Meant For It With Polina Rubin, Yelena Mugin & Amber Greene

Join us as Joan Barnes, the founder of Gymboree, she shares  her journey from a young woman seeking community into a powerhouse businesswoman. Gymboree started as a mommy and me play center in Marin County, California that eventually Joan led to a successful franchise business and chain of international children’s clothing stores. At the time of Gymboree’s blockbuster IPO in 1993, the company had annual revenue of $86.3M. In 2010, Bain Capital acquired the company for $1.8 billion!  In this truthful conversation, Joan shares her  unorthodox approach to business, motherhood, domestic life, her struggles with bulimia, and the personal sacrifices she made when putting her work first. 
Joan's insights on the challenges of balancing professional ambition with personal happiness are as relevant today as they were during her time with Gymboree. This episode and Joan’s book, Pay it Forward,  will be fascinating for entrepreneurs who like to hear behind the scenes stories about companies that made it to  the exhilarating  day of a successful IPO.  Joan shares the challenges of accepting VC funding and balancing a family life with a growing franchise This is not the story about having it all, partially because Joan knew she didn’t want it all, and also because a complete focus on her business, resulted in sacrificing her marriage and spiraling deeper into bulimia.


Today, Joan has found peace with her family, friends and knowing that  she made bold choices and stayed true to herself. So, sit down or take this podcast for a walk as we have a real conversation with a woman who despite the odds, always knew she was meant to be a trailblazer. 
 
Notable Quotes from Joan Barnes:
"Professional friendships are not the same when you don't have that job anymore."
"I'm a cheerleader, not a caretaker."
"We all know what to do. It sometimes takes us a while to, you know, uncover it all."
"I wouldn't do anything differently because you kind of are who you are."
 
Topics Discussed:
(00:00) Joan's early life and her path to entrepreneurship
 (09:29) The societal pressures and personal challenges of motherhood
 (13:40) The inception and global success of Gymboree
 (25:20) Joan's battle with bulimia and her road to recovery
 (44:00) Life after Gymboree: Embracing spirituality and letting go
 (49:33) The importance of listening to your heart and making conscious choices
Find us on Instagram @meantforit. You can also visit our website at www.meantforit.com, and sign up for our newsletter here or email us contact@meantforit.com
We jump with joy when we hear from you. Unless it's negative, then we may stomp a bit.. 
 
 

In this short podcast,  we talk about how to shift your perspective about making a difference in the world. It is so easy to compare ourselves with others and to feel that we aren' doing enough in our lives to make a difference in the world. What if we consider that the way we choose to live our day-to-day life is our personal activism  / impact.  Making a difference isn't only about huge professional achievements, it is also about the daily interactions and the kindness we share with our family, our friends and the people who cross our path.
From opening a door, complimenting someone, be gentle and thoughtful with your family, to getting to know the people in our communities,  let these micro-acts of positivity fill you up.  If you also fall into the loops of feeling bad about your day job,, this is a reminder that our jobs don't define our impact on the world—it's the type of person we are from dawn till dusk that matters.
If you are uncertain about your influence in the world, we hope this is a gentle nudge to feel good about the power and importance of your everyday actions
Connect with us on Instagram @meantforit and share your thoughts via email at contact@meantforit.com. Don't forget to visit www.meantforit.com for more episodes that inspire, challenge, and celebrate the small yet significant victories of daily life.
Want to contiune ths convesation?  Find us on Instagram @meantforit. You can also visit our website at www.meantforit.com, and sign up for our newsletter here or email us contact@meantforit.com
 
 
 

If you decide to divorce a narcissist this is a must-listen episode.  Dr. Ramani, the world’s leading expert on narcissism, joins us for a third episode to discuss what you can expect during a divorce. We cover the emotional landmines, legal traps and issues you are likely to struggle with even long after your divorce. Your ex may start to behave in ways you never expected, like suddenly becoming a father who is completely devoted to sharing custody. We cover the best and worst-case scenarios of ending a marriage with a narcissist, including a quick settlement to the torture of vindictive custody battles.
Dr. Ramani also offers valuable guidelines for getting through the divorce. We cover the importance of choosing a divorce attorney who understands narcissism and why you must be prepared to be meticulous in your activities and always document your communication with your ex. Dr. Ramani suggest you use an app such as My Family Wizard to communicate so it is documented and admissible in court.
We also discuss the emotional impact on children and the long-term consequences of growing up with a narcissistic parent. Doctor Ramani shares invaluable advice on supporting your children and there is a hopeful reminder:  Every child needs just one truly loving and  supportive adult to thrive, and the suffering they endure in a divorce can be transformed into strength and resilience.
Previous Episodes with Dr. Ramani
Dr. Ramani's Guide to Dealing with Narcissists at Work Dr. Ramani on Dealing with the Narcissists in Your Life Notable Quotes from Doctor Ramani
"You're going to war, and you have to be prepared for that."
"Narcissistic people are novelty seekers. They do tend to lose interest in situations, but as long as the kids represent a place of power, they will fight that right to the end."
"Be present, be attuned, be loving, be all the things you want to be with that child."
"The courts are about parental rights. It's not about child's rights."
Topics Discussed:
(00:00) Doctor Ramani offers advice on dealing with a narcissist during a divorce
(09:29) You need to document everything that happens with your children
(13:40) There are two mistakes people make when going through divorce proceedings
(25:20) When you have a child with a narcissistic person, your kids are carrying legacy burden
(44:00) Legal system for divorces involving children
(49:33) Do narcissistic parents ever stop fighting over children? 

Connect with us on Instagram @meantforit and share your thoughts via email at contact@meantforit.com. Visit www.meantforit.com for more episodes that offer guidance, light and community.

In this episode we discuss all things femtech with Healthcare Law Lawyer, Advisor and Portfolia FemTech Fund Partner Delphine O’Rourke. We get into what FemTech is, why it’s so important for women to invest and support this sector, and how you can help. In case you haven’t noticed, in the past, VCs have overlooked products designed for women primarily because they don’t understand the needs or the market  
When you invest in or support FemTech, your contributions help the market develop innovations that address issues like osteoporosis, menopause, fertility and many more opportunities that will help women live better and longer lives..  According to Market.us, the Global FemTech Market size is projected to surpass around USD 127.1 Billion by 2033! For example, have you ever considered why the dreaded speculum used in annual ob-gyn exams has not been updated since the 1800’s? Neither did we until Delphine mentioned it. 
Whether you're an experienced investor or just curious about how to get started, this episode may cause a paradigm shift in how you think about investing. As a Fund Partner at Portfolia, Delphine is part of a team that decides what start-ups to invest in. We discuss how you can also join a Portfolia fund with a minimum $10k if you are an accredited investor.
if you enjoy this topic, don’t miss our podcast with Portfolia founder and venture capital pioneer, Trish Costello, and our podcast with Ida Tin, the woman who coined the term Femtech!
Want to talk more about this?  Find us on Instagram @meantforit. You can also visit our website at www.meantforit.com, and sign up for our newsletter here or email us. contact@meantforit.com.
Notable Quotes from Delphine:
"We need to move medicine for women out of the 1900’s, 1800’s into modern medicine."
"We make 92% of consumer decisions, 82% of healthcare decisions."
"Shifting the contraceptive burden is highly impactful and that's what we look for."
"We want to make our money work for us and it's just sitting in a checking account. The financial gap, the pay gap, will just continue and compound."
Podcast Chapters:
(03:48) Femtech is where technology intersects with women's health
(07:35) The stark reality of women's health innovation and the need for change
(15:10) The potential of wearable bone technology and its impact on osteoporosis
(18:59) Portfolia invested in a male contraceptive that is reversible
(22:55) Maven's success story and the shifting role of employers in healthcare
(29:29) Why investment education is critical for women
(32:53) Exploring why men haven't invested in women's health historically
(37:35) Every woman will go through menopause unless she dies
(43:03) An accredited investor is someone who is eligible to invest in credit funds
(49:56) We know we have a loneliness crisis in the United States
(53:03) Maven provides women's health remotely through telemedicine
 

Head Rabbi of Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles ( rabbi for a large congregation incuding many stars) is our guest for this episode.  Rabbi Steve Leder, one of the country’s most influential rabbis and the author of 5 life changing books,  joins us to discuss the radicalization and chaos on university campuses. We invited Rabb Leder to discuss his latest book, For You When I am Gone, but first wanted to address the Jew hatred inflaming US universities so we have split our conversation in two parts. In this episode,  Rabbi Leder breaks down the rise of Jew hatred on college campuses, tracing its roots back to a decades-long campaign of indoctrination. There was a very organized and well funded campaign leading to today's moment. 
But, it's not all doom and gloom and there are huge reasons to be optimistic.  Rabbi Leder shares how  peace with Saudi Arabia can transform the world and shift the power away from the regimes choosing to make war and hatred their top priority. If you doubt that is possible, consider Israel’s peace treaty with Jordan, Egypt and normalized relations with the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. Despite the desperate attempts of Iran to keep the world inflamed with hate and war, we need to unite and stay focused on peace. 
This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand what the f&^(&( is happening across the US.  And remember, in the words of Rabbi Leder, "Peace is an environment in which conflict can be addressed with civility and respect."
Connect with us on Instagram @meantforit and reach out via email at contact@meantforit.com with your thoughts or suggestions for future episodes. Visit www.meantforit.com for more episodes that challenge, inspire, and drive us towards a world where understanding wins over division. If you leave us a review on iTunes, we'll be overjoyed with gratitude!
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Topics Discussed:
(03:22) The origins of campus protests and the 25-year groundwork
(09:15) How economic disparity and victim identity fuel current unrest
(17:40) The hope for peace in the Middle East and its implications
(26:50) Addressing the conflation of Palestinian rights and extremist agendas
(31:10) The importance of fighting for the rational middle ground in society
Notable Quotes:
Today's college anti-Israel protests are "The bearing of fruit of a tree planted 25 years ago."
"This is straight up Jew hatred, and Jew hatred has been inculcated into this community to the degree that hatred subordinates every other value these people claim to live by."
"Peace is an environment in which conflict can be addressed with civility and respect."
"The greatest threat and the greatest enemy to a better life for Palestinians is Hamas and Hezbollah and Iran and Qatar and the Islamic brotherhood."
"The news is not the world. The news is just the collection of stories that will sell the most commercials. It's entertainment."
 

Have you ever wondered why scandals slide off certain politicians like water? Jessica Tarlov, co-host of Fox News Channel’s The Five, cable’s highest-rated program, actually did her PHD dissertation examining how scandals impact politicians' careers. As the lone, democratic voice on The Five, Jessica shares how she handles the daily debates and how she decides to pick her battles. Given our upcoming elections, Jessica has a lot of thoughts on this topic including the phenomena of teflon Don. Jessica loves her job on The Five and feels fortunate for the opportunity to bring alternative opinions and analysis to the most important news stories. 
 
Topics Discussed
(04:10) Political economy professor says none of Trump's scandals have affected his popularity (10:32) People reject the direction that the Democratic Party is going (19:29) 40% of Americans now identify as an independent (21:00) Thoughts on how Fox is covering the Israel war compared to other networks (24:49) What's going on on college campuses (40:25) What it’s like to work on The Five  
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Connect with us on Instagram @meantforit and reach out via email at contact@meantforit.com with your thoughts or suggestions for future episodes. Visit www.meantforit.com for more inspiring stories, and if you leave us a review on iTunes, we'll  do a little dance of joy.