Wake Women

Women in History for America's 250 with Laura Elliott '79

Pop in your earbuds for a special America' s 250th episode featuring historical fiction writer Laura Elliott ‘79! Do you ever wonder what historical events looked like through a woman’s eyes? It might be a completely different story than what you learned in school. Laura Elliott, who writes under the pen name LM Elliott, is an award-winning, bestselling author of historical fiction for a young adult audience. She’s written 14 novels set throughout various times in history–many of them with female protagonists. I’ve always been fascinated by how women’s stories are often tucked away, especially in moments of great change. Women in history weren’t just passive bystanders—they were actively shaping events, often without recognition. Whether it’s Peggy Schuyler’s quick wit and brilliance during the American Revolution, or a young congressional page caught up in the intrigue of Watergate, women have always influenced history in a powerful way. If you’re interested in history, writing, and truth telling, you’ll enjoy this conversation.  L. M. Elliott [http://www.lmelliott.com/] was a senior writer for the Washingtonian magazine for 20 years before becoming a New York Times bestselling author of historical and biographical novels. Three-time finalist for the National Magazine Award and winner of multiple Dateline Awards, Elliott focused primarily on covering women's issues, health, and the performing arts. Her extensive reporting experience in the Nation's Capital and love of in-depth research inform and enrich her topics, themes, and characters, particularly her latest Cold War docu-novel, TRUTH, LIES, AND THE QUESTIONS IN BETWEEN [https://www.lmelliott.com/book_landing_page_historical/truth-lies-and-questions-between], set in 1973 D.C., the year of Watergate and the battle for states' ratification of the ERA.  Her fourteen novels cover a wide variety of eras (the Cold War, WWII, the Great Depression, the American Revolution, and the Italian Renaissance) and are written for a variety of ages from young adult to adult. They have been honored with the Scott O'Dell, VLA Cardinal Cup, and Grateful American prizes for historical fiction; been named ALA Rise Feminist Book Project Picks, NCSS/CBC Notables, Bank St. College of Education Bests, Kirkus Bests, Library Guild Gold Selections, and finalists for ten state readers awards.

Business For Good with Catherine Mitchell Jaxon ‘98 and Hope Skouras ‘12

Catherine Mitchell Jackson '98 and Hope Skouras '12, are two Wake Women who saw a problem and created a product to solve it: not for not only their families, but for countless others across the country. Catherine and Hope both started at Wake Forest ready to begin careers in journalism, but along the way discovered their contributions to the greater good would be delivered in a different way. In this episode, they share their inspiring journeys from campus to successful product launches–for Catherine Mitchell Jaxon, it’s Mission Mighty Me, a product designed to introduce peanuts early in a child’s life and for Hope Skouras, it’s “The Whole Hope,” a company that develops Lemon Swirl, a product that Hope discovered along her own health journey. In this episode, Catherine and Hope will discuss overcoming challenges, scaling their businesses, and the social impact behind their innovative products for children with allergies and health-conscious consumers. Mission Might Me [https://missionmightyme.com/] The Whole Hope [https://thewholehope.com/?country=US&shop_sign_in=true]

Wedding Traditions, Trends, and Tips with Amy Shack Egan ‘14, Jeanne Sommer ‘83, Becca Atchison ‘03

Weddings can be one of the most joyous yet stressful events in a couple's life. With so many details to consider—from choosing the right venue to managing guest lists—it's no wonder many find themselves overwhelmed. Add to that the pressure of creating viral social media moments, and it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters: celebrating love. In this episode, you’ll hear from three Wake Women wedding professionals who will share how to simplify the process and focus on what truly counts. Let’s break down a few barriers and make planning a wedding a joyful experience rather than a stressful one!  The Rebel Wedding Planning Guide - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXYZ1234 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXYZ1234] Cheersy Platform - https://cheersy.com [https://cheersy.com/] Rebecca Rose Events - https://rebeccaroseevents.com Hidden River Events - https://www.hiddenriverevents.com/ [https://www.hiddenriverevents.com/]

On Death and Dying with Laurie Furr-Vancini '87, Becca Omlor MD '13, and Anne Smith '89

In a world where conversations about death are often avoided, understanding how to navigate this challenging transition can be daunting. This discomfort often stems from societal norms that discourage open discussions about mortality. On this episode, we dive into the insights of people who understand the importance of addressing death openly and honestly–Laurie Furr-Vancini '89 is a retired minister and is now trained as a death doula (we’ll talk about what that even is) and Becca Omlor MD '13 is a hospice coctor who has dedicated her career to helping families through the dying process. And Anne Smith '89 joins the conversation as a family member whose mother recently passed. In this conversation, we’ discuss the role of hospice in end of life care, the value a death doula can bring to the process, and how to navigate the tensions that can arise between family members, caregivers and healthcare professionals. This episode will give you actionable strategies to engage in meaningful conversations about mortality, ensuring you feel empowered and informed as you face transitional times for your loved ones.  Resources:  Nothing to Fear: Demystifying Death to Live More Fully by Julie McFadden, RN https://www.hospicenursejulie.com/book [https://www.hospicenursejulie.com/book] Being with Dying Cultivating Compassion and Fearlessness in the Presence of Death by Joan Halifax https://www.joanhalifax.org/publications [https://www.joanhalifax.org/publications] Being Mortal by Atul Gawande https://atulgawande.com/book/being-mortal/ [https://atulgawande.com/book/being-mortal/]

Pregnancy in the Workplace with Stephanie Kramer '04 and Kristen Bryant Smith '12

Navigating pregnancy while maintaining a career can be challenging. Expectant parents face unique obstacles, from managing workloads to ensuring a supportive work environment. As a human resource professional, Stephanie Kramer saw team members struggle to figure out how to balance their desire to excel in their careers while also growing a family. She drew on hundreds of conversations with working mothers, as well as her own experiences to write a book called “Carry Strong: An Empowered Approach to Navigating Pregnancy and Work.” Kristen, an accomplished marketing and branding professional, has recently had her second child, so it seemed like a good idea to bring these two Wake Women together for a  deep discussion on pregnancy at work, to explore the challenges, opportunities, and strategies for working mothers. If you know someone who is juggling career and pregnancy, this episode is for you.  Resources Carry Strong: An Empowered Approach to Navigating Pregnancy and Work - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXYZ1234 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXYZ1234]  LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/stephaniekramer LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/kristenbryantsmith