Well, we cried at least 4 times during this one! Dakota is one heck of an inspiring person. In this episode, Myra and Hilary get the inside scoop on Dakota’s path to becoming a pro boxer, what it takes to get inside the ring, her journey with mental health, her perspective on her fights with Christy Martin (and other powerhouse boxers!) and the healing power of community at her boxing gym, Solid Stone.

You will be ready to don your own pair of gloves after this one! Either metaphorically or for real…

Dakota Stone is a national champion boxer. She won a gold medal at the first international women’s boxing competition in Finland and was one of the top 10 women boxers in the world for a decade. Her win against world champion, Christy Martin, was broadcast on HBO. When she retired from boxing, she transitioned into full time coaching. Dakota started Solid Stone Boxing gym in 2012 which she operates with her wife Lauren. Their goal is to give back to their community, and the gym includes specific classes for women only (& non-binary folks) and people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Solid Stone offers a safe space for people of all genders, physical abilities and goals for personal improvement.

Learn more about Dakota and train with her at Solid Stone Boxing Gym and connect with her on Instagram

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

Get inspired to take your own creative journey! In this episode, Hilary and Myra interview each other, divulging how and why this podcast came to be and sharing insight from their individual life experiences. This snapshot of their journey to create content with an impact is full of humor and perspective. Their mission to expand the narrative for women over 40 is ever at the forefront of their ambitions!

Anyone out there starting their own entrepreneurial journey? If so, you know that starting a business or creative venture is hard…and so badass! Whether you are creating by yourself, alongside a creative partner, or just thinking about creating something new and beautiful in this world, we celebrate you. We celebrate your friendships. And today, we invite you into ours. And into our recording fort! (You’ll know what we mean once you listen to the episode…).

We hope you enjoy getting to know us a little better! And we’d love to get to know you and see your faces on our Instagram and Buy Me A Coffee pages 😊

Every follow on our social media and podcast platforms helps build visibility for the stories we are sharing. Please join our community, FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE and drop us a line!

THANK YOU for supporting our 5 inaugural episodes!! We appreciate you.

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!

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

It’s not every day that we get to pick the brain of a world-record-holder!! If you’ve ever been curious about what goes on inside the head of an elite athlete, today is your lucky day: join our fun and inspiring conversation with Sue McDonald. We hope you smile and learn as much as we did.

Sue McDonald is a mom of 3, world record holder 15 times over (in fact she set these world records in 16 months!), the 2023 WMA Female Athlete of the year, the 2023 USATF Masters Track and field athlete of the year, and broke world records in the 300-meter hurdles, 400-meter run, 800 meters and heptathlon for women over 60. She is most recently making a comeback in the Pole Vault. Sue and her husband reside in Santa Barbara, CA.

More of Sue's accolades and accomplishments:

• 2019 USATF W55 Athlete of the Year

• Hall of Fame Inductee for LosAngeles Valley College

• 2018 Boston Marathon Qualifier

• 7x Age Group American Record Holder(400/800/High Jump/Relays)

• 1996 Olympic Trials Finalist (polevault)

• 3x Collegiate All-American

• Regional World Champion, 800m;200/1500m Silver Medalist

• 2x W55 National Champion in the400m & 800m, USATF Masters National Championships

• 2015 Silver Medalist, World MastersAthletics Championships, France

Don't miss Sue's inspiring advice for women at midlife and beyond...and for achieving longevity in sport.

This episode is buzzing with energy to help us crush our goals. Thank you, Sue!

Learn more about Sue’s career and coaching business at Home | Sue McDonald Fitness

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

Support the production of content for women over 40 by ⁠buying Hilary and Myra a coffee⁠!

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

We had a blast talking to Jo-Anne about everything from how art can transform the way we see non-human animals to the experience of choosing not to have human children. You won’t want to miss our heartfelt and often funny conversation* with this talented woman...who is basically our new BFF (does she know that?).

Jo-Anne McArthur is a Canadian photojournalist, humane educator, animal rights activist and author. She is the founder of We Animals whose mission is to advocate for animals using photojournalism. Through the We Animals Humane Education program, McArthur offers presentations about human relationships with animals in educational and other environments. We Animals Media, is a media agency focused on human/animal relationships. She has documented humans’ fraught relationship with animals in over 60 countries in 25+ years and she speaks globally about animals. We Animals has 150 photographers who make books, short films and visuals available free to the animal advocacy movement.

McArthur’s work has been published in National Geographic, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Huffington Post and Outdoor Photography among many others. Recent awards include Highly Commended in the 2022 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition; the 2021 BigPicture Grand Prize; 2021 AEFONA’s First Prize, Man and Nature category; 2021 Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice finalist; 2020 Nature Photographer of the Year. In 2021, HIDDEN was awarded “Photography Book of the Year” by Pictures of the Year International (PoYI), and IPPY’s “Outstanding Book of the Year Most Likely to Save the Planet”.

Learn more about Jo-Anne's work here!

Order the book We Animals and support Animal Photojournalism!

*Our conversation includes descriptions of animals incaptivity, the abuse they endure and how we can change their world by really “seeing” them.

To support the production of Just Before We Go,consider buying Hilary and Myra a coffee at ⁠Just Before We Go...⁠

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

Theme song written and performed by Dave Ellis and theHopeless Sinners: ⁠Dave Ellis and the Hopeless Sinners⁠

We had so much fun recording this episode...that almost became a musical!

Myra and Hilary sat down with Cynthia Geary, acclaimed actor on television, stage and film & known around the world for her role as Shelly Tambo on the television series Northern Exposure, which earned her two Emmy Award nominations. She's had numerous guest-starring roles on a variety of TV programs, made-for-TV movies and independent films. She recently starred in and co-produced the 2024 series Going Home and guest stars in the Netflix series Penelope. Early in her career, Geary played the mother of the Olsen twins in their 1992 made-for-TV movie To Grandmother's House We Go, appeared in the 1997 movie When Time Expires, and is the female lead in 8 Seconds.

Hilary shared the big screen with Cynthia in the award winning 2013 independent film Nothing Against Life; Myra had the great privilege of directing Cynthia in the 2004 Book-It Repertory Theatre production of Edna Ferber’s epic novel, Giant, and shared the stage with her in Book-It's production of Kate Chopin's The Awakening. She resides in Seattle with her husband and their dog, Mango.

Enjoy this episode full of laughs and discovery.

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!

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

In this episode, Hilary and Myra get the inside scoop on what it takes to be a woman spearheading animal protection law in California from founder, CEO and president of Social Compassion in Legislation (SCIL), Judie Mancuso.

SCIL is the leading political advocacy group dedicated to advancing animal protection laws. Since 2007, Judie has spearheaded more than 70 state bills—28 of which have been signed into law—achieving landmark victories such as banning the sale of animal-tested cosmetics, prohibiting wild animals in circuses, ending commercial and recreational fur trapping, and requiring plant-based meals in all state hospitals and prisons.

In some instances, Judie literally went where no woman has gone before.

Impossible feats? Check.

Insider knowledge? Check.

Strong woman? Check.

And still...we manage to laugh a alot!

Recognized for her unwavering advocacy, Judie was named one of Orange County's Most Influential People 2019. She has served as Vice Chair of the Laguna Beach Environmental and Sustainability Committee and completed two terms on the California Veterinary Medical Board. She resides in Laguna Beach with her rescued cats and dogs Lily, Twiggy and Petula.

You can support the making and passage of SCIL's new bills by donating and signing calls to action at: Social Compassion in Legislation – They Have No Choice. No Voice. No Vote.Judie's book Because They Need Us: My Political Fight to Save Animals can be purchased at:Because They Need Us: My Political Fight to Save Animals 1, Mancuso, Judie - Amazon.comTo support the production of Just Before We Go, consider buying Myra and Hilary a coffee at:Just Before We Go...Theme song written and performed by Dave Ellis and the Hopeless Sinners:Dave Ellis and the Hopeless Sinners

*mature content advisory

*this episode includes conversation about animal cruelty

This episode is full of humor (donkey stories included!), the romance and reality of ranch life, an inside look at creative writing and what it takes to achieve your dream as a woman in today's world. Pam is an expert at balancing lightness and depth as we delve into real issues women face today.

Pam Houston is an award-winning author, teaches in the Low Rez MFA program at the Institute of American Indian Arts, is Professor of English at UC Davis, and is co-founder and creative director of the literary nonprofit Writing By Writers. Her books include Without Exception: Reclaiming Abortion, Personhood and Freedom, the memoir Deep Creek: Finding Hope In The High Country, as well as two novels, Contents May Have Shifted and Sight Hound. She's published two collections of short stories, Cowboys Are My Weakness and Waltzing the Cat, a collection of essays, A Little More About Me as well as a book of essays with environmental activist Amy Irvine, called Air Mail: Letters of Politics, Pandemics and Place.

Pam's stories have been selected for volumes of The O. Henry Awards, The Pushcart Prize, Best American Travel Writing, and Best American Short Stories of the Century among other anthologies. She is the winner of the Western States Book Award, the WILLA Award for contemporary fiction, and the Evil Companions Literary Award. She resides in the mountains of Colorado with her husband, horses, chickens, donkeys and dogs Livie Lou and Bodie.

Learn more about Pam's work at www.pamhouston.net

Visit www.justbeforewego.com for sneak peaks of future episodes.

You can support the podcast at Just Before We Go...Theme song is original music by Dave Ellis and the Hopeless Sinners - www.daveellisandthehopelesssinners.com *mature content advisory

*disclaimer: this episode includes discussion of women's bodies and abuse.