Drinks with the Girls®

Drinks With the Girls® 🍸☕ | Real Talk for Women Over 40

Welcome to Drinks With the Girls® , the ultimate podcast for women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s ready to live life unapologetically. 🎙️ Hosted by empowerment coach Karen Shatafian and literacy consultant/special needs mama Lisa Corricello-McDowell, we’re two longtime friends sharing real conversations about everything that matters to women in midlife.

From navigating loss and grief, surviving empty nest syndrome, and redefining relationships to tackling menopause, self-reinvention, and setting rock-solid boundaries — no topic is off-limits. We laugh, cry, reminisce, and celebrate the messy, magical journey of becoming our truest selves.

If you’re craving honest midlife conversations, heartwarming nostalgia, empowering advice, and a reminder that you’re not alone — pull up a chair (and a cocktail or coffee) and join us. Cheers to midlife reinvention, women empowerment, mental health, and the beauty of female friendship.

New episodes drop weekly! Subscribe for your weekly dose of midlife wisdom, self-care tips, boundary-setting inspo, personal development, and the kind of girl talk you didn’t know you needed. 💖

🎧 Topics we spill the tea on:
• Midlife women empowerment
• Empty nest life + parenting adult kids
• Self-care, mental health, and boundaries
• Grief, loss, and healing
• Career reinvention and personal growth after 40
• Friendship, laughter, and living life on your terms

Your next chapter starts here. ✨

Listen on:

  • Apple Podcasts
  • YouTube
  • Podbean App
  • Spotify
  • Amazon Music
  • iHeartRadio
  • PlayerFM
  • Podchaser
  • BoomPlay

Episodes

4 days ago

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!
👉 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

Monday Dec 15, 2025

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

Monday Dec 08, 2025


This week on Drinks With the Girls, Karen and Lisa dive into the viral “We Do Not Care” movement — and let’s just say, it’s giving hot flashes and zero apologies. From twisted bras and visible nipples to ditching people-pleasing and zucchini muffins, they unpack what it really means when midlife women start saying nope, not today. Inspired by Melani Sanders' wildly relatable videos, the conversation gets real about boundaries, identity, and the freedom that comes when estrogen drops and your tolerance for BS goes with it.
This episode is for every woman who’s ever felt guilty for setting a boundary, burned out from trying to do it all, or just plain tired of sucking in her stomach. You’re not alone — and guess what? We do not care.
Includes talk about:• The We Do Not Care Club & its hilarious origins• Why midlife women are DONE with the emotional labor• The connection between menopause and letting go• Real talk on boundaries, bras, and being unbothered• What we’re finally learning to care about instead
Grab your drink, pull up a seat, and welcome to the meeting — no bra required. 🍸
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🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:Plift Tart Lime
Arbonne - Tart Cherry Energy Fizz (Retired), Skin Elixir, GutHealth
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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

Monday Dec 01, 2025

This one’s for every woman who’s ever wondered if she was a good enough daughter—or a good enough mom.
Karen and Lisa sit down with attorney, writer, and self-proclaimed Queen Bee, Bernadette Catalana, for a conversation that’s tender, honest, and full of midlife wisdom.
Inspired by her book Daughter Lessons: Wise and Witty Reflections on Leading, Learning From, and Loving Our Daughters, Bernadette opens up about raising two girls, navigating the emotional complexity of mother-daughter relationships, and how writing helped her process grief, aging, and identity. From healing generational wounds to finding herself after the kids left home, Bernadette’s story is a reminder that it’s never too late to reflect, reconnect, and redefine what legacy means.
Pour yourself something cozy—this episode explores:
Letting go of old narratives (and writing new ones)
The surprising grief of launching grown children
Reconnecting with hometown roots (and old heartbreaks)
Keeping the promises we make to ourselves in midlife
The beauty and bravery of sharing our stories—even the hard ones
Whether you’re a mom, a daughter, or someone trying to make peace with both, this conversation will hit you in the heart and stay with you long after the last sip.
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🎙️Guest:
Bernadette Catalanabernadette@daughterlessons.com
https://www.daughterlessons.com/
Daughter Lessons: Wise and Witty Reflections on Leading, Learning From, and Loving our Daughters by Bernadette Catalana
Bernadette on LinkedIn
🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:Pacifico w/LimeDrink Up Witches GlassStella Artois LiberteRosé Wine
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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

Monday Nov 24, 2025

What if midlife wasn’t the beginning of the end, but the start of your boldest chapter yet—somewhere far, far from home?
In this raw and vibrant episode of Drinks With the Girls, Karen and Lisa talk with three midlife women who traded burnout, people-pleasing, and autopilot living for new lives abroad. We're talking Belize, Italy, and a beach in the Caribbean. Real places. Real stories. Real women who said, “What if I just… left?”
These aren’t polished highlight reels. You’ll hear about the hot flashes that turned into wake-up calls, the packed suitcases filled with fear and hope, and the quiet moments that sparked giant life pivots. One woman healed her asthma, another rediscovered joy through storytelling, and all of them gave themselves permission to live differently.
Whether you’re dreaming of a passport stamp or just desperate to break free from the roles that no longer fit, this episode will leave you feeling empowered, grounded, and deeply seen.
🎧 Perfect for any woman in midlife who’s quietly asking: Is this really it—or could there be more?
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🎙️Guests:
Karen Baskett lives in BelizeShannon Whaley lives in ItalyMegan Mulvihill Elkins lives in Nevis and New York
🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:
🍵TizzyCleanTox Tea + Arbonne Energy Fizz#arbonne☕Basic B*tch Coffee🍵CCF Tea
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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

Monday Nov 17, 2025

'Tis the season to ditch the pressure and keep the connection! In this festive episode of Drinks With the Girls, Karen and Lisa are joined once again by our favorite kitchen goddess, Lisa Potter, for the third installment of our "Dinner Without the Drama" series—this time with a holiday twist.
We're serving up real-talk and real strategies for women in midlife who are over the chaos and ready to reclaim their holiday table. From the art of the “micro-party” to make-ahead mashed potatoes and freezer-friendly gravy (yes, a month ahead), we’re talking about how to host without losing your mind—or your joy.
Whether you’re feeding a full house or just gathering your chosen crew, this episode is packed with practical tips, nostalgic laughs (hello, moldy pretzel ornaments), and the kind of heartfelt conversation that reminds you: it’s not about the perfect spread—it’s about the people around it.
Topics we cover:
Reframing what holiday hosting looks like in midlife
Smart prep tips for stress-free entertaining
Holiday food hacks that actually work
Why it’s okay to say no to the Pinterest pressure
Creating memory-making moments without martyring yourself
So grab a drink (Slice with vodka, anyone?) and pull up a chair—let’s toast to doing the holidays our way.
🔗 Plus: Recipes, tips, and Lisa Potter’s pantry must-haves in the show notes!
Perfect for: women 40+ | midlife moms | empty nesters | holiday hosts | connection seekers
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🎙️Guest:Lisa PotterSmoke Ridge Custom CateringSmokeridgecc.com
🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:
Slice - Grapefruit Spritz w/ Vodka - natchPopwell Cherry CitrusCabernet Sauvignon
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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

Monday Nov 10, 2025

What if saying “I’m fine” is actually a slow form of self-erasure?
In this honest, hilarious, and deeply validating episode, Karen and Lisa unpack the emotional weight behind the word fine—that autopilot answer women give when they’re juggling too much and feeling too little. From vodka-spiked probiotics to midlife truth bombs about burnout, grief, and holiday perfectionism, nothing is off the table.
You’ll laugh, you’ll nod, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll start to question where you’ve been playing small in the name of keeping the peace.
This one’s for every midlife woman who’s ever smiled through clenched teeth, kept the holiday magic alive solo, or said “I’m fine” when her soul was whispering “I’m not.”
You’ll walk away feeling seen, stirred, and a little more ready to reclaim your joy.
👉 Perfect for anyone who’s tired of faking it, carrying the mental load alone, or ready to stop calling burnout a personality trait.
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🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:
Kevita Probiotic Refresher Sparkling Drink - Tangerine
Lisa’s After Bahama Mama Recipe (Podsquad Exclusive! Join here…)
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Karen’s Holiday Divorce Survival Toolkit
WHAT’S INSIDE✦ One laser focused coaching call where you and Karen get clear on what would feel most supportive for you.✦ 4 personalized emails that give you a month of tools and tips✦ A Holiday Scripts Cheat Sheet. Instant confidence at your fingertips.✦ A Personalized  Pep Talk AudioHave her in your back pocket whenever you need to Breathe, Reset, and remember who the f*ck you are.
To take advantage of this offer, book a free call with her here!
🎧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

Monday Nov 03, 2025

Whether you're navigating toddler meltdowns, school refusal in middle school, or your college kid is spiraling from overwhelm, this one’s for you.
In this honest and heartfelt episode, Karen and Lisa open up about the moments in parenting when everything feels hard—when the systems don’t fit your child, the experts contradict each other, and your own inner critic is the loudest voice in the room.
We’re talking about the times your kid is struggling—socially, emotionally, academically—and the world seems to be judging both of you. From missed milestones to behavior challenges, this conversation will help you feel seen, validated, and more grounded as you parent through it all.
Because here’s the truth: There’s no “right” age for the wheels to fall off, and there’s no timeline for getting support. Whether your child is 3, 13, or 23, you deserve resources, community, and a reminder that you're not alone.
✨ In this episode:
How to stay calm when your kid is in crisis
Dealing with shame, mom guilt & outside judgment
Supporting kids through developmental, behavioral, or mental health struggles
Why traditional parenting advice often fails modern families
Encouragement for every stage: toddlers, tweens, teens, and college-age kids
💬 If you've ever thought, “I’m failing my child,” this one’s for you. You’re not failing—you’re just parenting in real life.
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🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:
🍹 Zevia Tea Earl Grey Tea Blood Orange
✨Sparkle Hops
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Lisa's Beat Black Friday Parenting Outside the Lines Megabundle
Subscribe to the Podsquad here to get an exclusive listener discount to stack!
🎧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

Monday Oct 27, 2025

Grab your favorite mug (preferably one that says I love goats and the word fck*) and cozy up—because in this special Halloween edition of Drinks with the Girls, we're diving into the real-life horror stories of midlife womanhood.
You know the ones:
A black chin hair that shows up in full sunlight
Rogue pubes on your mid-thigh
Eyebrow hairs that disappear… only to reappear somewhere completely inappropriate
Peeing when you sneeze or laugh
Skin tags no one warned you about
Fluffy vaginas (yes, really)
Karen and Lisa spill all the weird, messy, unfiltered truths about what’s happening to their bodies—and probably yours too—and why talking (and laughing) about it is the best medicine.
From hot tips like “keep tweezers in your car” to surprising facts about pelvic floor health, hormone shifts, perimenopause, and the pressure to stay "ageless," this episode is like a girls’ night in with your smartest, funniest, most honest friends.
It’s gross. It’s hilarious. And it’s about damn time someone said it out loud.
This episode is for you if:
You’ve ever screamed at a rogue chin hair in natural light
You're wondering WTF is happening to my ankles?
You’re tired of pretending your body hasn’t changed since 29
You’re ready to drop the shame, the silence, and maybe your pants (because sweatpants are life)
 
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🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:
🍵TizzyCleanTox Tea + Arbonne Energy Fizz#arbonne
☕Basic B*tch Coffee
 
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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

Monday Oct 20, 2025

What if the most powerful thing you could offer a loved one during cancer… wasn’t advice or casseroles—but empathy?
In this vulnerable and surprisingly uplifting episode, breast cancer survivor Amy Bergant joins us for a raw conversation about navigating a diagnosis, parenting twin toddlers through chemo, and why she needed people to laugh with her—not pity her.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, underseen, or stuck in survival mode, Amy’s story will leave you feeling validated, grounded, and surprisingly empowered.
She opens up about:
How her humor became a survival tool when the world got too heavy
The moment she realized she wanted empathy—not sympathy
What it’s like to grieve your body while also rebuilding your identity
Raising toddlers while tethered to chemo drains
And the surprising sisterhood that showed up for her in ways she never expected
This isn’t a sanitized story of pink ribbons and brave faces. It’s messy, honest healing—from nipple jokes to emotional gut punches—told with the kind of fierce, funny perspective only midlife can bring.
Perfect for any woman who’s tired of being the strong one and wants to feel understood instead.
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Part of our Celebrating the Twins series for Breast Cancer Awareness Month 🩷Guest: Amy Bergant🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:
💖Bloom Energy Drinks
💖Rambler Sparkling Water
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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

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Drinks With the Girls🍸☕



Karen Shatafian, an empowerment coach for women & empty nester joins forces with, Lisa Corricello-McDowell, literacy consultant, small business owner and special education mama. Together, they throw off the shackles and have real, raw conversations about the things that matter to women.This podcast centers the importance of true connection for women.

Our story starts before we were even born, through the deep and meaningful friendship of our moms. After growing up, losing touch and the passing of both of our mothers, it’s been serendipitous to reconnect through the miracle of social media and form our own special friendship as adults.

I’m sure Renee and Patty are toasting to that right now. 🥂

We are moms and solopreneurs, stepping into our own, and diving into real conversations about the things that matter to women in midlife.

We’re here to spill the tea on everything that affects women in their 40s and beyond: topics like loss and grief, changing relationships, launching kids, to reinventing ourselves in midlife, we’re here to tackle it all.

This podcast is a blend of our lived experiences, our friendship, the memory of our moms, plus a collection of real stories, honest conversations and engaging interviews that will make women over 40 feel seen and remind them that they’re not alone on this journey called life.

Join us, two recently reconnected friends, who are living life on our terms.

So hit that subscribe button and buckle up for your weekly shot of drinks with the girls. A wild ride filled with laughter, tears and the kind of girl talk that leaves you feeling understood, inspired and a believer in the power of female friendship. Cheers!

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