Podcast
Chatting with The Experts with Paula Okonneh
Hosted by Paula Okonneh | Coach, Podcaster,Digital Marketer · EN
Are you a solopreneur, entrepreneur, or small business owner looking to connect with other small business owners ? Are you yearning to know how they became successful at what they do? Then tune into Chatting with Experts podcast as we have all the right answers for you! Here you can listen to successful small business owners like Sonia Stetzler, Bill Franklin, Tesse Akpeki, Leanne Cannon and so many others share tips, advice and strategies on how they built their businesses . Join us on www.ChattingwiththeExperts.com and determine how to become the success that you are.
29episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How to Put on Makeup for a 50-year-old
6d ago00:30:43Tap to summarizeJenifer Hester, a makeup artist and licensed esthetician, discusses makeup for mature skin, emphasizing that skin prep and hydration are key. Jenifer explains hydrating from the inside out by drinking water and "eating your water" (leafy greens, cucumbers, melons, fruits), adding omega fatty acids (fish, walnuts, avocado), and choosing foods that support collagen and overall health. For makeup, she recommends avoiding heavy matte foundations and using sheer options like skin tints, BB/CC creams, and tinted serums to prevent a cakey look. She advises soft matte eyeshadows over frosty shimmer for crepey or hooded lids and offers shading guidance for sunken eyes. Jenifer suggests dewy setting sprays, minimal powder, gentle under-eye concealer application with ring fingers, color-correcting darkness, and using lifting placement for blush/bronzer plus shading to create a more defined jawline. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:23 Skin Prep & Hydration 07:11 Foundation & Coverage 10:17 Eye Makeup 14:01 Setting Sprays & Powder 24:01 Lifting Techniques 28:37 Wrap-Up & Resources Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Jenifer Hester, you can reach her via her website (http://www.glowtheorynj.com ), via Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/glowtheorynj/), via Facebook(https://web.facebook.com/Glowtheorynj), or via her LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenifer-hester-18b1755/ ). For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.
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Practical and Easy Nutrition Tips
2w ago00:26:35Tap to summarizeDemetria Cox-Thomas, a plant-based registered dietitian nutritionist and CEO of Dee Veggie Nutrition, discusses practical, accessible healthy eating. Demetria explains her work in hybrid group nutrition counseling, plant-based presentations, and cultural cooking classes (Ethiopian, Jamaican Ital, and Indian) that emphasize spices, flexibility, and making food enjoyable rather than stressful. She addresses food deserts/food apartheid by tailoring guidance to each client and recommending canned or frozen vegetables when fresh options aren't available. Demetria focuses on increasing vegetable intake without demonizing meat, sharing flavor and technique tips such as smoked paprika, curry blends, cumin, berbere, herbs, coconut milk, beans for fiber/protein, citrus finishing, roasting vegetables, and improving tofu and mushroom texture by drawing out water. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:36 Meet Demetria Cox-Thomas, RDN 03:18 Food Access & Food Deserts 05:22 Cultural Cooking Classes 14:21 Spice Tips & Pantry Essentials 18:43 Cooking Techniques Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Demetria Cox-Thomas, you can reach her via her website (https://www.deeveggierd.com/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/deeveggierd?igsh=bTlpYXlvOWNvZHAz), or LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/demetrialcoxthomas). For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.
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From Everyday Care to Oncology Skincare
3w ago00:28:41Tap to summarizeJenifer Hester is a licensed esthetician with over six years of experience and certifications in chemical peels, oncology skincare, acne care, and holistic nutrition health. Jenifer explains that estheticians are state-licensed skincare professionals with over 600 hours of training who provide non-medical, non-invasive treatments, skin analysis, and product guidance, and refer clients to dermatologists when issues are out of scope. She contrasts estheticians with dermatologists, who are medical doctors who can diagnose and treat diseases such as skin cancer and perform surgery. Jenifer discusses chemical peels as controlled exfoliation that promotes collagen and improves acne, pores, and glow, cautioning against at-home peels without proper training. She shares her background in pharmaceutical quality work and her focus on restoring clients' confidence. The conversation highlights oncology skincare, including prepping skin before radiation and adapting care during and after cancer treatments. Jenifer recommends preventative visits about every 30–45 days. Transcripts: 00:00 Intro & Guest Welcome 01:27 What Is an Esthetician? 02:40 Esthetician vs. Dermatologist 04:28 Chemical Peels 07:48 Jenifer's Career Journey 10:15 Oncology Skincare 17:56 How Often Should You See an Esthetician? 23:06 Skincare for the Whole Body 23:58 TikTok vs. Professional Advice 26:04 How to Find Jenifer & Outro Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Jenifer Hester, you can reach her via her website (http://www.glowtheorynj.com ), via Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/glowtheorynj/), via Facebook(https://web.facebook.com/Glowtheorynj), or via her LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenifer-hester-18b1755/ ). For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.
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Moving from Overthinking to Aligned Action
May 200:28:21Tap to summarizeEsther Wokoma, founder of EvolveLumina, a confidence amplifier coach and strategic engineering and operations leader with 18+ years in the energy sector, argues many people don't lack clarity but lack alignment and self-trust, and explains how identity shapes decisions because people act in alignment with who they believe they are. She shares how she helps teens and women overcome fear, external expectations, hesitation, and self-doubt by reinforcing their uniqueness and value, and teaches her 3C framework—clarity, confidence, courage—supported by a RISE process (review, identify, step forward, expand). She emphasizes consistency, small repeated actions, and not waiting to feel ready, and highlights her 31-day confidence journal inspired by conversations with her teen daughter. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Topic Setup 01:47 Meet Esther Wokoma 02:17 Clarity vs Alignment 03:31 Identity Drives Action 04:52 Coaching Teen Identity 06:41 Helping Women Self Trust 07:58 Three C Framework 09:28 From Corporate to Coaching 14:20 Teens Sweet Spot 17:40 Stop Overthinking Start Acting 18:53 Consistency Builds Confidence 21:32 Confidence Journal and Joy 25:24 Connect and Wrap Up Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Esther Wokoma, you can reach her via Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/evolvelumina), via Facebook(https://www.facebook.com/esther.wokoma), or via her LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/esther-wokoma/). Her LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/estherwokoma For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.
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Empowering Women at Every Stage
Apr 2300:29:14Tap to summarizeDr. Lisa Santiago McNeil—publisher, strategist, coach, transformational leader, and founder of Empowerment Publishing and Multimedia— has helped guide over 200 books into the world, many becoming bestsellers and platforms for impact, income, and influence. Lisa shares her desire to reintroduce herself and refocus on women "after a certain age," discussing how women can shrink into the background and experience an identity crisis as they evolve through life stages. She emphasizes the need for "girls talk" at any age, the value of seasoned women's lived experience, and showing up as one's undiluted self even within a partnership. She connects inner healing, faith, and self-care—skin, hair, and heart—highlighting learning to depend on God, refilling from overflow, and embracing new seasons of purpose. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome to the Show 00:35 Meet Dr Lisa Santiago 02:10 Reintroducing After Midlife 04:55 Why Girls Talk Matters 07:13 Teamwork and Sisterhood 09:07 Identity Crisis and Healing 11:07 Metamorphosis Mindset Shift 13:12 Beauty as Inner Work 17:52 Faith Leaning vs Depending 24:52 Refilling the Overflow 27:10 Connect and Closing Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Dr. Lisa Santiago McNeil, you can reach her via her website(https://www.epublishyou.com/), via Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thereallisasantiago/), via Facebook(https://www.facebook.com/thereallisasantiago), or via her LinkTree (https://linktr.ee/lisasantiagomcneill). Her YT channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_fqO_gJLEsLek_t8u1ZCQA For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.
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Dealing with Blind Spots in Leadership
Apr 1000:31:45Tap to summarizeSheila Carmichael, a strategic advisor and Master Certified Coach, known as the "Blind Spot Strategist," discusses how leadership blind spots affect leadership presence. Carmichael describes common derailers for directors, VPs, and C-suite leaders: relying on the old competency playbook under stress, focusing on performance instead of influence, and waiting too long to speak up to avoid rocking the boat. She explains how promotions often shift scope, collaboration demands, and expectations without clear guidance, leaving leaders to "figure it out." Carmichael discusses how "nice-nasty" cultures and vague feedback widen perception gaps, and how external coaching can help through diagnostics, self-assessments, and 360 reviews (including stakeholder interviews at senior levels). She shares her signature reframing question, "What is that situation asking of you?" Timestamps: 00:00 Show Welcome Mission 00:37 Meet Blind Spot Strategist 02:23 Top Leadership Blind Spots 05:04 Promotion Without Playbook 07:58 Why Sheila Does This 08:54 Nice Nasty Feedback 11:04 Neutral Outside Coach 16:51 How 360s Reveal Gaps 22:21 Internal vs External Coaching 25:32 Signature Question Neuroscience 29:33 Where To Find Sheila 30:24 Host Wrap Up QandA Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Sheila Carmichael, you can reach her via her website(https://www.sheilacarmichael.com/), via Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sheilarcarmichael/), via Facebook(https://www.facebook.com/sheila.r.carmichael.2025), or via LinkedIn(https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilacarmichael/). For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.
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The Danger of Synthetic Skin Products
Apr 200:22:19Tap to summarizeDr. Christina Hector is a board-certified physician specializing in non-surgical sports medicine and regenerative aesthetic medicine and founder of Nature's Puree, a physician-founded natural skincare line for the whole family. Dr. Hector shares how her medical school experience led her to avoid chemicals in hair and skincare products and begin creating her own natural formulations. She explains the benefits of plant-based skincare—vitamins and antioxidants that protect skin, the body's largest organ—and emphasizes reading ingredient labels, especially as skin thins with age and absorbs more products. She outlines a simple routine: gentle cleansing twice daily, moisturizing, and mineral-based sunscreen, with optional vitamin C and retinol, and suggests seeing an aesthetician for concerns like acne, rosacea, or hyperpigmentation. She also discusses tallow/lard soaps, her book The Natural Skincare Playbook, and where to find her online. Timestamps: 01:19 Meet Dr Christina Hector 02:35 Her Natural Beauty Origin 05:21 Why Plant Based Skincare 08:40 Simple Daily Skin Routine 13:16 Plant vs Animal Based Oils 15:56 Natural Skincare Playbook 19:19 Where to Find Dr Hector 20:48 Wrap Up and Q&A Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Dr Christina Hector, you can reach her via her website(http://www.naturespuree.com), via Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/naturespuree), via Facebook(http://www.facebook.com/naturespuree), or via LinkedIn(https://www.linkedin.com/in/drchectordo/). For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.
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Success beyond Corporate America
Mar 2800:28:34Tap to summarizeJraya Nicole, a career advancement coach and corporate transition strategist, discusses how high-performing professionals can leverage corporate success to pursue entrepreneurship without starting over. Jraya introduces the idea of "success survivors"—people who have achieved external markers of success yet feel disconnected, guilty, and misaligned—and distinguishes burnout (a depletion problem) from misalignment (an identity problem) requiring redirection. She argues the main barriers are not confidence or capital but courage and infrastructure, and emphasizes translating "corporate currency" into entrepreneurial authority through a strategic, "beautiful exit" rather than a reckless leap. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Mission 00:28 Meet Jraya Nicole 02:05 Success Survivor Mindset 04:28 Courage Over Confidence 06:50 Corporate Currency Bridge 08:18 Burnout vs Misalignment 12:49 Calling and Growth Friction 18:47 Strategic Exit Timeline 20:54 Profitable Pathway Framework 23:53 Runways and Networks 26:20 Connect and Closing Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Jraya Nicole, you can reach her via her website(https://substack.com/@jrayanicole), via Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jrayanicole/), via Facebook(https://www.facebook.com/JrayaNicoleCareers), or via LinkedIn(https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrayanicole/). Check out her YT channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jrayanicole For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.
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Why Nurses Are Becoming Entrepreneurs
Feb 2000:25:19Tap to summarizeDr. Farah Laurent, a trained nurse, nurse career coach, keynote speaker, and podcaster, talks about why nurses are moving into business and the many career options beyond bedside nursing. Farah shares her journey from Canada to New York City, including being discouraged from emergency nursing as a student, securing ER roles, working in the ER for 13 years, and later advancing into nursing education leadership (including roles as nurse educator, NYU clinical instructor, director of education, and associate dean). She explains that workplace politics, resistance to advocacy, and being laid off three times in five years pushed her toward entrepreneurship, which she defines as identifying market gaps and creating solutions. She describes building a nurse career coaching business to help nurses land specialty and six-figure roles, earning her doctorate while working full-time and raising young children, and becoming focused on business skills, personal branding, and visibility. Farah outlines business paths nurses pursue (coaching, consulting, education, speaking, private practices, telehealth, aesthetics/med spas, and IV hydration) and notes legal considerations in some models. She emphasizes business acumen, personal development, market research (including wait lists and being "oversubscribed," citing Daniel Priestley), and community through mentors and masterminds, recommending multiple mentors inside and outside nursing. Farah discusses self-publishing her 2023 book "Nurses Making Money Moves," launching the Nurses Making Money Moves Conference in under three months with attendees from 20 states, and announces the renamed Nurses Making Business Moves conference on March 6–7 in Tampa, Florida. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome to Chatting with the Experts 01:23 Farah's Origin Story: Proving She Belonged in the ER 03:57 From Canada to NYC: Growth, New Opportunities, Bigger Vision 04:40 What Nurse Entrepreneurship Really Means (and How Layoffs Sparked It) 07:57 Building the Brand: Doctorate, Business Skills & Transferable Nurse Strengths 11:19 Business Paths for Nurses: Coaching, Consulting, Private Practice & More 13:01 Market Research 101: Waitlists, Validation & Avoiding Costly Mistakes 18:37 Visibility & Trust: Personal Branding and the Nurses Making Business Moves Conference 20:13 Community & Mentorship: Finding the Right Support System 22:40 How to Connect + Final Announcements and Wrap-Up Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Farah Laurent, you can reach her via her website(https://www.nursefarah.com/), via Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/nursefarahinc/), via Facebook(https://www.facebook.com/people/Farah-Laurent/pfbid0k5EurPMhhN88u6hZmmAdpkoS92uiWER7DmpqCnZ31xnbmrRHXPt2JYJ2VN7tpQSXl/), or via LinkedIn(http://linkedin.com/in/nursefarah). You can also book for her upcoming conference: https://www.nursesmakingbusinessmoves.com/home You can get a copy of her book here: https://www.nursefarah.com/books For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.
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How to Secure Your Property Before It's Too Late
Feb 1200:31:34Tap to summarizeTempest Williams, president and CEO of the Tempest Financial Group, PLLC, and a financial professional and intergenerational planning strategist, emphasizes the critical importance of having conversations about financial planning across generations. She shares her personal experiences of family losses and how it highlighted the necessity of discussing money matters to avoid conflicts and ensure preparedness. Tempest explains how she guides families through comprehensive financial planning, focusing on emotional and motivational aspects, and collaborates with estate planning attorneys and other specialists to address all facets of financial security. The discussion also touches on the challenges of reverse mortgages, caregiving for aging parents, and the impact of lacking awareness in financial planning. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome to Chatting with the Experts 00:40 Introducing Tempest Williams and Her Mission 02:40 The Importance of Intergenerational Planning 02:57 Personal Stories and Lessons Learned 06:37 Navigating Financial Conversations and Planning 09:24 The Role of a Financial Planner 14:03 Challenges in Estate and Financial Planning 21:47 Caring for Aging Parents: A Personal Account 28:54 How to Connect with Tempest Williams 30:20 Closing Remarks and Invitation to Connect Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Tempest Williams, you can reach her via her website(http://thetempestfinancialgrouppllc.com), via her YouTube(https://youtube.com/@thetempestfinancialgrouppl8176), via Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thetempestfinancialgrouppllc?igsh=a3kxYm9ybmp2a3J6), via Facebook(https://www.facebook.com/TheTempestFinancialGroup), via TikTok(https://www.tiktok.com/@thetempestfg?_t=ZT-90aMgj3qXXR&_r=1) or via LinkedIn(https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-tempest-financial-group-pllc/). For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.
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