Why Self-Care Isn't Selfish | Gara Post, Co-Founder of The NOW Massage

Why Self-Care Isn't Selfish | Gara Post, Co-Founder of The NOW Massage

What if taking care of yourself wasn't a luxury—but a necessity? This week on What She's Having, Jennifer and Britney sit down with Gara Post, co-founder of The NOW Massage, to talk about building one of the fastest-growing wellness brands in the country and why making time for yourself may be the most important investment you'll ever make. Gara shares the incredible journey from launching a successful jewelry company to creating a massage experience that feels like a vacation without leaving your neighborhood. She opens up about entrepreneurship, franchising during the pandemic, working alongside her husband, raising teenagers, and why women often struggle to prioritize themselves. Jennifer and Britney also share their first experience at The NOW Massage—and why it completely changed the way they think about self-care. In this episode you'll learn: • How Gara built The NOW Massage into nearly 90 locations nationwide • Why affordable luxury became the foundation of the brand • The biggest lessons from franchising during COVID • Why massage is more than relaxation—it's mental wellness • The guilt many women feel when investing in themselves • How to balance motherhood, marriage, and entrepreneurship • Gara's daily wellness routine for staying grounded • The importance of flexibility in business and life • Why putting your phone down may be today's greatest luxury • Gara's answer to "What are you having more of?" and "less of?" If you've ever felt guilty taking time for yourself, this conversation is your reminder that caring for yourself allows you to show up better for everyone else. Timestamps * 00:00 Meet Garrett Post, co-founder of The NOW Massage * 01:00 Cleansing energy with Palo Santo * 03:35 Garrett's journey from fashion designer to entrepreneur * 07:10 The inspiration behind The NOW Massage * 10:00 Opening the first four locations * 13:30 The decision to franchise * 15:45 Surviving the pandemic while growing the business * 17:05 Scaling to nearly 90 locations nationwide * 20:50 Jennifer & Britney share their first NOW Massage experience * 24:30 Why massage should become part of your monthly routine * 28:55 Why women struggle to prioritize themselves * 31:15 The future of the wellness industry * 36:00 Parenting, technology & letting go * 40:00 Balancing motherhood, marriage & entrepreneurship * 41:30 Working with your spouse in business * 44:45 What's next for The NOW Massage * 46:15 What Garrett is having less of * 46:50 What she's having more of * 48:00 One luxury she'll never give up * 49:15 Naming this chapter of her life * 51:15 Final thoughts & where to find Garrett This episode is a perfect reminder that wellness isn't about perfection—it's about creating small, intentional moments to reconnect with yourself. Follow Gara and learn more: Instagram: @thenowmassage Website: thenowmassage.com Sponsors 🌿 Leaf & Flower Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. Use code WHATSHES15 for 15% OFF. 🧬 BodyBio Science-backed supplements designed to support cellular health. Use code WHATSHESHAVING for 20% OFF. ✨ Najeau Clean, luxurious scalp care for healthier hair. Use code WHATSHESHAVING20 for 20% OFF.

Encore: Why Heather McDonald Would NEVER Join Real Housewives

What really happens behind the scenes of the world's biggest podcasts? This week, Britney Semler and Jennifer Cataldo sit down with comedian, bestselling author, and Juicy Scoop host Heather McDonald for an honest, hilarious, and surprisingly insightful conversation about building a media empire, surviving Hollywood, balancing family and career, and why success only gets sweeter with age. Heather shares the story behind launching Juicy Crimes, why podcast partnerships can be as complicated as marriages, and what she's learned after more than a decade of podcasting. The conversation dives deep into Housewives gossip, reality TV, parenting in the social media era, comedy, celebrity culture, and the importance of protecting your happiness while chasing success. If you've ever wondered what it really takes to build a lasting career in entertainment—or simply love Bravo, true crime, and behind-the-scenes Hollywood stories—this episode is for you. In This Episode * Why podcast partnerships are like marriages * The launch of Juicy Crimes * Behind-the-scenes stories from Real Housewives * Why Heather would never do reality TV * Parenting in the age of social media * Working with family and building a business together * The pressures of fame and staying authentic * How success changes as you get older * Heather's best career advice * Rapid-fire Bravo and celebrity questions Current What She's Having Partner Discounts ✨ Firefly Recovery Code: WHATSHES15 Save 15% ✨ BodyBio Code: WHATSHESHAVING Save 20% ✨ Leaf & Flower Code: WHATSHES15 Save 15% ✨ Najeau Code: WHATSHESHAVING20 Save 20% ✨ Jessica Cortez Styling Mention What She's Having for your first hour free.

What Luxury Hotels Know About Happiness That Most Brands Don't | with Global Creative Director Azadeh Hawkins Show Notes

What makes a luxury hotel unforgettable? It isn't just five-star amenities or beautiful design—it's the feeling you leave with. This week on What She's Having, Jennifer Cataldo and Britney Semler sit down with Azadeh Hawkins, the Global Creative Director behind Montage, Pendry & Viceroy Hotels, to uncover the hidden psychology of luxury hospitality and why the world's best brands obsess over the smallest details. Az shares her remarkable journey from immigrating to the United States from Iran to becoming one of the hospitality industry's most respected creative leaders. She reveals how storytelling, design, service, and thoughtful experiences shape some of the world's most iconic hotel brands—and why true luxury is about creating memories, not just beautiful spaces. From choosing the perfect pillow to designing an unforgettable guest experience, this conversation will forever change the way you think about travel, branding, and what it really means to make people feel seen. Whether you love luxury travel, beautiful design, entrepreneurship, or simply appreciate thoughtful experiences, this episode is filled with inspiration and practical takeaways. In This Episode * Azadeh's journey from Iran to leading global luxury hotel brands * How Viceroy, Pendry and Montage became iconic hospitality brands * Why storytelling always comes before design * The hidden details guests rarely notice—but always remember * What truly defines luxury in today's world * Why service matters more than expensive finishes * Building memorable guest experiences through thoughtful design * Leadership, creativity and mentoring the next generation * Balancing a demanding career with motherhood * Az's dream of one day creating a luxury hotel in Iran Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Azadeh Hawkins 01:00 Growing up after immigrating from Iran 03:35 Discovering a passion for branding and design 05:25 Building the Viceroy Hotel brand from the ground up 10:05 What a Global Creative Director actually does 13:20 Favorite Montage & Pendry destinations 16:00 The biggest misconception about luxury 20:15 The details guests don't realize create unforgettable experiences 24:50 Hotel secrets: bedding, pillows and sleep 28:45 Why every great brand begins with a story 35:30 Navigating leadership as a woman in hospitality 39:30 Balancing career, motherhood and family 43:00 The most unforgettable guest requests 48:30 The most luxurious travel experiences 51:45 Rapid-fire favorites: cities, luxury items and dream destinations 54:35 Az's dream of opening a luxury hotel in Iran Connect with Azadeh Hawkins Follow Azadeh's work through the incredible hotel brands she helps bring to life: Montage Hotels & Resorts https://www.montage.com [https://www.montage.com] Pendry Hotels & Resorts https://www.pendry.com [https://www.pendry.com] ✨ Leaf & Flower Use code WHATSHES15 for 15% off ✨ BodyBio Use code WHATSHESHAVING for 20% off ✨ Firefly Recovery Use code WhatShe'sHaving for 15% Off ✨ Najeau Use Code WHATSHESHAVING20 for 20% Off If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate and review What She's Having on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us continue bringing you inspiring conversations with the women, experts and innovators redefining what it means to thrive in life's second act. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok: @officialwhatsheshaving

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. In this episode we discuss: * 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 Timestamps 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 Connect with 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 Sponsor Codes 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 Recovery 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 Styling 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 About What She's Having 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. In this episode we discuss: * 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 Connect with Nina Kairouz Instagram: @ninakairouz Instagram: @mynajeau Website: www.mynajeau.com [https://www.mynajeau.com] Sponsors ✨ Najeau 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. 🌿 Leaf & Flower Plant-based, THC-free CBD hair wellness products designed to support stronger, healthier-looking hair. Use code: WHATSHES15 for 15% OFF. 🧬 BodyBio Science-backed supplements designed to support energy, brain health and cellular function. Use code: WHATSHESHAVING for 20% OFF. 🎙 New episodes every Wednesday.