Two Gals and a Mic

Tara Nyikos: Cowboy Mounted Shooting Winner and Veteran Champion

With a heart for adventure, Tara Nyikos, PhD., is an Air Force Veteran who lives in the Colorado mountains and volunteers her time as the Denver Chapter lead for Patrol Base Abbate. 
Tara is a Cowboy Mounted Shooting National Champion who is not afraid to be vulnerable and explore new things in the pursuit of helping Veterans find connection and purpose.
Now she is using her experience and passion to create a lasting legacy where people will say, "Tara had a heart of service, and she served others well."
For more information on Patrol Base Abbate, or Tara's fundraising efforts for the 2024 program, visit: https://donate.pbabbate.org/fundraiser/5102016 

Katie Dahlheim: Creating a Kindness Army One Blessing Box at a Time

Katie Dahlheim is dedicated to helping resolve some of the food insecurity issues that plague South Carolina's Lowcountry. Almost a decade ago, she implemented The Lowcountry Blessing Box Project, which is a network of more than 400 anonymous food donation sites around the state, with the motto "Leave what you can, take what you need." 
In this week's episode, prepare to be inspired by this mom and practicing attorney who took an idea and made it blossom into a network that helps feed roughly 65,000 people per year. 
If you're interested in creating Blessing Boxes in your community, you can access Katie's step-by-step blueprint for establishing a network of free pantries in your neighborhood: Building a Kindness Army: The Passionate Fight against Food Insecurity 
CLICK HERE to learn more about The Lowcountry Blessing Box project. 
 

Erin McMicheal: Exploring Empathy and Vulnerability With Both Two-Legged and Four-Legged Friends

As an emergency dispatcher for the better part of 15 years, and suffering an unspeakable trauma while on the job, Erin McMicheal changed course and became an equine therapy instructor to help Veterans and military members who struggle with PTSD. 
Now, as the Self-directed Harm Prevention Specialist for the Washington National Guard, Erin uses her history and experience to help normalize mental health end encourage help-seeking behavior. 
Erin continues to practice empathy and is learning vulnerability as she uses her pain to fuel passion, which includes developing her 33-acre property, at the base of Mount Rainier, into a refuge and a place of healing. 

Karen Vasquez: What it Looks Like to Be Your Own Best Advocate

Karen Vasquez, a Navy Veteran and Veteran's healthcare aficionado, talks about what it looks like to be your own best advocate.
Despite battling sexual harassment and gender inequality during her time in the military, and then learning to live with an unexpected medical diagnosis that would prove to be life-changing, Karen found humor to be her best medicine. 
Now, as a comedienne and staunch advocate for women Veterans, Karen is sharing her story about learning to live with a chronic illness with the hope of helping others ask better questions and giving people permission to laugh at life's scary things. 
Connect with Karen on Instagram (@karenovasquez).

Jamicka Edwards: Giving Grace and Space to Show Us That We All Matter

On this week's show, I sit down with Jamicka Edwards, who is a proud Army Veteran, published author and marathon runner.
For more than a decade, Jamicka has been on a quest to ensure everyone knows their purpose in life and know they matter. In 2014, she published You Matter, What would living in your purpose everyday look like? and created a follow-on book tour to help people discover their purpose and live in it every day. 
Jamicka is also an avid marathon runner who started running to heal from her divorce and rediscover herself. Now, with 6 marathons, 40 Half Marathons, a 50k, and the distance of running 42 miles in one day for her 42nd birthday under her belt, Jamicka is on a mission to take her passion to the 2024 Boston Marathon as a charity runner, raising funds for the NEWTON POLICE MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION!
If you'd like to support Jamicka on her Boston Marathon journey, check out her fundraising page!

Sydney Abbott: Flying, Fly Fishing and Following Your Dreams

On this week's episode, I have the pleasure of sitting down with Sydney Abbott, a 22-year-old Kentucky native, who is building roots in Montana as a fly fishing guide and instructor. 
Sydney shares her best advice on being a trailblazer and living a life with no regrets. With a balance of spontaneity and thoughtful consideration, Sydney talks about the choices that have led her to chase her dreams and pursue ambitious goals, including the path to becoming a pilot.  
So, how do you live a life without regret? Sydney's best advice is to acknowledge your fears, rely on family, and know that life is short and you only have one go-around to do the things you want to do! So...get after it! 

Tricia Augeri: Turning Trauma into Triumph

On this week's episode, Tricia Augeri shares her journey on navigating through two toxic relationships and turning the trauma of those events into triumph. 
Tricia is now on a journey to find herself and help other women embrace what they've been designed to do. With the knowledge of her God-given calling and passions, Tricia shares ways we can establish boundaries, not allow other people's thoughts or action define us, and live into who we are designed to be!
 

Karen Cook: Using Art and Innovation to Help Heal our Heroes

This week, I sat down with Air Force Veteran, Karen Cook, to chat about innovative and creative ways she uses art, volunteers and the Internet to help our nation's Heroes heal. 
With a background in humanitarian work, disaster response, and Veteran and Armed Forces programming, Karen is helping us all understand that taking chances is a necessary part of doing business. In our conversation, we discover that when we try those things that are calling to us - even if they seem interesting, or maybe even a little crazy, they often can blossom into opportunities larger and more impactful than we ever could have imagined! 

Jennifer Parscal: Putting the WE Before the ME

On this week's episode, I sit down with Jennifer Parscal, a self-proclaimed organized chaos expert, who shares her insights and inspiration as the spouse of a now-retired Green Beret, who served for almost two decades as a Special Forces Operator in the U.S. Army Special Forces. 
While supporting her household and husband through multiple combat deployments, Jen found her footing and employed creativity to juggle the needs of her family with her personal health and fitness goals, including qualifying for the Boston Marathon five times.
In 2022, her husband retired from the Army and Jen and her family relocated to Bozeman, Montana, where she now runs a professional cleaning and organizing company and continues to be a positive role model for her three kids, who are now 16, 14, and 11 years old. 
Jen firmly believes that you CAN have it all if you approach life with the mindset that, "There's no I anymore. It's a WE thing. You put the WE before the ME."  And that's how she finds success. 

Steph Albano: A Finatical Flyfisherwoman

Have you ever considered going on a fly fishing adventure - even as a SOLO angler? On this week's episode, I chat with Steph Albano, the founder and owner of Finatical Flyfishing, which focuses on flyfishing travel for women, by women. 
Steph has enjoyed flyfishing travel most of her life and built these experiences around knowledgeable, skilled, high quality guide operations and amazing locations.
Steph's best piece of life advice? "Just do it. Stepping out of your comfort zone is hard and sometimes does require a leap of faith. One step does lead to another opportunity. Once you leap, you'll experience more than you imagined and enjoy a life you might not have thought possible."
Ready to take the leap? Book your bucket list adventure here: www.finaticalflyfishing.com

Carrie Fuller: Standing Out and Making Waves

In this first episode of 2024, I chat with Carrie Fuller, a first responder, yoga instructor and paramedic. As a 23-year professional in the fire service, Carrie says that it took her a long time to accept standing out and making waves...even if it was for the right reasons. Now this mother of two is on a mission to leave a legacy which provides first responders with the tools and practices they need to turn resilience into more than just a buzz word.
Carrie is a role model to her families at home and at the firehouse by proving that we are all stronger than we think and have the power to work through whatever stressors life throws our way.
As we head full-throttle into a new year, she offers these Words of Wisdom to help us all find our gifts and, with purpose, give them away: "Self-awareness doesn't stop you from making mistakes - it allows you to learn from them. Follow the spark inside of you because life is too short to not be living and doing what fills you up."

Kim Thompson: Helping People Navigate Their Last Days On Earth

As we close out 2023, I speak with Kim Thompson, a hospice nurse and woman of faith who pours out her compassion and love to help people - and their loved ones - navigate their last days on earth. 
With death comes rebirth and, now that the New Year is on the horizon, Kim and I talk about change, intentionality and what it means to be brave.
Kim's advice on being brave? "Never give up. Setbacks happen but you have to keep working hard to realize your dreams."
As she notes, life is so precious and it's about forgiving, moving on, getting past the hurts and showing love. Anything worth having is a lot of work. But, it's worth it. 

Shannon Stroup: Leading With Love

On this week's episode of Two Gals and a Mic, I'm chatting with Shannon Stroup, a U.S. Air Force Veteran with 3 combat tours under her belt, about growing through the tough stuff so you can get to the good stuff! 
As she shares her journey of hope and healing, Shannon offers her wisdom and nuggets of knowledge about wellness practices and self-care methods which have been proven to help people from all walks of life navigate through trauma so they may lead beautiful, purposeful and meaningful lives. 
Shannon currently works in the non-profit sector, teaching the concept of Post Traumatic Growth (#ptg) to Veterans and First Responders. When she isn't on the road teaching #ptg, Shannon is busy gearing up for motherhood as she and her wife prepare to welcome their first child! 
Shannon's best advice? "Always show yourself a little grace and lead, in all scenarios, with love. This life is short, make it count."
If you are interested in finding out more about the science and study of Post Traumatic Growth, visit the American Psychological Association's website for more information.
If you, or someone you know, is experiencing an acute mental health crisis, please reach out for help. You may contact the National Crisis and Suicide Hotline at 988 for immediate assistance. 

Renee Spears: Spiritual Mentor, Spirit Guide Channeler, and Podcast Host

This week, I chat with Renee Spears, who is a Spiritual Mentor, a Spirit Guide Channeler and the host of The Abundology Podcast. 
 
Join us in this enlightening conversation about practical ways to cultivate gratitude, remain present and tap into our inner peace so we may lean into healthy, happy lives that are filled with purpose. 
 
Regardless of spiritual or religious affiliation, Renee's inclusive work helps people from all backgrounds and beliefs achieve clarity and spiritually evolve with help from their spirit guides (or angels, depending on your preference).   
 
Want to learn more? Connect with Renee through her website and follow her on YouTube for more practical advice on living in alignment and trusting ourselves to take that next right step. 

Stacy McKinney: Army Veteran, Special Education Professional and Adoptive Mom

Join me this week as I talk to Army Veteran Stacy McKinney, who shares her struggles and sacrifices about trying to become an adoptive parent while managing multiple deployments, including three tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.
After years of trying and finding her efforts thwarted due to her deployment status, Stacy finally succeeded with her longtime dream of becoming a mom. 
Now, retired from the Army, Stacy uses her gifts to work with a variety of special education children in the middle school setting while happily juggling home life as a single mom of two. 
Stacy's best piece of advice for anyone who is seeking a little EXTRA?
"If you have a dream don’t stop trying to achieve it. I always wanted to be a mom and I was 39 when i was able to achieve that dream."

Cheri’ Ben-Iesau: Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer, Artist and Entrepreneur

Join me this week as I speak to the first African American female Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer, Cheri' Ben-Iesau, from BIG BRANCH APIARY - her blueberry farm on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, LA. 
After duty stations in San Diego, Louisville, Baton Rouge, Houston, and New Orleans she retired, nearly 25 years later and wrote the book, The Long September, which chronicles her experience inside City Hall as a first responder during Hurricane Katrina.   
Now Cheri' is applying her talents and passions to run a U-Pick farm complete with honey, eggs, chickens, flowers and blueberries along the Tammany Trace bike trail.  
Cheri' is also a renowned artist whose artwork has been in the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, numerous gallery exhibits, and her work is routinely featured at Ariodante Gallery in New Orleans.

Shannon Phelan: ICU Nurse and Clinical Instructor

On this week's episode, registered nurse and clinical instructor, Shannon Phelan, shares her insights, practical advice and ideas for implementing wellness and self-care practices to be able to struggle well through life's ebbs and flows so we all may do better today than we did yesterday. 
 
Shannon has a passion for training the upcoming generation of health care providers and addressing the need for mental health support for both new and seasoned health care professionals. With a background in ICU nursing and social work, Shannon is on a mission to navigate a complex medical system so providers may receive mental health care access and navigate the traumas that are often associated with the profession.  
 
Shannon's Reading List:
The Last House Guest
A Little Life
Struggle Well 
 
and an extra...
Man's Search for Meaning 

Donna Andreassi: Powerlifting Champion and Spartan Race Finisher

Donna Andreassi is an Air Force Veteran and Montana and Louisiana powerlifting champion, who has a passion for mentoring others, spending time with her grandkids and following her dreams. 
Join us as we discuss Spartan Racing, therapy dog training, and what it takes to work towards achieving your goals - even when that means reworking the plan time and time again. 
Want to know more? You can connect with Donna through LinkedIn.

Carolina Hernandez: Fashion Designer and CEO, Veteran Couture

On this Veterans Day, I'm excited to feature my first guest, Carolina Hernandez, who is a Navy Veteran and CEO and founder of Veteran Couture. With a creative passion for fashion design, and a heart for community engagement, Carolina blends her diverse background, military experiences and sense of style to create fashion masterpieces that she describes as "wearable art".
When Carolina is not busy developing new fashion designs, which have been published in local and international fashion magazines, she is an advocate for developing female entrepreneurs and empowering Latina women business owners.  
More info on Carolina's designs may be found at www.veterancoutureart.com
 
 

Welcome to the Show!

Welcome to the "Two Gals and a Mic" podcast, which aims to highlight the extraordinary accomplishments of seemingly ordinary women.
But, make no mistake, the women on this show are anything but ordinary. In fact, in these conversations we will explore how entrepreneurs, leaders, mothers, first responders, Veterans, and passionate dream-followers are balancing life, family and work as they tap into their unique gifts and abilities and create anything but ordinary lives.
Thanks for coming along as we launch this wild adventure and talk to strong and amazing women who, at first glance, may seem ordinary, but, when we take a closer look, are doing the extraordinary.