Podcasts about vbb

Bitch being used as an inspiration sounds counterintuitive, very contrary to how people have been conditioned to apply a word, which for centuries has been used as an insult keeping women in a subservient place in society. Jamie Louise Madigan became very familiar with the word Bitch after finding herself being used and abused in her intimate relationship. Jamie admits her good-girl, people-pleaser personality contributed to her being treated like a doormat by an abusive partner. Healing from her relationship introduced Jamie to poetry as a healing platform and Bitch as a healing companion. In our conversation, Jamie shares anecdotes on how she overcame the fear of asserting herself and the potential consequences of losing relationships or making others uncomfortable. She acknowledges the Bitch as a source that inspired her to operate with courage instead of fear and live authentically.  It's a fascinating conversation that underscores the necessity of self-expression and authenticity in personal growth and a journey toward becoming more centered and confident without needing external validation, which exemplifies the liberating power of self-acceptance.

This is episode #One of the VBB Bitch Series. It begins with our conversation with Teacher, Life Coach, Speaker, and International bestselling Author of W.O.M.A.N.: A New Definition For Reclaiming The Feminine, Gina Cloud. Whether you like the word or not, Bitch is ubiquitous, timeless, and female-centric. For centuries to the present day, Bitch has been used to dehumanize women on the one hand, while on the other, Bitch has been an idolized symbol of woman's emancipation.  Gina helps us unravel the contemporary and historical use of a word meant to marginalize women and how they can turn it into a tool for personal empowerment without giving in to rage or vengeance.  We explore how women can reclaim Bitch, embrace the essence of its power, use it to amplify their voice, and speak their truth with courage and integrity. We chose Gina to be on this journey because she walks her talk.

A Journey From Fear To Freedom. Lauren Wellbank is a courageous survivor who has successfully turned her harrowing near-death experience at the hands of a violent partner into a mission of hope and empowerment for others. After escaping her abusive relationship, Lauren realized the importance of sharing her story, knowing that 1 out of 4 women face similar situations, and many either don't survive or struggle to break free. Lauren openly discusses her frightening journey with the aim of inspiring and giving hope to women who haven't broken free and still feel trapped.  Her message illustrates that there is life beyond current circumstances. Lauren emphasizes empowerment through storytelling, the need to overcome fear and shame, and the importance of societal change to shift the blame onto abusers. She also highlights the significance of mental health support, raising awareness amongst children, and dispelling myths about women who find themselves in abusive relationships.

Sandy Phillips Kirkham shares her harrowing yet inspiring journey of overcoming abuse in a religious setting. Her book, "Let Me Prey Upon You: Breaking Free From A Minister's Sexual Abuse," sheds light on the devastating impact of clergy abuse and serves as a resource for education and support for others. Sandy's journey is a poignant testament to the often-downplayed reality that women and girls within the church can be easy prey for sexual predators disguised as priests. Her compelling story highlights the egregious abuse of power by church leaders and the victim-blaming that often follows. Sandy recounts her personal experience of being groomed, manipulated, and sexually exploited by her youth pastor and eventually being expelled from her church while her abuser moved on to another congregation. For years, Sandy grappled with the thought that the exploitation she endured was her fault. However, through tremendous personal growth and reflection, she came to recognize that she was deliberately targeted, groomed, and manipulated by her abuser, who sought only to use and control her. Sandy's experience underscores the critical need for awareness and support for all victims of abuse, challenging the stigmatization and silence that often surrounds clergy abuse.

Jamie Louise Madigan's book, "Lipstick Stains and Coffee Cups," is more than a collection of heart-wrenching poetry; it helped her exorcise painful memories of abuse and brings hope to women still lost or entangled in abusive relationships.  For Jamie, writing was the transformative process that allowed her to confront the stark realities of being abused, which, paradoxically, led to her nurturing a powerful sense of self-awareness and empowerment. Jamie's wish for her poems is they serve as both inspiration and a beacon of hope for women overwhelmed and trapped in abusive circumstances. Her journey illustrates how recognizing and articulating one's suffering can be an essential first step toward healing and liberation. Jamie's story is a testament to the resilience and strength of women worldwide who face similar challenges. We're grateful for Jamie's contribution to VBB's support of The United Nations 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.   

As part of our annual commitment in support of the UN's 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, VBB continues to share personal stories that reveal the harsh realities of abuse but also the strength that comes from survivors. This week, we hear the inspiring and sobering narrative of special guest Sophia Diaz. Sophia is an indomitable spirit with a multifaceted global career, and also a woman who once faced a harrowing experience of betrayal, violence, and near death at the hands of the man sworn to love her and a judicial system that failed to protect her. Sophia's story is one of resilience, trust, and faith. We're thrilled to bring you the wisdom and insights from International Entrepreneur, Recording Star, Author, and Film Producer Sophia Dias. 

Lois Hollis is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist known for her work in the field of shame and guilt counseling. She specializes in helping individuals overcome the debilitating effects of shame and guilt, which often stem from childhood experiences, trauma, or societal expectations. Hollis's approach to counseling emphasizes the importance of understanding the root causes of shame and guilt, as well as developing strategies for emotional healing and self-acceptance. Lois believes shame and guilt are pervasive energies that impact every aspect of a person's life, from their relationships to their sense of self-worth. Through her counseling practice, workshops, and writings, Hollis offers up free tools and techniques for breaking free from the cycle of shame and guilt in a way that empowers individuals to live more fulfilling and authentic lives. 

Rissa Miller is a fearless advocate for the term 'witch' and the longstanding stigma and fear around the word. We get into what qualifies a woman as a witch, and even though perceptions of a witch have evolved from the days when the Church condemned women for communing with devils to present-day pop culture where witches like Melisandre from "Game of Thrones, Wanda Maximoff as Marvel's Scarlet Witch, and Netflix Teenage Witch Sabrina are beautiful and powerful women.  While some people still hold onto outdated beliefs, Rissa believes society is catching up and evolving its understanding of what it means when women are okay with being called witches.

Is Self-Care Just Women Being Selfish?  Christina Marlett, BKin, BMT, believes you have the power to change the world, but first, you must address the fact that you need to take charge of your own life, starting with self-care that goes beyond bubble baths, chocolate, and wine. Christina is an International Speaker who has shared the stage with Michael Beckwith, Marci Shimoff, Lynne Twist, Ocean Robbins, and Jean Houston. She is also a #1 International Best-Selling Author, a Master Facilitator, a Certified Embodiment Coach, and the Founder of Courageous Self-Care. Christina teaches high-achieving leaders that self-care is not simply about luxurious acts of pampering but that it's a real necessity if you truly want to step into your greatness. Through her coaching, workshops, and online programs, Christina helps you revitalize your energy from the inside out so that you can be productive and peaceful at the same time. We talked to Christina about the importance of self-care and her new book, Not Your Mama's Self-Care Guide (cause she probably had none, so you should read this). In it, you'll learn the top mistakes intelligent women make with self-care. You'll also discover why courage is a useful barometer for self-care. As the book title suggests, Christina makes self-care fun and accessible so that you can be productive and peaceful at the same time.

We learn very young about beauty as a commodity, how beauty has become women's gilded cage in society, how beauty is a weapon women use to compete with one another for economic or professional status, and how young women feel pushed to manipulate beauty to win love or affection. We learn how beauty is fleeting and cruel, especially to women, and the inevitability of aging only makes women more vulnerable and desperate to invest eternally in cosmetics, surgeries, weight programs, or anything that promises to preserve Beauty. In this episode, Christopher and Heather take a step back to ask the most important question to women: What is Beauty to You?

I Felt Like An Alien! Beth Hildbrand is a US Army veteran, cancer survivor, and founder of Resilient Stars Marketing. Beth's passion is to share her personal journey to help others. An important chapter in her journey includes recovering her identity as a woman after the loss of her hair to chemotherapy. Through her YouTube channel, "BethHildbrandTalks," Beth chronicles the event that made her question her own identity as a woman.  Making the decision to have her partner shave her head and the narrative of her emotional state is a testament to beauty and what makes a person beautiful. 

Barbara McBean knows, she once competed in the glamorous Miss Universe Pageant. She did not win that crown, but today, Barbara is the founder and president of Eternal Beauty Institutes Clinical Esthetics Colleges, which features multiple schools and beauty brands across North America. Barbara's passion for all things beauty, once combined with her first love of teaching, became the foundation on which Eternal Beauty is founded. Her brand is built on the principle that education should be accessible to everyone with the spirit to learn and grow. Barbara shares a personal journey that exemplifies resilience and highlights the unique obstacles women face in leadership and entrepreneurship while burdened by society's unrealistic expectations of beauty.  If you are navigating societal beauty expectations or seeking inner peace, this episode promises to inspire and empower. Tune in as we continue our quest to break down stereotypes and celebrate the eternal beauty that comes from within.

The Evolution of Beauty is Part One in a VBB Four-Part series on our podcast middle name: Beauty. The Evolution of Beauty is also a specialty of Richard Prum.  He's not a beautician, far from it; he's an expert on birds, a Professor of Ornithology, Ecology, and Evolutionary Biology at Yale University, as well as head curator of vertebrate zoology at the University's Peabody Museum of Natural History. Richard also authored the book The Evolution of Beauty, where he revisits Charles Darwin's long-neglected theory of sexual selection; basically, females choosing a mate purely for aesthetic reasons — the mere pleasure of beauty —and how those rarely acknowledged choices are as critical as natural selection in determining the evolution of our species. So, is Beauty in his genes or in how he wears his jeans?

Who Do You Think You Are? Teresa Ford is a certified mental health and trauma recovery life coach who believes you shouldn't hire any coach who hasn't successfully done what you are trying to do. So, if you have any experience with anxiety, depression, grief, loss, ADHD, emotional abandonment, parentification, or debilitating people-pleasing, Teresa has been there and back. Teresa has long been fascinated by the human experience and the vast spectrum of emotions that come into play in our lives. She believes life is an exploration, a journey to understand the emotional elements that shape who we think we are now and also who we are capable of becoming. "My own mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical healing process is what has propelled me to follow my life calling as a certified mental health and trauma recovery life coach" — Teresa Ford. 

Ever find yourself thinking, "I'll be happy when"… [add job, money, relationship, or shiny object here.] Why do we struggle with our seemingly endless quest for happiness based on external things or circumstances?  Even when we reach our big happiness goal, why does the joy feel shallow or fleeting? Aura Martinez speaks candidly about obstacles she faced, including a lack of self-acceptance, which hindered her personal growth. Instead of fighting her despair, she leaned into her frustration with curiosity and created a unique coaching method — the A.U.R.A Blueprint.  As a successful Self-Discovery and Empowerment Coach, Aura's passion is helping women and men discover themselves more powerfully and attract everything they want, including happiness.

Beauty has been assigned, by man, the dominion of woman, but is Beauty her paradise or her prison? September 22, Christopher and Heather host 4 Conversations on VBB with female authors, researchers, and topic experts to answer questions about the Myth of Beauty. Questions women are shamed into not asking even themselves. 

From Betrayal To Abundance is Annie Izmirliyan's story. She's been heralded as a financial maverick who leverages over 20 years of education and hands-on experience in wealth management, financial planning, and sales leadership to guide individuals and organizations toward their financial goals and aspirations. However, what makes Annie unique and separates her are the life lessons she learned hard, including misplaced trust, life-partner betrayal, and a close encounter with a financial disaster.  Turning betrayal into success has helped Annie create a unique approach that focuses on guiding people through tough times while acknowledging their strengths. It's a philosophy that combines empathy, reassurance, and practical financial guidance. Annie's story speaks of hope and empowerment and shows that even life's harshest lessons, even betrayal, can lead to profound personal growth and overwhelming abundance.

Janice Selbie on Divorcing Religion! Janice Selbie lived 40 years of her life as a devout Christian. Living a reality reminiscent of a Margaret Atwood character in “The Handmaid's Tale,” Janice became the quintessential Renaissance woman, complete with Mennonite-inspired shapeless clothing and modest head-coverings. She rejected all the creature comforts of secular life — TV, radio, music, newspapers, and magazines, and committed to homeschooling her children. It wasn't until a series of personal upheavals challenged her obedience that Janice felt justified to question her lifelong devotion to blind faith. Janice is now a Registered Professional Counsellor and a Religious Trauma Recovery Coach hosting Divorcing Religion Workshops that help others experiencing the significant losses associated with religious de-conversion.

After 20+ years working in the beauty and fashion industries, Jen Auh, founder of Style Konsult & STYiLES, designed over 360 creative campaigns for major beauty and fashion retailers, including Bliss, Macy's, Too Faced Cosmetics, and Silver Jeans. As a beauty and fashion expert, she knows how looks influence people's confidence. That is where her journey in image consulting began. Jen now serves a community of over 10,000 people and has built a 7-figure consulting agency by empowering people's confidence with style. Her holistic approach integrates personal branding with a deep understanding of clients' strengths, blind spots, and unique qualities.  Jen stresses that building self-awareness is crucial for cultivating confidence and maximizing internal beauty. By being in tune with oneself, we can better manage how we are perceived and how we perceive ourselves.

Mariska Reinerink is a global Money Wellness and Business Coach, International Workshop Facilitator, Speaker, and Best-Selling Author with over 20 years of experience as a Holistic Financial Advisor. Her professional journey began as a physiotherapist, where she witnessed the profound impact of pain, stress, and money worries on people's overall well-being. Personally, Mariska faced her fair share of financial challenges while navigating single motherhood, self-employment, and financial uncertainty. These experiences were motivation to transition into Financial Services. What sets Mariska apart is her unique methodology that addresses the practical and human sides of money. It's about helping people develop a stress-free relationship with their finances. Mariska shares unique insights in her Best-Selling book, "Untangling Your Relationship with Money."

Who's at fault when male chivalry is interpreted as chauvinism or a sincere compliment is taken as a cheap come-on? True, some men's attitudes and actions have created these reservations in many women. So, what is an ideal man, or what do modern women really want from the men in their lives? Christopher and Heather share eleven qualities that women might consider deal breakers or ideals they wish from the good men in their lives.

Temi Ajibewa is a powerful and inspiring woman. She is a Personal Brand Strategist and Coach, Author of several Amazon-bestselling books, Mentor to women and men worldwide, and an electric Transformational Speaker, but beyond the titles lies a story of personal reinvention. Raised by a single mom in a dysfunctional social environment and as a young woman looking for love in all the wrong places, Temi's tragic first steps in life helped her develop personal resilience and business principles that revolve around two key elements – high impact and high income. She firmly believes that everyone possesses the necessary ingredients for success, and her role is to refine those innate talents by assisting individuals to monetize their skills, expertise, and passion. Temi is a powerhouse force of nature and a must-listen.

Debbie Peterson, former mayor of Grover Beach, California, remains passionate about women's representation in public office. She's a first-hand witness to the troubling trend of women being discouraged from running due to the increase in online and in-person attacks. It's also true that many women don't want to work in a culture of confrontation or have their private lives picked apart in public. The result is fewer women pursuing political careers. Understanding the importance of diverse voices in decision-making, Debbie offers experience and advice supporting women contemplating a run for office. She emphasizes resilience and preparation, aiming to empower more women to overcome challenges and take on leadership roles. 

Vicki Larson is an award-winning journalist, author, writer, columnist, editor, and freelancer who writes about lifestyles and human relations but with a modern twist. Vicki shares highlights of living and loving outside conventional models of marriage and the nuclear family. Strong evidence is in the title of her latest book — LATitude: How You Can Make a Live-Apart-Together Relationship Work. Vicki is the first to admit that LAT relationships aren't for everyone, but for many women, living apart together is the perfect lifestyle choice for undoing gender.

Kelly Etter is more than a Pilates teacher and trainer, more than a mom, and more than a former member of the famous Music City Rockettes dance troupe. Kelly is all that and a compassionate advocate for self-discovery and personal growth. Kelly empathizes with women who dutifully struggle to juggle the roles of motherhood, partnership, or career, and she understands the challenges that women face in seeking validation through their various roles, titles, and relationships. In this candid conversation, Kelly acknowledges that the journey of self-realization can be daunting, but encourages women to explore and embrace their identities beyond societal expectations and external roles. Kelly is proof that the transformation can be an enjoyable and fulfilling adventure that ultimately makes life more fulfilling. Her insights inspire us all to look within to not only find but to celebrate our true selves.

Darlene Lancer is a Marriage and Family Therapist and author with over 30 years of experience working with clients through the complex web of codependency. If relationships, self-worth, and personal growth are important to you, this is what you need to hear. Darlene is a renowned expert in codependency and the author of several books, including Codependency for Dummies and Conquering Shame and Codependency: 8 Steps to Freeing the True You. Darlene walks us through the intricate relationship between codependent and narcissistic partners. She reveals the childhood roots around each and the impact of shame central to both. Darlene shared valuable insights like how to recognize negative self-talk, which fuels codependent habits, and instead embrace self-worth and break free from unhealthy relationship patterns. Join us as we uncover the insidious complexities of codependency and learn how to become empowered to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.

How many people, instead of trading time for money or feeling trapped in a seemingly endless cycle of reacting to life's responsibilities, would love to be living their life purpose? But what would you trade to live such a privilege? Tara Sheahan remembers when she was once a world-class Olympic athlete, mother of two, and wife of a CEO with global influence. Still, when a bite from a tick left her with Lyme disease, overnight, her life of comfort, convenience, wealth, and health came to an end, replaced by endless experiences of pain and suffering.  It was the beginning of her Dark Night of The Soul and the dismantling of her ego identity. What happened next is Tara's story of finding her life purpose. She is the founder and coach of Breathwork, a powerful healing modality. She's also a student of Indigenous wisdom traditions who lives an austere lifestyle on land being prepared as a habitat for the return of bison herds to the Great Plains. Tara's story is about what is sometimes required to live a life of purpose, which for her is helping restore Earth's ecosystem and raising human consciousness to a level you can hear in her voice — a sound of pure joy!

Rahti Gorfien is the Founder of Creative Calling Coaching, LLC, and has been recognized three times by Expertise.com as one of the 15 Best Life Coaches in NYC. However, in a former life, she graduated from a prestigious NYU Acting Program. "Acting broke my heart," she laments, but her career on stage still spanned thirty years.  During that time, she became a professional standup comic and a writer of several plays, including Backstage's Best Plays of 2004, and she once shared a stage with Meryl Streep as a dedicated corpse. In the mid-1990s, Rahti formed and facilitated peer groups to support her fellow theatre creatives. These groups became a gateway to becoming a trained and certified professional coach. Recently, she was recognized as one of the Top Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Coaches by Coach Foundation.com.  Even though she admits to having no interest in coaching people with ADHD, fate intervened when her son was diagnosed with ADHD. She married a man with ADHD, and her brother also has ADHD.  Rahti helps her clients focus so they can live fulfilling lives, maximize their talents, get seen, and make money doing what they love.  She recently wrote her first book, The Five Emotions That Stop Success in Coaches, Clients, and Creatives: Overcoming Personal Obstacles of the Mind. We're thrilled to bring you this enlightening and highly entertaining conversation with Rahti, and we would love to hear what you take away.  

Feminism, in any phase, era, or iteration, is a complex and sensitive conversation that much of society avoids as taboo. The latest iteration, known as “woke feminism,” is no different. What is ‘Woke Feminism” and how does it impact society or you as an individual woman or man is a compelling conversation we welcome with a YouTube content creator known by her pseudonym Baggage Claim. Our conversation touches on the rise of female empowerment in media, particularly on television and Hollywood. It's a transition that has evolved from a fight for female equality to stamping a mark on the world that women are superior to men.  Examples include Hollywood characters like Captain Marvel and the modern remake of Snow White. Films that exploit the current trend towards female dominance and are unafraid to demonstrate a vindictive attitude towards men. WARNING: This conversation will push buttons around deeply held beliefs and challenge values often taken for granted, including how we think and treat each other as individual women and men.  

Dr. Annmarie Waite is a nurse with a Ph.D; she is also a wellness coach with a unique approach to supporting her clients, most notably women, on their health and self-care journeys. For one, she has never adopted the theory that medication is what you need to get better. Her distinctive style comes from the foundational experiences in her life, where she grappled with common themes of neglect and shame that many women endure concerning their health. Annmarie's method is warm and genuine, akin to confiding in a trusted friend. Her approach accounts for the name of her business — "Girlfriends Health." Annmarie's coaching style involves listening deeply and guiding women through the intricacies of their wellness stories, which are often left unspoken and overlooked by standard medical practice. For Annmarie, health is a personal mission. Her aim is to help women break down barriers of discomfort that ultimately lead to her 'girlfriends' transformation and healing. In Annmarie's own words, "I'm here to embark on a profound journey of well-being and self-discovery with you."

Virgin and virginity have long been a source of taboo thoughts and moral fixation. How did the virgin come to mean so much and have so much power in our individual lives, especially the lives of women? How can one intimate heterosexual encounter change a woman forever? Why is losing it, giving it away, or having it taken against a woman's consent have the power to defile a her virtue or, in many cases, destroy her reputation? Why do we allow myths, philosophies, religious dogmas, and fairy tales to condition us to believe that a woman's value and self-worth is based on her denying nature's most potent force — female sexuality? These questions and many more come to the surface over our four-week journey in conversations that explore the Virgin as a physical entity — the body, the Virgin as a belief or a mindset, the Virgin as governor of intimacy and sexual desire of the heart and finally, the Virgin that is true to ancient definitions of virginity — a woman sovereign onto herself — a Virgin spirit. In this episode, Christopher and Heather rewind highlights and learning moments explored in four conversations with nine unique and remarkable women including, Laura M. Carpenter author of Virginity Lost: An Intimate Portrait of First Sexual Experiences, and Hanne Blank Boyd who authored the definitive book on the topic, Virgin: The Untouched History. Enjoy!

As a historian and author, Hanne Blank Boyd literally wrote the book on Virginity. Her seminal work, Virgin: The Untouched History, is a provocative exploration of the complex concept of Virginity throughout human history. Also enriching this conversation is Kim Hudson, author of The Virgin's Promise, which talks about women's path to finding their own power and authentic selves. This is part four of our four-week journey into the VIRGIN. So far, we have explored the history of the VIRGIN Body — the Hyman Maneuver we call it. The VIRGIN Mind and how forced virtue impacts a VIRGIN Heart that craves to love but often is stained by shame and guilt. In this final chapter, we explore the VIRGIN Spirit with Hanne and Kim. As a bonus, we also included a conversation with Jungian analyst, author, and podcaster Lisa Marchiano. Her new book, The Vital Spark, features a chapter on the Virgin, and we cover Virginity as a symbol of unbroken psychic wholeness. It's a remarkably enlightening and soulful conversation. It's a conversation that was interrupted by a major seismic disturbance. Listen through to the end to hear that earth-shaking event as it happened.

What can a grown-up, experienced woman possibly learn from any talk about virginity? Well, when so many women go through life being made to feel dirty, deviant, shameful, and even sinful about sex and their own sexuality, we wonder, where do those beliefs originate? Is it too far-fetched to look for seeds in a belief that insists women renounce their sexual nature until marriage, and only then can they express it in the name of motherhood? That might work for some women but not for Gina Cloud. Gina's the best-selling author of W.O.M.A.N.: A New Definition For Reclaiming The Feminine and a deeply devoted teacher and speaker who inspires women to embrace their bodies fully and learn from their inner wisdom. We also welcome Stephanie Horton, a women's circle facilitator who recently created a social group called The Wild Feminine. It's a conversation most women are never encouraged or invited to have, but all will be inspired to hear.

Welcome to episode two of our four-part conversation on Virginity and its lasting impact on women's lives. This week, we shift from what's between a woman's legs determining Virginity to what's placed between her ears that impacts her virtue and self-image. A seminal work on the topic is Virginity Lost, written by Laura Carpenter. She joined us from her day job as an associate professor at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Pauline Mortas is a recent graduate from the Panthéon-Sorbonne University in Paris. She is a specialist in the history of sexualities in the 19th and 20th centuries. She comes to us through an article titled Women and Men Faced with Virginity, which explores the social and symbolic meanings ascribed to Virginity. This conversation reveals how the notion of Virginity intertwines with societal norms, personal identity, and the ongoing journey to redefine sexuality in an empowering light. Before you push play, get ready to question, to challenge, and to rethink what Virginity means on a societal level and how it still defines what goes on between a women's ears.

Do words define us, or do we define words? VBB Podcast is built on the belief that — we, the people — ultimately determine how words define us. Putting that belief into action is why we chose to name our Podcast using words that have terrorized or demonized women for centuries. VIRGIN is such a word. It has been used to regulate female sexual expression by dividing women into Madonna's or whores. It's a tragic binary definition for women to live under and a devastating stigma to overcome. Over the next four weeks, we explore what VIRGIN means to women and their power to change inherited definitions. In week one of our four-episode journey, we explore the Virgin Archetype with Metaphysical Minister, speaker, and author of three provocative books that challenge cultural taboos around God, Death, and Sex, the Irreverent Reverend Stephanie Clarke. We also welcome blogger, videographer, and the author of Goodby Virginity, Talia Grey. In this inaugural episode, we recall the origin of the Virgin, its purpose, and its influence on the lives of women in our modern world. 

Amanda is an internationally published journalist writing stories about relationships, travel, and wellness. In 2013, she wrote an essay that changed my life entitled “Does My Virginity Have a Shelf Life?” It caused a flood of retorts when it debuted in The New York Times. Ironically, feminists and misogynists attacked Amana's decision to remain abstinent. It was as if a woman not having sexual intercourse is a woman who is somehow not complete. And it's not like the girl wasn't trying; by age 40, Amanda had dated over 100 men. She recalls dating physicists, army captains, a strip club bouncer, a philosopher, a professional country singer, a peace-treaty negotiator, a yacht captain, a waste management baron, a professional athlete, a farming landscape painter, firefighter, ER doctor, a minister, and a retired CIA spy. Christopher & Heather spoke with Amanda in 2020, shortly after finding what she had been waiting for this whole time: mutual love with someone who accepted her virginity as a gift. Amanda was also celebrating being pregnant with her first child. Unfortunately, the scorn Amanda endured as a woman determining her own sexual path remains a pressure women feel around the man-made construct we call The Virgin. Join VBB as we explore The Virgin archetype over four weeks and four unique episodes. As a preview, enjoy our conversation with Amanda, the 40-year-old Virgin.

Lisa Marchiano hosts the popular podcast This Jungian Life, which tops the health and fitness category in the US. She's a certified Jungian analyst, a sought-after speaker who lectures widely in the US and abroad, and a sought-after workshop facilitator. But Lisa is also an award-winning author who writes books to help women connect more deeply with their innate gifts. Lisa's latest is The VITAL SPARK - Reclaim Your Outlaw Energies and Find Your Feminine Fire, a book about personal power that uses dreams, fairy tales, and cultural narratives to guide women out of pleasing, appeasing, and playing nice toward their own spirited, and personal psychic freedom. Lisa acknowledges the challenge women face to balance softness with ruthlessness on a unique journey of self discovery? Join us as we explore transformative ideas that light the path to becoming whole. Catch the full episode and ignite your vital spark.

Misty Rae is one of a kind. She announces herself to Medium readers as a former legal eagle, a wife, mother, nature lover, chef, writer, and all-around free spirit. She makes no excuses about being brutally honest, or sweet as pie or being a great big bitch. It all depends on how people approach her, she says. Now in her 50s, Misty is committed to living like a 12-year-old and loving every second! It might be from not having a truly carefree childhood. Misty was born in a small town in New Brunswick under a major scandal. Her white mother had left her white husband to have a child with a black man. From day one, Misty was forced to navigate through a world of black-and-white opposites and expected from day one to choose a side favoring her white skin or her black heritage. We talk with Misty about life experienced in a way most people never face.

February, we honor Black History Month by welcoming the voices of Black women to share their lived experiences. We continue that tradition this year, but on a theme that sheds a different light on racism and the black experience. This month's guests are women born into black heritage through black families, but all present to the world as white. Kelly McWilliams is a mixed-race writer, the daughter of an African American author and literary professor; her father is of Norwegian heritage. Kelly wrote an article in TIME titled, The Day I Passed for White about her daughter's birth in a hospital. To ensure optimum health care in the face of institutionalized racism, Kelly faced an agonizing decision: reveal her black heritage to hospital staff or betray it by declaring herself as white.

Laura Cathcart Robbins is a best-selling author and host of the popular podcast The Only One In The Room; she's also a speaker and school trustee credited for creating The Buckley School's nationally recognized committee on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice. Laura is a prolific contributor to the Huffington Post with highly personal articles on race, recovery, and divorce. Her piece, A White Woman Told Me She Doesn't 'Think Of' Me As Black, uncovers having to live between shades of black and white. Her story, I Have A White Boyfriend. Does That Make Me Any Less Black confronts the intersectionality of love and race. We talked in depth with Laura about the paradoxes of race, family, class, and gender.

If you were to meet Miriam Zinter on the street, you would see blond hair, blue eyes, and white skin and draw the most obvious conclusion that she is what she appears to be — a white woman. But looks can be deceiving. Miriam says as much in her Huffington Post article — I'm Black But Look White. Here Are The Horrible Things White People Feel Safe Telling Me. Miriam comes by her black heritage, honestly, having been raised in black culture with parents who are both black. However, the dark history of slavery and rape also means she has white ancestors. The recessive white genes are prominent in Miriam, who was born with very light skin, blue eyes, and light wavy hair. Because Miriam is white-presenting, she has a unique perspective and insights on racism from both sides of the divide, visually, as a privileged white woman, but also a woman who lives and feels the persecution of black people on the inside. Our conversation with Miriam kicks off Black History Month on VBB.https://www.huffpost.com/entry/black-woman-white-privilege-racism_n_61ae133ee4b07fe2012a3f67

Lauren Abrams is a Podcaster, Writer, and Speaker, and mom, but also the founding member and managing partner of Employee Rights Law, helping employees fight discrimination in the workplace for the past two-plus decades. What is not on Laura's resume are the years she spent drugged out and living on the streets of LA. Lauren walks us through her inspiring journey, highlighting the transformational power of confronting her self-doubt, addictions, and economic challenges. Lauren passionately shares her message of hope, resilience, and the profound impact of community connections in finding happiness. Lauren's journey to success hasn't been without struggles; she openly shares her "dark night of the soul," experience including an intense personal challenges that tested her resilience. In her search, Lauren interviewed a person a week for a year, asking just one question — "Why are we here?". The project became a podcast and, soon, will be a book — 52 Weeks of Hope.Find Lauren: https://www.52weeksofhope.com/about52 Weeks of Hope Podcast: https://www.52weeksofhope.com/

Kyomi O'Connor's story is a profound testament to resilience, the power of self-discovery, and the magic of love. Kyomi, the author of "A Sky of Infinite Blue: A Japanese Immigrant's Search for Home and Self," shared her journey from a difficult childhood in Japan to finding her true self in the United States. Kyomi is candid about the verbal abuse she endured from her family, the cultural expectations that kept her feeling undervalued, and the struggles she faced in defining her own identity. Despite the adversity, Kyomi's unwavering determination and resilience shone through. She emphasized the importance of staying true to oneself, irrespective of societal or familial pressures. Kyomi shares her life experiences and deep insights into identity, femininity, and love that leave a lasting impact. Her words resonate deeply when she speaks about finding light in the darkness and the journey toward self-discovery and self-acceptance. And then there's Kyomi's captivating love story with her late husband, a remarkable tale of serendipity, fate, magic, and love at first sight. Her magical story inspired her memoir, "A Sky of Infinite Blue." For anyone needing inspiration, we invite you to check out Kyomi's book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and her website KyomiOConnor.com.

VBB 273: A Remarkable Woman, Dr. Anne Arvizu Shares the Transformative Power of Self-Discovery for Women, Even Those Over 50. Dr. Anne Arvizu, PharmD, FASCP, PCC, is the first guest in our REMARKABLE WOMEN Series. Ann is a pharmacist, entrepreneur, and former global Fortune 500 executive. She's also the founder of the Corelife Coach Institute and creator of THE CORELIFE METHOD™, a transformational body-mind-spirit approach to coach training. With Burnout at an all-time high and billions of dollars being spent on stress-related illness, including auto-immune disease, heart disease, cancer, addiction, depression, plus time lost from work, Anne has created coaching and training programs that share a common focus of promoting productivity, health & life balance in the lives of organizational leaders. In our conversation, Anne reveals the need to embrace our natural strengths, ditch societal labels, and unleash the entrepreneurial spirit that lies within. She shares invaluable insights from her book "Affluent Minds" and reminds us all that true beauty and wisdom come from within. Find Dr. Arvizu: https://annearvizu.comFind Her Books: https://www.annearvizu.com/books/Centered, Open, Resilient, & Energized = C.O.R.E.

Kathi Sohn and her husband David created principles and techniques that became the Body Memory Process. After David's passing in 2019, Kathi continued creating courses, articles, and seminars to help individuals heal. As children, out of strong, sometimes traumatic emotions, we all develop core beliefs about ourselves, others, and the world. We carry these beliefs into adulthood, where they can cause problems with our health, relationships, and finances. Traumatic memories we store can become "implicit memory" or "body memory," but there's a lot more going on than just memory. If we believe that wellness, happiness, and prosperity are available to everyone and we experience anything less, it's likely because we decided long ago that we are not worthy of these positive things. The good news, Kathi reminds us, is that we all have the power to discover and release our limiting beliefs! Kathi Sohn Core Belief Expert, Coach, Author Find Kathi: https://kathisohn.com Find Book: You Made It Up, Now Stop Believing It! https://kathisohn.com/bookstore/Contact Kathi at info@bodymemoryprocess.com

Hope springs eternal in the human breast:Man never is, but always to be blest. The soul, uneasy and confined from home,Rests and expatiates in a life to come. Alexander Pope (1688-1744) Translation: people will always be optimistic and think that something better is coming, and with the New Year comes Hope. The proof is in a 34-country Ipsos survey that interviewed over 25,000 adults, with 70 percent saying 2024 will be a better year for them and their country. That's a five percentage point upswing in optimism from last year's pole. This is considering that 2023 ended under the cloud of war, and there is looming uncertainty around emerging AI technology. Do we know how AI will impact our livelihood and how many people's jobs might be in jeopardy? What about record-breaking hot temperatures across Europe and wildfires that devastated communities across North America, especially in Canada? According to 16th-century French astrologer Nostradamus, 2024 will bring more Climate disasters. He says, “The dry earth will grow more parched, and there will be great floods when it is seen.” He also predicts a “Very great famine through pestiferous wave.” Remember, though, Nostradamus was known as “the prophet of doom.” Or, we can remember Alexander, and with the New Year comes eternal Hope.

Rev. Stephanie Clarke is a Metaphysical Minister, speaker, author, sacred ceremony facilitator, and Law of Attraction life coach. She shares her spiritual convictions and insights on the fascinating interplay between religion and gender and the shadow history behind our most cherished holiday rituals. She challenges women and men to rethink masculine-centric narratives around Christianity and to consider more balanced, inclusive practices. Her insights on personal faith and the richness of diverse spiritual experiences are a true call to awaken and redefine even our most revered beliefs. Rev. Clarke, aka The Irreverent Reverend, brings her characteristic conviction and deep insights to another unforgettable conversation.

Here we are at the end of another turn around the sun — the end of the year 2023. For some, it's a time for family and friends, for celebration and worship; for others, it's a time to party and forget; while for others, it's time to reflect. For reflection, we offer two questions for your contemplation, and you can answer from a personal, professional, or public perspective. The questions are: What in 2023 Pleased You? And, What in 2023 Pissed You Off? Christopher & Heather reflect on what pleased and what irked in 2023.

Dr. Avrum Weiss is a seasoned psychologist and author of four books, including the provocatively titled Hidden in Plain Sight: How Men's Fears of Women Shape Their Intimate Relationships. That book is the subject of a conversation you can hear on VBB epi XXX. This time around, we explore even more provocative topics, including Dr. Weiss's insightful observations of pervasive social media discussions surrounding narcissism and how this has transformed into a thinly veiled campaign of male-bashing. Dr. Weiss challenges popular narratives, even among his peers, that paint narcissism as a "terminal condition" devoid of any path to understanding or empathy. His point is that the vast majority of clinically diagnosed narcissists are men. We also delve into the transformative power of involved fatherhood. It's the evolving role of men in childcare, the enhanced emotional well-being it brings to fathers, and the life-long benefits for children. Dr. Weiss also shares three practical but somewhat counterintuitive steps men can take to nurture a deeper relationship with their kids.

Annemarie du LeBohn, AKA The Iron Butterfly, thanks to her exploits as a successful triathlon competitor, is also a TEDx star admired for her profoundly moving and vulnerable conversations that reveal her darkest days as a rape victim. Annemarie shares her transformation journey from victim to victor and highlights an often neglected concept - Post-Traumatic Growth. Annemarie courageously tells of her personal experiences with post-rape PTSD and how she has managed to turn her trauma into a powerful drive for advocacy and education. Annemarie's insights, including the importance of proactive conversations with youth, resonate harmoniously with tools that help past victims transcend from just coping to thriving without limitations. This conversation is an essential addition to supporting the UN's 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which runs through December 10 — International Human Rights Day.