is a rebroadcast of WLAM's 2025 program.
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Affinity Bar Series: South Asian American Bar Association of Michigan
Isheeta Patel Laxmanan, South Asian American BarAssociation of Michigan, joins us to discuss South Asian American Bar Association of Michigan (SABA), its founding and where it is headed. Isheeta Patel Laxmanan is a patent attorney and shareholderat Brooks Kushman, where she focuses her practice…
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Vision and Purpose in Turbulent Times
In this episode, Host Shawndrica Simmons talks with Judge Michelle Rick of the Court of Appeals for a timely and candidconversation on vision and purpose in turbulent times. Judge Rick reflects on her extensive career across every level of Michigan’s legal system and discusses the growing...
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Building Your 2026
Guest Zenell B. Brown talks with Host Nicole Smithson about steps that listeners can take to create an actionable vision for 2026. Attorney, mediator, and administrator, Zenell B. Brown has worn many hats throughout her legal career. Known for her strategic planning acumen and inclusive…
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Her Seat at the Table: Mary Sheffield on Power, Purpose, and Public Service
In this episode, Jennifer Dewey talks to Mary Sheffield, Detroit City Council President, about her life, career, the importance of representation in government, and what it is like as a woman in leadership and politics. JENNIFER DEWEY BIO: Jennifer Dewey is an in-house attorney for General Motors...
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Friendtoring and Other Lessons
In this episode, host Nicole Smithson speaks with attorneyand author Bernadette Catalana about frendtoring—peers functioning as mentors—and lessons that Bernadette shared in her book, Daughter Lessons. While it can be challenging to find a traditional mentor, everyone has people in their lives…
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What should non-immigration attorneys know about Trump 2.0?
The Trump administration's immigration changes have had profound consequences. In our new episode, we hear from two expert immigration attorneys about the legal landscape and the human stories behind the headlines. Don't miss this crucial conversation. Listen Now. Available wherever you get your...
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Affinity Bar Series: Vanzetti Hamilton Bar Association
Lou Ed Danner, President of Vanzetti Hamilton Bar Association, joins us to discuss Vanzetti Hamilton Bar Association its founding and where it is headed. Lou Ed Danner is an Assistant Corporation Counsel for Washtenaw County. Prior to his position with Washtenaw County, Lou served as an Assistant...
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Affinity Bar Series: National Arab American Bar Association-MI
Soujoud C. Hamade, President of the Michigan Chapter of the National Arab American Bar Association (NAABA-MI), joins us to discuss NAABA-MI and the exciting growth this organization has experience in the last four years. Soujoud C. Hamade is an attorney, entrepreneur, real estate investor, and...
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Affinity Bar Series: The Chaldean American Bar Association
Rita Soka, the President of the Chaldean American Bar Association, joins us for a conversation about this organization, its mission, and rich history of advocacy. Rita Soka is the founder and managing attorney at Soka Law, PLLC and she committed to guiding individuals and families through the...
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Affinity Bar Series: The D. Augustus Straker Bar Association
Mikai Green, the President of the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association, joins us for a conversation about this organization, its mission, and its rich history of advocacy. Mikai Green is a native of Detroit and Principal Attorney of GreenLaw Virtual Intellectual Property PC. She specializes in...
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Affinity Bar Series: Michigan Muslim Bar Association
Dewnya Bazzi, President of Michigan Muslim Bar Association, joins us to discuss MMBA, the struggles Muslim attorneys face, and the organizations commitment to growth and collaboration as we move forward into 2025. Dewnya Bazzi is a distinguished personal injury attorney, visionary leader, and...
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A Sneak Peak: The Power of Authenticity with Kristen Ekken
Join us in a special sneak peek episode to learn all about the keynote speaker at this year‘s 107th Women Lawyers Association of Michigan annual meeting. This episode features Kristen Ekkens, who will talk to us about authenticity and the importance of coming to the table as you are. Kristin…
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Affinity Bar Series: Black Women Lawyers Association of Michigan
Delicia Taylor Coleman, President of Black Women Lawyers of Michigan, joins us to discuss The Black Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (BWLAM), its founding and where it is headed. Delicia Taylor Colman is a Senior Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Detroit in the Blight Division…
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Affinity Bar Series: The Hispanic Bar Association of Michigan
Everado Tapia, the President of the Hispanic Bar Association of Michigan (HBAM), joins us for a conversation about HBAM and its main focus of growth. Everardo Tapia is the president of the Hispanic Bar Association of Michigan. He is Associate General Counsel at Forvia, the world’s seventh largest...
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How to Become a Judge
In this episode, host Nicole Smithson speaks with three distinguished jurists about their journey to the bench and their advice for attorneys who want to become a judge. Additionally, Lynn Helland, executive director of the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission, shares valuable information about…
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Affinity Bar Organizations: Michigan Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Jacqueline August, Immediate Past-President of the Michigan Asian Pacific American Bar Association (MAPABA), joins us to discuss the genesis of the organization and how it has evolved. Jacqueline August is the Immediate Past President of the Michigan Asian Pacific American Bar Association. She is...
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A Conversation with Fair Michigan’s Director of Transgender Advocacy, Julisa Abad
Warning: This episode contains discussions on murder, assault, and violence. Listener discretion is advised. Julisa Abad the Latina transgender woman from Florida who relocated to Michigan to work in transgender advocacy. As the Director of transgender advocacy, she is a community leader on the...
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The Past of Women Lawyers - Ep 10: Presented by the WLAM 2024 Leadership Class
This episode will be hosted by Marianna Seal and Liberty Turner. Seal and Turner will discuss the impacts of Attorney Sarah Kilgore Wertman, Attorney Grace G. Costavas Murphy, Judge Dorothy Comstock Riley and Judge Cornelia Kennedy. Attorney Wertman was the first woman to graduate from the...
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The Present of Women Lawyers - Ep 9: Presented by the WLAM 2024 Leadership Class
This episode is hosted by Cassie Weck Wun who is interviewing Veronica Beltran, the Assistant Director of Student Engagement and Culture at Wayne State University Law School. In this episode, Attorney Beltran shares her insights and tips for female attorneys. Her messages focus on self-worth and...
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The Present of Women Lawyers - Ep 8: Presented by the WLAM 2024 Leadership Class
This episode is hosted by Mecca Muhammad who is interviewing Emily Elmer, who is an associate attorney at Warner Norcross + Judd LLP. Attorney Elmer is here to share a piece of her story and perspective on what it is like to be a woman practicing law in Michigan in 2024. Learn more about WLAM on...
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The Present of Women Lawyers - Ep 7: Presented by the WLAM 2024 Leadership Class
This episode is hosted by Genavieve Kowalski who is interviewing Nina Lotarski. Attorney Lotarski is a senior associate at Aloia law, a wife, a mother of two children, and a believer in community service & promoting female leadership. She practices primarily in family law focusing on domestic...
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The Present of Women Lawyers - Ep 6: Presented by the WLAM 2024 Leadership Class
This episode is hosted by Alexis Farmer who is interviewing Elyse Culberson. Culberson is an associate in the Detroit, Michigan, office of Jackson Lewis P.C.Her practice focuses exclusively on representing employers in workplace law matters, including preventative advice and counseling and...
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The Present of Women Lawyers - Ep 5: Presented by the WLAM 2024 Leadership Class
This episode is hosted by Alexis Amy who is interviewing Paulina Kennedy. Paulina Kennedy is an attorney at Sommers Schwartz. She also serves as a pro bono volunteer for expungement clients through Lakeshore Legal Aid. On this episode Attorney Kennedy shares her tips and tricks as a Woman Lawyer…
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The Future of Women Lawyers - Ep 4: Presented by the WLAM 2024 Leadership Class
This episode is part of a special series presented by the WLAM Leadership Class. This episode is a conversation between fellow WLAM 2024 Leadership Class participants, Genavieve Kowalski and Diana Lazar, as they discuss their perspectives as future women lawyers in Michigan. Learn more about WLAM...
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The Future of Women Lawyers - Ep 3: Presented by the WLAM 2024 Leadership Class
This episode is part of a special series presented by the WLAM Leadership Class. This episode is a conversation between fellow WLAM 2024 Leadership Class participants, Liberty Turner, Alexis Farmer, and Cassie Weck Wun, as they discuss their perspectives as future women lawyers in Michigan. Learn...
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The Future of Women Lawyers - Ep 2: Presented by the WLAM 2024 Leadership Class
This episode is part of a special series presented by the WLAM Leadership Class. This episode is a conversation between fellow WLAM 2024 Leadership Class participants, Alexis Amy and Marianna Seal, as they discuss their perspectives as future women lawyers in Michigan. Learn more about WLAM on…
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The Future of Women Lawyers: Presented by the WLAM 2024 Leadership Class
This episode is part of a special series presented by the WLAM Leadership Class. This episode is a conversation between fellow WLAM 2024 Leadership Class participants, Mecca Muhammad and Megan Rumbles, as they discuss their perspectives as future women lawyers in Michigan. Learn more about WLAM…
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Like Father, Like Daughter: Michigan Supreme Court Duo
Justices Michael and Megan Cavanagh talk with Host Lauren Kissel about being the first father and daughter to sit on the Michigan Supreme Court. Justice Michael F. Cavanagh earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit Law School in 1966. Justice Cavanagh was elected to the Judicial...
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Protecting Michigan Child: A Discussion on Internet Safety for Michigan’s Children with Alisha Meneely
Host Carrie Almassian interviews Alisha Meneely, the government and community outreach coordinator for the Michigan Child Protection Registry. In this role, Alisha develops relationships statewide with schools, business, non-profits and the media where she educates on, and promotes, the Registry....
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Understanding the DISC Assessment
Host Nicole Smithson speaks with Zenell Brown, a DISC assessment administrator. In this episode, Zenell explains what the DISC assessment is, the four types of behavioral types identified by the DISC assessment, and what our behavioral type can teach us about our leadership and communication...
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MCCE – A Champion for Civics, Civility, and the Law
In this episode of Working Towards Nine, our Secretary Kristina Bilowus sits down with the Michigan Center for Civic Education (MCCE) Ellen Zwarensteyn to discuss the role of MCCE, its impact on civic engagement, and opportunities for pipelines to law. Ellen Zwarensteyn serves as the Executive...
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A Conversation with the Honorable Jane Beckering
Host Carrie Almassian speaks with the Honorable Jane Beckering, a United States District Court Judge in the Western District of Michigan, and the most recent Article III judge appointed to the federal bench. Judge Beckering began her career as a commercial litigator in Chicago, Illinois. She…
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A conversation with the President of The National Conference of Women Bar Associations
The National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations (NCWBA) is a unique organization of women’s bar associations, for women’s bar associations, representing approximately 35,000 women lawyers. It provides a national forum for exchanging ideas and information vital to organizational growth and...
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The Unsung Hero of the State Bar of Michigan: The Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program
In this episode of Working Towards Nine, our Marketing and Branding Director Lindsey LaForest sits down with Molly Ranns, the Director for the State Bar of Michigan’s Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program (LJAP). They discuss the Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program and mental health in the law....
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Setting Yourself Up For Success With Political Consultant, Loida Tapia
Loida L. Tapia has dedicated her career in building capacity for communities to engage in public policy and government both at the state and federal level. Loida led MI Poder, a new 501c4 in Michigan, to engage Latino communities across the state in civic participation and political advocacy. She...
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A Conversation with one of Grand Rapids’ First Women Lawyers, the Honorable Janet T. Neff
Host Carrie Almassian speaks with the Honorable Janet Neff, a United States District Court Judge in the Western District of Michigan. Judge Neff attended Wayne State University Law School and was one of six female students in a class of 200, graduating with her J.D. in 1970. She went on to become...
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Making History with Fadwa Hammoud
Host Alexandria Casperson speaks with Chief Deputy Attorney General Fadwa Hammoud about her experience making history as the youngest ever Michigan Solicitor General and the first Arab-American Solicitor General in the United States, as well as the first Arab-American Muslim woman to argue in…
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What is the WLAM Leadership Class?
In this episode of Working Towards Nine, our Marketing and Branding Director Lindsey LaForests sits down with Tanya Grillo and Kirsten Silwanowicz, the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan’s Vice President and Treasurer. They discuss the WLAM Leadership Class, a unique opportunity for law…
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Starting and Finishing 2024 Strong
Host Nicole Smithson speaks with Dr. Pamela Love, renowned author, educator, and goal attainment expert. In this episode, Dr. Love discusses strategic support and the resources you need to start and finish 2024 strong. Dr. Pamela Love is the president of DP Love Enterprises and the founder of the...
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Conviction Integrity Units and Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation
Host Alexandria Casperson speaks with Robyn Frankel, the Director of the Michigan Department of Attorney General’s Conviction Integrity Unit. In this episode, Robyn explains what Conviction Integrity Units are and how they differ from Innocence Clinics. She also discusses the nuances of…
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Well-Being in the Law in Michigan
Host Lindsey LaForest speaks with Justice Megan Cavanagh of the Michigan Supreme Court. In this episode, Justice Cavanagh discusses the Michigan Court Task Force on Well-Being in the Law, co-chaired by her and Molly Ranns, director of the State Bar of Michigan’s Lawyers and Judges Assistance...
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Appointments to Commissions and the Bench
Host Nicole Smithson speaks with Alexander J. Thibodeau, Director of Appointments in Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s executive office, about appointments to the bench and state boards and commissions. In this episode, Alex discusses the work of his office and shares valuable insights for people...
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How to Express Your Personal Style: An Interview with the Blonde Mom Kendra Bissig
In this episode of Working Towards Nine, our Executive Director Kirsten Silwanowicz sits down with the amazing personal stylist Kendra Bissig, a.k.a. The Blonde Mom. They discuss fashion tips to maintain a consistent and professional look while expressing personal style and how to put together...
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“We Believe You” - Representing Survivors of Sexual Assault at the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence
Envisioning a justice system that promotes empowered recovery, the Survivor Law Clinic provides civil legal services to survivors of sexual violence and human trafficking with a focus on ensuring their privacy, safety and stability. The clinic provides holistic services, addressing the survivors’...
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Remarkable Leaders: Women Presidents of the SBM--Pioneers & the Present
WLAM’s Kristina Bilowus talks with Julia Donovan Darlow, the first female president of the State Bar of Michigan (SBM), Judge Victoria A. Roberts, the first Black female SBM president, and Dana M. Warnez, the most recent female SBM president. Julia Donovan DarlowA Wayne Law graduate, Julia…
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Parity at Home: A Discussion About Work-Life Balance as a Lawyer and Parent
Jennifer Dewey, attorney at GM, joins us to discuss the difficulty of being a working mother and the systems we use to create and maintain parity with our partners for running a household and raising children. She joins our Executive Director, and WLAM Treasurer, Kirsten Silwanowicz, in a...
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Mindfulness and Lawyer Well-being
In this episode, Katie Stanley talks with Nicole Smithson about mindfulness: what it is, how it can be practiced, and why it’s essential for lawyer wellbeing. Nicole Smithson became the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission’s regional manager for the Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, and St. Clair Region…
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Working Towards Nine have?
Working Towards Nine currently has 58 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Working Towards Nine about?
Welcome to Working Towards Nine, a podcast that strives to secure the full and equal participation of women in the legal profession, produced by the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan.
How often does Working Towards Nine release new episodes?
Working Towards Nine has 58 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Working Towards Nine?
You can listen to Working Towards Nine on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Working Towards Nine?
Working Towards Nine is created and hosted by Women Lawyers Association of Michigan.
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