If you’re curious about how to curate your life and work into a beautiful adventure, this episode is for you! Jing Jing Tsong takes us through her journey of life as a published illustrator, surfer, musician and gardener. All while being a mother! This episode promises the art of creating a life well-lived, the mysteries of lithography and the magic of waves and whales. We left this conversation feeling like we really could have it all…like the roadblocks are not insurmountable…that we as women build power in creating. Enjoy :)

Jing Jing Tsong is a New York Times best-selling picture book author and illustrator, amateur musician (cello and stand-up bass) and permanent grom (beginner surfer). Her most recent book, Fake Chinese Sounds, is a graphic novel for middle-grades about a Taiwanese American girl navigating identity, bullying, and the messy process of learning to be comfortable in her skin. Jing Jing's writing and artwork explores diversity and community using a collage of texture, pattern and color. Influenced by the principles of monoprint and traditional stone lithography, she layers colors and textures to create images that are engaging and compelling. More than two dozen published books burst with her vibrant illustrations, including the Hawaiian Legends for Little Ones series, Aloha Zoo, A Small Bucket of Blessings, to name a few. Past projects have included the United State Postal Service Winter Fun Forever stamps and Lunar New Year posters for McDonald's.

Her books can be found online Jing and Mike Co. at www.bookshop.org. When not playing music, growing kale or surfing, Jing Jing says, "I hope my explorations as an illustrator and writer nourish a more empathic world."

Learn more about Jing Jing’s art and purchase the books she’s illustrated here!

Just Before We Go is produced by ⁠Myra Mae Studios⁠ and ⁠Real Girl Athletics⁠

SUPPORT the production of content for women over 40 by ⁠buying Hilary and Myra a coffee⁠ and FOLLOW Just Before We Go on Instagram

Theme song is written by Dave Ellis and performed by ⁠Dave Ellis and the Hopeless Sinners and produced by Pool Boy Records

Every day is a good day to invite positive energy into our lives and trust the momentum of consistent effort.

Follow through when things are new and challenging.

Trust connection.

Accept the little gifts life gives us every day.

Embrace chickens.

Choose to do something every day that makes us feel alive.

Show up.

Lean into opportunity and our potential.

Reject fear.

Take the time you need to get there.

Let’s see what happens!

Yep. It’s all in the episode :)

Just Before We Go is produced by ⁠Myra Mae Studios⁠ and ⁠Real Girl Athletics⁠

SUPPORT the production of content for women over 40 by ⁠buying Hilary and Myra a coffee⁠ and FOLLOW Just Before We Go on Instagram

Theme song is written by Dave Ellis and performed by ⁠Dave Ellis and the Hopeless Sinners and produced by Pool Boy Records

What can’t moms do?? In this episode, Hilary and Myra sit down with published author and non-profit founder Sheila Morovati to talk about the power of ONE. One mom. One person. BIG CHANGE. You don’t want to miss her easy-to- follow tips for being a big change-making Imperfect Environmentalist. Her story as a woman leader is nothing short of inspiring.

Sheila M. Morovati is the founder of two international nonprofit organizations, Crayon Collection and Habits of Waste and the author of Imperfect Environmentalist. With a degree in Sociology from UCLA, she leverages human behavior and social dynamics to create accessible and innovative climate solutions. Sheila’s impactful contributions include pioneering global legislation, notably the world’s first ban on single-use plastic straws and cutlery. She has fostered systemic change by targeting major corporations, giving everyday individuals the power to make better choices for the planet and inspiring meaningful activism. Her work has been credited with diverting billions of pieces of single-use plastic from the waste stream. She has been featured in People magazine, the LA Times, Buzzfeed, Forbes, Huffington Post, and has appeared on TV shows such as the Kelly Clarkson Show and CBS Sunday Morning. Sheila was born in Tehran, Iran, and immigrated to the US in 1979. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.

Buy Sheila’s book at Homepage - Imperfect Environmentalist

Learn more about Sheila’s work at About | Habits of Waste & Crayon Recycling Charity – Crayon Collection Home | Crayon Collection

Just Before We Go is produced by ⁠Myra Mae Studios⁠ and ⁠Real Girl Athletics⁠

SUPPORT the production of content for women over 40 by ⁠buying Hilary and Myra a coffee⁠ and FOLLOW Just Before We Go on Instagram

Theme song is written by Dave Ellis and performed by ⁠Dave Ellis and the Hopeless Sinners

How to live with alignment. That’s one of the huge gifts we received from our conversation with Sarah Canney, running & adventure coach, snowshoe running bronze-medalist, writer and mother of three. In this episode, Sarah reveals how she turned dreams into business, the power of reclaiming feminism through motherhood and how outdoor adventuring ignites her spirit. Bonus points if you listen to this episode in the morning light (you’ll soon find out what we mean!).

Sarah Canney is a former English teacher who leveraged her love of writing and running to create Rise Run Retreat, one of the premier women’s running retreats in the US. A decade later, she has pivoted back to her writing roots and is building a community over on Substack with her weekly newsletter Out of Bounds where she explores life outside the lines. Sarah’s writing has appeared in multiple publications including Women’s Running Magazine, Runner’s World, Outside, The New York Times and the Washington Post. Sarah’s fiction was a semifinalist for the pilot filming of America’s Next Great Author and was long-listed for the Tall Poppy Writers fiction pitch contest. Sarah lives with her husband and three children in rural New Hampshire, where she is attempting to grow as many lupines as possible.

Learn more about Sarah’s work here: Sarah Canney

Just Before We Go is produced by ⁠Myra Mae Studios⁠ and ⁠Real Girl Athletics⁠

SUPPORT the production of content for women over 40 by ⁠buying Hilary and Myra a coffee⁠ and FOLLOW Just Before We Go on Instagram

Theme song is written by Dave Ellis and performed by ⁠Dave Ellis and the Hopeless Sinners

This episode brings you behind the scenes of Mari’s professional journey to the NHL’s Seattle Kraken organization and why she is driven by connection and impact. How does she keep the momentum going and still have room for lightness and laughter? Listen in and get inspired!

Mari Horita is Senior Vice President of Social Impact & Civic Affairs for the Seattle Kraken and Executive Director of One Roof Foundation. She leads the development and implementation of the social impact, philanthropic and community engagement vision and strategy for the Seattle Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena.

Prior to joining the Kraken, Mari was president and CEO of ArtsFund, where she led the organization's strategic transition to better represent and serve the evolving population and arts community in the Puget Sound Region. She has served on a number of nonprofit boards including the United Way of King County, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Asian Bar Association of Washington, YouthCare and the Seattle Foundation. She currently co-chairs the Board DE&I Committee for the Downtown Seattle Association and serves on the Boards of the University of Washington Foundation and the Seattle Art Museum. Mari has played violin with the Vina Musica String Quartet for the past 25 years and before that performed with the Seattle Youth Symphony, Denver Philharmonic and the Vancouver Academy of Music Orchestra.

Just Before We Go is produced by ⁠Myra Mae Studios⁠ and ⁠Real Girl Athletics⁠

SUPPORT the production of content for women over 40 by ⁠buying Hilary and Myra a coffee⁠ and FOLLOW Just Before We Go on Instagram

Theme song is written by Dave Ellis and performed by ⁠Dave Ellis and the Hopeless Sinners

Ya Gotta Laugh or Quit -

Goodbye 2025!

Recorded Wednesday Dec. 31, 2025

Join us for our live NYE beach walk on Whidbey Island! Your JBWG co-hosts thank you for supporting our podcast with this joyous Auld Lang Syne moment as we wish 2025 a very merry sssso-long and welcome 2026 with a happy-go-lucky neigh! Let's look the year-of-the-fire-horse in the mouth and acknowledge that, outside of creating this super fun podcast, 2025 was a difficult year. So, join us for this short episode full of dogs, laughs and gratitude.

Because, if there's one thing we know for sure, we're not quitting!

So we might as well laugh.

Cheers!

Myra & Hilary

Just Before We Go is produced by ⁠Myra Mae Studios⁠ and ⁠Real Girl Athletics⁠

SUPPORT the production of content for women over 40 by ⁠buying Hilary and Myra a coffee⁠ and FOLLOW Just Before We Go on Instagram

Theme song is written by Dave Ellis and performed by ⁠Dave Ellis and the Hopeless Sinners

Lenice is a bright, infectious energy who motivates and ignites hope. Her career is awe-inspiring; she is a friend, collaborator, childcare activist, community builder and champion for gender and race equity. She brings people together and we are thrilled she joined us on the pod to include YOU, our listeners, in this conversation about expanding our collective vision for women’s empowerment.

Lenice Emanuel is a speaker, writer, and race & gender equity activist. She has over 25 years of leadership in nonprofit management, government, fund development, and community relations. She is a Climate Reality Leader and part of a corps of advocates and influencers in 152 countries, trained by former Vice President Al Gore. She holds a Master of Liberal Arts degree in leadership and ethics from Spring Hill College, and certification from Cornell University. As Executive Director of the Alabama Institute for Social Justice (AISJ), she works to empower women, and people of color, and address poverty in marginalized communities through childcare advocacy, voter engagement, gender equity, grassroots organizing, environmental justice, and racial healing. In this capacity, she leads The Alabama Movement for Child Care™, where she works to organize childcare providers across Alabama’s Black Belt region, to ensure a more equitable childcare system for minorities and women. She has facilitated racial healing & reconciliation community learning forums for thousands in Alabama and is dedicated to bringing diverse groups together to advance a more just society.

Content advisory: This episode contains discussion around the construct of racial violence and violence against women.

Learn more about Lenice and support her work at the Alabama Institute for Social Justice

Just Before We Go is produced by ⁠Myra Mae Studios⁠ and ⁠Real Girl Athletics⁠

SUPPORT the production of content for women over 40 by ⁠buying Hilary and Myra a coffee⁠ and FOLLOW Just Before We Go on Instagram

Theme song is written by Dave Ellis and performed by ⁠Dave Ellis and the Hopeless Sinners

We’ve been talking about it, and now we just went ahead and did it. We were curious what would happen if we actually put our feline friend on the mic…because she always has a lot to say. Meet Shadow, a 17-year-old gray tabby who recently looked death in the face and defied it. You’ll hear straight from the cat’s mouth her expressions on comforts, hardships, friendships and animal relationships.

Shadow is someone very special. She was found abandoned as a kitten, huddled in the snow next to her sister. Her cat-Dad David rescued them, and she has been the queen of the household with my friends Annie and David ever since. She enjoys eating and sleeping, sunbathing on the patio furniture when the weather is nice and snoring mightily when deep in slumber.

Shadow is deaf, but she loves to talk and listens with her whole body. Her wide, green eyes command treats; she has a fabulous, chunky stomach that sways when she walks...er... waddles. Her turnout would lead you to believe she was a ballet dancer in her former life. She'll announce her entrance into a room like a diva, especially at 4am when she might spend the rest of the morning sleeping on your face or walking your body like a plank. Her purr could heal the whole neighborhood, and her sweetness will melt your heart. She is 84 years young in cat years and has been there for Hilary during many difficult times. A steadfast friend.

Please enjoy our tribute to Shadow the cat.

(Wait...does that make her our podcat??)

And Just Before We Go…season two is coming soon!

Just Before We Go is produced by ⁠Myra Mae Studios⁠ and ⁠Real Girl Athletics⁠

SUPPORT the production of content for women over 40 by ⁠buying Hilary and Myra a coffee⁠ and FOLLOW Just Before We Go on Instagram

Theme song is written by Dave Ellis and performed by ⁠Dave Ellis and the Hopeless Sinners

We deeply appreciate your positive ratings and reviews! Thank you for being here.