🎙️ Episode Title: The Art of Falling Up: Darci Graves on Resilience and Empowerment

💭 Episode Description: This one’s for anyone who’s been knocked down and is ready to rise with intention, grace, and power. In this deeply inspiring episode of The Uncaged Pod, Jess sits down with Darci Graves, a speaker, author, consultant, and fierce advocate for falling up!

Darci shares her personal and professional journey, from working with the University of Maryland and CMS to facing and overcoming aggressive breast cancer. She introduces her life philosophy, “The Art of Falling Up,” a bold reframe of resilience that centers healing, agency, and growth. With refreshing honesty and warmth, Darci walks us through her process of feeling, resting, plotting, rising, and cheering- a model for reclaiming strength without bypassing the struggle.

We talk code switching, the retreat of DEI efforts, celebrating the small wins, and why choosing recovery over reaction is one of the most revolutionary things you can do.

✨ Connect with Darci Graves:

🌐 Website: darcigraves.org

📸 Instagram: @nowspeakingdarci

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Resilience can feel passive. Falling up invites action and intention.
• You don’t have to bounce back. You can rise differently.
• Cultural confidence is both personal and systemic.
• True recovery honors the body, the spirit, and the spaces in between.
• Celebrating small victories fosters community healing and momentum.

📌 Favorite Quotes:

🗣️ “We all do better when we all do better.” – Darci Graves (01:30)

🗣️ “The art of falling up, because we all get knocked down… but we can talk more about that.” (06:03)

🗣️ “Resilience feels a little more passive… But when you're falling up, you're taking an active part in this.” (18:01)

🗣️ “Wake every morning with the goal of letting people know they matter.” (32:40)

🗣️ “How do we help people restore themselves? Because I think there’s a lot of people who are just depleted…” (45:46)

🤝 How You Can Support Darci’s Work:

– Explore her site: darcigraves.org

– Follow her for empowering updates on IG: @nowspeakingdarci

– Share this episode with someone navigating their own fall

– Try the Falling Up process in your own life

– Celebrate a small win today, for yourself or someone else

🎧 Follow The Uncaged Pod:

💜 Listen on Apple Podcasts

💚 Listen on Spotify

🌟 Leave a 5-star review to help more women find stories like Darci’s

🌿 Free Resources for Our Listeners:

Head to theuncagepod.com to receive:

✨ Monthly giveaways for our email fam i.e. The Roar Drop

🛠️ Thanks to Our Affiliates:

🎙️ Alitu — Podcast production made easy

✍️ @rev — Professional transcription services

Affiliate disclosure: If you purchase through the links above, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products and services I truly believe in.

🎙️ Episode Title:

30 Seconds to Change: Robyn Godfrey's Marathon Transformation

💭 Episode Description:

This one’s for the late bloomers, the comeback queens, and anyone standing at their own starting line. In this powerful episode, Jess sits down with Robyn Godfrey, author, RCA-certified running coach, speaker, and six-time World Marathon Majors finisher, who proves it’s never too late to rewrite your story, one step at a time.

At 47, Robyn went from midlife party girl to marathoner, starting with a single 30-second jog on a treadmill (yes, hungover). That moment became the catalyst for a total life transformation- mentally, physically, and spiritually. From leaving corporate America to coaching runners and mentoring girls, Robyn's story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and finding purpose in motion.

We talk running, healing, coaching, courage, and why chasing your joy might just save your life.

✨ Connect with Robyn Godfrey:

🏃‍♀️ Instagram: @BeachyRunner

📖 Book: Running the World available on Amazon, B&N, Bookshop

👟 Wilmington Roadrunners Club + Girls on the Run mentor

💬 LinkedIn: Robyn Godfrey

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Big change starts in small increments - 30 seconds at a time.
• You are not too old, too late, or too far gone to start over.
• Community and connection can replace old habits and build new purpose.
• Mental resilience is a muscle; running builds it one mile at a time.
• You’re allowed to chase what fills your cup- and leave what doesn’t.

📌 Favorite Quotes:

“Running saved my sanity during my husband's battle with cancer.” – Robyn Godfrey

“That 30 seconds on the treadmill changed everything.”

“Letting go of what other people think of your pace is the most freeing thing you can do.”

“It’s never too late to become the person you know you’re meant to be.”

🤝 How You Can Support Robin’s Work:

– Buy her book: Running the World 📚

– Follow her journey on Instagram

– Book her for speaking engagements or coaching

– Donate to or volunteer with Girls on the Run

– Join a local running club or start your own 30-second transformation

🎧 Follow The Uncaged Pod:

💜 Listen on Apple Podcasts

💚 Listen on Spotify

🌟 Leave a 5-star review to help more women find stories like Robyn’s

🌿 Free Resources for Our Listeners:

Head to theuncagepod.com to receive:

✨ Monthly giveaways for our email fam i.e. The Roar Drop

🛠️ Thanks to Our Affiliates:

🎙️ Alitu — Podcast production made easy

✍️ @rev — Professional transcription services

Affiliate disclosure: If you purchase through the links above, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products and services I truly believe in.

🎙️ Episode Title: Building Dreams in Pink: Christina Kirkey's Journey of Beauty and Sisterhood

💭 Episode Description:

This one’s for the creators with a calling and the leaders building community with color and courage. Jess sits down with Christina Kirkey, founder of Pinup Studio, an all-pink, all-powerful, 16-chair salon and bridal collective based in Raleigh, NC, for a conversation full of grit, glam, and growth.

From turning her childhood living room into a DIY spa to building a staple of sisterhood in the beauty world, Christina’s story is one of unapologetic passion and purpose. She opens up about navigating grief after losing her dad during cosmetology school, how she scaled from a one-chair dream to a vibrant business, and what it really takes to lead with vulnerability, vision, and truth.

We talk real leadership, breaking beauty norms, and what it means to make every client and teammate feel radically seen and loved. Christina isn’t just styling hair, she’s shaping culture. And this episode is your reminder that you can build something beautiful, even in the middle of your mess.

✨ Connect with Christina Kirkey:

🔗 Instagram: @ps.christinak

💇‍♀️ Salon Instagram: @pinupstudionc

📝 Resources & Mentions:

– Create & Cultivate Festival

– Pinup Studio for inclusive beauty services and community

– Mentorship + speaking inquiries via Instagram DMs

💡 Key Takeaways:

• You don’t have to wait to be "ready." Go for it scared, and go relentlessly.
• Clear is kind- honest communication is the foundation of leadership.
• Grief can fuel purpose. Let your story sharpen your mission, not shrink it.
• Creating a space where people feel seen and safe is a superpower.
• You’re allowed to be the beauty and the backbone of your business.

📌 Favorite Quotes:

“I do feel my superpower is making people feel seen and loved... and I get that from my mom.” – Christina Kirkey

“Support your local girl gang.”

“What started as a one-chair studio is now an all-pink, all-powerful 10-chair salon and bridal collective.”

“Going even more relentlessly towards whatever the hell I'm doing.”

🤝 How You Can Support Christina’s Work:

– Book services at @pinupstudionc

– Share her story with stylists, creatives, and girl gang leaders

– Follow Christina on Instagram for motivation + behind-the-scenes

– Invite her to speak at your event or creative summit

🎧 Follow The Uncaged Pod:

💜 Listen on Apple Podcasts

💚 Listen on Spotify

🌟 Leave a 5-star review to help more women find stories like Christina’s

🌿 Free Resources for Our Listeners:

Head to theuncagepod.com to receive:

✨ Monthly giveaways for our email fam i.e. The Roar Drop

🛠️ Thanks to Our Affiliates:

🎙️ Alitu — Podcast production made easy

✍️ @rev — Professional transcription services

Affiliate disclosure: If you purchase through the links above, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products and services I truly believe in.

🎙️ Episode Title:

Finding Your Flow in Business and Life with Sarah Pope

💭 Episode Description:

This one’s for the mamas, the makers, and the magic-seekers. Jess sits down with Sarah Pope, creative entrepreneur, mother, and founder of Pope Media Co.- for a raw and radiant convo about building a business in the middle of motherhood. From photographing home births to nurturing brands between snack breaks, Sarah is the real deal.

We talk sacred chaos, seasonal living, and why the idea of “balance” is kind of BS. Sarah shares how she aligns her work with her emotional and menstrual cycles, and what it means to parent and lead with presence, vulnerability, and a whole lot of grit. She’s not here to pretend it’s easy- but she is here to remind you that it’s worth it. Expect wisdom, laughter, and permission to bloom in your own damn time.

✨ Connect with Sarah Pope:

🔗 Instagram: @popemedia.co

🌐 Website: Pope Media Co.

📝 Projects Mentioned:

– Pope Media Co. branding & storytelling for heart-centered entrepreneurs

– Lucy Atkin Read’s teachings on living wild and cyclically

– We Can Do Hard Things podcast by Glennon Doyle

💡 Key Takeaways:

• You don’t need to do it all. You just need to remember who you are in the process.
• Business doesn’t have to be separate from motherhood. Invite your kids into the magic.
• You’re not broken. You might just be in winter.
• Stop forcing balance. Start nourishing your nervous system.
• Let creativity be obsession sometimes. Not everything has to be monetized.

🤝 How You Can Support Sarah’s Work:

– Hire Pope Media Co. for branding, photography, or media support

– Share her work with entrepreneurs in the birth and wellness space

– Follow along and amplify her content on Instagram

– Let go of perfection and show up as your wild, cyclical, present self

🎧 Follow The Uncaged Pod:

💜 Listen on Apple Podcasts

💚 Listen on Spotify

🌟 Leave a 5-star review to help more women find stories like Sarah's

🌿 Free Resources for Our Listeners:

Head to theuncagepod.com to receive:

✨ Monthly giveaways for our email fam i.e. The Roar Drop

🛠️ Thanks to Our Affiliates:

🎙️ Alitu — Podcast production made easy

✍️ @rev — Professional transcription services

Affiliate disclosure: If you purchase through the links above, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products and services I truly believe in.

🎙️ Episode Title:

Dr. Ashley Gaddy Robbins on People-First Culture, Sacrifice, and Saying ‘No More’

💭 Episode Description:

This one? It’s deep. Dr. Ashley Gaddy Robbins brings it all, her fierce intellect, lived wisdom, and unshakable heart to this Uncaged conversation. Amma to four, DEI consultant, and researcher, she opens up about what it really means to lead a people-first life. We talk motherhood, entrepreneurship, and the emotional toll of doing justice work in a world that too often resists the mirror.

Ashley’s work isn’t just about equity it’s about love. It’s about saying the names of those who’ve been erased, claiming space as a Black mother-scholar, and teaching the rest of us what it means to honor people before policies. Her words stay with you.

✨ Connect with Dr. Ashley:

🔗 Instagram: @Dr.AshleyGaddyRobbins

🌐 Website: Ashley Gaddy Enterprises

📬 Reach Out: Use the "Let’s Talk" button on her site to connect directly

📝 Projects Mentioned:

Research Publication: "Geraldine's Journey" essay in Spoken Black Girl Magazine's Motherhood Issue (Spring 2024)

Upcoming Projects: Documentary and stage play based on her research (currently seeking funding and production support)

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Say people’s names. Out loud. In rooms where they aren't present. It matters.
• Boundaries are sacred, especially when you’re balancing motherhood and your calling.
• If you hold privilege, this work is yours, too.
• DEI is not a trend! It's real, relentless, emotional labor. And it needs to be honored as such.

🤝 How You Can Support Dr. Ashley's Work:

• Book her as a speaker or consultant for your next event
• Contribute funding to her documentary and stage play projects
• Offer pro bono services (grant writing, production, etc.)
• “Say her name in spaces she's not in” [recommend her work to others]

🎧 Follow The Uncaged Pod:

💜 Listen on Apple Podcasts

💚 Listen on Spotify

🌟 Leave a 5-star review (it helps more purpose-led souls find the show)

🌿 Free Resources for Our Listeners:

Head to theuncagepod.com to receive:

✨ Monthly giveaways for our email fam i.e. The Roar Drop

🛠️ Thanks to Our Affiliates:

Alitu : Podcast production made easy

@rev : Professional transcription services

Affiliate disclosure: If you purchase through the links above, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products and services I truly believe in.

🎙️ Episode Title:

Breaking Free from Chains: Standing in Your Truth with Navy Veteran Judy Estevez

💭 Episode Description:

This one is for every woman who’s ever whispered to herself, “There has to be more than this.”

In this soul-shaking episode, Navy veteran and trauma coach Judy Estevez gets uncaged with me about surviving to thriving and how she found the courage to leave, heal, and finally stand in her truth.

We talk about what it really means to break generational chains, why “staying for the kids” often does more harm than good, and the daily practices that helped her rebuild from the inside out. Judy’s story is a roadmap for any woman who feels stuck, silenced, or scared to start over.

If you’ve ever struggled to choose yourself, or felt like your pain was too heavy to turn into purpose- this conversation is your invitation to begin again.

✨ Connect with Judy Estevez:

🔗 Website: www.jumeauxg.com

📖 Books: books.by/judy-esteves

📬 Coaching + Contact: Available directly through her site

📚 Resources Mentioned:

– Standing In My Truth: Judy’s memoir on healing from trauma and choosing authenticity

– Family Secrets: Her upcoming second book, digging deeper into generational pain and truth-telling

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Choosing yourself isn’t selfish- it’s necessary. Your peace is not optional.
• Kids don’t need you to stay in pain. They need you whole, honest, and free.
• Affirmations, journaling, meditation, and breathwork can change everything but only if you actually show up for yourself.
• Generational healing starts with one person willing to speak the truth.
• If we want freedom, we’ve got to be willing to break through the silence.

🤝 How You Can Support Judy’s Work:

• Book Judy for a coaching session or speaking event
• Grab her memoir Standing In My Truth (Amazon or books.by/judy-esteves)
• Share her story with women who need to hear they’re not alone
• Keep an eye out for Family Secrets- it’s going to shift the room

🎧 Follow The Uncaged Pod:

💜 Listen on Apple Podcasts

💚 Listen on Spotify

🌟 Leave a 5-star review to help more women find stories like Judy’s

🌿 Free Resources for Our Listeners:

Head to theuncagepod.com to receive:

✨ Monthly giveaways for our email fam i.e. The Roar Drop

🛠️ Thanks to Our Affiliates:

🎙️ Alitu — Podcast production made easy

✍️ @rev — Professional transcription services

Affiliate disclosure: If you purchase through the links above, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products and services I truly believe in.