In this engaging conversation, Erin Gerner interviews Heather Reese, a Philadelphia-based attorney, speaker, content creator, and plus-size model. Heather shares her journey from disliking school to becoming a lawyer, emphasizing the importance of multi-dimensionality in professional careers. She discusses her cultural identity as a Latina and her commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices in the legal field. The conversation highlights the significance of community support, mentorship, and the power of women supporting women in overcoming challenges. Heather also shares her modeling journey and the lessons learned about self-confidence and breaking self-imposed limits, looking forward to a bright future in 2026.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Heather's journey to law school was inspired by a family friend who was a lawyer.
• The importance of being a multi-dimensional professional in today's world.
• Cultural identity plays a significant role in shaping one's career and advocacy.
• Advocating for BIPOC communities is essential in the legal field.
• Mentorship and community support are crucial for young professionals.
• Women supporting women can lead to incredible outcomes in the workplace.
• Navigating challenges as a female lawyer requires resilience and support.
• Modeling has opened new opportunities and connections for Heather.
• Self-imposed limits can hinder personal growth and success.
• The future is bright, and opportunities are meant to be seized.

Want to connect with Heather about BIPOC-owned brands, modeling, being a multi-dimensional professional, or just need another female attorney who gets it? She's your person. DM her on Instagram.

• Instagram: @heather_r_xoxo
• DMs are OPEN - Heather reads all her messages and is available to mentor young attorneys and models
• Looking to volunteer and help aspiring attorneys or models—reach out!

Connect with Erin

• Instagram: @eringerner
• LinkedIn: Erin Gerner
• Website: www.eringerner.com
• Book a Call: Powerhouse Connection Cal

Welcome to 2026! In this first episode of the new year, Erin gets real about what she's NO LONGER apologizing for—and why you shouldn't either. After sitting down to plan 2026, she realized something: she'd been running her business based on what things "should" look like instead of what she actually wanted. No more. In this powerful solo episode, Erin shares the 5 things she's done apologizing for in 2026—from not 10x-ing her business to building something that doesn't look like anyone else's. If you've ever felt guilty for not wanting MORE, for being multi-passionate, or for not having it all figured out—this is your permission slip to stop apologizing and start building on YOUR terms.

Key Topics Covered

• Why "maintenance is a strategy" and you don't have to 10x everything
• Being a multi-passionate entrepreneur without apologizing for it
• Charging what you're worth (and why the right clients never complain about price)
• Not having it all figured out at 45 (and why that's actually a good thing)
• Building a business that looks different than everyone else's
• How to stop "shoulding" all over yourself
• The moment Erin realized she was apologizing to no one
• Why the Like-Know-Trust factor matters more than "staying in your lane"
• The 45th birthday funk and the sermon that changed everything
• LFG: The theme for 2026

Connect with Erin

• Instagram: @eringerner
• LinkedIn: Erin Gerner
• Website: www.eringerner.com
• Book a Call: Powerhouse Connection Call

What are YOU no longer apologizing for in 2026?

Tag Erin on Instagram or LinkedIn and let her know. She reads every single message and wants to hear your story.

Want to come on the show or know someone who should? DM Erin—let's set up a coffee chat and make it happen.

Ready to stop apologizing and start building on your terms? Book a free Powerhouse Connection Call with Erin.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Powerhouse Lawyers podcast so you never miss an episode.

What happens when two female lawyers from different countries realize they're fighting the same battles? In this powerful conversation, Erin sits down with Odette Ansell—a Canadian litigator and host of the Non-Billable Hours podcast—to talk about the universal struggles female lawyers face: loneliness, identity crisis, the pressure to "have it all," and the desperate need for community. They discuss why it's so hard to separate your identity from your job, what to do when you feel stuck, and why vulnerability might be the bravest thing you do as a lawyer. If you've ever felt like you're the only one crumbling while everyone else looks like they're crushing it—this episode is your reminder that you're not alone.

About Odette Ansell

Odette Ansell is a Canadian litigator and the host of Non-Billable Hours, a podcast dedicated to honest conversations about life in and beyond the law. With a passion for connecting with lawyers across every practice area, she creates space for candid discussions about the joys, pressures, and personal passions that shape legal professionals. Odette is driven by a desire to spotlight what truly lights lawyers up outside their work—from creative pursuits to family life to unexpected hobbies. Through her thoughtful interviews, she explores the common challenges many lawyers experience but rarely voice. Her work aims to build community, normalize vulnerability, and remind lawyers that their identities extend far beyond their billable targets.

Key Topics Covered

• Why Odette became a lawyer (and the personality test that said she'd be terrible at litigation)
• The universal struggles female lawyers face—regardless of country or practice area
• Why lawyers desperately need people who "get it" without needing context
• The loneliness epidemic in the legal profession (especially for women)
• How to separate your identity from your job when being a lawyer IS your personality
• The seasons of life and why "having it all" doesn't mean having it all at once
• Why women lawyers feel guilty for wanting something outside the law
• The bad advice that made Odette delete her food blog in law school
• How to find community when you work from home and feel isolated
• The power of saying your goals out loud (even if you don't know how to achieve them)
• Why vulnerability is so hard for lawyers (and why we desperately need it)
• The retreats that made Erin realize: "These women get me at a visceral level"

Connect with Odette Ansell

• Podcast: Non-Billable Hours (YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts)
• Instagram: @nonbillablehourspodcast

Want to connect with Odette about building community, navigating identity outside the law, or just chat about life as a lawyer? Find her on Instagram or check out her podcast!

Connect with Erin

• Instagram: @eringerner
• LinkedIn: Erin Gerner
• Website: www.eringerner.com
• Book a Call: Powerhouse Connection Call

If this conversation reminded you that you're not alone in what you're feeling, share it with another woman lawyer who needs to hear it. Tag Erin and Odette on social media and let them know what resonated.

Feeling stuck and ready to make a change? Book a free Powerhouse Connection Call with Erin and let's figure out what's next.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Powerhouse Lawyers podcast so you never miss an episode.

What if everything you thought about aging was wrong? In this eye-opening conversation, Erin sits down with her longtime friend Brandi Barnhill to discuss the health revolution that women in their 40s and 50s desperately need to hear about—but aren't. After 22 years in corporate pharmaceutical sales, Brandi discovered peptides during her own health journey and everything changed. Now she's helping women (and men) take back their health, energy, and confidence through longevity and wellness with EllieMD. If you're a woman in your 40s who feels like your body is betraying you, your energy is gone, and no one is talking about what you're experiencing—this episode is for you.

About Brandi:

Brandi Barnhill is a wife, proud mom of three, and a woman in the middle of her most transformative chapter yet. After spending 22 years in corporate pharmaceutical sales, she felt a deep pull toward something more—something rooted in purpose, freedom, and impact. That calling led her to EllieMD, where she helps women and men take back their health, energy, and confidence through longevity and wellness with peptides. Beyond business, Brandi is passionate about helping others uncover what's possible when they say "yes" to growth and trust their intuition. Her journey is one of reinvention, courage, and faith—proof that it's never too late to start again. Whether she's building her dream life with her husband, cheering on her kids, traveling with friends and family, or helping others rediscover themselves, Brandi is fully embracing the abundance that comes with living life on purpose.

Key Topics Covered

• Why women aren't talking about what's really happening to their bodies as they age
• What peptides are and why they're not "too good to be true"
• The health journey that changed everything for Brandi and her husband
• Why your primary care physician probably won't recommend peptides (yet)
• The difference between getting peptides from a vetted source vs. your local med spa
• How Brandi went from corporate pharmaceutical sales to building her own wellness business
• The moment she got displaced from her corporate job—and why it was a blessing
• Why telehealth and peptides are changing the longevity game
• Being your own patient advocate and doing your own research
• The mindset shift required to reinvent yourself in your 40s
• Why your 40s are just the beginning, not the end

Connect with Brandi

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandihesterbarnhill/
• Work with Brandi: DM her on Instagram to learn more about peptides, EllieMD, or her journey

Connect with Erin

• Instagram: @eringerner
• LinkedIn: Erin Gerner
• Website: eringerner.com
• Book a Call: Powerhouse Connection Call

Ready to stop waiting and start building the life and career you actually want? Book a free Powerhouse Connection Call with Erin.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Powerhouse Lawyers podcast so you never miss an episode.

This episode is for every woman who feels like her body is betraying her, her energy is gone, and no one is talking about what she's experiencing. You're not alone. And there IS a better way.

Episode Description

Meet Jodi Runger—a spunky Southern Belle lawyer with over 21 years of legal practice experience who's discovering her creative side after decades of pushing it down. In this honest conversation, Jodi shares her journey from corporate burnout to launching her own podcast, setting boundaries that actually stick, and learning that being a lawyer doesn't have to define who you are. If you're a high-achieving woman attorney who feels stuck, burned out, or like you're waiting for permission to want something different—this episode will remind you that you're not alone, and there IS another way.

About Jodi Runger

Jodi Runger is a lawyer with over 21 years of experience in healthcare insurance, creditors' rights, ERISA, Medicare, and med spa law. After spending years representing major healthcare insurance companies and navigating personal injury cases, Jodi now helps injured individuals keep their settlement money by resolving complex healthcare reimbursement disputes. Beyond her legal expertise, Jodi is passionate about helping women step into their confidence and is embracing her creative side through content creation, decorating, styling, and her new podcast, Top Three Things with Jodi. She's proof that it's never too late to rediscover yourself and build a life that feeds your soul.

Key Topics Covered

• The reality of lawyer burnout and why it happens earlier than you think
• Why your career shouldn't define who you are as a person
• How to set boundaries when you work from home (without the guilt)
• The creative side of lawyers that gets pushed down for decades
• Why confidence looks different at 47 than it did at 27
• The fear of judgment and how it keeps high-achievers stuck
• Why women need to stop sitting on their hands and speak up
• How coaching helps you see what you can't see on your own
• The importance of community and collaboration over competition

Connect with Jodi Runger

• Instagram: @shopwithjodi (Jodi with an "I")
• Facebook: Jodi Runger
• Podcast: Top Three Things with Jodi (coming soon!)

Want to chat with Jodi about med spa law, healthcare reimbursement, or just connect? DM her on Instagram—she's an open book!

Connect with Erin

• Instagram: @eringerner
• LinkedIn: Erin Gerner
• Website: www.eringerner.com
• Book a Call: Powerhouse Connection Call

Call to Action

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a woman lawyer who needs to hear it. Tag Erin and Jodi on social media and let them know what hit home for you.

Ready to get unstuck and start building a career and life you actually love? Book a free Powerhouse Connection Call with Erin and let's figure out if working together makes sense.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Powerhouse Lawyers podcast so you never miss an episode.

Episode Description:

Welcome to Episode 100 of Powerhouse Lawyers! After nearly 8,000 downloads and a year of uncomfortable growth, host Erin Gerner shares seven hard truths she's learned through 100 episodes of podcasting and 45 years of life. If you're a high-achieving woman waiting for someone or something to change your life, fix your career, or give you permission to want something different—this episode is for you. Because here's truth number one: No one is coming to save you. And that's either the most terrifying thing you'll hear today—or the most liberating.

Key Topics Covered

• Why no one is coming to rescue you (and why that's actually good news)
• How to kick your own ass when motivation doesn't come naturally
• Why you don't need permission—you need action
• What to do when you don't feel ready (spoiler: do it anyway)
• How big changes actually happen (hint: small daily actions)
• Why discomfort is a green light, not a stop sign
• Taking responsibility for your life and career

Connect or Work with Erin:

Instagram: @eringerner

LinkedIn: Erin Gerner

Website: www.eringerner.com

Book a Call HERE

Episode 1: A Former Version of You Prayed for This Life: Breaking Free from Comparison

Episode Description:

In this solo episode, Erin gets vulnerable about her 45th birthday funk and the comparison trap that nearly stole her joy. She shares the powerful message that shifted everything: "The life you are living now, a former version of you prayed for." If you've ever looked around at everyone else's highlight reel and felt like you're somehow behind, this episode is for you.

Key Topics Covered

• Why comparison feels heavier in your 40s
• The negativity bias: why your brain only sees what you don't have
• How social media amplified the comparison trap beyond our immediate circle
• The life-changing question: "Do I even want what they have?"
• The answered prayer audit: what did 35-year-old you desperately want?
• Why your current reality (even the messy parts) might be exactly what you prayed for

Timestamps

• 0:00 - Welcome back! Holiday mode and daylight savings rants
• 2:08 - The comparison trap at 45: why midlife hits different
• 4:00 - How comparison steals more than just your joy
• 6:14 - Erin's 45th birthday funk: feeling behind despite building everything from scratch
• 8:28 - The church message that changed everything
• 10:42 - The only person who can save you from comparison is you
• 12:18 - Why comparison ramps up in your 40s (the science behind it)
• 14:19 - Social media's role: comparing to everyone's highlight reel
• 16:16 - Practical tips: Do you even want what they have?
• 18:16 - The 10-year exercise: what did younger you pray for?
• 20:07 - Your worth is not based on someone else's highlight reel

Call to Action

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow lawyer or friend who needs to hear this message. Tag Erin on social media and let her know how you combat the comparison trap—she'd love to hear from you!

Don't forget to subscribe to the Powerhouse Lawyers podcast so you never miss an episode.

Connect with Erin

• Instagram: @eringerner
• LinkedIn: Erin Gerner
• Website: eringerner.com

Have a topic you'd love to hear covered on the podcast? DM Erin and let her know!

What do you do the day after you fall on your face in front of everyone? In this episode, Erin shares powerful stories about her daughters' moments of failure and comeback—and introduces The Goldfish Method, a three-step framework for bouncing back from setbacks. Learn why your perfectionism is killing your resilience, the neuroscience behind why trying again feels so hard, and how to separate your identity from your performance so one bad day doesn't derail your career.

Chapters

00:00
Welcome Back and Reflections on Podcasting

02:53
The Goldfish Analogy: Memory and Resilience

05:42
Overcoming Fear of Failure

08:52
Lessons from My Daughter's Public Speaking Experience

14:21
The Goldfish Method: Reset, Reframe, Return

23:08
Neuroscience of Resilience and Courage

29:03
Identity vs. Performance: Separating Self-Worth from Outcomes

38:00
Actionable Steps: Try Again and Accountability

41:49
Closing Thoughts and Legally Blonde Moment

Resources Mentioned:

• Dr. Andrew Huberman's work on neuroplasticity
• Dr. Kristin Neff's research on self-compassion
• Carol Dweck's research on growth mindset
• Angela Duckworth's "Grit"
• Brené Brown's work on perfectionism

Connect with Erin:

• Website: eringerner.com
• Instagram: @eringerner
• LinkedIn: Erin Gerner