Women on the Remake

In this week's episode, you get a raw audio version of me sharing with you my highs and lows of success. It's my key to happiness, but yet it took me years to overcome the obstacles to have a confident voice. I floated through fine as most of us do, but I kept hearing a whisper inside to pursue something bigger. Do you hear a whisper? I took huge steps in order to make it happen. The defining moment was when I realized my transformational changes were going to help women. I stepped out of a 30-year marriage in order to pursue true happiness. I needed to understand who I was as a woman and my time was now.  Our second chapters of life are a gift. We've made it and we should be so grateful. I want to accomplish all things, check my bucket list and wake up each day knowing I'm fulfilling my heart and soul and hopefully others along the way.What you'll learn from this episode:My story of failure and transformationsIt's never too late to pursue your successMy three simple but powerful commitments have helped me create success. 

We sat down with author Robin Moriarty for an intimate conversation about her journey and experiences that led her to write What Game Are You Playing? We soaked up as much as we could for you. She's that girlfriend you want to keep in your life! Her message and inspiration are so on point with WOTR.  Her GUTSY website can be found @ gutsy.world.com.  Be GUTSY and get your REMAKE started! 

Alia Alston, founder and owner of Icebox Cryotherapy, joins Leigh and Kristin for a lively conversation about what drove her to open the very first retail cryotherapy studio in the United States, the trials, tribulations, and unexpected pleasures of opening and running a small business, and how in ten short years she's grown Icebox to a franchise operation with over thirty retail locations across the United States.  Our discussion ranges from the benefits of cryotherapy (many) to the sacrifices you have to make as a female entrepreneur raising a family at the same time.  Alia is an inspiration to any woman out there who is passionate about something she loves, and wants to make that passion into a fulfilling career.Check out Icebox:  https://iceboxtherapy.com/

Leigh and Kristin discuss the challenges and adventures of dating at midlife, post-divorce.   Hilarious and painfully new experiences abound when you start dating again at midlife.  It's a wild, wild, west out there with dating apps, safety fears, and body positivity issues that you don't have at 25.  

In the midst of major life changes, including both Leigh and Kristin moving AGAIN, their discussion centers around the unglamorous side of a remake.  When your life is changing, it can be easy to resist what you may see as negative changes, but instead you should trust the process, trust the changes as those that are supposed to happen.  Instead of looking with dismay at what can be perceived as "going backwards"--moving into a smaller house, having to get rid of excess possessions, not having the "success" you thought you'd have or what the world taught you--look at them as a new beginning, your new start, a new opportunity.  

Ginger Duval, Season 1 guest on Episode 13, Sometimes You Have to Pivot, joins Kristin for a lively discussion about women embracing solo travel.  As we return to some form of normalcy, there's never been a better time to start thinking about taking a solo trip for renewal, rejuvenation, reflection, and more.    Even better, in late September you'll have the opportunity to join Leigh and Kristin and a group of other Women on the Remake  at our very first retreat at the beautiful Sugarboo Farms in Blairsville, GA.  Click here to register!  If you register before May 31, you'll get Early Bird Pricing!Resourceshttps://www.afar.com/magazine/solo-female-travel-where-and-how-to-gohttps://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/solo-travel/women-solo-travelhttps://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-places-for-female-solo-travelershttps://www.eronews.com/travel/2021/05/14/what-will-travel-look-like-in-a-post-covid-world

Leigh and Kristin discuss three important keys to your wellbeing.  In what can be a killer month for midlife women, full of events, endings, responsibilities, to-dos, and more, there are foundational behaviors that can help us cope with what life throws at us.   Make no mistake, these keys can help transform your life in ways you can't even imagine. 3 Keys to Your WellbeingSelf-compassion matters.  Turn down your inner critic.Strengths come from within.  Your authentic character strengths are a core part of your identity.What you water grows.  Turn collision into collaboration.ResourcesUnlocking Us:  Brene Brown with Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce D. Perry on Trauma, Resilience, and HealingSelf-Compassion Makes Life More Manageable by Sherri GordonThe 24 Character Strengths

Leigh and Kristin discuss the value of developing resilience at midlife.  Building supportive relationships, practicing self care, sitting with your emotions and experiencing their full breadth,  practicing mindfulness, and working towards your goals are all ways that you can improve resilience; moreover, being able to withstand the stressors that life inevitably throws at you will allow you to continue your midlife remake with a greater degree of satisfaction and success.   If you'd like to join Leigh and Kristin at the first WOTR Retreat this September, click here for Early Bird pricing! ResourcesBuilding Your ResilienceDeveloping Resilience:  Overcoming and Growing From Setbacks10 Ways to Enhance Your ResilienceRising Strong by Brene BrownResilient:  How to Grow an Unshakeable Core of Calm Strength, and Happiness by Rick HansonWOTR Foundational Habits Guide

Manifestation is the theory that through regular meditation and positive, constructive thought, you can make your dreams and desires become reality.  If you really want something and truly believe it's possible, it will happen.  Leigh and Kristin discuss the importance of working to manifest whatever it is you want.  For women in a period of growth and change, like midlife, this means you can bring your remake to fruition with the right mindset, by truly believing it to be your new reality.   WOTR's Tips for Manifesting Your RemakeCreate the clearest picture in your mind of what you want. Color, smell, sound, taste. Be detailed. Where are you? How do you want to be living your life? Be limitless.  Try new things- none are mistakes.Don’t let relationships stand in your way. This doesn't mean cast them aside.  Use them as a way to learn and grow and enjoy the ride, but oftentimes people we are close to can have very strong opinions about what we should do and who we should be.  Manifest your own truest self, not what anyone else wants you to be.Make inspiration boards. Put them where you can see them.You will have insecure days! It’s okay. Have a sounding board and reach out. Have a community of women doing the same thing you are doing. Join our Sisterhood!Have pictures done of yourself that make you feel beautiful? Look at them and remember you are that woman.Don’t put up any boundaries to what you can manifest.Do not be afraid to invest in yourself and your business.

This week, Leigh recorded on her own with Mimi Gehres after the planned guest had to cancel due to illness.  Then, Kristin was unfortunately diagnosed with Covid-19, leaving Leigh to make do.  Mimi Gehres joined the podcast to discuss the challenges of being at midlife with a special needs young adult about to make the transition to independence.  

When Carolyn's son was crippled by anxiety and depression, she and her husband didn't know where to turn.  The struggles and uncertainty they faced at a crucial time led her to found Nathan's Waypoint, a safe and supportive space for parents of adolescents and teens living with anxiety and depression that disrupts their lives. Carolyn joined Kristin and Leigh to discuss how she remade her life to serve other parents in the same situation in which she found herself- that of no knowledge and no real ability to know where to turn to find community or resources to help her son.  

Angela Devlen joins Kristin and Leigh to discuss what it looks like to start over after divorce at midlife with nothing more than mattresses on the floor.  Relying on her priorities, her drive, her entrepreneurial spirit, and herself, Angela built a life for herself and her daughter that, over time, became exactly what she wanted it to be.  Always an entrepreneur, she used the skills she built over a lifetime to build businesses and relationships that led her to create The Founders Circle with her friend and business partner Mari Partyka.  The Founders Circle is an online community of entrepreneurs designed for midlife women.  Their understanding of the unique challenging facing midlife women helped them create something completely different - a supportive place where they develop and share resources that are entirely based on solutions to solve challenges they have personally faced as entrepreneurs.   Both Women on the Remake and The Founders Circle seek to build community and offer resources for women working to redesign their lives at midlife.ResourcesAngela's Tips for Women on the RemakePrioritize your friendships and community of womenSelf-care expands our capacity to do more - it is not a luxury, but rather a necessity.Listen to and follow your dreams.  We have so much more to offer in our second half of life.Don't forget to visit https://www.womenontheremake.com to download our Healthy Habits guide - this will help you set a strong foundation for success on your remake journey!

Lisa Chader and Lucia Folk, founders of The Change Agent-cy, join Leigh and Kristin for a wide-ranging, hilarious conversation that covers everything from why they chose to leave great careers in the television industry to start their PR firm to how wonderful and terrible it can be to be in a business partnership with your close friend. The Change Agent-cy is a management and communications consulting firm that provides social impact strategies and services for the national non-profit and business sectors.  Lisa and Lucia work with their clients to provide solution-oriented social impact and communication strategies that strengthen both business and the community.  Visit www.womenontheremake.com to download our Guide to Essential Habits for Women on the Remake!

Kristin and Leigh kick off season 2 with a discussion of how important it is to establish healthy habits for yourself so that you can be successful in your remake.  Kristin and Leigh have some shared habits, but also find different habits work for them too.  The episode previews the season to come, as well as the WOTR Retreat Kristin and Leigh will be hosting in late September if Covid-19 cooperates.  Make sure to head over to the WOTR website (see below) to get your guide to our favorite foundational habits.   https://www.womenontheremake.com--Download your guide to foundational habits here!

Leigh and Kristin are joined by guests from Season 1 episodes to reflect on the season. The conversation among these women moves fluidly as they discuss their own episodes, what they've learned from each other, and cover the personal growth they're experiencing in their own remake journeys. Despite being recorded on Zoom, the discussion is raw and emotional, and Leigh and Kristin were struck by the level of vulnerability shown by their guests (now friends).

In this episode, Leigh and Kristin discuss the importance of pursuing your passion at midlife. Not just as a hobby, or a side gig. But making the effort to really chase your dreams. Kristin and Leigh spent a weekend in Nashville planning content for season 2 of Women on the Remake, and in the midst of a weekend of concentrated work, they met with two women who also had made the decision to pursue their passion. This led to a conversation about how so many women at midlife are dissatisfied, empty, and searching for more meaning. The conversation centers around the benefits of pursuing your passion at midlife. Actually, taking the leap of faith to make a scary change so that you're living in integrity with your truest self. Please head over to our website and subscribe. Kristin and I are planning exciting content for season 2. ResourcesThe Element by Ken RobinsonWhen Things Fall Apart by Pema ChodronDo the Work: Overcome Resistance and Get Out of Your Own Way by Steven Pressfield and Seth GodinUnwrapping Your Passion: Creating the Life You Truly Want by Karen Putz

Our guest this week requested to remain anonymous. In this episode, she tells the story of her 20 year marriage to a man who, by the end of the relationship, was being investigated by the FBI, indicted, and under house arrest. She was lied to, manipulated, and convinced that "everything was okay", despite seeing blatant red flags from the very beginning. This is her story of finding the strength to leave, and what helps her thrive, even now. She explains that her belief that keeping her family together was the most important thing caused her to stay in the marriage long after she knew she should leave. She failed to listen to her own intuition but instead tried to keep up the appearance of normalcy for the sake of her children. When it became clear that her own wellbeing should be prioritized, she found the strength to leave the marriage. We asked her what advice she would share with other women on the remake who may be in a similar situation.Trust your intuition. Listen to "the whisper". Listen before it becomes a metaphoric 2x4 hitting you in the head.Surround yourself with loving, empowering women. Know that you need different types of friends. Those that listen while you rage, and those that quietly help you back to your feet and towards the future.Take care of yourself. Nurture yourself. Make sure your bucket is being filled.Resources that may helpMarried to a Narcissist: Enduring the Struggle and Finding You Again by Catenya McHenryMama Gena - "Get right with your darkness" and the "I've Hit a Rough Patch" swamping technique Craniosacral therapy - look for a provider in your areaBody energy and breath work Visualization and meditation - surf the web and do your research to find techniques that suit your individual needs. Leigh's favorite meditations are sleep meditations and visualizations that can be found here. Kristin prefers auditory meditations like the ones found here.Please note: This podcast is not intended to be professional medical, legal, or psychiatric advice. Our guest is simply sharing her own perspectives and story. If you are in a situation like this one, we strongly advise seeking the advice of a mental health professional, attorney, or even a friend who can help direct you.

Cheryl Walker joins Kristin and Leigh to discuss the sexual issues facing women at midlife. The silencing of our sexual voice can lead to an inability to express desires, wishes to try new things, and can limit sexual satisfaction for both women in committed relationships and women post-divorce. Cheryl suggests three tips for women on the remake:Love your vulva: Examine it, know its beauty, love its power. Don't believe the hype: Ignore the many voices sending you messages that you internalize to your own detriment and sexual dissatisfaction. The ''hype" can be ideas about what you are "supposed to" like, not like, do, or not do.Find your sexual voice: This is the voice that is drowned out by the hype. This voice, when given its power, can lead you to sexual freedom, fulfillment, and yes-- fun.ResourcesCome As You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski, Ph. D.The Body Keeps The Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D.Pussy: A Reclamation by Regena Thomashauer

In this episode, Leigh and Kristin are joined by Trish Taylor, author of the book "I'm Never Drinking Again: Maybe It's Time to Think About Your Drinking". Trish stopped drinking six years ago after a frightening episode out at a bar with friends. She shares her story, why she chose to stop drinking, and her journey to sobriety. Our discussion centers on "Where to go next." We discuss Dry January, and how it can be easy to make it through a month off drinking, but the difficulties can come when the calendar turns over and you don't have a plan for what happens the next day. In this episode, Trish shares a unique and thoughtful approach to staying "dry" that will offer relatability and real help to women hoping to remake their relationship with alcohol.ResourcesTrish Taylor, Author (website)Trish Taylor Coaching on You TubeAlcohol Change UK Interactive ResourcesStop Drinking Reddit Trish Taylor's Books on Amazon

Kristin and Leigh sit down with Gwen Hendee, a yoga instructor and nurse who has also studied various forms of healing arts. We discuss the importance of "making space" within yourself in order to be successful on your remake journey. Women too often are holding space for others, carrying the emotions of others, bearing the physical burden of motherhood or caretaking, as well as the social and cultural expectations for who we should be. This doesn't leave much room for ourselves. How do we make that space? In an interesting twist of mindset, we ask the question "What do You Want to Keep?" This causes you to think of what's important to you and what you want for yourself, instead of its twin-- "What should I get rid of?" This question applies to anything that's filling up your mind or life. Emotions, thoughts, relationships, everything. You find that you begin to focus on the most important thoughts, emotions, and relationships, and how to keep them close. ResourcesDaring to Live Fully by MarelisaMaking Space: Creating a Home Meditation Practice by Thich Nhat Hanh

Leigh and Kristin are joined by Liz Stubbs, photographer, and Penny Treese, fine artist, to discuss their recent collaboration on "Celebration Portraits". In these magical portraits, the subject goes through an intense photography session with Liz and Penny, designed to bring out their "inner wild", their most authentic self. In this process, and accompanying conversations, Liz and Penny learn about the subject and get to know her. Once the photography is finished, Penny gets to work turning the photographic portrait into a piece of fine art, treated with whatever media she feels is appropriate for that person. In the end, the finished portrait should be a visual representation of the subject's spirit-- her soul. Leigh and Kristin discuss the intersection of this visual process with their work with women on a remake. We discuss the fear and trepidation women feel going into a revealing and personally baring photo shoot, and how powerful and strong they feel afterwards. It's parallel with the feeling women have as they truly shed their old self and begin to remake their life. It truly is transformational. Please visit www.womenontheremake.com to subscribe.ResourcesLiz Stubbs PhotographyPenny Treese Fine ArtistCelebration Portraits Invitation

As we close out 2020, we decided to re-release Episode 8, the story of Angie Witz's sobriety journey. Kristin and Leigh have decided to go dry for January, and hope you'll come alongside them for the next month.

In this episode, my daughter and I sit down to discuss the external pressures that lead to the epidemic of mental illness. She share's how far she's come in her journey and how it shaped her life today. Her words of wisdom offer today's young adults hope and trust that all challenging experiences shape who you are, and rather than resist them accept them. In her wilderness experience, she learned to sit with herself, and through this, she began to value and love herself without needing the validation and company of others.

Kristin and Leigh discuss the importance of finding stillness in order to hear that inner voice that we too often ignore. Many times we are keeping ourselves so busy, that we fail to listen to that whisper telling us it's time for some changes. In order to begin a remake, you must pause and listen. You must be still. This can look many different ways, from meditation to reading quietly in silence. Leigh and Kristin discuss the myriad advantages of finding stillness in this episode. Stillness does not have to mean formal meditation.Work to build the habit of being still into your daily routine.Listen to the inner voice that begins to speak to you.ResourcesJust Being Yoga: Slow Down and Find the Space to Just BeStillness is Overrated: How to Move into a Meditation Practice: Meditation doesn't have to be "still". Incorporating physical movement into your meditative practice can be beneficial.Shavasana: The Posture of Relief, Silence, and StillnessPracticing Mindfulness: 75 Essential Meditations to Reduce Stress, Improve Mental Health, and Find Peace in the Everyday22 Ways to Practice Stillness

Kristin and Leigh discuss a question that seems to recur over many of their episodes, "Who does a woman want to be?" It's a question that many women on a remake are trying to answer throughout their personal journeys. They discuss how women might work to discern adjectives that may most closely describe them, and ask their listeners to come along with them on a working episode as they continue to seek to answer this question.

As she approached 40, LaQueta Nichols looked at herself in the mirror and decided to take control of her own health. She started with small goals, but as she crushed one after another, the weight dropped off and her fitness level soared. Over time she decided to become a fitness instructor, and now teaches Zumba and small group HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) classes as well as offers personal fitness consultations whenever she can. LaQueta's entire life was remade, including her passion for her "adult job" that she does during the day. Her inspirational story shows that overhauling your fitness can be done with the right mindset and determination to reach those small goals one after the other.

Ginger joins us to share how she continues to embrace remaking herself as life demands. First there was agreeing to an unexpected move to Bangkok, Thailand in 2009, which remade the whole family dynamic and every single relationship. Then she made the decision to attend culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu in Thailand--where she was the oldest student. Ginger says this was one of the hardest things she's ever done--physically and mentally. When the time came to leave Thailand and return to Atlanta, Ginger found herself afraid of going back to. her "old life" and wanted to continue the adventure. Ginger and her family returned to the US in 2016, and in 2019 she launched her own travel business. Then COVID-19 hit and she was forced to pivot. Now she's making cooking videos showcasing her amazing culinary skills. Ginger talks about how important it was to her to keep learning and look for opportunities. You never know what's around the next corner, so you might as well hop on board for life's adventures as they come.

Laura Rafi, a Certified Public Accountant, joins us to dispel the fears women have around finances, especially during and after divorce. A clear understanding of what you have coming in and what you have going out is the first step. Laura says that having the outside support of a trusted CPA or financial advisor as you begin the divorce process is imperative. Women need to understand the tax impact of a variety of possible financial scenarios that may be negotiated as part of the divorce settlement. Understanding your financial needs as a divorced woman is key. The process of dividing assets in a divorce can be overwhelming, but there is no reason women should be afraid-- there is help and education available that can make you feel in control, calm, and ready to face independence. While you may still rely on financial support from your ex-partner, you can begin to plan for financial freedom from day one. ResourcesWiser Women's Institute for a Secure RetirementEllevest: A Financial Company for WomenBooksDivorce After 50: Your Guide to the Unique Legal and Financial ChallengesProsperity After Divorce: Take Charge of Your Finances & Create the Life You Really Want Using Lifestyle Re-Design Planning

Eve McClennen, an Aging Life Care Manager, joins us to discuss the impact aging parents can have on us as we enter mid-life, especially if we have begun to focus on ourselves as our children begin to leave the nest. Women tend to take on more of the care of aging parents, while simultaneously not spending enough time taking care of their own emotional and health needs. Eve offers excellent advice on the need to prepare for the future, including setting up estate planning, understanding the financial ramifications of caring for aging parents, and making sure advance health directives are in place. These can be difficult conversations to have, but having them is an act of love. Eve shares wonderful resources that can help ease the burden, and gently reminds us that we can't care for others if we don't care for ourselves.ResourcesEve McClennen, Aging Life Care ManagerCell: 770-256-8365 (work) 404-680-5687 (personal)Evem@seniorcareopt.com https://www.aginglifecare.org/On Being Mortal by Atul Gawande"It's Pretty Brutal": The Sandwich Generation Pays a Price--New York Times 2/11/20The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family by Margareta MagnussonNAELA--National Association of Elder Law Attorneys

Ashley is a former lawyer currently studying theology. Ashley faced a big personal remake at age 42. She shares the difficulties she faced in her marriage to a man with a substance abuse problem. She faced additional health issues resulting from exposure to black mold and even faced homelessness. It seemed nothing she was doing to "fix" her life was working. She came upon a friend who asked if she had done any inner work, since it seemed the "outer" work wasn't helping. It was that day that began letting go of controlling the situation she was in, and came to trust that she was where she was supposed to be. She was able to reach a place of gratitude for what she DID have. She spent time working on being "present" and enjoying the small things. The moment she reached a place of peace with where she was, the positive growth began to occur. Through intensive study of theology and physics, Ashley's personal philosophy began to evolve.Books for Times of Crisis and BreakthroughWhen Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron (Buddhist nun)The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell (great audiobook)Detours by Tony Evans (Christian)Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow by Elizabeth LesserA Return to Love: Reflections on Principles in A Course in Miracles by Marianne Williamson Anything written by Emmet Fox (Christian thinker)Astrologers (You Tube)Annie BotticelliNadiyah ShahMolly McCordPam GregoryBlog/Facebook/Instagram on Science/Religion/MetaphysicsThe Sacred Scientist My Favorite Twin FlameBooks on Science/Religion/MetaphysicsThe Self Aware Universe by Amit Goswami (watch his videos)The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire by Deepak ChopraThe Tao of Physics by Fritjof CapraThe Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pa

In this episode, Kristin and Leigh spend some time chatting with coffee about a variety of topics centered on their remake journeys and what it means to be a woman on the remake. Leigh shares that she has begun working with a therapist, and taking that simple step already makes her feel more empowered in other areas. Kristin uses her yoga practice for her therapy, and discusses that it’s so much more than getting on the mat. Yoga extends to all aspects of your life. We cover what it means to each of us to be a “woman on the remake.” She’s a woman who has accepted who she is, and is making positive changes to herself. She listened to that inner whisper that told her it’s time to change. She trusts the process and the journey. She has shed any darkness within, and stands firm in her own identity. She is searching for her most authentic self and doing what it takes to get to that authenticity. Being a woman on the remake has less to do with external achievements and more to do with internal changes. Achievements can and do happen once those internal changes are made. Keep scrolling for resources!ResourcesThe Change Triangle --Hilary Jacobs HendelIt's Not Always DepressionDialectical Behavior Therapy--exercises, worksheets, videosWhat to do when bad things happen to us...Radical AcceptanceBeth Jones-Schall--Leadership TrainingThe Spirit of SuccessSleep MeditationsJason Stephenson - Sleep Talk Down Guided MeditationDauchsy - Manifest Anything While You SleepThere are literally thousands of sleep meditations for any purpose. Search in the youtube search bar and you're likely to find something you need!

Angie Witz decided to remake her life by going alcohol-free. Known by friends and neighbors as the fun-loving curator of neighborhood social events, Angie began to realize that she was unhappy with the role alcohol played in her life. She heard the "whisper", "You drink too much." In most of our social circles, alcohol is a central part of every single gathering. Being the person who doesn't drink is HARD. Angie began removing alcohol from her life by participating in a month-long health challenge, mostly because she knew it would be easier to pass off not drinking to her friends that way. She spent all of 2016 playing around with the idea of not drinking, and taking intermittent breaks from it. Depression, stress, and anxiety were concurrent players in the last year before she really, really quit. She hit her low point when she considered walking in front of a moving car. The following year, she cut her alcohol consumption down drastically, but still had several episodes of heavy drinking before a serious discussion with her husband in August of 2017 caused her to stop for good. Angie buried herself in resources to help her stop drinking. Meditation, podcasts, Facebook groups, reading... she tried it all. Check below for her favorites. Her social calendar went from ridiculously packed to empty. To avoid the temptation to drink, she stopped going to the Friday Happy Hours, the neighborhood parties, and everything. She began to notice that alcohol is omnipresent in our culture. TV, social media, social events, everywhere. Over the next two years, Angie went alcohol-free and regained her sense of abundance, her ability to sleep, the freedom to live her life without being dependent on alcohol, and in fact, the pre-alcohol identity she had lost.Resources:Podcasts:The Happiness Lab https://apple.co/31uXgBeAfter Alcohol https://apple.co/2FOCXXTSeltzer Squad https://apple.co/2Hex9rDBubble Hour https://apple.co/2HpeOYmSpiritual:Your Move with Andy Stanleyhttps://yourmove.is/Blog:Unpickled by Laura McKowenhttps://unpickledblog.com/Books:Annie Grace - "This Naked Mind" https://amzn.to/3ocRbTVJill Stark - "High Sobriety: My Year Without Booze" https://amzn.to/3m9Bmvf

Kristin and Leigh are joined by Johnna Robinson, a lifelong friend from Kristin's hometown. When Kristin accidentally sent an extremely critical text message about a political post that Johnna made on Facebook to Johnna instead of to Leigh, as she intended, she faced having to have a difficult conversation with her friend Johnna in order to repair their friendship. Leigh and Kristin recorded this episode remotely with Johnna, and discuss the incident and what happened afterward. Johnna's gracious response to her old friend's screwup, despite Kristin having hurt her feelings, set the tone for how we stretch for those friends that matter to us. The amazing truth is that Kristin and Johnna were able to consider their reconnection under negative circumstances as a positive new beginning to their 30-year friendship. This lesson is one that should be learned by all of us, as we live in such a polarized culture, where we easily block or unfriend someone whose viewpoints don't match ours. The over-politicization of all topics, including the pandemic, has made it difficult to easily discuss many topics that wouldn't have been off-limits before. The discussion turns to how it is not a positive thing to live in an echo chamber, where your own beliefs are confirmed and re-confirmed without challenge. As Johnna says, "Our friendship is just our friendship. Who am I to condemn ANYone for what they believe? You just don't get anywhere by fighting about these things." When you have a friendship that has lasted for 30 years, it's a precious thing that isn't worth throwing away over a simple misunderstanding. The challenging world we live in today has made it even more important that we keep our friends close.

Leigh and Kristin sit down with Giffney Nagel, a close friend who is also an aspiring author. Giffney discusses the impact of a spontaneous move back to her hometown on her friendships. Friends back "home" related to her as the person she used to be as a young adult. After a short stint living back in her hometown, she returned to Atlanta. The return to Atlanta showed Giffney the importance of understanding who your true friends are. Giffney discusses the friends she was pursuing before leaving the city, and how when she returned to Atlanta she was surprised at who reached out to her and rebuilt friendships--newsflash-- they weren't the same ones she thought were so important to her before. Leigh, Kristin, and Giffney discuss how the shit we’ve faced in 2020 has affected our friendships. The Real Ones will be there for us no matter what. The political climate and the pandemic have had untold effects on midlife friendships. It is up to us to keep those that matter close.

After hearing about the book "Big Friendship" by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman on "The Marie Forleo Podcast", Leigh and Kristin read it, and dive into the topic of the trials and tribulations of friendship at midlife. Aminatou and Ann host the podcast "Call Your Girlfriend", and the story of their friendship forms the backbone of this book. Leigh and Kristin discuss how friendships can change as women go through such a transformational experience as divorce, and emphasize the importance of maintaining and "stretching" for those women you need in your life. Those "old friends", who KNOW you, who knew you BEFORE, become important as you try to regain your identity. Leigh and Kristin discuss how the pandemic has led us to edit our friendship list to the ones who will tell us the truth, and help us be our most authentic selves. In the context of discussing the book, Leigh and Kristin discuss how the difficulties of female friendship relate to women at any stage of life, especially as women go through transition. The discussion moves on to how the loss of a special friendship can be as difficult as a death. Any woman in midlife, especially those in transition, remaking themselves, can relate to the conversation about the importance of friends. They are life. Leigh and Kristin cover their own friendship, which we would define as a "Big Friendship", and the challenges of building a business together--the learning curve is STEEP. Having "big friendship" is not easy. It's work, but it's worth it.

In their first podcast episode, Kristin and Leigh invite you to join them on the sofa as they discuss their desire to help women transform themselves, and their vision for Women on the Remake!

Is it found only once or twice in life? When one of Kristin's yoga students offers up his rustic cabin, we jumped at the chance for a free getaway to work on WOTR. The kitschy 70's vibe fueled our laughter for the weekend. No WOTR getaway would be complete without a fancy cocktail, yummy snacks, and cool morning talks about midlife love on the porch.

Leigh is one of the co-founders of WOTR. In this podcast she discusses how her younger days as an over-achiever who conformed to societal expectations impacted her life path. After making the decision to move to Colorado to be with a man (who she later married), her life transitioned from working towards her personal goals to supporting his. This mental and emotional shift to a supporting role became a pattern that was permanent throughout her marriage. As the years passed, it began to feel like her identity was eroding. The years staying at home raising her children were rewarding and happy, but she lacked the kind of personal fulfilment one gets from following your passions in the work world. Unhappiness and the inability to communicate her needs grew into a nagging issue that damaged her marriage. She thought of herself as a faded version of someone who used to be. Post-divorce, Leigh is fighting to rebuild her identity and her independent spirit. Visit womenontheremake.com to sign up for updates and news!

Kristin Smith is one of the founders of WOTR. She shares how she's spent much of her life feeling like a failure. People only see the external Kristin and not the flaws and failures she's hidden. She was a young girl who lacked self-worth in her early teens and much of her adult life She worked hard to hide that image as an adult and she did everything she could to look successful. Self-worth and gratitude is her profound remake!