Archives: Episode

Leokadia George & Trumpet the Wolf Pup
What if the stories we tell about wolves shape whether we want to protect them? Leokadia George never planned to become an author. But while volunteering at New York’s Wolf Conservation Center, she learned about Trumpet, a critically endangered Mexican gray wolf whose unexpected birth earned her the nickname “the miracle wolf pup.” Leokadia knew her story deserved to be told.

In this episode of Revolutionary Woman, host Tes Silverman talks with Leokadia about her children’s book series, challenging the “big bad wolf” narrative, and helping children understand wildlife conservation. She also shares how telling Trumpet’s story pushed her beyond her comfort zone—from working quietly behind the scenes to speaking in schools and libraries. Join us for a conversation about finding confidence, following an unexpected creative path, and inspiring children to see wolves differently.

Leokadia George started volunteering at the Wolf Conservation Center in 2016 where she was introduced to the world of wolf conservation. She also became inspired by one particular Mexican Gray Wolf nicknamed Trumpet, and is honored to be able to share her story.

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Learn more:

🐺 Wolf Conservation Center: https://nywolf.org

📚 Follow Leokadia’s books on Instagram: @trumpetwolfbooks

🎙️ More Revolutionary Woman episodes: https://revwoman.com

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This episode used the following music: Time to Shine by tubebackr & Popsicles https://soundcloud.com/tubebackr https://soundcloud.com/popsiclesmusic Creative Commons — Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported — CC BY-ND 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/tubebackr-and-popsicles/time-to-shine Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/Cvbjhx6X4ZY

#RevolutionaryWoman #WolfConservation #LeokadiaGeorge #MexicanGrayWolf #ChildrensBooks

What does protecting endangered mountain gorillas have to do with caring for people? For Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, the two are deeply connected.

In this episode of Revolutionary Woman, Uganda’s first wildlife veterinarian joins Tes Silverman to share how her work with gorillas led her to found Conservation Through Public Health. They discuss wildlife conservation, community health, and the One Health approach—and what it takes to follow your calling when others doubt you.

Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka is Founder and CEO of Conservation Through Public  Health, a Ugandan NGO and US registered non-profit, established in 2003. After completing a Bachelor in Veterinary Medicine from Royal Veterinary College,  University of London in 1995 she became Uganda Wildlife Authority’s first  veterinary officer. In 2003 she completed a Master in Specialized Veterinary  Medicine and Zoological Medicine Residency at North Carolina State University  and North Carolina Zoological Park, and a certificate in non-profit management at  Duke University. CTPH established Gorilla Conservation Coffee in 2015 to  support smallholder farmers bordering habitats with gorillas. CTPH won the 2012  Global Development Network Japanese Most Innovative Development Project  Award and 2020 Saint Andrews Prize for the Environment.  

Dr Gladys is an Ashoka Fellow, National Geographic Explorer, and winner of the  Whitley Gold Award, Sierra Club Earthcare Award, UNEP Champion of the Earth  Award in Science and Innovation, Uganda Veterinary Association World  Veterinary Day Award, Edinburgh Medal, Tallberg-SNF-Elliasson global  leadership prize and Indianapolis Prize. She served on the WHO SAGO – Scientific  Advisory Group for the Origin of Novel Pathogens, and International Livestock  Research Institute (ILRI) One Health Research, Education, and Outreach  (OHRECA) advisory committee. She is a Patron of Population Matters. She was  named to the BBC 100 Women list in 2023, and her work was featured on CNN’s  Call to Earth in 2025 and BBC’s People Fixing the World in 2026. She was also  named among the 2026 CNN Heroes. She is an author of “Walking with Gorillas:  The Journey of an African Wildlife Vet”, her memoir and charter, and over 60  papers.

In this episode, Vijaya Chakravarty shares how her work evolved from designing beautiful but “sterile” landscapes to creating spaces that support biodiversity, learning, and human well-being. She reflects on the influence of her family, the lessons she has learned from nature, and the books, podcast, and community projects shaping what she calls her “second innings.” Vijaya also offers a powerful reminder that growing older does not make us less useful—it gives us knowledge and experience worth sharing with the generations that follow.

Vijaya Chakravarty is an ecologist, landscape designer, educator, and author moving between Mumbai and Pune, India. Her life’s work sits at the exact intersection her venture is named for. Through Venture Well-Being “For the Planet, For the People”, she has spent decades proving that caring for green spaces and caring for communities are never two separate jobs.

For the Planet: Vijaya has designed and developed several eco-friendly landscapes for corporates, educational and Not for profits. She is one of the several stewards for IWSA’s Learning Garden at Vashi, Navi Mumbai and of Aditi Garden, a 25-acre urban green space in Magarpatta City  not. These are not  gardens she visits, but landscapes she showcases as  living classrooms for multi-disciplinary learning and well-being of the people and the planet.

Her ecological interests run deep and specific: urban biodiversity, wetlands, mangroves, and the quiet resilience of indigenous flora. She’s a founder member of the Magarpatta Environment Club and a member of the National Society of Friends of Trees,  institutional homes for a conservation ethic she also lives out on the page, most recently in For the Love of Trees: Science & Emotions, co-authored and launched at Empress Garden, Pune this past July, featuring a travelling tusker character named Gajanan who carries science  and emotions to readers through story.

For the People: Vijaya’s ecology has never stopped at the soil line. Her work reaches into schools and communities through nature education programs, CSR partnerships, and public writing that makes conservation feel personal rather than prescriptive. As a member of Bombay Natural History society, Indian Women Scientists’ Association, National Society for Friends of trees, Indian Women Graduates Union  and Aarambh, she’s part of a network of women actively reshaping who gets to speak with authority in science and land stewardship. Her writing voice is warm, witty, self-deprecating, threading etymology and mythology through botany, is itself a form of “for the people” work: it makes ecological knowledge feel like inheritance, not instruction.

Where the two meet: What distinguishes Vijaya’s practice is that she treats indigenous knowledge as something to be verified and consented to, not simply extracted for a good story. This discipline shows in projects like her exploration of folk and tribal art forms (Gond, Warli, Kalamkari, Madhubani, Pithora) and her intergenerational education work. Vijaya organises Nature-Folk Art workshops with several experts.

Vijaya is currently in what she calls her “second innings”,  a phase she describes as centered on purpose and meaningful contribution, built on a model that blends publishers, sponsors, CSR partners, and honorariums, allowing the work to stay rooted in both ecological integrity and community reach rather than either alone.

Vijaya offers a garden, a book, and a classroom, different vessels, same instinct. The well-being of the land and the well-being of its people were never meant to be told as separate stories.

. If this conversation resonates with you, you may also enjoy our episode with Dr. Lalitha Dhareshwar – Scientist; President of IWSA (Indian Women Scientists’ Association) as mentioned in this episode.

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This episode used the following music: Time to Shine by tubebackr & Popsicles https://soundcloud.com/tubebackr https://soundcloud.com/popsiclesmusic Creative Commons — Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported — CC BY-ND 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/tubebackr-and-popsicles/time-to-shine Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/Cvbjhx6X4ZY

Season 10 Ep 10- Healing One Child Can Change Generations | Shonnery Pettit

What happens when healing one child has the power to change generations? Shonnery Pettit, Past President of the Board of Directors for the Center for Child Protection, joins Tes Silverman to share how a childhood lesson in kindness grew into decades of child advocacy and community service. From protecting children experiencing abuse to helping families heal and break generational cycles, Shonnery shows how compassion put into action can create an impact far beyond one life.

Shonnery Pettit doesn’t just live in a community; she builds, protects, and champions it. Driven by a single, powerful question—“What is in the best interest of the community we live in?”—Shonnery has spent decades turning empathy into massive, measurable impact.

As the Immediate Past President of the Board of Directors for the Center for Child Protection, Shonnery’s decade-long dedication has been nothing short of historic. Under her fierce leadership, the Center raised a record-breaking $97 million and walked alongside over 14,000 children through their darkest hours. Her passion for service ignited years ago in Dallas, where she founded the Ignite Running Club, a nonprofit serving children living in a homeless shelter.

Today, her philanthropic footprint is woven into the very fabric of Texas. Shonnery is a Founding Board member for the Round Top Film Festival—where she works to inspire and educate the next generation of cinematic storytellers—and serves on the Advisory Board of Foster Village. You can also find her driving success on the gala committees for the Andy Roddick Foundation, MJ&M (Mack, Jack & McConaughey) Fashion Show, and The Trail Conservancy, alongside past work with the Texas Advocacy Project, United Way, and Austin City Limits/PBS.

A Texas Business Hall of Fame Scholar with an MBA from Texas Tech University, Shonnery is as sharp in the boardroom as she is engaging on stage. A passionate public speaker, she recently had the honor of delivering the 2024 Commencement address for Chaparral Star Academy.

And if you think she only moves fast in the nonprofit world, guess again. Shonnery was a Celebrity Dancer for the 2015 Dancing with the Stars Austin and loves spending her free time kickboxing, traveling, and studying French and Spanish. She has been happily married to her husband, Tom, for 26 years, and is the proud mom of two grown sons: Blake, who excels at Accenture, and Brett, a Vanderbilt graduate working as a financial wealth manager at Baird.

“What I loved most about being the President of the Board at the Center for Child Protection is working with an incredible group of talented and selfless people that truly exceed all expectations and make a difference in little lives. “ – Shonnery Pettit

To learn more about Shonnery Pettit and the Center for Child Protection:

Facebook for the Center for Child Protection: https://www.facebook.com/Center4CP?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=ObJSfJbxGrQeua7S&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1BaEAvCSQG%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr#

IG for Round Top Film Festival:

https://www.instagram.com/roundtopfilmfestival

IG for The Trail Conservancy:

https://www.instagram.com/thetrailconservancy

IG for Mack, Jack & McConaughey:

https://www.instagram.com/mackjackmcconaughey

For another powerful conversation about protecting children and breaking cycles of abuse, listen to Tes’s conversation with Misty Griffin, author of Tears of the Silenced. https://revwoman.com/podcast/misty-griffin-author-of-tears-of-the-silenced/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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This episode used the following music: Time to Shine by tubebackr & Popsicles https://soundcloud.com/tubebackr https://soundcloud.com/popsiclesmusic Creative Commons — Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported — CC BY-ND 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/tubebackr-and-popsicles/time-to-shine Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/Cvbjhx6X4ZY

Season 10 Ep 9: Maimah Karmo- Dismissed by Doctors: Turning a Breast Cancer Diagnosis into a Movement

What if you know something is wrong, but the doctors tell you you’re fine?

When Maimah Karmo discovered a lump at just 32 years old, she refused to ignore what her body was telling her, even after being told she didn’t fit the profile for breast cancer.

In this conversation, she reflects on being dismissed, how being a young Black woman shaped her experience, and why that diagnosis became the catalyst for a lifelong mission to help other women find their voices in their own healthcare.

Together, Tes and Maimah discuss trusting your instincts, the realities of healthcare disparities, and why asking questions can be just as important as finding answers. It’s a conversation about resilience, purpose, and refusing to accept “you’re fine” when you know something isn’t right.

On February 28, 2006, at 4:45 p.m., Maimah was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. She had no family history and was 32-years old. While undergoing her second round of chemotherapy, she made a promise to God that if she survived, she would create an organization to educate, empower, advocate for and support young women affected by breast cancer. After her second treatment, Tigerlily Foundation was born.

Tigerlily provides breast health, educational, empowerment wellness and transformational programs to young women, and works to end disparities of age, stage and color. A first-generation immigrant from Liberia, who has experienced disparities first-hand, she is a leader in the women’s health field, creating and implementing national health initiatives for women and girls, with a goal of eliminating disparities of age, stage and color.

Under Maimah’s leadership, Tigerlily Foundation has launched national and global health initiatives focused on ending disparities, through the #InclusionPledge, partnering with global stakeholders, with a call to action to recognize health disparities as a social justice issue; and working to end disparities for black women in our lifetime. In 2010, Maimah published Fearless: Awakening to my Life’s Purpose Through Breast Cancer. In 2018, she published the “Badass Girl’s Book of Prayers”. She recently published Divine Downloads: Transforming through Trauma, followed by Unicorn Boss, in June 2020.

Most dear to her heart is her 20-year old daughter, Noelle. Noelle and Maimah dote on their Morkies, Honey and Sugar
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This episode used the following music: Time to Shine by tubebackr & Popsicles https://soundcloud.com/tubebackr https://soundcloud.com/popsiclesmusic Creative Commons — Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported — CC BY-ND 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/tubebackr-and-popsicles/time-to-shine Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/Cvbjhx6X4ZY

Season 10 Ep 8: Finding Your Voice & Self-Confidence | Sally Lou Loveman

Finding your voice isn’t about becoming fearless. It’s about learning to trust yourself.

In this episode of RevWoman, Tes Silverman talks with Sally Lou Loveman about finding your voice, building self-confidence, discovering your purpose, and letting go of the need for everyone’s approval. Together, they explore why so many women wait to feel confident before speaking up, changing direction, or pursuing what truly matters.

Sally Lou shares how one unexpected experience changed the course of her life, why she believes we’re often more afraid of being seen than speaking, and how discovering what lights you up can lead to lasting confidence and a stronger sense of purpose.

If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt, people-pleasing, fear of rejection, or wondering how to find your voice, this conversation offers thoughtful insights to help you trust yourself and move forward with greater confidence.

Sally Lou Loveman is a first-time children’s picture book author with her new book, Livy Lou Lovely Loves to Speak, based on her own story of finding her inner voice and the confidence to speak up at a young age. As the audience producer for The Oprah Show and founder of lovespeaks, Sally Lou has entertained over half a million people from The Oprah Show stage as well as her lovespeaks platform. Today, Sally Lou coaches clients to speak without fear by connecting them to their power through exploring their story.

Sally Lou knows all too well what it feels like to be young and scared to speak. She hopes her message will inspire young readers to listen to their inner voice so they can speak up and pursue their passion. Sally Lou is also the author of SPEAK: Love Your Story, Your Audience Is Waiting, a teaching memoir that offers speaker tips to adult readers.

To learn more about Sally Lou Loveman and her book, Livy Lou Lovely Love to Speak:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovespeaksmethod/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelovespeaksmethod

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu7DYWnkhvxD-IU8MeeD4fg

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Sally has been on RevWoman before. You can find her first episode on the RevWoman Podcast page https://revwoman.com/

Or by direct link here: https://revwoman.com/podcast/sally-lou-loveman-ceo-founder-of-lovespeaks/

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This episode used the following music:

Time to Shine by tubebackr & Popsicles

https://soundcloud.com/tubebackr

https://soundcloud.com/popsiclesmusic

Creative Commons — Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported — CC BY-ND 3.0

Free Download / Stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/tubebackr-and-popsicles/time-to-shine

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/Cvbjhx6X4ZY

Sara Hirsh Bordo is a 15-time award-winning filmmaker and Founder/CEO of Women Rising®, named “One of the Most Innovative, Interesting, and Purpose-Driven Women-Led Startups to Watch” by Inc. Magazine. 

She is currently directing short documentary films for Toyota and ESPN Women, and most recently executive producer of ConnectHer International Film Festival, consulting director for the Gates Foundation PitchFest Program, and the author and researcher behind the first proprietary quantitative survey at the intersection of female empowerment and health, Autoimmunity and the Good Girls™. 

Sara previously held positions in media and entertainment, including Executive Director of Interactive Marketing at Paramount Pictures, VP of Digital Marketing at MGM Studios, and CEO and Co-Founder of NowLive. 

Autoimmunity and the Good Girls: How Permission to Put Ourselves First Has the Power to Keep Us Well is her first book. 

To learn more about Sara Hirsh Bordo:

Instagram: @sarahirshbordo

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This episode used the following music:

Time to Shine by tubebackr & Popsicles

https://soundcloud.com/tubebackr

https://soundcloud.com/popsiclesmusic

Creative Commons — Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported — CC BY-ND 3.0

Free Download / Stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/tubebackr-and-popsicles/time-to-shine

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/Cvbjhx6X4ZY

In this episode of Revolutionary Woman, Lorna Tallowin shares her experience navigating premature birth, neonatal intensive care, and the often-overlooked mental health challenges faced by NICU families. She discusses how her own journey as a NICU parent inspired her to create support for families of preemie babies while raising awareness about PTSD, anxiety, and emotional recovery after a neonatal stay.

Lorna Tallowin is the co-founder of SuperDinky, a UK-based brand creating thoughtfully designed clothing and meaningful products for premature and NICU families. 

The business was born from Lorna’s own experience as a mum, after her son arrived at just 31 weeks, and she saw first-hand how isolating and overwhelming neonatal care can be. With a background in both fashion and the charity sector, Lorna partnered with her friend — a neonatal nurse — to build SuperDinky into a mission-led business that supports families emotionally as well as practically. From preemie vests to NICU-proud clothing, SuperDinky exists to create moments of comfort and connection during an incredibly hard time.

Today, SuperDinky is also tackling the long-term impact of neonatal care. Around 40% of NICU families experience symptoms of PTSD, and in response, the SuperDinky Foundation has been established. The foundation will deliver projects focused on both the reduction of and the treatment of PTSD in both creative and evidence-based ways. Through this work, Lorna is mobilising people who have been affected by PTSD to be part of the solution and to show that business can be a force for good. 

To learn more about Lorna Tallowin and SuperDinky:

Website: https://superdinky.co.uk/

Email: lorna@superdinky.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorna.tallowin/

Award-winning communication coach, corporate trainer, and financial educator Victoria Ferrer

joins Tes of Revolutionary Woman to discuss confidence, public speaking, executive presence,

cultural intelligence, financial education, and women in leadership. Victoria shares how personal

experiences shaped her passion for helping people communicate with impact, build financial

security, and lead with purpose.

Maria Victoria “Vicky” Ferrer is an award-winning Corporate Trainer and Communication

Coach who empowers adults and teens to rise with confidence, clarity, and cultural

intelligence. With a career spanning continents, she transforms how people speak, lead, and

perform by blending behavioral science, improvisation, executive presence training, and

deep global insight. A four-time Distinguished Toastmaster and recipient of Toastmasters

International’s prestigious 2022 President’s Citation Award, Vicky leads with both vision

and heart.

Having lived in the Middle East for more than two decades, she served as a training

consultant to five American university branch campuses—Georgetown University, Texas

A&M, Carnegie Mellon, Weill Cornell, and Virginia Commonwealth University—where she

designed and delivered programs in leadership communication, intercultural competence,

professional presence, classroom facilitation, and high-stakes presentations.

Across corporate and academic environments, Vicky has trained business owners, senior

leaders, managers, women professionals, and emerging talent in executive communication,

persuasive storytelling, negotiation presence, crisis communication, team dynamics,

emotional intelligence, stakeholder engagement, and speaking with authority under

pressure. She is known for helping high performers articulate ideas with impact, navigate

multicultural workplaces, influence decision-makers, and step confidently into visible

leadership roles.

Through powerful training, mentorship, and advocacy for lifelong learning, she champions

the belief that every voice deserves to be heard and every individual has the capacity to lead

with purpose. Vicky isn’t just building speakers or leaders—she’s building changemakers.

To learn more about Victoria Ferrer:

Website: https://victoriaferrerllc.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriamferrer/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vmferrer/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vferrerbdbamboo

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This episode used the following music:

Time to Shine by tubebackr & Popsicles

https://soundcloud.com/tubebackr

https://soundcloud.com/popsiclesmusic

Creative Commons — Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported — CC BY-ND 3.0

Free Download / Stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/tubebackr-and-popsicles/time-to-shine

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/Cvbjhx6X4ZY

Dawn D. Boyer, Ph.D. completed her Doctor of Philosophy in Education (Occupational & Technical Studies, with a concentration in Training & Development in Human Resources) from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, in 2013. She has been an entrepreneur and business owner for 25+ years, currently in her consulting firm, D.Boyer Consulting, serving Virginia Beach, …

Season 10 Ep 4: Dawn Boyer- PhD, Owner, Dawn Boyer Consulting Read More »

She was just 3 years old… pretending to be asleep in the back of a car during a tense border crossing.

In this episode of the Revolutionary Woman Podcast, Tes Silverman sits down with Gordana Angelic Davila, co-owner of Redbud Café, to share a story shaped by escape, resilience, and starting over.

Born in the former Yugoslavia, Gordana’s family fled political pressure and uncertainty, moving through Italy before building a new life in the United States. From language barriers and life-or-death moments as a child interpreter… to becoming a writer, editor, and eventually a café owner known for creating a true sense of community—her story is anything but ordinary.

Inside this episode, you’ll hear:
• What it was like growing up between countries and cultures
• The quiet pressure of “just keep going” and how it shaped her life
• The challenges of starting a small business from the ground up
• Why creating a space of belonging became her mission
• The mindset that carried her from survival to success

Gordana’s journey is a powerful reminder that even the hardest beginnings can lead to something meaningful.
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Gordana Andjelic-Davila is the co-owner of The Red Bud Cafe, a cozy and creative space known for its soulful atmosphere and signature crêpes.

She previously worked as a writer and editor in Australia and has a background in creative services spanning New York, San Francisco, and Melbourne. Born in the former Yugoslavia, Gordana’s family left due to political circumstances, first settling in Italy before eventually making the United States their permanent home.

Her journey deeply informs her love of community, storytelling, and creating spaces where people feel a sense of belonging.

To learn more about Gordana Anjelic-Davila and The Red Bud Cafe:
Website: https://theredbud.cafe/
Twitter: https://x.com/bud_cafe
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redbudcafedaytona/#
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redbudcafe
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@redbudcafe_daytona?_r=1&_t=ZT-94wQdCXwQ8s
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This episode used the following music:

Time to Shine by tubebackr & Popsicles

https://soundcloud.com/tubebackr

https://soundcloud.com/popsiclesmusic

Creative Commons — Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported — CC BY-ND 3.0

Free Download / Stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/tubebackr-and-popsicles/time-to-shine

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/Cvbjhx6X4ZY

In this episode of Revolutionary Women, Tes speaks with Deepa Ananthapadmanabhan, CEO and co-founder of the Susterra Foundation, about climate change, mental health, and community impact.

They discuss how climate change affects daily life, the importance of local solutions, and why mentorship is key to building stronger, more resilient communities.

Deepa Ananthapadmanabhan has been involved in the development sector for over a decade. She is the CEO and co-founder of Sustera Foundation (an NPO working in the space of climate change and sustainable development). 

Her main focus is on creating resilient communities through the engagement of youth and women via capacity building, community projects and climate literacy. 

Being a parent,teacher, traveler and planet lover has shown her the importance of being empathetic, resourceful, dynamic and collaborative to create networks for impactful work.

To learn more about Deepa Ananthapadmanabhan and Sustera Foundation:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/aquadeepa4?igsh=bm9sZDF2ZDNjeDJx

IG: https://www.instagram.com/sustera_org?igsh=dzNhMm16bjI4YjRv

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sustera-foundation/posts/

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This episode used the following music:

Time to Shine by tubebackr & Popsicles

https://soundcloud.com/tubebackr

https://soundcloud.com/popsiclesmusic

Creative Commons — Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported — CC BY-ND 3.0

Free Download / Stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/tubebackr-and-popsicles/time-to-shine

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/Cvbjhx6X4ZY

What does it really look like to lead a company, raise a family, and build something meaningful at the same time?

In this episode of Revolutionary Women, Tes Silverman sits down with Brandy Thompson, CEO and Founder of BenefitBay, for an honest conversation about leadership, motherhood, and taking a path that doesn’t always look traditional.

Brandy shares how she moved from finance and HR into the CEO role, and how her experience as a mother of six shaped the way she leads. She talks about building a company rooted in empathy, creating space for real-life responsibilities, and why understanding people matters just as much as performance in today’s workplace.

You’ll also hear how BenefitBay is helping reshape employee health benefits through ICHRA (Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements), giving both employers and employees more flexibility and choice.

This episode is for women in leadership, working moms, entrepreneurs, and anyone figuring out their next step while juggling real life.

One of the most meaningful takeaways from this conversation:
“You don’t have to have followed the yellow brick road to get to where you are.”

Brandy Thompson is the CEO and Founder of benefitbay®, a Kansas City based health benefits

technology company focused on modernizing how employers deliver coverage through ICHRAs.

She is a mother of six and has built her company with an intentionally people-first approach,

including hiring frontline team members with backgrounds in education and healthcare to deliver

a more empathetic enrollment experience.

Brandy’s leadership story is rooted in values-based decision-making, building at a sustainable

pace, and designing a workplace that supports real life responsibilities, especially for working

parents.

To learn more about Brandy Thompson:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandy-thompson-24389536/

To learn more about benefitbay:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/benefitbay

In this episode of Revolutionary Woman, Tes Silverman sits down with Nikki Padilla Rivera, co-founder of She Shapes History NYC, to explore women’s history, storytelling, and the hidden contributions of women in New York City. With a background in travel, tourism, and brand marketing, Nikki shares how her work is helping uncover overlooked female leaders and reshape how we understand history. This conversation highlights women’s impact, cultural storytelling, and the growing movement to recognize the voices and achievements of women who have long been left out.

Nikki Padilla Rivera is co-owner of She Shapes History NYC which shares the hidden history of women who built NYC.  By day she’s a brand marketer and lives with her two small kids in Queens, NYC.  Instagram is her social media of choice and she could eat Vietnamese food every day if given the option.

To learn more about Nikki Padilla Rivera and She Shapes History:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikkiblp/?hl=en

Website: ​​https://sheshapeshistory.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/sheshapeshistorynyc/?hl=en

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This episode used the following music:

Time to Shine by tubebackr & Popsicles

https://soundcloud.com/tubebackr

https://soundcloud.com/popsiclesmusic

Creative Commons — Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported — CC BY-ND 3.0

Free Download / Stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/tubebackr-and-popsicles/time-to-shine

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/Cvbjhx6X4ZY

In this episode of Revolutionary Women, host Tess Silverman speaks with Charlotte Kemmeren, a social work educator and researcher at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences whose work focuses on community building, social justice education, and inclusive learning environments. Charlotte works closely with students to create spaces where diverse voices can be heard, difficult topics can be explored, and meaningful dialogue can take place.

Growing up in the Netherlands, Charlotte became aware of inequality at a young age. That awareness later shaped her academic path in anthropology and urban geography and eventually led her to teaching and community-centered work in higher education.

In this conversation, Charlotte reflects on the importance of creating spaces where students can speak openly about identity, justice, and social change. She also shares insights from her work with the SESI Community Center, a student-led initiative that amplifies underrepresented perspectives and encourages dialogue around intersectionality and social impact.

Charlotte Kemmeren is a teacher in Social Work and a researcher at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. She is committed to fostering inclusive learning environments in which students and teachers can share diverse perspectives and engage in critical reflection. While she recognizes that a fully just society may be unattainable, she believes that education and communities that amplify multiple voices can create hope and meaningful opportunities. In her teaching, Charlotte addresses themes such as urban inequality and solidarity. Previously, she spent five years as project manager of the SESI Community Center, an intersectional platform for student engagement where students took the lead in developing programs that claimed institutional space for underexposed topics.

To learn more about Charlotte Kemmeren and SESI:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-kemmeren-6b7882106/

IG: @sesicommunitycenter

Key Topics in This Episode

• Community building and social justice education
• Inclusive learning environments in higher education
• Youth engagement and student leadership
• Creating space for underrepresented voices
• The role of educators in supporting diverse perspectives

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This episode used the following music:

Time to Shine by tubebackr & Popsicles

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In this episode of Revolutionary Women, Tess Silverman speaks with Starre Vartan about the science behind women’s strength, endurance, and long-term health. Drawing from research in exercise science, female physiology, and longevity studies, Starre explains how cultural assumptions have shaped what we believe about women’s bodies — and what the data actually shows. From bone density and strength training to the overlooked advantages of endurance and recovery, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on women’s health and physical capability.

Starre Vartan is the author of The Stronger Sex: What Science Tells Us About the Power of the Female Body, and a science and environment journalist who regularly contributes to National Geographic, CNN, Scientific American, and The Washington Post. A former geologist, she still picks up rocks wherever she goes, and she’s an avid wildswimmer, ecstatic dancer, weightlifter and trailrunner. A dual citizen of the US and Australia, she splits her time between the Pacific Northwest and the Illawarra coast of Australia south of Sydney. 

To learn more about Starre Vartan and her book, The Stronger Sex:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starrevartan/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurioushumana

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/starrevartan/

In this episode of Revolutionary Women, I speak with Kyla Reynolds P’an, Head of Development for Pangea Trust, a UK–Portugal charity building Europe’s first large-scale elephant sanctuary in Portugal’s Alentejo region.

Pangea Trust is creating a sanctuary for elephants currently living in captivity across Europe, offering a lifelong home designed for recovery, space, and social connection. We discuss what it takes to build an elephant sanctuary from the ground up, from fundraising and public awareness to infrastructure, international logistics, and preparing for the arrival of Kariba, the sanctuary’s first elephant, expected in 2026.

Beyond wildlife conservation, this conversation explores career evolution, living between cultures, and how seasons of work, including raising a family, shape the paths we take later. Kyla shares what it looks like to step into a new chapter with clarity and purpose.

If you’re interested in elephant conservation, nonprofit leadership, philanthropy in Europe, or stories of women creating change in their communities, this episode offers both depth and perspective.

Kyla Reynolds P’an is Head of Development for Pangea Trust, a UK/Portugal based charity building Europe’s largest and most comprehensive elephant sanctuary in the Alentejo region of Portugal. The sanctuary will serve as a compassionate solution for Europe’s zoos and circuses seeking a life-long home for their elephants. Kyla holds a Master’s in Journalism and is the mom of two teenagers. She has more than 20 years of front-line development experience under her belt, including the Smithsonian Institution, Boston University, Harvard Medical School and Mass Audubon.

To Learn More about Kyla Reynolds P’an:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyla-p-an-59b1131/

To learn more about Pangea Trust:

Home – Pangea Trust

(2) Pangea Trust: Posts | LinkedIn

(20+) Facebook

(7) Instagram

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Time to Shine by tubebackr & Popsicles

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https://soundcloud.com/popsiclesmusic

Creative Commons — Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported — CC BY-ND 3.0

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Teagan Vaughn is a Fundraising Officer at St. Paul’s Youth Forum in Glasgow, Scotland and a 2025 Time to Shine Leader with The Rank Foundation.  Teagan specialises in fundraising strategy, social media management, and welfare consultancy. Her work focuses on alleviating poverty and strengthening community resilience through initiatives that promote wellbeing and healthy living. She …

Season 9 Ep. 16: Teagan Vaughn, Fundraising Officer at St. Paul’s Youth Forum- Breaking the Cycle of Poverty Through Community Action Read More »

Mary Fusillo is a registered nurse and founder of Family Solutions International, with decades of experience in infertility care, egg donation, surrogacy, and third-party reproduction. Her work focuses on ethical fertility practices, patient advocacy, and helping families navigate complex reproductive decisions with clarity and care.

Mary M. Fusillo, RN, BSN, MS is the founder and CEO of Family Solutions International. Mary was introduced to the area of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility while facing her own challenge of having children.

As the Clinical Nursing Director of an Infertility clinic in Houston, she was instrumental in starting the Donor Egg program and recruiting their first donors. This program went from one donor in the Fall of 1999 to over 120 in 2004.

Moving to the greater Washington, D.C. area, Mary becomes the Clinical Infertility Nursing Director at one of the oldest and most prestigious infertility clinics in the United States. With over 200 cycles of donor egg per year, managing donors and recipients while introducing new recruitment methods was a challenge.

Recruited by one of the largest Pharmacy Benefit Management companies to run their Donor Egg pharmacy program, she traveled all over the country, consulting large and small clinics on issues that affect egg donation nationwide.

She is a member of the Nurses Professional Group of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, a former National Board Member of RESOLVE, Inc., as well as a member of ASRM and ESHRE. Her volunteer work in the field of infertility led her to found “Donor Moms, a network of support for mothers via egg donation”.

In 2007 Mary started The Donor Solution. On August 14, 2007, the website went live, and she started recruiting donors, and the company had its first match in October 2007. She started with only 19 donors but a short time later she had recruited 100’s of screened donors to meet a burgeoning need for alternatives to the small donor pools found in IVF clinics.  After feeling like The Donor Solution was doing well, Mary launched 3 Sisters Surrogacy in

2012, because she saw a need for people who needed both donor eggs and surrogacy. In 2018,Mary put The Donor Solution and 3 Sisters Surrogacy under the Family Solutions International umbrella as a bridge to the domestic and international community. In 2020, she started The Fertility Consultants with the mission to assist intended parents in navigating the challenges of 3rd Party reproduction and finally merged all the companies together under the FSI umbrella.

In the fall of 2019, Mary started a Ph.D. program in bioethics, over her 25+ years of infertility and 35 years in healthcare, she was constantly confronted with moral and ethical issues. Even now, a single embryo transfer is fraught with issues of people wanting twins. She decided to get her Ph.D. in bioethics because she wanted to understand the ethical aspects of this biological field deeper and felt there needed to be an ethicist who had a very deep background in infertility.

To learn more about Mary Fusillo and Family Solutions International:

Website: https://familysolutionsinternational.com/

@the_eggsplantion_pod

@thedonorsolution

@3sisterssurro

@familysolutionsinternational

@thefertilityconsultants

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Time to Shine by tubebackr & Popsicles

https://soundcloud.com/tubebackr

https://soundcloud.com/popsiclesmusic

Creative Commons — Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported — CC BY-ND 3.0

Free Download / Stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/tubebackr-and-popsicles/time-to-shine

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/Cvbjhx6X4ZY

Marilyn Cornelius is a behavior change specialist, coach, facilitator, speaker, author, and teacher.

She is the founder of Alchemus Prime, a multinational leadership and
wellness company. She integrates behavioral sciences, design thinking, biomimicry and meditation to support empowerment, change management, trauma healing, leadership development, and climate change resilience for diverse leaders.

Marilyn is the author of 48 popular books on topics such as self-love,
positivity, trauma, leadership, healthy eating, and meditation.

To learn more about Marilyn Cornelius:

Grace Robinson is a Java Champion and Product Manager at IBM, having been at IBM since graduating from University with a Degree in Biology. Grace enjoys bringing a varied perspective to her projects and using her knowledge of biological systems to simplify complex software patterns. Previously, as a developer advocate for 8 years, Grace built POC’s, demos, sample applications and tutorials. Now, as Product Manager for the dev experience of IBM’s Java portfolio, she’s combining her experience and passion for development with her MBA and leadership skills to help drive the strategy and future direction of IBM’s Java tools.

To learn more about Grace Robinson:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gljrobinson/