Two Women of a Certain Age

Izolda and Valerie get together to talk about everything they loved about the Octavia Spencer/Anna Waddingham Prime series, Ride or Die, and their annoyance at its cancellation; Cornell University***; and what's coming up on Broadway this season.  

***Trigger warning: This episode of Two Women of a Certain Age contains a frank conversation about sexual assault. Discretion is advised.***

In this episode, Valerie and Izolda sit down with birth doula Celina Sargusingh for an honest and illuminating conversation about all things doulas and birth.

What exactly does a doula do? How are doulas different from one another, and how do you know what kind of support is right for you? Celina shares her experience and insight into the role of a birth doula, the stages of the birth process, and what it’s really like to give birth.

Together, they explore the emotional, physical, and practical sides of childbirth, what expecting parents can anticipate, and how having the right support can make a difference throughout the birth experience.

Whether you’re preparing for a birth, curious about what doulas do, or simply want to better understand the journey of bringing a baby into the world, this episode is a candid and engaging conversation about birth, support, and everything doula-related.

Show Notes:

If you are looking for an doula or know someone who is, here is some information about today's guest!

Celina Sargusingh, CD-L, NCS, CBE, CPD
Email: [email protected]
https://doulamatch.net/profile/37443/celina-sargusingh-cd-l-ncs-cbe

In this episode of Two Women of a Certain Age, Valerie and Izolda discuss the enduring career and legacy of actor Sam Neill before diving into a bigger question: when life keeps presenting the same opportunities that no longer fit, is it time to say no? Together, they explore the tension between pursuing your dreams and giving in to the practical demands of capitalism and American society, asking whether it's wiser to follow the current—or keep fighting for the life you truly want.

Izolda and Valerie dive into Broadway's biggest night to discuss the 2026 Tony Awards. Who truly deserved to win? Which victories left them scratching their heads? And yes—they're bringing a few unpopular opinions to the table. They also preview the shows on the horizon and debate whether daring, modern reinterpretations of classic musicals should have an edge over traditional revivals that stay true to the original productions. It's an honest, spirited conversation for theater lovers who enjoy a good Broadway debate.

Valerie and Izolda talk about "doing too much" at their "certain age", the many hats the modern artist wear, Broadway shows Izolda has gone to, and sharing your musical gifts.

Izolda interviews Valerie about the outcome of the Academy Awards and asks her opinion about which movies she found the most compelling in 2025.

Izolda and Valerie sit down and have a fun conversation with mystery author Delia Pitts ("Trouble in Queenstown", "Death of an Ex", the Ross Agency Mysteries) about finding inspiration, the writing process, why mystery writing is fun, what it's like to be a woman of a certain age, and why the movie "Wuthering Heights" has quotation marks (with mild spoilers).

For more information about Delia's work, you will find her website here: https://www.deliapitts.com/

Izolda and Valerie talk about overpreparation for projects, update us on their upcoming 2026 projects, and wonder what to do if an artist suddenly cannot participate in their passion.

In episode 3 of the new season, Valerie and Izolda talk about their celebrity crushes past and present and how sometimes past crushes are still present crushes. They also discuss the power of acting and their experience with believing (or not) actors in their roles on stage and screen.

In episode 2 of the 3rd season, Izolda and Valerie talk about the recent loss of the legendary icon, Robert Redford (and recommend some of his must-see movies), what should you do when justice shrugs, Jimmy Kimmel and the recent battle over the First Amendment, the Joshua Bell/Metro experiment and how it could be taken to the next level, (mostly) men who can't help themselves but grab at boobs, and what it's really like to be afraid to step foot on stage.