Stacked Keys Podcast

Stacked Keys Podcast
  • 5.0 (26)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The idea to talk to women who are out there living and making a difference is where the Stacked Keys Podcast was born. There are women who make a difference, but never make a wave while paddling through life. Immediately I can think of a dozen or more who impacted me, but I want more. I want to talk to those I don't know and I want to share with an audience that might need the inspiration to find their own beat. This podcast is to feature women who are impressive in the work world-- or in raising a family -- or who have hobbies that can make us all be encouraged. Want to hear what makes these women passionate and get up in the morning or what they wish they had known earlier in life? Grab your keys and STOMP to your own drum.

  1. 4D AGO

    Episode 257 -- Sarah Quillian -- What If Being Real Is The Safety Plan?

    A kid can go from “safe” to “silent emergency” in seconds and Sarah Quillen has seen enough pools, parties, and parenting blind spots to say it out loud. Sarah is a beloved local swim teacher known as “Miss Sarah”, and she joins me to explain how she teaches real swimming skills fast, why she makes kids go under early, and what her two-week swim boot camp looks like when the goal is confidence plus safety. If you’ve been searching for swim lessons for toddlers, water safety for kids, or drowning prevention advice that doesn’t sugar-coat reality, you’ll get practical takeaways you can use right away.  We also go beyond the pool. Sarah shares why social media makes her brain hurt, how even “safe” apps can feed kids toxic messaging through targeted ads, and what a training-wheels approach looks like when you know your child will eventually be online. We talk about honest parenting conversations, including an age-appropriate sex talk story that is both hilarious and deeply useful, plus how to build trust so kids come to you instead of hiding things.  The thread through it all is being real: modelling empathy, owning your mistakes, apologising to your kids, and following through on boundaries even when it is hard. Sarah’s blunt motto about kindness lands because it is not performative, it shows up in how she lives, how she helps people, and how she tries to break old patterns in her own home. If you want a conversation that feels like a friend telling the truth while still giving you tools, press play.  If this resonates, subscribe, share it with a parent who needs encouragement, and leave us a review on iTunes so more people can find Stacked Keys Podcast. Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff

    1h 2m

  2. APR 7

    Episode 255 -- Sunny Dillard -- What If Strength Is Simply Not Quitting

    Tea can be a beverage, sure. It can also be a doorway back to yourself. I’m joined by Sunny Dillard, a watercolor teacher, poet, and tea curator whose work blends Persian tea culture, slow living, and creative practice into something that feels both grounded and brave. We talk about how her love of tea began in childhood with a grandmother who used herbal blends as medicine and as a way to offer real attention. From there, Sunny shares the story behind her name, the symbolism of the sun in Persian mythology and Sufi tradition, and why identity can be a living choice rather than a label you inherit. We also get into her definition of strength, shaped by Iranian women and the daily practice of resilience, hope, and kindness even when the world feels chaotic. A big theme is intuition as “witnessing what you know” a decision-making tool that joins reasoning with the heart. Sunny connects that to creativity as survival: watercolor painting, literature, poetry, journaling, music, and tea rituals as practical tools for mental health, community, and self-expression. If you’ve ever thought art is “only for talented people,” or you’ve felt fear and self-doubt freeze you in place, you’ll love how she teaches students to show up, stay with the discomfort, and leave surprised by what they made. If you want watercolor classes, tea blending workshops, or a gentler approach to mindfulness and slow living, this conversation will give you a clear starting point. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show. Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff

    1h 18m

  3. MAR 31

    Episode 256 -- Lauren Barone -- When A Hobby Turns Into A Legacy

    A jiu jitsu hobby can change your fitness, your confidence, and your friend group, but buying a pro grappling franchise is a different level of commitment. We’re sitting down with Lauren Barone, the force behind the Philadelphia Phenoms and the first female franchise owner in the Pro Grappling Federation (PGF), to talk about what it really looks like to build a team inside a fast-growing submission grappling league. Lauren takes us from her early love of martial arts to finding Brazilian jiu jitsu as an adult, then jumping into the deep end of combat sports entrepreneurship. We get into why the PGF rule set pushes constant action, how the league is expanding, and what “success” means when you’re building something season by season instead of chasing overnight wins. She also shares the part most people never see: wearing nine or ten hats across marketing, contracts, sponsorships, budgeting, and athlete communication while still showing up calm on camera. We also talk athlete support and leadership in practical terms, from covering six weeks of Airbnb housing and rental cars to team meals, uniforms, gym access, and recovery perks. And because this is combat sports, we don’t skip the hard stuff: fear, uncertainty, injuries, and how you protect your heart while still caring deeply about the people you’re backing. If you’ve been curious about the PGF, women in sports leadership, or the business side of jiu jitsu, hit play and come hang with us. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves grappling, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff

    1h 20m

  4. MAR 27

    Episode 254 -- Christine Tilton -- What If Success Starts With Holding Space

    You can do everything “right” and still feel miserable at work, and that gap is trying to tell you something. Christine Tilton joins us to talk about what happens when a successful corporate path stops fitting, and why the bravest career move can be admitting you need something deeper than a title. Christine’s story runs through journalism, decades in HR and talent acquisition, and a pivot into career coaching and career transition services. We unpack how COVID changed work culture, from remote work expectations to the Great Resignation, the Great Reshuffle, and today’s wave of layoffs that has created a brutally competitive job market. If you’re job searching, we get practical about what’s different now: how to frame your value in interviews, why networking matters more than blind applications, and how to stay future-focused without losing yourself. We also go beyond career advice into the parts people rarely say out loud: self-worth after job loss, parenting through a fast and scary world, and why “holding space” can be the most powerful support you offer someone in grief. Christine explains why she’s building “Beginnings” around both career coaching and grief coaching, and how authenticity is not a vibe, it’s a decision you practice. If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs steadier ground, and leave a review so more people can find it. What’s one small step you’re willing to take this week? Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff

    1h 10m

  5. FEB 25

    Episode 253 - Sarah Brittelle - Integrity Over Hype: Building An Organic Skincare Business That Lasts

    What if the skincare that finally calmed your child’s eczema became the spark for a purpose-led business? That’s Sarah Brittelle's story—an honest, ground-up journey from a kitchen shea butter blend to a community-backed organic skincare line that keeps integrity front and center. We talk about the real work behind “clean beauty”: sourcing ingredients you can stand behind, pricing with empathy, and surviving the unglamorous parts like melt-prone shipping, insulated boxes, and dry ice experiments that saved the product but smudged the labels. We also dive into the human side of building something that lasts. Sarah shares how motherhood, grief, and growth shaped her pace—and why embracing seasons, not hustle, keeps her business healthy. She explains why she created a discovery kit that teaches a usable routine, how her designer husband’s clear labels improve outcomes, and why she draws firm lines around products that belong in labs or require FDA approval. Saying no to sunscreen or mascara isn’t a limitation; it’s a promise to protect safety, quality, and trust. Community is the quiet engine here. Made Mercantile in downtown Woodstock gives Sarah workspace, a storefront, and live customer feedback, while Gather and Bloom expands her reach to a different audience. That maker ecosystem fuels better packaging, smarter pricing, and moral support when the calendar tilts into holiday chaos. Through it all, Sarah’s compass stays steady: help people, use truly organic inputs, keep prices fair, and build a brand her daughters can be proud of. If you care about real organic skincare, small-batch craftsmanship, and the mindset that outlasts trends, you’ll feel right at home. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s hunting for honest skincare, and leave a review with one takeaway you’ll apply this week. Your support helps more makers with integrity get heard. Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff

    1h 1m

  6. FEB 21

    Episode 252 -- Jayden Alexander -- Grit On The Mat, Grace At Home

    Grit doesn’t always shout; sometimes it packs snacks, lays out a quilt by the mats, and shows up anyway. We sit down with jiu-jitsu competitor and young mom Jayden Alexander to trace a line from a leaky-roof gym in small-town Mississippi to a high-standard room at 10th Planet Atlanta—and the mindset that made that leap possible. Jayden’s story is raw and practical: training 24 hours a week, serving tables to fund the dream, and raising a four-year-old who knows the gym as home. What stands out is her shift from emotion to analysis. With coaching from Sean Applegate, Jayden learned to strip away the drama of losing and study the film of her own choices—what worked, what didn’t, and why. That same lens steers her parenting and her schedule: decide, act, iterate. No waiting for perfect conditions; no excuses. She shares how systems make the impossible doable, from her daughter’s mat-side routine to boundaries that protect learning in a room built on respect. The result is a life that fits her goals rather than fights them. We also get into tradeoffs, co-parenting across states, and the service industry grind that sharpened her patience. Jayden’s take on wants vs needs is no-nonsense, and her view on “manifesting” is grounded in sweat equity: show up as your best, serve others, and watch doors open. She tells the story of how one standout shift led to a job that now flexes around training and competition. Through it all, she treats certainty like a practice—something earned in reps, not granted by luck. If you’re chasing performance, balance, or simply a reason to stop complaining and start building, this conversation will meet you where you are and nudge you forward. If this resonated, follow, share with a friend who needs the push, and leave a 5-star review so more people can find the show. Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff

    1 hr

  7. FEB 12

    Episode 251 -- Breeanna Kay -- Rebuilding A Business With Soul

    What if the business you built stops matching the person you’re becoming? That haunting friction sits at the heart of our conversation with Breeanna Kay, who walked away from an accounting career, scaled a six-figure wedding photography brand, and then chose a bolder path: weaving spirituality into business as the creator of Rebel CEO. We trace the early climb—long drives, relentless learning, and a thriving creative practice—then step into the moment everything tilted. After losing her sister to violence, Breeanna began noticing signs, asking deeper questions, and embracing spirituality as a practical guide. That awakening reshaped how she saw her industry and her life. She shares a candid take on wedding culture’s obsession with content over presence, why burnout can be a symptom of misalignment, and how she now uses soul contracts—her blend of astrology, numerology, and human design—to help entrepreneurs build companies that honor who they are. You’ll hear how an introvert terrified of public speaking started a podcast, why she treats “failure” as neutral feedback, and how intuition can replace the urge to crowdsource every decision. We dig into think weeks, setting boundaries without losing momentum, and designing work for freedom, not just revenue. The throughline is clear: aligned action beats hollow hustle, and success feels different when your values lead. If you’re craving a business that fits your soul—and a life that values presence as much as progress—this conversation offers tools, language, and courage to pivot with purpose. Listen, reflect, and share it with someone who needs permission to choose a truer path. If this resonated, tap follow, send it to a friend, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find the show. Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff

    1h 9m

  8. JAN 29

    Episode 249 -- Futurist -- How Crystal Washington Builds Courage, Boundaries, And Vision

    Start with a hunch, bet on yourself, and learn fast enough to outrun fear. That’s the energy Crystal Washington brings as she walks us through her journey from high-performing corporate marketer to entrepreneur, technologist, and futurist whose client list spans mom-and-pop shops to Microsoft and Google. She doesn’t sell hype; she teaches people how to think clearly about technology, remove jargon walls with humor, and take intentional steps that actually move the needle. We dig into the difference between being nice and being kind, and why boundaries are essential if you want your work to align with your values. Crystal shares how she says no without guilt, how she protects her mission to be a “good ancestor,” and why arguing is a time sink while thoughtful disagreement unlocks learning. You’ll hear her framework for leadership—care about people, stay curious, then be decisive—and how that triad helps teams navigate uncertainty, adopt new tools, and build trust without getting stuck in endless analysis. The conversation stretches across history and foresight. Crystal’s deep family research informs her present-tense choices: tell the whole truth, learn from it, and design a future worthy of the next generation. We talk about the pain of trying to help people who resist change, the art of choosing counsel wisely, and the small rituals that keep you grounded on big stages (including why she speaks in sparkly sneakers). If you’re craving practical, human-centered strategies for embracing technology, setting better boundaries, and leading with courage, this is a masterclass in clarity and action. Listen, subscribe, and share with someone who needs a nudge toward decisive kindness. If this resonated, leave a review and tell us: what intentional action are you taking this week? Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff

    58 min
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About

The idea to talk to women who are out there living and making a difference is where the Stacked Keys Podcast was born. There are women who make a difference, but never make a wave while paddling through life. Immediately I can think of a dozen or more who impacted me, but I want more. I want to talk to those I don't know and I want to share with an audience that might need the inspiration to find their own beat. This podcast is to feature women who are impressive in the work world-- or in raising a family -- or who have hobbies that can make us all be encouraged. Want to hear what makes these women passionate and get up in the morning or what they wish they had known earlier in life? Grab your keys and STOMP to your own drum.

Information

  • Creator
    Stacked Keys Podcast
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    259
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Stacked Keys Podcast
  • Show Website
    Stacked Keys Podcast