If you’re from Buffalo, you already know - we don’t justshow up together. And if you’re not from here, you’re about to see exactly what makes this community so special. That spirit is exactly what this episode with Buddy in da Basement (a/k/a Chris Panepinto) is all about.

In this high-energy, fun, and genuinely insightful conversation, I sit down with one of Buffalo’s favorite content creators totalk about what it really takes to turn creativity, consistency, and a whole lot of Bills Mafia energy into a thriving community.

In just two years and nearly 700 pieces of content,Buddy in da Basement has built something special — not just a following, but a place where food, tailgates, crazy cocktails, costumes, and pure Buffalo energy collide in the best possible way.

We talk about:

• How Buddy became a character and why Buffalo embraces creativity
• The real work behind showing up consistently
• Finding your niche without losing your personality
• Why community will always beat algorithms
• The creator grind behind the scenes
• And of course… tailgates, traditions, and unapologetic Buffalo Bills love

This episode is a reminder that Buffalo doesn’t just createfans — we create families. And the best content doesn’t come from chasing trends… it comes from showing up as yourself and inviting people along for the ride.

And yes — we confirm:

• It is Buffalo Bills weather
• The Bills are winning the Super Bowl
• And you absolutely should be following Buddy in da Basement.

If you love Buffalo, love creators who keep it real, or justwant a genuinely fun listen — this one’s for you!

Thank you, Buddy in da Basement, for such an engaging, fun episode.

And a shout out to our location sponsor, Labatt Brew House for hosting our episode!! Delicious beer and great conversation …what an amazing night!! Go Bills!

Links to Buddy:

Buddy in da Basement

Facebook - Buddyin da Basement

About Buddy:

Buddy in da Basement started just about two years ago as asimple idea — bring joy, laughter, and Buffalo Bills hype to the internet. Buddy celebrates three things: Eat. Drink. Be a Bills Fan! Self-proclaimed unofficial bar master of Buffalo - mixes up a different chaotic cocktail every week; talks proud about Buffalo food spot - mostly pizza but has dabbled into other foods. Finally, Buddy tries to create some ridiculous antic that is relatable to Bills fans bringing our community together.

Buddy is a character I created — upbeat, passionate,ridiculous in all the right ways and always aiming to spread positivity. He’s never trying to offend, argue, or be controversial. The goal is simple: give people a smile and an escape from the heaviness of everyday life.

“I show my scars so that others know they can heal.”

In this episode I am joined by Erin Bailey-Boyes. Erin is afitness and mindset coach from Muskoka, Ontario, but her story is about so much more than training plans or physical transformation. In this deeply honest and courageous episode, Erin opens up about her journey through grief, anxiety, addiction, and recovery — and what it really looks like to choose yourself, even when it feels impossibly hard.

We talk about her early life, how she found her way into fitness and coaching, and the pressure so many of us feel to appear “strong” and “put together” while quietly struggling behind the scenes. Erin shares her battle with alcoholism, the devastating loss of her partner in the line of duty, andthe long, brave road toward learning healthier ways to cope with pain, stress, and fear.

What makes this conversation so powerful is Erin’s willingness to be fully seen. She doesn’t share from a place of perfection — she shares from a place of truth. From the moments she used alcohol to numb the pain, to the moment she realized she deserved more from her life, Erin’s story is a reminderthat healing is not linear, but it is always possible.

This episode is about: : Choosing authenticity over appearances : Learning to sit with your pain instead ofrunning from it : Redefining strength, resilience, andself-compassion

: Understanding that asking for help is notweakness — it’s courage

: And remembering that no matter how dark thingsfeel, your story is not over

If you or someone you love is struggling, I hope this conversation reminds you that you are not alone — and that there is real hope on the other side of the hardest seasons.

Erin, thank you for your bravery, honesty, and your heart. Yourwillingness to share your story will help more people than you may ever realize.

About Erin:

Erin Bailey is a mom, fitness & nutrition coach, studio owner,and mindset mentor who will celebrate 12 years of sobriety this January. Erin’s journey has taught her that true transformation begins when you embrace yourstruggles, learn true self love and stop hiding from your own potential. With 27 years of coaching experience and multiple awards — including Most Influential Business Person of 2023 — Erin’s passion is to inspire others to live their best lives through strength, confidence, discovering their spiritand finding joy in both healing and health. She brings a grounded, real-life perspective to recovery, resilience, and personal transformation.

Links to Erin:

Erin Bailey

Body by Design -Fitness, Personal Trainer, Gym

There are episodes that feel meaningful… and then there areepisodes that feel truly inspiring. My time with Dr. Don Bardenwas one of those. Don brings warmth, humility, joy, and profound wisdom into every conversation. Together, we talked about gratitude over fear, presence over pressure, and what it truly means to lead with heart in both life andbusiness.

We explored his work through The Perfect Plan and spenttime with his newest book, Here Come the Girls — a powerful,research-backed, deeply honoring celebration of women in leadership. In this groundbreaking work, Don reveals a transformative vision for the future: a world where women step fully into global leadership, reshaping economies,organizations, and cultures for the better. Drawing from years of doctoral research and real-world experience, Don shows how women naturally create more engaged, compassionate, and high-performing environments through empathy, humanconnection, and empowerment.

But this book isn’t just a tribute — it’s a call to action. Donchallenges outdated leadership models and reminds businesses that the future belongs to organizations rooted in relevance, relationships, empathy, and humanity. His belief in the brilliance and rising strength of women is deeplypassionate, incredibly hopeful, and grounded in data-driven truth.

And because Don leads with generosity and heart, he is offering free digital copies of his books — including Here Come the Girls — to listeners who reach out and share that they heard about him on Powered by Authenticity. That kindness alone speaks volumes about who he is.

This episode is full of heart. Full of belief in people. Full ofhope for the future. If you need encouragement, inspiration, and something beautiful for your spirit — this conversation will meet you there. 💛

Thank you so much Don for an inspiring and empowering episode of the show!

Links to Don:

Don Barden, Ph.D. | LinkedIn

Don Barden |Here Come the Girls: A Celebration of Why Women Will Take Over Global Leadership In 2028: Barden Ph.D., Donald W.: 9798306908007: Amazon.com: BooksAmazon.com: The Perfect Plan: A Study that Reveals the Secret Behind the World's Elite Leaders, Sales and Marketing Professionals: 0000692657797: Barden, Don: BooksAbout Dr. Don Barden:
Dr. Don Barden is a globally recognized expert in leadership and decision-making, with over 30 years of transformative leadership in the financial industry. Named one of North America’s Top 30 Most Transformational Leaders by John Maxwell and 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year by the AtlantaBusiness Chronicle, Don’s innovative approaches have reshaped organizations across the U.S. and internationally.

He holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership and BehavioralEconomics, an MBA in Global Technology Management and International Business, and a BBA in Economics and Finance, with additional cybersecurity certification from Harvard. His “unfair advantage” leadership research debunks outdatedleadership myths and helps organizations unlock creative potential, transform culture, and achieve record-setting performance — all delivered with humor, humanity, and intellectual rigor.

Dr. Barden also serves through significant philanthropic work,supporting mental health, youth leadership, inclusion initiatives, and providing scholarships and care access for those in need. His groundbreaking research, including Here Come the Girls and the Shift Happens series, highlights the extraordinary impact of women in leadership and thefuture of human-centered organizations.

In this episode I was joined by Jeffrey Botteron, President and CEO of TechBuffalo. Within, we speak about the mission of TechBuffalo - building a sustainable, inclusive, and accessible tech ecosystem – creating the talent density needed for companies to thrive in Western New York. We may have also snuck in some talk on our favorite running spots and our beloved Buffalo Bills.

During our time together, Jeffrey and I discussed the programs that TechBuffalo has such as PowerUp Tech - bringing internships to some of the brightest students at leading WNY organizations. So much so, students stay in the WNY community ...therefore, allowing organizations to grow.

We also discussed the importance of partnership in our area including the WIT Network, 43 North, and M & T Bank, amongst others. I have been very fortunate to attend the Women in Tech conference hosted by TechBuffalo and have seen first-hand the positive impacts of networking in our community.

Thank you, Jeffrey, for such a wonderful conversation about WNY's tech landscape!!

Go Bills!

About Jeffrey:

President & Chief Executive Officer

Jeffrey is a proven builder of talent development programs that promote equitable access to career opportunities. He became TechBuffalo’s leader after working for decades in Indiana, one of the most robust tech ecosystems in the United States. He has a track record of success in executingbold projects that connect workforce needs to educational programming.

Links to Jeffrey and TechBuffalo Information:

Jeffrey Botteron | LinkedIn

TechBuffalo - Building Community. Creating Connections.

In this episode of Powered by Authenticity, Emily is joined by Nick Revelas, President of the Revelas Family Foundation, to share the story behind the foundation, its mission, and the community-driven work focused on supporting teen mental health across Western New York.

Nick reflects on the personal loss that led to the creation of the Revelas Family Foundation and how that experience shaped its purpose: to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and increase access to mental health resources for young people. The foundation’s work is rooted in the belief that open conversation and community connection can save lives.

The conversation highlights the upcoming Not So Silent Night event — a signature fundraiser that brings the community together in a meaningful and uniquely Buffalo way. This year’s event includes an ambitious and fun attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest chicken wing eating contest, using food and connection as a way to draw people into an important conversation around mental health.

Emily and Nick also discuss the impact of Horizon's Teen Mental Health Program, a critical mental health resource supported by the foundation. Horizons has already helped over 40,000 students across 40 school systems, yet the demand continues to grow, with a waiting list that underscores just how urgent the need for support remains.

Every contribution helps expand access to care, fund vital programming, and continue breaking the stigma surrounding mental health issues — one conversation, one student, and one community at a time.

This episode is a powerful reminder that when communities come together with purpose, compassion, and authenticity, meaningful change is possible.

Thank you, Nick, for a wonderful conversation. We can't wait to see the incredible event this Saturday, December 20th, and the incredible impact the funds raised will make to our community.

Links to the Revelas Family Foundation:

A Not So Silent Night | Revelas FoundationHorizon Health Services | Mental Health & Addiction Services in WNYAbout the Not So Silent Night Event:

The Event:

At this year's annual holiday event, A Not So Silent Night, we will be attempting to beat the Guinness World Record for The World's Largest Chicken Wing Eating Contest. The record is for the most people actively eating chicken wings at once. We need to beat 397 participants (Amazon Web Services currently holds the record).

We believe this record rightfully belongs in Buffalo, New York. At the event there will be food from local partners: Bar Bill, Wingnutz Buffalo, Picasso's Imperial Pizza, & more. Plus, other on site vendors like 26 Shirts, Lucky Wing, Buffalo Freddy Party Rental, TSE Buffalo, and Trainwreck Sports. We alsohave corporate sponsors involved like Univera, Highmark, Lawley Insurance, and so many more.

Where: The Buffalo Convention Center

When: Saturday, December 20th from 6:30-9:30pm

Why: The holidays are a difficult time of the year where many struggle with their mental health. Our mission is to create fun fundraising events that bring people together to talk and break the stigma around mental health. We have raised money for Horizon Health Services' Teen Mental Health Program over the years. They have been able to go into 35+ schools around WNY and reach over 38,000 students, teachers, and faculty through this program

Registration Details: World record participant registration is now closed but you can still sign up to volunteer and be a spectator at revelasfamilyfoundation.org

In this episode, we are joined by Julie Whitten, Founderand CEO of Julie Whitten Consulting.
Julie shares the story behind launching her own consulting practice after a long career in change management, and how stepping into entrepreneurship opened a new chapter she didn’t originally plan for but quickly embraced.

We also talk about her Big Girls Panties Diaries series on LinkedIn — a candid, relatable look at finding your voice, navigating career pivots, and owning the hard moments with humor and honesty. Julie talks about how writing became a way to support others going through similar transitions, and how those articles unexpectedly helped shape her businessidentity. P.S. – who else LOVES the name of this series!

Throughout our conversation, Julie reflects on the themesthat guide her work today: authentic storytelling, helping organizations navigate change, and giving people tools to feel seen, steady, and supported during uncertainty. She also shares the wisdom, vulnerability, and clarity that have carried her through her own pivot into consultancy.

It’s a grounded, heartfelt conversation with a womanbuilding something new — and doing it with courage, candor, and compassion.

Thank you, Julie, for spending time with us. I loved talkingabout all things change management, entrepreneurship and Thanksgiving side dishes.

Links to find more about Julie:

JulieAnn Whitten | LinkedIn

JulieWhitten Consulting | Empower Change Today

Julie’s Bio:

Julie Ann Whitten is a Calmfident transformation andcommunications executive, keynote speaker, and founder of Julie Whitten Consulting, where she helps organizations navigating complex change. She specializes in leadership alignment, communication strategy, employeereadiness, and building strong People Stacks — the human capabilities that actually make change stick.

With more than 25 years of experience leading change at Fortune 500 company organizations Julie brings a rare blend of strategic clarity, emotional intelligence, and storytelling to every engagement. She is known for helping leaders translate vision into language people actually understand andmove through — reducing resistance, increasing trust, and creating sustainable transformation.

Julie is also the creator of Big Girl Panties Diaries, a 100+ entry LinkedIn series that blends humor, vulnerability, and leadership lessons drawn from real life — careerplot twists, parenting a medically complex child, yoga mat meltdowns, and everything in between. Her writing has resonated with thousands of readers navigating the messy middle of their own personal and professional changes.

Her philosophy is simple: change doesn’t have to bechaotic. With the right leadership, communication, and humanity, it can be calm, clear, and profoundly transformative.

In this episode of Powered by Authenticity, we speak with Dr. Susan McGinty, founder of The Estembly and an expert in inclusive leadership within STEM and security. Susan shares her journey from scientist to strategist and explains why inclusion must be intentionally built into systems, decision-making, and culture. She discusses the measurable benefits of inclusive leadership, the challenges women face in traditionally male-dominated fields, and the importance of engaging men as partners in driving change. This conversation offers practical insight into creating workplaces where people can lead authentically and thrive.

Thank you, Susan, for this thoughtful, engaging conversation.I enjoyed our time together and hope you will come back to the podcast to further discuss the positive impact of inclusive teams.

Links to content discussed in this episode:

Susan McGinty, Dr| LinkedIn

The Asstembly |Inclusive Leadership

Dr Susan McGinty CEO and Founder, The Asstembly |International Women in Cyber Day Canberra Awards, Change Maker of the Year 2025 | Women Leading Tech Champion of Change 2025 | Leader of the Year 2023

Dr Susan McGinty is the CEO and Founder of The Asstembly. An award-winning scientist and global Security & STEM leadership development expert, speaker and author, she is inspired to transform the profile of leadership in Security & STEM to foster leadership excellence, diversityand inclusion; uplift women into leadership roles; and promote innovation sustainability.

Susan helps organisations across STEM, intelligence,national security and cyber security to develop diverse leadership pipelines as a foundation for business growth and innovation. She works with leaders globally to strengthen leadership skills and develop resilient, high-performingteams. Her thought leadership and tailored leadership programs have global impact.

Susan is a recognised global expert in female leadershipdevelopment. She was awarded the 2025 International Women in Cyber Day Canberra Awards Change Maker of the Year Award, 2025 Women Leading Tech Champion ofChange Award (Highly Commended), 2024 Australian Women in Security Awards Best Industry Initiative That Supports Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and 2023 Women in STEM Leadership Leader of the Year Award for her work supporting the leadership development of women in STEM, defence and cybersecurity globally. She was a finalist in the 2024 and 2025 Australian Defence and National Security Workforce Awards and Australian Defence Industry Awards, the 2025 and2023 Recalibrate Gender Equity Awards, the 2023 Australian Women in Security Awards and the 2023 Women’s Agenda Awards Emerging Leader in Tech.

Susan has a PhD in Medicinal & Organic Chemistry, aMaster of Leadership, and more than 25 years’ experience in STEM, Defence, Intelligence and National Security, and STEM/Security leadership development. In 2024, Susan authored two white papers describing strategic pathways that leverage female leadership development to expand workforce diversity and unlock innovation: Navigating Diversity in STEM and Advancing the Cyber SecuritySector. In 2023, Susan co-authored the #1 international best-selling book Women Transforming the Landscape of Science and Tech.

This week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr.Vicki Johnson, the founder of ProFellow — a platform she builtbecause she knew firsthand how life-changing fellowships, fully funded graduate programs, and competitive awards can be… and how hidden they often are. What started as a small resource she and her husband created while she was a Ph.D.student has now grown into a global hub that hundreds of thousands of people rely on.

Vicki’s story is one of curiosity, courage, and a whole lotof heart. She talks about the moment she realized that opportunities like her Fulbright Fellowship and fully funded Ph.D. program shouldn’t be secrets—you shouldn’t need to “know someone” or stumble on a professor’s offhand comment to change your life. So she built the tool she wished she had.

One of my favorite parts of our conversation is when Vickibreaks down her MATCH ME formula — a seven-step framework she developed to help people tell their story clearly and confidently, whether they’re applying for a fellowship, putting together a pitch, or stepping into theirnext big chapter. It’s simple, smart, and highly actionable, and you’ll hear her share how it has helped countless people transform the way they talk about themselves and their work.

We also go deep on the realities of entrepreneurship — thelong seasons, the learning curves, and the quiet moments when passion has to carry you through uncertainty. It’s honest, human, and full of wisdom for anyone building something that matters.

If you’ve ever wondered how to stand out, how to tell yourstory in a way that lands, or how to take your next step with a little more confidence, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

Thank you, Vicki, for such a wonderful conversation.

Please find links to content discussed below:

LinkedIn:

VickiJohnson, PhD | LinkedIn

ProFellow:

Fellowships, Awards,Fully Funded PhD and Master’s Programs

Website and Book Pre-Order:

Dr. Vicki Johnson

Dr. Vicki Johnson’s Bio:

Dr. Vicki Johnson is a speaker, author, and four-timefellowship winner who helps ambitious professionals win elite opportunities.

She is the founder of ProFellow, the leading U.S. resource for competitive fellowships, graduate programs, and leadership accelerators. A social entrepreneur and sought-after coach, Dr. Johnson teaches persuasive communication strategies that have helped her community secure more than $500million in merit-based funding awards. Pitch Your Potential is her first book and serves as an in-depth guide to her breakthrough MATCH ME Formula®, the 7 elements of a winning application.