Badassery Life

Season 6 | Episode 7In this episode of Badassery Life, host Kelly Young sits down with Rosetta Clay—an equity advocate, social impact strategist, and fierce champion for women and girls. Rosetta shares how her personal journey shaped her professional calling, why true inclusion is about more than just workplace initiatives, and what it really means to lead with purpose, passion, and unapologetic truth.Tune in for a conversation that's honest, inspiring, and full of badass energy —from conversations about justice and systems change to reflections on self-care, sisterhood, and standing in your power.Whether you're doing the work or just starting to lean into the conversation, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Badassery Life, I'm joined by the one and only Martha Hoover—a true powerhouse in hospitality, a champion for women, and now the founder of MSH Collective, a bold new initiative focused on empowering women through mentorship, community, and connection.We talk about what it means to step into new chapters—especially in your 50s, 60s, and beyond—when society so often tries to make women feel invisible. Martha isn't just pushing back—she's building something entirely new (and it's badass!)We dive into:The quiet realities of ageism—and how to make noise anywayWhy women over 50 are a force brands can't afford to ignoreWhat legacy really looks like when you're not even close to doneAnd how MSH Collective is creating space for women to lead, grow, and thrive—at every ageIf you've ever felt underestimated, overlooked, or just plain fired up to keep going—this episode is for you.

Claire is hilarious, talented, and unforgettable . She's an actor, improviser, and member of Indianapolis' badass arts community. At the time of taping this interview, she is starring in Indiana Repertory Theatre's production of "The Play That Goes Wrong," where she brings her signature wit and bold presence to the stage. She describes herself as a happy combination of artist, teacher, and activist. She has acted on professional stages for over 20 years and is an improviser at heart, always ready to say yes to a new creative adventure.We talked about being funny, fat, and road tripping across the US in an RV- among so many other great things, including her pre-show rituals and comfort food.You can learn more about Claire at https://www.clairewilcher.com/Get your tickets to the IRT at https://www.irtlive.com/

Season 6 | Episode 4In this episode of Badassery Life, we sit down with the brilliantly creative and delightfully spooky author, Paige Lavoie, who writes stories about misfits, monsters, and falling in love. Paige shares her journey from growing up in a haunted house to becoming a writer of quirky, heartfelt novels like I'm in Love with Mothman. We dive into her love for blending the spooky with the sweet, her transition from webcomics to novels, and how she balances storytelling with motherhood.At the time of the recording, Paige is in the final stages of a Kickstarter campaign to bring her "Mothman in Love" trilogy to life in a special collector's edition! This exclusive set features hardcover editions of: I'm in Love with Mothman I'm Engaged to Mothman I'm Getting Married to MothmanEach book is beautifully designed, capturing the enchanting blend of romance and mystery that Paige is known for. Tune in as Paige discusses the inspiration behind the trilogy, the creative process of crafting this collector's edition, and how you can be part of making it happen. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the series, this episode offers a captivating glimpse into the world of a badass author.#BadasseryLife #Podcast #PaigeLavoie #MothmanInLove #WomenWhoWrite #KickstarterCampaignhttps://paigelavoie.com/To support Paige and her kickstarter visit: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/4horsemenpubs/mothman-in-love-triology-the-collectors-edition

Season 6 | Episode 3In this episode ofBadassery Life, meet Heather Pirowski—a powerhouse advocate, breast cancer survivor and all-around badass. She turned her diagnosis into action and making waves in policy as the founder of Hoosier Breast Cancer Advocates and is pushing for Indiana's first breast cancer research fund. Heather is proving that one determined womancan change the world.She launched the Midwest's first fashion truck, produced IndyStyle's “Fashion Fix” segment, and founded Mentor Apparel—because, in her words, you shouldnever wear a shitty polo again. And if that wasn't badass enough, she made headlines rocking a pink cowboy hat while representing Indiana's District 5 at the DNC, catching the attention of MSNBC,The Daily Show, CNN, Fox News, andNewsweek.Tune in for a conversation about resilience, advocacy and how this survivor is living her badassery life!Visithoosierbcadvocates.com/about-4 to find out more about Hoosier Breast Cancer Advocates

Season 6 Episode 2 Andrea is an advocate, writer, and fearless leader who turned her passion into purpose. She's the Communications and Policy Manager at Health by Design, a consultant, and co-founder of Nonprofit Girl Gang. But she's also a brave badass who made headlines with her courageous op-ed in the Indianapolis Star, calling out systemic harassment and abuse of power in politics.   Andrea has seen firsthand how toxic dynamics can poison workplaces, silence voices, and block progress. In this episode, she opens up about her experiences and delivers bold, actionable solutions for building safer, more equitable spaces in local and state politics. Click here to read Andrea's Op-ed

Jeronna Bolden is a powerhouse leader who's transforming lives through her work at Dress for Success Indianapolis. She's resilient, empowering, and authentic—a true badass in every sense of the word. She has turned obstacles into stepping stones - whether it's battling imposter syndrome, juggling family and career, or facing challenges head-on, Jeronna has learned to embrace the chaos and grow stronger through it all. And yes, she's learned how to walk in heels on both figurative and literal tightropes! In this episode, Jeronna talks about finding her voice by leaning into her faith and resilience. As a leader, she has faced racism and microaggressions, often having to prove her worth in rooms that weren't ready for her. She has overcome these challenges by showing up unapologetically and building a community that celebrates diversity and inclusion. Here Jeronna's story!

From chaos to connection, distrust to action, pain to purpose. In this episode, we had a raw and real conversation with Denise Herd and Angie Carr Klitzsch about building trust, creating community, and protecting our joy in the face of political chaos. We tackled tough questions around the divides between Black and white women, the power of local action, and how to stay focused on making a difference without losing ourselves. It's honest, necessary, and filled with insights for anyone ready to move forward with purpose during a time of chaos. Resources women4changeindiana.org herdstrategies.com

Frank is a modern-day pop artist and songwriter from Indianapolis. Known for her powerful, evocative voice and striking live presence, Sydney spent three years fronting and touring with acclaimed 5-piece band Forstory. Sydney conceived FRANK in 2022 from a desire to create music of her own design. Her sound is shaped by soul and rock artists like Billie Holiday, The Eurythmics and Blondie. She's more than her art! In this episode we also talked about how she struggled with dyslexia and other learning disabilities as early as kindergarten and her diagnoses with HEDS (Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome). This creative, resilient and bold badass has overcome some challenges, faced her worst fear and is now using her music to encourage others to live a purposeful, grateful and authentic life. Meet Frank, aka Sydney Elliott. https://www.absorbme.com/artists-frank photo credit: Absorb

Sarah is a self-proclaimed Vulnerability Queen who encourages women to own their story and their skin through B.O.W (Beauty of Women) Sessions. She's a photographer of 18 years turned woman empowerment advocate, writer, women's event/retreat host, professional speaker, and most recently the new Co-Owner of a co-working holistic wellness center @epicenter_indy. Her spirit is beautiful and her energy is badass! More about Sarah: Creator at B.O.W Beauty of Women, Executive Director at Regeneration Indy and Owner at Photography By Sarah Boutwell

Gwendolyn Rogers is the president and owner of The Cake Bake Shop, a whimsical table service restaurant and bakery. With two locations in Indianapolis and one set to open in Disney World, Gwendolyn is leaving her badassery life. Before the interview she told us she's been working since she was 12 and was very independent from a young age. She learned to take care of herself despite a number of struggles along the way. She's living a life she never thought she would have - and she talked about it in this "sweet" interview! The 3 words she uses to describe herself: determined, creative and immature. Others would use the words: tenacious, joyful, strong. We use the word BADASS! Read her full bio here: https://thecakebakeshop.com/pages/our-story Download, rate and review the episode.

Angie is a Notre Dame graduate, lived in Cairo, Egypt, started her career in Republic of Moldova in the Peace Corps, she's an adventurer and a servant leader and is now leading an organization called Women4Change. Personally, she's managing a household filled with cats, dogs, a husband and two boys. She describes herself as passionate, articulate and a fast-learner. Friends describe her as enthusiastic, fun/funny and individualistic. We call her a badass! In this episode we talk with Angie about everything from her career to mentors, travels and adventures, and her focus and future advocating for women leading Women4Change. https://www.linkedin.com/in/aklitzsch/ https://www.women4changeindiana.org/

This badass woman is a mom, wife, entrepreneur, and a baker. A few fun facts about her: she was adopted from South America when she was a baby and grew up in Minnesota. She moved to Indiana to go to college and study journalism but after a few years she transferred to culinary school in Chicago. She owns a bakery in Baltimore – one of the most popular ones in Maryland. She's not only baking for her family and customers, but for Baltimore Ravens players and their head coach. Meet Kelly Sokolis, Owner & Wedding and Event Director, Cake, by Jason Hisley. cakebyjason.com/kelly

Brittany was 13-years-old when her friend's home went up in flames. She grew up wanting to be a firefighter. After failing an EMT test and a husband who didn't allow her to pursue her dream, she found clarity for a new mission. Brittany formed the nonprofit Fire Angels and focuses on helping families who have lost their homes due to house fires, and provides them with essential needs for the first 24 to 72 hours after a fire. The nonprofit also offers resources and comfort to help a family process what they've went through. Brittany talks about her passion, her work, challenges, and how she and other angels are helping others.

Episode 92 Mary's work on fair trade has taken her to the Dominican Republic, Uganda, Kenya, China, and Ecuador. She leads study abroad trips to Italy and Guatemala and with “fast fashion” production at an all-time high, Mary tells us how to be more conscious consumers, among many other things.   Mary is a senior lecturer of merchandising in the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture and Design, focusing on sustainability, fair trade and product development. She won a Trustees Teaching Award in 2016, she's a specialist in service learning, information literacy and integrative learning. She's also the founding director of the Eskenazi School's Center for Innovative Merchandising and a fair trade activist. Her interest and expertise in sustainable fashion is badass.

Jody is artistic, adventurous, animated and no doubt the most stylish guest we've had on the podcast. She's a healthcare lawyer by day, but she's made a name for herself in the fashion world with her eccentric style. She's turned a passion for fashion and personal style into a meaningful way to help others feel like badasses. There's nothing more that she'd rather do than to help others overcome personal insecurities, develop their own personal style and interact in the world with confidence. She's a shoe lover, party planner, world-traveler, advocate, fashionista, and a true badass!

Michelle has overcome so much in her life, including a tough childhood, being placed in the child welfare system, raped in high school, became a pregnant teen, experienced homelessness, and was mentally and emotionally unstable. But that's not the half of it! She served more than two decades in an Indiana prison for the murder of her 4-year-old son. Today, she's a scholar, artist, author, and a sixth-year doctoral student in the American studies program at New York University. She is also a founding member and board president of Constructing Our Future, a reentry and housing organization for women created by incarcerated women in Indiana and a Beyond the Bars fellow. ----- "I believe that nothing is impossible for me. Through all of it, I held on to this old saying 'God don't make junk.'” - Michell Daniel Jones ----- To say Michelle is a badass is an understatement. COF Website:  constructingourfuture.com Website: michelledanieljones.com Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/michelle-daniel-jones/ Twitter:  COF_Michelle Instagram: Michelle_thetruth

Dianna Boyce admits to never being good at sports growing up, but she was really good on the sidelines. Today, she's leading an All-Star Team as the vice president of NBA All-Star 2024 - the biggest weekend in basketball - which will be held in Indianapolis in February 2024. She's an incredible team player working with 24 separate committees with more than 450 people across the state to pull it off - and she's their biggest cheerleader (similar to her days growing up). In this episode, Dianna talks about the secret sauce that Indianapolis has when pulling off some of the largest sporting events - and she would know. Dianna served as a senior member of the staff for the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee. But it's not all sports for this badass! She talks about challenging herself to learn something new every day. And when asked about where she gets her happiness, she responded with faith, family and friends. Connect with Dianna Boyce on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dianna-l-boyce/ To learn more about the NBA All-Star 2024 visit nba.com/pacers/nba-all-star-2024-indianapolis

Episode 88 Brett is the Director of Kicking the Stigma at the Indianapolis Colts. She's determined, passionate and weird (that's how she describes herself) – others describe her as personable, loud (in voice, personality and bright colors) and ambitious. And after this interview I think you all will agree that Brett Kramer is a badass. Brett told us that she's always struggled with high-functioning anxiety. While on the outside she may look like she has her shit together, she has an intense fear of failure and not living up to the expectations she has set for herself. She believes sports has the power to change the world – and her role as the Director of Kicking The Stigma is a way she feels she can be part of that change. To learn more about Kicking The Stigma visit: www.colts.com/community/kicking-the-stigma

Charlynda is a serial entrepreneur: She serves as founder and CEO of Mutt's Sauce LLC and OH Taste LLC; Executive Director of the OH Taste Foundation. She's the author of Rock Bottom Has a Trampoline, a sought-after speaker and coach for women's empowerment and small businesses, a TEDx speaker, a Veteran (11 years in the Air Force). We loved hearing her story about growing up on a special, multi-use sauce that her grandfather Mutt made from his own secret recipe - and how he left the recipe to her when he passed away. This badass was talked so calmly about her Shark Tank experience and mentorship session with Daymond John. We talked about her family, Mutt Sauce, challenges, successes, 6888 Kitchen at the Arcade, and more. https://www.muttssauce.com/ https://www.charlyndajean.com/ https://www.charlyndajean.com/rockbottombook

We interviewed this badass woman back in 2020 - and 3 years later we had so much to talk about. She's an author, she's an advocate for women and girls, she's a wife, a caregiver for her husband, and a friend to so many. She's also known for uplifting the experiences of real Black women and showing how they are pushing back and getting free. Tamara has had incredible success with her books: The Sisters Are Alright: Changing the Broken Narrative of Black Women in America and Dear Black Girl: Letters From Your Sisters On Stepping Into Your Power – so much success and talk that also includes TV talk. Tamara got personal and talked about being a caregiver to her husband and how she practices self-care. She has a new job, new experiences, new connections and more. She's an amazing storyteller, entrepreneur, wife, caregiver, and more. She's also passionate, bold, smart, creative, kind and a BADASS!

Since interviewing Tina in 2020, she was named one of USA TODAY's Women of the Year, and she published a book (the book she dreamed about and talked about in our first interview) -- oh, and she got drunk and bought a duck at Tractor Supply. You never know what you're going to get when you get real with one of the badasses on this show. Tina's first published book is titled "embrace the imbalance: things you need to know from people I wish you knew". The book is made up of lessons learned throughout her life. No matter your age, where you practice your faith, what street you grew up on, or how you identify, you will find at least one thing in this book that will change your life. 

We sat down and had a conversation about the need for self-care and how most women don't make time for it. We shared stories, tips, ideas, and resources. We laughed, nearly cried, and realized that all badasses need self-care. Part of being a badass is recognizing when you need help, when you need support, or when you need other badass people in your corner!

Felicia Grady is an Executive Chef, Business Owner, and Restaurant Consultant. After graduating from The Chef Academy in 2012, she started her own catering company, Plate it Up! Catering. In 2022, she was awarded chef of the year by the American Culinary Federation. She has a TV show on the network Pure Essense called "Cooking Something Up! With Chef Felicia" and is a guest chef on Life Style Live on Channel 8 CBS. In this episode, we talked about her passions, her volunteer work, challenges she's faced as a business owner, feeling vulnerable, and being badass! We may also be cooking up something with Chef Felicia Grady - and we talk about that too.

After her son's friend was knocked off his bike by a driver on their way to school, Karissa became a fierce advocate for safe streets in Indy's school zones, where kids are walking and riding bikes on streets that are not safely built or managed for pedestrians. Karissa is an advocate on things we take for granted, she has unbridled passion for Indianapolis and for the urban experience, and she's loyal to those she shares a passion. She someone who reminds us we need to care! We talked about her advocacy and volunteer work, losing her mom to cancer at the age of 9 and then her dad to early onset Alzheimer's Disease earlier this year. She also opened up about infertility and pregnancy loss. And while Karissa has experienced great loss, she chooses to be grateful for the wealth of love in her life and the family and friends she has -- and we talked about that too.

We caught up with Cassie Stockamp a few months ago and loved our conversation. We didn't know where in the world she was then (turns out she was in Florida) and we don't know where in the world she is now (we think Canada) and that's what makes this badass woman so badass. The more she learns to say yes and let go, the more magic shows up. Every conversation with Cassie is incredible! She's a gem. She's empowering. She's living more open-hearted with no regrets. She's badass! Guarantee you'll love this episode!

This badass woman is compassionate, courageous, and thoughtful. Julie is dedicated to the prevention of sudden cardiac arrest in youth and is a fierce advocate and champion for raising money and awareness around the importance of AEDs. She founded the Play for Jake's Foundation after her son collapsed and died on a football field in 2013. Her hope is to save lives and help prevent this tragedy from happening to other families. The Play For Jake Foundation partners with schools to provide heart screenings for its students, as well as to raise funds and awareness around the importance of AEDs. "I will never overcome the loss of my son but I have learned what works best for me in dealing with my grief.  I live with this mantra,  “What would Jake want me to do"? - Julie West

Cristina was a kid when she tried to donate her kidney to her parents to save their lives (her dad was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, her mom became ill several years later and was on dialysis for months). She was told no because of her young age. She remained committed to saving a life through organ donation, knowing that the opportunity would present itself…someday. That day came a few years ago when she was matched with a stranger. This badass woman is proving that donating an organ doesn't limit anyone's abilities. Last year she trained and hiked the summit of Africa's highest peak - Mount Kilimanjaro - to bring attention to living kidney donation. She did it to prove that she could and to prove that people can resume not only normal lives, but extraordinary lives post organ donation. Cristina Fontana is not only an advocate, she's a radiation therapist, oncology nurse, and a yogi, to boot.

Carol knows how to throw a badass party! And her parties raise millions for Indianapolis nonprofit organizations. In this episode, we talked about her career - including working at Motorola executing their sponsorships of Vans Warped Tour, X Games and their motorsports sponsorship of Michael Andretti. In 2018, she directed the Universal Studios UK Movie Premiere “Born Racer” held at Indianapolis State Museum. She directed the Premiere and coordinated the pre-event cocktail reception, red carpet, media, and photo opportunities with Universal Studios. One year later, she planned and managed a press conference and trailer premiere for the “Ford vs. Ferrari” movie, attended by Academy Award-winning actors Matt Damon and Christian Bale, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. She has an amazing career, but her favorite job is being a mother to three strong and resilient girls. She opened up about a difficult pregnancy with her twins - if she delivered full term, all three of them would've died due to a very dangerous infection in Carol's placenta. She credits IU Health to saving their lives and providing her the best care the weeks and months ahead of her delivery. For that, Rev has become her labor of love and her way of giving back to the hospital. We talked about feeling vulnerable, finding joy, the things that really matter to her, and what has led to her success. Tune in to hear about Carol's friend Ashley Judd and the "crappy" ending for her first pair of designer sunglasses. Learn more about Rev: https://revindy.org/

This badass woman has been traveling the world on a motorcycle with her husband and their 75-pound German Shepherd, Moxie. Unfortunately, since the time that we interviewed her, tragedy has struck. Her husband was in a terrible accident (he survived) and their beloved dog died following complications resulting from an ordinary knee surgery. As you can imagine, Jess is gutted and heartbroken. After much consideration, we decided to move forward with posting this episode, as scheduled, because Jess Stone is an incredible woman and we want to celebrate her, while honoring Moxie! Jess is an adventurer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, wife, dog mom, content creator, and so much more. Originally from Canada, Jess talks with us about growing up, meeting her now husband in Africa where they were both aid workers, learning to ride a motorcycle on the side streets of Liberia, and more. She's traveled across nearly 90 countries, including an eight-month long trip on her motorcycle from North to South America. Her latest adventure includes traveling the world and raising $100,000 for Girl Up - a girl-centered leadership development initiative. She talks with us about the GoRUFFLY Around the World adventure and moving to Guatemala and supporting a women's microfinance nonprofit. While our hearts our broken for the loss of Moxie, we're inspired by Jess and her beautiful spirit. They are streaming live on Instagram on Wednesday, April 19 at 9pm Eastern / 6pm Pacific, where they will share more about Greg's motorcycle accident with a chicken bus, the injury that proceeded Moxie's surgery, and the unfortunate complications that resulted in her death.

Fletcher has fully transitioned from female to gender nonconforming and talks about that journey in this episode. Although they are still learning about who they are, therapy and the undying love of their chosen family has helped them find their purpose and grow into the person they are today. It wasn't easy. Fletcher grew up stifled in a very religious family and never felt safe at home to talk and explore their thoughts and feelings. It wasn't until the pandemic gave them time to explore who they were that Fletcher made some life-altering changes. Today, with two Master's Degrees in hand, Fletcher has found purpose in helping young people choose their path - not the path chosen for them. Fletcher works as the Young Transgender Persons HIV Prevention Program Manager for the Damien Center (the largest Aids Serving Organization in the state of Indiana – a nonprofit that provides services to more than 25% of all individuals living with HIV in the state). They have also found great love with their girlfriend and is living their authentic badass life. Fletcher took us through a rainbow of emotions in this episode. Find out how Fletcher found the support to grow, love and to be loved. Hear about their greatest challenges through this journey. And join us love on Fletcher who went from never feeling worthy to now being a servant leader and everyone's biggest cheerleader.

These two badass women are bound by wine, a sense of adventure, a strong community, and their interest in helping women get out and enjoy the outdoors! They're event planners who both love the outdoors and being active. They started a new company during COVID when they found a gap in the market for a service they new they could provide. Staying true to themselves and committed to growing Trail & Vine, they are drawn by the excitement of the unknown and the adventures ahead. Badasses Lisa Almert and Kirsten Peterson join us to talk about how and why they created Trail and Vine, their challenges and successes, and what the future holds for their new adventure company. They talk about the event side of their business and how they're building a community of like-minded individuals who enjoy a good hike and a great glass of wine. Watch for upcoming events and episodes with Trail & Vine at @trailandvine (IG) and @trailvine (FB)! Find out more information on their website: www.trailandvine.com

After learning to manage her disease of alcoholism, Stephanie is living a life where she can show others that there is life after addiction. She hit rock bottom. She was trapped in a loveless marriage that ended in divorce. As her drinking escalated, her health declined. She lost her business and nearly lost her life. Her nights (and days) of drinking took a serious toll on her body, showing up in life-threatening seizures. She overcame. Today she's sober, happy and healthy. Her sobriety taught her she didn't need a lot. "You just need to be sober and you need to love yourself." Stephanie describes herself as resilient, empathetic and fierce. We describe her as a badass. In this episode, Stephanie talks about the help she received at Dove Recovery House and the challenges of learning to manage her disease of alcoholism. She talks about her road to recovery, what led to her success, and her new career giving back to other women at Dove House. Learn more about Dove Recovery House: https://doverecoveryhouse.org/ Read more about Stephanie's story: https://doverecoveryhouse.org/dove-opens-doors-stephanies-story/

She's an established Patient Voice Advocate with 20 years+ biotechnology experience (a woman with a badass career) ... a wife, mom of two adult kids, foster mom to more than 80 children in emergency situations, and an advocate for important causes. Last year she testified before both the House and Senate opposing Senate Bill 2 (in her words: "a half-assed attempt to placate the public after stripping women of bodily autonomy"). The Senate bills aimed to address expected rise in unwanted pregnancies. Allie spends much of her time and energy advocating for children and their families who are in the state's care. She has submitted proposals for conferences and was selected to present at the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN) Congress in Muscat, Oman. She told us she will never let what she cannot do stop her from doing what she can. When she started volunteering her home for emergency short-term foster care in 2017, she and her husband had hoped to just provide temporary shelter for children in central Indiana who needed help. She has answered calls to host a child at 3 AM “because their only other alternative is to sleep on the DCS office floor.” She has loved and cared for a malnourished 1-year-old who only weighed 11 pounds, a spunky preteen (and her doll, Malachi), 3 infants who were surrendered at “safe haven” locations, where no questions are asked, a young boy with cancer, and so many more. In total, Allie and her husband have housed 79 kids for anywhere from one night to several months. She talks about her advocacy work, being a foster parent, feeling vulnerable, and so much more in this episode. She also encourages listeners to get involved (a message we thought was important to share here): "We must create space for people to contribute in unique ways that connect to their strengths. I often say that not every home is set up to host a child, but EVERYONE can do something. Send a foster family a meal, pass along outgrown winter coats and boots. $21/day does not begin to cover the cost of raising a child. I fancy myself an “aggregator of goodwill.” I seek to match needs and resources. We all have connections, and all can contribute to the solution."

She's originally from Tennessee, loves country music and cowboy boots, a foodie who loves barbeque and southern cookin'. She's a former Emmy-nominated TV News personality whose career landed her in Florida, where she fell in love with the water and her husband. Meet Emily Crews (those of us in Indianapolis remember her as Emily Kinzer). After dedicating the last decade to featuring impactful news stories about local communities, she's now documenting her travels and telling the stories of the people she meets along the way. Together with her husband, Cole, they are The Adventure Crews. They're on a mission to capture the world through the lens of their camera and take as many people with them on their journey. They believe life is short and the time is always NOW. And everyone and everything has a story to share. Emily is sharing her story on a blog, YouTube ... and we're excited that she spent time with us on Badassery Life. In this episode, Emily talks about her career, her adventures (from shipwrecks to swimming with sharks; the Florida Python Challenge and everything in between), Ocean-to-Table, how this lifestyle'/business is sustainable, and more. Emily is living her badassery life. She and her travels are pretty badass! Follow Emily: instagram.com/theemilykinzer/ https://theadventurecrews.com/ Click here for their YouTube Channel

This badass woman has overcome so much - so much that we had to double/triple check our facts before we started the interview. She shared with us that she has overcome divorce, a blended family with 5 children, including an oppositional defiant child, a child with autism, a child with a severe congenital heart defect who endured 4 open heart and 13 other surgeries, court battles, having a restraining order violated 19 times, a child who was assaulted by an adult at a children's museum, a child who was abused, a child who was strangled, and by far her most difficult challenge ever – having a child who drowned. Yet, she has overcome all of that (and more) and is thriving as the president of the Alex and Ali Foundation, a local nonprofit that empowers people with disabilities through meaningful employment opportunities. She's also a keynote speaker and advocate for children and adults with disabilities and a faith-based speaker focused on taking the next right step and keeping hope in the midst of hardship and suffering. You'll have to listen to her story yourself to know why we think she's such a badass! Links we talked about in this episode: The Alex and Ali Foundation: https://www.thealexandalifoundation.com/ Happy Hounds: https://www.thealexandalifoundation.com/happy-hounds The Hope Gallery: https://www.thealexandalifoundation.com/the-hope-gallery

Regina is a badass culinary trailblazer. She's a five-time James Beard Foundation Award Semifinalist and a true pioneer in the farm-to-table movement in the Midwest. She's a world-cuisine connoisseur and a culinary gem in Indianapolis. She's the former owner of R Bistro and R2GO. Indianapolis was heartbroken when she shut down her restaurants, but she's still living in the city and we caught up with her. In this episode, Regina talks with us about her career, the travels that influenced her culinary style and tastes, her challenges and successes, what brings her happiness, and so much more. She also shared advice for young chefs. Regina said she's living her badassery life because she's teaching and sharing her knowledge of Culinary Arts with young students at the beginning of their life in food. Not only was it a thrill to talk with her, but afterwards she shared her cherished Sticky Toffee Pudding recipe with us (probably because Kelly couldn't stop talking about it during the interview).

Sarah is a girl from Indy's eastside who decided 20 years into the restaurant industry that it was time to fully go after her dreams. In the midst of COVID, she took on her photography career full-time and started putting energy into her non-profit Re-Generation Indy. In this episode, she talks about the sexual abuse she endured as a child and how she overcame that and started to heal by opening up to women about her past trauma. Today, she's created a badass sisterhood of like-minded souls who have taken the leap of being weirdly vulnerable in order to promote personal and collective growth. We talk about her past, her current projects, her successes and challenges, what makes her happy, and her greatest gift. Sarah describes herself as determined, compassionate and goofy. Others describe her as honest, inspiring and hilarious. We describe her as a badass! Check out her episode. Support her nonprofit (regenerationindy.com). Follow her on social. She's an inspiration and incredibly talented! instagram.com/everythingbouty facebook.com/sarah.boutwell.73 sb@photographybysarahboutwell.com

Polina Osherov is Co-Founder and Executive Director of PATTERN. She is also a commercial photographer. She credits her success to persistence, hard work, and knowing how to pick her battles. She describes herself as direct, driven, and solution-oriented. We describe her as a creative badass! From the Soviet Union to Australia - a life that led her to Indianapolis. A dad who was a cinematographer and photographer - her introduction to photography. A career that included being a small business owner, an entrepreneur, a photographer, co-founder and executive director of Patter - a creative person with a passion for fashion. She talked about all of that and so much more. Some say she's intimdating, but she wears a pair of cat ears that have become part of her brand (which she tells us about). And although she says her gift is tough love and she's faced many challenges, she's forged ahead and is kicking ass. We introduce you to this creative badass woman in this episdoe.

Jennifer describes herself as gritty, loving and humorous. Friends say she's tenacious, loving, passionate. We think Jennifer Cvar is a badass! She's the founder and executive director of Momentum Indy | Indy Crit, thriving and serving as the only female founder/manager in the American Cup Series, which she also helped to found. She grew up riding her bike as a kid and loving the independence her bike gave her. Fast forward to after college when she started taking spin classes at the YMCA at the Athenaeum in Indianapolis. There she met a group of mostly male cyclists who invited her to join their group rides. Frustrated that she was always in the back, she built up her stamina and strength and before long moved up to the front – and even onto podiums after competing in crits. Her career in racing competitively led her to creating the Indy Crit, an annual bike race in downtown Indianapolis that has gone from just a race to a weekend to a long festival. We caught up with her right before the 2022 Crit (took place Aug. 27). To learn more about the IU Health Momentum Indy, two-day bicycle festival, visit momentumindy.org

Janet is the longest-serving arts leaders in Indianapolis. She has created art with amazing professionals from around the country for nearly 40 years. While she describes herself as tenacious, loud and forward-moving, she believes others would say she's demonstrative, energetic and mouthy. The word we use is BADASS! Janet joined the Indiana Repertory Theatre in 1980 as a dramaturg (which she explained to us), then as associate artistic director, and, since 1996, as artistic director. In this episode, she talked about her career, her time in New York (and why she came back), challenges, successes, and so much more. After her 40-year career at the IRT, Janet will retire on June 30, 2023, after the 2022–2023 Season. Her final season will also be the IRT's 50th Anniversary Season, which she talked about too. Get your tickets at irtlive.com

This badass woman founded The Can Lady Project, an Indianapolis nonprofit, which has collected more than 20 million cans, raised thousands of dollars for teachers, and works to educate local youth. In 2007, she was inspired to help her community by doing something simple: recycling. Think you can't make a difference? You CAN - just ask the Can Lady. She basically started a recycling initiative that donates field trips and supplies to teachers all funded by cans that you toss and she recycles. Since its inception the project has generated more than $60K in donations. What CAN you do? "I could sit around, do nothing and complain, or I could get up and do something to get money in the hands of teachers and teach kids about recycling." - Mary Stumpp In this episode, hear how she got started, why she started the project, how she drew the attention of Mike Rowe's Facebook series, and so much more. To learn more, make a donation, and to help The Can Lady visit facebook.com/thecanladyproject/

In 2017, Deb completed a 50 by 60 challenge with her husband – where they ran a marathon in all 50 states before they turned 60 (they've actually completed over 60 marathons AND a 100 mile race). In 2018, they crossed off their bucket list a bike ride across the country (literally from coast to coast). And as if that isn't enough, a month after they finished their coast-to-coast ride, they started planning a ride along the Continental Divide. When she's not running or cycling, she's busy with her seven adult children, five grandsons and two granddaughters. She cooks a “healthyish” scratch meal for her extended family of 21 once a week. Deb is retired, which according to her means working on her bucket list: volunteering, spending time with her family, and lots of self-directed learning. In addition to learning to play Pickleball and solving Wordles, Deb is teaching herself Spanish and French so she can better communicate with the Spanish and French speaking neighbors in the food pantry where she volunteers weekly. She talks about all this and more in this episode of Badassery Life.

In this episode we talked with Cara about her career, her fight for women and women's sexual health, and her persepctive on Roe v Wade and abortion. Listen to this episode and learn why she's passionate about vulva vaginal disease and about her purpose of bringing light to dark places. Cara talks about things people don't like to talk about and finds a way to normalize them. She's using her voice and her voice needs to be heard. Cara Berg Raunick is a doctorally-prepared women's health nurse practitioner and a lifelong advocate for women's and sexual health. She's involved with an organization called PATH4YOU, a diverse team of healthcare providers and individuals passionate about quality reproductive care for all AND she's serving as concert co-producer of SPRING AWAKENING, benefiting All-Options Hoosier Abortion Fund taking place at the Cabaret in Indianapolis on August 13. (visit riverbendproduction.com/springawakening for tickets)

Lindsey is a wife, mother of two, volunteer, co-founder of an annual memory run/walk in memory of her mom, and an active member of her church. She's also on a journey being a parent of a transgender daughter. She's learning how to support her child who is gender diverse, doesn't fit the norms and struggles with anxiety, ADHD and depression. Lindsey is supporting her child with beauty, grace and in such a badass way that inspires others. Lindsey told us she's "a mom trying to love, support my children and create equity, inclusion and belonging in the world (through my motherhood and work)". She's loyal, authentic, kind and devoted to her family and values, loyal. She has incredible grit. In this epsiode, Lindsey talks about her challenges, feeling vulnerable and the support network helping her walk this beautiful and tough transgender journey.

Suzi is considered to be one of the women at the beginning of the #metoo movement. She was a key witness on a harassment trial against a popular celebrity in her home country of Australia. In 2014, she found herself in a London Court room, getting her inner warrior on in support of all women who have been victimized, by sharing her story to the world as a bad character witness in the child sexual assault trial of an international British star. We talked about that and more. Her past has been filled with challenges: self-esteem issues, she almost went bankrupt, had a dysfunctional family on both sides that involved drug and alcohol addiction and suicide. But today, Suzi is a multi-award winning film and television hair and makeup artist and an international award-winning motivational speaker. She's also the author of the upcoming book series Bare Naked and Beautiful, a live audience talk show host and MC, an educator, a facilitator, a mother, an ex-wife, a Holistic Confidence Coach, a model, and Mrs Earth Australia 2017.

Shelly is a mother, wife, musician, lesbian, Christian, hippie, helper, leader, and listener. She's also the new (and first female) Executive Director of Indy Pride – an Indianapolis-based nonprofit that produces events that educate, honor our history, and celebrate the diversity of the Indianapolis Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer community. In this episode we talked with Shelly about her challenges (personally and professionally), feeling vulnerable, what makes her happy, what's led to her success, and the incredible work she's doing for the LGBTQ+ community and her advocacy work on behalf of trans youth. Shelly shared that she's living her badassery life bcause she has "the great opportunity to represent a whole community and provide opportunities for them to connect with each other."

For the past two decades, Susan Baughman has played a major role in Indy's biggest sporting events. Most recently, she served as the president of the 2022 College Football Playoff Host Committee - a female sports executive leading that event for the first time in Indianapolis. She's a long-time leader in the Indianapolis sports movement who likes creating positive connections with people. She describes herself as positive, tenacious and friendly - we describe her as a true badass! In this episode she talks about growing up on a farm, her challenges in the business world, what really matters to her, and more. Find out how she was able to build a pool in the then "Conseco Fieldhouse" for the 2024 World Swimming Championships, how she likes to keep in touch with people for years to see them progress in life, and what the playbook looks like for her future.

Britnee talks about one of the biggest challenges of her life (an unexpected divorce) and how she turned it into opportunities for personal growth, advocacy (body positivity, mental health awareness, self-care, self-love, embracing strength as a woman), and creativity. After her divorce, she signed up for a year-long influencer program with Bethany Quinn Stuidos – an Indy-based photographer who exclusively shoots black-and-white boudoir. After her first shoot, Britnee saw in the pictures a woman who was not defined by her brokenness. She was a woman picking up her broken pieces and putting herself back together however she saw fit, answering to no one. She was liberated. In this episode, Britnee talks about feeling vulnerable, finding self-love and strength, and the incredible power of a boudoir photo shoot.

Jennifer describes herself as friendly, genuine and driven. Others describe her as outgoing, confident, passionate. As a wife, mother of 3, a business owner of a new specialized boutique focused on women sizes 12/14 through 22/24, and a survivor of an eating disorder she battled for more 20 years, we describe Jennifer Buchanan as a true badass! She opens up about her eating disorder and addictions and her newfound purpose and passion: "Her Beautiful Chaos" boutique. She talks about her struggles and successes and why she wants to encourage women to enjoy feeling comfortable and bold in the skin they are in. Her online boutique opens 2/4/22 - www.HerBeautifulChaos.com

Lauren is an investigative reporter based at WFYI in Indianapolis and the co-host of Sick, a podcast about what goes wrong in the places meant to keep us healthy. Before she became one of our favorite podcast co-hosts, she honed her journalistic skills at The Herald-Times, in Bloomington. She grew up outside of Annapolis, Maryland and attended Towson University where she majored in journalism – and met her now husband. The two of them moved to Bloomington, Indiana in 2012 after graduation. In this episode, Lauren dishes the dirt on season 2 of Sick, where she and her co-host focus on prisons - places that have to keep people healthy, but are built to push them. Bad ass!! She also talks about her career, successes, challenges, and what she's doing to live her badassery life! Follow her on Twitter @lauren_bavis