Power to Pursue

What does it look like to build something from scratch, and believe in its potential long before you know exactly where it will lead?
In this episode of the Power to Pursue Podcast, Rachel sits down with Gabby Blocher, CEO of Sunflower Fuels, to talk startups, sustainability, motherhood, fundraising, and what it really takes to create something new.
Gabby is a Cincinnati native, Marine Corps veteran, mom of three, and longtime member of the startup community. Today, she leads Sunflower Fuels, a company working to put unused land back into production by growing miscanthus, a crop with the potential to support emerging markets while creating a positive impact on the environment.
And while the opportunity is big, Gabby is candid about the reality of building it. Raising money is hard. Growth takes time. There are huge wins, difficult stretches, and plenty of uncertainty along the way. But for Gabby, that's also what makes entrepreneurship exciting: the chance to look at blank space and create something that hasn't existed before.
Rachel and Gabby also talk about raising kids while building a company, what it means for children to see their moms lead and create, and why it matters for women to see other women stepping into industries, opportunities, and leadership roles they may not have imagined for themselves.
Gabby is in pursuit of making a positive impact on the planet her children will inherit—and doing it in a way that is sustainable, economically viable, and built to last.
Because sometimes changing the world starts with looking at unused ground and seeing what could grow there.

What if the greatest thing we could pursue isn't perfection, but a healthier relationship with our own minds?
In this episode of the Power to Pursue Podcast, Rachel sits down with board-certified clinical neuropsychologist Dr. Audrey Greene of PATH Neuropsychology to explore the intersection of brain health, memory, neurodivergence, and the pressure so many women place on themselves. Together, they unpack what it really means to pursue success, why "just try harder" is one of the most damaging phrases we can tell ourselves, and how giving ourselves grace can be one of the most powerful forms of healing.
From navigating ADHD and autism diagnoses in adulthood to understanding Alzheimer's disease, caregiving, burnout, and the difference between normal forgetfulness and cognitive decline, this conversation is both deeply informative and profoundly reassuring. Rachel also shares her personal experience losing her mother to early-onset Alzheimer's, offering an honest look at grief, perspective, and finding beauty in life's hardest moments.
Whether you're wondering if your brain fog is stress, seeking a better understanding of neurodivergence, caring for a loved one, or simply learning how to be kinder to yourself, this episode is a reminder that pursuing wellness begins with compassion.
Sometimes the most meaningful pursuit isn't doing more, it's learning to give yourself the same grace you so freely give everyone else.

In this episode of the Power to Pursue Podcast, Rachel DesRochers sits down with Rickell Howard Smith, President & CEO of YWCA Greater Cincinnati, civil rights attorney, and one of the region's most respected community leaders, for a conversation that is equal parts inspiring and grounding. Together, they explore what it means to lead with purpose while making space for rest, why asking for help is one of the greatest strengths a leader can cultivate, and how grief, motherhood, community, and service have shaped the women they've become. From opening doors for others and building lasting legacies to redefining success beyond productivity, this episode is a powerful reminder that changing the world begins with caring for ourselves, and each other. If you've ever wondered how to pursue meaningful work without losing yourself in the process, this conversation is for you.

In this episode of the Power to Pursue Podcast, Rachel sits down with Molly Kreuzman, Program Director of Ohio Goes to the Movies, the signature statewide film festival celebrating Ohio's semiquincentennial. What begins as a conversation about movies quickly becomes a powerful discussion about community, connection, purpose, and the courage to simply keep saying "yes."
From restoring historic theaters and making documentaries to leading the largest statewide film festival of its kind, Molly shares the winding path that led her here, and why she believes films have the power to bring neighbors together in ways few other experiences can.
Together, Rachel and Molly explore:
Why community matters more than ever
The power of being a bridge between people
Building a life by saying "yes" to unexpected opportunities
Lessons from grief, resilience, and starting over
Why there is truly enough success for everyone
The importance of gathering, storytelling, and shared experiences
How Ohio Goes to the Movies is bringing more than 250 free Ohio-centric films to every one of Ohio's 88 counties
Whether you're a movie lover, community builder, entrepreneur, or simply someone pursuing a life with more meaning, this conversation is a reminder that the greatest stories are often the ones we create together.
Learn more about Ohio Goes to the Movies and find a free screening near you at OhioGoesToTheMovies.org.
 

Two women. Two conferences. One shared belief: when women are healthy, supported, and connected, everything changes.
In this heartfelt episode of the Power to Pursue Podcast, Rachel DesRochers sits down with Deborah Belfatto; two-time breast cancer survivor, women's health advocate, nonprofit founder, and creator of the Let's Talk Women's Health & Wellness Symposium.
Deborah shares how surviving breast cancer at 33, and then again more than three decades later, became the catalyst for a life dedicated to ensuring other women have access to the care, education, and community she was fortunate enough to receive. Together, Rachel and Deb explore what it means to transform unimaginable hardship into purpose, why self-advocacy can save lives, and how vulnerability creates the deepest human connection.
Their conversation weaves through mental wellness, motherhood, entrepreneurship, community building, and the remarkable parallels between the missions behind Let's Talk and Power to Pursue. At its core, this episode is a reminder that every woman deserves to take up space, prioritize herself without guilt, and become the ripple that creates lasting change for others.
If you've ever questioned your worth, wondered whether your story matters, or needed permission to invest in yourself, this conversation is for you.
Because sometimes the most powerful thing you can do isn't change the whole world, it's simply become the ripple.

In this episode of the Power to Pursue Podcast, Rachel sits down with fifth-generation Graeter's leader Annie Graeter to explore what it means to forge your own identity, build a life beyond the family legacy, and ultimately return home with a deeper understanding of purpose.
Together, they discuss the realities of working in a multi-generational family business, the women who helped shape Graeter's into an iconic brand, the balance between tradition and innovation, and how Annie's years in the outdoor industry prepared her to lead in an entirely different way.
They also dive into motherhood, fulfillment, employee ownership, Cincinnati's entrepreneurial spirit, and the evolving definition of success as our lives grow and change.
This conversation is a love letter to legacy, community, and the courage it takes to define success on your own terms.

What if one of the greatest sources of healing in your life isn't found in a romantic relationship, but in the women who walk beside you through every season?
In this deeply personal episode of the Power to Pursue Podcast, Rachel sits down with her longtime friend Stephanie Beck for a conversation about friendship, healing, reinvention, and the power of being truly witnessed. Together, they reflect on nearly two decades of friendship, navigating life's hardest chapters, and the women who help us find our way back to ourselves.
Stephanie shares her journey from advocacy and public service to energy healing, nervous system regulation, and facilitating women's circles designed to help women reconnect with themselves and one another. Along the way, the conversation explores grief, divorce, motherhood, personal growth, and why creating space for our emotions may be one of the most important forms of self-care.
This episode is a love letter to deep friendship, meaningful connection, and the women who hold us when life asks us to become someone new.
Because healing doesn't happen alone, and neither do we.

What if the stories we tell ourselves, and the ones we're allowed to hear, shape everything about who we become?
This week on the Power to Pursue Podcast, Rachel sits down with author, poet, advocate, and community-builder Holly Brians Ragusa for a conversation about fear, language, creativity, and the radical act of choosing connection over control.
Together, they explore why words matter, how literature preserves humanity, and what it means to tell the stories that history often leaves behind. Holly reflects on her journey as the author of At the End, her work amplifying voices across the literary community, and the belief that courage isn't the absence of fear, it's deciding to move anyway.
From discussing survivorship and self-worth to challenging the idea of "busy" as a badge of honor, this episode is a reminder that our greatest power often lies in the smallest acts: listening deeply, loving generously, and rewriting the stories we tell ourselves.
If you've ever wondered whether your voice matters, this conversation is your invitation to believe that it does.
Because the stories we tell can change the world, but first, they can change us.

This week on the Power to Pursue Podcast, Rachel sits down with mindset and movement coach Nadia Murdock for a deeply grounding conversation about what it really means to return to yourself. Together, they explore the power of women gathering intentionally, the importance of community in healing, and how alignment, gratitude, movement, and play can radically shift the way we experience life.
From building wellness-centered spaces in New York City to creating transformational retreats in Italy and the Catskills, Nadia shares how her work helps women reconnect to their bodies, expand their capacity, and step into the fullest version of themselves. Rachel and Nadia also dive into motherhood, emotional intelligence, grief, entrepreneurship, self-worth, travel, human design, and the courage it takes to unlearn limiting beliefs.
This episode is an invitation to slow down, reconnect, and remember: there is more available to you than survival. There is ease. There is joy. There is expansion. And there is a life waiting for you on the other side of choosing yourself.
Whether you’re navigating transition, craving deeper connection, or simply trying to believe in your own potential again — this conversation will leave you feeling seen, energized, and inspired to pursue the life that’s calling you.

In this episode of Power to Pursue, we sit down with Kristin Smith Shrimplin, President & CEO of Women Helping Women, for a conversation that is equal parts grounding, challenging, and deeply human.
Kristin shares what it means to live a life rooted in purpose, and why she’s always been clear on hers: creating collective impact. From leading an organization that serves thousands of survivors of gender-based violence each year to reflecting on the small, daily rituals that keep her anchored, Kristin reminds us that meaningful work is about consistency, integrity, and showing up.
Together, we explore:
What it means to be “worth your salt” and walk the talk every day
The reality of systems that make it harder for survivors to leave—and why change must happen at a structural level
The power of food, community, and breaking bread as a form of connection and care
How to build sustainable practices (even in high-intensity work) through small, grounding rituals
Why knowing who you are, and refusing to shrink, is essential to both personal and collective liberation
Kristin challenges the narrative around survivors, reframing them as leaders, advocates, and forces of resilience. She also calls us in: if we’re not in survival mode, what are we doing with our privilege to create change?
This conversation is a reminder that the most powerful movements aren’t built in isolation—they’re built in community, in truth, and in the courage to keep showing up.
What are you in pursuit of?