It’s been a season of slowing down and healing after my reconstruction surgery on October 6th, and at my recent follow-up, my doctors said the words “you’re healing beautifully.” Those words instantly lifted my spirits and reminded me how much happiness comes from choosing to notice the good, even in the messy middle.

So this week, I’m replaying one of my very first and most joyful conversations — my chat with Samantha Kestin, the creative heart behind Sweet Samantha. Samantha lives by her grandfather’s advice: “When you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.” In this episode, we talk about what it really means to find happiness, create sweetness, and keep following the road back to joy.

It feels extra special to revisit this one because Samantha is joining me today for my first live Next ChaptHER Connect event — Courage & Caramels: Finding Happiness Even When Life Feels Sticky.

Have you ever stayed in a relationship hoping it would get better — even as that little voice inside told you something was off? You’re not alone.

This week on The Next ChaptHER Podcast, I sit down with Pam Lamp, author of Do the Next New Thing, for a heartfelt and inspiring conversation about what it really means to step into the unknown and create your next chapter.

In this episode of the Next Chapter Podcast, I share a personal story about a seemingly small moment—trying on bathing suits for my 20th wedding anniversary trip to the beach—that turned out to be a profound reminder about the power of showing up. It’s not about the bathing suit or how we look, but how we choose to feel in the moments that matter.

In this episode of The Next ChaptHER, I’m pulling back the curtain on what nervous system regulation really looks like — especially when you're walking through something hard in real time.

Mindset matters — but it doesn’t work alone.

Mindset isn’t about being strong all the time — it’s about staying present enough to choose your next step, even in the middle of the mess. Back in March, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.