The GRLPWRDEN Podcast

The GRLPWRDEN Podcast: Episode 9 | Realignment, Surrender, and Clarity with Alicia Alexander

In this episode of The GRLPWRDEN Podcast, I’m joined by Alicia Alexander, a communications strategist, to explore alignment, clarity, and how life sometimes nudges us back onto our true path. Alicia has faced profound challenges: losing her boyfriend, surviving a life-saving liver transplant, enduring a long hospitalization during COVID where she couldn’t see her kids or friends, being in a coma, navigating a long divorce, and managing full-time custody of her children. These experiences forced her to pause, reassess, and surrender, teaching her what truly matters in life. Through these experiences, Alicia learned how living in alignment with your values, priorities, and daily rhythms brings clarity, grounded confidence, and joy. She shares how letting go of social pressures—like alcohol, which her body couldn’t tolerate—and embracing small daily practices, relationships, and intentional “yeses” keeps her centered and connected to what matters most. We dive into how Alicia defines confidence: knowing what you’re good at, collaborating with others, and celebrating success together. She emphasizes quiet, grounded confidence—the kind that speaks before words—and how authenticity and connection with other strong, independent women amplify real power. * Key Takeaways: ✨ Alignment is a daily practice—it comes from intentional choices, rhythms, and relationships. ✨ Clarity often comes through surrendering to life’s corrections, not resisting them. ✨ Quiet, grounded confidence speaks louder than performative power. ✨ Confidence grows when you know your strengths and celebrate success together. ✨ Small, joyful daily practices—music, routines, meaningful connections—keep you centered. Alicia’s story reminds us that alignment isn’t rigid or fear-based—it’s intentional, joyful, and deeply personal. True confidence and influence come from clarity, consistency, and intentional choices—knowing your strengths, showing up authentically, saying yes to what energizes you, and no to what doesn’t. When you live this way, your energy speaks before your words, your presence inspires trust, and your relationships flourish. Alignment isn’t about control or perfection—it’s about flow, focus, and choosing a life that feels like yours. Reminder: The guests on GRLPWRDEN speak from personal experience. Their views might not reflect your own—or even mine—and that’s exactly the point. This space is about exploration, not echo chambers. We don’t always find the perfect words or explanations, but we are here trying—because growth happens when we lean into the messiness and keep showing up.

The GRLPWRDEN Podcast: Episode 8 | Presence, Power & Coming Home to Yourself with Jes of Alter Ego Massage

In this episode, Jes dives deep into the nuances of power, presence, and authenticity. To her, power isn’t just about influence or control — it’s about having a deep, honest relationship with yourself. She explores how power is both a responsibility and a gift — something we give, take, and sometimes need to reclaim from others. Jes shares how energetic boundaries and presence are central to holding space for others without losing yourself. She reflects on the ways women are taught to minimize themselves — to be quiet, not too “big,” or to suppress emotions — and how noticing hesitation can be a guide to authenticity. Through her own journey, including divorce, Jes reveals how facing hard truths can lead to reclaiming your voice and living more fully in the present. She discusses: • How therapy helped her claim her authenticity • Recognizing the inner voice that was often misread as anxiety • Learning that speaking up doesn’t always change others, but can reveal what truly isn’t working • Honoring relationships and experiences while finding clarity and self-trust • The lingering feelings of guilt and shame, and how to navigate them without losing yourself This episode is a raw, reflective conversation about embracing your power, creating energetic boundaries, and coming home to yourself — even through life’s hardest lessons. Key Takeaways: ✨ Presence is power. ✨ Power begins with your relationship with yourself. ✨ Holding space doesn’t mean fixing or diving deeper — sometimes just being is enough. ✨ Authenticity shows up in how you honor your needs, boundaries, and inner guidance. ✨ Life experiences, even challenging ones like divorce, teach us who we really are. Reminder: The guests on GRLPWRDEN speak from personal experience. Their views might not reflect your own—or even mine—and that’s exactly the point. This space is about exploration, not echo chambers. And we don’t always find the perfect words or explanations, but we are here trying—because growth happens when we lean into the messiness and keep showing up. #grlpwrden @travelwithjes #presence #pivot #divorce #energetichandcuffs #authenticity #alteregomobilemassage

The GRLPWRDEN Podcast: Episode 7 | Reclaiming Identity & Power Through Poetry — Ninaa, Bantu Poet and Multimedia Creative

In this soulful episode of The GRLPWRDEN Podcast, Emily sits down with Ninaa, a Bantu poet and multimedia creative from Kenya whose work celebrates resilience, identity, and the human experience. Ninaa shares how poetry and music became natural vessels for her voice, mental health, and creative expression, and how she’s learning to take slow risks as she steps deeper into spoken word. She even reads a new poem for us! From her immigrant experience to navigating intersectional identities, Ninaa explores the ways gratitude, faith, and community can serve as sources of power. She shares how journaling has helped her reclaim her voice, why resilience is like a wildflower seed, and how she continues to write boldly—despite the noise, contradictions, and systemic barriers around her. We talk about: ✨ The rhythm of poetry and music as a form of empowerment ✨ Writing as mental health practice and reclaiming personal power ✨ Taking slow, intentional risks in creative work ✨ Feminine rage, love, and the wisdom of Bell Hooks’ All About Love ✨ Balancing faith, heritage, and multiple perspectives in identity ✨ The importance of accountability, growth mindset, and community ✨ Rejecting nihilism in the face of systemic challenges while pouring into collective power Ninaa’s story is a reminder that your voice matters, that resilience grows in waiting periods, and that reclaiming your identity—step by step—is an act of power. This episode is for anyone ready to explore their creative expression, honor their multifaceted identity, and claim the power inherent in their own story. Reminder:The guests on GRLPWRDEN speak from personal experience. Their views might not reflect your own—or even mine—and that’s exactly the point. This space is about exploration, not echo chambers. And we don’t always find the perfect words or explanations, but we are here trying—because growth happens when we lean into the messiness and keep showing up. #WelcomeToTheGRLDen #GRLPWRDEN #BantuPoet #IntersectionalVoices #ResilienceThroughArt #PoetryAsPower #CommunityOverComparison #GRLPWRDEN #shinebright #loveya

The GRLPWRDEN Podcast: Episode 6 | Alchemizing Pain into Power — On Healing, Intuition & Becoming Unapologetic: Amber Espinoza of Unapologetic Worldwide

In this powerful episode of The GRLPWRDEN Podcast, Emily sits down with Amber Espinoza, the visionary behind Unapologetic Worldwide. Amber’s journey is one of deep healing, radical self-trust, and reclaiming her voice after years of survival and suppression. Her work creates spaces where women can show up messy, unfiltered, and free—no apologies, no shame, just truth. From the outside, Amber’s story is one of resilience: a mother, healer, and leader who turned chronic pain and fibromyalgia into a catalyst for empowerment. But beneath the surface is a woman who’s learned how to sit with discomfort, trust her intuition, and alchemize her darkest seasons into strength. We talk about what it means to be “unapologetic” in the fullest sense: to stop performing for approval, to embrace your villain era when necessary, and to honor both softness and fierceness in equal measure. Amber opens up about conscious drinking, the power of sound therapy and movement, and why journaling has been her lifeline in decoding emotions and building self-trust. ✨ Key Takeaways: Self-trust is the foundation of power. Amber shares how learning to listen to her intuition—and teaching her daughters to do the same—has been central to reclaiming her voice. Pain can become power. Living with chronic illness and fibromyalgia, she’s discovered how to alchemize pain into wisdom, embodiment, and leadership. Stillness heals what suppression can’t. From journaling to sound therapy, Amber reminds us that the practices we resist most are often the ones that liberate us. Empowerment is not anti-men. Amber challenges the misconception that women’s empowerment excludes men—emphasizing instead the need for mentorship, safe spaces, and co-creation across genders. Alignment > chemistry. Whether in relationships or community, Amber highlights why alignment saves time, energy, and heartbreak. Embracing the “villain era” is sacred. Sometimes protecting yourself means becoming the “bad guy” in someone else’s story—and that’s okay. Healing happens in layers. You can’t skip to the high vibes. Real healing comes from feeling every stage—especially the hard, messy, in-between places. And above all, this episode is a reminder: You don’t have to apologize for your past, your survival, or the woman you’re becoming. This one’s for the women learning to trust themselves again, to honor their darkness as much as their light, and to embody their power without apology. Reminder: The guests on GRLPWRDEN speak from lived experience. Their views might not reflect your own—or even mine—and that’s the beauty of this space. We’re not here for echo chambers—we’re here for nuance, real stories, and the messy, liberating act of creating a life that’s truly yours. #WelcomeToTheGRLDen #ComeCuriousLeaveGrounded #UnapologeticWorldwide #SelfTrustIsPower #PainIntoPower #VillainEra #HealingWithoutBypass #GRLPWRDEN

The GRLPWRDEN Podcast: Episode 5 | Power Means Loving Yourself First — On Entrepreneurship, Alignment & Building a Life You Want: Adrienne of The Electric Dream Boutique

In this candid and inspiring episode of The GRLPWRDEN Podcast, Emily sits down with Adrienne, the heart and mind behind The Electric Dream Boutique. Adrienne’s journey through entrepreneurship, personal transformation, and self-discovery is proof that building a business can be about so much more than profit—it can be a pathway to personal freedom, authenticity, and deep connection. From the outside, Adrienne’s story is one of a thriving boutique owner. But behind the racks of curated pieces is a woman who’s redefined success on her own terms—moving away from hustle culture, leaning into her community, and making space for her business to evolve as she does. Her breakup and divorce became unexpected catalysts, sparking a deeper level of intentionality in her work and her life. We talk about what it means to love yourself first, how to take smaller risks to ease into the world, and why discernment is one of the most underrated business strategies. Adrienne shares how plant medicine has supported her mental health, the power of integration, and why alignment—over approval—has been the foundation of her growth. ✨ Key Takeaways: Power starts with self-worth. Adrienne’s biggest shift came from realizing that loving herself first isn’t selfish—it’s foundational. From that place, she can serve her clients, community, and vision without losing herself. Smaller risks can create bigger impact. You don’t have to leap off the cliff to start. Adrienne shares how taking incremental risks helped her grow with confidence and stay aligned. Discernment is strategy. She’s intentional about what influences she allows into her life—both personally and professionally—because focus shapes outcomes. Breakdowns can be breakthroughs. Her divorce became a catalyst, leading her to deepen her authenticity, embrace vulnerability, and fully show up for her clients and community. Integration is everything. From plant medicine to everyday reflection, Adrienne believes you can’t bypass the inner work. Every journey requires conscious integration to create lasting change. Redefining success changes the game. For Adrienne, success now includes health, wellbeing, freedom, and authenticity—knowing she can’t (and doesn’t need to) do it all. And above all, this episode is a reminder: You don’t have to have the perfect plan. You just have to take the first step—and let the motivation meet you there. This one’s for the women ready to pivot without shame, to lead with heart instead of hustle, and to build a business that feels like home. Reminder: The guests on GRLPWRDEN speak from lived experience. Their views might not reflect your own—or even mine—and that’s the beauty of this space. We’re not here for echo chambers—we’re here for nuance, real stories, and the messy, liberating act of creating a life that’s truly yours. #WelcomeToTheGRLDen #ComeCuriousLeaveGrounded #SelfWorthIsPower #AlignmentOverApproval #EntrepreneurshipWithHeart #DiscernmentIsStrategy #ElectricDreamBoutique #GRLPWRDEN