pretty smart

Did you know that almost all athletic shoes on the market have been designed, researched and tested on men? When Lindsay Housman discovered this, she and her husband, founded Hettas, a company creating running shoes optimized for women.  Today, Lindsay joins the podcast to share why becoming a disruptor in this space is so important to her. We discuss:  Why women are left out of research for shoes (and so many other things) Why women’s feet are fundamentally different than men How wearing shoes designed for men impacts women's health.   How Hettas came to be and why she started this company much earlier than she thought.  Why it’s important to her to never settle for the status quo Founding, self-funding and running this company while currently working another full time job What she hopes to accomplish with Hettas and exactly how their shoes are different Why she believes women would be in sports longer if they had proper athletic shoes.  How women are treated so differently when it comes to raising venture capital.  Follow Hettas on Instagram here! Book Rec:  Strong is the New Pretty by Kate T Parker

Emily Bear captivated the world with her piano talent at just six years old. Now, at 23, she’s already a Grammy and Emmy-winning composer, producer, arranger, pianist, and singer-songwriter. Recently, she became the youngest person to score a feature film and is currently working on Moana 2. In 2022, Emily won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album for The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical, which she co-wrote with Abigail Barlow live on social media. The album soared to #1 on the U.S. iTunes pop charts within 1.5 hours of its release and reached the top 5 albums worldwide. This year, she toured as the pianist for Beyoncé's Renaissance tour. Today, Emily shares: The surprising moment her talent was discovered—and why she shies away from the “child prodigy” label. Leaving home at 16 to chase her dreams in LA: the challenges, the courage, and the adventure. How a life-changing meeting led to Quincy Jones becoming her mentor. The journey to becoming Beyoncé’s pianist on the Renaissance Tour—and the one terrifying moment she’ll never forget. An unexpected lesson from Beyoncé that reshaped her approach to music and performance. The story behind The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical, and why winning a Grammy was the last thing she expected. The struggle to be taken seriously as a young musician—and why that respect mattered to her. Why she aims to move people to tears with her music. Creating her own path when gigs weren’t coming—and her advice for others who want to do the same. Breaking barriers as a woman composer—and why she proudly performs with colorful nail polish and heels! Book Rec: Outliers by Malcom Gladwell

Dr. Jessica Shepherd is a board-certified OB-GYN and women’s health expert, dedicated to empowering women at every stage of life with a holistic approach to care.In this episode, Danielle talks with Dr. Shepherd about her newly launched book, Generation M, exploring women’s health, aging, and empowerment. Key takeaways include: Writing Journey: Dr. Shepard shares the challenges and rewards of publishing, likening it to a cathartic journey through “a thousand paper cuts.” Early Awareness: Why women should start thinking about menopause early, viewing it as a marathon, not a sprint. Perimenopause as Preseason: How do you know when you’ve entered Perimenpouase? Common signs to look for, from brain fog to sleep disturbances. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Debunking myths and discussing new, evidence-based practices. Importance of Muscle Strength: Building strength through resistance training as a foundation for longevity. Mindfulness and Stress Management: The significance of mental health and mindfulness practices for a smoother transition into menopause. Nutrition for Hormonal Health: Focus on a Mediterranean diet, balanced proteins, and fiber for long-term wellness. Dr. Shepherd’s secret to success Follow Dr. Shepherd here. Grab a copy of her book here.

Keely Cat-Wells is an entrepreneur and disability rights advocate that truly believes kindness can change the world. At 17, Keely was living her dream of attending a dance academy in London when she started experiencing health scares which led to multiple surgeries, medical malpractice and ended with a permanent ileostomy. It changed the trajectory of her life, and it led Keely to create monumental change for the disability community with the launch of her businesses C Talent and Making Space – both aimed at creating space for disabled talent. Most recently, Keely worked with disability rights advocate Sophie Morgan to get more disabled talent employed on NBC’s Paralympics coverage as well as a first look deal with Hello Sunshine. Today, on PRETTYSMART, Keely reflects on how she’s helping disabled artists and creators achieve their dreams and why starting her own business was the smartest decision she’s ever made. She shares: How she went from living her dream as a dancer to navigating malpractice and mistreatment by the health system at 17.  How her life changed when she realized that even though she may not live her original dream, she can still help others realize theirs. How she understands her own disability in the disability community. How she lost a job because of disability discrimination, and how it led her to creating her own agency for disabled artists: C Talent. That she’s made peace with the journey she’s currently on as opposed to what could’ve been.  The untapped power of the disability community, and how she’s trying to harness it to create long lasting change. What portrayals of disabled characters she’d like to see in Hollywood. The parallels between entrepreneurship and the lived experience of disability. How the mission of her company, Making Space Media, is to center the disabled voice. How people can be an ally to the disability community. What she’s learned from Gloria Steinham. How Making Space worked with NBC Sports to increase the employment of disabled people at the Paralympics. Follow Keely here Check out Making Space here Book Rec: Driving Forwards: An inspirational memoir of resilience and empowerment after life-changing injury by Sophie Morgan