rEvolutionary Woman

Season 10- Ep 3: Gordana Davila- Owner of The Red Bud Cafe, Turning Coffee Into Stories and Connection

She was just 3 years old… pretending to be asleep in the back of a car during a tense border crossing. In this episode of the Revolutionary Woman Podcast, Tes Silverman sits down with Gordana Angelic Davila, co-owner of Redbud Café, to share a story shaped by escape, resilience, and starting over. Born in the former Yugoslavia, Gordana’s family fled political pressure and uncertainty, moving through Italy before building a new life in the United States. From language barriers and life-or-death moments as a child interpreter… to becoming a writer, editor, and eventually a café owner known for creating a true sense of community—her story is anything but ordinary. Inside this episode, you’ll hear: • What it was like growing up between countries and cultures • The quiet pressure of “just keep going” and how it shaped her life • The challenges of starting a small business from the ground up • Why creating a space of belonging became her mission • The mindset that carried her from survival to success Gordana’s journey is a powerful reminder that even the hardest beginnings can lead to something meaningful. . . Gordana Andjelic-Davila is the co-owner of The Red Bud Cafe, a cozy and creative space known for its soulful atmosphere and signature crêpes. She previously worked as a writer and editor in Australia and has a background in creative services spanning New York, San Francisco, and Melbourne. Born in the former Yugoslavia, Gordana’s family left due to political circumstances, first settling in Italy before eventually making the United States their permanent home. Her journey deeply informs her love of community, storytelling, and creating spaces where people feel a sense of belonging. To learn more about Gordana Anjelic-Davila and The Red Bud Cafe: Website: https://theredbud.cafe/ Twitter: https://x.com/bud_cafe Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redbudcafedaytona/# Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redbudcafe TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@redbudcafe_daytona?_r=1&_t=ZT-94wQdCXwQ8s . . . . . This episode used the following music: Time to Shine by tubebackr & Popsicles https://soundcloud.com/tubebackr https://soundcloud.com/popsiclesmusic Creative Commons — Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported — CC BY-ND 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/tubebackr-and-popsicles/time-to-shine Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/Cvbjhx6X4ZY

Season 10 Ep 2: Deepa Ananthapadmanabhan- CEO and Co-Founder of Sustera Foundation

In this episode of Revolutionary Women, Tes speaks with Deepa Ananthapadmanabhan, CEO and co-founder of the Susterra Foundation, about climate change, mental health, and community impact. They discuss how climate change affects daily life, the importance of local solutions, and why mentorship is key to building stronger, more resilient communities. Deepa Ananthapadmanabhan has been involved in the development sector for over a decade. She is the CEO and co-founder of Sustera Foundation (an NPO working in the space of climate change and sustainable development).  Her main focus is on creating resilient communities through the engagement of youth and women via capacity building, community projects and climate literacy.  Being a parent,teacher, traveler and planet lover has shown her the importance of being empathetic, resourceful, dynamic and collaborative to create networks for impactful work. To learn more about Deepa Ananthapadmanabhan and Sustera Foundation: IG: https://www.instagram.com/aquadeepa4?igsh=bm9sZDF2ZDNjeDJx IG: https://www.instagram.com/sustera_org?igsh=dzNhMm16bjI4YjRv LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sustera-foundation/posts/ . . . . . This episode used the following music: Time to Shine by tubebackr & Popsicles https://soundcloud.com/tubebackr https://soundcloud.com/popsiclesmusic Creative Commons — Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported — CC BY-ND 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/tubebackr-and-popsicles/time-to-shine Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/Cvbjhx6X4ZY

Season 10 Ep. 1 -Brandy Thompson- CEO of benefitbay

What does it really look like to lead a company, raise a family, and build something meaningful at the same time? In this episode of Revolutionary Women, Tes Silverman sits down with Brandy Thompson, CEO and Founder of BenefitBay, for an honest conversation about leadership, motherhood, and taking a path that doesn’t always look traditional. Brandy shares how she moved from finance and HR into the CEO role, and how her experience as a mother of six shaped the way she leads. She talks about building a company rooted in empathy, creating space for real-life responsibilities, and why understanding people matters just as much as performance in today’s workplace. You’ll also hear how BenefitBay is helping reshape employee health benefits through ICHRA (Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements), giving both employers and employees more flexibility and choice. This episode is for women in leadership, working moms, entrepreneurs, and anyone figuring out their next step while juggling real life. One of the most meaningful takeaways from this conversation: “You don't have to have followed the yellow brick road to get to where you are.” Brandy Thompson is the CEO and Founder of benefitbay®, a Kansas City based health benefits technology company focused on modernizing how employers deliver coverage through ICHRAs. She is a mother of six and has built her company with an intentionally people-first approach, including hiring frontline team members with backgrounds in education and healthcare to deliver a more empathetic enrollment experience. Brandy’s leadership story is rooted in values-based decision-making, building at a sustainable pace, and designing a workplace that supports real life responsibilities, especially for working parents. To learn more about Brandy Thompson: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandy-thompson-24389536/ To learn more about benefitbay: https://www.linkedin.com/company/benefitbay

Season 9 Ep. 20: Nikki Padilla Rivera- Co-Owner of She Shapes History

In this episode of Revolutionary Woman, Tes Silverman sits down with Nikki Padilla Rivera, co-founder of She Shapes History NYC, to explore women’s history, storytelling, and the hidden contributions of women in New York City. With a background in travel, tourism, and brand marketing, Nikki shares how her work is helping uncover overlooked female leaders and reshape how we understand history. This conversation highlights women’s impact, cultural storytelling, and the growing movement to recognize the voices and achievements of women who have long been left out. Nikki Padilla Rivera is co-owner of She Shapes History NYC which shares the hidden history of women who built NYC.  By day she's a brand marketer and lives with her two small kids in Queens, NYC.  Instagram is her social media of choice and she could eat Vietnamese food every day if given the option. To learn more about Nikki Padilla Rivera and She Shapes History: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikkiblp/?hl=en Website: https://sheshapeshistory.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/sheshapeshistorynyc/?hl=en . . . . . This episode used the following music: Time to Shine by tubebackr & Popsicles https://soundcloud.com/tubebackr https://soundcloud.com/popsiclesmusic Creative Commons — Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported — CC BY-ND 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/tubebackr-and-popsicles/time-to-shine Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/Cvbjhx6X4ZY

Season 9 Ep 19: Charlotte Kemmeren- Educator and Researcher at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

In this episode of Revolutionary Women, host Tess Silverman speaks with Charlotte Kemmeren, a social work educator and researcher at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences whose work focuses on community building, social justice education, and inclusive learning environments. Charlotte works closely with students to create spaces where diverse voices can be heard, difficult topics can be explored, and meaningful dialogue can take place. Growing up in the Netherlands, Charlotte became aware of inequality at a young age. That awareness later shaped her academic path in anthropology and urban geography and eventually led her to teaching and community-centered work in higher education. In this conversation, Charlotte reflects on the importance of creating spaces where students can speak openly about identity, justice, and social change. She also shares insights from her work with the SESI Community Center, a student-led initiative that amplifies underrepresented perspectives and encourages dialogue around intersectionality and social impact. Charlotte Kemmeren is a teacher in Social Work and a researcher at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. She is committed to fostering inclusive learning environments in which students and teachers can share diverse perspectives and engage in critical reflection. While she recognizes that a fully just society may be unattainable, she believes that education and communities that amplify multiple voices can create hope and meaningful opportunities. In her teaching, Charlotte addresses themes such as urban inequality and solidarity. Previously, she spent five years as project manager of the SESI Community Center, an intersectional platform for student engagement where students took the lead in developing programs that claimed institutional space for underexposed topics. To learn more about Charlotte Kemmeren and SESI: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-kemmeren-6b7882106/ IG: @sesicommunitycenter Key Topics in This Episode • Community building and social justice education • Inclusive learning environments in higher education • Youth engagement and student leadership • Creating space for underrepresented voices • The role of educators in supporting diverse perspectives . . . . . This episode used the following music: Time to Shine by tubebackr & Popsicles https://soundcloud.com/tubebackr https://soundcloud.com/popsiclesmusic Creative Commons — Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported — CC BY-ND 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/tubebackr-and-popsicles/time-to-shine Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/Cvbjhx6X4ZY