Powered by Women
Host Diane Coll is a licensed therapist, musician & standup comedian. In this series, Diane talks with her guests about about the challenges and opportunities for women when they show up and own their power in the 21st century,
Powered by Women
Corrie Lynn Green
Diane Coll and singer/songwriter/force of nature Corrie Lynn Green talk women’s empowerment. Show taped in August 2021.
See about Corrie Lynn here! https://linktr.ee/CorrieLynnGreen
Miwa Gemini
For Miwa Gemini, playing music has been part of her life as long as she can remember. Miwa grew up in a small town of Japan, nurturing big dreams of living and singing in New York City, just like Billie Holiday. She is realizing this dream after moving to NYC at the age of 17 and her musical career now has her traveling across the U.S. and abroad. She is drawing comparisons to such strong and unique voices as Nina Simone and Bjork. She has also written a slew of songs for Steve Buscemi’s popular talk show, Park Bench. http://www.miwagemini.com https://miwagemini.bandcamp.com
Powered By Women is a Tardan Media Network production 2022 Executive producer: Dennis Tardan Director: Renée Yaworsky Producer: Diane Coll
Gwen O’Looney and Kathy Kirbo
Gwen O’Looney and Kathy Kirbo are shining examples of the powerful impact women can have when they unite forces. Individually, both women have dedicated their lives to improving the lives of those marginalized and improving the health of our planet.
Individually and together, they have moved mountains within political and cultural systems. Gwen has broken many glass ceilings as being the first female inducted into the Collegiate Broadcasting Fraternity and first female professional in the Boys Club of America, national office. She served 14 months during the Vietnam War with the Red Cross and was a liaison to the GA Department of Human Resources for then-governor, Jimmy Carter. In Athens, GA, Gwen dedicated her energies to improving the lives of those homeless and living in public housing. She served on the city council and led the movement to create a unified Athens-Clarke County government. Gwen was the first mayor of Athens to then head this newly-united government. Currently, Gwen is a weekly panelist on the local NPR Athens Newsmatters show and serves as President of the Historic Cobbham Foundation.
Kathy is the Executive Director for the Reef Ball Foundation, and International Environmental Foundation that works to restore coral reefs and marine life habitats. They also provide worldwide education for preserving the earth’s ocean ecosystems. As part of her advocacy, she co-produced and co-wrote the award winning short documentary “Down To The Plastic Ocean”, participated in a U.S. State Department delegation to Kenya for a women’s empowerment project. Along with her extensive political background and experience, Kathy has decades of involvement in the Athens, GA music scene as a musician, singer, and songwriter.
More about Reef Ball Foundation: www.reefballfoundation.org Down to the Plastic Ocean https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esfHU…
Theme song: https://kathykirbo.bandcamp.com/track…
The Spinoffs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHsYs…
Powered By Women is a Tardan Media Network production 2022 Executive producer: Dennis Tardan Director: Renée Yaworsky Producer: Diane Coll
Kathy Rice
For Kathy Rice, the learning, the growing, and the transformation never end. She has navigated through her life by honoring the voice within or, the “muse” as she calls it. Whether it was teaching English literature, doing missionary work in Honduras, or raising four incredible children, Kathy has made sure to follow her inner voice and not the more limiting, external voices within our culture.
Am Taylor
Am Taylor has an extensive musical career and whose current work has received recognition from the likes of Iggy Pop, Dave Davies of the Kinks, GuitarWorld, and Altpress. Am has also joined forces with punk rock legend Jayne County. As Am’s website states, acceptance of the destruction-rebirth-transformation cycle has led to living a more authentic life. This is certainly reflected in Am’s music. https://amtaylormusic.com
Kim Pyron
Kim Pyron is the most typical mom, wife, cook, dog walker, nurse, laundry goddess, tea lover, and deeply in need of a day at the beach woman you will ever meet. As long as she can remember, she has seen and talked to angels. This way of being in the world was always supported within her family and it was not until adulthood that Kim realized not everyone communicated with such beings.
Along with sharing healing and practical messages to others, Kim conducts monthly gatherings and bi-annual retreats to help women cultivate and celebrate their own spirituality and emotional healing. https://www.myvintagegypsyteas.com
Directed by Renée Yaworsky
Produced by Diane Coll
Wendy Dumond
Wendy Dumond had artistic leanings since childhood. Although childhood and young adulthood tragedies forced her to put her creativity on hold, it was never for long. She is a writer, poet, musician/songwriter, and creates thought provoking videos that represent her songs. Wendy’s Bog Witch Project addresses the lie sold to women and girls; the fake ideal of physical appearance/societal expectations that is harmful to women.
Along with being a solo artist, Wendy is also a member of the Atlanta-based band, Blackfoot Daisy.
Bog Witch Project video and audio: Sex Worker Blues https://youtu.be/uGQfAsqeHy0
Jessica It’s All Good
Jessica It’s All Good is a successful comedian and comedic writer. Haling from the south, her personality is loud, she carries no shame and not a lot of inhibitions. She has won many awards and accolades for her stand-up comedy and comedy specials, including “Memoirs of a Supermodel Princess Clown” and her recent race-related pandemic comedy special “We’re All Chocolate.” Jessica is a woman whose legacy will be using humor for positivity and change.
Executive producer: Dennis Tardan
Director: Renée Yaworsky
Producer: Diane Coll
Laura Redfern
Laura Redfern never thought her career path would be in finance. With a background in Theatre Arts and British Literature, she assumed she would be teaching and helping students explore the power of language. However, after moving to Texas and working within an insurance company, Laura discovered an entirely different language: the language of finance. She has since made it her life’s mission to help women take the fear out of finance. Learn more at:
Executive producer: Dennis Tardan
Director: Renée Yaworsky
Producer: Diane Coll
Patty Forehand
Patty Forehand is a comedian, author, podcaster, and actor. She spent the first 31 years of adulthood as a public elementary school teacher. Patricia believes it is never too late to find your joy in life. Patty’s Instagram is @forehandpatricia and watch one of her delightful standups on Facebook here:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1041655082687435
Season 1 – Midseason Recap
Diane and PBW producer/director Renée Yaworsky talk about the first 6 episodes — what they learned, learned about their guests, about interviewing and empowering women and the way ahead.
Kathy Rice
For Kathy Rice, the learning, the growing, and the transformation never end. She has navigated through her life by honoring the voice within or, the “muse” as she calls it. Whether it was teaching English literature, doing missionary work in Honduras, or raising four incredible children, Kathy has made sure to follow her inner voice and not the more limiting, external voices within our culture.
Andy Gish and Kim Ware
Andy Gish is a musician/songwriter for the power trio, The Yum Yum Tree. She is a Registered Nurse and board-certified ER Nurse, community activist w/ Atlanta Harm Reduction, Top 10 nurse in Georgia (2018) Andy’s links: The Yum Yum Tree – https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Musician-Band/The-Yum-Yum-Tree-176522312415513/
Atlanta Harm Reduction – https://atlantaharmreduction.org
Kim Ware – is a musician/songwriter for Kim Ware and The Good Graces Recognitions as a “songwriter’s songwriter”, Indigo Girls opening act (2015) Podcast – “Quarantuned” provides a platform for songwriters to discuss their writing process, influences, etc. Kim is currently pursuing a graduate degree in mental health counseling. Kim’s links: The Good Graces – http://www.thegoodgraces.org
Quarantuned – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/quarantuned-with-the-good-graces/id1548616596
Both women are founders of the Facebook group, Kimono My House, which was formed as the pandemic hit in March 2020, as a way for musicians to stay connected, perform via live streams, etc.
Monica Arrington
Nerdkween (pronounced “nerd queen”) is the stage name for the American singer/songwriter and composer Monica Arrington, who is known for lo-fi recordings and minimalist style of electric guitar playing with added electronic noises. She is also known for a wide range in vocal ability, from haunting and airy tones to gritty and country-like twangs. Her music is a part of the genres noise pop, lo-fi, slowcore or dream pop. Arrington started self-releasing cassette tape demos in 2000 starting with “i see things differently now”. Then she put out other CD demos “the dark horse” and “Sketches at Eddie’s Attic”. Arrington’s debut full-length album “Synergy” is distributed through Stickfigure Records in Atlanta, Georgia. Learn more about Monica on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nerdkween/
Gretchen Suárez-Peña
Playwright, musician, poet and activist Gretchen Suárez-Peña and Diane talk about their lives and times in this episode of Powered by Women. Gretchen Suárez-Peña is a long-time playwright and lover of the theatre. She’s a Puerto Rican playwright based in Central Florida.
Her musical, Melina: A Steampunk Musical Tragedy was an official selection of the 2020 Atlanta Musical Theatre Festival. Other successes include winning the writer’s grant and best play in the Table Read Category at the Inaugural Be Original Festival 2019 in Orlando, Florida for her play Trafficked. Gretchen won best full-length play at the 2018 Tampa Bay Theatre Festival for her show Conversations in the Car and first prize for her piece Dry Spell at the 30 by Ninety Theatre in Mandeville, Louisiana in their Night of One Acts Competition in 2018.
Gretchen also had success with her show Conversations in Bed, which premiered to a sold-out audience at the 2017 Tampa Bay Theatre Festival. Her short play, The Arithmetic of Memory, was produced in New York, Rockford, and Central Florida. A portion of her work is available to be read on the New Play Exchange and she is a proud member of the Dramatist Guild