High Heels & A Briefcase

This week Alexis sits down with lifestyle blogger and world traveler, Tori Fuller. The two chat about Tori's life-altering decision to pick up and move to Düsseldorf, Germany! They talk about how scary it was for her to move abroad, the lessons she's learned along the way, and how her lifestyle blog has sparked a new creative side to her. This week's challenge is to shop your own closet to make brand new outfits.

This week, Alexis sits down with Kaitlyn Dornbier—computer engineer by day, and clothing designer, author, and artist by nights and weekends. They chat about her insane work-ethic, chasing passions, turning hobbies into side-hustles, and so much more. This week's challenge is to bring a plant into your home!

This week, Alexis sits down with restauranteur Sam Hall of Marquee Pizzeria, La Vecina Restaurate, Clinton Street Social Club, and more! They chat about how he found himself in the service industry and how built a career from listening to himself & observing what he loved. Feel free to reach Sam at samuelj.halljr@gmail.com to keep the conversation going!

This week, Alexis had the pleasure of chatting with Emily Steines and Beth Anderson from Boopbod, a fitness and wellness program that was created to help you live your best life. They talk about how the brand was created, the importance of incorporating mental health into their programs, building the life of your dreams, and much much more! This week's challenge is to compliment someone at work for making your life easier, even if they don't realize they're being awesome.

This week, Alexis sits down with Kailey Jacomet to talk branding, law, and building the life of your dreams. Kailey walks us through her twenties and describes her career path and what ultimately led her to starting her own firm, Brand Law Boutique. This week’s challenge is to sacrifice one non-essential habit to save some money.

This week, Alexis is solo and takes over the mic to share some of her favorite podcasts, Instagram accounts, and life-saving websites. She also checks in on her life as of late, including her love for her job, and her contentment with her relationship. She also shares what’s to come for the podcast! This week’s challenge is to make it to bed by 9pm.

This week’s guest is Katelyn Harper, a product designer at GrubHub and a total GirlBoss. The two chat about UI/UX product design, how Katelyn has navigated her way through a male-dominated industry, dealing with a breakup, weekly rituals, and so much more! This week’s challenge is to be present, and live in the moment.

This week, Alexis chatted with Caroline Turner from Caroline Turner Interiors and boy was it a treat! The two chat about Caroline’s career path and what led her leave her full-time job to start her own business at 24. They chat home design tips, the best places to shop, and Caroline's tips for adding unique touches to your space. This week’s challenge is to start incorporating a daily mantra into your routine.

This week, Alexis calls in to the East Coast and chats with branding and career expert, Brittany Castaneda from New York City. Her resume is the most impressive, graduating from Harvard and working for companies like Nickelodeon, Becca Cosmetics, Revlon, & Daily Harvest. The two chat about trying to become a successful woman, both in her career & in her sense of self. This week’s challenge is to check up on your health and schedule any necessary appointments. Follow Brittany on Instagram: @brriiittany

This week, Alexis sits down with the owner of GRIT Gym in Iowa City, Adam Rees. The two chat about Adam's childhood, health and fitness, mindfulness, meditation, business, and so much more! Adam has a wide range of experience exploring mindfulness techniques and he shares so many interesting tid bits with us! This week's challenge is to meditate and explore the thoughts you let creep into your mind.

This week, Alexis sits down with her college friend turned health and fitness blogger, Rachel Price! The two chat about blogging and social media, entrepreneurship, moving in with a significant other, the realness of post-college confusion, and so much more. This week's challenge is to switch up your workday tunes—S/O Camila Cabello! 

This week, Alexis sits down with Austin Razavi—the Dean of Students at Oakland Unity Middle School in Oakland, California. The two chat about Austin's childhood, growing up Iranian, and the immense struggles he faced as a first year teacher in deep East Oakland. His work ethic and resiliency is so inspiring and he has some great advice to share. This week's challenge is to make a budget, girl! Be sure to follow Austin and the students along on Instagram at @unitymiddleschool.

This week, Alexis sits down with the cutest librarian she knows: Liz Peterson! The two ladies chat about Liz's childhood, her college experience and how she landed on teaching as a career path, technology in schools and how it's evolved, and obviously: LOTS OF BOOKS! This week's challenge is to clean out your fridge!

This week, Alexis is chatting with the first ever male guest of the show: Austin Svatos. Austin is a dear friend and he is sitting down with Alexis to talk travel, networking, volunteering, and so much more. This week's challenge is to show your loved ones how much you care in a unique way.

This week, Alexis chats with school teacher and mother, Jessica Hodge. Jess talks with such honesty and strength about her miscarriage experience, her body image struggles, her new blogging journey, and more. Jess has a beautiful heart and this episode is filled with so many amazing tidbits that are truly inspiring. This week's #HighHeelsHighGoals challenge is to refine your morning routine.

This week, Alexis sits down with her new friend Erin Manfull. The two talk careers, life set-backs, long-distance dating, and more! Erin is a lively, cheerful soul with so much wisdom and kindness to share, and it's safe to say Alexis is obsessed. This week's #HighHeelsHighGoals Challenge is to utilize the time on your lunch break to get outside! Take a walk and enjoy the breeze—and burn a few calories while you're at it!

This week, the roles are reversed as Alexis sits down with her BFFs to tell her story. In an attempt to share her own journey with the listeners, Alexis talks about her college experience, her time in the professional world, shares some relationship advice, and of course chats about the struggles of adulthood. This week's challenge is to spread some love to the people you care about—reminding them of why they're so great, telling them that they're killing it, or thanking them for being so wonderful.  

This week, Alexis sits down with social media superstar, Jennifer Fisher. The two chat about Jen’s journey through college, meshing her love of art and sports to discover a truly unique career path. They talk about Jen’s favorite memories of capturing some of the biggest Hawkeye sports moments, her opinion on what makes a great social media post, and her experience winning a national competition that had her capturing the BCS Championship game from the sideline. This week’s challenge is to time block your day, hopefully bringing you bursts of productivity this week! 

This week, Alexis sits down with the owner of Stephanie Marie Photography, Stephanie Watts. The two chat about Stephanie's track to entrepreneurship, the struggles of being a business owner, and her love of boudoir. This week's #HighHeelsHighGoals Challenge is to find some fun, new recipes to make for dinner. It really makes Alexis feel like an adult. 

In honor of Mother's Day, Alexis sits down with her best friend, soul sister, and forever queen — her mom. The two chat about Carolyn's childhood, her career, why she loves being a mother, and she shares some of her best pieces of advice (take notes, ladies!). This week's challenge is to share something special with your own mom or mother figure; whether that's a special card, a gift, or simply telling her what you love most about her—spoil the greatest woman in your life this week.

Alexis is BACK on the mic after a 3 week break and she's more excited than ever! Today's guest is Rachael Bedell—marketer, pizza lover, and fitness queen. Rachael & Alexis catch up about the blogging world, navigating your twenties, staying fit after college, and how important faith is. Alexis also shares big news about her personal life and this week's #HighHeelsHighGoals Challenge is to budget & organize your finances. It's time, ladies.

Alexis announces a little 3-week hiatus where she's going to press pause on the podcast to regroup and refresh. She shares her inspiring yoga intention she found last week and she gives three different podcast recommendations to fill the High Heels & Briefcase void in your hearts... or headphones. XOXO

This week’s guest is Leah Rozendaal, owner of Leah Rose Productions—a videography business based in central Iowa. Her business specializes in weddings but does commercial and corporate work as well. Leah talks about her entrepreneurial journey as well as her battle with anxiety and depression and how she’s become an advocate for mental illness. This week’s #HighGoalsHighHeels Challenge is to sit down and plan out the big events, to do’s, and every detail in-between of this coming week. Let’s get organized!

This week, Alexis sits down with artist, entrepreneur and free-spirit, Lindsay O’Brien, AKA The Artist Called Lo. The two chat all about Lindsay’s creative work with singer-songwriter Julia Michaels including how she got her first project with the star and Lindsay’s experience at fancy award shows (Alexis’ favorite part, of course.) They also discuss Lindsay’s experience of being her own boss and the struggles she’s found being a full-time freelancer. This week’s #HighGoalsHighHeels Challenge is to start a book (or finish the one you started months ago and haven’t touched).

This week’s guest is Iowa Sweetheart and Host of Hawkeye Sports, Laura VandeBerg. Alexis gets all the details about how she landed her dream job, what she loves most about it, and her biggest challenges. And of course, the two discuss the video that went viral when her boyfriend proposed on the football field for the world’s cutest proposal. They also discuss the impacts of social media, building her band, and how she hopes to impact younger generations. This week’s #HighGoalsHighHeels Challenge is to call a friend instead of texting them because it makes Alexis super uncomfortable... so let’s all get uncomfy this week!

This week, Alexis sits down with former Iowa Cheerleader and current fashionista, Megan Renkel. The two chat about Megan’s journey leaving her cheerleading world behind after her devastating injures. Although it’s like Alexis always says: when one door closes, another one opens! Megan then went on to follow her dreams of working in the fashion industry and Alexis gets all the details about her most recent experience at New York Fashion Week. This week’s #HighGoalsHighHeels Challenge is to take some time out of our busy lives to stop and notice our breath, finding the easiest sense of calm in our busy lives.

This week’s guest is Alexis’ former boss & technology queen, Erin Rollenhagen. Erin founded her software development company, Entrepreneurial Technologies, when she was just 26 and she is a major player in the Des Moines technology space. The two chat about what led her to start her own company, the challenges she’s endured being a business owner, knowing your worth, imposter syndrome, and much more! This week’s High Goals High Heels Challenge is to get way outside of our comfort zones and ditch the phone. (Only for a night—I’m not crazy!)

Alexis sits down with a true yogi - Linsey Birusingh, to talk all about our truest selves. The two discuss Linsey's life before she found yoga, her career revelations, and how we can challenge ourselves more compassionately. Linsey is full of wisdom, and this episode is jam-packed with inspiring info. This week's #HighGoalsHighHeels Challenge is to ditch one of your toxic, chemical-filled beauty or hygiene products and find something a little more natural. Alexis shares a few of her favorites to spark some inspiration.

Alexis sits down with registered dietitian, Erin Good, to talk all things nutrition! The two chat about healthy food options, the vitamins women in their twenties should be taking, how our metabolism works, and Erin gives a breakdown of all the different fad diets. Erin discusses how she came into the nutrition and wellness space and before she leaves, she gives some great ideas for healthy snacks and meals! This week’s #HighGoalsHighHeels Challenge is to ask someone to grab a coffee. Whether it’s a girl you follow on Instagram or the girl who sits across the office from you, step outside of your comfort zone and ask her to coffee!

Alexis mixes things up a bit this week with a Galentine’s Day Special featuring her childhood best friends. Grab the wine and your favorite cozy blanket and listen to Claire, Maggie, and Jadelyn reminisce with Alexis while also discussing some very important topics pertaining to friendship. The girls talk about how they’ve remained close while living in different cities, how to be good friends when the going gets tough, relationship advice, and more! In the spirit of the holiday of love this week, the #HighGoalsHighHeels Challenge is to spoil yourself one whole day or night! If you need some inspiration, Alexis will be ordering Pad Thai and kicking her heels up with The O.C. reruns. Is there anything better?

This week, Alexis sat down with two of Des Moines’ biggest “movers & shakers” - Emily Steele and Whitney Warne of Brand Launch. The ladies talk about launching their different businesses and how the importance of investing in their community has affected their careers. They discuss what getting into alignment means, social media branding, and obviously—the struggles they encountered during their twenties. This week’s #HighGoalsHighHeels Challenge is to try a brand new style of workout. Whether you want to try an at-home workout or a cycle class, give something new a try! Emily Steele's article about alignment: https://businessrecord.com/Content/Opinion/Opinion/Article/Guest-opinion-Quit-the-hustle-game-and-get-into-alignment/168/963/83823  

This week's guest is Des Moines fashion blogger and marketer, Mary Ivey. Alexis chats with Mary about how she found her dream job, curating her personal brand, being a married woman in her early twenties, and how her strong faith guides her life. This week's #HighGoalsHighHeels Challenge is to call or text an out of town friend. Whether you've lost touch or you're putting off updating her on the latest drama, give your best girls a ring. 

This week, Alexis sits down with Des Moines baker turned business owner, Brittney Haskins. Brittney opened her bakery, One Sweet Kitchen, in her mid twenties after making the brave move to leave her full-time job and pursue her passion full time. The two talk career things, personal struggles, and the lessons Brittney has learned along the way. This week's #HighGoalsHighHeels Challenge is to dabble in some meditation. Try to grab a cozy spot and schedule yourself some well-deserved me-time. 

This week’s guest is Des Moines powerhouse Kelsey Russell. After seeing all of the incredible things Kelsey does in her community and for her clients, Alexis knew she had to have her on the podcast. The two talked about personal branding, how Kelsey got into real estate, time management, and self care. 

On the very first episode of High Heels & A Briefcase the Podcast, Alexis sits down with her good friend and guiding light - Tori Flattery. The two chat about life after college, things to look for when joining networking groups, how to find your side hustle, and all the things Tori felt as she was planning her wedding. This week's #HighGoalsHighHeels Challenge is to snag yourself a super cute reusable water bottle and stop with the overuse of plastic, because seriously ladies—it’s not cool anymore. | Cover art design by Kaitlyn Dornbier & theme song by Deadaktorz Beatz

Welcome to High Heels and a Briefcase, the podcast — a place where twenty-something women can come to hear the inspiring, painful, and beautiful stories of other girls just like them trying to make it big in this world. Whether you’re struggling with your career, trying to find yourself, looking for inspiration, or you just want to find some comfort amid the madness - I hope this podcast can be a place where you, my fellow sassy working girl, can find some comfort during your morning commute or while you’re sweating on the stair master. This is High Heels & A Briefcase, and welcome to the never ending struggle of adulthood. | Cover art by Kaitlyn Dornbier, theme song beat by Deadaktorz Beatz.