Horizon West friends start ‘MissLabeled’ podcast

Three Horizon West friends have started a new podcast, and they’re hoping you’ll subscribe.

Women entrepreneurs Jessica Villegas, 42, founder of Hi-Lite Coaching and Consulting; Ashley Rogers, 33, founder of Level Up; and Shweta Patel, 40, founder of Gaya Wellness, launched recently MissLabeled — a podcast by women for women.

The three became quick friends a little more than a year ago and, since then, began brainstorming ideas on how to help women to realize their full potential. 

MISSLABELED

The idea behind their new podcast, MissLabeled, originated from the three women’s day-to-day conversations and a program the three launched, as well. 

Courtesy photo

“This all really stemmed from a mastermind group that Shweta put together,” Villegas said. “It was (us three) and Molly (McNeel) from Acupuncture by Molly. It was originally the four of us, just a mastermind group sharing, first of all, just being alpha females and then business ideas and just supporting one another in being solopreneurs. Then, Molly decided she needed to just focus on her business, so then it was just the three of us. We were hanging out one night ... and our conversations were just really very similar. The things we felt, and experiences we’ve had as women, as entrepreneurs, as people who are sometimes misunderstood, because we are not afraid to go after what we want.

“I think Shweta said, ‘We should start a podcast,’ and then we were like, ‘Yeah, we should do that,’” Villegas said. “And in the midst of that same conversation, we were talking about things that were missing in our own lives (and) how we wanted to empower other women.” 

After several names that did not pass the final judgement, Patel came up with MissLabeled. 

“We always have a box … we are supposed to be in,” she said. “And oftentimes, we feel like, ‘Oh, I can’t be in that box; this is my box.’ And that prohibits us or pulls us back. Oftentimes, people think we are already in a box, so we never step foot out of it. So, that’s where the label came from and then, I was like ‘Oh, women struggle with being mislabeled.’”

A podcast made by women, for women and about women, according to its intro, allows every topic to be discussed — as long as it is relevant to females.

“As far as the podcast is concerned, that is just three women who aren’t afraid to talk about what’s on their mind,” Villegas said. “Especially with women — there are some topics that we don’t really talk about as women in general, that they feel guilty for feeling overwhelmed as a mom or feeling like today (they) wished (they) weren’t moms or didn’t have to be moms. Every mom has felt that, but we don’t talk about it, because there is guilt that goes along with it. So, just normalizing talking about the things that women are all thinking.” 

Despite all three being entrepreneurs, the women have different lives and have gone through unique experiences that provide a wide range of conversations whenever the three sit down to record or just to brainstorm about what the next chapter of the podcast will be. 

“We try to meet weekly, if not biweekly,” Villegas said.

BLOOM

Through meeting one another, Villegas, Rogers and Patel not only launched a podcast together but also a program called Bloom. 

“The three of us realized we were hearing the same stories from women over and over again and feeling (those) in ourselves, as well,” Rodgers said. “Women are just not getting the care that they need and they are not being heard. So, creating a platform where they can be heard where they can be heard and get different aspects of wellness.”

The program is 100% virtual and encompasses a full wellness approach where women can, for six weeks, enjoy interactive sessions and comprehensive testing of mind, body and spirit. 

“Everything is done through (a) HIPAA-compliant platform, so (the clients) can feel very comfortable knowing that their information, data and the things they talk about with us (are) confidential,” Patel said. “The only caveat is that we collaborate on care. When we come together, we will share the finding to help determine a path — or action plan — to help (our clients) move forward.” 

“It’s so nice, because when I’m coaching on my own for my business, I only have the information the client gives me,” Rogers said. “But, with this, I have Shweta who can say, ‘Hey, this client has PCOS. She might need lower carbs than some other people.’ And Jessica might tell me, ‘Hey, this person has a really hard time following through with things; we are working on that.’ So, it just feels so complete, and I feel like I get a lot more accomplished with a client because of that collaborative effort.” 

Patel acts as the women’s health physician to help women feel better, Villegas acts as the personal success coach to help women live better, and Rodgers acts as the strength and nutrition coach to help women look better. 

The three call Bloom the “Biopsychosocial” approach, because it focuses on the biology, psychological and social aspects of a person’s health.