The Lawyer Who Rocks Podcast

The Lawyer Who Rocks Podcast

Interviews with Business Badasses

Joleen Winther Hughes is the founder of HMLG and a longtime entrepreneur. She cut her teeth in the music industry at an early age before becoming one of the first technology lawyers in the world to bring entertainment online.

Now she’s sharing what she’s learned and bringing you interviews with giants in the industry. You’ll be delighted and fascinated with insider stories, business tips and sometimes a secret or two.

TLWR is amplifying the voices of industry leaders in tech, media, arts and financing and everything in between!

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Laura Brock – Inclusion First

Laura Brock – Inclusion First

Joleen talks to her cousin, Laura Brock, in this season-closing episode. Laura Brock candidly shares an emotional journey, detailing the personal trials that led her to becoming an Inclusion and Diversity expert and why inclusion should come before diversity.  

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Kiki Chatfield – Taking the Next Step

Kiki Chatfield – Taking the Next Step

Dynamic Southern Belle, Kiki Chatfield, went from helping children find their way as an elementary school teacher to founding her own literary PR firm. She shows us that with a dream anyone can be an entrepeneur, tells us how she balances CEO life and mom life and...

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Emily Levesque – The Last Stargazer

Emily Levesque – The Last Stargazer

Emily Levesque has always loved astronomy. This badass and enthusiastic professor and scientist takes us through this esoteric field of study, marginalized identities in astronomy, her exciting current research, her incredible book The Last Stargazers and why you...

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Martine Charles – Target Your Messaging

Martine Charles – Target Your Messaging

A fixer and brand consultant, who we're calling the 'real' Olivia Pope, Martine Charles turned her love for writing into into a global company. Working for some of the most well-known individuals and companies in American culture, Martine wants you to know thy brand...

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Tori Dunlap – The Financial Feminist

Tori Dunlap – The Financial Feminist

Financial educator and frugal friend to the show, Tori Dunlap tells us her inspirational story of saving $100K by 25 years old and passionately explains why money is a social justice issue. Listen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZBxePuhC2T8

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TJ Martin – Navigating Worlds – Part 2

TJ Martin – Navigating Worlds – Part 2

In Part 2 of Joleen's interview with TJ Martin, they get down to business; the film business. TJ talks the ins and outs of getting a film to the public and of course, the whirlwind and surreal process of winning an Oscar. Listen on YouTube:...

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TJ Martin – Navigating Worlds – Part 1

TJ Martin – Navigating Worlds – Part 1

Joleen reminisces with Oscar Award winning filmmaker TJ Martin about the Seattle music scene that he grew up in, what it was like to be the child of rockstars, why it always comes back to music even as a filmmakers and the mystery of his mom, Tina Bell. Listen on...

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Mary Anne Carter – The Art of Fun

Mary Anne Carter – The Art of Fun

Mary Anne Carter is an artistic wunderkind. From award-winning prints to satirical art that helps drive her communities forward, she takes badass to a new level. In this interview, Mary Anne talks to Joleen about self-expression, how the art community and the tech...

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Mikael Mossberg – Creating A Novel Startup

Mikael Mossberg – Creating A Novel Startup

Long time client and friend of the show, Mikael Mossberg tells us about Distiller, the novel startup he created in celebration of his love for spirits. In a business world often glamorized, Mikael explains the grit and business acumen needed to be successful.   Listen...

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How To Build A House That Won’t Blow Down, Part 2

How To Build A House That Won’t Blow Down, Part 2

Today, we bring you Part 2 of our interview with the amazing, charismatic influencer Rebekah Borucki. In this second half, we discuss how traditional publishing isn't serving BIPOC and other marginalized identity authors, how her innovative publishing how Row House...

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How To Build A House That Won’t Blow Down – Part 1

How To Build A House That Won’t Blow Down – Part 1

Tomorrow is International Podcast Day but we're bringing you a new episode a day early! In Part 1 of this 2 Part Interview, Joleen talks to multi-hyphenate influencer Rebekah Borucki about how poverty formed her hustle, how she survived a tough adolescence, the early...

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Nicole A. Donnelley – Just Ask

Nicole A. Donnelley – Just Ask

Happy Women's Business Day! Serial entrepreneur, marketer, author, and executive coach, Nicole A. Donnelley candidly explains how she went from badass professional snowboarder to starting and selling multiple successful businesses and the power of just asking. ...

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Tom Mara – Radio: From College to Curating A Culture

Tom Mara – Radio: From College to Curating A Culture

Tom Mara, the Executive Director of world-renowned Seattle radio station, KEXP talks music and radio from dwindling college stations to creating a station that curates and supports the culture. Listen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/m4kuD6QV4-0

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Robin Haglund – Run Toward Your Passion Part 2

Robin Haglund – Run Toward Your Passion Part 2

In Part 2 of her interview with Joleen, Robin Haglund tells us about the ins and outs of being a garden mentor, how you can learn to be a gardener, and why this work is meaningful.   Listen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0HlQWHZdqdY

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Robin Haglund – Run Toward Your Passion Part 1

Robin Haglund – Run Toward Your Passion Part 1

Robin Haglund implores you to stop running from things, and to start running toward your passion. In this inspiring first part, Joleen interviews gardening mentor Robin Haglund about here background in books, media and technology and how it all led her back to the...

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Tanya Haider – Conquering the Kid Space

Tanya Haider – Conquering the Kid Space

After studying university in the US, Tanya Haider had every intention of returning to her native Pakistan, but when an opportunity in children's programming arose, this entertainment maven was thrust into the "kid's space". Strategizing on how to appeal to youth's...

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Linsday Droz & Kristi Lord – Going All In on Your Dreams

Linsday Droz & Kristi Lord – Going All In on Your Dreams

Lindsay Droz and Kristi Lord went all in on their dreams. The longtime friends and business partners, saw a need and they filled it, making sustainable, organic and safe cleaning products that were also beautiful. With no entrepreneurial experience, but honed skills...

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Alisa Brodkowitz – Bringing Justice to You

Alisa Brodkowitz – Bringing Justice to You

As a little girl, Alisa Brodkowitz saw how the law could change the world, inspiring her to become an attorney. Opening up her own law firm shortly after graduating in aviation law was her first foray into entrepeneurship before opening up Lightening Law, a tech...

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Josh Boykin – Gaming Smart & with Heart – Part 2

Josh Boykin – Gaming Smart & with Heart – Part 2

Can games make the world a better place? Josh Boykin thinks it's possible. In Part 2 of his interview with Joleen, he tackles big topics like how being a Black man informs his gaming and societal obligations, his role at Du whether meaningful narratives which tackle...

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Josh Boykin – Gaming Smart & with Heart – Part 1

Josh Boykin – Gaming Smart & with Heart – Part 1

Josh Boykin is a gaming badass. This Midwestern native and founder of Intelligame talks to Joleen about how important it is to enjoy your work, what his experience at Disney taught him, violence in gaming, and how gaming narratives can connect to our us to our...

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Renee Erickson – The Art of Restaurants – Part 2

Renee Erickson – The Art of Restaurants – Part 2

Part 2 of our interview with culinary badass, Renee Erickson explores her affinity for the Pacific Northwest, all things food, why local is always better, being an author, and what the heck it's like to win a James Beard Award.  

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Renee Erickson – The Art of Restaurants

Renee Erickson – The Art of Restaurants

Pacific Northwest local legend, Renee Erickson talks to Joleen about the ins and outs of running a restaurant. From cutting her teeth as a cook at Boat Street without culinary training, to opening a recognizable brand across a restaurant empire. Don't miss Part 1 of...

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Tishni Weerasinghe – A Romance with Reading

Tishni Weerasinghe – A Romance with Reading

Tishni, better known as Tish of TheBookthief28 on TikTok, has a romance with reading. Mixing her love of literature, social purpose and the critical thinking skills obtained in law school, this recent graduate has made her book reviews some of the most viewed on...

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Lauren Sato – Advocating for Diversity in Homogenous Places

Lauren Sato – Advocating for Diversity in Homogenous Places

Lauren Sato, the CEO of Ada's Developers Academy, is changing the face of tech. A lifelong social justice advocate, Lauren's career has touched many different fields, but has always centered around one thing: progress for marginalized identities. In this interview, we...

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Chris Mann – Redefining the Role of Gamers, Part 2

Chris Mann – Redefining the Role of Gamers, Part 2

Gamers are becoming the new rockstars, just ask Chris Mann. From what we wear to what we eat, we are taking cues from e-sports like never before. In Part 2 of his interview, Chris tells us how e-sports is more than gaming; it's a lifestyle and everyone is getting in...

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Chris Mann – Redefining the Role of Gamers, Part 1

Chris Mann – Redefining the Role of Gamers, Part 1

Serial entrepreneur and e-athlete, Chris Mann, is helping redefine the role of "gamers" in our society. In part 1 of his interview, he describes the windy path to becoming COO of Subnation, a media start-up focused on esports and gaming, the stereotypes that once...

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Susan Freeman – How to Communicate Inclusively

Susan Freeman – How to Communicate Inclusively

"Inclusive" is Susan Freeman's favorite word. At her company, Freeman Means Business, Susan teaches businesses how to communicate both effectively and more inclusively lending to the support of diversity in the work place. From her amazing mentors to her current...

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Reese Tanimura – Fostering Community through Art & Culture

Reese Tanimura – Fostering Community through Art & Culture

Reese Tanimura cares about people. After being a music teacher in her native Hawaii, this serial volunteer moved to Seattle and participated in multiple non-profits before becoming the Managing Director of Folklife Festival. With a keen interest in inclusion and...

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Alissa Leinonen – Never, Never, Never Giving Up – Part 2

Alissa Leinonen – Never, Never, Never Giving Up – Part 2

In part two of Alissa Leinonen's interview, we learn just how COVID-19 has affected Gourmondo and the rest of the Seattle restaurant industry. Alissa, whose motto is "never, never, never give up", explains how the pandemic sparked her commitment to philanthropy,...

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Alissa Leinonen – Never, Never, Never Giving Up – Part 1

Alissa Leinonen – Never, Never, Never Giving Up – Part 1

Fourth-generation Seattleite, Alissa Leinonen, isn't the typical food business owner. Having earned a Business degree at University of Washington and a self-proclaimed "not great" chef, she colored outside of the lines to find out how she could contribute to her...

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Aimee Woodall – Living Energized by Purpose

Aimee Woodall – Living Energized by Purpose

From kindergarten, people noticed that Aimee Woodall had a gift for communications. That gift led her to work for several creative and marketing agencies, before founding her own, The Black Sheep Agency. At Black Sheep, Aimee focuses on creating messaging and...

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Priyanka Raha – Using Technology to Thrive, Not Just Survive

Priyanka Raha – Using Technology to Thrive, Not Just Survive

From her first physics classes in middle school, Priyanka Raha was fascinated with science and mathematics. Growing up in India, she became a national level achiever in Olympiads, paving her way into the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) field from an...

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Eileen Quigley – How to Get Ahead of the Curve

Eileen Quigley – How to Get Ahead of the Curve

Originally from New York, Eileen Quigley’s first career was in journalism. Eileen’s background and experiences as a young adult gave her a unique appreciation for the value of time, as well as a constant yearning to learn new things in new industries. This led her...

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Daniel Pak– Keeping Kids Off the Streets and In the Studio

Daniel Pak– Keeping Kids Off the Streets and In the Studio

For Daniel Pak, the values he learned growing up in Hawaii walk with him today in his parenting, songwriting, and his work as the Executive Director of Totem Star, the non-profit he founded in Seattle. Growing up on Oahu, its rich, melting pot of cultures made Daniel...

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Megan Jasper– Punk Rock CEO, Part 2

Megan Jasper– Punk Rock CEO, Part 2

In the second part of Megan Jasper’s interview, we learn about Megan’s journey from intern at Sub Pop to eventually becoming CEO of the entire company! Megan’s famous “Lexicon of Grunge” interview helped turn the world’s attention to Sub Pop and Seattle where she was...

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Megan Jasper– Punk Rock CEO, Part 1

Megan Jasper– Punk Rock CEO, Part 1

Megan Jasper is the ultimate punk rock goddess. From a young age, she resonated withpunk’s unique energy, DIY spirit, and acceptance of being your unique, self. In a world ofmisfits, Megan fit right in. In Part 1 of 2, Megan and Joleen dive into her early days of...

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Jodi Jacobson Milstein– A Rock Star Therapist

Jodi Jacobson Milstein– A Rock Star Therapist

Jodi Milstein always loved music and turned an internship at A&M Records into a full-fledged rock-and-roll career. Her go-getter spirit led her to rise through the ranks at the label, working with artists like Sheryl Crow, Jewel, Temple of the Dog and Soundgarden (which is when Joleen and Jodi first met).

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Grace Bradley– Overseeing the ‘Author Brain’.

Grace Bradley– Overseeing the ‘Author Brain’.

Grace Bradley, was always an avid lover of all things literature. After starting out reviewing books, she soon discovered her natural knack for editing and joined the very first digital publishing company as a professional editor. As the publishing world shifted, Grace decided to follow suit and founded Grace Bradley Editing.

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Karim Meghji– What Culture Means in the World of Technology, Part 2

Karim Meghji– What Culture Means in the World of Technology, Part 2

In the 2nd part of their interview, Joleen and Karim Meghji discuss the values which guide Karim’s work outlook today. After a successful trek at RealNetworks and his own startup venture, Karim developed a keen awareness about the value of company culture, which he now takes to every company he works at.

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Shari Siadat – Revolutionizing the Beauty Industry

Shari Siadat – Revolutionizing the Beauty Industry

Growing up, Shari Siadat always stood out. As a first generation Iranian-American growing up in a small town in Massachusetts, she felt singled out in her community which lacked diversity. Before she formed her own thoughts about beauty and appearance, people told her how she should look.

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Rika Nakazawa – Overachieving to Ensure Diversity

Rika Nakazawa – Overachieving to Ensure Diversity

Rika Nakazawa, the founder and CEO of BoardSeatMeet was an overachiever at a young age. Growing up in a multi-cultural family in both Japan and the US, Rika’s desire to master everything from fine arts to physics served her well as one of the first business...

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Lily Cornell Silver – Destigmatizing Mental Health

Lily Cornell Silver – Destigmatizing Mental Health

Lily Cornell Silver is taking IGTV by storm with her amazing show, “Mind Wide Open” which was borne out of Lily’s belief that having open conversations about mental health is the best way to destigmatize it. Her work has led to worldwide media coverage and accolades....

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Briaan Barron– How to Show Up and Change the Status Quo

Briaan Barron– How to Show Up and Change the Status Quo

Briaan Barron always knew she’d find a way to merge her great love for creativity and strategy. Responsible for building brands including Sound Transit, Northwest Film Forum Seattle Chocolate, and the Northwest African American Museum, Briaan founded Worthi, an agency...

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Leslie Pierson – The Fine Line Between Hobby and Business

Leslie Pierson – The Fine Line Between Hobby and Business

Natural craftsmanship, creative spirit and a passion for solving everyday problems is the perfect combination for a born entrepreneur like Leslie Pierson. Leslie invented GoodHangups, an innovative magnetic system that enables you to hang art on any wall without...

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Kelly Bayett –  How to Push Your Creative Boundaries

Kelly Bayett – How to Push Your Creative Boundaries

For Kelly Bayett, music was always an escape. As a kid, she would put on headphones and pretend that nothing else existed. With her astounding taste, enthusiasm, and love for the music scene, Kelly devoted her life to music production. She has worked in voice acting,...

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Aba Kwawu– How to ‘Show Up’: This Is Who I Am, Part 2

Aba Kwawu– How to ‘Show Up’: This Is Who I Am, Part 2

In the second part of Aba Kwawu's interview, Joleen and Aba dive into the success of Aba's career in fashion and luxury branding. After studying fashion in London, Aba styled and media trained proffessional athletes and later founded her own agency, TAA Public...

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Aba Kwawu– How to ‘Show Up’: This Is Who I Am, Part 1

Aba Kwawu– How to ‘Show Up’: This Is Who I Am, Part 1

Aba Kwawu’s path to the fashion industry was full of kicks and turns. In the first of a two-part interview, Joleen and Aba dive into her roots and the core values that made Aba the leader she is today. A first-generation Ghanaian immigrant, Aba’s love for the arts was...

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Penny Sansevieri– How To Sell Books By The Truckload

Penny Sansevieri– How To Sell Books By The Truckload

Growing up, Penny Sansevieri surrounded herself with books and wanted nothing more than to be a librarian. With her love for all things literature, she published her first book 25 years ago and saw a window for herself in the independent publishing...

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Wendy Bernfeld– The Queen of New Media

Wendy Bernfeld– The Queen of New Media

This week Wendy Bernfeld, a true pioneer in digital media, joins Joleen all the way from Amsterdam! Known as the ‘Queen of New Media’, Wendy’s first love was for the arts. In a drive to get into the job market though, she went to law school and found a passion in...

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Kevin Lyman– Never Settling For the Status Quo, Part 2

Kevin Lyman– Never Settling For the Status Quo, Part 2

In the second part of Kevin Lyman’s 2-part special, Kevin and Joleen dive into the evolution of music and giving back. His festival, the Warped Tour, holds the record for the longest running continuous tour at 25 years. With Warped, Kevin quickly learned that the...

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Kevin Lyman– Never Settling For the Status Quo, Part 1

Kevin Lyman– Never Settling For the Status Quo, Part 1

In the first week of this 2-part special, Kevin Lyman, a powerhouse in the music industry, joins Joleen to talk about the root of his love for music. Growing up in Claremont, California with hippies and punk rockers, Kevin established his “challenge the status quo”...

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Clark Stacey– The Business Model Behind the Gaming Industry

Clark Stacey– The Business Model Behind the Gaming Industry

Wildworks CEO Clark Stacey thought that his career was set in academia. But after teaching a class on internet research, he fell in love with the limitless potential of the internet as an information medium. Clark began creating games for other brands before launching...

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Tom Frank– The Entrepreneurs’ Entrepreneur

Tom Frank– The Entrepreneurs’ Entrepreneur

On the second part of Tom Frank’s interview, Joleen dives into Tom’s path into business consulting. When he moved from working at entrepreneurial companies to leading them, Tom developed a keen sense of how to navigate the needs of the business with being a firm but...

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Tom Frank– The Entrepreneurs’ Entrepreneur

Tom Frank– The Entrepreneurs’ Entrepreneur

Tom Frank started off his career in advertising and rose to incredible heights in the world of entrepreneurship. In the first week of this 2-part interview, Joleen sits down with her close friend to discuss his start in Hollywood, including producing game shows and a...

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Elizabeth Scallon– Navigating the Startup Ecosystem

Elizabeth Scallon– Navigating the Startup Ecosystem

Since childhood, Elizabeth Scallon was always trying to think bigger and better. Her initial passion for science and all things research quickly fused into a career in business when she realized ‘all science people report to an MBA’. With vast experience in building...

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Matt Hulett– The President of Turnaround

Matt Hulett– The President of Turnaround

This week on The Lawyer Who Rocks, CEO of Rosetta Stone Matt Hulett brings practical advice for everyone worrying about what a recession means for their businesses. Throughout his career, Matt became known as *THE* turnaround guy, always jumping from one project to...

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Jill Angelo– Telehealth: The Future of Healthcare

Jill Angelo– Telehealth: The Future of Healthcare

Jill Angelo started her career in tech and quickly rose to become a high-level executive. But during a short sabbatical break, Jill realized she wanted to have a greater impact on society. Astounded by the lack of essential resources available for women, she founded...

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Mike Martin– The Business Lawyer Turned Vineyard Owner

Mike Martin– The Business Lawyer Turned Vineyard Owner

After decades of climbing up the ranks of corporate law, a visit to Walla Walla, Washington convinced Mike Martin there was more to life than being a lawyer. A wine connoisseur, Mike was always fascinated with wine and food culture. After his trip, Mike knew he found...

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Laura Clise– Spend Like It Matters

Laura Clise– Spend Like It Matters

Since her early days in change management, Laura Clise felt she had a social responsibility to make a difference in her community. Her badass career trek led her to make measurable impacts on diversity, equity, and inclusion everywhere she went. With this in mind,...

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Kellie Phelan– A Natural Connector with a Fiery Drive

Kellie Phelan– A Natural Connector with a Fiery Drive

Kellie Phelan has always been a natural connector with a fiery drive. From working non-profits, to corporate consulting, to starting her own business, Kellie has created her success story by casting a wide net of contacts and being open-minded. Kellie tuned in to her...

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Leigh McMilllan- Say ‘Yes’ to Everything!

Leigh McMilllan- Say ‘Yes’ to Everything!

Throughout her career, Leigh McMillan’s spontaneity and curiosity has enabled her to master the art of communication in many different industries. From politics to media to automotive and analytics, Leigh has made a career out of adaptability. Now CEO of Whitepages,...

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Jason Thane– On Strategically Building Your Dream Team

Jason Thane– On Strategically Building Your Dream Team

A born entrepreneur, by age 20 Jason Thane launched a successful side-hustle valet service. After leading technical staffs at some of the most innovative start-ups, he identified that companies needed a best-in-breed software development solution. So, Jason founded...

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Scott Ehrlich– The Pioneer of Digital Media Part 2

Scott Ehrlich– The Pioneer of Digital Media Part 2

Part 2 of Scott Ehrlich’s interview dives into Scott’s serial entrepreneurial adventure. After his time at Real Networks, Scott turned creativity into technological successes with projects like the League of Extraordinary Dancers and Substance over Hype. Today, Scott...

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Scott Ehrlich– The Pioneer of Digital Media Part 1

Scott Ehrlich– The Pioneer of Digital Media Part 1

Scott Ehrlich started his career as a poly-sci major and political strategist, so of course, his first contribution to the state of media was productizing news. From the creation and launch of Foxnews.com and News Corp., Scott has pioneered the modern way we consume...

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Terry Morgan– How to Be a Sponge In The Music Industry

Terry Morgan– How to Be a Sponge In The Music Industry

Terry Morgan is a Seattle treasure. From an early age, his life revolved around music. His love for ethnomusicology and exploring world cultures turned him into one of the founding figures of Seattle’s legendary punk rock scene. For over 40 years, Terry’s company,...

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Alina Soltys- A Gamer and Financial Badass

Alina Soltys- A Gamer and Financial Badass

Alina Soltys was always a go-getter. With the help of her math-wiz father, Alina learned the importance of understanding numbers from a young age. She applied her math skills to business strategy and has forged a career as a total financial badass in tech and gaming,...

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Shelley Gaddie- The Project Management Whisperer

Shelley Gaddie- The Project Management Whisperer

From her early childhood days working on her grandfather’s farm, Shelley Gaddie knew the importance of hard work. Quickly rising in the corporate ranks after her studies at UC Berkeley, Shelley didn’t want to focus on the inner workings of just one business. So, she...

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Angy Merola – You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure

Angy Merola – You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure

Angy Merola discovered her love for accounting while desperately attempting to evade a Calculus course. But Angy was too social to be just a ‘bean counter’, so she took her financial background into operating retail businesses. With her work at Zulily, GlassyBaby, and...

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Carolyn Douglas- The Importance of Curiosity

Carolyn Douglas- The Importance of Curiosity

Emmy award-winning news anchor Carolyn Douglas spent thousands of hours behind the microphone. After working for King TV for 20 years, her curiosity to be ‘in the thick of it’ drove her to start her own consulting business. Her consulting company, Carolyn Douglas...

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Tahmina Watson- The Immigration Badass

Tahmina Watson- The Immigration Badass

Tahmina Watson is the dynamic and inspirational founder of Watson Immigration Law, and is making a profound impact on protecting immigrant rights. She shares how immigration law became her passion and how the changes in immigration laws in the US have fueled her...

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Geoff Walker – The Relationship Cultivator

Geoff Walker – The Relationship Cultivator

It all started when Geoff Walker put on the beloved WSU mascot “Butch” costume. Few people have a more fascinating career than Geoff, from launching amazing brands, planning fantastic events and starting his own company, Geoff’s shares how his ability to cultivate...

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Chanel Reynolds – Turning Tragedy into Triumph

Chanel Reynolds – Turning Tragedy into Triumph

On this incredibly special episode, Chanel Reynolds shares with Joleen her deeply emotional story of how she took one of the hardest tragedies one can face and turned it into a triumph that goes on to help others. After the sudden passing of her husband, Chanel...

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Kate Becker – Tenacity, the importance of not giving up

Kate Becker – Tenacity, the importance of not giving up

“All communities are made better by arts and music.” Kate Becker, the Creative Economy Strategist at Office of King County Executive Dow Constantine, has dedicated her career to developing a thriving creative economy. Passionate about the arts from an early age, Kate...

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Michael Dix – Simplifying the Complex

Michael Dix – Simplifying the Complex

Can you imagine attending a meeting and actually accomplishing something?! Human-Centered Strategy is just one of the tools Intentional Futures provides for its clients. The company co-founded by Michael Dix, solves hard problems that matter and help launch big ideas....

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Misha Lyalin – Stick to What You Know

Misha Lyalin – Stick to What You Know

From Moscow to Kentucky to Seattle and back again, Zeptolab CEO Misha Lyalin loves to build things. From his beginnings as a programming contractor at Microsoft to the CEO of one of the most successful gaming companies in the world, Misha’s a true visionary. From...

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Kerry Murphy – Elbowing the Status-Quo out of the Way

Kerry Murphy – Elbowing the Status-Quo out of the Way

Kerry came out of the womb interested in the persuasion arts and started on her career path early. From music to branding to politics to helming a revolution against the establishment, Kerry’s inability to accept the status quo has led her to forge a remarkable...

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Dave Young – Let’s Pivot!

Dave Young – Let’s Pivot!

Dave Young wasn’t content wearing a suit as a Wall Street analyst or finance manager at a major telecom company. Instead, he donned a motorcycle jacket and cracked the proverbial code to develop ground-breaking patents in cloud storage with his lifelong friends and...

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Ian Freed – The Power of Being Concise

Ian Freed – The Power of Being Concise

Concise and lean is the name of the game. Ian Freed, former RealNeworks mafia member and current CEO and Co-Founder of Bamboo Learning, has been at the forefront of some of our most compelling and transformative consumer products of the past couple of decades. While...

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Jennessa West – Suck it up and Do it

Jennessa West – Suck it up and Do it

Jennessa West’s rise to power producer in Seattle started with her passion for film. Beginning with Seattle production jobs for DreamWorks, Warner Brothers and Walt Disney, Jennessa moved to Hollywood to work on episodic television for Warner Brothers, CBS and FX....

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John Cook – Tenacious, Creative and Able to Adapt

John Cook – Tenacious, Creative and Able to Adapt

John Cook, is the founder of Seattle’s seminal tech startup/publication Geekwire.  A former journalist from an entrepreneurial family, John and his co-founder, Todd Bishop started GeekWire to bring stories of the amazing start-ups in Seattle, Washington to the world....

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Kari Gran & Lisa Strain – Risk is the only way to live

Kari Gran & Lisa Strain – Risk is the only way to live

Kari Gran and Lisa Strain have used the mantra “it will always work out” to turn a bootstrapped cosmetics brand into a funded “we-can-do-anything” business. Former real estate colleagues, they became business partners after Kari’s career burn-out inspired her to...

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Steve Banfield – Expectations & Reality

Steve Banfield – Expectations & Reality

After guiding ReachNow through its joint venture with Daimler, Steve Banfield handed over the reins and bought a one-way ticket to Europe for a pilgrimage on the historic trail through Spain called the Camino de Santiago. With a voice as smooth as the Kentucky Bourbon...

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Tom Douglas – Seattle’s Chef

Tom Douglas – Seattle’s Chef

His love of food and his get up, show up, and get it done work ethic has carried Tom Douglas through more than 30 years in the restaurant business here in Seattle. He was so very kind to sit down with Joleen at his cooking school, Hot Stove Society to share his...

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Jhavid Mohseni – Bridging the Cannabis Gap

Jhavid Mohseni – Bridging the Cannabis Gap

How do you bring the underground cannabis market to the mainstream? Jhavid Mohseni, CEO of Tamerlane Trading Company, draws from his entrepreneurial roots. Joleen talks with Jhavid about how working at his mother’s fish farm and his consumer electronics product...

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Marty Roberts – The Nerdtastic Benefits of Leveraging Data

Marty Roberts – The Nerdtastic Benefits of Leveraging Data

Data. Data. Data. In the tech world, all we hear about is the importance of data. Marty Roberts, CEO of Wicket Labs shares how his nerdtastic idea to bridge the gap from insights to action led to the creation of ground-breaking data analytic products. As a seasoned...

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Sue Ennis – Relationship Builder

Sue Ennis – Relationship Builder

When the two most famous female rock icons in the world showed up on Sue Ennis’ doorstep at Berkeley, her life changed forever. Sue’s friendship with Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart began at Sammamish High School and their songwriting partnership has led to over 30...

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Matt & Devin of N3RDFUSION – Nerds will Rule the World!

Matt & Devin of N3RDFUSION – Nerds will Rule the World!

And this is why, they just work harder than everyone else. When was the last time you worked a 20-hour day and slept on your office floor? That is badass! Matthew Zagursky and Devin Nash started early and never quit. They bonded over their love of live broadcasting...

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Liz Boyer – Creating a Culture of Excellence on the Field

Liz Boyer – Creating a Culture of Excellence on the Field

What can a business owner learn from an elite athlete like Russell Wilson? Liz Boyer knows! She's the owner of Northwest Performance Psychology and on todays episode she and Joleen discuss how using sports psychology techniques in your everyday life can help you grow...

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Brent Stiefel – Shepherd of the Arts

Brent Stiefel – Shepherd of the Arts

Film Producer, Record Label, Management Company, Tech Investor, Brent Stiefel does it all. How does a guy from Miami who started in pharmaceuticals create Votiv Entertainment, Seattle’s most exciting entertainment conglomerate? Joleen learns how his MBA degree from...

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Colleen Moffitt – Parole Officer turned PR Powerhouse

Colleen Moffitt – Parole Officer turned PR Powerhouse

Isn’t that how all successful business owners start, as Parole Officers?? Well, maybe not, but that’s what started Colleen on her badass path. Thankfully, her never quit mentality and amazing family provided a strong foundation to start her public relations company,...

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Tom Skerritt – The preservation of storytelling

Tom Skerritt – The preservation of storytelling

Film and television mega-star Tom Skerritt has a passion for the art of storytelling. Known for iconic roles in “M*A*S*H”, “Gunsmoke”, “Bonanza”, “Alien”, “Top Gun”, “A River Runs Through It”, “Steel Magnolias”, “Picket Fences” and many more, Tom and his wife Julie...

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Laura Murphy – From managing rock stars to healing them!

Laura Murphy – From managing rock stars to healing them!

Talk about a career 360! Laura Murphy, a longtime friend of Joleen’s, from the early Seattle grunge days, takes us through her music career evolution and what led her to pursue a second career in the health industry. We also find out what famous rock star used to hang...

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Keela Robinson

Keela Robinson

Keela didn't play the piano as a child, she learned how to code! A role model to all women in the technology space, Keela sat down with Joleen to discuss her "Put yourself out there!" philosophy and why that has served her well in product innovation and management at...

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Caroline Stokes

Caroline Stokes

What if you could flip executive recruiting on its head? Caroline Stokes, the Author of Elephants Before Unicorns and founder of The Emotionally Intelligent Recruiter shares her aha moment that has taken head hunting and executive coaching to a new level. You can find...

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TomboyX – Underwear for All!

TomboyX – Underwear for All!

“How hard can it be to make good underwear?” TomboyX co-founders Fran Dunaway & Naomi Gonzalez had a simple question that nearly everyone has asked themselves at some point. Joleen learns how the lack underwear choice launched one of the county’s hottest...

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Steve Banfield – The Mythical Creature

Steve Banfield – The Mythical Creature

Before Steve Banfield, the former CEO of ReachNow took off on his trek on the Camino de Santiago, he sat down with Joleen to discuss the evolution of his career, his leadership philosophy and why millennials are a true asset to the workforce. Steve also reflects on...

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Erika Shaffer – The Startup Storyteller

Erika Shaffer – The Startup Storyteller

Erika Shaffer, Director of Strategic Communications for Madrona Venture Group, plays a very stragic role in the media exposure for startups lucky enough to have the backing of Madrona. Today Erika shares tips on how to attract venture capital and why your story and...

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Leslie Grandy – The Go To Gal to Get It Done!

Leslie Grandy – The Go To Gal to Get It Done!

Leslie Grandy is an expert in new product development, business planning and strategy, she’s also a kick ass sponsor and mentor to women in business. In this episode, Leslie and Joleen discuss the many ways women can support one another in business plus, Leslie talks...

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HaptX: Putting the REAL in Virtual Reality

HaptX: Putting the REAL in Virtual Reality

Virtual reality you can feel! That’s what the badasses, at HaptX are working on. And that’s what Joleen is talking about on this episode with Joe Michaels and Andrew Mitrak. They chat up their very cool emerging haptic technology which they say is 50% science and 50%...

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May McCarthy – Your Chief Spiritual Officer

May McCarthy – Your Chief Spiritual Officer

Today’s guest author, speaker, entrepreneur, May McCarthy shares 7 steps you could take today to achieve every single one of your business and life goals. Plus, why you need to be your own Chief Spiritual Officer.

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Barrett Martin  — Now and Zen Part 2

Barrett Martin — Now and Zen Part 2

Joleen continues her conversation with Grammy-winner Barrett Martin they dive into his work producing across genres and winning a Latin Grammy. And why he chose to self-publish his book, “The Singing Earth” which chronicles music on six continents. To learn more about...

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Barrett Martin – Now and Zen Part 1

Barrett Martin – Now and Zen Part 1

Joleen and Grammy-winning producer, composer, and renowned drummer Barrett Martin unpack some of the legal pitfalls of the music business and lessons learned from R.E.M. If you need a lawyer who rocks head over to https://www.hmlglaw.com!    

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Susan Silver – On Music, Management & The Value of Handshake

Susan Silver – On Music, Management & The Value of Handshake

In this episode: a rare interview with artist management maven Susan Silver. She's managed iconic Seattle bands Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and Screaming Trees and co-owns one of the best, longstanding live music venues in the city. Not only is Susan Joleen's first...

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Megan McNally: Part 2

Megan McNally: Part 2

More F-Bombs will be dropped in Part 2 of Joleen's interview with Megan McNally. Joleen will focus on Megan's decision to fold her business and why that became an opportunity for next-level professional development.  Plus, we'll dive deeper into the F-Bomb...

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Megan McNally: F-Bombs and All Part 1

Megan McNally: F-Bombs and All Part 1

On today's inaugural podcast Joleen talks with fellow lawyer and entrepreneur Megan McNally, one of Seattle’s most influential people, about her startup successes and failures. Megan shares what makes her a badass and why she’s so invested in women businesses making...

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Coming Soon: The Lawyer Who Rocks Podcast

Coming Soon: The Lawyer Who Rocks Podcast

Joleen Hughes, founder and owner of Hughes Media Law Group, is a business badass. From music, to technology, to law, Joleen’s done it all, and done it well. In her new podcast, Joleen is sharing what she’s learned and taking her friends along for the ride. On The...

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