Unapologetically Badass

Renee Carbone Fleming
  • 4.3 (6)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Unapologetically Badass Podcast 🎙️ I’m Renee Carbone-Fleming — Multi-6-Fig Entrepreneur, Empowerment Coach & your unapologetic hype girl. This is where women 40+ come for real talk on business, building your f*it fund, dating after divorce, empty nesting, travel, and life’s bold new chapters. Some weeks it’s just us, other times I bring powerhouse guests to spill wisdom & laughs. Grab your glass, fix your crown, and let’s do life Unapologetically Badass. 👑 ✨ Connect with your host: https://badassqueen.co

  1. 3D AGO

    Episode 84~ You’re Not Stuck—You’re Drifting: The Wake-Up Call for High-Performing Women with Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer

    What if the life you worked your ass off to build… isn’t actually the one you’d choose? In this unapologetically real conversation, Renee sits down with Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer—a PhD-level social psychologist, executive coach, and former C-suite leader who spent over 30 years at the top… only to realize success without alignment is just well-managed drift. After losing her executive role at 56, Cynthia didn’t panic—she pivoted. And not in the fluffy, “find yourself” kind of way. She created a framework that’s now helping high-performing women reclaim clarity, control, and direction in their careers and lives. Inside this episode, we get into: The difference between being stuck vs. drifting (and why most women don’t see it) What really happens when your identity is tied to your title—and it disappears Why pushing harder is NOT the answer The power of intentional decisions over default success How to course-correct your life without burning it all down If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but something still feels off… this is your wake-up call. Because being successful isn’t the goal. Being aligned is. If you're a high-performing woman feeling stuck, burned out, or disconnected from your success, this episode dives into leadership transformation, career pivots, and how to find clarity and direction in your life and career. Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer shares powerful executive coaching insights for women ready to stop drifting and start leading with intention. Website: www.dr-cynthia.com

    34 min

  2. MAY 5

    Episode 83~ Structure Is the New Hustle: The Systems Behind 6 & 7 Figure Growth with Simone Little

    In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Simone Little, a Business & Productivity Strategist, Operations Architect, and trusted advisor to over 50 women-led businesses scaling to 6 and 7 figures. Simone isn’t teaching theory — she’s lived every role. From CEO to admin to sales and marketing, she’s worn all the hats, navigated the overwhelm, and learned firsthand what actually works behind the scenes of high-performing businesses. After leaving Corporate America and launching multiple successful ventures, Simone discovered the truth most entrepreneurs don’t talk about: growth without structure leads straight to burnout. Through experience, intuition, and data-driven frameworks, she built a proven system that replaces hustle with strategy, chaos with clarity, and stress with calm. In this conversation, we dive into: The biggest mistakes high-achieving women make when scaling Why doing everything yourself is the fastest way to stall growth How structure, team alignment, and leadership unlock sustainable success The underrated systems that quietly power 6 & 7 figure businesses How to shift from reactive overwhelm to confident, strategic leadership Why visibility (podcasts, speaking, collaborations) must be supported by strong operations The mindset shift that brings both profit and peace This episode is a must-listen for women CEOs who are tired of holding it all together, craving expansion without exhaustion, and ready to build a business that actually supports the life they want. ✨ Bottom line: You don’t need to work harder. You need better structure — and Simone shows you exactly how. https://www.chiefalignmentagency.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnN8dU4alg2Jw_BQmRBc4hO3lXwIP4wsZ3QM3Bjw20V8opZOFdZURpQCm2RYU_aem_koFI_inLY__8jrFTtaUV9g

    33 min

  3. APR 28

    Episode 82~ The Sacred Business Shift: Building a Self-Led Business Without Hustle or Burnout with Cailen Ascher

    In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Cailen Ascher, a Sacred Business Mentor for coaches who has built a half-million-dollar coaching business working within school hours — without hustle culture, burnout, or sacrificing her values. Cailen teaches a radically grounded approach to entrepreneurship that blends soul, strategy, and staying power, helping women lead their businesses from identity and internal trust rather than pressure, overworking, or constant reinvention. In this episode, we dive into: ✨ Collapsing Time Through IdentityWhy growth accelerates when you stop building toward a future version of yourself and start leading from who you are becoming right now. ✨ Identity First, Then StrategyHow anchoring who you are before what you do eliminates burnout, second-guessing, and misaligned effort. ✨ The Shift to a Self-Led BusinessWhat changes when you stop outsourcing authority and start making decisions from self-trust, clarity, and coherence. ✨ Designing a Business That Matches Your Next ChapterHow to evolve your offers, pricing, and visibility so your business reflects who you are today — not an outdated version of you. This conversation is for women who know their business is more than a to-do list or income stream — it’s a sacred vehicle for purpose, leadership, and personal growth. If you’re done hustling, craving alignment, and ready to lead your business from confidence instead of chaos, this episode will shift how you see everything. Instagram: @‌cailen.ascherWebsite & Training: The Sacred Business Shift – Rise from Coach to Movement-Maker 🔗 Connect with Cailen

    32 min

  4. APR 21

    Episode 81~ Breaking the Status Quo: How Victoria Pelletier Built Power, Influence & an Unapologetic Legacy

    Victoria Pelletier does not do “status quo.”She does impact. She does influence. She does next level. From becoming one of the youngest COOs in corporate history to being named one of the world’s top LGBTQ executive role models, Victoria has built a career on courage, authenticity, and fearless leadership. In this episode, we go deep on: What it really takes to rise in male-dominated, traditional corporate spaces The truth about personal branding and why it accelerates your success Leading with empathy without losing authority Building resilience when the room isn’t built for you And how to create a career (and life) that actually feels aligned This conversation is raw, real, and ridiculously empowering. Victoria Pelletier | Official Site | Speaker | Author | Board Director

    26 min

  5. APR 14

    You’re Not Broken, You’re Becoming: Rewriting Your Money Story with Monica Kaufman

    Let’s be real—most women were never taught how to lead financially. We were taught to survive, to be quiet, to make do… and then we wonder why money feels heavy, emotional, and loaded. In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Monica Kaufman, CFP®, founder of Harmony Wealth Academy, who blends Wall Street expertise with real-life grit to help women break the cycle and rise with clarity. Monica opens up about navigating motherhood, caregiving, and severe mental illness in her family—and how those experiences shaped her belief that wealth is built at the intersection of mindset, meaning, and money. We talk about financial shame, emotional patterns, first-generation wealth building, and why so many high-achieving women still feel stuck. This is not about hustle.This is about alignment.This is about agency.This is about becoming the woman who leads her life—and her money—on purpose. If you’re ready to stop surviving and start rising, this episode is for you. https://harmonywealthacademy.com/

    53 min

  6. APR 7

    Episode 79~ Stop Performing. Start Being: Alison Keutgen on Authenticity, Female Entrepreneurship & Building the Chlōq Fragrance Brand

    What if the real problem isn’t confidence… but the exhausting performance of it? In this episode of the Unapologetically Badass Podcast, Renee sits down with Alison Keutgen, a product development expert turned entrepreneur who’s challenging the way women think about empowerment, identity, and authenticity. After more than 15 years working behind the scenes developing successful products across consumer markets and healthcare, Alison realized something powerful: many women are unknowingly playing a rigged game. Be confident… but not intimidating.Ambitious… but not threatening.Visible… but not too much. And the constant performance? It’s exhausting. That realization sparked the creation of Chlōq, a fragrance brand designed to help women stop performing for approval and reconnect with who they already are. More than a fragrance line, Chlōq blends scent, storytelling, and soundscapes to create daily reminders that women are already enough — no transformation required. In this conversation, we explore: ✨ Why traditional empowerment messaging sometimes misses the mark✨ The hidden pressure women face in professional environments✨ Building a purpose-driven consumer brand from scratch✨ Choosing authenticity over approval✨ Why creating space for yourself can be the most radical move of all Alison’s journey is proof that sometimes the boldest rebellion isn’t becoming someone new… It’s remembering who you’ve always been. https://chloq.com/

    37 min

  7. MAR 31

    Episode 78~ From College Dropout to Capital Queen: How Liana Zavo Is Rewriting the Rules of Power, PR & Venture Funding

    If you think PR is just press releases and venture capital is just for Silicon Valley boys’ clubs… this episode will blow your damn mind. Meet Liana Zavo – college dropout turned media mogul, Forbes contributor, venture investor, author, global PR powerhouse, and the woman building a visibility-to-venture pipeline for female founders who are done playing small. Liana didn’t climb the corporate ladder.She set it on fire and built her own empire. From styling elite women for high-profile galas to founding and scaling ZavoMedia PR Group across 12 countries, to launching ZavoVentures – a first-of-its-kind VC + PR hybrid – Liana is on a mission to obliterate the statistic that women receive only 2% of venture capital funding. And she’s not asking for permission. She’s been featured on Good Morning America, The Today Show, PIX11, is a Forbes weekly contributor, an Entrepreneur columnist, and has secured 500+ tier-one media placements for founders who went on to raise over $10M in capital. Oh… and she takes equity in the companies she believes in and then positions them to win. Savage. In this episode, we go deep on: Why visibility is currency and silence is expensive How women are being underfunded because they are under-positioned (and how to fix it) The real power of strategic storytelling in business and investing What it actually takes to build authority, attract capital, and command rooms And how to stop waiting for the table and build your own damn boardroom Liana Zavo is proof that you don’t need permission, pedigree, or a perfect resume to build power.You need vision, audacity, and the guts to be seen. This episode is a masterclass in female power, positioning, and profit.If you are a woman with a big vision and zero tolerance for playing small… do not skip this one.   Website: www.zavoventures.com   Instagram handle: @‌officiallianazavo

    48 min

  8. MAR 24

    Episode 77~ Unshakeable Leadership in Childcare with Erica Saccoccio

    In this episode, Renee sits down with Erica Saccoccio — early childhood powerhouse, multi-site childcare CEO, and host of The Child Care Director’s Chair Podcast — to dismantle the old leadership playbook and rewrite it for today’s leaders. We go deep on stepping into authority with intention, building teams that actually thrive, and turning daily chaos into clear systems that fuel growth. It’s real talk, strategic frameworks, and no-BS leadership lessons for anyone who’s done with surviving and ready to start leading. The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast (@ccdcpodcast) • Instagram profile

    36 min
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4.3
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About

Unapologetically Badass Podcast 🎙️ I’m Renee Carbone-Fleming — Multi-6-Fig Entrepreneur, Empowerment Coach & your unapologetic hype girl. This is where women 40+ come for real talk on business, building your f*it fund, dating after divorce, empty nesting, travel, and life’s bold new chapters. Some weeks it’s just us, other times I bring powerhouse guests to spill wisdom & laughs. Grab your glass, fix your crown, and let’s do life Unapologetically Badass. 👑 ✨ Connect with your host: https://badassqueen.co

Information

  • Creator
    Renee Carbone Fleming
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    85
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Renee Carbone Fleming
  • Show Website
    Unapologetically Badass