TOMGIRL with J.J. Jurgens

“I have two styles, full glam and dirty.” - Angela Rickerson

 On this episode, we’re talking cocktails and off-roading with Angela Rickerson. Angela is the bar manager at one of Seattle’s top restaurants, Copine, a Top 5 finisher for the coveted James Beard Outstanding Restaurant award in 2023. When she’s not creating delicious drinks, you can find her exploring the outdoors and tackling rugged terrain in her Jeep, Ronda Rhino. A massive contributor to the women’s off-road community, Angela leads other females on adventures and enjoys fostering female empowerment and strength. She’ll also be competing in this year’s Rebelle Rally.

Tune in as she shares tips on making her favorite cocktails and mocktails, discusses being a female in a male dominated field, and gives insight to the fun and adventurous world of off-roading!

“I’m trying to keep the spirit of those original rowdy fans alive, that’s what I’m about.” – Lynn “Weirdwolf” Schmidt

Super Bowl Sunday is almost here and to get you fired up for the big game is one of the most iconic members of Kansas City’s wolfpack, Lynn “Weirdwolf” Schmidt!  For twenty-four seasons, Lynn has been dressing up as Weirdwolf for Kansas City Chiefs games and encouraging fans to get rowdy! He even coined the phrase “Decibel Up” which led to the fans setting the Guinness World Record title for the world’s loudest stadium at 142.2 decibels. In 2002, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as the ultimate fan for that year. Last season, he attended the Super Bowl and cheered his team on to victory, even appearing in Apple Music’s commercial for Rihanna’s halftime show.

In this episode, he’ll talk about his journey with the Chiefs and their fans, give a look inside his gameday activities, and give advice to anyone out there dreaming of becoming the ultimate fan for their favorite team.

“We feel like we’re a special breed of women. We’re yes women, we’re risk takers, we’re people with special hobbies and just maybe a little bit more grit and badassery.” – Team 102

 They’re baaaack! Fresh off competing in the 2023 Rebelle Rally, Jolene Bibian and Adriana Dorothy are here to tell us all about their epic adventure!  The Rebelle Rally is the longest competitive off-road race in the United States, which also happens to be just for women. Sixty-five teams competed over eight days, traveling over 2,120 kilometers, through two states with no GPS, no cell phones, and no support crews. With Jolene as the driver and Adriana as the navigator, they made up rookie Team 102: Pivot & Persist, and they learned how to do just that over the grueling endurance competition.

In this episode they’ll discuss their training and preparation for the event as well as share their experiences, from the highs to the lows, to the unexpected discoveries along the way.  They’ll also talk about how the Rally has changed them and given them a lasting feeling of empowerment and the confidence to tackle life’s challenges.

“I’ve always been able to be very truthful with myself when I write, and it’s been this safe, nurturing space for me.” Nicole Sophia

Santa Barbara native Nicole Sophia has been writing songs since she was nine years old.  It was during the pandemic however, after hours of writing songs in a shed, that she discovered it was really her true calling and the passion she wanted to pursue for her career. Now, she just signed with Voracious Records and has her first album, Reveal Your Heart, releasing on January 12th.

In this episode, Nicole talks about her career, her life-long battle with severe OCD, and her journey to define her sexuality.  She openly dives into the raw emotion and vulnerability behind her song lyrics and talks about navigating love and learning how to show up as her authentic self. She also discusses methods she uses to help manage her OCD and offers advice to others.  For anyone looking to travel to Santa Barbara, you also won’t want to miss her insider tips for all the must dos!

“Sometimes you have to stretch and dream bigger than you can even imagine to accomplish the things that you want to in your life.”– Brenda VanLengen

Brenda VanLengen is an Emmy-award winning sports broadcaster who has announced over 1200 women’s basketball games in her career. She’s worked for conferences such as the Big 12, SEC and Big 10 and for major outlets including ESPN and Fox Sports. Prior to broadcasting she coached at the University of Nebraska and was a former college athlete herself, playing basketball at Kearney State College. Now, she’s executive producer of the docuseries, If Not For Them, an epic story of the forgotten women who changed the world through their love of basketball.  The docuseries dives into the history of women’s basketball and uncovers many great historical facts and entertaining stories, told through the eyes of the legendary women who lived them.

In this episode, Brenda talks about the making of the docuseries and shares the incredible stories she discovered in the process.  She also gives an inside look at her journey to becoming one of the top female sports broadcasters in the business and offers advice for those looking to pursue a career in broadcasting.

“’Let’s do this journey in a beautiful way.” – Suzana Pires

 Suzana Pires is an award-winning actress, writer, producer, entrepreneur, author, and champion for women. She created the women’s empowerment organization Dona de Si in Brazil with an aim to increase the number of women leaders in all sectors of the Brazilian economy and create a place for women to cultivate the life they deserved. Now, she is expanding her reach globally to help women worldwide uncover their inner power with her new book, Unleashed. The book guides readers toward a path of personal growth and is a call to action to take control of your own destiny and create your own opportunities.

Suzana is one of the most celebrated and respected actresses in Brazil as well as Brazil’s first actress to also serve as a showrunner. She has starred in dozens of films, TV series, and plays.  In addition to acting, she has been a featured contributor for Marie Claire Brazil, Vogue Brazil, and Forbes Brazil.

In this episode, Suzana gives us all the details on her exciting new book, talks about her journey and passion for women’s empowerment, and offers tips on how unleash your power within and create the life you deserve.

“If you have a dream you have to say, ‘I’m going to do it’.” – Natalie Burn

Natalie Burn was born in Kyiv, Ukraine and from a young age, dreamed of being a movie star.  She spent her childhood devoted to dance and became a professional ballerina who trained with the Royal Ballet School and performed with the Bolshoi Ballet.  But the acting bug kept biting, so she bought a one-way ticket to Los Angeles to pursue her dream.  Now, with numerous films and acting projects under her belt, she can be seen starring in the just released action-packed indie film TIL DEATH DO US PART. Natalie portrays a runaway bride who ends up having to fight off angry groomsmen to survive, a role that demanded an intense amount of physicality and Natalie impressively does all her own stunts. Natalie is also a producer for the film and has her own production company BORN TO BURN films.

In this episode, Natalie talks about the film and the training required to perform all those killer stunts, the lessons she learned from ballet and how it continues to impact her life, and offers advice for aspiring actors. She also discusses her goal to create films with badass roles for women with her production company and how she wants women (especially those who have fled Ukraine) to feel empowered to live a life they deserve.

“I cannot stop creating, wandering, or loving the natural world.”

– Adele NG

For over 15 years, Adele NG worked in the entertainment industry creating visual effects for projects like blockbuster Marvel films, Disney movies, and television shows.  But after years of putting in long hours at the office, adventure came calling.  She decided to answer the call and gave up her job to pursue her passion for photography and the outdoors. She created her business, Red Bark Photography and began capturing epic pictures of people, their pets, and nature. Now a social media sensation with her @mywhiskeygirl Instagram account, Adele invites followers to come along on her adventures as she explores mountains, lakes, and trails with her two beloved Vizslas, Whiskey and Bourbon.

In this episode, Adele talks about her journey to discovering her passion, offers advice on how you can turn your furry best friend into a rockstar adventure buddy, and gives tips on some of the best adventure dog gear out there. She also discusses how she plans for long backcountry hikes, her favorite trails, and the confidence she gains from getting outside and conquering those mountains.

 #vizsla #vizslagram #photography #outdoors #adventure #canada #doglife #hiking #wanderer #getoutside #tomgirl

“No one’s path is going to be your path, my path, his path, so find your own and just stick with it.” – Kearran Giovanni

 Kearran Giovanni originally planned on becoming a doctor. But, after falling in love with acting her path changed and she found herself on Broadway.  She starred in numerous productions like Sweet Charity (opposite Christina Applegate), On Broadway (with Hugh Jackman), Tarzan, Catch Me If You Can, and Anything Goes. She then made her way to television and has gotten to play a variety of roles ranging from a detective to a supervillain. Her credits include Major Crimes, The Rookie, Black Lightning, Designated Survivor and many more. She currently can be seen in the CW hit series Walker. 

As a kid, she grew up dancing and competing in gymnastics. Now, she brings that athleticism and competitive nature to her roles, performing her own stunts whenever she can.  In this episode, she discusses her various roles, how she uses the lessons she learned from sports in her profession, gives advice to aspiring actors, and talks about her passion for cooking and travel.

“I live for this. I just am a dirt gremlin. I love to be out in the desert. I love to be behind the wheel. I love maps and compasses and getting from point A to point B.” – Adriana Stovall

Adriana Stovall is an environmental scientist, off-roader, surfer, snowboarder, dispersed camper, and solo backpacker. She is also a member of Team Pivot + Persist and is competing in this year’s Rebelle Rally, the longest competitive off-road race in the United States that just happens to be entirely for women.

Adriana’s enthusiasm for the outdoors began after giving birth to her son who has been “a whirlwind of dirt and boogers since the day he popped out of the womb.”  Adriana quickly realized the outdoors was the only place her kid belonged, and so the adventures began.  Her love for the outdoors has grown and grown and now she is also using her voice to encourage women and women of color to embrace the outdoors and start exploring.

In this episode, she’ll talk about her preparation for the Rebelle Rally, some of her favorite hikes, how nature heals and builds inner strength, and the confidence and comradery that comes from stepping out of your comfort zone and finding your tribe.

“Women rule. We can compete on a bigger stage than we think.” - Rachel Entrekin

Rachel Entrekin is an ultra runner who has competed in marathons, fixed time ultras and standard race ultras, bringing home numerous first female finishes as well as a first outright finish at the Plain 100, beating all the boys as well.  She also holds FKTs (Fastest Known Time) on numerous trails including the Wonderland Trail, Rae Lakes Loop, and theTrans-Catalina Trail. She loves smashing stereotypes about women in endurance sports and crushing these epic runs.

In this episode, Rachel talks about discovering her passion for running after seeking treatment for an eating disorder in high school, gives tips on how to mentally and physically endure long runs, and shares her favorite trail run destinations for getting lost in nature.

“Do the work and then believe in yourself and let it go.”

– Julie Tolivar

Julie Tolivar is multi-hyphenate performer whose recent credits include the new FX series Fleishman is in Trouble and the hit NBC series Law & Order: Organized Crime.  She began her acting career at an early age in the theatre and has performed in numerous on and off-Broadway shows, even winning the prestigious Kevin Kline award for Best Actress in a Musical for her work in Crazy for You.

In this episode she’ll talk about what it was like working on Fleishman is in Trouble alongside Jesse Eisenberg, her acting journey, lessons she learned along the way, and offer advice to aspiring actors. She’ll also talk about balancing motherhood and her career, and her philanthropy work with Women to the Front, an organization that does fundraising for small nonprofits that support women. Fun fact, she’s also a self-proclaimed lover of boats and oysters!

“I want women to have that same feeling I have when I show up to the Rubicon trail and show up those assholes who think I can’t do it. I want other women to have that feeling. I want them to move from the passenger’s seat to the driver’s seat and have their boyfriend ride shotgun.”

– Shelby Hall

Shelby Hall is an off roader, driver, adventurer, Team Bronco Ambassador, and rising star in the racing world. The granddaughter of Baja racing legend Rod Hall, Shelby started out as a little girl helping her grandfather as his navigator. But once she was big enough to drive on her own, it was on!  She has competed in numerous endurance races including The Baja 1000 and the Rebelle Rally, which she won in 2020. Shelby is a huge advocate for women and getting more women behind the wheel. She works as a trainer for Rebelle U and Overland Expo helping women gain driving knowledge and fuel their passion for off road adventure.

In this episode, Shelby talks about her journey, leaving a 9 to 5 to follow her dreams, and becoming a Team Bronco Ambassador. She also gives tips and advice for new drivers and shares some of her favorite trails and adventure spots.

“I like to go at things that make me scared.“ – Virginia Hamilton

Virginia Hamilton is a voiceover rockstar. Currently she can be heard on The View, Windy City LIVE, and on over 20+ news stations across the country. As the live announcer for some of the biggest events in sports and entertainment, including the ESPYs and the On The Red Carpet show for the Oscars, she has been breaking down barriers for women in the voiceover world.

In this episode, Virginia will talk about her voiceover journey, the importance of advocating for yourself and asking for opportunities, and give tips on building a successful voiceover business. She’ll also share some of her favorite adventures such as surfing in Costa Rica and swimming with sharks!

“I’ll do anything to get to do this the rest of my life“ – Josh Ross

Josh Ross grew up an athlete, competing in hockey, football, and professional motocross. He received a scholarship to play football in college at Western University and dreamed of playing in the CFL. But after he found himself on the sidelines due to injuries, country music found its way into his heart. He poured that passion and dedication he had for sports into becoming a country music singer. Now, his songs have generated over 29 million global streams. His Gold-certified ballad “First Taste of Gone” soared onto the Top 5 Canadian Country Music Charts, he’s been on Spotify’s top country playlists in the US and #1 on Spotify Canada’s Viral 50 Chart, and was nominated for the Rising Star Award at the Canadian Country Music Awards. He also just performed at the Grey Cup Halftime Show alongside Jordan Davis and Tyler Hubbard.

In this episode, Josh talks about discovering his passion for country music, his journey to becoming one of country music’s hottest new artists, and how his athlete mentality has helped him navigate through it all.

“I didn’t sit back and hope something would happen…even if nothing comes of it I’m going to put in the legwork myself and not rely on hoping that external forces make it happen.“ – Jake Green

When Jake Green was 9 years old, his dad took him to see the NHL All Star Game in San Jose.  It was there he saw voiceover icon Rob Paulsen compete in the celebrity skills competition and he realized for the first time, there was an actual human who was behind his favorite cartoon character Yakko Warner from Animaniacs. He knew right then and there he wanted to act. Now, Jake is an award-winning actor who has been in shows such as the Netflix hit Dahmer, 9-1-1, Greys Anatomy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Catch. He has also followed in Rob’s footsteps and has voiced numerous different characters in projects such as Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild, Minions Rise of Gru, Animaniacs, and The Boss Baby: Back in Business. In addition to animation, he has voiced video games, national campaigns for major brands, and primetime network promos.

In this episode, Jake talks about his journey. From growing up playing Junior hockey in Canada, to pursuing acting and learning to use that athlete mentality to help him with his career. He also talks about lessons he’s learned, the importance of taking charge of your career, and offers advice for those looking to get into acting.

“Sports is the universal language so certainly, as a woman, sports has been able to bring me into many different conversations and has opened up so many doors for me.” - Marnie Schneider

Marnie Schneider comes from football royalty.  Her grandfather, Leonard Tose, was the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles and creator of the Ronald McDonald House.  Her mother Susan shattered glass ceilings as the first and only woman to be legal counsel, General Manager, and Vice President of a professional football team.  Growing up in this family, Marnie spent a lot of time traveling to games on a plane.  One day on a flight back to Philadelphia her Walkman ran out of batteries and her mom said, “Here’s a notepad. Start writing.”  And so she did.  On that flight she came up with the idea for her first book Football Freddie and Fumble the Dog. Now, she has turned the idea into an 8-book series, Gameday in the USA. Each book follows the loveable characters Football Freddie and Fumble the Dog as they travel to different cities learning about various NFL teams and the rich history and culture of each city. The books are a hit with kids and encourage them to experience the joy of reading, sports, and traveling to new cities.

In this episode, Marnie talks about the process of creating children’s books, embracing the challenges of being a caregiver to her mother with dementia and parent of a child diagnosed with cancer, the importance of giving back and being a cheerLEADER for others, and what it takes to embody that sports mentality and create a winning game plan to go after your dreams. She also talks about her appearance as Joyce the flight attendant in my favorite movie of all time, The Wedding Singer!

“There’s nothing really special or beautiful or precious in my life that has not come from taking a big risk.” - Bonnie Wallace

From the moment she left Bainbridge Island to head to Los Angeles, Bonnie Wallace has been on an adventure. She didn’t know where it was going to lead or what the outcome, but she took the risk. Now she has two daughters thriving in show business, actress/singer Dove Cameron and celeb voice coach Claire Hosterman, and she is a highly successful author, consultant, and podcast host. For her next adventure, she has created and just launched her new app based made-to-order phonics book program We Can Books. Inspired by books her father created as gifts for her daughters to encourage the love of reading, Bonnie is carrying on the family legacy. With a deep desire to be a force for good in the world, she is hoping to help other parents instill confidence in their children when it comes to reading.

In this episode, she talks about following your passion and being open to the adventure along the way, the importance of finding time to bond with kids and reading amidst a digital world, and creating the We Can Books program.

“The opportunities are there now. You have to go out and grab it.” – Jill Demby Guest

When Jill Demby Guest was a child, she loved writing and telling stories. She followed that passion along a very interesting trail (which included a stop working at Madison Square Garden) that has led her to become an Emmy-nominated producer, writer, and director. Her latest documentary, “And Now, Love,” is out now on major streamers and has won numerous festival awards. The film chronicles the story of Dr. Bernard W. Bail, a highly decorated Jewish WWII Veteran who was captured by the Nazis and saved by the secret love of his German nurse. Bail became a doctor and psychoanalyst who pioneered the “mother’s imprint,” a theory that advocates for the equality of women and pinpoints the origins of mental illness.

In this episode, Jill discusses the making of the film, the power of asking for what you want and going for it, and offers advice to aspiring filmmakers.

“It’s about the experience of the event and exploring these amazing places that we have in our country.” – Salem Stanley

Ten years ago, Salem Stanley had the idea that he wanted to create a running event that combined a race with an amazing destination, and what better destination than a National Park! He created Vacation Races and the first event took place in Zion. Now, his company is celebrating their 10th Anniversary and has events all around the country and world. From half marathons, to ultra marathons, to trailfests and global adventures, they offer all kinds of amazing races for all types of runners and adventurers set it some of the most breathtaking places on earth. Their company slogan is, “Join us, not to achieve a personal best time, but to have the best time of your life.”

In this episode, Salem talks about his experience bringing his passion project to life, the different races and locations, what to expect when you sign up for a race (and the feeling of being a complete badass when you finish), and offers advice for those who might be a little fearful to take the plunge.

“If you have a passion and it lights you up and you really want to pursue it, enjoy the process as much as possible by being true to yourself and learning as much as you can.”

Lauren Buglioli is a Los Angeles born actress with three big projects about to be released! She landed roles in Tyler Perry’s new film “A Jazzman’s Blues” on Netflix, “Florida Man” from Jason Bateman’s production company starring opposite Edgar Ramirez, and “Bad Monkey” with Vince Vaughn coming to Apple TV+. In this episode, she discusses working on each of these projects and her acting journey. She also speaks about her stance on body positivity and why she’s hoping to inspire others to not compare themselves to the filtered photos of social media, and how once she let go of the idea of who she should be and embraced herself as she was, she found that she was not only happier, but also began working more as an actor.

In addition to acting, she is also an accomplished equestrian and a former teacher. She is passionate about working with foster children and those with special needs and Heart Gallery is a project she devotes her time to.

“I’ve always been so viciously, insanely passionate about it (acting). I feel like that is why I was put on this earth…no matter what role, that is where I feel home, and that is where I feel the most powerful.”

Jess Val Ortiz found her passion for acting when she was a little girl and knew that’s what she wanted to do with her life. She was a musical theater major at Penn State University and is putting her skills to the test by performing in national and regional productions of some of Broadway’s most infamous shows, with recent appearances in “Spamilton: An American Parody”, “Drowsy Chaperone”, “Kinky Boots” and “Sister Act”. When Covid hit and theatres were shut down, she took her acting to a new outlet, social media, and became a content creator with now over 8 million followers!

In this episode, Jess talks about her acting career, her journey becoming a content creator, and gives tips on what it takes to become both a successful actor and influencer. She also dishes on her love of fitness and adventure!

“When you ride it, you feel good about yourself.”

In 2005, former Marine and Ironman triathlete Bryan Pate lost his ability to run for exercise. After being disappointed by cycling and waiting in line at the gym for an elliptical trainer, he set out to create a low-impact outdoor running device that would give him the results he was getting with running. With incredible tenacity and hard work, he brought his dream to life and created the ElliptiGO bike.

Now, his bikes are used by elite athletes, over 300 university athletic programs, celebrities, and fitness enthusiasts all over the world. There is an entire ElliptiGO community that rides together, shares their adventures, and meets for various competitive ElliptiGo events, such as the 5 Burroughs Ride that takes over the streets of New York City. “Within the family of ElliptiGO, there’s people who fight cancer, people who lose 100 pounds, who get off medications, who feel like they can run again. The letters we get and the positive energy that accrues around this experience has been overwhelming, “said Bryan.

In this episode, Bryan talks about what it took to create ElliptiGO, the challenges he faced along the way, lessons he learned about starting a new business, the lives that have been impacted by his bikes, and the ElliptiGo family he loves so much.

“Keep that dream in your mind and always look forward and stay positive.”

Amber Wang started out as a championship basketball player and has turned into an international fashion model. Her story is about drive, dedication, and discovering what you are truly passionate about. She originally set out to be a lawyer, but asked herself, “Is this something I will be passionate about for 30 years? Probably not.” She then told her mom to give her two years to make her modeling career happen.

That she did. Forty plus magazine publications later, including Glamour, InStyle, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle and L’Official, she is making her mark in the modeling industry.

In this episode, she talks about her journey, gives beauty and wellness tips, offers career advice for aspiring models, and dishes on her favorite adventure spot, Puerto Rico!

“I’m really who I am and not who people expect me to be on stage. Be uniquely yourself. “

Described as the “bi-racial boss lady with curves, curls and sass,” Anastasia Washington is an award-winning actress, comedian, podcaster, singer, writer, director, and curve model. Her career began when she was 3 years old and she put on an impromptu show for the crowd at Sea World. Immediately after, her mom get her an agent and she began acting in shows such as The Addams Family Movies and Die Hard 2.

Anastasia utilizes her platform to educate her audience about topics such as police brutality, eating disorders, and colorism. She incorporates her advocacy into her award-winning shorts including “What are you?” which touches on the struggles of expressing one’s identity as a person of mixed races, and “He Said, She Said” which tackles the topic of sexual assault. Anastasia constantly strives to take on these difficult topics and make the big changes needed through creative expression.

In this episode she talks about her journey, discoveries she’s made along the way, and what it takes to thrive in the entertainment industry. An avid workout and adventure enthusiast, she’ll also share her favorite workouts and travel spots.lo

“Do what is hard today. Do the impossible tomorrow.”

After years in the military, Mr. Noi dreamed of creating his own Krav Maga training center where he could share his love and knowledge of the self-defense system with others. So, he started Gateway Cities Krav Maga, an elite school in La Habra, California that offers classes to men, women, and children of all ages.

In this episode, we went on a field trip to Gateway Cities to visit the school in-person and talk with Mr. Noi. He discussed what inspired him to pursue Krav Maga, the basic principles and tactics, as well as the health benefits. We also took part in the Women’s Self Defense Workshop that he puts on quarterly, teaching women how to defend themselves against attacks they may be confronted with. This is an incredibly empowering workshop that all women should take!

“Say yes to opportunities that maybe you don’t feel you’re ready for because other people might see something you don’t see in yourself.”

Anne O’Neil first got into sports by playing soccer on an all-boys team and proving she could compete with the best of them. Shortly after, she discovered her love of basketball and became one of the best high school athletes in the country, recruited by top coaches like the legendary Pat Summit. Anne played Division I college basketball and was an athletic and academic All-American at Iowa State.  After leading the nation in 3-point shooting, she was invited to compete in the infamous ESPN 3-Point shooting contest.  After college, she was drafted by the Sacramento Monarchs and one of the highlights of her WNBA career was having the opportunity to run up and down the court at Madison Square Garden. Following her incredible athletic career, she took her sports knowledge to TV and became a color commentator for Fox Sports.  Now, Anne is a mindset and leadership coach working with teams and executives to develop strategic game plans and goals, and has studied with some of the top mindset gurus in the country.  She is also the host and producer of the "Get Busy Livin'" podcast.

In this episode, Anne talks about her athletic career and what it takes to compete at that level. She also offers tips and advice for setting goals and developing a strong mindset to get you through the ups and downs in life, pursuing a career in sports broadcasting and how to cultivate that healthy, happy life you're seeking. Her energy and enthusiasm are infectious!

“If you love it, it’s worth pursuing.”

Ignacia Soto-Aguilar is a Hollywood make-up artist with a plethora of credits under her belt working with some of the biggest names in entertainment on features and series such as The Hunger Games, Project Power, Vice, as well as the hit TNT series CLAWS amongst others. In this episode she’ll talk about how she turned her love of art into her career, the process for creating the looks for the characters she works on, and dish on all the go to makeup tips and tricks we’ve all been dying to know! She’ll also talk about her extraordinary watercolor painting talents and her big adventure to Banff!

“Life is about living. You’re not meant to be crammed into a dark office for most of your life wishing you could be out there exploring.”

Jolene Bibian is an entrepreneur and avid adventurist. When she founded her own company, Mills & Maple Insurance Solutions, she was determined to weave her love and enthusiasm for the outdoors into her business, showing that you can do both, run a successful business AND live the adventure life of your dreams.

In this episode, Jolene will discuss what she’s learned starting her own business, talk about her favorite toys like her Ducati and Can-Am UTV, her favorite trips, and tell us what it’s like at some of the greatest outdoor adventure events including the Baja 1000. She is also currently training for the Rebelle Rally, the first women’s off-road navigation rally raid in the US.

“Ultimately you have to trust your voice. You have to trust that person who you really are when you're chilling by yourself with a glass of wine, that's what people really do connect to.”

Mara Junot is a highly successful voiceover actor whose voice has been featured in numerous commercials, promos, video games, tv shows, movies and live events. You may have heard her voicing your favorite characters in Fortnite or Call of Duty, singing away as exquisite diva Laura Divine in the animated feature Fireheart, or bringing you all the action on NCAA Basketball promos for ESPN. When she began her career in voiceover, the field was dominated by men and one of her goals was to open doors and prove to producers in the industry that women can rock the mic just as hard as men. She has kicked down those doors and has since become the first woman to voice E! True Hollywood Stories and also landed a job in network news promo as the voice of The News with Shepard Smith.

In this episode, Mara talks about her journey leaving behind her day job to dive head first into voiceover and what she has learned along the way. She also opens up about her personal battle with autoimmune disorders and anxiety, and how she finds balance in life in order to take care of her mental health. For all of you out there wanting to pursue a career in voiceover, she also gives tips on getting started, breaking into the industry and sustaining a career.

“I had to redefine what I had come to think love was.”

Best-selling author, podcast host and director Gabrielle Stone is back! This time, she’s talking about her new book, “The Ridiculous Misadventures of a Single Girl,” the sequel to her ever-so-popular “Eat, Pray, #FML.” She gives the inside scoop on what fans will discover as they follow along on her latest journey and offers advice on finding your own unicorn in love. She also gives tips on solo travel and talks about her latest adventure in Thailand filled with a silent retreat, monkeys, mushrooms, and so much more!

Kim Nedeau has been a competitive runner since the age of 14. In college, she set a school record at Brown University in the 3000 meters. She went on to win a Bronze Medal as a member of the USA Mountain Running Team and just recently was crowned the winner at the 12th Annual ElliptiGO World Championships. On top of that, she owns her own coaching and injury prevention business, is a mother of 2 plus an amazing fur baby and is a self-proclaimed beer snob. In this episode, she talks about her athletic career, gives tip on reaching your fitness goals and how to keep your body healthy, why she fell in love with the ElliptiGO community, and her favorite beers!

“At the end of the day it’s being able to challenge yourself.”

Diego Martinez is a former club promoter who used to have a lifestyle with lots of drinking and very little sleeping. But looking to transform his life, Diego made the decision to pursue a career in fitness and become a personal trainer. Now, he’s waking up at 3:30 am every day to meditate and prep for his day of training his clients in his group classes and one-on-one sessions.  He puts the "personal" in personal training, truly caring about his clients and building relationships while creating an incredible fitness community based on positivity in Sherman Oaks, California.  

In this episode, Diego talks with host J.J. Jurgens about pursuing his passion of fitness, gives tips on building your own personal training business and offers advice on how you can finish 2021 with a strong mindset.

“Sometimes we need to go through that fear to remind ourselves there’s so much more to us, so much more we’re capable of, and to awaken our inner badass.”

Babes in the Dirt is a ladies only off-road riding community created for women to go on riding adventures and campouts together. When they partner with MotoVentures, a rider training school located on 350 acres in Anza, California for a weekend training camp, well, you know it’s going to be epic!

In this episode, host J.J. Jurgens takes you along for the ride as she shares what went down at the camp. From the new skills they learned, to the fears they faced, to the friendships they made, it was one very special weekend. If you’ve ever had an interest in dirt bike riding, or if there’s something else you’ve always wanted to do but have been too scared to try, this episode will get you in gear to go after it!

Jeff Hester is a hiker, backpacker, and adventurer. While preparing to thru-hike the John Muir Trail, he had the idea to create the SoCal Hiker blog to document his preparation. Now, it has grown into an adventurers’ community and offers detailed guides and tips for the best hiking trails throughout Southern California and the Western United States. He also started the epic Six-Pack of Peak Challenges and is a host on the Almost There Adventure Podcast.

In this episode, Jeff shares some of his favorite hiking stories, gives tips on essential gear to bring on your hikes, reveals what it means when you find “trail magic", and gives advice to others wanting to create adventure blogs.

“You have to be determined. You have to have tough skin. And you have to be ok with a no.” -Loretta Abrams

Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Loretta Abrams grew up thinking she was going to pursue a career in the fashion world. But the sports world got ahold of her and she quickly found her true passion. Loretta has worked for the Houston Rockets, Houston Comets, New York Liberty and is currently an Account Executive for the 3-Time WNBA National Champion Los Angeles Sparks. A true hustler, she’s also an entrepreneur with various side projects enhancing the lives of athletes and dreamers.

In this episode, Loretta discusses her work with the Sparks including their 7th Annual #WeAreWomen Event that recognizes women and girls who are making an impact in the community. She also offers tips and advice for landing a job in the sports world and standing out from the crowd.

“Be fearless and just get creative. Just have fun. Don’t let normality or trendsetting guide you too much.” - Beverley Huynh

Growing up in Vancouver, Beverley Huynh had dreams of being the next Vera Wang. Her parents on the other hand, wanted her to pursue a more traditional job, not in the arts. After securing her “Plan B” in the financial world, she knew it was time to go after her “Plan A” with all of her heart.

Her vision, dedication, and passion paid off. Now, Beverley is a costume designer whose work can be seen in many popular television shows and films, including Van Helsing, Flash, Arrow and The 100. She is passionate about the art of creating characters and story with fabric, fine delicate details, the development of textile, technology and much more.

She has endured many obstacles along the way, one of which is often being the only woman in the room, and the only woman of color in the room. She is a tremendous advocate for continuing to push for diversity in Hollywood, and with May being AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) Month, she has been hard at work using her voice. She is a force to be reckoned with and is paving the way for other females in her field.

“I think it’s so important to have that confidence regardless whether you have an off day, whether you have a bad day, whether a coach says you can’t. You need to know in your heart that you can.” -Tera Moody

Tera Moody is a former pro marathon runner. As a young girl growing up just outside of Chicago, she competed in all kinds of sports. Then one day she decided she wanted to be like her older brother and be a runner. Well, she wouldn’t become just any runner. Tera would go on to be a two-time State Champ in the mile and run on a championship cross-country team in high school. In college, she competed for the Colorado Buffaloes cross country and track teams, winning the Big 12 title in the 10,000 meters  and running on the NCAA champion cross-country team as a sophomore. In 2008, she finished fifth in the U.S. Olympic Marathon trials and continued to compete in many more. In 2009, she competed in the World Championships finishing 28th and was the third American. In 2011, she again represented Team USA for the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea was the top US finisher and 17th overall.

In this episode, Tera talks about her incredible running career, her personal battles with insomnia and an eating disorder, how she started her own real estate business, being a new mom at 40 and her new athletic passion, ElliptiGo!

Since his early days in Queens, Geo Santini has always had a passion for movies and music. Once he discovered he could combine his love of both into a career, he found his true calling. Geo began producing music videos for various artists. Then, wanting the chance to pursue his filmmaking dreams, he packed his bags and headed west to Los Angeles. In 2010 his feature film “Hotel California” was released and he’s been creating more work ever since. He launched an online comedy group and platform that produced over 200 videos, the viral web series Geo’s Pizza” and the Amazon series “Borderline”. He recently released the film “After The Reign,” which he wrote, directed and played the lead outrageous character, Lil Tito. Geo is definitely a man not afraid to wear many hats in the entertainment industry with an intense drive to keep creating new content. In this episode, Geo shares his journey, lessons he’s learned along the way, and offers advice to those looking to pursue a career in filmmaking.

Bronx-born Craig DeLeon has been composing original music since he first heard Prince’s “I Wanna Be Your Lover” at age 8. Now, he just finished scoring Sia’s Golden Globe nominated feature film Music and the Showtime documentary Supervillian: The Making of Tekashi 6ix9ine. Craig lets us in on the creative process behind these two projects and shares insights from his professional journey. From starting his career at Propaganda films as an assistant to director Spike Jonze creating concepts for music videos, to composing music in the advertising world and winning a CLIO for his Apple TV ad campaign, to scoring numerous films and documentaries, Craig has made an incredible career out of that sweet, sweet music.

Brittney Castro is a finance guru who is breaking glass ceilings and paving the way for a different kind of financial consultant. She infuses her own unique personality into her company Financially Wise Inc., a Los Angeles-based financial planning and education firm whose mission is to teach individuals and couples the art of managing their finances in a thoughtful and proactive way.  Brittney is a noted financial expert and a go-to resource for national media outlets and platforms including CNN, CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Glamour, Elle, Entrepreneur, Woman’s World, and many more.

In this episode,  Brittney talks about how she started her own business and the lessons she's learned along the way, gives tips to entrepreneurs wanting to grow their businesses, and offers a little financial advice to help get us all through this pandemic. She also opens up about how meditation and a little dancing help her balance it all. 

Kirileigh Jones is an artist whose beautiful artwork can be seen on the sides of buildings in cities across the U.S. The former college soccer player and Lululemon employee found her calling when she turned her flair for designing nail art into creating giant, vibrant murals. In this episode, Kirileigh discusses finding her passion, gets real about battling anxiety and self-limiting beliefs, and gives business tips for artists including her mantra, “practice makes permanent.” And yes, she still gets discounts on those Lululemon leggings.

"In the face of adversity you have to be strong and you have to be bold. I don't think we have the choice not to be anymore." -Nicole Leier

We're back with a brand new episode and this one will truly inspire you! Nicole Leier is an award-winning actor, producer, director and activist. At the age of 13, she made the decision to leave a difficult home environment and set her sights on pursuing her acting dreams. Her grit and determination have landed her numerous roles, including one alongside Nicolas Cage in A Score To Settle for which she has just been nominated for a Leo Award. The role was originally written for a man, but she went in and asked for it. She also has her own production company, Black Tree Pictures, where she is able to produce projects she is passionate about.

Nicole talks about the challenges she has faced being both a female and a woman of color in the industry. She is using her voice and platform for change, engaging in discussions about racism and the Black Lives Matter Movement.

Joining the show this week is Alyshia Ochse, a Los Angeles-based actress, bestselling author, podcast host, entrepreneur, mother and wife. She discusses her role in Antoine Fucqua’s new series #FreeRayShawn, her book “Life Lessons,” and how she’s using her lessons to help others find self-fulfillment. We also dive into her podcast, That One Audition, where she interviews her guests about their journey as an actor and the moment when their career took off. Alyshia even shares her own personal story of that one audition she had, you know, the one where she farted. You’ll want to hear this story for sure!

Attention adventure seekers! This episode is for you! Saveria Tilden is the Founder & CEO of AdventurUs Women, a company that offers adventures created by women for women. Saveria talks about answering the call of the wild and leaving behind her corporate job to pursue her passion, her mission to get more women out exploring the outdoors, her new podcast the Almost There Adventure Podcast, oh and those Ironman Triathlons she's also completed in her spare time. Plus, she's giving TomGirl listeners $200 off her upcoming Escape Adventures all month long! Go to adventuruswomen.com or Eventbrite to register and enter the code TOMGIRL200 at checkout.

She's baaaack! Since February is love month,  the hilarious author of Eat, Pray, #FML Gabrielle Stone returns to talk about love, relationships, and finally understanding what self-love truly means. She gives tips on forgiveness, not putting up walls, and truly seeing yourself so you are open and ready for new love to enter your life. She also discusses her new audio book, film projects, and her solo trip to Southeast Asia and why everyone needs to book that solo vacation pronto!

If you've dreamed of working for your favorite sports team, listen up!  Cynthia Escorcia works for the Orlando Magic as part of their Live Entertainment Marketing Team. In this episode, she'll talk about how she landed the job, give you a glimpse inside a typical game day, reveal what skills are important in the industry, and offer advice for going after that sports gig. 

It's a special Galentine's Day episode with Jenifer Golden and Lauren Leonelli, hosts of the popular dating and relationship podcast, It's Complicated! Jen and Lauren talk about their show and its evolution, sex and The Big O (yes, they have tips for having more of those ladies), dating and the dreaded dating apps, give their picks for the perfect TomGirl cocktail and oh so much more. So grab some wine and chocolate and enjoy!

It's red carpet season so on this episode we're talking fashion with designer Stefanie Naylor.  Her work has been seen on the CMA Awards, Miss USA Pageants, numerous red carpets and on many happy brides.  She talks about discovering her flair for fashion, turning her passion into her own business and offers advice for others wanting to follow their designing dreams. 

This New Year, many of you have made a resolution to become the best version of yourself and to grow beyond what has been holding you back. Identity Coach Natalie Saimeri is just the person you need to help you do that! She guides women out of hidden anxiety and depression and into the next chapter of life by helping them face their fears, heal emotional scars and find their self-worth. In this episode, Natalie shares some of the techniques she uses and offers advice on getting unstuck. She also opens up about her personal story as a former All-American gymnast and National Champion who lost her identity after athletics and her journey to becoming an identity coach.