Bench To Bold with Alisa Hood and Marnie Schneider

S2 EP14: Stop Calling Her Intimidating | Nesha Pai | Bench to Bold

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2519788/fan_mail/new] When Nesha Pai's brother told her that his friend found her life 'intimidating,' it triggered something. She'd been hearing that word her entire life and she was done letting it be a problem. In this episode of Bench to Bold, Marnie and Alisa sit down with the Charlotte-based CPA, keynote speaker, author, and breast cancer survivor to unpack one of the most loaded words applied to successful women. Nesha traces her own path from starting Pai CPA at 40 as a single mom with one client and a kitchen table to running a fully remote firm with over 70 clients and shares how a 2024 breast cancer diagnosis was just another obstacle for someone who describes herself as a doer. Together with Marnie and Alisa, they dig into the double standard of who gets called intimidating, why relatability is the antidote, what it means to build your own personal board of directors, and why the most powerful response when someone calls you intimidating is simply: thank you. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:07 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Introduction — Retiring the Word Intimidating 01:07 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Where the Conversation Came From — A Brother and a Triggered Word 02:29 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Do We Ever Say That About Men? The Double Standard Nobody Talks About 04:41 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — One Client, One Kitchen Table — Starting at 40 as a Single Mom 05:28 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Breast Cancer, 2024 — Another Obstacle for a Doer 08:16 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Lupita, Citizenship & What Truly Intimidating Looks Like 11:29 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Inspiring vs. Intimidating — The Word Swap That Changes Everything 13:30 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — The Highlight Reel Problem — Why Relatability Is the Answer  19:38 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Susan Fletcher, the Wicked Witch of the Vet & Rewriting the Rules 23:04 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Your Personal Board of Directors — Who's Calling You Out?z ABOUT NESHA PAI: Nesha Pai is the founder and CEO of Pai CPA, PLLC [https://www.paicpapllc.com], a fully remote bookkeeping firm in Charlotte, NC, one of the first of its kind when she launched it in 2011. Starting as a single mom with one client and no office, she grew the firm to over 70 clients and multiple six-figure revenues while prioritizing employment for stay-at-home moms. A breast cancer survivor, keynote speaker, and award-winning author of Overcoming Ordinary Obstacles [https://www.amazon.com/Overcoming-Ordinary-Obstacles-Nesha-Pai/dp/173427490X], winner of the Multicultural Non-Fiction category at the 2020 American Book Fest. Nesha was named one of the Top 50 Influential Women in Charlotte by The Mecklenburg Times in both 2020 and 2024. She is a podcast host, keynote speaker, and fierce advocate for women building lives on their own terms. Find her at neshapai.com [https://www.neshapai.com] and on Instagram at @neshapaicpa [https://www.instagram.com/neshapaicpa]. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenchtoBold Follow Bench to Bold on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benchtobold

S2 EP 13: From High School Dropout to Pro Bowl | Ken Harvey | Bench to Bold

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2519788/fan_mail/new] He dropped out of high school, attempted suicide, got on a plane to Oakland with no money and no plan, earned a scholarship to UC Berkeley, and was drafted 12th overall in the 1988 NFL Draft. If the story ended there it would already be worth telling. In this episode of Bench to Bold, Marnie sits down with her longtime friend and Washington Commanders legend Ken Harvey — four-time Pro Bowler, author, comedian, and one of the most raw and honest guests the show has ever had. Ken walks through all of it: the truancy, the depression, the three career-ending injuries that didn't end his career, losing his first son to SIDS, the identity crisis that followed retirement, and the decade-long process of rediscovering purpose after the stadium went quiet. He also talks about writing children's books with Terry Crews to give his sons brown characters to see themselves in, the animated series and live-action sport he's creating now, and why he did stand-up comedy on his 60th birthday — because it's never too late. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00:07 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Introduction — One of Marnie's Favorite People 00:01:18 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Pop Warner to Dropout — The Road That Almost Wasn't 00:02:33 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — A Purpose and a Destiny — What Brought Him Back 00:04:10 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Laney Junior College to UC Berkeley — Speaking It Into Existence 00:05:44 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — 12th Pick, Arizona Cardinals & Learning to Be a Pass Rusher 00:08:37 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — ACL, Rotator Cuff & the Loss of a Son — Challenges as Challenges 00:12:05 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Where the Resilience Came From — Family, Faith & a Mom Who Hopped Fences 00:15:55 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Retirement, Identity Loss & Hiding in Broad Daylight 00:22:39 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Children's Books, Terry Crews & the Exodus 4:2 Moment 00:26:18 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — What's Next — Comedy at 60, Float Ball & Claudia and the Prayer Warriors  ABOUT KEN HARVEY: Ken Harvey is a former NFL outside linebacker, four-time Pro Bowler, and member of the Washington Commanders Ring of Fame [https://www.commanders.com/team/history/ring-of-fame]. Drafted 12th overall by the Phoenix Cardinals in 1988 out of UC Berkeley, he compiled 89 career sacks across 11 seasons before retiring in 1998. After football, Ken channeled his creativity into authorship, co-writing the children's book Come Find Me [https://www.amazon.com/Come-Find-Me-Ken-Harvey/dp/0998040207] with actor and artist Terry Crews, along with several other children's books and two thriller novels. He is the Executive Director of the Touching Heart Foundation [https://touchingheartfoundation.org/], focused on inspiring children through compassionate leadership, and is a co-host of the Commanders Justice podcast alongside Marnie Schneider and John Booty. He is currently developing a 12-episode animated series called Claudia and the Prayer Warriors and a new live-action sport called Float Ball. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenchtoBold Follow Bench to Bold on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benchtobold

S2 Ep 12: Coffee, Cancun & Choosing Boldly | Marnie & Alisa | Bench to Bold

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2519788/fan_mail/new] What happens when Marnie and Alisa ditch the guest and just talk? In this solo episode, the Bench to Bold hosts run through a round of "this or that" that takes some unexpected turns, morning routines, sleep socks, bad perms, Charlotte weather, and what it really means to choose boldness in everyday life. Alisa also shares the story of a 24-hour trip to Cancun that ended with a taxi, a buddy pass, and a hard-earned lesson about who you choose to do life with. EPISODE NAVIGATION: 00:00:20 — This or that: coffee vs. tea (and Alisa's Starbucks confession) 00:02:43 — Morning routines, early bedtimes, and the case for sleep socks 00:06:36 — Starting the day right: meditation, gratitude journals, and feeding the dogs first 00:08:47 — Favorite seasons and weather preferences 00:11:10 — Bad perm hall of fame  freedom perms, banana clips, and Randy's stripping days 00:13:55 — Night in or night out? Alisa's rain radar habit and the Charlotte FC game they skipped 00:17:05 — What's been the highlight of doing Bench to Bold 00:19:15 — What would you tell your ten-year-old self? 00:22:21 — Favorite places: Florence, Jackson Hole, and Alisa's legendary 24-hour Cancun escape ABOUT YOUR HOSTS: Marnie Schneider and Alisa Hood are the co-hosts of Bench to Bold, a podcast about the moments, the benched ones and the bold ones that shape who we become. With candid conversation, contagious energy, and a knack for getting people to open up, they've built a show where every guest (and every episode) proves that everybody has a story worth telling. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenchtoBold Follow Bench to Bold on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benchtobold

S2 Ep 11: From Hard Hats to Flats | Carla Truitt | Bench to Bold

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2519788/fan_mail/new] Carla Truitt, founder of Eight Royale, joins Marnie and Alisa to share how sore feet, a music career, and a lot of hustle led her to design a line of stylish, packable flats and why year eight is the year she's finally found her voice. EPISODE NAVIGATION: 00:00:07 — Marnie and Alisa introduce Carla Truitt 00:02:09 — Carla traces her path from communications student to marketing, marriage, motherhood, and the entrepreneurial vision that grew from it all. 00:05:10 — The origin of Eight Royale 00:07:30 — Alisa shares her own painful Super Bowl heel story 00:11:50 — Carla on what makes Eight Royale different 00:14:00 — Marnie coins the new slogan: "Healing without heeling" 00:15:11 — Carla reveals she's celebrating Eight Royale's eighth anniversary in 2026 — the lucky number that inspired the name 00:18:30 — The bold moments 00:23:45 — Carla on her son's football journey at the University of Iowa ABOUT OUR GUEST: Carla Truitt is a Washington, D.C.-based entrepreneur, founder of Eight Royale, and a woman who has never been afraid to build — whether that's in the music industry, construction, or footwear. Raised in a family of Guyanese immigrants with an entrepreneurial spirit woven through generations, Carla studied communications and marketing before charting her own course. She spent years working behind the scenes in music (including time affiliated with Bad Boy Records), running a construction cleaning service, and raising a son who went on to play Big Ten football at the University of Iowa. Eight Royale — her line of stylish, packable, cushioned flats — was born out of a real need: beautiful shoes that don't cost you your comfort or your dignity at the end of a long night. Now celebrating the brand's eighth year, Carla has stepped fully into the spotlight, traveling, telling her story, and building what she calls a lifestyle brand for women who walk in power and step into purpose. CONNECT WITH CARLA & EIGHT ROYALE: Website: https://eightroyale.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eightroyale/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eightroyale Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eightroyale/ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenchtoBold Follow Bench to Bold on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benchtobold

S2 Ep 10: From São Paulo to Charlotte | Renata Gasparyan | Bench to Bold

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2519788/fan_mail/new] Boutique fashion, bold reinvention, and the courage to start over — Renata Gasparyan joins Marnie and Alisa in the studio for a conversation as rich and layered as the pieces she designs. In this episode of Bench to Bold, the founder of Renata — a one-of-a-kind boutique on East Boulevard in Charlotte — shares how a career at one of São Paulo's most legendary fashion houses led her to a bonus room in the Carolinas, and eventually to one of the city's most talked-about brands. There are stories about moving from Brazil with two kids and no safety net, panic attacks that came out of nowhere, a stranger in leather pants who became a lifeline, and the husband who said “well, why don’t you just start your own thing?” Plus: the design philosophy she calls sketch to stitch, why her pieces don’t go out of style, and what it really means to dress a woman — not just her body. Consider this the episode where fashion becomes a love language. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:56 — São Paulo Roots & Starting in Fashion at 21 04:37 — How the Boutique Was Born: From Compliments on the Street to a Bonus Room Business 07:55 — Word of Mouth Only — Building Renata Without Marketing 09:45 — Sketch to Stitch: The Design Process Behind Every Piece 14:57 — From the House Studio to a Real Storefront on East Boulevard 19:43 — Proportion, Tailoring & the One Inch That Changes Everything 22:06 — The Bench Moment: Moving to Charlotte and the Panic Attacks She Never Saw Coming 28:31 — Go For It: Renata's Message to Women With a Dream ABOUT RENATA GASPARYAN: Renata Gasparyan is the founder and designer behind Renata, a boutique fashion brand based in Charlotte, NC. Born in Brazil and raised between São Paulo and Westport, Connecticut, Renata spent years working at Zulu — one of South America's most iconic fashion houses — before relocating to Charlotte a decade ago. What started as compliments on the street and a bonus room full of her favorite pieces has grown into a full boutique at 1419 East Boulevard, beloved for its signature blend of Brazilian sensibility and Southern ease. Renata designs everything from sketch to stitch, working with a small team of four tailors to produce limited, one-of-a-kind collectibles that women wear — and reach for — for years.  CONNECT WITH RENATA: Shop: 1419 East Boulevard, Charlotte, NC (beside Millennium Nails) Instagram: @renata_gasparyan [https://www.instagram.com/renata_gasparian/] Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenchtoBold Follow Bench to Bold on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benchtobold