Kris Talks About the Wisdom of Women

Women’s stories, women’s leadership, and women’s wisdom — interviews and commentary for women that encourage them to feel empowered.Women entrepreneurs are reshaping leadership — but the system still isn’t built for them. In this inspiring interview, Cathy Derksen breaks down the real challenges women face when building and funding their businesses, especially when their work doesn’t fit neatly into traditional industry categories.We talk about:• Why women‑led businesses struggle with outdated funding models• How female leadership transforms communities• The unique power of midlife reinvention• Women breaking barriers in STEM and construction• The role of mentorship, collaboration, and community support• New funding approaches designed specifically for women entrepreneursIf you’re a woman stepping into leadership — or supporting women who are — this conversation is packed with wisdom, strategy, and stories that remind you you’re not alone.Perfect for: women entrepreneurs, midlife leaders, women in STEM, female founders, and anyone passionate about women supporting women.Want to be a guest on Kris Talks About the Wisdom of Women? Send Kris Keppeler a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1590695896684x429337449747860800

This episode of Kris Talks About the Wisdom of Women features a sharp, funny, and deeply honest conversation with queer fantasy romance author Claire E. Jones, whose work has reached readers in six countries and climbed into Ingram’s Top 100. Claire reveals a surprising truth: she receives far more pushback for being a woman than for being queer — a realization that surfaced during a Worldcon panel in Seattle.Across the episode, Claire breaks down the emotional labor of being a woman online: misogynistic comments, negging disguised as engagement, hate DMs, sugar‑baby solicitations, bot arguments, and algorithm‑driven harassment. She and Kris compare experiences across TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Red Note, Substack, LinkedIn, and Stage32 — each platform with its own quirks, pitfalls, and cultural dynamics.Claire shares strategies for navigating trolls: when to ignore, when to joke, when to intellectualize, and when to report. She explains how pattern recognition becomes a survival skill, and how creators must protect their emotional equilibrium to keep producing work.The conversation also dives into the chaos of modern digital networking — spoofed emails, PR assistants who don’t read podcast descriptions, AI‑generated outreach full of unedited placeholders, and marketers who chase creators across multiple platforms. Claire even schedules a call with a competitor out of curiosity, turning the nonsense into an opportunity to learn.The episode closes with Claire’s refreshingly grounded take on criticism: she celebrates her first 2.5‑star review as a sign of legitimacy. No author gets only glowing reviews, and she refuses to engage with negativity. Instead, she adds it to her growing collection of stories.Claire shares where listeners can find her books (wide distribution, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and indie stores) and her ambitious plan to publish three books this year — including Marketing in the Age of Aquarius and a re‑imagined, less intimidating version of her self‑published author planner.It’s a warm, witty, and wise conversation about resilience, boundaries, and the strange digital ecosystems women creators must navigate.

In this episode, I speak with Yali N’Diaye, founder of Y‑Perspective, a strategic communications consultancy that reframes communications as both a risk‑management tool and a driver of organizational growth. With a background as a financial journalist covering global economic policy, Yali brings a systems-level view of how communication shapes outcomes in politics, business, and public life.Key Themes1. Communications Is Feminized… but Not EmpoweredYali highlights a paradox:• Communications roles are filled largely by women• Yet leadership positions — even within communications — are still dominated by men• As a result, communications is treated as a tactical afterthought, not a strategic functionShe argues that this marginalization prevents organizations from making informed decisions early, when communication insights could change outcomes.2. A Real-World Example: Political Communications in CanadaYali describes how a major political shift occurred when a candidate failed to adjust messaging after a pivotal moment.Her point: communications can change the course of a country, yet organizations often bring communicators in too late to influence strategy.3. AI as a Catalyst for ChangeAI naturally integrates across disciplines — doctors, asset managers, lawyers, and communicators all use the same tools.This creates an opportunity for communications teams to:• Break out of silos• Become more strategic• Demonstrate value in ways other departments understandBut she notes that most communicators still use AI only for tactical tasks, such as drafting or editing.4. How Women in Communications Can Become More StrategicYali encourages communicators to:• Learn the language and tools of other departments• Use AI to understand business strategy, not just produce content• Show up where decisions are made• Build credibility through continuous learning and cross-functional fluencyHer own example: earning certifications in sustainable investment to participate meaningfully in financial-sector strategy discussions.5. SheLeads.ai: A Community for Women Shaping AIYali is a founding member of SheLeads.ai, a global group of women:• Meeting weekly to learn, experiment, and share AI knowledge• Bringing underrepresented perspectives into AI development• Helping each other integrate AI into real workflows• Hosting themed sessions led by experts (law, IP, fundraising, etc.)The goal: ensure AI reflects diverse lived experiences, not just the voices historically overrepresented online.6. The Bigger VisionYali believes AI can support global prosperity — but only if:• More voices shape how it’s used• Women and other underrepresented groups actively participate• Communications evolves from tactical execution to strategic influence

Listen as Janine shares profound wisdom on aging, pertinent to both men and women, and how we can overcome the negative connotations associated with it in the workplace and our lives.As CEO of Encore Roadmap, Janine brings over three decades of experience leading social and organizational change initiatives to her current work, speaking, writing, and consulting with businesses, media, and brands on how they can become more age-inclusive, leverage the skills of older workers, and help intergenerational teams succeed.In 2018, Janine founded Changing the Narrative, a leading U.S. campaign to end ageism, through which she's trained over 30,000 people worldwide in ageism, reframing aging, and creating more age-inclusive workplaces, marketing, and communications. She has led multiple campaigns against ageism, including on the same pAge, a 2019 campaign to lead 100 intergenerational conversations about ageism in 10 days, and Changing the Narrative’s Anti-Ageist Birthday Card campaign.The former chair of The Encore Network, she now co-chairs its Public Policy Advocacy Committee and serves on the boards of CWI Labs, which champions older adults in the workforce, and The Legacy Project, which builds strong intergenerational relationships.Janine's work has earned numerous awards, including the Top 25 Powerful Women in Business by the Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce, the Denver Regional Council of Governments’ Metro Vision Award, and the American Society on Aging’s 2024 Award for Success in Diminishing Ageism.A lawyer, community organizer, and social entrepreneur, what drives Janine is the belief that human potential should not be wasted, and that people of all ages, identities, and zip codes should have an opportunity to contribute their strengths and talents.She frequently quotes civil rights leader Grace Lee Boggs: “We are the leaders we’ve been waiting for.”

Heather Ann and I discuss the growing challenges women face in today’s culture and how deep healing can restore feminine power.Heather Ann discusses the impact of the culture wars, gender inequality, and the lack of women’s voices in leadership, noting that women remain underrepresented in corporate and public platforms. She shares her journey from a successful Broadway and dance career to becoming a healer focused on inner child healing, ancestral trauma, and resilience mastery.Key topics include:Women’s trauma and how it manifests as health issues, PTSD, ADHD, and emotional suppressionInner child healing and the use of medical meditation, Sanskrit chanting, and brain rewiring protocolsBreaking generational trauma, especially for women raised in abusive or dysfunctional familiesThe sacred feminine, divine feminine energy, and restoring balance between masculine and feminine rolesWomen’s empowerment, reclaiming creativity, and stepping out of societal stereotypesCollaboration among women, community building, and elevating women’s voices in media and storytellingThe impact of social media, robotics, and AI on women’s visibility and emotional well‑beingHeather Ann’s new book, Transcending Victim to Goddess, blends memoir, healing practices, and self‑development tools. Check it out on Amazon.This conversation explores how women can heal deeply rooted trauma, reconnect with intuition, and reclaim their authentic voice—ultimately transforming themselves, their families, and their communities.

In this empowering episode, host Kris Keppeler talks with Giselle Vasquez, a woman who has defied expectations in sports, technology, and entrepreneurship.🌍 Highlights you’ll hear:Giselle’s journey from playing street soccer in Panama, where girls were discouraged, to finding acceptance in Germany, and later navigating pickup games in the United States.How coaching young girls in soccer taught her the importance of confidence, teamwork, and breaking stereotypes.Her career in information technology, where she learned to speak up, set boundaries, and thrive in a male‑dominated field.The launch of her creative business in San Antonio, Texas: NefeliBata ICD, featuring workshops like Step Out of the Box, designed to help women unblock creativity, reconnect with their inner child, and overcome limiting beliefs.The legacy of strong women in her family and how she’s inspiring her daughter to pursue coding and tech leadership.✨ Why listen? This episode blends sports, tech, and art into a powerful story of resilience, confidence, and female empowerment. Whether you’re in San Antonio, across the U.S., or anywhere in the world, Giselle’s story will inspire you to step out of the box and chase your dreams.