Badassery Life

Melissa Ray has spent more than 25 years in natural health, and she's questioning something a lot of us can relate to: Why does taking care of ourselves sometimes feel like another full-time job?

In this episode of Badassery Life, Kelly and Tina talk with Melissa, a certified natural health provider, about health information overload, navigating midlife, the pressure to optimize everything and why working harder isn't always the answer.

Protein. Hormones. Supplements. Cortisol. Sleep. Exercise. Is anyone else exhausted just trying to be healthy? Melissa challenges us to stop trying to out-hustle our bodies and make a little more room for joy.

Kelly and Melissa go way back — all the way to high school (many moons ago!). They recently reconnected when Melissa helped Kelly take a fresh look at her own health plan, including a supplement audit. So, this conversation was part wellness talk, part trip down memory lane!

Through her natural health practice, The Melissa Ray, Melissa helps women cut through confusing health information and find an approach that works for their lives. She's also president of Pure Essentials, a women-led supplement company focused on creating quality supplements without unnecessary ingredients.

A little something for our listeners!

Melissa created a special discount for the Badassery Life audience! Use code BADASSPOD for 20% off at https://pure-essentials.com.

Connect with Melissa:

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Website: https://www.themelissaray.com

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Pure Essentials: https://pure-essentials.com

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Instagram: @themelissaray

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMelissaRayOfficial

Marianne Glick is an artist, philanthropist, community leader, and longtime champion for women — but this conversation goes way beyond the résumé.

We talk about the rebellious little girl she was, the trouble she got into along the way, her husbands, finding art in her late 50s, what brings her joy now, and why she believes that as long as you’re alive, you’re not done.

Her mission is “to ignite, inspire, and direct energy for positive action,” and you can feel that throughout this conversation.

It’s funny, thoughtful, a little unexpected — and she ends with a teaser about Sylvester Stallone.

“As long as you’re alive, you’re not done,” - Marianne Glick

More about Marianne: Marianne Glick - Glick Philanthropies

Shop Marianne Glick: Shop Art | Glick Art

Jennie DeVoe is a singer-songwriter, recording artist and performer who has built a loyal following through a career filled with music, storytelling and connection.

In this episode of Badassery Life, Jennie talks about growing up painfully shy, having one close friend and never quite knowing where she fit — and how she eventually found a place where she felt completely at home: on stage.

We talk about where her songs come from, the words and moments she notices that other people miss, what goes into preparing for a show, and why making people feel something has always mattered so much to her.

There’s also the story of the day Jennie was supposed to sing at Tina’s wedding… until Bonnie Raitt’s people called.

It’s a funny, thoughtful and honest conversation about music, belonging, creativity, connection and figuring out what matters most.

Home | Jennie DeVoe | jenniedevoe.com

Amy Pauszek is an Emmy-winning producer, award-winning documentary filmmaker and storyteller who believes everyone has a story—and that some stories have the power to change lives.

Throughout her career, Amy has dedicated herself to telling stories that matter. From documentaries that have screened on PBS and at film festivals around the world to award-winning films that have raised awareness and inspired action, her work is driven by one simple belief: when someone trusts you with their story, you have the opportunity to make a difference.

In this episode, we get to know the woman behind the camera. Amy brought her Emmy and Telly Awards (and explained the Telly in her best British accent!), but it was the stories behind the awards that made this conversation unforgettable.

Amy opens up about the personal losses that changed her life, why she believes everyone has a "superpower," and how those experiences continue to shape both her perspective and the stories she chooses to tell.

We also talk about Sylvia, Amy's newest documentary premiering at Heartland Film's Indy Shorts Festival, and why she's passionate about giving a voice to stories that deserve to be told.

Instagram: wonderwomanamyp

Award Winning Film Producer, Photographer and Talent/Casting Scout - Owns A Cape

#broadway #indiefilm #talentfusion #photography #redcarpet

In this episode of Badassery Life, Kelly sits down with Eve Keller and Jenni White. They are partners in life and partners in business -- they're the team bringing The Sports Bra Indy to downtown Indianapolis.

The Sports Bra is the country's first sports bar concept dedicated to women's sports. How badass is that!?? But this conversation is about so much more than opening a restaurant.

The three talk about what it takes to have comfortable careers yet take a leap of faith to build something they believe their city needs. Kelly dives into how the couple met (hint: it had to do with Vagina Monologues), their fears and challenges of opening a new business, chasing a big dream together, and embracing what Jenni calls "delusional audacity."

They're creative, thoughtful, passionate sports fans with a vision of creating more than a place to watch a game. They hope The Sports Bra Indy becomes a welcoming gathering place where community, connection, and women's sports are all worth celebrating - and Badassery Life is all IN!

It's a conversation about entrepreneurship, partnership, belonging, and believing in an idea before everyone else does. We think you'll walk away rooting for Eve and Jenni—and maybe feeling inspired to chase your own big idea.

Oh, and Kelly threw out the idea of a podcast LIVE when the Sports Bra Indy opens - you'll have to follow @Badassery_Life and @TheSportsBraIndy for more.

What happens when you stop waiting for community—and decide to build it yourself?

In this episode of Badassery Life, Kelly Young and Tina McIntosh sit down with Bo Turner, founder of FIND, an Indianapolis-based company creating in-person social experiences, speed dating events, and community gatherings designed to help people make genuine human connections.

Whether you're single, looking to expand your circle, or simply craving more authentic connection, this conversation is a reminder that sometimes the community you're searching for is the one you're meant to create.

Growing up as an Asian adoptee in Indiana, Bo learned early how to navigate questions of identity, independence, and belonging. Those experiences, combined with a love of travel and curiosity about how people connect around the world, ultimately inspired her to create FIND—a community that's helping combat swipe fatigue and bring people together in real life.

Together, we explore:

• Bo's journey as an entrepreneur and community builder
• The inspiration behind FIND and why in-person connection matters
• Growing up as an Asian adoptee in Indiana
• The power of chosen family and meaningful friendships
• Why solo travel shaped her perspective
• Creating spaces where strangers become friendsBo Turner | LinkedIn

Dr. Nicky Ali Jackson lives in a world most of us only hear about through headlines, documentaries, and podcasts.

She’s a criminal justice professor, advocate, founder of the Center for Justice and Exoneration Network, and host of Crime Unfiltered — a live tour and podcast that dives deeper into the realities of crime, justice, advocacy, and wrongful convictions.

And honestly? She’s badass.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Being underestimated as a woman in this field
• Fighting for credibility
• The emotional weight of trauma-focused work
• Why Crime Unfiltered is resonating with audiences
• And how humor, truth, and humanity all belong in hard conversations

Dr. Jackson is smart, fearless, funny, and deeply real — and this conversation is one that will stay with us for a long time.

www.crimeunfiltered.com

www.pnw.edu/center-for-justice-and-exoneration-network-at-purdue-university-northwest

Lindsay Gramlich is a nonprofit leader, CEO, mom of three, lifelong Hoosier, and candidate for state office — but this conversation goes way beyond politics.

In this episode, Lindsay talks honestly about balancing leadership, motherhood, public life, and mental health while trying to keep showing up for everyone around her.

She opens up about going through a difficult season personally while still leading at work, parenting, and keeping life moving forward. We also talk about the pressure women feel to do it all, mom guilt, partnership in marriage, therapy, ambition, burnout, and why work/life balance can feel impossible sometimes.

We also get into:

• imposter syndrome
• public service and community
• learning to ask for help
• and why even the strongest women need support too

This conversation is vulnerable, real, emotional, and one we think a lot of women will relate to.

We first sat down with Jenn Cristy a couple years ago—and we knew she’d be back.

And now she’s back—louder, bolder, and still every bit as badass.

Jenn joined us in studio (with her keyboardist Mario, which added to the fun) to talk about what’s happening right now—new music, live shows, and stepping into a whole new level of confidence in her voice.

And that confidence shows up on stage in a big way with her Simply the Best tribute to Tina Turner. The power. The presence. The energy. It’s all there—and it fits Jenn in a big, bold, beautiful way.

In this episode, we get into:

• Her latest album and what this chapter represents
• The reality behind performing and touring
• Confidence, identity, and owning your voice
• What it takes to show up on stage and own it

Also… we’re pretty excited about this—Jenn is letting us use her music. You’ll hear it in the intro, and we’re featuring the full song at the end 🎶

If you haven’t listened to our first conversation with Jenn, go back and check it out—it’s a great look at where she started and how far she’s come. (Hint: it involves John Mellencamp inviting her to join him on tour after hearing her sing the National Anthem at an IU game.)

🎧 First interview with Jenn: Click ⁠here🔗 http://www.jenncristy.com

Jill Potter has lived through more than most. She's a former USA Rugby player. A business owner. A fighter.

She grew up with very little. She broke her neck playing the sport she loved. Got diagnosed with a rare cancer while training for a World Cup. And she still kept showing up.

In this episode, we talk about what resilience looks like, her career, the hard times, the cancer diagnosis, and the future.

We also talk about how her life and identity have shifted, what matters to her now, and how she’s building community in this next chapter (shoutout to Helm Coffee).

She’s strong, yes. But more than that — she’s real, grounded, and fully present in a way that makes you stop and think about how you’re living your own life.

Helm Coffee

In this special LIVE bonus episode, we took Badassery Life out of the studio and onto the stage at The Phoenix Theatre Company following a performance of Wasabia — a show that takes on life, death, and everything in between with honesty, humor, and heart.

We sat down with cast members Jen Johansen, Jan Lucas, and Artistic Director Constance Macy for a conversation that went deeper than expected.

We talked about the themes behind the show, the vulnerability it takes to bring stories like this to life, and the realities actors face—on stage and behind the scenes.

It’s raw. It’s real. It sometimes hit a little too close to home. There are moments that will make you laugh—and some that might make you cry.

There’s something different about doing this LIVE — the energy, the honesty, the connection. WE LOVED IT!

We learned a lot from this interview. We think you will too.

Resources from the show:

www.phoenixtheatre.orgJoy's House - Joy's HouseFollow us on social media: Facebook @BadasseryLife and Instagram @Badassery_Life

On paper, Sarah Myer looks like she has it all figured out.

As Chief of Staff & Strategy for the Indiana Sports Corp., she’s helped lead some of the biggest sporting events in Indianapolis — from NCAA Final Fours to the Olympic Swim Trials — operating on some of the biggest stages, with thousands watching.

But behind the scenes, her story is far more human -- and relatable to so many other badasses.

In this episode, Sarah opens up about the moments that shaped her — navigating divorce, grief, loss, and now walking alongside her mom through a cancer diagnosis — and how those experiences changed the way she leads, lives, and shows up for others.

At the center of it all is one belief: vulnerability isn’t weakness — it’s a superpower.

We talk about:

• The difference between who people think you are vs. who you really are
• Why sharing your story helps others feel less alone
• Finding your voice — even when it’s uncomfortable
• What it means to be one of the only women in the room — and who you’re really speaking for
• Redefining leadership and workplace culture for women
• Rediscovering yourself after life changes everything

This conversation is honest, real, and deeply relatable — a reminder that strength doesn’t always look like having it all together.

Sometimes, it looks like showing up anyway.

Carly Swift and Mandy Selke — known as the Just Pop In Twins — have spent more than two decades building their popcorn business into a beloved Indianapolis brand.

Their gourmet popcorn has been enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people — from local families to travelers passing through the Indianapolis airport, as well as major brands and national events.

But behind the success is a much deeper story.

In this episode of Badassery Life, Mandy and Carly open up about the realities of building a business for more than 20 years — the risks they took, the pressure that comes with entrepreneurship, and the moments when the business began to take a toll on their personal lives, their families and even their friendship.

At one point, they paused and asked a difficult question: What matters most?

This conversation is raw, vulnerable and incredibly honest — a reminder that success isn’t just about what you build, but about protecting the relationships and life that matter most along the way.

We talk about:

• The bravery it takes to start something from nothing• The emotional weight of running a business for more than two decades• When success starts to strain the people you love most• The power of stepping back, reflecting and redefining what comes next

At their core, Mandy and Carly see themselves as connectors and creators of joy — people rooted in hospitality, community and taking risks.

www.justpopinpopcorn.com

In this episode, we sit down with Casey to talk about what it looks like to lose yourself… and then fight your way back.

She shares openly about:

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Being a single mom raising a daughter with serious medical challenges

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Losing her husband to suicide

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Surviving years of toxic messaging that chipped away at her confidence

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Stepping into leadership in the male-dominated world of asphalt and infrastructure (yes, with a blush pink hard hat)

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Finding the courage to pursue modeling after being told she wasn’t enough

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Blending families and choosing joy again

Casey is passionate, driven, and real — and this conversation is honest, empowering, and at times laugh-out-loud relatable.

If you’ve ever felt like your circumstances were trying to define you… this one is for you.

Welcome to a story of resilience, reinvention, and pink hard hats.

Michelle Corrao — author of Found: Triumph Through Gratitude — shares her journey through trauma, survival, and the long road back to herself.

We talk about:
• The moment everything changed (on Sept. 12, 1996, she survived a violent abduction by three strangers)• How anger and denial became her best friends
• What healing really looks like -- how she healed and has found joyMichelle's life has been shaped by resilience, faith, and service. Her story includes real chaos, real trauma, and real darkness - and how she turned the unimaginable pain into purpose.

Head to her website to dive deeper into her story — and listen to the song written in honor of her journey.

www.michellecorrao.com

What if the bravest thing you could do was turn your life upside down — and trust yourself to land on your feet?

In this first guest episode of our new season, we sit down with Amanda Kingsbury — writer, journalist, co-founder of Indy Maven, and Managing Editor of Innovation at Mirror Indy — to talk about reinvention, sobriety, friendship, and why starting over in midlife isn’t a failure… it’s a flex.

Amanda opens up about the moment that led her to quit drinking, why she once did a cartwheel every day for a year after her divorce, and how loneliness, curiosity, and community journalism have shaped this current season of her life.

We talk about empty nesting, losing friends to distance and change, and why friendship — not romance — is the relationship she values most.

If you’re navigating a transition, questioning what’s next, or trying to trust yourself in a season that feels uncertain, this episode is for you.

Welcome to a new chapter of Badassery Life.

Kelly returns with a new co-host: Tina McIntosh and the two of them turn the mics on each other to talk about who they are, why THIS podcast, and what it looks like to show up — even when life is messy.

They cover everything from navigating grief and big life shifts to microdosing the aging process, Taylor Swift–level “new era” energy, and why sometimes showing up really is enough.

Think honest conversation, some laughter, and the kind of perspective you didn’t know you needed.

This is Badassery Life!

If you’re new here, this is the perfect place to start.
If you’ve been listening for a while, welcome to the next chapter (new era)!

Season 6 | Episode 16

In this powerful episode of Badassery Life, Kelly sits down with Linda Calvin, a national tech leader, attorney, storyteller, mentor, and fierce advocate for women and Black leaders in tech. She's also a survivor of childhood trauma and she's boldly telling that story.

Her journey is layered — growing up as the only Black child in a white family, surviving childhood sexual abuse, learning early to shrink, silence, and compartmentalize herself just to make it through.

But Linda didn’t stay in those shadows.

Inspired by a single hour of escape each week — Star Trek — she began imagining bigger worlds and eventually stepped into her own. Today she’s a VP in higher education, a writer, a leader, and a woman learning every day that she matters.

This conversation is raw, real, courageous — and full of hope.

Season 6 | Episode 15

In this episode, Kelly sits down with bestselling author and Loudmouth Books founder Leah Johnson — a woman using her voice, her books, and her bookstore to champion joy, representation, and radical visibility.

Leah’s debut novel, You Should See Me in a Crown, was named one of TIME’s 100 Best YA Books of All Time. Since then, she’s become a literary force and the bold, brilliant mind behind Loudmouth Books, an Indianapolis bookstore dedicated to uplifting banned, challenged, and marginalized voices.

In this conversation, Leah opens up about:

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How she discovered her voice — and why she refuses to shrink

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Writing stories rooted in joy, humor, queerness, and belonging

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Building Loudmouth Books as a space for visibility and community

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How she protects her creativity while navigating burnout and pressure

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What gives her hope in a time of censorship and cultural pushback

Leah Johnson shows us what it looks like to live loud, love boldly, and make space for others to be seen. Learn more about her at https://www.byleahjohnson.com/.

If you live in Indianapolis, visit her bookstore: Loudmouth Bookstore.

season 6 | episode 14

Amanda Bonilla is a powerhouse advocate, speaker, and connector who’s made it her mission to create spaces where women can thrive. A first-generation college graduate, she’s navigated challenge and change with courage — from being the “first and only” Latina voice in many rooms to launching WE Brunch, an intentional gathering that empowers women through connection and conversation.

In this episode, Amanda shares how her early experiences shaped her resilience, what it means to build an ecosystem of support, and why representation and reinvention matter now more than ever.

She encourages you to use your own voice, create your own table, and lift up others along the way.