Katie Chin on Reinvention, Family Secrets & Finding Her Purpose

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.

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 Timestamps 00:00 – 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 children Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Britney's mom, Maryann 01:04 A tribute to the woman who shaped Britney's life 06:14 Growing up in an Air Force family 09:14 Italian family traditions and Sunday dinners 11:10 Why food became her love language 13:12 The importance of family meals 17:03 Starting a catering truck before food trucks were trendy 18:31 Meeting Britney's father and building a family 20:22 Divorce, heartbreak, and becoming a single mom 22:28 Losing the house and starting over 23:50 Finding a village to help raise children 24:52 Refusing to become a victim 28:35 Why she never spoke badly about Britney's father 30:10 Advice for anyone navigating divorce 33:25 Forgiveness and finding peace before death 37:23 Britney's teenage years and family struggles 43:20 Parenting teenagers and setting boundaries 47:29 How Britney was as a teenager 50:54 Waiting for grandchildren 54:40 The story behind Maverick, Hero and Bullet's names 58:07 Watching Britney become a mother 01:01:26 Advice for mothers today 01:03:11 Why kindness matters most 01:05:29 Lessons on forgiveness and family 01:06:14 Final reflections and gratitude 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.