Cultivated Conversations

On the Season 2 Finale of Cultivated Conversations, Jen looks back at some of the life lessons and key takeaways provided by the incredible group of women who have come on the podcast in the past year. Together with her producer, Yimu Xue, they talk through what inspired them, what new things they have learned, and how they plan on integrating these teachings in their lives for the rest of 2020 and beyond.

Entrepreneur Amy Webber dove headfirst into building her own company, Paideia Media. This inclusive, female-led digital production and consulting company for finely curated digital content has given Amy so many opportunities and life lessons that she shares with us on this episode of Cultivated Conversations - specifically, standing in your own power and not being afraid of making people uncomfortable.

The power of community can unite, inspire, and empower us to elevate our lives. Today’s guest Jolina Hoang is the Director of Community at Summit Series, where she is responsible for curating and connecting incredible thought leaders to convene at Summit’s  incredible events around the world. We learn about how she forged a new career path for herself after outgrowing her stint at a TV network, and better understand how we can ignite our passions by seeking out community.

When you have a passion for what you do, it just makes your everyday that much easier. From a young age, Amanda Ghalchi has been obsessed with nutrition and healthy eating - and it was only natural that it led to founding Solo Snacks, an innovative and holistic approach to protein bar. Hear her incredible story about what drove her to relentlessly pursue her dream of creating a safe, clean and delicious product!

Yasmin Shackleton has always known that she wanted to be a TV producer ever since she was a girl watching Saturday morning kids’ programming in the UK. Ten years ago, she came to the US and was forced to take a few career steps back, having no connections in the States. Today, she’s a successful executive producer responsible for shows like "Masterchef" and Netflix’s "The Final Table." Listen and learn how she built her production company from the ground up and what her life looks like as a working mother.

It’s no secret that what and how we communicate in today’s society has evolved from generations past. That’s why communication scientists are so important to help people and brands identify the important conversations they should be having with their consumers. Sammy Rabstein is the Head of Programming and Talent for PTTOW and WORLDZ, and she ensures that corporations can progress in parallel with society’s shifts in culture.

Are you aware of your most authentic self? With all the noise in the world, there can be a lot distracting us from understanding what we truly want and need. Today’s guest Amanda Brown shares her incredible story of how she determined who she was destined to be - an artist, singer, and songwriter - by simply believing in herself.

This week, Jen downloads us on her recent Necker Island getaway with 25 female entrepreneurs, whisked away to Richard Branson's private island. Inspired by the incredible stories and insights this diverse group of women had to offer, Jen offers her top 5 takeaways from the weekend. 

Many women put off having kids in fear of hindering their career or not feeling ready. But today’s guests dove straight into motherhood, even making it part of their creative career. Sam Gutstadt & Haely White are the powerhouse duo behind Don’t Call Me Mommy, a popular video series and social platform that gets real and deep about what it’s like to be a mom. Their content has been viewed by millions online, and we unpack their creative process and how they balance their lives day in and day out.

One of Jen’s closest friends Sara Shillinglaw takes the mic on this poignant and hilarious episode of Cultivated Conversations. Sara talks through her experience leaving a successful career as a publicist to dive into the corporate landscape and now, tackling the tech industry. Through challenges and tribulations and a lot of self-discovery, Sara shares an incredibly relatable story of emerging from the unknown.

Cultivated Conversations welcomes our first Gen Z guest to the podcast, and her story is truly incredible. Alexa Curtis candidly discusses the challenges she faced when she was younger and how that sparked her mission to inspire other teens to be fearless. Listen and learn just how this ambitious and resilient young woman paved her own path at just 21 years old.

Celebrity make-up artist Jamie Greenberg is responsible for glamming up many of our favorite stars. Her journey to becoming such a leader in this industry is particularly interesting - and she shares how she handles balancing life as a working mom and the events that shaped her life to becoming the woman she is today.

Both a “Rich Bitch” and a “Boss Bitch” (and yes, those are the titles of her TWO New York Times Bestsellers), today’s guest shares how she took an opportunity of a lifetime to build a career as a business TV anchor with almost no finance experience. In this episode, Nicole Lapin dives into her incredible career, the personal journey it took to get here today, and gives us insight on her latest book, “Becoming Super Woman,” which details the 12 steps to unlocking your secret power.

If you had to push the reset button on your life at 35, what would you do? That’s the question that today’s guest, founder of Concierge PR Nicole Meyden answers in this episode of Cultivated Conversations - where we share how to embrace the calling of the universe and where to go from rock bottom.

This episode is full of lessons from author and Comedy Central VP of Talent & Development, Tara Schuster. Her incredible achievements are valuable guidelines for anyone who wants to understand how to carve out their own path (hint: by being a relentless, tenacious person who's not afraid to get their hands dirty). Tara turned her life-story into a book, “Buy Yourself the F*cking Lillies,” where she gives the world honest and practical advice on self-care. We can't wait for you to hear this episode!

After a brief summer hiatus, Cultivated Conversations is back! Our host Jen answers 10 audience questions in under 10 minutes. Hear her share how she first got into the business of talent, how she manages an all-female team, and just exactly what she does on weekends.

After 10 years at a large PR firm, today’s guest took the leap and decided to start her own PR company. Yes, she was newly pregnant, and probably not 100% sure on exactly what was to come - but thanks to her diligence and perseverance, she's created a publicity powerhouse. Heather Besignano is the founder of Icon PR which provides visibility and media opportunities for clients and causes that she’s passionate about. Listen to her inspirational story about how she discovered her path.

Anna Bulbrook is a classically trained musician turned rock star turned entrepreneur. She realized how few women were in the alternative rock and roll music space, so she decided to create a solution. She founded Girl School, an empowering festival and community that celebrates badass women via the power of music, art and ideas. Anna was able to establish a movement that promotes progress in a way that was authentic to her self-founded purpose and passion. 

Joan Kuhl is a self-proclaimed leadership junkie who helps young people achieve success in their careers. While working in the health industry, she discovered her passion for recruiting, speaking, and empowering female employees. She left to become a consultant, providing insight for corporations on generational differences and is an expert on millennial workplace dynamics. This episode is a must-listen for those seeking a deeper understanding of being a woman in the workplace that knows her worth.

Kiana Anvaripour started her career in fashion and luxury branding, an industry she hustled and found great success with entrepreneurial pursuits. After having her children, she had an opportunity to take the leap into working at Beboe, a luxury cannabis company. She is the perfect example of someone who has consistently reinvented herself, career after career, to find something that made sense for her and simply felt right. Learn what this VP of Marketing has to say about her career journey on today’s episode.

Today's guest has made it her mission to make the world a better place for women. Emma Isaacs co-founded Business Chicks, Australia's largest and most beloved community for women, and is the author of "Winging It," a book that empowers readers to forgo the life plans and meticulous planning and truly go for their dreams. Recently, she's moved to the States where she's raising five young children with her husband and on this episode, she tells her incredible story of how she's gotten to where she is today. 

Today’s guest has had a illustrious career traveling the world singing with some of our generation’s biggest stars. Today, Kelly Levesque balances her career with a new business endeavor, and soon she will be mother to not just one but two young children. Listen to her incredible story as she discusses how she dealt with challenges and vulnerability on the road, and how ultimately she found strength within herself. This is a raw and real episode of Cultivated Conversations, and one you don’t want to miss.

In life, not everything is taught in lesson books. Sometimes, you just have to dive in and experience it yourself to truly understand how to succeed in your dream career. Today’s guest, Jen Abel, is the VP of Entertainment Strategy and Development at one of the PR industry’s biggest firms. Hear about how she paved her way in one of the most competitive industries to becoming one of the most coveted publicists in the country - starting with a leap of faith, a Greyhound bus, and a unwavering dedication to being a sponge so she could learn all she could.

Are you feeling complacent in your life? Do you feel like you may not be living up to your fullest potential? Is there something itching inside of you for more? Well, this episode is for you. Our guest Sarah Pendrick’s mission in life is to empower women so they can discover the best version of themselves. Through her company, Girl Talk Network, Sarah helps women figure out how to blossom in their life, and we learn all about it on today’s episode of Cultivated Conversations.

Balancing work life and home life is an art, not a science. Today’s guest Jameela Jackson is a working mom who has followed her passions and skills to develop an extensive career in public relations and recently as part of an Google offshoot called StartUp Grind. Learn how Jameela forged her path and how to this day, she continues to be a badass to amplify other entrepreneurs in Los Angeles while taking care of her family as a single mom.  

For many people the thought of losing your job is horrifying. The stability is gone, you have no security. But for today's guest, this experience catapulted her into joining an incredible company and learning exactly what she loved to do. Today, Sarah Stephens Bean is the marketing specialist at Book Launchers, launching the careers of so many new authors and finding unique voices in the literary space. Listen to her incredible story on this week's Cultivated Conversations. 

Stacey Beaman put in her notice at her teaching job without having a plan. She knew she was done and that was that. It wasn’t until she stepped into Plyojam, a workout class that combines plyometrics with hip hop dance moves, that she found her true calling. Listen to Stacey’s incredible story of confidence, passion, and a wild business journey in this week’s episode of Cultivated Conversations.

This episode is about to get educational. Literally. Today’s guest Tiffany Sorya had found a void in the offerings of the educational agencies she worked for. So, she decided to bet on herself, take the leap, and start her own company. The Novel Education Group is a home-school & tutoring agency for people who lead unconventional lives. With clients like Kendall and Kylie Jenner, she has found great success with her company and inspires the youth of tomorrow with her innovative approach to teaching. 

The savviest entrepreneurs are those who have managed to carve out a niche product or service in an untapped market. Enter Molly Peckler: founder of Highly Devoted, a cannabis-friendly matchmaking service. Molly has connected the dots and provides a service with a unique common ground: love for Mary Jane. Listen to Molly’s incredible journey of how she essentially became the pioneer cannabis matchmaker.

This week’s guest wears many hats. She's a producer. A writer. A television host. For many - that's the dream. But exactly how did she get there?  From studying to become an English professor to diving into the entertainment industry, Mar Yvette never let herself be kept in a box. If you are feeling stuck in one lane, remember that you have more than one talent - so lean in to what speaks to you. 

Sometimes things don’t always go according to plan. Today’s guest, Caitlin Crosby, started off as a musician and an actress. It was one chance encounter that inspired her to start the Giving Keys, a business that employs the homeless to transition them off the streets. This episode is all about understanding that sometimes we just need to let life lead us to our truest calling.

Imagine starting from nothing and earning your first million by 26. That’s exactly what happened with today’s guest, Cayla Craft, who paved her own way into achieving financial freedom. Today she helps women grow their online businesses and encourages them to share their gifts with the world. If you’re curious about how this Mommy Millionaire runs her life, this episode will show you that by taking the leap you can truly have it all.

Now more than ever, people need someone on their side. We need a hype man (or woman) pumping us up to reach our goals. But guess what? You can be your own cheerleader. This week’s episode features Toni Purry, author of “My Hypebook,” a motivational journal that builds confidence by asking individuals to recognize their accomplishments. Toni talks through her inspiration, how she first intended the book to be solely for herself, and then how she brought it to market for everyone to experience and enjoy.

Welcome to Season 2 of Cultivated Conversations! In this special episode, Jen welcomes listeners with an inspiring message that calls for self-reflection on when to take the leap on any endeavors you’ve been hesitating to jump into.

In this special Season 1 Finale episode of Cultivated Conversations, we put our host Jen Proctor in the interview seat. Listen to Megan Holiday interview our beloved Cultivator about her life story and learn about the pivotal moments from her childhood & career that have molded her into the woman she is today. This episode is for all our listeners who have followed along this season: no matter what struggles come your way, let Jen’s story be a reminder that there is always a way to come back stronger.

Today’s guests turned a passion project into their full time job. Elizabeth Kott and Stephanie Simbari are not only co-hosts of the popular podcast That’s So Retrograde but also best friends whose curiosity for the wellness industry has become their brand. Listen to the girls describe their come up, how they developed their voices, and became the relatable influencers that we know and love today.

What’s keeping you from taking the leap into your own entrepreneurial ventures? Fear? Not knowing how? Well, understand this: you know what you are doing. Your experience, knowledge and contacts are what make you ready to take the leap. Today’s guest, Baily Hancock, created her own business as a “collaboration consultant”- a title and position that is completely unique to her and her services. In today’s episode we learn that no matter what your talents, you too can carve your own path in entrepreneurship.

For a lot of us, the unknown is terrifying. This fear limits our ability to pursue our dreams and forces us to stay in lanes that we’re most used to. But today's guest chose the unknown over and over again. She went from professional dancer, back to school as a grad student, then getting her doctorate in her 30’s. Now, she balances two careers: one in psychology and another in art. She is a living example of what happens when someone takes the leap to take the path less traveled.

Today’s guest, Heidi Stevens, left a lucrative career in the real estate business to follow her passion in business & mindset coaching. Having always felt called to personal development, Heidi sought out to make her dreams a reality. Now, she coaches women in creative industries to aim higher, dream bigger, and create goals that they can reach - including our very own Jen Proctor. This episode unveils her spiritually grounded approach to coaching all types of women to believe that they can indeed have it all.

If you’ve ever wanted to take the leap into a creative endeavor full-time, today’s episode is for you. Our guest today realized her knack for both business and creative endeavors when she was working part-time at a boutique during the recession. She has built an incredibly successful business in designing jewelry and accessories named after herself - Bone by Dawn. Dawn is a fantastic representative of what can happen when you follow the path of your passions.

We all set goals for ourselves, but just how far are we willing to go to achieve them? Today's guest, Keri White, is an extremely successful and passionate real estate agent in Los Angeles. Last year, Keri set a massive business goal and stopped at nothing to attain it- learning a lot of hard lessons along the way. In this episode Keri tells us about her life, her incredible career and she shares her knowledge and experience about working hard and staying present.

Society has programmed us to believe that in order to get what we want in life - a great career, a balanced personal life, a healthy (and hot) body - we have to follow a “traditional” path. But guess what - it’s not for everybody. Sometimes leaning in to the unconventional can lead to great success - and such was true for today’s guest, Tess Finkle. She went from being an unpaid internship to the CEO a massive PR firm representing brands, events, celebrities and beyond. With one of the most unique stories you’ve ever heard, this will leave you laughing, learning and inspired.

Sometimes, you just need to do something for yourself. This week’s guest, Diana Oh, is a celebrity make-up artist who built herself up from two gigs a month to becoming the lead make-up artist at the Late Late Show (yes, THAT Late Late Show with THAT James Corden). Hear about her journey, her essential products & tips for all make-up lovers, and the importance of self-care while on the grind.

Name your dream company. Now imagine you interview for that company and get denied not once, but 12 times. This is what happened to today's guest, photographer Ashley Streff - but these setbacks did not once deter her from pursuing her dreams. Amidst health issues and being out of work for over a year, Ashley cunningly rode the wave when Instagram first came into the market, and built a reputable career as a photographer from the platform. You'll be amazed listening to this story of persistence & resilience. 

Today's guest Carrie Murray is no stranger to the struggles of owning her own business. After a successful career in education, she opened her own school - but it failed. Why? She determined two reasons: lack of business knowledge & no sounding boards to guide her on the right path. That's why she created the BRA Network, a community for women to learn from one another about what it takes to run their own businesses. Be inspired by Carrie's no-nonsense approach to a person's value. 

What do you think your social media presence says about you? We live in a world today where we all have a personal brand via social media, whether we like it or not. Today's episode with entrepreneur and business coach Anna Wood of @BrainsOverBlonde goes into detail about how important social media is for entrepreneurs to maintain to grow their businesses. Learn about what it took for this Stanford MBA and Google alum to take the leap and start her own coaching business.

It takes a lot of courage to take a leap in your career, leaving the familiar and diving into the unknown. Today's Conversation with Coded PR Founder Jennifer Wentzo illuminates how she felt when making this life-changing decision, the unknown struggles behind starting your own business, and what it takes to achieve balance. Jen's incredible story will inspire all wantrepreneurs who are itching to make moves. 

Wellness. What a buzzword. But does everyone understand what it truly means? Today’s episode with Healer Chandra Scofield highlights how she was able to leave a job in corporate America to pursue a career in alternative medicine, her true calling. Chandra illuminates how and why people find themselves stressed in their day to day, and hopes to inspire listeners to pursue their passion.   Check out Chandra’s work and download her sound meditations at www.IAmSonicful.com For more behind-the-scenes follow @CultivatedEntertainment Send an email to Jen at hello@cultivatedent.com

This episode is all about how Flybrow founder Suzie Moldavon was able to turn her side hustle into her main hustle. Not only did Suzie do a complete 180 in her career path as a creative executive to become a celebrity make-up artist, she also was able to connect her passion with her calling and start a successful business. 

In this week’s episode of Cultivated Conversations, we dive deep into celebrity fitness trainer Ashley Borden's journey where she overcame an eating disorder to become a Master Trainer with over 35,000 hours under her belt. She is the ultimate example of taking one’s struggles, facing them head-on, and using that fuel to build and create an immensely successful career.

Creativity exists within all of us. But few of us fully are brave enough to align with that inner voice. That wasn’t the case for today’s guest, TV personality Orly Shani.  She was able to lean in to the areas in her life that both brought her joy and flexed her creative muscles - and since finding this synergy has launched a massively successful career in fashion and lifestyle programming.