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She Pivots

She Pivots

iHeartPodcasts 147 Episodes Oct 14, 2026

She Pivots is a podcast hosted by Emily Tisch Sussman that features conversations with a diverse group of women about the pivotal moments in their lives and careers. Each episode explores how personal experiences shape professional paths and challenges conventional definitions of success. The show highlights bold moves and non-linear journeys, aiming to inspire listeners to embrace their own pivots and define success on their own terms.

Episodes

Zoanne Clack: The ER Doctor Behind Grey’s Anatomy
Zoanne Clack: The ER Doctor Behind Grey’s Anatomy Oct 14, 2026 2948 Zoanne Clack is one of the most influential writers and producers in the television industry, having written and produced more than 400 episodes across Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19. But Zoanne wasn’t always just writing about doctors—she was one. She began her career in emergency medicine, working grueling hours as a physician after training at Emory and serving at the Centers f
Michaela Hammond: From Agent to Sports Fashion Media Executive
Michaela Hammond: From Agent to Sports Fashion Media Executive Oct 7, 2026 2937 As a kid, Michaela Hammond had two goals pinned to her bulletin board: play sports and work in sports. She went on to play volleyball at NYU and build the career in sports she had dreamed about, but eventually found herself sobbing at her desk, wondering if she was really where she wanted to be. On this episode of She Pivots, Michaela talks about letting a dream take a new shape, the power of auth
Shelley Zalis: Chief Troublemaker
Shelley Zalis: Chief Troublemaker Sep 30, 2026 2719 Female Quotient founder Shelley Zalis grew up assuming she'd be a stay-at-home mom, just like her own mother. Then a job interview she thought was at an ad agency turned out to be for market research—and she took the job anyway. That accident launched a career that put her decades ahead of her industry, dragging market research onto the internet before most people had email and building a co
Andrea Virgin: Widowed at 31, Rebuilding by Choice
Andrea Virgin: Widowed at 31, Rebuilding by Choice Sep 23, 2026 3565 Andrea Virgin didn't set out to become a civil engineer or the leader of a major arts nonprofit. But after the 2008 recession hit her dance company, she traded her pointe shoes for a hard hat and built a new career in engineering—only to face devastating loss when her husband TJ died when their daughter was 4 months old. In this episode of She Pivots, Andrea shares how she rebuilt her life (
Chelsie Hill: How a Wheelchair Dance Team Went Global
Chelsie Hill: How a Wheelchair Dance Team Went Global Sep 16, 2026 2951 At seventeen, Chelsie Hill was a competitive dancer with her sights set on a career as a professional performer, until a car accident with a drunk driver left her paralyzed and changed everything overnight. Her first question to the doctor wasn't about walking again; it was whether she could still dance. On this episode of She Pivots, Chelsie talks about rebuilding her identity after the accident,
Mandana Dayani: From Religious Refugee to Media Powerhouse
Mandana Dayani: From Religious Refugee to Media Powerhouse Sep 9, 2026 2572 Mandana Dayani grew up in Tehran during the Iran-Iraq war, in a Persian Jewish family that had been trying to flee since the 1979 revolution. She couldn't play in the park across the street, sirens were routine, and she had a gun pointed at her more than once before she was five. In 1987, her family escaped on a one-day visa, signing away their home and everything they owned to start over in New Y
Remembering Gloria Steinem: 92 Years of Activism, Storytelling, and Travels
Remembering Gloria Steinem: 92 Years of Activism, Storytelling, and Travels Sep 4, 2026 2812 In light of Gloria Steinem's passing this week, we are re-releasing our episode with her from earlier this year with a new intro reflecting on Gloria's life and legacy. This episode was recorded in February 2026, and originally released on Gloria's 92nd birthday. It honors her impact on our culture and on the lives of every individual she spent her life fighting for.   Gloria dedicated her li
Minda Harts: The Window She Jumped Out Of
Minda Harts: The Window She Jumped Out Of Sep 2, 2026 1836 Minda Harts grew up working the counter at a Dairy Queen to help cover her family's utility bills, and she climbed her way to the corporate career she'd always dreamed of. But being one of the only Black women in the room wore her down in small ways that piled up over ten years, until she found herself sitting in a parking lot, crying, and neglecting her health despite having "made it." On this ep
Space Gal: The 100th Woman in Space
Space Gal: The 100th Woman in Space Aug 26, 2026 3030 Emily Calandrelli (more widely known as Space Gal) grew up in Morgantown, West Virginia, with no scientists or engineers in her orbit. She chose engineering for the paycheck, discovered a love of science communication along the way, and eventually became the first woman in the country to solo-host a national science show. On this episode of She Pivots, Emily talks about pitching adult science show
Keli Lee: The Day Her Heart Stopped
Keli Lee: The Day Her Heart Stopped Aug 19, 2026 2502 For over two decades, Keli Lee ran talent and casting at ABC and Disney, shaping shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and Modern Family while building the industry’s first program designed to get overlooked actors in front of the right people, helping launch the careers of Lupita Nyong’o, Chadwick Boseman, and Pedro Pascal. She created Disney’s first international studio fro
Missy Tannen: From Stay-at-Home Mom to $250 Million Founder
Missy Tannen: From Stay-at-Home Mom to $250 Million Founder Aug 12, 2026 2844 Missy Tannen spent five years teaching third grade and a decade as a stay-at-home mom before she ever thought about starting a company. But when she couldn't find bedding that was high-quality, ethically sourced, and traceable, she and her husband Scott started Boll & Branch out of pure frustration. On this episode of She Pivots, Missy talks about betting the family's life savings on an idea,
Amanda Kloots: What Nick's Death Taught Her About Living
Amanda Kloots: What Nick's Death Taught Her About Living Aug 5, 2026 3595 Amanda Kloots has never been able to keep her personal and professional lives separate, which is exactly why her story resonates. She's taken on so many roles: Radio City Rockette, Broadway performer, fitness entrepreneur, bestselling author, daytime TV host, and founder of the wellness brand, Proper. And every pivot she's made was sparked by something deeply personal: a divorce, a new marriage, a

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