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If you had asked me as a college freshman studying acting at NYU—lugging a yoga mat around Manhattan and spouting Shakespeare for anyone who’d listen—where I thought I’d be at 36, it wouldn’t have been here.
I would’ve said I’d be a famous actress, living in a mansion in Hollywood, married to movie star (British, obviously), nominated for my first Oscar, and starting my own production company.
Well life, thank goodness, had other plans. If I’d gotten everything I wanted right out of school — the fame, the fortune, the foxy foreign husband — I’d probably be a mess. Insecure, self-absorbed, and addicted to wine in all the wrong ways.
Life, as it turns out, knew better than me. It knew I needed to get strong enough for my dreams. To work hard and struggle just enough to build some muscle, tenacity, and grit. It pushed me to develop a work ethic, start my own business (then another), survive a pandemic, and have some ideas that failed — and others that flew.
And in that process, I came full circle. I realized that what I truly wanted at age 18 — and, honestly, at age 8 — wasn’t fame or fortune. It was connection. Via storytelling.
I’m learning that life isn’t a zero-sum game. You don’t have to give up your dreams in order to survive — you just have to reframe them. And in doing so, you realize the universe had even better plans than you did. That’s how Her Way began.
During the pandemic, like many in hospitality, I had to get creative. So I started doing the thing I knew I was good at: talking to people. And the one topic I could talk about endlessly? Wine.
Thus, Raise a Glass was born. At first a livestream series, then a digital wine course, then a social platform, and now this newsletter. I realized how many people love wine but feel intimidated by it — and that I could help make it not just accessible, but fun.
As the community grew, I found myself drawn to the women in wine. They made up the majority of my wine club and my online audience — and honestly, they were often my favorite winemakers, sommeliers, farmers, and writers. Did you know that women hold 84% of wine buying power? And on the production side, they’re just as present — but often overlooked. You’ve heard the phrase, “Behind every great man is a great woman”? Well, I’m starting to believe that behind every great wine, there’s one too.
This show is just the beginning of a much larger vision — one that I hope will eventually take us to wine regions all over the world. In fact, I’m currently in France planting the seeds for that future, meeting with producers and gathering stories, even as we prepare to bring the first chapter of Her Way to life back home.
Let me be clear — this is not a show that’s anti-men. Some of my favorite winemakers are men, and the wine industry has been shaped by talented men for thousands of years. But for too long, women have toiled in the shadows — shaping culture and craft without taking credit.
Her Way is going to change that.
Her Way tells the story of the great wine regions of the world through the lens of the women who make them: winemakers, farmers, sommeliers, chefs, and more. We’ll experience not only the rich culture and context of the region, but also get a sense of who these women are and the paths that led them to their power.
And yes — hosting my own show? Totally surreal. The 18-year-old student in me is screaming. But I'm (gratefully) old and wise enough now to know that this show isn’t about me. I’m just the translator. The fangirl. The storyteller introducing you to women you may not know yet — but should.
In one of my favorite books, Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert writes about how the ancient Greeks believed creative ideas came not from people, but through them. A person wasn’t a genius — they were visited by one. Your only job was to say yes to the idea and serve it with integrity. That concept has carried me through my creative adult life. Because it reminds me: this work isn’t about me. It’s about serving the idea, the stories, and the amazing characters in them.
I could map the bullet points that got me from NYU to here — but truthfully, something bigger has always been at play. And I’m so deeply grateful that life led me to this moment: working with a team I love, telling stories that matter, and being supported by a community I’m floored by every single day.
The incredible news is that Her Way is greenlit. We’re filming six episodes across California, Oregon, and Washington this May and June. We’ve locked our crew, scouted locations, and secured incredible regional sponsors to help with travel, lodging, meals and marketing.
Now we're trying to raise a little more to fund the labor of our small-but-mighty crew — from pre-production to filming to editing. It’s a lean budget for a full series, but with the help of this community (and a few angels behind the scenes), we’re making it happen.
Thanks to your generosity, in just one week we’ve raised over $18,000 toward our $50,000 production goal!
The more we're able to raise, the more we can build a well-resourced, full-capacity crew—so a few of us aren't wearing ten hats, and we can do more, shoot more, and create a show worthy of the women we're highlighting.
If you’ve already contributed: thank you. Truly.
And if you’re just hearing about this now and feel moved to be part of it — I’d be so grateful to have you with us.
There are fun perks for donors: wine from the women featured in the show, premiere tickets, even Executive Producer credits. Every single dollar goes toward telling these stories with the beauty and depth they deserve.
Whether you can contribute, share the campaign, or simply cheer us on — thank you. This dream wouldn’t be coming to life without you.
With so much gratitude,
Kelsey
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