Badassery Life

Kelly Young/Tina McIntosh
  • 5.0 (34)
  • ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Badassery Life is a podcast about ordinary women doing extraordinary things. Women willing to share their stories - whether they are filled with heartbreak or amazing accomplishments. These inspiring women include social activists, moms, entrepreneurs, athletes, survivors, mentors, and more. Each has a unique and beautiful story about how they are living out their Badassery Life!

  1. The Just Pop In Twins: Success, Sacrifice & What Matters Most

    22H AGO

    The Just Pop In Twins: Success, Sacrifice & What Matters Most

    Carly Swift and Mandy Selke — known as the Just Pop In Twins — have spent more than two decades building their popcorn business into a beloved Indianapolis brand. Their gourmet popcorn has been enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people — from local families to travelers passing through the Indianapolis airport, as well as major brands and national events. But behind the success is a much deeper story. In this episode of Badassery Life, Mandy and Carly open up about the realities of building a business for more than 20 years — the risks they took, the pressure that comes with entrepreneurship, and the moments when the business began to take a toll on their personal lives, their families and even their friendship. At one point, they paused and asked a difficult question: What matters most? This conversation is raw, vulnerable and incredibly honest — a reminder that success isn’t just about what you build, but about protecting the relationships and life that matter most along the way. We talk about: • The bravery it takes to start something from nothing• The emotional weight of running a business for more than two decades• When success starts to strain the people you love most• The power of stepping back, reflecting and redefining what comes next At their core, Mandy and Carly see themselves as connectors and creators of joy — people rooted in hospitality, community and taking risks. www.justpopinpopcorn.com

    44 min
  2. Grief, Grit, Pink Hard Hats & High Heels with Casey Russo

    FEB 26

    Grief, Grit, Pink Hard Hats & High Heels with Casey Russo

    In this episode, we sit down with Casey to talk about what it looks like to lose yourself… and then fight your way back. She shares openly about: Being a single mom raising a daughter with serious medical challenges Losing her husband to suicide Surviving years of toxic messaging that chipped away at her confidence Stepping into leadership in the male-dominated world of asphalt and infrastructure (yes, with a blush pink hard hat) Finding the courage to pursue modeling after being told she wasn’t enough Blending families and choosing joy again Casey is passionate, driven, and real — and this conversation is honest, empowering, and at times laugh-out-loud relatable. If you’ve ever felt like your circumstances were trying to define you… this one is for you. Welcome to a story of resilience, reinvention, and pink hard hats.

    35 min
  3. Surviving the Unthinkable and Choosing Gratitude: Michelle Carrao

    FEB 11

    Surviving the Unthinkable and Choosing Gratitude: Michelle Carrao

    Michelle Corrao — author of Found: Triumph Through Gratitude — shares her journey through trauma, survival, and the long road back to herself. We talk about:• The moment everything changed (on Sept. 12, 1996, she survived a violent abduction by three strangers)• How anger and denial became her best friends• What healing really looks like -- how she healed and has found joyMichelle's life has been shaped by resilience, faith, and service. Her story includes real chaos, real trauma, and real darkness - and how she turned the unimaginable pain into purpose. Head to her website to dive deeper into her story — and listen to the song written in honor of her journey. www.michellecorrao.com

    36 min
  4. Cartwheels, Sobriety, and Reinvention with Amanda Kingsbury

    FEB 8

    Cartwheels, Sobriety, and Reinvention with Amanda Kingsbury

    What if the bravest thing you could do was turn your life upside down — and trust yourself to land on your feet? In this first guest episode of our new season, we sit down with Amanda Kingsbury — writer, journalist, co-founder of Indy Maven, and Managing Editor of Innovation at Mirror Indy — to talk about reinvention, sobriety, friendship, and why starting over in midlife isn’t a failure… it’s a flex. Amanda opens up about the moment that led her to quit drinking, why she once did a cartwheel every day for a year after her divorce, and how loneliness, curiosity, and community journalism have shaped this current season of her life. We talk about empty nesting, losing friends to distance and change, and why friendship — not romance — is the relationship she values most. If you’re navigating a transition, questioning what’s next, or trying to trust yourself in a season that feels uncertain, this episode is for you.

    38 min
  5. Meet Your New(ish) Hosts: Kelly & Tina

    FEB 4

    Meet Your New(ish) Hosts: Kelly & Tina

    Welcome to a new chapter of Badassery Life. Kelly returns with a new co-host: Tina McIntosh and the two of them turn the mics on each other to talk about who they are, why THIS podcast, and what it looks like to show up — even when life is messy. They cover everything from navigating grief and big life shifts to microdosing the aging process, Taylor Swift–level “new era” energy, and why sometimes showing up really is enough. Think honest conversation, some laughter, and the kind of perspective you didn’t know you needed. This is Badassery Life! If you’re new here, this is the perfect place to start.If you’ve been listening for a while, welcome to the next chapter (new era)!

    37 min
  6. Linda Calvin: Badass Survivor, Tech Leader & Advocate

    11/30/2025

    Linda Calvin: Badass Survivor, Tech Leader & Advocate

    Season 6 | Episode 16 In this powerful episode of Badassery Life, Kelly sits down with Linda Calvin, a national tech leader, attorney, storyteller, mentor, and fierce advocate for women and Black leaders in tech. She's also a survivor of childhood trauma and she's boldly telling that story. Her journey is layered — growing up as the only Black child in a white family, surviving childhood sexual abuse, learning early to shrink, silence, and compartmentalize herself just to make it through. But Linda didn’t stay in those shadows. Inspired by a single hour of escape each week — Star Trek — she began imagining bigger worlds and eventually stepped into her own. Today she’s a VP in higher education, a writer, a leader, and a woman learning every day that she matters. This conversation is raw, real, courageous — and full of hope.

    40 min
  7. Leah Johnson: Loudmouth, Voice for Visibility & Literary Badass

    11/16/2025

    Leah Johnson: Loudmouth, Voice for Visibility & Literary Badass

    Season 6 | Episode 15 In this episode, Kelly sits down with bestselling author and Loudmouth Books founder Leah Johnson — a woman using her voice, her books, and her bookstore to champion joy, representation, and radical visibility. Leah’s debut novel, You Should See Me in a Crown, was named one of TIME’s 100 Best YA Books of All Time. Since then, she’s become a literary force and the bold, brilliant mind behind Loudmouth Books, an Indianapolis bookstore dedicated to uplifting banned, challenged, and marginalized voices. In this conversation, Leah opens up about: How she discovered her voice — and why she refuses to shrink Writing stories rooted in joy, humor, queerness, and belonging Building Loudmouth Books as a space for visibility and community How she protects her creativity while navigating burnout and pressure What gives her hope in a time of censorship and cultural pushback Leah Johnson shows us what it looks like to live loud, love boldly, and make space for others to be seen. Learn more about her at byleahjohnson.com. If you live in Indianapolis, visit her bookstore: Loudmouth Bookstore.

    45 min
  8. Amanda Bonilla: Creating Spaces for Women to Rise

    10/27/2025

    Amanda Bonilla: Creating Spaces for Women to Rise

    season 6 | episode 14 Amanda Bonilla is a powerhouse advocate, speaker, and connector who’s made it her mission to create spaces where women can thrive. A first-generation college graduate, she’s navigated challenge and change with courage — from being the “first and only” Latina voice in many rooms to launching WE Brunch, an intentional gathering that empowers women through connection and conversation. In this episode, Amanda shares how her early experiences shaped her resilience, what it means to build an ecosystem of support, and why representation and reinvention matter now more than ever. She encourages you to use your own voice, create your own table, and lift up others along the way.

    30 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
34 Ratings

About

Badassery Life is a podcast about ordinary women doing extraordinary things. Women willing to share their stories - whether they are filled with heartbreak or amazing accomplishments. These inspiring women include social activists, moms, entrepreneurs, athletes, survivors, mentors, and more. Each has a unique and beautiful story about how they are living out their Badassery Life!

Information

  • Creator
    Kelly Young/Tina McIntosh
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    120
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Kelly Young/Tina McIntosh
  • Show Website
    Badassery Life

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