Girlish Gurus

What if the secret to finding more peace in midlife isn't doing more, but pausing, letting go, and listening to your inner wisdom?

Life doesn't always go according to plan. From grief and loss to changing relationships, unexpected challenges, and the many transitions of midlife, we all experience moments that test our strength and resilience.

In this inspiring episode of Girlish Gurus, Lorraine Miano and Joy Alford Brand welcome Brenda L. Balding, registered nurse, Reiki energy healer, author, and creator of the Love's Inner Voice podcast and YouTube channel.

With more than five decades of nursing experience, Brenda shares her perspective on navigating life's challenges with greater compassion, acceptance, forgiveness, and gratitude.

Together, we explore the power of pausing before reacting, releasing the expectations and "shoulds" that weigh us down, and recognizing opportunities for personal growth—even during difficult seasons of life.

Brenda also shares what it means to "walk in the sunlight of the spirit" and how reconnecting with our inner voice can help us approach the second half of life with greater peace and purpose.

✨ In This Episode, We Explore:

💗 Brenda's Three Simple Steps for Navigating Life's Challenges

🌸 A Reminder for Every Woman in Midlife

We can't always choose what happens to us, but we can become more intentional about how we respond.

Midlife isn't just about navigating change. It's also an opportunity to release what no longer serves us, reconnect with ourselves, and discover new meaning in the years ahead.

Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply pause.

🌿 About Our Guest: Brenda L. Balding

Brenda L. Balding has been a registered nurse since 1971 and is also a Reiki energy healer, author of two books, and contributor to two anthologies.

Through her Love's Inner Voice podcast and YouTube channel, Brenda encourages others on their journeys of self-discovery, exploring grief, acceptance, forgiveness, personal growth, and spiritual connection.

Her mission is to help others strengthen their own inner voice for their personal well-being and the well-being of those around them.

📚 Resources Mentioned in This Episode

Brenda L. Balding – Official Website

Love's Inner Voice Podcast & YouTube Channel

Brenda L. Balding's Books & Anthology Contributions

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🎙️ Connect with Girlish Gurus

Join Lorraine and Joy as we celebrate the magic of midlife, women's health, meaningful friendships, personal growth, travel, and living life fully after 45!

If this conversation resonates with you, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE this episode with a girlfriend who could use a little encouragement.

And we'd love to hear from you in the comments:

What's one thing you've learned to let go of as you've gotten older?

Because life after 45 isn't about slowing down—it's about discovering just how magical this chapter can be!

ABOUT GIRLISH GURUS

Girlish Gurus is the podcast for women 45+ who are ready to make midlife one of the most exciting chapters yet.

Join Joy & Lorraine for honest conversations about menopause, women's health, healthy aging, relationships, travel, reinvention, purpose, and all the things that matter to women in midlife and beyond.

🎧 Subscribe to Girlish Gurus for inspiring conversations that help women over 45 embrace midlife, discover new possibilities, and create their most meaningful chapter yet.

IG: @girlishgurus

YouTube: Girlish Gurus

GirlishGurus.com

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Travel Together • Connect Deeper • Live Fully

#GirlishGurus #MidlifeWomen #WomenOver50 #HealthyAging #PowerOfThePause #PersonalGrowth #Gratitude #EmotionalWellbeing #FindingPurpose #SelfDiscovery #Forgiveness #MidlifeMindset #WomenSupportingWomen #ProAging #LovesInnerVoice

What if everything you've been told about aging after 50 is wrong?

Getting older doesn't mean becoming weaker, less confident, less visible, or less adventurous. In fact, your 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond could be the most empowering years of your life!

In this inspiring episode of the Girlish Gurus Podcast, hosts Joy and Lorraine welcome Leanne Ely, nutritionist, entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, and author of If I Were 50 Again: This Is What I'd Do Differently.

With more than 30 years of health and wellness experience, Leanne challenges outdated beliefs about women and aging. Through her work with The Blooming Era, she's encouraging women over 50 to stop chasing their younger selves and start building stronger bodies, greater confidence, lasting independence, and bigger, more fulfilling lives.

From menopause and muscle loss to the beauty industry's obsession with youth, we're having an honest conversation about what it really means to age well—and why it's never too late to reinvent yourself.

🌸 In This Episode, We Discuss:

✨ Aging After 50: Why getting older doesn't mean becoming less—and how to embrace the woman you're becoming.

💪 Muscle, Strength & Longevity: Why building and maintaining muscle is essential for women over 50, and why walking alone isn't enough to preserve strength, balance, and mobility.

🌿 Menopause & Women's Health: What menopause reveals about the way women's health concerns have been overlooked and why women deserve better information and support.

💄 The Anti-Aging Beauty Trap: How to enjoy beauty, skincare, and self-care without falling victim to unrealistic expectations about looking younger.

❤️ Becoming Pro-Aging: Why embracing your age doesn't mean giving up on looking fabulous, feeling vibrant, or continuing to improve yourself.

🌟 Reinvention After 50: Why your age should never determine whether you pursue a new career, passion, adventure, or dream.

🔥 Lessons From a Life Well Lived: What Leanne would tell her 50-year-old self to stop worrying about—and what she would encourage her to start doing immediately.

Meet Our Guest: Leanne Ely

Leanne Ely is a nutritionist, entrepreneur, and New York Times bestselling author who has spent more than three decades helping people improve their health and well-being.

Today, her mission is to empower women over 50 to embrace aging with strength, confidence, vitality, and purpose.

Through her writing, social media, and The Blooming Era, Leanne shares a refreshing, practical, pro-aging perspective that challenges outdated ideas about what women can accomplish in the second half of life.

RESOURCES IN THIS EPISODE:

Featured Book: If I Were 50 Again: This Is What I'd Do Differently

Leanne’s website: Living Life in Full Bloom

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💖 Our Biggest Takeaway

You don't need to turn back the clock to live your best life.

You need to build the strength to enjoy it, the confidence to embrace it, and the courage to keep growing.

Aging isn't about becoming less. It's about discovering how much more you can become.

🎧 Join the Girlish Gurus Community!

If you're a woman navigating perimenopause, menopause, postmenopause, or simply looking for inspiration to make your next chapter your best chapter, you're in the right place!

At Girlish Gurus, we're celebrating women 45+ who want to stay healthy, feel empowered, build meaningful connections, travel, explore new passions, and live life fully.

💗 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for inspiring conversations about women's health, hormones, healthy aging, longevity, relationships, wellness, travel, and everything that makes midlife magical!

👍 LIKE this episode if you're embracing the beauty of getting older.

💬 COMMENT BELOW: If you could go back and give your 50-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be?

📲 SHARE this episode with a girlfriend who needs a reminder that her best years may still be ahead!

Follow Girlish Gurus:

YouTube: Girlish Gurus

Instagram: @girlishgurus

Follow Lorraine:

Instagram: @making_midlife_magical  @the_second_talk

Follow Joy:

Instagram: @joyalfordbrand

🔎 Hashtags

#WomenOver50 #HealthyAging #ProAging #Menopause #GirlishGurus #LeanneEly #MidlifeWomen #Longevity #StrengthAfter50 #AgingWell #WomenEmpowerment #ReinventYourself

How do you stay healthy during the holidays without missing out on the food, fun, family, and celebrations you love?

For women over 45, the holiday season can make our usual healthy routines feel almost impossible. Between parties, travel, houseguests, cocktails, desserts, disrupted workouts, and busy schedules, it's easy to fall into an all-or-nothing mindset.

But staying healthy through the holidays doesn't have to mean dieting, deprivation, or guilt over eating your favorite Christmas cookies!

In this episode of Girlish Gurus, Joy and Lorraine sit down with Alicia Jones, fitness and weight-loss expert for women over 45, to talk about realistic ways to support your health, maintain muscle, stay active, and enjoy holiday foods—without waiting until January 1 to “get back on track.”

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

✨ The ONE simple healthy habit you can start now that could make a difference by New Year's

✨ Incidental exercise vs. structured exercise and why everyday movement counts

✨ How to stay active when holiday travel, guests, and celebrations interrupt your normal exercise routine

✨ How to let go of food guilt and enjoy holiday treats without feeling like you've “blown it”

✨ Alicia's strategies for healthy holiday eating and maintaining a healthy weight

✨ Why protein, fiber, hydration, and mindful eating matter during the holidays

✨ Why “saving your calories” all day before a holiday party may not be the best strategy

✨ The importance of strength training and maintaining muscle after 50

✨ What really happens if you take a week or two off from strength training

✨ Simple ways to keep your muscles active when you can't get to the gym

✨ Why women using GLP-1 medications should pay particular attention to nutrition, protein, exercise, and preserving lean muscle

✨ How to enjoy the holidays without feeling like January needs to be a punishment for December

ABOUT ALICIA JONES

Alicia Jones helps women over 45 transform their health and lives through her fitness and weight-loss strategies.

Alicia has appeared on various health and wellness television programs and produced and hosted Health Matters and The View: Health and Wellness on Rogers TV.

She has a B.A. in Kinesiology and holds many certifications, including GLP-1 Essentials for Fitness Professionals, NCCP, Advanced Sport Nutrition, Certified Group Fitness Instructor, Canfit-pro Personal Training Specialist, and many others.

Alicia also shares details about her new masterclass, including new information designed to help women take control of their health, fitness, and wellness.

Learn more about Alicia and her programs at AliciaJonesHealthyLiving.com.

OUR FAVORITE TAKEAWAY

Your health doesn't have to go on vacation just because it's the holidays—and you don't have to miss the fun either.

Move your body. Protect your muscle. Eat foods that nourish you. Enjoy the special foods you love. Spend time with your people.

Healthy aging isn't about doing everything perfectly. It's about doing the things that matter consistently enough to keep living the life you love.

RESOURCES IN THIS EPISODE:

Alicia Jones Healthy Living

Alicia Jones YouTube

Alicia Jones Facebook

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💗 If this episode helped you, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE it with another woman who wants to feel strong, healthy, and confident through midlife and beyond.

And tell us in the comments:

What's ONE healthy habit you're committed to keeping through the holidays?

ABOUT GIRLISH GURUS

Girlish Gurus is the podcast for women 45+ who are ready to make midlife one of the most exciting chapters yet.

Join Joy & Lorraine for honest conversations about menopause, women's health, healthy aging, relationships, travel, reinvention, purpose, and all the things that matter to women in midlife and beyond.

🎧 Subscribe to Girlish Gurus for inspiring conversations that help women over 45 embrace midlife, discover new possibilities, and create their most meaningful chapter yet.

IG: @girlishgurus

YouTube: Girlish Gurus

GirlishGurus.com

Girlish Gurus Glamorous Getaways

Travel Together • Connect Deeper • Live Fully

#HealthyHolidays #WomenOver50 #HealthyAging #StrengthTrainingOver50 #MidlifeWomen

A Girlish Gurus Conversation with Joy & Lorraine

Would you rather have the body you had at 30—or the confidence you have now?

Would you rather look 10 years younger—or feel 10 years younger?

And here's the big one: Would you rather go back to age 30 knowing everything you know now…or stay exactly where you are today?

In this episode of Girlish Gurus, there’s no guest and no expert—just Joy and Lorraine putting each other on the spot with a hilarious, revealing, and sometimes surprisingly meaningful game of Would You Rather: The Midlife Edition!

And there’s one rule: You HAVE to choose!

From Silly to Surprisingly Deep

We start with the fun stuff—wrinkles, gray hair, fabulous shoes, massages, travel, dessert, and sleep—but the conversation quickly moves into some of the bigger questions that come with getting older.

Would you choose more money or more free time?

Would you rather have unlimited energy or never feel stressed again?

Would you want to know exactly how long you'll live?

Would you erase your biggest mistake—or keep it because of everything it taught you?

And would you rather be remembered for what you accomplished or for how you made people feel?

Joy and Lorraine share their answers, defend their choices, and discover that a simple game of “Would You Rather?” can reveal a lot about what matters to us as we move through midlife.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

And, of course, there are plenty of laughs along the way.

Plus: Joy or Lorraine?

We finish with a rapid-fire round to find out which Girlish Guru is more likely to:

Overpack for a trip?

Talk to a complete stranger?

Order dessert?

Try a bizarre wellness trend?

Break a rule?

Get everyone onto the dance floor?

And survive longer on a deserted island?

You may think you know Joy and Lorraine—but you might be surprised!

Play Along With Us!

Don't just listen—answer the questions yourself!

Better yet, grab a girlfriend, partner, or group of friends and play along together. Some of the silliest questions can lead to the most meaningful conversations.

Then come find Girlish Gurus on Instagram and tell us: Which Would You Rather question was the hardest for YOU to answer?

And if this episode made you laugh, think, or appreciate where you are in life just a little bit more, please subscribe, follow, rate, and share Girlish Gurus with another woman who could use some midlife fun and inspiration.

Because getting older doesn't mean the fun is over.

We may be getting older—but we're definitely not done having fun.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

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Connect With Girlish Guru

If You Enjoyed This Episode…

Please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who's navigating perimenopause, menopause, or simply wants to understand her body better. Every share helps us reach more women who deserve evidence-based conversations about health, aging, and living vibrantly.

🎧 Subscribe to Girlish Gurus for inspiring conversations that help women over 45 embrace midlife, discover new possibilities, and create their most meaningful chapter yet.

IG: @girlishgurus

YouTube: Girlish Gurus

GirlishGurus.com

Girlish Gurus Glamorous Getaways

#GirlishGurus #MidlifeWomen #WomenOver50 #HealthyAging #MidlifePodcast

Guest: Contemporary Abstract Artist Robin Jack Sarner

What happens when you put a passion—or even a career—on hold for nearly 20 years while raising a family? And what happens when, after 50, you decide it’s time to reclaim that part of yourself?

In this episode of Girlish Gurus, Joy and Lorraine sit down with Los Angeles–based contemporary abstract mixed-media artist Robin Jack Sarner for an honest and inspiring conversation about creativity, motherhood, career gaps, and the courage to begin again.

Robin creates large-scale paintings that transform memory, thought, and lived experience into deeply layered, tactile works. Her paintings have earned the Brand 53 Associates Award and been exhibited in solo and group shows throughout California, including the Palos Verdes Art Center and Torrance Art Museum.

But Robin’s journey as an artist didn’t follow a straight line.

Like so many women, she stepped away from her creative career for nearly two decades while raising her children. When she eventually returned to her art, she discovered that coming back later in life brought real challenges—but also surprising advantages.

💗 In This Episode, We Talk About:

✨ What happens to our identity when we put a passion aside for motherhood

✨ The reality of returning to a creative career after 50

✨ The professional consequences of a long career break—including lost years of networking, visibility, connections, and promotion

✨ Why women re-entering careers may feel as though they’re starting over while their peers have had decades to build momentum

✨ The challenges of social media, self-promotion, and personal branding later in life

✨ How motherhood and decades of lived experience can actually deepen creativity

✨ Why Robin’s process of layering, revising, covering, and revealing in her paintings is such a beautiful metaphor for midlife

✨ What teaching children has taught Robin about creativity and fearlessness

✨ Why creativity matters even if you don’t consider yourself an “artist”

✨ How to reconnect with something you once loved—even if you haven’t done it in 20 or 30 years

🎨 The Other Side of the “Second Act”

We hear a lot about how wonderful it is to reinvent yourself in midlife. And it can be.

But there’s another side of that story that deserves to be talked about.

Women who step away from creative or professional careers to raise children may return years later without the networks, contacts, credentials, visibility, or professional momentum their peers had decades to build.

We can celebrate the wisdom and confidence women gain with age without pretending those challenges don't exist.

And Robin's story beautifully illustrates both sides.

The years she spent raising her family weren't necessarily “lost” creative years. They gave her something her younger self couldn't possibly have possessed:

More life to put onto the canvas.

💫 Our Girlish Gurus Takeaway

Maybe there was something you loved before life became so busy.

Painting. Writing. Photography. Music. Dancing. Designing. Traveling. Starting a business. Making things simply because you loved making them.

And maybe somewhere along the way, you stopped.

This episode is your invitation to ask:

What part of myself might be waiting for me to come back?

You don't have to become the woman you were 20 years ago.

You get to discover what the woman you are today wants to create.

Because after 50, you're not starting from scratch.

You're starting with experience. 💗

🎧 Listen to the full episode of Girlish Gurus and share it with a woman who might be ready to rediscover a passion of her own.

💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION:

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Guest: Robin Jack Sarner

Website: Robin Jack Sarner

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If You Enjoyed This Episode…

Please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who's ready to rediscover her passion! Every share helps us reach more women who deserve evidence-based conversations about health, aging, and living vibrantly.

🎧 Subscribe to Girlish Gurus for inspiring conversations that help women embrace midlife, discover new possibilities, and create their most meaningful chapter yet.

IG: @girlishgurus

YouTube: Girlish Gurus

GirlishGurus.com

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#GirlishGurus #WomenOver50 #MidlifeReinvention #CreativeWomen #SecondAct

What happens when puberty and perimenopause collide under the same roof? Hormones are shifting, emotions are running high, patience may be running low—and suddenly a simple conversation about an unmade bed can feel like an international incident. 😅

In this episode of Girlish Gurus, Joy and Lorraine sit down with parenting expert Sue Donnellan to talk about navigating the sometimes complicated—and often emotional—relationship between mothers and teens during two major hormonal transitions.

Sue is a military wife, mom of four (including triplets!), entrepreneur, author, and self-described reformed yeller turned parenting pioneer. With more than 20 years of experience, she has helped families worldwide break generational parenting patterns and build healthier, more connected relationships.

She is the author of Secrets to Parenting Without Giving a F^ck and creator of the Fight-Free Parenting™ course and her signature Parenting in Advance™ method.

💕 In This Episode, We Talk About:

✨ What moms often misunderstand about a teenager's moodiness, withdrawal, and pushback during puberty

✨ How perimenopause can affect a mom's patience, emotional regulation, sleep, and ability to cope with normal teenage behavior

✨ Why taking your teen's attitude personally can quickly turn everyday disagreements into power struggles

✨ How to recognize when you're over-explaining, arguing, or negotiating because you simply don't have the energy for another conflict

✨ What to say when you feel yourself getting ready to yell or say something you'll regret

✨ How to stay connected to your teenager while still maintaining boundaries around disrespectful behavior

✨ How to repair the relationship after losing your temper—without drowning in guilt or abandoning the boundary

✨ Why one difficult interaction doesn't mean your relationship with your child is falling apart

✨ How breaking generational parenting patterns can change not only your relationship with your children, but potentially your family's relationships for generations

✨ What teenagers need to understand about what their moms may be experiencing during perimenopause

💡 A Powerful Reminder for Moms

Your teenager's moodiness isn't necessarily about you.

And your shorter fuse doesn't necessarily mean you've suddenly become a terrible parent.

Puberty and perimenopause are both significant periods of physical, hormonal, and emotional change. When they happen simultaneously within a family, understanding what's happening on both sides of the relationship can make an enormous difference.

The goal isn't a conflict-free home or perfect parenting.

It's learning how to navigate conflict in a way that preserves trust, respect, boundaries, and connection.

Because ultimately, we're not just raising teenagers.

We're building relationships with the adults they'll eventually become. 💗

🎧 Listen If...

You're raising a tween or teen while navigating perimenopause yourself, you've ever thought "Why does everything turn into an argument?", you're tired of yelling or negotiating, or you simply want a stronger relationship with your children as they grow.

This conversation is filled with practical strategies, perspective shifts, and reassurance for moms who sometimes feel like they're navigating two adolescences at once—their child's and their own hormonal reinvention.

Watch the full episode of Girlish Gurus on YouTube:  When Perimenopause Meets Puberty: How to Keep the Peace at Home.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Guest: Sue Donnellan

Website: Ask Mom with Sue

Podcast: Ask Mom Parenting Podcast

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If You Enjoyed This Episode…

Please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who's navigating perimenopause, menopause, or simply wants to understand her body better. Every share helps us reach more women who deserve evidence-based conversations about health, aging, and living vibrantly.

🎧 Subscribe to Girlish Gurus for inspiring conversations that help women embrace midlife, discover new possibilities, and create their most meaningful chapter yet.

IG: @girlishgurus

YouTube: Girlish Gurus

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#Perimenopause #ParentingTeens #MidlifeMoms #MotherDaughterRelationship #GirlishGurus

Have you ever wondered if your body is trying to tell you something before you actually feel stressed, exhausted, or sick?

In this episode of Girlish Gurus, we're joined by Mgr. Radim Šlachta, Ph.D., exercise physiologist, researcher, and co-founder of Elonga, to explore one of the most fascinating health metrics you've probably never been taught about: Heart Rate Variability (HRV).

While many of us track our steps, calories, and hours of sleep, HRV offers something even more valuable—a glimpse into how well your nervous system is adapting to the demands of daily life.

For women navigating perimenopause and menopause, this information can be especially empowering. Hormonal changes often affect sleep, stress resilience, recovery, mood, and energy. Understanding HRV may help you make smarter decisions about exercise, recovery, and daily habits so you can feel your best during midlife and beyond.

Radim shares how decades of research in exercise physiology led him from working with elite athletes to creating Elonga, a simple at-home device that measures HRV in just three minutes each morning. We discuss why a short, intentional measurement can often provide more meaningful insights than collecting data all day long.

You'll also learn why recovery is just as important as exercise, how movement prescriptions can be personalized based on your body's readiness, and why your daily habits—from sleep to stress management—have a powerful impact on your nervous system.

Whether you're trying to improve your energy, reduce stress, optimize workouts, or simply age with greater resilience, this episode offers practical science you can begin applying today.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

About Our Guest

Mgr. Radim Šlachta, Ph.D., is an exercise physiologist and researcher whose work has focused on the science of Heart Rate Variability for more than two decades. His doctoral research helped develop innovative HRV assessment algorithms that became the foundation for technologies now used in both elite sports and consumer health.

After leading sports and preventive medicine initiatives and founding mySASY for elite athletes, Radim co-founded Elonga to bring laboratory-quality HRV insights to everyday people seeking better health, recovery, and longevity.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Connect with Elonga

Learn more about Elonga and Heart Rate Variability by visiting their website and following their latest updates on social media.:

Instagram: ELONGA.US

Website: ELONGA  Use this link for a Girlish Gurus Discount!

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If You Enjoyed This Episode…

Please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who's navigating perimenopause, menopause, or simply wants to understand her body better. Every share helps us reach more women who deserve evidence-based conversations about health, aging, and living vibrantly.

🎧 Subscribe to Girlish Gurus for inspiring conversations that help women embrace midlife, discover new possibilities, and create their most meaningful chapter yet.

IG: @girlishgurus

YouTube: Girlish Gurus

GirlishGurus.com

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Remember…

Your body is always communicating with you. Learning to listen may be one of the most powerful health habits you ever develop.

#HeartRateVariability #HRV #Menopause #Perimenopause #NervousSystemHealth #HealthyAging #Longevity #MidlifeHealth #WomensHealth #GirlishGurus

What if the greatest gift you could leave your children and grandchildren wasn't money—but health?

In this episode of Girlish Gurus, Lorraine Miano and Joy Alford Brand sit down with holistic health advocate Kate Cherry, founder of MissioWay Health & Wellness, to explore how the everyday choices we make at home can have a lasting impact on future generations.

After navigating food allergies and immune challenges within her own family, Kate became passionate about helping other families uncover potential root causes of chronic health struggles when the answers aren't always obvious. She believes that understanding ingredients, environmental exposures, and daily habits empowers parents and grandparents to create healthier homes—without fear or overwhelm.

Together, we discuss practical, realistic ways to begin making healthier choices and why progress—not perfection—is the key to creating lasting wellness.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

✨ Kate's personal journey into holistic health

✨ Why she founded MissioWay Health & Wellness

✨ Where to begin if you're feeling overwhelmed by healthy living

✨ The first three areas to clean up in your pantry and home

✨ Hidden signs your child's body may be under stress

✨ Common symptoms that could be connected to food or environmental factors

✨ Ingredients every family should learn to recognize

✨ The health habits that create positive ripple effects across generations

✨ How grandparents can positively influence family wellness

✨ Why it's never too late to build a healthier foundation

Whether you're a mom, grandmother, caregiver, or simply someone who wants to improve your family's health, this conversation will leave you feeling empowered to make meaningful changes—one small step at a time.

Remember: Healthy families aren't built overnight. They're built through consistent, intentional choices that create a legacy of wellness for generations to come.

Click here to connect with Kate!

💗 If you enjoyed this episode, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE it with someone who is passionate about helping the next generation thrive.

Connect with Girlish Gurus

Follow Girlish Gurus for weekly conversations that empower women through midlife and beyond with expert advice on health, wellness, longevity, mindset, travel, relationships, and living your best life.

🎧 Subscribe to Girlish Gurus for inspiring conversations that help women embrace midlife, discover new possibilities, and create their most meaningful chapter yet.

IG: @girlishgurus

YouTube: Girlish Gurus

GirlishGurus.com

Girlish Gurus Glamorous Getaways

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Connect with Kate Cherry

Learn more about MissioWay Health & Wellness and Kate's mission to help families build healthier foundations. MISSIOWAY.COM

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We'd Love to Hear From You!

#GirlishGurus #HolisticHealth #HealthyFamilies #WellnessJourney #HealthyLiving

Have you ever caught yourself saying, "I'll travel when I find someone to go with" or "Maybe next year"?

If so, this episode is for you.

This week on Girlish Gurus, we're joined by Joy Owens, CEO of Butler Travel, mom of two, avid outdoor enthusiast, adventure racer, and seasoned traveler who has explored more than 60 countries. Joy specializes in creating unforgettable group travel experiences that help people discover new destinations—and often, new friendships along the way.

Whether you've dreamed of taking an international vacation, joining a women's group trip, or organizing a getaway with friends, Joy shares practical advice to help you confidently turn those travel dreams into reality.

Together, we discuss why travel in midlife looks different from what it did in our 20s and 30s, how group travel can remove many of the barriers that keep women from exploring the world, and why waiting for the "perfect time" often means missing incredible opportunities.

In this episode, we discuss:

✈️ Why travel becomes more meaningful in midlife

🌍 The benefits of organized and group travel

🧳 How to successfully plan a group trip from start to finish

💬 Important conversations to have before traveling with others

📅 How far in advance you should begin planning

⚠️ Common mistakes travelers make—and how to avoid them

🤝 Tips for traveling with people you don't know well

💜 Why some of the best friendships begin while traveling

🌎 Joy's favorite travel memories and current bucket-list destination

✨ Encouragement for women who have been waiting for "someday"

One of our favorite reminders from this conversation:

Don't wait for permission. Don't wait for the perfect travel companion. Don't wait for someday. Book the trip. Create the memory. Live the adventure.

Life isn't measured by the number of years we have—it's measured by the experiences that shape us along the way.

If you've been waiting for a sign to finally take that dream trip, consider this your invitation

🎧 Subscribe to Girlish Gurus for inspiring conversations that help women embrace midlife, discover new possibilities, and create their most meaningful chapter yet.

IG: @girlishgurus

YouTube: Girlish Gurus

GirlishGurus.com

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Connect with Joy Owens & Butler Travel

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Girlish Gurus Glamorous Getaways

Renee Grabiner Goes to Antarctica:

https://butlertravel.com/at-96-she-thought-her-dream-was-impossible/#:~:text=%E2%80%A6Until%20She%20Became%20the%20Oldest,frozen%2C%20untamed%20beauty%20of%20Antarctica.

https://www.einpresswire.com/article/803153563/96-year-old-renee-grabiner-becomes-oldest-person-to-visit-antarctica-proving-it-s-never-too-late-to-chase-your-dreams

Everyday Macaroni episode:  The Joy of Travel with Joy Owens

We'd Love to Hear From You!

Have you ever taken a group trip that changed your life? Is there a destination that's been sitting on your bucket list for years?

Share this episode with a friend you'd love to travel with, and let us know where you're dreaming of going next! Join the Girlish Gurus on our next Getaway!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to Girlish Gurus, leave us a review, and share it with another woman who's ready to stop waiting and start living her next great adventure.

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Have you ever struggled with feelings of rejection, low self-worth, or the need for validation from others? In this inspiring episode of Girlish Gurus, Lorraine Miano and Joy Alford Brand welcome author Lori Michalina Wood to share her powerful healing journey from childhood rejection to emotional and spiritual wholeness.

Many women carry emotional wounds from childhood into adulthood without realizing how deeply those experiences shape relationships, confidence, and self-worth. Lori opens up about overcoming father wounds, healing childhood pain, and learning to stop seeking validation from others to discover lasting peace and purpose.

Together, we explore the impact of rejection on adult relationships, break emotional cycles, heal from the past, and find the courage to create a new future. Lori also shares the powerful metaphor of the "cast sheep," illustrating how we can become stuck by life's challenges—and how healing, resilience, and restoration are possible at any age.

Whether you're navigating a difficult life transition, rebuilding your confidence after heartbreak, healing childhood wounds in midlife, or simply searching for greater emotional wellness, this conversation offers hope, encouragement, and practical wisdom for your journey.

✨ In This Episode:

✔️ Healing from childhood rejection and emotional pain

🌸 This Episode Is For You If:

💗 Remember: Your past may have shaped you, but it does not have to define you. Healing is possible, and it's never too late to begin again.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, help is available. In the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline any time, 24 hours a day. If there is an immediate danger or emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

You can also reach out to a trusted friend, family member, mental health professional, counselor, doctor, or local crisis center. You do not have to face a crisis alone.

Resources may vary by country. If you are outside the United States, contact your local emergency services or crisis support line for assistance.

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RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

The Invitation by Lori Michalina Wood

Life Line Screening: Get Peace of Mind Now

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