Anjel B. Hartwell is the dynamic host of the Wickedly Smart Women podcast and a passionate advocate for empowering women to step into their full potential. With a rich background in working with high-achieving women in leadership, Anjel founded her podcast to amplify their voices and create a space for deep, transformative conversations. She believes in the power of intuition, deliberate action, and resilience as key drivers of personal and professional growth. Anjel’s mission is to help women trust their inner wisdom, embrace bold action, and transform not only their own lives but the world around them. Through her podcast, she creates an inspiring platform where women can share their stories, connect with like-minded individuals, and learn from one another, all while embracing the importance of self-care, authenticity, and community.
1. Can you share with us your personal journey and how you came to start the Wickedly Smart Women podcast?
My journey has been a blend of professional and personal evolution. Having worked with high-achieving women in leadership roles and seen how much untapped potential exists when they step into their full self-expression, I knew I wanted to create something that would amplify their voices and provide them with a platform to share their stories. The Wickedly Smart Women podcast was born out of a desire to connect, inspire, and empower women to take bold action. It’s a space where women who are already leading can expand, connect, and learn from each other. The podcast became an extension of my mission to empower high-level women to fully embrace their potential and achieve their goals.
2. What inspired you to focus on intuition, action-taking, and transforming worlds as the core themes of your work?
I’ve always believed that intuition is a powerful tool, one that is often overlooked or undervalued in the business world. I saw so many women who were deeply intuitive but didn’t trust that aspect of themselves, especially in high-stakes environments. Combining intuition with action is key to creating transformative change. I believe that when women trust their intuition, take deliberate action, and transform their worlds, they become unstoppable forces of nature. My work is centered around guiding women to step into that power—to trust their inner wisdom, act with confidence, and create a ripple effect that changes not just their own lives but the lives of those around them.
3. Could you discuss some of the challenges or struggles you faced while building your podcast and business?
Like any entrepreneurial venture, building the Wickedly Smart Women podcast and my business hasn’t been without its challenges. Early on, one of the biggest struggles was managing the many hats I had to wear: podcast host, business owner, content creator, marketer, and more. It was overwhelming at times, but it taught me the importance of systems, delegation, and scaling in a way that preserved my energy and creativity. Additionally, learning to navigate the ups and downs of being in business, including handling self-doubt and uncertainty, was tough. But each challenge became an opportunity to grow and refine my approach to both the podcast and the business.
4. What are some key lessons you’ve learned along the way that have helped you navigate obstacles and achieve success?
One key lesson has been the power of consistency. Even when things felt slow or uncertain, staying consistent with my messaging, content, and outreach helped me build a loyal following. Another lesson is the importance of trust—trusting my intuition, trusting the process, and trusting the people I bring into my business. I’ve also learned that success comes organically – it’s NOT Linear as many people believe, and it’s about staying devoted to your vision and source of inspiration and being adaptable as the inevitable data from life comes in to guide any course corrections. Lastly, the value of surrounding myself with a supportive network of mentors, peers, collaborators and top notch team members has been priceless in helping me navigate obstacles and achieve success.
5. How do you believe trusting intuition plays a role in personal and professional growth?
Trusting intuition is foundational to personal and professional growth because it helps us align with our Source of inspiration, our true purpose and current mission and to make decisions that are in harmony with our core values. In business, intuition can guide us when it’s time to pivot, who to collaborate with, or even what decisions to make next. On a personal level, it helps us maintain authenticity and integrity, which are key to long-term fulfillment and success. When we trust our intuition, we honor our inner wisdom, which can often see opportunities or risks that our logical mind may miss. Intuition also allows access to the miraculous and the synchronistic and unexpected events and people that bring fresh perspectives, new networks and a more expanded vision that our mental body could never have imagined.
6. Can you share a particularly inspiring or impactful story from your podcast that has stayed with you?
One story that stands out is an interview with a guest who shared how she overcame personal struggles and built a thriving multimillion dollar enterprise that was rooted in her creativity. Her vulnerability in sharing her journey and the lessons she learned about resilience and self-leadership deeply moved me. Her story was a perfect example of how transformative action, trusting your inner compass and being a stand for what you believe and create can result in massive impact. The feedback from listeners who said they were inspired to take their own leaps after hearing her story reminded me of the power that storytelling has to ignite change.
7. What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or creators who are facing self-doubt or fear of failure?
My best advice would be to actually ENGAGE the “demon of doubt” – get into a dialogue with this aspect of yourself that is showing up because it is serving the purpose of “keeping you safe”. There is a tremendous amount of wisdom that this aspect of self has to offer and by ignoring or suppressing this part of you, you are expending a huge amount of energy that could be freed up for actually fueling your intended forward momentum. Once you’ve engaged that part you can keep moving forward, even when self-doubt creeps in because you know it’s there as your ALLY. It’s normal to experience fear and uncertainty and you can always take small, consistent steps, and remember that failures are there to actually provide for you – they are learning experiences that can be converted into wisdom and that wisdom structured properly can swiftly turn into wealth as long as you are not married to the struggle. It’s essential too to invest and surround yourself with people who believe in you and can offer guidance and support. Trust that each step, no matter how small, is getting you closer to your goal. And most importantly, be kind to yourself in the process. Success is rarely linear, and embracing the journey is just as important as the destination.
8. In your experience, what are some effective strategies for building a supportive community around your brand or message?
Building a supportive community starts with authenticity. When you show up as your true self and share what you believe in, people are naturally drawn to that energy. Creating a space for engagement—whether it’s through social media, your podcast, or live events—is essential to building trust and fostering connection. It’s also important to listen to your community and give them opportunities to share their thoughts, feedback, and stories. Collaboration and mutual support are key to building a strong community, so always be open to connecting with like-minded people who share your values and vision.
9. How do you maintain a balance between your personal life and the demands of running a successful podcast and business?Maintaining balance is an ongoing process, but I’ve learned that setting clear boundaries is essential. I dedicate specific times for work and specific times for rest or personal activities. Prioritizing my own self-care, including downtime and staying connected to my creative flow, helps me stay grounded and energized. I’ve also learned the importance of delegation—trusting my team and systems to manage certain tasks so that I can focus on the parts of the business that require my unique expertise. Balancing work and personal life is about being intentional with your time and staying committed to what matters most to you, both professionally and personally. Health is a top priority – especially nervous system health. Too many people (myself included) experience burnout because we’ve been conditioned societally to believe we have to be ALWAYS ON. One thing I like to say is “Don’t be seduced by the culture of busy.” It’s a rebellious act to focus on your wellbeing above all else – it’s the cornerstone of building a Wealthy Life By Design™. It’s also on you to be exploring and understanding exactly what it is that makes you well and also what depletes you and being VICIOUSLY RUTHLESS in letting go of or renegotiating relationships and activities that drain or are degenerative.
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