Meditate In Style

I’m coming to you with a quick update on my time away from the mic with a mini NSD podcast episode so don’t count me out just yet. Why you ask? Because I will be releasing a couple of new episodes: - 40 things we’ve learned at 40 - What about your friends? And hopefully a few more because who better to discuss the above titles with than my NSD girls? The Girly Girls, SAS, The Tommy Girls, The Clueless Crew, The Click, and My #1, are just a few titles we're known as. Stay tuned for more, & for those friends that are reading this join my 'perfect is lame' crew & be a guest! You have my # 😉 💕, your girl Tonya

This week's NSD guest is on a mission to help women create the confidence they need to live their dream lives and accept who they are (sounds pretty darn good, huh?). But even more so, her goal is to make us all loud and proud about it! Throughout her professional career she's styled for brands, magazines, you name it, and also created makeovers which led to her career as a model agent and model coach. She taught models how to walk, how to dress, and how to act confidently in castings and on photoshoots. But on the inside she hid a dirty little secret: she felt UGLY pretty much her whole life and didn't love or value herself as she knew she should. Sounds crazy but it's true. Weirdly enough, that didn't stop her from chasing her dreams. However, one day she put a stop to it all and started anew. Listen in on our conversation as she tells me how she re-blossomed and now helps female solopreneurs ditch the jitters and confidently dominate any stage they're ready to walk. You can also follow her on social media at instagram.com/_jessievo_/ and facebook.com/groups/highvibepreneur.

After hosting a women’s empowerment event in Louisville last year, I quickly became a huge fan of my next guest's mission to create a space where women with shared values can come together, motivate one another, and truly believe in themselves. Leaving that event, attended by so many like-minded women just like me, I was overjoyed, inspired and hungry for more. So much so that I became a brand ambassador for the organization itself, The Beauty Boost! Rachel Kerr is the Founder of https://www.thebeautyboost.net/louisville and who for many years searched for a community of inspiring and motivating women but couldn’t seem to find just what she needed. Enter The Beauty Boost, an exciting series of weekend retreats she established where women freely and openly participate and come back feeling like they can conquer the world! These healthy fitness and empowerment events are beyond exhilarating and I promise once you listen to our conversation, you'll feel energized, recharged, and just like me after that first event, totally ready to rule! For more about The Beauty Boost Louisville follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thebeautyboost_louisville/.

I'm totally psyched to share this week's NSD broadcast with my guest Kaitlin Anthony, a life coach who pulls no punches when it comes to helping women take total charge of their lives. With 10+ years of coaching experience, she gives her all when it comes to helping women trade in their "stress for swagger" as she so accurately states. Our conversation covers an array of topics and include how to navigate being a divorced mom, the myriad ways to uplift other women, our takes on style and fashion (c'mon, I gotta be me!), and being a no-hold-barred female podcaster in 2022. And not for nothing, Kaitlin also educated me on what pronouns to use when addressing someone - whether it's her, him, they, or them, after my initial not so darlin faux pas moment with her - when she showed me a heckuva lot of grace and understanding. This take-charge lady has built a community who show up for her "beam hive", which addresses women of all ages and stages of life. I promise you're going to enjoy our chat and be sure to check Kaitlin out on The Beam Life podcast (link https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-beam-life/id1488275371) and her other social/outreach channels at https://linktr.ee/thebeamlife.

Jetty Nieuwenhuis is a professional speaker, wellness advocate and model. As CEO of her company Trujetty, www.trujetty.com/, she uses her personal stories of invisible illnesses - bulimia, Lyme Disease, and depression — to help women wake up from a life on autopilot to unapologetically go after their most burning desires. Jetty is an IAWP Health/Wellness coach, holds certifications in makeup artistry and image consulting, and has successfully completed two Ironman (I personally think that moniker should be changed to IronPERSON, BTW) competitions. Rebelling against the perfectly curated influencer image of so so many other women online circa 2022 - complete with ridiculously unattainable standards- she focuses on the real-life contradictions many of us face. From fab fashion over 40; beauty ideals without the heavy edit (bye bye face filters); and having enough while still wanting more, Jetty brings it. Listen to our conversation & you'll be an instant convert to her way of thinking, I promise!

Have you ever wondered what goes on in a social worker's mind? Have you ever, intentionally or unintentionally, passed judgment on a parent whose children are under the care of the state? I have - for better or worse - and I believe that most of us to some degree have been conditioned to think that way for some reason...until I met Jess Hoeper. That said, and as a mother and a parent, I was more than ready to learn more and talk with her in depth about her mission for all of us to 'un-condition' our minds. Personally Jess is a mother of five who resides with her husband and family in central Minnesota. Professionally she is a licensed independent social worker with 15+ years of human service experience, specializing in child welfare. Jess’s passion is, as she says, "curating curiosity and spending time in wonder". She owns and operates her own human services consulting/training company, Ray of Hope LLC, offering Reflective Coaching to human service professionals nationally. Through her years of experience Jess became keenly aware that the only tangible tool available to actually fine tune those in the social work sector is the professional herself or himself, with professional development focusing on developing that person. Her methodologies to reach that goal include guiding these professional to self-awareness in their work, and rooting them with a deeper understanding of the honor it is to work with those receiving social services. I urge you to listen in on our eye-opening conversation that digs deep into the world of social work and its impact on children and parents alike, what Reflective Coaching is all about, and how Jess came to realize that the key to helping others is all about H.O.P.E. (the word and the acronym). And for more information about Jess and Ray of Hope LLC, visit rayofhopereflectivecoaching.com, and follow her on Instagram at instagram.com/reflective_coaching/ and Facebook at facebook.com/jrhoeper.

That's exactly what this week's NSD podcast guest Lori Hardacker has been trying to figure out and not just lately, but for the past 20 years. This first-time author has seen the ups and downs of dating for the past two decades and she shares all the laughter, joy, pain and tears in her ebook "Dating: What The F***!", available at datingwhatthefuck.com/. I promise you, it's a must-read/listen to account that'll have you cracking up and crying at the same time. . Much more than a first-time author, Lori is also an ingenious entrepreneur, dance teacher and RV adventurer...yes, RV adventurer! Originally from Massachusetts, this Southwest Florida resident went to Roger Williams University and received a BA in Dance and a minor in Theater. For four years, Lori owned and operated a successful dance studio and then created a traveling dance and fitness program that she brought to preschools, daycares, recreation centers and YMCAs in the New England area. Today she teaches tap, ballet, jazz, tumbling and creative movement to children 18 months to 6 years old and is known as the “Baby Whisperer”. Before Lori made Florida her home, she was living in her RV full-time, traveling and working around the country. She began this journey in May 2016 and worked in Maine, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, New Mexico, Michigan and Wyoming before taking an exit off the road in 2019. This entrepreneur extraordinaire also has a small event company for which she hosts singles events that cover dating, relationships, sex trivia and “Hound and Human Happy Hours”. And as far as marriage and children go, Lori is perfectly happy being single and taking care of her “kids”: one canine and one feline and she plans on keeping it that way. Take a listen and prepare for a fun-filled - and as Lori would say "honest AF" - conversation!

As the old saying goes, "never judge a book by its cover", and let me tell you that is SO true, especially when it comes to one's looks. Have you ever been judged by your looks? I sure have as has this week's guest, Bridget Sickso. She and I share similar missions to ensure that empowered voices are heard, while breaking the mold on what society tells us we should or shouldn’t look like based on our interests. Bridget helps us find our inner beauty and worthiness with reflection, connection, and community. She is the founder of Exalted Publishing House, a yoga teacher, podcast host, & leadership coach...this lady is the bomb! Bridget holds various certifications as a holistic health coach, reiki practitioner and has studied ayurveda, vinyasa, yin, restorative, and kundalini yoga. She helps successful entrepreneurs stand out from the crowd, positioning them as leaders in their various industries by sharing powerful stories. This dynamo also hosts women's circles, networking events, and community gatherings where women of all ages, ethnicities and interests can use their voices, connect with like-minded women, and elevate themselves and their businesses. On her “The Gathering MVMT” podcast Bridget has interviewed over 60 entrepreneurs, TEDx speakers, authors, thought leaders, and visionaries whose goals are to uplift humanity. After her healing experience with Lyme disease at age 15, Bridget's mission was to make sure empowering voices were heard loud and clear. She set out on a path to study holistic healing and yoga, then fell down a rabbit hole of personal development. Empowered (there's that word!), she quit her NYC sales job in 2016 and set forth on an entrepreneurial adventure committed to gathering people together, elevating them, and sharing their powerful voices. Bridget's books, "Legacy Speaks" and "Success Codes" are available on Amazon and further detail her commitment to sharing women's stories while gathering us all together. Please check out her website at www.bridgetaileen.com and follow here on social media at www.instagram.com/blissfulbridget.

re·sil·ience /rəˈzilyəns/noun the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties, toughness. That's Merriam-Webster's definition above but my guest this week, Joanna Chanis, knows there's much more to that one word. A professional mentor and resilience expert, she helps young adults and entrepreneurs who have experienced a serious loss catapult into a more productive and holistic life. Joanna is the author of "The Waiting Room: Your Friend to Help You and Your Loved Ones through the Diagnosis", and a breast cancer survivor who is carrying the lessons learned from her journey into every aspect of life. From young adults to corporate teams, multitudes have found Joanna’s story incredibly powerful and utilize her realistic problem-solving tools and values to obtain healthy resilience, overcome challenges, and increase productivity. Joanna is also the host of the podcast “About Life with Jo” (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/about-life-with-jo/id1575229420) where she connects and helps young adults, creating a space which feels like a night out, with conversations that are real and filter-free. This multi-talented woman has an entrepreneurial background in owning and operating a high-volume restaurant and founding a technology start-up and is also on the board of the Ellie Fund, which provides essential support services for breast cancer patients to ease the stresses of everyday life, and the Philoptochos Society, the philanthropic arm of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America that has offered 90 years of philanthropy through a multitude of programs across the world. A proud Greek American, Joanna celebrates her heritage by traveling to Greece each year and cooking Greek food. Along with her love for fine dining, style and travel, Joanna’s main goal in life is to connect people and form deep relationships no matter where she goes. Joanna and I had a great chat about how as women we both have lied to ourselves and pretend that by putting everyone and everything else before ourselves can be seriously damaging. The two of us have recovered from life-changing health diagnoses and discuss how there IS life after one's diagnosis. Joanna says cancer was her truth teller, actually saved her life, and made her realize she needed to dive deep down and make huge changes within herself. She gives me and all of my listeners the tools and tips needed to overcome our daily struggles, increase our awareness, and live our most fulfilled lives! Be sure to follow her on Instagram at instagram.com/joannachanis/, LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-chanis/, and YouTube at https://bit.ly/32icIns. ​ And last but certainly not least, Merry Christmas to you all and thank you from the bottom of my heart for being a NSD follower! Xo, Tonya

You know that feeling when you first meet someone who completely blows you away by her energy, enthusiasm & POWER?! I do & she's this week's NSD podcast guest...meet @s_ds. After 13 years as a political manager and strategist, Deon retired to focus her time and attention on growing her brands & passions. She now offers up 15+ years of experience as the Founder/CEO of Joint Effort LLC, a female-founded/female-led marketing agency; is the founder & visionary of the podcast & web series "The Failure Report"; co-host with Marta Miranda Straub of the podcast "Leading In Color"'; the tech developer of Pivot a Professional Wellness Marketplace which is powered by Google; and the Curator of Planner at "The Ambition Planner" @theambitionplanner a daily planner for women of faith. None of us are perfect by any means and I too have failed at many things in life. But one of the topics on which I refuse to fail & want to bring to the forefront is honest, REAL talk about ethnicity & race. So, listen in at #linkinbio as Deon & I have a no-holds-barred, upfront, & completely unfiltered conversation about female minority leadership/business ownership, plus the joys of being not so darlin, no matter who you are. Xoxo, Tonya

My latest NSD podcast guest is a woman I immediately connected with because she TELLS IT LIKE IT IS. For all of us: the multi-passionate creatives, the quiet rebels and dreamers, and everyone unwilling to settle for less than what they want. Caitlin is your go-to gal for that and when the 'normal' society fuddy-duddys tell us we need to pick a certain niche, Caitlin empowers us to settle for nothing less than the life we want! The amazing Ms. Bosshart is a life coach for the multitudes of multi-passionate women & men out there who want to express themselves their way and is also a wedding coach for couples who want to tie the knot in an inimitable way. So, it's not surprise that in true multi-passionate fashion, she's also the co-host of the Full Heart Free Voice Podcast & a yoga teacher, artist, beekeeper, gardener, scoliosis warrior & much more. Whew! There have been many twists and turns in her life, both literally and figuratively, that have brought her to where she is today. Both by choice and happenstance, her life never quite fit any one path. She realized long ago that the only life that would bring her fulfillment was the one she created for herself, one that was fluid, eclectic, creative, meaningful and passion driven. So, while she spent a lot of her previous life believing she was relatively alone in this desire, she’s come to realize now that not even the slightest bit of that BS is true. There are so many others like her old self, who also feel suffocated by monotonous lives & careers; people with a multitude of ever-evolving interests; a strong desire to be lifelong learners and who thrive when able to think in many ways. At the end of the day, people who want the freedom to create their own ideal life yet struggle with the expectations and pressures to be a certain type of adult, to build a certain type of life and choose only ONE thing. Again, total BS. Take a listen & behold! BTW you can find Caitlin on Instagram at @caitlin_bosshart and her Full Heart Free Voice podcast at fullheartfreevoicepodcast.buzzsprout.com/.

Yep, the "M" word - and most certainly NOT a bad word. I discovered from so many of my listeners that this was one of the top topics they want to learn more about. And for me at midlife, it’s something I’m starting to experience. Angela & I had a great conversation. I loved her advice on more natural ways we can treat menopause. Angela believes it is a time when women can step into their wisdom, to become the woman they were destined to be before the world told them who they should be. Her mission: To share with as many women as possible the information as to what they require to really understand what is happening to them as they transition from their reproductive years into menopause. As she says, "This is why I do the work that I do". Where to find out more about Angela Free Understanding Menopause E-book – https://bit.ly/menopause_ebook Website - www.angelacounsel.com Facebook and Instagram - @angelacounsel Wise Women Conversations Podcast on ITunes, Spotify and Google Play

I'm thrilled to introduce you all to Christy Weber, the founder of Louisville, Kentucky-based Bloom Counseling + Wellness Studio at bloomlouisville.com/and its online motherhood-exclusive division modernmomonline.com/. Christy specializes in pregnancy and postpartum mood disorders including postpartum depression, anxiety, and OCD, as well as helping new moms and dads adjust to parenthood. She also works with clients struggling with relationship conflicts, domestic violence, adoption/fostering issues, and infertility. Christy uses an eclectic approach when working with clients, combining components from client-centered, solution-focused, and cognitive behavioral therapies. She considers the client/therapist relationship as one of the most important elements in therapy and when the client is engaged in therapy with a trusting, compassionate therapist, the opportunity for change and growth is tremendous. A Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Christy earned her master's degree in Counseling from DePaul University in Chicago. She is doing amazing work and we had a candid and ultra-informative conversation as I opened up about my own personal struggles with breast-feeding, infertility, adoption, and hormonal issues. And to boot, it was so hard for me as a Catholic seeing friends and other family members have multiple children, and felt my precious son was going to be a doomed as an only child (which is SO NOT TRUE). I was devastated at the time - he's now 14 - felt like a failure and to be perfectly honest, I haven’t really spoken much about that, but I wonder sometimes if one of the reasons I have struggled with depression and mental illness is because of pregnancy. So, Christy and I really took our discussion on a next-level basis, and I know whether you're single, partnered, are considering having children or have already, you'll be fascinated by her approach. Look for her and her various specialties on social media at facebook.com/BloomLouisville, facebook.com/modernmomonline, instagram.com/bloom_counseling/ instagram.com/modernmomonline/ and youtube.com/channel/UCeOgdccCiZK1QczmNTxdO_A. Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!

Does your marriage need a little reviving up? My next guest Deanna Bryant does just that! Wanna rejuvenate your midlife marriage & tackle those hard convos with your spouse? Look no further, Deanna's soothing voice eases any woes and creates a safe space for discussion. She even shares motherhood advice for empty nesters. I’ve learned so much from listening to her own podcast, "Revive Your Midlife Marriage", that I just had to have her here on NSD to share with my audience. Deanna is a midlife marriage strategist and relationship coach for midlife couples who find their marriages at a crossroads when the kids are older or grown up. She and her husband ​have been married for over two decades and have two adult children and a teenager who live at their home in East Tennessee. Her business is 'Revive Your Midlife Marriage' at reviveyourmidlifemarriage.com/ and she spent 25 years as an educator before making a major life change when she went back to school to become a coach. In trying to figure out her niche of coaching, she recognized her passion was midlife couples like she and her husband. In midlife, they had gone through a particularly tough time as many couples do. And while the love and commitment were there, there were issues they simply didn't have the skills to address alone. That said, they sought outside help to repair their relationship and this eye-opening experience birthed - so to speak - her passion for helping midlife couples. When not couples coaching Deanna enjoys spending time with her family which includes a feisty cowboy corgi, two cats, and a horse that thinks he is her shadow! She and her husband love hiking in the mountains and kayaking on the rivers of East Tennessee, as well as indulge in excellent food and travel to extraordinary places, staying in quaint bed and breakfasts. I just know you're going to be engaged and fascinated by our conversation which covers a lot of marital territory. Enjoy!

Meet this week's NSD podcast special guest Amanda Villaveces, who breaks down the holiday - and other seasonal - angst that so many of us feel throughout the year, particularly now with Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner.. Amanda is the founding Director of Mental Health Lou (link https://www.mentalhealthlou.com/) and a Licensed Marriage/Family Therapist in private practice. She regularly hosts workshops and helps with the development of Mental Health Lou projects, and loves nothing more than to speaking about mental health in the community. She helps promote and create mental wellness programs throughout Louisville and works with clients on personal growth and healing in her private practice each week. How did it all begin? Flashback to 2018 at a small coffee shop in Louisville. Amanda met with a local mental health non-profit to discuss celebrating mental health in Louisville, a meeting that resulted in a collaboration which quickly grew to include multiple providers, other non-profits, businesses and more. That year 'Mental Health Month in the Ville' was born and over 25 events took place throughout the city to bring mental wellness tools and resources to our community. Almost 4 years later it's thriving and there's no sign of stopping Amanda & MHL! Please listen in our recent conversation about how to combat seasonal mental health issues - whether celebrating a holiday by yourself - it's OK! - or how to cope with a family reunion that you really would feel a lot better about taking a pass. And be sure to visit Mental Health Louisville on social media at @mentalhealthlou on Instagram and https://www.facebook.com/mentalhealthlou.

I love helping others and when I recently asked my NSD pocast listeners what topics they wanted to learn more about I was happy to discover that lending a helping hand to those who struggle was at the top of the list. So this week's podcast focuses on a chronic condition that affects adults as well as children: ADHD Eleven million adults have ADHD with most of that number being women, female teens, and young girls. And that majority is the one most under diagnosed. Once I knew these alarming statistics, I did some digging and found Keri Knight, a licensed therapist who specializes in ADHD. Keri and I sat down to discuss a lot of info surrounding ADHD, her unique approach to therapy and much more, which I know will be of interest and very helpful for all you all. Keri is a very compassionate and intuitive therapist who has a special interest in working with women and girls with ADHD, as well as the creative, sensitive, and gifted. She has specialized training and experience with issues such as trauma, stress management, and mood dysregulation. Keri takes a holistic approach to her work with clients and blends therapy modalities with a mind-body wellness approach, while being a strong advocate for incorporating mindfulness practices into daily life. She is a qualified EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapist and mindfulness teacher and will complete her yoga teacher certification this year. To learn more about this fascinating woman who's a huge champion for other women, teens, and young girls, and how you can work with Keri, visit her website at https://keri-knight.clientsecure.me/#home, on Instagram at @keriknightcounseling, and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/keri.feldkamp.

"Where's all my soul sistas? Lemme hear ya'll flow, sistas! Hey sista, go sista, soul sista, flow sista Hey sista, go sista, soul sista, go sista!" Why am I kicking off the new season of my podcast with lyrics from the classic "Lady Marmalade"? Because Season 3's first guest is a true soul sister: Life/performance coach Kim White, who not only has kept me focused while remaining fearless and fabulous over 40, but is also a dear friend. Call her an Influencer, Motivational Speaker, Performance Coach or The Energy Lady (what her hubby calls her!) but regardless of her many titles Kim has taught me to keep going no matter my age, because as we both firmly believe you're never too old to start! Failures don’t define us and take it from her, who after 40 became a coach, fitness instructor and a mom, that is the truth! She is an expert at late blooming and as a fellow late bloomer, our connection was heaven sent! Kim has spent more than 17 years working with topics of human performance, energy management, and leadership. She has been able to leverage her degree in Health Education (Otterbein University) and a master’s degree in Education Administration & Curriculum with a specialty in Professional Development (Ashland University). In addition to her teaching licensure in Special Education (The Ohio State University), Kim holds her Professional Teaching License from the State of Ohio’s Department of Education in Health. Kim holds her Business Coach Certification from the World Coach Institute (WCI) and Fitness Instructor Certification from the American Exercise Council (ACE). Additionally, Kim is a Learning and Performance Consultant within Nationwide Retirement Institute (NRI), a department in Nationwide Financial, which delivers differentiated value to associates, financial advisors, leaders, and partners through programs that help them effectively grow both personally and professionally. For more information about Kim visit her online at purposewithkim.com, on Instagram at cultivate.your.purpose, and stay tuned here for upcoming episodes which will take our Not So Darlin "motley crew" of GenXers, Millennials and Boomers on a series of awesome, eye-opening journeys through summer '22!

To say I'm totally obsessed with my next NSD podcast guests is an understatement! Rachel and Tammy are the creators and fashion/beauty curators of 'Denim Is the New Black’, a super stylish website dedicated to the celebration of everyday looks that are effortlessly put together, purposeful, and very chic. They want women who visit their website at denimisthenewblack.com/ and follow them on social media to consider them girlfriends who love to shop and will help you simplify the shopping process, all the while keeping you looking and feeling stylish every day and night of the week. I immediately connected with this smart, savvy duo, both 40+ moms of teens, like me, who have the same passion for fashion as I do. Devotees of “street style”, they believe in investing in the best basics they - and all women - can afford and feel strongly that this is the foundation of a great wardrobe. They're all about building a wardrobe of solid basics, along with a heavy dose of denim, and just the right amount of edge. They're also not afraid to add the occasional trend or two to keep things fresh and fun. Their motto? True style is confidence and confidence is sexy! Mainly their goal is to be a voice for women saying that STYLE HAS NO AGE and getting older does not mean we must fade into the background. The older we get, the better we know ourselves, and the easier our style choices become. More about them: Rachel resides in downtown Denver with her husband of 19+ years and three teenagers. She's a true a lover of laid-back everyday style (sneaks, she's looking at you!). In her spare time, she enjoys tending to her 50+-and-growing plant collection, attempting her best to exhaust the family's 100-lb shepherd, and sipping a glass of good red wine. Meanwhile Tammy lives in San Diego with her husband and two teens and has a big-time love affair with her two toy poodles (and Rex cat too!). She's a creator with an eye for style, and a serious photographer at heart. Tammy is always on the quest for finding the perfect pair of jeans and loves adding a touch of glam to the everyday. I really enjoyed our conversation and how we women over 40 can get our style mojo back, feel good about what we’re wearing, and have the confidence to rock a trend we may have worn years ago and can still work it (I'm currently obsessed with everything '90s)! We also touched base on the trends we may need to say farewell to as we age. I know you're going to have as much fun listening in on us as we did because we pretty much left no style-related stone unturned! Be sure to check out their website, Instagram feed at denimisthenewblack, and on Facebook at facebook.com/denimisthenewblack.

For this week's podcast I sat down and spoke very freely and honestly with my dear friend and acclaimed Louisville-based poet Lorie Harris. Her inspirational writings, as expressed in her works which include Colors of Character and Just Beyond the Sunrise, are not only an outlet to express and share her own difficult life experiences but are essentially journals to motivate others to maintain their strength and creativity while finding their own outlets during life's messier moments. Lorie started writing at the age of 11 as an outlet and source of freedom for all she was going through at the time. Drawn to poetry, she would lose herself in the rhythm of rhyme. Now an avowed advocate for domestic violence, as she herself is a survivor of mental, physical and sexual abuse, Lorie’s goal for people reading her poetry is for them to find healing in their souls and peace of mind. By putting pen to paper and sharing her work, she wants to encourage others and have them look at her poems - as she does - as a form of artwork; little short stories painted in words of rhyme. Lorie's recollections of mental, physical, and sexual abuse are heart-wrenching. However, listening to her describe how her faith pulled her through the darkest of times gives me hope that her recollections/writings will help those in need find strength and seek help if they are experiencing the same. Her poetry books are simultaneously beautiful and inspiring, and my hope is that listening to this week's podcast and reading her books will be healing to your own soul.

"I've got a girl crush, Hate to admit it but I got a hard rush, It's slowin' down, I got it real bad, Want everything she has, That smile and that midnight laugh, She's givin' you now." This week's podcast makes me sing these unforgettable lyrics from @LittleBig Town's hit "I’ve Got a Girl Crush" over and over and you know why? It's true when it comes to this week's NSD podcast guest! Even though I recently acknowledged I'm not a huge country music fan (sorry, not sorry), I am a HUGE fan of this woman who is a rock star (er, country rock star?!) in every sense of the word in my book. Meet Natasha Lacy, a true English rose & rockin' UK mum (enter my British accent) who I recently met and befriended on Instagram (link https://www.instagram.com/_natashalacy/). This gorgeous, formidable, powerhouse of a woman just turned 50 and has style, confidence and riotous sense of humor you'll swoon for. She radiates confidence, beauty & a sense of youth inside and out, empowering us all over 40 to feel our most confidant with great finesse plus those Not So Sarlin topics like menopause (don't roll your eyes, it's coming sooner or later). From a fashion and style standpoint I adore her flair for making vintage fashion look fabulous no matter what era it's from and I urge - no, implore! - you to check out her life and style tips at instagram.com/_natashalacy/ and her website at https://www.natashalacy.com/.