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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Karen Baskett lives in Belize Shannon Whaley lives in Italy Megan Mulvihill Elkins lives in Nevis and New York

🍵Tizzy CleanTox 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!

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.

Connect with your hosts: ✨ Karen Shatafian – www.karenshatafian.com ✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com

'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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Slice - Grapefruit Spritz w/ Vodka - natch Popwell Cherry Citrus Cabernet 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!

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.

Connect with your hosts: ✨ Karen Shatafian – www.karenshatafian.com ✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com

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 Audio Have 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!

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.

Connect with your hosts: ✨ Karen Shatafian – www.karenshatafian.com ✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com

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!

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.

Connect with your hosts: ✨ Karen Shatafian – www.karenshatafian.com ✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com

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:

🍵Tizzy CleanTox 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!

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.

Connect with your hosts: ✨ Karen Shatafian – www.karenshatafian.com ✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com

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!

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.

Connect with your hosts: ✨ Karen Shatafian – www.karenshatafian.com ✨ Lisa Corricello-McDowell – www.nextlevellifewithlisa.com

In this powerful and practical episode of Drinks With the Girls, Karen and Lisa sit down with Dr. Christine Kollmorgen of Oregon Surgical Wellness to talk all things breast health and cancer prevention. From the truth about exercise and cortisol to how female friendships and managing stress can literally save your life, this conversation is a must-listen for every woman over 40. Dr. Kollmorgen shares research-backed strategies to lower your risk of breast cancer, what to do when your mammogram is "wonky," and how to advocate for yourself in a confusing medical system. Real talk, real science, and real support—because knowledge is power and midlife is the time to take control of your health. 🍷💪💖

Topics We Cover:

• The exact exercise formula shown to reduce breast cancer risk

• How chronic stress and negative thinking can affect breast tissue

• Creating calm, connected care in a breast cancer journey

• What to do after a confusing or scary mammogram result

• The role of long-term female friendships in overall health

• Why self-advocacy in midlife medicine matters more than ever

**************************************** Guest: Dr. Christine Kollmorgan Oregon Surgical Wellness

🍸☕ What We Were Drinking:

🍷Myrtle Creek Cab Franc

✨Lüp Water

✨Spindrift Mango Orange

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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!

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.

Follow, 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

Got 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