Between the Laugh Lines: The Place to Reclaim Your Beauty, Money & Identity

What if feeling happy again wasn’t about a major life overhaul but instead about paying attention to what’s already there?

This week, I sit down with Brielle Neumann, founder of Smile Stories: The Movement, an award-winning social impact brand built on one surprisingly powerful question: What made you smile today?

What started as a Post-It wall in a corporate job that didn’t fit, has grown into school programs, public installations at Penn Station and Union Square in NYC, and a kindness movement reaching people worldwide.

In this honest conversation, Brielle and I dig into what it actually costs to stay in a life that looks fine on the outside, what it takes to build something real from scratch with no blueprint and no backup plan, and why reclaiming your happiness isn’t a luxury. It’s the foundation everything else gets built on.

In this episode:

If you’ve been going through the motions and wondering when you get to feel like yourself again; this one’s for you!

📲 Instagram: @smilestories.themovement

🌐 Website: www.smilestoriesthemovement.com

Ready to get The Reclaim Blueprint™ ; The free framework to help you rebuild confidence and clarity, starting exactly where you are?

📲 DM RECLAIM to @thedishwithdeb on Instagram

📍 Instagram: @thedishwithdeb

Between the Laugh Lines is the podcast for women who are done feeling invisible and ready for honest conversations about beauty, confidence, and who they actually are right now. Hosted by Deb, a CPA who carried personal debt, a beauty obsessive who did the research, and a sandwich generation survivor building something real in the throes of a very full life. No hustle culture. No toxic positivity. Just truth, delivered warm. 

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There’s a version of midlife nobody warns you about, the one where you’re doing everything right and still feel like nobody sees you. Yup, that was me!

In this episode, I stop dancing around it and gets honest about what Between the Laugh Lines is really about, why I avoided talking about money for eighteen episodes despite being a CPA, and what finally made me stop hiding. If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and thought “I don’t even recognize her anymore”,this is where that changes.

Between the Laugh Lines is the podcast for women who are done feeling invisible and ready for honest conversations about what’s on their bathroom counter, who they’re becoming, and — even what’s in their bank account. Hosted by Deb of The Reclaim Concierge™. New episodes drop regularly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Podbean. Follow @thedishwithdeb on Instagram. DM the word RECLAIM on any post for a free copy of The Reclaim Blueprint™.

Sandwich generation survival isn't a phrase; it's a daily reality for women in midlife. You're raising kids, managing a career, and now your aging parent needs you in a way you weren't prepared for. A diagnosis. A fall. A stroke. Suddenly you're the one making the calls, breaking the rules in rehab facilities, and Googling medical terms at 2 a.m. while everyone around you assumes you've got it handled. This is exactly the kind of invisible, identity-shifting season Between the Laugh Lines was built for.

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Jean Gibbs, Air Force military wife, mother of two boys, and founder of the Pathways Stroke Foundation, for an honest conversation about caregiving a parent when the system isn't built to support you or them.

In December 2012, Jean's mother Agnes suffered a massive stroke that left her with aphasia, apraxia and hemiplegia. A doctor walked in with no emotion and said she'd never speak again. Jean spent the next eight years proving him wrong — and quietly building something extraordinary out of the hardest chapter of her life.

Here's what you'll walk away with:

If you're the woman holding everyone together and wondering when someone's going to hold you, this episode is your reminder that you're not alone, you're not doing it wrong, and you don't have to keep performing strength you don't feel.

Caregiving doesn't just rearrange your calendar. It rearranges who you are. There's a version of this season where you're still you at the end of it — rebuilding your confidence, reclaiming your identity, and finding clarity on what comes next.

Jean is proof.

Find Jean here- @pathwaysstroke, www.strokepath.org and on Youtube- Pathways Kitchen.

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Between the Laugh Lines is the podcast for women who are done feeling invisible and ready for honest conversations about what's on their bathroom counter, who they're becoming, and — even what's in their bank account. Hosted by Deb of The Reclaim Concierge™. New episodes drop regularly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Podbean, etc. Follow @thedishwithdeb on Instagram. DM the word RECLAIM for a free copy of The Reclaim Blueprint™

Amy Nikolai spent decades measuring her confidence by other people's feedback. In her 50s, that finally changed; and what she built in the process is extraordinary!

On her own at 17. No college degree. A career built on being the person who executes. Then her daughter's best friend was diagnosed with leukemia and passed away at 11 — and Amy's life shifted permanently.

She co-founded the Olivia Hope Foundation, taught herself nonprofit management, raised over a million dollars, and secured a first-of-its-kind partnership with Cohen Children's Medical Center. All as a volunteer. All while navigating menopause, marriage, motherhood, and her own emotional reckoning.

In this episode, Amy and I talk about what confidence looks like when it stops being about performance, how OCD and "laser focus" became her operational strengths, and why the women who feel most underqualified are often the most capable.

If you're in progress — this conversation will remind you that's exactly where you're supposed to be.

🎗️ oliviahope.org

OHF2026.givesmart.com for tickets to the annual gala

@oliviahopefoundation

Between the Laugh Lines is the podcast for women who are done feeling invisible and ready for honest conversations about who they're becoming, what's on their bathroom counter, and what's in their bank account. Hosted by Deb creator of The Reclaim Concierge. New episodes drop regularly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Podbean. Follow @thedishwithdeb on Instagram. DM the word RECLAIM for a free copy of The Reclaim Blueprint™.

Most of us know we should have a will… but thinking about death, paperwork, and “what if” conversations can feel heavy and overwhelming.

In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Jill Mastroianni, lawyer and host of the Death Readiness Podcast, to make estate planning feel clear, doable, and empowering, not scary.

We cover:

The plain-English difference between a will vs. a trust

The biggest estate planning mistakes families make (and how to avoid them)

What “death readiness” actually means and why it’s really about peace of mind

The simplest first steps you can take this week (even if you’ve been avoiding it for years)

If you’ve been telling yourself “I’ll deal with it later,” this is your gentle nudge to handle it now, so your future self (and your family) can breathe easier.

Next step: hit play, and when you’re done, send this episode to the person you’d want beside you in an emergency. And if you want more episodes that blend confidence, clarity, and real-life systems, follow Between the Laugh Lines so you don’t miss what’s coming next.

Here are some links to all the relevant shows Jill referred to in this episode:

For all the helpful tools Jill mentioned: www.deathreadiness.com 

🎧 About the show: Between the Laugh Lines is where laughter meets life’s lessons. I’m Deb (Gen X, CPA/MBA, lifelong beauty + lifestyle lover), sharing honest conversations and simple routines that help you rebuild confidence, clarity, and identity in your “right now” season.

✅ Follow the show so you don’t miss new episodes.

Disclaimer: This episode is for education and encouragement only and is not legal, medical, or financial advice.

What if the secret to lasting success in business isn't working harder — it's working smarter, with more confidence and less chaos?

In this episode of Between the Laugh Lines, host Deb sits down with entrepreneur and business coach Renee Stribbell, who has spent 23+ years building businesses — and helping other women do the same. After transitioning from mortgage broker to business coach, Renee has made it her mission to help women break free from hustle culture and step into their power with clarity, confidence, and a strategy that actually works.

Renee opens up about the role mentorship played in her growth, how hypnotherapy became an unexpected game-changer for overcoming anxiety in business, and why having a clear strategy is the #1 thing that separates thriving entrepreneurs from overwhelmed ones.

In this episode, you'll discover:

Whether you're just starting out or you've been in the entrepreneurial game for years, this conversation is your permission slip to ditch the grind and build a business (and life) that actually feels good.

🎧 Hit play and let's dive in.

Connect with Renee Stribbell: reneestribbell.ca

To stay connected with me, subscribe to the show so you get access to the latest episodes. Rate and share the show with your friends!

Follow me on Instagram @thedishwithdeb

Find more resources at https://stan.store/thedishwithdeb 

Interested to be a guest: email me at [email protected] 

This episode is the practical follow-up to Part 1, where Jen shared how she always knew hair was her calling. Here, the conversation turns to what she’s learned through years of hands-on experience behind the chair.

In this episode, we talk honestly about hair care without the pressure—what’s worth paying attention to, what’s not, and how to build a routine that actually works in everyday life. It’s a grounded, realistic conversation for women who want healthier hair without chasing trends.

💇‍♀️ You’ll hear about:

Simple, sustainable hair care routines

How hairstylists really think about hair health

What to keep, what to skip, and why

Small changes that make a noticeable difference

Jen also shares more about her partnership with WigsForKids.org and why giving back through her work matters — visit their site to learn more.

Connect with me on Instagram @thedishwithdeb for beauty, lifestyle, and real conversations. And check out all of Jen's work @hairbyjenniferlyn

If this episode resonated, please follow, rate, and share Between the Laugh Lines to help others find it too.

What does it actually take to start a beauty business with no full expert trained experience, no salon suite, and zero roadmap?

In this episode of Between the Laugh Lines, I sit down with a young nail technician who launched her business at a table in her sorority house—and has since built a thriving, consistent service-based beauty business from her parents' home. This is the real story of turning a side skill into sustainable income, one client at a time.

If you've ever wondered how to start a nail business, build a beauty service from scratch, or turn your creative skill into consistent revenue—this conversation breaks it all down without the highlight reel.

What We Cover:

This episode is for the woman who's tired of waiting for permission, perfection, or the "perfect time" to start. Whether you're launching a nail business, lash business, esthetics practice, or any service-based beauty brand—you'll walk away with practical insight and proof that you can build something meaningful with what you have right now.

Perfect for: aspiring nail techs, beauty entrepreneurs, service-based business owners, women starting side hustles, and anyone building confidence in their craft.

🌿 Let's stay connected. Follow me on Instagram @thedishwithdeb for beauty business tips, lifestyle content, and real conversations. Grab free resources at stan.store/thedishwithdeb. Questions? Email me at [email protected].

💬 If this episode gave you the push you needed, hit follow, leave a rating, and share it with a friend building something of her own. Every share helps more women find Between the Laugh Lines—where we educate, entertain, and inspire without the fluff.

Some people stumble into their calling. Others know it all along.

In this episode of Between the Laugh Lines, I'm candidly speaking with my neighbor, friend and longtime hairstylist Jen for a thoughtful conversation about creativity, intuition, and the quiet knowing that led her into the world of hair. Long before trends, social media, or “career plans,” Jen recognized her strengths and followed them—evolving her craft through determination, curiosity, and hands-on experience.

This Part 1 conversation focuses on the why: how creativity shows up early, how trusting yourself can shape a career, and why hair is often about identity, emotion, and transformation—not just appearance.

✨ In this episode:

What it feels like to know you’re meant for something

How creativity evolves when you trust your gut & strengths

Why hair is deeply personal (and emotional)

The foundation behind the expertise you’ll hear in Part 2

🎧 Part 2 dives into the how — practical, simplified hair guidance for real life.

Let’s stay connected!

Find free resources & more in my Stan Store: https://stan.store/thedishwithdeb

Have a thought for an episode or a question? Email me at [email protected].

If this episode resonated, please follow, rate, and share Between the Laugh Lines—it helps more women discover conversations that educate, entertain, and inspire!  As always, thank you!

In this short episode, I go straight into why women (of all ages!!) hesitate to “rip off the band-aid” in life — whether it’s starting something new, ending what’s not working, or finally choosing themselves. If you struggle with overthinking, overwhelm, confidence dips, or feeling stuck in the “almost,” this conversation will help you find clarity, courage, and a grounded next step.

I will break down simply the psychology behind hesitation and the emotional load modern women carry.  This episode teaches you how to move from avoidance to clarity using simple, doable steps. Perfect for women navigating midlife reinvention, confidence, and self-trust. Let's go!

Follow me @thedishwithdeb 

Email me with questions or topics you want to hear about: [email protected] 

Keep the conversation going!! If this episode hit home, please follow, leave a review and share Between the Laugh Lines with your bestie!  You can help more women discover confidence, clarity and honest conversations that truly matter!