Girl Grit Podcast

On this episode of Girl Grit, we explore the importance of female friendships and are joined by Liana and I’s very own girl gang, Shreya Kuntawala and Loren Parra, which we proudly call our friend group, T4. Bonded by a passion for public service, the four of us met while interns working at the Florida Capitol almost 8 years ago. As the years have gone by, we’ve transitioned into new jobs, new cities, graduations, all the while, leaning on each other to navigate the complexities of life together. We’ve empowered one another, leaned on each other for advice, and most importantly - demonstrated the stunningly beautiful part of female friendships is that they're built to last a lifetime.

On this episode of Girl Grit, we speak to Caitlin Bonet, who is the founder and owner of her design firm, Studio CDB. Caitlin is a true design guru, providing expertise in interior design, event planning, architecture, and graphics...you name it, she most certainly can create it! She shares with us details of her journey to becoming an entrepreneur after the loss of her dad, learning how grief can bring you clarity in life, and taking risks is the key to designing a life you love.

On this episode of Girl Grit, you’ll hear from Amy Kroll. Amy and Liana first met while working together at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and her passion for elevating women in leadership has inspired Liana ever since. Amy has deep experience in the political arena through managing competitive races and working in high stakes party politics which has led to her biggest endeavor yet, becoming the founder and executive director of the University of Texas’ LBJ Women’s Campaign School all while managing graduate school. We’ll be discussing how she developed the idea for the campaign school, the steps she took to turn her idea into reality and how her work to empower women to run for office is her “north star”.

After a three month long road trip around the country, Bruna joins us on Girl Grit to reflect on her life and what led her to become a nationally known immigrant rights activist. She shares details of her journey from Brazil to Florida, her difficult decision to “come out of the shadows” and how Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) has impacted her life. On this episode, Bruna reminds us that immigration is beautiful and the best way we can support her is to get out and vote in November. https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000005403642/what-dreamers-gained-from-daca-and-stand-to-lose.html

Millennials are changing the way people view and discuss mental health. The best way to destigmatize the concept is by talking about it! On this episode, we learn about Dr. Alex’s efforts to help women get “un-stuck and step into their potential” through her own private practice called Thrive Therapy & Consulting. We will also learn tips how to best lead a life of authenticity and how she balances being a new mom, homeowner, entrepreneur and advocate.

What began as a quick summer adventure in Napa Valley turned into a lifelong pursuit to grow in the knowledge and sharing of wine. For her next adventure, Kara launched her own business, Wine Inspired, to create meaningful experiences for those curious about wine. On this episode, we learn about all the triumphs and trials of navigating entrepreneurship in the wine industry.

The Girl Grit podcast explores the personal stories of young professional women who are innovating and redefining success in business, politics and local communities.With each new episode, we hope to empower women and prove that the most difficult challenges in our lives are the most important. Co-hosted by Liana Guerra and Elizabeth Hyatt.