Empowered & Embodied Show

Kim Romain & Louise Neil
  • 5.0 (16)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Kim Romain and Louise Neil, alongside their refreshingly candid guests, welcome you to an entertaining and profound journey exploring the human experience. Through everyday ups and downs, The Empowered & Embodied Show dives deep into what it genuinely means to be gloriously, messily human. This isn't your standard self-help podcast—it's an unfiltered exploration of the laughter, tears, and "what the heck just happened?" moments that define our lives. Whether you're riding the wave of success or navigating the swamp of self-doubt, Kim and Louise unpack the complex realities and unexpected joys of personal growth with wit, wisdom, and healthy self-deprecation. Because let's face it—becoming your most empowered self is never a straight line.

  1. You Can't Outsource Knowing Yourself

    3D AGO

    You Can't Outsource Knowing Yourself

    Send us a Message There's always another tool. Another framework. Another person telling you this is the thing that will finally make it click. In episode 197 of The Empowered & Embodied Show, co-hosts Kim Romain and Louise Neil get honest about why we keep reaching outside ourselves... and why it never quite lands the way we are hoping it will. We talk about the difference between connecting to a big external purpose and knowing what genuinely sustains you. We get into capacity... not as a productivity hack, but as a form of self-respect. And we share two completely different approaches to getting through hard things. Both completely right, because we're different people. This is why you can't outsource knowing yourself. Key Takeaways The problem you think you have probably isn't the actual problemHonoring your capacity is how you honor your own humanityWhat works for someone else might not work for you... and that's okay!The closer you are to your own why, the easier it is to stay groundedKey Moments 00:00 — Welcome and introductions 05:24 — What "all the things" is really about 07:44 — The problem you think you have isn't usually the problem 09:21 — Coming back to your why 11:19 — Capital P Purpose vs. the personal spark 16:06 — When the spark is hard to find 21:57 — Where does the inner work fit in a full life 25:27 — Two completely different ways to get things done  31:04 — Why tools and tactics miss the spot without self-knowledge 35:53 — Wrap up and takeaways Join a circle of changemakers committed to leading with purpose, presence and ease inside Kim's Rising Visionaries mentorship program. Reclaim your career and confidence during midlife through Louise's Rise & Redefine program. If you’re loving this show, come check out the Feminist Podcasters Collective, where creators like us are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change. If you’re looking for new shows to fill your feed, head to https://feministpodcasterscollective.com

    41 min
  2. Why Being Heard Changes Who You Are with Amy & Nancy Harrington

    MAR 11

    Why Being Heard Changes Who You Are with Amy & Nancy Harrington

    Send us a Message What would change if you stopped hiding your humanity and finally community that could see you for who you are? Sisters and co-founders of the Passionistas Project, Amy and Nancy Harrington, join Kim Romain and Louise Neil in Episode 196 of The Empowered & Embodied Show to explore the radical power of storytelling, why vulnerability is the foundation of real community, and how two introverted sisters built a global sisterhood by simply creating the space they wished had existed. From interviewing Dr. Jane Goodall to leaving high-profile careers at Warner Bros. and Miramax, Amy and Nancy have spent years amplifying the voices of women — especially those from marginalized communities — and turning that mission into a movement. In this episode, we dig into: Why storytelling and being heard changes who you areWhat it costs us to perform professionalism and lock our humanity awayWhat it means to build something that takes on a life beyond youVulnerability is the access point for genuine connection and communityCommunity is a mirror that shows you you're not aloneKey Moments 00:00 – Opening and Introductions  07:47 – From celebrity interviews to amplifying unheard voices: How the Passionistas were born  09:02 – How storytelling helps us care more deeply about each other 12:27 – Learning to model vulnerability when you were trained to stay buttoned up  15:27 – Why vulnerability transforms even the most "dry" conversations  17:06 – How we lock our humanity away  22:14 – Normalizing the human experience: bodies, health, sexuality, and everything we don't talk about  27:52 – The big dream: women running the world, one story at a time  29:36 – What does it mean to be empowered?  35:45 – The power of listening to yourself and others  45:36 – What's ahead for the Passionistas  Connect with the Passionistas Project: Website: thepassionistasproject.com Free 30-Day Journal: thepassionistasproject.com/30-days-journal Join a circle of changemakers committed to leading with purpose, presence and ease inside Kim's Rising Visionaries mentorship program. Reclaim your career and confidence during midlife through Louise's Rise & Redefine program. If you’re loving this show, come check out the Feminist Podcasters Collective, where creators like us are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change. If you’re looking for new shows to fill your feed, head to https://feministpodcasterscollective.com

    48 min
  3. Breaking the Money Taboo: A Conversation on Worth

    MAR 4

    Breaking the Money Taboo: A Conversation on Worth

    Send us a Message Money is one of the great taboos we're not supposed to talk about. And that silence is costing you more than you think. In episode 195 of The Empowered & Embodied Show, Kim Romain and Louise Neil get real about the money stories quietly running the show: the scarcity thinking, the shame spirals, the questions of worthiness that keep us stuck in the same patterns, year after year. We unpack why breaking through financially isn't a numbers game... it's an identity game. And why the work of healing your relationship with money is inseparable from the work of knowing who you are. We also call out the predatory tactics that exploit your money stories, the systemic reasons women in particular have been kept financially disempowered, and why talking openly about money isn't just necessary... it's healing. If money has more of a hold on your life than you'd like to admit, this conversation is for you. Key Takeaways The pressure to fix everything yourself isn't strength — it's a storyYour income ceiling is your identity ceilingAvoiding money doesn't make the problem smaller — it makes it biggerWhat someone pays you doesn't determine your worthThe silence around money is keeping you stuckPredatory sales tactics target your insecurities — know the signsKey Moments 00:00 - Welcome and introductions 06:33 - When "it's money" is about more than money 09:19 - Whose money stories are these anyway? 10:47 - Why we don't talk about money — and what that silence costs 15:34 - The systems that kept women financially disempowered 19:44 - When a win still doesn't feel like enough 22:18 - Your income ceiling is your identity ceiling 25:32 - Entrepreneurship as the ultimate personal development tool 28:28 - Predatory sales tactics and how to spot them 35:45 - Wrap up and takeaways Some other episodes where we dove into the topic of money: Why Talking About Money Feels So Hard: https://youtu.be/CAGgpgJCFyU Breaking Free from Money Stress https://youtu.be/-tr4PYyN2OI Finding Abundance and Balance Through Life's Messy Middles https://youtu.be/51hfnkuCH5k Join a circle of changemakers committed to leading with purpose, presence and ease inside Kim's Rising Visionaries mentorship program. Reclaim your career and confidence during midlife through Louise's Rise & Redefine program. If you’re loving this show, come check out the Feminist Podcasters Collective, where creators like us are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change. If you’re looking for new shows to fill your feed, head to https://feministpodcasterscollective.com

    39 min
  4. The Stories That Deserve to Be Heard with Anna DeShawn

    FEB 27

    The Stories That Deserve to Be Heard with Anna DeShawn

    Send us a Message What does it mean to tell your story when it might not be safe to do so? And what happens when you stop waiting for permission and start creating what doesn't yet exist? Chicago-born social entrepreneur, Chicago LGBTQ Hall of Fame inductee, and Ambie-nominated podcast host Anna DeShawn joins Kim Romain and Louise Neil in Episode 194 of The Empowered & Embodied Show to explore the power and responsibility of queer storytelling, what it really means to build a business that's deeply personal, and why experimentation might be the most liberating framework for entrepreneurs. From founding E3 Radio in 2009 while still in corporate America, to building The Qube, hosting podcast salons, and pressing Black and Brown voices onto vinyl, Anna is riding media into its next era, one experiment at a time. In this episode, we dig into: Why storytelling is an act of resistance and why not everyone has to tell their story right nowHow finding your community transforms both your confidence and your impactHow adopting an experimentation mindset freed Anna from the fear of failureWhy the future of storytelling might actually be analogWhat it means to create what doesn't exist yet and why you're the one to do itKey Moments 00:00 - Welcome and introductions  03:15 - Why storytelling is a necessity, not a luxury  05:00 - Safety, readiness, and the choice to share your story  10:03 - Finding your people and building community  12:18 - Stepping into rooms where you feel like you don't belong  19:23 - On not being able to see yourself as others see you  22:13 - Why business is deeply personal  27:16 - Experimentation as a framework  32:21 - Podcast salons and the power of listening in community  36:35 - Why seeing yourself reflected is never overrated  40:00 - Failure is human and necessary  About Anna DeShawn  Anna is the founder and host of E3 Radio, an online radio station playing queer music and reporting on queer news with an intersectional lens, and the creator of The Qube, a platform for discovering independent podcasts. An Ambie-nominated podcast host, producer and multi-award winning media creator, Anna was inducted into the Chicago LGBTQ Hall of Fame for her commitment to the LGBTQ community. She has been riding media into its next era since 2009, telling the stories and playing the music that deserves to be heard. https://pod.link/queernews | https://theqube.app | https://linktr.ee/annadeshawn | https://www.youtube.com/@E3Radio Join a circle of changemakers committed to leading with purpose, presence and ease inside Kim's Rising Visionaries mentorship program. Reclaim your career and confidence during midlife through Louise's Rise & Redefine program. If you’re loving this show, come check out the Feminist Podcasters Collective, where creators like us are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change. If you’re looking for new shows to fill your feed, head to https://feministpodcasterscollective.com

    43 min
  5. You Already Have What You Need: Finding Clarity in a Noisy World

    FEB 20

    You Already Have What You Need: Finding Clarity in a Noisy World

    Send us a Message The world is loud right now. Between social media, the news cycles, and the constant pressure to hurry up and figure things out, it's becoming harder than ever to hear yourself think. In episode 193 of The Empowered and Embodied Show, Kim Romain and Louise Neil get honest about the collective exhaustion they're both feeling and witnessing in their clients. The frantic energy that drives people toward a destination they didn't actually choose, and the growing impulse to slow down, simplify, and come back to self before taking another step.  We unpack the deeper reason so many of us say "I don't know." It isn't actually that we don't know. It's that we're afraid of what knowing means. Knowing means taking responsibility. And responsibility feels lonely, risky, and overwhelming when you're convinced you don't have what you need to handle it. Kim and Louise push back on that story by exploring how self-trust is built not by having all the answers, but by asking honest questions. You don't need perfect clarity. Sometimes there are stepping stones right beneath your feet. KEY TAKEAWAYS Simplification is a power move, not a step backward. "I don't know" is often fear in disguise. You already have what you need. Responsibility doesn't have to be lonely. Clarity doesn't have to be perfect to be actionable. Self-trust is built through action, not certainty. KEY MOMENTS 00:00 — Welcome and opening 04:01 — The Case for Simplification  06:36 — The World Is Loud and It's Affecting Us 09:21 — What Question Are You Asking?  11:57 — The Fear Behind "I Don't Know"  14:30 — Crystal Balls and the Illusion of Certainty  19:29 — Responsibility Doesn't Have to Be Lonely  22:10 — You Already Have What You Need 32:28 — Self-Trust and Kindness  Join a circle of changemakers committed to leading with purpose, presence and ease inside Kim's Rising Visionaries mentorship program. Reclaim your career and confidence during midlife through Louise's Rise & Redefine program. If you’re loving this show, come check out the Feminist Podcasters Collective, where creators like us are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change. If you’re looking for new shows to fill your feed, head to https://feministpodcasterscollective.com

    35 min
  6. Are You Actually Free Or Just Comfortable Inside the Box? with Rebecca Justus

    FEB 11

    Are You Actually Free Or Just Comfortable Inside the Box? with Rebecca Justus

    Send us a Message What does it actually mean to be free? Not theoretically, but in how you live, choose, and lead every day. Ethical leadership advisor Rebecca Justus joins Kim and Louise in Episode 192 of The Empowered & Embodied Show to unpack autonomy, intentionality, and why the systems designed to make life easier might be the very things keeping you small. From algorithmic echo chambers to cultural conditioning, we explore how our choices are being curated without our awareness and what it takes to break out of the box you don't even know you're in. Rebecca brings a global lens shaped by living in 12 countries and working in international human rights, reproductive justice, and ethical leadership. In this episode, we dig into: Why everyone craves freedom and why it matters that we can't seem to agree on what it means to be freeHow algorithms, social media, and digital curation have become a modern form of oppressionThe relationship between power, privilege, and the fear of sharing freedomWhat cross-cultural perspectives reveal about community, time, and autonomyWhy intentionality is the prerequisite for autonomy How curiosity and simple inquiry is the entry point to breaking conditioningKey Moments 00:00 Welcome and introductions 03:53 From international relations to ethical leadership  06:43 The birth of Reproductive Autonomy  10:47 Why we crave freedom so deeply 16:23 How autonomy and power play out globally  24:25 No autonomy without intentionality  28:37 How systems put us in boxes and keep us there  30:01 Curiosity as a doorway out of conditioning  37:11 Takeaways and closing reflections  About Our Guest Rebecca Justus is an Ethical Leadership Advisor & Coach, supporting socially responsible rising leaders and teams to become more strategic and self-aware, stay true to their values, and lead with integrity both locally and globally. She is also the creator of Reproductive Autonomy, an online information hub for trustworthy reproductive resources. Rebecca is a certified anti-racism training facilitator and the Vice President of the Board of Directors for EcoWomen. She holds an MA in Human Rights from the University of Sussex and a BA in International Relations from Boston University. Originally from the U.S., Rebecca has lived in 12 countries and traveled to over 60. https://www.rebeccajustus.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-justus/ https://www.instagram.com/therebeccajustus/ https://www.pinterest.com/justusadvising/ Join a circle of changemakers committed to leading with purpose, presence and ease inside Kim's Rising Visionaries mentorship program. Reclaim your career and confidence during midlife through Louise's Rise & Redefine program. If you’re loving this show, come check out the Feminist Podcasters Collective, where creators like us are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change. If you’re looking for new shows to fill your feed, head to https://feministpodcasterscollective.com

    42 min
  7. Learning to Trust Yourself Starts With Your Emotional Wisdom

    FEB 4

    Learning to Trust Yourself Starts With Your Emotional Wisdom

    Send us a Message Learning to trust yourself starts with your emotional wisdom - but most of us were taught to feel one emotion at a time, rush past the hard ones, and judge ourselves for being "too much." In episode 191 of The Empowered & Embodied Show, Kim Romain and Louise Neil discuss the impact of societal conditioning on emotional expression and the journey towards self-trust and emotional awareness. They explore holding multiple feelings at once, the difference between processing emotions in your body versus your head, and why self-trust is built by tending to your inner wisdom like a garden - not by controlling or fixing yourself. If you're doing inner work and want to move from performing to being, from inherited patterns to your own clarity, this conversation is for you. Key Takeaways: All emotions have a place at the table.Conditioning affects how we express our emotions.Self-trust is essential for emotional awareness.We need both logic and emotion to understand ourselves.Mutual support is crucial for emotional growth.Trust with others starts with trust for ourselves.Key Moments: 00:00 Welcome and Introduction 01:45 Holding Multiple Emotions Without Choosing One 04:34 The Rush to Get Through Negative Emotions 05:33 Growing Up Being Told You're Too Emotional 06:49 The Fear That Lives Around Our Emotions 09:01 When Your Head Tries to Control Your Body 14:20 Building Self Trust Through Emotional Awareness 20:15 Why Control and Empowerment Are Not the Same 29:44 The Garden Metaphor for Tending Self Trust 35:49 Take What You Need and Leave the Rest Join a circle of changemakers committed to leading with purpose, presence and ease inside Kim's Rising Visionaries mentorship program. Reclaim your career and confidence during midlife through Louise's Rise & Redefine program. If you’re loving this show, come check out the Feminist Podcasters Collective, where creators like us are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change. If you’re looking for new shows to fill your feed, head to https://feministpodcasterscollective.com

    37 min
  8. How to Change Systems from the Inside Out with Dr. Krystal Rawls

    JAN 27

    How to Change Systems from the Inside Out with Dr. Krystal Rawls

    Send us a Message Feeling powerless against systems that seem too big to change? Episode 190 of The Empowered & Embodied Show will shift how you think about agency, collective power, and your role in transformation. Kim Romain and Louise Neil sit down with Dr. Krystal Rawls, systems strategist, workforce futurist, and Director of the Workforce Integration Network at Cal State Dominguez Hills. Dr. Rawls breaks down why systems aren't separate from people, they're made OF people. That means you have more power than you think. In this conversation, we explore the difference between personal and collective agency, why isolation keeps us stuck, and how finding your community isn't just nice-to-have, it's the actual mechanism of systems change. Dr. Rawls shares practical strategies for moving from feeling like a lone voice to building collective power that creates real impact. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Personal agency is the permission you give yourself to actCollective agency emerges when your community aligns on shared values and directionSystems aren't bigger than people; they're comprised of people, which means you have inherent powerFinding your community starts by finding one person who you align withBelonging is about fully being yourself within communityCHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 04:02 Understanding Systems and Individual Agency 06:31 The Importance of Community in Systems Change 09:10 Defining Personal and Collective Agency 11:56 Challenging Individualism and Embracing Community 14:58 Navigating Systems and Personal Choices 17:24 Building Community and Collective Action 20:09 The Role of Rituals in Community Building 25:39 The Journey from Individual to Collective Impact 28:26 Finding Belonging in Community 31:04 Rest as a Strategy for Empowerment 33:29 Wrap Up and Call to Action ABOUT DR. KRYSTAL RAWLS: Dr. Krystal Rawls is a systems strategist, educator, and workforce futurist whose work centers on equity, agency, and institutional change. As Director of the Workforce Integration Network at California State University, Dominguez Hills, she leads large-scale initiatives bridging digital access, economic mobility, and community empowerment. Her expertise spans organizational behavior, change management, and digital equity with a focus on how identity and agency shape the way individuals engage and transform systems. Connect with Dr. Rawls on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professorrawls/ Download pre-release chapters Dr. Rawls' upcoming book - Ambient Learning Models: Civic Learning in a Post AI Pedagogy: https://myseconddraft.notion.site/What-Education-Becomes-2e3057aab8728032a637ee2aa00b0a95 Join a circle of changemakers committed to leading with purpose, presence and ease inside Kim's Rising Visionaries mentorship program. Reclaim your career and confidence during midlife through Louise's Rise & Redefine program. If you’re loving this show, come check out the Feminist Podcasters Collective, where creators like us are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change. If you’re looking for new shows to fill your feed, head to https://feministpodcasterscollective.com

    40 min
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About

Kim Romain and Louise Neil, alongside their refreshingly candid guests, welcome you to an entertaining and profound journey exploring the human experience. Through everyday ups and downs, The Empowered & Embodied Show dives deep into what it genuinely means to be gloriously, messily human. This isn't your standard self-help podcast—it's an unfiltered exploration of the laughter, tears, and "what the heck just happened?" moments that define our lives. Whether you're riding the wave of success or navigating the swamp of self-doubt, Kim and Louise unpack the complex realities and unexpected joys of personal growth with wit, wisdom, and healthy self-deprecation. Because let's face it—becoming your most empowered self is never a straight line.

Information

  • Creator
    Kim Romain & Louise Neil
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    204
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Kim Romain and Louise Neil
  • Show Website
    Empowered & Embodied Show