Startin' Some Ripples

When Girls Believe They Belong: A Conversation with Sarah Jakle

Among many other topics, we explore: The Moment It All Changed: How Sarah’s autoimmune diagnosis shifted her path and ultimately led her to build something transformative. Why High School Matters: The powerful statistic that shows high school is the last time girls and boys equally believe they can run for office (and what happens after!) From Trauma to Leadership: How understanding both “Big T” and “little t” trauma became foundational in preparing girls for real-world challenges. Building Resilient Leaders: Why nervous system regulation, self-compassion, and emotional awareness are just as important as public speaking and policy skills. The Inner Best Friend: A simple yet powerful tool that helps girls move through self-doubt, fear, and imposter syndrome. Redefining Success: From running for office to simply finding the courage to speak up, and why every step toward using your voice matters. Creating Safe, Brave Spaces: How environments rooted in unconditional support can transform how young women see themselves. Paid to Grow: Why offering stipends isn’t just practical, it’s a statement that girls’ time, energy, and growth have real value. Scarcity vs. Abundance: How traditional systems condition competition and how DemocraShe is rewriting that narrative through collaboration and support. Joy as Resistance: Why choosing joy, beauty, and self-expression isn’t naive, it’s necessary for sustainable change. Confidence + Compassion: What becomes possible when we allow both to coexist, and how that balance can reshape leadership across all spaces. This conversation is a reminder that change doesn’t start “out there”. It starts within. In how we speak to ourselves. In how we honor our nervous systems. In how we choose, moment by moment, to believe we belong. Because when girls are given the tools, the space, and the support to rise… they don’t just change their own lives. They change everything. Connect with Sarah! Website: https://www.democrashe.org/ [https://www.democrashe.org/] Email:  sarah@democrashe.org [sarah@democrashe.org] Heather N. Wilde  Hezzie Mae Creative Studio & Boutique Publisher Website: www.HezzieMae.com [www.HezzieMae.com] Facebook: Heather HezzieMae Wilde [https://www.facebook.com/heather.wilde.1975/] Do you need an engaging, heartfelt speaker to inspire your audience? Heather brings a blend of authenticity, insight, and storytelling to every event. Whether addressing professional teams, high school audiences, or creative communities, Heather’s talks focus on personal growth, resilience, and the power of stories to transform lives. Reach out to hwilde@hezziemae.com to book Heather for your next event.

Peeling Back the Layers: Finding Yourself Again with Maris Saar

Among many other topics, we explore: The Power of Following the Pull: How Maris built multiple careers—from photography to hypnotherapy to TV—by going all in on what lit her up. From Doing to Being: Why success isn’t about doing more, but about removing what’s blocking you from being yourself. The “Library of the Brain”: Maris shares a powerful analogy for how our experiences are stored—and how they shape our reactions, patterns, and beliefs. Healing Without Reliving: A compassionate approach to working through past experiences without retraumatizing yourself. Nervous System Awareness: How learning to listen to your body can completely change how you make decisions, show up, and live your life. From Burnout to Freedom: My personal journey of moving from pressure and performance into ease, intuition, and joy. Intuitive Marketing: Why your business doesn’t have to feel heavy—and how alignment creates more impact than force ever could. Choosing Joy on Purpose: The small, intentional shifts that can create ripple effects in your life and in the lives of others. The Courage to Be Seen: How releasing internal blocks allows your voice, your work, and your presence to expand naturally. Creating Space for What Matters: Why slowing down might be the very thing that opens the door to your next big idea. Joy isn’t something you wait for. It’s something you choose, moment by moment… starting with something as simple as a smile. Connect with Maris! Website: http://heymissmarissa.com [http://heymissmarissa.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heymissmarissa/ [https://www.instagram.com/heymissmarissa/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maris-saar-b57829173/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maris-saar-b57829173/] Heather N. Wilde  Hezzie Mae Creative Studio & Boutique Publisher Website: www.HezzieMae.com [www.HezzieMae.com] Facebook: Heather HezzieMae Wilde [https://www.facebook.com/heather.wilde.1975/] Do you need an engaging, heartfelt speaker to inspire your audience? Heather brings a blend of authenticity, insight, and storytelling to every event. Whether addressing professional teams, high school audiences, or creative communities, Heather’s talks focus on personal growth, resilience, and the power of stories to transform lives. Reach out to hwilde@hezziemae.com to book Heather for your next event.

Paisley the Musical: Teaching Kids (and Adults) They Are Enough

Among many other topics, we explore: From Pavilion Projects to Purpose: How Deborah’s high-level corporate career masked a deeper longing to create meaningful impact. The Three-Year Wake-Up Call: Deborah’s medical misdiagnosis, loss of credibility, and the emotional toll of not being believed. The Million-Dollar Penny: How discovering the story of a rare 1943 copper penny sparked her first children’s book and musical about self-worth. Self-Esteem vs. Self-Worth: Why one depends on achievement—and the other comes from within. The Birth of the Self-Worth Initiative: Deborah’s promise to dedicate her life to helping others reclaim their value. Meet Paisley: A porcupine fashion designer who gives away her power “quill by quill” until she must decide what to do with her last one. Giving Away Our Power: Why Deborah believes we don’t get stuck because of fear—but because we slowly surrender our voice. Magical Realism on a Broadway Scale: Deborah’s bold vision for Paisley the Musical and her unconventional path to bringing it to life. The Power of Music to Rewire Belief: Why songs can reach places inside us that words alone cannot. Join us for an imaginative, heartfelt conversation about resilience, creativity, and the radical act of reclaiming your worth, proof that even when you feel discarded, you may be the rarest coin of all. If you’ve ever felt unheard, unseen, or unsure of your value, this episode is your reminder: every penny counts… and so do you. Connect with Deborah! Website: https://paisleysfashionforest.com/ [https://paisleysfashionforest.com/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deborah.weed.1/ [https://www.facebook.com/deborah.weed.1/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deborah.weed/ [https://www.instagram.com/deborah.weed/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-weed-67b91313/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-weed-67b91313/] Heather N. Wilde  Hezzie Mae Creative Studio & Boutique Publisher Website: www.HezzieMae.com [www.HezzieMae.com] Facebook: Heather HezzieMae Wilde [https://www.facebook.com/heather.wilde.1975/] Do you need an engaging, heartfelt speaker to inspire your audience? Heather brings a blend of authenticity, insight, and storytelling to every event. Whether addressing professional teams, high school audiences, or creative communities, Heather’s talks focus on personal growth, resilience, and the power of stories to transform lives. Reach out to hwilde@hezziemae.com to book Heather for your next event.

When Women Support Women: Why Collaboration Changes Everything

Among many other topics, we explore: Finding Home Through Change: How Morgan’s life of constant movement helped her discover what community, belonging, and “home” really mean to her. The Power of Presence in Leadership: Why being seen, heard, and valued matters—and how that shapes the way Morgan leads. Being Underestimated: How early career challenges in male-dominated spaces taught Morgan to advocate for herself and lead with integrity. Brave Communication: The moment that changed how Morgan approaches conflict, choosing honesty over avoidance. Women Supporting Women: Why collaboration, not competition, is the key to powerful female leadership. Letting Go of Chasing Power: How stepping away from status and salary helped Morgan reconnect with her true values. Redefining Success: Why fulfillment comes from how you show up for people, not the title you hold.   Explore more about the YWCA Duluth at www.ywcaduluth.org   Heather N. Wilde  Hezzie Mae Creative Studio & Boutique Publisher Website: www.HezzieMae.com [www.HezzieMae.com] Facebook: Heather HezzieMae Wilde [https://www.facebook.com/heather.wilde.1975/] Do you need an engaging, heartfelt speaker to inspire your audience? Heather brings a blend of authenticity, insight, and storytelling to every event. Whether addressing professional teams, high school audiences, or creative communities, Heather’s talks focus on personal growth, resilience, and the power of stories to transform lives. Reach out to hwilde@hezziemae.com to book Heather for your next event.

Queer, Sober, and Starting Again: Finding Purpose Through Bread

Among many other topics, we explore: The Magic of Grandma’s Kitchen: How Tom’s earliest memories of baking with his grandmother sparked a lifelong love for bread. From Corporate Life to Cottage Bakery: Why leaving behind a PhD program and corporate consulting led Tom to a more joyful, fulfilling path. Baking as Healing: How bread became a form of therapy during anxiety, divorce, and major life transitions. Redefining Success: Why less money and more joy turned out to be the richest combination of all. Growing Up Queer in a Fundamentalist Church: Tom shares the challenges of discovering his identity in an environment that didn’t offer safety or support. Religious Trauma and Self-Acceptance: How unlearning shame became part of Tom’s healing journey. Choosing Joy on Purpose: Why happiness isn’t always automatic—but it can always be chosen. Finding Community Beyond the Bar Scene: The importance of diverse, supportive spaces for queer connection and belonging. The Story Behind “Behind the Breadbox”: A nostalgic, meaningful name rooted in family, food, and home. The Special Bond Between Gay Men and Straight Women: A heartfelt reflection on safety, trust, and joyful connection. Join us for a warm, honest, and laughter-filled conversation about identity, resilience, and the beautiful freedom that comes from finally being yourself—proof that it’s never too late to start living the life that feels like home. Connect with Tom! Website: https://www.behindthebreadbox.com/ [https://www.behindthebreadbox.com/] Heather N. Wilde  Hezzie Mae Creative Studio & Boutique Publisher Website: www.HezzieMae.com [www.HezzieMae.com] Facebook: Heather HezzieMae Wilde [https://www.facebook.com/heather.wilde.1975/] Do you need an engaging, heartfelt speaker to inspire your audience? Heather brings a blend of authenticity, insight, and storytelling to every event. Whether addressing professional teams, high school audiences, or creative communities, Heather’s talks focus on personal growth, resilience, and the power of stories to transform lives. Reach out to hwilde@hezziemae.com to book Heather for your next event.