Privacy Policy

How we collect, use, and protect your information

Women Speaking Up Podcast  ·  womenspeakingup.com

Effective date: March 18, 2026

Women Speaking Up is an independent podcast hosted by Leni Leth and Dr. Mary Contreras. We are committed to protecting the privacy of everyone who visits our website or submits a guest pitch through our contact form.

This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we store and use it, and your rights. By using our website at womenspeakingup.com or submitting our contact form, you agree to the practices described here.

1. Who We Are

Women Speaking Up Podcast

Hosts: Leni Leth and Dr. Mary Contreras

Email: womenspeakinguppodcast@gmail.com

Website: womenspeakingup.com

State of operation: California, United States

We are a small independent podcast. Only Leni Leth and Dr. Mary Contreras have access to any personal information collected through this website.

2. Information We Collect

2.1  Information you submit through our contact form

Our website includes a guest pitch form. When you submit this form, we collect:

  • Your full name

  • Your email address

  • Your topic idea

  • Your personal story and reasons for wanting to appear on the podcast

  • How you found out about us (optional)

Submitting this form is entirely voluntary.

2.2  Email correspondence

When you submit our contact form, we will follow up with you by email. Any email correspondence between you and womenspeakinguppodcast@gmail.com — including any confirmation that you agree to appear on the podcast — is stored in our Gmail account and Google Drive as part of our records.

If you confirm by email that you will appear on the podcast, that email correspondence constitutes your consent to participate and is retained as part of your guest record.

2.3  Information collected automatically

We do not currently use web analytics tools such as Google Analytics. Our website may collect basic server logs (IP address, browser type, pages visited) through our hosting platform (GoDaddy) as part of standard hosting operations. This data is not used to identify or contact individual visitors.

If we add analytics tools in the future, this policy will be updated before any such tools are activated.

2.4  Information from podcast platforms

Our podcast is distributed through Spotify (via Spotify for Creators) and Apple Podcasts. When listeners use those platforms, data is collected by those platforms under their own privacy policies. We do not receive personally identifiable listener data from Spotify or Apple.

3. How We Use Your Information

3.1  Contact form submissions and email correspondence

We use your information to:

  • Review your pitch and consider whether you may be a good fit for the show

  • Follow up with you by email regarding your submission — we respond to every submission we receive

  • Confirm your participation and record your consent to appear on the podcast

  • Maintain an archive of all submissions and guest correspondence

3.2  What we will never do

  • Sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party

  • Share your story or personal details publicly without your consent

  • Add you to a mailing list without your explicit opt-in

  • Use your information for any purpose not described in this policy

4. Guest Consent via Email

Women Speaking Up obtains guest consent through email. When we invite you to appear on the podcast and you confirm by email that you agree to participate, that email confirmation constitutes your consent to:

  • Being recorded in audio and, where applicable, video format

  • Your name, story, voice, image, and the content of your interview being included in the published episode

  • Your episode being distributed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other platforms

  • Your name, photo (if provided), and episode details being shared on our website and social media

  • Short clips from your episode being used in future promotional content

This email confirmation and all related correspondence is stored securely in our Google Drive as your consent record. We retain this correspondence indefinitely as part of our guest archive.

5. How We Store Your Information

All contact form submissions and guest email correspondence are stored in our Google Drive account, accessed only through womenspeakinguppodcast@gmail.com. Only Leni Leth and Dr. Mary Contreras have access.

We archive all submissions and guest records. We do not routinely delete this information. If you would like your information removed from our records, please see Section 7.

6. How We Protect Your Information

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information, including:

  • Restricting access to Leni Leth and Dr. Mary Contreras only

  • Storing information within Google Drive's built-in security environment

  • Using secure email practices through Gmail

No method of data storage or transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but are committed to protecting your information.

7. Your Rights

7.1  California residents (CCPA)

Because we are based in California, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) applies. As a California resident you have the right to:

  • Know what personal information we have collected about you and why

  • Access a copy of the personal information we hold about you

  • Request deletion of your personal information

  • Know that we do not sell your personal information

  • Not be discriminated against for exercising these rights

To exercise any of these rights, email us at womenspeakinguppodcast@gmail.com. We will respond within 45 days as required by California law.

7.2  Visitors based in Mexico

If you are located in Mexico, you may have rights under Mexico's Federal Law on Protection of Personal Data Held by Private Parties (LFPDPPP), including ARCO rights — the right to access, correct, cancel, or object to processing of your personal data. To exercise these rights, contact us at womenspeakinguppodcast@gmail.com.

7.3  All users

Regardless of where you are located, you may contact us at any time to ask what information we hold about you, request a correction, or ask us to remove your information. We will respond within 30 days.

8. Cookies

We do not currently use tracking or advertising cookies. Our website may use essential cookies through GoDaddy hosting for basic site functionality. These do not collect personal information. If we add analytics or other cookies in the future, we will update this policy and add a cookie notice to the site before doing so.

9. Third-Party Links and Platforms

Our website links to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other external platforms. These operate under their own privacy policies. We are not responsible for the data practices of any third-party site or platform.

10. Future Changes — Analytics and Sponsorships

We do not currently use analytics tools or carry sponsorships or advertising. If this changes, we will update this Privacy Policy before making any changes that affect how your data is collected or used.

11. Children's Privacy

Our website and podcast are not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 13. If you believe we have received information from a child under 13, please contact us at womenspeakinguppodcast@gmail.com and we will delete it promptly.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. Your continued use of our website after any update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

13. Contact Us

For any privacy questions, data requests, or concerns:

Women Speaking Up Podcast

Email: womenspeakinguppodcast@gmail.com

Website: womenspeakingup.com

We respond to all privacy enquiries within 30 days.