How To Be A Woman

Tiffany Orner walked into this conversation and I knew within seconds she was the real deal. She's a third generation military woman, Air Force veteran, entrepreneur and community connector who will be the first to tell you she didn't start out this way. She started in a 500 square foot apartment, lights off, telling her kids it was because of the rain. What she did next is the whole story. Tiffany gets honest about the season of life she calls her hot mess era, the rooms where her ideas got shut down, and the moment she stopped waiting for someone to rescue her. If you have ever made yourself smaller so someone else could feel more comfortable, pull up a chair. This one is for you.

From pageant stages and Beverly Hills boutiques to the beautifully imperfect world of motherhood, Anna takes us on a candid journey through perfectionism, people pleasing, and the liberating power of letting it all go. In this episode, she opens up about navigating mean girls at every age, finding sobriety, battling chronic illness, and the terrifying moment a sick newborn in a COVID ward cracked her world wide open and set her free. A former Miss USA International who never felt good enough, Anna has traded burnout for grace, gratitude, and a front-row seat at her own life. Her story is a reminder that you don't have to have it all, just the right things at the right time. This is not just about choosing imperfection. It's about one woman learning that joy isn't something that happens to you. It's something you hunt for, find, and throw like confetti.

In this episode of the How to Be a Woman podcast, Lynne McDonald shares her inspiring journey from a career in technology to becoming a successful abstract artist. She discusses the transformative power of art, the importance of embracing fear as a catalyst for bravery, and the societal pressures women face. Lynne emphasizes the need for women to support each other and to pursue their passions without fear of judgment. Through her personal experiences, she highlights the significance of self-discovery and the strength found in vulnerability and creativity.

In this powerful conversation, Dani Aylsworth shares the extraordinary journey of surviving heart failure, confronting addiction, and finding the strength to rise again. From being denied a life-saving transplant to facing the darkest moments of her life, Dani reveals how resilience, sobriety, and unwavering love for her daughter transformed her path. Today, she stands as a veteran, social worker, author, and advocate—proof that even in the face of heartbreak and near-death, it is possible to rise stronger, braver, and more determined than ever.

From the bright lights of the media world to the quiet strength of the stables, Narissa Jenkins shares how she transformed her life by following a lifelong love of horses. In this inspiring episode, she reveals the courage it took to leave behind a successful career, challenge cultural expectations, and build Healing Hoof Steps—a sanctuary where veterans, children, and families discover resilience through equine therapy. Her story is a testament to integrity, self-discovery, and the power of choosing yourself. This is not just about horses—it’s about how one woman rose to create healing, hope, and a legacy of compassion.

There are times when most people would think the odds were stacked too high against Johari Barber for her to succeed. Months before her mother passed away, Johari was still a young girl living with the secret of an assault against her. During her formidable years, circumstances forced her to support herself; when most kids were only worried about doing homework and going to sports practice, she was paying rent and living as an adult. There was no stigma in life that would stop the fire from growing in Johari - not having a father suffering the illness of addiction, a brother surviving more than a dozen gunshot wounds, or even having to live out of state under an alias - all before her early 20s. Now Johari is a STUNNING example of how you can alchemize your life into something beautiful and meaningful no matter what!

She put her family at the front of everything and then it all seemed to be falling apart - but not Christin Nash. Despite illness, the pain of helping a child through addiction, divorce, and the death of her mother, she has bloomed into a beautiful new season of life. Now she has made a space for other women to get creative and shares with us the meaning of true wealth and happiness!

To have a sense of self worth may be a life raft when the waves of heartbreak try to overtake us. Laila shares with us her full circle story from surviving to serving. When life turned Laila Aitken's international love story upside down, she leaned in to her community to keep her head above water while simultaneously navigating pregnancy, motherhood and divorce. Now her platform Split.fyi helps people around the world through divorce and other major life transitions. She reminds us to be present, aware and accepting of who we are. You may find yourself starting your own "Love Book" after listening, to document the often overlooked kindnesses that are shared with you every day!

Now she is a mom, a respected leader in her company, and a wife with the life she once dreamed of. But it was not very long ago that she returned by herself to a small Texas border town after spending her childhood in Mexico City. She navigates what it's like to start a new life when she didn't speak English at first, how she saw the good in others giving her a shot, and how she manages life as a mom with the relentless expectations the world has placed on her. Alejandra Ramirez is here to show you that you can overcome, take your time, and enjoy the journey along the way!

After years of abuse and control in her marriage, Jennifer Hodge realized she had to get out. She has walked the path of a survivor to create a new life for herself and her children, but not without the help of many "glimmers." In this new season she created a successful coaching business, "The Glimmer Coach" to help people find glimmers in life and navigate their way out of narcissistic, abusive relationships. From divorce to dating in this new world, Jennifer is open with us about both the magical moments and the red flags that can helps us all avert disaster.

This episode will give you a glimpse into what is going on here! If you have ever asked yourself "Am I the only one....?" then this podcast is for YOU!