The F Words Every Woman Needs to Live By ft. Chris Fulkerson | The Lou Review Podcast

In this episode, host Rosa Hart sits down with Chris Fulkerson — keynote speaker, confidence curator, and longtime image consultant — to talk about her journey from dressing Barbies as a little girl to empowering women across the country. Chris shares deeply personal stories about loss, reinvention, and why saying "yes to yourself" is the ultimate act of self-care. Timestamps: 1:17 — How Rosa and Chris met through Toastmasters & NSA Louisville 1:38 — Chris's Barbie-themed birthday party 2:17 — Loss, grief, and the mindset shift that changed everything 5:10 — "Woe is me" to "Whoa, we are having a party" — the pivot 7:00 — The Barbie dress, turning 60, and her goal of a 100th Barbie party 8:55 — The weight loss journey and the Barbie movie premiere 11:17 — What image consulting really looks like: closets, fashion feng shui & shopping together 13:20 — Why outfits don't matter if women aren't happy internally 14:45 — Chris's mission: helping women say yes to themselves 17:00 — The "F Words to Live By" framework: Food, Fashion, Fitness & more 19:40 — How trends don't define you — confidence to say no 20:40 — Self-care vs. selfishness, and being a role model for the next generation 22:35 — The cycle of self-sacrifice and how to break it for your kids 24:45 — Social media pressures on younger women 26:00 — Toastmasters & NSA: impact on Chris's speaking journey 27:01 — Starting over in Toastmasters 10-12 years later 30:20 — The power of storytelling in communication 32:24 — Why storytelling matters in healthcare communication 34:00 — Toastmasters for all levels — not just aspiring keynote speakers 36:38 — What Chris's business looks like today 37:28 — 17+ years with Dress for Success Louisville 38:00 — "Turning Over a New Leaf" fashion show story — Katie's powerful journey 43:17 — Dress for Success helping teachers with school-year wardrobes 44:14 — Dress for Success's mobile outreach to rural counties 46:07 — How to book Chris: website & Instagram 47:05 — Wags Pet Therapy dog fashion show & Chris's connection to the community 49:59 — Outro & how to support the Lou Review Connect with Chris Fulkerson: 🌐 Website: fwordstoliveby.com 📸 Instagram: @chris_fulkerson Support Dress for Success Louisville: Volunteer your time helping with fittings & styling Teachers: visit their boutique before the school year starts! Welcome to The Lou Review Podcast 🎙️Made possible by The Lou Review Foundation, Inc. This podcast highlights powerful conversations around business, branding, entrepreneurship, and community stories from Louisville and beyond. We feature inspiring founders, creatives, and leaders sharing real insights, growth strategies, and behind-the-scenes journeys. 🔹 Topics Covered: Business Growth & Marketing Branding & Creative Strategy Entrepreneurship & Startups Local Louisville Stories & Culture Subscribe for weekly podcast episodes and real conversations that matter. #Podcast #BusinessPodcast #Branding #Entrepreneurship #Louisville