How Hard Can It Be? with Diana Maria Riva

Broadway superstar and Tony winner Shoshana Bean (The Lost Boys, Wicked, Hell’s Kitchen) joins host Diana Maria Riva to talk about what women in midlife often don’t hear: You’re just getting started. Shoshana and Diana get into the lie that “youth” is a woman’s only superpower, the invaluable asset of a woman’s age and experience , and how even missed opportunities have a purpose. Shoshana shares about the breakup behind her latest album, how healing heartbreak looks vastly different in your late 40’s versus your 20’s, and closes with a little sample of Diana’s favorite song.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The midlife makeup guru herself, Erica Taylor, joins the show this week to re-route your routine! She discusses the importance of skin prepping, how exfoliating is often the un-sexy answer to great makeup, and puffy versus sunken eyes remedies. Diana also dives into makeup myths or magic, Erica's favorite drugstore buys, and the one product she wouldn’t dare be buried without.  You can find Erica’s book “The Magic of Makeup: Your Handbook for a Youthful, Radiant Look” here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actress Anjali Bhimani (Ms. Marvel, Overwatch, Apex Legends) stops by the show to talk about the challenges of choosing a career in TV/film in an Indian household, how she learned she doesn’t have to go through life with her fists up, and the loss that taught her how to move through grief and how to recognize her emotional triggers. Anjali also discusses the beauty of exploring new pursuits in life, and how her typical dislike of self-help books prompted her to write one of her own, “I Am Fun Size, And So Are You." You can find Anjali's book here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Content warning: This episode talks about domestic violence, relationship abuse, emotional control and coercive control. Please listen with care. You can reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline 24/7, in English and Spanish, at 1-800-799-7233 or by texting START to 88788.October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Today, host Diana Maria Riva talks with actress and producer Sara Portillo who shares her story of surviving an abusive relationship that started when she was a teenager and lasted nearly 30 years. She talks about the trauma bond, the isolation and the cycle of abuse, and about how she rebuilt her life and learned to love herself again.Diana is also joined by attorney Carmen McDonald and licensed clinical social worker Sylvia Gribble from the Survivor Justice Center, to discuss ways to help survivors, the legal options and resources available to them, and how to support and help a loved one you suspect is experiencing domestic violence. Look for the QR code in this episode for resources or click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist Maria Hinojosa joins Diana Maria Riva to discuss how she’s managed to keep her identity, the secret to her 35-year marriage, and asking her kids for forgiveness for the time her work kept her away from them. Maria also talks about rebuilding in this stage of life, her self-care routine (boxing at 6am?!), and why being called an “elder” won’t slow her down.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.