I Want Her Shoes Podcast

Melissa's career has never followed a straight line. She's moved through journalism, radio and television, Hollywood, entrepreneurship, luxury fashion and jewelry, writing, and interviewing extraordinary women. Today, her work with Future Intelligence explores an entirely different kind of development: what happens when we give our inner lives the same attention and training we've spent years giving our careers.

Anna and Melissa unpack something many high-achieving women rarely talk about: you can be incredibly high-functioning and still be overwhelmed. They explore the difference between resilience and simply becoming very good at overriding yourself, why emotional regulation matters, and what happens when you finally achieve the thing you were convinced would make you feel complete.

The conversation also moves into identity and reinvention. Melissa shares how a life spent moving between cultures, industries, and versions of herself shaped her adaptability and raises a bigger question: How do we know when we're genuinely evolving versus changing ourselves to survive the environment we're in?

They talk about intuition versus fear, science and spirituality, purpose and self-transcendence, relationships, technology, and what becomes uniquely valuable about being human as AI grows increasingly capable. They also explore whether greater emotional awareness changes who we're attracted to, what we're willing to tolerate, and how we show up in love.

And, of course, they eventually make their way into the closet. Melissa and Anna talk about the pressure women feel to look successful, fashion as both armor and self-expression, how personal style changes as identity evolves, and the shoes that carry the stories of who we've been.

Key Moments

• Why an impressive life can still leave us feeling like there's more life available
• The difference between resilience and becoming disconnected from yourself
• How highly successful women can function while emotionally dysregulated
• Why getting what you wanted doesn't always create the feeling you expected
• Learning to distinguish intuition from fear
• What becomes more valuable about being human as AI becomes more powerful
• How emotional growth can change our relationships, attraction, and boundaries
• Fashion as armor, identity, and eventually genuine self-expression

Maybe the next chapter of ambition isn't always about becoming more.

Maybe it's learning how to be fully present inside the life you've already created to feel it, inhabit it, and know yourself well enough to recognize what is true before the rest of the world tells you what you should want.

Because intelligence isn't only about knowing more.

Sometimes, the intelligence we need most is knowing ourselves.

Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet, it’s definitely worth the view! https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast

Follow us for more updates:

• IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/
• IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/
• Melissa’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/melissakiguwa/
• Melissa’s Website: https://www.futureintelligence.app/
• Melissa’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissakiguwa/

EPISODE CREDITS:

Writer and Host: Anna Anisin

Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team

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Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Anna and Maya go well beyond Selling Sunset. They talk about what years of walking through other people’s homes have taught Maya about money, relationships, identity, and human behavior and why selling a home can be much more emotional than people expect.

Maya shares what sellers stop noticing about their own homes, what wealthy buyers actually care about, where homeowners can waste money, what can genuinely add value, and what women should understand about real estate as they build financial independence. They also get into the psychology of negotiation and why staying calm can be one of the most powerful tools in a high-stakes deal.

And then there’s reinvention. Anna and Maya talk about what it means to start again when people already think they know who you are, the difference between fame and credibility, and turning visibility into leverage for a real business rather than making fame the career itself.

Of course, this is still I Want Her Shoes. The conversation eventually turns to luxury, personal style, how Miami has influenced Maya’s wardrobe, the relationship between the way we dress ourselves and dress our homes, and the shoes in Maya’s closet that tell a story of their own.

Key Moments

• Why a beautiful house isn’t necessarily what makes somewhere feel like home
• What real estate has taught Maya about people, relationships, and major life transitions
• The things sellers obsess over that buyers simply don’t care about
• What women should understand about real estate and financial independence
• What wealthy buyers actually look for in a home
• Maya’s approach to negotiation and knowing when to walk away
• Turning Selling Sunset visibility into a real business rather than simply chasing fame
• Starting over, building a new identity in Miami, and deciding what success looks like now

At its heart, this conversation isn’t really about houses. It’s about what we choose to build, what we’re willing to leave behind, and how our definition of home changes as we do.

Because sometimes starting over means changing the address. Sometimes it means changing the plan. And sometimes the most beautiful thing you can build is a life that finally feels like yours.

Listen to the full episode of I Want Her Shoes Podcast with Maya Vander.

Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet, it’s definitely worth the view! https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast

Follow us for more updates:

• IWHS Club Beta: https://iwanthershoes.com/community
• IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/
• Maya’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/themayavander/
• Maya’s Website: https://www.realestateagents.com/fl/miami/maya-vander

EPISODE CREDITS:

Writer and Host: Anna Anisin

Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team

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Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this deeply personal episode of I Want Her Shoes, Sammy returns to the closet for an honest conversation with Anna about the grief we experience and the losses we don't always give ourselves permission to grieve.

Anna opens up about losing her grandmother, losing her beloved pets Bonnie and Ozzie only months apart, and grieving the end of her marriage while navigating divorce.

Together, Anna and Sammy explore the particularly complicated experience of grieving something that you can simultaneously know was right to lose. You can mourn a marriage without wanting the marriage back. You can miss pieces of a former life while still choosing the life ahead of you. And sometimes what you're grieving isn't only a person or relationship it's the future you once imagined.

They also talk about the strange everyday reality of loss: how life keeps moving even when you're grieving. Kids still need breakfast. Meetings still happen. Emails still arrive. You can laugh, work, go to dinner, experience something wonderful—and still be carrying sadness alongside it.

The conversation moves through losing animals and why pet grief can be so profound, motherhood and the pressure to keep functioning, the discomfort people sometimes have around another person's pain, and what actually helps when someone we love is grieving.

And ultimately, they arrive at a bigger question: Does grief ever really disappear or does life simply become bigger around it?

Key Moments

• The many losses we experience that we don't always recognize as grief
• Grieving someone or something that is still technically there
• Mourning a marriage while knowing that ending it was the right decision
• Anna on losing her grandmother and the things we still wish we could say
• Losing Bonnie and Ozzie and why the death of a pet can leave such an enormous absence
• How motherhood and responsibility coexist with grief
• Why grief and growth can happen at the same time
• What actually helps when someone you love is grieving

Perhaps healing isn't reaching a point where the loss no longer hurts.

Maybe it's learning how to carry what mattered without allowing the loss to become the only thing we carry. There can be grief and gratitude. Grief and relief. Grief and joy.

And even grief and the beginning of a beautiful new chapter. Moving forward doesn't necessarily mean leaving everything behind. Sometimes it means deciding what deserves to come with us.

To pick up a draggable item, press the space bar. While dragging, use the arrow keys to move the item. Press space again to drop the item in its new position, or press escape to cancel.

Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view! https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast

Follow us for more updates:

• IWHS Club Beta: https://iwanthershoes.com/community
• IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/
• Anna’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoes/
• Sammy’s IG: https://instagram.com/sammidawgs

EPISODE CREDITS:

Writer and Host: Anna Anisin

Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team

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Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Somewhere between the podcast conversations, dinners, brunches, WhatsApp messages, new friendships, introductions, and women showing up for one another, something unexpected happened. The audience started becoming a community.

In this special solo episode, Anna steps out from behind the interview questions to share what she’s been quietly building: I Want Her Shoes Club, a new digital and IRL home for ambitious, accomplished, curious women who want meaningful connection alongside all the beautiful things that make life fun.

Anna takes listeners inside the early version of the platform and shares the thinking behind it from member connections and curated events to trusted experts, recommendations, fashion, style, and eventually a much smarter relationship with our own closets. But the vision isn't to create another social network designed to keep women scrolling.

It's almost the opposite. Anna has spent years working in AI and building technology communities, and now she's applying that experience to something intentionally human: using technology to help the right women find one another and then get off their phones and into the same room.

Miami is only the beginning. The bigger vision includes city communities, intimate dinners and experiences, trusted recommendations, experts, fashion and wardrobe tools, and a network that can travel with its members wherever life takes them.

And because the Club is still being built, Anna isn't simply inviting women to join it.

She's inviting them to help shape what it becomes.

👠 Key Moments

• How I Want Her Shoes evolved from a podcast into a real community
• Why the shoes were never really about fashion they've always been about the journey
• What Anna learned from bringing women together for intimate dinners and brunches
• Why connection not networking is the product
• The vision behind I Want Her Shoes Club
• Why AI should facilitate human connection rather than replace it
• What's coming around events, experts, style, recommendations, and our closets
• Why Anna wants the earliest members to help build the community alongside her

Anna doesn't want to build another place where women perform how successful, polished, or fabulous their lives are.

She wants to build a place where women can actually know each other.

Where you can talk about the promotion and the divorce. The company you're building and the terrible date you went on. The investment you're considering and the shoes you're considering.

A place to share what we've learned, celebrate one another's wins, open doors for each other and occasionally tell another woman, “Girl, absolutely do not buy those.”

Because the shoes were never really about fashion. They've always been about the journey. And this is what's coming next.

Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.

📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet, it’s definitely worth the view! https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast

Follow us for more updates:

• IWHS Club Beta: https://iwanthershoes.com/community
• IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/
• Anna’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoes/

EPISODE CREDITS:

Writer and Host: Anna Anisin

Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team

Follow us on IG

Watch on Youtube

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Anna and Alexis unpack why financial independence has to be part of the conversation about women’s empowerment, how self-limiting beliefs can quietly become career ceilings, and why confidence is often something we develop after taking the leap—not before it. They also talk about learning to ask for more, advocating for yourself in rooms where decisions are being made, and the difference between mentorship and having someone who will actually say your name when you’re not in the room.

The conversation also explores Alexis’s experience building Business of Her, the importance of women creating opportunities for other women, and why collaboration can be far more powerful than competition. And, of course, they get personal about ambition, evolving identity, personal style, and what it feels like to dress—and live—as the woman you’re still becoming.

Because power isn’t something we suddenly earn when we reach a certain title, salary, or age. It’s something we can start building now.

👠 Key Moments

• Why Alexis believes women need to redefine their relationship with power
• The lessons about money, negotiation, and self-advocacy women should learn much earlier
• How to build confidence before you actually feel ready
• Why financial agency is an essential part of women’s empowerment
• Recognizing self-limiting beliefs before they become career ceilings
• The difference between mentorship, sponsorship, and having someone advocate for you
• Why collaboration between women can create more opportunity than competition
• How style and identity evolve as we step into bigger versions of ourselves

What if women didn’t wait until their 30s, 40s, or 50s to learn how to negotiate, advocate for themselves, build wealth, and take up space?

🎧 Listen to the full episode of I Want Her Shoes Podcast for a conversation about money, confidence, ambition, community, and learning to stop waiting for permission.

Because sometimes the most important step toward becoming powerful is realizing you were allowed to begin before you felt ready.

📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view! https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast

Follow us for more updates:

• IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/
• IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/
• Alexis’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-meruelo-499446113/
• Alexis’s Book: https://alexismeruelo.com/book

Ladies, I’d love for you to join us inside I Want Her Shoes Club, our private, application-only community for stylish, ambitious women. Local dinners, vetted stylists, member offers and real conversations.Apply here 👠

EPISODE CREDITS:

Writer and Host: Anna Anisin

Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team

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Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Laura has spent her career looking at entrepreneurship from almost every angle. Before launching Ascendo, she founded Endeavor Miami, the first U.S. affiliate of the global entrepreneurship organization, where the portfolio grew to 23 companies generating more than $250 million in revenue. Earlier in her career, Laura held leadership positions at Visa and developed deep experience across fintech, payments, M&A, and private equity. Today, she brings all of those perspectives together as an investor.

In this conversation, Anna and Laura explore what makes an exceptional founder, why overlooked markets can create extraordinary investment opportunities, where venture capital may be looking in the wrong places, and how AI is changing the investment landscape.

They also talk about Laura’s own evolution from corporate executive to ecosystem builder to venture capitalist and what years of working across countries, industries, and boardrooms have taught her about leadership, reinvention, and success.

Because sometimes the greatest opportunities aren't where everyone is already looking. They're where very few people have thought to look yet.

👠 Key Moments

• What connects the many chapters of Laura’s career as an executive, founder, operator, investor, and board member
• What Laura saw in Miami’s entrepreneurial ecosystem before the city became a major startup and technology hub
• The qualities she looks for when deciding whether a founder is truly exceptional
• What investors can learn about a founder that will never appear in a pitch deck
• Why Laura sees inclusive innovation as an investment advantage, not simply a social objective
• How overlooked founders, consumers, and markets can create asymmetric investment opportunities
• Why investment capital still hasn't caught up with the enormous economic influence of women
• How Laura evaluates AI companies in a market where almost every startup has an AI story
• Where she believes AI opportunities may still be underestimated
• What venture capital may be overfunding—and overlooking
• Why Laura’s experience as an operator changes the way she works with founders
• What working at Visa taught her about building companies that can truly scale
• Lessons about leadership from working across the U.S., Mexico, Latin America, global corporations, startups, and venture capital
• How to recognize when it's time to leave a successful chapter and reinvent yourself

This episode is ultimately about seeing possibility before it becomes obvious.

Great founders don't all look the same. Great ideas don't come from one demographic, one geography, or one network. And some of the most compelling investment opportunities may exist precisely because everyone else is looking somewhere else.

Laura’s own career is also a reminder that reinvention doesn't mean leaving your experience behind. Every chapter can become part of the toolkit you bring into the next one.

🎧 Listen now for a conversation about venture capital, AI, entrepreneurship, Miami, women and wealth, leadership, reinvention—and what it really takes to recognize an opportunity before the rest of the world does.

Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.

📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view! https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast

Follow us for more updates:

• IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/
• IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/
• Laura’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-i-mayd%C3%B3n-22018a/
• Ascendo VC: https://ascendo.vc/

EPISODE CREDITS:

Writer and Host: Anna Anisin

Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team

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Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Over nearly two decades, Joanna has helped build and scale some of the most recognizable brands across technology, health, wellness, travel, and consumer products. She’s served as CMO of Spring Health, Skyscanner, ClassPass, and Reforge, worked across nine startups, led teams of more than 280 people, and helped scale global businesses reaching more than 110 million people each month.

But after years of helping other founders build extraordinary companies, Joanna is entering a new chapter: building something of her own.

In this conversation, Anna and Joanna explore what separates great marketing from a brand that becomes part of culture, what decades of operating have taught Joanna about leadership, how AI is reshaping marketing, and why curiosity may be one of the most important qualities we can carry into the next chapter of our lives.

They also dive into Joanna’s newest venture, NEON PALM, and what it feels like to move from advising founders to becoming one herself.

Because the most interesting careers rarely follow a straight line. And as Joanna says, beautiful things are never built alone.

👠 Key Moments

• What nine startups taught Joanna about building, scaling, and starting over
• Why Joanna considers herself an operator first—and a marketer second
• The difference between great marketing and building a brand that becomes part of culture
• How to keep brands human while operating at massive scale
• Why creating cultural conversations matters more than simply creating content
• What companies are still getting wrong about growth marketing
• How AI will transform marketing—and where human creativity will become even more valuable
• Why more AI-generated content doesn’t necessarily mean more meaningful content
• The story behind Joanna’s new venture, NEON PALM
• What becoming a founder has taught her after years of advising other founders

This episode is a conversation about building, reinvention, and staying curious—even after you’ve already achieved extraordinary things.

Because success doesn’t mean arriving at one final destination. Sometimes the most exciting thing you can do is decide to build again.

🎧 Listen now for a conversation about brands, AI, leadership, style, entrepreneurship, and why the best things we create are rarely created alone.

Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.

📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view! https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast

Follow us for more updates:

• IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/
• IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/
• Joanna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joannalord
• Joanna’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannalord/
• Neon Palm: https://neonpalm.co/

EPISODE CREDITS:

Writer and Host: Anna Anisin

Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team

Follow us on IG

Watch on Youtube

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

One of the summer’s biggest stories was the announcement and subsequent cancellation of John Galliano: Horizons, the major Spring 2027 Costume Institute exhibition that would have celebrated Galliano’s extraordinary and complicated career.

Naturally, Anna and Ella have opinions. Was canceling the exhibition the right decision? Can we separate the art from the artist? And what would a Galliano-inspired Met Gala have looked like if it had actually happened?

But Galliano is far from the only designer on trial. Ella arrives with a confession of her own: she finally caved and bought her first pair of Matthieu Blazy Chanel shoes. So, is Blazy making Chanel exciting again and could we be witnessing the beginning of a new era for the house?

And while we’re asking important questions... why is everything suddenly “chic”?

Chic restaurants. Chic sneakers. Chic vacations. Chic interiors. Chic water bottles.

Has social media officially ruined the word?

After years of quiet luxury and understated minimalism, fashion also seems to be having fun again. Anna and Ella debate the bedazzling of everything, the return of maximalism and statement dressing, archival fashion, luxury prices, what they’re actually buying for fall and whether we’re finally witnessing the return of something fashion has been missing: Personality.

👠 Key Moments

• Has the word “chic” officially lost all meaning?
• The bedazzling of everything—and whether maximalism is officially back
• Is quiet luxury finally losing its grip?
• The canceled John Galliano: Horizons Met exhibition and the complicated question of separating art from artist
• What a Galliano-inspired Met Gala would have looked like
• Ella’s confession: buying her first Matthieu Blazy Chanel shoes
• Is Blazy ushering in a new golden era at Chanel?
• Archival fashion, creative-director shakeups, and what feels exciting in fashion right now
• Are today’s luxury prices actually worth it?
• What Anna and Ella are buying for fall and what everyone should stop buying

This episode is ultimately about something bigger than trends. After years of understated dressing, neutral palettes, and the idea that looking expensive meant barely looking styled at all, fashion seems ready to have fun again.

Maybe we don’t need another uniform. Maybe we need more personality, more experimentation, more fabulous shoes and fewer rules about what qualifies as chic.

🎧 Listen now for Anna and Ella’s summer fashion debrief and find out what officially made the Fashion Crimes list.

Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.

📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet it’s definitely worth the view! https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast

Follow us for more updates:

• IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/
• IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/
• Anna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoes/
• Ella’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/ella_murad/

EPISODE CREDITS:

Writer and Host: Anna Anisin

Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team

Follow us on IG

Watch on Youtube

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Together, Cynthia and Simon have built more than a remarkable venue.They've created a space where ideas are exchanged, relationships are formed, artists are celebrated, and community comes to life.

In this conversation, Anna explores what it takes to build meaningful experiences, lead as partners in business and life, and create environments that people remember long after they've left. Because great hospitality isn't just about service. It's about creating a sense of belonging.

👠 Key Moments:

• How Cynthia and Simon built a business—and a life—together
• The vision behind The Moore Miami
• Why hospitality is really about human connection
• Lessons from decades of entrepreneurship and leadership
• What makes unforgettable spaces unforgettable
• The future of luxury, culture, and experiential hospitality
• How AI may change hospitality—and what should always remain human
• The role of style, architecture, and design in shaping experience
• Building a lasting legacy through community
• The stories behind the shoes they brought to the podcast

This episode is a celebration of creativity, partnership, and the people who understand that the most meaningful experiences aren't manufactured—they're thoughtfully designed.

🎧 Listen now and discover why the greatest luxury isn't a beautiful space—it's how that space makes you feel.

Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.

📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view! https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast

Follow us for more updates:

• IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/
• IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/
• Cynthia’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cynthia_okeefe
• Simon’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-sorpresi-3504a922/
• The Moore: http://mooremiami.com

EPISODE CREDITS:

Writer and Host: Anna Anisin

Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team

Follow us on IG

Watch on Youtube

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

But Melodie's entrepreneurial story began long before Max Retail. She skipped college, built a career in real estate as a teenager, lost everything during the housing crash, sold designer clothing out of a Sprinter van, opened her own boutique, and ultimately created the business she wished had existed when she was a retailer herself.

In this conversation, Anna and Melodie discuss resilience, reinvention, entrepreneurship, fashion, and why the best businesses are often born from the problems that keep us awake at night. Because success isn't about never failing. It's about having the courage to keep building

👠 Key Moments

• Why Melodie chose entrepreneurship over a traditional path
• Lessons from losing everything during the housing crash
• Selling designer fashion out of a Sprinter van—and what it taught her
• Building a boutique before launching a technology company
• The inspiration behind Max Retail
• How resale is changing the future of fashion
• Why solving your own problem can lead to your best business idea
• Leadership lessons from building and scaling a company
• The realities of starting over—and why reinvention is a strength
• How Melodie's relationship with fashion has evolved over the years

This episode is a reminder that entrepreneurship isn't about having all the answers. It's about staying curious, embracing change, and betting on yourself—even when the outcome is uncertain. Because sometimes the greatest opportunities are waiting on the other side of the biggest setbacks.

🎧 Listen now and discover why the most successful founders aren't the ones who never fail—they're the ones who keep moving forward.

Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.

📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view! https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast

Follow us for more updates:

• IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/
• IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/
• Anna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoes/
• Melodie’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melodie-van-der-baan/
• Melodie’s Website: https://substack.com/@maxretail

EPISODE CREDITS:

Writer and Host: Anna Anisin

Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team

Follow us on IG

Watch on Youtube

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Originally from Paris and now based in Miami, Elsa believes a well-designed wardrobe isn't about owning more clothes—it's about creating systems that save time, reduce stress, and help you show up with confidence, wherever life takes you.

In this conversation, Anna and Elsa explore how personal style influences confidence, why decision fatigue often starts in our closets, and how thoughtful wardrobe planning can become a powerful productivity tool.

Because getting dressed shouldn't drain your energy. It should help you reclaim it.

👠 Key Moments

• Why Elsa calls herself a wardrobe strategist—not just a stylist
• How decision fatigue affects the way we get dressed
• The biggest wardrobe mistakes busy professionals make
• Lessons from growing up in Paris and building a business in Miami
• Why buying more clothes rarely solves the problem
• The essentials every woman should invest in—and where to save
• Building wardrobe systems for busy, multi-home lifestyles
• The connection between personal style and confidence
• How to create a timeless wardrobe instead of chasing trends
• Elsa's philosophy on luxury, simplicity, and intentional living
• What's inside Elsa's own closet—and what it says about her
• The story behind the shoes she chose for this episode

This episode is a reminder that personal style isn't about having the biggest wardrobe.

It's about creating one that works for your life. Because true luxury isn't having more. It's having less to think about.

🎧 Listen now and discover why the most valuable thing hanging in your closet might not be the designer label—it's the peace of mind that comes from knowing exactly who you are and how you want to show up.

Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.

📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view! https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast

Follow us for more updates:

• IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/
• IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/
• Anna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoes/
• Elsa’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/elsab_styling/
• Elsa’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elsaboutaric/
• Elsa’s Website: https://www.elsabstyling.com/

EPISODE CREDITS:

Writer and Host: Anna Anisin

Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team

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Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Throughout her career, Leigh-Ann has worked at the intersection of technology, economic development, government, and social impact, helping leaders and organizations rethink what's possible. But beyond the impressive résumé is a simple belief: innovation begins with curiosity, courage, and the willingness to challenge the status quo.

In this conversation, Anna and Leighann explore what it means to lead through uncertainty, embrace reinvention, and build a future rooted in purpose—not just progress. Because innovation isn't just about creating new technology. It's about creating new possibilities.

👠 Key Moments

• Why innovation is a leadership mindset—not just a business strategy
• The habits and questions that fuel creativity and breakthrough thinking
• Lessons from working across startups, government, philanthropy, and technology
• How over $100 million in social investment has helped create lasting opportunity
• Why the best leaders learn to embrace uncertainty instead of fearing it
• The opportunities—and responsibilities—that come with the rise of AI
• What public and private sector leaders can learn from one another
• Why reinvention is an essential part of every successful career
• Advice for women waiting for the "perfect" moment to pursue a bold idea
• The personal values and daily rituals that keep Leighann grounded
• How style has evolved alongside her leadership journey
• What her closet reveals that her LinkedIn profile never could

This episode is a reminder that innovation isn't reserved for a select few.

It's available to anyone willing to stay curious, ask better questions, and take the first step toward building something that doesn't yet exist.

Because the future isn't something we wait for. It's something we create.

🎧 Listen now and discover why the most innovative leaders aren't just changing industries—they're changing the way we think, lead, and imagine what's possible.

Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.

📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view! https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast

Follow us for more updates:

• IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/
• IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/
• Anna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoes/
• Leigh-Ann’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/leighann.buchanan/
• Leigh-Ann’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighannbuchanan/
• Leigh-Ann’s Website: https://www.leighannbuchanan.com/

EPISODE CREDITS:

Writer and Host: Anna Anisin

Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team

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Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From entrepreneurship and leadership to healing, reinvention, confidence, and personal growth, these women reveal how a simple pair of shoes can become a symbol of resilience, purpose, identity, and the road they’ve traveled.

👠 Featured Guests

• Svetlana Gafurova — Fashion’s Luxury Frontiers
• Katherine Doble — Dressed to Engage
• Dr. Mindy DeSeta — Let’s Talk About Sex, Power & Healing
• Adriana Cowdin — Stubborn As F❤️ck
• Sandra Abi-Rashed — Power Shoes & Purpose Moves
• Angela Solk — Power, Platforms & Playing to Win
• Amy Salinger — The Method Behind Great Style
• Gabriella Arancio — Performance, Pressure & The Power of Discipline

👠 Key Moments

• The personal stories behind some of the most memorable shoes featured on the podcast
• How style often reflects identity, confidence, and personal evolution
• The moments, milestones, and memories attached to what we wear
• Stories of resilience, reinvention, leadership, and purpose
• Why the most meaningful shoes aren’t always the most glamorous
• How fashion becomes a reflection of the lives we build
• The connection between personal style and personal growth
• Lessons learned from women who have walked very different paths

This episode is a reminder that shoes are never really just shoes. They’re a snapshot of where we’ve been. A reflection of who we are. And sometimes, a reminder of everything it took to get here.

🎧 Listen now and discover the stories behind some of the most unforgettable shoes ever featured on I Want Her Shoes. Because every pair tells a story.

And every woman has one worth sharing.

Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.

📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view! https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast

Follow us for more updates:

• IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/
• IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/
• Anna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoes/
• THE FUTURE OF AGENTIC AI IN Finance and Banking, NYC on Dec 11 https://ailovesdata.com/newyork/ Save 25%: IWANTHERSHOES

EPISODE CREDITS:

Writer and Host: Anna Anisin

Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team

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Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For years, Marisa competed at the highest levels of sport, where discipline, focus, and resilience were non-negotiable. But as her career evolved, so did her understanding of performance. Today, she helps high achievers create what she calls a Personal Operating System — a framework for managing energy, focus, relationships, and leadership in a way that supports long-term success.

In this conversation, Anna and Marisa dive into the realities of burnout, the hidden costs of achievement, and why so many successful women are redefining what success actually looks like.

Because high performance isn’t about doing more.

It’s about operating better.

👠 Key Moments

• What competing as a professional golfer taught Marisa about pressure, discipline, and resilience
• Why most people misunderstand what high performance actually means
• The concept of a Personal Operating System and how it changes the way leaders operate
• Why energy management matters more than time management
• The hidden burnout epidemic among high achievers
• How successful leaders create clarity in the midst of chaos
• Why relationships are one of the most overlooked drivers of performance
• The difference between excellence and perfectionism
• How Marisa’s definition of success has evolved over time
• Navigating identity shifts and major life transitions
• Why women are increasingly seeking alignment, freedom, and fulfillment — not just achievement
• The habits and routines that support sustainable success

This episode is a powerful reminder that success should not require sacrificing yourself.

Because the goal isn’t just to achieve more.

It’s to build a life that allows you to enjoy what you’ve achieved.

🎧 Listen now and discover why the next level of leadership may have less to do with pushing harder — and everything to do with operating more intentionally.

Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.

📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view! https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast

Follow us for more updates:

• IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/
• IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/
• Anna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoes/
• Marisa’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/marisamessana
• Marisa’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-messana/

EPISODE CREDITS:

Writer and Host: Anna Anisin

Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team

Follow us on IG

Watch on Youtube

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After spending a decade training elite collegiate athletes, Gabriella saw a gap no one was talking about. While athletes had structured plans for strength, speed, and recovery… their daily hygiene and skincare routines were completely overlooked — despite being directly impacted by intense training, sweat, and environment.

GamePlan was built to change that — not just as a product, but as a habit. A simple, preventative routine designed to become as standard as a pre-game warmup.

In this conversation, Anna and Gabriella dive into what it really means to build something from lived experience, how discipline translates beyond sport, and why the smallest details can have the biggest impact on performance and confidence.

👠 Key Moments

• The overlooked gap in athlete care — and how GamePlan was born
• What “performance hygiene” really means and why it matters
• Why high performers often neglect basic self-care habits
• Building a brand from real experience, not trends
• The power of habit — and why consistency beats complexity
• Community-first growth and the role of trust in building a brand
• Scaling with intention in a massive, underserved market
• Discipline vs talent — what actually drives long-term success
• Navigating male-dominated spaces as a female founder
• How routine, confidence, and personal presence are all connected

This episode is a reminder that success isn’t just built in big moments — it’s built in the routines no one sees.

Because how you show up daily… is how you perform.

🎧 Listen now and rethink the small habits that create your biggest results.

Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.

📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view! https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast

Follow us for more updates:

• IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/
• IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/
• Anna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoes/
• Gabby’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/gabaranc/
• Gabby’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriella-arancio-69710b281/
• GamePlan Skincare: https://www.gameplanskincare.com/

EPISODE CREDITS:

Writer and Host: Anna Anisin

Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team

Follow us on IG

Watch on Youtube

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From boardrooms to galleries, from entrepreneurship to style, these women share what Manolos represent to them — confidence, craftsmanship, individuality, and the courage to walk your own path.

Because at I Want Her Shoes, the shoes have never really been about fashion.

They’re about the stories behind the women who wear them.

👠 Featured Guests

• Melisa Pegus — Unveiling the Strategy Behind Style and Success
• Ella Muradyan — Stylishly Securing
• Courtney Spritzer — Socially Stylish
• Ashley Targuello — Building Real Connection Through Leadership & Intention
• Mindy Solomon — Art, Reinvention & Building a Legacy Through Creativity

👠 Key Moments

• The history and legacy of Manolo Blahnik
• How Sex and the City helped make Manolos a cultural phenomenon
• Why iconic fashion pieces often represent much more than style
• The connection between confidence, identity, and personal expression
• The stories behind each guest’s choice
• What luxury, craftsmanship, and timeless style mean to successful women today
• Why fashion is often about memory, milestones, and meaning

This episode is a celebration of style, storytelling, and the women who inspire us.

Because sometimes a shoe is just a shoe. And sometimes it’s a symbol of the journey that got you where you are.

🎧 Listen now and discover why these remarkable women chose one of fashion’s most iconic brands.

Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.

📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view! https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast

Follow us for more updates:

• IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/
• IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/
• Anna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoes/
• [FREE] GENAI AND INTELLIGENT AGENTS in the Enterprise, SF on Nov 5 https://ailovesdata.com/san-francisco/

EPISODE CREDITS:

Writer and Host: Anna Anisin

Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team

Follow us on IG

Watch on Youtube

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Founded as a high-touch membership platform for high-achieving mothers, Mysha was built around one core idea: women need more than networking — they need trusted connection, support, and spaces where they can truly feel seen.

Through curated experiences, thoughtful gatherings, and intentional relationship-building, Marika has created a community where founders, executives, creatives, and leaders can navigate motherhood and ambition without feeling isolated in the process.

In this episode, Anna and Marika explore what it really means to build community in a world that often feels increasingly disconnected — and why belonging may be one of the most important forms of wellness and success today.

👠 Key Moments:

• The inspiration behind launching Mysha and creating high-trust spaces for women
• Why modern motherhood can feel unexpectedly isolating
• The emotional importance of intentional community and connection
• What ambitious women are privately struggling with right now
• The difference between networking and genuine belonging
• How curated experiences create deeper relationships
• The loneliness many high-achieving women silently carry
• Motherhood, identity shifts, and redefining personal success
• Building a premium, community-first business without outside funding
• The role aesthetics, style, and environment play in creating emotional connection
• Why community may become the new luxury
• Advice for women seeking more authentic friendships and support systems

This episode is thoughtful, warm, and incredibly timely — a reminder that women were never meant to navigate life, motherhood, ambition, or reinvention alone.

Because sometimes the most powerful thing we can find… is each other.

🎧 Listen now for a conversation about community, connection, motherhood, identity, and creating spaces where women can truly belong.

Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.

📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view! https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast

Follow us for more updates:

• IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/
• IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/
• Anna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoes/
• Marika’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/myshapods
• Marika’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marika-frumes-9a46286/
• Mysha: https://myshapods.com/

EPISODE CREDITS:

Writer and Host: Anna Anisin

Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team

Follow us on IG

Watch on Youtube

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

But amidst all the noise, Anna and Ella explore a bigger question: Are women losing their personal style, or are they finally reclaiming it?

In this lively and unfiltered Fashion Crimes episode, they break down the best-dressed moments from Cannes, debate whether Resort collections make any sense anymore, discuss the current state of luxury fashion, and call out a few trends that may need to be retired immediately.

Most importantly, they explore how fashion can move beyond trends and become a tool for self-expression, confidence, and identity.

👠 Key Moments:

• The fascinating history of Cannes and how it became one of fashion’s most influential stages
• The standout looks and biggest style moments from Cannes 2026
• Why red carpets continue to shape luxury fashion and consumer trends
• Dior’s current renaissance and why fashion insiders are paying attention
• Chanel’s challenge: preserving heritage while remaining relevant
• Louis Vuitton’s evolution and the growing overlap between fashion, entertainment, and culture
• Why “Resort” collections often have very little to do with resorts
• How social media and TikTok are accelerating trend cycles
• The rise of trend fatigue and the return of individuality
• Fashion trends Anna and Ella are loving right now
• The Fashion Crimes Hall of Shame: styles that need to disappear immediately
• Why personal style may be the ultimate luxury in 2026

This episode is part fashion commentary, part cultural conversation, and part reminder that style isn’t about following rules.

It’s about knowing who you are.

Because while trends come and go, confidence never goes out of style.

🎧 Listen now for a fun, insightful conversation on fashion, luxury, culture, personal style, and why the most stylish women are often the ones who dress for themselves.

Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.

📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view! https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast

Follow us for more updates:

• IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/
• IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/
• Anna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoes/
• Ella’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/ella_murad/

EPISODE CREDITS:

Writer and Host: Anna Anisin

Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team

Follow us on IG

Watch on Youtube

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Established in 2009, Mindy Solomon Gallery has become one of Miami’s most respected contemporary galleries, representing emerging and mid-career artists across painting, sculpture, photography, and video. Known for championing diasporic voices and exploring the intersection of art and design, the gallery has become both a cultural platform and a creative community.

But behind the gallery is an even deeper story.

Mindy shares her journey from artist and educator to gallery founder, opening her business in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and later rebuilding her life in Miami while navigating profound personal loss. Through every chapter, art remained both her purpose and her therapy.

In this episode, Anna and Mindy explore the emotional power of art, the role creativity plays in healing and reinvention, and why building legacy often requires courage through uncertainty.

👠 Key Moments:

• How Mindy transitioned from artist and educator to gallery founder
• Opening a gallery during the 2008 financial crisis
• Moving to Miami and reinventing her life creatively and personally
• Supporting artists and building community through difficult seasons
• How art became a source of healing during grief and loss
• The emotional connection between collecting art and storytelling
• Why taste, curation, and aesthetic identity matter
• The intersection of art, fashion, design, and personal style
• Building an authentic audience through social media and storytelling
• Miami’s evolution into a global contemporary art destination
• Advice for women reinventing themselves later in life
• Creating legacy through creativity, resilience, and vision

This episode is elegant, emotional, and deeply inspiring — a reminder that creativity is not just about what we make.

It’s about how we survive. How we evolve. And how we leave something meaningful behind.

🎧 Listen now for a conversation about art, reinvention, grief, beauty, and the courage to continue creating through every chapter of life.

Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.

📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view! https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast

Follow us for more updates:

• IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/
• IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/
• Anna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoes/
• Mindy’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/mindysolomongallery/
• MindySolomon Gallery: https://mindysolomon.com/

EPISODE CREDITS:

Writer and Host: Anna Anisin

Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team

Follow us on IG

Watch on Youtube

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After more than 60 conversations with founders, executives, creatives, mothers, investors, healers, and entrepreneurs, Anna realized something surprising:

So many women are no longer chasing the version of success they once thought they wanted. Instead, they’re craving something softer. More intentional. More connected. More alive.

In this raw and honest episode, Anna opens up about spending 20 years in tech and entrepreneurship, building companies and communities while quietly navigating burnout, identity shifts, and the growing desire to step away from constant hustle culture.

She also shares the realities of building I Want Her Shoes Podcast — a podcast that has reached the Top 2% globally and surpassed 400,000 downloads in under 18 months, yet still reflects the very real tension many entrepreneurs face between passion, purpose, creativity, and financial sustainability.

This episode is not about having all the answers.

It’s about asking the questions many women are already carrying silently.

👠 Key Moments

• Why so many successful women are exhausted from performing perfection
• The hidden emotional cost of ambition and hustle culture
• How success begins to change shape in your 40s
• Burnout after 20 years in tech and entrepreneurship
• Wanting more presence, freedom, and time with family
• The reality of building meaningful creative work without guaranteed financial return
• Why women struggle to openly discuss money, sustainability, and burnout
• The emotional tension between purpose and profitability
• How identity shifts impact confidence, style, and personal fulfillment
• Why community and honest conversations matter more than ever
• The messy reality of reinvention — and why so many women are navigating it right now

This episode is vulnerable, reflective, and deeply human — a reminder that growth doesn’t always look like scaling bigger.

Sometimes it looks like slowing down enough to ask yourself: Is this still the life I actually want?

🎧 Listen now for an honest conversation about ambition, burnout, reinvention, and redefining success on your own terms.

Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.

📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view! https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast

Follow us for more updates:

• IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/
• IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/
• Anna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoes/
• Anna’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaanisin/

EPISODE CREDITS:

Writer and Host: Anna Anisin

Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team

Follow us on IG

Watch on Youtube

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.