Speaking Broadly

Wine Against the Odds: Jennifer McDonald

Episode Summary

Jennifer McDonald is determined to provoke conversations about racism and sexism, and she's doing it in an unusual way: by making wine in Wichita, Kansas. A black child adopted by white parents, McDonald grew up in a small town in Nebraska, hyper-aware of race issues yet never daunted. She was a track star, a success in her HR job, and an award-winning home winemaker. But after her life got disrupted by her son's debilitating medical condition, she wanted to devote time to something she was passionate about. She launched her business, Jenny Dawn Cellars, to address a problem that was meaningful to her: the lack of female and African-American role models. Listen in to hear how McDonald became an entrepreneur, and overcame the challenges of making wine in a state not known for its vineyards. Want to stay up to date on the latest Speaking Broadly episodes? To hear more conversations with Dana Cowin and her accomplished yet accessible guests, subscribe to Speaking Broadly (it’s free!) on iTunes or Stitcher. If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate + review us on Apple’s podcast store and follow Dana on Instagram @speakingbroadly and @fwscout. Thanks for tuning in!

Episode Notes

Jennifer McDonald is determined to provoke conversations about racism and sexism, and she's doing it in an unusual way: by making wine in Wichita, Kansas. A black child adopted by white parents, McDonald grew up in a small town in Nebraska, hyper-aware of race issues yet never daunted. She was a track star, a success in her HR job, and an award-winning home winemaker. But after her life got disrupted by her son's debilitating medical condition, she wanted to devote time to something she was passionate about. She launched her business, Jenny Dawn Cellars, to address a problem that was meaningful to her: the lack of female and African-American role models. Listen in to hear how McDonald became an entrepreneur, and overcame the challenges of making wine in a state not known for its vineyards.

Want to stay up to date on the latest Speaking Broadly episodes? To hear more conversations with Dana Cowin and her accomplished yet accessible guests, subscribe to Speaking Broadly (it’s free!) on iTunes or Stitcher. If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate + review us on Apple’s podcast store and follow Dana on Instagram @speakingbroadly and @fwscout. Thanks for tuning in!

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