Ordinarily Extraordinary

27/11/2025

While you’re checking off your Black Friday list, don’t forget to snag our new Women in STEM coloring book!

It features 25 contemporary women in science, technology, engineering, and math — all beautifully hand-illustrated by my daughter. Each page highlights a real woman and her story, helping inspire the next generation (and adults too!).

It makes the perfect stocking stuffer and a fun, meaningful gift to spark curiosity in the kids you love. 💛

Link in bio

27/11/2025

While you’re checking off your Black Friday list, don’t forget to snag our new Women in STEM coloring book!

It features 25 contemporary women in science, technology, engineering, and math — all beautifully hand-illustrated by my daughter. Each page highlights a real woman and her story, helping inspire the next generation (and adults too!).

It makes the perfect stocking stuffer and a fun, meaningful gift to spark curiosity in the kids you love. 💛

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

21/11/2025

✨ New Episode! ✨

Ordinarily Extraordinary - conversations with women in STEM

This week, Linda LaTourelle and I sat down with someone who absolutely embodies resilience, courage, and curiosity — Amanda Mavropoulis, a global project & portfolio management leader whose career spans electric utilities, tech, and a whole lot of unexpected twists.

Amanda shares her path from environmental studies to technology, what it was like to transition from a long career in the utility world into a major global tech company, and how surviving breast cancer reshaped her outlook and gave her the boldness to pursue what she calls her “unicorn job.”

We also talk about:
💡 Building teams and trust in high-stress, high-stakes project environments
💡 Navigating career pivots (planned and unplanned)
💡 The importance of balance, boundaries, and true work-life integration
💡 Why representation in STEM careers matters — and how early influence shapes everything

Amanda’s optimism, honesty, and perspective are a breath of fresh air. I know you’ll love this conversation as much as we did.

🎧 Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1122377/episodes/18197930

If you enjoy this episode, please like, share, or leave a review — it truly helps amplify the stories of women in STEM.

19/11/2025

🎉 It’s officially published! 🎉

After three years of sketches, late-nights of editing, and a whole lot of learning, our Women in STEM Coloring Book is finally out in the world!

If you haven’t been following along, this has been a true labor of love with my daughter, Emily. She illustrated every page, and together with the incredible women featured in the book, we created something meant to inspire girls to dream big and see themselves in STEM careers.

Representation matters. Awareness matters. Helping kids see what's possible matters.

I’m especially excited that the book includes several women I’ve had on my Ordinarily Extraordinary podcast—like WDAY Meteorologist Lydia Blume, Tami Anderson, and Liana Jo Ault—whose stories show just how powerful representation can be.

If you’d like to take a look, here’s the link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G2YSJ9XW

Thank you for all the encouragement and support. This project means so much to us, and I hope it inspires someone special in your life, too.

This makes a great Holiday gift!

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

29/10/2025

🦇🎃 Bonus Halloween Episode! 🎃🦇

It’s Bat Week — and what better way to celebrate than learning all about these fascinating, misunderstood creatures? 🌙

In this special Halloween episode of Ordinarily Extraordinary – Conversations with Women in STEM, we talk with Dr. Kristen Lear, a bat scientist and conservationist who’s dedicated her career to protecting bats around the world.

Kristen shares how a childhood Girl Scout project building bat houses inspired a lifelong passion for science, conservation, and helping others see the beauty in bats. 🦇💚

We chat about her incredible work at Bat Conservation International, why bats are so important to our ecosystems, and what to do if you ever find one in your house (hint: it’s not as scary as you think!).

🎧 Listen now and celebrate Bat Week with us: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1122377/episodes/18093658

08/10/2025

New Episode Alert!

In this week’s episode of Ordinarily Extraordinary – Conversations with Women in STEM, Linda LaTourelle and I talk with Manyphay Viengkham — a technology leader whose career path is anything but ordinary.

With degrees in biochemistry and computer science, Manyphay has built a career grounded in curiosity, resilience, and lifelong learning — from roles at GE and Honeywell to launching her own consulting business.

We talk about:
💡 Following your curiosity — and how it can lead to surprising new opportunities
💬 Navigating career transitions with confidence and adaptability
🤝 Building authentic relationships and a personal brand that opens doors
🚀 The ups and downs of starting your own business
❤️ Why compassion and professionalism make all the difference in leadership

Plus, in our “Ask the (Not) Expert” segment, we get real about handling assumptions in the workplace — like being mistaken for admin staff — and how to respond with confidence and grace.

🎧 Listen here: https://lnkd.in/g-4dhkfk

📝 And check out Manyphay’s thoughtful writing on Substack: https://lnkd.in/g8GzRBU7

25/09/2025

🎙️New Episode Alert!

On this week’s Ordinarily Extraordinary – Conversations with Women in STEM, we’re joined by Lawanda Parnell, a technology leader whose career spans generations of change in IT.

Lawanda shares her journey from early days in tech to leading large-scale digital transformation — and the lessons she’s learned along the way about resilience, leadership, and navigating a career in a field that’s constantly evolving.

What you’ll hear in this episode:
✅ How technology careers have changed across decades
✅ Lawanda’s perspective on leadership and mentoring the next generation
✅ The challenges and opportunities for women in IT and telecom today

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a lasting career in technology, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

🎧 Listen now: https://lnkd.in/gnuMXznY

10/09/2025

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1122377/episodes/17721513

After almost a year away, Ordinarily Extraordinary: Conversations with Women in STEM is back — and we’re relaunching with something new: a co-host!

In our first episode of the relaunch, I’m joined by my longtime friend and new co-host Linda LaTourelle as we talk with Stacy Cluff, IT and Broadband Manager at Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative.

Stacy’s story is one of resilience, growth, and leadership. From starting out in paralegal studies to becoming a leader in IT and broadband, she’s spent 28 years at Mille Lacs Energy wearing many hats — and is now helping bring critical fiber broadband to rural Minnesota communities.

What we talk about in this episode:

~ Stacy’s career journey and what it’s like to manage broadband projects, grant funding, and IT at a small co-op

~ Balancing career, education, and family — plus advice for women considering going back to school

~ The impact of rural broadband and why it matters

~ Stepping outside your comfort zone to speak up, network, and lead

New this season: Ask (Not) an Expert — our listener advice segment!
This time, we discuss navigating workplace social dynamics and balancing school vs. family.

Learn more: www.ordinarily-extraordinary.com

So excited to be back and to share Stacy’s story as we kick off this next chapter!

09/09/2025

New podcast season kicks off tomorrow! Read all about the relaunch here on Kathy's Substack.

New Co-Host, New Segment, Same Mission

27/08/2025

https://open.substack.com/pub/kathykalenelson/p/changing-the-world-one-story-at-a?r=6a443n&utm_medium=ios

12/08/2025

New! STEM Stories Newsletter

I’m excited to share something I’ve been working on — my new Substack newsletter, STEM Stories.

This will be my space for:

🔹 Inspiring conversations with women in STEM (from my Ordinarily Extraordinary podcast)

🔹 Behind-the-scenes of my writing journey — including my STEM-focused children’s books

🔹 Curious discoveries and thought-provoking topics from the worlds of science, technology, engineering, and math

Whether you’re in STEM, curious about STEM, or just love great stories, I’d love for you to join me.

Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/gAQSgUtE

Your support — by subscribing, reading, or sharing — means the world as I grow this next chapter.

https://open.substack.com/pub/kathykalenelson/p/welcome-to-stem-stories

Why I’m starting STEM Stories — and how I hope you’ll be part of it

15/07/2025

Behind the scenes prepping for our podcast relaunch! 🎙️
We had our first co-host photoshoot and started exploring music for the new episodes—it’s all starting to feel real! So many exciting things happening as we get ready to launch in September. One of the best parts? Every woman here - photographer, musician, hosts - are my dear friends and women in STEM!