Drinks with the Girls®

Parenting a transgender child can bring up love, fear, questions, and unexpected growth—and these honest stories from three moms of transgender kids remind us that none of us has to navigate life's biggest moments alone.
Karen and Lisa sit down with three remarkable mothers who share the deeply personal journeys of supporting their transgender children with honesty, vulnerability, and unwavering love. Together, they talk about the emotions no one prepares you for—the surprise, the fear, the mistakes, the learning, and the powerful realization that parenting isn't about having all the answers. It's about showing up.
Through heartfelt conversations and real-life moments, these moms offer compassion instead of perfection, proving that it's possible to stumble, grow, and strengthen your relationship with your child along the way.
If you're raising teenagers or young adults, navigating changing family dynamics, questioning your own assumptions, or simply want to better understand the experiences of families with transgender kids, this conversation will leave you feeling more informed, more connected, and more hopeful.
Because at the end of the day, every child deserves to be loved for exactly who they are—and every parent deserves the grace to learn alongside them.
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🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:Sovany Organic Tangerine Sparkling WaterHopWtr - Ruby Red GrapefruitMingle Pineapple PalomaLime Polar SelzerSpindrift Grapefruit Selzer
📠VocabTrans - Trans means across, beyond, or a short form of transgender. It has different meanings depending on how you use itCisgender - Cisgender means a person whose gender identity matches the sex they were given at birth. It is the opposite of transgender. For example, a person born with a female body who feels and lives as a woman is a cisgender womanNon-Binary - a person does not identify exclusively as a man or a woman. Their internal sense of gender falls outside the traditional male-or-female binary system, existing instead as a mix of genders, neither gender, or a fluid identity over time.Gender Identity - An internal, deeply felt sense of being male, female, both, or neither.When someone asks for "your pronouns," they are asking how you prefer to be referred to in the third person (e.g., she/her, he/him, or they/them). Sharing these words replaces the need to guess and shows respect for someone's identity and feelings.Misgender - to refer to a person using words, pronouns, or gendered titles that do not match their true gender identity. It often happens to transgender or non-binary peopleSex - your biological sex, usually sorted as male or female. This label is based on physical traits like genes, hormones, and body parts.Gender - the social, cultural, and psychological roles, behaviors, and identities that a society connects to being a man, woman, or another identity.Gender euphoria - the deep joy, comfort, or sense of peace people feel when their inner gender identity matches how they express themselves, how their body looks, or how other people treat them. It is often seen as the opposite of gender dysphoria, which is the stress caused by a mismatch with one's assigned sex at birth. While mostly used by transgender and nonbinary individuals, anyone can experience this feeling of alignment.Smith College - all female. Lisa and the panelist’s alma mater
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🍸Want your very own piece of @DrinksWithTheGirls for half the cost of one bougie cocktail  per month? Enjoy exclusive bonus ad free content in After Hours. Head to Patreon and join the community! https://www.patreon.com/cw/DrinksWiththeGirlsPodcast
💬 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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Facebook: Drinks With the Girls Podcast
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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 – https://karenshatafian.substack.com/✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com
 

The manosphere is shaping conversations about relationships, masculinity, and feminism in ways many midlife women may not even realize. Karen and Lisa unpack the rise of this online movement with curiosity, compassion, and honesty—exploring how loneliness, social media algorithms, and outdated gender expectations are influencing young men and impacting all of us.
This isn't about bashing men or fueling division. It's about making sense of a complicated cultural shift and discovering why feminism can create healthier relationships, stronger communities, and a better future for everyone.
Along the way, Karen and Lisa share candid stories, challenge common myths about feminism, and discuss the emotional pull of online echo chambers that leave so many people feeling isolated and misunderstood.
If you've ever wondered how today's culture is changing relationships, worried about the next generation, or simply wanted to better understand the world we're all living in, this conversation is for you.
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🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:Starbucks Brown Sugar Shaken EspressoHomemade Frozen Pear Martini
🔗LinksNormally we would link people we talk about on the podcast but we don’t feel like giving them any help with visibility, thank you very much.
“Adolescence” “Shrinking” ____________________________________________________________________
🍸Want your very own piece of @DrinksWithTheGirls for half the cost of one bougie cocktail  per month? Enjoy exclusive bonus ad free content in After Hours. Head to Patreon and join the community! https://www.patreon.com/cw/DrinksWiththeGirlsPodcast
💬 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 – https://karenshatafian.substack.com/✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com
 

Naomi Watts' Dare I Say It book review shines a light on the menopause conversation so many women have been waiting for. Karen and Lisa share an honest, heartfelt discussion about the fear, shame, identity shifts, and surprising freedom that can come with midlife, inspired by Naomi Watts' deeply personal story of navigating early menopause while living in the public eye.
With laughter, vulnerability, and plenty of "me too" moments, they unpack the myths they wish someone had challenged sooner, the power of feeling seen, and why this season of life can become the beginning of something even better.
If you're in your 40s, 50s, or beyond and looking for reassurance, real talk, and a reminder that you're not navigating menopause or midlife alone, this conversation will leave you feeling understood, empowered, and hopeful.
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📖Book Review: “Dare I Say It” by Naomi Watts
🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:Magnificent Wine Co Rose Bubbles (how do they NOT have a website ??#forreals)
Hop Wtr
🎧Podcast Episodes
Andrea Samadi episode  HRT EpisodeGLP-1
Karen Baskett Episodes:
Menopause and Ayurveda Living Abroad Living Abroad Pt 2 
📖BooksThe Galveston Diet by Dr. Mary Claire Haver
🔗Links
Dr. Mary Claire Haver Dr. Sharon Malone Dr. Kelly CaspersonDr. Jen Gunter____________________________________________________________________
🍸Want your very own piece of @DrinksWithTheGirls for half the cost of one bougie cocktail  per month? Enjoy exclusive bonus ad free content in After Hours. Head to Patreon and join the community! https://www.patreon.com/cw/DrinksWiththeGirlsPodcast
💬 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 – https://karenshatafian.substack.com/✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com
 

There comes a moment in midlife when you look around at the beautiful life you've built and quietly wonder, Where did I go?
Artist and retreat host Anna Beij joins Karen and Lisa for a deeply honest conversation about losing yourself while caring for everyone else—and the unexpected power of creativity, travel, and giving yourself permission to come home to who you've always been. Through heartfelt stories, laughter, and wisdom earned through life's twists and turns, Anna shares how she traded the life she thought she was supposed to live for one that finally felt like her own.
If you're navigating an empty nest, a major life transition, or simply craving more joy, purpose, and connection, this conversation will remind you that it's never too late to rediscover yourself. Because sometimes the bravest thing a woman can do in midlife is choose herself.
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🎙️Guest: Ana Beijwww.anabeij.com
🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:Iced CoffeeSparkle Hops w/ homemade Strawberry SyrupWine - Malbec
📖BooksThe Heroine’s Journey by Maureen Murdock
🔗LinksPoshmark
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🍸Want your very own piece of @DrinksWithTheGirls for half the cost of one bougie cocktail  per month? Enjoy exclusive bonus ad free content in After Hours. Head to Patreon and join the community! https://www.patreon.com/cw/DrinksWiththeGirlsPodcast
💬 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 – https://karenshatafian.substack.com/✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com
 

Sometimes it's the little things that make the biggest difference. From beauty products we swear by and travel hacks that save our sanity to kitchen gadgets, wellness favorites, and the purchases we wish we'd discovered years ago, Karen and Lisa are sharing the everyday finds that have made midlife a little easier—and a lot more fun. Along the way, they laugh about chickens becoming beloved pets, dry shampoo changing everything, Costco vacation wins, and the products that turned out to be total flops.
If you're a woman over 40 looking for honest recommendations, practical tips, and real conversations with friends who have been there, this episode is packed with favorite midlife finds that just might become your new favorites too.
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🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:Sovany Tangerine Sparkling WaterSparkle Hops & Home canned Peach Iced TeaLisa's Arbonne Elixir - Energy Fizz, Mind Health, Skin Elixir, Gut Health, and NAD+ Cellular Energy
🎧Podcast EpisodesDinner Without the Drama w/Lisa PotterPart 1 Part 2: Holiday Edition Part 3: Summer Edition
Travel With Our KidsChicks with ChicksKate La Plaunt - FashionThe Financial Feminist: “How to Turn Your Bills Into Free Travel With Shakeemah Smith (The Passport Abuser)
⭐️ Our Favorite Things 
Under $50 (not really)Inkbird Sous Vide Stick Container 
Under $50 (yes really)Old Navy Ribbed Cropped Tank Tops - Sadly, sold out on the website so they must be great. Try your local Old NavyPatagonia Bandha tops - thrifted from Poshmark!
Favorite Beauty ProductsArbonne Skin Care  (Email Lisa for a discount code)Osea Scrub and Body Oil
Favorite Skin Care Discovery After 50Arbonne Gelee Favorite Product That Exceeded Your ExpectationsMarriot In Transit Conditioner (It’s not $50 - yay!) Brooke Shields Commence 3-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry ShampooArbonne Haircare Scalp Elixir 
Favorite Phone AppLocal Grocery Store Apps w/MembershipColor Note - AndroidNotes - Apple
Favorite Subscription ServiceFab Fit Fun Boxes Discounted affiliate link from Lisa for Greenlight
Favorite Health And Wellness ToolYoga With AdrienneFit On
Favorite Beauty DiscoveryJones Road - Miracle Balm
Things We Use That Make Us Irrationally HappyJapanese Gardening KnifeTravel FavoritesAway Luggage
Travel HackLuggage Compression System
Favorite Vacation PurchaseCostco Vacation PackagesAutism On the SeasPalace Resorts MembershipFavorite Travel AppKayakTravel Zoo
🔗LinksLisa’s Affiliate Link with Arbonne - Pure, Safe, Beneficial nutrition, skincare, body care, and make-up that’s vegan, non-gmo, and free from 2000 banned chemicalsEmail her for 35-45% off 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: @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 – https://karenshatafian.substack.com/✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com
 

Two years. Countless laughs, honest tears, unforgettable conversations—and we're just getting started. 🍸
This special anniversary episode is a heartfelt celebration of everything Drinks With the Girls® has become: a place where women in midlife can laugh, learn, question, and remember they never have to figure it all out alone. Karen and Lisa reflect on the conversations that challenged them, the guests who inspired them, the moments that caught them completely off guard, and the incredible community that's grown around the podcast. They also share exciting news about the launch of Drinks With the Girls®: After Hours, their new Patreon membership where paid members enjoy bonus episodes, ad-free listening, and early access to every new episode a full day before the public.
If you're a woman over 40 navigating reinvention, empty nesting, changing relationships, menopause, or simply craving authentic connection and meaningful conversation, this episode is for you. Come celebrate two amazing years—and raise a glass to everything still to come. Cheers!
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🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:Just Iced TeaLisa's Arbonne Elixir - Energy Fizz, Mind Health, Skin Elixir, Gut Health, and NAD+ Cellular Energy
🎧Podcast EpisodesLiving Abroad Part 2 PanelWinter OlympicsTaylor Swift & the PatriarchyHow Women Are Surviving the PatriarchyBeing an AllyPatricia Drain InterviewOur Favorite BingesUnpacking Trauma Parts 1 - 31 , 2, 3We Do Not Care ClubConfidence and Hormones (and Parasites!)Eat Pray Love ReviewEarly Birds ClubEmpowered Parent CollectiveThe Panini GenerationMarie Crews on Grief
🔗LinksCertified B CorpLisa’s Affiliate Link with Arbonne - Pure, Safe, Beneficial nutrition, skincare, body care, and make-up that’s vegan, non-gmo, and free from 2000 banned chemicalsEmail her for 35-45% off here.
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The Conversation Continues on PatreonDrinks With the Girls®: After Hours 
💬 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 – https://karenshatafian.substack.com/✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com

She didn't leave overnight—and chances are, neither do most women.
The walk-away wife phenomenon isn't about one fight or one bad day. It's about years of emotional labor, feeling unheard, carrying the invisible weight of a relationship, and quietly grieving long before anyone else notices.
Karen Shatafian and Lisa Corricello-McDowell unpack why so many women in midlife reach a breaking point after spending years trying to save their marriages. Through honest conversation, personal insight, and real-life stories, they explore what happens when emotional needs go unmet, why communication breaks down, and how women can reconnect with their own voice before losing themselves.
If you're navigating a changing marriage, questioning your relationship, carrying the mental load, or wondering why you feel emotionally exhausted, this conversation will help you feel seen, understood, and far less alone.
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🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:Aperol SpritzTopo Chico MangoOlipop Cream Soda
📰ArticlesWalkaway Wives - Independent
Studies continue to show women still carry the majority of emotional labor and household management inside heterosexual marriages. (Time)
📖BooksWhat Color Is Your Parachute? By Richard N. Bolles
🎧Podcast EpisodesBernadette CatalanoExtreme Parenting
🔗LinksGoldie Hawn and Kurt Russell
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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 – https://karenshatafian.substack.com/✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com

Feeling stuck, overlooked, or unsure what's next? The answer may be hiding in plain sight.
Career and entrepreneur coach Patricia Drain joins Karen and Lisa for a powerful conversation about the gifts women often underestimate, the confidence we lose along the way, and why it's never too late to begin a new chapter. Through personal stories, surprising insights, and one simple question that could change how you see yourself, Patricia offers a fresh perspective on purpose, possibility, and reinvention in midlife.
If you've ever wondered whether there's still something more for you, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, inspired, and ready to take the next step.
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🎙️Guest:Patricia DrainPatricia@patriciadrain.com
🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:Sparkle Hops AcaiFallbrook Winery San Giovese
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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 – https://karenshatafian.substack.com/✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com

A Kentucky Derby upset. A female NHL coach. A Super Bowl-winning team owned by a woman. The game is changing—and women are leading the charge.
We dive into the inspiring stories of women breaking barriers in sports leadership and explore why these victories matter far beyond the playing field. From female coaches and team owners to trailblazers rewriting the rules, this conversation is really about something bigger: reclaiming your voice, your ambition, and your place at the table.
Packed with powerful real-life moments, laughter, and a few passionate rants about the patriarchy, this episode is a reminder that every woman who goes first creates new possibilities for the rest of us.
If you're navigating midlife, dreaming bigger, reinventing yourself, or wondering what's still possible for your next chapter, pull up a chair. This one's for you.
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👉Join the Podsquad here!
Subscribe for show notes & episode goodies, delivered weekly, spam free!
🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:Hoplark - Sparkling Hop Tea
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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 – https://karenshatafian.substack.com/✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com

Grief doesn't just take the person you love—it changes the person you are. 
After losing her mother suddenly and, less than two years later, losing her son, Marie Crews found herself navigating the kind of heartbreak most of us can't imagine. Yet through the fog of loss, she discovered something powerful: healing isn't about "moving on"—it's about learning how to live alongside grief.
In this deeply honest conversation, Marie joins Karen and Lisa to share her journey through profound loss, the isolation that often accompanies grief, the surprising impact of grief brain fog, and the mindset shifts that helped her put one foot in front of the other when life felt impossible.
If you're grieving the loss of a loved one, supporting someone through loss, or navigating one of life's seasons of heartbreak and transition, this episode offers comfort, perspective, and a reminder that you're not alone.
Topics include grief, child loss, loss of a parent, healing after loss, self-compassion, resilience, and finding your way forward in midlife.
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👉Join the Podsquad here!
Subscribe for show notes & episode goodies, delivered weekly, spam free!
🎙️Guest:Marie Crews
🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:
Prosecco Mionetto Olipop Crisp Apple Probiotic Soda
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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