In Pursuit of Carrying the Torch (& Great Ice Cream!)

In Pursuit of Carrying the Torch (& Great Ice Cream!)

In this episode of the Power to Pursue Podcast, Rachel sits down with fifth-generation Graeter's leader Annie Graeter to explore what it means to forge your own identity, build a life beyond the family legacy, and ultimately return home with a deeper understanding of purpose. Together, they discuss the realities of working in a multi-generational family business, the women who helped shape Graeter's into an iconic brand, the balance between tradition and innovation, and how Annie's years in the outdoor industry prepared her to lead in an entirely different way. They also dive into motherhood, fulfillment, employee ownership, Cincinnati's entrepreneurial spirit, and the evolving definition of success as our lives grow and change. This conversation is a love letter to legacy, community, and the courage it takes to define success on your own terms.

In Pursuit of the Friendships That Heal

What if one of the greatest sources of healing in your life isn't found in a romantic relationship, but in the women who walk beside you through every season? In this deeply personal episode of the Power to Pursue Podcast, Rachel sits down with her longtime friend Stephanie Beck for a conversation about friendship, healing, reinvention, and the power of being truly witnessed. Together, they reflect on nearly two decades of friendship, navigating life's hardest chapters, and the women who help us find our way back to ourselves. Stephanie shares her journey from advocacy and public service to energy healing, nervous system regulation, and facilitating women's circles designed to help women reconnect with themselves and one another. Along the way, the conversation explores grief, divorce, motherhood, personal growth, and why creating space for our emotions may be one of the most important forms of self-care. This episode is a love letter to deep friendship, meaningful connection, and the women who hold us when life asks us to become someone new. Because healing doesn't happen alone, and neither do we.

In Pursuit of Words That Matter

What if the stories we tell ourselves, and the ones we're allowed to hear, shape everything about who we become? This week on the Power to Pursue Podcast, Rachel sits down with author, poet, advocate, and community-builder Holly Brians Ragusa for a conversation about fear, language, creativity, and the radical act of choosing connection over control. Together, they explore why words matter, how literature preserves humanity, and what it means to tell the stories that history often leaves behind. Holly reflects on her journey as the author of At the End, her work amplifying voices across the literary community, and the belief that courage isn't the absence of fear, it's deciding to move anyway. From discussing survivorship and self-worth to challenging the idea of "busy" as a badge of honor, this episode is a reminder that our greatest power often lies in the smallest acts: listening deeply, loving generously, and rewriting the stories we tell ourselves. If you've ever wondered whether your voice matters, this conversation is your invitation to believe that it does. Because the stories we tell can change the world, but first, they can change us.

In Pursuit of Grounded Power

This week on the Power to Pursue Podcast, Rachel sits down with mindset and movement coach Nadia Murdock for a deeply grounding conversation about what it really means to return to yourself. Together, they explore the power of women gathering intentionally, the importance of community in healing, and how alignment, gratitude, movement, and play can radically shift the way we experience life. From building wellness-centered spaces in New York City to creating transformational retreats in Italy and the Catskills, Nadia shares how her work helps women reconnect to their bodies, expand their capacity, and step into the fullest version of themselves. Rachel and Nadia also dive into motherhood, emotional intelligence, grief, entrepreneurship, self-worth, travel, human design, and the courage it takes to unlearn limiting beliefs. This episode is an invitation to slow down, reconnect, and remember: there is more available to you than survival. There is ease. There is joy. There is expansion. And there is a life waiting for you on the other side of choosing yourself. Whether you’re navigating transition, craving deeper connection, or simply trying to believe in your own potential again — this conversation will leave you feeling seen, energized, and inspired to pursue the life that’s calling you.

In Pursuit of Purpose & Systems Change

In this episode of Power to Pursue, we sit down with Kristin Smith Shrimplin, President & CEO of Women Helping Women, for a conversation that is equal parts grounding, challenging, and deeply human. Kristin shares what it means to live a life rooted in purpose, and why she’s always been clear on hers: creating collective impact. From leading an organization that serves thousands of survivors of gender-based violence each year to reflecting on the small, daily rituals that keep her anchored, Kristin reminds us that meaningful work is about consistency, integrity, and showing up. Together, we explore: * What it means to be “worth your salt” and walk the talk every day * The reality of systems that make it harder for survivors to leave—and why change must happen at a structural level * The power of food, community, and breaking bread as a form of connection and care * How to build sustainable practices (even in high-intensity work) through small, grounding rituals * Why knowing who you are, and refusing to shrink, is essential to both personal and collective liberation Kristin challenges the narrative around survivors, reframing them as leaders, advocates, and forces of resilience. She also calls us in: if we’re not in survival mode, what are we doing with our privilege to create change? This conversation is a reminder that the most powerful movements aren’t built in isolation—they’re built in community, in truth, and in the courage to keep showing up. What are you in pursuit of?