She was just six years old when she came home from school in tears… asking why she looked different.

That moment changed everything.

In this episode of Riding the Big Wheel, Michelle sits down with Evana Eko, the mom behind Beautiful Curly Me, a brand born from her daughter Zoe’s struggle with confidence and identity. What started as a simple conversation turned into a powerful mission to help girls everywhere feel seen, valued, and confident in who they are.

But this isn’t just a story about a business.

It’s about:

• The quiet moments that shape how girls see themselves

• The things we say (and don’t say) that stay with them

• The pressure of social media and comparison at a young age

• And what it really takes to raise a confident child in today’s world

You’ll also hear how Zoe went from that moment to becoming a young CEO, building a brand now impacting thousands of girls and why her mom chose to build it with her, not for her.

If you have a daughter, know a young girl, or have ever questioned your own confidence, this conversation will stay with you.

Watch the full episode on YouTube and don’t forget to subscribe to Riding the Big Wheel for more real conversations that matter.

• (00:00:01) - Beautiful Curly Me
• (00:01:21) - Beautiful Curly Me at Emory
• (00:02:24) - Beautiful Curly Me
• (00:06:04) - When a 6-year-old Made a Doll
• (00:08:03) - Dolly the Doll Made in China
• (00:09:00) - Zoe's journey from dolls to a business
• (00:11:14) - ESSENCE on Zoe's 14-year-old leadership
• (00:16:07) - A Couple's Fight for the Love
• (00:16:38) - Mama of a Very Young CEO
• (00:18:17) - The epidemic of low self-confidence among girls
• (00:22:51) - Be Careful With Your Girls!
• (00:25:55) - Aunt's Advice for Girls Struggling With Self-E
• (00:32:41) - What Kindness Does a Parent Teach Their Kids?
• (00:33:55) - Meet the curly-haired Zoe Dolls
• (00:36:11) - Zoe the Beautiful Girl's Charity
• (00:38:23) - Beautiful Curly Me's Youth Me Business
• (00:40:43) - Black Dolls: The Transition from Indie to Retail
• (00:45:44) - African-American entrepreneur on building a business
• (00:48:49) - Empowering 10 Million Girls

What happens when you trade decades in high-stakes consulting for sunrise mornings on a Texas ranch?

Today’s guest, Dave Worley, did exactly that and his story is a powerful reminder that your next chapter can be bold, unexpected, and deeply fulfilling.

After more than 25 years advising C-level leaders and driving business development at firms like PwC and CrossCountry Consulting, Dave made a life-changing pivot: stepping away from corporate life to run his family’s 120-year-old West Texas ranch.

In this conversation, he shares how he knew it was time to leave, what surprised him most about starting over, and the mindset shifts that helped him navigate divorce, reinvention, and retirement all at once.

We talk about:
✨ The realities of consulting — the pace, the pressure, and the thrill
✨ Why every career (and every relationship) involves selling
✨ How AI is reshaping professional services
✨ What happens emotionally when you outgrow a path you’ve been on for decades
✨ Choosing joy, embracing risk, and giving yourself permission to change
✨ The wisdom he wishes he had earlier in his career
✨ And the reminder we all need: “This isn’t a practice life.”

Dave’s story is real, grounded, and full of perspective — especially for anyone feeling stuck, craving change, or questioning what’s next.

If you're considering a pivot, in career, relationship, or identity, this episode is for you.

• (00:00:00) - Riding the Big Wheel: Dave Worley
• (00:01:32) - In the Elevator With PwC's Leaders
• (00:02:09) - Former Consulting Pro-Volunteers Talk
• (00:03:48) - What's the Difference Between Working in Industry and Consulting?
• (00:05:01) - How to Build a Consulting Business
• (00:06:13) - The Importance of Sales in Consulting
• (00:09:35) - The Future of Consulting With AI
• (00:12:59) - Will Consulting Be Affected by AI?
• (00:15:26) - Richie's Transition Out of Consulting to the Family Ranch
• (00:24:22) - What Happened to Your Marriage?
• (00:28:28) - Why I chose to stay in my marriage
• (00:30:33) - Marriage and Change: What Advice Would You Give People?
• (00:38:33) - Living Through The Great Recession
• (00:38:59) - Retiring Firefighter: What Advice Do You Have for People?
• (00:45:33) - Dave Worley
• (00:49:36) - Follow Your Will: The Big Will Moment

Women get heart disease too and many don’t realize it until it’s urgent. In this eye-opening conversation, preventive cardiologist Dr. Ijeoma Isiadinso breaks down what every woman should know about cardiovascular risk across life stages, from pregnancy through menopause, and how to take control with evidence-based prevention.

In this episode:

• The #1 myth about women and heart disease and why awareness still lags.

• Traditional & female-specific risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, family history, pregnancy complications, autoimmune disease).

• Lifestyle that protects your heart: Life’s Essential 8, sleep, stress management, and why strength training matters.

• Eating for heart health: Mediterranean & DASH (and the truth about red meat, dairy, and “clean” foods)

• Menopause & heart risk: what changes, what to monitor, and individualized HRT considerations.

• Autoimmune conditions (lupus, RA) and the emerging field of cardio-rheumatology.

• When stress literally hurts your heart: understanding “broken heart syndrome.”

• Smart screening to discuss with your clinician: lipoprotein(a) and coronary artery calcium (CAC) score.

• How to find a provider who really listens and what questions to ask.

This conversation is a must-listen for every woman and everyone who cares about transforming healthcare from the inside out.

Subscribe and watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@ridingthebigwheel

#RidingTheBigWheel #WomensHealth #Podcast #WomenInLeadership #HealthcareInnovation #hearthealth

Guest: Dr. Ijeoma Isiadinso, preventive cardiologist specializing in women’s cardiovascular health, risk reduction, and cardio-rheumatology.
Host: Michelle, Riding the Big Wheel

• (00:00:00) - Dr. Izzy Adenso
• (00:01:52) - One of My Favorites: Dr. Izzi Adenso
• (00:03:50) - Women and heart disease
• (00:06:19) - Risk factors for heart disease in women
• (00:07:16) - Modifiable risk factors, health
• (00:07:59) - How to Get Enough Sleep
• (00:10:57) - Healthcare access in rural areas
• (00:12:58) - Preventive Cardiology for Women
• (00:15:14) - Health and eating for heart disease patients
• (00:16:54) - Healthy meals for women with high cholesterol
• (00:20:36) - Lactose intolerant patients and A2 Milk
• (00:22:47) - Exercise and strength training
• (00:27:41) - Heart risks of pregnancy and diabetes
• (00:29:13) - What advice would you give women about their pregnancy?
• (00:30:54) - The Real Story of Menopause
• (00:31:52) - Heart health of women in menopause
• (00:36:29) - Heart disease in rheumatoid arthritis
• (00:40:46) - Heart disease and emotional well being
• (00:45:35) - Heart disease: Broken Heart Syndrome
• (00:48:14) - Heart disease symptoms in women
• (00:53:33) - How to Get Your Physical Every Year
• (00:56:37) - Heart disease, calcium cardiac score
• (00:59:36) - Should Every Woman Have a Cardiologist?
• (01:00:56) - Finding a good healthcare provider
• (01:03:42) - Tips for women's cardiovascular health
• (01:04:44) - Michelle on Cardiac Disease