What She Does Podcast

What She Does Podcast

by Annie Sinzinger & Liane Starr
Careers
Season 1
Laughing on Purpose: Laughter Yoga Teacher Cathy Nesbitt on the Science of Joy
Can your body tell real laughter from fake laughter? Laughter Yoga Teacher Cathy Nesbitt says it can't, and that's exactly the point behind laughing on purpose. She also shares how a 24-year worm-composting business led her to Laughter Yoga, and why she believes managing our own joy is one of the most underused tools we have. In this episode: • What Laughter Yoga actually is (and the myths it isn't) • Cathy's path from a 24-year worm-composting business to becoming a certified Laughter Ambassador • The real science behind why the body can't tell real laughter from fake • Where laughter yoga shows up: senior care, corporate wellness, cancer treatment, dating, and exam stress • What it takes to become a certified laughter yoga leader or teacher Subscribe to our newsletter for more on the careers and stories behind the women we talk to.
S1 · E35
Aug 18, 2026
35:08
The Business of 'Yes': Marriage Proposal Planner Ash Fox on the Art of the Perfect Proposal
Marriage proposal planner Ash Fox has orchestrated 3,000+ engagements in 15 years — and never once heard a "no." As founder of Ash Fox Proposals, she's helped orchestrate everything from private rooftop reveals with skyline views to a proposal staged inside a designer sample sale — and along the way, coached hundreds of men through one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. In this episode: • How Ash accidentally launched a job that didn't exist yet • Why New York City's chaos makes it one of the best (and hardest) places to propose • The psychology of letting him take the lead • What it actually takes to break into proposal planning • The secret to keeping a surprise secret for weeks Subscribe to our newsletter for more on the careers and stories behind the women we talk to.
S1 · E34
Aug 11, 2026
40:27
From Systems Engineer to Fashion Entrepreneur: Founder Steffy Simms on Designing Guava & Co.
Steffy Simms is a systems engineer and the founder of Guava & Co, a sustainable, Hawaiʻi-based resort wear brand — built out of late-night doodles during maternity leave. Also an Oʻahu physics teacher and robotics coordinator, Steffy joins Liane and Annie to talk about pivoting from engineering into entrepreneurship, why her son's eczema shaped Guava & Co's non-toxic materials, and how growing up immersed in Hawaiʻi's culture of environmental stewardship drives every design decision she makes. This episode covers: ● How a systems engineering background shapes running a sustainability-driven fashion brand ● Why AI is reshaping supply chain careers — and what that means for engineers today ● The real cost (and creative workarounds) of running a business from Hawaiʻi ● Building an inclusive, non-toxic, size-flexible resort wear line rooted in Pacific culture ● Balancing founder life, motherhood, and the shift from solo "doer" to CEO
S1 · E33
Aug 4, 2026
34:06
Shoot Your Shot: Matchmaker Jill Dunn on the Business of Modern Dating
What does it actually take to find real connection in the age of dating apps? Matchmaker Jill Dunn, founder of Jillin' It, joins Annie & Liane to unpack why modern dating feels so exhausting — and what to do about it. Jill shares the divorce that accidentally launched her matchmaking career, how she screens singles before ever introducing them to a client, and the one mindset shift that can change your next first date. In this episode: • How one sold-out singles event turned into a full-time matchmaking business • Why dating apps create a "shopping list" mindset that hurts self-worth • The difference between expectations for a life partner and expectations for a first date • How COVID reshaped dating for an entire generation • Jill's number-one piece of advice for anyone who's single right now Whether you're newly single, navigating divorce, or just curious how a real matchmaker works, this conversation is full of honest talk about love, patience, and showing up as your best self.
S1 · E32
Jul 28, 2026
44:34
From Pharmacy to Pitas: Franchisor Sawsan Abublan on Building Shawarma Press
Sawsan Abublan spent years building a career as a pharmacist before an idea she had with her husband led to an entirely new path. She's now a restaurant franchisor. In this episode, Sawsan joins Annie & Liane to talk about walking away from a license she'd worked hard for, learning a completely new industry from the ground up, and what it actually took to build confidence as a woman stepping into restaurant franchising. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why Sawsan held onto her pharmacist's license for years before finally letting it go • How her pharmacy training in discipline and cleanliness shaped an unexpected second career • What a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is — and why every franchisor needs one before selling a single unit • What it took to earn confidence as a woman in restaurant franchising • What she'd tell her younger self about the hardest early years
S1 · E31
Jul 21, 2026
42:08
30 Years Behind the Mic: Tish Hicks on Voiceover, AI, & Reinvention
For over 25 years, Tish Hicks has been one of voiceover's most in-demand working artists, including more than 15 years as one of the voices of Subaru. The veteran voiceover artist and founder of The V.O. Dojo joins What She Does to break down how she built a career, a company, and a community in one of entertainment's most misunderstood industries. In this episode, Tish covers: • How she stumbled into voiceover after years in theater, opera, and improv • The wildly different worlds inside voiceover — commercials, animation, audiobooks, video games, and more • Why the industry has shifted from agency relationships to entrepreneurial hustle • What it actually takes to build a sustainable voiceover business, including her advice on career pivots • How she trains the next generation through VO Dojo's belt-based curriculum • Her honest take on AI's impact on voice work and why human connection still wins Whether you're considering a career pivot or just curious what happens behind the mic on your favorite commercials, this conversation is a masterclass in reinvention.
S1 · E30
Jul 14, 2026
39:17
Building Financial Confidence: Wealth Advisor Heidi Foster on the Path and Practice
What does a wealth advisor actually do all day? Heidi Foster has a surprising answer: she brings people peace. With more than 30 years of experience managing investments for individuals, families, and charities, Heidi has seen it all — the spenders married to the savers, the retirees who don't know how to stop accumulating, the divorce clients, the inheritance clients, and the 20-somethings who just need someone to tell them to open a Roth IRA. She's a VP and wealth advisor at American Wealth Management, a USC and UNR MBA graduate, and a former executive at Wells Fargo's private bank. But the thing that makes her exceptional isn't the numbers. It's the people. In this episode, Heidi joins Liane and Annie for a warm, frank conversation about money, psychology, parenting, and why your financial mindset was probably formed before you were old enough to remember it. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why Heidi defines her job as bringing 'peace and confidence' — not managing portfolios • How your relationship with money was likely shaped before age eight • The 'save early and often' rule — and why a $10 latte could be worth $100,000 • What it's like to be a financial marriage counselor for spender-saver couples • How Heidi balanced three kids with a demanding career — including when Wells Fargo wouldn't let her work from home during a high-risk pregnancy • What skills you need to pivot into financial advising — and why career-changers often make the best advisors • The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe story that explains everything about why Heidi does what she does Heidi is a USC Order of the Laurel recipient, a Reno-Tahoe Twenty Under 40 honoree, and a FINRA registered representative. She's also the mother of three. This one's for anyone who's ever felt afraid of their own money — and needed someone to tell them it's going to be okay. #WhatSheDoes #WealthManagement #PersonalFinance #WomenInFinance #FinancialAdvice #MoneyMindset #WealthAdvisor #FinancialPeace
S1 · E29
Jul 7, 2026
30:13
Startups & Stability: Venture Lead Lydia Hall on Building Kids' App, Aqua
What does it look like to build a startup inside one of the world's biggest creative companies? Lydia Hall knows. As Venture Lead and Co-Founder of Aqua by Adobe, Lydia pitched Adobe's executives on a bold idea: to take the creative power of Photoshop, Illustrator, and Fresco and rebuild it from the ground up for kids. In this episode, Lydia joins Liane and Annie for a candid conversation about the intersection of parenthood, entrepreneurship, and building products that actually matter to kids — because her team tests it with their own children every single day. In this episode, you'll learn: • What a Venture Lead actually does inside Adobe's incubator program • How Aqua (free on iOS, Android, and the web at aqua.adobe.com) bridges the gap between kids' doodle apps and professional creative tools • Why Lydia made a conscious choice to join a big company when she became a parent — and what surprised her about startup life from the inside of a corporation • The thoughtful philosophy behind how Aqua uses AI: enhancing creativity without replacing it • What kids actually told them they wanted in focus groups — including claw machines, K-pop kitchens, and personal art museums • How Aqua connects to Adobe Fresco so kids can grow their portfolios into professional tools • The career 'car crash' that taught Lydia to trust her gut faster • Why tenacity — not polish — is the skill she credits most Lydia is a Forbes 30 Under 30 alum, Y Combinator Imagine K12 participant, and former COO of Chalkup (acquired by Microsoft). She founded her first company while at Penn Law and Wharton. This one's for the parents, the builders, the creatives, and anyone who's ever wanted to make something from scratch inside a room that's already full of greatness. #WhatSheDoes #AdobeAqua #KidsTech #WomenInTech #FounderStory #EdTech #StartupLife #Parenting #CreativeKids #AdobeIncubator
S1 · E28
Jun 30, 2026
23:52
Going Indie: How Jennifer Barnwell Built a Home for Boutique Hotels
Jennifer Barnwell didn't plan to end up in hotels — but a nudge from her older sister at Cornell changed everything. Today she's the President of Curator Hotel & Resort Collection, a membership platform she launched in the middle of a global pandemic to champion the independent and boutique hotels that go it alone. In this episode, Jen pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to build something new in a tough industry, how Curator helps small properties compete with big brands, and why being an 'indie rebel' is more than just a tagline. In this episode: • What Curator Hotel & Resort Collection does — and why it exists • How independent hotels compete with major brands using collective leverage • The Airbnb and OTA distribution question every boutique property faces • What it was really like to launch a business during COVID-19 • How the K-shaped economy is affecting the hospitality industry right now • The technology improvements that are changing the hotel guest experience • The career path she didn't see coming — and the sister who changed it • Her honest advice to her younger self: take risks, travel more, find a mentor #WhatSheDoes #WomenInHospitality #BoutiqueHotels #IndependentHotels #WomenInBusiness #HospitalityIndustry #CuratorHotels #Podcast
S1 · E27
Jun 23, 2026
36:17
Finding Balance: A Physician Assistant’s Root-Cause Approach to Aging & Longevity
What does a Physician Assistant who's spent 25 years in medicine wish more people understood about hormones, aging, and feeling like yourself again? Elizabeth Vogstrom breaks down perimenopause, bioidentical hormone therapy, DNA genetic testing, and root-cause medicine — and shares the personal health crisis that changed everything. #WhatSheDoes #HormoneHealth #Perimenopause #BHRT #LongevityMedicine
S1 · E26
Jun 16, 2026
34:38
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