Why Being Heard Changes Who You Are with Amy & Nancy Harrington

What would change if you stopped hiding your humanity and finally community that could see you for who you are? Sisters and co-founders of the Passionistas Project, Amy and Nancy Harrington, join Kim Romain and Louise Neil in Episode 196 of The Empowered & Embodied Show to explore the radical power of storytelling, why vulnerability is the foundation of real community, and how two introverted sisters built a global sisterhood by simply creating the space they wished had existed.

From interviewing Dr. Jane Goodall to leaving high-profile careers at Warner Bros. and Miramax, Amy and Nancy have spent years amplifying the voices of women — especially those from marginalized communities — and turning that mission into a movement.

In this episode, we dig into:

• Why storytelling and being heard changes who you are
• What it costs us to perform professionalism and lock our humanity away
• What it means to build something that takes on a life beyond you
• Vulnerability is the access point for genuine connection and community
• Community is a mirror that shows you you're not alone

Key Moments

00:00 – Opening and Introductions 

07:47 – From celebrity interviews to amplifying unheard voices: How the Passionistas were born 

09:02 – How storytelling helps us care more deeply about each other

12:27 – Learning to model vulnerability when you were trained to stay buttoned up 

15:27 – Why vulnerability transforms even the most "dry" conversations 

17:06 – How we lock our humanity away 

22:14 – Normalizing the human experience: bodies, health, sexuality, and everything we don't talk about 

27:52 – The big dream: women running the world, one story at a time 

29:36 – What does it mean to be empowered? 

35:45 – The power of listening to yourself and others 

45:36 – What's ahead for the Passionistas 

Connect with the Passionistas Project:

Website: thepassionistasproject.com

Free 30-Day Journal: thepassionistasproject.com/30-days-journal

Join a circle of changemakers committed to leading with purpose, presence and ease inside Kim's Rising Visionaries mentorship program.

Reclaim your career and confidence during midlife through Louise's Rise & Redefine program.

If you’re loving this show, come check out the Feminist Podcasters Collective, where creators like us are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change. If you’re looking for new shows to fill your feed, head to https://feministpodcasterscollective.com