The Write Your Own Story Podcast

Betsy Leonidas

Grab your fav pen ladies, because it’s time to write the story of how your life goes! The Write Your Own Story podcast is here to encourage women to live the life they dream about by sitting with women business owners, game changers, community leaders and friends in the most honest, no perfect allowed, just girls gabbin way, about all things life and womanhood. Stories are rooted in meaning, connection, and understanding and so often are the clues for our future selves. It’s so important for all of us to hear what other women are doing with their lives. Their successes, their struggles, their perseverance, what failure has taught them, how they show up in this world, and what sets their heart on fire. It’s these stories that make us realize we’re not alone and motivate us to take a closer look at our own dreams. I promise it will be down to earth, super real and honest, funny, and feel like we’re all just gabbin over a cup of coffee or a glass (glasses) of wine. At the end of each show, my hope ist women are inspired to block out the societal “should’s” and the inner voices of “Why me?” and “Am I enough?” so they can pick up the pen with confidence and write their own stories of their lives.

  1. 2d ago

    Your Old Life Is Falling Apart, Now What? with Sarah Barnes-Humphrey

    What happens when the life you worked the hardest for suddenly falls apart? When the career, marriage, identity, or future you built your entire world around no longer exists… and you’re left staring at the question: Now what? In this raw and deeply honest conversation, Sarah Barnes-Humphrey shares what it looked like to lose the life she thought she was supposed to want — after spending 20 years helping build the family business she believed she’d one day take over. Overnight, the doors closed. The identity disappeared. And while everyone else saw a successful woman holding it together, behind the scenes Sarah was rebuilding herself from scratch — working part-time jobs, questioning everything, crying on the couch daily, and trying to figure out who she was without the titles, certainty, and expectations she had built her life around. What came next was not a polished reinvention. It was messy, painful, confusing, brave, and ultimately transformational. In this episode, we talk about: What happens when your “dream life” no longer fitsThe pressure women feel to perform, achieve, and hold it all togetherHow to know whether fear is stopping you… or whether something simply isn’t alignedIdentity loss after career shifts, divorce, burnout, or major life changeWhy curiosity is more powerful than perfectionThe hidden loneliness of entrepreneurship and rebuildingLearning to trust yourself before you feel readyThe difference between purpose and self-worthSarah also shares how she went from losing everything she built to creating an entirely new path rooted in authentic connection, storytelling, and helping others feel seen and heard. If you’re in a “now what?” season right now — where the old chapter has ended and the next one feels uncertain — this episode will feel like someone finally saying the quiet part out loud. Because you do not need to have it all figured out to begin again. JOIN THE WAITLIST, NOW WHAT: https://forms.gle/upoSwPQEu5vm1wYW6 Sarah Barnes-Humphrey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbarneshumphrey/  Let's Talk Supply Chain: https://letstalksupplychain.com  The Blended Podcast: https://blendedpledge.org/podcast  Blended Pledge: https://blendedpledge.org  Book: I Buried Her in a French Press – https://www.amazon.com/Buried-Her-French-Press-Finding/dp/1544549466/ref=sr_1_1 Support the show Connect with Betsy: Website: writeyourownstory.co Email: betsy@writeyourownstory.co Instagram: write_your_own_story_co Or betsyleo Youtube:writeyourownstorypodcast More: SHOP MY AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/shop/write_your_own_story_co FEMALE FOUNDERS MASTERCLASS: https://writeyourownstory.co/ffa-courses GET 10% OFF YOUR OURA RING: https://ouraring.com/raf/216ee90575?utm_source=user&utm_medium=iac_raf&utm_type=alwayson-cvr&utm_campaign=2025RAF&utm_variant=2025_raf_july HUNGRYROOT: code: WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40 https://www.hungryroot.com/?promo=WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40&b=1197&utm_source=write-your-own-story&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=in-house DONATE TO CINCY's CHILDREN HOSPITAL: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2270822/support FLODESK Give your friends 50% off their first year of Flodesk and get $19 when they join!https://flodesk.c...

    1h 8m
  2. May 6

    This Will Change How You Make Decisions Forever with Megan Pando

    If you’ve been stuck overthinking, going back and forth, waiting for clarity…  this might be the shift you’ve been needing.  Because the problem isn’t that you can’t make decisions, it’s that you’ve been taught to look for the “right” one.  This week, Betsy sits down with Megan Pando—founder, entrepreneur, and former Shark Tank participant—for a conversation that reframes everything you thought you knew about decision-making.  In this episode, you’ll learn:   why you feel stuck when making decisions  the difference between anxiety and inner knowing  how to stop overthinking without forcing clarity  and how to trust yourself again  This isn’t about becoming more logical.  It’s about becoming more aligned.   So if every decision has been feeling heavy, confusing, or overwhelming lately… take this as your sign.   You don’t need more time. You don’t need more opinions.   You just need a new way of listening to yourself.   And once you feel it—you won’t go back. ✨ Support the show Connect with Betsy: Website: writeyourownstory.co Email: betsy@writeyourownstory.co Instagram: write_your_own_story_co Or betsyleo Youtube:writeyourownstorypodcast More: SHOP MY AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/shop/write_your_own_story_co FEMALE FOUNDERS MASTERCLASS: https://writeyourownstory.co/ffa-courses GET 10% OFF YOUR OURA RING: https://ouraring.com/raf/216ee90575?utm_source=user&utm_medium=iac_raf&utm_type=alwayson-cvr&utm_campaign=2025RAF&utm_variant=2025_raf_july HUNGRYROOT: code: WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40 https://www.hungryroot.com/?promo=WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40&b=1197&utm_source=write-your-own-story&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=in-house DONATE TO CINCY's CHILDREN HOSPITAL: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2270822/support FLODESK Give your friends 50% off their first year of Flodesk and get $19 when they join!https://flodesk.c...

    46 min
  3. Apr 29

    How to Be Heard as a Woman (Even When You Doubt Yourself) with Sarah Jakle

    What if the voice you’ve been doubting… is the very thing the world needs most? In this deeply moving episode of Write Your Own Story, Betsy sits down with Sarah Jakle, founder of Democrashe, for a conversation that will stay with you long after it ends. This episode is for the woman who has something to say—but hesitates. The one who questions if her voice matters, if she’ll be heard, or if it’s even worth speaking at all. After being told she would never work again due to a life-altering autoimmune diagnosis, Sarah faced a moment where everything she knew about herself was stripped away. What followed wasn’t just a comeback—it was a complete redefinition of identity, courage, and what it means to use your voice.  Together, Betsy and Sarah explore:  How to transform your inner critic into your inner best friend  The power of taking one small, brave step at a time  Why confidence doesn’t come first—and what actually does  How to speak up even when you feel unseen, unheard, or afraid  The concept of “What’s your victory?” and redefining success on your own terms  Why your voice matters—even when it feels like it doesn’t This is not a conversation about becoming louder.  It’s about becoming truer. If you’ve ever felt like shrinking, silencing yourself, or waiting for permission—this episode is your reminder: your voice already belongs. And the moment you start using it, everything begins to shift. Listen all the way through—you might just meet a version of yourself you’ve been waiting for 💫 Learn more about DemocraShe: https://www.democrashe.org/who-we-are Support the show Connect with Betsy: Website: writeyourownstory.co Email: betsy@writeyourownstory.co Instagram: write_your_own_story_co Or betsyleo Youtube:writeyourownstorypodcast More: SHOP MY AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/shop/write_your_own_story_co FEMALE FOUNDERS MASTERCLASS: https://writeyourownstory.co/ffa-courses GET 10% OFF YOUR OURA RING: https://ouraring.com/raf/216ee90575?utm_source=user&utm_medium=iac_raf&utm_type=alwayson-cvr&utm_campaign=2025RAF&utm_variant=2025_raf_july HUNGRYROOT: code: WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40 https://www.hungryroot.com/?promo=WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40&b=1197&utm_source=write-your-own-story&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=in-house DONATE TO CINCY's CHILDREN HOSPITAL: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2270822/support FLODESK Give your friends 50% off their first year of Flodesk and get $19 when they join!https://flodesk.c...

    48 min
  4. Apr 15

    If You Feel Like You Have to Prove Yourself, Listen to This | Margot Grant Witz

    If you feel like you have something to prove… this episode is for you. That pressure to be more. To do more. To show people you’re capable. It doesn’t come out of nowhere. It comes from expectations. From the path you’re on. From the feeling that you’re supposed to live up to something—even if you’re not sure what’s actually yours. Today’s episode is about that. Betsy sits down with Margot Grant Witz, third-generation leader of Elizabeth Grant Skincare, to talk about what it really feels like to grow up inside something that already exists—and then be expected to carry it forward. But this isn’t just about business. It’s about identity.  Confidence.  Family.  And learning how to trust yourself when it feels like you have something to prove. In this episode, you’ll hear:  Why feeling like you have something to prove can quietly control your decisions  The truth about “earning your place” (and why it’s not what you think)  What nobody tells you about working with family  How to handle the pressure of not wanting to “mess it up”  Why humility is your biggest advantage  The real reason generational paths break down  How to separate who you are from what you do  What to do if you’re not even sure this path is yours  Why confidence only comes after you take action And one shift that changes everything: You don’t have to prove yourself to become who you’re meant to be. Support the show Connect with Betsy: Website: writeyourownstory.co Email: betsy@writeyourownstory.co Instagram: write_your_own_story_co Or betsyleo Youtube:writeyourownstorypodcast More: SHOP MY AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/shop/write_your_own_story_co FEMALE FOUNDERS MASTERCLASS: https://writeyourownstory.co/ffa-courses GET 10% OFF YOUR OURA RING: https://ouraring.com/raf/216ee90575?utm_source=user&utm_medium=iac_raf&utm_type=alwayson-cvr&utm_campaign=2025RAF&utm_variant=2025_raf_july HUNGRYROOT: code: WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40 https://www.hungryroot.com/?promo=WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40&b=1197&utm_source=write-your-own-story&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=in-house DONATE TO CINCY's CHILDREN HOSPITAL: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2270822/support FLODESK Give your friends 50% off their first year of Flodesk and get $19 when they join!https://flodesk.c...

    1h 1m
  5. Apr 8

    You Don’t Have to Do It All: Why Asking for Help Changes Everything with Betsy Leonidas

    You’re not overwhelmed because you’re doing it wrong—you’re overwhelmed because you’re doing everything. In this solo episode, Betsy speaks directly to the woman who’s been holding it all together—quietly, consistently, and often alone. The one who believes she should be able to do it all. But what if that belief is the very thing slowing you down? Betsy unpacks the hidden cost of doing everything yourself—not because you’re incapable, but because you’re carrying more than you were ever meant to. From the mental load of business to the invisible pressure in everyday life, she explores why so many women delay asking for help… and how that keeps them stuck in maintenance mode instead of stepping into real growth. Inside, she shares a simple yet powerful framework—the Four Ds: Drain, Decide, Delegate, Debrief—to help you identify what’s draining you, where your energy is truly meant to go, and how to start inviting in the right kind of support. This is a soft but honest reminder:  You don’t hire when everything is perfect.  You hire so things can finally grow. If you’ve been feeling stretched, tired, or quietly overwhelmed—this conversation will meet you there. And gently show you another way. Sign up for the webinar Investing in Support: Building Your Dream on April  16th, 2026 12:30-2:00: https://writeyourownstory.co/webinar/p/every-task-that-drains-you-is-a-dollar-lostinvest-in-support-instead Support the show Connect with Betsy: Website: writeyourownstory.co Email: betsy@writeyourownstory.co Instagram: write_your_own_story_co Or betsyleo Youtube:writeyourownstorypodcast More: SHOP MY AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/shop/write_your_own_story_co FEMALE FOUNDERS MASTERCLASS: https://writeyourownstory.co/ffa-courses GET 10% OFF YOUR OURA RING: https://ouraring.com/raf/216ee90575?utm_source=user&utm_medium=iac_raf&utm_type=alwayson-cvr&utm_campaign=2025RAF&utm_variant=2025_raf_july HUNGRYROOT: code: WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40 https://www.hungryroot.com/?promo=WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40&b=1197&utm_source=write-your-own-story&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=in-house DONATE TO CINCY's CHILDREN HOSPITAL: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2270822/support FLODESK Give your friends 50% off their first year of Flodesk and get $19 when they join!https://flodesk.c...

    26 min
  6. Apr 1

    When Your Life Looks Good on Paper… But Doesn’t Feel Like You Anymore with Ashley Jablow

    What happens when the life you built looks beautiful from the outside… but quietly doesn’t feel like yours anymore? In this episode, Betsy sits down with Ashley Jablow, founder of Wayfarer’s Collective and creator of Life Design School, for a conversation that feels like a deep exhale. Together, they unpack what it really means to outgrow a version of yourself, why big dramatic pivots are not always the answer, and how small, intentional shifts can completely change the way your life feels. They talk about burnout, ambition, identity, motherhood, creativity, and the pressure women feel to pick a lane and stay in it. Ashley shares her powerful framework of “little loops of learning” — tiny experiments that help you move forward without blowing up your whole life. This episode is for the woman who is feeling the quiet nudge. The one who knows something needs to shift, but does not want to burn everything down to find herself again. Inside this episode:  ✨ how to know when you have outgrown a season of your life  ✨ why discomfort may be a breadcrumb, not a breakdown  ✨ how to create change without chaos  ✨ the power of small steps over big dramatic moves  ✨ a softer, wiser way to redesign your life with intention If you have been craving more alignment, more ease, and a life that actually feels like you, this conversation will meet you there. Support the show Connect with Betsy: Website: writeyourownstory.co Email: betsy@writeyourownstory.co Instagram: write_your_own_story_co Or betsyleo Youtube:writeyourownstorypodcast More: SHOP MY AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/shop/write_your_own_story_co FEMALE FOUNDERS MASTERCLASS: https://writeyourownstory.co/ffa-courses GET 10% OFF YOUR OURA RING: https://ouraring.com/raf/216ee90575?utm_source=user&utm_medium=iac_raf&utm_type=alwayson-cvr&utm_campaign=2025RAF&utm_variant=2025_raf_july HUNGRYROOT: code: WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40 https://www.hungryroot.com/?promo=WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40&b=1197&utm_source=write-your-own-story&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=in-house DONATE TO CINCY's CHILDREN HOSPITAL: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2270822/support FLODESK Give your friends 50% off their first year of Flodesk and get $19 when they join!https://flodesk.c...

    59 min
  7. Mar 25

    Redefining Your Identity on Your Own Terms with Sonia Daccarett

    What happens when you don’t fit into a single identity—and no one can tell you who you are? In this week's episode, Besty sits down with Sonia Daccarett, who shares what it means to grow up without a clear label, navigating life as the daughter of a Christian Palestinian father and a Jewish mother, raised in Colombia during a time of cultural tension and political unrest. From a young age, Sonia was forced to confront questions most people never have to ask: Who am I? Where do I belong? What do I believe? While others were handed ready-made identities, she was given something far more difficult—and far more powerful: the freedom to decide for herself. This conversation explores:  The hidden pressure to “fit in” and why it feels so urgent as a child  How identity is shaped by culture, family, and environment—and what happens when those conflict  The tension between wanting answers and being forced to find your own  Why oversimplifying identity strips away our humanity  How to hold space for contradictions and complexity within yourself Sonia also shares the deeper story behind her book The Roots of the Guava Tree, and how writing it helped her reconnect fragmented parts of her past into a more integrated sense of self. If you’ve ever felt like you don’t fully belong anywhere—or like your identity doesn’t fit into a clean narrative—this episode will challenge how you think about who you are. Because maybe the point isn’t to find the right label. It’s to build one that’s actually yours. Support the show Connect with Betsy: Website: writeyourownstory.co Email: betsy@writeyourownstory.co Instagram: write_your_own_story_co Or betsyleo Youtube:writeyourownstorypodcast More: SHOP MY AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/shop/write_your_own_story_co FEMALE FOUNDERS MASTERCLASS: https://writeyourownstory.co/ffa-courses GET 10% OFF YOUR OURA RING: https://ouraring.com/raf/216ee90575?utm_source=user&utm_medium=iac_raf&utm_type=alwayson-cvr&utm_campaign=2025RAF&utm_variant=2025_raf_july HUNGRYROOT: code: WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40 https://www.hungryroot.com/?promo=WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40&b=1197&utm_source=write-your-own-story&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=in-house DONATE TO CINCY's CHILDREN HOSPITAL: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2270822/support FLODESK Give your friends 50% off their first year of Flodesk and get $19 when they join!https://flodesk.c...

    52 min
  8. Mar 18

    The Art of Feeling Beautiful: Self-Care, Skincare & Confidence in a World of Trends with Jaclyn Luongo

    In a world overflowing with beauty trends, miracle products, and endless advice on how women should look, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. In this episode of Write Your Own Story, Betsy sits down with beauty and wellness expert Jaclyn Luongo, who has spent more than two decades in the aesthetics industry helping women make informed, confident decisions about their skin and self-care. Together they unpack how to navigate the modern beauty world without getting swept up in every trend. From understanding skincare ingredients to choosing trustworthy practitioners, Jaclyn shares practical wisdom for approaching beauty with intention rather than impulse. This conversation goes beyond skincare. It’s about learning to care for yourself well, building confidence in your choices, and feeling good in your own skin. In this episode, we explore: How to tell the difference between real skincare solutions and social media trendsWhy ingredients matter more than branding or hypeWhat tools like red light therapy and microneedling actually doHow to find a trustworthy practitioner you can rely onWhy slow, intentional self-care often works better than chasing quick fixesHow women can approach beauty with more confidence and less pressureBecause feeling beautiful isn’t about chasing perfection.  It’s about understanding your body, trusting your choices, and caring for yourself in a way that truly feels good. Support the show Connect with Betsy: Website: writeyourownstory.co Email: betsy@writeyourownstory.co Instagram: write_your_own_story_co Or betsyleo Youtube:writeyourownstorypodcast More: SHOP MY AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/shop/write_your_own_story_co FEMALE FOUNDERS MASTERCLASS: https://writeyourownstory.co/ffa-courses GET 10% OFF YOUR OURA RING: https://ouraring.com/raf/216ee90575?utm_source=user&utm_medium=iac_raf&utm_type=alwayson-cvr&utm_campaign=2025RAF&utm_variant=2025_raf_july HUNGRYROOT: code: WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40 https://www.hungryroot.com/?promo=WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40&b=1197&utm_source=write-your-own-story&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=in-house DONATE TO CINCY's CHILDREN HOSPITAL: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2270822/support FLODESK Give your friends 50% off their first year of Flodesk and get $19 when they join!https://flodesk.c...

    50 min
5
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

Grab your fav pen ladies, because it’s time to write the story of how your life goes! The Write Your Own Story podcast is here to encourage women to live the life they dream about by sitting with women business owners, game changers, community leaders and friends in the most honest, no perfect allowed, just girls gabbin way, about all things life and womanhood. Stories are rooted in meaning, connection, and understanding and so often are the clues for our future selves. It’s so important for all of us to hear what other women are doing with their lives. Their successes, their struggles, their perseverance, what failure has taught them, how they show up in this world, and what sets their heart on fire. It’s these stories that make us realize we’re not alone and motivate us to take a closer look at our own dreams. I promise it will be down to earth, super real and honest, funny, and feel like we’re all just gabbin over a cup of coffee or a glass (glasses) of wine. At the end of each show, my hope ist women are inspired to block out the societal “should’s” and the inner voices of “Why me?” and “Am I enough?” so they can pick up the pen with confidence and write their own stories of their lives.

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