Today I am joined by Ashley Worley! Ashley is the heart behind Olive Branch Road. She grew up on her family’s homestead—Triple S Ranch—where grit, grace, and a love for the land were woven into everyday life. She now brings that same spirit into everything she creates: pieces that are practical yet elevated, made to move with you through motherhood, marriage, and all the meaningful moments in between. A mom of two living in Charleston, SC, she pivoted her medical career to pursue her dreams, and Olive Branch Road was the divine download that was her next step.

In this episode Ashley and I talked about her career in medicine, why she started Olive Branch Road, how she found her manufacturer and how she sources her materials, all of the behind the scenes of having a small business, and so much more!

One World Health

Olive Branch Road Website

Olive Branch Road Instagram

Today I am joined by Morgan Vance! Morgan now serves as the Executive Director of the Pat Summitt Foundation after spending several years in a strategic role overseeing advancement operations, partnerships and programs. With over 10 years of professional experience, Vance is entrusted with protecting and advancing the mission of legendary women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Her strategic oversight has led to a growth in grantmaking, programs, and partnerships, as well as major gifts and estate gifts.

Prior to her time at the Pat Summitt Foundation, Morgan was a development director at the Tennessee Fund, the development office for the University of Tennessee athletics, and was responsible for soliciting annual and major gifts. Before her time in athletics, she worked as a development director at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center overseeing Children’s Miracle Network corporate partners and fundraising campaigns.

Morgan is a Knoxville native and received her master’s in business administration from the University of Tennessee, Martin and her bachelor’s in public relations from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Morgan and her husband Jason reside in west Knoxville with their 5 children.

In this episode Morgan and I talk about her career in the nonprofit space, how she ended up at the Pat Summitt Foundation, what stewarding a legacy means, and so much more!

Pat Summitt Foundation Website

Pat Summitt Foundation Instagram

Today I am joined by Connie Porter! Connie is the author of the Addy series, a series of historical children's novels from American Girl. Her first novel, All-Bright Court was named in 1991 as a Notable Book by the American Library Association, and by the New York Times as one of its "Best Books." Her essays have appeared in Glamour and Seventeen, and her book reviews in The Boston Globe and New York Times.

She is also the author of Imani All Mine which was named an Honor Book by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, an Alex Award winner by the Young Adult Services Association of the American Library Association, as well as being chosen as one of the Best Books for Young Adults by the ALA. Book List also picked it as one of Editors’ Choice for Best Books For Young Adults.

In 2019, the Children’s Literature Association named Imani All Mine the winner of the Phoenix Award. The Phoenix Award “is given to the author, or the estate of the author, of a book for children first published twenty years earlier that did not win a major award at the time of its publication but which, from the perspective of time, is deemed worthy of special attention.

In this episode Connie and I talk about her career as a writer, how she got the opportunity to write the Addy series, what that process looked like, what she hopes readers take with them, and so much more!

Connie's Instagram

World Vision

Today I am joined by Kelly Pelfrey for a very special book club episode! We chatted about her favorite books, authors, and more! Listen for some great book recs!

Kelly's Website

Kelly's Instagram

Today I am joined by Meg Gold! Meg is the co-founder and CEO of BONDE, a private professional community for accomplished women across the U.S. She started her career knocking door to door selling payroll, learned early that relationships outperform hustle, and worked her way up to Vice President of Private Equity in the Bay Area.

After years of infertility and the birth of her first son, Meg hit a professional inflection point and began questioning the rules she’d been playing by. That questioning led her to co-found BONDE and create spaces where high-caliber women can think more honestly about ambition, motherhood, power, and what comes next. She’s currently navigating all of it while raising two toddlers, and inviting others to do the same with more clarity, community, and less noise.

In this episode Meg and I talk about her career in the corporate world, her journey to entrepreneurship, why she started BONDE, the power of networking, how to build community, and so much more!

BONDE's Website

Meg's LinkedIn

Meg's Instagram

Land of Hope Africa

Today I am joined by Lilly Stairs. Lilly is paving the way for women with chronic conditions to thrive professionally, drawing on her own journey from the hospital bed to the boardroom. With 15 years of experience as an internationally recognized advocate and entrepreneur, she is the Founder of Chronic Boss, the platform for ambitious women living with chronic conditions. Through her consultancy Patient Authentic, Lilly partners with top healthcare brands to design impactful patient engagement strategies. She serves as Board Chair of the Autoimmune Association and sits on the board of the Brain Cancer Research Alliance.

In this episode Lilly and I chat about how she was diagnosed with 2 autoimmune conditions in college, why she started her businesses, how she balances productivity and listening to her body, her hope for women with chronic illnesses, and so much more!

Lilly's LinkedIn

Chronic Boss Website

Chronic Boss Instagram

Patient Authentic Website

Autoimmune Association

Today I am joined by Darcey Wilde! A self-proclaimed lifelong cheerleader, Darcey Wilde cherishes relationships and works each day to help the world feel beautiful, one woman at a time.

Darcey Wilde is a co-owner & CEO of Shine Cosmetics—the positive voice in beauty. Dedicated to helping women feel seen, valued, and beautiful, she is committed to creating high-quality, easy-to-use products that celebrate confidence and highlight each woman’s unique beauty.

With a background in B2B and B2C marketing and entrepreneurship, Darcey champions women in business and believes words matter. Her hope is that every interaction leaves others feeling inspired, beautiful, and loved.

A small-town girl at heart, Darcey lives in Utah with her husband of 30 years. Her favorite titles are Mom and Mimi, and she treasures time with her growing family, football nights, and a crispy Diet Coke with fresh lime.

In this episode Darcey and I talk about her time as a stay-at-home mom, why she decided to go back to work, her entrepreneurship journey, why she started Shine Cosmetics, how having a career helped her find herself, how she approaches failure, and so much more!

Darcey's Instagram

Shine Cosmetics' Website

Shine Cosmetics Instagram

Alex's Lemonade Stand

Today I am joined by Catherine Hicks Cosgrove. Catherine has always been drawn to the ritual of tea—the way it evokes memory, sets a mood, and transforms the everyday into something extraordinary. Throughout her childhood in Texas, her college years in Scotland, and her adulthood in New York, tea has been both a grounding force and a bridge between past and present.

While working in art and communications in New York, Catherine developed a deep appreciation for storytelling, craftsmanship, and sensory experiences. Now, in developing her own tea line, her approach is both studied and intuitive, exploring tea as an art form through the interplay of aroma, taste, and memory, where craftsmanship and creativity meet.

Forgrave is the culmination of her vision: a brand rooted in design principles, where tradition is honored but never bound by convention. Here at Forgrave, tea is more than a drink—it is an experience, a mood, and a world unto itself.

In this episode we chat about Catherine's career journey, how she became a tea sommelier, her vision for Forgrave, why marketing and branding are important, and so much more!

For information about our beta sponsorship program, fill out this form on my website or email me at hello@laurencunningham.co

Forgrave's Instagram

Forgrave's Website

Genesis Women's Shelter