Episode 95: Josie Santi ‘Your Body Is Not A Machine, It’s A Living Breathing Organism’

Josie Santi is the Senior Wellness Editor for The Everygirl, and she’s also a certified Holistic Health Coach. She oversees, writes, and edits wellness content, and she also reports on wellness trends (including trying many herself) and interviews leading experts to share the most research-backed information with readers. You can find Josie on The Everygirl Podcast, where she interviews guests and hosts episodes on a variety of educational, inspirational, and entertaining topics. And, you can also find her on Instagram.

Episode 94- Caroline Stanbury: ‘You Have to Have That Entrepreneurial Get Up and Go’

In this conversation, the incredible, direct, and giving entrepreneur and Bravo reality star, Caroline Stanbury joins Allyson Portee to share the importance of resilience and hard work in life and business.

Podcast Episode 92- Breaking Stigmas: Polina Mikhailova Talks The Mission Behind Founding 11:11 Luck

In this conversation, Polina Mikhailova shares her inspiring journey from being in the world of sports to founding 11:11 Luck, a fashion platform focused on mental health awareness.

Podcast Episode 86: Navigating Dry Seasons: Finding Hope in the Wilderness

In this conversation, KB and Ally discuss the challenges of navigating dry seasons and wilderness experiences in life, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong relationship with God. They explore the significance of being honest with God about one's feelings, the role of scripture in providing hope, and the necessity of surrendering to the waiting periods in life. The discussion also touches on the importance of prioritizing salvation over earthly desires and the need to trust in God's plan during difficult times.

Episode 78: Kristin Pollock On Raising the Bar in Modern Dating

In this engaging conversation, Ally and Kitty discuss the challenges of dating in 2025, emphasizing how the bar has been set low due to societal changes, particularly the influence of social media. They explore themes of selfishness, the importance of accountability, and the necessity of establishing boundaries in relationships. The discussion also highlights the significance of self-reflection and personal growth in navigating modern love, ultimately advocating for a more mindful approach to dating and relationships.

Episode 73: Alison Rehill-Erguven the CEO of Cenomi Centers, the Largest Real Estate Mall Developer In Saudi Arabia

Alison is the CEO of Cenomi Centers. What Emaar is to Dubai, what Westfield is to London, or Simon Property Group is to the US, Cenomi Centers is to Saudi Arabia.

She brings over 25 years of extensive leadership experience across shopping malls and retail real estate globally. Leading the strategic growth and transformation of Cenomi Centers' portfolio, Alison oversees development, operations, marketing, and asset management functions. Prior to joining Cenomi, Alison was the CEO of Pradera Retail Asia, later integrated into Brookfield Asset Management, where she also served as Acting Head of Commercial Real Estate for Brookfield Properties China. She previously held leadership roles in Europe and Turkey and began her career in the United States with Simon Property Group and General Growth Properties.

In this episode Alison talks about what drives her, what she studies most about malls she walks into, the Saudi consumer, and the character trait that’s needed to be the CEO of a mall developer.

Episode 70: Sebastian Norena Opens Up About His Journey In Creating Impactful Luxury Experiences That Resonate

Sebastian Norena is a hospitality executive born and raised in Colombia, yet he has called the US home for a while now. He worked his way up from entry-level positions to management, corporate, and executive roles with Nikki Beach Worldwide and the Butter Group in New York City. His body of work includes experience in both major cities and international markets to generate successful and impactful brand messaging and revenue, that drive initiatives for his portfolio of clients. Working with the likes of Richie Akiva to produce experiences at Coachella, Paris Fashion Week, the Cannes Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, Art Basel Miami, amfAR Gala after parties, and Rihanna’s Fenty NYFW and PFW official after parties. Industry leaders seek out Sebastian, asking him to spearhead their projects and consult on a variety of branding and event-based projects, which led to the birth of his company KIP Hospitality, where he has worked with Mercedes Benz and the Academy Awards, scouting the talent for their events, bringing celebrities such as Mase, Guy Gerber, Paris Hilton, and Wycliff. Sebastian’s experiences and those he’s a part of resonate with consumers, media, and attendees and in turn, create long term returns and retention.

Episode 67: Alessandro Sugar and Andrea Fabrizii On Bringing Italian and French Composed Works of Art Alive In Hollywood Films

During this year’s Cannes Film Festival, I met Alessandro Sugar and Andrea Fabrizii- as well as Alessandro’s siblings. Both Alessandro and Andrea are part of CAM Sugar, a catalogue that represents Italian and French soundtracks, with over 2,000 original scores. Music in their catalogue are found in Oscar winning films like La Dolce Vita, Il Postino, Mondo Cane, 8 ½, Amarcord, and more. Major international producers and directors pick and choose from the CAM Sugar archive with hundreds of samples and synchronizations from movies to fashion campaigns. Who can forget Jack Black in The Holiday, opposite Kate Winslet, where his character composed a song inspired by the late great Italian composer Ennio Morricone. Or, Quentin Tarantino introducing America to the film genre “spaghetti western,” in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. This is the space that Andrea and Alessandro work in, they bring French and Italian composed works of art alive in films. And works by Italian and French composers from Ennio Morricone, Nino Rota, Riz Ortolani, and Alain Goraguer are in their library.

 At 24, Alessandro is head of CAM Sugar label, connecting the catalogue with the contemporary, through sync, sampling, and curations. He collaborates with a young team focused on bringing CAM Sugar's music to new audiences. Andrea is a gold digger for vinyl’s, tapes, and forgotten stories; as well as a musician, producer, communicator, and one of Italy’s leading Italian experts in the field of cinema and soundtracks. Doing A&R for the CAM Sugar label, Andrea oversees the editing and sound restoration of archival music, ensuring the renowned sonic quality of their releases. Also, a DJ, Andrea includes the works of Morricone, Stelvio Cipriani, Stefano Torossi, and others, which he highlights in his mixes for the CAM Sound System that’s performed at international festivals, listening sessions, clubs, and radio stations.

Episode 63: Tessy Antony de Nassau- Veteran, Mother, Former Princess, and Business Woman

Photo Credit: Tessy Antony de Nassau /Instagram

Tessy Antony de Nassau is a Wife, Mother, Social Entrepreneur, Business Woman, Philanthropist, Military Veteran, Public Speaker, Activist, and Co-Founder of a fashion brand.

Wearing many hats, Tessy actively promotes a number of issues, including global health and women’s rights. She is passionate about pushing her different agendas to benefit the Sustainable Development Goals and has committed her time and energy to furthering the work of organizations in which she believes in. If you follow Tessy’s life, you see that everything she has done or is doing, she was prepped to do. Her work in the Luxembourg military, and being a former member of the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg where she was styled as princess prepared her for her activism, private sector, and NGO work. Quite egalitarian in how she carries herself, Tessy makes the effort to be amongst the people, helping when and where she can.

In this episode, she opens up on her journey of growing up in Luxembourg, of her military service, her sweet moment of being a princess- though I’d argue she still is in spirit and soul, and what she has been up to. 

Episode 62: Rebecca George- Knowing You’re Not Too Late In A Hurry-Up World

Rebecca is the founder of Radical Radiance® - a podcast community where listeners are equipped to blend what they love with Jesus, who makes them shine. She is a podcaster, speaker, and author whose greatest joy in life is discipling others to pursue their passions in a way that builds the Kingdom. In her new book “It’s Not Too Late,” Rebecca unpacks how to deal with the experience of longing, whether that be for a spouse or a child, for a healing in a broken relationship, or for a clearer direction in our calling. Because of this waiting, we can fall into resentment about what we lack—or we can see our unmet desires as an invitation to draw closer to a trustworthy God.

In her free time, you can find her running outside, writing, or trying a new recipe with 90s country playing in the background. You can connect with her on IG at @rebeccageorgeauthor or at radicalradiance.live

Episode 60: Nelson L. Schuman- From Banking to Inner Healing Ministry

Nelson L. Schuman is an author, teacher, speaker, founder and president of Restored To Freedom located near Dallas, TX. Before he did what, he does now, Nelson was successful in the banking world. But through family challenges, God guided him into full time ministry: helping people get free from soul wounds.

Nelson’s focus is the restoration of lives and marriages, specifically helping people get healed from their past soul wounds and delivered from demonic strongholds. He has helped thousands around the world, and has seen many healed from physical infirmities.

He has 13 books available on Amazon including his best-selling book Freedom From Soul Wounds and Demons. He has trained over 500 people in 15 countries under his Restored to Freedom ministry to do soul wound healings and deliverances. His Facebook Soul Wound Healing and Demon Deliverance group helps people worldwide to receive support when they have been hurt by people.  You can also visit his TikTok page,  You Tube channel and watch his monthly deliverance sessions as well as hear personal testimonies and his daily teachings.

Episode 58: Sara Murad- A Network Media Presenter and Perfumer

Photo courtesy of Sara Murad/ Instagram

Since 2013, Sara Murad has been a media presenter in the Middle East. She’s a Senior TV Presenter on MBC 1 and a founder of her own fragrance brand, By Sara Murad. Her work has taken her around the world, capturing stories and meeting people. You can often find Sara sitting front row at fashion weeks, at Formula 1 in Jeddah, or hosting some of the Middle East’s biggest events. Originally from Saudi Arabia, Sara is very proud of her heritage, and she aspires to show her country to the world.

One way she introduces Saudi Arabia to the world is through her brand. Growing up around the unique scents of Oud and Musk, inspired her first fragrance: Black Oud. The brand isn’t just a scent but an experience, it’s a bridge between the timeless traditions of the past and the bold spirit of the present with a clear vision of the future.

Episode 55: Mary Marantz- Author, Speaker, Podcaster Talks Her Book “Underestimated”

Photo Credit: Justin Marantz

Mary Marantz is the bestselling author of Dirt and Underestimated, as well as the host of the popular podcast The Mary Marantz Show. She grew up in a trailer in rural West Virginia and was the first in her family to go to college before going on to Yale for law school. Her work has been featured on CNN, MSN, Business Insider, Bustle, Thrive Global, Southern Living, Hallmark Home & Family and more. She and her husband Justin live in an 1880s fixer-upper by the sea in New Haven, Connecticut, with their two very fluffy golden retrievers, Goodspeed and Atticus.

In this episode we talk about Underestimated, and dive into topics around the book. Listen as Mary unpacks themes of what it means to be crippled by fear, but when we overcome, we are often underestimated by those around us. Learn more about Mary at MaryMarantz.com.

Episode 54: May El Khalil- The Woman That Brought A National Marathon To Beirut

May El Khalil is the Founder and President of the Beirut Marathon Association. The Beirut Marathon Association oversees the annual Beirut International Marathon, a race and social movement that has been held every autumn since 2003, and has attracted tens of thousands from over a hundred countries. 

From Aley, Lebanon, May spent much of her adult life in Nigeria where her husband's business was located. In Nigeria, Mrs. El Khalil became part of an international community and established the Lebanese Ladies in Nigeria. When she returned to Lebanon, she found religious differences that she never knew, and in 2001 when she was running in Dubai, she was hit by a bus and suffered a near-fatal accident that placed her in a coma. After spending two years undergoing dozens of surgeries she was able to walk again. Determined to celebrate the gift of life and mobility, she founded the marathon to help mend divisions in Lebanon.

She's a kind soul and brings light into a room. This is a previous conversation I had with her a few years ago, that was a part of an old podcast that I had, but her story and wisdom is still relevant. Enjoy this podcast episode with Mrs. May El Khalil. 

Episode 53: Deb Sofield- Keynote speaker, Author, Speech & Media Coach, and Crisis Communications Trainer

Deb Sofield is a global Communications Consultant, a Keynote Speaker, a former Radio Talk Show Host, a Podcaster, and President of her own Executive Speech Coaching Co. She’s skilled in training people for success in: speaking, crisis communications, presentation, media, and message development.

Quite simply she can transform your messaging to be understood by the masses, helping you curate communications for political and corporate clients through private speech coaching and debate preparation. She’s also an author, and visiting professor at Harvard University and their John F. Kennedy School of Government, she’s also on the faculty of The Campaign School at Yale University. And Deb has also served on the board for the Women’s Democracy Network of Washington, DC, and she served as a mentor and trainer for The Center for Liberty in the Middle East.

She’s inspiring and has done a lot in her career. In this episode we talk about her Lebanese roots, what makes for a good speech, she touches on the US president whose speaking style she admires most, and what doesn’t make for a good speech.

To learn more about Deb visit: http://www.debsofield.com

To purchase her Books or Kindle downloads visit: https://amzn.to/34Wab0n

Episode 47- Film Director Christine Swanson Talks Her New Film “Albany Road”

Lynn Whitfiend and Renee Elise Goldsberry in Albany Road | Photo provided by Faith FIlmworks

Ally sat down over Zoom with Christine, who is known for her film The Clark Sisters, to talk about her newest film Albany Road, out on limited release on November 15th. Taking 23 days to shoot in Champagne, Illinois, it stars Renee Elise Goldsberry and cinema legend Lynn Whitfield.

Albany Road is anchored in the idea of Black Joy, laced with redemption and forgiveness, as you might expect from a company called Faith Filmworks, the production company headed by Christine and her husband Michael Swanson.

The film touches on the plethora of relationships that we have in life, and through colorful characters starring (Renee Elise Goldsberry’s) Celeste, a high powered, jittery ad executive, and her almost mother-in-law Paula (Lynn Whitfield).  A freak snow storm and a ticking clock forces them to share the last remaining rental car in a fierce snowstorm. Awkward! As their literal and emotional journey continues, secrets are unearthed, lost loves confronted, and messy, scary life events come to light. 

As a writer, filmmaker, and multiple award-winning director with an MFA in Film from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Christine has developed, written and/or directed entertainment projects for HBO Films, Lionsgate, Universal Television, Warner Bros. Television, CBS Television Studios, TV One, A&E Networks, BET Films, Starz and Faith Filmworks.

Photo provided by Faith FIlmworks

Gary Dourdan and Renee Elise Goldsberry | Photo provided by Faith FIlmworks

For over a decade, Christine has made films championing Black women. And her experience with this movie has led her to believe that mostly white, mostly male studio executives are all for telling Black Trauma stories, especially during Awards Season, but allergic to Black Joy projects. While the film does face some harsh realities of life, it does not focus on Black Trauma. She and Ally gets into this in the interview.  

Enjoy this podcast interview with Christine Swanson.

Episode 42: Being Shot By Top Brands From Levis To Valentino, Kimanee Mason Now Elevates Women With Her Brand Grace & Company

Born and raised in Westmoreland Jamaica, Kimanee Mason moved to New York City for college at 15 and was soon discovered by Elite model management. The next day she shot for Teen Vogue. Her modeling career spanned over 15 years from runways to commercial work, working with top designers from Oscar de la Renta to Valentino. Kimanee completed her BFA in design at New York School of Interior Design, transitioning into a career in commercial design at Perkins Eastman Architects. She launched Grace & Company in 2015 with a passion for creating luxury products that are as equally functional as they are fashionable and beautiful. Kimanee and her husband Frank reside in New York City and have three boys, with a girl on the way. She is a woman of faith and supports causes aimed at elevating the worth of women. 

We talk about her modeling career, her decision to start her own brand, and her decision to take her Christian faith seriously.

Episode 38- Chen Kolter Abrahams: Just Wants The Israeli Hostages Back

Chen’s kibbutz was attacked on October 7, 2023, and five members are a part of the 132 hostages still in Gaza. She opens up on how she’s feeling about Hamas, what happened to her kibbutz that day, and what people can do to help.

Episode 37- The Seriousness Of Marriage with KB Chakela

This is a conversation on the seriousness of marriage with KB Chakela, the faith editor of Seele Magazine. We talk about a lot of things in this topic from why God created marriage, to dating with intentionality, and the red and green flags women should look out for in dating.  

Episode 35- Joe Challita: The Lebanese Fashion Aficionado OpensUp About Lebanon’s Couture Contribution To The World

Joe is the Founder of Lebanese Fashion History on Instagram, and he is the Fashion Editor of Marie Claire Arabia. His knowledge of Lebanese fashion history is like nonother. When I think of Joe, for me, he’s the Suzy Menkes of Lebanese couture history. He dives into Lebanon’s rich couture history that goes back to the 1920s, unpacking the country’s impact on the fashion industry. So, enjoy this podcast episode with Joe Challita.