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28. BDSM, Burnout, Breathwork & Baddass Business With Sexologist | Choiwee Moon
She Walked Away From the “Perfect Life” to Reclaim Her TruthChoiwee Moon built the white picket fence dream - marriage, children, career, and all the boxes checked. But beneath the surface, she was unraveling. Choosing to leave it all behind meant being cast as the villain in other people’s stories, but it was the only way to finally discover her own.In this powerful conversation, Choiwee shares what it means to burn down the illusion of perfection, heal deep-rooted trauma, and reclaim pleasure, intuition, and embodied leadership as tools for life and business. This episode is raw, real, and full of wisdom for every woman who’s ever wondered: what if the life I built isn’t the life I’m meant to live?In This Episode We Discuss:00:00 - Episode Trailer01:00 - Becoming the “villain” to save herself06:00 - Cracks in the perfect life and walking into the unknown12:00 - Surviving judgment, shame, and motherhood through upheaval18:00 - Discovering somatic practices and energy work24:00 - Nervous system regulation as the missing link in personal growth30:00 - Releasing shame around sexuality and feminine power36:00 - Pleasure as a pathway to manifestation and abundance42:00 - Redefining intimacy, self-trust, and conscious relationships48:00 - Why honoring your body is the ultimate business strategy54:00 - Final reflections: self-worth, sustainability, and liberationEpisode Resources:Guest Website: https://www.mamachowholistichealing.com/Guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamachowwellnessGuest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChoiweeGuest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/choiwee-moonFollow Us On:Apple Podcast: The Powerhouse DiariesSpotify: The Powerhouse DiariesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_powerhouse_alliance/
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27. The Navy SEAL of HR: The Female Founder Who Burned It All Down to Build the Future of Work Culture! - Lisa Oakley
She Burned Her Business to the Ground, Then Built One That Finally Worked for Her LifeIn this episode, I sit down with Lisa Oakley founder of People Associates, HR consultant, mediator, and unapologetic truth-teller whose story is equal parts survival and reinvention. From postpartum collapse, single motherhood, and rebuilding her life after betrayal, to navigating the darkest HR cases no one else wants to touch, Lisa’s journey is one of resilience, clarity, and choosing to design business and motherhood on her own terms.We dive deep into the reality of what it takes to scale a people-focused business, the toxic myths around “doing it all,” and the radical honesty required to build company culture that actually works. Lisa doesn’t sugarcoat the hard stuff and that’s exactly why this conversation is essential for every woman founder.In This Episode We Discuss:00:00 - Episode Trailer02:00 - Postpartum collapse, IVF struggles, and rebuilding after betrayal05:30 - Learning resilience: from faith to finding her superpower07:20 - Burning her business to the ground and starting again10:00 - Building People Associates and scaling with quality over quantity13:30 - Failing forward: mistakes, client chemistry, and letting go of control15:00 - The Navy Seals of HR: sexual harassment and workplace crises18:00 - Power imbalances, ethics, and the role of a mediator22:00 - How to build skin like a rhino (without losing compassion)25:00 - Motherhood, guilt, and rejecting outdated gender expectations28:00 - Outsourcing, SOPs for life, and prioritizing what actually matters30:00 - The HR myths founders get wrong33:00 - Breaking down culture: inputs, outputs, and the leadership lever36:00 - The biggest culture killers in any business38:00 - Toxic employees, feedback cultures, and why avoidance destroys teams41:00 - Practical models for feedback and conflict resolutionEpisode Resources:Guest Website: https://peopleassociates.nz/Guest Instagram (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/lisamareeoakley/Guest Instagram (People Associates): https://www.instagram.com/peopleassociates.nz/Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamareeoakley/Follow Us On:Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-powerhouse-diaries/id1791081472Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ExGnkttIzhK8NMjyWLINw?si=184cc0b3c89d440fInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_powerhouse_alliance/Host Website: https://www.drdanielkirkbride.com/
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26. Female Founders NEED To Know This Before Raising Capital! - Anna Guenther
She Built New Zealand’s First Crowdfunding Platform And Changed the Game for FoundersIn this episode of The Powerhouse Diaries, Yaela Raber sits down with Anna Guenther, co-founder of PledgeMe, New Zealand’s first crowdfunding platform, to explore the radical shifts happening in how entrepreneurs raise money, find community, and scale their vision.From writing a master’s thesis on crowdfunding to building a platform that has helped thousands of founders, artists, and innovators raise millions, Anna shares the highs, lows, and pivotal lessons she’s learned along the way.This is a conversation about resilience, equity, and rewriting the rules of funding especially for women founders who have traditionally been shut out of investment opportunities. Anna also opens up about solo motherhood, building a business with heart, and why inviting people into your journey is the key to success.In This Episode We Discuss:00:00 - Episode Trailer04:08 - The master’s thesis that sparked a movement05:33 - Building PledgeMe and the first million raised07:26 - When your payment provider declares crowdfunding “illegal”09:00 - How transparency built trust in the early days11:57 - From rewards-based crowdfunding to equity investment13:43 - Why funding feels overwhelming and how to simplify it15:12 - The gender gap in venture capital18:33 - How women are raising through crowdfunding19:57 - The power of asking for help21:10 - Outsourcing your knowing vs. trusting your gut22:29 - Solo motherhood and recalibrating priorities24:17 - Building community and friendships through business25:39 - The proudest legacy of PledgeMe27:14 - Success stories: from kitchen table to global exit29:17 - Why now is still a great time to invest30:30 - Crowdfunding as the modern co-op model31:00 - Becoming a solo parent by choice33:25 - “Women can do anything, but not everything”37:25 - The $2M campaign that broke the platform39:25 - Reframing asking for money as inviting people inEpisode Resources:Guest Website: https://linktr.ee/pledgemeGuest Instagram (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/whereisannaGuest Instagram (PledgeMe): https://www.instagram.com/pledgemeGuest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaguentherFollow Us On:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_powerhouse_alliance/Website: https://www.drdanielkirkbride.com/
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25. Perimenopause Rebellion: Why 40+ Women Are Done Playing by Everyone Else's Rules - Niki Bezzant
She Took On Menopause Myths And Changed the Conversation for Women EverywhereIn this episode, I sit down with Niki Bezzant award-winning writer, speaker, and women’s health advocate whose work is transforming the way we talk about menopause and midlife. After decades in journalism, Niki found herself frustrated by the silence, stigma, and misinformation surrounding this crucial stage in a woman’s life. So she decided to change it.We dive into her personal and professional journey: from building one of New Zealand’s most respected health and food publications to researching and writing the groundbreaking book This Changes Everything: The Honest Guide to Menopause and Perimenopause. Niki opens up about the science, the stories, and the systemic issues that keep women in the dark—and what needs to change.This conversation is essential listening for women navigating perimenopause or menopause, and for anyone who loves, works with, or leads them. It’s practical, myth-busting, and packed with real-life advice for reclaiming this life stage as a time of power and possibility.00:00 - The Perimenopause Rebellion01:20 - Why menopause needs a PR makeover04:10 - How Niki’s journalism career led her to women’s health advocacy07:45 - Breaking the taboo: the lack of menopause education11:15 - Perimenopause symptoms women aren’t told about15:00 - The role of hormones in mental health at midlife19:40 - Workplace culture and the menopause gap23:50 - Why we need a new narrative for midlife women28:00 - The research behind This Changes Everything33:15 - Hormone therapy: separating fact from fear37:20 - How to advocate for yourself in the healthcare system41:50 - Building a supportive menopause community46:00 - Niki’s advice to women stepping into this new chapterGuest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikibezzant/Guest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikibezzant/Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikibezzant/Guest Twitter/X: https://x.com/nikibezzantInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_powerhouse_alliance/
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24. Why Women’s Voices Are Critical in Shaping AI’s Future | Amanda Jeffs
She Left Corporate To Teach Women AI And Discovered It Was Never About the TechIn this episode, I sit down with Amanda Jeffs founder of SheisAI and a fierce advocate for women stepping into the AI revolution with confidence and creativity. From navigating a career in corporate leadership to building a platform that demystifies artificial intelligence for women entrepreneurs, Amanda’s journey is proof that the most powerful transformations often begin with a leap into the unknown.We dive deep into how she went from working in male-dominated industries to creating a global learning community, why women can’t afford to sit out the AI conversation, and how embracing tech can also mean reclaiming your voice, your authority, and your place at the table.This conversation is both a practical roadmap for women wanting to integrate AI into their businesses and a powerful reminder that your value is never just in what you know but in how you use it.In This Episode We Discuss:Episode Resources:00:00 Episode Trailer01:30 Amanda’s leap from corporate to AI entrepreneurship04:20 The gender gap in AI and why it matters now more than ever08:15 Demystifying AI for non-tech women11:45 How fear of technology holds women back in business15:00 Practical AI tools to save time, money, and energy20:10 Why mindset is just as important as skillset in tech adoption24:40 Building SheisAI into a global learning platform29:00 Stories of women transforming their businesses with AI33:50 The biggest myths about AI (and the truth behind them)38:20 The intersection of creativity, confidence, and technology42:00 Amanda’s advice to women ready to embrace AI nowFollow Us On:Guest LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandajeffs/Guest Instgram:https://www.instagram.com/amandajeffsnz/?hl=enGuest Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/sheisaiofficialHost Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-powerhouse-diaries/id1791081472Host Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_powerhouse_alliance/
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