Women Walking

Episode 19: A Soulful Conversation about Connecting with our Grief

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2415398/fan_mail/new] Today, we're joined by Robyn Hubbard, a grief therapist whose work feels like an exhale. Robyn meets grief in the body, in the nervous system, in the places we tighten and brace, in the places that long for softening. She reminds us that grief isn't something to push past, it's something we walk with, slowly, honestly, at the pace our bodies can hold. This episode is a gift for anyone feeling stretched thin or overwhelmed. Robyn helps us understand why transitions stir up old grief, how to come back to ourselves when everything feels like too much, and what it means to "companion" ourselves and each other with gentleness instead of fixing.   She also offers a short grounding practice at the end, something you can return to whenever you need a moment of steadiness. If you've been carrying a lot lately, this one is for you.  Pass this one onto a woman in your circle who could use it. See the link to Robyn's beautiful website here: https://robynhubbard.com/  where you will find more information about her offerings, including: *  A Grief Retreat in Murrieta, Southern California October 11-18, 2026 *  A link to a FREE Grief Guide

Saiqa's Story: Love, Loss, and What Comes After

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2415398/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Women Walking, we speak with my longtime friend and global health colleague, Saiqa Panjsheri, about walking through some difficult life transitions. Saiqa shares her family's extraordinary story of fleeing Afghanistan, growing up with a visible physical difference, and the resilience woven through generations of her family. She also speaks with honesty and grace about the loss of her husband, John, to suicide three years ago--what happened that day, how she and her son survived the unimaginable, and what it means to rebuild a life in the aftermath. This conversation is tender, raw, and full of the kind of truth that helps us feel less alone.   If you're not in a place to hear someone speak openly about suicide today, please take care of yourself and come back when you're ready.  And listen in to a bonus "Thank You" at the end where Saiqa describes how the women in her "tribe" continue to walk with her.

Women Walking Episode 17: Back to the Path - The NYC Tip-to-Tip Challenge

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2415398/fan_mail/new] After months of talking with women navigating transitions, Courtney and I decided it was time to get back to what started Women Walking in the first place: actually walking. In Episode 17, Courtney and I take on the NYC  Tip-to-Tip Challenge—a 15-mile walk  from Inwood Hill Park to Battery Park, inspired by the Broad City route. One day. One power bar. Park to park, river to river, rediscovering the rhythm, clarity, and connection that only shows up when your feet are tired. If you've ever wanted to see NYC in a completely new way, this walk will do it!!

Women Walking Episode 16: Notes from a Career Crossroads

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2415398/fan_mail/new] In Episode 16 of Women Walking, I’m joined by Grace Tran, a global health professional whose steady thoughtful voice you may already know from LinkedIn posts.  Grace opens up about what happened after the Trump Administration’s executive orders that dissolved USAID and the long humbling  journey that followed: 400 job applications, 19 interviews, rejection, uncertainty, and the very real logistics about moving her family to Portugal while rebuilding her career.   But this isn’t a “pivot” story. Grace talks candidly about resilience and writing publicly while still in the thick of things. She writes and talks about starting her consulting company, not as a “reinvention,” but as a practical next step. The conversation is steady, honest, and real. It’s what so many women need right now.  Check out Grace’s LinkedIn posts here https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-tran-0912?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios [https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-tran-0912?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios]

Women Walking Episode 15: Dementia, Caregiving, and the Gentle Turn Toward Comfort‑Centered Care

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2415398/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Women Walking, I sit down with Lillian Cotter — a neonatal intensive care nurse, mother, and wife — for a conversation that is as tender as it is instructive. Lillian opens the door to her family’s journey through her husband Michael’s dementia, a path that ultimately led to his death in 2024. As someone who walked through a similar road with my own mother, who lived with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), another devastating neurological disease, I recognize the emotional terrain Lillian describes — the slow changes, the daily caregiving decisions, the anticipatory grief, and the fierce love that carries you through. Together, we talk about what it means to love someone through decline, to navigate the realities of caregiving, and to face end of life with honesty, compassion, and a comfort-centered approach to care.  Lillian’s story is deeply personal, yet profoundly universal — a reminder that caregiving is both a burden and a gift, a heartbreak and a profound act of devotion. This episode is for anyone walking beside a loved one through dementia, PSP, or any neurological illness, and for anyone navigating the realities of serious, life-limiting conditions.  It's for caregivers seeking guidance, companionship, or simply the reassurance that they are not alone. Lillian brings vulnerability, clarity, and hard‑earned wisdom to a conversation that touches the heart and steadies the spirit. Lillian has also asked that we share links to several excellent caregiving resources: The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How Learn from Love and Loss 👉 https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Grieving_Brain.html?id=7ngsEAAAQBAJ Insight Memory Care Center: A nonprofit in Northern Virginia providing specialized day programs, caregiver support, and education for famililies navigating dementia 👉 https://www.insightmcc.org/ LionHeart Eldercare & Consulting: A Northern Virginia care-management practice that helps families coordinate medical care, navigate dementia, and support agin loved ones with safety, dignity, and independence.  👉 https://lionhearteldercare.com/