Jennasis Speaks: The Transformative Power of Women's Stories

We wanted to wish our founder and visionary, Jennifer Malcolm, a happy birthday today! Thank you for creating a space for women to share their stories and begin to heal. On this week’s episode, we celebrate you and the Jennasis Speaks Movement with a little help from some special guests! Happy Birthday Jennifer!

Erin Longmoon had a tumultuous childhood filled with multiple types of abuse. She has since become the ancestral abuse breaker for her family and strives to change the narrative for her daughter. This week, Erin shares her story in hopes of showing others that healing takes a lifetime, but it is the most meaningful journey one can take.

Elya Starek always had a feeling of worry in her life, but nothing that she couldn't manage on her own. The global pandemic in 2020 was the start to a downward spiral for her, and she eventually realized that professional help and medication was needed to feel “normal” again. However, it wasn’t until she began feeling better that she realized just how bad her anxiety had been all along. This week, Elya shares her mental health struggles in hopes of showing others that there is no shame in getting help.

Kathy Romito built a beautiful, prosperous career that, from the outside, gave the world the perception that she was doing well. What many didn’t know is that behind that professional mask, was a woman who felt broken and traumatized from her childhood experiences. On this week’s episode, Kathy shares her journey to exposing her personal pain. She reminds us that when you take small steps throughout your life, there is a path to finding healing and recovery.

Do not let anyone tell you what you are capable of. Do not let anyone limit you. Listen to our guest, Katie Novak, who went from an average student to a superstar educator because of one strong voice in her life who breathed belief into her, helping her understand she was much more than just average. She was unique, capable, strong, and carried a purpose and a message that this world needs. Learn how to breathe belief into this next generation, empowering them to run with their own identities and messages

Vickie Hogan was a single mom focusing on raising her son, Elec, when the worst news imaginable comes: She has breast cancer. Facing this diagnosis not only once, but three times has helped Vickie grow into the warrior woman she is today. On this week’s episode, Vickie shares how she embraced the fear, accepted support, and advocated for herself in the midst of battling cancer.

Susie Liberatore is the Founder and Art Director of Visions2images Creative Services. For the last decade she has personally been instrumental in bridging the gap between the global digital market and neighborhood locations for some of the biggest brands around. Exponential growth is possible for even a single location with the right professional branding techniques and Susie’s signature strategies. Stand out from your competitors and bring your visions to life, while watching your sales skyrocket.

Megan Gargano is a native of Cleveland, Ohio where she co-founded a nonprofit dance company and school, The Movement Project in 2009, whose mission is to challenge perspectives, evoke social change and bridge communities through the power of movement. In 2012, Megan received her BFA in Performance and Choreography from Ohio University School of Dance, as well as furthered her studies at the Laban Centre's summer intensive in Greenwich, London. In 2021 The Movement Project relocated to a newly renovated studio in Fairview Park where they offer year round programming for professional and youth dancers. In 2012, Megan and her husband Anthony purchased a farmhouse in Richfield Ohio where they enjoy their time outside with their boxer dog Penny Lane. In 2018, Megan and Anthony were expecting their first child Luna Serafine, but sadly their daughter was born still on June 18th, 2019. Through their grief and love for their daughter, they worked with Cleveland Clinic Akron General to build The Butterfly Suite, a space designed to support families suffering the loss of a baby. The Butterfly Suite officially opened April 29th, 2022. During the process of building the suite, Megan and Anthony welcomed to the world their baby boy Arlo on October 15, 2020.

Season 4 kicks off with a homecoming of sorts! Founder, Jennifer Malcolm, explains the direction of season 4, coming back home to the heart of the Jennasis movement. Jenn is interviewed by Amy Stack, former podcast guest and production assistant, and shares the heart behind the interviews that make up Jennasis Speaks, Season 4. We are returning to our roots: to give women a place to share their stories, be vulnerable, continue the healing process, and be a spark that fan the flames of growth in other women. Jenn also shares about her vision to continue working with the Jennasis Speaks audience apart from the podcast, creating growth and accountability opportunities in the very near future. Listen in as Jenn and Amy discuss what this season’s guests have to share about things such as infant loss, anxiety, overcoming sexual abuse, surviving diagnoses, and overcoming expectations.

From a young age, Gina Nicola knew she was different. In third grade, she realized she liked girls and not boys. Then when she was 12, her younger brother was born with Down’s Syndrome. Gina is now his guardian. Gina was always guided by external validation and what success traditionally looked like on paper, but she realized she wasn’t living her most authentic life. Today, Gina is the Founder & CEO of Gina Nicola Enterprises, a peak performance consultancy firm that coaches professionals into becoming the best version of themselves. She shares her story and her guiding principles with us on Jennasis Speaks.

For Chinetha Hall, surviving COVID-19 wasn’t enough. It became her mission to educate and empower the youth in Northeast Ohio to become allies in stopping the spread of this virus. Chinetha drew inspiration from her experience and from her non-profit organization, Hasani Management Inc., and self-published a children’s book called Everybody Needs a Mask. Through her own personal struggles, she has always found ways to give back to the less fortunate, less educated, and less empowered in her community. She is continuously motivated by those who surround her with love and support so that she never has to stop giving back.

Artist Hilary Gent knows the heartache of losing a child to miscarriage. Every time she hoped, every time she grieved. But her healing didn’t truly begin until she had a creative vision about a painting technique that let her share her sorrow through her work. Hilary shares her journey with Jennifer Malcom on the next Jennasis Speaks podcast.

A college athlete and lifelong lover of sports and fitness, Jessica Vaiana was on her way to medical school to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a doctor, when she was invited to intern at Train 4 The Game at the University of Texas. She fell in love with the training program and realized that more than anything in life, she just wanted to help others reach their full potential - especially women. Jessica’s philosophy is that working moms, female athletes, and women of all ages, have the ability to be great and be in charge of their own lives when they push themselves out of their comfort zone. Jessica hopes to encourage women from all walks of life to put themselves first, physically and mentally. Jessica wants nothing more than for her clients to walk out of their training sessions energized, confident, and ready to take on whatever life throws at them.

As CEO of crisis nursery Providence House, Natalie Leek knows firsthand about the differences between poor parenting and parenting while poor. She believes many of the moms who turn to Providence House for help are doing their absolute best against incredible odds: They’re parenting while living in poverty. They’re parenting solo. And they’re parenting without the safety net of family and friends that many parents take for granted. And they’re parenting in hopes they can keep their children out of the foster care system. Natalie is a leader in a national movement to remake child welfare by putting more emphasis and resources toward keeping families together. She joins Jennifer Malcolm, CEO of Jennasis Speaks, to talk about Providence House’s mission and the goal of preserving families.

Carrie Hudson was 17 when she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Her illness was her first step in her journey to living an authentic life. For Carrie, living authentically means being the same person whether you’re behind closed doors or standing in front of open doors. It means living with integrity. It means accepting struggles as another step in the journey. It means having the courage to love ourselves so we can love others. Now a minister and life coach, Carrie will share her journey on the next episode of Jennasis Speaks hosted by Jennifer Malcolm.

From the start, Jesi Arter knew she was meant to be with the man who became her husband and father of her child. Their connection was immediate and intense. Their married life in a small Pennsylvania town was very happy. But five months after Jesi became a mother, she became a widow when her husband committed suicide. Since then, she has forged a new path as a single mom, head of household and advocate for women who lose their parters to suicide.

One way or another, all of us were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. But for many people, the pandemic added mental health issues to the many challenges posed. Arian May understands what those challenges were like. As the advancement officer for OhioGuidestone, she’s dedicated to breaking down the stigma that might keep people from seeking help or providing support. Join Arian and Jennifer Malcolm for the next episode of Jennasis Speaks podcast as they talk about breaking down barriers to mental health.

When Gail Stumphauzer lost her 29-year-old daughter Margeau to the effects of an eating disorder, she lost the drive that carried her through a successful social services career. She couldn’t stop thinking about how her daughter struggled with her demons. Margeau was haunted by feelings of inadequacy that kept her from seeing her strengths. Gail decided to turn her grief into action by creating “ Free to Be” dedicated to Margeau’s memory. “Free to Be” encourages women to accept themselves for the strong women they are and help other women to do the same. Gail joins Jennifer Malcolm on the next Jennasis Speaks podcast to talk about growing through grief and empowering others.

When Dr. Thea Wilson sees a family in trouble, she doesn’t see a child without hope or a parent without skills. She sees people who need help to heal so they can show what they can do. She sees people who need to know that no one can put a roof on their ceiling. Dr. Wilson and her team at Step Forward serve more than 2,000 children enrolled in Early Head Start and Head Start. She brings more than 40 years of early childhood development as a teacher and as an educator teaching others. Join Dr. Wilson and Jennifer Malcolm for the Jennasis Speaks podcast as they talk about parents and children persevering and achieving goals.