Reward: The Podcast of The Trust® – Details, episodes & analysis

She wanted to be a civil rights attorney. Then her perfect math scores came back, the engineers came calling, and everything changed. 

Michelle Jones didn’t just pivot — she built a 30-year environmental consulting firm from scratch, cold-called her way to her first client at 50 calls a day, and won contracts with some of the largest transit agencies in the country. All while everyone she walked into a room to meet expected someone else. And today she’s working on a new model to help other leaders thrive in navigating their businesses and lives as well. 

In this episode of REWARD: The Podcast of The Trust, Ali Brown sits down with Michelle for a rich conversation about building from conviction, leading through uncertainty, and what three decades of doing “the hard thing” actually teaches you.

On this episode of the #REWARDPodcast, you’ll hear:

• How Michelle went from aspiring civil rights attorney to civil engineer — and why the detour turned out to be the whole point

• Her 50-calls-a-day cold calling strategy that landed her first client (and what she said in that room when he questioned her age)

• What “the in-between” really means and why most leaders are navigating it right now without the right tools

• The new framework she developed inside one of The Trust’s masterminds, and how it’s becoming her next chapter

• Ali’s take on why the phone call is coming back — and why human connection is still the ultimate differentiator

This one is for the woman who has spent decades doing the work and is ready to share what she actually learned.

And, learn more about The Trust and Michelle…

• Learn more about The Trust — our tight-knit community for 7+8-figure women entrepreneurs

• Learn more about Michelle’s consulting firm

• Follow Michelle on LinkedIn

Connect with us on social using the hashtag #RewardPodcast and share your key takeaways from this episode!

Kris Murray built a thriving childcare coaching empire and became the go-to name in her industry. And the whole time? Fear was still there. She was just really, really good at hiding it. (Most high-achieving women are.)

But what changes everything isn't when the fear disappears... It's when you stop letting it drive from the back seat. We’ve had Kris on the show before, but you HAVE NOT heard what she’s about to share! 

Kris’s new book “The Antidote to Fear” is her most personal work yet — and on the show she touches on some stories we’re shocked she revealed: her St. Patrick's Day DUI (!), the business partner who swore he'd never compete with her and then did exactly that(!), her painful divorce. But what she found on the other side of sharing all of this was… complete freedom.

In this episode of REWARD: The Podcast of The Trust, Ali Brown sits down with our founding member Kris for one of the most candid conversations this podcast has seen. On this episode of the #REWARDPodcast, you'll hear:

• What finally made her write the vulnerable, personal book she'd been carrying for years

• Why high-achieving women are often the best at masking fear (and what it actually costs them)

• The childhood roots of Kris's entrepreneurial instincts (counting cash in her grandfather's meat market hits different when you hear where it led)

• Why she decided to share her DUI — and how owning that story out loud changed everything

• The morning in Bali that cracked her wide open and unlocked her next chapter

• The grounding practice she's kept every single morning for three and a half years and why it matters more now than ever

This one is for the woman who has held it all together for a long time — and is ready to find out what's waiting on the other side of the mask.

And, learn more about The Trust and Kris…

• Learn more about The Trust — our tight-knit community for 7+8-figure women entrepreneurs

• Grab Kris's book, The Antidote to Fear, wherever books are sold

• Follow Kris on Instagram + LinkedIn

Connect with us using #REWARDPodcast and share your biggest takeaway!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Can true leadership not start in a boardroom — but instead on a farm?

For Sarah Beth Aubrey, that’s exactly where her story began. Growing up in rural Illinois taught her the lessons of grit, patience, and the power of planting something that takes time to grow. Those same roots would later inspire her to become a pioneering voice in agriculture, entrepreneurship, and leadership—founding multiple businesses and redefining what it means to lead with both impact and authenticity.

In this episode of REWARD: The Podcast of The Trust, host Ali Brown sits down with Sarah for a refreshingly honest conversation about reinvention, resilience, and what it really takes to thrive through every season — personally and professionally. From surviving breast cancer to leading industry change, Sarah shares how she’s turned her own evolution into a blueprint for women ready to live and lead with purpose.

On this episode of the #REWARDPodcast, you’ll hear:

• How Sarah’s rural upbringing shaped her drive and clarity as a founder and leader

• Why saying “no” is sometimes the most powerful move in business (and life)

• The real secret to balancing ambition with *peace* — and the value of slowing down to make a bigger impact

• Sarah’s reflections on vulnerability as strength and the freedom that comes from leading authentically

• The importance of building community and finding rooms (like The Trust) that challenge you to grow

A powerful listen for any woman redefining success on her own terms — and ready to lead from both strength and soul.

And, learn more about The Trust and Sara! 

• Learn more about The Trust – our tight-knit community for 7+8-figure women entrepreneurs 

• Learn more about Sarah’s Envoy Group and IN-CLIMATE 

• Follow Sarah on Instagram + LinkedIn

Connect with us on social using the hashtag #RewardPodcast and share your key takeaways from this episode!

After years in the spotlight on TV broadcast news, Sara Davenport was facing increasingly ridiculous demands and real burnout. Trading corporate scripts for her own business strategy, she channeled her storytelling skills into building something entirely new — helping former TV anchors and reporters reinvent themselves beyond the newsroom.

And as founder of Towerview Marketing, a LinkedIn marketing agency run entirely by former journalists, Sara now guides others to use their voices with intention — to connect, build authentic communities, and create careers that truly align.

In this episode of REWARD: The Podcast of The Trust, our founder Ali Brown sits down with Sara for a candid conversation about reinvention, purpose, and the courage to walk away from a life that looks glamorously successful on the outside… but no longer feels fulfilling.

On this episode of the #REWARDPodcast, you’ll hear:

• How Sara turned her TV career into a mission-driven business helping others transition into new opportunities

• The role LinkedIn played in her own reinvention (and how she uses it to build authentic, profitable communities)

• The hidden pressures and realities of working in media — and what it takes to reclaim your story

• Why fulfillment, *not* titles, should be the true measure of success

• How The Trust has provided Sara with the mentorship, insight, and sisterhood to keep expanding what’s possible (and how she learned about us is a wild story!) 

This episode is a must-listen for any woman ready to trade performance for purpose and build a life (and business) that finally feels like her own.

And, learn more about The Trust and Sara! 

• Learn more about The Trust – our tight-knit community for 7+8-figure women entrepreneurs 

• Learn more about Sara’s Towerview Marketing

• Follow Sara on Instagram + LinkedIn

Connect with us on social using the hashtag #RewardPodcast and share your key takeaways from this episode!

It’s here. We are no longer willing to tolerate businesses that don’t align with who we’ve become. In this kickoff episode of our new season of Reward, Ali shares what’s new this fall, including a new look and feel for the show, powerful new guests, new benefits of The Trust, and new ways to work with her. But most importantly, she dives deep into another NEW... and a powerful theme she’s seeing across her clients and community: She unpacks how many entrepreneurs are realizing that the real breakthroughs begin when we stop judging ourselves for wanting to change what we’ve successfully created.
Ali reveals how purpose-driven women are redefining what ‘success’ looks like for their own models (while still making millions! $$), and how to bring your business *forward* to meet who you are today. Get ready for a conversation that’s raw, real, and filled with permission to evolve.
You’ll also hear how Ali is currently guiding women through this season of reinvention and how you can work with her personally. And of course, she shares a fresh look inside The Trust, her private community for 7- and 8-figure women founders who are creating success on their own terms. There’s a lot of NEW in this episode!
And, learn more about The Trust and Ali...
·       Learn more about The Trust – our tight-knit community for 7+8-figure women entrepreneurs
·       Learn more about Ali Brown here
·       Follow Ali on Instagram and Linkedin
Connect with us on social using the hashtag #RewardPodcast and share your key takeaways from this episode!

What if the secret to success isn’t holding the line – but knowing exactly when to SHIFT?

Emily Countryman, founder + CEO of weight loss and wellness company Shift Set Go, has never been afraid to rewrite the playbook. In fact, it’s what’s kept her thriving in an industry where even the biggest names – yes, we’re looking at you Jenny Craig—have stumbled. As the weight loss and wellness space gets more accelerated and disrupted, Emily’s agility and clarity continue to set her apart.

In this episode of REWARD: The Podcast of The Trust, our host Ali Brown sits down with longtime member Emily for a candid conversation on reinvention, resilience, and the real grit behind growth. From pivoting her business model to embracing disruption with confidence, Emily’s journey is an empowering reminder that being adaptable isn’t just a survival skill – it’s a strategy.

On this episode of the #REWARDPodcast, you’ll hear:

• How Emily absorbed clients from shuttered competitors and built trust in the midst of market chaos (talk about turning challenges into growth!)

• What navigating a product supply crisis taught her about leadership and long-game thinking

• The real impact of GLP-1 injectables on the weight loss industry – and why authenticity matters more than ever

• Why small businesses can typically be the fastest, smartest players in the room

• Ali and Emily’s candid chat on pivoting through postpartum, pandemics, and business plateaus

• AND the power of staying rooted in your mission, even when everything else is shifting

This one’s for the founders who are ready to lean in, let go, and evolve – again and again.

And, learn more about The Trust and Emily! 

• Learn more about The Trust – our tight-knit community for 7+8-figure women entrepreneurs 

• Learn more about Shift Set Go

• Follow Emily on Instagram

Connect with us on social using the hashtag #RewardPodcast and share your key takeaways from this episode!

What happens when a high-alpha CEO decides to stop pushing and start surrendering?

For Kris Murray, that moment came after decades of leading one of the most successful coaching companies in early childhood education. As the founder of The Child Care Success Company, she built a powerhouse brand from the ground up—one that now runs with an employee-ownership model and continues to thrive without her daily involvement. (Yes, really.)

But what came next? A chapter of reinvention. Fueled by soul work, intuition, and a whole lot of personal freedom, Kris has since stepped into her next evolution—as a mentor to women founders ready to lead with more ease, meaning, and joy.

In this episode of REWARD: The Podcast of The Trust, founder Ali Brown sits down again with our member Kris to talk about the often-unspoken reality of what comes after “success”… and how to reimagine the next chapter on your own terms. This one’s full of laughter, truth bombs, and powerful lessons on legacy, reinvention, and the courage to lead differently.

On this episode of the #REWARDPodcast, you’ll hear:

• The inspiring story of how Kris turned a burned-out consulting gig into a thriving 7+ figure company in an overlooked niche (SPOILER: There’s major power in going deep, not wide)

• How she transitioned her company to an employee-owned model—freeing herself to focus on mentorship, personal growth, and big vision coaching

• Why midlife isn’t a “crisis” but a sacred opportunity to reconnect to yourself and the impact you actually want to make

• Ali and Kris on what real leadership looks like for women founders now (Hint: it’s no longer about proving or pushing)

• AND the surprising rewards of slowing down, saying no, and creating space for what’s next

This conversation is a must-listen if you’ve been feeling the nudge to do things differently and want proof that reinvention is not only possible, it can be exactly what you need.

And, learn more about The Trust and Kris! 

• Learn more about The Trust – our tight-knit community for 7+8-figure women entrepreneurs 

• Learn more about The Child Care Success Company

• Follow Kris on Instagram

Connect with us on social using the hashtag #RewardPodcast and share your key takeaways from this episode! 

Ever feel like running your business should feel more like freedom—and less like constant fire drills? For so many women who’ve mastered their craft, making the leap to leading a business comes with a steep learning curve.

From corporate finance and Fortune 500 consulting to becoming the go-to fractional CFO for high-level businesses across the U.S., Sarah Webb has built a reputation for turning financial chaos into calm. She’s known for her ability to decode messy numbers, bust through growth plateaus, and give her clients the strategic vision to move forward with confidence.

In this episode of REWARD: The Podcast of The Trust, our founder and host Ali Brown sits down with our member Sarah to dive into the biggest money myths holding business owners back, the quiet power of systems, and the real reason women need strong financial support—and community—to grow. Sarah also opens up about the early money lessons that shaped her, the pressure to “do it all,” and why building your own rhythm is the real ROI.

If you’re ready to stop winging it and start owning your role as the visionary in your business, this is the episode for you.

On this episode of the #REWARDPodcast, you’ll hear:

• The unconventional investment lessons that gave her a head start on financial fluency

• What she learned jumping from PWC to a major corporate finance role—and why that transition mattered

• Why founding Plaid for Women became a pivotal move in her mission to elevate women’s voices

• The myth of “doing it all alone” that keeps too many women stuck (and how to get out of it)

• Why building your own board of advisors can be the game-changer you didn’t know you needed

• And yes, what it’s *really* like to manage spreadsheets, strategy, and a “no jerks” policy—all without losing your mind (or your sense of humor)

And, learn more about The Trust and Sarah! 

• Learn more about The Trust – our modern, premier network for 7+8-figure women entrepreneurs 

• Learn more about Webb CFO + Plaid for Women

• Follow Sarah on Instagram

  
  

Connect with us on social using the hashtag #RewardPodcast and share your key takeaways from this episode! 

When it comes to wealth, most women were taught to play it safe, stay small, or hand over the reins altogether. But today’s women leaders know what’s possible when you STOP following the rules — and start building your *own* framework for success.

Suzanne Powell came from humble beginnings in a trailer park outside Detroit, and today manages over $145 million in assets. How? She made a conscious decision early on: Her future would look nothing like her past. Today, she’s the vice president of Meridian Wealth Management, founder of Capital Strategies Group, and a trusted advisor to women ready to take ownership of their financial lives.o women ready to take ownership of their financial lives.

In this episode of REWARD: The Podcast of The Trust, our founder and host Ali Brown sits down with Suzanne for a powerful conversation about money, motherhood, and the mindset required to create a life of freedom. They explore how women can lead in their wealth journeys, why delegation is a game changer, and how Suzanne’s approach to business and balance is helping others rise — on their own terms.

On this episode of the #REWARDPodcast, you’ll hear:

• The moment she decided to design a life that looked radically different from the one she came from.

• Why financial planning is not just about the numbers — it’s about creating freedom and fulfillment.

• Suzanne’s refreshing take on balancing business and family without losing yourself in the process.

• The power of women taking the financial lead — and how The Trust became a key part of her journey.

• And why delegation isn’t a luxury… it’s a strategy for building the life you actually want.

And, learn more about The Trust and Suzanne! 

• Learn more about The Trust – our modern, premier network for 7+8-figure women entrepreneurs 

• Learn more about Meridian Wealth Management

• Follow Suzanne on LinkedIn + Instagram

Connect with us on social using the hashtag #RewardPodcast and share your key takeaways from this episode!

Fun innovation doesn’t always come from tech or trends — sometimes, it starts with a simple idea, a spicy discussion with friends and colleagues, and a bold woman willing to create it!

Dr. Alisa Brady is the founder of Sweetums, a brand that began with flavored intimate wipes (yes, really!) and quickly grew into a full line of other products. With a background in psychology and a pulse on what women actually want, Alisa built her business from the ground up while continuing to run her mental health clinics — navigating two entirely different worlds, and finding unexpected synergy between them.

In this episode of REWARD: The Podcast of The Trust, founder and host Ali Brown sits down with our member Dr. Alisa to talk product creation, smart brand expansion, and the surprising overlap between mental health and entrepreneurship. 

On this episode of the #REWARDPodcast, you’ll hear:

• Why Dr. Alisa’s background in psychology gave her an edge in product development — and in understanding what consumers *really* want.

• The gritty reality of launching a consumer brand during a supply chain crisis (and what persistence actually looks like).

• How community support, including The Trust, helped fuel Alisa’s growth when the path forward wasn’t always clear.

• The surprising feedback that drove product expansion (hint: men love Sweetums too).

• And the honest truth about building something bold when not everyone believes in your vision... yet.

And, learn more about The Trust and Alisa! 

• Learn more about The Trust – our modern, premier network for 7+8-figure women entrepreneurs 

• Learn more about Dr. Alisa Brady's Sweetums 

• Follow Dr. Alisa on LinkedIn

Connect with us on social using the hashtag #RewardPodcast and share your key takeaways from this episode!