⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains a discussion about suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out to a loved one, call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or text TALK to 741-741 to text with a trained crisis counselor from the Crisis Text Line for free, 24/7. Please take care while listening and make sure you're in the right headspace. You are not alone.

We Can Do Hard Things. That's the message from eight women in business who share life advice on overcoming adversity in this milestone 300th episode panel. These women prove that you don't need to be superhuman—you just do what's necessary. Hear stories of cancer, incarceration, single parenthood, dementia caregiving, MS diagnosis, and mental health challenges from women over 40 who rebuilt their businesses and lives.

Christie Going navigates single parenthood while building a breast cancer recovery practice. Diana Dru Botsford lives with MS while maintaining her screenwriting career. Rachel Allen shares her husband's incarceration and creating community around taboo topics. Charlene Stewart balances dementia caregiving with her fitness business. Lauren Roach advocates for mental health transparency. Kathi Laughman shares choosing the 15% survival rate when her daughter was born at 27 weeks. Di Hilstad talks about breaking her ankle and learning to walk again.

KEY TOPICS COVERED:

• Women in business overcoming adversity including cancer, MS, mental health, caregiving
• Life advice from business women who rebuilt after devastating loss
• Breaking stigma around mental health, incarceration, asking for help
• Creating community through vulnerability and transparency
• Choosing your number: Focusing on possibilities instead of statistics
• Working with men vs women in business
• Prison advocacy and supporting families affected by incarceration

ABOUT THE PANEL: Christie Going - Licensed massage therapist, holistic breast cancer recovery program Diana Dru Botsford - Star Trek TNG writer, screenwriting professor Kathi Laughman - Strategist, possibilitarian, 40-year business intelligence career Lauren Roach - Mental health advocate, left Deloitte for wellness brand Rachel Allen - Copywriter, 16 years, clients in 21 countries Charlene Stewart - Certified power hoop instructor Di Hilstad - Entrepreneur, first scrapbooking store Vancouver Island

RELATED EPISODES: Episode 18: Diana Botsford - Character-Driven Storytelling Episode 30: Kathi Laughman - Personal Leadership Episode 189: Rachel Allen - Authentic Marketing Episode 293: Christie Going - Breast Cancer Recovery

FULL EPISODE BLOG POST: https://kandasrodarte.com/300

SUBSCRIBE & LISTEN: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@gratitudegeek Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gratitude-geek/id820738086 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/27dh0T1PbwsWXxfmNWZPy8 Website: https://kandasrodarte.com

CONNECT WITH KANDAS: Weekly Email: https://kandasrodarte.com/subscribe Instagram: https://instagram.com/gratitudegeek LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/gratitudegeek

SUPPORT THE SHOW: After 300 episodes, my equipment needs replacing. Every contribution helps! https://kandasrodarte.com/support

ABOUT YOUR HOST: Kandas Rodarte is a growth coach for women solopreneurs over 40. She hosts the Gratitude Geek Podcast and co-hosts Sci-Fi Book Pod. A metastatic breast cancer thriver with 30+ years of marketing expertise, Kandas believes gratitude is a business strategy that helps women build genuine, lasting connections.

#WeCanDoHardThings #WomenInBusiness #WomanOver40 #BusinessWomen #GratitudeGeek

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