She What?

In this powerful episode, Keri Mandell shares how her lifelong dream of having children was crushed. Yet, she rose from this dark place and on to run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days (She What?!?). Don't miss this story of strength and hope, and discover why Keri always pushes herself beyond her comfort zone. Follow Keri's Instagram and visit her website, Empower Training and Retreats and Empower Yoga studio in New Jersey.Tell us about her!

From glacier guide to startup founder, today's guest proves that the most overlooked problems can spark the biggest breakthroughs. Georgia Grace Edwards turned a freezing, frustrating problem on an Alaskan glacier into a game-changing innovation for women everywhere...and her journey is as wild as it is inspiring. This interview is a must-listen for any entrepreneurs and for all women out there who wear the pants.Check out Georgia Grace's business, Gnara, on Instagram and Youtube. Learn more about the evolution of women's pants. Use the discount code: SHEWHAT20 to receive $20 off your first order (minimum purchase amount of $50 required).For more, visit She What? on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Producer and Host: Jess DowneyProducer and Host: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Leigh IacobucciArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with a great She What? story?Tell us about her!

What happens when the song you wrote about someone else’s cancer journey becomes your own reality, seven years later? In this powerful episode, musician Liz Mencel opens up about motherhood, music, and facing a life-altering diagnosis. Her "wouldn't change a thing" perspective will leave you inspired.  Check out Liz's music and her website. For more, visit She What? on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Producer and Host: Jess DowneyProducer and Host: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Leigh IacobucciArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with a great She What? story?Tell us about her!

Susanne Sulby grew up in a prison, an environment few of us can imagine. In this episode, dialect coach and actress Susanne Sulby shares her extraordinary journey from a childhood spent living at a correctional facility to her work now— helping shape unforgettable performances for actors like Kate Winslet and Jean Smart. She reminds us that when a small voice inside says "there’s more for you," you should definitely listen. Check out Susanne's website and her instagram. For more, visit She What? on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Producer and Host: Jess DowneyProducer and Host: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Leigh IacobucciArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with a great She What? story?Tell us about her!

What if your favorite neighborhood could disappear tomorrow? In this powerful episode, cookbook author and activist Grace Young shares how she went from stir-fry guru to fierce defender of America’s Chinatowns - and why cooking is all about connection. Come hungry for stories of food, family, and fighting for cultural survival. To learn more about Grace, you can check out her website and her Instagram. For more, visit She What? on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Producer and Host: Jess DowneyProducer and Host: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Leigh IacobucciArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with a great She What? story?Tell us about her!

Amita Mehta’s life is a story of survival, love, and radical courage. In this deeply personal episode, she shares the secrets she feared would cost her everything and the relationships that made her rich in love. Coming from a traditional Indian family, Amita talks about their escape from Uganda at the hands of a dictator and the journey to freedom in the U.S. She reveals how being an athlete was a saving grace, enabling her to integrate and find hope during a difficult time in her young life. She shares her inner struggle to come to terms with her sexual orientation and how that impacted her career and her relationships. It’s a raw, hopeful conversation about identity, resilience, and what it really means to embody the American dream. (All that...AND it's Jess and Maureen's birthday episode!)Discover Amita's website and her instagram. For more, visit She What? on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Producer and Host: Jess DowneyProducer and Host: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Leigh IacobucciArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with a great She What? story?Tell us about her!

From Top Chef to one-woman-shows and Enneagrams, Carla Hall splashes down into this She What? episode with zero ego and maximum joy. She dishes on the importance of knowing yourself, setting boundaries, and how to keep killing it in your 60s. Get ready to laugh, rethink your life path and feel genuinely inspired.Discover Carla's website and her instagram. For more, visit She What? on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Producer and Host: Jess DowneyProducer and Host: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Leigh IacobucciArtwork: Peter Yates DesignTell us about her!

In this first episode of Season 2, Jess and Maureen dive into a hilarious and profound conversation with novelist Caroline Palmer, whose debut book Workhorse explores the messy ambition of women who refuse to play nice. Recalling the glam of her fashion magazines days to 4:15 a.m. writing sessions in a floor-length faux leopard coat, she dishes on creativity, aging, and redefining success. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late to chase the next big act in your life (spoiler, it’s not!), this episode will light you up.Discover Caroline's website and her instagram. For more, visit She What? on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Producer and Host: Jess DowneyProducer and Host: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Leigh IacobucciArtwork: Peter Yates DesignTell us about her!

Before Jess and Maureen jump into 2026, it's time to reflect on an incredible first year of She What?. This episode revisits the women, the stories, and all the surprises that made us laugh, cry, and stop in our tracks. Think of this episode as a highlight reel of courage, connection, and soooo many unforgettable She What? moments.For more, visit She What? on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Producer and Host: Jess DowneyProducer and Host: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Leigh IacobucciArtwork: Peter Yates DesignTell us about her!

In this episode, trailblazer Chivonn Anderson shares how resilience, love, and purpose have shaped a life dedicated to opening doors for others. From standing up to injustices to creating spaces where people truly belong, Chivonn reminds us of what one woman's bravery can spark.Discover Chivonn's women's sports bar, Marsha's.For more, visit She What? on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Producer and Host: Jess DowneyProducer and Host: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Leigh IacobucciArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?Tell us about her!

Surfboards, serendipity, and radical reinvention—this episode dives into the extraordinary journey of Chelsea Ross, founder of Bali’s famed Goddess Retreats. From breaking into a male-dominated surf culture to guiding women through life-changing transformations, Chelsea’s story will make you want to book a flight and rethink your next chapter.Discover Chelsea's Goddess Retreats on Instagram.For more, visit She What? on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Producer and Host: Jess DowneyProducer and Host: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Leigh IacobucciArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?Tell us about her!

Have you every been told that you can't do something and you think about giving up? In this episode, Charity Alyse shares how she turned racism, rejection, and a terrifying health scare into power, purpose, and a pop-up bookstore. Her grit, kindness, and creativity will inspire all of us.Check out Charity's Instagram and discover Austen's Shelf.For more, visit She What? on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Producer and Host: Jess DowneyProducer and Host: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Leigh IacobucciArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?Tell us about her!

When journalist Meghan Rabbitt sat down with Maria Shriver over a salad, she didn’t expect to walk out with an assignment to write the women’s health manifesto, but that’s exactly what happened. In this episode, Meghan joins Jess and Maureen to unpack the surprising truths behind her groundbreaking book The New Rules of Women’s Health, from the myths we still believe to why language and self-advocacy matter more than ever. Get ready for laughter and some jaw-dropping intel (hello, cow clitoris!) on this episode of She WHAT?.   Visit Meghan's website and her instagram. For more, visit She What? on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Producer and Host: Jess DowneyProducer and Host: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Leigh IacobucciArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?Tell us about her!

When you find your true passion, sometimes you just have to take the leap. In this episode, Melanie Curtis shares how skydiving has taught her to push past fear, embrace vulnerability, and find power in community. From BLTs to bold moves, her life as a professional sky diver, artist, author and life coach reminds us that bravery isn’t just about skydiving — it’s about daring to show up fully in life. Join Jess and Maureen as they dare to record live for the first. time. ever. at the New Jersey Conference for Women.Check out Mel's website.For more, visit us on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Producer and Host: Jess DowneyProducer and Host: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Leigh IacobucciArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?Tell us about her!

Amy Lynn was a struggling ER nurse with five little kids, a stack of bills, and no clear path forward. One tiny act of self-care, a few units of Botox, became the catalyst for an entirely new life. In this episode of She What?, Amy gets raw about loss, resilience, and rebuilding her life from the inside out. From surviving tragedy to building a thriving aesthetic practice, Amy’s journey is a powerful reminder that confidence, like healing, starts within.Follow Amy on Instagram.Check out Glo Derma and the Glo Derma Academy.Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, visit us on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Producer and Host: Jess DowneyProducer and Host: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor:  Leigh IacobucciArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?Tell us about her!

How do you climb both a literal mountain and a metaphorical one? Kara Richardson Whitely, has done both—again and again. Kara is an outdoor adventurer, author of Gorge: My Journey Up Kilimanjaro at 300 Pounds (soon to be a movie), and CEO of The GORGEous Agency, which helps brands connect and grow with the plus-size market. In this episode, she talks about how events in her childhood led to her struggle with binge eating disorder, and how she found connection, healing, and peace in the outdoors (and summited Mount Kilimanjaro THREE TIMES). She also shares her perspective on diet culture, weight-loss drugs, and how brands can better serve people in larger bodies. Her account is an important reminder that you never know the story behind someone’s body, and we all have the power to push back against the stigmas and assumptions that too often surround weight and health.Follow Kara on Instagram.Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, visit us on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Producer and Host: Jess DowneyProducer and Host: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?Tell us about her!

Nikki Graziano nearly lost her life to alcohol. Today, she's the founder and owner of Bar Palmina, a zero-proof cocktail bar in Philly's Fishtown neighborhood (and named after her grandmother). In this powerful episode, Nikki tells the story of how she went from liver failure and life support into recovery, acceptance, and reinvention, creating a new space for herself and so many others. It's raw. It's real. And ultimately, it's hopeful.Check out the current menu at Bar Palmina and follow them Instagram. For more on She WHAT?, visit us on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Producer and Host: Jess DowneyProducer and Host: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?Tell us about her!

For 28 years, Rhea Hughes has been the co-host of the WIP Morning Show on Sports Talk Radio. She talks to Jess and Maureen about how she broke in, stayed in, and rose to the top of a field long dominated by dudes. (And offers a unique bit of advice on timing big life events along the way.) She gets real about the anxieties of being a working mom, especially in a profession where your replacement is practically standing in your shadow. And she explains why they have such a pull on so many, but you don't need to love sports to love Rhea. She's honest, she's hilarious, and she's 100 percent Philly. Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, visit us on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Producer and Host: Jess DowneyProducer and Host: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?Tell us about her!

Tori Foles was a former Division I volleyball player who—like all athletes—knew her own body. But when a mysterious cascade of symptoms hit her at the age of 23, she initially faced a doctor who disregarded and diminished how she was feeling. In this episode, she shares how she fought for a diagnosis, and struggled to regain the life she'd once had. Today, she's a mom of three, a business owner, and wife of Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles. Her conversation with Jess and Maureen is a powerful reminder that chronic illness doesn’t define you—and that self-advocacy is vital.Follow Tori and the sweet lids (for dads AND moms) at Dad SZN.Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, visit us on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Producer and Host: Jess DowneyProducer and Host: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?Tell us about her!

Chances are, you've got one very important thing in common with Jessy Kyle: You've spent most of your life wearing bras that don't fit quite right. For Jessy, a three-time cancer survivor (who, side note, has sung the national anthem for the Eagles), the problem was magnified when her doctors refused to do a breast reduction surgery. In this episode, she shares her remarkable story of beating the odds (again and again and again), finding gratitude in the little wins, and how she built a company around boosting confidence in her customers.Follow Jessy on IG, and find your perfect fit at Betterly Bra.For more, visit us on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Host and Producer: Jess DowneyHost and Producer: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?Tell us about her!

What if one of your life’s biggest accomplishment started…on a dare? Jess and Maureen talk with Dr. Jannell MacAulay, a combat pilot, special operations consultant, TEDx speaker, mother of two—and, among so many other things, leader of a mission to remove and destroy chemical weapons from Syria (yeah, we know, she what???). Jannell talks about how she ended up in the Air Force, that insane Syria story, being a military mom, and how she's using the mindset that helped her thrive in high-stakes environments, to help others. Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, head to our Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Host and Producer: Jess DowneyHost and Producer: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?Tell us about her!

Shanta Tailor was living the life of a typical 20-something–hanging with friends, starting up a career, saving for a place of her own–when she felt a lump. What happens next is extraordinary as Shanta faced a series of health and personal crises that could have derailed her life completely. But instead, she found an inner superpower (and nerves of steel because now...skydiver). Today, she's using that power to help others make it through the hardest days of their lives, so they too can get to the amazing moments waiting on the other side.   Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, visit us on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Host and Producer: Jess DowneyHost and Producer: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story? Tell us about her!

Megan Cohen will tell you: She used to think she was above becoming a drug addict. She came from a good family and a nice area. She was smart. She knew better. And yet once her addiction took hold, she lost all control, eventually  ending up homeless on the streets of Kensington. In this episode, she shares her story and the moments when real life angels offered her the hope she needed to believe recovery is possible. Today, she's channeling that same kindness and compassion for others facing similar challenges as the Founder and Creative Director of the Philadelphia Grace Project. Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, visit us on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Host and Producer: Jess DowneyHost and Producer: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story? Tell us about her!

Lisa Jakub, also known as Lydia from the film Mrs. Doubtfire, left a thriving career in Hollywood at the age of 22 ("Everybody told me I was crazy."). In this episode, she talks about growing up as a child actor, the influence of her beloved friend and Doubtfire co-star, Robin Williams, her decision to leave acting, and how she discovered a powerful calling to help veterans. A mission that has been, literally, lifesaving.Learn more about Lisa on her website and her Insta.Watch this interview and access a transcript on our YouTube channel. For more, visit us on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Producer and Host: Jess DowneyProducer and Host: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story? Tell us about her!

What do you do when your beloved friend is dying to live a more sexually adventurous life before she loses her battle with cancer? Well, if you're Nikki Boyer, you start a podcast. Nikki is a singer, actress, Emmy winner, and the co-producer with her soulmate Molly of the hit podcast (turned Hulu series), Dying for Sex. We learn how she became an actor, met Molly, and how their friendship has changed her life, and is very likely changing how a lot of us think about–and talk about–sex and death. She made us laugh and cry, and want to love everyone around us a little bit harder. Want to watch this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, head to our Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCheck out the Dying for Sex podcast here and Hulu series here. Follow Nikki Boyer on Instagram.Credits:Host and Producer: Jess DowneyHost and Producer: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story? Tell us about her!

How does a gap year after high school turn into a life in Nepal, raising more than 100 kids? No seriously. Over 100! Maggie Doyne joins Jess and Maureen to discuss the heartbreaks and high points of parenthood, finding love, and living a purpose-driven life.For more on Maggie’s work in Nepal, check out BlinkNow.Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, head to our Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Host and Producer: Jess DowneyHost and Producer: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story? Tell us about her!

She’s an actress. A singer. A ventriloquist. A dancer. A hooker (the crochet kind). And so much more. Get to know Kira Coviello, aka Honest 2 Betsy, a social media phenom and generally hilarious human. She tells Jess and Maureen the wild story of how Betsy came to be and what she has in store for her. Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, head to our Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Host and Producer: Jess DowneyHost and Producer: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story? Tell us about her!

Hear the inspiring origin story of one of America’s top morning show correspondents, Vicky Nguyen. NBC’s TODAY show news anchor joins Jess and Maureen to talk about everything from gratitude, relationships, miscarriages, and the American Dream to her favorite Three’s Company character.Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, head to our Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Host and Producer: Jess DowneyHost and Producer: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?Tell us about her!

At some point in our lives, most of us will go through a hell we can’t possibly understand, knowing we’ll come out different on the other side. In this episode of She WHAT? Jess and Maureen both go there and pull back the curtain to talk about their own painful and life-changing experiences, their careers, their friendship, and how the podcast came to be.Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, visit us on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Host and Producer: Jess DowneyHost and Producer: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?Tell us about her!

Robin Barnes, the Songbird of New Orleans, is hot off her killer Super Bowl LIX pregame performance. She tells Jess and Maureen about growing up in New Orleans Lower Ninth Ward before Hurricane Katrina, being raised in a musical family, and finding a sound that is uniquely hers. Plus, find out what the song “Iko, Iko” is really about on this episode of She WHAT?!Learn more about Robin Barnes on her website or her Insta.Want to watch this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, visit us on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Producer and Host: Jess DowneyProducer and Host: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?Tell us about her!

She's not Beyonce or Madonna… but today’s guest is even better! Cecily Tynan, a Philadelphia meteorologist for 30 years, joins Jess & Maureen to talk Internet trolls, climate change, competitive water skiing (She WHAT?), parenting, and more. You may know her face and even her hairstyle, but in this episode, Cecily pulls back the curtain for her very first podcast on She What?!Want to see this interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, visit us on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Host and Producer: Jess DowneyHost and Producer: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?Tell us about her!

Who keeps their Emmy award in the bathroom? Kate Scott, the immensely talented, hilarious, and transcendent Philadelphia 76ers play-by-play announcer, that’s who. In this episode, Jess and Maureen hang out with Scott, who is not only one of just two female announcers in the NBA, but she’s also the first woman to do play-by-play on Madden NFL. Whether or not you’re into sports, there are so many She WHAT? moments, so don’t miss Scott share what it’s like to dream big and make it happen.Want to see the full, unedited interview or access episode transcripts? Check out our YouTube channel. For more, visit us on Instagram.Brought to you by Capital HealthCredits:Host and Producer: Jess DowneyHost and Producer: Maureen PetroskyProducer and Editor: Christine FennessyArtwork: Peter Yates DesignKnow someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?Tell us about her!

We all know those women. The ones who, when we hear their stories, make us ask, She WHAT? We learn how they got to where they are today–creator of a hit TV show, mom to more than 100 kids, three-time cancer survivor, destroyer of chemical weapons–and all that came along the way. Hosted by Jess Downey and Maureen Petrosky, She WHAT? gets real with raw, hopeful, and often hilarious conversations with women who can inspire us all.Know someone with an amazing She WHAT? story?Tell us about her!