What She’s Having | Midlife Women, Wellness & Reinvention

Katie Chin on Reinvention, Family Secrets & Finding Her Purpose

Award-winning chef, cookbook author and television personality Katie Chin joins us for a heartfelt conversation about food, family, resilience and second acts. Katie shares how cooking alongside her mother helped heal generations of trauma and transformed their relationship into a deep friendship. She opens up about growing up in a Chinese-American household, leaving a successful Hollywood executive career to follow her passion, surviving an emotionally abusive marriage, and why telling the truth about our stories can set us free. We also discuss parenting, forgiveness, cultural identity, grief, and the powerful connection between food and love. Plus, Katie brings homemade dumplings to the studio and shares simple cooking tips anyone can use. * Why food was her mother's love language * Growing up in a Chinese-American family * Leaving Hollywood to become a chef * Healing family trauma through cooking * Her mother's remarkable journey from seamstress to restaurateur * Breaking generational patterns with her own children * Her one-woman show, Holy Shiitake! A Wok Star Is Born * Why sharing our stories removes shame * The healing power of traditions and recipes * Katie's favorite pantry staples and easy cooking tips * Homemade dumplings and the stories they tell 00:00 Introducing Katie Chin 1:20 Food as her family's love language 4:40 Leaving Hollywood and rediscovering cooking 6:20 How cooking brought Katie and her mother together 9:50 Her mother's incredible rise from seamstress to restaurant mogul 12:10 Why it's never too late to reinvent yourself 12:37 Creating her one-woman show, Holy Shiitake! A Wok Star Is Born 14:30 Growing up Asian in Minnesota and experiencing racism 15:20 Family tragedy and losing her sister to suicide 16:10 Divorce, grief and generational differences 17:30 Forgiveness and breaking family cycles 19:00 Parenting differently than she was raised 20:25 Becoming her mother on stage 23:40 Turning her story into a television series 25:20 Why vulnerability removes shame 27:50 How openness has helped others heal 29:15 Writing cookbooks and finding inspiration 30:10 Simple Chinese cooking tips 32:25 Traditional Chinese foods as medicine 34:10 Feeling connected to ancestors through cooking 35:00 Pantry essentials every home cook should have 36:15 Quick meals for busy nights 37:00 Katie's easy homemade dumpling recipe 40:45 Why dumplings make people happy 42:20 Favorite sauces and female-founded brands 44:20 Dumpling tasting in the studio 45:45 Honoring family through food Contact Info Katie Chin: Instagram: @chefkatiechin Website: www.chefkatiechin.com [http://www.chefkatiechin.com/] Wok Star Catering: www.wokstarcatering.com [http://www.wokstarcatering.com/] One Woman Show: Holy Shiitake! A Wok Star Is Born Leaf & Flower: Plant-based scalp and hair care Use code: WHATSHES15 for 15% off BodyBio: Science-backed supplements for brain, gut and cellular health. Use code: WHATSHESHAVING for 20% off Website: www.bodybio.com [http://www.bodybio.com/] Firefly: Portable recovery device that increases blood flow and reduces soreness. Use code: WHATSHES15 for 15% off Website: www.fireflyrecovery.com [http://www.fireflyrecovery.com/] Jessica Cortez: Personal styling services. Mention the podcast and receive: Your first hour complimentary Najeau: Luxury scalp oil cleanser and hair care. Use code: WHATSHESHAVING20 for 20% off your order ------------------------------------------------------------------ Hosted by Jennifer Cataldo and Britney Semler, What She's Having explores reinvention, wellness, relationships and the stories that shape us in the second half of life. New episodes every Wednesday.

Why Your Scalp Ages 6x Faster (And How to Keep It Juicy) with Najeau Founder Nina Kairouz

Hair thinning. Hormones. GLP-1s. Stress. Perimenopause. Why does it seem like every woman over 40 is suddenly dealing with hair loss? This week, we're joined by Nina Kairouz, entrepreneur, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Najeau, to talk about the surprising connection between scalp health, aging, hormones and healthy hair. From postpartum hair loss to COVID shedding, menopause, GLP-1 medications and even why your scalp ages six times faster than your face, Nina shares the science and traditions behind her "Keep It Juicy" philosophy—and why healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. Plus, she opens up about building a business from her kitchen, embracing her Lebanese heritage, and the lessons passed down from generations of women before her. * Why your scalp ages faster than your face * The hidden causes of hair thinning and shedding * Postpartum, menopause and GLP-1-related hair loss * Why scalp care should come before shampoo * The power of blood flow and "keeping your scalp juicy" * How Nina turned family traditions into a thriving beauty brand * Building a business with purpose and passion * Why hair care is really a love language Instagram: @ninakairouz Instagram: @mynajeau Website: www.mynajeau.com [https://www.mynajeau.com] Want healthier, juicier hair? Najeau's pre-shampoo scalp oil cleanser melts away buildup while hydrating the scalp, leaving it clean, balanced and refreshed. Use code: WHATSHESHAVING20 for 20% OFF your entire order. Plant-based, THC-free CBD hair wellness products designed to support stronger, healthier-looking hair. Use code: WHATSHES15 for 15% OFF. Science-backed supplements designed to support energy, brain health and cellular function. Use code: WHATSHESHAVING for 20% OFF. 🎙 New episodes every Wednesday.

Jennifer's Mom's Near-Death Experience, ADHD Diagnosis & Cancer Battle

A Mother-Daughter Conversation Years in the Making In this deeply personal episode, Jennifer sits down with her mom, Judy Grossman, for an honest conversation about family, forgiveness, resilience, and the stories that shape us. Together they reflect on childhood, generational trauma, mental health, motherhood, creativity, and the power of choosing joy—even in life's darkest moments. Judy shares what it was like growing up as the daughter of Holocaust survivors, receiving an ADHD diagnosis later in life, navigating depression, and recently battling stage III colon cancer. She also opens up about her near-death experience at age ten, the lessons she's learned through suffering, and why she believes the best chapters of life can still be ahead. Along the way, mother and daughter laugh, cry, revisit old wounds, and celebrate the bond they've built through honesty, compassion, and unconditional love. In this episode, we discuss: * Growing up as the daughter of Holocaust survivors * Breaking generational patterns and parenting with intention * Mental health, ADHD, and receiving a diagnosis later in life * Why imperfect parents still raise resilient children * Jennifer's childhood independence and limitless mindset * Judy's battle with stage III colon cancer and finding hope during treatment * Family, sisterhood, and the strength of unconditional love * A remarkable near-death experience at age ten * Why gratitude and joy can coexist with suffering * Judy's upcoming book and the wisdom she's gathered over a lifetime Timestamps00:00 – Introducing Judy Grossman: mother, grandmother, cancer warrior, and daughter of Holocaust survivors 02:28 – Growing up without choices and deciding to parent differently 04:28 – Raising three daughters by paying attention to who they naturally were 06:40 – Mental health struggles and looking back with compassion 09:04 – Receiving an ADHD diagnosis later in life 11:40 – Working at TV Guide and buying her first car at nineteen 13:23 – Judy reflects on Jennifer's childhood and fearless personality 16:48 – Why Jennifer never developed a limiting mindset 19:49 – Therapy at age ten and learning to let children be themselves 22:01 – Early signs of Jennifer's love for beauty, fashion, and entertaining 24:21 – Emotional reflections on their evolving relationship 25:22 – Judy's stage III colon cancer diagnosis and recovery journey 29:15 – "Today is just ten minutes out of a whole day" 31:11 – The unique roles each daughter played during treatment 34:14 – Finding gratitude even in the emergency room 35:15 – Why sisters become lifelong best friends 38:21 – Judy's near-death experience at age ten 41:32 – Returning with a sense of purpose 42:14 – How her book nearly went unpublished 45:05 – Dating again after divorce and the inspiration behind her book Sponsor Codes ✨ Leaf & Flower Use code WHATSHES15 for 15% off ✨ BodyBio Use code WHATSHESHAVING for 20% off  ✨ Firefly Recovery Use code WhatShe'sHaving for15% Off Credits:  Hosts: Jennifer Cataldo & Britney Semler New episodes weekly of What She’s Having 🎙️ 🎙️ New episode drops Wednesday.

She Had Almost Nothing—But Somehow Gave Us Everything Britney & Her Mom

This week, Britney sits down with the woman who shaped her life—her mom, Maryann.In one of the most personal episodes of What She's Having, they discuss growing up in a close-knit Italian family, navigating divorce, raising children as a single mother, blending families, forgiveness, and what it truly means to create a home filled with love.Maryann shares how she raised two children on her own after Britney's father left, the sacrifices she made to keep her family together, and why kindness, resilience, and family have always been her guiding principles.Together, they reflect on childhood memories, teenage rebellion, motherhood, grandparenthood, and the lessons that continue to shape generations.This conversation is a love letter to mothers everywhere—and a reminder that some of life's greatest gifts are the people who show up for us every single day.In This Episode:• Growing up in a large Italian family rooted in tradition• The lessons learned from an Air Force childhood• Becoming a single mom and starting over after divorce• Why family dinners mattered so much• Raising children with kindness, respect, and strong values• Blending two families into one loving household• Forgiveness, co-parenting, and finding peace after heartbreak• Britney's teenage years and family growing pains• Becoming a grandmother and watching the next generation grow• The most important lesson every parent should teach their childrenTimestamps00:00 Introduction to Britney's mom, Maryann01:04 A tribute to the woman who shaped Britney's life06:14 Growing up in an Air Force family09:14 Italian family traditions and Sunday dinners11:10 Why food became her love language13:12 The importance of family meals17:03 Starting a catering truck before food trucks were trendy18:31 Meeting Britney's father and building a family20:22 Divorce, heartbreak, and becoming a single mom22:28 Losing the house and starting over23:50 Finding a village to help raise children24:52 Refusing to become a victim28:35 Why she never spoke badly about Britney's father30:10 Advice for anyone navigating divorce33:25 Forgiveness and finding peace before death37:23 Britney's teenage years and family struggles43:20 Parenting teenagers and setting boundaries47:29 How Britney was as a teenager50:54 Waiting for grandchildren54:40 The story behind Maverick, Hero and Bullet's names58:07 Watching Britney become a mother01:01:26 Advice for mothers today01:03:11 Why kindness matters most01:05:29 Lessons on forgiveness and family01:06:14 Final reflections and gratitudeInstagram CaptionThis one is for the moms. ❤️Britney sits down with the woman who taught her everything about resilience, kindness, family, and unconditional love.From raising two kids alone after divorce to building a home where everyone felt safe, loved, and supported, Maryann shares the lessons that shaped generations.It's funny. It's emotional. And it might just make you call your mom.Sponsor Codes:✨ Leaf & FlowerUse code WHATSHES15 for 15% off✨ BodyBioUse code WHATSHESHAVING for 20% off ✨ Firefly RecoveryUse code WhatShe'sHaving for15% OffHosts: Jennifer Cataldo & Britney Semler New episodes weekly of What She’s Having 🎙️🎙️ New episode drops Wednesday.

Alfredo Lewis From Rehab to Reinvention — Building a Viral Empire and new product launch After 40

This week on What She’s Having, Jennifer and Britney sit down with celebrity hairstylist, educator, entrepreneur, and viral content creator Alfredo Lewis for one of the most inspiring conversations yet. With millions of followers across TikTok and Instagram, Alfredo has become one of the most recognizable voices in hair and beauty — but his biggest success came after 40. From losing everything and going to rehab to rebuilding his career from the ground up, Alfredo shares the raw truth behind reinvention, resilience, and second chances. The trio dives into Beverly Hills salon culture, the early days of Brazilian Blowout, social media fame, internet backlash, viral “Extreme Hair Rescue” transformations, and Alfredo’s newest venture: Qoat — a revolutionary professional hair color top coat designed to preserve shine and extend color longevity. This episode is funny, emotional, inspiring, and proof that your biggest chapter can still be ahead of you. Timestamps: 00:00 – Meet Alfredo Lewis & his incredible comeback story 01:30 – Early success in Beverly Hills salon culture 02:00 – Addiction, partying & losing everything 04:45 – Rehab, sobriety & rebuilding life after 40 07:00 – Britney gives Alfredo a second chance at Argyle Salon 10:45 – Why losing everything changed his drive forever 12:30 – Building Brazilian Blowout’s influencer program before influencers existed 16:00 – Growing to millions of followers on TikTok & Instagram 19:45 – Why storytelling changed Alfredo’s social media career 21:45 – The viral hair rescue that broke the internet 27:00 – Internet fame, backlash & surviving social media drama 33:00 – Trolling, cancel culture & protecting your mental health online 35:00 – Women in the beauty industry & supporting female leadership 42:00 – Working at L'Oréal & behind-the-scenes innovation 43:30 – Alfredo’s QVC experience with K18 47:30 – Launching Qoat: the first professional hair color top coat 55:00 – Why Alfredo made his artists shareholders in the company 57:00 – Manifestation, resilience & creating your dream life Alfredo Lewis Contact Info:Instagram: @alfredo_lewis TikTok: @alfredo_lewis YouTube: Alfredo Lewis Sponsor Codes: ✨ Leaf & Flower Use code WHATSHES15 for 15% off ✨ BodyBio [https://bodybio.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Use code WHATSHESHAVING for 20% off  ✨ Firefly Recovery Use code WhatShe'sHaving for15% Off Credits:  Hosts: Jennifer Cataldo & Britney Semler New episodes weekly of What She’s Having 🎙️