Q and A with Victoria from New Jersey, living in Denver, Colorado
“Sharing your story, not for you, but for those who may be touched by resonating with what you’ve gone through, experienced, and learned is a highly selfless act that I’m realizing more and more each day.”
Q: Tell us about yourself.
A: My passions include deep self-work [transformation, plant & animal medicine, microdosing, and shadow journaling], traveling, and immersing into cultures [traveled to/lived in 65+ countries], voraciously reading sci-fi/fantasy/historical fiction, sharing endless opinions about film, speaking on stages or facilitating workshops, putzing around with tarot and oracle cards. Currently, I’m working on simply building my business enough for myself to be a place where I can feel safe to consider thinking about starting a family. Standing on my own two feet as an entrepreneur is essential; I don’t need to make seven figures, but I want to have more than enough. With this in mind, I am spending a ton of time creating frameworks, processes, and systems as well as leaning into connecting with communities in person, collaborating with other creators, and learning how to trust that what is meant for me will come.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: I’m an only child to a set of interracial parents, raised in a city burb of NY within NJ. I grew up in a super diverse city that was about 15 minutes from Manhattan; so learning to drive and ‘going out’ was often in the boroughs while I was a teen. I didn’t grow up close with my extended family, from a rift that began when my parents married due to familial/racial differences. My mom instilled an absolute love of travel in me, with my first overseas trip being to Istanbul at 4 months old! From then, I traveled internationally at least twice annually until I got to college; a level of privilege I had a hard time overcoming.
At 15, I had a freak accident that had me in the hospital for three days after an emergency surgery where I flatlined twice. I had the classic out-of-body experience and it’s commemorated on my body as a tattoo. That episode is something I am still working through, at 33, and simply didn’t realize how much it ended up insidiously directing my life; decisions I’d make, who I’d date, when or how I felt safe, and it caused me to tend toward inappropriate humor when bringing up difficult topics. It’s such an intangible thing, hard to quantify my progress, and it has absolutely been a defining line in the chapters of my life.
Alt Summit Portraits by Justin Hackworth
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: Sharing your story, not for you, but for those who may be touched by resonating with what you’ve gone through, experienced, and learned is a highly selfless act that I’m realizing more and more each day. Secondly, requesting support→actually explicitly asking for support from those who love you, is another act that can significantly alter your relationships to a place of vulnerability, love, and the connection that we all truly yearn for.
Q: What does feminism mean to you? A: Feminism is women coming together in collaboration to keep the ladder up for every single one of us and hold the net below just in case one of us falls.
“There are so many outside factors like bullies and social media, to name a few, but over time, you stop taking other people’s crap and just focus on yourself!”
Q: Tell us about yourself.
A: I’m passionate about what I do (marketing), my family, and music. Back in 2009, I was offered a position as Big Daddy’s Breezy Rider at Big Daddy 103.9 in Sudbury, Ontario. I was decked out head to toe in Harley Davidson riding gear and given this 2009 Harley Davidson Tri-Glide to ride every weekend to events in the Northern Ontario area. I got paid to travel each weekend and talk on both Big Daddy and The Moose about events that were happening.
I got up as far north as New Liskeard and as far south as Parry Sound on this motorcycle. What an experience it was, and I really miss this motorcycle! It gave me the push to go into Radio Broadcasting, and I applied and got accepted in September of that year. It’s a very unusual way to get started in marketing, I know! But the bug hit me and I was hooked. I’ve been running marketing campaigns at radio stations, and my own clients, since then, and love the creative designing and the ability to build brands and have fun doing it. Fast forward to today, I’ve been in the marketing space for 14+ years and now run my own digital marketing business: MRose Designs Canada! What an incredible journey it has been so far and I’m so grateful for it! I’m looking forward to building and growing my business and continuing to have fun doing it!
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: There are two things that impacted me to grow up to who I am now. One is music and the other is my motorcycle license. I started playing music when I was seven years old. I was so fascinated by the violin that whenever anyone near me was playing it, I would stop everything I was doing and just watch and listen to them play. I grew up performing all over for tractor shows, festivals, funerals, and music camps.
Once I hit high school, I took up the saxophone and played in a band too. I was asked to perform a lot on both instruments and was lucky enough to even join our local symphony for the last couple of years of high school. I went to college for music and have my diploma in music performance with violin as my major and saxophone and bassoon as my minor degrees. I continue to perform music, just more limited being a mom now. As for my motorcycle, my dad told me that, when I turned 16, he would give me a motorcycle if I got my license. So, I did! I was the first person in my grade who could ride to school. And growing up in a small town where everyone knew everyone, it was a big deal. If it wasn’t for my music, I wouldn’t have been in the right place to start my motorcycle job, which led me to where I am now!
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: I didn’t go the traditional way to get where I am, by any means. I don’t have any formal marketing training from college or university. But that’s okay! I have researched, watched videos, done a course or two, and even currently have a business coach which have all helped me be successful in my business. Just follow your passion and love what you do, and the rest will align itself.
Q: What does feminism mean to you? A: It means everything to me. No matter what you need, to own who you are and not let anyone take you down. That can be a hard lesson to learn when there are so many outside factors like bullies and social media, to name a few, but over time, you stop taking other people’s crap and just focus on yourself! That’s all you need to be concerned about!
“We can grow, birth, and nurture children so they can grow up to be healthy adults.”
Q: Tell us about yourself.
A: My name is Kelsey Gilliland. Born and raised in Ohio, but I have been blessed to travel to many different countries and learn about other cultures and ways of life. My husband, Jonathan, and I have been married for 5 years now, and we are blessed with two radiant little girls that give us purpose for each day.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ and love sharing His love to those around me. First to my family and second to the rest of you!
I am a Liberty University alumni and certified health education specialist. I love educating mothers on breastfeeding and postpartum health. Additionally, I am a blogger and course creator! Passions of mine include raising my children well, having fun with my husband, helping those around me, getting outdoors for walks, hiking, or playing with my kids, horseback riding, and educating women on breastfeeding and postpartum health.
How did I get to where I am now? Long story short, my husband and I were going to be missionaries. We started support raising right before COVID, but couldn’t get above 25% support. We had been living with family for a year and a half and had our first daughter at the time. For the health and stability of our family, we decided to step down from missions and get settled in the USA.
During COVID, I started my blog, Motherhood, Baby & Me. The purpose of the blog is to educate mothers on breastfeeding and postpartum health. Everything I learned about breastfeeding and being a mother was learned through trial and error, which caused me a lot of stress. To spare mothers what I went through and to give them a foot up in the right direction, I created Motherhood, Baby & Me.
After we bought our own home and started getting settled in life, I created The Breastfeeding Accelerator Course. It is designed to give mothers answers to common breastfeeding challenges. No mother needs to spend her precious time and energy stressing over finding answers to milk supply, engorgement, colic, baby’s growth, weaning, etc. She needs to have clear answers at her fingertips so she can be placed in a position to succeed in her breastfeeding journey! One of the number one struggles I see mothers dealing with is milk supply. I’ve also struggled with this and was able to boost my milk supply from 1oz to 4oz!
To help mothers overcome this challenge, I’ve created a free class to educate mothers on how to naturally boost milk production! Take advantage of my free class “3 Secrets To Naturally Boosting Milk Supply!” Click here to take advantage of this free class on naturally boosting your milk supply.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: What did my “younger years” look like? Well, I’m only 29, so I’m not old…yet! But past experiences that have shaped me into who I am today have definitely been my loving parents, supportive church, and tight friends in college (or lack of them in high school).
Two experiences stand out to me that I think are good to mention here. I studied abroad in Kenya, Africa, for 5 months while in college. So much of that trip I LOVED! The people, food, adventures of safari, riding elephants, walking with lions, seeing Victoria Falls (in Zimbabwe), and more!
However, during my time in Kenya, my teammate and I were robbed by six men with machetes. Thankfully, they only wanted our stuff and didn’t harm us physically, but I truly thought I was going to die at that moment. One of them yelled at me that he would kill me…but the Lord gave me the grace to think clearly and quickly. He even gave me an incredible amount of comfort during that whole ordeal. This happened in 2015, and to this day, I still have some PTSD from it. I cannot handle loud noises or lots of stress very well, but God is still my comfort and ROCK!
When I returned from Africa to college, I met Jonathan. I believe God used him to help me heal. Now, as my husband, he understands more of who I am, which I think is pretty cool.
A second life experience that has brought me to this point is becoming a mother! My babies are the light of my life! However, both of them were screaming devils when they were infants! Both of my babies screamed for 8 hours a day every day for months! With my first, I was about to go over the edge. I took her to the ER because I thought something was seriously wrong (yes! It’s NOT normal for an infant to cry for 8 hours a day every day!). They told me she was fine and told me to nurse in different positions.
I called the pediatric nurse on call and begged for something to help my baby to stop screaming. After hearing what I did to help soothe the colic she said, “You’re doing everything right…”
I even talked to a lactation consultant who didn’t notice my baby’s tongue tie or poor latch or knew how to help with the colic.
Fast forward three years and my firstborn is failing to thrive while my second is starting down the same road of screaming for eight hours a day. Her pediatrician (a different one than before) suspected Celiac Disease, a gluten allergy. So, I went home and cut out all gluten before we even had time to run any tests. Within two days my infant stopped screaming 100%! Yes! My infant completely stopped screaming! Within two months, my oldest was gaining weight, gaining energy, her stomach pain was going away, her appetite was back, and my heart was so relieved!
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: My motherhood started out SO rough! You know about the colic and only some of the breastfeeding challenges we faced. I haven’t told you about my 4th-degree tear, diastasis recti, hemorrhoids, or possible PPD! But those experiences happened to me so that I could use them to benefit you! My blog is a source of knowledge I’ve learned through these painful experiences. The Breastfeeding Accelerator Course was birthed out of my extremely difficult journey with breastfeeding so that other mothers wouldn’t have to be placed down that road.
Now, serving those overseas is still a passion of mine and my husband. To fulfill that longing, when someone purchases the Breastfeeding Accelerator Course, a part of the purchase goes towards helping educate women in India on pregnancy health!
This is done through Crosspoint Of India. The woman who runs the pregnancy center I have personally met and worked with in India.
So, if you or someone you know is searching for answers to breastfeeding challenges, take advantage of the Breastfeeding Accelerator Course! You will be a blessing not only to yourself and your baby but also to a mother and her baby in India!
Q: What does feminism mean to you? A: True femininity displays compassion, love, kindness, and strength to those around her. Females compliment males. We are able to help guide and support the men in our lives in an affirming, gentle way. To be female means we create and sustain life! We can grow, birth, and nurture children so they can grow up to be healthy adults.
Q and A with Lia from Bali, Indonesia & Brisbane, Australia
“Life’s about collecting experiences and learning from them.”
Q: Tell us about yourself.
A: I’m passionate about learning and teaching! I’m passionate about helping people progress in their lives, especially through technology. That’s why I’m running a non-profit organization called Remote Skills Academy as the CMO, and we are aiming to help young Indonesians to upskill and reskill with digital remote skills and help them to work remotely and live on their own terms. I’m also a founder coach. I’m helping founders work on their marketing strategy and also helping them gain online authority through their thought leadership so they can attract the right talents, partners, investors, and customers. I come from an IT background. I started my career as a web developer and then I built a few startups in the past. All of my startups are related to what I love the most, which is reading and writing. I’m a writer of 32 books, varied from fiction and non-fiction in Indonesia. I read a lot; I can read a few books in one day, and I enjoy reading non-fiction, mostly on self-development, productivity, and spirituality. Right now, I am really curious to learn about AI with Remote Skills Academy. We have classes and courses around AI. I’m experimenting a lot with generative AI, prompt engineering, and AI automation, and this is what I’m currently passionate about.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: I was brought up from island to island all over Indonesia by introverted parents who love reading. I guess growing up, I was surrounded by books and that’s how I fell in love with reading in the first place. One day, I read a comic book and then I fell in love with storytelling. I wanted to make my own comic at first and then the story grew and grew longer than the comic itself. That’s how I had the idea for the first time to be a writer. I started writing poetry and short stories when I was 11, and I wanted to try to showcase my poetry. My dad at that time, imagine Indonesia in 1997–the internet was a very, very new thing, nobody had it, but my dad bought me a laptop and then connected me to the internet. Soon enough, I found a community and I got inspired to build a website to showcase my poetry. That’s basically the beginning of the story of my involvement in the technology industry. I built my first website when I was 13, and I still want to become a writer, but then my parents being protective of their daughter, they wanted me to study engineering instead. I listened to them and took IT in university, and then I graduated to become a web developer handling big clients’ projects. While working as a web developer, I was able to build this tech solution for clients, so I wanted to build my own tech solution around my passion. The first one was an online bookstore, the second one was an online print-on-demand platform, and the third one was a digital storytelling platform where writers can write per chapter and monetize per chapter. So, the way that my dad gives me access to technology has helped me to start this career in tech.
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: At 40, I’ve seen life’s highs and lows. Challenges are just lessons in disguise. There’s always a silver lining, even if it’s hidden for now. And when in doubt? Experiment. Dive in, and try things out. Life’s about collecting experiences and learning from them. Choose what lights up your soul.
Q: What does feminism mean to you? A: As the cofounder of Girls in Tech Indonesia, my perspective on feminism revolves around embracing our unique qualities as women, especially in the tech industry. It’s about ensuring equal opportunities, rights, and access, especially in male-dominated sectors like technology. Feminism is about shattering biases and showcasing diverse perspectives in tech. It’s about creating an inclusive culture and policies that promote women’s participation.
MORE ABOUT LIA: I currently split my time between Bali, Indonesia, and Brisbane, Australia, leading a remote team. I consider myself a productivity enthusiast, always exploring tools and frameworks to enhance efficiency. I’m currently writing a book titled “Creative Waiting.” “Creative Waiting” is a book about how to transform waiting from a passive and frustrating state into an active and productive one. On how to use waiting as a creative opportunity, a chance to reflect, plan, and act with more clarity and confidence. It shows you how to embrace waiting as a natural and inevitable part of life, and hopefully, from this space, you will take inspired actions in your best interests. Additionally, I’m deeply influenced by stoic philosophy and have translated and edited Marcus Aurelius’ “Meditations” for the Indonesian audience. I always believe Indonesians are mostly stoic at heart. They’re kind and patient, see people in a good light, and have unconditional trust in God. This has helped them to be stoic in most situations in life and more at peace.
Q and A with Tina from South Carolina, United States
“Your foremost purpose should center around aiding others.”
Q: Tell us about yourself.
A: I am deeply committed to witnessing people achieve victory in their endeavors. My expertise lies in empowering entrepreneurs and podcasters to unlock the full potential of their brands, bolster their credibility, and exert influence through the dynamic realm of podcasting. Drawing from a rich background as a radio personality, a content creator spanning a decade, and a producer/host of a streaming TV show featured on IMDb, my true passion lies in the realm of podcasting.
In my perspective, podcasting stands as a potent equalizer, bridging the gap between small startups and established giants in the business world. The reach, marketing capabilities, access, and exposure that podcasting offers are immeasurable and enduring. Crafting, nurturing, expanding, and participating in a multitude of podcasts is akin to having your business prominently displayed on a perpetual billboard, visible every day of the year across diverse cities, states, countries, and towns. Podcasting is an ever-awake platform, facilitating seamless and enduring connections that eternally preserve the essence of your life, business, pivotal moments, and opportunities. Being a podcast host or a guest ensures an enduring relevance and consistency that extends months and even years beyond the initial podcast release, channeling an unceasing impact and guiding individuals toward a wealth of opportunities.
At present, my focus is directed toward assisting entrepreneurs in transforming their businesses into podcasting ventures, thereby cultivating multiple streams of income. In tandem, I am also extending this guidance to podcasters through the conduit of CTR Media Network. A revolutionary bastion of podcasting, CTR Media Network reaches an astounding 350 million households worldwide across major podcasting, media, and streaming platforms. Our distinctive approach centers on education, unwavering support, and unfettered access for ordinary individuals, entrepreneurs, and podcasters who are catalyzing extraordinary change, even if their audience or visibility may not yet reflect their significance.
Within the vibrant tapestry of CTR Media Network, an ensemble of exceptional podcasters crafts high-quality shows throughout the week, engineered to steer you toward triumph. With time, we elevate our podcasters’ Click Through Rates (CTRs) and pave the way for multifarious opportunities by affiliating them with the CTR Media Network brand. Our disruptive ethos is reshaping the podcasting media landscape, empowering podcasters and content creators to take the reins of their journey. Our podcasters embody a unique blend of perspectives and values, rendering multi-dimensional benefits.
Open accessibility is at the core of our mission. We extend a global invitation for individuals worldwide to partake in the enriching content of our podcasters, free of charge, across diverse platforms such as our CTRMediaNetwork.com website, social media channels, podcasting platforms, and RokuTV. As we forge ahead, we are diligently expanding our horizons, opening up manifold opportunities for brands, businesses, podcasters, and entrepreneurs to collaborate with us. Whether through hosting in-person or virtual events, sponsorship affiliations, featuring as a guest on our illustrious CTR Media Network Virtual Interview Tour, engaging us for speaking engagements and webinar training, or securing advertising space for commercials, blogs, social media promotion, magazines, and more, our partnership possibilities are boundless. Together, we can redefine the contours of success in the podcasting universe.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: From an early juncture in my life, I harbored an unwavering desire to occupy a role that could catalyze positive change and lend a voice to those who remained unheard. As an only child growing up in the embrace of a close-knit circle of family and friends within a quaint small town, the world appeared vast and brimming with potential. However, as I matured, an increasing realization began to dawn upon me: the confines of our town were more restricting than I had initially perceived—not in terms of the richness of our community’s spirit, but in the realm of access and opportunity.
Our town, while teeming with remarkable individuals—seasoned pioneers who reshaped destinies, youthful dreamers unafraid to chase their aspirations and unsung middle-aged leaders—exhibited a certain warmth emanating from knowing virtually everyone. This warmth, however, was tinged with the melancholic awareness of limitations that often accompanied such an intimate setting. My formative years were enriched by biographies and biblical tales; I wasn’t a child engrossed in Dr. Seuss but rather captivated by the chronicles of lives lived. The narratives recounted by our elders about history’s pages enthralled me, and my dedication to community service alongside my family, facilitating literacy and tutoring, further ingrained a culture of giving back.
Within my family, we cultivated a tradition centered around service to God, aiding others, harmonizing through song and dance, relishing in shared meals, and weaving tales of the day and yesteryears. The prospect of absorbing the sagas of the past from those who had traversed time’s tapestry left me yearning for moments when I could sit at the feet of my elders, friends, and family, absorbing their narratives. Thus, with their consent, I transmuted their stories into the written word—embellishing them through poems and anecdotes, ensuring their enduring presence. The gratification and boundless joy this brought me were immeasurable. Observing individuals who had triumphed over adversity and accomplished remarkable feats became a wellspring of inspiration, stirring not only my earthly senses but also nurturing my spiritual connection.
My ardor for teaching and sharing knowledge burgeoned, eventually leading me to the path of becoming an educator. I aspired to be a purveyor of inspiration, a beacon of empowerment to surmount challenges, and a resounding voice of confidence that nurtured belief within my students, as well as my esteemed colleagues. The tapestry of my life, woven with threads of volunteerism and spiritual devotion, endowed me with an acute acumen for attentive listening, allowing me to hear not merely with my ears, but with the very chambers of my heart. This ability, combined with an innate propensity for action and support, matured through the crucible of experience.
Growing up amidst the confines of a small town, I came to comprehend the profundities of community on a profound level. This upbringing impelled me to plumb the depths of communal engagement, channeling my efforts to ensure a lasting positive impact.
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: It’s crucial for everyone to recognize that life, in its essence, is far from easy. And should you choose to embark on the entrepreneurial journey, brace yourself for an even tougher road. Success is a blend of victories and setbacks, and it’s important not to let these setbacks, which I often refer to as “teachable moments,” impede your progress. Embrace the notion of starting anew and persisting, regardless of challenges.
I underwent a transformation where I had to release the shackles of past pain, trauma, and anguish. I had to rebuild my trust and learn to seek and accept assistance from the right sources. As your business evolves, be mindful that there comes a juncture where individual effort alone won’t suffice. This is when investing in additional education, coaching, and mentorship becomes indispensable. True success doesn’t blossom from a solitary endeavor but rather flourishes within a community of like-minded individuals, all ready and willing to aid you in your journey—your reciprocation becomes their aid in return. Forge enduring connections and grasp the pivotal principle: Your business isn’t crafted solely for monetary gain. Your foremost purpose should center around aiding others. Remember the dual “P” approach: prioritize people, with profits taking the rear seat. This mindset inevitably leads to financial rewards.
My mission is for others to realize that if I can triumph, so can they. I’m no different from anyone else; my strength lies in an unyielding spirit and the discipline to consistently show up, especially during the most arduous times.
Q: What does feminism mean to you? A: To me, it’s a fundamental principle that women should have equal visibility and voice across all spheres of life, with the unrestricted opportunity to thrive in any field they choose. Navigating the podcast media industry as a woman isn’t a straightforward path, yet I proudly stand here, actively contributing to forging a trail that invites other women to join our ranks. Through the dynamic medium of podcasting, we’re defying the odds in this male-dominated landscape and inviting fellow women to partake in amplifying their stories. Together, united in purpose, we can overcome challenges and blaze a trail toward success.
MORE ABOUT TINA:
Unveiling a lesser-known side of me, I’ve proudly worn the hats of a devoted wife for 22 years and a homeschooling mother to two teenagers…yes, you read that right, teenagers. In moments of leisure, you’ll often find me immersed in classic TV shows and serenaded by the nostalgic tunes of old-school music, donned in my cherished pair of pajamas, accompanied by a delightful bag of chips and dip. Amidst these cherished roles, I’m also a dedicated full-time podcaster and motivational speaker.
Allow me to introduce you to my podcast, an endeavor that resonates deeply with my passions and values. Moreover, I’ve authored two Amazon #1 Best Seller books and a magazine that I am thrilled to share with you. Now, let me shed light on my role as the Executive Producer and Host of The Tina Ramsay Show. With unwavering gratitude, I’ve witnessed this show flourish through over 200 episodes, currently in the midst of its captivating Season 8. This journey has led to not one, but two nominations for Podcaster of the Year – a distinction that holds profound meaning to me. Furthermore, our show has achieved a remarkable feat, securing a spot within the top 2% of the most popular podcasts amidst a staggering pool of over 3 million podcasters worldwide.
Harnessing the wealth of experience and insight garnered, I embarked on a mission to encapsulate this knowledge within the pages of a book. The result? “The Power of Podcasting” – a guide designed to empower you to launch and foster a successful podcast. This endeavor, alongside the creation of “Podcast Revolution Magazine,” has struck a resounding chord, ascending to Amazon’s coveted #1 Best Sellers list, where they continue to shine among the top 100.
Hailing from a quaint small town, I embarked on a quest to channel my dreams into a vessel of global impact. This endeavor encompasses providing you with the platform and tools to share your stories, whether through The Tina Ramsay Show or by joining the ranks of podcasters on CTR Media Network. I’ve come to recognize firsthand the boundless might of your voice and how it can resonate powerfully through the realm of podcasting.
The Woman Wednesday Blog 