Speaking of Phenomenal | Journalism for Women and Gender-Expansive Voices
Speaking of Phenomenal is an independent podcast covering women and gender-expansive people mainstream media hasn't found yet. Host Amy Boyle, a multimedia journalist and adjunct lecturer in photojournalism and visual storytelling at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, reports longform narrative conversations with women and gender-expansive people doing significant work the news cycle has yet to document. The work began in 2018 as the 52 Phenomenal Women Project, a portrait storytelling series that produced 104 reported profiles and was covered by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Reader and NBC5. The podcast launched in October 2020 as the audio extension of that journalism. Now in its sixth season, with 65 episodes and counting, Speaking of Phenomenal has reached 100 countries and 782 cities. Every person you'll hear has a story the world should know. And they sound like this. www.speakingofphenomenal.com. Support the show via our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/u25038150
Episodes
Morgan DeNicola accompanies U.S. senators into closed-door sessions in foreign embassies around the world. She also lives with borderline personality disorder, depression, and anxiety and she'll tell you those aren't separate facts. In this episode: the two-week trip to Africa that shattered her assumptions, why emotional wellness is the leadership skill most people are hiding, and what a two-year-old girl named Comfort taught her ...
When Kate Markland overheard strangers discussing "her" story in a market square without being asked, without needing their verdict she understood something about authentic leadership, creative resilience, and self-discovery. In this episode, Amy Boyle explores how Kate and and her son, Gabriel help children find their voice not through validation, but through vulnerability and the willingness to become the hero of their own ...
Women's empowerment starts with how we tell stories. After five seasons, host Amy Boyle reveals why the Speaking of Phenomenal podcast is evolving: creative resilience means reimagining format itself. Season 6 opens with impact first, the moment that matters most and then earns the full journey. Discover what it means to model the very resilience we celebrate in our guests, and meet Kate Markland, who is redefining heroism for the ...
Women's stories shape movements, but only when we know how to listen. In this "Speaking of Phenomenal" podcast, season 5 finale, journalist Amy Boyle weaves together eight years of interviews across 92 countries to reveal the common thread: leadership legacy is built through listening, not just speaking. Explore how resilience in storytelling, mindset shifts, and the practice of really hearing other women transform careers, communi...
Career resilience isn't about following the script, t's about releasing the shoulds. Taylor Elyse Morrison shares how rejecting societal expectations became her breakthrough to authentic success. In this conversation, we explore non-linear careers, the power of community in navigating transitions, and why your unconventional path might be your greatest strength. Discover how self-discovery and vulnerability reshape what resil...
What happens when listening becomes a source of power? Amy Boyle sits down with Ellen Wilcox, head of listening at venture firm Listen, to explore how women's stories directly influence funding decisions and shape the future of female entrepreneurship. From health gaps and breaking stigma to owning nonlinear careers, Ellen reveals why truly hearing women's narratives isn't just empowerment, it's conviction. A conversation about wom...
Community changemakers don't always start with activism, they start with curiosity. Kari Fagin, Director of the Osher National Resource Center, shares how 124 OLLI lifelong learning programs nationwide empower people 50+ through mentorship and self-discovery. Discover how intergenerational belonging transforms learners into community leaders, building resilience through connection. From one question to real-world impact: this is ho...
Tonika Lewis Johnson teaches that listening as leadership starts with understanding connection. The founder of the Folded Map Project shares how art, resilience, and community organizing disrupted segregation and built a movement for equity. Discover how one woman's vision scaled into authentic changemaking that inspires authentic connection and systemic change.
MUSIC (used with permission)
WOMANPerformed by Tiffany V...
In this week’s Speaking of Phenomenalwith host Amy Boyle, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Mary Schmich and marketing executive Melissa Harris share the story behind Division Street Revisited, their podcast inspired by Studs Terkel’s Division Street: America. Out of 71 original interviews, they revisited 7—including 4 remarkable women: Blanche Gates, Della Reuther, Mary Ward Wolkonsky and Myra Alexander. Their liv...
In this episode of Speaking of Phenomenal, Dr. Anna Tess shares how she transformed a profound hearing loss diagnosis into a mission for inclusive deaf education. As FHSR's Education Coordinator, she shares how early intervention, IEP advocacy, and family-centered support became her path to leadership and changemaking. Hear how Anna's resilience in storytelling, from her own journey to supporting families navigating hearing l...
In Season 5, Episode 5 of the Speaking of Phenomenal podcast, host Amy Boyle celebrates Women’s History Month with reflections from past guests Maryam Myika Day, Laura Jordan LeClair, Jeanne Sparrow, and Delores Morton. These powerful voices explore what it truly means to be phenomenal—centered on truth, purpose, and lifting others up. With heartfelt stories and bold perspectives, this episode invites YOU to show up ful...
Poet and entrepreneur Jacqueline (Jack) Perez, returns to reveal how creative writing rewired her resilience, purpose, and women's empowerment mindset during midlife transformation. From struggling to thrive to building Kuel Life, a platform celebrating modern women's reinvention. Jack shares the unexpected power of poetry as a tool for self-discovery, emotional wellness, and authentic leadership. Listen for why this unconventional...
Jillian Melero, journalist and founder of Connect Puerto Rico, joins Amy Boyle to reveal how solutions-focused reporting drives real community change. Inspired by Anthony Bourdain's storytelling ethos, Jillian bridges policymakers, investors, and community leaders to accelerate renewable energy transformation. Discover how resilience, authenticity, and strategic storytelling empower women changemakers to reshape narratives and crea...
Laura Jordan LeClair, program director at Chicago Innovation, believes mentorship and community are the unsung engines of real innovation and women's empowerment. In this episode, Amy Boyle explores how inclusive leadership practices shape careers, tackle imposter syndrome at the root, and create pathways for changemakers. A conversation about belonging, reciprocal growth, and the power of showing up together.
Broadway performer turned producer Maryam Myika Day joins Amy Boyle to share how storytelling became her path through grief, motherhood, and reinvention. From losing her husband to amplifying marginalized voices in Hollywood, hear how owning your story transforms not just your career, but your purpose. Plus, her initiative North of 40, a space for navigating life’s transitions.
MUSIC (used with permission)
WOMANPerfor...
In the season finale of Speaking of Phenomenal, Delores Morton, CEO of Step Up, sits down with Amy Boyle to discuss how mentorship and women's leadership create lasting community change. Learn how Step Up empowers young women ages 18-29 to become changemakers, and discover the intergenerational wisdom that transforms individual resilience into movement-building impact.
MUSIC (used with permission)
WOMANPerformed by Tiffany Villar...
Emmy-winning host Jeanne Sparrow reveals how female leaders unlock authentic power in Season 4, Episode 11 of Speaking of Phenomenal. Discover actionable strategies for women empowerment through her new book, Fearless Authenticity. Jeanne discusses tips for resilience, and transforming your leadership voice into lasting impact. Amy Boyle interviews one of today's boldest women leaders about inspiring change in yourself ...
When Amy Boyle lost her mom, her definition of resilience changed forever. In this conversation, she explores authentic resilience through grief and emotional wellness, why true strength means acknowledging life's full complexity, not ignoring it. Discover how vulnerability, authenticity, and the courage to feel become your greatest leadership assets. A powerful reminder that resilience isn't about moving on; it's about moving thro...
Sarah Harris, a transnational adoptee, midlife mother, and founder of Makes Me Wander, shares how embracing vulnerability and storytelling became her path to purpose. In this conversation with Amy Boyle, Sarah explores self-discovery, resilience, and the power of owning your story—lessons that resonate with women navigating identity, career transitions, and authentic connection. Discover how your narrative can become your str...
Emotional intelligence and resilience are non-negotiable for women leaders navigating complex relationships and high-pressure decisions. In this episode, Tina Greenbaum , a seasoned performance coach with 41 years of expertise—shares her battle-tested "Mastery Under Pressure" framework for building self-awareness, handling conflict with grace, and fostering trust in your team. Discover how emotional intelligence drives peak p...
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