NOTE: Feminist Founders is a listener-funded podcast. Your contributions enable us to continue bringing you these important conversations. To support the mission and to receive bonus content from this episode, sign up for a subscription: https://feministfounders.substack.com/

Feminist coach Taina Brown joins Becky Mollenkamp to share her journey into intersectional feminism, how her experiences as a Black woman shaped her feminist identity, and the distinctions between feminism and womanism. The conversation delves deep into the challenges faced by women of color in the workplace, particularly the impact of microaggressions and the compounded effects of systemic oppression. Taina also offers insightful solutions for combating imposter syndrome, emphasizing the importance of rest as a form of resistance and the need to dismantle capitalist structures in our pursuit of liberation.

Taina Brown (she/hers) is an elder millennial, Jeopardy enthusiast, and dog mom to doggy influencers. She is a life and career coach for busy and burned out millennials and a DEI educator and facilitator. In her spare time and with the help of her community, she's building a world where people don't feel the need to live busy and burned out lives, laugh in the face of imposter syndrome, and generally stick it to the man. You can find her ranting (sometimes) and raving (mostly) on Instagram and in her email newsletter to her community.

Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

Discussion in this episode:

• Intersectional Feminism and Womanism: Taina discusses the roots of her feminist identity, the difference between feminism and womanism, and how Black women have historically been excluded from mainstream feminist movements.
• Matriarchy vs. Patriarchy: A deep dive into the differences between matriarchal and patriarchal systems, and why simply replacing men at the top with women is not the solution to systemic oppression.
• Anti-Capitalist Feminism: Exploring how capitalist structures perpetuate inequality and the importance of creating new systems that prioritize collaboration, rest, and collective care.
• Microaggressions in the Workplace: Taina highlights the daily toll of microaggressions on women of color and the need to address these issues beyond just time management and productivity.
• Imposter Syndrome Solutions: Taina reframes imposter syndrome as a natural response to operating within systems not designed for women of color, and shares strategies for reclaiming power and belonging.
• The Power of Rest as Resistance: Drawing inspiration from the Nat Ministry and Tricia Hersey's work, Taina discusses how rest is a revolutionary act that defies capitalist demands for constant productivity.

Resources Mentioned:

• “Who is Your Mother? The Red Roots of Feminism” by Paula Gunn Allen
• Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
• The Nap Ministry
• Sacred Rest by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith
• Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brown
• Pleasure Activism by adrienne maree brown
• Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
• Bisan Owda

Bonus Content: For more on Taina Brown's work and her perspective on LGBTQ+ identities within feminism, make sure to subscribe to Becky’s newsletter where exclusive bonus content is available. The link is in the show notes.

NOTE: Feminist Founders is a listener-funded podcast. Your contributions enable us to continue bringing you these important conversations. To support the mission and to receive bonus content from this episode, sign up for a subscription.

In this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp sits down with Chelsey Goodan, author of Underestimated: The Wisdom and Power of Teenage Girls. Chelsey shares her journey in writing the book, her commitment to intersectional feminism, and her work with teenage girls. The conversation delves deep into the challenges and opportunities of raising feminist, empowered young women, as well as the importance of healing our inner teenage selves. Becky and Chelsey explore how these themes apply not just to parenting but also to leadership and women’s empowerment in the workplace.

Chelsey Goodan (she/her) is the author of the USA Today national bestseller, “Underestimated: The Power and Wisdom of Teenage Girls” (Gallery Books), which has been endorsed by Oprah's Book Club, saying: “If you have a teenage girl in your life, you need to read this.” Amazon's Editorial Director chose “Underestimated” as her "Editor's Pick, Best Nonfiction,” featuring it on CBS Mornings, and when Chelsey was on TODAY with Hoda & Jenna, they exclaimed: "We couldn't stop talking about your book."

Website | Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn

Discussed in this Episode:

• Underestimated: Becky and Chelsey discuss the inspiration behind Underestimated: The Wisdom and Power of Teenage Girls, a book that challenges societal stereotypes and advocates for the empowerment of young women.
• Intersectional Feminism: The conversation highlights the importance of intersectional feminism, with Chelsey sharing how her book draws on the work of influential feminist thinkers like bell hooks and Maya Angelou.
• Empowering Teenage Girls: Chelsey offers insights into how we can support and empower teenage girls, encouraging them to embrace their emotions and develop self-trust.
• Feminist Parenting: Becky and Chelsey discuss the challenges of feminist parenting, particularly in creating a safe space for daughters to explore their identities and make independent choices.
• Healing Your Inner Teenager: The episode touches on the importance of healing the wounds from our own teenage years, including overcoming perfectionism, self-doubt, and shame.
• Communication Strategies for Leaders: Chelsey shares how the lessons she’s learned from working with teenage girls can be applied to leadership, particularly in creating psychologically safe environments where team members feel seen, heard, and valued.
• The Role of Social Media: Chelsey addresses the pros and cons of social media for teenage girls, emphasizing the importance of guiding them to use these platforms in empowering ways.

Resources mentioned:

• Underestimated by Chelsey Goodan
• “Why Does Patriarchy Persist” by Carol Gilligan and Naomi Snider
• “Pleasure Activism” by adrienne maree brown
• DemocraShe
• A Call to Men

Subscribe for More: For additional content, including a bonus conversation about Chelsey’s work with A Call to Men, subscribe to the Feminist Founders newsletter on Substack.

In this special summer-break episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp sits down with Sophia Apostol, host of the Fat Joy podcast and Fat Joy on Substack, to explore the intersections of visibility, body image, and safety in a world that often marginalizes certain bodies.

This deep and insightful conversation touches on the challenges of being visible in a society that prizes thinness, the journey from body neutrality to fat joy, and the critical importance of psychological safety for business owners and leaders. Sophia shares her own journey towards body liberation and the creation of her impactful work, offering listeners a hopeful and empowering perspective on how to navigate these complex issues.

Resources Mentioned:

• "What We Don't Talk About When We Talk About Fat" by Aubrey Gordon
• "Happy Fat" by Sofie Hagan
• Truity's Enneagram Test
• CliftonStrengths (formerly StrengthsFinder)
• We Can Do Hard Things podcast

Connect with Sophia Apostol:

• Fat Joy podcast
• Fat Joy on Substack
• Instagram
• Sophia Apostol Coaching

Support Feminist Founders:

Feminist Founders is a listener-funded podcast. Your contributions enable Becky to continue bringing you these important conversations without corporate advertising. To support the mission, visit feministfounderspodcast.com and sign up for a paid subscription.