West Coast Women Rising

Empowering Minds Network
Empowering Minds Network
  • 5.0 (43)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

West Coast Women Rising is a podcast celebrating women who are making waves—on the coast and beyond—through purpose-driven entrepreneurship and powerful personal growth. Hosted by JJ Flizanes and Tawney Noriega, each episode features inspiring stories from bold, heart-centered leaders who are building businesses that make a difference. From soulful startups to seasoned success stories, you'll hear how these women are sharing their gifts, navigating challenges, and evolving as both entrepreneurs and individuals. Tune in for candid conversations, insider tips, and uplifting insights on what it truly takes to grow a thriving business while growing yourself.

  1. Aug 12

    Ep. 56: The Signs Your Body Is Giving You That You’re Not Healing

    The Signs Your Body Is Giving You That You’re Not Healing You may be getting everything done. You’re showing up for work, taking care of your responsibilities, exercising, eating well, and doing all the things you’ve been told will make you healthier. But what if your body is telling you a different story? In this episode, JJ explores the difference between actually healing and simply becoming really good at coping or high functioning. Poor sleep, digestive issues, constant worry, difficulty recovering, recurring illness or injury, chronic tension, emotional reactivity, and a lack of joy can all be signals worth paying attention to. And healing works in both directions. Your mental and emotional state can influence your physical health—but your physical health can also affect your mood, resilience, energy, and ability to regulate your emotions. JJ introduces the 5 Levels to Restore Health—Physical, Mental, Emotional, Relational & Environmental, and Purpose & Spiritual—and invites you to consider whether you've been trying to address your health through only one level while another has been asking for your attention. In this episode:The difference between healing, coping, and high functioningPhysical signs that your system may be strugglingWhy knowing your patterns doesn't necessarily mean you've healed themHow sleep, digestion, stress, inflammation, and recovery can affect emotional healthHow thoughts, emotions, relationships, and environment can influence the bodyWhy healing needs to work in both directionsHow to identify which of the Five Levels may be missing from your healing journeyWhy healing is when you become different in the same situation Take the Quiz: Are You Healing or Just Coping?Discover whether you're creating lasting change—or simply getting better at functioning around patterns that haven't changed. https://jjflizanes.com/stuck The 5 Levels to Restore Health — LIVENovember 6–8, 2026 | Redondo Beach, California Join JJ Flizanes for an intimate, interactive weekend exploring the five interconnected levels that influence your health and ability to heal. Inspired by Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt's Five Levels of Healing and expanded with science and practical applications in functional health, neuroscience, epigenetics, nervous system regulation, emotional healing, relationships, and purpose. Special guest Dr. William Davis, bestselling author of Wheat Belly and Super Gut, will join JJ to explore the physical foundations of restoring health. Early Bird: 50% off through September 1st. Learn more and reserve your seat: https://jjflizanes.com/restore Use code: 5LEVELS50

  2. Jul 29

    Ep. 55: How Cancer Taught Her to Trust Life, Not Fear It with Sandy Duarte

    How Cancer Taught Her to Trust Life, Not Fear It with Sandy DuarteWhat if the greatest challenge of your life became the very thing that awakened your purpose? In this deeply moving episode of West Coast Women Rising, JJ Flizanes sits down with actress, author, wellness facilitator, and cancer survivor Sandy Duarte to explore how a Stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis transformed every aspect of her life. Rather than asking, "Why me?" Sandy chose a different question: "What is this here to teach me?" Together, JJ and Sandy dive into the powerful intersection of mindset, healing, intuition, and entrepreneurship. They discuss the importance of becoming the CEO of your own life, trusting your body's wisdom, and allowing even life's greatest hardships to become catalysts for growth, service, and deeper purpose. This conversation is about far more than cancer. It's about resilience, self-advocacy, creating a meaningful business, and discovering that healing often begins long before the body catches up. In This Episode You'll Learn:Why Sandy gave herself only 24 hours to ask "Why me?" before choosing a different path.How writing her book during chemotherapy became an anchor of hope and purpose.The surprising mindset shift that led Sandy to thank cancer for changing her life.Why JJ believes every adult should take an acting class to develop empathy, emotional flexibility, and presence.The powerful connection between emotional healing, physical health, and business success.How to become a stronger advocate for your own health instead of blindly outsourcing decisions.JJ's personal story of trusting her intuition over medical pressure and why listening to your body matters.How sound healing, yoga, and intentional practices supported Sandy's recovery alongside conventional treatment.Why healing the "cancer of the mind" can be just as important as healing the body.Practical ways to build a purpose-driven business without relying on hustle and burnout.How small, consistent actions rooted in service create long-term success.Why joy, creativity, compassion, and contribution are sustainable foundations for entrepreneurship. Key TakeawayHealing isn't simply about overcoming illness—it's about learning to trust yourself, honor your intuition, and choose growth instead of fear. Whether you're navigating a health challenge, building a business, or simply searching for more meaning, this episode is a reminder that your greatest obstacle may also become your greatest teacher. Connect with Sandy DuarteLearn more about Sandy's work, retreats, sound healing, yoga, and her book Cancer Ramblings by connecting with her online and following her journey. If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs a reminder that even life's hardest chapters can become the beginning of something extraordinary. https://www.cancerramblings.com/

  3. Jul 22

    Ep. 54: 5 Ways to Allow in More

    5 Ways to Allow More Into Your LifeHave you ever noticed that sometimes life gives you exactly what you've been asking for—but you somehow push it away? Whether it's a compliment, a new opportunity, more money, love, or support, receiving isn't always the problem. Allowing is. In this solo episode, JJ explores the subtle but powerful difference between receiving and allowing, and why your ability to truly let good things into your life has less to do with positive thinking and more to do with your subconscious beliefs, emotional patterns, and nervous system. Drawing from coaching clients, the Roadmap to Emotional Healing, the Law of Attraction, and years of teaching personal transformation, JJ shares five practical ways to increase your capacity to receive abundance without sabotaging it. If you've ever felt like you're working hard but still blocking what you desire, this episode will help you recognize the patterns keeping you stuck—and what to do instead. In this episode, you'll learn:The important difference between receiving and allowingWhy your emotional frequency—not your thoughts—determines what you're attractingHow scarcity energy silently blocks abundanceWhy enjoying the present moment is essential to creating what you want nextHow to recognize and move beyond your upper limitsWhy focusing on your future is more powerful than repeatedly analyzing your pastThe role of bold, aligned action in creating lasting changeHow identifying your core wounds helps you stop repeating self-sabotaging patternsSimple ways to shift your energy and become more available for joy, love, health, and abundance JJ also shares personal stories about surrendering control, trusting the timing of the universe, and how changing your internal state can open the door to unexpected solutions. If you're ready to stop chasing and start allowing, this episode offers practical tools to help you expand your capacity for happiness, success, and fulfillment—without forcing or striving. Mentioned in this episode:Roadmap to Emotional Healing – Identify your core wounds and rewire emotional patterns.The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks – Learn how to recognize and overcome your upper limits. 54: The life you desire isn't just about attracting more—it's about becoming someone who can fully receive and sustain it. This episode will help you begin that process.

  4. Jul 1

    Ep. 53: The Invisible Collapse: What Women Are Being Called to Build- Part 2

    The Invisible Collapse: What Women Are Being Called to BuildWhat if the biggest challenges facing women in business today aren't visible on a balance sheet? In this thought-provoking roundtable discussion, Ventura County Business Women founder Tawney Noriega is joined by empowerment strategist JJ Flizanes and entrepreneur Raini Stefan to explore what they call "The Invisible Collapse"—the shifting business landscape that is forcing women to rethink how they lead, grow, market, and sustain their businesses. Together, they unpack the old business models that are no longer producing the same results and examine what women are being called to build instead. Topics include: • Why hustle culture is losing its appeal and effectiveness • The growing trust recession and how buying behavior has changed • Building authentic relationships in an increasingly skeptical marketplace • The evolution of leadership and the identity shifts required for growth • Moving from solopreneur thinking into true business ownership • The difference between discipline and burnout • Nervous system capacity and its impact on business success • Why emotional resilience has become a critical leadership skill • Balancing intuition, strategy, and data-driven decision making • Marketing, visibility, and trust in a noisy digital world • How authenticity is becoming a competitive advantage • The importance of adaptability, curiosity, and personal growth in uncertain times Throughout the conversation, the panel challenges traditional definitions of success and explores how women can create businesses that are both profitable and sustainable without sacrificing their health, values, or sense of purpose. The discussion highlights a powerful truth: the future belongs to leaders who are willing to evolve. As old systems, expectations, and business models begin to break down, women are being invited to build something different—businesses rooted in trust, integrity, connection, and alignment. If you've been feeling the pressure of changing markets, shifting consumer behavior, leadership challenges, or the tension between ambition and well-being, this conversation offers both validation and a new perspective on what is possible. Because sometimes collapse isn't the end of something. Sometimes it's an invitation to build something better.

  5. Jun 24

    Ep. 52: Ask the Experts Community Q&A -Part 1

    Ask the Experts: Community Q&AWhat happens when experienced women business owners come together to answer the questions that keep entrepreneurs up at night? In this Community Q&A edition of Ask the Experts, West Coast Women Rising co-host and Ventura County Business Women founder Tawney Noriega sits down with empowerment strategist JJ Flizanes and entrepreneur Raini Stefan for an honest conversation about the realities of building a business in today's changing landscape. Drawing from questions submitted by community members, the panel explores the challenges many women face as they grow their businesses, navigate uncertainty, and learn to trust themselves as leaders. Topics include: • How to grow a business without everything depending on you • Creating systems, support, and scalability as a solopreneur • Deciding which business investments are worth making • Avoiding shiny-object syndrome and evaluating return on investment • Breaking free from the feast-or-famine cycle • Building consistent revenue through strategy, resilience, and adaptability • The qualities that create successful business owners • The role of integrity, humility, curiosity, and self-awareness in long-term growth • Navigating leadership transitions and overcoming imposter syndrome • Building confidence when speaking to decision-makers, executives, and leadership teams Throughout the conversation, the panel shares personal stories, hard-earned lessons, and practical insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, mindset, and business growth. Whether you're a new entrepreneur, a seasoned business owner, or somewhere in between, this episode offers a powerful reminder that business growth isn't just about strategy—it's also about personal growth, resilience, and learning to trust your own voice. Because sometimes the answers we need most come from honest conversations with women who have been there too.

  6. Jun 17

    Ep. 51: Ko-Create Marketing with Kristen Fickeisen

    Marketing That Actually Works: Clarity, Connection & Strategy with Kristen of KoCreate MarketingIn this episode of West Coast Women Rising, JJ Flizanes sits down with marketing strategist and entrepreneur Kristen of CoCreate Marketing to discuss the realities of entrepreneurship, the evolution of marketing, and why clarity is the foundation of business growth. From yoga studios and meditation retreats to running a boutique marketing agency, Kristen shares how listening to what people actually need led her to build a thriving business. In This Episode You'll Learn:Why many entrepreneurs struggle because they market without a strategyThe importance of message clarity before investing in marketingHow to identify the real audience for your products and servicesWhy AI can support your business—but can never replace human connectionThe role data plays in making smarter business decisionsHow collaboration and partnerships can accelerate growthWhy successful entrepreneurs focus on solving problems, not selling servicesThe power of listening to your audience and allowing your business to evolve Key Takeaways1. Marketing Starts with ClarityBefore worrying about social media, funnels, or advertising, Kristen emphasizes understanding: Who you helpWhat problem you solveWhy your solution matters When your messaging becomes clear, the right people begin to find you. 2. Stop Posting Without a PlanMany business owners spend time creating content but have no strategy behind it. Kristen explains that every piece of content should support a clear message and guide potential clients toward a next step. 3. Your Audience Will Tell You What They NeedBoth JJ and Kristen share how some of their most successful offers emerged because people asked for them. Rather than guessing what customers want, start conversations, ask questions, and pay attention to what people are already requesting. 4. Data is Your FriendTracking the right metrics helps you determine: What's workingWhat's notWhere to focus your energy You don't have to scrap everything when something isn't working—often a few adjustments make all the difference. 5. Relationships Will Always MatterIn an AI-driven world, businesses that continue talking directly with their customers will have the greatest advantage. Human connection remains the most valuable marketing strategy available. Memorable Quote"The businesses that stick around are the businesses that keep talking to people."About KristenKristen is the founder of KoCreate Marketing, a boutique marketing agency that helps entrepreneurs create clear messaging, build strong business foundations, and implement effective marketing systems. Her services include: Marketing strategy and consultingSocial media managementEmail marketingSales funnelsAI and automation systemsFounder Build Lab accelerator program Resources & LinksKoCreate Marketinghttps://kocreatemarketing.com Business Growth QuizGrowth Systems Assessment: Growth Systems Quiz Follow KristenInstagram @kocreatemarketing Ventura County Business WomenVentura County Business Women (VCBW) Connect with JJ FlizanesWebsitesJJ Flizanes Official Website PodcastsSpirit, Purpose & Energy Podcast

  7. Jun 10

    Ep. 50: When Success Demands Reinvention

    When Success Demands ReinventionWhat happens when the version of you that created your current success is no longer the version you're meant to be? In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, JJ Flizanes and Tawney Noriega explore the uncomfortable yet necessary process of growth, reinvention, and expansion. Both share real-life experiences of navigating major shifts in business, relationships, identity, and leadership—and why the next level often requires letting go of who you've been in order to become who you're meant to be. JJ opens up about the journey behind her upcoming book, the fears that surfaced around fully stepping into her work, and the realization that many entrepreneurs unknowingly hold themselves back because of old beliefs about safety, belonging, and acceptance. Tawny shares how challenges within her marriage became a mirror for her own growth, leadership, and willingness to speak more boldly about what she believes. Together, they discuss upper limits, people-pleasing, emotional healing, entrepreneurship, feminine leadership, and the courage it takes to stop seeking approval and start honoring your truth. If you've been feeling restless, uninspired, stuck, or called toward something bigger—but aren't sure what comes next—this episode is for you. In This Episode:How to recognize when you've outgrown a business model, role, or identityThe hidden fears that keep entrepreneurs playing smallWhy growth often feels uncomfortable before it feels excitingThe connection between personal healing and business successHow relationships mirror our deepest wounds and greatest opportunities for growthThe difference between seeking safety and creating safety within yourselfWhy trying to please everyone limits your impactThe role of feminine and masculine energy in leadership and entrepreneurshipSigns you're being called into your next chapterHow receiving more can create greater abundance and momentum Key TakeawayGrowth isn't always about doing more. Sometimes it's about becoming more of who you truly are. The challenges, discomfort, and uncertainty you're experiencing may not be signs that something is wrong—they may be signs that you're ready for expansion. The next level of your business, leadership, relationships, and life requires a new version of you. The question is: Are you willing to become her?

  8. Jun 3

    Ep. 49: Price to Pay for Living Your Purpose

    What if the life you want is available to you—but the real question is whether you're willing to pay the price to get there? In this solo episode, JJ explores a powerful lesson inspired by Bishop T.D. Jakes: the six prices everyone must pay to fully step into their purpose. Whether you're longing for a healthier body, a more fulfilling relationship, a thriving business, or simply a life that feels more aligned, growth requires courage, commitment, and a willingness to move beyond your comfort zone. JJ shares personal stories, lessons from her entrepreneurial journey, and insights into why so many people stay stuck despite wanting change. She challenges listeners to examine where fear, the need for validation, limiting beliefs, and unsupportive environments may be preventing them from becoming who they're meant to be. If you've been feeling frustrated, uninspired, anxious, or called toward something bigger, this episode offers a roadmap for understanding what may be standing in your way—and how to move forward with greater confidence and clarity. In This Episode, You'll Learn:Why waiting for validation keeps you from taking meaningful actionHow criticism often appears when you're growing beyond others' expectationsThe role obstacles and turbulence play in personal transformationWhy lack of resources doesn't have to stop you from pursuing your goalsHow your environment and community influence your successWhy growth sometimes requires finding new people who support your giftsThe connection between fear, purpose, and personal expansionHow surrender and trust can create unexpected opportunitiesWhy clarity often comes through action—not before itThe importance of surrounding yourself with people who inspire growth and possibility Key TakeawaysLiving your purpose isn't about waiting until you feel ready. It's about making decisions before certainty arrives. Growth will challenge your relationships, beliefs, routines, and identity. The discomfort isn't a sign you're on the wrong path—it's often evidence that you're evolving. The life you desire may require you to release old stories, outgrow familiar environments, and trust yourself more deeply than ever before. The question isn't whether there will be obstacles. The question is whether your desire for a more aligned life is greater than your desire to stay comfortable. Memorable Quote"You can't solve a problem with the same mind that created it. Until you gain a new perspective, a new experience, and move beyond your comfort zone, change will remain difficult." Reflection QuestionsWhere am I still waiting for validation before taking action?What criticism or fear of criticism has been holding me back?What area of my life is asking me to grow beyond my current comfort zone?Does my current environment support the person I'm becoming?What is one courageous step I can take toward greater alignment today? Resources MentionedBishop T.D. Jakes and the concept of "The Price of Living Your Purpose"Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon HillConcepts from the Law of Attraction, faith, decision-making, persistence, and personal responsibility for creating change. Final ThoughtPurpose isn't found by waiting. It's discovered through action, courage, and a willingness to become someone new. The path may not be easy, but the cost of staying stuck is often far greater than the price of growth.

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About

West Coast Women Rising is a podcast celebrating women who are making waves—on the coast and beyond—through purpose-driven entrepreneurship and powerful personal growth. Hosted by JJ Flizanes and Tawney Noriega, each episode features inspiring stories from bold, heart-centered leaders who are building businesses that make a difference. From soulful startups to seasoned success stories, you'll hear how these women are sharing their gifts, navigating challenges, and evolving as both entrepreneurs and individuals. Tune in for candid conversations, insider tips, and uplifting insights on what it truly takes to grow a thriving business while growing yourself.

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