This month on the podcast, we're chatting about why every GenXer should solo travel. In episode 26, I talk to Wild Terrains founder Lauren Bates about the inspiration behind her women's travel company, how they curate their unique trips, and why every woman should book a solo trip with a group.

Guest Info:

Lauren Bates is the founder of Wild Terrains, an innovative women's travel company that collaborates with women entrepreneurs, chefs, artists, and designers around the world. Lauren always knew her most fulfilling travel experiences happened alongside inspiring women with important stories to tell, so she dreamt up Wild Terrains to share some of that magic. More than seven years and hundreds of successful trips later, Lauren and Wild Terrains have been written about in The New York Times, Elle, Vogue, National Geographic & more. 

In 2024, Lauren also founded Studio Womankind, a launchpad for brands that propel women forward. In this space she dedicates her time to one-on-one mentor sessions with aspiring women entrepreneurs, and an annual 8-week marketing course designed to help women-centered businesses grow and thrive.

Before launching Wild Terrains, she was the Chief Marketing Officer at flower delivery startup UrbanStems. Lauren is a graduate of Vanderbilt University with degrees in Mathematics, Spanish, and Financial Economics. When she is not on the road, she calls Boulder, Colorado home. Because she spends so much time on the move, Lauren relishes quiet moments spent outdoors, preferably on a trail or paddle board with her dog Milo! You can follow Wild Terrains at @wildterrains and her at @laurenbatestravel.

Wild Terrains Website

Wild Terrains Instagram

Studio Womankind Website

Lauren Bates Travel Instagram

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In episode 25, I'm going solo to look back at how 80s kids dealt with motivation, productivity, and overwhelm. From Trapper Keepers to stickers and just doing what you were told, GenXers navigated childhood the only way we know how...with imagination, grit, and some latch key ingenuity.

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Welcome to season two of The GenX Experience and episode 24. We're starting things off by chatting with business and wellness coach Dr. Christiane Schroeter. In our engaging conversation, Christiane shares her top tips for making goal-setting less overwhelming so you can tackle that to-do list, make your dreams a reality, and still have time for yourself.

Guest Info:

Dr. CHRISTIANE SCHROETER is a passionate Business & Wellness Coach with a distinctive European flair. She focuses on helping women elevate their health and confidence,

With a Ph.D. in Health Economics, Christiane works as Professor of Marketing, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at one of the top U.S. universities, earning national and international

Christiane is the host of the Top 1% globally ranked Happy Healthy Hustle Podcast and hosts a vibrant community on Instagram and YouTube, where she shares practical

Her book, How to Master Your Goals: A Curated Collection of 1-Page Worksheets, launched as #1 New Release in adult education on Amazon. Known for her motivating "Let’s do it!" attitude, Christiane is a sought-after speaker in business

Website: Hello Happy Nest

Instagram: @hello.happy.nest

Youtube: Hello Happy Nest

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Welcome to a quick little holiday bonus edition of the podcast. Today, I'd like to ask for your help with some podcast feedback. I've created a quick survey to get your input on our first season, as well as what you would like to see in 2025. The survey should take no more than 5 minutes to fill out.

Until we meet again in January, I wish you and yours a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season.

⁠The GenX Experience Survey⁠

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In today's final installment of our series on GenX parenting perspectives, I spoke with Debbie Harrell about the challenges of being a single mom, what parenting feels like now that her children are grown, and how GenX is dealing with our collective trauma from the way we were parented.

If you enjoyed this episode, share it on social media, and don't forget to follow us on Instagram @thegenxexperiencepod.

Guest Info:

Debbie Harrell

Debbie Harrell is the vibrant force behind the New World Normal podcast—a space where questioning and disrupting societal norms is not just encouraged, it's the main event. As the host, Debbie dives into insightful conversations with guest experts and thought leaders, exploring how we can break free from norms that no longer serve us. In her coaching practice, Debbie is a guide for values-focused humans ready to disrupt their personal norms. She empowers clients to reconnect with their inner rebel and start to challenge all of their "shoulds" and "have-tos," enabling them to start building (and living) a life that has them jumping out of bed every day.

Beyond her biz, Debbie is a proud mom to two grown children and two rescued fur-babies. Nature, travel, and live music are her happy places, especially when they come together. Debbie's belief in the power of community is the driving force behind her podcast and coaching—providing comfort and connection in this bat shit crazy world. Because, in Debbie's view, embracing our similarities and collaborating as a collective offers the best chance for us all thriving in this crazy world.

Instagram

Website 

Podcast 

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In today's short episode, I'm dispelling all the urban myths our Silent Gen and Boomer parents told us to keep us in line or scare us. It's the perfect conversation starter for your Thanksgiving table.

How many do you remember? Did I leave any out? 

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In part three of our GenX parenting series, I chatted with GenX dad Chris Reavis and Xennial dad Josh Kellar about the importance of empathy and understanding when raising kids.

Chris also shares his experiences parenting a kid on the spectrum, while Josh discusses how his role as a therapist impacts his parenting.

Guest Info:

Chris Reavis

Chris Reavis is a tech-savvy author on a mission to help you love work again. He is a go-to guide for ditching frustrations and boosting your career mojo. With 13 proven strategies, he's all about maxing out productivity and sprinkling happiness into your daily grind with "Boost Your BS Resilience At Work". When he's not writing bestsellers like this, "Unleashed" and "Hashrate," Chris enjoys the Pacific Northwest with his family and wonder pup, Penelope.

YouTube
Website

Most Recent Book

Consulting

Josh Kellar

Josh Kellar is a proud Xennial, born at the cusp of Gen X and Millennial generations in 1981. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, educator, and entrepreneur, Josh blends the grit and resourcefulness of Gen X with a forward-thinking approach. He runs a successful private practice and is the founder of NCEExamPrep.com, where he helps future counselors achieve their professional goals.

Josh is passionate about building connections, whether through supporting individuals and families in their toughest moments or mentoring new therapists as they grow into their careers. He brings a down-to-earth, practical perspective to every conversation, making him a thoughtful voice on navigating life, work, and relationships in today’s ever-changing world.

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Today, I'm continuing my series on GenX Parenting by chatting with two unique and accomplished moms, Dr. Stephanie Dueger and Ashley Malik. We talk about everything from the importance of nurturing your children's emotional intelligence and the challenges of raising kids with a significant age gap.

Guest Info:

Stephanie Dueger

Stephanie Dueger, PhD, is an author, educator, and coach for expectant and new parents. She is the founder of Planned for Parenthood, where she helps expectant and new parents with children up to age 5 feel more prepared for, relaxed during, and connected to each other and their children in early parenthood through psychoeducational support and practical information.

Websites:

Planned for Parenthood

Dr. Dueger Therapy

Podcast on Spotify & Apple

YouTube Channel

Instagram

Facebook

Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families: Available on Amazon & Bookshop

Ashley Malik

Ashley guides busy, midlife moms to lose weight in perimenopause. After losing 55 lbs with hypothyroidism, plus 10 lbs more in perimenopause, Ashley developed a method to kick-start weight loss for women who have "tried everything, but nothing works". Based on 10+ years of research, personal experience, and endless doctors appointments, her approach has guided hundreds of women to lose weight, gain energy, and live the happy life they deserve!

With her personal journey featured in First For Women, Woman's World, and the Thyroid Cure, Ashley supports women in achieving their weight loss goals through individualized coaching, group programs, and The Family Fork podcast.

Website

Podcast

Instagram

Pinterest

Books Mentioned:

Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic

Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live)

The New Menopause

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This November, the GenX Experience asks GenXers to share their experiences as parents. We'll discuss what influences their parents or childhood had on their parenting style, the challenges of raising kids in today's technology-centric world, and much more.

Today's guest is girl dad, Alex Berberian.

Guest Info:

Alex Berberian is a 45-year-old husband and dad to 2 girls in the suburbs of Annapolis, MD. He is the co-host of Driveway Beers Podcast, where we bring comedy to everyday topics. Alex claims he's not an expert on anything and is not here to sell you a product or service.

Driveway Beers Podcast Website

Facebook 

Instagram 

Where to listen to Driveway Beers Podcast:

Apple 

Spotify 

Info mentioned in today's show:

Sold a Story Podcast

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In today's bonus episode, I'm sharing my thoughts and insights on the new menopause documentary, The M Factor, available on PBS.

Resources:

The M Factor Documentary

The Menopause Society

The Menopause Brain

Dr. Mary Claire Haver

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