The Story Behind Her Success

Candy O'Terry

Women from every walk of life reveal how they got to where they are today, sharing their wisdom and the lessons they have learned along the way.

  1. Noel Foy aka Neuro Noel  -330

    6D AGO

    Noel Foy aka Neuro Noel -330

    Let’s transform the classroom into a place where mistake-making is an opportunity to learn and children feel a sense of connection, value, and belonging. -Noel Foy aka Neuro Noel Meet neuroeducator, anxiety/executive function coach, and author, Noel Foy. She travels the country, sharing her skill set with children, parents, and teachers. Today, in any given classroom, about 30% of students are neurodiverse. “There are many brains in these classrooms, says Noel, including children with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and mental health issues. Teachers are overwhelmed, and that’s where I come in.” Her latest book, 15-minute focus, provides brief counseling techniques that work, accompanied by downloadable resources, with a focus on executive function. www.neuronoel.com. What is executive function? In her book, Noel explains that EF involves the highest aspects of brain function, including the ability to organize, prioritize, and manage daily life. The fact is, underdeveloped EF skills can derail a child. In this interview, Neuro Noel discusses the built-in distractions our children encounter throughout the day—phones, social media, and screens —and suggests that play is a great way to develop executive function. Creating games without an adult doing the thinking for you is the key to helping a child experience conflict resolution, resiliency, creativity, and memory. Neuro Noel’s advice for all of us? “Be mindful. Talk less and listen more. Take a moment to pause and reset so that your thinking brain, not your emotional brain, is running the show.” For 25 minutes of coaching from a neuroeducator, just hit that download button. #neurodiversity #children #executivefunction #education #womeninspiringwomen #thestorybehindhersuccess

    25 min
  2. Lorna Brunelle -328

    OCT 29

    Lorna Brunelle -328

    Facing an illness is very much like being a buoy:  we have to rise up, we have to learn to float, and carry ourselves in the storm.  While we’re staying afloat in the storm, we are also a beacon for others. -Lorna J. Brunelle There are lots of stories about the ties that bind mothers and daughters.  When Lorna Brunelle’s mother, Wanda, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, she turned heartbreak into hope by telling the story of her mother’s courage, character, wisdom and lifelong influence in the book: The Buoy Projects: A Story of Breast Cancer, Bucket Lists, Life Lessons, Facebook and Love.  A two-time cancer survivor herself, Lorna is a renowned performer, teacher, and three-time author whose work is rooted in recognizing gifts and talents, creativity, and self-determination. A graduate of The Boston Conservatory, she is the owner of The Burt Wood School of Performing Arts, The Alley Theatre, and The Patio in Middleborough, Massachusetts. www.burtwoodschool.com.   Through her writing, philanthropy, and mentorship, Lorna has changed the lives of thousands of performing arts students who have passed through her doors over the last 30 years.  The Buoy Projects is a love letter to her mother, and a testament to the power of the mother/daughter connection. For 26 minutes of engaging conversation and brilliant storytelling, just hit that download button. #womeninspiringwomen#lornabrunelle #TheBuoyProjects  #breastcancerawareness #TheStoryBehindHerSuccess #CandyOTerry #Legacy#Resilience

    27 min
  3. Hank Phillippi Ryan -327

    OCT 23

    Hank Phillippi Ryan -327

    That little girl in the hayloft always wanted to be a writer. I’m the poster child for following your dreams in midlife because I didn’t write my first book until I was 55. -Hank Phillippi Ryan Imagine a 43-year career as an investigative reporter with 37 EMMYs and 14 Edward R. Murrow awards. Now imagine a brilliant midlife move, where all that experience manifests itself into writing mystery novels that are nail-biting thrillers. Welcome to the incredible story of Hank Phillippi Ryan. This queen of invention sat down in my living room with a cup of tea and the willingness to share a story filled with life lessons in bravery, curiosity, imagination, and just plain smarts. The author of 16 books, her latest is called All This Could Be Yours. The story follows Tessa Calloway, a debut author on a book tour, with a stalker who threatens everything she holds dear. Raised in rural Indiana, Hank (real name: Harriet Ann) admits she was a nerdy kid who wanted nothing more than to read her Nancy Drew books up in the hayloft. A Shakespeare major at Western College for Women in Oxford, Ohio, her career has taken her from politics to writing for Rolling Stone Magazine to radio and television, where her news director at WHDH in Boston tapped her as the station’s investigative reporter. “I’m not the funny one, says Hank. I hate to be lied to, and I love discovering the truth. Every one of those 37 EMMY awards represents a secret somebody didn’t want me to tell.” In this interview, she shares wisdom from her mother, and plenty of her own, including: “Worry is glue under your feet” and “success to me is one good idea a day.” For 27 minutes on the joy of reinvention, just hit that download button. #reinvention #mystery #author #television #investigativereporter

    27 min
  4. Kendra Petrone -323

    SEP 25

    Kendra Petrone -323

    I’ve always wanted to keep people company and make them laugh. I want to hear what people are going through, because chances are, I’ve already gone through the same thing. -Kendra Petrone Meet a talented young woman who is part of the only all-female morning show on the radio in Boston. The legendary Magic 106.7/WMJX www.magic1067.com has been a female-driven radio station for decades, but it wasn’t until 2025 that the station announced Sue & Kendra as co-hosts of Morning Magic. The two broadcasters, who are also the best of friends, host the station’s award-winning series, Exceptional Women. No stranger to media, Kendra has worked for over 17 years in both radio and television. A graduate of UMASS/Amherst, she is the daughter of a first-grade teacher who taught her to be persistent. In fact, Kendra says 98% of her success story is rooted in taking chances. “I’m terrified of everything, but I know that if I don’t do it, somebody else will, and if you don’t take chances, you’ll never know how far you can go. “ My mother used to say: 'Failure is not a failure. Every time you fail, you learn.” Raised north of Boston in the town of Methuen, Kendra is proud of her roots and is an avid Boston sports fan. Her deep love for the Patriots grew out of a stint working for the team during two Super Bowl runs. The devoted wife of a police officer, Kendra is also the mother of three children, including two sons diagnosed early in life with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In this interview, she shares her joy in finding a community to rely on as she raises special needs children, and her commitment to support local charities, including Melmark New England, The Northeast Arc, and Rock the Spectrum. For 24 minutes of chutzpah from @kendratheentertainer, just hit that download button.

    25 min
4.9
out of 5
59 Ratings

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Women from every walk of life reveal how they got to where they are today, sharing their wisdom and the lessons they have learned along the way.

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