She’s Smart

What do you do when you've helped plan a friend's daughter's wedding celebrations but don't actually get invited to the wedding? When is setting a boundary healthy, and when are we just avoiding an uncomfortable conversation? And why is it sometimes so much easier to give advice than to take it ourselves?

This week on She’s Smart, I'm joined by Leslie Kumar, the woman behind Ask Leslie, a monthly advice column in Darien New Canaan Lifestyle and Upper Westchester Lifestyle magazines.

Leslie has worn a lot of hats—from luxury real estate marketing to launching her own jewelry brand—and now, in her 40s, she's found a new chapter that brings together her love of writing, connecting with people, and helping women navigate life's everyday dilemmas.

We talk about the freedom that comes with getting older, finding the courage to put yourself out there, friendship dynamics, social etiquette, marriage, and why we seem to have forgotten how to have difficult conversations face-to-face.

And because no conversation in the She’s Smart Shed ever goes exactly as planned, we somehow end up discussing my obsession with romantasy novels, fictional men who turn into wolves, and what our husbands might think about all of it.

It's a funny, candid, and refreshingly honest conversation about figuring things out as we go, embracing new chapters, and remembering that sometimes the best advice is the advice we give ourselves.

Follow Leslie: @ask_leslie_official

What happens when the life you've built no longer feels like the life you want?

This week on She’s Smart, Maria sits down with Ashley Napoli, founder of Living Lotus and Living Well, to talk about self-worth, reinvention, and learning to trust yourself enough to make a change.

After 18 years as an English teacher, Ashley followed her intuition into a new chapter as a yoga instructor, coach, and retreat leader. But walking away from a stable career wasn't easy, and figuring out what comes next is still a work in progress.

Together, Maria and Ashley explore why so many women spend years putting everyone else's needs ahead of their own, how we unknowingly seek validation from others, and the difference between practicing self-care and truly valuing ourselves.

They also dive into letting go of perfectionism, finding confidence in the unknown, setting boundaries without guilt, and the small daily practices that help us reconnect with who we are.

Connect with Ashley:

Website: https://livinglotusyoga.com

Free Meditation for Transitions: https://livinglotusyoga.com/freebies-1

Who do we trust—and why?

This week on She’s Smart, Maria sits down with Dr. Kira Ganga Kieffer, a scholar, writer, and professor of religious studies at Fairfield University whose work explores the intersection of religion, health, medicine, and belief.

Kira’s first book, Unvaccinated Under God: Religion and Vaccine Hesitancy in Modern America, opens the door to a much bigger conversation: How do we decide what—or whom—to believe?

Maria and Kira talk about the tension between expert authority and personal experience, the rise of “trust your gut” parenting, religion and alternative spirituality, wellness culture, medical authority, and what happens when we begin to question an institution we once trusted. They also unpack the idea of “myth”—and why it means something very different to a religious scholar than simply something that isn’t true.

This isn’t a conversation about telling you what to believe. It’s about getting curious about where our beliefs come from, how our experiences shape them, and why trust is far more complicated than we might think.

This week on She’s Smart, Maria sits down with author Isabela Livino to talk about her debut novel, An Immaculate Deception.

Set in 1877 Brazil, this Gothic story follows Madalena, a young woman caught in a world of love, fear, religion, guilt and obsession. Isabela takes us behind the book—from the moment she knew this was the story she needed to write to the influences of Dante’s Inferno, philosophy, psychology and her own connection to Brazil.

They talk about creating Madalena and Leandro, how our perspective can shape the reality we experience, and why modern horror can be such a powerful way to explore women’s stories.

Maria may not be a horror reader, but this is one book she couldn’t put down.

And don’t worry—this conversation is completely spoiler-free.

https://www.isabelalivino.com/

Susan Curtin, Chair of the National Coast Guard Museum Association and former member of the United States Coast Guard Reserve.

Susan’s connection to the Coast Guard is deeply personal. Her father, J.D. Power, credited his own Coast Guard service with helping shape the man and leader he became—and years later, Susan would follow in his footsteps and serve herself.

In this episode, Susan and I talk about her family’s incredible story, her own experience in the Coast Guard Reserve, and the work she’s doing to help bring the National Coast Guard Museum to life in New London, Connecticut.

We also get into what the Coast Guard actually does (I learned so much), the women who serve, the meaning of service, and Susan’s perspective on leadership—including why sometimes being a good leader means being willing to say the hard things.

It’s a conversation about service, family, legacy and leadership.

https://nationalcoastguardmuseum.org/about-us/

From producing over 400 episodes of Maury to launching the wildly successful On Par with Maury Povich podcast, Holly Mirabella has spent her career helping people tell their stories — and in this episode of She’s Smart, she shares some of her own.

We talk about the evolution of media, intuition, reinvention, motherhood, building a company from the ground up, and the “superpower” Holly developed after decades of producing television at the highest level.

Holly also opens up about her stage 3 colon cancer diagnosis, how it changed her perspective, and why creating meaningful, authentic content matters more to her now than ever before.

It’s an honest, inspiring conversation about resilience, second chapters, and learning to trust yourself along the way.

On this episode of She’s Smart, Maria sits down with Samantha Miller, co-founder and CEO of Cadence OTC, to talk about the future of reproductive healthcare access — and why access matters more than ever.

From emergency contraception and pharmacy deserts to the push for over-the-counter birth control, Samantha shares the inspiring story behind building a mission-driven pharmaceutical company focused on making women’s healthcare products easier to access, faster to find, and more affordable.

Maria and Samantha also dive into the cultural conversation around contraception and responsibility, including why it’s time for men to be part of the conversation too — especially for parents raising teenage boys.

This episode is honest, thoughtful, informative, and deeply relevant for anyone navigating healthcare, parenting, entrepreneurship, or modern relationships.

https://cadenceotc.com/

In this episode of She’s Smart, I’m joined by Veronica Taylor, Wealth Advisor at Ellevest — a women-led platform helping women invest, grow their wealth, and make smarter financial decisions.

Veronica shares her journey from a 20-year career as a Creative Director into wealth management, and how breaking free from living paycheck to paycheck changed everything.

We talk about why so many women feel behind with money, the biggest mistake we make (hint: not starting), and how to begin investing without feeling overwhelmed. We also touch on real-life topics like equity compensation, career transitions, and aligning your money with your values.

This episode is all about building confidence, gaining clarity, and creating financial freedom — one step at a time.

www.ellevest.com

This episode is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or legal advice. Please consult with a qualified professional regarding your individual situation.

Fertility is just the beginning of this conversation.

This week, I sit down with Aimee Raupp—best-selling author of Yes, You Can Get Pregnant and The Egg Quality Diet, and a leading voice in women’s health and fertility.

With over two decades of experience, Aimee blends Western science with Eastern medicine to help women better understand what’s really happening in their bodies.

We talk about the modern fertility landscape, the impact of stress and environmental toxins, and why so many women feel disconnected from their hormones and health. We also get into daily habits, supplements, and how to navigate all the noise in the wellness space.

Whether you’re thinking about having children, already have them, or simply want to feel better in your body—this conversation is for you.

https://aimeeraupp.com/

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider for guidance specific to you.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Tanvi Gandhi—naturopathic physician, licensed acupuncturist, and integrative psychiatry provider—for a conversation that feels both grounding and eye-opening.

With a background in science from UCLA and research at the NIH, Dr. Tanvi now blends modern medicine with holistic practices to support the full connection between mind, body, and spirit. And in this conversation, we really dive into what that actually looks like in real life.

We talk about:

Dr. Tanvi also shares simple, accessible tools you can start using today—from grounding and stillness to affirmations and tapping—to help regulate your nervous system and reconnect with yourself.

https://www.drtanvigandhi.com/