The Lawyer Who Rocks Podcast

Happy Women's Business Day! Serial entrepreneur, marketer, author, and executive coach, Nicole A. Donnelley candidly explains how she went from badass professional snowboarder to starting and selling multiple successful businesses and the power of just asking. ...

Tom Mara, the Executive Director of world-renowned Seattle radio station, KEXP talks music and radio from dwindling college stations to creating a station that curates and supports the culture. Listen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/m4kuD6QV4-0

In Part 2 of her interview with Joleen, Robin Haglund tells us about the ins and outs of being a garden mentor, how you can learn to be a gardener, and why this work is meaningful.   Listen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0HlQWHZdqdY

Robin Haglund implores you to stop running from things, and to start running toward your passion. In this inspiring first part, Joleen interviews gardening mentor Robin Haglund about here background in books, media and technology and how it all led her back to the...

After studying university in the US, Tanya Haider had every intention of returning to her native Pakistan, but when an opportunity in children's programming arose, this entertainment maven was thrust into the "kid's space". Strategizing on how to appeal to youth's...

Lindsay Droz and Kristi Lord went all in on their dreams. The longtime friends and business partners, saw a need and they filled it, making sustainable, organic and safe cleaning products that were also beautiful. With no entrepreneurial experience, but honed skills...

As a little girl, Alisa Brodkowitz saw how the law could change the world, inspiring her to become an attorney. Opening up her own law firm shortly after graduating in aviation law was her first foray into entrepeneurship before opening up Lightening Law, a tech...

Gabby Booth says the desert can make you extreme. It's likely that extremeness, that has made the Southwest native an unwavering advocate of the Phoenix art scene since she was a kid. Cutting her teeth in startups, and seeing a need all led this artist-owner to open...

Can games make the world a better place? Josh Boykin thinks it's possible. In Part 2 of his interview with Joleen, he tackles big topics like how being a Black man informs his gaming and societal obligations, his role at Du whether meaningful narratives which tackle...

Josh Boykin is a gaming badass. This Midwestern native and founder of Intelligame talks to Joleen about how important it is to enjoy your work, what his experience at Disney taught him, violence in gaming, and how gaming narratives can connect to our us to our...

Part 2 of our interview with culinary badass, Renee Erickson explores her affinity for the Pacific Northwest, all things food, why local is always better, being an author, and what the heck it's like to win a James Beard Award.  

Pacific Northwest local legend, Renee Erickson talks to Joleen about the ins and outs of running a restaurant. From cutting her teeth as a cook at Boat Street without culinary training, to opening a recognizable brand across a restaurant empire. Don't miss Part 1 of...

Tishni, better known as Tish of TheBookthief28 on TikTok, has a romance with reading. Mixing her love of literature, social purpose and the critical thinking skills obtained in law school, this recent graduate has made her book reviews some of the most viewed on...

Lauren Sato, the CEO of Ada's Developers Academy, is changing the face of tech. A lifelong social justice advocate, Lauren's career has touched many different fields, but has always centered around one thing: progress for marginalized identities. In this interview, we...

Gamers are becoming the new rockstars, just ask Chris Mann. From what we wear to what we eat, we are taking cues from e-sports like never before. In Part 2 of his interview, Chris tells us how e-sports is more than gaming; it's a lifestyle and everyone is getting in...

Serial entrepreneur and e-athlete, Chris Mann, is helping redefine the role of "gamers" in our society. In part 1 of his interview, he describes the windy path to becoming COO of Subnation, a media start-up focused on esports and gaming, the stereotypes that once...

"Inclusive" is Susan Freeman's favorite word. At her company, Freeman Means Business, Susan teaches businesses how to communicate both effectively and more inclusively lending to the support of diversity in the work place. From her amazing mentors to her current...

Reese Tanimura cares about people. After being a music teacher in her native Hawaii, this serial volunteer moved to Seattle and participated in multiple non-profits before becoming the Managing Director of Folklife Festival. With a keen interest in inclusion and...

In part two of Alissa Leinonen's interview, we learn just how COVID-19 has affected Gourmondo and the rest of the Seattle restaurant industry. Alissa, whose motto is "never, never, never give up", explains how the pandemic sparked her commitment to philanthropy,...

Fourth-generation Seattleite, Alissa Leinonen, isn't the typical food business owner. Having earned a Business degree at University of Washington and a self-proclaimed "not great" chef, she colored outside of the lines to find out how she could contribute to her...

From kindergarten, people noticed that Aimee Woodall had a gift for communications. That gift led her to work for several creative and marketing agencies, before founding her own, The Black Sheep Agency. At Black Sheep, Aimee focuses on creating messaging and...

From her first physics classes in middle school, Priyanka Raha was fascinated with science and mathematics. Growing up in India, she became a national level achiever in Olympiads, paving her way into the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) field from an...

Originally from New York, Eileen Quigley’s first career was in journalism. Eileen’s background and experiences as a young adult gave her a unique appreciation for the value of time, as well as a constant yearning to learn new things in new industries. This led her...

After having a preventative mastectomy, Kristen Carbone felt cold ALL the time. Out of curiosity, she started talking to other women and found out that she wasn’t the only one: warmth was a serious issue for post-reconstruction women. The idea of Brilliantly Warm came...

For Daniel Pak, the values he learned growing up in Hawaii walk with him today in his parenting, songwriting, and his work as the Executive Director of Totem Star, the non-profit he founded in Seattle. Growing up on Oahu, its rich, melting pot of cultures made Daniel...

In the second part of Megan Jasper’s interview, we learn about Megan’s journey from intern at Sub Pop to eventually becoming CEO of the entire company! Megan’s famous “Lexicon of Grunge” interview helped turn the world’s attention to Sub Pop and Seattle where she was...

Megan Jasper is the ultimate punk rock goddess. From a young age, she resonated withpunk’s unique energy, DIY spirit, and acceptance of being your unique, self. In a world ofmisfits, Megan fit right in. In Part 1 of 2, Megan and Joleen dive into her early days of...

Jodi Milstein always loved music and turned an internship at A&M Records into a full-fledged rock-and-roll career. Her go-getter spirit led her to rise through the ranks at the label, working with artists like Sheryl Crow, Jewel, Temple of the Dog and Soundgarden (which is when Joleen and Jodi first met).

Grace Bradley, was always an avid lover of all things literature. After starting out reviewing books, she soon discovered her natural knack for editing and joined the very first digital publishing company as a professional editor. As the publishing world shifted, Grace decided to follow suit and founded Grace Bradley Editing.

In the 2nd part of their interview, Joleen and Karim Meghji discuss the values which guide Karim’s work outlook today. After a successful trek at RealNetworks and his own startup venture, Karim developed a keen awareness about the value of company culture, which he now takes to every company he works at.

Karim Meghji was always a “tech-y” guy. From his early days writing code in high school, he loved the creative side of computer engineering. In the first of a two-part interview, Joleen dives into Karim’s early career days.

Growing up, Shari Siadat always stood out. As a first generation Iranian-American growing up in a small town in Massachusetts, she felt singled out in her community which lacked diversity. Before she formed her own thoughts about beauty and appearance, people told her how she should look.

Rika Nakazawa, the founder and CEO of BoardSeatMeet was an overachiever at a young age. Growing up in a multi-cultural family in both Japan and the US, Rika’s desire to master everything from fine arts to physics served her well as one of the first business...

Lily Cornell Silver is taking IGTV by storm with her amazing show, “Mind Wide Open” which was borne out of Lily’s belief that having open conversations about mental health is the best way to destigmatize it. Her work has led to worldwide media coverage and accolades....

The Seattle International Film Festival, or SIFF, began in 1976 and has become one of the top film festivals in North America. Executive Director, Andrew Haines began his tenure right before a global pandemic. Artistic Director, Beth Barrett has been a grounding force...

Regina Wamba’s love for art started when she was just 5 years old. Despite a lack of arts education in Idaho, Regina was determined to go to art school and apply her natural talent in visual communications and graphic design. After a stint in the “real world,”...

Briaan Barron always knew she’d find a way to merge her great love for creativity and strategy. Responsible for building brands including Sound Transit, Northwest Film Forum Seattle Chocolate, and the Northwest African American Museum, Briaan founded Worthi, an agency...

Natural craftsmanship, creative spirit and a passion for solving everyday problems is the perfect combination for a born entrepreneur like Leslie Pierson. Leslie invented GoodHangups, an innovative magnetic system that enables you to hang art on any wall without...

Abe and Rebecca bonded over their love of music. When both simultaneously started dabbling in consulting, they quickly realized they had very different skill sets… and that they needed each other. So they joined forces to create 2 Doors Management, which provides...

As a first-generation Nigerian American, Karen Okonkwo believed her path to success was through law, medicine, or engineering. In college, while studying to be a pediatrician, a quirky encounter with a homeless man at a festival completely changed her perspective....

For Kelly Bayett, music was always an escape. As a kid, she would put on headphones and pretend that nothing else existed. With her astounding taste, enthusiasm, and love for the music scene, Kelly devoted her life to music production. She has worked in voice acting,...

In the second part of Aba Kwawu's interview, Joleen and Aba dive into the success of Aba's career in fashion and luxury branding. After studying fashion in London, Aba styled and media trained proffessional athletes and later founded her own agency, TAA Public...

Aba Kwawu’s path to the fashion industry was full of kicks and turns. In the first of a two-part interview, Joleen and Aba dive into her roots and the core values that made Aba the leader she is today. A first-generation Ghanaian immigrant, Aba’s love for the arts was...

Growing up, Penny Sansevieri surrounded herself with books and wanted nothing more than to be a librarian. With her love for all things literature, she published her first book 25 years ago and saw a window for herself in the independent publishing...

In the second part of Mari Carr’s tell-all interview, we Mari delves into her creative writing process. Collaborating with other authors, Mari found a sisterhood in the writing community. Together they organize workshops and other ‘bootcamps’ in order to learn from...

In the first part of a very special 2-part interview, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Mari Carr joins Joleen to dish on her phenomenal rise to success. On her 34th birthday, after working as a high school librarian and focusing on family and kids, Mari...

This week Wendy Bernfeld, a true pioneer in digital media, joins Joleen all the way from Amsterdam! Known as the ‘Queen of New Media’, Wendy’s first love was for the arts. In a drive to get into the job market though, she went to law school and found a passion in...

In the second part of Kevin Lyman’s 2-part special, Kevin and Joleen dive into the evolution of music and giving back. His festival, the Warped Tour, holds the record for the longest running continuous tour at 25 years. With Warped, Kevin quickly learned that the...

In the first week of this 2-part special, Kevin Lyman, a powerhouse in the music industry, joins Joleen to talk about the root of his love for music. Growing up in Claremont, California with hippies and punk rockers, Kevin established his “challenge the status quo”...

For Kerry Edelstein, versatility was always in her blood. Growing up, her love for all things math and media blended together to form a well-rounded, educated woman with countless opportunities. From her first internship, Kerry learned about the huge value of...

Wildworks CEO Clark Stacey thought that his career was set in academia. But after teaching a class on internet research, he fell in love with the limitless potential of the internet as an information medium. Clark began creating games for other brands before launching...

For Leslie Feinzaig, entrepreneurship was always deeply rooted in her family - her grandparents, father, and siblings were all self-employed. Growing up in Costa Rica, Leslie fought hard for more opportunity. Focusing on her education led her to study in London and...

On the second part of Tom Frank’s interview, Joleen dives into Tom’s path into business consulting. When he moved from working at entrepreneurial companies to leading them, Tom developed a keen sense of how to navigate the needs of the business with being a firm but...

Tom Frank started off his career in advertising and rose to incredible heights in the world of entrepreneurship. In the first week of this 2-part interview, Joleen sits down with her close friend to discuss his start in Hollywood, including producing game shows and a...

Since childhood, Elizabeth Scallon was always trying to think bigger and better. Her initial passion for science and all things research quickly fused into a career in business when she realized ‘all science people report to an MBA’. With vast experience in building...

This week on The Lawyer Who Rocks, CEO of Rosetta Stone Matt Hulett brings practical advice for everyone worrying about what a recession means for their businesses. Throughout his career, Matt became known as *THE* turnaround guy, always jumping from one project to...

Jill Angelo started her career in tech and quickly rose to become a high-level executive. But during a short sabbatical break, Jill realized she wanted to have a greater impact on society. Astounded by the lack of essential resources available for women, she founded...

Rand Fishkin started his career on a bold note: Instead of finishing college, he dropped out and launched his very first business, SEOmoz. His journey as a serial entrepreneur since has been a rollercoaster, and Rand has come out a total business badass. From working...

After decades of climbing up the ranks of corporate law, a visit to Walla Walla, Washington convinced Mike Martin there was more to life than being a lawyer. A wine connoisseur, Mike was always fascinated with wine and food culture. After his trip, Mike knew he found...

Andrew Joslyn was just a kid with a violin who wanted to play rock music. A composer, orchestrator, and multi-instrumentalist, Andrew’s passion for collaboration led him to work with a remarkably diverse group of world-class artists. From touring the world, co-writing...

Since her early days in change management, Laura Clise felt she had a social responsibility to make a difference in her community. Her badass career trek led her to make measurable impacts on diversity, equity, and inclusion everywhere she went. With this in mind,...

Kellie Phelan has always been a natural connector with a fiery drive. From working non-profits, to corporate consulting, to starting her own business, Kellie has created her success story by casting a wide net of contacts and being open-minded. Kellie tuned in to her...

Throughout her career, Leigh McMillan’s spontaneity and curiosity has enabled her to master the art of communication in many different industries. From politics to media to automotive and analytics, Leigh has made a career out of adaptability. Now CEO of Whitepages,...

A born entrepreneur, by age 20 Jason Thane launched a successful side-hustle valet service. After leading technical staffs at some of the most innovative start-ups, he identified that companies needed a best-in-breed software development solution. So, Jason founded...

Part 2 of Scott Ehrlich’s interview dives into Scott’s serial entrepreneurial adventure. After his time at Real Networks, Scott turned creativity into technological successes with projects like the League of Extraordinary Dancers and Substance over Hype. Today, Scott...

Scott Ehrlich started his career as a poly-sci major and political strategist, so of course, his first contribution to the state of media was productizing news. From the creation and launch of Foxnews.com and News Corp., Scott has pioneered the modern way we consume...

Terry Morgan is a Seattle treasure. From an early age, his life revolved around music. His love for ethnomusicology and exploring world cultures turned him into one of the founding figures of Seattle’s legendary punk rock scene. For over 40 years, Terry’s company,...

Alina Soltys was always a go-getter. With the help of her math-wiz father, Alina learned the importance of understanding numbers from a young age. She applied her math skills to business strategy and has forged a career as a total financial badass in tech and gaming,...

From her early childhood days working on her grandfather’s farm, Shelley Gaddie knew the importance of hard work. Quickly rising in the corporate ranks after her studies at UC Berkeley, Shelley didn’t want to focus on the inner workings of just one business. So, she...

With a background in marketing, Peter Zaballos spent over 25 years in high-growth tech companies as a C-level executive. Always a keen observer and listener, he was frustrated when it took him over a year to get approval to increase the wage of an unequally paid...

Angy Merola discovered her love for accounting while desperately attempting to evade a Calculus course. But Angy was too social to be just a ‘bean counter’, so she took her financial background into operating retail businesses. With her work at Zulily, GlassyBaby, and...

Emmy award-winning news anchor Carolyn Douglas spent thousands of hours behind the microphone. After working for King TV for 20 years, her curiosity to be ‘in the thick of it’ drove her to start her own consulting business. Her consulting company, Carolyn Douglas...

Mikaela Kiner forged a career as a busy HR executive. Determined to take a more modern approach to solving HR problems, she started her own badass company, Reverb. A first-hand witness to so many instances of female inequality in the workplace, Mikaela’s brand new...

Tahmina Watson is the dynamic and inspirational founder of Watson Immigration Law, and is making a profound impact on protecting immigrant rights. She shares how immigration law became her passion and how the changes in immigration laws in the US have fueled her...

It all started when Geoff Walker put on the beloved WSU mascot “Butch” costume. Few people have a more fascinating career than Geoff, from launching amazing brands, planning fantastic events and starting his own company, Geoff’s shares how his ability to cultivate...

On this incredibly special episode, Chanel Reynolds shares with Joleen her deeply emotional story of how she took one of the hardest tragedies one can face and turned it into a triumph that goes on to help others. After the sudden passing of her husband, Chanel...

“All communities are made better by arts and music.” Kate Becker, the Creative Economy Strategist at Office of King County Executive Dow Constantine, has dedicated her career to developing a thriving creative economy. Passionate about the arts from an early age, Kate...

Can you imagine attending a meeting and actually accomplishing something?! Human-Centered Strategy is just one of the tools Intentional Futures provides for its clients. The company co-founded by Michael Dix, solves hard problems that matter and help launch big ideas....

From Moscow to Kentucky to Seattle and back again, Zeptolab CEO Misha Lyalin loves to build things. From his beginnings as a programming contractor at Microsoft to the CEO of one of the most successful gaming companies in the world, Misha’s a true visionary. From...

In New York City, in reaction to increasing spectacle and extravagance of Broadway shows, Jane Jones dreamed of returning theater to a place of authentic listening. Once back in Seattle, Myra Platt joined Jane to create Book-It Repertory Theater, the first theater...

90% of women have an idea but only 10% do something about it, and only 4% of patent applications are filed by women. As the adage goes, necessity is the mother of all invention. But, how does a great idea go from that to market, to a success. Hilary Meyerson and Mina...

Kerry came out of the womb interested in the persuasion arts and started on her career path early. From music to branding to politics to helming a revolution against the establishment, Kerry’s inability to accept the status quo has led her to forge a remarkable...

Dave Young wasn’t content wearing a suit as a Wall Street analyst or finance manager at a major telecom company. Instead, he donned a motorcycle jacket and cracked the proverbial code to develop ground-breaking patents in cloud storage with his lifelong friends and...

Concise and lean is the name of the game. Ian Freed, former RealNeworks mafia member and current CEO and Co-Founder of Bamboo Learning, has been at the forefront of some of our most compelling and transformative consumer products of the past couple of decades. While...

Jennessa West’s rise to power producer in Seattle started with her passion for film. Beginning with Seattle production jobs for DreamWorks, Warner Brothers and Walt Disney, Jennessa moved to Hollywood to work on episodic television for Warner Brothers, CBS and FX....

John Cook, is the founder of Seattle’s seminal tech startup/publication Geekwire.  A former journalist from an entrepreneurial family, John and his co-founder, Todd Bishop started GeekWire to bring stories of the amazing start-ups in Seattle, Washington to the world....

Kari Gran and Lisa Strain have used the mantra “it will always work out” to turn a bootstrapped cosmetics brand into a funded “we-can-do-anything” business. Former real estate colleagues, they became business partners after Kari’s career burn-out inspired her to...

After guiding ReachNow through its joint venture with Daimler, Steve Banfield handed over the reins and bought a one-way ticket to Europe for a pilgrimage on the historic trail through Spain called the Camino de Santiago. With a voice as smooth as the Kentucky Bourbon...

His love of food and his get up, show up, and get it done work ethic has carried Tom Douglas through more than 30 years in the restaurant business here in Seattle. He was so very kind to sit down with Joleen at his cooking school, Hot Stove Society to share his...

How do you bring the underground cannabis market to the mainstream? Jhavid Mohseni, CEO of Tamerlane Trading Company, draws from his entrepreneurial roots. Joleen talks with Jhavid about how working at his mother’s fish farm and his consumer electronics product...

Data. Data. Data. In the tech world, all we hear about is the importance of data. Marty Roberts, CEO of Wicket Labs shares how his nerdtastic idea to bridge the gap from insights to action led to the creation of ground-breaking data analytic products. As a seasoned...

When the two most famous female rock icons in the world showed up on Sue Ennis’ doorstep at Berkeley, her life changed forever. Sue’s friendship with Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart began at Sammamish High School and their songwriting partnership has led to over 30...

And this is why, they just work harder than everyone else. When was the last time you worked a 20-hour day and slept on your office floor? That is badass! Matthew Zagursky and Devin Nash started early and never quit. They bonded over their love of live broadcasting...

What can a business owner learn from an elite athlete like Russell Wilson? Liz Boyer knows! She's the owner of Northwest Performance Psychology and on todays episode she and Joleen discuss how using sports psychology techniques in your everyday life can help you grow...

Film Producer, Record Label, Management Company, Tech Investor, Brent Stiefel does it all. How does a guy from Miami who started in pharmaceuticals create Votiv Entertainment, Seattle’s most exciting entertainment conglomerate? Joleen learns how his MBA degree from...

Isn’t that how all successful business owners start, as Parole Officers?? Well, maybe not, but that’s what started Colleen on her badass path. Thankfully, her never quit mentality and amazing family provided a strong foundation to start her public relations company,...

Film and television mega-star Tom Skerritt has a passion for the art of storytelling. Known for iconic roles in “M*A*S*H”, “Gunsmoke”, “Bonanza”, “Alien”, “Top Gun”, “A River Runs Through It”, “Steel Magnolias”, “Picket Fences” and many more, Tom and his wife Julie...

Talk about a career 360! Laura Murphy, a longtime friend of Joleen’s, from the early Seattle grunge days, takes us through her music career evolution and what led her to pursue a second career in the health industry. We also find out what famous rock star used to hang...

Keela didn't play the piano as a child, she learned how to code! A role model to all women in the technology space, Keela sat down with Joleen to discuss her "Put yourself out there!" philosophy and why that has served her well in product innovation and management at...

What if you could flip executive recruiting on its head? Caroline Stokes, the Author of Elephants Before Unicorns and founder of The Emotionally Intelligent Recruiter shares her aha moment that has taken head hunting and executive coaching to a new level. You can find...

“How hard can it be to make good underwear?” TomboyX co-founders Fran Dunaway & Naomi Gonzalez had a simple question that nearly everyone has asked themselves at some point. Joleen learns how the lack underwear choice launched one of the county’s hottest...

Before Steve Banfield, the former CEO of ReachNow took off on his trek on the Camino de Santiago, he sat down with Joleen to discuss the evolution of his career, his leadership philosophy and why millennials are a true asset to the workforce. Steve also reflects on...

Erika Shaffer, Director of Strategic Communications for Madrona Venture Group, plays a very stragic role in the media exposure for startups lucky enough to have the backing of Madrona. Today Erika shares tips on how to attract venture capital and why your story and...

Leslie Grandy is an expert in new product development, business planning and strategy, she’s also a kick ass sponsor and mentor to women in business. In this episode, Leslie and Joleen discuss the many ways women can support one another in business plus, Leslie talks...

Virtual reality you can feel! That’s what the badasses, at HaptX are working on. And that’s what Joleen is talking about on this episode with Joe Michaels and Andrew Mitrak. They chat up their very cool emerging haptic technology which they say is 50% science and 50%...

Today’s guest author, speaker, entrepreneur, May McCarthy shares 7 steps you could take today to achieve every single one of your business and life goals. Plus, why you need to be your own Chief Spiritual Officer.

Joleen continues her conversation with Grammy-winner Barrett Martin they dive into his work producing across genres and winning a Latin Grammy. And why he chose to self-publish his book, “The Singing Earth” which chronicles music on six continents. To learn more about...

Joleen and Grammy-winning producer, composer, and renowned drummer Barrett Martin unpack some of the legal pitfalls of the music business and lessons learned from R.E.M. If you need a lawyer who rocks head over to https://www.hmlglaw.com!    

In this episode: a rare interview with artist management maven Susan Silver. She's managed iconic Seattle bands Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and Screaming Trees and co-owns one of the best, longstanding live music venues in the city. Not only is Susan Joleen's first...

More F-Bombs will be dropped in Part 2 of Joleen's interview with Megan McNally. Joleen will focus on Megan's decision to fold her business and why that became an opportunity for next-level professional development.  Plus, we'll dive deeper into the F-Bomb...

On today's inaugural podcast Joleen talks with fellow lawyer and entrepreneur Megan McNally, one of Seattle’s most influential people, about her startup successes and failures. Megan shares what makes her a badass and why she’s so invested in women businesses making...

Joleen Hughes, founder and owner of Hughes Media Law Group, is a business badass. From music, to technology, to law, Joleen’s done it all, and done it well. In her new podcast, Joleen is sharing what she’s learned and taking her friends along for the ride. On The...