No Shrinking Violets Podcast for Women

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! Have you ever found yourself deeply disappointed by someone who behaved exactly as they always do? That moment when you share exciting news with a loved one, only to have them immediately make it about themselves—again. That's exactly what we're diving into today. "Expecting the expected" might sound like settling for less, but it's ac...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! Sandy Joy Weston shares her journey from childhood dancer to groundbreaking fitness pioneer and joy advocate, revealing how simple daily practices can transform our lives. She introduces her powerful "Movement, Words, and Laughter" approach that takes just 1-3 minutes daily to shift energy and mindset. • First female trainer for the Philadelphia Flye...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! In this episode, I have a 360º degree discussion of menopause and how fluctuating hormones affect not just physical symptoms, but our entire wellbeing through an integrative functional medicine approach. Two experienced nurse practitioners with advanced training in functional medicine, Jane Snyder and Mary Ellen Francescani, share evidence-based strategies for...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! Dr. Robin Buckley reframes women's power as something inherent rather than something that must mimic masculine ideals, encouraging listeners to identify and pursue what they truly want without apology. She shares practical strategies to help women embrace their natural strengths and overcome societal conditioning that limits their potential. • Understandi...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! That critical voice in your head telling you that you're not good enough? It wasn't born to torment you—it developed to protect you. But now it's time for a new relationship with that inner critic. Julie Van Elswyk joins Mary to share her powerful journey from blaming herself for her son's cancer diagnosis to becoming a worthiness and law o...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! We explore the concept of essential nature and how reconnecting to our true selves leads to authentic living and healing. Licensed therapist and author Harmony Kwiker shares insights from transpersonal psychology on moving beyond our conditioned patterns. • Transpersonal psychology looks beyond personal identity to access the spiritual dimensions of our humani...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! Women's socialization as caretakers often leads to physical health crises when we neglect our own needs for too long. Melissa Crook shares her powerful story of experiencing severe anxiety attacks at age 50 that sent her to the emergency room twice in one week, ultimately becoming the catalyst for her journey toward self-awareness and authentic living. •...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! Nicole Wahby shares her journey of breaking free from limiting family expectations to create an authentically joyful life through event planning and setting healthy boundaries. Her story illustrates how stepping away from negative influences—even family—can open space for genuine fulfillment and success. • Growing up in a "primarily miserable family"...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! Two therapists pull back the curtain on what actually happens in therapy and why it's so powerful for creating change in your life.  • Therapy is for everyone, not just those with severe mental health issues • The most impactful aspect of therapy is the connection with your therapist, more than any specific techniques • Finding the right therapist is cruc...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! Yoga offers a comprehensive approach to wellness that goes far beyond the physical postures, connecting mind, body, and spirit while creating space for self-discovery and healing. Jennifer Lynn shares her journey from corporate burnout to becoming a certified trauma-informed yoga and menopause yoga teacher, exploring how this ancient practice helps regulate th...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! Kasey Lee shares her transformative journey from small-town English teacher to Director of Training and Development for the city of Chicago. Her story reveals how professional disappointment became the catalyst for complete reinvention, challenging limiting beliefs and embracing uncertainty. • Moving from a town of 3,000 to a city of 3.6 million after being pa...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! Why do so many women question their own ambitions? And why do so many of us seem to instinctively NOT support each other? In this episode, I sit down again with Dr. Kelly Weaber to unpack how society influences the way we make decisions—whether in careers, parenting, or personal growth. We talk about the weight of expectations, the guilt that can come with put...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! Dr. Bella DePaulo challenges societal assumptions about singleness, revealing how many people are genuinely "single at heart" and thrive in this lifestyle not despite being single, but because of it. • Being single at heart means feeling most authentic, comfortable, and fulfilled when living a single life • Single people often maintain richer social...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! In this episode, I sit down with fellow therapist Karen Jones to explore how mindfulness isn’t just a tool for crisis moments— even a 12-minute daily practice can rewire your brain for resilience. We talk about practical ways to integrate mindfulness into your everyday routine (like mindful dishwashing and the power of posture), how to ground yourself in the p...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! In this episode of No Shrinking Violets , Dr. Christine Nowik returns to explore the often-overlooked weight of invisible labor—this time, in personal relationships. From holiday planning to the mental load of family schedules, women continue to carry an unspoken responsibility that takes a toll on both mental and physical well-being. We dive into the latest r...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! This episode is inspiring (my guest TRULY "takes up her space" all over the world!) and filled with not-often-talked-about but essential information for women to know and understand about their health. My guest, Dr Liz Franze, explains how pelvic health isn’t just about Kegels—it's about reclaiming comfort, confidence, and even pleasure. Liz, a...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! Society often glorifies coupledom, but what about the joy and freedom of embracing single life? What happens when you choose your happiness over societal scripts? In this candid and uplifting episode, Mary chats with Marieke Nissly James about her decision to leave her marriage, raise two daughters as a single mom, and create a fulfilling life on her own terms...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Carli May, a psychology major with a passion for helping others, as she reflects on her college journey. From navigating future career options and friendship conflicts to overcoming self-doubt, Carli shares her story of resilience, and how she found her voice in a complex and often overwhelming environment. Whether yo...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of No Shrinking Violets , host Mary sits down with her accomplished and multi-talented friend, Dr. Kelly Weaber, to discuss the complexities of balancing motherhood, career aspirations, and personal growth. Drawing from Kelly's dissertation, The Boys Will Be Okay: Exploring the Mother-Learner-Worker Experiences , th...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! In this thought-provoking episode, Mary is joined by her friend and leadership expert, Dr. Christine Nowik, to unpack the concept of Invisible Labor, particularly in the workplace. Together, they delve into how unpaid and often unrecognized tasks—such as emotional labor, office housekeeping, and conflict management—disproportionately fall on women due to socie...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! In this episode, we dive into the often misunderstood world of autoimmune diseases, which affect nearly 80 million Americans—75% of whom are women. Host Mary is joined by Mindy Knaub, a licensed therapist and autoimmune warrior, to share her personal journey through years of misdiagnoses and the challenges of living with conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! So often we – especially women – believe that taking time to rest and find renewal is lazy. Or we convince ourselves that we don’t have time to take even 5 minutes in our day to find respite. The internal refrain of “I don’t have TIME for this!” often repeats in our brains, especially at times of highest stress. If we look to the lessons of nature, we may more...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! As humans, we ARE nature. Yet we often feel so far removed from nature in our current loud and fast world that sometimes we forget that we are made of some of the same genetic stuff as most other living organisms. Just as plants and animals instinctively know how to survive and thrive (two very different goals), humans also have innate and shaped tendencies th...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! Certain situations often seem to send a clear message about how women should act, talk and be. Many times, this starts quite early in childhood, and tends to be reinforced by a society that continues to define acceptable beauty, actions and words for women. Indeed, social media has added a whole new pressure to appear and act in ways that are continually defin...

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! Join Mary Rothwell, licensed therapist and certified integrative mental health practitioner, as she explores topics that help women stop "staying small" and gives them the knowledge - and the courage - to expand and take up their space in the world. With a combination of psychology, lessons from nature and real, practical lifestyle hacks, Mary create...