The Broad Pod

In this episode, we meet a dynamic small-town woman stepping fully into the role of her life…and no, it’s not just on stage or screen. Mercedez Varble is a mom of two, a medical professional, a college student, and a passionate performer who’s found healing through creativity after the loss of her Mom at a young age. From belting out karaoke classics to starring in the cult short film Fall of Greyskull (with a sequel ...

In this episode, we sit down with Emmy Woosley-community leader, connector, and storyteller-to explore what it means to make good noise in the world. From handwritten notes to bluegrass music, Emmy shares how small acts of kindness and big dreams shape her work and her life. We talk about the power of community, the legacy of the Through Sleet’s Eyes Festival, and why she believes joy and impact can go hand in hand. W...

In this episode we dive into the messy, beautiful realities of motherhood, career, and personal growth. Jamie Johnson, a mom who’s navigated the challenges of postpartum depression, built a successful blog, and now works to improve her town, shares her story. She talks about the power of embracing failure, the lessons learned along the way, and how resilience can shape both personal and professional life. Tune in for ...

Kimberley Roberson is the heart and soul behind the beloved Kim’s Diner…a dream she shared with her late father. Through childhood heartache, devastating losses, and life’s toughest moments, Kim has powered through with tenacity and grit. Now a devoted mother, wife, and entrepreneur, she pours into every person she meets and every plate she prepares. In this episode, Kim shares her arduous journey, the lessons she’s learned, and th...

Fierce and faith-filled, Olga McKissic is a commanding presence with a gentle soul. Originally from Owensboro, Olga, got her career start at South Central Bell in Louisville and later found herself back in Owensboro on a mission for change. Olga serves as the Executive Director of Western Academy at the Neblett, an academic enrichment program for African American and Biracial males in grades 3–12. Prior to devoting he...

A beloved 1st grade teacher, Jenny Rickman, is shaping the next generation with immense love for her students. When you're greeted by her beautiful smile and warm demeanor in the halls of Highland Elementary, you do not see the many heartbreaking trials she has endured. In this episode, Jenny vulnerably shares about divorce, traumatic pregnancy, delivery, long nicu stays, and the severe metal health struggles that would take her la...

Born and raised in Owensboro, Destiny Daugherty is a true Kentucky girl. Out of high school, she headed to Owensboro Community and Technical College, leading her to her career as a First Assist. She currently works at Owensboro Health in plastic surgery helping people with reconstruction and personal changes. She’s been married 19 years and has two kids. Their son was shockingly diagnosed with cancer as a toddler and they fought to...

Born in Columbia, South America, Carolina Campos moved to Owensboro with her family when she was just 15. A graduate of Owensboro High School, she has a heart for her (now) home. She later earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s in social work from Brescia University. Today she has found her niche as the Youth Services Coordinator at Burns Middle School. Carolina contributes innovative ideas to grow the potential of her st...

Leading approximately 5,000 people, Beth Steele serves as Owensboro Health’s Chief Operating Officer. With extensive experience in daily hospital operations and serving first, as a nurse, Beth used her knowledge, hard work, dedication to healthcare, and servant leadership to get where she is today. She is exactly the kind of leader you want to work with. She has implemented several workforce innovations and been integral in forming...

She’s tiny, but she’s mighty. As a toddler, Katie’s parents were given news that she would have health issues that could prevent her from living past her teen years. Here she is in her 30s defying the odds. From countless surgeries to daily healthy struggles, Katie has endured many obstacles to get to where she is today. She has finally found a sweet spot in her career at the Opportunity Center and is happily married....

Together with her high school sweetheart, Mary Wathen O'Herron, is the proud parent to 6 amazing kids...from age 5 to teenagers. She earned a Bachelors in English and later a Bachelors in Nursing taking her to a career as a nurse on the Mother/Baby Unit at Owensboro Health. Mary not only pours into postpartum women, but her coaching through The Women's School and her own program, Rising to Sainthood, allows her to provide tools to ...

In our first guest episode of Season 3, we have the privilege of sitting down with Tina Forrest. Tina just so happens to be Allyson's twin sister. We talk about their twintuition, favorite memories together, and times they wanted to kill each other (HA!). As a Business Risk Professional for U.S. Bank, she talks about her day job of technical writing. She speaks about her mental health journey; how she recognized something wasn't ri...

Welcome to the kick-off to Season3! It's the end of an era and the start of a new. We wish Becca all the best as she steps away from the Broad Pod to make space for other important parts of her life. After we decided to start a podcast, it was her impactful idea to interview local women that catapulted it to where it is today. She spent lots of extra hours editing and perfecting each episode and her wit and wisdom was loved by all ...

As we wrap up Season 2, we reflect on the amazing women that we had the honor of chatting with. Becca and I learned from each and every one of our Broads. In this episode, we share our takeaways and favorite moments of each episode. We can’t wait to celebrate each of these women on September 19th for our luncheon. We are still looking for sponsors to help us cover the costs to feed and celebrate these amazing women. If you’d like t...

Our final Broad of the season is a real gem. Sara Aud is as sweet as she is strong. Not long after marrying her soul mate, Kyle, they were happily planning to welcome their first baby, sweet Emelia. It was with much grief and heartbreak that they had to say goodbye as soon as she entered the world…a grief that doesn’t fade. After their loss and experiencing secondary infertility, they pursued adoption and welcomed swe...

It doesn’t get much more authentic than Dr. Brittany McKinley. She is refreshingly real. As a practicing dentist and owner of Mint & Ivory Dentistry, she takes great care in making her clients feel comfortable. She has even enlisted the help of two therapy dogs to sit with patients when they are in her chair. Aside from working extremely hard to reach her dream as a dentist, she has experienced many trials. Just a couple of yea...