Drinks with the Girls®

You did everything "right"—built a life you love, raised the kids, made the big changes, maybe even reinvented yourself. So why does midlife still feel lonely sometimes?
Karen and Lisa dive into the surprising difference between friendship and community, and why so many women over 40 find themselves craving deeper connection after divorce, empty nesting, relocation, career shifts, or simply outgrowing old roles. Through candid stories about rebuilding community, navigating loneliness, and pushing beyond comfort zones, they explore what it really takes to find your people in this season of life.
If you've ever wondered why making friends after 50 feels harder than it should, or found yourself asking, "Where do I belong now?" this conversation will leave you feeling seen, understood, and inspired to create meaningful connection on your own terms.
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🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:
Simply Pop Pineapple Mango Soda - listener supplied! (Shot of vodka was not ☺️)
Arbonne Mango Peach Energy FizzLisa’s Affiliate Link with Arbonne - Pure, Safe, Beneficial nutrition, skincare, body care, and make-up free from 2000 banned chemicalshttps://www.arbonne.com/us/en/arb/LisaCorricelloMcdowell/?login=trueEmail 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:
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

Trying to squeeze into old jeans while quietly grieving the woman you used to be? Same. This honest, funny, and deeply relatable conversation about midlife fashion dives into what happens when your body changes, your lifestyle shifts, and suddenly nothing in your closet feels like you anymore.
Karen and Lisa are joined by fashion-loving educator Kate LaPlaunt, who brings warmth, humor, and zero judgment to the conversation. Together, they unpack the pressure women over 40 feel around aging, style, confidence, and “fashion rules” — while sharing real-life stories about closet crises, thrift-store wins, stilettos on icy Alaska sidewalks, changing bodies, and finally giving themselves permission to wear what makes them feel good.
This episode is for any listener navigating midlife reinvention, menopause body changes, empty nesting, confidence shifts, or the feeling that they’ve somehow lost their style along the way.
Because midlife fashion isn’t about dressing younger. It’s about dressing like yourself again.
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🎙️Guest:Kate La Plaunt
🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:Kevita Probiotic Refresher in TangerineNaked Swim Sparkling Green Tea and Red Fruits Glorious Herbal TeaSan Pelligrino Selzer
What Kate wished she was drinking:Pear Martini French 75 - Champagne, Gin, Lemon, Simple Syrup
 
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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

Karen and Lisa are celebrating 100 episodes of Drinks With the Girls — and the truth behind the milestone is way messier, funnier, and more emotional than anyone sees on social media. From recording through grief, burnout, parenting chaos, tech disasters, and “life lifing,” they share the real story of what it takes to keep showing up in midlife when everything feels hard.
This conversation is a love letter to women over 40 who are reinventing themselves, building something new, healing, setting boundaries, and learning that consistency matters more than perfection. With hilarious behind-the-scenes podcast moments, honest reflections on friendship, and the unfiltered reality of doing life together, Karen and Lisa prove you do not need to have it all figured out to create something meaningful.
If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late, too messy, or too scary to start — this episode is for you.
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🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:Diet Squirt with VodkaSparkle Hops - Pelican Brewery
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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

Somewhere between raising kids, managing careers, caregiving, and holding everyone else together… a lot of women wake up in midlife wondering: Who am I now?
Karen and Lisa unpack the identity shifts nobody prepares women for after 40 — the quiet grief of outgrowing old roles, the pressure to stay “relevant,” and the exhausting feeling of disappearing inside everyone else’s needs. Through raw conversation, humor, honesty, and deeply relatable moments, they explore what it really means to rediscover yourself after years of survival mode.
From body image and aging to emotional burnout and reinvention, this conversation is for women who feel disconnected from themselves, stuck in transition, or ready to reclaim parts of themselves they thought were gone forever.
If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and thought, I don’t even know who I am anymore, this one will hit home.
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🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:Pierre’s Paloma Green Cheek SeltzerSparkle Hops - Pelican Brewery
Karen's Reclamation Lounge
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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
 

They were our anchors… and somehow, we’re learning how to stand on our own.
This Mother’s Day conversation is honest, funny, and unexpectedly healing—about the women who raised us, the relationships that shaped us, and the versions of ourselves we’ve grown into along the way. Lisa and Karen share what it’s like to move from daughter to friend, to grieve what was, and to finally understand the lessons that didn’t make sense back then.
There are moments that will make you laugh (like the things our moms definitely didn’t want to know) and moments that hit deep—like saving a voice recording you didn’t know you’d one day treasure, or realizing strength showed up when you didn’t have a choice.
This episode isn’t just about loss—it’s about growth, perspective, and the quiet ways our moms are still part of who we are today. Karen brings the lens of losing her mom young and learning life without her, while Lisa shares what it means to reprocess a relationship and find a deeper, more honest connection over time. Together, they guide a conversation that feels like sitting down with women who truly get it.
🎧 This one is for:
Women in midlife navigating complicated or evolving relationships with their moms
Anyone missing their mom (especially around Mother’s Day)
Daughters becoming mothers—and seeing everything differently
Women doing the work to heal, reflect, and move forward
If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “I get it now, Mom”… this conversation will stay with you.
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🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:
Basic Beech Pacifico Beer with LimeFentiman's Pink Ginger
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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

The word was “clusterf*ck”… and honestly? It only gets more real from there.
This is the conversation every educator—and every midlife woman holding it all together—has been having behind closed doors.
Karen and Lisa sit down with returning guest Amanda to pull back the curtain on the toxic reality of education today—where passion collides with burnout, boundaries disappear, and the job that once felt like a calling starts to feel unsustainable. From the shocking shift in what schools are dealing with now versus 20 years ago, to the emotional toll of being “always on,” this episode doesn’t sugarcoat a thing.
You’ll hear raw, unfiltered moments about:
The pressure of being available 24/7
Why “summers off” is one of the biggest myths out there
How leadership can make—or completely break—the experience
The quiet grief of loving a career that’s slowly draining you
But this isn’t just about what’s broken. Amanda brings powerful insight as a leader and coach, helping reframe what’s possible when we start telling the truth about burnout, boundaries, and what we actually need to feel supported again.
If you’re a teacher, former educator, or a midlife woman questioning why the life you built suddenly feels so heavy… this one will hit home.
Because sometimes the bravest thing you can do is admit: this isn’t working anymore—and start asking what might. 🍸
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🎙️Guest: Amanda Yountshttps://linktr.ee/amandayounts@midlifecatalyst
 
🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:
Wild Wonder Pineapple Paradise PREBIOTIC + PROBIOTIC SPARKLING DRINKArnold Palmer (Iced Tea/Lemonade)Bundaberg Ginger BeerApparently, it’s Australian, not German….oopsLime Bubly
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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
 
 

Ever feel like saving the planet is just… too much?
Between the plastic at the dentist, the endless Amazon boxes, and the constant noise of “do more,” it’s easy to slip into that quiet midlife question: does anything I do even matter?
In this honest and often hilarious Earth Day conversation, Karen and Lisa  unpack the overwhelm, the guilt, and the small but meaningful ways we can reconnect—with the planet and with ourselves. From surfing with dolphins to gardening in the Pacific Northwest, from hummingbird nests to wildfire anxiety, they share real-life moments that remind us this isn’t about perfection—it’s about intention.
Along the way, they explore something deeper: how women in midlife are exhausted from taking care of everyone else—and what Mother Earth can teach us about rest, cycles, and starting again.
If you’ve ever felt burned out, disconnected, or unsure where to even begin when it comes to sustainability, this conversation will meet you right where you are—and gently nudge you forward.
✨ This episode is for listeners navigating midlife, craving a slower pace, and looking for simple, doable ways to care for the planet without losing themselves in the process.
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Subscribe for show notes & episode goodies, delivered weekly, spam free!
🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:Pierre's Paloma Fizzy Paloma-Style Hard Seltzer
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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

Your body is reacting… and you don’t even know why. One text, one look, one moment—and suddenly you’re spiraling, shutting down, or ready to run.
Karen and Lisa get real about those “where did that come from?” reactions in relationships—and the answer might be trauma. The kind that quietly shapes how we love, communicate, trust, and show up… especially in midlife.
With trauma therapists Alex and Alyssa guiding the conversation, this episode connects the dots between your past and your present patterns—why conflict feels unsafe, why certain relationships feel familiar (even when they’re not healthy), and how your nervous system is calling the shots more than you think.
From a powerful moment of physically shaking after a simple text to the realization that “I’ve been doing this forever,” this conversation brings those invisible patterns into the light—and reminds you that you’re not broken, you’re responding.
If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in the same relationship dynamics, avoiding conflict, people-pleasing, or wondering why you react the way you do—this episode is for you.
Because healing isn’t about fixing yourself… it’s about finally understanding yourself.
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👉Join the Podsquad here!
Subscribe for show notes & episode goodies, delivered weekly, spam free!
🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:Wild Wonder Prebiotic + Probiotic Sparkling Drink - Guava Rose FlavorSimply Pop Prebiotic Soda - Pineapple Mango FlavorHio Organic Peach Mango Social Tonic
🎙️Guests: Alyssa ScaranoCollective Therapy
Alex CasillasCon Corazon Mental Health Services
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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

Something feels off… and you can’t quite explain it.
You’re forgetting things you never used to forget. Questioning yourself in rooms you used to own. Wondering, quietly, “What is happening to me?”
This conversation goes straight into that moment—the one where confidence starts slipping, identity feels shaky, and you barely recognize yourself anymore. And here’s the truth that hits hard: it’s not just in your head.
With functional integrative health practitioner Dyna Vink as our guide, we unpack what’s really happening beneath the surface—why high-functioning, capable women suddenly feel foggy, overwhelmed, and disconnected from who they’ve always been. From brain fog and burnout to the emotional toll of losing trust in yourself, this episode connects the dots in a way that feels equal parts validating and eye-opening.
There’s a moment where Karen shares she thought she was facing early cognitive decline… and the relief (and frustration) when she realized it was something else entirely. And yes—we even go there: gut health, hidden imbalances, and the surprising ways your body can impact your confidence and sense of self .
This isn’t about “fixing” you. It’s about understanding you.
If you’re in your 40s or beyond and quietly wondering why you don’t feel like yourself anymore—this episode is for you.
Because you’re not losing it.And you’re definitely not alone.
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🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:
Green Cheek Paloma Hard Selzer
Arbonne Dream 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.
Orange Mango Infusion - ya gotta go to Panama for this one - sorry loves!
🎙️Guest: Dyna VinkIntegrative Health Practitionerhttps://holisticnutritionlifestyle.com/
🏥Medical Disclaimer:The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. While we may discuss functional medicine, wellness practices, and personal health experiences, this content is not a substitute for professional medical guidance, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your health, medications, or lifestyle. The views expressed in this podcast are our own and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Listener discretion is advised, and any actions you take based on the information provided are at your own risk.
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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

The world feels heavy… and sometimes you just need something that makes you laugh, escape, or feel like yourself again.
This week, Karen and Lisa are sharing the binge-worthy shows, movies, books, and music they turn to when life feels overwhelming—from laugh-until-you-snort favorites like Ted Lasso and Derry Girls to darker, can’t-look-away British mysteries and true crime escapes.
But this isn’t just about zoning out. It’s about finding what actually helps—whether that’s comfort, release, or a full-on mental getaway. Along the way, they get real about midlife stress, grief, nervous system overload, and why sometimes the best medicine is a show that lets you feel everything… or nothing at all.
If you’re a midlife woman juggling all the things and craving a break that actually works—this one’s for you.
Press play, pour a drink, and find your next binge. 🥂
_____________________________________________________________
👉Join the Podsquad here!
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🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:
June Shine Desert Cooler
Fentiman’s Ginger Beer
______________________________________________________________________
💬 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