Episodes

We have always loved the way conversations wander. Not because they lose their way, but because they so often find something better. A story about a first job becomes a story about courage. A memory from childhood becomes a reflection on friendship. Someone mentions a woman named Alice, and suddenly you're talking about the people who quietly change the direction of our lives without ever knowing they have. It's exactly where this conversation with Denise and Kamesha from Wisdom in Bloom took ...

In this thoughtful and inspiring conversation, Andrea and Krista welcome their first UK guest to the Half Betty Podcast - writer, wellbeing curator, coach, and podcast host Claire Fitzsimmons. Claire is the co-founder of If Lost, Start Here, a wellbeing company supporting people as they navigate life’s wilds with greater emotional honesty, clarity, and self-compassion. She is also the host of the podcast A Thought I Kept, where she explores the ideas, moments, and conversations that stay with u...

What happens when the career you’ve built no longer fits the life you want? This week, Andrea and Krista sit down with Dr. Kelly Kasteel—emergency physician, mom, and founder of Emerge Wellness. After 17 years in emergency medicine, Kelly found herself facing burnout, questioning her identity, and navigating the very real challenges of perimenopause. She shares how the pressures of COVID, coupled with a traumatic workplace incident, became the catalyst for stepping away and reimagining her futu...

Some people find that their entire lives are about learning how to read a room. Christina Pitts Jazzar built a career learning how to care for the people inside of it. Long before she became an intimacy coordinator (IC) at 45 years old, Christina had spent years working as a performer, actor, and choreographer, instinctively attuned to the emotional energy, vulnerability and unspoken dynamics on both the stage and the screen. So when a friend suggested she explore the emerging field of Intimacy...

We sat down with Danielle Mika Nagel for a conversation that moved dynamically between both reflection and clarity. A conversation that stayed with us long after it was over and, now, finds its opportunity to be shared with our listeners. At the heart of this episode is a phrase Danielle often returns to - “effort and ease”. The idea that everything meaningful in life asks something of us, but not everything should feel like strain. And that learning the difference is often how she describes be...

Last year, in a packed room at the Hello Sunshine Conference, Krista and I listened to Dr. Rachel Goldman speak. Afterward, we had a brief chance to meet her and share what we were building with Half Betty - a space for women navigating midlife, or what we often call centre life, and all that comes with it. She listened with a nod and what felt like immediate understanding - a kind of quiet recognition in the exchange. She spoke briefly about the work she was immersed in, including her upcoming...

What began as an April Fools’ idea has become something much more meaningful. Half George returns as a space for men to move into honest, open conversations about midlife alongside the stories we’ve been hearing from our guests on Half Betty. Co-hosts Chris Rathborne and Kyle Gruen are joined by their first guest, Steve Pratt - writer, entrepreneur, and self-described “weird, kind, creative, enthusiast, experimenter.” At 50, Steve found himself in a strange and profound shift - leaving the co...

For this episode of Half Betty, Andrea and Krista are joined with Anar Ali an award-winning author, TV creator, and Executive Producer of CBC/NBC Universal’s Allegiance (now on the tail end of Season 3), as she traces her path from Tanzania through small-town Canada, Mexico, the UK, and Toronto. Anar talks through guiding values like freedom over security, kindness as power, collaboration, compassion, and a curiosity that fuels wonder. She reflects on power amplifying character, “sharing it” th...

Andrea and Krista welcome not one, but two fantastic new guests to Half Betty - the duo behind the brilliant and fun The Devil Wears SPF podcast, Carolyn Hawes and Diane Brennan. In this episode, we hear from both women about the experiences that have shaped them, the lessons that landed them here, and their visions for full, vibrant, sun-protected futures. Carolyn and Diane explore themes of self-worth, agency, and the power of women, creating space for honesty and care. They share stories of ...

In this episode of the Half Betty Podcast, Suzanne (Zanne) Hollingshead joins Andrea and Krista for a deeply honest and moving conversation about loss, resilience, and finding purpose through life’s hardest seasons. Zanne shares her experience of losing her mother as a child and her sister in midlife, and how navigating these profound losses became a catalyst for transformation. She talks about how her journey through grief led her to create supportive communities for motherless children, adult...

In this episode of the Half Betty Podcast, Julie Kim, a top Canadian stand-up comedian, writer, and producer, joins Andrea and Krista for an engaging and honest conversation. Julie shares her journey in comedy, motherhood, cultural identity, and the unique challenges women face in the entertainment industry. She talks about her evolving comedic style, fueled by real-life experiences (including the highly annoying ones) and how it helps her connect with diverse audiences. The discussion highlight...

Welcome to Season Two of the Half Betty Podcast with Founder, Host and Producer Andrea Rathborne as well as Producer and Co-Host Krista Gruen. We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Lucky Sekhon, a board-certified OB-GYN, reproductive endocrinologist, and fertility specialist based in New York. In this episode, Dr. Lucky shares her story from her education at McGill University and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland to her practice at RMA of New York. She touches on her personal IVF journey, the vul...

Andrea and Krista welcome Karryn Ransom on this episode of Half Betty. Karryn was a cast member of Degrassi Jr. High and speaks about her time on the series and how it shaped her future as a teacher. The conversation delves into the challenges and rewards of parenting, professional journeys, and the transition to 'empty nesters.' They emphasize the importance of modeling a full life for their children, exploring new passions, and accepting the different changes that come with midlife, including ...

Andrea Rathborne and Krista Gruen join in conversation with Jocelyn Pepe, whose extraordinary journey - from moving through divorce and single motherhood to surviving a life-altering brain injury and ultimately becoming a global keynote speaker and bestselling author - reveals the power of grit, healing, and claiming your own mind. As a dedicated mother of three children, author of her first book, Claim Your Brain, and committed mental health advocate, Jocelyn emphasizes the importance of mental...

In this episode of the Half Betty Podcast, Founder and Host Andrea Rathborne and Producer/ Co-host Krista Gruen connect across time zones - from Vancouver to Bali - with Desiree Dupuis, founder and vision-keeper of Voes & Co, a vegan fashion and design brand rooted in sustainability and soul. Desiree opens up about the wild, beautiful path of entrepreneurship - from leaving Vancouver to building a life and business in Bali, and what it means to find belonging far from home. She shares her hones...

In this episode of Half Betty, Andrea Rathborne and Krista Gruen strike up a conversation with filmmakers Kate Green and Amber Orchard as they share the story behind their upcoming feature documentary Menopause: Coming In Hot! The film is set to have its World Premiere at the Whistler Film Festival this December, 2025. Directed by and starring Kate Green, the film captures her real-time journey through perimenopause with honesty, humour, and heart. Coinciding with World Menopause Day (October 1...

In this episode of the Half Betty Podcast, Founder, Host, and Producer Andrea Rathborne and Producer and Co-Host Krista Gruen sit down with sisters Jess and Moonie Desvarieux. Once navigating careers in journalism and law, Jess and Moonie have pivoted to include comedy, screenwriting, and directing, letting their authentic voices shine. They discuss their award-winning web series Moonie, their feature script Butch Baby Mama, and their vision to honour their late mother, Jessie, by supporting edu...

This week, Andrea and Krista sit down with Mary Lynn Cloghesy - mother, author, entrepreneur, and creative force. Her midlife years brought with them profound change: the end of a marriage, a significant brain injury, the dissolution of a company, and the unexpected challenge of starting over in school. Instead of breaking her, these experiences became catalysts for transformation. Mary Lynn learned to listen to her intuition, care for herself deeply, and choose courage, joy, and new beginnings...

This episode features a heartfelt conversation with Kristina Spring, who shares her deeply personal journey through illness, uncertainty, and transformation during midlife. Hosted by Andrea Rathborne and Co-Hosted/ Produced by Krista Gruen. Kristina recounts her experience with a complex medical journey that began in France with a tick bite in 2012, leading to Lyme disease and, years later, a series of neurological symptoms and ambiguous diagnoses, including a presumed brain tumor. She describe...

Some people play it safe. Costume designer Patti Henderson has built her life on anything but. In this episode of Half Betty, we sit down with the celebrated film and television costume designer whose work has been featured at Cannes, Sundance, and Tribeca Film Festivals, and on productions for Amblin Entertainment, Amazon Studios, and Universal Pictures. Patti’s credits include Under the Bridge, Flag Day, Totally Killer, and Nobody - but her most captivating stories happen off-screen. Along th...

In this dynamic and inspiring episode, we meet Terry Tateossian, an Armenian/American entrepreneur based in New Jersey. Terry is the founder of THOR - The House of Rose - a wellness community for women over 40, and host of the podcast How Good Can It Get? In this episode Terry opens up about her deeply personal transformation, from co-founding and leading a successful marketing agency to facing a life-altering health crisis that led her down the path of holistic healing. A pivotal three-hour co...

Andrea and Krista are honoured to welcome Nadia George to the podcast—an award-winning actor, activist, and trauma integration clinician based in Toronto. The conversation is a heartfelt continuation of Nadia George's transformative journey, as she shares her recent experiences after traveling to El Salvador. Andrea and Krista welcome Nadia back for part two, where she recalls pivotal moments that have reshaped her midlife perspective, including the significant spiritual and personal growth she...

Andrea and Krista are honoured to welcome Nadia George to the podcast—an award-winning actor, activist, and trauma integration clinician based in Toronto. Nadia shares her rich cultural background, rooted in her Canadian upbringing and her newly realized Salvadorian Nahua heritage. She also expresses her tireless advocacy for clean drinking water, mental health, and environmental justice. The conversation spans her wide-ranging career across social services, corporate consulting, and the entert...

During this episode Andrea and Krista are in conversation with Ragini Kapil, a Vancouver-based writer, director, performer, and educator. Inspired by her mother, a trailblazing Indo-Fijian educator in special education, Ragini's work is imbued with humor, empathy, and honesty. After a career in education, Ragini transitioned to the creative world but faced a challenging recovery from a back fracture and concussion. Despite these setbacks, she emerged stronger, writing and directing award-winnin...