She’s Smart

Maria Rowbotham

The ”She’s Smart” podcast spotlights incredible women from various walks of life, from moms to professionals like scientists, therapists, and educators. Through fun, unscripted conversations, the show explores their personal journeys, motivations, and passions, offering inspiration and shared wisdom. With a lighthearted tone, it’s a space for women to connect, learn, and enjoy uplifting stories.

  1. 1d ago

    Ask Leslie: The Advice We All Need (But Don't Always Take)

    What do you do when you've helped plan a friend's daughter's wedding celebrations but don't actually get invited to the wedding? When is setting a boundary healthy, and when are we just avoiding an uncomfortable conversation? And why is it sometimes so much easier to give advice than to take it ourselves? This week on She’s Smart, I'm joined by Leslie Kumar, the woman behind Ask Leslie, a monthly advice column in Darien New Canaan Lifestyle and Upper Westchester Lifestyle magazines. Leslie has worn a lot of hats—from luxury real estate marketing to launching her own jewelry brand—and now, in her 40s, she's found a new chapter that brings together her love of writing, connecting with people, and helping women navigate life's everyday dilemmas. We talk about the freedom that comes with getting older, finding the courage to put yourself out there, friendship dynamics, social etiquette, marriage, and why we seem to have forgotten how to have difficult conversations face-to-face. And because no conversation in the She’s Smart Shed ever goes exactly as planned, we somehow end up discussing my obsession with romantasy novels, fictional men who turn into wolves, and what our husbands might think about all of it. It's a funny, candid, and refreshingly honest conversation about figuring things out as we go, embracing new chapters, and remembering that sometimes the best advice is the advice we give ourselves. Follow Leslie: @ask_leslie_official

    Ask Leslie: The Advice We All Need (But Don't Always Take)

  2. Oct 15

    Ashley Napoli - The Courage to Choose Yourself

    What happens when the life you've built no longer feels like the life you want? This week on She’s Smart, Maria sits down with Ashley Napoli, founder of Living Lotus and Living Well, to talk about self-worth, reinvention, and learning to trust yourself enough to make a change. After 18 years as an English teacher, Ashley followed her intuition into a new chapter as a yoga instructor, coach, and retreat leader. But walking away from a stable career wasn't easy, and figuring out what comes next is still a work in progress. Together, Maria and Ashley explore why so many women spend years putting everyone else's needs ahead of their own, how we unknowingly seek validation from others, and the difference between practicing self-care and truly valuing ourselves. They also dive into letting go of perfectionism, finding confidence in the unknown, setting boundaries without guilt, and the small daily practices that help us reconnect with who we are. Connect with Ashley: Website: https://livinglotusyoga.com Free Meditation for Transitions: https://livinglotusyoga.com/freebies-1

    Ashley Napoli - The Courage to Choose Yourself

  3. Oct 1

    Dr. Kira Ganga Kieffer - Who Do We Trust—and Why?

    Who do we trust—and why? This week on She’s Smart, Maria sits down with Dr. Kira Ganga Kieffer, a scholar, writer, and professor of religious studies at Fairfield University whose work explores the intersection of religion, health, medicine, and belief. Kira’s first book, Unvaccinated Under God: Religion and Vaccine Hesitancy in Modern America, opens the door to a much bigger conversation: How do we decide what—or whom—to believe? Maria and Kira talk about the tension between expert authority and personal experience, the rise of “trust your gut” parenting, religion and alternative spirituality, wellness culture, medical authority, and what happens when we begin to question an institution we once trusted. They also unpack the idea of “myth”—and why it means something very different to a religious scholar than simply something that isn’t true. This isn’t a conversation about telling you what to believe. It’s about getting curious about where our beliefs come from, how our experiences shape them, and why trust is far more complicated than we might think.

    Dr. Kira Ganga Kieffer - Who Do We Trust—and Why?

  4. Sep 17

    Isabela Livino - An Immaculate Deception

    This week on She’s Smart, Maria sits down with author Isabela Livino to talk about her debut novel, An Immaculate Deception. Set in 1877 Brazil, this Gothic story follows Madalena, a young woman caught in a world of love, fear, religion, guilt and obsession. Isabela takes us behind the book—from the moment she knew this was the story she needed to write to the influences of Dante’s Inferno, philosophy, psychology and her own connection to Brazil. They talk about creating Madalena and Leandro, how our perspective can shape the reality we experience, and why modern horror can be such a powerful way to explore women’s stories. Maria may not be a horror reader, but this is one book she couldn’t put down. And don’t worry—this conversation is completely spoiler-free. https://www.isabelalivino.com/

    Isabela Livino - An Immaculate Deception

  5. Sep 3

    Susan Curtin - Service, Leadership & the National Coast Guard Museum

    Susan Curtin, Chair of the National Coast Guard Museum Association and former member of the United States Coast Guard Reserve. Susan’s connection to the Coast Guard is deeply personal. Her father, J.D. Power, credited his own Coast Guard service with helping shape the man and leader he became—and years later, Susan would follow in his footsteps and serve herself. In this episode, Susan and I talk about her family’s incredible story, her own experience in the Coast Guard Reserve, and the work she’s doing to help bring the National Coast Guard Museum to life in New London, Connecticut. We also get into what the Coast Guard actually does (I learned so much), the women who serve, the meaning of service, and Susan’s perspective on leadership—including why sometimes being a good leader means being willing to say the hard things. It’s a conversation about service, family, legacy and leadership. https://nationalcoastguardmuseum.org/about-us/

    Susan Curtin - Service, Leadership & the National Coast Guard Museum

  6. May 28

    Holly Mirabella – Telling Stories That Matter

    From producing over 400 episodes of Maury to launching the wildly successful On Par with Maury Povich podcast, Holly Mirabella has spent her career helping people tell their stories — and in this episode of She’s Smart, she shares some of her own. We talk about the evolution of media, intuition, reinvention, motherhood, building a company from the ground up, and the “superpower” Holly developed after decades of producing television at the highest level. Holly also opens up about her stage 3 colon cancer diagnosis, how it changed her perspective, and why creating meaningful, authentic content matters more to her now than ever before. It’s an honest, inspiring conversation about resilience, second chapters, and learning to trust yourself along the way.

  7. May 14

    Samantha Miller – Rewriting Access to Reproductive Healthcare

    On this episode of She’s Smart, Maria sits down with Samantha Miller, co-founder and CEO of Cadence OTC, to talk about the future of reproductive healthcare access — and why access matters more than ever. From emergency contraception and pharmacy deserts to the push for over-the-counter birth control, Samantha shares the inspiring story behind building a mission-driven pharmaceutical company focused on making women’s healthcare products easier to access, faster to find, and more affordable. Maria and Samantha also dive into the cultural conversation around contraception and responsibility, including why it’s time for men to be part of the conversation too — especially for parents raising teenage boys. This episode is honest, thoughtful, informative, and deeply relevant for anyone navigating healthcare, parenting, entrepreneurship, or modern relationships. https://cadenceotc.com/

  8. Apr 30

    Veronica Taylor – Women, Wealth & Why You Just Have to Start

    In this episode of She’s Smart, I’m joined by Veronica Taylor, Wealth Advisor at Ellevest — a women-led platform helping women invest, grow their wealth, and make smarter financial decisions. Veronica shares her journey from a 20-year career as a Creative Director into wealth management, and how breaking free from living paycheck to paycheck changed everything. We talk about why so many women feel behind with money, the biggest mistake we make (hint: not starting), and how to begin investing without feeling overwhelmed. We also touch on real-life topics like equity compensation, career transitions, and aligning your money with your values. This episode is all about building confidence, gaining clarity, and creating financial freedom — one step at a time. www.ellevest.com   This episode is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or legal advice. Please consult with a qualified professional regarding your individual situation.

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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

The ”She’s Smart” podcast spotlights incredible women from various walks of life, from moms to professionals like scientists, therapists, and educators. Through fun, unscripted conversations, the show explores their personal journeys, motivations, and passions, offering inspiration and shared wisdom. With a lighthearted tone, it’s a space for women to connect, learn, and enjoy uplifting stories.

Information

  • Creator
    Maria Rowbotham
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    She’s Smart

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