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Learn How We Can Dismantle Gender-Based Violence: Jess Leigh on Systemic Change & Prevention
Season 2, Ep. 89
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Gender-based violence and inequality do not happen in isolation. They are deeply connected threads in a larger system that intersects with mental health, race, and power dynamics. Solving systemic issues requires unravelling these interconnected pieces, together. In today's deeply reflective interview, Stephanie sits down with award-winning campaigner, facilitator, and educator Jess Leigh. She discusses her vital work at the intersection of gender, mental health, and anti-racism, focusing on how we dismantle gender-based violence through systemic change rather than isolated reactions. Drawing on over a decade of designing workshops across schools, universities, and corporate spaces, learn how everyday language, media stereotypes, and cultural conditioning lay the groundwork for structural harm, and why true prevention means transforming our norms long before crisis hits. Jess’s upcoming book, From Words to Wounds, examines why storytelling is our most powerful antidote to polarisation and isolation. At its core, storytelling reconnects our shared humanity, regardless of our background, race, or religion. Our deepest human desires to love, feel safe, and belong are universal. She is on a mission to unravel the tapestry of inequality, proving that small shifts, from the words we use every day to the jokes we normalise, the media we consume, and our awareness, can spark powerful ripple effects of lasting cultural change.
00:00 Introduction & Welcoming Jess Leigh 01:05 The Scale of Gender Inequality & Systemic Conditioning 02:04 From Words to Wounds 04:02 Moving from Reaction to Upstream Prevention 06:23 Personal Pivots: Recognising Inequality Early On 08:06 Transforming Debate into Curious, Empathy-Led Conversation 09:59 Core Learnings: Language is Never Neutral & Growth Lives in Discomfort 11:51 Campaigning, Policy, and Grassroots Education 14:14 Redefining Success 17:21 Facing Resistance, Emotional Labour, and Building Community 21:20 Advice to Younger Selves 22:34 Future Goals
#WECAN #JessLeigh #GenderEquality #FromWordsToWounds #SystemicChange #WomenInLeadership #YouthEmpowerment #StorytellingAsResistance Watch her TEDx talk: "Street harassment - it's not ok", which she delivered at TEDxExeter, addressing the systemic nature of public sexual harassment and why society must stop blaming women and girls and instead take a stand against unacceptable behaviour. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGZbyUGm3vs
Subscribe to her Substack for a living journal of curiosity, essays, and reflections on the intersections of gender, justice, and joy: https://jesssjleigh.substack.com/ _______________________________________________________________________
For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell for more interviews with role models! 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe73047c
YOU CAN BE WHAT YOU CAN SEE! Follow our role models for inspiration & guidance🎁 TOGETHER WECAN show what is possible and how to get there!❤️ Here on YouTube, Podcast, and Substack, mentors from all walks of life share their journeys and insights to support you on your journey. IT COULD NOT BE MORE IMPORTANT TO SHOW GOOD LEADERSHIP RIGHT NOW. We show inspirational leadership, values-driven people, businesses, and ventures, as well as human decency, kindness, and connection. We create immersive experiences for all by deep-diving into lessons learned, the "gold" or wisdom of their lives, to help you feel more seen, less alone, more connected and inspired. We believe everyone deserves support and needs help on and off. Join us every week, where we feature 3 incredible mentors who bring you forward. We're thrilled to have you with us! Let us know who or what inspires you most. Please follow our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and leave a review—Together WECAN.
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88. Bestselling Author Robinne Lee on Writing Nuanced Stories, Hollywood, Paris, and How To Write Your Own Rules at Midlife
38:00||Season 2, Ep. 88Welcome back to WECAN for today's special interview with multi-talented international bestselling author, actress, and producer Robinne Lee on how to write nuanced love stories for women in midlife, pivot, and define success on your own terms. Whether you fell in love with her cultural phenomenon, The Idea of You, translated into 24 languages and adapted into the hit Prime Video film starring Anne Hathaway, or are diving into her highly anticipated sophomore novel, Crash Into Me, Robinne’s extraordinary path will remind you of what’s possible when you step fully into your power. Robinne unpacks her journey from navigating immigrant family expectations at Yale and Columbia Law School to carving out a dynamic, multi-industry career across law, acting, and writing. She shares the intentional process behind crafting sophisticated, layered love stories for 40-something women, her pandemic-era pivot to Paris, and why storytelling remains our most powerful tool to bridge divides and connect despite our differences. Discover how Robinne redefined success on her own terms and why your career path can, and should, pivot multiple times throughout life. We are completely inspired by her work, her art of romanticising life, and her deeply nuanced storytelling. Do not miss this gorgeous conversation! "The connecting thread between my acting and writing is all about telling stories and making people feel things, especially in the age of AI. The ability to connect one person to another is our humanity. I don't want us to lose that, and so much of that is storytelling: how we reach others and build connections and relationships. It's sharing who we are and our desires." 00:00 Introduction & Welcoming Robinne Lee 01:45 From Yale and Law School to Hollywood and Writing 03:30 The Inspiration and Phenomenon Behind The Idea of You 07:15 Crafting Layered, Multi-Dimensional Women in Midlife 12:40 Navigating Massive Career Pivots and Creative Freedom 18:30 Romanticising Everyday Life and Finding Your Voice 23:50 Exploring Crash Into Me and New Artistic Horizons 29:15 Final Takeaways & What's Next Join her in Aspen, Colorado, this weekend for the 2nd Annual Aspen Literary Festival, where she will be discussing her latest book, CRASH INTO ME. It promises to be scintillating! Register for free author talks, ticketed events, book signings & more. Visit https://www.aspenliteraryfestival.org/ to register. Connect with Robinne and Buy her Books: https://www.robinnelee.com/ #WECAN #TheIdeaOfYou #CrashIntoMe #RobinneLee #WomenInLeadership #MidlifeEvolution #BestsellingAuthor #CreativePivots #Storytelling #AspenLitFest _______________________________________________________________________ For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell for more interviews with role models! 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe73047cd465c87. Award-Winning Author & Historian Monika Czernin - Lessons in History, Storytelling and Leadership
27:08||Season 2, Ep. 87Today's conversation is a timeless lesson in history, exploring the art of storytelling and leadership with award-winning author, filmmaker, and historian Monika Czernin, and why history matters. From reporting on the ground during the historic fall of the Iron Curtain in Prague to crafting acclaimed historical books and documentary films, Monika shares the invaluable lessons learned from a life dedicated to uncovering real human narratives. Looking back through history, we can still learn from incredible role models. "History is happening now! You have to be there, you have to see everything and broadcast it to the masses." There is power in real-world storytelling. Monika bridges the gap between historical events and modern audiences, creating books and films that move people to laugh and reflect. Explore insights from her work, including her book Der Kaiser reist inkognito (The Emperor Incognito), which examines Joseph II's visionary governance and what true, data-driven leadership looks like. She was awarded the Friedrich Schiedel Literature Prize in 2023 for this book. Monika also opens up about her creative process, the pivotal influence of her historian father's storytelling, and why patience, financial independence, and detaching from immediate outcomes are essential for long-term creative fulfilment. Whether you are an aspiring storyteller, a history enthusiast, or someone seeking inspiration to reinvent your own path, this episode is a masterclass in turning passion into a lasting legacy. More about Monika Czernin: Award-winning author, filmmaker, and historian known for bringing European history to life through compelling, emotion-driven narratives. With a diverse background that includes reporting on the ground during the fall of the Iron Curtain in Prague in 1989 and authoring acclaimed works like The Emperor Incognito, Monika specialises in uncovering real human stories from the past that offer timeless leadership and life lessons. She is a passionate advocate for women's financial independence, creative self-trust, and lifelong purpose. She continues to inspire audiences to step into their unique power and make a meaningful impact. Connect with Monika Czernin: https://www.monikaczernin.com/ #MonikaCzernin #WECAN #HistoricalFiction #TheEmperorIncognito #WomenFilmmakers #LeadershipLessons #CreativeProcess #WomenInHistory #PodcastMasterclass #Storytelling ______________________________________________________________________For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell for more interviews with role models! 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe73047cd465c86. How To Turn Pain Into Purpose: A Real Talk About Loss and Fake Pills with Ed Ternan
22:56||Season 2, Ep. 86In today's deeply moving conversation, Stephanie sits down with Ed Ternan, president and co-founder of Song for Charlie, for an honest and real talk about fake pills and loss. Ed shares the heartbreaking story of losing his 22-year-old son, Charlie, in May 2020. Charlie was a brilliant economics student and athlete with perfect high school scores, who died after taking a single counterfeit pill purchased online, believing it to be a legitimate medication, secretly laced with a lethal dose of fentanyl. This is a moving pain-to-purpose story on the complexity of grief and loss. Witnessing incredible humans like Ed and his wife, Mary, turn personal loss and grief into a nationwide movement is truly inspiring. Recognising a terrifying trend of youth dying from fake prescription pills, they founded a family-led, nonprofit, Song for Charlie, to shine a light and bring about change through humble goals. Today, the organisation has reached millions across the U.S. and has driven an 83% reduction in student pill misuse through their transparent, fact-based "Just Say Know" approach. They empower students to learn and share knowledge by providing award-winning, evidence-based educational programs and promoting peer-to-peer learning resources. Tune in to this masterclass to learn how to navigate today's high-risk drug landscape with honesty, empathy, and practical tools, and discover how unimaginable grief can transform into a nationwide movement for education and systemic change. Peer-to-peer fentanyl education starts with you! Connection and communication around substance abuse, misuse, and addiction are very important. We need to destigmatise the conversation. 0:00 – Introduction: The Mission of Song for Charlie 2:15 – Remembering Charlie & Understanding the Fentanyl Crisis 6:40 – The "Just Say Know" Digital Education Strategy 12:30 – Equipping Youth with Healthy Coping Mechanisms 18:10 – Modern Drug Education for Families and Parents 24:05 – Navigating Grief and Finding Purpose Through Action 31:15 – Fostering Personal Agency and a Healthier Future Learn more about Song for Charlie and Spread the Word: https://www.songforcharlie.org/ #RealTalkAboutFake PillsAndLoss #SongForCharlie #EdTernan #FentanylAwareness #FakePills #CounterfeitPills #YouthSubstancePrevention #ParentGuide #AdolescentMental Health #CopingSkills #GriefJourney #DrugEducation #YouthAdvocacy #WECAN _______________________________________________________________________ For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell for more interviews with role models! 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe73047cd465c85. Samara Bay: Permission to Speak Your Idea Full-Chested: The Masterclass
43:03||Season 2, Ep. 85How can we show up fully in the moments that matter most? In today's interview, we are given all the permission we need to speak and are joined by the very inspiring Samara Bay: a Hollywood dialect coach, public speaking expert, creator of Permission Inc., and author of the #1 bestselling business book Permission to Speak. With a career dedicated to helping actors, executives, and first-time female political candidates navigate high-stakes communication, she dismantles the historical barriers between voice and power. Her viral TED Talk, "The One Thing Every Great Speaker Does (And No One Teaches)" inspires us to drop public speaking anxiety, lead with love, and discover our true, authentic sound. Samara teaches us about a Model Love-Forward type of leadership, where we can speak our ideas, full-chested, and shift from fear into love. Showing up fully, deeply human gives others permission to do the same, proving that the way you show up is exactly right, and that this is the new sound of power! We love her Top 3 Speech-Prep tips, we love her energy, her wisdom, and what and how she teaches us to communicate well so people listen. She reminds us that we have full permission to drop the fear, bring a little mischief, and lead with love! And lastly, get in your body ~ Remember, you do have hips, wiggle them! There is a new dance between voice and power. Tune in to learn all about it, her honest dreams for the future, and what she has to teach. This is not to be missed! 0:00 - Introduction & The Dance Between Voice and Power 5:15 - Rewriting the Fear Story and Caring Out Loud 14:30 - Samara's Top 3 Tips for High-Stakes Public Speaking 24:10 - Bringing Your Body, Breath, and Ancestral Wisdom to the Stage 33:20 - Redefining Leadership: The New Sound of Power Connect with Samara Bay & Explore Her Book & TED Talk https://www.permissioninc.co/ #WECAN #SamaraBay #PermissionToSpeak #PublicSpeaking #WomenLeaders #VoiceAndPower #LeadershipMindset #EmbodiedLeadership #Empowerment _______________________________________________________________________ For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell for more interviews with role models! 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe73047cd465c84. Bestselling Author Alisha Miranda On My What If Year & What If It All Works Out?
30:04||Season 2, Ep. 84What if it all works out? What if you decided to change direction? Today's WECAN interview with Alisha Fernandez Miranda is a masterclass in radical reinvention and the courage to embrace new chapters. She is a Cuban-American bestselling author of My What If Year and USA Today bestseller Someone’s Gotta Give, Speaker, I.G. Advisors Chair, and Mom living in Scotland. Discover how stepping away from a high-powered corporate career at age 40 to spend a year exploring the dream jobs of her youth, working on Broadway, and as an unpaid intern has transformed her relationship with ambition, burnout, success, and joy. Alisha shares powerful insights on shedding perfectionism, conquering the fear of failure, and proving that you are never too old and that it is never too late to rewrite your life’s story. Give yourself permission to explore entirely new paths without needing a linear blueprint. The most thrilling chapter of her journey is yet to unfold on screen: her personal memoir, My What If Year, is currently being adapted into a Warner Bros. feature film starring and produced alongside America Ferrera, beautifully proving the magic of owning your narrative and that it is never too late to reinvent your path. Alisha reminds us that we have absolute free will, giving ourselves permission to feel joy and excitement, chase our dreams, and pivot at any age. I love her books, and she is such an incredible role model who leads with her authentic self and inspires so many of us to at least do that a little bit, leaning out the window every now and then to do something different that might scare us a little bit, leave our comfort zones, and try things out. 0:00 - Introduction & The Inspiration Behind My What If Year 5:20 - Embracing Radical Reinvention and Leaving Comfort Behind 12:45 - From Corporate Leader to Beginner: Navigating the Fear of Failure 21:10 - The Power of Curiosity and Asking "What If?" at Any Age 30:15 - Writing, Storytelling, and Designing a Life on Your Own Terms 39:40 - Takeaways: Why It's Never Too Late to Pivot Connect with Alisha Fernandez Miranda: https://www.alishafmiranda.com/ #WECAN #CareerPivot #WomenLeaders #PersonalGrowth #Storytelling #Empowerment #Inspiration #LeadershipMindset #AuthorLife _______________________________________________________________________ For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell for more interviews with role models! 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe73047cd465c83. Lessons On How To Own Your Story As A Survivor of Abuse with CEO Brielle Cotterman
28:31||Season 2, Ep. 83In this episode of WECAN, Brielle Cotterman leads by example, showing how to take ownership of your own narrative. Tune in for a life-changing conversation on resilience, authentic storytelling, and reclaiming your voice. We must take absolute ownership of our own narrative, because if we don't tell the world who we are, someone else will. As a survivor of attempted murder and domestic violence, Brielle knows firsthand what happens when someone else tries to twist and control your story. She survived a severe, life-threatening attack involving domestic violence when she was a young woman, enduring an attempted murder by her husband before he took his own life. Navigating years of deep healing, she chose to refuse silence. By choosing to step out of the shadows, reclaim her narrative, and share her truth publicly, she quadrupled her business within six months. She is a Inc. 5000 entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and founder & CEO of The Influential Leader Agency, an elite agency dedicated to helping visionary founders build personal brands rooted in their truth. "You have the ability to make a massive impact. Women understand that they have the ability to change the world by taking ownership of their story and by telling it, for more and more and more women to hear. Your story belongs just as much to the people that need to hear it, as it does to you." Brielle teaches us how to transform pain into purpose, how to advocate for domestic violence, and helps other women reclaim their own narratives. In an age dominated by AI, human connection is everything. Always know: What is your WHY? Why is it you, and if you had all the resources in the world, what would you be doing? Connect with Brielle Cotterman: https://influentialleaderagency.com/ #WECAN #PersonalBranding #BrielleCotterman #OvercomingAdversity #WomenLeaders #Storytelling #TraumaToTriumph #SurvivorsofAbuse ________________________________________________________________________ For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell for more interviews with role models! 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe73047cd465c82. How To Reimagine Grief with Kate Doerge - New Role Models Series
36:49||Season 2, Ep. 82We have many new role models coming up this September and all the way to Christmas, starting with the deeply inspirational Kate Doerge.It's not your lifespan that matters, it's your wingspan." In today's episode of WECAN, Stephanie sits down with Kate Doerge, a true alchemist, for a life-changing masterclass on how to reimagine grief. Learn how to turn unimaginable loss into purpose, find new ways of grieving, and lean into connection as a key remedy for healing. After experiencing the devastating loss of her parents and her 16-year-old daughter, Penny, to complications with neurofibromatosis, Kate chose to break free from traditional grieving patterns, creating a new blueprint for healing with agency. Her book, Reimagining Grief, became the exact thing Kate wishes she had when she was navigating her own unthinkable loss. This is an honest, vulnerable companion to help you find connection, joy, and permission to reimagine grief. This book is sensational and changes your life! It makes you live more and expand your wingspan. Kate teaches her invaluable 5-step framework to reclaim your life and honor your loved ones through: Connection: Bringing people together because people need each other! Celebrating: Honouring the unique lives of our loved ones. Staying Open to Signs: Tuning in to butterflies, rainbows, and meaningful songs on the radio for comfort. Getting Moving: Shifting trauma and stuck energy out of the body by putting one foot in front of the other. Turning Pain Into Purpose: Alchemising dark moments into new life and meaningful action. Kate Doerge is a USA TODAY bestselling author, motivational & TEDx speaker, certified grief coach, and co-founder of Penny’s Flight Foundation. Through her work, she inspires us to treat mental health as mental fitness, embrace resilience, and lead lives filled with greater purpose. Penny’s Flight Foundation has raised over $6.5 million for neurofibromatosis research, established 120 school chapters, and ignited a global movement of youth leadership and faith over fear. We have a choice. What would our loved ones want us to do? Keep living, keep moving, and expand your wingspan, as there is personal growth and life after loss. Thank you, Kate, for showing us how to alchemise dark moments into new life, find the courage to keep moving one foot in front of the other, and reimagine what is possible after loss.Connect with Kate Doerge and Buy the Book: https://www.katedoerge.com/ _______________________________________________________________________For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell for more interviews with role models! 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe73047cd465c81. Alka Joshi on How to Reinvent Your Life in Your 50s and Find Your Voice
31:21||Season 2, Ep. 81Have you ever wondered how to reinvent your life in your 50's, how to find your voice, and how to get started? In the last episode of the WECAN Summer Recap Series, we are honoured to share the insights of international bestselling author and incredible role model and mentor, Alka Joshi (The Henna Artist, Reese’s Book Club pick), and her extraordinary journey of publishing her debut novel in her 50s. Alka leads by example, showing how losing her marketing agency during the 2008 recession sparked a global literary career, and how honouring her mother’s restricted life inspired the fearless characters in her book, The Henna Artist, and why it is never too late to reinvent your life. Learn about the four pillars of success: passion, patience, perseverance, and discipline, and how to master the craft of writing, or just how to start over - at any age! "There is no time limit on writing or doing something else with your life." Whether you are an aspiring writer, a creative soul looking for practical guidance on character development, navigating mid-life career transitions, economic setbacks, or looking to reinvent yourself and pursue a new purpose, this is for you! Alka Joshi is the internationally bestselling author of The Henna Artist, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, and The Perfumist of Paris. She is also a Forbes' 50 Over 50 listee, acclaimed speaker, writing coach, and literary force dedicated to championing women's stories. Her most recent novel is the standalone historical fiction book Six Days in Bombay, published in April 2025, with her upcoming book, Daughters of the Pink City, set to be released on March 2, 2027. Thank you, Alka, for showing us that it is never too late to start or reinvent our lives, and that all women have a voice! 00:00 Introduction to Alka Joshi and her bestselling trilogy 01:08 Starting over in your 50s 02:00 Inspiration behind The Henna Artist 03:41 The gruelling 9-year journey 05:24 Launching a debut book during a pandemic 09:09 Exploring female power, herbal healing, and ancient wisdom 13:37 The true meaning of women's empowerment, mentorship, and lifting each other up 17:06 The four pillars of long-term success 21:21 Celebrating women supporting women: Reese Witherspoon and the Forbes 50 Over 50 honour 23:08 Top Tips 27:04 What the future holds Connect with Alka Joshi: https://www.alkajoshi.com/ #AlkaJoshi #TheHennaArtist #WECAN #WomensEmpowerment #BestsellingAuthor #CreativeReinvention #WritingCommunity #HistoricalFiction #Forbes50Over50 #womenleadership _______________________________________________________________________ For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell for more interviews with role models! 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe73047c