Drinks with the Girls®

Loving Yourself in Midlife: The Valentine’s Conversation Women Need

You look in the mirror and think, When did I disappear?
Somewhere between raising kids, managing relationships, building careers, and being the “low maintenance” one, you stopped centering yourself. You became productive. Reliable. Easy.
And now? You’re not so sure who you are anymore.
This Valentine’s week, Karen and Lisa get real about what self-love actually means for women in midlife — and it’s not bubble baths and spa days.
It’s boundaries.It’s keeping the damn piece of cake.It’s saying no without apologizing.It’s choosing yourself after decades of blending in.
From hilarious holiday meltdowns to vulnerable stories about divorce, good girl conditioning, surfing at 35, and being praised for having “no needs,” this conversation explores the slow burn of self-abandonment — and the courage it takes to reclaim your voice.
They unpack why women over 40 struggle with self-worth, the difference between self-care and real self-love, and why choosing yourself in midlife can feel rebellious — and freeing.
This episode is for the woman in her 40s, 50s, or 60s who feels disconnected, exhausted from people-pleasing, or ready to stop shrinking.
Because loving yourself isn’t indulgent.
It’s overdue.
Grab a drink and join us. 🍸💗
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🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:

Kevita Probiotic Refresher Lemon Ginger
Arbonne Cleantox TeaLisa’s Affiliate Link with Arbonne - Pure, Safe, Beneficial nutrition, skincare, body care, and make-up free from 2000 banned chemicals
Email me for 35-45% off here.
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💬 Takeaways — What Do YOU Think?We want to hear from you! Drop your thoughts in the comments, or send us an email at drinkswiththegirlspodcast@gmail.com. Whether it's a story, a laugh, or a “yep, been there”—we love hearing how our episodes land with you. 
📲 Stay ConnectedFollow, like, and join the conversation:
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💌 Reach OutGot a question, idea, or just want to say hi? We’re all ears.
Email us anytime: drinkswiththegirlspodcast@gmail.comConnect with your hosts:
✨ Karen Shatafian – www.karenshatafian.com
✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com

How Midlife Women Are Surviving America Right Now

America feels louder, harsher, and more unsteady than ever — and midlife women are carrying the weight of it all. The fear. The anger. The exhaustion. The constant question of how much more can we hold?
Karen and Lisa pull up their chairs for a raw, honest conversation about what it actually feels like to live through this moment in the U.S. as women in our 40s, 50s, and 60s. No debating. No talking points. Just real talk about political overwhelm, doomscrolling, nervous systems on edge, and the emotional labor women absorb every single day.
They share deeply personal stories — from setting boundaries with the news, to navigating silence versus speaking up, to the very real fears around safety, citizenship, and protecting our families. Along the way, they offer grounding perspectives, humor when it’s needed most, and permission to care for yourself without checking out completely.
This episode is for listeners who feel anxious, angry, heartbroken, confused, or just plain tired — and who need to know they’re not alone. If you’ve been wondering how to stay present, protect your mental health, and keep moving forward without losing yourself, this conversation is for you.
Pull up a seat. Take a breath. We’ve got you. 🍸
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🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:

Culture Pop Probiotic Soda Fizzy and Gutsy - Ginger, Lemon, and Turmeric
Diet Coke: The Millennial Cigarette
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💬 Takeaways — What Do YOU Think?We want to hear from you! Drop your thoughts in the comments, or send us an email at drinkswiththegirlspodcast@gmail.com. Whether it's a story, a laugh, or a “yep, been there”—we love hearing how our episodes land with you. 
📲 Stay ConnectedFollow, like, and join the conversation:
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Website: www.drinkswiththegirlspodcast.com
💌 Reach OutGot a question, idea, or just want to say hi? We’re all ears.
Email us anytime: drinkswiththegirlspodcast@gmail.comConnect with your hosts:
✨ Karen Shatafian – www.karenshatafian.com
✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com

The Rules We Are Ditching in Midlife

Speaking your truth after 40 often feels like breaking rules you were praised for following your entire life. In this episode of Drinks With the Girls, Karen and Lisa unpack the unspoken expectations midlife women are finally questioning — from people-pleasing and emotional labor to staying comfortable instead of honest.
This conversation explores midlife reinvention, gaslighting ourselves into staying unhappy, motherhood, caregiving, divorce, and the exhaustion that comes from carrying invisible responsibility. We talk about the difference between being comfortable and being stuck, why choosing yourself can feel radical, and how speaking your truth reshapes relationships, identity, and self-trust.
If you’re navigating midlife change, questioning old roles, or feeling ready to stop minimizing what you want, this episode will make you feel seen — and less alone.
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🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:Bare Life Hot Cocoa Mix
Starbies and Water🥤💧
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💬 Takeaways — What Do YOU Think?We want to hear from you! Drop your thoughts in the comments, or send us an email at drinkswiththegirlspodcast@gmail.com. Whether it's a story, a laugh, or a “yep, been there”—we love hearing how our episodes land with you. 
📲 Stay ConnectedFollow, like, and join the conversation:
Instagram: @drinkswiththegirlspod
Facebook: Drinks With the Girls Podcast
Pinterest: Drinks With the Girls Podcast
YouTube: Drinks With the Girls Channel
Website: www.drinkswiththegirlspodcast.com
💌 Reach OutGot a question, idea, or just want to say hi? We’re all ears.
Email us anytime: drinkswiththegirlspodcast@gmail.comConnect with your hosts:
✨ Karen Shatafian – www.karenshatafian.com
✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com
 

Smart Financial Moves for Women Over 40 – With Karen Van Voorhis, Pt. 2

Why does money feel so complicated, especially in midlife? Because it is. And yet, as Karen Van Voorhis gently reminds us in this episode, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible—or that we’re behind.
If you’ve ever stared at your pay stub, shrugged at your 401k, or avoided eye contact with your Fidelity login like it’s an ex at the grocery store… this episode is your financial permission slip to get curious, not critical.
Karen Van Voorhis, our favorite no-nonsense, ultra-compassionate financial planner, is back. And she’s bringing the clarity, calm, and a dash of humor to the kinds of money questions that keep us up at night. Roth vs. traditional IRAs, new retirement options inside employer plans, what to do if you’re newly single or starting over in your 50s—she covers it all. And spoiler alert: if you’re not “maxing out” your contributions or don’t even know what you’re contributing… you’re not alone.
We also dig into the emotional side of money—the blame, the shame, and the “why didn’t I know this sooner?” spiral so many of us fall into. Karen V. offers a refreshing reframing: this isn’t a failure—it’s just a chapter. And we can learn this, one month, one question, one login at a time.
💸 For every woman who’s ever felt intimidated by her finances…💼 For entrepreneurs navigating retirement solo…🍷 And for anyone who's ever whispered “I probably should know this, but…”—this episode is your soft place to land.
Pour a drink (even if it’s cranberry ginger ale) and join us for a conversation full of real talk, relief, and a few laughs about the big, messy topic of money in midlife. Your future self will thank you.
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🎙️Guest:Karen Van VoorhisDirector of Financial PlanningDaniel J. Galli & Associates
🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:Modello BeerMichael David Petit PetitGinger Ale w/Cranberry Juice
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💬 Takeaways — What Do YOU Think?We want to hear from you! Drop your thoughts in the comments, or send us an email at drinkswiththegirlspodcast@gmail.com. Whether it's a story, a laugh, or a “yep, been there”—we love hearing how our episodes land with you. 
📲 Stay ConnectedFollow, like, and join the conversation:
Instagram: @drinkswiththegirlspod
Facebook: Drinks With the Girls Podcast
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YouTube: Drinks With the Girls Channel
Website: www.drinkswiththegirlspodcast.com
💌 Reach OutGot a question, idea, or just want to say hi? We’re all ears.
Email us anytime: drinkswiththegirlspodcast@gmail.comConnect with your hosts:
✨ Karen Shatafian – www.karenshatafian.com
✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com
 

Book Review: Chelsea Handler's "I'll Have What She's Having"

When Jane Fonda tells you to get your shit together—you listen. That’s exactly how Chelsea Handler’s latest book kicks off, and trust us, it only gets juicier from there. This week, Karen and Lisa crack open I'll Have What She's Having and find way more than celebrity gossip or comedy—they find a woman doing the deep, uncomfortable, glorious work of coming home to herself.
From therapy breakthroughs to choosing solitude over settling, Chelsea’s story is a love letter to living life on your own damn terms. And the girls don’t just review the book—they reflect on their own midlife pivots, from embracing quiet mornings alone (finally!) to dreaming up a Drinks With the Girls retirement compound where your chosen family does life together.
Karen and Lisa are your trusted guides through the messy middle—wise, hilarious, and never afraid to go deep. Whether you’re recovering from a breakup, reevaluating your life goals, or just wondering when it’s your turn to come first, this conversation will leave you laughing, thinking, and maybe even planning your own solo trip with a side of sushi.
This episode is for every woman in her 40s, 50s, or 60s who’s ready to stop shrinking and start showing up—boldly, beautifully, and without apology.
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📖Book ReviewChelsea Handler’s “I’ll Have What She’s Having”
🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:
Cab Franc
The Millennial Cigarette
🎧Podcast Episodes:
Smart Financial Moves Pt 1
Buy the F*cking Lillies Episode
📖BooksBuy the F*cking Lillies by Tara Schuster
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💬 Takeaways — What Do YOU Think?We want to hear from you! Drop your thoughts in the comments, or send us an email at drinkswiththegirlspodcast@gmail.com. Whether it's a story, a laugh, or a “yep, been there”—we love hearing how our episodes land with you. 
📲 Stay ConnectedFollow, like, and join the conversation:
Instagram: @drinkswiththegirlspod
Facebook: Drinks With the Girls Podcast
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YouTube: Drinks With the Girls Channel
Website: www.drinkswiththegirlspodcast.com
💌 Reach OutGot a question, idea, or just want to say hi? We’re all ears.
Email us anytime: drinkswiththegirlspodcast@gmail.comConnect with your hosts:
✨ Karen Shatafian – www.karenshatafian.com
✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com

What Every Woman Over 40 Needs to Know About Functional Medicine

If you’ve ever been told your labs are “normal” but you still feel exhausted, anxious, inflamed, or just off, this episode is for you. We sit down with Dr. Tracy McCarthy, a functional medicine physician who helps women understand what’s really going on beneath the surface in midlife. From hormone shifts and thyroid dysfunction to gut health and the long-term effects of stress and trauma, Dr. McCarthy explains how the body and brain are deeply connected—and why so many women feel dismissed by conventional medicine. We talk about the difference between functional and traditional approaches, how mental health symptoms often have physical roots, and why tuning in to your body’s signals is the first step toward healing. This is a must-listen for anyone navigating perimenopause, mood changes, fatigue, or feeling like a stranger in their own skin. You’ll walk away feeling informed, validated, and more equipped to advocate for your own well-being.
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🎙️Guest:Dr. Tracy McCarthyWebsite: https://www.drtracymccarthy.com/IG: @drtracymccarthy
🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:ModeloCelestial SeasoningsYogi Green TeaThe Devil's Own Walnut & Fig RumGood Earth Sweet & Spicy Tea
💬 Takeaways — What Do YOU Think?We want to hear from you! Drop your thoughts in the comments, or send us an email at drinkswiththegirlspodcast@gmail.com. Whether it's a story, a laugh, or a “yep, been there”—we love hearing how our episodes land with you. 
📲 Stay ConnectedFollow, like, and join the conversation:
Instagram: @drinkswiththegirlspod
Facebook: Drinks With the Girls Podcast
Pinterest: Drinks With the Girls Podcast
YouTube: Drinks With the Girls Channel
Website: www.drinkswiththegirlspodcast.com
💌 Reach OutGot a question, idea, or just want to say hi? We’re all ears.
Email us anytime: drinkswiththegirlspodcast@gmail.comConnect with your hosts:
✨ Karen Shatafian – www.karenshatafian.com
✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com

Forced Reinvention in Midlife: When Life Doesn't Ask First

What if the life you built… suddenly wasn’t yours anymore?
A job gone. A marriage ended. A role you gave everything to—vanished. In this raw and unfiltered episode, Karen and Lisa unpack what happens when midlife reinvention isn’t a choice—it’s a reckoning.
This isn’t the “vision board” version of starting over. This is the kind where your world gets pulled out from under you, and you're left staring at the pieces, wondering who you are without the title, the partner, the plan.
Through real-life confessions, hard-earned wisdom, and one hell of a rage room fantasy, we talk about what it means to survive the collapse—and still believe in your own comeback.
You’ll hear:
What it’s like to be let go… and still expected to show up
The grief of losing identities we didn’t realize we built our lives around
How a therapist’s brutal truth bomb cracked one of us wide open
The messy but honest truth about rebuilding self-worth from scratch
By the end of this episode, you’ll feel seen, validated, and maybe even a little less alone in your own midlife plot twist.
Perfect for anyone who’s tired of pretending they’re fine and ready to find what’s real—even if it’s still a little broken.
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👉Join the Podsquad here!Subscribe for episode goodies, delivered weekly, spam free!
🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:Monteluna from Monserate WineryTrader Joes Sparkling Green Tea with Pineapple Juice
💬 Takeaways — What Do YOU Think?We want to hear from you! Drop your thoughts in the comments, or send us an email at drinkswiththegirlspodcast@gmail.com. Whether it's a story, a laugh, or a “yep, been there”—we love hearing how our episodes land with you. And don't worry, no spam and no selling the list to God knows who!
📲 Stay ConnectedFollow, like, and join the conversation:
Instagram: @drinkswiththegirlspod
Facebook: Drinks With the Girls Podcast
Pinterest: Drinks With the Girls Podcast
YouTube: Drinks With the Girls Channel
Website: www.drinkswiththegirlspodcast.com
💌 Reach OutGot a question, idea, or just want to say hi? We’re all ears.
Email us anytime: drinkswiththegirlspodcast@gmail.comConnect with your hosts:
✨ Karen Shatafian – www.karenshatafian.com
✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com

New Year, No Bullshit: Midlife Wellness On Our Terms

🌿 What if the “New Year, New You” mindset is actually making you feel worse — not better?
If you're over 40 and exhausted by toxic wellness trends, diet pressure, and the constant demand to “fix” yourself every January… this episode is your reset.
We’re tossing out the guilt, the grind, and the goals that don’t serve us — and replacing them with something radical: self-trust. Lisa and Karen dive into what real wellness looks like in midlife, from body image and movement to motivation that actually lasts.
💬 Real talk moments include:
Why rage rooms (yes, literal rage rooms) are helping us reset
How to stop measuring your worth by productivity
The surprising mindset shift that brings peace and momentum
Letting go of “before and after” thinking — especially when it comes to your body
✨ You’ll walk away feeling grounded, seen, and ready to embrace the New Year without betraying yourself.
Perfect for women over 40 who are done with perfection, craving permission, and ready to redefine what thriving looks like — on their terms.
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🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:
Trader Joe’s Tangerine Probiotic Sparkling Beverage
Squirt
🎧Show NotesLooking for all the magical goodness we mentioned this episode? Want it sent directly to your inbox each week along with every new episode? Join the Pod Squad (our email list!) for direct links, show notes, and more midlife fabulousness delivered to your inbox. 💌 And, even better, no ⛔ spam or selling 💸 of your email - we promise!
👉 Subscribe Here 💬 Takeaways — What Do YOU Think?We want to hear from you! Drop your thoughts in the comments, or send us an email at drinkswiththegirlspodcast@gmail.com. Whether it's a story, a laugh, or a “yep, been there”—we love hearing how our episodes land with you. And don't worry, no spam and no selling the list to God knows who!
📲 Stay ConnectedFollow, like, and join the conversation:
Instagram: @drinkswiththegirlspod
Facebook: Drinks With the Girls Podcast
Pinterest: Drinks With the Girls Podcast
YouTube: Drinks With the Girls Channel
Website: www.drinkswiththegirlspodcast.com
💌 Reach OutGot a question, idea, or just want to say hi? We’re all ears.
Email us anytime: drinkswiththegirlspodcast@gmail.comConnect with your hosts:
✨ Karen Shatafian – www.karenshatafian.com
✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com
 

Neurodivergent Eating: Healing Your Relationship with Food After 40

What if your struggles with food, focus, and fatigue weren’t failures—but signs that your brain has been asking for a different kind of care all along?
In this eye-opening episode, Karen and Lisa sit down with nutrition and wellness coach Caroline Hinchliff to unpack the messy, misunderstood relationship between neurodivergency and nourishment—especially for women in midlife. If you've ever stood in front of the fridge completely overwhelmed, skipped meals out of guilt or chaos, or asked yourself “Why can’t I just get it together?”... this conversation will make you feel seen, validated, and a little less alone.
Caroline doesn’t just talk about ADHD or food as checklists or diagnoses—she gets to the emotional core. The shame, the sensory overload, the decades of diet culture that taught us to shrink ourselves, not feed ourselves. She brings compassion, real-life wisdom, and a few truth bombs (like why biology always wins over willpower).
We talk about everything from late-in-life ADHD realizations to parenting neurodivergent teens, the lies we inherited about health, and what it actually takes to build nourishing habits when your brain doesn’t do “routine.”
Expect confessions, hard truths, and the kind of gut-level clarity that sticks.
Perfect for any woman in her 40s, 50s, or 60s who’s tired of trying to fix herself—and ready to start feeding herself, instead.
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🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:
Guest: Caroline Hinchliffhttps://eathikelove.com/
🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:Vernacia sparkling red something (Karen had the nerve to recycle the bottle before we wrote the show notes ☹️)
HopWatr - Peach
Craftwell Cocktails Pineapple Margarita
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🎧Show Notes
Looking for all the magical goodness we mentioned in this episode? Want it sent directly to your inbox each week along with every new episode? Join the Pod Squad (our email list!) for direct links, show notes, and more midlife fabulousness delivered to your inbox. 💌 And, even better, no ⛔ spam or selling 💸 of your email - we promise!
👉Join the Podsquad here!
💬 Takeaways — What Do YOU Think?
We want to hear from you! Drop your thoughts in the comments, or send us an email at drinkswiththegirlspodcast@gmail.com. Whether it's a story, a laugh, or a “yep, been there”—we love hearing how our episodes land with you. 
📲 Stay ConnectedFollow, like, and join the conversation:Instagram: @drinkswiththegirlspodFacebook: Drinks With the Girls PodcastPinterest: Drinks With the Girls PodcastYouTube: Drinks With the Girls ChannelWebsite: www.drinkswiththegirlspodcast.com
💌 Reach OutGot a question, idea, or just want to say hi? We’re all ears.Email us anytime: drinkswiththegirlspodcast@gmail.com
Connect with your hosts:✨ Karen Shatafian – www.karenshatafian.com✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com

The Truth About the Mental Load for Midlife Women

If you’ve ever walked into a room and immediately scanned the emotional temperature, remembered five birthdays, scheduled a dentist appointment, and wondered why no one else noticed the moldy milk in the fridge… this episode is for you.
This week on Drinks With the Girls, Karen and Lisa dive headfirst into the exhausting, invisible work known as the mental load — and why it hits midlife women especially hard. From managing everyone’s emotions to spinning all the plates (even when we have no forks left to give), we’re unpacking what it really means to be the default project manager of life.
We talk about:
What is the mental load, really?
Why emotional labor peaks in your 40s, 50s, and beyond
The myth of “doing it all” and how it’s wearing us down
How to begin putting the damn bag down
This one’s raw, real, and full of laughter, sarcasm, and solidarity — with a splash of wine-in-a-can wisdom.
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🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:
Bloom Energy Drink in Cherry Lime
House Wine - Rainbow Rosé Bubbles
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🎧Show Notes
Looking for all the magical goodness we mentioned in this episode? Want it sent directly to your inbox each week along with every new episode? Join the Pod Squad (our email list!) for direct links, show notes, and more midlife fabulousness delivered to your inbox. 💌 And, even better, no ⛔ spam or selling 💸 of your email - we promise!
👉 Subscribe Here and get the show notes for this episode! 
💬 Takeaways — What Do YOU Think?
We want to hear from you! Drop your thoughts in the comments, or send us an email at drinkswiththegirlspodcast@gmail.com. Whether it's a story, a laugh, or a “yep, been there”—we love hearing how our episodes land with you. 
📲 Stay ConnectedFollow, like, and join the conversation:Instagram: @drinkswiththegirlspodFacebook: Drinks With the Girls PodcastPinterest: Drinks With the Girls PodcastYouTube: Drinks With the Girls ChannelWebsite: www.drinkswiththegirlspodcast.com
💌 Reach OutGot a question, idea, or just want to say hi? We’re all ears.Email us anytime: drinkswiththegirlspodcast@gmail.com
Connect with your hosts:✨ Karen Shatafian – www.karenshatafian.com✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com