In this episode, I’m joined by social worker, policy advocate, and founder of DemocraShe, Sarah Jakle, for a conversation that feels both deeply grounding and powerfully activating. From her early work supporting unhoused communities and studying trauma, to navigating her own life-altering autoimmune diagnosis, Sarah shares the personal and professional experiences that led her to reimagine what leadership development could look like for young women. What began as a passion for advocacy evolved into a bold, necessary mission: equipping high school girls with both the practical skills and emotional resilience to step into civic spaces with confidence, compassion, and a deep sense of belonging. Through DemocraShe, Sarah is not just preparing girls to lead, she’s helping them believe they deserve to. Together, we explore what it means to nurture the nervous system, reclaim your voice, and create environments where young women are seen, heard, and truly valued.
Among many other topics, we explore:
The Moment It All Changed: How Sarah’s autoimmune diagnosis shifted her path and ultimately led her to build something transformative.
Why High School Matters: The powerful statistic that shows high school is the last time girls and boys equally believe they can run for office (and what happens after!)
From Trauma to Leadership: How understanding both “Big T” and “little t” trauma became foundational in preparing girls for real-world challenges.
Building Resilient Leaders: Why nervous system regulation, self-compassion, and emotional awareness are just as important as public speaking and policy skills.
The Inner Best Friend: A simple yet powerful tool that helps girls move through self-doubt, fear, and imposter syndrome.
Redefining Success: From running for office to simply finding the courage to speak up, and why every step toward using your voice matters.
Creating Safe, Brave Spaces: How environments rooted in unconditional support can transform how young women see themselves.
Paid to Grow: Why offering stipends isn’t just practical, it’s a statement that girls’ time, energy, and growth have real value.
Scarcity vs. Abundance: How traditional systems condition competition and how DemocraShe is rewriting that narrative through collaboration and support.
Joy as Resistance: Why choosing joy, beauty, and self-expression isn’t naive, it’s necessary for sustainable change.
Confidence + Compassion: What becomes possible when we allow both to coexist, and how that balance can reshape leadership across all spaces.
This conversation is a reminder that change doesn’t start “out there”. It starts within. In how we speak to ourselves. In how we honor our nervous systems. In how we choose, moment by moment, to believe we belong.
Because when girls are given the tools, the space, and the support to rise… they don’t just change their own lives.
They change everything.
Connect with Sarah!
Website: https://www.democrashe.org/
Email: sarah@democrashe.org