Ladies Who Leap

Former WA State Senator Mona Das: Women of Color in Leadership, Politics & Big Impact

What does it take to dream big, raise your voice, and step into women’s leadership—even when you’ve never seen someone like you represented in power?
In this inspiring episode of the Ladies Who Leap Podcast, host Lisa Andria sits down with Mona Das—Speaker, Filmmaker, Entrepreneur, Changemaker, and former Washington State Senator (2018–2023)—for a conversation about representation, courage, fundraising, women in politics, and creating lasting impact.
Mona shares the unforgettable moment that sparked her political leap (yes… it started in the shower), the powerful truth behind why representation matters, and how her background in sales and business development became a superpower for campaign fundraising.
She also talks about her award-winning film “Badass Women Doing Kick Ass Sh*t”—highlighting eight women of color running for office and what the film reveals about women challenging the patriarchy in every arena, not just politics.
You’ll also hear Mona’s bold new mission: raising $1 BILLION to fund women entrepreneurs creating real-world impact—and building the kind of supportive community women need to grow, lead, and thrive.
In this episode, we cover:
 🌟 Women in leadership + why visibility changes everything
 🫵 How to run for office (and where women can learn to do it)
💵  The truth about fundraising and why it matters in politics
🛍️  Mona’s legislative wins (including fighting single-use plastics)
❤️ Why “good politicians” exist—and why we need more
 
The power of community, coaching, and accountability
Mona’s mantras: Dream Big. Believe in Yourself. Keep Going.
How Mona lives as a digital nomad while building global impact
 
🎬 Watch Mona’s film + learn more: monadas.org
💡 Grant info: monadas.org/grant
 
If this episode moved you…
✅ Like, subscribe, and share
✅ Comment your biggest dream (your “BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal”) and one step you’ll take this week
✅ Tag a woman who needs this message
 
Connect with Mona Das:
Website + Film + Grant: monadas.org
 
Connect with Lisa Andria (Host, Ladies Who Leap):
Email: lisa@ladieswholeap.com
Website: ladieswholeap.com

From Refugee to Chief Equity Officer: Thymai Dong-Sheehan on Identity, Faith & Courageous Leaps

In this powerful episode of the Ladies Who Leap Podcast, host Lisa Andria sits down with author, educator, and consultant Thymai Dong-Sheehan to explore a life shaped by courage, faith, identity, and transformation.
Thymai’s memoir, The Beauties of My So-Called Asian Life, tells the story of fleeing Saigon as a Vietnamese refugee in 1975, growing up as an Asian American navigating belonging, rising to become a Chief Equity Officer in public education, and ultimately stepping away from her executive role to prioritize family and faith.  And then leaping back into her consulting business.
In this deeply honest conversation, we explore:
✨ What it means to live “in the hyphen” as a Vietnamese-American✨ Overcoming discrimination and reclaiming identity✨ Faith, spirituality, and leadership in public education✨ Navigating DEI work in today’s climate✨ Caregiving, resilience, and redefining purpose✨ The healing power of vulnerability and memoir writing✨ Why forgiving yourself is often the hardest leap of all
Thymai shares how leaving a prestigious leadership role became her greatest leap of faith — choosing family over title, purpose over prestige, and inner transformation over external validation.
We also discuss her consulting company, Innervate 2 Educate, and why real transformation in education begins from the inside out.
If you care about:
Immigrant stories
Asian American identity
Diversity, equity & inclusion
Faith and spirituality
Personal growth and resilience
Caregiving and family transitions
Writing a memoir
Leadership with heart
This episode is for you.
👉 Be sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE to support courageous stories that inspire women to leap.
 
Connect with Thymai Dong-Sheehan📘 Book: The Beauties of My So-Called Asian Life🌐 Innervate to Educate Consulting: innervate2educate.com
Connect with Lisa Andria (Host | Ladies Who Leap)🌐 Website & offerings: ladieswholeap.com📩 Email: lisa@ladieswholeap.com🎧 Listen to the podcast: ladieswholeap.podbean.com▶️ YouTube: youtube.com/@ladieswholeap

Coming Out at 61: RV Life, Trans Visibility & the Power of Allyship | Michaela Avis

In this deeply moving episode of the Ladies Who Leap Podcast, host Lisa Andria sits down with Michaela Avis, founder of CISTER (CIS-TER) (CISTER.COMMUNITY-Web site)— a nonprofit dedicated to empowering cisgender allies to visibly support the transgender community through branded merchandise.
Michaela shares her extraordinary journey of coming out as transgender at age 61, navigating decades of masking, raising four children, working in corporate tech sales, and ultimately stepping into her authentic self.
Today, she lives life on the road in her RV, traveling across the United States to connect with LGBTQ+ leaders, allies, and communities — building bridges through visibility, compassion, and courage.
Together, Lisa and Michaela explore:
What it’s like to transition later in life
The emotional cost of hiding your true self
RV life as a path to freedom and self-discovery
Why visible allyship matters now more than ever
How CISTER creates a “circle of protection” for trans individuals
The powerful link between giftedness, creativity, and LGBTQ+ identity
A surprising grocery store moment that restored faith in humanity
Self-acceptance, belonging, and living your “third act” with purpose
This episode is a masterclass in self-love, identity, courage, and community, and a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand how we can show up — loudly and lovingly — as allies.
✨ “True belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world.” — Brené Brown
🔗 Learn more & support Michaela's mission:👉 https://www.cister.community
Visit www.ladieswholeap.com to get in touch with Lisa Andria - Emotional Transformation Coach.
Click the Let's Connect button to set up a call.
 
💬 Join the conversation & share this episode

From Nurse to Joy: Moyra Gorski on Wellness, Menopause & Healing

What happens when life forces you to slow down… and you finally choose yourself?
In this powerful and heartfelt episode of the Ladies Who Leap Podcast, host Lisa Andria sits down with Moyra Gorski—retired RN, wellness expert, podcaster, entrepreneur, and breast cancer survivor—who has dedicated her life to helping women live healthier, more joyful, and more purposeful lives.
Moyra shares her deeply human journey, including:
How her early curiosity for science and helping others led her into nursing
The life-changing experience of supporting her son’s health through holistic wellness
Navigating her daughter’s long battle with an eating disorder—and the importance of boundaries and self-care
Her own breast cancer diagnosis and the emotional, spiritual, and lifestyle shifts that followed
Why the mind-body connection matters and how unprocessed emotions can affect physical health
The role of forgiveness, letting go, and slowing down in true healing
How ballroom dancing became an unexpected path to joy, trust, and feminine expression
The powerful truth that changed everything: “Nobody’s coming.”
Moyra also introduces her supportive menopause community, where women can learn natural tools, create sustainable habits, and feel less alone during midlife transitions.
This episode is a must-listen for women who are caregivers, leaders, helpers, and high-achievers—especially those who are ready to stop putting themselves last.
🎧 Listen now, and if this conversation resonates, share it with a woman who needs the reminder that she matters too.
Topics covered in this episode:
Women’s wellness & sustainable healthy habits
Emotional healing & the body-mind connection
Breast cancer healing mindset
Forgiveness, resentment & letting go
Boundaries, burnout & caregiver stress
Menopause & perimenopause support
Self-care rituals, morning routines & nervous system regulation
Joy practices, movement & ballroom dancing
Connect with Moyra Gorski
Website: moyragorski.com
Find Moyra on Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn (search: Moyra Gorski)
Ask about her Joyful M Circle – a supportive menopause community for women
Connect with Lisa Andria (Host)
Email: lisa@ladieswholeap.com
Website: LadiesWhoLeap.com
Podcast: Ladies Who Leap Podcast
👉 Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and COMMENT with your biggest takeaway.If you have your own leap story, Lisa would love to hear it.

Build Aligned Offers Without Burnout: AI, Authenticity & Visibility with Lori Young

In this deeply inspiring episode of the Ladies Who Leap Podcast, host Lisa Andria sits down with Lori Young, creator of Offer Mojo Studio and the visionary behind the AI-powered Offer Mojo Squad.
With over 20 years of experience crafting and launching offers, Lori blends intuition, strategy, and soul to help heart-led coaches, healers, and transformational leaders build aligned offer ecosystems that scale — without burnout.
Lori opens up about her leap to her authentic self with coming out later in life and how that transformed her to a place of joy, clarity and happiness.
In this episode, Lori shares:
How her early career in branding and marketing shaped her genius in offer creation
Why most coaches struggle to sell — and what they should be selling instead
The truth about offers: you’re not selling coaching, you’re selling transformation
Her powerful personal leap — coming out later in life and fully embracing her authentic self
How AI can support (not replace) your humanity, voice, and creativity
The evolution from generalist to specialist — and why clarity is the new currency
How AI-powered tools can dramatically increase visibility, confidence, and scalability
Lori’s story is a masterclass in self-trust, courage, reinvention, and aligned business growth. Whether you’re a coach, healer, entrepreneur, or creative thought leader, this conversation will challenge you to step into your brilliance, clarify your message, and shine unapologetically.
✨ “Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.” — Maya Angelou
🎧 Listen now and discover how to build offers that feel good, sell with ease, and truly reflect who you are.
🔗 Connect with Our Guest – Lori Young
🌐 Website: https://www.onamissionbrands.com🤖 Free AI Offer Confidence Toolkit: Available on Lori’s homepage🎙 Podcast: The Offer Mojo Show💼 LinkedIn: On a Mission Brands📸 Instagram: @offer_magician
🎧 Connect with the Host – Lisa Andria
🌐 Website: https://www.ladieswholeap.com🎙 Podcast: Ladies Who Leap Podcast📸 Instagram : @LadiesWhoLeap
 💻 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaandria/📩 Email: lisa@ladieswholeap.com
 

Food Freedom After 40: Healing Body Shame, Diet Culture & Self-Love with Angela Yender

What if food freedom, self-love, and lasting wellness had nothing to do with dieting?
In this deeply honest and inspiring episode of the Ladies Who Leap Podcast, Lisa Andria sits down with Angela Yender, a midlife wellness and weight-shift coach who transformed a 40-year battle with dieting, body shame, and bulimia into a revolutionary approach to health—one rooted in self-acceptance, identity shifts, and mindset healing.
Angela shares her powerful journey:
Putting herself on her first diet in third grade
Navigating decades of diet culture, emotional eating, and body control
Leaving a high-stress corporate career that was draining her health
Choosing self-care when it was unpopular
Breaking generational cycles for her daughters
Discovering deep healing through the teachings of Louise Hay and Wayne Dyer
Experiencing a profound mindset shift around self-love, healing, and health
Together, Lisa and Angela explore:✨ Why diets fail—but identity shifts work✨ How childhood beliefs shape lifelong body struggles✨ The connection between self-talk, health, and healing✨ What “crowding out” means (and why restriction backfires)✨ Why self-care is NOT selfish—especially in midlife✨ How to become the healthy version of yourself before the weight shifts
This conversation is for women who are tired of starting over, tired of shame, and ready to come home to themselves.
🎧 Listen now and discover how to shift your weight, your mindset, and your relationship with your body—without another restrictive diet.
🔗 Connect with Angela:Website: https://angelayender.comInstagram / Facebook / LinkedIn: @AngelaYenderTikTok: @AngelaYenderCoaching
🔗 Connect with Lisa Andria:
Website: https://ladieswholeap.com
TikTok: @LisaACoach
✨ If this episode resonated, please like, subscribe, share, and leave a review—it helps more women find their leap.

Mind-Body Mastery & Reinvention: Suzy Prudden on Healing, Hypnosis & Your Next Chapter - Part Two

Your body is not betraying you.It’s communicating with you.
In Part 2 of this deeply transformative conversation on the Ladies Who Leap Podcast, Lisa Andria and Suzy Prudden explore the profound mind-body connection, the role of hypnosis in personal growth, and how listening to your body can unlock clarity, healing, and reinvention.
Suzy shares her work with Louise Hay, the creation of Meta Fitness, and how understanding the body as a “message machine” can completely change how you approach health, stress, and success.
We also dive into Suzy’s current passion project—Itty Bitty Publishing—and how short, powerful books can help entrepreneurs, coaches, and speakers amplify their message and authority without overwhelm.
In Part 2, you’ll learn:
Why physical symptoms often reflect emotional patterns
How hypnosis supports healing, clarity, and confidence
The mind-body principles Suzy taught alongside Louise Hay
What “Meta Fitness” really means
How to reinvent yourself after burnout, hardship, or loss
Why “How you do anything is how you do everything” is a life-changing truth
How publishing a short book can grow your business and impact
This episode is an invitation to slow down, listen inward, and trust that your body—and your life—are always guiding you toward what’s next.
✨ If Part 1 sparked your courage…✨ Part 2 will deepen your transformation.
📌 Connect with Suzy / Learn about publishing: Website: IttyBittyPublishing.com 
Email: Suzy@IttyBittyPublishing.com  or SuzyPrudden@gmail.com
Tell her that you heard about her from this show.
Connect with host Lisa Andria, Emotional Transformation Coach at www.ladieswholeap.com

The Power of YES: Suzy Prudden on Reinvention, Courage & Creating Success at Any Age - Part One

What if the only thing standing between you and your next chapter…was your willingness to say YES?
In Part 1 of this powerful two-part conversation on the Ladies Who Leap Podcast, Lisa Andria sits down with legendary pioneer Suzy Prudden to explore reinvention, courage, mindset, and what it truly takes to create success—again and again—at any age.
Suzy shares her extraordinary life journey, from teaching fitness to toddlers, to hosting national TV shows, to building multiple businesses by trusting her instincts and taking bold leaps before she ever felt “ready.”
This episode is about identity shifts, trusting your inner knowing, and understanding that reinvention is not a one-time event—it’s a lifelong skill.
In Part 1, you’ll hear:
 🌟 How Suzy learned early that “obstacles don’t exist”
 🌟 The moment she realized saying YES could change everything
 🌟 Why waiting to feel “ready” keeps people stuck
 🌟 How she built success by trusting intuition over fear
 🌟 Reinvention as a mindset—not a midlife crisis
 🌟 Why age is never the problem (and never has been)
This episode will challenge the stories you tell yourself about timing, age, and possibility—and remind you that your next leap is always available.
🎧 Watch Part 2 next, where we dive into mind-body mastery, hypnosis, healing, and publishing your message.
📌 Connect with Suzy / Learn about publishing:Website: IttyBittyPublishing.com Email: Suzy@IttyBittyPublishing.com or SuzyPrudden@gmail.com
Connect with host Lisa Andria, Emotional Transformation Coach at www.ladieswholeap.com
If you’re ready to stop waiting, start trusting your ideas, and leap into the next chapter of your life, this episode is for you.

Reinventing Midlife: Tamara-Nicole Gardner’s 12 Guiding Stars for a Soul-Aligned Life

What if everything you thought you “should” be doing was actually the very thing holding you back from your most soul-aligned life?
In this transformational episode of the Ladies Who Leap Podcast, host Lisa Andria sits down with Tamara-Nicole Gardner — former Commercial Real Estate Attorney, Speaker, Soul-Aligned entrepreneur and Author of "The 12 Guiding Stars System - A Comprehensive Planner for Manifesting Your Soul’s True Desires in Every Area of Your Life" — for a powerful conversation about reinvention, midlife awakening, and what it really takes to break free from the expectations that have shaped your life.
After decades of outward success but inner depletion, Tamara-Nicole embarked on a radical journey of spiritual and life redesign. Her breakthrough process became the 12 Guiding Stars System, inspired by the 12 astrological houses and grounded in practical tools that help women discover what they truly desire and create a life that feels free, aligned, and meaningful.
She shares:✨ Her escape from a psychologically abusive marriage✨ The moment she realized she was done living in fear✨ How adversity became her greatest teacher✨ Why midlife is the most powerful time to reinvent yourself✨ The importance of asking: “What does freedom look like for me?”✨ How her 12 Guiding Stars System helps women uncover their soul’s desires✨ The leap from attorney to intuitive life designer — and what the universe had planned✨ Her affirmation that rewired her self-worth: “I am worthy. I am enough. I am loved.”
This episode is for every woman who feels a calling for something more — more freedom, more meaning, more authenticity, more you.
Whether you're navigating transition, awakening to your purpose, healing old patterns, or stepping into your next chapter, this conversation will remind you: It’s never too late to leap.
🔗 Learn more about Tamara-Nicole:Website: https://tamaragardner.comHer book 12 Guiding Star System is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble(released Oct 21).
💗 Connect With Lisa Andria:LadiesWhoLeap.com | @ladieswholeap | @LisaACoach on TIKTOK
👉 Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE & COMMENT — and share your leap story with Lisa!
 

Caregiving Courage & The Carefullist: Katie Kristofic’s Journey from Loss to Leadership

Caregiving changes everything — your identity, your time, your relationships, and your heart.
In this powerful episode of the Ladies Who Leap Podcast, Lisa Andria interviews Katie Kristofic, Founder & CEO of the Carefullist, a first-of-its-kind online resource helping caregivers find the tools, products, emotional support, and guidance they need all in one place.
Katie spent 20 years in the pharma/biotech world before her life took a dramatic turn: her mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. As her mom declined, Katie stepped into the role of a long-distance caregiver while raising two young children, supporting her father, and trying to navigate the emotional weight of anticipatory grief.
The experience revealed a massive problem: caregivers spend an average of 13+ hours every month searching for resources — time they desperately need back for self-care, rest, and reconnecting with the person they love.
So Katie built the Carefullist, a curated, compassionate hub designed to simplify caregiving, save time, reduce stress, and provide REAL, practical support for those caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, ALS, MS, chronic conditions, stroke, disabilities, or medically complex needs.
💗 In this deeply heartfelt and highly practical conversation, Lisa & Katie explore:• The emotional truth of caregiving that no one talks about• Anticipatory grief — what it is and why caregivers feel it long before loss• How caregiving reshapes identity, purpose, and personal strength• The challenges of raising children while caring for an aging parent• The guilt, frustration, love, and resilience that caregivers experience• Why Katie launched The Carefullist and how it supports millions• The growing crisis of unpaid caregiving in the U.S. (63 million and counting)• Healing after caregiving, finding purpose again, and creating a new life after loss
Katie also shares her career leap, her powerful resilience philosophy, and the George Bernard Shaw quote that shaped her entire life.
👉 Learn more at: Carefullist.com👉 Listen, Subscribe & Share: Because every caregiver deserves support, compassion, and community.👉 Ladies Who Leap helps women find courage, purpose, and clarity to leap out of their comfort zone and grow.
 
Connect with Lisa Andria, Emotional Transformation Coach at www.LadiesWhoLeap.com