Girlish Gurus

Have you ever caught yourself saying, "I'll travel when I find someone to go with" or "Maybe next year"? If so, this episode is for you. This week on Girlish Gurus, we're joined by Joy Owens, CEO of Butler Travel, mom of two, avid outdoor enthusiast, adventure racer, and seasoned traveler who has explored more than 60 countries. Joy specializes in creating unforgettable group travel experiences th...

Have you ever struggled with feelings of rejection, low self-worth, or the need for validation from others? In this inspiring episode of Girlish Gurus, Lorraine Miano and Joy Alford Brand welcome author Lori Michalina Wood to share her powerful healing journey from childhood rejection to emotional and spiritual wholeness. Many women carry emotional wounds from childhood into adulthood without real...

What if the key to feeling calmer, more resilient, and more emotionally balanced isn't another mindset hack—but learning to listen to your body? In this fascinating episode of Girlish Gurus, Joy and Lorraine sit down with Erica Hornthal, board-certified dance/movement therapist, licensed clinical professional counselor, author of Body Aware, and creator of Kinesthetic Cognitive Therapy. Known as "...

✨ Inspiring Midlife Magic, One Podcast at a Time! ✨ What if one of the most powerful wellness tools for women over 40 wasn’t another supplement… but LIGHT? In this illuminating episode of the Girlish Gurus podcast, Joy and Lorraine sit down with wellness pioneer Connie Zack, co-founder of Sunlighten, to explore the science-backed benefits of infrared sauna therapy for women navigating perimenopa...

What if letting go of your “stuff” could actually help you live a lighter, freer, more intentional life right now? In this heartfelt (and surprisingly uplifting!) episode, Joy and Lorraine explore the philosophy and powerful lessons brought to life in The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. Despite its dramatic name, Swedish Death Cleaning isn’t about death—it’s about living well. It’s about tho...

💕 Episode Overview What if your friendships were one of the most powerful tools for your health, happiness, and longevity? In this heart-opening episode, Joy and Lorraine dive into the science behind female friendships—and why connection isn’t just a “nice to have”… it’s essential. From the role of hormones like oxytocin to the groundbreaking concept of “tend and befriend,” we explore how women a...

🌍 Episode Overview Packing for a trip should feel exciting… not overwhelming. Yet so many women find themselves staring at an open suitcase wondering, “What if I need this?” In this episode of Girlish Gurus, we sit down with Natalie, the creator of the viral Packing Sudoku™ method—a structured 3×3 wardrobe system that has helped millions of women simplify travel, reduce decision fatigue, and pack...

What if everything you’ve been told about menopause is incomplete? In this powerful and enlightening episode of Girlish Gurus, Lorraine and Joy sit down with renowned nutrition scientist and thought leader Dr. Deanna Minich to reframe the conversation around hormones, midlife, and what it truly means to support the body through transition. Rather than viewing perimenopause and menopause as a time...

Family relationships can be some of the most meaningful—and sometimes the most complicated—connections in our lives. In this thoughtful and deeply compassionate conversation, Joy and Lorraine sit down with Tania Khazaal, a relational guide who helps parents navigate strained or estranged relationships with their adult children. This episode is not about blame, shame, or choosing sides. Instead, it...

What if one of the most powerful tools for midlife health was sitting right on your plate? In this inspiring and informative episode, Joy and Lorraine sit down with Attessa Bradley, founder of Standing Tall Foods, to talk about purposeful nutrition for women in perimenopause and beyond. After her own wake-up call at age 49, Attessa discovered a massive gap in the way women’s health—and especially...

Lichen sclerosus (LS) affects far more women than most people realize—yet it remains widely misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and rarely discussed openly. In this compassionate and educational episode of Girlish Gurus, we shine a much-needed light on vulvar lichen sclerosus and the emotional, physical, and nervous-system impact it can have on women, especially in midlife. Our guest, Stephanie Hrehirc...

In Part 2 of our Mind Magic series, we move from inspiration into implementation. After introducing the science and philosophy behind manifesting in Part 1, this episode is all about how to actually apply the principles from Mind Magic by James R. Doty in your real, everyday midlife life. This conversation is especially powerful for women who are ready to leave behind restrictive resolutions and i...

What if 2026 wasn’t about dieting harder, exercising more, or fixing what’s “wrong”—but about intentionally creating how you want to feel? In this powerful New Year episode of Girlish Gurus, Lorraine & Joy invite midlife women to release traditional resolutions and explore manifesting through science, compassion, and clarity, inspired by Dr. James R. Doty’s book Mind Magic. ✨ In this episode,...

As the year gently comes to a close and we enter the sacred space of Christmas and reflection, this episode of Girlish Gurus is the perfect invitation to pause, breathe, and reconnect with what truly matters. We are honored to welcome Jenny Dubay—author, speaker, and trauma-informed coach—whose work bridges ancient feminine wisdom with modern-day healing. Jenny writes historical fiction inspired b...

In this episode of Girlish Gurus, Joy and Lorraine chat about healthy, easy & yummy homemade gifts you can create for family & friends!  Everyone can be healthy for the holidays! Both easy and delicious, we are excited for you to bring some Season's Eatings flair to your holiday table.  Here's to a deliciously healthy holiday season!   Some of the key topics of the discussion include: As w...

In this episode of Girlish Gurus, Joy and Lorraine share some tips on eating healthy for the holidays! We share the research, and begin with some yummy side dishes that you can enjoy with your loved ones this holiday season! Both easy and delicious, we are excited for you to bring some Season's Eatings flair to your holiday table.  Here's to a deliciously healthy holiday season!   Some of the key...

Laughter really is the best midlife medicine! This week, the Girlish Gurus, Lorraine & Joy, sit down with the hilarious duo behind The Midlifers — Suzette and Lisa — two women on a mission to celebrate aging with humor, heart, and a healthy dose of real talk. Calling themselves the “tweens of adulthood,” The Midlifers are sharing the ups, downs, and sideways moments of life in the middle. From...

Happy Women’s Health Month, Gorgeous Gurus! 🎉 In this special episode, we’re celebrating YOU—your health, your strength, your midlife transformation. October is Women’s Health Month, and we’re marking it by revisiting some of our favorite health-focused Girlish Gurus episodes that have educated, empowered, and inspired thousands of women. From calming your nervous system to embracing menopause, o...

October is Women’s Health Month, and to celebrate, we’re resharing one of our most important conversations to date — a powerful episode originally aired during National Heart Month, featuring Alicia Botyrius of Life Line Screening. ❤️ Did you know that cardiovascular disease is the #1 cause of death for women? It’s time to change that. Prevention, awareness, and education are key — and this episod...

Guest: D.H. Morris — historical fiction author, playwright, grandmother of eleven, global traveler, and eternal student of history.   🪄 Episode Summary: In this inspiring episode of Girlish Gurus, we step into the 9th century through the pen of author D.H. Morris, who brings to life the powerful and little-known story of Judith of France in her novel The Girl of Many Crowns. But this isn’t just a...

💫 Episode Summary: What if the most powerful healing tool wasn’t a prescription or a procedure… but the ability to open your heart? In this deeply moving episode of Girlish Gurus, we explore the extraordinary true story behind Dr. James R. Doty's book Into the Magic Shop—a memoir that blends neuroscience with soul, and trauma with transcendence. At just 12 years old, growing up in poverty and cha...

What happens when you give birth in a country that isn’t your own, raise kids between cultures, and decide to write your way through the madness—with humor? You get Rosamaria Mancini’s brilliant, hilarious, and heartwarming world. In this episode, we sit down with Rosamaria—writer, mother,  and author of SOS Podcasts: A Memoir—to chat about podcasts, parenting across Italy and Germany, writing thr...

In this enlightening episode, Joy and Lorraine sit down with Stephanie Hrehirchuk—writer, coach, teacher, and multi-award-winning author of An Accidental Awakening. With a background in personal training, nutrition, and Ayurveda, and over 25 years of experience in health and personal development, Stephanie brings a grounded and soulful perspective to movement and healing. Together, they explore ho...

In this inspiring and energizing episode, Joy and Lorraine sit down with the powerhouse duo behind The Curious Collaborative—marketing maven Sue B. Zimmerman and conscious leadership coach Caryn Mefford. Together, they share how their unique partnership is sparking purpose, confidence, and curiosity in women entrepreneurs aged 55 and beyond. From harmonizing head, heart, and gut, to redefining suc...

✨ What if the most powerful ingredient for skin healing, odor removal, and non-toxic cleaning… was already inside your body? In this episode of Girlish Gurus, we’re talking to Brad Roderick, President of Emerald Prairie Home, about HOCl (hypochlorous acid)—a naturally occurring compound that’s revolutionizing how we clean our homes and care for our skin. 💧 Safe for babies, pets, and even the mos...